|Lagniappe|

-II-

The Lance Corporal stared at the crying child that was in front of him.

Eren hadn't stopped wailing, even when his sibling, Mikasa tried to hold and comfort him. And now, Levi could feel his patience running dry. I mean, the kid had been screaming for the past 5 fucking hours.

"What the hell do you want?" Levi groaned while walking over to the child that was seated on his bed. "Do want food or something?" Eren stopped crying and looked up at him with large, innocent eyes. He held up his arms, asking to be picked up.

"No, Eren."

The brunette almost immediately began screaming; balling up his fists and holding them over his eyes. Downstairs, in the mess hall, people were beginning to grow a bit weary on choosing Levi as the guardian, but nervously dismissed it. The child was obviously unhappy with the Raven, but who else was there to take care of Eren?

"Fine, fine." Levi groaned and leaned down next to the child, hoisting him onto his shoulders as the brunette squealed in delight, batting his hands against Levis head, ruining his neat hair.

"I swear to god Hange..." He muttered as he opened the door to his study, making sure that Eren wouldn't hit his head on the doorframe before walking out.

xxxxxx

Levi held the boy in his arms as he discussed the plan for the meeting tomorrow. Since Levi couldn't physically be there for the next few days, he decided that it would be best if the Survey Corps took in extra soldiers to write down information about it. After all, they had to tell the Garrison and Military Police brigade about Erens 'death.'

He balanced the child on his hip as he told Hange about having some people on the outside of the courthouse, but he was interrupted by Eren beginning to whine and tug on Levis cravat. The Raven cast his eyes downwards and furrowed his eyebrows, "What is it now?"

Eren pouted and pulled a bit more harshly, making it come undone from the Lance Corporals neck and fall onto the wooden floor with a small 'thud.'

Every one in the room fell silent, staring at the article of clothing that sat near his feet.

Hange stood up from her chair and was about to walk over and grab Eren, since she knew Levi was going to be angry at the boy. But she didn't expect the corporal to just lightly sigh and continue discussing the plans. He acted as if nothing had happened, and chatted with Erwin about supplying piper notebooks and graphite sticks for note taking.

The brunette sat back down, but was left dumbfounded. Levi had never acted so calm to something like that happening, and just as she thought all was well, Eren began crying.

The Lance Corporal nearly groaned out of pure agitation, but clamped his mouth shut and sat down on the bench with Eren in his lap.

"Hange, go get Eren some food that's suitable for someone his age." He said in a quiet tone, leaning down to pick up the white cravat. He held it in his hands out for Eren, who took it with a look of curiosity and chewed on the edge.

Petra gasped and stood up abruptly, nearly topping over the chair she was sitting in. "What are you doing Captain?!" She looked at the small child with horror and then back to Levi.

The Raven chuckled lightly and bounced Eren on his knee, "He's not going to remember any of this right? Why can't we just treat him like a child?"

Hange rushed into the mess hall with a small platter of food in her hands. She nearly tripped over her feet as she got close, but fortunately, got their safely with no accidents. Regarding the food, of course. 

"Thank you." Levi muttered as he took the tray from her. He sat it town on the table-top and examined what it was.

Mashed potatoes and some vegetables, nothing with enough nutrients to support Eren. "What the fuck is this?" He said in an annoyed tone while pushing it away. He had clearly asked for something that would provide nutrition for his age-scale.

The woman cocked her head to the side and looks looked at Levi with mild amusement. "What? It's food-"

"Like hell it is, this is not anything that will help him at this age. If he doesn't get proper nutrients, something bad could happen to him."

Eren didn't seem to care nonetheless. He reached out his hand and tried to grab the tray.

Levi un-furrowed his eyebrows and sighed softly. He picked up one of the spots ad have it to Hange.

"There, and now you can feed the brat." The Raven stood up from the table and prepared to leave, but Hange grabbed his shoulder, overall, stopping him in his tracks.

Hanges glasses gave off an evil glint as she chuckled, "Not so fast, Levi. You're his guardian, and there fourth, you'll be feeding him." She handed the spoon back to him and sat down on the tables' bench, patting her hands together.

"Go on."

The Lance Corporal nearly snarled at her as he sat down and scooped up a spoonful of mashed potatoes.

"Say ahh~"

Eren ate the potatoes without hesitation, smiling up at Levi once he was finished. "Levi!" He said in a childlike voice. 

Petra slapped a hand over her mouth and squealed at the cute interaction. Never in her life has she ever seen Levi like that, smiling lightly at the boy with his eyebrows un-furrowed.

"His voice is so cute..." Hange said with a grin as she continued watching Levi feed Eren. "I swear to god, Levi is really good with children."

The other woman nodded and watched Eren smack a handful of the mashed potatoes onto the corporals face. He laughed happily and did it to the other side of his face, leaving Levi defenseless.

"Can I please have some help?" The shorter male nearly begged as Eren stood up on the bench and smeared the food around his face.

"Nope!" Petra and Hange sang while popping the 'p.'  "It's too cute! You're absolutely lost when  you can't use violence as your key to get out of things!"

Levi cursed and picked up another spoonful of the food, popping it into Erens moth before moving the tray away from him. "I think that's enough potatoes for you, Eren."

The boy giggled and watched Levi clean him with a handkerchief, first his face and then his hands before wiping down himself.

"Children are such a goddamn mess." He complained before picking the boy up and throwing the cloth down onto the table.

"Hange, Erwin," He pointed to the two with his free hand, "It's your job to clean up the mess hall, after all, you guys are the the ones who made me take are of him."

"What?!"