A New Purpose

Three

Hot. His whole body felt as if it were burning in a sea of fire. His chest felt heavy like being weighted down by a invisible force. His throat was dry as the desert,or what he read of about deserts.

"Aye." Eren turned,at least he tried to, to see the child that peeked up from his crib.

"Hey buddy. "His voice was raspy, as if he had been continuously been choked." You hungry? "

The child only smiled. Eren sits up with a bit of a struggle until his legs were swung over on the side if the bed. He picks up the child and slowly he as to the dinning hall.

Every one was already eating and a few of them had to fight Sasha from eating Eren's share. It was already noon which surprised Eren that no one,especially Levi,didn't wake him up.

"Hey sleepy head." Jean teased. "Seems like you had a rough night."

Eren didn't retort like he'd usually did, he only sat the little one in the high chair as Mikasa handed him the freshly warmed milk. He seemed to be having trouble trying to hold the bottle for the babe so Armin took over. Eren tried to eat but the food in his mouth was tasteless.

"Okay everyone I want you all to be ready for this afternoons training exercise. Meet me in the forest by three. Don't be late." Orders Levi.

Before leaving, the captain gives a quick glance at the shifter. His movements were slow,too slow. Is there something wrong with him? But he shrugged it off thinking it was from waking up too late in the day.

"Hange can you take care of Ingel for me?" Eren asked before they all left.

"Ingel?" She asked." Oh the little one, what a cute name!"

Eren smiled, he had recently thought of naming the child for it felt right to do so. Although Levi warned him that naming him will only leave him heart broken when a foster family takes Ingel in. It has been a month since Eren took Ingel in and no one has came to take him.

"I'll be back okay Ingel?"

"Aye!" He giggled. Eren smiled but his heart frowned.I can't get too attached, but he's such a little angel I can't turn him away.

During training, Levi noticed, as well as everyone else,saw Eren was sloppy with his movements while swinging from tree to tree. The titan decoys that were ready to be annihilated were missed by the suicidal, blood craving, shifter.

Some is wrong. Levi followed the boy just in ime to see the brunette lose control on his gear and plummeted to the forest floor below. Swiftly Levi caught him just before he collided with the earth. Eren's breathing was shallow, his skin covered in sweat which made the older man cringe.

"Eren!" Mikasa comes to his aid to see her brother ill.

She only seen the boy sick a few times before the fall of the walls,and she knew his sickness shouldn't be taken lightly especially during the winter season. She reaches out to take him from the shorter man but he wouldn't let her.

"Continue on with your training.I'll see to it that Yeager gets medical attention." He says.

Mikasa hesitated, she didn't like the midget, no not one bit. But she knew Eren would be in Hange's care quicker then she could. She leaves before watching both males make their way towards the castle.

In the infirmary

"Hmmm." Hange hums whole listening to Eren's heart." Just a common cold,just some rest and nutrition should have him going about as usual say...a couple of days."

Levi looks down at the now resting boy. He seemed to be calmer then before thanks to the medicine given to him. He held little Ingel in his arms,who tried to wiggle out his grasp to go to the sleeping boy.

"Mn uhh." He whined almost causing Eren to stir.

"Can you watch over Ingel ?" Hange asks.

"Ingel?"

"Yes,the little angel you're holding. Eren named him,which fits perfectly! "

Tch, oh course he didn't hied my warning. Once you get attached you can never let go.
.....................................................
That night,Ingel wouldn't settle down. He wanted Eren, Eren was the only one who sang him to sleep at night and due to his current situation he was unable to do so. Levi was highly annoyed with the little tot. He was used to grown brats whining but little ones were out of his league. Sure he knew what to do when taking care of him for a few hours but for a few days,that'll be a challenge.

Eren was worse than Ingel. He could hear the babes cries knowing what he wanted. Hange had to force him to stay down so he could rest.

"He's fine Eren." She reassured him.

"..." Eren really has grown attached which wasn't surprising since he took it on himself to save and nurse the child. He was like a father, more like mother, to Ingel.

"Tell you what,you try to get better faster and you'll be able to see Ingel,okay?"

He nods with hesitation. But the wails of the child still echoed through the castle.I hope they'll be okay be themselves.

In Eren's room; 2 days later

I can't take it anymore. Levi sits lazily in his chair unable to bare the sounds of the endless wails. Two long days the child hadn't stopped crying. He wanted to be held in Eren's arms, to hear that angelic whisper that put him to sleep.

But he wasn't with him.

"Uhwah!" That's it I've had enough!

"Stut up already! Eren is sick and you crying isn't going to make him feel any better!" Levi snapped. Ingel stops. " You've been nothing but a nuisance ever since he found you! He only only pays attention to you! Why can't he..."

He stops in mid sentence shocked at what he just done. He had snapped at a helpless child all because he was...jealous. He looks down at the trembling child whose cries turned into whimpers and warm tears ran down his face.

"Oh Ingel, I'm so so sorry." Gently Levi takes the child in his arms and tries to sooth him." You're not the only one who loves Eren, but if we want him to feel better, well have to stop crying okay? "

The child,as if understanding silenced his cries and hugs the older man as if apologizing. "I'm sorry. "

Unknown to them that a weary brunette had heard the wholesale thing. Shocked and a bit relieved at the outcome that had happened.