Those Three Words
Summary: All the three word phrases Eren and Levi said to/about each other as their relationship changes and gives them a whole new meaning.
9. Tiny old man. (To Rod Reiss) (Eren) (Eren POV)
They were riding fast towards Wall Sina, trying to outpace the hulking, crawling Titan that had once been none other than Rod Reiss, Historia's father and the man who so desperately wanted to keep the Founding Titan within the Royal Family's grasp so he could continue controlling people within the Walls from the shadows. He'd had Eren and Historia kidnapped and had it not been for Captain Levi's and everyone else's efforts, Eren would be dead by now and, considering how treacherous Kenny seemed - or rather, where his true loyalty had once lain - it's most probable that Historia would have ended up dead, too, sooner rather than later.
But after that dangerous rescue where Eren even learned how to use Crystallization, he was given a shirt and he and Historia were put in a wagon before the Scouts took off, their mission now to prevent Rod Reiss from destroying Wall Sina and killing all the people within it.
That thing moved pretty fast and it was bigger than any Titan any of them had seen before, easily twice the size of the Colossal Titan, which meant a fifty meter Wall will stand no chance against it. They had to act fast and they have to be careful, because Rod eating Eren could really spell out quite some trouble right now, for all that having the full power of the Founding Titan could be useful in the long run. But Rod Reiss would not help the Scouts, not when all he desired was absolute control. And especially not when Frieda Reiss' stance on the fate of the people within the Walls was very clear.
Even Historia was a risk, if Eren were being honest, but if Historia eating him was deemed the best chance humanity had against the Titans, then he'd be willing to allow it.
But until then, Eren was the one cursed with that power, so it's up to him to take responsibility in keeping it safe.
It was also up to him to be the bait and draw Reiss' attention in hopes of maybe directing him away from the very large human settlement he was heading towards. Orvud cannot become another Shiganshina or another Trost.
But, really, Eren had no idea how he was supposed to attract the attention of a huge Titan that had scented absurd amounts of humans and was traveling with its face in the dirt a considerable distance away from where Eren was riding in a dingy Scout wagon. All he could do was yell, though he doubted he'd be heard. Still worth a try. It would also be worth a try to command the Titan, like he'd commanded those Titans who had attacked the Abnormal that had killed his mother and Hannes and Reiner and Bertolt. He'd yelled then, so, really, yelling now would be killing two birds with one stone.
'Here goes nothing,' he thought as he stood up in the cart and started throwing punches in the Titan's direction, the way he had when he'd first activated the powers of the Coordinate. "Stop, Titan!" He yelled as loudly as he could, trying to be heard, very aware of the fact that everyone was not only looking at him, but outright staring now. Right, that wasn't awkward at all. "Hey, stop! I'm talking to you!" He was actually feeling more ridiculous by the second and Eren was not a guy easily made embarrassed. "Can't you hear me, you idiot!? Rod Reiss, that means you!" This was now beyond ridiculous. But he was already in too deep to just stop. Might as well keep going. "Tiny old man!"
And it was in that moment that Eren knew ... he fucked up.
He froze, one outstretched punching arm still hanging in the air, mouth agape as he suddenly became all too aware of his Captain's piercing gaze fixed on his back. Captain Levi, who was now surrounded by cadet teenagers mostly taller than him nearly every hour of every day for several weeks. Captain Levi, the vertically challenged Humanity's Strongest whom Eren respected more than he'd ever genuinely respected anyone in his entire life.
He didn't even dare look behind himself to check his main protector's reaction. Maybe the Captain would feed him to Reiss himself? At this point, Eren more than deserved it.
But the Captain had no reaction and the incident was brushed under the rug as they continued dealing with the bullshit Reiss had just dropped in their laps, but what everyone seems to forget is that the Captain is a clean freak, so there's no way that was staying under the rug.
Eren knew he couldn't take back his words without turning the whole thing even more awkward than it already was, but he made sure to make his Captain tea more often as a silent apology and he made a note to be more careful with his word or behavior around his Captain from now on.
After all, the last thing Eren ever wanted to do was accidentally insult Captain Levi.