:P I need to start editing these before posting them.

P.S.: Sven just was remembering that moment in his haste to try and figure out what Tobi has to do with his night terrors, that's all.

Chapter 4: Levi

As Sven climbs out of the sewage tunnel closest to his home, Levi looks up at the full moon high above them."I've never noticed before that the moon changes."

"Yeah, it'll go completely black in a few weeks." Sven walks over and stands next to Levi, looking up at the moon with him. Levi watches the kid, who is six years his junior and only a foot shorter than him, out of the corner of his eye. "It'll be a bit harder for me to walk through these alleyways when it does."

Levi looks around, scanning the area, before Sven takes the lead. They walk through the maze for only a few minutes, talking occasionally, with Levi feeling completely exposed under the open sky. "Isabel would love to be up here, traveling with you," he mutters quietly, not even realizing that Sven had heard until he speaks up.

"Will I ever get to meet them?" He inquires softly as he falls into step with Levi, walking beside the older boy.

Levi looks down at him, startled, "huh?"

"Your friends," Sven says, suddenly shy and quiet, looking down at the ground, "will I ever get to meet Isabel and Farlan?" He sounds like he is afraid to ask the question, like he is afraid of Levi.

Levi looks ahead of them, considering the question as they walk in the shadows. It would probably be a very bad idea to let this eight year old brat meet them. He thinks to himself quietly, "probably not," he says.

Sven lets out a soft sigh of resignation as they round the final corner, putting his house into view in the near distance. "Thanks for walking me home again, Levi," Sven lets out softly as he notices his home up ahead.

Levi grabs Sven's arm, making him stop, when he sees someone move out of the shadows out of the corner of his eye. The pair turns to look as Tobi, Sven's older brother by eight years, steps out of the shadows, his face darkening with anger. The trio freezes, Levi's hand still tightly gripping Sven's upper arm as he regards the taller boy with cold calculating eyes.

His grey gaze analyzes Tobi's tousled blond hair, piercing, ice blue eyes, medium frame, and hard features with calmness. Tobi takes a few steps towards them, causing Sven to back up into Levi in his escape to get away from his older brother.

"I thought you promised me that you wouldn't visit him anymore, you little shit." Tobi growls at his younger brother with menace.

The brave little Sven, trembling against Levi, looks up at Tobi in defiance, "I never made such a promise!" He declares without a hint of fear in his voice. Levi feels admiration towards the younger boy's bravery for he can tell that he is scared senseless.

Tobi lets out a snarl as he raises his fist to hit him. Levi quickly wraps his arms around Sven and spins them around so that Tobi's fist lands heavily on his back. He pushes Sven out in front of him, away from Tobi, as the older boy lets out a growl, "you little rat," he snarls, spitting the last word, as he lunges at Levi from behind, pinning him down on his stomach. "You think you own the world, don't you?" He hisses at the silent boy as he slams his elbow down into Levi's head. He doesn't even flinch as Tobi keeps hitting him, raining blows all over his body.

He looks up at Sven, who stares in horror, willing him to not try and save him. Levi could see something that Sven could not; Tobi is afraid for Sven, afraid for his little brother, and it both scares and infuriates him. Levi recognized almost instantly that Tobi never intended to hit Sven in the first place, he just wanted him out of the way.

"Imma teach you a lesson you aren't gona forget soon, sewer boy," Tobi snarls defiantly as he hits Levi in the head again. Levi knew it was Tobi's way of trying to protect Sven, he is afraid for his younger brother. Tobi is right to be afraid of me; Levi thinks to himself, I'm not the greatest person that Sven could have ever stumbled across. His reaction is a healthy one. Levi knows that he posses, in Tobi's mind, a threat to Sven, so he does not fight back. He will let Tobi have this victory so that he could understand that Levi will never hurt Sven; he cares too much for the little brat.

Sven meets Levi gaze with horrified eyes as he watches Levi lay there. He must have seen something in Levi's eyes because his soften with remorse as he just watches. Levi keeps his gaze, drawing strength from those warm, chocolate brown eyes, so full of kindness and remorse.

