Chapter Text
“Don’t sulk Levi, it’s important to greet and know the wards of our kingdom,” Queen Kuchel scolded as she sat upon her satin-dressed throne, her silver eyes clear as she watched her young son.
Levi huffed, blowing stray strands of hair up out of his eyes as he rolled them in response to his mother’s words. He’d had to miss a training lesson for this, (in his opinion), waste of time. He was already nine summers, practically a man half grown; he should be learning the intricacies of battle so that he could go with his knights in the campaigns of the future. He didn’t want to babysit or make friends with the boy from the South his Mother had decided they should house; not that he’d been given any say in the decision.
“Why?” He asked finally with a suffering sigh, crossing his arms over his chest petulantly and trying to stand as straight and tall as possible to prove he wasn’t ‘sulking’; he was displeased.
His mother smiled, her eyes shimmering with amused knowing, “You never know, you might be married to one of them someday.”
Levi wrinkled his nose and made a sound of disgust, “I’m never getting married.”
Kuchel hummed in response, her smile broadening, “We’ll see.”
Before Levi could argue further, there was the sound of a trumpet heralding the arrival of their guests and he couldn’t say anything else because his mother was standing up to greet them as the party came forward.
“Queen Kuchel,” Queen Carla greeted, stepping forward with open arms to hug the woman, wearing a green dress in the Southern style woven with golden thread and embroidered roses, “It is so good to see you after all these years.” They embraced like long lost sisters, and they were, two Queens come to merge their houses in friendship or perhaps more.
Only the Gods could know.
As Carla pulled away, she looked down to the boy at Kuchel’s side and smiled. “And this must be Prince Levi… I can already tell the North flows strong in his blood. You must be proud.”
The raven-haired Omegan Queen returned Carla's smile with one of her own, settling an affectionate hand on her son's shoulder as she replied, “Yes, just like his father, though he gets his temper and wit from me.”
Levi pursed his lips, but didn't move or argue as the two women talked about him. He looked away boredly, catching sight of a boy probably half his age peeking out from behind Carla's dress and narrowed his eyes.
“And this shy little thing must be your Eren. He looks just like you,” Kuchel continued, following her son's gaze and giving his shoulder a subtle squeeze.
“I’m not shy!” The little boy cried, stepping out from behind his mother, glaring up at the woman with eyes as green as the great forest that separated their kingdoms and with the smooth tan skin that frequented the South landers.
“Don’t be rude, dearest,” Carla said as she bent down, gently placing her hands upon Eren’s shoulders to guide him towards Levi. “Remember what we talked about,” she whispered into his ear as he kept his eyes on the ground and bit his lip.
“You brought a gift for the Northern Prince, didn’t you? Why don’t you give it to him?” She asked, honey brown eyes lifting to meet the grey of the boy before her. Eren was still for a moment before he nodded his head, untying the too large and ornamental sword from his hip to hold out towards the other boy.
Everything was still for a moment then green eyes lifted to meet grey.
Levi almost snorted, but his mother’s firming grip on his shoulder kept him from letting the reaction show. The little green-eyed boy could barely hold the sword and certainly not in a proper manner; he was practically still a baby. Levi had to feign clearing his throat before he could actually talk without laughing at how stupidly big the weapon looked in the kid’s clumsy hold.
“How gracious of you, little lord. It must be heavy,” he managed, pursing his lips to keep from smirking as he reached to accept the gift, smugly lifting it in a proper grip.
The smaller boy had begun to smile brightly, impressed with the way the older boy held the sword so easily. It was heavy and his mother wouldn’t even let him take it out of the scabbard on their grueling ride in the carriage. But then that smile instantly fell into a frown and then a scowl. “I’m not little,” he shouted, hands curling into fists as the other boy smirked down at him.
“Eren!” Carla responded instantly, her tone filled with scolding, “Lower your voice.”
“But he-” Eren started, his head whipping to the side to look up at his Mother.
