Chapter Text
By the time he gets back to his room, his legs are even shakier, and he does nothing more than drop his bag by the bed before curling up on the bare mattress. Can’t be bothered to light a torch, or find some sheets and pillows and blankets. He hurts worse than the time Levi beat the shit out of him. Closes his eyes and wraps his arms around himself, the chill of his room slowly seeping into him.
- - -
Levi’s not at breakfast. Or dinner. Or during chores, or at sparring practice. Doesn’t make an appearance at all during the day. Where he is, Eren has no idea – probably taking the chance to go off and do important corporal stuff – and the absence hurts. God, he’s fucked this up. Or, maybe, if he can let himself believe it – maybe they’ve fucked it up. As insane as it is, that moment between them hadn’t quite felt one-sided – so maybe Eren’s not completely to blame. It doesn’t make him feel much better, though. Levi’s still never going to let him in that close again.
- - -
It’s only when the day’s done and he’s finally unpacking his things – has gotten a sheet down on the bed, and everything – that he realizes that he accidentally brought back one of Levi’s books with him – and one of his poetry books, at that. There’d been a few tucked in between all the books on warfare.
For a long moment, Eren can only stare at it. Thinks that, if this were the kind of love story that you read about, this would be the moment when he’d find a fitting poem, something about second chances; and bookmark the page with a note to Levi, and leave the book on Levi’s desk for him to find.
But this isn’t that kind of story. At best, Levi finds him tolerable, and maybe not hard to look at. At worst, he just reacted to waking up with his face buried into the neck of a warm body; and either way, Eren needs to leave it alone. Puts the book by his bed, for now. He can bring it back tomorrow.
- - -
Eren wakes himself up yelling, the taste of titan blood in his mouth.
For a horrifying moment, he’s in freefall, bolting upright in the dark room – and then the irony hits like a fist, and he starts to laugh. It’s a horrid sound, even to his own ears – and it’s been a long time since he cried, but he doesn’t try to stop it when he lies down on his side and his laughter slowly gives way into tears.
- - -
He gets through the next few days by sheer will. Gets really uneasy when he still can’t seem to find Levi anywhere – and short of going to his room, he really has no options to change that. Isn’t sure whether he’s glad that Mikasa and Armin are off at a training camp. He’s not sure he wants to talk about any of this yet, but being alone doesn’t seem to be doing him any favours, either. Catches a glimpse of himself in the mirror at the end of day four, and – wow. If the smudges under his eyes get any darker, he’s going to look like – and his hair looks like birds have been nesting in it. Has a moment of wanting to punch Levi in his stupid attractive face – and then, instead, curls up on the bed and starts working his way through the poetry book, because he’s just that much of a masochist.
It’s a decision he regrets almost immediately, and he gets to his feet after about the first five poems on love and loss. Runs a hair through his disastrous hair and clutches tight to the book as he heads for Levi’s room. He’s his corporal, and they could be called into battle at any time. Whatever it is that’s broken here, they really need to fix it. Eren can’t afford to be at odds with him just because he’s a pathetic teenager who’s possibly in love with the orneriest bastard in the history of humankind. It takes him several attempts before he knocks on the door, and when he gets no response, he isn’t sure whether he’s shaky from frustration or relief. Bites out a curse and heads back down the hall –
And rounds the corner and smashes right into Levi, who catches him, and stops him from falling. For a moment, they just stare at each other, and Eren’s pretty sure he’s never going to breathe again – and then Levi mutters, “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” and firmly stands him up before stepping backwards. Puts a sold amount of space in between them even as Eren swallows hard and shoves out the book.
“I – this w-was in my bag.”
It’s barely a stutter, and he sounds like such a stupid teenager; and Levi just stares at him, before moving past him and opening the door to his room, and Eren – shouldn’t follow. Does, anyway. He needs to give the book back. They need to fix this. Hesitates before closing the door – but he does, in the end. Whatever conversation they might be about to have, nobody else needs to hear it.
"I just – I didn’t mean t-to take it, and I know you probably don’t want to talk to m-me, but –”
“You look like crap.”
“Says you.”
