Levi reacted quickly, whipping his head around, and exhaling a small fire blast that turned the arrow shot to nothing but ash. He winced as an unseen arrow embedded into his shoulder.

"Levi!"

Levi's jumbled thoughts composed once he heard Eren's voice as he released the boy from his hold. He drew four long daggers and carefully analysis where the unknown archers were hiding before he aimed and threw them. He was pleased when the sweet scent of blood hit his nose, along with a few curses uttered towards him from the bushes.

Eren rushed over and drew his sword from his unattached belt. He quickly swiped his sword behind him, turning when he heard the familiar clash of metal on metal to face his opponent. It was then that he realized that the one's attacking them were the same thugs that had kidnapped Eren before.

"You again?!" Eren hissed as his sword collided with the same olive-skinned girl's, "What the hell do you want with us?!"

The girl simply smirked at Eren's question as she tightened her grip on her sword and pressed the blade against Eren's. The lesson he just had with Levi suddenly clicked into the brunette's head as he swiftly circled his blade under the girl's and stabbed her in the side.

Eren froze, not knowing what to do next. This was his first real 'victory' in battle but then he recalled something Nile told him.

"Don't show any mercy. Make them suffer."

The brunette was so focused on his opponent that he didn't notice the daggers that came flying at him.

"Eren, Look out!"

Eren snapped out his blood-lusted thoughts when he heard Levi's voice. He looked up just in time to see a cloak block the daggers aimed at him. Then...

That sound. The sound of gasp cut short and the crunching of bones filled the air.

The brunette watched, as if in slow motion, as the cloak slowly fell to ground to reveal the somewhat gruesome sight of Levi hovering over the limp body of the blond girl from before. His heart caught in his throat as he saw the familiar metallic-colored red blood start to stain the ground from where the girl laid. The brunette swallowed hard when he saw the same color red drip from Levi's curved talon fingertips. His gaze traveled from the glossed over eyes of the girl to the eyes of his companion that hovered over his kill. Eren could barely recognize Levi at this point.

The usual cold, hard, emotionless but sometimes playful gaze of the man was replaced with a wild, bloodlust filled one. Long black horns poked out from Levi's black hair as his lips curled back to reveal his dagger like fangs. His spiked tail lashed out behind him, just like a cat's, as his large 12-foot bat-like wings spread out widely.

Eren blinked in complete shock when he saw the shredded mess that was Levi's left wing. It was covered from base to tip with old time wore scars. His heart strings tugged as he thought of how Levi even got such a wound.

"Levi...?" Eren asked as he tried to keep his voice from shaking. He was unsure if that was really Levi in front of him.

Levi clenched his jaw as he stood there, horror struck for a moment over what he had just done, before he slowly started to compose himself. He panted slowly as he recalled the arrow that he was shot with only moments ago and lowered his blood stained hand before he caught a glimpse of his left wing. He didn't expect such an action would cause his true form to appear so fast, but then again, he never killed someone in this new form. That didn't matter at this point though, what mattered was that Eren had saw it: the beast that Levi had tried so hard to control. His remained silent for a moment or two before he slowly lifted his gaze to meet the boy's, seeing the concern in them. Despite this, Levi could smell the fear that faintly bounced off of Eren. He slowly folded his wings to his side and let out a deep, calming sigh.

"I'm fine..." he answered in his cool composed tone of voice, saying it to reassure himself mostly, "Don't worry about me. Come on... we better get a move on before the others realize what we did..."

Eren just stood and watched as Levi grabbed his cloak and slung it over his shoulder lazily. Even though he had told the boy he was alright, Eren could tell that he wasn't alright at all. The brunette gathered his things and followed after him in silences.

After the distances between the pair and where the small battle took place grew to be a few miles, Levi could feel his strength start to ebb away. His legs wobbled with every step he took, until they finally gave out from under him.

"Levi!" Eren said as he rushed to the other's side to help, concern laced in his voice.

"I'm fine..." Levi hissed as he pulled the arrow that was still embedded in his shoulder.

He ran a hand through his hair and let out a deep sigh. Despite the wounds' effect on him, he still managed to cast his human-like spell over himself.

"No you're not... It's almost nightfall... we should set up camp for the night." Eren said as he rested his hands on Levi's chest and shoulder, lifting him to his feet.

"Tch." Levi winced slightly as he stood, "That bitch... Stabbed me in the god damn side... I'll heal though..."

Eren nodded slowly and helped lead the wounded male to a large rock to rest on. He gathered a pile of sticks and started rubbing two together to create a fine, or at least try to.

Levi rolled his eyes at Eren's failed attempt and exhaled a small string shot of fire on the pile, a smirk graced his lips when Eren let out a yelp.

"You forgot I'm a dragon?" Levi asked, quirking an eyebrow, even though his stomach turned in dismay at the thought of the event that just happened not even a few hours ago.

Eren shook his head as he stood up and dusted his armor off.

"No." He said before biting his lower lip, trying not to recall what had happened a few hours ago.

There was a long pause between the two before Eren uttered:

"You know... you didn't have to save me..."

Levi gave his familiar cold, emotionless glare to the brunette.

"Yes I did." Levi hissed.

"No you didn't..." Eren retorted childishly, "You already saved me from them twice!"

Levi shook his head and exhaled sharply from his nose.

"You would've died! Don't you understand, brat?!" Levi shouted but quickly closed his mouth before he said anymore, "Just drop it... okay...?"

Eren's eyebrows furrowed before his gazed softened. He let out a small sigh as he slowly nudged closer to the dragon.

"Can I see your wound?" He asked as a slight blush crossed his cheeks.

Levi sighed but obligated to Eren's request, knowing he wasn't going to hear the end of it if he didn't. He lifted his shirt up some to reveal an already healing wound on his right side, just below his rib cage.

"I told you I heal quickly... unlike you..." Levi said in a hushed tone.

Eren blinked in surprised and froze when Levi grazed his fingertips across his forehead. The boy then realized that blood had started to crust on his forehead, just above his left eyebrow, but that didn't matter to him right now. Not with Levi so close to him. The brunette's heart began to pick up its pace before he turned his head away.

"Why... Why does he always make my heart beat so fast?" Eren thought to himself.

His thoughts were so jumbled up and scattered that he couldn't stop himself from blurting out:

"W-what about your wing?"

Eren quickly shut his mouth as soon as those four words escaped his lips.

Levi was silent for a long moment before a hint of smoke puffed from his nostrils as he sighed. He shook his head and closed his eyes. The only thing he could say on the matter was:

"Those are permanent..."

Eren could hear the slight shakiness in Levi's voice as he spoke. His flickered away from the other man's gaze as he bit his lower lip. He mentally scolded himself for ever opening his big fat mouth on the subject. The cold mountain air that made its way down the slopes and into the forest caused the brunette to shiver slightly. He blinked in surprise when a sudden shadow cast over him, protecting him from the chilly winds. He looked up to see one of Levi's huge bat-like wings hovering over him.

"I may not be able to fly anymore but at least... the cold doesn't bother me..." Levi finally spoke after a short pause as his bangs cast a shadow over his eyes.

Eren gulped. He wanted to say something... anything to help cheer up the dragon but words couldn't seem to form on his tongue. He then, simply nodded before a huge yawn escaped him. He was so tired that he didn't even seem to notice Levi scoot closer to him. He didn't even care, in fact, he liked it when Levi's arm wrapped around his waist. The dragon's warm body made him feel safe and protected. He could feel his eyelids get heavier as he involuntarily started to hum the song Levi had