“No buts!” She finished, giving Kuchel an apologetic smile.
Kuchel waved off the other Omega’s apology with a smile of her own, “I miss when Levi was of that age. Now, he just broods and gets into mischief. Unfortunately, he’s at the age where he’d rather his mother not dote on him anymore.”
Levi scowled, finally shrugging off his mother’s hold so that he could take a better look at the sword and pretend to ignore the lot of them. The sword was really the most interesting thing at the moment anyway. He unclasped the little latch on the scabbard and slid it down a bit to inspect the blade hidden within as he’d been instructed by Swordmaster Erwin.
Eren instantly brightened again, stepping on his tiptoes away from his mother and closer to Levi in an attempt to see too. “Woah!” He exclaimed, as enamored by the weapon as Levi was, “I bet that could slice through an entire watermelon! I’ve always wanted a sword that could do that!”
“It’s not that sharp,” Levi replied, not looking up from the blade, “I can tell.” Obviously, Eren wouldn’t know how to check. The other boy sidled even closer and was reaching out a too curious hand when Levi finally did look at him.
“Don’t touch it idiot!” He hissed, swiftly shifting the sword away from Eren’s reach, “It’s not a toy for babies to be playing with.”
Eren pulled back his hand like it had been burned, looking up at Levi with wide, hurt-filled eyes. “I’m not a baby! I wanna see too!” Eren cried, stepping around Levi to try and get closer to the sword.
Levi huffed in exasperation, relatching the scabbard to hide away the silvery blade and taking a step back, shifting the weapon out of the younger boy’s reach once again teasingly and glancing at their occupied mothers. “You’re too little to see. You don’t even know how to use one yet. In fact, I bet you only just learned how to use the privy by yourself,” he argued arrogantly, watching amusedly as Eren reached for the sword, idly holding it out of his grasp, “And that, little lord... makes you a baby.”
Eren’s eyes began to well with tears. “But that’s not,” he began with a sniffle as his hands tried to furiously wipe away the tears that began to fall, “That’s not fair!” With that, his head tipped back and he began to wail in earnest, drawing the attention of their mothers.
Levi's eyes widened in panic as the little Prince began to wail and he didn't even have to look to know-
“Levi!” He winced as his mother's voice cut through everything else; he knew that tone.
He cursed inwardly, sending an accusing glare Eren's way before he turned towards the two Omegas. “I didn't do anything. He was trying to play with the sword and I told him he couldn't,” he summarized. This was exactly the reason he despised brats.
“I-I-I-I just wanted to-to-to-to see!” Eren cried harder running to his mother's open arm for comfort though she was already shaking her head in exasperation. “It was my idea! He would’ve got a stupid book without me!”
Patting Eren on the back, Carla tried to soothe her tantruming son. “I’m sure Levi didn’t mean it dearest. Now, now, there’s no need to make such a fuss.”
His mother was looking at him; Levi could feel her expectant gaze even as he kept his own on Carla and the sobbing boy. “Apologies my lady, I might have been too harsh in my warning,” he excused, hoping to appease his mother and adequately make amends so that maybe, just maybe he wouldn't have to spend the rest of the afternoon listening to Eren cry.
“See, Eren? Lord Levi was worried about you hurting yourself, just like I am. I bet once you’re older, he will teach you everything he knows and you both will become the best sword masters in the world.”
Eren stayed hidden in his mother’s skirts for a moment before he pulled away to peek his tear-soaked face at Levi. “Really?”
“Sure, when you aren’t so little anymore little lord,” Levi replied, faking a pleasant smile. He didn’t exactly fancy the idea of having to spend more time now or in the future with the younger boy, but he couldn’t very well tell Queen Carla that. And his mother would be angry if he did. Even so, Levi hadn’t been able to resist reminding Eren just how much of a child he still was.