He regrets it before it’s even out, but – Levi does look like crap, actually. Not that there’s a speck of dirt anywhere, or a crease in his clothes, but the bags under his eyes are back to being awful –
Oh, right. Mouthing off to his commanding officer, when things are already tense. No wonder Levi’s openly glaring at him now; and Eren meekly sets the book down on the table, leaving them each standing on a separate side of it. For a moment, Eren remembers sitting at the corner of the table and reading, while Levi slowly cursed his way through a pile of paperwork – brings his eyes back up to find Levi watching him with such an inscrutable expression it’s almost frightening. Certainly it’s not something that Eren wants directed at him; and he bites down the wave of irritation.
“So, what, are we just going to pretend nothing happened?”
“Careful, Eren.”
“Why didn’t you want me sleeping here, then? The nightmares, or because you really did have trouble keeping your hands to yourself?”
He’s going to die. He’s actually going to get smeared into a mess against the wall.
“Both.”
He stops breathing. Oh, god.
“I’ll be honest with you – you deserve that much, at least. Letting you stay was a stupid fucking idea, but it’s been years since I shared a bed, so I did it anyway. And since I’m the adult here –”
“I’m not a child.”
“I’ll take my part of the responsibility. You’re well within your rights to report me –”
“I wouldn’t.”
“Good. It’d be awkward to find you another qualified handler.”
Levi’s expression has barely changed this they started talking, and Eren can’t do anything but gape. Stares at Levi from across the desk and realizes he’s going to break the book if he squeezes it any harder. Puts it down with hands that shake, and – he can barely breathe. Levi wants him, too.
“So – y-you – you want –”
“You’re seventeen.”
“Oh, what, so I can kill monsters and fight to save our species, but I’m not old enough for sex?”
"Not with me. Now piss off and let me work.”
Still as expressionless as ever, and Eren – he knows what it’s like to quite literally see red, and he’s reaching that point. Realizes his hands are balled into fists at his sides, and does his best to unclench them. Can’t think of what to say, but can’t quite make his legs work to leave, either.
“Get out of here, Eren. You’ll get over my pretty face soon enough.”
It’s said with what could almost be a smirk – one of the nastiest smirks Eren’s ever seen, and not an expression he’s ever seen on Levi before – and he turns and leaves before he either starts cursing and yelling or starts to cry. He’s pretty sure Levi wouldn’t appreciate either of these options.
- - -
The next week is awful.
Mikasa and Armin come back, and though he can’t tell them everything, he also knows they both know him more than well enough to see that he’s falling apart inside. Tells them that he got into a fight with someone he likes, but that he can’t tell them who – and, bless both of them, they don’t argue. They just listen – Armin with his big concerned eyes, and Mikasa looking like she wants to find this person and found him into a pulp – and Eren spends two nights snuggled in the same bed with both of them, like when they were kids. It’s not the same, but it does help a bit, at least.
Levi treats him pretty much the same as before. Maybe a bit colder, but, well – he’d already been like that, so probably the only person who can tell is Eren. There’s practice, and training, and stable cleaning, and trips out into varied terrain to practice their three dimensional maneuvers – and through it all, Levi never hints at anything that happened. Eren supposes it’s easier to brush away physically wanting someone when there’s no emotions involved. He, on the other hand, starts either dreaming about Levi naked – it had been a regular occurrence before, but nothing quite like this – or dreaming about Levi being killed right in front of him, with Eren unable to move; and by the end of the week he’s so tired it’s a wonder he can move at all. Stumbles into his room at the end of the day, and stops only long enough to grab his pile of sketchpads, from where he’d shoved them all against the wall upon moving back into his room. Drawing won’t help much – what he really needs is to punch something – but it’ll be better than sitting and starting at the ceiling all night.
It takes him less than thirty seconds of sitting on his bed and sorting through his sketchpads before he realizes that one of them isn’t his. Thinks back to grabbing his things off Levi’s desk, and – Levi’s probably going to be more pissed about this than the book. Opens it to double-check –
That’s not a weapon. That’s a sketch of a flower. And maybe he should have opened to the front, because the back – he flips to another page, and, holy shit, that’s a cat. A cat with kittens, even. Levi’s going to fucking kill him. Weapons in the front and drawings of stupidly endearing things at the back. It’s fitting, somehow; and Eren breathes through the tightness in his stomach as he closes the pad. Doesn’t realize until he stands up that there’s a loose page inside, somewhere – and when he leans down to pick it up off the floor, he can actually feel himself go numb all over.
It’s him.
