"We'll make camp here," Corporal Levi slid off his horse and tied it to a low hanging tree branch. The backpack and lanterns were removed but the saddle remained. You never knew when you might run into trouble and there would be no time to saddle up your ride.

Eren's butt ached and he was sure that he wouldn't be able to walk normally the rest of the week. There was a sore stinging his thighs and once he hit the ground, he groaned. They'd been riding all day, making stops only to let the horses eat and rest. They made sure to camp among trees where maneuver gear would be best utilized. As everyone was getting situated, Corporal Trent, the leader of the six soldier escort, claimed first watch.

Eren sighed and removed his cape and jacket. He'd use them as a makeshift blanket and pillow. Corporal Levi was sitting nearby, his back against the tree he'd tied his horse too. The cover of the forest top only let slivers of moonlight in to touch the ground. From here, he couldn't see many stars. What a bummer.

Hanji bid everyone good night before quickly falling asleep. Apparently she was a snorer. The night droned on but as tired as he was, Eren still hadn't drifted away. The chirp and buzz of nocturnal insects surrounded him. He tried closing his eyes, breathing slowly, and emptying his head of all thoughts. But it was too hard. Every hour brought him closer to the court hearing. He hated to admit it but he was afraid. What if they did execute him? So much for exploring the world with Armin and Mikasa. Ugh, he couldn't let that promise die.

"Still not asleep, Jaeger?"

Eren's gaze lifted to where he knew Levi was sitting in the dark. "No. I'm still worrying…"

"That's not going to get you anywhere, y'know. If you don't get enough sleep, then you'll be worse off than you already are."

"What about you? Aren't you tired at all?" Despite the yawn that threatened to escape him, Eren really liked having these one on one talks with the corporal. It wasn't like they were having some kind of heart to heart, but everyone else was safe. They'd be safe in their dream worlds where things weren't as messed up as the real world.

"A little," the soldier admitted. "But it's my turn to watch. Damn, I hate sleeping on the ground like this. It's disgusting…"

"You can lay your cape under you."

"I have."

"Well then there's not much you can do about it."

"Seriously, get some shut eye. Who knows what'll come out of your mouth at the hearing if you're half awake. What does it take? Do I need to come over there and sing you a fucking lullaby and hold you like a mommy?"

"NO!" Eren covered his mouth, afraid he'd been too loud. None of the other soldiers stirred. Thank goodness. "But I do find myself more at ease when I know you're here." What am I saying? It's true but I think I made it sound weird.

"Good. Go the fuck to sleep."

"Then stop talking to me."

"I'm going to come over there and knock you out. That should work."

"Go ahead. See if you keep your foot."

Corporal Levi took the bait. Oh fuck me. I should've kept my mouth shut.

Eren shut his eyes tight and braced for impact. Corporal's boot pushed on his side so his front was exposed. "Don't," he quietly begged.

"Can't take a hit, brat? Wha—"

Eren had wrapped his arms around Levi's leg, which was in prime position for disciplinary action. He squeezed hard, hoping to make his superior immobile. Try moving your damn leg now, Corporal!

"Fucking hell. Just…let go you little shit and go to sleep!"

"Give up?" Eren wouldn't back off so easily. Corporal might be strong but Eren wasn't so weak either. His grip remained.

"It wasn't a competition."

"Ok, sorry. I just didn't want you to hit me. I am actually trying to sleep. You're the one who started talking to me," he pointed out. Regrettably, he released Corporal's leg, which in return gave him a good smack in the groin anyways. "Ok," Eren coughed and rolled into a ball. "Now I'm awake. Fuck."

"Oops," Corporal said sarcastically.

Once Eren had recovered enough to return into a comfortable sleeping position, the corporal crash landed himself onto his chest. The pain bolted through his upper body, causing him to gasp. His lungs felt like they were being crushed. Air! I need air!

"What the—"

"You're just barely a better seat than the ground," Corporal Levi observed nonchalantly. "How about you just stay there like a good dog?"

"Dog?!" Eren could hardly choke out the word under the soldier's weight. He tried to push him off but Corporal only stomped his boots on Eren's wrists.

"Down, brat. Shut your eyes."

"You think I'm going to fall asleep like this?!" This wasn't even about his well-being anymore! No. This was definitely malicious intent. In the corporal's eyes lay a demon.

"Shut up already. Don't mouth off to your superiors."

Eren looked up at the man sitting on top of his rib cage. So much pressure. He needed to breathe. It was to the point of sucking in as much air as he could, even if he looked like an idiot. His wrists hurt from Levi's shoes. Enough of this already! He hated this guy! Absolutely hated him!

It was hard to think of hatred when another man's crotch was right before his face. Eren tried not to look at it but there wasn't much else he could look at. His eyes roamed from the seam of Corporal's pants to his chest and to his face, which Eren assumed was looking down at him. To Levi, he was an ant.

"Stop staring at my penis, you pervert," Corporal growled and dug his heels down harder.

Eren gritted his teeth and sucked it up. Though it was hard to relieve the pain when his air canals were squeezed, he could deal with it. This was nothing. He'd had worse but it was a damn embarrassment to be seen like this. He thought he was stronger than this but still, even months later, Levi could pin him down without any effort. It was frustrating. He'd had years of training at the military academy and all he had to show for it was holding onto his corporal's leg.

"Not staring! It's dark out and it'd be hard not to see it when it's right in my face!"

Suddenly, Eren felt a hand on his forehead. It must be Corporal's. It was small, course, and cold. Just as expected. But he was touching Eren, bare skin against bare skin. It didn't help that Eren knew how close the corporal's penis was. Maybe if he chomped down on it, the man would get off of him. Yes. Maybe that'd work. Ah, but the hand. It almost felt nice to be touched in a non-abusive manner. Pros and cons, right?

