Thank you for the views and favorites! It makes me so happy x3

This story will move pretty fast -quick love- because I can't drag out or add decent fillers into my stories to save my life ^o^; but Eren Levi lovins are cute anyway~

Also I'd like to credit/ thank tayziconable for the additional and well needed edits to the entirety of my story! She's amazing and writes such beautiful Kuroshitsuji fanfiction along with other ones. Check them out!

Alright well disclaimer: I don't own attack on titan or its characters.

Enjoy~

Chapter 2

"Hey guys, what are you talking about?" Eren asked as he sat down across from Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Arlert with a plate of food consisting of mainly bread.

Armin peeked up at Eren with his sky blue eyes silently surveying Eren as he sat.

"Um why do you look so nervous Armin?" Eren asked in confusion when neither of the two answered his first question.

"Sorry Eren. We've been discussing the identity of the female titan." Armin answered.

"Oh." Eren said as his friendly expression was replaced with a less cheerful one. "Well did you at least figure anything out?"

"We have an idea…" Armin began. "But…"

"But what?" Eren asked suspiciously. He casted a glance over to Mikasa then back to Armin. He could tell they knew something.

Mikasa spoke up knowing that Eren's persistent curiosity was beginning to get the better of him. "Eren the culprit is amongst us, amongst our men, you know this but knowing who it really is will only anger you more and at this moment you of all people do not need to receive any more overwhelming information."

"She's right Eren. And besides, we aren't even certain yet. Once we have more evidence to back it up with we'll let everyone who needs to know, know."

Eren stood up in aggravation. "Right, so I can't know until everyone else does even though I'm your best friend, even though I'm the one who wants to…" Eren clenched his fists and took a deep breath before running his hand through his hair. He shot quick glances at both of his friends.

'They're not afraid of me or even offended. They're so used to my childish tantrums, it's unfair, they don't deserve to get yelled at, they shouldn't even be here now, but I don't think I can sit around talking about yesterday without getting frustrated. It's probably best that I just go and rest.'

"I'm sorry. I just need to go back to my room." Eren scratched the back of his head and turned to leave. He heard a chair push outwards and soon the sounds of footsteps became louder as he continued the other way.

Mikasa grabbed his arm and pulled him in her direction. "Eren we're doing what's best. Getting upset over a few ideas should be the least of your problems. I promise you'll know soon enough." Mikasa informed with affliction striking her face.

"I know, I will." Eren smiled at Mikasa then removed her hand from grasping his arm.

"But right now I need sleep. I'm suddenly tired but I least got to see you guys today and that's good enough for now." He said as he turned away again, this time making it away from that area.

Eren made his way down to the basement and stopped abruptly before his cellar, noticing Levi sitting on a chair in said cellar and staring intently at the confused boy.

"Uh captain, what are you doing here?" Eren asked, opening the barred gate and stepping in.

"I came down here to use the furnace to dispose of some excess trash and on my way down I heard her calling for me." Levi closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. "It sounded like she eagerly wanted to discuss another experiment that only she would care about so I'm staying down here to hide out….Anyway sit. I owe you one, so tell me about your childhood or something."

Eren stepped over towards Levi and sat on the bed alongside the chair.

"Sure, I can tell you." Eren said somewhat surprised that Levi cared to know. He hung his head to conceal a skittish smile.

'Levi reminds me of a puppy of some sorts. Even if he had a reason for being down here to begin with, he stayed to talk to me. He's so strangely cute.' Eren gandered at Levi whose cold eyes depicted a man who would murder Eren if he didn't speak up soon. Eren reflexively shot his gaze back to the ground.

'So strangely cute.'

"Eren, what the hell are you doing?" Levi asked with glare more penetrating than the last.

"Sorry sir." Eren laughed. "You're just pretty funny that's why. Ah but I can't tell you why!" Eren explained lifting a finger in the air.

Levi just stared at him for a moment confused and tired.

"I'll never understand your childish thoughts kid. Just get on with your story will you?"

"Alright." Eren replied with a smile. "Okay so when I was younger….well I guess I still do it…But anyway I used to pick fights all the time too and I'd win them! Or so I'd thought until I realized that they were all just afraid of Mikasa. How bothersome huh? Mikasa has always been better than me, but I've gotten used to it now. I'm stronger now too!"