Kuchel smiled again, pleased that Levi had at least attempted to diffuse the situation, even if she was certain he was not being as genuine as she’d have preferred. She came to stand behind him and settled both hands on his shoulders, giving them a squeeze as she added, “In a few more years, Lord Eren will be coming to live in the branch wing, so you’ll be spending plenty of time together.”
“Yes, I’m sure you two will become the best of friends,” Carla assured her son, wiping his tears away.
Eren looked from his mother to Levi, and gave the prince a shy smile. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if they were to be sword masters together.
Levi returned the younger boy’s smile with a tight one of his own; probably, it was the least favourable outcome, but he couldn’t really argue when it was his mother’s word. At least he still had a few years to himself until then.
Kuchel continued the conversation with the other Omegan Queen as she led the way to the courtyard for lunch. It was the warm season and she was adamant to take full advantage of it while their guests were visiting for the next few weeks.
Unfortunately for the Queens, the Princes did not get along those seemingly long several weeks. Lots of tears were shed, mostly by Eren for the elder Prince had no patience for the duckling that had decided to follow him around. No matter what the young Prince did, Levi would tease him relentlessly and leave him behind. But the boy was determined; he could do anything that Levi could do, even if he was little.
Eren wouldn’t be little forever.
***
It was nearly a year to the day that Levi had first met the young Prince that would be a ward of the Ackerman Kingdom and he’d all but forgotten about those few hellish weeks of the summer previous. It was almost like they’d been just a dream once the foreign Prince and his mother had gone back home. All he could really remember about the younger was that Eren cried about everything. And he’d been glad to see the backs of their guests when they’d gone.
When he arrived for breakfast, he had to pinch himself to be sure he wasn’t still asleep and having some terrible nightmare because there at the table sat Eren and both their mothers as if they’d never left at all. Attendants and servers flitted about fluidly as the two Queens chatted amiably and he just stood there staring in almost disbelief for several long moments. No one had told him he’d be spending his summer with the little brat Prince again this year.
He inhaled a calming breath and let it out before he approached the table.
“There he is now. Levi come say hello and have some breakfast,” his mother greeted him cheerfully.
Levi scowled and crossed his arms, “I'm not hungry.” He wasn't feeling very generous at the moment; she could have at least warned him.
He glanced at Eren then Carla and said a flat, “Hello,” then looked back at his mother, “I've said hello, now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to practice in the courtyard.”
His mother narrowed her eyes at him and smiled too widely as she responded, “Take Lord Eren with you. He's been waiting all morning for you.”
It was very difficult to keep his expression from showing his disdain, but he managed a nod and even a false smile. His mother may have won the battle, but he was not going to give her the satisfaction of being party to her gloating.
He abruptly turned on his heel and didn't wait for Eren to catch up, sure when he looked behind him next, the brat would be doggedly stumbling after him. The other Prince didn't even seem like he’d aged, didn't look as if he’d grown at all since last Levi'd seen him, though Levi himself was proud to be another several inches taller and broader than he’d been the year previous. Eren still looked like a baby to him and Levi was well on his way to becoming a man; what man kept babies for company?
For every one step Levi took, Eren had to take two, running after the older boy as quickly as he could. “I’m bigger this year!” Eren declared excitedly, “I’m six now! We can go on adventures together!”
Levi halted suddenly, closing his eyes and heaving a sigh, prepared when, as expected, Eren bumped right into him and fell back onto his ass. The raven boy turned to face him and gave him a skeptical once over as he extended a hand to the younger and replied, “You still look pretty little to me, are you sure you can keep up?”
Eren blinked up at Levi for a moment, holding in the hurt from falling to the ground. “I can keep up! I promise! I trained back at the castle and everything!” The boy assured proudly, reaching forward to take Levi’s hand.
Hauling the little boy back to his feet, Levi narrowed his eyes and agreed reluctantly, “Right, I guess we’ll see then.” Maybe it wouldn’t be as awful as he thought it would be; Eren hadn’t burst into tears yet, at least. Either way, it wasn’t as if he’d have a choice; his mother evidently expected him to be responsible for the younger Prince while in his company over the next few weeks, so he might as well get used to it.
