Chapter Text
I hadn’t even been in my apartment for even ten minutes before Commander Eyebrows called me.
“Ackerman.”
“Levi, I need you to come to base in two hours,” he told me.
“If this is for one of Hanji’s experiments, count me out. I’d rather die in the field than in a lab.”
“Why do…” Erwin sighed, “No, Hanji’s in California right now. Commander Pixis is insisting that he show us the new training regimen, and I need someone to represent the scouting legion to be there.”
“And you couldn’t do this because?” I almost didn’t ask. I knew Erwin was ditching because he couldn’t be bothered with something as trivial as this. Fuck, this was below my pay-grade and he knows that. I know there was no way out of this, but I could bitch about it all I wanted.
“You know I don’t have time for that, Levi. Unless you want your next mission pushed back another week I recommend you be there on time.”
“Tch,” I scowled at my phone, “I’m not dressing up for this.”
“I never asked you to,” I could almost see his smirk at that line. “He wants you there at eleven, and who knows how long he’ll keep you there.”
“He’s not keeping me for longer than two hours, I just got back to America and I intend to enjoy my freedom while it lasts.”
“You say this as if you don’t have any freedom while overseas. You have days off, you know.”
“I have days stuck with my squad, you mean.”
“When are you going to settle down, Levi? You’re like a boiling kettle.”
“What does it matter to you, Commander Bushy Brows?”
“You’re not going to be able to avoid it forever, Levi.”
“I can avoid it for as long as I goddamn please.” I pulled the phone from my ear and hung up before Erwin got a chance to reply.
My duffel bag was still in the entryway. I hadn’t had the time to put anything away before the commander had called. After putting my phone in my back pocket I slung the bag over my shoulder and walked to my room. I could almost feel the dust in the stagnant air choking me. I put the bag next to the bed and opened the linen closet to grab my cleaning supplies. After being gone for three months, my apartment had gathered an unacceptable amount of dirt. Removing said dirt was more important to me than putting my things away. I still had two hours, and the base was a ten minute walk from here, so I had plenty of time to clean up and get there on time.
After wiping every surface in my apartment and cleaning the filth from the plane ride off me, I threw on a pair of camo cargo pants and a white tank top. The early fall in Boston was warm enough that I didn’t need a jacket to keep me warm. Hopefully my casual dress would show how disinterested I was in this meeting, and maybe Pixis would let me go early.
. . . . . . .
Commander Pixis did not let me leave early. Instead, he insisted that I stay for no less than three hours as he paraded around the grounds explaining the increased security and work ethic that was expected here. It didn’t mean much to me because I’d never gone to military school. Erwin took me off the streets for a special job, and I stayed with him ever since, so I never had to suffer through this training.
Apparently, Commander Pixis did not get the memo that nobody was listening to him at this point. I turned to the side hoping that there would be something to look at that would be more interesting than whatever Dot was going on about.
The grounds were not bad, I’d give it that much. The grass was lush and full, not yet dried up from the upcoming winter. Maple trees sparsely covered the land and some shrubbery decorated the plots underneath the windows. There weren’t any flowers, but I suppose a military training base was more about practicality than extravagance.
Out of the corner of my eye I could see a track with a single, tall figure running around it. He had messy brown hair and a lean figure. It looked like he’d been out here for awhile because I could see the signs of exhaustion were creeping up on him. His movements were getting sloppy and his face glistened with sweat.
“And that concludes the changes in our training programme,” Pixis spoke. I could hear a sigh of relief from the woman next to me.
“Thank God,” someone whispered.
“Who’s that?” I found myself asking while gesturing to the kid on the track. Why was I asking that? I’ve never shown interest in anyone who I wouldn’t normally interact with.
“Jäger?” Dot asked. I confirmed with a nod. “Eren Jäger, he’s not the best at anything really. He’s average at everything except hand to hand which he’s ranked second, but he’s got some crazy spirit. The most tenacious person I’ve met. His dedication and hard work has kept him within the top ten of his class. He’s a good kid when he’s not picking fights with the other cadets.”
I decided against asking more questions. I didn’t want to seem too interested. Levi Ackerman wasn’t interested in anyone. So why was I walking towards the kid? Animalistic instinct, it must be. He has to be around six feet, and I can’t help being attracted to that. And who doesn’t like dedicated people? He must be crazy in bed with all that stamina- no, Levi. Stop, he’s a kid. Maybe nineteen years old at best. You’re old enough to be his… well, nothing, but that doesn’t change the fact I shouldn’t be initiating contact.
