Remember, this is fantasy. So I might have tweaked the 3DMG a bit for my own... Sorry, Isayama-sama...

Early morning found them on their private training ground.

It was a huge gym—one that was as huge as a basketball court—located somewhere near their office and concealed underground because of their Bomb duo. It was one of the first things they'd invested in, once they'd moved up the city and racked up enough money for it.

There were public training grounds scattered all over the country that the government had allocated for the citizens but for obvious reasons, they didn't use those.

The whole team was with them except for Gunther and Oluo since they were on a mission and were mature enough to know that they could still fucking see Eren's other form some other time or to be specific, in a few hours. They were even more excited than Levi was from the way they were practically staring at them with tense eyes rather than training themselves.

Well, not that he could blame them.

"This should be good enough." Eren called out to him from where he was seated on the floor tying his shoes—which was completely unnecessary but Levi insisted—as his eyes looked around then into the ceiling and stayed there as if calculating the height. "It's pretty high but let me take control for now to be sure. Wouldn't want to have your whole team after my ass because you cracked your head on the ceiling like a nut."

Levi frowned, there were a lot of things he'd like to comment in there but he settled for the most important, "What do you mean 'take control'? I thought you Shifters wouldn't be able to control anything aside from restoring weapons or some other shit like that?"

Eren looked at him confused, "What are you talking about?" Eren suddenly squeaked before adding, "I mean! Well, I'm quite different you see and the flying thing, It's not actually a weapon but a gear so…Wait, how long has it been since you last fused? Have you fused at all?"

"It's been like ten years?" Isabel shouted from the side, "Big bro won't fuse with anyone. Says it leaves a bad feeling on his stomach."

Levi clicked his tongue then he saw the way Eren looked at him as if he knew how that felt. The raven found himself confused once again.

"How old are you?" Eren asked curiously. Levi didn't want to answer but shrugged his shoulders and answered anyway, "Twenty nine."

Eren hummed before standing up. "That's a very long time. Well then, whenever you're ready, Captain." Levi faltered for a minute; Eren seemed more accepting than he looked.

Walking into the center, Eren stood in front of him and waited for his signal. Levi took a deep breath before finally offering a hand to the brunette, who took it gently and with one last glance towards Levi, closed his pretty eyes.

There was a tugging at his chest but… Nothing happened.

Levi turned to look at their expectators, they looked just as confused as he was, when he turned his silver eyes towards the one he'd supposed to have fused with, Levi was met with a frowning Eren.

"You won't let me in." Eren accused, lips tilted downwards as he eyed Levi with his mismatched eyes. Levi frowned back.

"What?"

There was a sigh on their side before Farlan's exasperated voice informed him, "Levi… It must be because you don't trust him enough. Or you won't open the connection."

Eren's hand slipped from his and he turned his head back to him. Eren looked disappointed and there was a pang of guilt somewhere on his insides, which was definitely impossible. Why should he feel guilty when he had no reason to trust this brat? Eren trusting him was no reason, was it?

"I know you still can't trust me," Eren started with his head still hanging, "But everything I told you about me is the truth. Just… I can't tell you anything about my Meister. They're important to me and I don't want to put them in any more trouble…"

The last was whispered lowly but Levi was listening to him raptly for him to not hear. Eren turned his mismatched eyes to him making the silver-eyed man freeze on the spot.

"What happened is something I don't like and I should have left them when I had the chance but I've been selfish. I didn't want to let go of my happiness and in turn they suffered for it."

Eren's voice cracked and somewhere in the middle, Levi watched a tear fall down his vibrant green eye but Eren swiped it just as fast and with a steadied voice continued.

"I'm probably being selfish again for doing this but… But you were…" Eren hesitated, eyes shifting to where the rest of the team was listening, "You live in this kind of world. And it's not like I'm going to leave you or your team. I'll serve you to the best of my abilities and provide you with the best weapon and gear. I'll stay as long as you'd let me. So… Please?"

Silver eyes turned to look at the side for a moment for no reason other than the intensity of those eyes, it bore on him worst than any kicks or punches his body had suffered. Sighing once he shifted his eyes back to the hunched form of the brunette.

