"You cooked without us?!" Jean yelled.

"Whaaaa you cooked alcohol without us?" Connie had his priorities straight. He ignored Armin's lecture about the alcohol cooking off and instead opted for punching Eren in the arm.

"Ow! What the hell, man?"

"Don't touch Eren," Mikasa growled, then turned around and punched him in the other arm.

"FUCK! Mikasa!

"You should have saved us some."

"You try saving food around those guys! Commander Pixis barely got any and it was his vine." That was enough of that. With a scowl Eren rode ahead, calling out behind him, "I'll buy you each a shaved ice, you big babies!"

That was a pretty safe promise. With the weather finally warming there would be plenty of venders selling the treat and it was fairly inexpensive. This was the last time they'd be heading into the market for a while and Eren wanted to make sure he had enough money to find an actual gift for Levi.

Ever since that day in his office Eren had been watching his Corporal closely—well, more closely than usual: how with each death or setback, though is his face remained blank, Levi's fists curled with a strength that could only be viewed as punishing. How he spent whatever free hours he had giving extra training to the new recruits, or keeping their castle clean, or even just sitting with those who didn't know how to ask for company, and he treated all of these actions like responsibilities instead of the favors they actually were.

Few deserved a gift as must as Levi—not something cobbled together, or shared between soldiers—and even fewer people owed Levi a gift as much as Eren.

He smiled into the wind, blocking out the sounds of his friends behind him. He'd find something at market and present it with more gratitude than he'd managed with the vine, no matter what Levi had to say about it. Maybe he'd even find something special enough to warrant a small smile…

Eren was torn out of his fantasy when a hand clamped down hard on his shoulder.

"Oi, brat. Are you deaf?" Levi, and he wasn't smiling.

He pulled his horse up alongside Eren's. The steed's height, for once, allowed them to be eye to eye. "I've been calling you, shit-for-brains," he grumbled.

"Sorry, sir! Uh… are you coming with us?" Eren shivered under the look of disgust he received.

"Of course I'm coming with you, idiot. What, are we going to entrust a titan to a bunch of greenhorns?" Levi jerked his thumb towards the rest of the Special Operation Squad who were hurrying to catch up. "You're my responsibility. I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"Understood, sir." Eren gripped the reins and dropped his head, wondering furiously how he was supposed to find a gift for Levi when Levi was right beside him.

The nearest market was nearly an hour's ride away and by the time the buildings came into view Eren was more than happy to dismount. Levi wasn't a bad riding companion, just… quiet.

As soon as he'd ditched his friends Eren likewise found himself cut off from them, the rest of the Special Ops squeezing between him and the 104th. It was easy to see what they were doing: Corporal Levi and Corporal Levi's squad, creating a protective barrier between a fearsome titan and the rest of the world.

That barrier remained even when they'd reached the stables and left their horses behind, and Eren was only now beginning to realize just how much it was needed. Not because they actually thought he'd lose control—he hadn't, not since Hanji realized that he needed a specific goal in mind to transform—but because he was a known figure now. The church had spread flyers bearing crude sketches of his face throughout all the districts—"Titan Child! Beware!"—and even if they hadn't, it wasn't difficult to figure out who the fifteen-year-old was, pinned under the watchful eye of Humanity's Strongest.

No sooner had Eren stepped out into the sun then there were whispers and looks thrown his way. No doubt most of it was just from seeing a group of Survey Corps soldiers out and about, but not all of it. Eren could feel Levi just an inch from his back.

"You go on," he said and Eren jerked, thinking for one insane moment that Levi meant him. He was looking at Petra and the others though. "Spread out. I want every area of this shit-show covered, just in case someone decides to play 'hero' and rid the world of one more titan." Eren gulped. Levi scoffed. "Relax, brat. You think I'm letting anyone touch you? Don't insult me."

That probably shouldn't have cheered Eren as much as it did but he wasn't given the chance to think on it. Levi was already gripping him by the shoulders, preparing to brave the crowds.

"Well? Get going."

