Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Five years have come and gone since the end of the Titan Wars. The price of victory was steep, but thanks to those sacrifices, humanity has a place in the world again. Thanks to the Legion's combined efforts and the discovery of how to reverse the titan transformations, the largest threat is gone. Special Operations teams were formed to go out and track down titans; their mission not to eliminate, but to cure. Some couldn't be cured, however. The abnormals, or deviants as we sometimes called them, proved immune to the inoculations and as such, had to be put down. Shifters like myself, Annie, Bethalto, Ymir and Reiner have to undergo a separate treatment to rid ourselves of the titan powers—but I was the only one to do so. Annie remained in crystal and we never did find the others. We lost Commander Erwin in the end, along with Connie and countless others.

In addition to the discovery of the formula to return titans back to their original human form, a hidden library was found beneath the walls in a concealed chamber. A lot of the old knowledge pre-dating the last century was stored there, and humanity again had access to technology and engineering that had been lost to us for so long. People began to move outside of the walls in areas declared safe by the military. New bases were set up and the ruins of old settlements were rebuilt. We were able to build our own walls with the lost knowledge of architectural construction, though it will take time for us to spread out into all of our lost territory in the world.

I feel selfish for accepting the offer for retirement from active duty once it was an option, but my friends all did the same. We'd all seen and been through too much...lost too much. Those of us that survived in the end just didn't see the point to remaining in active duty when everything was more or less under control.

As for dealing with the remaining deviants that wander the wilderness, Captain Levi is still on active duty, and he leads his special operations squad out to clear away any deviant or uncured titans spotted in reclaimed territory or outside the walls.

I still think about him a lot. I wonder how he's doing, wonder if he ever thinks of me or my friends. It's thanks to him and his new squad that humanity is still able to advance with relative safety, because even one abnormal titan could demolish a town if it made it past fortifications. I hope one day the Captain can retire and live a life of peace, as we've been able to.

-Eren Jaeger

"Hey Eren." Armin smiled as he took a seat in the booth across from him. "Look, my new book is out!"

Eren set aside his iced tea and he smiled back at his old friend as Armin pulled the newly printed piece of literature out of the bag he was carrying it in. "That's terrific, Armin. This makes your third one, right?"

The blond nodded. He'd let his hair grow out longer over the years and he wore it in a ponytail most of the time. "Yes, and as before with the others, I want you to have the first copy. Autographed, of course."

Eren chuckled. "You're turning into a regular celebrity. Are you sure you want to be hanging out with a commoner like me?"

"There's nothing 'common' about you," countered Armin. He sobered a bit as Eren looked at the cover. "It's a biography about Commander Smith, as you can see. It covers his military history and it's dedicated to his memory. I...thought he deserved to go down in history and people need to know the truth, rather than the conjecture that other writers have been putting out."

Eren examined the cover, admiring the emblem of the Wings of Freedom on the front of it. He opened it up to see the dedication on the first page and a wave of nostalgia washed over him. "This is special, Armin. Nobody can dispute your accounts, either. You were right there when it happened."

Armin nodded and his blue eyes lowered sadly. "I'm sorry to be a downer. You're mentioned in there too, along with all of the others and of course, Captain Levi. I don't know how well it's going to sell, but at least I can rest easy knowing I've done my part to provide as accurate an account of that part of our history as possible. I have another copy set aside for the Captain, but I don't have an address to mail it to. I was thinking I could mail it to Survey Corps headquarters."

Eren gently placed the book into the soft cloth bag that Armin gave to him and he tied the drawstrings. "Thank you, Armin. I hate the idea of people believing the commander was some ruthless, cold-hearted monster. He did what he had to do. So, what will you have? It's on me."

"Oh, you don't have to—"

"Hey, you gave me a copy of your new book," interrupted Eren, "so let me buy lunch this time."

Armin pulled out the menu propped up against the wall. "Ah well, in that case...I think I'll have something light. Maybe the chicken soup."

"Soup?" Eren smirked. "We ate practically nothing but soup and bread for what, twelve years? I'm sick of it for life, now."

Armin smiled and shrugged. "I still like it now and then. It brings back some of the better memories of our military training and our time with the scouts. Not all of them were bad."

Eren looked down at his tea and he absently swirled it around with his spoon. His thoughts again went to Captain Levi, but he pulled them away. "No, I guess not. Remember all those times Sasha snuck meat from the officer's supply? I can't believe she never got caught doing that."

Armin chuckled. "She had a talent for that. Have you spoken with her lately?"

Eren nodded. "Yes, in fact she stopped by my work site on her way through town to get groceries the other day. I don't know why she insists on living outside town limits. There are places near the wall that are far enough away from neighbors to give her some peace and quiet. Makes me nervous, knowing some wandering abnormal could come across her cottage."