"So you don't hate Mikasa for outshining you in everything? Good, that's nothing to terminate your friendship over." Levi commented.

"Yeah well I can't just leave her after what she's been through. I'll stick by her until this mess is over and she can live on with a happy life."

"Don't you plan on being a part of that future?"

"I'll still be around and I love Mikasa but she's like a sister to me or even a mom." Eren closed his eyes and placed his elbow on his thigh, leaning his cheek against his palm. He began to wave his other hand slightly in the air, rhythmically to his next words.

"It's always; "Eren do this, eat that, wear this, and don't act like that, Eren, Eren, Eren." So annoying and I can't live with that forever."

"She cares though and that's what's important."

Eren partly opened his eyes. "Yeah I guess." He replied in an apathetic tone. His eyes soon peeled open as he lurched up to the sound of hearing the basement door slam open, but no footsteps followed.

"Eren! It's Hanji! Have you seen Levi around anywhere?" Hanji called from the top of the small staircase.

"No ma'am, I'm sorry I haven't!" Eren yelled back.

"Ah…alright well tell me if you do!" and with that the door slammed shut scaring Eren yet again.

Eren took in a deep breath, dispensing it briskly. "She always scares the crap out of me when she comes in."

"You'll get used to it." Levi said. "You're a good liar huh? Didn't even hesitate." Levi looked off to the side and away from Eren.

"Huh? Well I was trying to save you! I'm not just some kind of liar." Eren stated defensively.

"I'm kidding. I know you're an honest kid." Levi said standing up. "I should get going though, Hanji sounds more frantic than she did before." Levi ruffled Eren's hair. "Even though it was cut off short, what I heard from your story was nice. I look forward to more." Levi said without turning back as he left the basement.

Eren laughed softly to himself. "Sure thing sir."

'Just like a puppy.'

"Damn…It's cold in here." Eren shivered as he rubbed his chilled arms. It was roughly around 3am Eren figured as he looked out the window behind his bed. Eren glanced around the basement room barely illuminated by the moonlight.

'Maybe I can sit by the furnace for a while.' Eren thought as he walked over to the potential heat enhancer. 'Captain Levi did have it on before so it could still be a little warm. Warmer than by the window at least.' When Eren reached the furnace he opened the door to release what was left of the warm air.

"Uhg no warmth what-so-ever." Eren grumbled as he started to close the door but stopped when he noticed what Levi had burned the day before.

"What the hell…?"

"Captain, are you awake?!" Eren knocked furiously on Levi's door. "If you weren't before I'm sure you are now!" Eren knocked a few times more knowing Levi had to of heard him by now. He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth as he soon heard footsteps reach closer to the door. The door opened to reveal Levi standing there in his sleep wear, meaning a long sleeved grey shirt and black cloth pants. Levi's hair stuck up in more places than one. It was patently obvious that he truly was asleep just now.

"What the fuck do you want?" Levi's voice was husky and his narrowed eyes glared daggers at Eren.

Eren gulped and hesitated for a moment. He had no idea what Levi would be like when he was just woken up. The Levi who was awake throughout the day was scary enough.

"Captain, can you explain this to me?" Eren almost demanded as he held out a handful of half burnt badges belonging to the deceased Special Operations Squad members. "You said this was how you proved they were alive. So why, why would you burn them? That was all you had left!" Eren's voice grew louder as anger filled his words. "Explain it now!" He practically cried out, dissolving any respect for the authority in front of him.

Levi moved his attention from Eren to the half destroyed badges that settled in the boy's hand. He elevated his viewpoint back to Eren who remained with a determined spark in his eyes. The persistent look in Eren's expression only pissed off Levi further and before Eren could see it coming, Levi swung his right arm upwards and punched Eren on the side of his mouth causing him to stumble a few steps backwards.

"Don't ever come into my room bitching at three in the morning again. What I decide about my squad is my own choice. Do you understand that?"

Eren held one hand to his left cheek while the other shook in furry.

"In all due respect sir, I don't think it was necessary to burn your last physical memories of them. I can't understand why you would-"Eren began in a low tone shaking with more anger.

