[If Eren isn't asking permission, then he sure as hell shouldn't be calling Levi "Captain".
[He's going to defect. The realization leaves Levi's stomach in knots. All this time, he's been Eren's superior; more than that, the person in charge of putting the dog down once it can't control its bite.
[But it's more than that. It's always been more than that, no matter how much Levi tries to deny it.
[Barking orders, kicking Eren into submission - that might have worked once. There's a sinking sensation that that won't be the case from here on out.]
Eren.
[That calm, grounding voice again. He isn't just saying the kid's name. He's saying "Eren" like it means something - means something to him. There's weight to it - terrible weight. Levi doesn't try to hide it for once.]
no subject
[He's going to defect. The realization leaves Levi's stomach in knots. All this time, he's been Eren's superior; more than that, the person in charge of putting the dog down once it can't control its bite.
[But it's more than that. It's always been more than that, no matter how much Levi tries to deny it.
[Barking orders, kicking Eren into submission - that might have worked once. There's a sinking sensation that that won't be the case from here on out.]
Eren.
[That calm, grounding voice again. He isn't just saying the kid's name. He's saying "Eren" like it means something - means something to him. There's weight to it - terrible weight. Levi doesn't try to hide it for once.]
Slow down and talk to me. Tell me what you mean.
I'm on your side.