4. The Dog Star

Eren was lying back on the porch of the Scouting Legion headquarters, staring up at the night sky. It was a perfect night for star gazing as not a single cloud was in sight for miles. He traced the shape of the various constellations he could see with his fingers, trying very hard to remember their names.

"Mikasa?" He spoke up after a while.

"Mmm?" Mikasa hummed in response from her place beside him.

"Remember how dad used to-" Eren gulped as a lump formed in his throat at the thought of his father. "Used to-"

"I know." Mikasa whispered simply, curling her knees up to her chest.

Grisha Jaegar had been a highly intelligent man. Apart from being the best known and most qualified doctor in the district of Shiganshina, he was also a surplus source for all kinds of information. He always had an answer to any of Eren's queries. Well, almost any. No one knew where the titans came from or why they had a taste for human flesh.

Also, his father used to be an avid star gazer.

"See that star, Eren, Mikasa? That's supposed to be the brightest star in the sky." He had pointed out to them once, when the walls had been intact and there had been plenty of food to fill their stomachs. When friends and family members hadn't been devoured alive in front of their loved ones and the streets had not been crawling with humongous, flesh eating monsters. It all seemed like a hundred years ago.

"I can't remember its name." Eren mumbled, his eyes fixed on a bright, twinkling star.

"Sirius." Mikasa pitched in. "It's called Sirius, I think. The brightest star in the sky."

"Yeah." Eren responded, a bit irked by Mikasa's memory. How the hell is she so good at every single thing?!

"Eren, you should go inside now. You shouldn't be out of bed for so lo-"

"I don't want to just yet." Eren bit back, crossing his arms across his chest defiantly.

"But Eren, Hanji said-"

"I don't care! Stop babying me around, Mikasa, god!"

Mikasa flinched back at his loud voice. "E-Eren…"

"Just how many times will I have to tell you that I am not your baby brother? When will you get it through that thick skull of yours, huh?" He snapped, his dark brows furrowing together.

"Look at you two, sounding married and all." Levi's voice floated from behind them, interrupting his rant.

"Captain!" Eren made as if to get up but Levi stopped him with a lazy flick of his wrist. He was leaning against the doorway, appearing as if he had been standing there for ages.

"I-I didn't see you, sir…" Eren trailed off sheepishly while Mikasa remained still and impassive beside him.

"I knew you were retarded but a blind retard?" Levi stepped forward and plopped down between Eren and Mikasa, making them flinch at the sudden movement. "Maybe I should gouge those out." Much to Eren's terror, a dagger appeared out of nowhere in Levi's hand and stopped just inches short of his right eye. "The new pair you will regenerate might help you see better."

"What is wrong with you?" Mikasa hissed at Levi.

"Mikasa, shut up!" Eren bellowed. "Why do you have to-"

"Ackerman, you can go. I'll handle this brat."

For a moment, it seemed like she would disobey but seeing Eren's murderous glare, she changed her mind and stood up to go inside but not before shooting Levi a look of pure, unadulterated contempt.

Join the hate club, Ackerman.

Levi and Eren were silent for a while. Levi didn't mind. In fact, the silence suited him better. It was better than hearing the stupid kid yammer on about nonsensical shit. He doubted that Hanji would be pleased if she found her latest test subject all mauled up in the morning.

"You know," Levi began after a while. "You can treat Mikasa nicely once in a-what the-" Levi glanced sideways as Eren's head landed on his shoulder. "Jaeger?"

There was no response. For a moment, Levi thought Eren had fainted and was about to call for help when he heard a soft snore. He sat there very still for a few seconds, unable to believe what was happening. Eren fucking Jaeger was asleep with his head on his goddamn shoulder, probably slobbering all over his jacket. Gross.

Yet, strangely, Levi did not wake him up. In fact, he stayed still for a long long time, simply listening to Eren's soft snores as the night went on.