Chapter 3

Eren was ecstatic about the amount of attention Levi-Heichou had given him on their way to Karanese. He felt like a stupid fangirl about it, but his happiness won out over his embarrassment. He left Levi to Erwin and Hanji to devise the final arrangements before leaving Wall Rose. Eren knew he would be riding alongside Levi, Erwin, and Hanji, but outside the wall was not the time to make merry, so he calmed himself and instead found Mikasa and Armin. They were talking idly with Jean, Historia, and a few of the other cadets Eren didn't often get the chance to hang out with. Most of his time was taken up with training with Levi or experimenting on his titan form with Hanji.

At four o'clock, on the second, the gates of Wall Rose rumbled open and groups of Scout-topped horses galloped through. Out in the open, the teams split and took to their assigned positions. The formation was tighter this time than the last mission outside the wall had been. There weren't worries of the female titan—Annie—trying to capture Eren, and Reiner and Bertholdt hadn't been heard from in a long while. Almost everyone hoped it stayed that way.

A titan. Five meter class. Non-variant. He wouldn't have been such a threat if there were trees or buildings away, but the straightest path wasn't always the most convenient. Erwin elected to simply avoid it by steering to the left. The turn made them draw closer to a small wooded area. Unfortunately, the trees, which provided them with such an advantage for 3D maneuvering gear, also disadvantaged them as they had hidden two titans, drawn out by the sound of racing hooves. The first one charged straight at them, almost squashing an entire four-man team.

"Shit." Eren could hear Levi mutter.

Erwin saved face and signaled to avoid the titans and continue on their path. The fleet picked up speed, but it was too late and they were too close—a twelve meter titan rushed from an opening in the forest and charged straight into the center of their formation. His enormous feet trampled a man from the rear sector, spooking the nearby horses to bolt in different directions. Eren could hear its dull, unintelligible roar as it raced towards his group.

"A variant!?" Hanji looked way too excited as she nearly turned backwards on her horse to watch it get closer. Still quick about her wits though, Hanji pulled on the reigns and swerved to the left, evading its reach.

"Eren!" Levi swerved to the right and Eren took that as his order to follow.

"Hai!"

Erwin charged straight ahead, kicking his horse to run at its limits. The titan still ran in the middle of their formation, but instead of continuing after Erwin, redirected itself to the right, heading straight for Levi and Eren.

"Heichou!" Eren warned. Levi glanced over his shoulder at the titan gaining on them. Is he after me? Eren worried. That would put Levi in direct danger as well. Before Eren could ponder over his situation any more, he saw the giant hand swing at him from the right. He jumped, narrowly missing it, but his horse flew across the field, bones shattered on impact. At least the pretty mare wouldn't have to suffer, but Eren fell into the soft, grassy field and tumbled forward. The giant hand reached for him again, but it didn't matter, because Eren noticed the too-fast flicker of Levi speeding up its shoulder. He was so unbelievably fast. Blades cut into the flesh at the titan's neck and he came towering down… right over Eren!

"Stupid brat!" Eren heard as he felt himself grabbed at his waist and jerked out from underneath the falling titan. The cables of Levi's 3D maneuvering gear retracted from the titan's shoulder as the two men scraped sideways against the grassy ground, trying to slow their momentum and gain solid footing. Stopping still on his back, Eren just looked up at Levi standing over him. His mouth was parted as he regained his breath. Some ways back, Eren heard the crash of another titan as the team had brought the other down to their height in order to sever a chunk from its spine. Eren's attention was returned to Levi as a foot stomped into his stomach. "What? You think the titan was just going to give you a hug and let you go, you stupid brat!?"

"Ah!" Eren choked out when Levi's foot landed again.

"Just stand there like an idiot while a titan makes you its landing spot!?" This time Levi kicked his side. His arm when he tried to shield himself. His stomach, stomach, arm, shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Levi-Heichou!" Eren whined out as Levi smashed his boot into his face. "Ow." He murmured into the boot.

"Alright, alright." Hanji's voice tried to quell Levi's anger. He just shot her an angry glare. "At least wait until we reach the fortress, huh, Levi-san?"

Levi unstuck his boot from Eren's face and glared at him. His white pants were smeared with tough grass and dirt stains. His hair was ruffled and not in its usual tidy do. Not good. Eren made Levi-Heichou get dirty. Eren could hear Levi mutter something along the lines of "disgusting" and "filthy" and "stupid brat" as he tried to brush himself off.

Hanji had brought back Levi's horse, but Eren's had been killed by the titan that had struck him. Levi mounted his stallion as Hanji trotted away. Eren, realizing what this meant, was both happy and entirely dreading it. Levi-Heichou was definitely unhappy with him.

"Get on." Levi ordered, curtly. Eren wasted no time in obeying and the group set off again, back into formation.

