Ribbon (Ereri)

Chapter One

It began when he started to notice Eren's more recent bouts of stupidity.

Surely, for him, it was rather common to see the young boy fluster over a moment of self-doubt when offering up an explanation for the Corporal, or having been called out upon by one of the new cadets in the middle of one of his stories. It had become even more apparent with the introduction of the new members of the Scouting Legion. Eren looked like a child - not that Levi took him for more than one for a second, and it was only becoming more apparent as time went by.

At first, the youth had been sure to hold his tongue when all he wanted was to ask stupid questions - he sat up straight at the table, and actually used his napkin, which were things Levi had commented about under his breath when he was a new arrival, which apparently had sunk in before Levi took it upon himself to press further. So, when the Corporal found himself eyeing the young teen and seeing him caught up in those stories - valiantly brandishing his knife as if to mimic some recent battle, he couldn't help but roll his eyes. The youth dropped down into a slouch shortly afterward, and blue eyes ticked away, focusing more on his food and own conversation before he ended up approaching Eren's table in order to deliver a sharp slap to the back of his head.

He could just barely contain it.

It was his current annoyance.

Another annoyance of his was when he happened to look over toward the teen; he caught sight of green eyes more than once. At first, he thought it had just been a fluke. But after the third time, Levi was quite sure the teen was pointedly catching his eye. He made to ignore the boy. And after a few minutes, he could feel eyes on him. It would have been fine with Levi, had they been holding an intimate conversation. Or even one involving military tidings. But the youth wasn't turning down - just staring across the way.

Fine.

If he wanted a staring contest, he'd get one.

Setting his spoon down, Levi allowed steely blue eyes to move to look toward Eren - catching his eye immediately. Fingers interlaced together, his head moving down to rest along the knuckles. He rest there, watching the boy, not moving his gaze in the slightest. It obviously worried the youth, as he shifted his gaze just slightly when he registered that Levi was looking him over. Had he been the type, he would have allowed a half-smile to break past his lips at the boy's unease. Instead, his emotions held over that stone-cold stare of his, until he watched Eren look down upon his food, embarrassed.

That took care of that.

Levi eased back into his chair, nearly satisfied with himself at having made Eren drop his gaze. He moved to cross his arms over his chest, eyes dully interested in the hall of soldiers, before he caught sight of a body moving to stand. He wouldn't have given it another thought, except happened to pass his eyes over the soldier - Eren, who had bowed down his head and seemingly muttered some excuse to leave the table early. His friends looked up, before one of them nodded. Levi shifted. He felt an unease pick at him, as if he shouldn't have been there.

A hand shot forward as he took Hanji's shoulder - the woman having been involved in a rather in-depth conversation with someone opposite her, before she made a small noise of exclamation at the grasp to her shoulder. He attempted to turn her in her seat - part of him feeling the need to make himself seem occupied. Even if it was whatever the scientist found herself currently involved in. It would have to do.

"Levi..!" She offered a light shout, followed with a laugh as she turned at her waist toward the shorter male. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Eren's form faltering in step. "I didn't know you had such an interest in the lack of sexual reproduction that goes on with the Titans! I was sure you deemed it unnecessary to the slaying of them - considering it's such a well-known fact. Not really looked into due to the very obvious missing gene-Levi? I thought we were having a discussion!"