After Erwin had left to meet Armin earlier that afternoon, Levi had ceased being productive. He tried very hard, but he found himself unable to concentrate on anything other than Eren. How the boy had managed to infatuate Levi so easily was beyond him, but he couldn't really bring himself to care. He resigned himself to accept the fact that he was falling in love with Eren, and no one else could take his place in Levi's life. Now he just had to figure out how he should respond to all of this. He did not know how long he would be in this town, and he couldn't ask Eren to come with him to Sina. Or could I? There is a chance he would want to come with me, but I doubt he would want to leave his family. And I know for a fact that his sister wouldn't let him out of her sight for that long. Armin could be persuaded, especially since his relationship with Erwin is going well. Although, if they are serious, Armin will probably be moving to Sina soon anyway. Which would mean Eren would be willing to come to Sina with him. But would I be willing to wait until that point? What if Eren doesn't want to do a long-distance thing? Maybe I should ask him how he feels about that. Maybe I should ask him how he feels about all of this. He agreed to starting a relationship, but I doubt he has thought everything through. I don't think he is aware of the complications of dating a prince. Maybe dating him isn't the best idea, but, I can't just walk away from him. I need him, I want him, and I will do whatever it takes to keep him with me.

"Your Highness, may I come in?"

Levi snapped out of his thoughts and turned to look at Hanji standing in the doorway.

"What do you want, shitty glasses?"

"Just to talk," Hanji replied with a small smile.

"Fine, but make it quick," Levi replied with a glare. Whatever this was about, it could not be good if Hanji was being so calm.

"Alright," Hanji said, shutting the door behind her and coming to sit across from him. "I wanted to talk about Eren."

"What about him?" Levi asked, instantly concerned.

"Just what are your intentions towards him? You have been acting completely different since you met him," Hanji gave him a pointed look. "I don't want you to break his heart."

Levi sighed as he realized there was no point in trying to get out of this. It might be good to talk through some of these feelings with someone else, even if it is Hanji.

"I don't know," he admitted quietly. "Before you came in, I was trying to figure it out. I don't want to break his heart either, but I don't know what to do. I've never felt this way about anyone. He makes me happy, happier than I have ever been. I don't to be away from him, but once we find this shifter, we'll be going back to Sina."

"That's true," Hanji mused, glad that Levi was actually talking to her about this. She had expected him to tell her to leave him alone. "Do you see yourself spending the rest of your life with him?"

"Don't you think that's a little premature?" Levi asked, a little shocked. Though, whether his shock was at the implication of that question, or at the warm feeling he got when he thought about actually spending the rest of his life with Eren, he wasn't really sure.

"Do you?" Hanji countered.

"I-"

"What scares you more? Being with Eren, or leaving him?"

"Leaving him," Levi responded quietly, not looking Hanji in the eye.

"Then that's your answer," Hanji smiled.

"But I don't know if that's what he wants." Levi said seriously. "I'm not going to force him into something or pressure him to be with me if that's not what he wants. He's still young, he may find someone else, or decide he doesn't want to be in a relationship at all. Plus, I can't ask him to stay with me if I'm living in Sina, and he's living here. And, I also can't ask him to leave his family to come to Sina to be with me. But I can't bear the thought of not seeing him. I want to be selfish and keep him all to myself, but I just can't if there is even the slightest chance he doesn't want it."

"Well, Levi, it may take a few weeks to find the shifter, so maybe you should just focus on being with Eren right now. Don't worry too much about the future, just enjoy the time you have with him. Whenever we complete our mission, or get summoned back to Sina, then you can ask him what he wants to do. By then, you may have figured out what you want from him, and what he wants from you. He may want to come to Sina with you. And, if it's his family that would hold him back, maybe you should offer to bring them along, too. I'm sure Erwin would be really happy for that as well, since that would include Armin. But just relax and enjoy spending time with Eren. He may feel the same way about you as you do about him."

"I guess you're right," Levi mused, his mind drifting to thoughts of seeing Eren soon, before another thought made his blood run cold. "Hanji, what am I supposed to do on a date?"

Eren was already feeling nervous about his date with Levi, but now that it was almost time for it, he was downright anxious about it. He had been glad for the distraction of talking to Armin about his date with Erwin, but there were no distractions now. It was getting close to dinner time, and Levi still hadn't shown up. Did he forget about me? Did he change his mind? What if he decided I was too young for him? Or maybe I'm just not special enough to date a prince. What if-

"Eren, you have to calm down, you've sprouted cat ears," Mikasa said dully. She hated that Eren had agreed to date the prince, not only because of the danger it put Eren in, but also because she thought it would only end in heartbreak when Levi decided to return to the palace.

"Oh, sorry!" Eren cried, quickly willing away his furry ears. "I'm just nervous, I've never been on a date before. What if I screw something up? What if he changes his mind about dating me?"

"Eren."

"Sorry."

"He would be an idiot to change his mind about dating you," Mikasa said gently. "Even though I don't approve of you dating him, I know how much you like him, you've had a crush on him since the first time you saw his picture in your school book. Just relax and be yourself, and you won't screw anything up. If he changes his mind, it's not the end of the world. Honestly, you'll be much safer if he does."