…

Eren had to be aware of it. There was no way he could pull off playing dumb about that. Levi had been riding with Eren clutching him around the waist for almost an hour now and Eren's erection had been rubbing against Levi's lower back the entire time. The only reason Levi hadn't confronted him about it was because he knew the circumstances. The horse's massaging gait coupled with the fact that Eren had an obvious massive crush on Levi… Levi audibly sighed. How hadn't he figured that out before? He knew the boy had been taking long, sighing glances at the older man, but he wouldn't think that such a kid would get a crush on someone so much older. Eren had expressed his admiration for Levi before, but that's all Levi had taken it as: admiration. But, there was only a thin line between admiration and the blushing cheeks, too-obvious stares, and the unavoidable hard length that Levi felt against his back. He glanced back at the boy and was relieved to see that Eren was at least ashamed—his eyes shut tight and head bowed into Levi's shoulder along with the beat red color that was his new skin tone. It wouldn't be too much longer though. They were arriving at their check point. After the first titan attack, there had been others, but they were smaller and easily taken care of. The losses were kept to a minimum of six men and eight horses.

When the horses slowed to a trot, Eren looked up. "We're here." Levi alerted him in monotone. The entrance to the castle's underground tunnels looked like a gaping hole in the ground that had large, metal barn doors hinged onto it. It looked eerie in the moonlight's shadowy casting, but sturdy and also unbroken. Hopefully, the tunnels themselves would be clear of threat.

Four men dismounted their horses and used a key to unlock the doors. They were rusted shut, making them difficult to open. Every inch that the doors moved echoed a loud screech in retaliation. The rust was slowly breaking off as the doors were shoved outward. Everyone looked around. In the night though, it was hard to see, especially with the trees shrouding anything beyond twenty meters away. But Levi was prepared. He listened closely for any sounds.

Levi narrowed his eyes when he felt, rather than heard, the footsteps of something very large headed their way.

"Everybody inside!" Commander Erwin shouted. Immediately, horses rushed inside carrying their scouts. The supplies wagons fit through the opening easily and it looked like they hit check point successfully.

Levi stayed back with Eren. "Aren't we going inside?" Eren asked timidly.

Hanji answered instead. "We need to clear the area. They could follow us in or destroy the entrance. We can't have that happen."

Levi, Hanji, and Erwin were dismounting, obviously preparing their 3D maneuvering gear for a fight. A few others had done the same and sent their horses into the tunnel. Eren followed suit, Levi noticed. "Eren, go inside. We'll handle it here." He ordered.

Levi watched Eren's face twist with internal conflict. The idiot wasn't really thinking of disobeying him, was he? Too late to change his mind now, a titan, ten meters tall, came running into sight. It had long arms and legs and immediately swung downward where the scouts were waiting at the entrance. Levi quickly shot upwards towards a nearby tree and landed his feet with a soft thud on an open area of its upper trunk. On his toes this time, Eren followed him and landed on another tree a little bit away. From his height, Eren could see over some of the more immediate forest. One, two, four, EIGHT!?

Levi could feel the tree tremble as another set of titan footfalls approached. "Levi-Heichou!" Levi heard Eren scream. He quickly dodged as the second titan crashed through the trees and reached for him. Meanwhile, Hanji had taken out the first titan. "There are eight!" Levi heard Eren from his right. Eight!?

Levi hopped to another tree to get a better vantage point at the second titan. He was about to aim his gear at the titan when another one, fifteen meters high crashed right into his tree, snapping it in half from the middle of the trunk. Levi searched for safety as he fell along with the branches, but the titans surrounded him—another eight meter titan appearing from the other side of the clearing as well. He shot his 3D gear at another tree, but one of the titans reaching for him grabbed onto his cable instead. Shit! Was all Levi could think before hearing a loud crack and a bright flash of light, then everything went dark.

Levi heard a powerful smack and the sound of bones cracking and trees snapping. "Woohoo!" That was Hanji. Levi felt disoriented. The dark forest around him was moving a little too oddly. Then he noticed. THAT. BRAT. Eren had transformed into his titan form and grabbed Levi. He felt small—well, smaller than usual, held loosely in Eren's enormous hand. Levi tried to wiggle out of Eren's hand to sail off to another tree, but he noticed as his equipment didn't trigger—that jerk from the cable had snapped the connection.

Eren felt Levi squirming in his palm and held him up to his face. Levi stared back at the oversized idiot with as much annoyance as he could fit into his brow. Levi twisted in Eren's hand to look backwards at the next titan that came out of the forest, this one slower, with small legs and only five meters tall, but still holding the same unquenchable appetite for human flesh as the others. Eren cupped Levi against his chest and punted the figure and then smashed its head and neck in with his foot. Levi felt absolutely ridiculous pressed up against Eren's too-hot titan chest as if he needed to be coddled and protected.

When most of the titans had been cleared, Levi could hear Erwin shouting orders from somewhere on the ground. "Get inside!" He heard the sound of several cables being shot downwards and the steam released from their gear. But Eren made no attempt to acknowledge Commander Erwin.

"Oi! Eren!" Levi called up at the titan's face, but he didn't respond. "Eren!" He started moving away from the castle entrance. Has he lost control!? Not at a time like this! Levi struggled once more to get out of Eren's grasp, but Eren had him pinned to his chest.