He let go of Eren’s hand, straightened his tunic and took a deep breath, letting it out before he ordered, “Follow me then,” and turned to lead the way to an old trail off to the left of the courtyard. It passed through a densely wooded thicket that Levi had explored so often, he knew the way even with how overgrown the path had become over the years. He didn’t talk any more as they made their way through it, offering assistance when the other boy stumbled only because Eren was already slowing them down by at least half. Levi knew if they weren’t back in time for lunch, someone would come looking for them. Where they were going, they weren’t technically supposed to be.
“You aren’t scared of ghosts are you?” Levi asked, casually breaking the quiet as he helped Eren over the last fallen tree and tugged him towards the modest, cobbled stone building that housed the staircase to the royal burial chambers. He liked visiting the Kings of the past and he wasn’t afraid of anything himself, so he never worried about the dark, the creepy crawlies, the whispers of ghosts, or the hell his mother would give him if she caught him down there again.
Eren’s eyes grew dangerously wide before he looked down, bit his lip, and shook his head. “There’s… No such thing as ghosts,” Eren said, parroting what his mother had told him over and over again. Still, he didn’t let go of Levi’s hand that time, standing so close to the older boy, he caught a whiff of his scent. No matter how mean Levi was to him, that barely there scent he gave off always managed to comfort Eren.
The older Prince scoffed, leading Eren to the heavy oak door, untangling his hand from the other boy's so he could push it open,“That's just what adults tell you when you're little so you won't be scared.”
“Don’t let go!” Eren cried, diving to grab Levi’s hand once again and hiding behind the older boy’s back, “And I’m not scared! There’s no such thing as ghosts so stop trying to make me cry! I know what you’re doing and it’s not gonna work!”
Levi took pause, brow burrowing as he frowned, “Don't be an idiot. I was warning you in case you hear or see anything strange. I thought you weren't a baby anymore. If you can't handle it, you don't have to come.”
“I’m not… I’m not a baby,” Eren answered petulantly, finally letting go of Levi’s hand and stepping out from behind him. “I can… I can handle it,” he added, though it didn’t look like he believed his own words, staring at the opened door warily. “What is this place?”
Sighing and shaking his head a bit, Levi took a few steps inside the structure so he could light one of the oil lamps kept just there. He blew out the match before he turned back to Eren to answer, “The royal crypt. It’s where all the dead Kings and Queens of the North that came before my mother and I are resting. Come on, I'll show you.”
Levi didn’t wait for Eren to answer, continuing forward while the younger boy hesitated. Before he could lose sight of Levi completely, Eren threw himself forward into the darkness against his better judgement to catch up to the other boy. The hallway was pitch black other than the light from Levi’s lamp and Eren couldn’t help but feel uneasy. “Um,” Eren began, mostly to break the eerie silence, “Do you come down here a lot?”
“Often enough. I'm fond of the statues and the stories that go with them. Everyone from the North is fierce, even Omegas like my mother. I'm going to be a fierce Knight and a fiercer King,” Levi answered as he led the way down the stairs at the end of the short, tapestry-clad hall to the cool depths below.
Once at the bottom, he offered Eren his hand again, “Here… so you don't get lost.” It wouldn't do for the little Prince to wander off; they’d be late and caught for sure.
Eren took Levi’s hand and, illuminated by the lamp, beamed brightly up at the Northern Prince. “I’m going to be a great Alpha too,” Eren agreed, giving Levi’s hand a squeeze, “And I love stories! Tell me about your ancestors!”
“Shhh, not so loud Eren, you’ll wake the dead, literally,” Levi murmured coarsely, leading the younger boy along through the dusty darkness to the statues of the first Kings. He settled the lamp on the floor then looked at Eren and gestured,“If you sit down and be quiet, I’ll tell you about the first King in the North.”
