Chapter 1 – A Compromise?

The world is full of heartaches and doubt, Eren knew that, but he never expected to be food for a vampire. He never thought in a million years that he'd be captured and held against his will. Nor did he think they would assume killing him would solve anything.

"We have to get rid of him. Now." Levi repeated, eyes growing colder with every word.

Hanji flailed around, trying to change the subject, but Levi was having none of it. He strode over to Eren and leaned down, whispering something into his ear.

"If you wish to live, you could stay around, not tell anyone we're here, and offer a few pints of blood in the process."

The boy's breath hitched in his throat. Pulling away, Levi set a hand on Eren's shoulder, making sure to use only half of his grip strength.

"It's a simple yes or no. If you refuse to comply, I'll slit your throat right now." His eyes narrowed even further, if that's possible. "So, what'll it be? Food or foe?"

"You mean friend, right?" Hanji corrected in the form of a question.

"No, I mean food."

There it was. The word Eren despised the most. Food. He refused to have that mindset about vampires and humans, that they could ruthlessly control people like cattle. It wasn't right to be treated as such. After all, humans are living creatures, as are their immortal counterparts.

Gritting his teeth was the start of Eren's growing anger.

"I'm not your food. I'll never bow to any of you, nor will I willingly offer my blood."

"Hm...then I guess you choose death." Levi scowled at the brunet in front of him.

"Wait, Levi! You can't do that! You need him." The redhead threw her body between the two men, hoping to erase any further conflict.

"Tsk...I don't 'need' him for anything."

"Of course you do! His blood! You have to, please! You'll die if you don't..." The lady was crying her eyes out and grabbing onto her friend's arm, much to Levi's discontent.

"Get off me!"

"Excuse me...?" Eren meekly interrupted.

The dark-haired vampire scowled at him again. "What?"

"U-um! Well, you clearly want to kill me, but she wants to keep me alive...why?"

"Oh!" Hanji exclaimed, lifting her pointer finger in the air. "This idiot needs blood right now or he's gonna die within the next few weeks. I've been trying to find a blood supply for him, but he refuses to take the bags I give him."

"Thank you for just giving away my entire situation. One that I told you to keep private."

"He needs to know if he's going to be your stock. Plus, we could keep everything a secret. No one has to know about him."

"Hanji! I told you, we either kill him or let him choose." Levi said as he turned to Eren again. "Choose."

"Choose?"

"Now!" The man's steel-gray eyes flashed a hint of red the moment he yelled, showing off a side that not many mortals knew since he always kept his vampiric traits hidden from the human world.

Eren flinched, shying away from the vampire that stood before him. He could actually feel the murderous intent emanating off of the man.

"I can't choose! How the hell do you expect me to pick!?"

Levi hastily grabbed a fistful of the boy's chocolate hair and dragged him onto the floor. Eren yelled in outrage as his hair was used as an anchor, but Levi didn't care. No. Instead, he tossed him up against the brick wall, Eren's back scraping harshly as he did.

Breath knocked out of him, Eren coughed, his eyes wide as he turned up to catch sight of Levi. He was just in time to see a fist coming his way, tough knuckles colliding with his face as his spit went flying across the clearing. His head collided with the brick wall, his body falling sideways and revealing his stomach just in time for Levi to deliver a well-aimed kick. Eren saw stars, his vision blinking in and out as he fell, hacking, to the ground, his cheek rubbing across the tile as he curled into the fetal position. The pain was immense—and Eren wasn't exactly new to fighting. Levi, however, knew what he was doing and had given him the blows with both skill and total accuracy.

"Wh...agh! What the h-hell!?" Eren shouted, winded from the assault.

Levi placed another harsh kick to Eren's face, shoving his leather-soled boot into the boy's cheek.

"Levi! Go easy on him! He's not immortal like us! You could seriously injure him!"

"He's fine. If a Slayer can't even take this much, then they don't deserve to be a part of the Corps." Levi hissed while rubbing his foot across Eren's face.

"Yeah, but—"

"No! He needs to know pain! I'll take him in if he can withstand this. If not, well...you do the math."

He turned back to Eren and glared down at him with a terrifyingly cold look plastered on his face.

"Hey, boy! Is that all you can take?" Levi's voice was hissing in his ear, Eren's eyes cracking open to see the vampire was bent over him, his face only inches from Eren's own. There was fire in his eyes—a threatening fierceness that Eren had never seen from a vampire before. "Is that all the fight you have in you?"

Reaching forward again, Levi grabbed Eren by the hair and jerked him back into the sitting position so he could get a better look at him.

"Do you think this is tough?" he asked, Eren beyond confused and unable to answer. He didn't know why the guy was beating up on him, or acting so insane. And, honestly, it scared him. He wasn't stupid—Levi wasn't the type of person he would intentionally piss off. He was a vampire for God's sake! "You think this is pain?" Levi bent down in front of him again. "You don't know pain. You don't know anything."

Hand rushing forward, Levi grabbed Eren around the throat, constricting his airway some as Eren began to panic.

"Levi, stop!" The redheaded woman leapt forward, clutching onto Levi's arm, struggling to pull him back. The vampire easily shoved her away and continued on with his rage.

"Your neck is quite pretty, it'd be a shame if something happened to it." Levi brushed his finger directly across the spot where the boy's aorta was, savoring the feel of flowing blood beneath the skin. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't starving. He wanted nothing more than to pierce into the boy's skin, but he restrained himself.

"Like I said earlier, you can still make the choice to survive. All you need to give me in return is your blood. It's not that hard."

Silence. The only audible noise was the sound of Eren's constricted breathing as Levi tightened his hold on his neck.

"So, what'll it be? Live or die?" He purred the last statement into Eren's ear, making certain to get his point across. "I don't have all day."

"L...agh—"

The vampire's grip stiffened before he retracted his hand.

In a coughing fit, Eren gazed up at his attacker with a glimmer of hatred sparked up. He wanted to fight back, but he knew he'd lose without his gear.

"So? Have you chosen?"

"..."

"I'm getting impatient." He raised his leg in a threatening stance, mimicking the act of kicking. Eren backed up against the wall, gasping lightly as a boot was slammed down just inches from his ear. "I want an answer."

In a strangled yell, Eren gave his response. "I choose death!"

-At the same time-

"Hm? Human stock? In Cafenea de Sânge?"

"Yes ma'am. That's what one of our insiders told us."

"Interesting...can you get a hold of that insider?"

"Yes."

"Wonderful. I think it's about time we paid little Levi a visit."

.

.

.

Sorry for not updating any of my stories...I feel so guilty. I'm busy cramming for finals right now, so I won't update as fast for a couple weeks.