New chapter. All I can say is… DOG FIGHT! Sorry no smut in this chapter but a lot of swearing. I promise there will be smut in the next chapter.

Hope you enjoy! :3

"The name is Jean Kirschtein… I'm here to join Captain Levi's crew".

Eren Jaeger stared at the youth before him, detesting the stranger's over confidence and arrogant stance. His unusual golden coloured eyes laughed at him, the corners of his mouth turned up into a smug grin, displaying perfectly set white teeth. Eren turned his face away not wanting to deal with the stranger who rudely interrupted his companions. He gestured Petra for writing equipment which she happily gave him and wrote down a brief too the point message.

"Fuck off… we don't need arrogant shit heads like you in Captain Levi's crew"

Jean picked up the A4 piece of parchment and read the message. So the youth was really mute. He turned his gaze back to Eren lying against the wall comfortably, his legs and boot clad feet stretched on the table, a somewhat adorable pout gracing his features. Jean held back his laughter albeit unsuccessfully igniting Eren's short fiery temper.

Eren glared, his aquamarine eyes bright. He ground his teeth together. How dare he laugh at him.

Petra placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Eren don't be rash. Listen to this man"

Eren looked at Petra with a dumbstruck expression then wrinkled his nose with disgust. Petra easily read his thoughts and she rubbed his shoulder, trying her best to calm the frustrated young man.

"Eren we know you want to help Captain Levi and we are grateful we have your sister and her troupes fighting alongside us but we need more men. We have the entire fleet of Utopia against us. We may even have the entire Northern borders uniting against Captain Levi. Please think before you act" Petra said calmly.

Eren released an aggravated sigh. Petra had a point… they needed all the men they could find. Furthermore, it would be highly unprofessional not to mention somewhat childish and discriminatory if he turned down the man who called himself Jean, without a proper interview. Levi would be disappointed with him and that was the last thing he wanted.

He resentfully scratched a new message for Jean to read.

"Well what can you do? And I would very much appreciate it if you could wipe that dirty little smug off your face!"

Jean whistled playfully much to Eren's annoyance.

"Well isn't someone a little touchy. I'm a decent fighter, specialising with the sword and dagger. I'm also an experienced sailor from the Northern borders"

Eren frowned at this information.

"You're from the North? What part?"

Jean smiled.

"Why the paradise Utopia, of course they wouldn't call me a typical citizen of the kingdom. I'm a degenerate and pirate through and through. I've grown tired of Commodore Erwin's iron fist rule and I want to earn a few spoils and cut a few throats myself"

Eren pressed all ten fingertips against one another, stretching the muscles of his long supple hands. Jean felt the back of his neck begin to sweat and his heart begin to beat faster. Despite he bravado he showed at the moment, he was completely at Eren's mercy. He was both terrified and enraptured by this boy. Eren's alluring yet fierce eyes tested him, boring deep into his soul. It felt as if the mute was searching into the depths of his very being, in every empty space and hollow vacuum of space within his conscience. Jean was sure with one flick or turn of Eren's head, his very soul would crush.

"If you're from Utopia then you should be well aware of my Captain's goals and fight for freedom?" Eren wrote.

"Of course… that's… that's why I'm here to join him" Jean said after a brief pause, his voice less confident than before. He mentally kicked himself for showing the slightest sign of weakness.

"And what makes you think you'd be an asset to my Captain's crew? Are you that willing to fight for his cause?"

Jean straightened his posture and cleared his throat.

"I believe I will be an asset to the crew. I have keen eye sight, great hearing, light on my feet and I can be quite unsuspecting and subtle"

Petra gave a snort. Eren too hid the urge to smile… if Jean Kirschtein was subtle, he'd put the entire pirate community to shame. Eren relaid Jean's skills through his mind, leaning on his laced hands deep in thought. Jean had swordsmanship. That was all good and fine but his other traits were very similar to that of an assassin. What if he was one? He could be a spy sent to murder the one he loved. No way would he let that happen!

Eren never broke his gaze from Jean. Jean gulped slightly. He swore Eren's turquoise eyes grew a shade darker. It certainly seemed like that for Eren too. At that moment, the idea of an assassin working for the Commodore sickened him. Hatred boiled deep within him.

"You're skills are impressive… although I'd say they're no different to that of an assassin's am I not correct?" Eren wrote, testing Jean further.

Jean cursed to himself. He had given too much information to that stupid brat.

"You might be a spy, sent by the Commodore to kill Captain Levi?"