"Eren, some things are better left forgotten and for the sake of hoping you leave soon, I'll let you know that I'm tired of meddlesome sentiments time after time. Now let me repeat myself. Did you understand what I previously said?" Levi looked as if he was on his last straw. Eren couldn't risk arguing more and simply nodded before lowering his eyes and walking away trembling with a mixture of anger and sorrow. He hated the idea of dismissing the existence of comrades but amongst that he felt sorry now knowing that this was Levi's real way of getting over those who meant a lot to him. He had forced himself to forget them and then proceeded to bottle up the lingering emotions. If this was to be kept up, Levi's composed mentality could snap and Eren wasn't about to let that happen.

'I can't let that happen. Captain Levi is too important to humanity and too important to me for anything to happen to him.'

"Wake up." Levi commanded as he loomed over the teen sleeping on his back.

Eren winced at the command and rolled over onto his side facing Levi.

"I'm sorry to disturb your adorable little slumber here you lazy piece of shit, but you need to get up." Levi said, arms folded, glowering down at Eren.

Without opening his eyes, Eren removed one hand from being pressed up to his chest and reached up towards Levi initiating the 'come here' hand gesture.

"…'ve a secret for you Captain..." Eren mumbled.

"I don't care to play your games kid." Levi replied.

Eren's eye brows furrowed as he repeated the same gesture but more promptly this time.

Levi sighed and rolled his eyes before squatting down and leaning in towards the persistent boy.

"What?" Levi asked impatiently.

Eren's aggravated expression softened now that Levi complied.

"Sir I'm… a titan." Eren whispered then giggled to himself. He opened his eyes just a bit to see Levi's stern, glazed, expression.

"Goddamned brat." Levi murmured before lifting up a hand to swiftly slap Eren across the head not hard enough to cause any real pain this time.

"Get. Up. Now." Levi emphasized his words as he stood up straight, his dim eyes seeming to bore straight through Eren.

"Fine, fine," Eren grumbled as he sat up rubbing his eyes. "It's 5 am already?" He asked sluggishly.

"Yes, well maybe if someone didn't go on an angry rampage two hours ago you wouldn't be so tired." Levi said folding his arms again.

Eren's eyes expanded as he recalled the happenings that occurred just hours before. His voice shifted into a serious tone as he eyed Levi.

"Captain, I want to talk to you about that properly."

"We don't need to discuss this."

"We do." Eren said stiffly. "I don't want anything bad to happen to you. The more this happens the more your mind will be affected."

"Do you think I'll go insane or something? That's ridiculous." Levi scoffed averting Eren's forceful stare.

"Maybe it does sound ridiculous but I care too much to pass it off lightly just because of how it sounds."

"Eren I didn't need anyone to care when I joined the Survey Corps and I sure as hell don't need it now, especially from a brat who can't control his own emotions."

"You can say that but that doesn't mean I can suddenly stop caring and believe everything will be okay."

"Why do you care? Actually, why do you care so much?"

Eren stopped for a second and stared barren at Levi.

"Why do I care? Well you have done so much and you're the reason I'm alive for multiple reasons…but…but that's not it, though it ties in somewhere I'm sure. Anyway, recently when I think about you or talk to you I have an abundance of different emotions that I don't know how to place." Eren grazed his hand over his face as small tears formed at the edges of his eyes. "But what I do know is that I wouldn't be able to stand seeing anything, anything at all happen to you."

Levi looked at Eren surprised, his heartbeat speeding up upon hearing those delicate words. Being cared for was never too bad of an idea but the thought of relying on others to stay true to their words or to just stay alive was the hard part that Levi had tried so hard before to avoid. He wasn't one to give into his emotions but there was something about this boy that made him want to feel cared for. If one is human, is it that bad to give in to human needs?

Levi stepped closer to Eren and ruffled his hair before leaning in to wrap his arms around the tearful child.

Levi's face remained unaltered but his heart felt warm and his mind at ease as he whispered to Eren. "I'll be okay Eren. I am humanity's strongest after all."

"You're right about that." Eren chuckled, encircling his arms around Levi and pulling him in closer. Everything felt right when he held onto Levi so closely. At a moment like this nothing could harm them and Levi would be safe.

If only Eren could hold him tight, never letting go forever, then maybe everything would be just fine.

Thanks again for reading! The next chapter is all smut, I lost control with that one and its like twice as long as this chapter.

/geez/

Please review and look forward to the next chapter~