"Yes, sir!" Petra answered. She rocked a bit, dithering. "But we're supposed to have fun too, right?"

"If you must." She laughed, throwing them both a salute.

Within the walls they weren't allowed to use their gear but that didn't mean that Petra and the others couldn't still move. They were gone in seconds and Levi took that as his cue. He shoved Eren forward.

"Corporal!"

It was Mikasa. She lunged forward desperately but they were already marching away. "Eren should—"

"Not go with you, rookie." Levi finished. "He's my pet today. Find someone else to fawn over. 104th!" His voice rose. "You're in charge of buying the supplies. Oh, and if every cent you spend isn't accounted for you'll be cleaning the lavatories—for forever."

The last glimpse Eren got of his friends was all of them congregated around the cart they'd use to transport everything back. Mikasa had one hand on the top left corner of the wood. Her nails were leaving grooves.

"I'm in trouble," Eren muttered. "You're in trouble. Or you would be, Corporal, if Mikasa could actually do anything to you."

"Damn right. That's a big 'if,' Yeager. Now march."

They wove their way through a sea of people, going so deep that eventually even the curious looks died down. Everyone was too busy going about their own shopping to care about the men in green cloaks. They moved too quickly for Eren to get a good look at the wares too and they didn't slow down until there were more houses than stalls. Finally, on a street where there were only three people heading in the opposite direction, Levi moved to fill the space on Eren's right and slowed to a languid pace. He shoved both hands in his pockets and breathed out.

"Sir? Don't you need to do any shopping?" Eren asked.

"So long as your friends don't fuck things up I shouldn't have to. That Arlert kid should be able to follow a list at least."

"Right." They walked two more streets, each more deserted than the last. "Don't you want to shop?"

"Not particularly."

"Okay then." Five steps. Eight. Twelve. Twenty-six. "Maybe if you—"

"Eren."

He turned at the address and his eyes were drawn to his Corporal's hands. They were clenched—in a punishing grip—and Eren's stomach dropped.

"Sir?"

"Do you have any idea how noisy you brats are?" Levi asked. His voice was surprisingly soft. "It's quite out here and I need to stretch my legs after riding. I want to walk and since I'm stuck babysitting you—ah fuck." Levi took one of those hands and ran it over his eyes. "That didn't come out right. I want to walk and I don't… mind walking with you. Since you're already here. Got it?"

"Got it, sir." Eren said. Levi stared at him.

"Do you want to go back?" he demanded. "I need you in sight, but I can keep my distance if you want. Watch you from a fucking tree or something—"

"No, sir. That's alright, sir." Eren reassured, but Levi kept going. He rocked back on his heels, looking oddly hesitant, and Eren felt his chest throbbing.

"Seriously, brat," he said. "You deserve a day off."

"Okay. Well, I'd like my day off to be with you, Corporal."

"…Really?" Levi drawled it, but Eren got the sense that it took a lot of effort to pull that off.

"Yes, sir!"

"Don't shout, idiot. If you're going to walk then fucking walk."

So they walked.

That should have been the end of things and had this been like the stories that Armin's dad used to tell them, the rest should have been simple. Eren would have walked peacefully with his Corporal for the rest of the day. They would have traversed the quiet streets together, perhaps occasionally murmuring about this or that, and Eren, at least, would have returned content. Even if when they stepped back into the crowds with every stranger's face turned his way, marred with fear and disgust, he would have been proud to still be occupying the Corporal's side. Honored and humbled and so very, very pleased. That's what it should have been.

Instead they met the boy.

Or, rather, Eren met him. Roughly half an hour after deciding to continue their walk Levi nudged Eren against the nearest wall, ordering that he stay. Bristling at suddenly being addressed like a dog (especially after their conversation) Eren had demanded to know why… and was promptly asked if he really wanted to accompany Levi as he, "pissed longer than all the Corp's horses combined."

Arms crossed protectively over his chest, Eren shook his head. "Ah, that's alright, sir. I… think I'm good."

