It was an understatement to say that morning was a bitch. Eren was kicked awake after only a couple hours of sleep, and immediately brought up to the court room. The crowd consisted of the Wall Cult, some Military Police, Corporal Levi, and Captain Erwin. Again Eren was chained to a pole in the middle of the room with everyone looking down at him.
"Eren!" Armin and Mikasa shouted. He managed to give them a smile. Looks like they were able to come. It was nice to know they were here. If he were to die, at least he would not be completely alone.
He thought he heard jeers and shouts outside. There were probably citizens standing there, angry at him or the military. Had the hearing been made public? What a bunch of cowards, blaming others so they could feel better about their situation. Who did they think fixed the Wall, huh?
A judge was seated at a raised pulpit. This was the man who held Eren's fate in his hand. It was not the same man as before so who knew who had his sympathies. Bad. Bad. All of this was bad. The hearing lasted for hours and Eren bit his tongue, afraid he'd say something that'd dig his own grave. His ears were growing tired of the battling words. By the looks of it, Corporal Levi was about fed up with this shit as he was.
Captain Erwin gave a much more convincing argument than the Wall Cult and other government officials. Much of this was because the Cult had very little to support their reason to take possession of Eren. At least, their reasoning had to remain secretive. The only thing truly against him was the damage done to the city and the fear swelling from the people. It didn't sound like much of a defense, but human fear did wonders.
"What do you really want with Eren?" Captain Erwin, his missing arm punctuated by an empty jacket sleeve, asked the accusers.
A bald man clothed in Wall Cult garb clutched the wooden railing as he fought for a decent reply. "He's a threat! How blind can you be not to see that? He has doomed us all by messing with Wall Maria."
"He fixed the wall so the people living inside wouldn't die," Erwin shot back.
"That's enough. I've heard enough," the judge's deep voice drew the room into a frustrated hush. "Everyone's had time to speak. We'll make this decision right now."
Eren's heart was in his throat. Its beating was a cacophony in his ears. He couldn't even manage to swallow the rotten taste of dread in his mouth.
"I have been notified before that possibly valuable information regarding Titans lies within Eren Jaeger's basement. Am I to assume that the house wasn't destroyed five years ago?" the judge's light blue eyes peered down at him mercilessly. This man wasn't talking to a soldier, he was talking to a criminal, murderer, monster. It twisted Eren's guts.
"W-well since it's the basement, I do believe it's in tact…"
"And am I to assume that no evidence there has ever been touched, messed with, or removed in the last five years?"
"I-I'm sure that no one would have bothered thieving since the Titans had taken over, sir."
"You mended Wall Maria? How?"
"I used my Titan body and hardened it to become part of the wall." Eren heard anonymous murmuring from the Wall Cult. "It wouldn't have worked if I hadn't been trained and watched over by the Survey Corps. Captain Erwin, as well as Squad leaders Hanji and Levi assisted in making this possible." Armin and Mikasa helped too…and everyone who might've died during the mission.
"Yes those three do seem to be the best in the military but they've also disobeyed direct commands. If I recall correctly, and I'm sure that I do, the last time you were called to court, you skipped out and instead engaged with the Female Titan. This led to several broken buildings and innocent lives lost. Are you willing to take responsibility for that?"
"Yes sir! Absolutely! I realize what sacrifices have been made."
"Right, well. It's no longer me who needs any further convincing, Mr. Jaeger, it's the public. Guards, take this soldier back to the cell where he'll be staying for now. Until we can calm down the crowds then we can't very well let you walk around freely."
The tightness in his chest was relieved. He let out a weary breath. Did that mean everything was ok? He wasn't going to be executed or handed to weird researchers.
"And from there, sir?" Captain Erwin asked.
"He will return to the hands of the Survey Corps unless otherwise directed in the future." The judge narrowed his eyes in a suspicious glare. "Though perhaps the Survey Corps needs a change in hands, seeing that some of its current recruits are prone to disobedience…"
"I will give a word to my betters," Erwin returned the threat with a smile.
"Eren!" Mikasa and Armin shouted again when Eren was being led out of the room. He wanted so much to run to them and hug them but he couldn't. Relief was reflected in all of their eyes.
"You'll be with us later, right, Eren?" Armin called with a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"I promise!" Eren was on the verge of tears. No one could replace his friends, not in a million years. They were always supporting him, even if they were punching him because of his idiocy. They would always pull through for them. The era of Titans was coming to a close. He could see it now. With his ability to direct other Titans as well as harden his Titan body, they could probably take back all their territory. No, they would definitely take it back! And in the end, there would be no more walls, no cities hiding underground without view of the stars. "I promise!" Eren choked again before the two were out of sight.
xxx
Eren sat alone in his cell once more, a guard posted outside the bars. Firelight flickered on the wall, casting yellow onto the damp stones. It was the same cot, same jail cell, same basement but he did not feel the same. He felt better. Whether it was one day or one week or even one month, Eren knew he wouldn't be stuck down here forever. Everything would be explained to all the people outside worrying. Maybe they'd still see him as a monster, but they'd be forced to trust him because the military trusted him.
The tap of boots descending the spiral stairwell bounced against the walls. Was it another guard? No, he recognized that pattern of step, the pacing, the weight of the step.
"How do you even shit down here, Jaeger?"
"Corporal Levi! Ah, can Mikasa and Armin visit me too?" he asked hopefully.
"Your girlfriends? No, they don't have the authority to," Levi motioned the guard away and took his chair. His black hair and pale skin turned gold against the fire. Even if he was not Armin or Mikasa, it was a relief to see this man. Eren was so exhausted from the hearing that he didn't bother pointing out that his friends weren't his girlfriends.
