The sensation of his enemy prodding and dabbing his skin with cotton balls and tweezers sent warm pain across his entire body. It burned, and Eren recalled the time he squeezed a bunch of lemons to make lemonade after he scraped his hands and fingers after a biking accident. It was much worse; it was the kind of pain that would make one curl their toes and wanting to slam their fists down. He bit the corner of his lips and swore under his breath.

"Fuck," he cursed. "Can't you get it over with? You've been doing the same thing for a while now."

"I'm just making sure I didn't miss any spots. Unless you really do want the risk of getting infected and dying?" Levi was being overly sarcastic, but Eren couldn't tell.

Kenny had left them alone to take another smoke break, and Eren couldn't remember the last time he wanted to strangle someone so badly in his entire life. He winced as Levi pressed a cotton ball more firmly on his back.

"This is your fault. Fuck you. Fuck you and whatever you're doing," Eren spat. "For a moment I thought you were really going to help me."

Levi froze and suddenly dropped what he was holding, snatched Eren's jaw and lightly slapped his cheek, but hard enough to make him groan. "Don't talk to me like that. You're one spoiled boi, aren't you? You should feel lucky that I even bother to do this for you. You don't even know how to keep your dirty mouth shut. Maybe next time I'll shoot your legs and let you suffer through pain as you drag yourself. Wouldn't that be a cool idea? Hmm?"

Eren swallowed and shook his head. He wouldn't want that at all.

"Listen here, boi. Don't question me," he said. His face and tone of voice was calm and steady, but also cold. His eyes were dead looking and terrifying, the kind of eyes one would see in the horror movies when the murderer kills the victim. "You must be masochistic, huh? Running your mouth say whatever it wants and then you end up getting hurt." He raised a hand and smacked him hard in the head.

"I don't know you, but you're so damn annoying," he went on with a faint glare.

"I'd like to say the same-"

Smack.

"Did you not listen to what I just said?"

Eren looked down. He was already so used to the sharp sting of pain.

"I'm done now. Get to bed," he instructed calmly.

The boi returned to the scratchy blankets and overstuffed pillows and closed his eyes. Levi was leaning against the wall as he took out another cigarette and lit it up, not caring at all that he was still indoors. Eren was afraid to close his eyes, but couldn't stop himself when his eyes finally betrayed him.

---

"Wake up," a husky voice ordered. Eren could feel a blow at his chest. "I said wake up, you moron."

Eren immediately snapped himself out of sleep and sat straight up before getting pulled off the bed and dragged onto the floor by some strong force.

"We're leaving soon," Levi said without looking at him once. "There are clothes in the bathroom. Get changed in five minutes or else we'll barge in."

With an irritated click of the tongue, he slowly got up and swayed for a moment before making his way to the bathroom without saying anything. He felt groggy and he stumbled inside the cramped and smelly room. Eren locked the door behind him and looked down at the neatly folded pile of clothes waiting for him on top of the toilet seat. He picked them up gingerly and took a whiff at it. It smelled new, like it was just bought from the store.

He hastily got changed into them. They were a little loose on them, but it was nothing his belt couldn't fix. Eren turned to face the mirror and gasped with surprise. He looked different. Dark circles appeared under his eyes and his lips drooped into a constant frown. He turned the cold water tap on and splashed the cool water onto his warm face. It didn't help, and he still felt gross and icky. Everything wasn't right, and he didn't feel right either. The clothes he was given didn't suit him at all; a hoodie and jeans along with a simple black tee shirt. He always went for the sophisticated look, and this definitely wasn't not it.

He left the bathroom after tossing his old and smelly clothes into the garbage. The scent of smoke hit him like a brick as soon as the door closed behind him. His two captors looked up at him and frowned.

"Alright," Kenny announced and stood up, clapping his hands together then reaching for the room keys from his pocket. "I'll check us out. Levi, guide him to the truck and be sure he doesn't do anything stupid. It's daytime, so we can't toss him in the trunk like usual, so you will need to put him in the backseat with his hands tied once you get in, understand?"

"I understand."

"Good. Let's get going then."

Kenny left first and left the door wide open for them to walk out. Eren flinched when Levi placed a firm but gentle hand on his back, gliding down smoothly to the small of his back.