Tobi stops and presses Levi's face into the stone ground, lowering his head to hiss into Levi's ear, "I better not see you ever again, you little rat. Don't go near my brother ever again, you hear me?"

Levi whispers quietly, so that only Tobi can hear, "I would never hurt Sven," he says, voicing Tobi's fear, "I care for the little runt too much to ever let him befall harm."

Tobi looks at Levi in shock before shaking it off and standing up. He gives Levi one last kick in the side for good measure. "Shitty rat," he mutters crossly before looking over at Sven, "let's go." He barks at the startled boy.

"Can't we move him somewhere safer?" He pleads with Tobi, staying rooted to the spot.

Levi groans softly as he turns over onto his back and looks to see Tobi glare at him, obviously hating him for the way that Sven cares for him. "No," he says, his tone sounding that his statement is final.

"Then can I at least say good bye to him?" Sven asks with growing desperation.

Ice blue eyes narrow as they drill into cold, grim, grey ones. "Make it quick," he snaps before turning towards the house and walking off.

Sven rushes over to Levi as the older boy struggles to prop himself up, his back aching with pain. "I'm so sorry, Levi," he whispers with concern as he helps Levi sit up better, "I should have known better. I'm so sorry."

Levi looks into his warm brown eyes, "don't worry, Sven," he says softly, "Tobi won't hurt you, you are safe from him."

Doubtful eyes question Levi. "Thank you," he says before hesitating.

Levi lets a small smile quirk his lips up slyly, "he cares for you, you know that, right?"

The younger boy shakes his head with measured sadness, "I wish that were true, Levi, I do, I really do," he whispers with remorse.

Levi wants to give the small boy a hug but he knows better to do that. He holds up a fist that Sven taps with a fist of his own, "it'll get better one day, I promise." He takes his chin gently and tilts his head so that Sven's eyes meet his, "don't worry too much about me, Sven, I will be alright."

Sven gives him a small, sad smile, "I know you will, Levi." He stands up, "can we meet again, soon?"

Levi frowns and they hear Tobi call out in the distance, "oi! Brat! Hurry it up already!"

"I think you better just stay away for right now. In a few weeks, go to the stairs that lead to the underground tunnels, you can find me waiting there. Come at midnight, I'll find you," he promises the small, worried looking boy.

Sven nods, still looking worried, "okay," he whispers quietly before running off to catch up with Tobi, watching his friend from over his shoulder.

Levi keeps Sven's gaze the whole way and continues to watch as Sven enters his house, followed by Tobi who gives Levi one last glare before shutting the door behind him. He lets out a soft sigh as he stands up with a wince. Damn he hurt all over his back, fucking Tobi. A huff escapes him as he slowly makes his way back to the tunnels that he currently calls home. A soft voice in the distance tugs at Levi as it calls out his name, pulling him out of his memories.

He slowly opens his eyes up to wearily look Hange in the eyes. He straightens up and stretches a little, his back stiff from leaning against the tree he had fallen asleep against. She moves out of his way as he stands up and looks at the sunrise in the distance. "Have you woken up Eren?" He asks, jumping straight to the point.

She shakes her head, "I was on my way back from following Sven around in the forest when I found you fast asleep out here."

He feels surprise flash across his mind as he looks away at the castle, "why were you following Sven?"

He hears her shrug, "I couldn't sleep so I wanted to find out who it is that keeps sharpening the blades left around in that extra meeting room with the table. I saw him finish a blade then get up to leave. Out of curiosity I decided to follow him around."

He hides his feelings and thoughts as he looks at her with calm eyes, "what did you find out?"

She gives him a smile, "that he likes to take long walks through the forest at night rather than sleep. He walked the whole night away." She turns thoughtful as she considers Sven lightly, "I don't think he sleeps at all, no matter how tired he gets."

Levi frowns at this, why isn't his friend sleeping? Why does he stay up so late? He shrugs away the question; it's not his business to know or ask. Besides, he promised Sven that he would give him space and so he will.

Levi begins to walk towards the castle, "go wake up Eren so that we can begin your latest experiments already," he mutters absentmindedly, remembering his dream.