He'd known that already. Didn't Eren tell them the reason as to why he'd like to join their team? Eren was honest with them right from the beginning so what was holding Levi back from fusing with him? Levi didn't do a thing to trigger such emotions in him. Quite the contrary actually, he'd acted cold and rude and even though he knew that it was Farlan who'd started the fight, Levi still sided with the blonde. Levi didn't like thinking over things especially if it had something to do with feelings since he'd always fuck that up.

Levi knew that he wasn't one to trust people right off the bat. Hell, he wasn't one to help people easily but this kid forced him to do those things for him. He'd let Eren stay on their office because there was nothing important in there. It was nothing more than a place where they could safely conduct business transactions and even that much was already too much kindness on a stranger he only first met but he'd let Eren on his home—the home only Farlan and Isabel had been able to enter but the others only knew of—and even managed to sleep on the same room as a brat he'd met for only a few hours.

The raven-haired man knew though, that it was those eyes. The fire, the conviction, the unrelenting will that he saw in those beautiful but creepy eyes of his that made Levi want to help him.

But most of all, it was the fact that Eren had submitted to Levi so easily.

Offered to fuse with him although he didn't even know who he was and what he looked like; trusted him right from their first meeting and if that wasn't enough it was under such circumstances. Levi didn't know how that was possible but Eren had confessed and there was no ounce of lie in those words. Any other people would take one glance at Levi and look at him with sneers and build their defenses as high as their fucking ego.

Eren had bet everything to Levi right from the start. And that might have been quite the heavy burden to anyone else but he found himself not caring.

So what was holding him back?

"It's not that I don't trust you." Levi started, surprising the brunette in front of him. "I do. In a way. I just don't know how to open the connection." It wasn't much of a lie but it wasn't also much of a truth. "Just give me a minute."

And with that he turned on his heel and left the brunette, looking lost and dejected, behind him.

"So, what is it really?" Of course, Farlan would follow him out. And from the soft footsteps following behind him, Isabel was not too far behind.

"I just saw a drama in real life." Isabel whispered teasingly. Both males ignored her.

"…I can't open the connection." Levi reluctantly answered. The two lovers glanced at each other before leaning on the wall on both sides of him.

"Then what's holding you back? You said you trust him and we believe it. The way you act around him is shocking enough for us." Farlan seemed very curious.

Silver eyes narrowed at the dirty ground before him before he tightened his crossed arms and spat, "I dunno. Do you think I'd be out here if I knew?"

They were silent for a moment before Isabel finally opened her mouth again, "Is it because of his mysterious Meister?"

Levi's eyes widened in shock. Why should Isabel's apparent wisdom always come out in such situations? But that was actually a food for his thoughts but still, "Why would you think that?"

"Ehh?" Isabel tilted her head to one side, looking just as confused as Levi felt, "I thought maybe you're like Farlan. You know; possessive and such or something."

Said blonde groaned but otherwise said nothing. Levi kept his gaze hard on Isabel's, who gulped but continued, "Remember back then when we were still unbound and he saw me fuse with Petra because she wanted to see my normal form?" Levi nodded his head, "Farlan saw it and for a few days we were having a hard time fusing because apparently he'd been jealous. So yeah…"

Levi thought that they were merely having a lover's spat back then. He told himself to try and involve himself to any other suspicious matters from then on especially since these were Farlan and Isabel.

"Fusing is a very mysterious affair and a lot of things could hinder the connection." Farlan added softly and after a moment of silence, asked, "So is it?" Levi merely nodded his head.

It was true that the matter of Eren's past Meister was bugging him. Perhaps that's why? Then how the hell would he be able to fuse with the brat now when Eren wouldn't even tell him anything about them?

"Well, it would be easy. You just have to accept it and then try opening the connection again." Farlan concluded, pushing off the wall and walking back inside and into the underground training room, "Try talking to Eren again, you know, make some deal or something. It actually helps."

"Come on, Levi!" Isabel tugged on his arms excitedly, "Just make him promise to tell you some day in the future. With the way things are between you two, I don't think it would take long!" She chirped softly. Levi sighed and together they followed after Farlan.

(FoF)

When they got inside, Eren was stretching his limbs while watching Petra and Eld train on hand to hand combat not too far off from him. Levi watched him for a moment as Eren's body twisted this way and that without difficulty before calling out to the brunette. Petra and Eld paused to look at their captain before glancing at the other two who just got inside, they returned to sparring.

