Summary: Levi is a high school teacher and bachelor who feels lonely living by himself at times. When he adopts a pet titan at Hanji's suggestion, he might have gotten more than he bargained for.

Genre: Romance, Drama, AU

Rating: T, will be M in later chapters

Warning: None right now.

It was Friday night and Levi was already at a bar drinking away with Hanji chattering away at his side. His childhood friend had insisted on dragging him out of his home to "Get some fresh air," the same excuse that she used every week. Only this time she was much more adamant about making him listen to what she was saying. When Levi tried to take another swig of beer, Hanji firmly pushed his arm that held the bottle away from him.

"You said last week that you feel lonely sometimes."

Levi turned away from her so he could bring his drink up to his mouth.

"So?"

Hanji grinned a bit too maniacally for his tastes. He took another mouthful of his drink, bracing himself.

"I have the absolute perfect solution for a bachelor like you!"

"Oh yeah?" He had his doubts and knew that even if he didn't want to hear her solution, she would tell him anyways.

"Adopt a titan!"

It took a moment before Levi was able to swallow the alcohol without choking on it. He should have guessed. The small humanoid creatures called 'titans' seemed to be all the rage to keep as pets lately, and Hanji had been obsessed with them from childhood. In addition to keeping two of her own named Sonny and Bean, Hanji worked as a veterinarian and conducted veterinary research on titans too. Right now though, she was gushing about how adorable and wonderful the titans were.

"They're so cute with their tiny arms and legs with their large heads! They come in all sorts of sizes, ranging from miniature ones about the size of a Chihuahua to two foot titans, although most of them are as big as a cat! They don't really need to eat because they run on photosynthesis (like that one sea slug where once it eats that algae, it doesn't need to eat ever again! Remember when we learned about that in college?), so they don't eat much and don't poo. Isn't that a bonus for you, since you're such a clean-freak? They're really affectionate too, and if you're lucky enough to get your hands on a deviant-type, they're fairly intelligent."

Levi rolled his eyes at her information overload. "You've always been obsessed with those weird-looking titans. Not everyone thinks of them the same way you do."

"You don't know until you've tried! And I guarantee that once you've had one titan, you'll want to get another one! Just look at me, I have Sonny and Bean!" Hanji huffed. Levi was a stubborn man, but she was certain that she could convince him to take a look at titans at least.

"Not everyone is as enthusiastic about them as you, Hanji. I was thinking of something more normal for a pet."

Hanji sighed, unwilling to argue much further.

"Well, regardless of the type of pet you pick, I will give you a discount on any and all veterinary care for them. Still, you shouldn't pass judgment on them just because of how they look. Wait until you've actually interacted with one."

Levi smirked. He decided that he had enough alcohol and company for one night, paid his tab and left the venue with Hanji, parting ways at their cars, thoughts of titans in his mind during his drive home.

Levi doesn't think of himself as a kind or charitable man. He does, however, believe that he is capable of giving others a fair chance, be it human or animal. With Hanji's comment from the night before about passing judgment still on his mind, Levi decided to go to an animal shelter and look into titans. A quick search on his computer during lunch after his usual Saturday morning house cleaning revealed that the closest shelter that had titans was located an hour away. After calling to confirm that he was able to drop by and see the titans up for adoption, he was on his way.

Upon his arrival, Levi was greeted by a strawberry blonde girl who introduced herself as Petra with a smile and handshake. As she led him to the facility, which kept over 50 titans in separate kennels, Petra asked him about what kind of job he worked, how much time he intended to stay at home and his reason for looking into titans as pets, to which he all succinctly answered.

"Titans make good pets for high school teachers! We've had quite a few teachers come here to adopt, and they're all happy with their choice," Petra chirped happily. Levi wasn't sure if what the girl said was the truth or if she was trying to get him to adopt, but he gave a small smile politely.