"Yes, Captain Levi," she says cheerfully as she disappears off.

He barely even registers her departure as he considers his dream. It had been in that moment, on that day, that Levi had begun to fall in love with Sven. He doesn't understand why it all is suddenly coming back to him now, all his feelings, when he had managed to keep them at bay after Sven moved away. He scolds himself for letting his feelings get out of hand; Sven is a friend and, not only that, but he is a friend that doesn't need him anymore.

Hange and Eren meet Levi outside the portion of ground that is sectioned off for Hange's experiments and begin to discuss the details. Levi listens with half an ear as his thoughts are consumed with Sven and his feelings towards him. His stomach does a little flip and his heart skips when he looks up and spots Sven walking towards them, looking down at the ground in front of him. He inwardly berates himself for his reaction as he turns his back on Sven, facing the others.

He listens to the conversation intently for a few moments before he is distracted by the sound of Sven walking up behind him. His heart begins to beat a little faster as hope faintly flourishes that Sven will talk to him. Disappointment fills him as he hears Sven turn and take the stairs into the castle, ignoring all of them completely. He looks at Eren and begins to feel torn between to two men; before Sven had appeared, Levi had begun to fall in love with the titan shifter, something he had at first resented. He suppresses a soft sigh as he zones back into their conversation.

"Stay safe and unharmed, Levi, I don't want to find out that you died in these tunnels." Sven's words echo in Levi's mind as he unties his cravat carefully. Sven reaches into his bag and hands Levi a small parcel. He gives him a curt nod then walks up the stairs. Levi watches him go for a few moments before loosening the ties around the parcel carefully. He turns back to the tunnel and walks in the direction opposite their ledge. He moves the crisp paper away to reveal a clean, crisp, white cravat neatly folded in the paper. He frowns at it, wondering why Sven would give him something so pointless. He wraps it back up neatly and ties it closed once more. He stuffs it into a pocket on the inside of his jacket, deciding to keep it, even if it is a stupid scrap of fabric.

Levi runs his thumb over his cravat, feeling the soft fabric between his fingers, fondly remembering when Sven had given it to him. At first Levi hadn't even realized what it was. When had first joined the Scout Regiment was when he first found out what it was even called. Not long after that he found out what exactly it was and how it was worn. He has worn it every day ever since, out of found memory of his friend. He lets out a small sigh as he folds it up gently and puts it away. He takes off his jacket and lies back on his bed, listening to the sound of the rain patter against his window. He wonders briefly about how Sven's day went before pushing it out of his mind. Considering those type of things only made him want to talk to Sven all the more and he isn't about to let himself do that; Sven had asked for space and so he will get his fucking space.

Levi hates Sven's distant and cold attitude towards him but he doesn't betray his friend. He closes his eyes as he remembers the better days, the days when Sven would tell him stories and laugh about jokes that Levi had barely even paid attention to. He remembers the days when Sven had been his friend. Now he feels like an enemy and it weighs heavily on Levi, making him feel wearier then he already is.

"Levi, are you going to kill me?"

Sven's softly asked question rings through Levi's memory as he thinks back on when they first met.

"Probably not," Levi had answered wearily.

He opens his eyes and looks at the ceiling in wonder.

"Did he tell you to kill me?"

The question had caught Levi off guard all those years ago. That stupid, inquisitive, six year old brat had managed to make Levi feel guilty about even considering such a thing. He had hated that feeling.

"Of course he did."

Levi's hissed reply had made Sven jump in fear, something that now makes Levi flinch as he remembers it. He struggles to fall asleep as flashes of him chasing after Sven flit though his mind. Levi hadn't found the little brat until a few days later, when Sven and a friend went exploring in the tunnels once more. Levi had been surprised to see that Sven had returned, and had instantly become curious about the kid. He slowly drifts off to sleep as he remembers confronting Sven. They had quickly become friends after that encounter, with Sven returning to visit Levi almost every night for two years.

Sven's last words once more echo in Levi's mind as he slips out of consciousness, "stay safe and unharmed, Levi, I don't want to find out that you died in these tunnels."

Reviews? Reviews would be nice.