"Promise me something, Eren." Levi intoned, once Eren neared him. The other watched him curiously before motioning for him to go on, "Promise me that you'd tell me everything. I don't care if it's now or weeks later but you must tell me. If you do, then I think we wouldn't have any problems fusing."

The look on Eren's face showed his confusion but it melted soon enough. It was the first time he'd seen Eren smile so brightly, until now it was only ever nervous or polite smiles. And was it possible that his eyes looked brighter and more beautiful now? Yes. Yes, it is.

"Of course, sir! I'd been planning on it!" Eren shouted at Levi's face, making their captain frown. Eren shot him a sheepish grin before adding in a much calmer voice, "But of course it might take time since it's practically my whole life you'd like to know so…"

"Your Meister is your whole life?" Levi asked incredulously. Suddenly, he felt as if there was another problem.

"Uh, no! But it kinda starts from there? My whole life had always been about my status as an S class you see…" Eren rubbed the back of his neck before turning on his heel and going back in position. "Well then shall we?"

Levi stopped him by grabbing his wrist and tugging him closer by curling a hand on Eren's throat, not tight but enough to make him feel the pressure. Pulling the other's head back, Levi whispered directly in the other's ear in a tone that held dangerous promise, "Just know this, Eren. Once you betray us. I'll hunt you down and make you regret ever using us, understood?"

Levi had used his threatening voice and many a man had shuddered in fright upon hearing them but Eren—one who'd taken a direct hit—merely met his gaze head on and it was Levi who'd actually shuddered. Meeting those eyes with nothing more than an inch of space between them was dangerous.

"Yes, sir! I, myself, don't like being lied to, so you can expect me not to lie to you nor betray you in anyway. I did start this myself and I'd see it through til the end."

They held their eyes for a long moment before Levi finally nodded his head in satisfaction. Letting go of Eren's wrist, the raven took off his shoes and walked to the center, "Alright, let's try again."

They walked back to the middle of the gym and with both taking a deep breath, held hands once more.

It took some time and for a moment, Levi thought he couldn't open the connection but then he felt the tugging on his chest and the comforting warmth on his hand intensified. In a moment of curiosity, he lifted his eyelids just in time to see Eren be enveloped in a swirling color of green and blue.

He stared entranced; it looked like a shimmering lake hidden deep in a verdant forest, but most importantly it was the same beautiful color as Eren's mismatched eyes. The light intensified and with a firmer grip on Levi's hand and a faint smile on his lips, Eren disappeared in a flash of light.

Levi was blinded momentarily but when he heard someone whistle on the side, he opened them again to see that his eyes were covered in dark shades, and when he went to take it off, he noticed two swords—thin but sturdy and sharp—gripped firmly in his hands which—oh was he so glad to know—were covered in dark half gloves trimmed in vibrant green linings and the small icon of overlapping wings of white and green, plastered on the center.

Passing one sword on his other hand, he reached up once again and looked at his sunglasses. They were actually sports glasses with a very small icon of the same wings on the upper corners. Keeping it on his hand, he looked at his formerly white tank top now layered with a dark green button-up shirt and a dark long-sleeved jacket that went down to his knees. There was a leather belt strapped across his chest.

His legs, on the other hand, were covered in dark fitted pants but he'd found that they didn't hinder his movement, actually it felt as if he wasn't wearing any. He found it amazing that his dexterity was not withheld by such comfortable and warm clothing. Around his waist were two criss-crossing leather belts that held oddly-shaped bullets for the guns strapped on both his thighs.

The aforementioned guns, however, looked like any other normal gun except for its beautiful lining of brilliant gold and the same icon of wings. They were held by two parallel leather straps just like the small intricately carved knifes strapped on both his feet were now covered in knee-high battle boots with small belt straps decorating the side; they looked heavy but they were actually light as a feather.

What he found curious the most was the small device attached at his hip and was just about at the small of his back. There were two cylinders on each side and something that looked like a small three-headed arrow stuck off-center, the same ones on each side of his hip.

With a smirk, Levi thought, 'Eh, Not bad.'

"Father called it maneuver gear." Levi flinched when he heard Eren's voice in his head. "So, I take it that you liked it?"

