CHAPTER 4

Afternoon everybody! How is everyone? I'm a bit depressed today- it has not stopped raining, it's just yuck. Sorry about not updating, I don't have any excuses, just being lazy. If I don't update for a while, don't panic, I'm just on holiday. Fun fact, I found out the other day that Eren is Isabel's cousin! Who knew eh? It was kinda obvious though. Still, it's so cool. I swear everyone in SNK is related. I also found out that Hanji is neutral gender- and I am so happy about this. This is what I love about this show! Isayama literally makes it so un-biased and accepting of every type of character.

Remember to favourite and review! I love looking at what you all think- even if it's constructive criticism! (Lol), love you all!

Warnings- bad language, gore, and angst.

Disclaimer- SNK is not mine, or Erwin would rename himself Commander Handsome.

XXX

EREN'S POINT OF VIEW

The door slammed open with a loud bang, causing Eren to jump of his bed in shock. Levi stood in the doorway, with sweat dripping down his head and arms, his hair a mess, and a scared look on his face. Even having known the man for less than a day, Eren could already tell Levi did not show expression often, so something must we wrong.

"Hello Levi. If you are looking for Mikasa she isn't here." Eren sadly shrugged. Levi couldn't be here to see him, after all, he should be leading the mission now.

"No Eren, it's you I'm looking for. Look, I'm sorry, but you are going to have to come with us." Eren's eyes widened. "Put these on, I tried to get them in your size. Will you need help with the straps? Even Erwin still has trouble and he has been putting them on for over 15 years." He chucked a Scouting Legion jacket and a ton of very confusing looking straps onto the bed, and looked at Eren expectedly.

"Um, yes please. I don't have a chance with them. And why am I coming? I am no use! What can I do?" Eren cocked his head. Levi did however notice that Eren had no fear in his eyes, and realised that at the moment Eren had nothing TO fear. After all, he couldn't remember what the titans could do.

"I will explain on the way, quickly take of your cardigan." Levi choked. Eren wondered why Levi's normally confident voice had started to crack, but he ignored it and shrugged off his cardigan.

Levi stepped over, straps in hand, and asked Eren to lift his hands in the air as he started securing them around Eren's back and waist.

"Why are your hands shaking Levi?" Eren bluntly asked, and Levi froze as he was securing Eren's chest one and looked up at the younger boy desperately.

"No-no reason Eren." Levi spluttered, avoiding all eye contact.

"Here, wrap these round your hips like mine and then give me your feet, and I will do them too." He said.

Eren looked down up from his waist after fastening the straps, accidentally meeting Levi's eyes. Levi did not look away however, and Eren found himself drawn in to the grey orbs. The two stayed like that for a while, until Eren's cheeks were the shade of roses. "Levi..." Eren whispered, and although he had no idea why, he found himself reaching out to the older man, but the sound of his voice snapped Levi out of whatever trance the two had been in. He looked away hastily and continued fixing Eren's straps.

Eren suddenly noticed how long and elegant Levi's fingers were, and how pale his skin was. He also could see how silky and smooth Levi's hair was. He quickly stopped himself at looking at anything else, why was he even interested? 'Come on Eren, get it together...' he thought. 'You have only known him for a day. He not that good looking. Now Mikasa, wow.'

He stuck out his leg for the shorter man, and Levi quickly secured the needed straps there, and then the ones on the other leg. He jumped up, and handed Eren some long brown boots, clearly made of expensive leather. Eren slipped his feet into them, and stood up beside his friend.

"I am going to fit you with-" Eren cut Levi short.

"3D manoover gear- right?" He asked. Levi nodded, but then stopped.

"Wait, how did you know?" That was a good question, how did he know? Eren wasn't sure, nobody had told him, but he felt like whatever it was he just KNEW it, and could work it well.

"I, I'm not certain." He whispered. Levi just nodded again, and quickly fetched it from outside on the porch.

"Turn around." He motioned, and he fitted the gas releaser around Eren's waist and then the two sword canisters on his hips.

"There. Right. I hope you payed attention so you can do it next time. I am not your slave. Let's go, can you remember how to ride a horse?" Levi asked. Eren thought for a moment and shook his head.

"I don't think so. Is that an inconvenience? I don't want to cause any hassle, maybe I could ride with Mikasa or-" this time Levi cut Eren short.

"No need, you will ride with me. No questions." Eren nodded, and Levi smiled inwardly at this. Maybe this mission wasn't going to be all bad.

Now all fully fitted, Eren and Levi ran outside to the horses, and saddled up. Eren looked with incredible wonder at it and laughed when it licked his face.

'It's so big Levi!" He laughed, and patted its head affectionately.