"Mikasa-"

"It's the truth, Eren, and you know it. You're risking a lot for the chance at a relationship with him. It won't just hurt you if he finds out. But, you're old enough to make this decision. So, enjoy it while it lasts. Just don't get too attached, otherwise you'll be heartbroken when he has to return to Sina."

"Yeah," Eren sighed. "Thanks, Mikasa. You're always looking out for me. I don't know what I'll do when he has to go back home. I wish I could go with him, but I couldn't stand to be away from you and Armin. I wish we could all move to Sina, that way I could be with Levi, and Armin could be with Erwin, and our family could still be together."

"That would be nice," Mikasa smiled. Eren was too sweet for his own good.

Just then, they heard a knock on the door.

"Levi!" Eren exclaimed, throwing the door open wide.

"Hey Eren, you ready to go?" Levi asked, giving him a small smirk. It was clear by the speed with which Eren opened the door that he had been waiting for Levi.

"Yeah," Eren replied, smiling broadly. "Bye, Mikasa. I'll be home later."

"Not too late, Eren," Mikasa replied, smiling slightly. "Have fun."

Eren waved as he all but ran out the door to the carriage, not even waiting for Levi. Levi let out a small chuckle at his enthusiasm.

"I'll have him home at a reasonable hour, he'll be safe with me," Levi said solemnly, before turning and following Eren out the door, not giving Mikasa a chance to respond. She walked to the door to watch them leave.

"How was your day?" Levi asked as he climbed into the carriage with Eren. Mikasa couldn't hear Eren's response, but she saw his eyes light up as he started talking. When was the last time he smiled like that?

"Oh, Eren, I hope you'll be careful," Mikasa sighed before turning and walking back inside to start cooking dinner for herself and Armin.

The carriage ride was calming for Eren. He told Levi about his conversation with Armin, to which Levi responded by telling him how nervous Erwin had been and how they had had their own conversation as well. Eren felt himself relaxing as Levi spoke. He honestly felt like he could listen to Levi talk all day, and never grow tired of hearing him.

Once they reached the hotel, Levi ushered him into a private dining room he had reserved for them. Eren couldn't believe he had done all this just for him, but when he commented on it, Levi just smirked and brushed it off like it was no big deal. To Eren, it was a big deal though, as he had never been pampered in his life. No one treated him like something truly special, aside from his own family. His face flushed scarlet as Levi pulled out his chair for him with a shy smile. Shortly after they sat down, food was brought to them. It appeared Levi had prepared everything.

Dinner was a quiet and somewhat awkward affair. Both of them were too nervous to do much more than stare at each other. Levi had trouble finding things to talk about since he knew Eren didn't like to talk about shifters and those had been his only interest for years now. Eren broke the silence by asking Levi questions about the places he traveled to. They fell into easy conversation after that, mostly with Levi telling stories and Eren listening with rapt attention. People always listened when Levi spoke, but he had never had as good of a listener as Eren. The boy hung onto his every word with excitement and awe. But it was Eren's sincerity that made Levi feel special. Not as prince, but as a person with thoughts and feelings like everyone else.

Once dinner was finished, they fell into awkward silence again, neither knowing how to proceed. Eren, having never been on a date, had no idea what to expect. Levi was trying so hard not to pressure Eren, he didn't know what he could do that wouldn't seem suggestive. Would Eren even want to hang out after dinner, or would he just want to go home? Levi himself wasn't ready to say goodnight to the boy just yet. But after a few minutes, Levi had an idea.

"Come on, brat, lets go to my room."

"Wh-what?" Eren's eyes almost popped out of their sockets in shock, making Levi laugh.

"I didn't mean that, but good to know where your mind is," Levi smirked. "I just figured there were more comfortable chairs to sit in, and it would be a little more private."

"O-oh, okay," Eren stammered, now thoroughly embarrassed.

With another chuckle, Levi pulled him out of the chair and led him up to his room. He could tell Eren was still nervous, but he didn't say anything. He didn't want to scare him. He led Eren over to sit on the couch.

"Do you want anything to drink?" Levi asked quietly, so he wouldn't startle Eren.

"Uh, no thanks, I'm okay," Eren replied.

"Alright, if you change you mind, just let me know."

"Okay. Why do you have so many books?"

"Because I like to read," Levi replied simply, watching as Eren got up and started looking at some of the books on the shelf closest to him. Levi had a lot of books. It seemed like there were books on every flat surface of the room. Most of them were books on shifters and local cities and stuff, but there were a few adventure and fantasy books mixed in as well.

"Do you like to read, Eren?"

"Oh, uh, well, I'm not very good at reading, so not really. But I like to look at the pictures and listen to the stories, so sometimes Armin reads to me." Eren blushed.

"Hmm, why don't you pick a book out, and we can start reading it together?"

"Eh? You want to read to me?"

"Yeah, I think I would enjoy that. It could become our thing, you could come over every night for dinner, and then we'll read a chapter or two."

"That sounds, um, fun," Eren swallowed hard. To have the chance to sit and listen to him talk for a couple hours every night - how can I say no to that? He has no idea what his voice does to me, though...

"If you don't want to, we don't have to-"

"NO, I want to," Eren interrupted. "I really want to, I'm just nervous."

"Why would that make you nervous?"

"Because, it-it seems so intimate," Eren blushed.

"That's because it is," Levi smirked. "Now are you going to pick a book?"