"I take it the shit was a bit hard to get out today but it'll run easy from now on right?"
"What? Do you mean—the court hearing?"
"Yeah, that. A bunch of high strung ass wipers if you ask me," Levi swung his right leg over his left. They weren't very long but Eren knew there was enough course muscle to make up for that. Were Corporal's thighs sore from riding yesterday, all red and sensitive? The way Levi had walked downstairs didn't sound like it.
"I do feel better now that I'm not going to be executed," Eren admitted.
"I don't."
Ah, Corporal's words are a knife as always. "Did you want me to die?" Eren was almost too afraid to ask. The answer would surely be yes.
"It's not that," Corporal adjusted his cravat. The shadow of his adam's apple swayed and a thin layer of shine, probably from sweat, was evident. Had he been nervous about today also? Did he worry about Eren? Or was the area simply warm because it was always covered? "It's true that you're a serious asset to me but now things will have to be settled with the crowd. Luckily, that's not my job."
"To you?" Eren blinked. He was an asset to the Corporal? Was this on a personal level or a logical level?
"Of course," Corporal cocked his head to the side. His jaw line was prominent now. "You're an asset to me because your Titan form has become extremely useful. Erwin says it too. Were you even listening during the court hearing or were you too busy pissing yourself? I could see you sweating from ten feet away. Your pants were practically soaked with your piss, brat."
"They were not soaked with my pee," Eren defended with an embarrassed hiss. "And anyone would be nervous when facing their death."
"Not you."
"What do you mean?"
"I've seen you fight, Jaeger," Corporal replied. "You're reckless and self-sacrificing, though you do practically piss yourself and cry."
"I can't tell if that was a compliment or an insult, Corporal," Eren twitched.
"You can take it either way."
"So uh….why did you come down here?" Eren finally asked. "Did Captain Erwin tell you to look after me? There's no reason for me to break out or turn into a Titan. I'm allowed back into the Survey Corp."
"That doesn't mean he's not worried. He was called back to the hospital for follow ups so he couldn't come here himself so you got me. Disappointed?"
"Not at all. Since Mikasa and Armin can't come down, it's nice to have somebody I know visit me. I'm…I'm especially happy that it was you that Captain Erwin sent. You are my Lance Corporal after all. I owe you my life too."
"Yeah…" the soldier's eyes wandered around the moss on the wall before settling on Eren.
Corproal is giving off some weird, swirly dark vibes now isn't he? Those eyes are those of a murderer. Eren nervously returned his superior's stare in kind. Did he say something wrong again? How long am I supposed to keep this eye contact going? Could this be…a showdown?!
"I'm not staying here all night you know." Corporal was the one who broke the silent contest but it was Eren who felt defeated. "This should be your last time here unless you mess up again. You'll stay at Hanji's place afterwards. We're all going to be planning a strategy for reaching your basement."
"At Hanji's?"
"Got shit in your ears? Yes, Hanji's. She can look after you for now."
"Do you…not have anywhere to live, Corporal?"
"I don't really see a need for a house when I could die any day. I hardly stayed in the city even before the Colossal Titan came. Why? Were you hoping to spend your nights with me, perverted little shit?"
"N-no that's not it! I just thought since we were the same gender…and Hanji's a girl, it might make more sense?" Eren was grasping for words. His face was already turning a rosy color.
Of course he wasn't thinking of doing anything weird if he stayed at Corporal's! Eren knew he wasn't attracted to other men because he'd stayed at Armin's house plenty of times as children plus he'd never had any feelings for the other guys in the squad like Marco or Connie. Ah, but he was curious what Corporal Levi looked like when he was sound asleep. Would his hard and scary features relax?
"Sorry, I'm not letting you have any of me so easily, Jaeger," Corporal scoffed. "C-cups."
"I'm sorry, what?!"
"You'd have to be at least a C-cup if you want to stay over for free," Corporal curved his hands and held them by his chest, symbolizing breasts.
Eren nearly died of shock until he realized that Corporal was being completely sarcastic. That flat stare while he was doing something inappropriate though…Eren nearly bit his tongue to keep from laughing.
"Something funny, Jaeger? I wouldn't find it surprising that you have girl parts hidden somewhere underneath that. Have you been lying to me this whole time? You should know that there's no problem with being a girl in the military. That law was passed at least twenty years ago."
"I'm not a girl!" Eren spat.
"I heard doubt in your shit, brat. It's okay. I think Erwin takes a liking to young girls, even if they do have attitudes like yours…"
"What?! That's gross! I don't like Captain like that! And I'm not a girl!" Eren had moved to the front of the cell and grasped the bars without even realizing it.
"You're right. No girl could clean as terribly as you do," Corporal stood up. His head reached Eren's chest. "But for a guy your shit sure sparkles."
"You're not even making sense, Corporal!"
"Maybe if you were at my level, I'd let you stay over."
"What? Level?"
"Level. L-e-v-e-l. Get on it, brat. I'll see you tomorrow," Corporal walked away and waved his hand farewell.
"No, I'll see YOU tomorrow!" Eren yelled as Levi left. Why was he getting so worked up about this?
"Down, boy."
What was that supposed to mean? Was Corporal always this snide? What an awful personality. That guy…Seriously… Eren's fingers unwrapped from the cool steel and touched his chest. His heart beat was quick and light, thumping twice as fast as Corporal's receding footsteps.
"Levi…What do you really feel towards me?" Eren sighed. Why did the answer matter so much to him?
Note: Sorry if Levi was a bit OOC this chapter. I just really enjoy having Levi and Eren banter and such. I will try keeping them both as in character as possible while still creating a functioning romance between them. I also apologize for the lack of action since I focus a lot more on feelings and thoughts. I know it can be rather dull and slow-going. ^.^'