Chapter 7: Safety in numbers and Levi's story…

Nick, Eren and Daniel stepped off the train into the station, after 3 hours of Taxi and train rides they would still have to catch a bus before they got to Trost. "Guys can we get something to eat? I didn't have breakfast this morning and I'm hungry also I'm pretty sure Nick is as well" Eren said shifting his bag onto his other shoulder, "Eren's right I am getting hungry" Nick said grabbing Eren's hand and leading him and Daniel to the nearest café. Once they had got their food and drinks, they sat near the back and ate in silence. "How long till the next bus?" Nick asked looking at the clock "15 minutes" Daniel replied, throwing the rubbish in the bin and picking up his and Eren's bag, "you don't need to carry that…" Eren started only to be stopped by Daniel holding up his hand, "you've been through a lot let me hold it for a while and anyway I won't be holding it for long we're going to be at Trost soon" he said, Eren nodded and let Nick take his hand again as they walked outside the café and stepped onto their bus.

"Home sweet home" Eren said smiling as he led the others into the main hall, and up the stairs to the head master's office. "Eren can you stay here with Nick while I go and talk to the headmaster" Daniel asked, Eren smiled as if to let Daniel know that he was fine with it "Sure I can". Daniel looked at Eren for a few seconds before knocking on the office door and walking inside. "So Eren how are you feeling at the moment" Nick asked as they both sat down on the sofa outside the office, "surprisingly I'm doing well" Eren replied, reaching up to play with the ring on his necklace, he hadn't taken it off since that day Levi shouted at him, he could remember when Levi had come back into the room a day later….

Memory start…

Eren was sat on the sofa watching TV, the new episode of once upon a time had just came out on Netflix and he needed to catch up on it. He had just finished watching one episode when Levi walked into the room and went into his bedroom only to come out a few minutes later with a large backpack. "Hey Levi what you doing?" Eren asked looking at the backpack and then at Levi, "I'm going to stay at my friend's room for a while I need some space to clear my head" Levi replied before picking up the backpack and leaving again. Eren sighed and turned back to the TV clicking on the next episode.

Memory End…

He was surprised when Levi had begun constantly staying in his friend's room but he guessed it was better than having a constant tension in the room. "Okay so Eren will be staying in his own room and Nick, me and you will be staying in a room down the hall from Eren" Daniel said, breaking Eren away from his musings, "that's fine by me, what about you Eren?" Nick said looking at Eren calmly, "Yeah that's great I'm glad I left some of my stuff here" Eren replied, grabbing his bag and walking to his room, showing the others where their room was first, before stepping inside of his room and throwing himself on the sofa where he began to cry heavily, "hey brat, what are you doing back so early?" Eren jumped at the familiar voice and lifted his head to stare directly into Levi's. "Uhhh I'm just having family problems at the moment it turns out, Sam may not be my dad at all but a criminal instead, but never mind about me, why are you still here?" Eren asked. Levi's eyes widened and he wrapped his arms around Eren tightly "That doesn't matter right now, you are obviously upset, you need comfort" He said calmly. Eren couldn't help it and within seconds he was crying again.

Levi rubbed his back and spoke soft, relaxing words into his ear and soon he had exhausted himself to the point where he could no longer cry, he stopped sobbing and slowly lifted his head, "Sorry about that" he said wiping his eyes, "It's ok kid, you needed to let it out" Levi told him. Eren looked at him and smiled "Thankyou Levi, now will you please tell me why you're here?" he asked softly. Levi sighed and looked Eren directly in the eyes "I'm here because being at the palace brings back to many memories, like Armin told you I lost my best friend and betrothed so I always feel uncomfortable being within a certain proximity of that room, that's also why I shouted at you, your nightmare brought up too many bad memories and I couldn't handle it, I felt like you were somehow making fun of the fact that I had seen my betrothed get kidnapped, it doesn't help that you and him have the same name or that he would be around your age if he was still alive today, which in a way I don't believe he is, don't get me wrong I hope with all my being that he is still alive out there somewhere waiting for me to save him, that's if he remembers me anyway but I am about to give up on him and it breaks my heart…. I'm sorry that got to deep way to quickly" Levi said wiping tears from his eyes, "It's ok" Eren said rubbing Levi's back, Levi Pulled Eren back into his arms and hugged him tightly, Eren froze before hugging Levi back. "Thankyou Eren" Levi said quietly in Eren's ear, "No problem" Eren replied. They pulled apart and leaned back against the sofa, Levi switched on the TV and wrapped his arm around Eren's shoulder who relaxed against Levi's side and took out his necklace to play with it, Levi looked over and watched the ring in Eren's hand smiling *maybe Eren is the lost prince but I have to be certain*Levi thought pulling out 3 three of Eren's hair "Ouch! What was that for" Eren cried looking at Levi in shock "no reason, you had something in your hair, just relax" Levi replied, Eren watched him for a few more seconds before shrugging and leaning back against Levi's side.