The kid, or Eren Jäger, I guess his name is, had stopped running a few minutes ago in favor of push-ups. He didn’t see me approach him. I could’ve watched him like this all afternoon. Small beads of sweat dripped off his face and down his arms which twitched with exhaustion. His breathing was loud and I could almost mistake it for guttural panting. His body shook with the effort he was putting into his exercise and his ass twitched in a glorious bounce.
“Oi, kid.”
“Whueaaah?!” Eren looked up at me and fell the short distance onto the ground on his face.
“Tch, brat”
“I’m not a brat,” Eren countered. He looked up and tried his best to glower at me. His piercing green eyes captivated mine in their glow. I could see fractals of teal and emerald and lime in those eyes. He made a cocky grin before he spoke again. “Entranced by my looks or did you forget how to speak?”
I didn’t realize I’d been staring. “Cheeky, you have dirt on your nose.”
“And you have a hair out of place.”
I quickly raised a hand to my head to find it, but Eren started laughing as soon as I did so.
“Nah ha,” he rolled onto his stomach and giggled. “I can’t believe you fell for that.”
I scowled in response. “Fucking brat.”
“Hey, is that any way to speak to a friend?” He asked with feigned innocence as he sat up in a criss-crossed position.
“Friend? You haven’t even introduced yourself yet.” I scoffed.
“Sorry, I’m Eren. It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
Eren eyed me up and down. “Who are you? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you here before.”
“You can call me Levi, I just got back from overseas” I responded, offering a hand to help him up. He took it, and suddenly he was towering above me- fucking tree. I immediately regret offering him a hand up. His radiant smile made me feel a little weak in the knees. Stop it, knees. You’re a thirty four year old man, so stop acting like a teenage girl.
The blush must’ve been evident in my face because he smirked as he asked “Like what you see?” He paused before he said the next line: “Do I get a title to call you, or is it just Levi?”
“You gotta earn the title, kid.”
“That’s the second time you’ve called me kid, I’m not.”
“No, what are you? Eighteen, nineteen? Still a kid.”
“I’m twenty-one.”
Now that was a shock. Definitely still a kid, but not as young as I thought he was. 13 years, that was… okay, it still sounded bad, but the brat’s old enough to decide for himself what he wants, and if he wants me, then…
“You’re still a kid, and a brat,” I countered.
“And you’re a grumpy old man.”
“Do you have a problem with that?”
“Not at all.”
We walked towards the grassy enclosure near the front gate chatting along the way. There were various trees and bushes decorating the base and a few benches. I tilted my head to the nearest bench. Eren got the gesture and followed me there. At least when we were sitting he didn’t tower over me as much as when he was standing. My neck was starting to ache having to look up so high to see his pearly, emerald green eyes that seemed to glow in the sun.
“It’s Sunday, what were you doing drills for?” I asked Eren.
“I do this everyday. I wanna try my hardest to do my best while I’m here. I wanted to join the military to help people who can’t help themselves. What kinda person would I be if I didn’t try my best to follow my dreams to the fullest?” His hands clutched the edge of the bench and he kicked his feet back and forth underneath it. He smiled and looked towards the sky, the sun illuminated his eyes and he seemed to glow radiantly. His brown hair glistened and waved in the breeze.
I couldn’t find a response to his words. Not only was he hot, but he’s hot and selfless, and brave, and tenacious.
“Sorry, that sounded really optimistic and heroic.”
“No, I just,” I still couldn’t figure out what to say. How did this kid leave me so dumbstruck? “You don’t find many people in the military with such pure ideals anymore. It’s nice to see that some people still care.”
“Levi?” the brat asked, “Did I leave you at a loss for words just then?”
“Tch, no. I just couldn't comprehend your stupidity, brat.”
“Ow,” Eren rubbed his heart and a joking look of pain covered his face. “That was mean.”
“That’s what brats deserve: mean, grumpy old men.”
“Is that your way of saying I deserve a night with you?” He asked cheekily.
“Don’t push your luck, kid.” I stood from the bench, trying to hide my blush. “Maybe if we meet again…” I didn’t finish the sentence. Based on his smile, I didn’t need to.
“I guess I’ll see you around, then. Le-vi,” He enunciated each vowel in my name in a low tone, and I couldn’t say that it didn’t affect me in ways I wasn’t prepared for.
I turned away from him so he wouldn’t see the blush creeping on my face. “In your dreams, brat,” I waved a hand back at him over my shoulder. Hopefully I’d forget the kid before long.