"How the hell can you talk to me?" Levi said in lieu of answering. "I thought we can't converse unless we're bound?" He didn't like the fact that there was someone who could read his thoughts. Still Levi repeated the name on his mind.

"What's wrong, Captain?" Petra asked when they saw the deep frown on his face. "Do you not like it?"

"Don't worry. You'll know how to block me from your mind soon but for now, it's best that you don't keep me out. I'll have to assist you in handling me besides I can only hear what you say directly to me." Eren assured him. Levi nodded his head but remembered their connection so he relayed his agreement in his mind.

"I'm counting on you then, Eren."

"Leave it to me, Captain!" Levi imagined the bright smile that he saw moments ago but then had to immediately clear his thoughts when he heard a squeak on his mind. He knew through intuition.

"Eren's talking to me." Levi told them causing Petra to gasp. He needed to learn how to block Eren fast.

"Really?! That's actually rare!—well not really, but in your first fusion?! It either means you trust each other too much or the connection is that strong or you two are bound. But we already all know that you two aren't bound so it's either the other two." Petra glanced at his Shifter with a smile, "How long did it take the two of us, Eld? Two months? Three?"

"More or less two?" Eld answered, unsure. Petra and Eld were not bound—mostly due to Eld's fiancé—just like Gunther and Oluo.

"If their connection is so strong then why didn't it work the first time around?" Farlan questioned no one in particular.

"Does it matter?" Isabel frowned at them before continuing in a much excited voice, "Big bro! You look mighty cool! I wanna try that too!"

"Well, there you go." Eren chirped a bit too happy. "So you liked it, right?"

"Yes. Now shut up."

"Since this is our first time fusing, I didn't hold back anything."The two fused pair continued their conversation while the rest talked. "The shoes and clothes are slash resistant and shock-proof so you don't need to worry about falling too hard from the sky and even if you did I'll catch you."

Levi hummed, impressed.

"You know you can't Isabel. You're a Shifter like Eren." The blonde told his redhead girlfriend.

"I know!" Isabel harrumphed, "I'm just saying since it looks really cool, especially those wings! You can't see it big bro but there are huge overlapping wings at your back!"

"Yeah." Eld agreed, "It not only fits Eren but Captain as well. Although there are quite a lot of belts." Levi saw him counting under his breath.

"Well, like she said, does it matter? It looks magnificent." The strawberry blonde interjected.

"They are all useful."Levi commented out loud as he motioned for them to be quiet. He thought it wouldn't hurt to let the team hear them and they were sure to ask questions, anyway. He looked at his three different weapons, "I'm amazed there are weapons for short and long range combat. Is this really how it is with S class weapons?"

"I'm not sure but I did see another Pair with the same short and long range weapons." Eren answered.

Levi watched as his weapons disappear in shimmering lights of green and blue and while that was not a surprise, his jacket going shorter and changing to just half his torso was.

"You don't need the long coat for now or would you prefer that?"

"No. This is fine." Levi verified, "It's pretty cool that you could manipulate the battle gear as well."

"S class are so cool." Someone remarked at their side.

All Levi got was a soft laugh, "Also, kick your feet."

Levi did so and along with it, a blade came out at the tip of his boots. "Oh?" He muttered to himself, smirking. Those would be helpful when they were caught and bound. Not to mention, a good surprise weapon.

"Fight or flight, indeed."

"Yup." Levi heard the smile on Eren's lips, "Kick it backwards. It does the same. You could also use it as a throwing or in this case kicking weapon. So they also work long-range. It could go off in command."

Levi did and just as Eren said, another sharp blade came out from the back. Kicking his foot forward, a blade went flying off the distance. It was so sharp that it sunk into the wall without even making a sound. Levi whistled impressed which Eren mirrored on his mind.

"It's great that you could do that on the first try." The raven merely smirked in response.

"Wow. How the hell... Don't tell me there's one in the gloves as well? " Isabel was really curious. She even approached them to look at it clearly which Levi allowed her. "Eren! You're much cooler than I am!" She exclaimed in awe as she tried to touch the blade with a finger and watched blood pour out until Farlan hissed at her.

Eren's laugh echoed on the raven's mind. "There isn't and please tell her thank you. Although I could provide more for you as long as you'd need them on hand."

"He said there aren't and thank you." Levi relayed. He was starting to get attached to his Shifter's capabilities.

