Disclaimer: I own none of the characters!

Note: Sorry this took so long. And sorry this chapter is short and boring. .Q It was such a pain to write and I had to keep redoing it and it just landed at this awkward place. Next chapter is almost finished though and things will get better because of all the awkward flirting.

The sun was setting when Eren woke up again. He was still surrounded in the soft embrace of the comforter and mattress and pillows. It made him feel like he was floating. His fever was down and he still felt a little dazed, but it was better than before. With a wide yawn, he stretched, slipping his arms under the pillows. Cool material tickled his skin as his sleeves were pushed up against the bed.

He opened his heavy eyes and took in the fresh scent of the room. Cool air was slipping in through the window. He shuddered and closed his eyes, yawning big. From his window he could see the setting sun. Warm colors seeped into the room, casting tall shadows on the walls. But the colors on the sky were reds and oranges and it was comforting; it reminded him of Shiganshina. And if there was anything he needed it was comfort.

The door to his room opened. Eren flinched, unsure of who to expect. He turned and his heart sank as the small statured prince closed the door. He was draped in black, as always, with a stern expression. Eren swallowed with difficulty, pulling his hands to his side in defense.

"I see you slept well," Levi said, gliding across the floor. Eren sat up, keeping the blanket close around his neck.

"Yes," Eren said, "Miss Petra moved me here. She didn't want me to stay sick in the dungeon."

Levi raised an eyebrow and tsked in clear annoyance.

"Of course she didn't," Levi said. "It doesn't matter. Get up."

Eren turned away. He really didn't want to get up quite yet. He wasn't used to sleeping in and being sick gave him a good excuse to do it. And he especially didn't want to listen to anything Levi had to say.

Levi snapped his fingers.

"Oi, brat. I said get up. I'm going to take you to your permanent room."

"Back in the dungeon?" Eren hissed. Levi's eyes seemed to gleam red at his sharp tone. But Eren decided to contribute it to the setting sun.

"Is that what you want? To stay in the fucking dungeon? Because I can make that happen."

"No!" Eren cried. He gasped and shied back behind the blanket he held. "I mean…no…I'm not picky."

"Then stop being stubborn. Get your stuff and follow me already."

Eren slowly pushed away the blanket. He slipped out of the bed and wrapped his arms around himself. He felt bare and cold, standing before Levi and looking around for his cloak. Levi, however, found the cloak first. He picked it up out of the chair Petra had left it in and held it out to Eren. With trembling hands, Eren took the red cloak.

"Thanks…"

"Yes, well, come on," Levi snapped, opening the door.

Eren wrapped himself in his cape and followed after Levi. The castle was dark again, heavily lit by low hanging candles. It was cold and dark, but so beautiful. Not something Eren wanted to stay awake in the entire night but judging from Levi's sleeping pattern, he was sure he was going to have to.

"There are more bedrooms down there; for Mike and Irwin. And over there is just a study," Levi said as they walked. Eren's eyes followed his finger as he pointed. "And there's the library."

"Y-You have a library?" Eren asked, almost intrigued.

"Yes. You like reading?"

"I—" Eren swallowed. He liked to listen to stories and to be read to. Reading, on the other hand, was a different story. "It's alright…"

"Hm. Well…you're welcomed to use it as you see fit. You live here now, you can go anywhere in the castle. Except for my personal wing, of course."

"You don't like visitors?"

Levi stopped walking. Eren could see his shoulders grow rigid and he assumed Levi's expression was even harder. Eren swallowed hard.

"I'm a private person," Levi said softly. "That's all."

That wasn't all. Eren was sure of it. The cranky little prince was hiding something. Eren wasn't sure what, but he knew there had to be something in those dark corners of the castle.

Levi pushed open a door and held it open. Eren stopped walking, staring at him in confusion.

"Well."

"Well what?" Eren replied. Levi rolled his eyes.

"Go inside, brat."

The snappy command made Eren jump. He quickly ran into the room and stopped as soon as he looked up. Levi even bumped into his back but that wasn't enough to move Eren. His wide green eyes scanned the room, taking everything in.

It was bigger than the guest room he had slept in. The bed was nicer, if that was even possible. It was a four-poster bed, a canopy draped overhead. There was a tall armoire against the wall, beautifully carved with a village painting on the doors; it reminded Eren a little of Shiganshina even. There was set of tall glass doors that led out to a small sitting area.

The room smelled warm, too. A slight hint of cinnamon and nutmeg almost made it smell like home. It comforting, considering the entire castle felt cold and smelled like lavender. Eren saw the bowl of potpourri and walked over to it. All of the flowers were a deep shade of red and purple. He turned and walked over to the bed, trailing his fingers over the comforter.

It was deep crimson color.

"I hope you don't mind that I decorated everything," Levi said. "I assumed you like red."