The page is wrinkled and creased, like it’s been crumpled up and then unfolded again – but it’s definitely him. Curled up by the window, reading one of Levi’s books by torchlight, and – Eren’s no art expert, but this is easily the closest thing to affection Eren’s ever seen from Levi. This is – this is fondness and soft lines and careful dips and curves – this is Eren drawn like he’s beautiful, with gentle shading and incredible detail – and Eren sits down hard on the bed as his knees give out.
“Shit.”
He barely chokes it out, and his chest hurts something awful. Blinks back the sting of tears – but it’s not working. All this time, he’d been thinking he was just the stupid kid Levi resented lusting after, but – you don’t draw something like that unless there’s something more to it, maybe. He might not be a genius, but he’s pretty sure he knows that much, at least. Carefully folds the paper into sketchpad, and holds it to his chest, knowing that he needs to calm down if this is going to work. Eren’s not a child – hasn’t been for a long time – and Levi is damn well going to listen to him.
- - -
“Your continued presence here makes me wonder just how deep that masochistic streak of yours runs.”
“Well, I do rip apart my own skin.”
They’re in Levi’s room – he’s gotten that far, at least, and the door’s closed behind him – but there’s a gulf of space between them, and that was a bit sharper than he meant it to be. He’s not nearly calm enough for this. Immaculate and composed as ever, Levi just raises his eyebrows ever so slightly – and Eren somehow keeps it together. Pulls the sketchpad out of his bag – he’d figured that hiding it was the only way he’d get in the room – and holds it out, his hands shaking.
“This is yours, too.”
And Levi – barely blinks. Doesn’t react at all the way Eren was expecting. Hardly reacts at all. Simply reaches out to take it, and sets it down on the desk beside them, as expressionless as ever.
“Is that all?”
It’s as bored as though Levi’s discussing their chores, and he’s watching Eren like he’s the scum on his shoe that Levi’s too fucking phobic to scrape off – and Eren wavers, his stomach turning. Watches Levi watches him, and then grinds his teeth together. He’s fought titans. He can do this.
“If you’re gonna draw me like something from those poetry books you love so much, you could at least kiss me.”
He’s not looking at Levi by the end of it, and he can barely hear his own voice – but he’s said it, at least. Waits as the silence grows so loud it’s smothering, and can’t quite make himself look at Levi.
“I was hoping you hadn’t seen that.”
“Well, I did.”
“So I gather.”
Levi’s voice is eerily flat, and the silence stretches further, until Eren feels like his skin’s going to crawl off. Raises his eyes to find Levi watching him with an expression Eren can’t read at all. Only realizes he’s moved closer when he’s already done it. Puts a hand on Levi’s pale cheek – and Levi doesn’t blink. Doesn’t blink, doesn’t step back, doesn’t move at all. Just stands there as Eren swallows hard and – he doesn’t know how to kiss someone, but he does it, anyway. Levi’s lips are dry, and Eren can’t breathe for how hard his heart is beating when he pulls back, and – Levi’s cheeks are flushed. His hands are on Eren’s hips. And Eren only realizes he’s been shoved against the wall when he hits it, hard. Hits it with Levi’s mouth back on his, teeth and tongue, and Eren closes his eyes and loses his air, spun around until his knees are hitting the bed and he’s going down with Levi lying on top of him, heavy and warm and biting out words against his lips.
“You just keep fucking pushing, can’t you just leave it, fucking –”
“Levi –”
“I can’t do this –”
Eren only realizes he’s wrapped his legs around Levi when he’s already done it, keeping Levi from leaving. Blushes so hot it hurts, but – Levi’s making this little rasping sound that might be laughter, their mouths still close together, and – that’s definitely laughter. Grabs Eren’s legs and shoves them both even further up the bed, bending Eren nearly in half and kissing him as he laughs.
“You little shit. That desperate to keep me, huh?”
“You’re the one who drew me like a fucking watercolour.”
Shit, that’s the wrong thing to – but Levi’s kissing him harder, and Eren tightens his legs around Levi and squirms when Levi’s hands slide up under his shirt, hot against his skin. Scrapes his nails along Eren’s sides and Eren bucks into it, heat slamming down from his head to his legs. Only realizes he’s whining when Levi shuts him up with another kiss, his mouth so hard it hurts.
“Tell me you’ve at least kissed someone before.”