Eren quieted immediately, then tugged Levi down so the smaller boy could sit with his back to the older boy’s chest, wiggling around and snuggling up to Levi. He didn’t feel scared like this, wrapped up in the Northern Prince’s warmth and that not-quite there scent. Resting his head on Levi’s shoulder, Eren looked up at the Northern Prince, ready to listen to his story and hang on the older boy’s every word.
Levi didn’t complain, let the younger curl up to him, mostly because he didn’t think it was worth an argument and if it kept Eren from getting scared and crying, even better. He was actually a bit impressed with how the little Prince was handling it so far.
He made himself comfortable too before he started talking, recalling the tale as it had been told to him. He’d never had the pleasure of telling the stories to anyone that didn’t already know them and Eren was a captive audience; it was actually kind of fun. And after the first tale, they moved on to the next and the next after that. The morning hours were whiled away as Levi talked and Eren listened with that wide-eyed awe that was starting to make Levi feel particularly proud. Maybe if he’d had a little brother, it would’ve been like this; Eren might not make a half-bad little brother.
He was just getting into the best parts of the fourth King’s bloody crusades when the sound of quick steps echoed and the glow of multiple lanterns lit the other end of the crypt.
“Shit,” Levi cursed as he heard his mother’s voice alerting the party, including Eren’s mother, that she’d found them and only moments later, they were surrounded by a group of frantic adults and his mother was silent; she was so angry.
Eren had no idea what was going on, at first he was listening intently to Levi’s stories, wanting to find out who'd tried to poison the fourth King and then they were surrounded by a group of angry adults. The angriest being his own mother.
“Eren!” She called, her voice shrill and wavering as she snatched him out of Levi’s arms, “We thought you’d both been kidnapped for ransom! What in heaven's name possessed you to play down here? This crypt is a labyrinth… You could have gotten lost!” She squeezed the boy to her chest so hard, Eren couldn’t breathe. He had never seen his mother so frightened and angry before; it made him start to panic and cry himself.
“I-I-I…” Eren started, trying to explain himself then began to bawl, “Levi said if I didn’t come with him then I was a big baby!” Which was true, sort of…
Levi looked shocked and a little hurt, brows lifted as his mouth opened. He took it back; Eren would make a terrible little brother and a worse friend.
His hurt quickly turned to anger, looking from Eren to Carla and his own mother as he argued, “That’s not what I said at all!”
“That’s not the point Levi! What were you thinking bringing Prince Eren down here when you know very well, you’re not to be down here either unaccompanied,” Kuchel wasn’t silent any longer and Levi was scowling, crossing his arms over his chest and desperately wanting to argue further, but she wasn’t finished, “You’re confined to the house for the rest of the summer.”
“Mother! You can’t just-- I have lessons with Swordmaster Erwin!”
“You still will darling, just within the walls of the house where you can learn what lessons of battle and swordplay can be found in books instead. Perhaps, you’ll think better of it the next time you consider making such a foolish decision.” His mother wasn’t lenient and he knew it was futile to attempt swaying her, so he kept stonily silent instead of arguing further.
Looking away from her and back to the little boy, his expression darkened further. This was Eren’s fault and Levi wasn’t going to take his betrayal lightly.
Eren realized what he’d done the moment after he’d already done it. He didn’t mean to blame Levi, he just didn’t want to be yelled at by their mothers. He felt so bad for hurting Levi that all he could do was cry harder, hiding his face in his mother's chest and trying to avoid the Northern Prince’s icy glare. Everything had been going so well too… How would he ever make it up to Levi?
Though he tried valiantly, Eren failed to make it up to the other boy; Levi did little more than ignore him for the rest of the summer. He was cold towards him, only addressed him when it was absolutely necessary and spent as little time as possible in the little Prince’s company whenever he could escape him. Even so, the younger boy constantly sought him out, shadowed him incessantly to the point that Levi was certain he’d go mad with annoyance. Then the summer ended and Eren went home again. And Levi began counting down the days until his own personal hell would begin again.