Dangerous Territory

Tinned Chocolates

Eren came down to the dungeon with a lightness to his step and a secretive smile on his face. He had hoped to catch Levi alone, but there were two women who just got off a long and exhausting day of cleaning. Eren heard their words, but his French was not good enough to understand. He got a feeling that the women were consoling Levi, although he looked mildly annoyed by their fretting. As soon as Eren stepped into the room, Levi's face perked up, and he pushed himself into a sitting position.

"How are you?" asked the young soldier.

Levi let out a tired sigh. "What do you expect me to say? I'm trying to convince myself yesterday was a nightmare. It doesn't work when my arse hurts and I have to smell Moses' pillow."

"Oh! I ... I can put you somewhere else." Eren glanced around the castle dungeon, unsure if any of the cells were suitable.

"No," grumbled Levi. "He at least kept his cell somewhat clean. Plus it's better this way. It's too easy to pretend something horrible simply didn't happen, but that only makes things worse when the mask of lies falls down. So, what is it today? More radio chatter for me to translate?"

"Nothing yet. In fact, it's mostly English now."

"Are the Americans still in France?"

"Yes. They just took Marseille. Canadians took Dieppe."

"Canada as well?" Levi asked in surprise.

To Eren's frustration, every bit of news they got seemed to be nonstop Allied victories. He really did not want to talk about the war, especially since he knew Levi would rejoice at how many French cities were now in the hands of the Allies. It only reminded him that they were political enemies.

"I brought you medicine," he said instead. Eren slipped Levi a bottle containing a few pills.

Levi took the bottle with a crease between his brows. "How in the world did you get these?"

The young lieutenant chuckled awkwardly. "I ... I had Armin distract the doctor while I grabbed a handful of pills."

"You stole them?" Levi cried out.

Eren hushed him frantically. "It's fine."

"No, it's not! Dammit, don't do anything for my sake that could get you in trouble."

Eren smiled at the scolding. "Why? Do you care about me?"

"If you get in trouble helping us, we get the punishment."

"Well, what's done is done. Take one pill three times a day with your meals."

"You do realize, we only get two meals."

"O-Oh."

Eren honestly did not know that. He saw that they got a midday meal on Sundays, but that was a splurge, and only because he had insisted upon feeding them after their bathing. In reality, it was the only day the Jews got lunch. The rest of the time, they were given a roll to eat as they headed off to their chores and watery soup for dinner.

Levi sighed as he saw the saddened look on Eren's face. Seriously, he was like a scolded puppy! "Don't worry about it. Thank you for the medicine. What exactly is it for?"

"Pain."

Levi let out a sputtering sigh. "Definitely need that."

"Also, it isn't much, but I got it as part of my rations, and I don't really need it. I thought it might cheer you up a little." He pulled out a small round tin with a red and white starburst, the Heeres eagle in the middle, and words written in Fraktur calligraphy.