Levi’s rattled, too. Eren can feel and hear it, the words shaky against his mouth. Shakes his head, and Levi groans and stops moving completely, like a wire breaking and leaving you in freefall – and Eren digs his hands into Levi’s hair and holds him against his mouth, swallowing down the panic.
“Please, I want –”
“Eren –”
“I don’t want a-anyone else. I want – you, it’s been only you for so long – wanted you since –”
Eren ends up half smothered under the press of Levi’s mouth, and is pretty sure he’s not the only one panting. Digs his hands further into Levi’s hair and tightens his legs around his waist. Bucks up when Levi’s teeth sink into his neck – and then his pants are being yanked down, and Levi’s hand is hot on his thigh, and Levi’s somehow crowding in even closer, breathing hard against his mouth.
“Are you sure you –”
“Yes. Please, just –”
Levi kisses him the entire time.
Gets Eren’s pants shoved down just far enough, swipes his tongue across his own palm, wraps his fingers around Eren’s dick, and never stops kissing him. Licks into his mouth and bites at his lips and sucks his way down his neck and then back up to his mouth again, and Eren can’t do anything but whine and shake, his legs giving out and hitting the bed. Can barely arch up, but tries to, anyway, as Levi jerks him off hard and fast and leaves him gasping into Levi’s mouth. Pins him there, keeps him safe, as he kisses and bites until Eren come so hard he can’t see for the white in his mind and the tears in his eyes. Realizes that that whimpering sound is coming from him, and comes down with Levi’s arms wrapped around him and his head shoved against Levi’s chest, and Levi’s fingers in his hair and his mouth pressing kisses against the top of his head.
“Hey, shh, you’re alright.”
If anything it just makes him shake harder, and he bites back new tears. God. What is wrong with him.
“S-sorry.”
Levi shakes his head against him, and combs his fingers through his hair. Presses a kiss against the top of his head, and Eren has to close his eyes, the too much of it all making him weak all over.
“Nothing to apologize for. Now shut up and let me enjoy this.”
Eren doesn’t quite laugh, but it’s a close thing. Still sounds too watery, but he’s getting better. Grasps a bit blindly at Levi and tries to curl closer – they’re already on their sides, with his head tucked under Levi’s chin, so it’s not like there’s far for him to go – and flushes hot all over when Levi hisses, and – right. Eren should – Levi’s hard against his leg, and Eren goes a bit dizzy with it.
“Should I – I can – do you want me to –”
“Later.”
“But –”
“I can wait. Now shut the hell up and pass out already.”
Levi’s fingers are still in his hair, and his voice is lacking its normal bite, and Eren’s going to cry like an idiot some more, if he’s not careful. Thinks about arguing – but he’s exhausted. Knows Levi’s got to know that. Nods against Levi’s chest and buries himself closer, closing his eyes as Levi’s fingers never stop their movement through his hair, his heart beating right next to Eren’s ear.
- - -
When Eren wakes up, the sun’s just staring to creep into the room.
He’s long since been cleaned up and tucked back into his pants, and Levi’s still asleep beside him, in his pristine white night clothes and with his hair a disaster against the pillow – and Eren breathes through the crushing wave of affection, and raises his fingers to where his lips are still aching. Wants to get himself in front of a mirror, and see just how much damage Levi did to his neck. He’s gonna catch hell from the rest of the corps, he’s sure – but as long as they never find out who, exactly, is to thank for the state that he’s in, it’ll be worth every second of their teasing.
“Feeling pleased with yourself?”
Levi’s eyes aren’t even open. Eren swallows, hard, and tucks himself back in under the blankets before Levi has the chance to leave. Doesn’t dare do more than put his forehead against Levi’s shoulder – and then Levi twists around and tugs Eren in until his chest is to Eren’s back, his arms wrapped tight around Eren, and Eren shudders when Levi breathes hot and soft against his neck.
“Horrible influence. You’re making me want to take the day off.”
“Could w-we?”
“Only if we want Erwin to figure out that I’m fucking the teenaged hope for humankind.”
His hand is sliding underneath Eren’s shirt, though, and Eren shudders again, and closes his eyes. Realizes he’s twisting back against the press of Levi’s cock against his ass, and blushes all over, but – Levi’s groaning against his ear and tightening his grip, his nails biting into Eren’s stomach.
