The start of their relationship in canon is thus dominated by Eren's hero-worship and Levi's belief that Eren is little more than a monster with the potential to become an asset to humanity's cause.Īfter being taken into custody, Levi briefly asks Eren, 'What is it you want to do?' Levi describes Eren's fierce response, that he wants to 'join the survey corps and slaughter some titans', as 'not bad'. On Eren's side, Captain Levi of the Survey Corps represents everything he's come to admire and respect: freedom from the claustrophobic outer walls, hatred of titans, and a desire to avoid the fate set out for him (when Eren inquires about Levi's past, Petra informs him that he was previously a thug in the underground city).
Levi cares about Eren's well being of course, but that is just a part of his job assigned to him by Commander Erwin. Although no romantic undertones are evident in either the manga or anime and their relationship skirts around the term 'friendship', there is a firm sense of respect from Eren directed towards Levi built up throughout the manga.