Levi hoisted himself up, and nodded to the back of the horse for Eren. With some difficulty Eren too came up and joined Levi on the strong horse. Levi turned his head to Eren, and was met with a wide grin.

"I gather you have been told what special abilities you house." Levi stated, hoping he wouldn't have to give this talk to Eren.

"Yup. I can turn into a titan." He replied, and grinned.

"Well that's why you are coming. The commander thinks that if things get horribly out of hand, you are our last hope. But this isn't a game Eren. You will soon see that. Don't do anything, anything at all, unless instructed to do so directly by me or the Commander. People will die. Lots of people. They may be your friends, they may not. But don't do anything stupid." Eren swallowed, and nodded.

"Should I be scared Levi?" He breathed. Levi laughed sadistically , and turned his head foreword.

"Yes."

XXX

LEVI'S POINT OF VIEW

Levi was riding along, thinking about Erwin, and hoping he wasn't- well- dead. Levi honestly didn't think he could cope with that. He took great comfort however, in Eren's arms, which were currently wrapped around his waist to prevent the teenager from falling off. Eren was warm, and against the cold wind of the outside of the walls, all Levi wanted to do was bury himself in Eren and stay there, warm forever.

He was thinking about what had happened earlier, while fixing Eren's straps. If the task of helping Eren wasn't enough, that moment that had lasted at least thirty seconds was stuck in his head. Eren hadn't just blushed, his perfect face had practically set on fire, and not only that, he had reached out to Levi. Actually reached out. Did that mean he wanted to touch him, or just seek comfort, or was he simply caught in the moment? Levi didn't know.

He was suddenly snapped back to reality by Eren's head burying itself into Levi's back. His breath hitched. He smiled, but stopped as whistles from either side of him became louder. Levi sighed, and looked around him, clearly embarrassed. Some scouts that were riding near him had seen, and were making love hearts with their hands. Levi stuck both his middle fingers up at them and scowled. They giggled.

Then, off on his right side by where the support wagons and supplies were being escorted, a black flare was shot. The Scouts stopped giggling and returned to stony silence, drawing their blades as they did so. Eren's grip on Levi tightened, and he made a small noise. "W-what does that mean Levi?" He whispered.

"A titan is coming this was Eren, and an abnormal one. I may have to go and help, it depends on its height. If I do, just take the reins and keep riding, don't look back." Levi muttered, while scanning the trees for the bastard. He could hear trees cracking and distant 3DMG being used, as well as the odd scream.

Of course- of bloody course. Could Levi not go one fucking day without being thrown some sort of trouble. Today it was Erwin and this abnormal (he knew that he could handle it, any titan was no match for him, but Eren and the rest of his squad? That was a different matter. Especially with all the extra supplies they were carrying) Yesterday was Eren's head and injuries. What the hell would tomorrow hold?

"Eren, cover your ears." Levi ordered. Eren did so, and Levi fired the black smoke signal into the sky, sending the warning for possible death.

Bursting out of the trees, the titan suddenly appeared. It was an ugly one, and about 25 meters. It had long dark hair and red eyes, and it very much reminded Levi of the monster that had killed Farlan and Isabel. He narrowed his eyes at it, and instantly promised it's death to himself. Hanging from its mouth by 3DMG wires was a cadet, Levi recalled his name to be Jack. The cadet was dead, and half of his torso was gone.

Eren screamed loudly at the sight of this horrific creature, and shrank into himself and hugged Levi even harder.

"It's ok Eren. I have to go now- I will be right back. Just keep riding and don't watch." Eren nodded to Levi, his stunning green eyes as wide as ever, and his lips open in terror. Levi smiled a tiny bit, and ruffled Eren's hair before grabbing his blades, and jumped off his horse, screaming a war cry as he did. This evil thing was not going anywhere near Eren, not if Levi had anything do do with it.

Using as little gas as he could, Levi propelled himself off the ground and high up to the titan's arms, which he used to swing round and bound together with his wires. The titan, no longer able to move his arms, let out an ear bleeding roar, (dropping Jack, who fell to the ground and after hitting the floor, exploded everywhere) and snapped angrily in the air for Levi. Said Captain, an evil smirk on his face, sliced open the back of the now helpless titans neck, and then zoomed up and landed on its head and sat down for a rest while it fell to the floor, dead. This whole process took no more than 20 seconds.

Levi, who was fully aware that he had showed off far more than than usual (Eren was watching after all, despite being told not to- even with amnesia this kid never did as he was told) stood up, wiped the blood off his face and walked out of the vastly growing cloud of steam and that the body was evaporated in. Half flying, half running, he made it back to his and Eren's horse, and fully mounted without even stopping the animal. Eren looked at Levi with his mouth open, and his eyebrows high in his hair line.