“Fucking menace, you are. Shit. Get out of here before I won’t let you leave.”
“Don’t w-want to leave.”
“I’m well aware.”
His teeth are on Eren’s neck, again, and Eren whimpers and tilts his head back as best he can. Jumps when a hand slides down to grope him through his pants, and squirms back harder against the erection behind him, Levi breathing hard into his ear, his hips moving in a slow roll against his ass.
“You are awful. You are – we have shit to do. Get out of this bed.”
“Doesn’t seem like you w-want me gone.”
He flushes hot as he says it, and Levi’s arms clamp down around him, before he rolls them over easy as breathing. Ends up flat on his back with Levi kissing him, hard, licking into his mouth and palming him through his pants, and Eren throws his head back when Levi’s teeth sink into his neck. Can’t do anything but whine, twisting up hard, as Levi yanks at his pants with one hand –
“Wait.”
It sounds strangled to his own ears, and Levi completely freezes, and – shit, that’s not what Eren meant. Presses a kiss to Levi’s motionless mouth and blindly shoves his hand down between them, nearly passing out when Levi shivers against him, his dick pressing up against Eren’s hand.
“I meant – I just – I want –”
“You’d like to get me off, you mean?”
It’s probably shakier than Levi meant it to be, and Eren closes his eyes and nods, his skin flushing hot and his chest pulling way too tight – and then Levi exhales against his mouth, and twists around until Eren’s chest is pressed to his back, with his cock rubbing against Levi’s ass. Ends up with one arm trapped underneath Levi’s body and the other draped over top, and then closes his eyes as Levi finds his hand and yanks it down to rest over the hardness in Levi’s pants.
“Like you would yourself. Easier.”
He sounds – not quite unsure, but maybe as hesitant as Levi ever gets – and Eren only realizes he’s taken his hand back and wrapped both of his arms around Levi when Levi goes still against him – but Eren’s not letting go. Needs to do this. Shoves his face into Levi’s neck and holds on tight, his breath coming shaky and Levi’s heart slamming underneath the tight circle of Eren’s arms.
“Don’t have to fucking sweet talk me into this.”
Eren still doesn’t let go. Holds Levi close and presses a kiss against his neck. Does it again when Levi stays ramrod stiff against him – and again, with his teeth, which has Levi hissing out a breath – and tilting his head back onto Eren’s shoulder. Eren’s never felt so powerful. So protective. Shakes his way through the rush and drops a hand to Levi’s pants, keeping his other arm wrapped around him. If he’s going to do this, he’s doing it right.
“Swear to fuck, Eren, if you don’t start doing something –”
Levi stops talking when Eren undoes his pants. Unties the strings and tugs them down, and tucks Levi’s nightshirt out of the way as best he can. Feels the way Levi’s breathing goes ragged when Eren wraps a hand around him, and – it should feel about the same as doing it to himself, but it doesn’t. It’s completely different. And Levi’s nails are digging into his legs, even through his pants.
“Don’t just hold it, you fucking –”
“Aren’t I supposed to be the impatient teenager here?”
That gets something that’s almost a growl, and Eren breathes through the way his heart jumps. Adjusts his grip – runs his thumb down the side and under the head, just to feel Levi shake – and takes a deep breath. He’s done this to himself a thousand times. Starts scraping his teeth across Levi’s neck as he keeps his eyes open and lets his hand do what it wants. Gradually loses his own breath as Levi’s pants get ever more ragged, until he’s twisting up hard into Eren’s hand, his eyes squeezed shut.
“Alright?”
Levi just nods, panting too hard to speak, maybe; and Eren finally stops trying to stop himself from grinding against Levi. Feels heat wash through the entire length of him, and does it again, squirming against him, and never stopping the movement of his hand. Realizes he’s been wasting a valuable opportunity, and slides his free fingers along Levi’s chest, rubbing his nipple through the thin white material. Gets a whine before Levi bites it down, flushed clean down his neck and his teeth sunk into his own lip – and Eren has to close his eyes, the threat of orgasm burning hot inside him – opens them again when he realizes that Levi’s gone still, his fingers digging harder into Eren’s legs. Pulled taught like a wire. Comes all over Eren’s hand with a gasping breath, like he’s being punched. Shakes his way through it, and Eren keeps mouthing at his neck and stroking, slowly gentling the movement, until Levi shakes his head and shoves his hand away, tangling their fingers and dropping his head back further against Eren’s shoulder as he pants, and –
Eren’s chest hurts. He closes his eyes, and holds on as tight as he can. Nearly bites his tongue when Levi starts twisting back against him, slow and sure and enough to make Eren shake. Opens his eyes to find a smirk on Levi’s lips, his eyes still closed and his head still on Eren’s shoulder.