Jean felt the muscles of his face turn into a deep loathing scowl. This boy was sharp… but he wouldn't let a brat get the better of him.

"Jaeger… if I were an assassin sent by the Commodore, the Captain and yourself would have already had your throats cut. Since I do not know where your Captain is and that you're still alive, I'm obviously not an assassin sent by the Commodore...Although I'd love to stick a newly sharpened dagger deep into your belly at the moment!" Jean sneered.

Eren reached for the sword at his waist.

Jean smiled, wanting a challenge.

"So you wanna go? Hah!? Forget the swords… fight like a man! With your fists!"

Eren grinned standing proudly, his eyes sparking with anticipation from the adrenaline and eagerness to knock the idiot clean off his feet. He roughly kicked his chair to the far side corner from where they sat, igniting the interest and cheers of other customers.

Simultaneously, the youths grabbed at one another by the scruff of their collars, both fighting for the upper hand and control, their foreheads pressing against one another painfully as they tried to push the other off. Jean ground his teeth together tightly. Although he was slightly taller then Eren, his opponent had amazingly brute strength for someone his age. They were evenly matched and Eren had much more perseverance and upper body strength then he believed. From Jean's point of view, Eren was too slender and streamline. His physique contrasted his offence strength to the point it was unbelievable… yet there they stood together in a complete dead lock.

Jean glared.

"Is that all you got you bastard? Hah?"

Eren growled.

'Go the fuck to hell!' Eren enunciated, exaggerating the syllables so he could be understood.

"Oh I'll go the fuck to hell! As long as I take you with me!" Jean replied, managing to free a hand and aim a punch at Eren's face. Jean smiled with satisfaction when Eren was unable to dodge the blow to his face. Jean's fist powerfully collided into the underside of Eren's jaw. For a brief moment Eren stood there stunned yet his grip around Jean was as tight as ever. Eren's eyes blazed with rage as he spat out the metallic taste of blood forming in his mouth.

"Show me what you got Jae-"

Jean was cut short when Eren returned the favour by throwing a punch straight into Jean's right eye socket, earning a blue black bruise around the socket.

Jean immediately let go, clutching his aching eye.

"Fuck you Jaeger!" Jean screamed.

Eren flipped him off.

"No thank you Kirschtein!" he pronounced.

"You fucking brat! I'll rip you to bloody shreds!" Jean screamed as they charged at one another again.

"Eren! Jean! That's enough! Stop it! The both of you!…. You two are worse than cats and dogs!" Petra cried angrily, having her comrades separate the two seething idiots, much to the disappointment from onlookers.

Jean struggled in the arms of Bozado and Schuitz, his good mood destroyed and his right eye aching excruciatingly. Eren was held back by Petra and another comrade.

"Let me at him!" Jean shouted. Eren enunciated similar threats.

Petra shook her head, struggling as she tried to hold Eren back.

"No can do. You two or both morons. Jean you are hired… considering your fighting skills, they will be an asset… and I think it will do Eren good to have a companion similar in age as him as well as share his impulsive and idiotic personality" Petra replied sarcastically.

Eren looked at Petra as if she were insane. Jean felt the same way… in fact he momentarily forgot his purpose to infiltrate Captain Levi's crew for the Commodore.

"Are you fucking crazy bitch? There's no way I can work with this fucking brat!"

"This is an order! You wanted to join the Maria's crew, well you're hired! Now stop it the two of you. We already have enough problems to deal with. Cool it!" Petra said stonily.

Begrudgingly, both Eren and Jean obeyed Petra nevertheless moodily and still casting each other looks of irritation.

"Come on you two… we don't have all night. We need to recruit as many men as we can" Petra said walking back to their private corner.

Jean glared at Eren who merely scowled back in return.

He pointed at Eren.

"This isn't over yet Jaeger. Count on that!"

Eren sniffed.

"I wouldn't dream of it!"

[Later in the Evening]

"So that's thirty-five men today Miss Petra?"

"Yes Captain. Overall that would make seventy-two new members" Petra replied.

"I suppose you've already briefed them and to ready their own ships?"

"Yes sir. All done"

Captain Levi paused for a few seconds.

"And can you care to explain… well this?" Levi gestured to a predicament that stood only a foot away from him.

