Eren looked up as the bedroom door opened just a crack.

"Eren? They're gone." Levi said as he stepped inside, watching the boy carefully. He hadn't seen Eren explode like that in awhile, it worried him to see his green eyed beauty so upset. He regretted causing the boy so much pain, and he wished he could've kept his emotions in control back there.

Eren said nothing, turning his head to look away from Levi. He couldn't stand to look at him now. He had made a mistake. Responding to that anonymous message had been a mistake. He had put himself in this situation and now he was stuck. He knew he loved Levi, he knew that Levi cared about him too. But Eren couldn't stay here. If that meant leaving Levi, so be it. Well, that's what Eren wanted to think. But then a tiny voice inside his head reminded him of how hurt Levi was, how much he wanted to help the man. He hated that voice. But it was persistent and finally Eren turned his head to look at Levi. He felt guilty immediately when he saw how distraught Levi looked. He looked absolutely miserable about the fight earlier.

"Take me outside." Eren demanded, he needed to see how much freedom he had. He needed to see if his wellbeing really even mattered to Levi. He had to know.

"Eren..." Levi started to say before Eren cut him off.

"Rule number 1. Eren will not leave the apartment unless accompanied by Levi or someone who has Levi's trust to protect Eren. Right? Well I'll be accompanied by you." He reasoned, he knew the rules by heart by now, and he knew Levi couldn't argue. If Eren could even get a few minutes in the sun, a few minutes of fresh air, a few minutes of the public, he could clear his head. He could think properly and he could find out the truth. He really did think he loved Levi. He really did with all his heart. But Mikasa's words had struck him. What if he was being brainwashed? What if he didn't love Levi? He needed to know. For that, he needed to get outside.

"You're right... But are you sure you want to go outside? Now? You're upset Eren, you need to calm down."

"I need to calm down?! What was that out in the kitchen then! Were you being calm?! You nearly tore me in two and I can't stand being in this apartment one more fucking second Levi!" Eren snapped, he couldn't take this. He needed this. He needed to blow off steam. But when he looked at Levi's face that had now gotten icy cold he regretted his words.

"Fine. Let's go outside. Let's let your shitty face see some sunlight." Levi said as he stood, pulling Eren up as well. He had given Eren clothes, he had made Eren food, he had kept Eren safe, and in exchange Eren had snapped at him. But, Levi wasn't cruel, and he knew now that the boy loved him back. He knew he had to be nice now. Levi knew that he had to keep the boy, and maybe the boy could learn to protect himself. Maybe Levi could give him some more freedom. This was the test, if he could be good, if Eren could prove himself, Levi would think about letting him out more. Levi pulled on his shoes, shoving Eren's shoes at the boy.

Eren stared at Levi in confusion before taking the shoes, putting them on quickly. He wasn't sure what was with Levi's nee change in attitude but he was wary. Levi was unpredictable, as far as Eren knew he might end up dead in a ditch from this outing. But he wasn't going to back out now, he would have to try to trust Levi. Even if he hated this cold demeanour that Levi had just adopted.

"Thank you for taking me outside.." Eren muttered as Levi opened the door, hoping to relax the man a bit, but it was to no avail as the man only grunted as he grabbed Eren's hand, pulling him down the hallway to the apartment buildings elevator, pressing the down button. When the doors opened Levi pushed Eren inside first before following. Levi hated having to push and pull his green eyed beauty everywhere but he had to keep up this illusion. He had to pretend he was still mad. When they took their first steps out of the apartment building Eren shielded his eyes, staring at the ground.

"It's... Bright." He said softly, a bit intimidated by the amount of people walking along the street and the cars making so much noise. He had almost forgotten how different it was outside of the apartment. The seasons had changed, it was fall now and the trees were almost completely bare. He looked around in wonder before he was snapped from his thoughts by Levi grabbing his hand and pulling him down the street. Eren recognized this place, it was the way to the park he always took pictures in. He reached for his camera but let out a sigh when he realized he had left it at the apartment. Everything looked so similar to his memory, but there were some differences. They had finished building the new playground, some young trees had been recently planted, it was so different, but the same. It was comforting.

"Okay. Where do you want to go?" Levi demanded, staring at the boy. He looked.. Happy. Awestruck. Excited. Happy. In that moment Levi regretted. He regretted not bringing this boy outside sooner because he looked stunning outside, where he was happy.

"Uh.. I'm not sure. Sorry... I didn't think you'd actually take me." Eren replied, a little nervous. If he didn't have a plan would Levi just take him home? Would he have to go back to months and months inside?