"Just like last time," the shorter out of the pair mumbled. Eren couldn't help but feel awkward. Levi was short and he was so tall.

Eren wanted to distance himself. This guy is unreadable, he thought to himself. Being with him was like a game of chance; you were either going to get hurt or taken care of, and most of the time he feared that he would just harm him. Obviously he would, he was the one who kidnapped himself after all.

It was a foggy morning, every bump and ridge of building and other objects were blurry black images in the distance. Levi pushed him gently towards the truck, and for once, he would rather have Levi so close to him than to be thrown in the trunk again. It was cramped in there, and made it hard to breathe, especially when it got hot. Eren's stomach grumbled. When was The last time he ate? Two days ago? If he were to die, he didn't want instant ramen to be his last meal. As if Levi read his mind, he nudged at his shoulder with his to get his attention.

"Hey, he whispered. "Take this."

He quickly slipped an energy bar into the boy's pocket.

"Don't let him see it."

Eren nodded and had to hold in the urge to snatch it out of his pocket, rip the bar out of its plastic package and swallow it in one bite. After being guided to the backseat, Levi gently grabbed his wrists and tied them up in the familiar zip ties. Levi stared at him curiously as if judging him before stepping away and locking the car doors. It wasn't long before Kenny and Levi returned to their places in the front.

It was comfortable now, but the seats were overstuffed and some of the springs were sticking out. However, he was very thankful. It was obviously a lot better than getting stuffed in the back. Kenny reached over to the buttons and turned the radio on, only to hear more news regarding Eren's sudden disappearance.

"Eren Jaeger was last seen in his home 2 days in the Shinaganshina complex. If you have any information regarding his disap-"

Kenny switched it to another station.

"The damn kid is everywhere," he muttered under his breath. "But they still haven't found any clues to track down who took him away." Kenny snickered.

"Odd. I thought they were much smarter."

"Same here. Perhaps we outsmarted them this time, my boi," he said excitedly and ruffled Levi's hair with enthusiasm.

Levi's face was calm as he signed some more. "Indeed."

They were traveling down an empty road once more with no cars or any breathing creature in sight. The radio was playing some old fashioned music, the sort with the banjo's and a lady singing in a high but melodic voice. It crackled and made buzzing noises from time to time, ruining the sweet music and indicating that the signal wasn't too great.

Eren noticed that Levi smoked a ton, and the car ride was terribly boring so he decided to count the amount of cigarettes he had in the next hour.

One...

Two...

Three...

He stopped counting once he reached ten, and soon drifted away in his own thoughts. The only thing clogging his mind was the fact that he was hungry, but he couldn't possibly let Kenny see him. Eren thought maybe Levi somehow poisoned the bar, and soon lost his appetite. Yes, his stomach wouldn't stay quiet for more than a minute but he wasn't going to risk anything, even if it meant paranoia getting the best of him.

He missed his mother's home cooked meals.

He knew she was probably zipping around the kitchen, chopping some vegetables up and cooking up things in the oven, and worrying her head off about Eren. She wouldn't eat because the thought of Eren being lost in the middle of nowhere scared the living daylights out of her. She would excuse herself from the table then proceed to head to her bedroom and cry and eventually fall asleep.

This was all likely to happen.

He fell asleep thinking about her.

---

The sun was setting when he opened his eyes many hours later. He was completely drained of energy and felt worn out despite napping for too long. It was difficult for him to raise his arm as he heard his door slam open.

"Get out," Kenny instructed.

Instead of walking out like a normal person, he flopped out like a fish out of water. He landed on the dirt with a thud and groaned with pain as he felt his torso ache.

"Get up," he said sternly.

A sound between a wheeze and whimper escaped his mouth as he attempted to get up as soon as he could. Once he was on his feet, he wobbled in place for a few minutes. He wasn't graceful, and the bar managed to slip out of his pocket before he could notice.

"What is that?"

He bent over to lift it off the ground and lightly brushed the dirt off with his sleeve.

"Looks like one of our energy bars, Levi. I think he stole it." He looked down at Eren with suspicion. "I kept them in the truck, meaning he probably escaped at some point."