Isabel grinned brightly, "You're welcome!"

"What would you like to do first?" Eren asked. Levi already knew without even knowing what sort of Weapon Eren was. There was a chuckle and the Meister knew his Shifter read his mind, "That's right. I'm your Shifter, Captain. So don't think of anything else. Alright, let's fly first. Go to the furthest side."

Levi kept his face coolly detached but he didn't quite manage with the way his lips stretched to a small smile, he'd turned around fast enough to hide it. Why the hell was he so adamant about not having a Shifter again? It all looked silly now that he was Paired.

"We're going flying first. Oh and by the way, this is called a maneuver gear." Levi said to his team as his finger tapped the device, now at full view, at his back. They stared at it with awe.

"Flying is actually all about how you'd like it to move. All you have to do is think although you'll have to be used to it to do so." Eren informed him. Levi listened to him raptly, "Wish for it to move the way you'd want to especially during combat. You could use it as an attack boost or to evade quickly. But before that, I'm going to control it and let you get the hang of going from one place to another and being airborne."

"Understood."

"We'll go slowly first. Take one step forward, keep you other foot firmly support you at the back and bend slightly. Good just like that and now, jump lightly." Levi did as told. He heard the faint whistle of wind at his back and he was being pushed forward. He'd landed with a soft thump on the center of the gym in just four seconds.

"See? The force is surprising when you're not used to it but soon, you'll be able to go at it with ease." His Shifter said comfortingly. Levi nodded, looking down at his feet then back to where he was just seconds ago.

The team exclaimed in surprise but what made Levi look back was when he heard Oluo's, "Oh shit!" The hammer combo stood on the door, looking at him with wide eyes. Levi was more surprised that they took such short time to finish their mission. Either they were that good or they were not as mature as Levi would like to think…

"Oh hey! Just in time to see our lucky Captain fly!" Petra teased, "Although you didn't see all his cool weapons. Eh, sucks to be you."

"Hey! You're only here because this idiot wanted to look cool in front of you and volunteered to go on the mission!" Gunther exclaimed, shooting his nervous Shifter a glare.

"How did that feel." Levi turned his attention back to Eren.

"Is that really the slowest?"

"Not really but do you think you'll get the hang of it?" Eren seemed a bit worried.

"Of course. Who do you think I am." Levi smugly replied.

His shifter chuckled, "Alright, Captain. Let's do that again."

"You can just call me Levi."

"…Alright… Levi." Levi heard the way Eren repeated his name over and over again. It spurred Levi on, in a way he couldn't understand.

After an hour, Levi finally got the hang of it. He definitely didn't feel smug when Eren commented that he got it faster than his former Meister. He glanced at his team and found them finally focusing on their own training but occasionally glancing over to his direction.

They turned to sharp turns afterwards and Levi conquered that easily enough and soon Eren gave Levi the control to the maneuver gear.

He managed quite well on the forward boosts but not as fast when going on sharp turns.

Levi kept bumping on the wall or pausing midflight and then falling down his feet. Sometimes he'd go too fast or too slow, other times he'd move jerkily causing him to almost collide with Gunther but Eren managed to stop him in time so he ordered his team to stay on the other side to avoid any accidents.

By the time they stopped for another break, it was already lunchtime. Levi went to the installed bathroom to change clothes since they'll be there the whole day and he'd sweat enough that it was bothering him even though Eren had also disintegrated the jacket while he was training.

Petra had bought with her, home cooked meals along with Gunther and Isabel, so there were more than enough for all of them. Those three knew how to cook after all with Isabel having been taught by Petra during their free time—only Petra and Levi would know but Isabel had been worrying about not being able to take care of Farlan like a good wife would. Their relationship was that strong.

Levi took a seat by the bench against the wall and stretched his feet. Now that he'd cooled down, his body was sore all over and his head a little woozy from being airborne and then going fast from one place to another. Eld passed him over a lunchbox along with steel utensils which he accepted with a murmured thank you. It was then that he noticed that Eren wasn't anywhere in their circle.

He turned towards his team, the corner of his lips dipping down, "Where's Eren?"

"Oh yeah, where's Erenyan?" Isabel said in between chewing. No matter how many times they'd scolded her for her eating habits, she never listened so they—More like Levi—learned to stay as far away as possible to prevent being sprayed by half chewed food.