"No, it's…it's very nice, sir," Eren said softly. He smiled, a rather sad smile, and looked back to Levi. "Thank you."

"Hm, you're welcome."

It was a nice gesture, Eren thought as he pulled on the comforter on the bed. Levi actually took the time to fix up his room. To put in colors he thought were suitable. To pick out an armoire with a painting that resembled his home village. To even make the room smell comforting. Eren had his own safe haven, of sorts. Courtesy of Levi. Courtesy of the man who brought him there to begin with.

There was a part of Eren that was honored by it. The fallen prince did something kind. And at the same time, Eren was completely repulsed. Was the man trying to buy him over? Did Levi really think something so simple would work?

"Why did you kidnap me?" Eren breathed without turning. Levi made an annoyed tongue clicking.

"I didn't," he replied. "You came here of your own freewill. No one told you to accept my offer."

Eren spun around angrily. "Don't be stupid! You know exactly what I mean! You're being unfair!"

He stumbled and fell back onto the bed as he was pushed. Levi was standing in front of him, a pale hand tangled in brown, messy hair. Eren gasped as his head was pulled back and he was forced to look up at the man.

Levi stared down at him with his cold, grey eyes. Eren felt their chill sink right into his body, dancing down his spine. The grip in his hair loosened and Levi trailed that hand along Eren's cheek, down to his jawline and finally ending at his chin.

Eren licked his dried lips as Levi leaned forward. He inhaled sharply as he felt Levi's lips barely an inch from his own. His heart raced and he gripped the edge of the bed.

"S-Sir…"

"Never, raise your voice to me like that," Levi said softly. "Because if you ever do again, I'll break your legs and throw you in the dungeon."

"I'm not scared of you."

"I know. Because if I wanted you to be afraid of me, you'd be scared shitless," Levi growled in a voice that sent a shiver throughout Eren's body. "But instead I'm going to play nice."

Eren's heart was racing. He was, in fact, scared. He was terrified. He had no idea what this man could do. What he was capable of. The man had power, sure. He could wipe Eren's name from the books; Eren would never exist. Purely because he was a prince.

But there was something more. Something far more sinister than being scratched from the history books. Eren feared what Levi could do to him physically. What the man could do to his very soul. Because the shudders Eren got from him left him completely unsettled.

"Now, with that cleared up," Levi said, slapping his hand on Eren's thigh, "we should—"

There was a loud, crashing sound from the entrance hall. It resonated throughout the entire castle, much to Eren's surprise. The look on Levi's face was nowhere near shock; it was more annoyance. The man rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue, turning around to the door.

Eren watched him walk out and caught his breath. Even hating Levi, the prince still managed to take his breath away.

He shook his head and jumped off the bed. He chased after Levi, unsure of what to even say or to expect when he found the man.

The sight in the entrance hall was truly something he never thought he would ever see, however.

Levi stood at the base of the stairs, his eyes upturned to the high ceiling. And stuck in the ceiling was the end of a broom. And dangling off the end of that broom was a woman wearing glasses. She had a grin plastered on her face and her pleased laughter echoed throughout the entrance hall.

"Stop that you four-eyed witch," Levi hissed. "Get down here."

"Ah, little sir, I would but if I let go, I lose my broom!" the giggly witch sang back. She suddenly gasped and with a final tug, dislodged her broomstick from the ceiling. Sitting on the broom she whizzed right passed Levi and up to Eren with wide eyes.

"H-Hello," Eren coughed with a small wave. "You're really a—"

"A witch, yes brat, she's a real witch," Levi grumbled. "And a general screw up. Don't fucking trust her spells."

"Oh, hush Levi!" the witch said, adjusting her glasses. She leaned in to examine Eren closer. "So this is the boy you kidnapped? What's your name, kiddo? I'm Hanji—"

Levi snuck up behind her, pulling on her ponytail. Hanji squealed as she was pulled back and away from Eren.

"Hush, four-eyes. Stop being so imposing!"

"I'm not! I'm friendly!"

Eren started to laugh. He covered his mouth, trying to keep it in. But his laughter echoed, catching their attention. Hanji squirmed away from Levi, floating back up to Eren on her broomstick.

"So I'm Hanji. The tiny prince's resident witch," Hanji said. "I occasionally cast spells to make him a little less irritable."

"Oh, so is that why he's been such an asshole lately? Because you haven't been here?"

"Yes, actually."

Levi rolled his eyes and turned away. He threw his hands up, almost in defeat, as he walked across the entrance hall and into one of the closed-off rooms. Eren grinned, looking back to Hanji, yet another example of a kind-hearted person stuck within the walls of the palace.

"I hope he hasn't been too cruel to you," Hanji said. "I know he can be very…unruly. Especially when Petra and I aren't here to make him behave."

"It's fine," Eren said with a shrug. "I'll get used to it. Eventually."

He had to, if he was going to survive living with Levi.