"You're sure?" Levi strode closer, playing with the buckle of his pants. Eren squirmed until his shoulder blades dug against the brick behind him. "You can watch if you really want to, brat. Is that what you like? Hm? Watching?"

"N-n-no, sir. At least… not that." Levi snorted, a sound that shockingly resembled amusement, but when Eren got his vision cleared his Corporal's face was as stony as ever.

"Good, because it's fucking disgusting. Now be a good little titan and don't move from this spot." Levi actually rose up on tip-toe to pat Eren's head. It was no doubt supposed to be humiliating, but Eren hummed and leaned instinctually into the touch.

"Tsk." The hand was snatched away and Levi marched off, perhaps a tad more quickly than necessary. Then again, maybe he just really needed to go.

Eren was contemplating the strange actions of walking, peeing, petting Corporals when he turned and suddenly found a miniature him standing tentatively at his side. Brown hair, grey eyes, torn tunic, and bare feet. The child even had the same smears of black on his forearms that came from scrambling up pipes, a necessary skill if one wanted to avoid the Military Police. This little boy looked so much like him that Eren frantically glanced around, half expecting to find a tiny Mikasa and Armin in tow. Instead, the child scrunched both hands into his filthy tunic, right above his belly. Even if Eren hadn't done the same action himself hundreds of times before the sign was universal: I'm hungry. Hungry. Hungry.

"Oh," Eren said.

He never hesitated. Reaching beneath his cloak—slowly, so as not to frighten the boy—Eren drew out his purse and tipped out a small handful of coins. It didn't even register that this was what he'd been saving to buy a gift for Levi with. All he knew was that he didn't have anything edible on him to give and that these cold pieces of metal were the next best thing. Reaching out, a brief remembrance from the past caused Eren's hand to freeze. An old part of his brain screamed about parting with something that he could use to feed himself and his family, but the soldier part, the well-fed part of him, quickly took command once more. Eren knew better than to approach so he tossed the coins on the stones between them, trying to make sure they didn't roll too far. Quick as lightning the boy was on his knees and that brief moment of vulnerability was worth it, for in seconds the money was scooped into his shirt. He ran off just as fast as he could and the last image Eren saw was a sliver of his exposed belly, the skin beginning to bloat with malnutrition.

Then the hand clamped down on his wrist.

Eren was once more forced up against the wall but this time the Corporal was none too gentle about it. He used his elbow and knee to maneuver him, pressure forcing Eren to cry out. When they were settled in their painful stance Levi rested his lips right near Eren's cheek and growled softly.

"What the fuck was that, Eren?"

"What was what?" Eren bucked. He'd normally never attempt to throw off a superior but this was the most violent Levi had gotten with him since the courtroom and that small part of Eren's brain was still screaming about how fighting or fleeing were his only options. The orderly rules of the militia had no place here.

But Levi was strong. For all of his short stature he easily kept Eren pinned. The only way out of this would have been to transform and Eren wasn't nearly so far gone as to attempt something like that. Even if he had been, Levi had both his arms pinned with one hand, wrenched round between his back and the wall. Eren's fingernails crunched against the brick.

"You're seriously gonna to get pissed because I gave out charity?" Eren asked. Levi's arm pressed harder against his windpipe until Eren choked. He had just enough breath left to hiss, "He was hungry, sir. You're the one always going on about how there's not enough food for everyone. That the MPs and political pigs steal it all. Well, we should do something!"

"You think you were being charitable?" Levi asked. He glared up at Eren. "Fuck. Yes we should do something, brat, but not like this. Do you have any idea how fucking dangerous that was?"

"Dangerous! He was just a kid."

"Yes, and that kid has friends. Or worse, enemies." Levi finally released him and Eren staggered. He barely had time to regain his feet before he was being dragged back the way they'd come, Levi's nails digging hard into his wrist.

"You know how we feed kids like that, Eren?" he snapped. "We expand. We go outside the walls, into fucking hell, and we find fruit and game to bring back. We use those creepy powers of yours to retake that land, wait for those disgusting carcasses to stop polluting it, and actually grow something worth putting on a table. You don't hand out a bunch of coins and feel fucking good about yourself for a week. That's not going to get shit done."