"He's most probably outside to get some fresh air, Levi. Stop frowning so much." Farlan sighed, throwing him a cold water bottle from the cooler next to him and Levi just remembered the bottles of green tea he'd bought with him that were probably now swimming in melted ice.

"He's outside, captain." The strawberry blonde informed him as she set a few food containers on the spread out clothe. "I passed him by when I took these from the car. Said he needed some fresh air."

"I'm not frowning." Levi hissed a bit too forcefully as he stood up. "Did you give him any food, yet? I'm going to where he is."

Gunther passed him a large packed lunch, "Not yet, are you going to eat upstairs?"

"If he'd like." The raven refused the offered lunch and started to walk towards the door, "I'll come get it if he wants to eat there."

"Eh! Why won't he eat with us?" Isabel garbled, mouth stuck on a glass of orange juice.

"Are you even listening?" Farlan growled, shoving a piece of meat on her mouth to shut her up. She gladly obliged, attention now focused solely on food.

Eren was seating on the ground, looking up the sky when Levi found him. The sun was already at its peak and it was only thanks to the buildings around that Eren was saved from the heat of the sun but the cars now packed on the parking area in front of them wasn't. Levi approached him and immediately, mismatched eyes turned to look at him.

"Hey." Levi greeted, leaning on the wall next to the brunette and handed him a cool bottle of green tea, it was only luck that they were still cool. "What are you doing here?" Levi asked just to start a conversation.

"Thank you… It was suffocating down there." Eren confessed, turning his eyes towards the sky. Levi watched the way his nimble fingers twisted the cap, before looking up as well. There was a clear sky today.

"Suffocating, huh." Levi muttered under his breath. He understood the feeling very well but he learned to accept it. Adaptability was a must in living underground. In living, really. That was why they were what they are now.

"What do you think?" Eren asked scarcely but Levi knew what he was talking about.

"Great. I now understand what you meant when you said I could handle you." Levi drawled.

Eren chuckled, "Yeah, it's only thanks to your long experience and great body coordination that you could go so fast in training. I knew you could do it."

Levi hummed, trying to keep his pride from swelling too much, "I can only take sharp turns by kicking a foot but how the hell would I do that while flying? Is that the weakness?"

Eren turned to him with a small smile, "Yep. But remember," Eren tapped the sides of his slim hip, "Those grappler hooks may be small but they are very proficient. You use those to turn around or making sharp turns while flying although while in a chase it may leave a crumb trail but we'll be fast and by the time they found us. We'll already be out of their asses."

Levi watched him from his peripheral. The way he'd talked just proved how he already sees himself as a member of their team. Eren even sees himself as being on the same mission as them already. Levi felt very reassured by that and if Levi wasn't the man he was, there would be a goofy grin on his face but luckily he was born with a face that looked generally bored with life.

"That's very good to hear then." Eren nodded, fingers playing with the already empty bottle on hand. Levi silently gave him another one which Eren took with bright eyes.

"Thank you! I started with boosting since it's the harder and most important part, seeing as we'd be fighting down the ground most of the time but once you've handled the maneuver gear down below then it would be easier to use it up above where it's actually used for." Eren grinned, eye crinkling cutely, "Butthere are still a lot of tricks I'd teach you once you finish boosting but you'll be able to handle it easily."

Really, Levi didn't know how Eren could say such words so easily. Didn't Eren feel embarrassed at all? Flinging praises left and right making Levi flustered on the inside. There was only so much Levi could take in a day.

"How long did your past Meister take in boosting?" Levi blurted unconsciously to steer away the conversation. He was ready for the silence that comes with it but Eren surprised him by answering him that it took them a more than a month.

The brunette looked up at him and commented, "Don't look so surprise. I could tell you anything else about my Meister but not anything that could reveal who they are…"

"How long do you think it would take me?" Levi asked just because he felt like it.

Eren tilted his head in thought before answering, "Two weeks? Give or take a few days?"

Levi smirked, "You overestimate me."

Eren actually laughed softly at him as he stretched his long limbs. It popped as he did so. "No. You underestimate yourself."

"How can you be so sure?" Levi shot back with a slender eyebrow raised, "You haven't seen me fight yet have you?"

Eren's brown hair bounced softly as he shook his head, "You really had been quite deprived in fusing."