“Waiting for an invitation?”
He sounds exhausted, and Eren is so fucking gone over this man. Stops trying to hold his hips back, and grinds hard against Levi until Levi squeezes their fingers tighter and turns his head to bite Eren’s shoulder through his shirt – goes a bit blind as he arches against Levi and comes so hard it hurts, making stupid noises and shuddering, his heart slamming inside his chest and Levi’s fingers wrapped up around his own. Comes back down to find Levi still smiling, just slightly, his head dropped forward and his eyes closed, like he wants to fall asleep right where he is, and – Eren thinks about speaking, but doesn’t. Wouldn’t even know where to start. Holds on tight to Levi and closes his eyes, too, his chest gone achy and something inside him feeling like it’s flying.
- - -
It’s Levi, of course, who finally drags them out of bed. Shoves Eren in the direction of the bath, first, and then has him go get clean water for Levi to use. Gets Eren shaky all over again at the sight of Levi naked and soaking wet – and then Levi tugs him in for a hard kiss while he’s in the water, before pushing him away. He’s not smiling anymore, but he still looks a bit softer than normal.
“Best get going, then. Hanje’s taking you out today.”
“I – right.”
Eren has no idea what else to say or do. Hesitates, wavering, until Levi raises his eyebrows at him – but there’s a smattering of soapsuds in his hair, and Eren abruptly ends up biting down a grin, more than anything. Clears his throat and can’t stop the little smile, some of his nerves washing away. He’s pretty sure he can still feel the phantom touch of Levi’s fingers wrapped in with his own.
“Just find a story for those bruises, and don’t treat me any different. Got it?”
“Got it.”
“Good. Now scram, before I drag you in here with me.”
“Not good incentive to get me to leave.”
Levi gives him a look that could probably make an army turn tail and run, but all it does is make Eren smile harder. Gives him the courage to put a hand on Levi’s cheek and lean in for a last kiss – hovers there, their mouths barely touching, until Levi swallows hard and kisses him back – and then Eren pulls back, and Levi’s glare is rather ruined by the way his lips turn up slightly at the edges.
“Yes, alright, you sentimental idiot. Now get out of here.”
Eren does so with a grin, his heart slamming in his chest as he all but skips down the hallway.
- - -
Epilogue
They're never going to be easy, probably.
Levi's still a surly bastard, and Eren is still under his charge, and they're still captain and solider.They're still living in a world that's been torn apart, and if Eren had been scared of losing Levi before, it's nothing to how scared he gets now, every time they go out to fight titans, working side-by-side to keep each other safe and get their fellow soldiers home. He knows himself well enough to know just how hard he's fallen, and he never wants to lose Levi. Doesn't know how he'd survive it.
Somehow, though - despite the war, and despite the need to keep what they're doing a secret - they make it work.
Eren starts spending most of his nights with Levi, sketching and reading and helping Levi with paperwork until they curl up in bed together; and Levi's nightmares gradually start to lessen, though Eren doubts they'll ever go away completely. Levi, surprisingly, eventually stops putting up a fight whenever Eren pulls him close after one of them - lets Eren curl up around him and hold him, their hearts beating between them and Levi's fingers threading through his hair; and those are moments that Eren will treasure forever. Moments that he will take and tuck away safely inside of him, to help get him through the darkness, and to remind him of his humanity whenever he needs to be reminded.
They’re never going to be easy, maybe, and the world they're living in is a terrifying one – but whenever Eren manages to coax that ghost of a smile out of Levi, an expression that Eren only ever sees directed at him; and whenever Eren finds a new drawing of himself, complete with Levi scowling and refusing to talk about it; and whenever Levi forgets himself and looks at Eren like he's scared of losing him, too, the same way Eren feels about him – well. It might not be easy, but Eren gradually comes to the realization that he’s loved and protected, and that Levi’s letting Eren love him in return; and that’s something that Eren will fight to keep for as long as they’re both alive.