The shelter had a large variety of titans varying in size, body structure, hair color, skin color and facial features. Levi perused the cages and the small signs that had each titan's name and vital information written on them with Petra pointing out the personalities, quirks and backgrounds for each one. Most of them were chewing on some sort of toy or food, which Petra explained to be a form of titan play. A few deviant type titans were playing with children's puzzles and Rubik's cubes. Some of them walked up to the bars of their enclosure curiously while others opted to ignore the humans. None of the titans took much interest in Levi, which made him feel slightly peeved. "Tch, they don't look that intelligent anyway." Eventually, they reached the end of the room.

In the last cage sat a small titan. The name on its sign read "Hunter."

Petra leaned down so that she was eye-level with the titan, which sat with its arms wrapped around its knees, chin resting on top, staring off to the side in what looked to be boredom. "Hey, Hunter."

The titan immediately snapped up its oversized head, large eyes sharp and alert. Levi noticed that this particular titan looked very different from the others. For one, its body shape was skinnier but more muscular than what he had observed so far, and its facial features were quite unusual. While other titans typically sported grotesquely large noses or lips, this titan had a large but finely shaped hooked nose with a lipless mouth displaying a row of clean, human-like teeth running cheek to cheek, making the titan appear to be perpetually grinning. Perhaps its appearance would have been unsettling if not for its expressive green eyes, now wide with enthusiasm as it scrambled towards the humans, fine black hair swaying with its movements.

Petra reached out her hand with a smile, placing her fingers on the titan's nose that now stuck out from the cage as its tiny hands grabbed the bars, regarding her excitedly. It then turned its attention toward Levi, gazing at the man with what seemed to be awe in its eyes.

"Looks like Hunter's interested in you! Would you like to hold him?"

Levi regarded the titan, wary of the many teeth it sported. But he had come this far and did not want for his trip out to the shelter to remain fruitless. He decided to at least give it a chance, despite the creature's fierce appearance.

"Sure."

Petra unlocked the cage and lifted the titan out, showing Levi that holding titans was the same as holding a small child. When she passed the titan to Levi, he was surprised by how light it was. Hunter, who was about a foot tall, could not have weighed more than two pounds. The titan's skin was also very warm. The titan nuzzled its head against Levi's chest, and Levi brought a hand up to stroke its hair in wonderment. A sharp pain shot up his arm as he realized that the titan was nibbling on his hand. Levi frowned and drew his hand away. "Stop biting me."

Petra giggled at the sight. "Hey, I think he likes you!"

"By trying to make a meal of me?"

"Well, that's how titans show affection."

Levi thought it was a strange way to show affection, and thought back to Hanji, who kept two titans. "So Hanji likes getting bitten by these things, huh?"

A worried sigh from Petra interrupted his musings. "To be honest, I've been worried about finding him a good home. Not many people like him because of his fearsome appearance for a titan, and many children are afraid of him. Also, most adopters who come here already have another titan, and he doesn't get along well with other titans."

"One is enough for me."

"Well, that's a relief! He's really quite sweet with humans and deserves a good home too. I think he just wants to be your one and only little prince."

Levi peered at the small titan in his arms, which had stopped its nibbling and gazed up at the man, eyes brimming with hope.

Levi gave in.

"I'll take him."

"Oh, that's wonderful! He hasn't shown as much interest in anyone else, and I can tell he really likes you! Congrats, Hunter, you're going to get adopted!"

After signing the adoption papers, paying the adoption fees and getting set up with a record of Hunter's medical history and a manual on titan care, Levi thanked Petra for her time and helpfulness. He picked up Hunter and the paperwork, making his way to his car. As Levi unlocked the car door, he noticed that the titan's large eyes were staring pointedly behind him. Turning around, he saw Petra standing in front of the door of the shelter, waving at them. Levi smiled and waved back at her, Hunter doing the same. Settling into the car, they began the hour long journey home, Hunter peering out the window at the passing scenery in fascination.

Author's Note:

1) That sea slug that runs on photosynthesis is real. It's called Elysia chlorotica, for anyone who wants to look it up.