The Ereri Project!

Gloves

Levi is doing paperwork when Eren wanders into his office that afternoon. "Hey Captain?" Eren asks.

"Yeah brat?"

"Why do you wear gloves sometimes?"

Levi cocks an eyebrow and looks at him. "Shouldn't that be obvious?"

Eren shrugs. "Hanji says it's because you hate people. I think, and I hope this doesn't come off as being out of line, sir, that it has something to do with why you're so thorough about cleaning."

"That would be the obvious, Jaeger."

"But that would raise the question of why you don't care about wearing gloves when you touch me or the Commander."

Levi shrugs. "Maybe it's because I think you're both less filthy than most of the other slobs around here, Hanji included."

"Is that because I bathe more often?"

"I actually think you bathe less often than four-eyes."

"So why?"

Levi looks at him seriously. "Has it not occurred to you that I just like you more?"

Eren blinks owlishly at him. "Seriously?"

"You take orders without question, you sleep in a dungeon without complaint, you're the only one who doesn't slack off on his cleaning duties, and I happen to really respect that mindless determination you have about you."

Eren's cheeks flush slightly. "I don't think any of that is really special sir."

"Not special, necessarily," Levi amends. "Just admirable." Eren smiles. "Don't look at me like that Jaeger."

"Sorry sir, I just think it's cool that I've been admiring you all this time but you admire me too."

Levi's cheeks go pink as well. "Shut up."

Eren giggles.

Levi shakes his head. "Anyway, didn't Hanji need you for something?"

"We had to take a break because the Commander needed her for something."

"Ah."

"You don't mind if I wait in here, do you?"

Levi takes off his gloves and stands up from his desk. "Why don't we go for a walk? I need a break too."

"Yes sir," Eren replies.

He would be told later that he looked like a puppy following Captain Levi around.