How long has he been...?
Eren wakes early in his cell this morning to find Levi staring him down, leaning his slim body casually against the brick wall on the other side of the steel bars. In his pyjamas, the subordinate sits up in bed with a yawn, wondering how long his superior had been there. Eren attempts to stretch his limbs, but in the heaviness of the elongated gestures he is suddenly reminded that his wrists and ankles are shackled by weighty chains long enough to drag along the floor, iron bindings that are fastened to the wall behind the bed. Groggy from waking, Eren blinks at the captain.
What... is... that...?
In a sluggish reach of his heavily weighted hand, Eren rubs the sleep from his eyes to better examine the imposing stare of the demanding commander before him.
Levi appears as casual and cool as ever in his full uniform, tan fitted leather jacket, chocolate knee high boots and all the belts and garters necessary for the vertical maneuvering harness. Every item he wears is in pristine condition, from the off-white basics, to the billowing pure white cravat at his neck, to each and evey buckle, fastened perfectly on each and every scintillating strap. Levi's thumbs are hooked into the belt at his waist, as Eren squints to recognize what seems to be an extra large stuffed animal crammed under his commander's arm.
Is that a giant teddy bear?
The young man's mouth opens a bit as he nearly laughs, but the sense of jovialty is caught is his throat as he notices Levi's lips curl ever so slightly to the side, and dead eyes stare from above the ominous smirk.
"Sleep well?" The captain inquires in a peculiarly friendly tone Eren has never heard him use.
The younger one does not respond, he sits with his mouth gently ajar as he puzzles over the little commander's behavior. In truth Eren had slept well, as well as anyone could while weighed down by heavy irons, and yet far better than he had expected.
But why would that mean anything to him...
Pleased with the look of confusion contorting Eren's face, Levi steps towards the steel bars clicking his boots on the stone floor. The captain unlocks the gate and enters the small cell as steel fittings creak with the opening of the barred entrance. The superior officer sets the bear onto the small wooden writing desk by the far wall from the bed.
Any sign of the previous smirking has faded from Levi's face, the captain, now disdainful as always, turns to Eren sitting bewildered in bed. The commanding officer walks towards his captive subordinate, and one by one Levi unshackles the young man's limbs.
Eren stands to stretch, enjoying the full extension of his muscles and tendons. He groans as he reaches up and over, left to right, physically alleviated by the freedom of mobility. Through this relief of tension, Eren hardly notices Levi return to the bear to straighten and square it's position.
The overstuffed toy is so large that upon the table it is now dwarfing the miniscule man adjusting it. Levi pulls a spare white scarf, much like his own, from his inner jacket pocket and in a few quick moves, the soft fabric article is tied around the plush animal's neck. As Eren finishes stretching, he comes to observe his superior officer with greater clarity, watching in curiosity as the slight man postions the bear's cravat, making sure that the item lies perfectly on the toy's soft chest.
What's that about...?
Without looking at Eren, Levi turns on his heels and marches back towards the hall.
"Time to eat." The captain states in his usual gruff monotone, leaving the steel gate open behind him. With a few clicks of his proud steps he is out of view.
Eren sighs in relief wondering to himself what is it about that man that sets his nerves on edge. Fear was of little consequence to the young man at this point, since battling monstrous titans has numbed this awareness, and yet a sense of thrill pumps through his veins whenever Levi enters the room, a feeling more gripping than the monotonous reality of his enforced captivity. Certainly, what unnerves him is something bigger than fear, and it binds more firmly than chain.
Respect...
Eren Jaeger respects Captain Levi so profoundly his nervous system overreacts to his unspoken desire to meet the demands of his abusive leader and gain the elder's approval. Eren's admiration for the stoic little captain runs deep; Levi's confidence at court is unfaltering, his leadership in the field, undeniable, and his impressive skills in battle against the titans, unmatched, as the smaller man can merge violence and elegance in a swirling ballet of blades and bloodshed.
Shit...
The young subordinate realizes the recounting of Levi's death defying performances has his blood pumping with excitement. The arousal of Eren's senses is incontestable since the meat between his thighs is hard as rock and pointing skyward.
Right... this is exactly what happened last night...
"About the bear..." Levi calls from the stairwell at the end of the hall.
The sound startles Eren who jumps to sit on the edge of the bed, immediately grabbing for the pillow and laying it over his lap to hide his erection.
Levi completes his thought, "Figured you might need some company at night... for the next time you get lonely."
Next time...? When was the last time?
Trying to assess how he had given anyone the impression he was lonely, a bolt of shock runs through the young soldier as a humiliating possibility dawns on him and Eren remembers the embarrassing occurrences of the night before.
Last night...
Eren begins to search his recollection of the night for signs of indiscretion.
How could he possibly know...?