"Levi!" Levi looked around and saw Hanji swinging from tree to tree, trying to keep up. "What's going on?"

Levi shook his head at her. "He's not responding!"

Levi tried again to wiggle out, but it was useless. Eren's hold on Levi may have been gentle, but it certainly kept him pressed against his chest. Levi could only move his arms and upper torso. "Hey Idiot! Stop!" Levi tried to call again.

Eren suddenly seemed to take notice of Hanji swinging through the trees. He opened his mouth and screeched at her, and using his empty hand, Eren tried to swat her away. Hanji easily dodged and moved to another tree. "Eren!" She screamed. He took off sprinting in the opposite direction of her. "Oi! Eren!"

…

Eren awoke slowly, not quite sure where he was anymore. "Where…" He began. Suddenly, a memory pulsed through his mind, raising his heart beat as adrenaline swiftly coursed through his body. Levi-Heichou was falling! "Levi… Heichou?" He shifted taking note of the scenery—he was high in the treetops, sitting on a single thick branch. The night air was cold, but he didn't shiver. He noticed warm arms wrapped around his waist, anchoring him to the tree. An immediate blush rose in his cheeks when he realized that the warmth radiating through his back was coming from Levi-Heichou's chest. He was sitting in his lap.

"Idiot." The voice breathed in his ear. Uh-oh.

Eren looked over his shoulder at his Corporal's face that was leering less than an inch away from his own. He didn't know whether to jump off the branch or cling to him for safety.

Without beating around the bush, Levi quickly explained that Eren in titan form decided to lose his shit and go on a titan-smashing rampage… while carrying Levi against his chest. Finally exhausted, Eren had let loose enough for Levi to scramble out of his grip, cut him out, and land on the nearest branch. As Levi's story went on, Eren felt increasingly guilty and started fearing for his life. Levi's face and voice may have been well-composed, but when Eren shifted to look at his face, he could see his anger concentrated between his creased eyebrows.

"And now. we're stuck. here." Levi ended. Levi's 3D maneuvering gear was broken and Eren's was damaged from the heat of his titan transformation. That happened rather often, unfortunately.

"I'm so sorry, Levi-Heichou." Eren nearly sobbed at him. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Eren could swear he just saw another crease scrunch into Levi's forehead. He quieted down and took to leaning comfortably against his Corporal, this time turned at an angle so he could watch his face. Levi sat with his back against the trunk and had pulled Eren close to him and held him around his waist to make sure he didn't fall off when he was asleep. Despite their obvious endangerment, Eren was nearly overjoyed at their current situation. He tried not to let it show in his face.

Eren could feel Levi's breath softly blowing against his neck every time he exhaled. A smile tried to creep onto his face, but Levi was probably tired and it made him feel guilty.

Eren sat up to face Levi again. The creases in Levi's brow had lessened and he just seemed to be gazing at the stars overhead. "Levi-Heichou?"

Levi's face seemed to twitch at Eren's voice. Eren mentally berated himself for putting them in such a situation. "What?" Levi asked coolly, obviously not pleased about how they ended up in this predicament.

"I really am sorry, Levi-Heichou. I didn't mean to get you stuck out here like this…" Eren trailed off, but when he looked back at Levi, he was just calm, staring into Eren's eyes. Eren hoped he could tell just how sorry he was. Unexpectedly, Levi reached out his hand and touched Eren's face, cupping his chin in his hand. Levi's fingers were rough and calloused, but they graced his skin so softly and so delicately. "Levi-Heichou?" Eren muttered again.

"Hush." Levi whispered to him. Levi then pulled his face closer to his and pressed his lips against Eren's.

Eren's face grew red, shocked at first, then melting into it. Levi's lips were uncharacteristically soft and his breath tasted of mint and the fresh night air they had been breathing. Eren took his chance to note on everything about the kiss—the way Levi's mouth moved gently against his, sucking his lower lip, and tilting his head ever so slightly to mold their faces together. Eren was in bliss.

It all ended too quickly when Levi pulled back from Eren and dropped his hand. The blush deepening on his face as Levi stared at him, Eren raised his fingers to his lips, his mind trying to decide if it was real or a dream. "Levi-Heichou…" Eren whispered, deciding it was real and leaning into his Corporal for another kiss. The kiss was deeper and sloppier as Eren was inexperienced, but Levi let Eren move his lips against his own… until…

"Oh ho ho!" Uh-oh. Hanji's voice sounded through the air, entirely too close and way too excited—Eren turned an even darker shade of red, knowing she had seen them. "Well, well, we—AH!"

Levi had chucked one of his extra blades at her. "Say a word and you're dead." The deadpan in his eyes was enough to make anyone piss their pants.

"Ah… haha." Her voice trailed off a bit. "Yes. Yes. Well, I've come to rescue your sweet little asses. Now, if you'd stop trying to kill me—whether here or in my sleep—Note! I'll be sleeping with one. eye. open—then we shall move on with the rescuing."

Eren looked up from his state of horror. Hanji had a dangerous twinkle in her eye. Hopefully, Levi-Heichou's threat would keep her quiet, but there was no telling with Hanji-san.

…