I'm sorry it took me so long to update. I haven't been feeling well for one week and was extremely busy until now. I'm really sorry ; A ;

I hope this isn't too bad, it turned out rather short too but I could not get it longer. I actually don't think it's good but it moves the plot a little, and that's what matters right now.

It will most likely take me two weeks to update again since I'll be away for the next week and will be at some con-like event on Sunday after I return. I'm sorry.

Please tell me if you find anything that makes no sense or typos, it's late here and I don't have a beta reader so yeah...I would love to hear your opinions!

It was already getting dark outside when Eren returned, immediately noticing the note missing in the hallway. He sighed, making sure to stay silent as he moved about, able to hear the sobbing coming from another room, knowing he had broken his heart with this small note.

After leaving the police station, Eren had wandered around aimlessly, finally deciding to check out the club he would go to in the evening. He needed to know how to get there if he wanted to be on time to save Armin. Most likely he was held there, even if the note did not say such a thing but why else would he be requested to come to a club?

It took more willpower than Eren ever though he had to not storm into the kitchen and try to comfort the old man sitting there, not knowing if his last of kin was alive or not or where he was. Instead he tried to silently climb the stairs, not turning on any light until the door to the room he shared with Armin was closed. With a sigh, he sank to the ground, feeling the shaking start again. If this didn't work, what would he do? How would he get Armin back?

Eren could feel his chest heave as he tried to suck in enough air to not collapse. He was going to have another attack, he just knew it. His head turned slightly, making him gasp. He only had half an hour left. If he wasn't on time, who knew what would happen. Panic had to wait. With all his strength, the brunet managed to get to his feet, stumbling slightly at the lack of vision due to tears and shaking of his whole body but still managing to get to his wardrobe. He threw about half his clothes on the ground as he tried to get a black shirt and black skinny jeans, only slowly being able to dress in them.

It was fifteen minutes later that he finally was ready, staring at his reflection. He would have to run but it was fine. It would help him empty his mind and focus on what was important. He had to get the images of Armin out of his head and focus if he wanted to save him. No matter what it cost. With this he turned, taking a deep breath before sneaking downstairs, managing to not get seen again before silently leaving and starting to run, blending perfectly into the darkness. It was time he got Armin back. He needed him home again.

It was nowhere as long as Eren expected until he got to the club, realizing too late he had been running at full speed the whole time. His lungs were aching and his body was actually screaming for air but he did not have time to stop now. What he had to do was getting inside this club and to wherever he was supposed to meet that Levi person. Stumbling slightly as he took slower steps now and was catching his breath.

So this was it, huh? The infamous club Recon, mostly known for shady deals, underage prostitution and other things he did not want to think of. Rumor had it that it was under control of the Mafia but who could really tell? As far as he knew, no one ever saw police at this club or heard them doing something against this business. What would he end up like once he entered this club? Would he get out again?

As panic was starting to rise again, Eren reached the door. A shady, tall guy with broad shoulders was standing in front of it. He was dressed in black though his blond hair was a strong contrast to the clothing. Eren stopped in front of him, feeling the man look down at him, unable to ignore the smirk on his face. "What do you think you are doing, kiddo?"

The brunet stopped, his mouth opening and closing a couple of times before he cleared his throat, pulling out the note.
"I was told to come here to meet someone called Levi at eight pm…" He was half mumbling since his hands were shaking again, fear that he was not going to get Armin back raising in his chest, taking over his body and mind.

"I-I was told he could help me to get my friend back." Armin… where was he? Was he okay? Was anyone hurting him? Would they contact them and as for ransom? He could only hope. Even if he'd be in debts for all of his life, he'd get Armin out of there right away.

Images of the blonde being tortured in so many ways were rushing through his mind. Someone beating him up. Someone cutting off limbs. Someone raping him. The last one was the worst for him. Why would he even imagine such a thing? Eren couldn't help feeling like throwing up at the idea. No, Armin was fine. He had to be.

