"What's her name?" Erwin asked lightheartedly, staring down at the dog who was being bombarded by happy miniature versions of herself.
"Pega," Levi said assuredly, then continued when he felt his Commander's eyes on him. "After the Special Operations Squad fatalities. Seemed fitting."
Petra, Erd, Gunther, Auruo. PEGA.
Hange had taken the puppies from his arms as soon as he'd walked through the gate. It was a challenge to bring them all back together - mostly because they relentlessly forced their saliva-covered tongues all over his hands and face. Tiny, sharp teeth had a habit of gnawing at his fingers as he tried to hold the reigns, but he ultimately gave up and let the loyal horse find its way back without direction. Then he spent a good ten minutes cleaning his face and fingers while the little dogs made a mess of the potted plants and dug at the grass near the gate.
Levi now stood next to his Commander, who had come down upon Hange's request to check out the animals. It'd been years since any of them had seen domestic canines, and she thought it a momentous event.
"Do you think that's all of them?" the Captain asked Hange after a moment.
"No way to tell," she answered, dusting her clothes off as she got to her feet. "Sometimes they have one pup, sometimes they have ten. Or more!"
Levi shifted on his feet. Ten puppies? He could barely stand four.
"Are we keeping them all here? Oh, couldn't I have one, Levi?" Hange asked. "Maybe one could help me with my research..." she trailed off thoughtfully.
"Don't let them near Titans," Levi said firmly, but she didn't seem to be paying any attention to him.
Hange had taken one, the Commander had taken one, Levi decided to keep one for Pega's company, and now there was only a lone puppy to find a home. They had just come of age and were weaned from their mother's milk - and Levi had plans for the little runt.
The smallest of them was also the most feisty. It seemed to have the strongest will to prove itself to its siblings - perhaps because it was born to be the weakest.
Levi had the fidgeting dog in hand as he walked the hall and opened the door at the end. Eren Yeager was peacefully in his bed, eyes closed and chest heaving softly. The Captain could tell he was asleep, but that quickly changed as he stepped closer and put the puppy on his stomach. Eren jolted up, panting - looking up at Levi for a moment before his eyes were gazing dumbfoundedly at the unfamiliar animal.
"Hey... hey, stop that!" Levi heard Eren shout as he walked out of the room. The puppy had squirmed to the foot of his bed and was quickly eating the porridge left on a tray. "Hey... I was saving that, dumb dog!"
Levi grinned ever faintly and closed the door behind him.