The first time Detective Eren Yeager met Levi, he had been chasing down a suspected robber. The suspect crashed the stolen vehicle and ran on foot. Eren gave chase, running as fast he could muster.
He turned a corner to find the suspect on the ground, unconscious. Standing over him was a short, young man with well groomed dark hair. Piercing grey eyes met his and slowly the young man raised his arms.
"You? What the - how did you?" Eren was flabbergasted.
"He tried to use me as a hostage. Big mistake for him."
This left Eren for a loop. This young man, who was a tiny twig compared to this six foot giant and all muscled criminal? But how! Eren meant to ask that very question, but instead a different one came out of his mouth when he took in the attire.
"Wait, then how old are you? You look barely old enough to graduate high school!" And he really did. The hoodie, backpack, everything screamed kid. Until he noticed the hint of tattoos on the forearm barely hidden from the sleeves.
"Pfft. Please, you look like you just left the cradle, officer." He smirked, and yet his eyes remained cold despite the humor.
"Excuse me! I graduated five years ago, if you don't mind." Eren didn't know why he needed to defend himself.
"Talk to me again when you're thirty, then we'll have a proper adult conversation."
Is this guy for real? There was no way he was anywhere near thirty!
In the distance sirens drew closer. Up above the helicopter served as their eyes in the sky was closing in. The shorty backed away slowly and with a swift movement pulled his hoodie over his head.
"Since you have your suspect in custody, I will be taking my leave." He turned.
"Wait!" Eren fumbled for words. "Can, can I at least get a name?"
"You won't put me in the details of the paperwork, will you?" Those icy grey eyes were on him again. They had the stare of death in them.
"No, no it'll just be between you and me."
"... Levi." And with that the individual rounded a corner and disappeared.
After that incident, Levi was a nagging presence in Eren's head. Whenever he had a slow day at work, or the endless amount of paperwork he was assigned to, he found himself drifting off to the strange man known as Levi.
Eren began to keep an eye out for the intriguing individual. He wondered why Levi had been there, in those specific alleyways. But he also wondered how he took down a man twice his size so easily. Eren wondered if he could teach him the moves. It would be quite useful in his line of work.
"Daydreaming again?" Armin's voice interrupted his thoughts.
"No, just thinking." Eren countered, knowing that his friend wouldn't buy it.
"That's the same thing, Eren." Mikasa added, earning a look.
"What's going on here?" Their boss, Commissioner Erwin Smith peeked into their office.
"Just working on our papers, sir!" Eren jumped, pointing at the stack he had almost finished. Erwin eyed the papers for a long moment.
"See to it that it's finished before your shift ends." The tall blonde carried on to his own office.
"Yes, sir!"
Some time went by, and slowly Eren began to see Levi more and more around town. He would be found in random places, different outfits. And yet he always seemed on edge.
It took a year, but Eren slowly gained Levi's trust. It was difficult, seeing as Levi didn't like or trust the police force. And yet something drew them together. And it was strong enough for them to overlook their differences.
"Wanna make a deal?" Eren asked one day.
Levi tensed up, ready to spring into action. Yet he remained still. Levi eyed the officer up and down.
"What are you offering?"
"I will turn a blind eye to whatever you do. So long as it's not murder, anyway."
"And what do you want in return?"
"Teach me your self defense moves."
Levi stared. That was it? That's all he wanted? That seemed a bit more of a benefit to Levi than it was to the young officer.
"Bullshit. That can't be all." He earned a chuckle.
"Occasionally I will inquire if you got any information of what goes on in the streets. The rumors, all that jazz. Only for when things are serious. I won't bother with all the petty stuff."
There's the catch.
Levi weighed his options. And although he knew he shouldn't take this offer, there was something to those eyes that drew him in.
"Officer Yeager, you got yourself a deal. Off the record."
"Of course." That smirk in response made Levi's heart race.