"Do you want to enter now or not?" Eren looked up, suddenly realizing the blond man had stepped out of the way. With a short nod, the boy walked towards the door, slowly opening it. He took a single step inside before a hand was wrapped around his waist and he felt himself being lifted off the ground and effortlessly thrown over someone's shoulder. The man carrying him must have been very tall and not weak as Eren was not the lightest. The brunet couldn't help it. As he felt himself being carried away, he started hitting and kicking the person until he felt a harsh slap on his back. "I can leave you here too. I bet those old business men would love to take you by force."

The words were spoken calmly and silently, making Eren shudder and stop fighting. He finally looked around, just realizing what was really going on. Children of his age and below were being abused and used and he could see money being thrown around carelessly, some of the children picking it up hastily, clearly only there to make money for their families. Drugs were nothing that would be taken even behind some kind of cover and it just was disgusting. What was he doing at such a place?

Soon Eren was put down, pretty much being thrown onto a couch before he was left alone. The room was empty except for him, clearly being some private meeting room or something.

On one side was the couch he was now sitting on. In front of it was a small table and on the other side of the room was a bar with various typed of glasses and alcohol visible though Eren could not identify much as he did not dare move. Next to the bar was something that made him even more uncomfortable. A bed. Red satin sheets and an iron frame. And hanging from the headboard… handcuffs…

It was at this sight that Eren was starting to fall in his state of panic again. He somehow managed to get out the pills he had taken along, immediately swallowing a few of them. His heart was beating fast, hands shaking. His mind was racing, all his thoughts focused on Armin and where he might be. Nothing he tried to do to calm down worked so he just sat there, his breath coming ragged and in pants, heart beating frantically and body shaking.

Soon, every feeling of time was lost and Eren was only focused on his fear. He did not notice at first, but a few people actually entered the room. Five were there. The guy from the door was there again and the one he assumed had carried him into this room since his size fit the distance to the ground when he was carried. There also were three woman. To rather short ones, one light blonde, the other with a golden hair colour in the half-lit room and a taller woman with brown hair kept in a messy ponytail. And he could also see that she was wearing glasses.

They all looked him over, clearly not liking what they saw. Eren hardly managed to hide his shaking now, noticing how the woman with the golden hair slowly was moving over to him, sitting down beside him. "Get him to come here already. The poor boy is shaking. He must be thinking something horrible will happen to him!" She gently took his hands, trying to comfort him a bit.

It was the tall woman who was laughing at this, looking at Eren. "He's about to meet Levi! There isn't anything more horrible than that!" Eren did not know how to act as they soon all were chatting what he could only call happily, the woman still holding his hands and comforting him. He didn't know what exactly was going on. All he knew was that he did not like any of the things happening right now. He was terrified but it seemed as if they all were just fine with it and ignored him.

What felt like an eternity later a door opened. Eren looked up, hoping he would finally meet the one he needed before he was going mad and took one of the bottle to kill himself with or drink himself into a stupor.

Someone entered the room, pretty much kicking the women out before sitting down beside the scared teen, making it clear right away that he was the one in control. Eren could not help making sure to look closely at him, feeling as if he were reminded of someone he had seen in the past. Those droopy eyes and this hairstyle… the bored and tired look in his eyes…

"Eren Jaeger, right?" The man looked at Eren who flinched slightly at hearing his name before nodding frantically. "You're here because your friend was kidnapped, am I right?"
"Y-Yes… I found a note that you could help me…" Something inside him was telling him that this was the man he had been looking for.

Levi simply nodded. Eren sure had changed a lot over the last ten years but he had not grown badly. Just the way he wanted his victims to be. Taller than him, thinking they could easily defeat him but by far lacking power to actually do so. "Armin Arlert. Do you know of his lover?" Levi could tell Eren had no idea and it was amusing to see the boy struggle so much with understanding what was happening around him.

Eren's eyes widened in sheer shock. "Armin had a lover?!"
"Tune it down, brat. Yes, he did. Jean Kirschstein is or was his name. No idea if they are still alive." How beautiful those eyes were when they were full of fear.

"How do you know all this?"
"I know his lover. He has been causing me some trouble lately and I actually just want to get rid of him already."

Eren looked down, trying to comprehend what he just had been told. Armin was in a relationship with someone from a gang. They wanted to run away together. They disappeared.

