Uh oh! Levi dropped a bombshell on Eren! He revealed that he did in fact know he was watching them the night before. How will Eren react to this? I dunno….

I've revealed to a fan that I am going to take my sweet, sweet time developing Levi and Eren's love story. I plan on establishing other pairings, bringing old/new characters to spice things up, and packing a little more action in the next chapters.

As always, I appreciate any input you have for me. I love hearing what you guys think!

I don't own Attack on Titan/ Shingeki no Kyojin!

Eren halted his shoveling. He blinked his eyes quickly and squeezed the handle of his shovel.

'Maybe he'll forget I'm even here if I don't move… That's a fucking stupid idea. Why am I so stupid?' Eren took a deep breath and looked at Levi. It was time to face the music.

"S-she did, did she? What did you say back to her…? If you don't mind me asking." He turned his attention back towards the soft, wet earth and continued shoveling.

"I didn't say anything to her. She walked out, and now she's dead." Levi said. It was scary how very little emotion came through with his words. Complete indifference emanated from him, and this disturbed Eren to his very core.

Eren couldn't come up with a coherent sentence in his head. "How does… Her death make you feel?"

"I feel extremely guilty." He turned away from him and continued to shovel.

Eren stopped and stared at the man before him.

'How can I get through to him…? What can I do?' Eren leaned his shovel against the wall of the hole. He threw caution to the wind and laid everything on the line. He approached Levi and snaked his hands around his stomach and pulled his back into his chest.

Levi's eyes went wide in surprise. He dropped his shovel.

"Captain… I don't know how I can, but I'll help you. Just tell me what you need." Eren said just above a whisper into the nape of his neck.

Levi dropped his head in shame and softened at his words. He placed his hands on top of Eren's strong arms wrapped around his waist. His eyes welled up with tears.

Being so strong for so long is a burden no one should have to carry alone.

Levi let Eren hold him like this for a few minutes. He closed his eyes and gently broke free of his hold.

"Eren, I can't do this." He said simply. He refused to make eye contact and climbed out of the hole.

"Wait! Captain, wait!" He called after his retreating back. Levi didn't acknowledge his pleads and retreated back inside the castle.

Eren climbed out of the hole himself and had to take a double take to realize what was happening. Mikasa stood in the doorway with her hands balled into fists. She bit her lip and whipped around and followed The Captain inside.

'What the hell was that look for?' Eren thought to himself and followed the pair inside.

Mikasa was so upset at the sight she didn't realize Jean was leaning against the door frame at the entrance of the kitchen. She clipped him hard in the shoulder, sending the piece of fruit he was eating to the ground with a soft thud. He was about to get upset at her until he made eye contact with her. Her face was contorted with a pain Jean didn't understand, but it scared him all the same.

She hurried passed him and started for the staircase that led to their bedrooms.

He quickly picked up the bruised fruit and tossed it in a waste basket.

He came up hurriedly behind her. They almost made it to her bedroom and she turned around on him and met him with hard eyes.

"What the fuck do you want Jean!?" She asked harshly. Jean balked at her language and furrowed his brow in confusion.

"You looked upset… I'm sorry I cared enough to follow you and try to figure out if I could help you!" He came back with an intensity equal to hers.

Her face cracked and the tears begging to fall broke free. Her brow creased in pain, and her mouth parted into a hurt expression. She fell softly to her knees and buried her face in her hands. The events of the day proved to be too much for her.

Being so strong for so long is a burden no one should have to carry alone.

Jean seriously debated turning and running while he still had the chance. He decided against it and knelt down to her level. He stretched a hand out to her, offering to help her stand. Jean led her inside her room and shut the door. He knew that if anyone saw her this way she would kill him for not slapping her out of it.

Jean led her to her bed and sat her on the edge of it. He knelt in front of her and took her hands from her face, holding them in his own.

She began choking on her sobs she was crying so hard. Jean listened and stroked her hands gently. He didn't say everything would be okay, and he didn't tell her to calm down. He sat and listened to her until she was done.

She finally opened her eyes and met his gaze. His light brown eyes were soft and understanding.

She took in a deep breath and let it rattle out.

"Mikasa… If you want to talk I'll listen." There was no demand in his tone. She bit her lip and patted the empty spot beside her on the bed. He stood and sat next to her.

"J-Jean…" She grasped his hand for support, which he eagerly gave to her.

"I love Eren." Jean flinched at this. Her statement was a dagger to the heart. He still held onto her hand and still listened.

"But… I now know we could never be together. I've been with him, by his side for more than half of my life. I've protected him and saved him countless times." She stopped herself before another tear escaped. She swallowed hard and continued. "I always assumed we'd end up together, maybe after all this was over for us."

"Why do you think you won't end up together now?"

The scene she just witnessed flashed before her eyes again. She brought her hand to her lips and stilled their trembling.

"I can just see things for what they really are now."

"I understand."

Jean turned to face her. Her eyes held a profound hurt and it killed him knowing he could never really make it go away.

"For what it's worth, he's an idiot if he doesn't see what he already has." He tried a smile at her, and she accepted it. "Any guy would be lucky to have you Mikasa, you've gotta believe me when I say that." He swallowed his pride and took the biggest gamble of his life. He put his hand on the back of her neck and pulled her in for a heated kiss.

