The Following Day

The next day, there was still a sense of tension laying over the barracks. By now, everyone knew what had happened and the reason for it. One brave cadet had started a betting sheet on who would win Levi's heart. So far, the only ones brave enough to take part had been fairly evenly spread between Hange and Eren. Mikasa sat with Armin and Eren eating breakfast. They were aware that people were talking and staring and Eren was trying to keep his head down and ignore it. The relief that Hange had woken up had been great but in reality they all knew it would not be the end of it as she had been seriously injured and would be off duty for a good while yet. Moblit and the rest of Hange's squad were sat at the opposite end of the room and if looks could kill, Eren would have been laying dead on the floor. People were chatting and things were starting to go back to normal but then a silence covered the room as Hange walked in, limping slightly and still wearing bandages around her head. She did not look in Eren's direction but headed straight over to Moblit and her squad. Normally she would have sat at the officer's table but today she avoided it. Erwin and Levi appeared not long after and sat together with Mike, talking quietly.

Eren looked over at Hange and then back at Mikasa, "Maybe I should talk to her, say I am sorry?"

Armin stared at him, "Are you insane? She will use you in some kind of experiment and hang your corpse from the Walls the mood she is in!"

Eren went pale, "She is not that insane!"

Mikasa just raised her eyebrows but did not say anything, "She is avoiding Levi as well. Things are obviously awkward between them as well"

Once they had finished eating, the three of them left and headed to the training ground to get ready for the day.

Levi was sitting with Mike and Erwin and drinking tea as if his life depended on it. He had not slept and it was in a foul mood. He had sat holding Hange's hand whilst she slept, only going back to his office when Moblit had reappeared and offered to take over keeping an eye on her. Hange had woken up this morning and against all advice dragged herself to breakfast, but so far she was ignoring everyone but her own squad. He knew he had to make a decision and it had to be soon. He just hoped that he could get through this with his friendships and sanity intact.

Hange

The two titans they had caught had been brought back and were restrained inside the courtyard by her lab. She was glad that she had them to concentrate on and it meant that she did not have to spend time around Eren and Levi. She was mad as hell at Eren and she needed space to calm down as she knew realistically she could not avoid him forever. Also, he could not avoid his titan form forever as it was needed when they were out when things got difficult. With a sigh, she motioned to Moblit and the got to work documenting the new titans.

Levi

Levi sat in his office listening to the sounds of training going on outside. He looked up as there was a knock on his door and he called out, "Come."

The door opened and Eren walked into t he room, "You wanted to see me?"

Levi nodded and motioned to the seat in front of his desk. "Take a seat, we need to talk."

Eren sat down and nodded, bracing himself for what was to come.

Levi took a deep breath, "What you did was unacceptable. If we cannot trust you to control yourself in your titan form, then we will have to take steps to prevent you from using it. Luckily, Hange has a hard skull or we would be having a very different conversation right now."

Eren nodded, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt her."

Levi nodded, "I know that human you didn't. But, we need to find a solution to this situation before it happens again. You have both put me in a very difficult situation and I do not appreciate it. We are Scouts. There is no room for this kind of nonsense in our lives."

Eren nodded, "I am sorry, I did not mean for any of this. I let things get out of control. It will not happen again."

Levi paused and looked at him, "Can you guarantee that? What would happen if I decided I actually wanted to be with Hange? Would you be able to cope with that or would you try and kill her again the next time you went titan?"

Eren watched Levi's face trying to decide if he was telling him that because that was how he felt but the older man's face was emotionless as always.

"I don't know. I mean I would have to cope with it. I never really thought there could be anything between us anyway. I mean you are so much older than me and my superior." Eren sighed slightly.

Levi nodded and looked at Eren, "Get back to training. We have another mission coming up and I need you all on top form."

With a final nod, Eren stood up and left the room. Levi watched him go and groaned slightly. He had a feeling he had reached his decision and he just hoped that when he admitted it, no one would end up dead!