"You make it sound like sex." Levi smirked in triumph when he finally made Eren blush. Payback's a bitch.

"God, I swear you're like my friend. Always with the innuendos but you make it sound more sexual." Eren scratched at his flushed cheeks.

Levi leaned down and, making his voice lower than they were, whispered directly on Eren's ear, "Must be the voice."

The brunette jerked away from him so fast he'd almost toppled down the ground. His face was as red as Farlan's shirt while his hand covered his assaulted ear, watching him with wide eyes. Levi only smirked in response as he looked down at him. The brunette stood up and dusted himself but not after glaring at the smug male, grinning beside him.

"As I was saying before you so rudely interrupted me. You and I are of the same body when we're fused. I could read your thoughts and feel what you feel. That's how I knew that you could do it in such a short time." Eren turned to him with a smile; cheeks still dusted pink from a while ago, "That and I believe in you."

Levi didn't say anything, feeling that same warm feeling he'd felt when they'd fused. His team had always told him the same lines but none of them ever had the same effect as this brunette did. Was it because they were practically strangers? Or was being a Pair already affecting him that much? But hadn't he felt this even before they even fused?

Levi stared confused at the retreating back. Eren really was one complex creature.

In the week that followed, Levi and his team had gotten more missions. They were easy enough that one of the Pairs could finish it by themselves while the other missions were on hold since they would take planning and observing. Levi had once taken Eren on a surveillance task, it turned out fine and Levi was confident that Eren could go by himself in the next but Levi had no plans on doing that just yet. Levi had yet to train Eren to his standards after all.

"Is there anything in particular that I'd need to know?" Levi asked, not even looking up from where he was busy making his tea. They were at the office while the others were out surveying the places their future missions would be held.

Eren paused from where he was mopping the floor and shot Levi a confused stare, "Come again?"

"For training…" The raven-haired man turned his head and clarified, "You, I mean."

Eren made a sound that said he understood, "I'm not much of a shooter? Hm… What else?" Eren murmured to himself settling his chin on top of the mop's handle, "My Meister taught me hand to hand combat and they told me that I was pretty good at it so that's all?" The brunette smiled at him sheepishly, resuming his task.

"Former Meister." Levi called out, unconsciously. The mop stopped abruptly, Eren turned to him with wide mismatched eyes.

"Ah… Y-yes… Technically…" Eren stammered, going back to scrubbing with flushed cheeks.

Clearing his throat, Levi immediately steered the conversation, "Shooting is not much of a challenge, all you have to do is point and shoot but as for your hand to hand abilities, I'll be the judge of it."

"Right." Eren acquiesced.

They were silent as Eren fumbled around to clean the office while Levi watched him with bored eyes as he sat on the couch, sipping his steaming tea.

Roaming his silver eyes on the quiet room, he started, "I never liked staying here, lazing around when I could be out there doing something productive."

Eren paused yet again from where he was now busy with organizing papers and files. He looked at Levi with apologetic eyes, "Sorry, learning how to handle me takes a lot of time…"

"It's not you. It's bound to happen sooner or later, me finding a Shifter." Levi admonished him softly. "I would have taken my time to make myself efficient with handling a Shifter even if it wasn't you. Besides in the long run, everything would have been worth it. You are very much a treasure. Accepting you on the team is the greatest decision I've made yet."

Eren flushed all the way to his neck and ears and Levi drunk it all up with his silver eyes. After a moment he said with a fond tone, "You have a very good team."

"They are." Levi replied, a similar smile faint on his lips.

Eren shook his head, "I didn't mean it just like that. I also meant that… That you are all like a family." Levi shifted his eyes from his steaming cup to the back of the brunette.

"…They are." Levi repeated, eyes staring at the other's back.

Their conversation died again as Eren finished up his cleaning. Levi never was good at striking up conversations without unconsciously hitting a nerve but at least Eren wasn't so skirmish around him anymore like he was the past days when they were alone. It might have something to do when Levi shouted at him for his crappy cleaning but eh, all was good. And like he said, Eren was a first learner and now he hadn't seen the office as sparkling as it was now that the brunette was there. And had he meant that literally or…

Eren was sat on the couch in front of him, Levi stood up to prepare some tea for him to take his mind off dangerous things as well as refilling his own then Eren suddenly started talking, "It was a wonder for me why you easily accepted with me living here. You didn't even ask why."

