If Only For A Little While

We're in

Levi

It had been years since I'd been here and honestly it hadn't changed much. Still the same shit hole I'd spent a year of my life in. The same scent of smoke and filth hung in the air and wrapped itself around me like a noose preparing to strangle me to death. I choked back the urge to vomit and pressed forward, ignoring the scattered debris and garbage.

A few men -who I guessed to be Recons- were huddled in one of the allies on the side of the base, passing around what appeared to be a blunt. Figures, I scoffed, that stickler Erwin -One of the most infamous gang leaders- still doesn't allow smoking indoors. Eren walked in front of me, eagerly leading us into the decrepit building. I couldn't for the life of me understand how someone could have so much enthusiasm about walking into a toxic waste dump like this.

We made our way inside, careful to avoid the collapsed portion of stairs. Eren pushed open the heavy green doors, painted in our gang's color, and I followed close behind the boy. I couldn't let someone mistake him for an intruder. The space just beyond the doors was a dusty entryway littered with cobwebs and broken bottles. The walls were etched in scorch marks and gaping holes that exposed the metal plating that protected the base itself. It was a tiny room with a door on either side. The one on the left and right were exit only so the only real way into the actual base was through the door in front of us. Only I could get us through there without killing the both of us.

Eren reached for the knob but before he could touch it I'd tackled him to the ground.

"Christ Levi what are you doing?" Eren yelled from beneath me. I clamped a hand over his loud mouth, muffling his angry cries.

"You dumb ass you could have killed us! Think before you go around opening up random doors!" I hissed.

"What do you mean?" He snarled, "I was just opening the door like a normal human being!"

"Look around you Jaeger," I removed my hand from his mouth and rose to my feet, for once towering above the slightly pissed off boy, "You think this I the kind of place you can be opening doors willy nilly without a care in the world? Just look at the walls, you think these scorch marks got here by accident?" I slammed my fist into the metal interior of the wall, "You think this is here for decoration? All these doorknobs are triggered to blow up if opened from the outside, and guess where we are?"

"I'm sorry," he growled, "I'll be more careful next time." His face was flush with anger and embarrassment, he propped himself up on his elbows and averted his gaze to the floor. It was... Somewhat cute.

I sighed, "Get up," I extended my hand to him to help the boy to his feet. Eren took my hand and I pulled him up. He was a lot lighter than he looked so overestimating how much strength I'd have to use to hoist him to his feet i stumbled back, nearly pulling us both back down. Eren caught me by the shoulder, his hand still in mine. I looked up into his face which had softened.

We stood like that for what felt like forever, I knew I should pull away but I didn't want to. I wanted to look at his eyes, no to loose myself in his grip forever.

Finally I cleared my throat and backed away, "Come on let's go inside now."

"How?" Eren frowned, "You said the doors were rigged."

"No just the knobs," I corrected. I moved so I was standing in front of the door and knocked, Thunk, pause, thud thud.

It took a minute but finally the door opened to reveal a familiar face.

"Levi!" Hanji squealed, "You're back!" She lunged for me, wrapping her arms around me like a deranged cobra.

"Oi shit-head, get off me."