Mikasa was stunned and took several moments to process what had just happened to her. She realized that it was in fact Jean Kirstein sitting on her bed next to her, and that it was in fact Jean Kirstein that had his lips planted firmly against hers. For some reason, that was okay with her. She placed her hand on the side of his cheek and pressed back to equal the pressure Jean had on her lips.

Mikasa had no idea what had come over her, but her tongue left her mouth and she traced along Jean's bottom lip, poking for permission to enter. He granted her access and their kiss went to the next level.

Mikasa felt hot, hot heat traveling up her torso to her neck. She slid her hand down to Jean's chest and gripped his shirt in her fist. She pressed on his shoulders, pushing him onto his back. She naturally crawled on top of him, and met him chest to chest. She straddled him between her soft thighs and began unbuttoning the first few buttons of his shirt. He realized what she was doing and it excited him immensely. Mikasa could feel his hard member growing, pressing against her moist entrance. She moaned at the sensation and a wandering hand traveled down his torso to investigate.

Jean quickly pulled away from the kiss and gripped both of her hands in his.

"If you don't stop I won't be able to control myself. I don't want to do anything either of us will regret tomorrow… If I don't stop now I won't be ever be able to." It took great strength to say this to her, and physically make her stop.

He pushed her off of him and he stood. Mikasa lied on the bed with a puzzled look on her face. He buttoned his buttons back and straightened his collar.

"Mikasa, I would love nothing more than to make love to you right now but…" He closed his eyes tightly and took a deep breath. "I am not Eren's replacement!" She recoiled at his harsh words and looked down, ashamed. "I… I can't be your second choice, or a choice out of lucky circumstance." He said softly.

"I can't take advantage of you just because Eren broke your heart! Or, maybe it's you taking advantage of me, I'm not sure… But I couldn't stand the thought of you lying with me and thinking about him! Mikasa… I care so deeply for you… When we do have our very first time I want you to be invested in me, and only me. If… If you still feel the same way tomorrow you do right now, come and find me. If you don't, I'll know that the first time we ever kissed you wished I was someone else." Jean turned around and started out the door before he could let himself change his mind.

Mikasa lied her head down on her pillow and closed her eyes. 'I just can't fucking win.'

Jean passed Eren going down the hallway on his way out of Mikasa's room. He purposefully knocked his shoulder into Eren's; hard.

"What's your problem?!" Eren was almost at a breaking point.

Jean veered around and gave Eren a once over with angry eyes.

"I'm fucking jealous!" Jean let it all come out. Eren scrunched his eyebrows in puzzlement and threw his hands up.

"I don't understand what you're talking about. You're so fricken' confusing sometimes." He tried to step passed him and go into Mikasa's room, but Jean stepped right back in front of him.

"You need to give her space. She doesn't need to see you right now."

"The hell she does, she's my sister! I'll come and go as I damn-well please Jean, now step aside!" Jean took a step towards him and gripped the collar of his shirt in a fist.

"Let me go Jean! Mikasa! Call off your guard dog!" He tried to break free by swatting his hands.

Eren heard footsteps approaching and he glanced over towards Mikasa's room to see her walk out. She didn't come out, she closed her door and Eren heard the lock click.

"Fuck, now see what you've done!" Jean said. His face was red and hot with anger. He let a fist fly and almost connected with Eren's cheek. Armin came up beside Jean and gripped him at the bend in his elbow, effectively stopping him.

"Jean, calm down buddy." Armin said. His tone was soft, and almost immediately diffused the situation. "Eren, come on, I came to get you all for Petra's burial." He turned around as quickly as he had come up the stairs and headed outside.

Oluo was nowhere to be found as the small group of soldiers gathered around a body-sized patch of disturbed earth.

"I'm sure you all can agree that Petra was an excellent soldier. She was better than most of you actually, losing her is a blow to the entire human race." Levi was giving the benediction, but in reality he was just making everyone uncomfortable.

Eren shifted his weight on his feet uneasily and crossed his arms.

"Bringing her body back inside the walls was too dangerous a task, which is why I chose to bury her here at the castle. However, I believe her family should be notified as soon as possible. I have decided to return to Wall Rose and bring the message to her parents. I have also decided that I am going to request of Erwin that I be given more soldiers to strengthen the Special Operations Squadron. The only safety we have is in numbers, and our numbers are steadily going to diminish. I will leave for Rose at dawn. I am bringing Eren Jaeger and Jean Kirstein with me on my mission. Be ready at first light tomorrow." Levi always had the final word. There was no argument from Jean or Eren although you could see the distaste written all over their faces.

Eren returned inside with his shoulders slumped forward. He wandered into the great room and saw Oluo sitting on the same couch Petra had been lied on earlier. His face was buried in his hands and he sobbed quietly. Eren debated on whether or not he should say something, but ultimately decided against it.

He turned and finally decided to return to his room.

He laid there for a few moments with his eyes closed, and then he heard a rapping at his door.

"Eren?" The voice said. Eren couldn't quite tell who the voice belonged to, but he didn't really care who it was.

"You can come in." He said and sat up on the edge of his bed.

His door crept open and Eren's eyes widened in surprise at his guest.

Can't wait to send Jean and Eren on this dangerous-ass mission! Hopefully it'll help to strengthen their relationship. Or maybe it'll just give them more reason to hate each other, I'm not sure lol.

It may seem a tad ooc for Levi to show any sign that Petra's death affected him, but I wanted to show his sensitive side. Contrary to popular belief Levi has one, I also wanted to show how easily Eren can break down his defenses without even trying. He loves this kid, he just doesn't know it yet.