"Well so what?" Eren wrenched his hand away, forcing them to stop. "So what if it's not going fix everything? We can do both, you know. He at least is going to eat tonight." Levi wasn't listening though. He just kept reaching for Eren's wrists or arms, determinedly trying to drag him away. Hardly thinking, Eren slapped the hand when it came at him and stood his ground. "Would you just listen to me?"

"No." Levi finally stopped. He stared past Eren at something behind him. Eren turned quickly but there was nothing there. "We need to leave, Eren, because you know what you just did? It wasn't charity. It was a goddamn invitation. That kid is going to go and tell everyone he knows about the pretty-eyed Corps boy with a shit-ton of gold. If he's lucky. If he's not someone older and stronger will beat him, take your money, and then torture the kid until he admits where he got it from. Either way, there's going to be a pack of wild, hungry animals stalking us any minute now. So why don't we go."

Eren only stared, horrified. "No one would do that."

"Like you'd know, you pampered—"

"I do know!" Furious, Eren stalked forward until they were nose to nose. Never before had he been grateful for his height but now it gave him leverage, if only a little. Levi had to bend back in order to maintain eye contact. "I know because that used to be me!" He swung out his arm, pointing fiercely towards where the boy had run off. "Did you forget where I came from? What, you think everyone from Trost was just handed warm beds and hot food?" Eren laughed, harder than he had in months. Head to the sky he missed Levi flinching. "Those of us who were too young to be sent on that suicide mission landed here. On these streets. I was that boy, sir, and I can tell you that no one would attack someone like that, not when they'd just handed us our meal for the night. We depended on charity, and we depended on each other. Hell, Armin wouldn't even let us steal a little bread! He got it earlier than I did, sir. No one's going to help you if you stab them in the back and everyone needs help in this world." The words "even you" seemed to hang between them, but neither was willing to acknowledge it. Levi, with all the grace he could, moved back while Eren crossed his arms stubbornly.

"If you don't believe me," he bit out. "Then wait. We'll see if anyone comes to steal the rest of our stuff."

Levi hesitated, but eventually settled back against the wall, putting a good six feet between him and Eren. They waited and Levi remained tense the entire time. His eyes followed every shadow and his hand never strayed from the dagger hidden in his boot, but for all of that no one came charging around the corner. There was no one but the rats and the occasional poor mother, returning with her own, meager shopping.

Finally, when the sun was beginning to set, Levi moved. The day had given Eren's temper time to cool. He turned as well, preparing to apologize for his if not the subject. To his shock though he found Levi saluting him.

Eren returned the salute and, silently, they began heading back.

It wasn't until they'd made it to the town's center that Levi came closer, closer than he'd been in hours. Ignoring Petra's frantic waves he whispered against Eren's ear in a sharp parody of their earlier argument.

"Either we come from very different worlds, brat, or you're a very different kind of man."

Levi left then. He brushed off Petra's worried questions and ordered the wagon tethered to the extra horses. That done, he grabbed hold of Eld and pointed back towards the market. Money was exchanged and Eld ran off, one hand taming his cloak against the wind.

Eren simply stood as everyone began preparing to pull out. He wondered exactly what Levi had meant by that and whether begin a different man from his Corporal was something he wanted. Was it better than being a monster?

"Hey," Connie. He slung an arm around Eren's shoulders. "You okay, man?"

"… Yeah. I'm okay."

"Great! Then, ah…where's the shaved ice?" Eren finally looked up and found an entire squad staring back at him expectantly.

After a day like he'd had all Eren wanted was to ride back, do his chores, have dinner, and get to bed. Instead he rode back, did his chores, had dinner… and proceeded to make shaved ice.