"No fever," Corporal Levi breathed. "Then what—" He removed his hand.

"Please Corporal," Eren's chest weakly heaved against Corporal's weight. "Please get off. I swear I'll sleep."

"I'm fed up with you, Jaeger," he said, as if talking to himself. This was no surprise but Corporal didn't sound that annoyed anymore. It was more like exhaustion, as if he'd given up on something. No, please don't give up on me. I'm trying but you're making it impossible.

"Please…" Get off.

Corporal made no reply but Eren felt his wrists and chest released. The first thing he did was engulf a huge amount of oxygen. What a relief! He felt so much better now. Where did Corporal go? Did he walk back to his original spot? It was hard to see even when his eyes had adjusted to the dark.

Whatever, it wasn't his problem anymore. The bastard could be at the bottom of a river and Eren wouldn't so much as lift a finger. What leader treated his soldiers like that? Plus, it was Corporal who had started it! Seriously, what was with him today? Was there an invisible stick up the man's ass? Ah, ok probably not since I didn't feel one…

xxx

Over the next two days of riding the small squad encountered 35 Titans, all of whom were promptly annihilated. Eren wished he could've helped but it was the escorts' job to keep him safe. All of them were members of the Survey Corps and therefore had an obscene amount of skill. He was in good hands.

It was late afternoon when the squad passed through Wall Sina and into the innermost city. Tall, strongly built houses and shops lined cobblestone streets. Horses were pulling fine oak wagons and children were running around with wooden swords and rope, no doubt playing Soldiers vs. Titans. It was all so wrong. Children shouldn't be joking around with that stuff. Putting your life on the line against a giant that you had little power over was no game. These kids knew nothing and it pissed Eren off.

Corporal Levi was bidding farewell to the other Corporal and the men, hollowly thanking them for the help. Hanji drew her horse next to Eren's and gave him a small smile. "What's the problem, Eren? We made it here alive didn't we?"

"Yeah…We did," Eren managed to smile back. It wouldn't kill him to be grateful once in a while. It'd been a bit strange that so few Titans had run into them on the journey but they'd taken a slightly longer route, hugging the trees as much as possible. Eren was sure his thighs were scarlet from riding so long. His stomach rudely reminded him just how little they had eaten. They had not been able to afford bringing many resources from the hideout since riding light meant quicker travel. Ugh, what Eren would do for some fresh bread and fish.

"The hearing's been scheduled for tomorrow morning now that they have been notified of your arrival," Corporal Levi spoke from behind him. Since the night Corporal had sat on him, Eren couldn't bring himself to look Corporal straight on without blushing madly. What was worse was that the Corproal had noticed this change in Eren's behavior and dropped a couple snide comments to make him feel worse.

"You'll be staying at a temporary location until the hearing," Corporal informed.

"Where?" Three soldiers, presumably the military police, approached him with a pair of chain link hand cuffs and Eren knew the answer. "Seriously? I can't even sleep in a normal room? What do you think I'm gonna do? Run away before the hearing?" he heaved himself off the horse and was immediately cuffed.

"That's exactly what you did last time," Corporal pointed out. "They're taking a necessary precaution."

"Do you think it's necessary? Corporal?" Eren's eyes shifted between the three soldiers pushing him onwards.

"Do what you're told, Jaeger and you just might come out of this alive," was all the man replied.

"I don't take orders from anyone else but you…Corporal," Eren hissed as one of the guards smacked him forward with the palm of his hand.

Corporal smoothly walked towards Eren, face emotionless, and gave his cheek a surprisingly light slap. Was that supposed to be encouragement? "Sleep well, Jaeger," he muttered and walked back towards Hanji before they both set off in another direction. Eren helplessly watched them go. They were probably heading towards the hospital Captain Erwin was residing.

Eren was taken to a small jail cell beneath the court rooms for the night. It was the same area he'd been placed in after he'd first transformed into a Titan. Back then, Captain Erwin had argued that he be placed under the care of the Survey Corp. It was also when Corporal Levi had beaten the shit out of him to win the judges over. It was not a sweet memory for his body.

No food or water relieved his starving stomach. Its pathetic noises were loud against the damp brick walls. The air here was cool but heavy underground. One guard was posted outside his cell. He occasionally cast Eren a nasty glare, as if everything was his fault. Yeah, blame the easy target you coward.

Whatever, all he had to do was sleep, right? Easy enough with his arms and legs chained to the wall. The cell was quiet but for his own labored breath as he stressed over what was to come tomorrow. This was real. He could really die at the hands of human fear. If only Armin and Mikasa were here. They'd know what to say. They'd definitely make him feel a little better. As far as he knew, the two were stationed behind Wall Maria now, though he hadn't run into anyone from his squad upon his return. Well, as long as they were safe that's all that really mattered.

All of this shit was so tiring. It was as if every time he took a step forward, he was forced two steps back. Everything was a struggle but it was a struggle he had willingly put himself through. He wasn't doing this for the pricks sitting up on their high chairs in the safety of marble walls. He did this for his comrades, who had risked their lives for him, for humanity. Yeah, that would be a good defense tomorrow. Eren's eyes were closed and he let the quiet black envelop him. He forgot the burnt thighs and hard floor. Corporal Levi had told him everything would be handled, not okay, but handled. For now, that would have to be good enough. His superior's words and calloused hands caressed Eren's thoughts. He let out a long, quivering breath. The sun would surely rise tomorrow. Surely…