"That. Was. Incredible!" He breathed, and waved his arms excitedly.

"You were just like 'shooom!' and you just killed it!" Eren grinned. Levi played the modest game, and tried to look as bored and uninterested as possible, and with his face, that was not hard to complete.

"Well you know, part of the job." He muttered. The blood was nearly fully evaporated now, and Eren took this chance and with a squeal he hugged Levi. "Is that what I did- before my fall?" He whispered.

"Yes Eren. Though you were a bit more clumsy, and more audible. You always seemed to be screaming." Levi joked. Eren grinned again, and looked foreword.

"It seems we are nearly here Levi. Look." He pointed at the great towering walls in the distance. Levi nodded and motioned for Eren to cover his ears again, before firing the green smoke that signalled for full speed ahead.

XXX

Once on the wall, the Scouts had the difficult task of locating their fellow comrades. Levi had taken them up there, and demanded that they stay there until he had worked out a plan. At least it was safe and out of titans reach.

Levi thought hard as to where Erwin would hide himself and the rest of his surviving subordinates. This was where it payed to have a friendship with him, Levi got to know how he worked. He had already fired the pitch ringer from his flare, to try and draw out Erwin. That hadn't worked out. He must be out of earshot then. Underground? No, probably not. That would be crawling with four and six meter classes. Unless, maybe he had retreated to the Underground World. Remembering his chase from about ten years ago with Erwin, he knew that his friend knew his way around it as well as he, and as a last resort, it was the only safe place. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.

Unknown to Levi during his childhood underground, there was in fact three separate and secret staircases leading to the underground, one in wall Maria, one in wall Rose, and one in Sina, all of which could only be accessed from the outside. They had been built as a last and desperate resort, in case all three walls fell. The entrance for wall Rose was close, and easily accessible to those few that knew about it.

It seemed logical, and Levi had no better leads, so that's where he decided to look. There was a problem though, those passages and entrances were secret, the fifty or so Scouts that had been brought couldn't find out, not to mention how the hell were they supposed to fit horses and wagons down a passage way barely two meters high? Levi would have to sneak off and check for himself. Ok, that would be the plan.

"Right. I want all of you to split up into groups of about seven, and search the city. Armin and Eren, you will come with me." He yelled, and all the Scouts quickly hurried to their friends. Levi hoped he was right, but if he wasn't, these guys would find his friend.

"Sir? There are far more experienced soldiers than me, why am I with you?" Armin asked, tapping Levi on the soldier.

"To look after Eren. Also, that head of yours will be useful." Levi responded, and Armin nodded.

"Right! Listen up!" Levi hollered to his subordinates. "This is not, I repeat not a hunting mission. Avoid all fights and combat when necessary. If one of you swines has found the Commander, fire your green flare, and pitch ringer. Understood?" Everyone nodded apart from Eren, who was slightly shocked such a short man could be so loud.

"Ok! MOOVE OUT!" He screamed. Everyone sprinted towards the end of the wall in their groups and leaped off, all screaming with anticipation of flying.

Armin stood next to Eren looking slightly bored, while Eren just gazed in wonder.

"What are we doing Sir?" Armin cocked his head to the side and narrowed his big blue eyes.

"Something else." Levi answered sarcastically, (Levi was fluent in sarcasm). Armin sighed. "Are you strong enough to carry Eren when we go down the wall?" Armin looked at Eren, at the bottom of the wall, and back at Eren again. This continued for a long time.

"Oh for Christ's sake Arlert. I will take him!" Levi sighed. Armin looked relieved and grinned at Eren widely.

"I'm not as strong as you." He smiled, and Eren looked down at his hands in surprise. He thought for a moment then looked back at Armin.

"You have better hair though." He concluded , and Armin blushed and flicked his hair, clearly proud. Levi sighed and put his head in his hands. Sometimes he forgot that these idiots were in fact teenagers, and it was at times like this, he was reminded again.

Eren, picking up on Levi's sigh, turned to look at him and grinned. "Don't worry Levi. Your hair is cool too, especially the way it-"

"Alright, enough of this. Arlert, meet me down there." Levi groaned, and Armin nodded. He stood on the edge, then nudged Eren to look at him before dramatically thrusting out his arms and stepping off the edge like someone walking off a cliff.

"For fucks sake. This is serious!" Levi yelled over the edge. He walked over to Eren and scooped him up into his arms.

"Hold tight." He muttered, and jumped off the wall. Eren let out a gasp as they started to fall, but it soon turned into a whoop of excitement as Levi's 3DMG gear whizzed into action.