Levi didn't ask because he already had a hunch. Where that came from, he didn't know. Shrugging his shoulders, he answered honestly, "I just had a hunch."

Eren stared at him for a second before looking back down, "What's your full name?"

"Levi Ackerman." The raven answered readily enough. It was only fair after all. Now that he thought of it, he was the only one not properly introduced, huh?

There was recognition in his voice as Eren repeated, "Ackerman?"

"Yeah, why?" The raven was certainly curious.

"Ah no. I just heard it somewhere before…" Eren didn't elaborate and Levi didn't ask. There were Ackerman's out there and even if they were blood rated to him he didn't give a shit. The only family he had was the people on his team. Although it was curious.

When Levi was finished preparing their drinks, he settled it down in front of Eren while he sat down beside the brunette. There was a moment of silence before the other spoke up.

"Remember when I said that I saw my parents die?" Levi nodded, it's not like he could easily forget that. And besides he didn't know much about Eren so everything was pretty easy to remember. "It happened a few years back. I would have died as well but I managed to escape and then my Meister—former Meister saved me and took me in. It was small and cramp and smelled suspicious unlike yours but I was happy." Eren laughed as his eyes stared upfront, he looked as if he was seeing the ghost of his former Meister standing on that open space.

Levi merely watched him, his tea remaining untouched at the table. Now that Eren was actually opening up to him, he couldn't help but ask himself again as to why Eren trusted him right from the start.

Eren started again and the raven listened raptly even as his head started aching, "We couldn't even sleep without accidentally kicking each other. They shared their food with me even though they practically had nothing, they taught me a lot of things and we practically did everything together.

"There was never a time that we weren't with each other's company. Our friends told us that we were practically glued to the hip with how close we were even outside but really, it was just because we got used to living in that small apartment and having to stick close to each other.

"But what I liked most was when we trained. They'd always laugh and shout as we flew in the air…" Eren smiled sadly before continuing, "Even if it's just an illusion, I wanted them to feel free even if I myself don't know it."

Eren paused and finally looked at him. The expression on his face gave Levi a sense of déjà vu, "But then they found us. Those fuckers. They chased us everywhere and we couldn't sleep properly in fear that they'd ambush us but then others found us and we had to fight. It was good at first because they were fucking bad ass and they wielded me as if I'm part of their body. It felt good but then I found myself getting weaker since I never got proper rest. And… you know what happened."

The raven didn't know what to say. He was shit at this, where was Farlan and Isabel when you needed them, those little shits. Levi was just thankful that Eren wasn't crying, he would have probably made the same choice as the kid's dead father—except the crying part, for shit's sake—and called those two.

But now he understood. It's not just about Eren's need as a Shifter that he was so attached to his Meister but also the fact that he was fucking saved by them. How can Levi top that? Yes, he saved Eren—in a way and not without the brunette pleading—and was now satisfying Eren's Shifter pride but what Levi said about his Meister being Eren's whole life was actually not off the bat. But wait—why would he feel the need to outweigh Eren's former Meister? What the fuck was he even thinking?

"But I know they're alive. They promised me." Eren whispered more to himself as he encased the steaming mug with his hand, it must have burnt.

Levi watched him silently, head spinning from his own confusing thoughts before finally scooting closer. Gently, he took Eren's reddening hands and took some wet wipes from below the table.

"If you say so, then they must be." Levi didn't even know what he was saying; his voice was tight with nerves. "Stop wracking your brain with it and just do what you feel you'd regret less." Levi was a man of action and that was what he'd probably do.

Eren silently repeated his words before commenting with a wide smile, "You're right, Captain—Levi. And I definitely don't regret being here with you."

Levi lifted his cup to his lips, concealing the smile that threatened to show.

There's more to Eren than meets the eye but it will take us a few more chapters before you understand. And gasp! is this Levi falling in love!?

The last chapter is lame-o but I'll go back and see if I could salvage it in a way. The first chapter is shit and I can't think of a way to make it flow better so I'll leave that as is. I hope the narration here is better. What do you think?

Also, I'm starting another fic. I wanted to try First Person POV. It's the cliche 'bad-boy-meets-right-girl/boy'. Please do give it a try? Thank you for your time!