"That's as much as you can get for free. I know for a fact where they are most likely kept but I can not send my men out there and let them risk their lives if there is nothing I can get in return. You will have to pay me."

Eren had been silent until now but now he was shaking. Of course there was a price. Something he would most likely have to do. "W-What is the price for getting Armin back home?"
He could not run now. He had to do anything just to get the blond boy to come home again and be able to hug him, even if he had to get his lover killed for this.

"Your body."

Eren looked shocked, the shaking only growing worse as the seconds passed by. He knew the reply would be this. He knew he would have to pay with something else than money but something inside him was denying it. He had enough information to go to that police officer. Maybe that would be enough. He could not give up on the only thing he owned. His body.

Before the man could stop him, Eren was on his feet, trying to reach the door. "No. I am not letting a pervert like you do such things with me!" He was about to reach out when he felt himself lifted off the ground and thrown onto the bed, struggling to get away as the blond man looked at him.

Levi, expecting Eren to run turned to them, nodding slightly, his face still expressionless. "We will leave him alone to think for a bit. There's still something we need to take care of." Before Eren could say a single thing, all three men were gone, leaving him alone in his state of fear and shock.

It must have been hours that Eren spent on his own, soon starting to scream and cry, wanting someone to be close to him to help him calm down. What he did not know was that Levi had been right behind the door nearly the whole time, listening to Eren slowly going mad in there, needing to find comfort in another person. Just as he had wanted it.

He could not help being somewhat glad that the brunet did not recognize him, knowing this was for the best. If he had any idea who he was facing, things would have gone a lot worse and taken a lot more force to even get to this point. But like this it was easy.

Levi looked at the toy he had placed on the desk in front of him, turning the bear every few minutes to look at it from another angle. He could not help wondering if Eren would remember who he was if he showed this to him and at the same time did not want to find out. It would be annoying enough as it was already. It was better for Eren not to remember the man who had killed his parents for such a thing as money. It was truly cruel but back then he had saved the boy's life so Eren should be happy.

Deciding he had suffered enough, Levi once again entered the room, watching as Eren turned from an angry beat into a scared animal, backing away from him.
"I will not force you to do anything. You can leave if you want. Through the door over there and you are free again."

Eren, not wanting to do the things asked with Levi, immediately was heading for the door when words like knives cut through the air.
"However, if you leave, your friend will most likely die. I have no interest in him or his lover. His death will be your fault. Can you live with the burden that you were too selfish to save his life? Could you live with knowing you have let him down? Could you face your family like this? It does not take much of you. A little bit of pain, yes, but you will also gain pleasure. And most importantly: You will not let him die."

Eren stopped, turning to look at Levi, still shaking in sheer fear. He'd let him die. He'd give up on Armin just to literally save his ass. Could he not take a little pain for him? The blond had given up on so much for him, had he not? He had taken classes he had no interest in and pushed his grades down to not be put in any advanced courses Eren was not in. How often had Armin held him at night and comforted him when he was crying? How many times had it been only them against the world? He could not let him down like this. He had to help Armin who had always done everything for him.

"I-I will do it. But I want to know everything you know about Armin." Eren tried to look strong, feeling the shaking cease as he made his decision. Once in his life he would be the strong one who took care of Armin. He had to.

Levi chuckled slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips. He moved closer, pressing something into Eren's hand. "Do not try to find out this phone's number or give it to anyone. Its sole purpose is for me to tell you where to meet me. I will give you information, you will give me your body. Now leave."

Eren felt himself being pushed out the door, starting to feel like some doll now. Once outside he immediately crushed into someone, looking up at whoever it was. "Eh?! Thomas?! What are you doing here?!" The blond boy just ignored him though, entering the room as the man from the entrance was moving up to him, guiding the boy out before leaving him. Confused and scared. What was going on?

Inside the building, Levi smirked at the sight of his toy being so confused. "Thomas, you did good work. Your sister is waiting for you at home. You will keep an eye on Eren for me, I pay well, you do know that, don't you?" He chuckled before leaving the other alone, returning to his private rooms, smirking at the idea of playing with the toy he had waited to get for such a long time. Oh what fun this would be.