Ingel was the happiest child in the world. Eren had finally recovered and the moment he was released from the infirmary the teen instantly went to Ingel. The child sat in the older man's lap while he worked by his desk when Eren entered the room. The sight on the baby's face was pure joy. Levi hides a smile at the two's reunion. He wouldn't say it out loud but it was a touching scene.
Worn out from the over excitement Ingel went to sleep. This left enough time for Eren to confront Corporal Levi. He was just about to knock on the door only to stop when he heard the angry muffled voice behind it.
"What do you mean they found him a home?" Levi growled.
Standing across from him, calm and collected, was Commander Erwin Smith. "Just what I meant, Levi. The child is to leave tomorrow morning to be with the Fernando family. They are well financed and have a clean record if that is what you are worried about."
"No, it's Jaeger, who I am worried about." Levi blurted out.
"Jaeger?" Erwin asked puzzled. "What about him?"
"Ingel and Jaeger and practically inseparable. Taking the child away from the kid will be like the Colossal Titan breaking through the last walls standing!"
Erwin sighed with the shake of his head. "I am sorry Levi but the paperwork has already been done. The child is to be with a real family, not some teenager that will eventually die before or after this war is over."
The commander's words hit the boy like a storm of bricks. He knew deep down that he wouldn't have been able to keep Ingel by his side forever but for once in his life, he hoped that he would be given the chance to keep Ingel by his side. He loved that child more than anything.
"He leaves in the morning. Prepare both Jaeger and the child for that." The commander opens the door to see the teen leaning on the wall next to the door, his eyes downcast to the floor. The man they knew that he had heard everything and he could see that he really loved the child. Even so, what's done is done. It would've been impossible anyway due to their situation, his situation. He gives the boy a comforting squeeze on the brunet's shoulder before disappearing down the corridor.
"Dammit, all!" Roared Levi. He couldn't believe someone finally decided now was the time to adopt the kid. It has been a few months and already the brat and little tot have grown close, something Levi feared would happen. Now he had no choice but to break the bad news to Eren.
He turned to find the boy standing in the doorway. His posture told all. He had heard. Tears filled in his beautiful teal eyes, his body trembles, trying to hold all his emotions in.
"Eren."
The corporal found himself in a bone-crushing embrace, the teen leaning against the smaller man's body, no longer having the strength to support his own weight. He cried against the man's neck. Levi did not care, he wrapped his own arms around the heartbroken boy.
"I love him, I love him so much!"
Levi held him tighter. "I know, I wish I could do something but I can't, I'm sorry." And was. He wished he could do something about it but the damage has already been done. Ingel was to leave and leave for good.