"Can we just.. Walk around this park? Maybe just sit in the sun and talk?" He offered, hoping it was enough for Levi. He didn't want to go back, not yet at least.

"Of course." Levi said, still holding Eren's hand tightly as he led the brunette towards a group of picnic tables, glaring at the amount of dirt and grime on them. It couldn't be helped though, the tables were public property and the public was disgusting. He managed to find one a bit away from the others in a patch of sunlight and sat down, Eren carefully sitting beside him. Eren was tense, and Levi could tell. But there was nothing Levi could do about it.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"Why did you take me?"

Levi paused, he had expected that question but not so soon, not the first thing.

"Because I love you."

Now Eren paused, confused by the answer. He knew Levi claimed he loved him in the past but was it really the only reason he was taken? Was he really just a pretty prize? That was bullshit, and Eren knew it.

"Levi... There has to be another reason! There has to be! You.. You don't just take the people you love." Eren tried to reason, tried to make sense of this. He wanted to help, and he needed Levi to let him help. But it was the same thing over and over and Eren hated it.

"Why not? I'm protecting you. I'm keeping you safe. I'm showing how much I love you!" Levi's eyes were wide, he looked hurt. Hurt by Eren's words. Levi couldn't understand how Eren didn't see how much he was helping the boy. He was keeping him safe. This was the best way to do it right? Keep him away from anything that could hurt him, but by the way Eren was acting it was as if he thought Levi was hurting him. It was absurd. Levi knew he was helping the boy, nothing could convince him otherwise.

"Levi?" A voice sounded from behind the two and Levi turned to glare at whoever dared to interrupt them, but he paused. It wasn't some stranger. Erwin Smith stood behind the two, looking utterly confused.

"Erwin..." Levi replied, his face deadpan "what are you doing here?" Unlike Hanji, Erwin hadn't tried to contact him since that time in the restaurant all those months ago. But if Levi had remembered correctly awhile back Hanji had mentioned telling Erwin what he was doing. It sent a slight shiver down Levi's spine. He knew Erwin, he knew Erwin would not approve.

"That's what I should be asking you Levi. What are you doing outside? With him?" Erwin tilted his head towards Eren. "This seems... Different than last time." Erwin hadn't been there last time, he had met Hanji in college and was then introduced to Levi, but Hanji had told him the story about principal Church enough times to know that this was different. As a matter of fact Erwin was on his way to visit Levi after having gotten a call from Hanji saying the man had kicked them out. Even if he had met Hanji first, there had always been something about Levi that Erwin felt he could relate to more.

"Kid wanted to go outside. I brought him outside. What do you want eyebrows?" Levi slowly reached his hand out, taking Eren's in his. He wasn't sure why but he had a feeling that he needed to make sure his green eyed beauty was still there. Eren gave a slight jump as his hand was grabbed but didn't pull away. Erwin didn't know the whole story. He only knew what Hanji had told him. It wasn't enough. Erwin didn't know what happened on Levi's side. Erwin didn't know how he was broken too.

"Just fucking love me already!" Levi was close to tears as he stared at his principal, the man partially starved, abandoned, toyed with, everything short of being beaten. But still not broken. It frustrated Levi. The only thing that frustrated him more was that stupid calm voice he used. How dare this man, being so close to death still sound calm? It had been over a year yet he still hadn't broken him. Levi wasn't sure who would break first.

"Ackerman.. Would you like to talk? You seem stressed. I'm sure this is taking quite the toll on you." That calm voice. That relaxed visage. The whole image annoyed Levi.

"Sh-shut up!" He stammered, a tear falling from his eye. He quickly wiped his face, his free hand clenching and unclenching at his side before he fell to his knees, crawling to the man chained to the walls as he hugged him tightly.

"I love you. You have to love me back. You have to. Please." Levi muttered against the man's chest. "I don't know what I would do without you... Farlan... Help me."

"I see... And does this kid speak?" Erwins words snapped Levi out of his memory, the blonde was watching Eren carefully. Eren had been sitting still, listening, not wanting to interrupt a conversation between Levi and someone who apparently knows him.

"Oh.. Uh I'm Eren." He said, glancing at the blonde, "yeah.. I uh wanted to go outside and Levi was nice enough to let me." He explained to this Erwin. At least he thought the man's name was Erwin. He thought that's what Levi called him earlier.

"It's nice to meet you Eren. I'm sure we can have a nice long chat together. Right Levi? I'm sure Eren here wouldn't mind a friend." Erwin sat himself down across from Eren, his eyes calculating. He would find out what was really going on.