Once everyone was at the bottom and safely on their feet, Levi explained his plan.

"Understood Sir." Armin nodded. "Good plan. That seems the logical place they would be. And you can trust me, nobody will know."

"Lets go then." Levi sniffed. "Arlert, keep your swords out and at the ready. If a titan comes, run. Avoid any fighting. You too Eren. Don't even think about even attempting anything. Your gear is for a worst case scenario."

Eren looked taken back, and he waved his hands.

"Oh God no! I would break my neck." He breathed.

"That's not the Eren I know..." Armin whispered to Levi. Levi sighed and 'hmm"ed his agreement. He missed the old Eren.

It took roughly twenty minutes to walk to the passage, and the two boys kept close to Levi, clearly more than slightly scared at the idea of having to confront a titan and seeking comfort. No such titan appeared though, probably as they were all distracted with the other scouts.

Levi suddenly put up his hand, and Armin and Eren abruptly stopped talking. The three were in an old, dark alleyway that had moss and mould crawling up the walls and puddles on the cobbled floor. Armin looked around and raised his eyebrows.

"Nice part of town this..." he whispered.

"Quiet!" Levi hissed. Armin and Eren took another step towards the older man.

Levi bent down and felt around with his hand in the murky water, before gripping hold of a brass ring, and heaving it up. After the water had drained away, a staircase could be seen winding its way down and out of view. It was dark and pitch black apart from a single lighted torch burning at the top. The stairs were made of grand slabs of stone, and there were clear signs of blood that had been splashed on them.

Levi turned, and looked at the two, before grabbing the torch and steadily starting to descend them. Armin let out a small whimper and fumbled next to him for Erens hand. Even if Eren didn't really remember Armin, he still provided comfort. Eren grabbed Armin's hand and held it tightly. Levi saw this, and smiled inwardly, glad that maybe now, the two would stop looking so damn scared, and get on with the job. He wanted to find Erwin, and fast.

"It's dark in here.." Eren whispered after about four minutes, and looked at Armin. Armin was just about to reply, when a flickering torch suddenly appeared down below. It appeared to be lighting up a small open space, and breathing could be heard coming from it.

"Stay here..." Levi breathed, and, like an animal stalking its prey, Levi drew his sword with practically no noise at all and stealthily walked down the remaining stairs. At the last moment he burst into the room, blades ready to strike, and held above his head.

"LEVI!" Levi barely had time to process what was going on before he fell backwards with a loud 'oof!', Erwin having ran into him with over excitement. Levi spat out blood on the floor from where he had bit his lip in surprise and blinked in shock. He carefully stood up after a moments daze, and looked around for his tall blonde friend.

"Jesus man! What the hell was that?" He groaned, and Erwin sat up and smiled at him sadly.

"I missed you Levi! I was worried that you were dead or wouldn't think I was here. But it seems I was right to assume that you would know where I would be. Did you bring anyone with you?" Levi nodded, but and answered the question subconsciously, but all he could think about was: 'he's safe! Thank God!"

Armin and Eren trudged down the stairs, still holding hands. Erwin looked at the pair, and his lips turned up in a smile. He got up and brushed himself off, before thrusting out his hand.

"Commander Erwin Smith. I have met you before Eren, but as you don't remember, I will reintroduce myself. I am a good friend of Captain Shortie over there. Pleasure to be rescued by you." He joked.

Eren took his hand, and shook it. "I am greatly honoured to meet you Sir." Erwin let go, and ruffled Armin on the head, before turning and facing Levi.

"There are eleven of us in here, one died of blood loss and shock on the way. We need to get out and get these soldiers to a hospital. Quickly help me with some of them, some can't walk." He muttered, clearly having switched from 'friendly best friend' to 'Commander Smith'. Levi nodded his agreement.

"Yes. I have Scouts causing a distraction at the moment. But they are most likely dying, and I would like to avoid as many deaths as possible." He said, clearly battling to keep the relief and joy from seeping his missing friend alive again deep into his voice. Erwin led the three to the remaining soldiers, and Levi looked sadly at the lot. They were all just staring at the wall, not even acknowledging him. They were in shock. Erwin pointed out the soldiers who couldn't walk, and it was clear why. Their legs were severely broken in some places, others had no legs. Levi managed to haul two over his shoulders, and Erwin took two as well. Eren looked on in horror and pity. Armin helped gather everything up.

"Right. Now all we have to do is make it back." Erwin sarcastically groaned, looking up at the long staircase looming above them.

"Shouldn't be too hard." Levi answered, playing along. Armin and Eren just looked at each other, both knowing this was going to be nowhere near easy. They were right.