Ingel woke up to the warmth of his Eren's chest. He sighed in content at the earthy smell of the teen's natural scent. It always seemed to calm him, made him feel safe, protected and wanted. But something was different this morning. Eren wasn't happy, the aura around him was nothing but sadness even though he tried to hide it with a smile.
Lifting up his hand he pats the teen's face to find that it was wet. "Ah aye."
Ingel smiled widely to show a tooth that had come in. Eren chuckled but only for a brief moment. He hugged Ingel closer as if the child would slip from his hands forever. This confused the child.
"Ahe?"
"I'm sorry, Ingel. I am so sorry." Eren trembled.
Eren flinched at the sound of the light rapping in the doorway. There stood Levi. Although his face didn't clearly show it, he too had a sad look in his eyes. "It's time."
Eren followed slowly behind the corporal as they traveled through the long corridors and out to the castle courtyard. Waiting for them was a tall, fit blond man with bushy eyebrows that Ingel never met before. The man held his hands out potentially waiting for Eren to pass him over. The boy hesitantly placed the child in the man's arms.
"Aye ah?" Ingel questioned what was going on. Why was he being handed over to the stranger? Was Eren going too?
Commander Smith strapped Ingel against him which did not feel comfortable at all to the child due to the man's hard muscled abs. He then climbs onto his horse which made Ingel a bit uneasy, being so high, no closer to ground. It reminded him of the monster that was bigger than the four-legged creature.
"There is to a mission in a few days Corporal, so be prepared." With a whip of the reins, Erwin and Ingel took off down the dirt road.
Ingel looked around for any sight of Eren only to see the strange man's shoulders.
With the Fernando family
After long hours of the horrifying horse ride, Ingel and the strange man arrived at a large house surrounded by country. Waiting for them were a man and a woman, both in fine clothing and warm welcoming smiles.
"Good afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Fernando," The commander greeted as he effortlessly jumped down from the horse making the child's stomach drop. He approached the couple to hand Ingel over to his new "mother".
"Oh, he is more adorable than described!" The woman gushed.
"I hope you don't mind but the child was already given the name Ingel," Erwin had a feeling that that is what Eren would be had wanted.
"Ingel? As in "Angel". Oh, what a wonderful name! Ingel Fernando, has a ring to it, don't you think dear?"
Mr. Fernando only nods with a smile.
"I glad that you like it. Is there any questions concerning Ingel?" Erwin asked.
"No sir, thank you for bringing him to us." Mr. Fernando said with his hand out to shake.
The commander took his hand in a firm grip. "It was no trouble at all. Please don't hesitate to write if anything happens. Now if you excuse me I must be going, have a nice day." With that Erwin left.
Ingel was puzzled. Where's Eren? Where was Levi? Who were these people? It was all confusing and too much for the child to take in. He began to cry.
Back at HQ
He cried. He cried loudly against the corporal's chest in his chambers no longer being able to bare the fact that Ingel, his little angel, was gone. The child he loved and nurtured for the past few months was no longer there. When Commander left with Ingel and out of sight, he raced back to his room in the dungeon, pouring his heart out. Everyone could hear his cries and felt bad for their comrade. They'll all miss Ingel but not as much as Eren. HQ will no longer be the same without the nightly wails or the morning laughter.
Levi could not bear the sight of his Eren in this state. The kid really did not deserve to feel this way. He came down to the basement, closing the door behind him so one would interfere. He found Eren bundled up in bed with the thin sheets covering his head. Levi rips the sheet off of him and pulled him into his arms. He cuffed Eren's wet cheeks and kissed him on the mouth to silence his cries.
Shocked, Eren doesn't respond until understanding what was happening. He leaned in and kissed him back. Both happiness and sadness filled the boy's heart. He was sad that Ingel was gone but happy that his feelings were felt back by Levi.
"It'll take some time but you have to let go Eren," Levi said, resting his head against Eren's so that their eyes met. "I'm sorry but this is for best. Our job conflicts with our future, are we to live or soon to die. And I don't think neither of us would want to abandon Ingel like that."
Deep down, Eren knew he was right. He could not let his own selfishness impact Ingel like that. It just wasn't right. Even so, it didn't mean it eased his crumbling heart.