Eren's eyes went big as he looked over at Levi.

"Hmm? Seems like it," he answered, his eyes set on his stained shoes.

Eren couldn't believe he was lying again. He wanted to scream and tell him that it was Levi who gave him the stupid bar, but knew it would be best if he kept his mouth shut.

"Clever kid," Kenny mumbled with a tsk. "Well, we can't let you go unpunished."

Eren shook his head. "No," he mumbled. "Please no."

"Levi, get the wire cutters. I'll make his hands all pretty."

He grinned down at dat boi. To anyone it would look friendly, heart warming even, but to him it was nothing but mischief and evil.

---

His blood immediately ran cold he second it fell on his skin. His body trembled, and his stiff fingers shook as Levi pinned his wrists down on a log. A rag was forcefully stuffed into Eren's mouth to quiet him down, but it didn't stop him from screaming with all his might. His lungs hurt from using his voice too much, and he had never felt a pain so unbearably excruciating in his life before. He watched hopelessly as his bloody fingernails pattered against the gravel.

Eren sobbed, wishing he could have said yes when his parents asked if he wanted to tag along on their trip. The tips of his fingers were numb ad the pain burned until he squirmed uselessly. They were both too strong, iron like grip holding him down as he continued to take it all in. These people are monsters, he thought. He knew he would face something much greater and horribly in the near future. This isn't too bad. I can take it.

The pain was like caffeine; waking him up and taking over his body and him having no control over it. They removed three nails so far, and the fact that they were going to remove two more terrified him. The cold air hit his fingers, sending a shiver to ripple down his spine. He glanced up at Levi, staring him down with his brows furrowed and eyes filled with tears. He didn't look back and ignored him instead.

"Please," he begged. "Please stop." His words against the fabric of the rag came out as 'pleesh. pleesh stohp."

"Enough," Levi said quietly "You don't have to rip off all five finger nails."

"Hmm? What's this, my boi? Is this pity?"

"No. This is disgusting. We don't want him passing out on us," Levi replied.

"Alright, but you're going to wrap him up again, right? I'll leave his other nails for later."

"Uh huh."

"Okay. I'm going to find some service and make a few calls. Stay here and make sure he doesn't do anything stupid again." Kenny steps back to put the wire cutters away.

"Will do."

Levi watched as Kenny brought a flip phone out of his pocket and started to stroll carelessly through the thicket of trees and pricking bushes, he walked away as if he didn't just torture a the missing teenager by brutally tearing his nails off. Finally after a long period of silence, Levi released Eren's wrists from his grasp. He gently took the rag from his mouth and sighed tiredly.

"I fucking hate you. You know that, right? I don't even know you but it's like you were sent into my life to ruin everything. That hurt, you know? I'm going to kick your ass one day. I'll kill yo-"

"Oi," Levi interrupted. "You don't know how to shut your mouth, huh? Listen here, I didn't intend for that to happen. I'm going to help you."

"I'm going to help you my ass, dickhead. We both know what happened the last you tried to 'help' me." Eren's voice was hoarse and rough as he spoke. "And why would I believe you? You helped kidnapping me, do you really think I'm going to fall for your words? I'm not stupid."

"Shut up and listen to me, kid," he said and leaned closer. "I think I've made a mistake by taking you away, and I want to correct myself."

"Oh, really? I'm not buying this, and I honestly don't appreciate jokes at a time like this," Eren told him.

"Give me your hands."

"Why-"

"Stop arguing and just do it," he said sternly. When Eren obeyed, Levi fished for a knife inside the pocket of his jacket and cut the zip tie in a quick and clean manner. Eren stared at him with disbelief and shock covering his face.

"This doesn't mean you're completely free yet. If you try doing any funny business by attacking me while I'm not looking, you will be very sorry."

"What are we going to do? Why did you... why did you remove them?" Eren said, jutting his chin towards the now broken zip tie on the dirt.

"We're going to run away."

---

AN:

i'm so sorry for the long wait! school is starting and my main focus is aesthetic acid. i hope you can forgive me.

thank you so much for reading and sticking with me! you guys are the best! ily <3

~your best friend takeshi