Levi sat at his desk, one thin dark eye brow raised. Before him, Eren and another youth stood together side by side wearing the same expression of deep aggravation for each other yet at the same time deep embarrassment. in front of their Captain, they stood with their shoulders hunched, clothes torn and covered in bruises. Petra stood at the door way, a facial expression of extreme displeasure plastered on her face. Levi looked at the unfamiliar youth with the messy crop of blonde hair with dark brown roots and a face similar to a horse's. He noted the large blue black bruising around the youth's right eye, the eyeball itself puffy, red and swollen from the extent of the impact. Eren must have used quite a lot of force. Levi finally looked at Eren, frowning slightly when he saw the underside of his jaw, swollen and red, a trail of dried blood cracking at the side of his face.

Levi's face was stoic, his mouth set in a thin line of disapproval but in truth Levi wanted to laugh. Very much so. It was very difficult not too. Petra could see the glint of humour in his silver grey eyes. All she could do was frown at him for wanting to laugh at their childish nature.

"I'm assuming, Eren got himself into a fist fight"

Petra huffed.

"Yes. I had to pull these idiots off each other"

"And who might this person be?"

"His name is Jean Kirschtein. He signed up to be part of your crew Captain"

"Well that's all very good and fine… but signing a piece of paper doesn't usually end in a fist fight. Who was to blame?" Levi said casually, a hint of amusement in his voice. Eren's head went bent.

"They were both to blame… Eren got suspicious and Jean offended him. That's when the fists came flying"

Levi raised an eye brow, mildly astonished then chuckled.

"This is the first time I've met someone who can anger Eren so easily… well there's no use giving these idiots punishment. They are kids after all."

Petra looked at her Captain surprised.

"Are you sure sir?"

"Oh yes. When I was there age I was just as impulsive and had difficulty controlling my temper. Take Jean and go. I supposed he's hungry"

"Yes Captain. Mr. Kirschtein, come with me"

Jean left, following silently. He sighed… well at least he got on board. He will have to search whatever treasure the Captain hid, later.

Levi shut the door gently, walking back to his desk. Eren stood there quietly ashamed for his earlier irrational behaviour. He angrily clenched his jaw together only to feel an unbearable burn at the right side of his jaw. He tentatively rubbed it, wincing when his fingers made contact with the most tender area of the bruise.

"Sit down Eren. Let me have a look at that" Levi ordered.

Eren complied obediently, sitting on the edge of Levi's bed. With his back turned to Eren, the boy was unable to see what his Captain was doing. He heard the soft sounds of water being poured and the soft clanks of metal against metal. When his lover had turned around, he held a cold wet compress in his left hand.

Levi lightly took hold of Eren's face, turning his head slightly. He dabbed the swollen area with the cold wet compress. Eren squirmed with discomfort. After a few minutes, the swelling receded slightly, the pain turning into a dull ache.

"Filthy Filthy" Levi tutted, tenderly wiping away the chapped blood at Eren's lips and chin.

"Horse face certainly left a shiner… the jaw is not broken though. But the black eye you gave him was impressive. You must have put some force behind that punch. He really must have said something offensive to make you this angry"

Eren chuckled at Levi's nick name for Jean.

"You don't trust him do you? You wouldn't get angry at someone for nothing, am I right Eren" Levi asked, stopping his ministrations.

Eren nodded. There was no use lying to the person he loved… furthermore, Levi knew him too well.

Eren stood up took a piece of blank parchment from Levi's writing desk and wrote down his message with one of Levi's many quill pens. Once he finished, he sat back down next to his partner and handed Levi his message.

'I don't trust him. When I asked about his abilities, they were very similar to an assassin's or a spy's. Even when I fought with him, his strength was above the average of a typical youth my age. What if he was ordered by the Commodore Smith to murder you? It would kill me'

Levi read his message quietly. He fondly ruffled Eren's dark brown hair before pressing his warm mouth against the small space between his eyes.

"Don't worry about me brat. If what you say about Jean is true, then there's no need for you to worry about my safety. If the Commodore want's me dead, he would sail all the way to Port Hermiha and slit my throat with a dagger personally. He wouldn't let anyone else take that glory away from him. I'm more worried about a spy being hired to kidnap or worse assassinate you… that's something the Commodore can use to his advantage"

Eren's eyes widened. He hadn't thought of the Commodore using a spy to manipulate his Captain.

Levi stood up and hugged the top of Eren's head then caught his mouth for a chaste but soft kiss on the lips, mindful of the boy's swollen jaw.

"I thank you for worrying about me… but there is no need. I can take care of myself. But for the meantime, my top priority is keeping you safe. I'll keep both eyes on this Jean and any other new member that boards my ship. I'm not going to let anyone take away my greatest treasure away from me"

That's all folks. Hope you enjoyed it even though there was no smut in it. I promise… the next chapter will have smut.

Love Evening Falls.