There had been no time to pick some up, despite the fact that they'd waited around another ten minutes for Eld to get back. So with night fully underway and the air chilling Eren took the cleanest pans he could find, filled them with boiled water, and stuck them beneath the trees outside where they might actually manage to freeze. While that was happening he made the syrup: raspberries and a hint of sugar taken from the day's supplies, along with lots of warm water. All of it was crushed and heated and stirred until it had thickened into something delicious. By that time nature had actually managed to make ice so Eren set to shaving. He could have been done a lot sooner but Mikasa preferred her ice as fine as possible. She said that any chunks ruined the consistency and, tired as he was, Eren had to agree. His small pocketknife scraped rhythmically for a good two hours.

It was nearly 2:00am by the time he was done. Paper couldn't be wasted for such a frivolous thing so Eren forwent the actual cones and instead just piled it all in three communal bowls. The syrup was poured over top and the whole thing promptly delivered to the rooms they'd been using as their barracks.

"Eren?" Mikasa's bedhead was something fierce when she peeked out from their room. She blinked down at him. "Are you okay?" Just behind her Eren could see Krista and Ymir lying together. They also raised their heads.

"Yeah," he said tiredly. "Just—here. I made you all shaved ice. Eat it before it melts, okay?"

Gently, Mikasa took the bowl. It looked for a moment like she'd chastised him for working too hard, but then her eyes softened when she smelled the raspberries. They'd always been a favorite of hers.

"Thank you, Eren."

"Not a problem." He nudged her arm and held up the other bowls. "Gotta deliver these too."

"Who's the third one for?"

Eren thought about explaining, but it was far too late and he was far too tired. Mikasa seemed to understand. She nodded and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. Slipping back inside Eren could just hear her waking the others.

"Sasha."

"Uhhhghhhhhh."

"Eren made us food."

The girl's cries (Sasha's cries) succeeded in waking the boys before Eren had even made it down the hall. Armin shot out, followed by Connie hiding behind him and Jean tripping over them both, already trying to get his pants on. There was really nothing better than thinking you were about to head into battle and instead having sweets shoved in your face. Eren had never had anyone look at him like that before—like he was a god—not even after he'd plugged up that hole. If he weren't so tired he might have milked it a bit.

As it was he trudged upstairs, his squad mates' happy cries echoing in his ears.

The downstairs had all been converted into bedrooms—why would they be any further from the exits than they needed to be? They were soldiers after all—while the second floor became offices. Levi's was at the very end of the hall and his light sill on, as Eren had known it would be. The Corporal slept even less than he did, though whether that was due to nightmares or the work of a high ranking officer he couldn't be sure. It was private though and at that point privacy was all Eren really cared about. Barely knocking he slipped inside. Levi's shoulders were nearly as slumped as his own. Wordlessly, Eren placed the bowl on the desk, exactly where he'd placed the bottle of vine weeks before. This offering was received more cordially, with Levi immediately pulling it forward. He picked the bowl up even though Eren had accidentally dribbled syrup and left the sides all sticky.

"Is this an apology for your… insubordination?" Levi asked. Eren liked the phrasing of that.

"Yes, sir," he said, swaying slightly on his feet.

"Good." Levi bent and pulled out a tiny box from the lowest top-most drawer. He shoved it at Eren. "Here's mine."

Prying off the top Eren found a miniature cake. Flourless, undecorated he still knew that it had cost a small fortune. The sweet was no bigger than the tinniest coin that Eren had given away that day.

"So that's where Eld ran off to," he murmured. Levi came around the desk, though Eren hadn't even noticed him standing. He reached for his wrist and this time Eren let him take it.

"Eat it tomorrow."

"Yes, sir."

"And go straight to bed. You're dead on your feet."

"You too, sir?"

Levi nodded, if somewhat reluctantly, so Eren meandered his way back down to the dungeon. He shut the door and locked himself inside. The box was placed on his bedside table. It was the last thing he saw before falling asleep and his last thought was that even after all that tension he was still supposed to be the one giving the gifts, not receiving them.

But the cake was also the first thing Eren ate upon waking and it was delicious.

Shockingly, uncompromisingly delicious.