"Oh, I'm sure she'll be all right, Eren," soothed Armin. "We haven't spotted any deviants around these parts for months now. The last one got taken down by the scouts before it got anywhere near town, and Sasha's a hunter, remember? She knows how to survive, and if it makes her happy to live in the wilds and it's safe enough, we shouldn't worry. Besides, she does have a telephone line out there. She could call someone if she ever gets in trouble."

"Only if a titan doesn't tear the phone line down before she can do that." Erin grimaced when Armin gave him a patiently comforting look. "I'm sorry. I keep doing that, don't I? I wonder if I'm ever going to feel at ease."

"It's okay," soothed Armin. "After what we lived through, it makes sense to be ill at ease even during a time of peace. Civilians can be complacent, but most of them never saw firsthand the same things we did. We've changed, Eren, and as strange as it sounds to say it, we're all veterans. We're always going to have one foot in the battlefield, I think. All that we can do is try to enjoy the peace we've earned, and hope it doesn't come to an end."

Eren smiled quietly, raising his bright green gaze to meet Armin's. "I wish I had your gift for words. So let's order, already. I'm starving and this is my only day off this week."

"Oh, right! Sorry about that." Armin held his hand up for the waitress and they ordered their lunch when she came to the booth.

"Oh no!"

Eren glanced at Armin and he swallowed his last bite of the sausage roll he'd ordered. "What is it?"

Armin was looking at his watch with a dismayed expression on his face. "I have a lecture to give at the school in less than twenty minutes! I got so caught up in our visit I lost track of time."

He dug out some coin from his hip bag and he dropped it on the table-top. "For the tip," he explained when Eren started to remind him that he'd offered to pay for the meal. Armin sucked down the last of his lemonade. "Thanks for lunch, Eren. I'd better get going!"

"Okay...bye." Eren watched him head out the door and he sighed. It seemed like he and his friends never had much time for each other these days. He was counting out the payment for the meal when Armin came running back inside, blue eyes wide with excitement.

"Wow, that was a quick lecture," teased Eren.

"Eren, come outside quick! There's something out there that I thin will cheer you up."

Eren barely finished counting out the coins before his friend grabbed him by the wrist and started pulling him along to the diner's exit. "Damn, Armin...what is it? Another parade?"

The small but expanding town of Onderath tended to have celebratory parades in the street each time word reached them that another abnormal titan was tracked down and dispatched in the wilds, eliminating yet another threat to human safety.

"No, this is better than any parade," answered the young scholar.

They stepped outside the diner together, and Armin pointed out a shiny black stallion bearing the crest of the Wings of Freedom on its saddle across the cobbled street. Hitching the animal to a water and feed post was the familiar man that Eren had been thinking about so often over the years since leaving the walled community he'd grown up in.

"Captain Levi," whispered Eren, his green eyes widening.

The captain was in uniform of a new design, with black and green colors, rather than the white and brown that was the standard back in the day. The hooded cloak he wore around his shoulders was the same forest green as always, with the scout crest on the back of it. Levi patted his horse on the neck and he looked around alertly, ready for trouble wherever he went. Those hooded gray eyes scanned the streets, taking note of his location. He still wore his hair in the same undercut that Eren remembered, and though there appeared to be a few scattered strands of gray in said hair, his face hadn't changed a bit since Eren last saw him. His frame was still small but toned and he wore his ODM gear, ready for action if the situation called for it.

"Well?" Armin prompted softly, nudging his stunned friend. He smiled with amusement at Eren's expression—as if his hero had stepped out of a dream and into his reality. "You should say hello first, Eren. I'll wait."

Eren gulped. Seeing Levi in the flesh again was almost surreal. It all came crashing back; the dry mouth, the pounding heart, the exuberance. He'd wondered if he'd only been remembering a boyish crush for all this time, but apparently his feelings never went away.

"Captain Levi," Eren called out when Armin gave him a gentle push in the war hero's direction. Levi turned and his enigmatic gray eyes met Eren's across the distance. That stare was still enough to give him a thrill. Eren walked faster and he smiled when he saw recognition spark in the older man's eyes.

"Eren Jaeger," greeted the captain softly when the young man stopped before him. He looked up at him in an assessing manner. "Have you gotten taller, or have I shrunk?"

Eren glanced down at himself. "I've grown a little, I guess. I was only seventeen when we last saw each other, sir."

"So that would make you...twenty-two now, right?"

Eren nodded, and then out of habit he saluted him. "Yes sir."

"Tch, at ease. You don't have to do that, kid. You aren't active duty anymore, remember?"

Eren lowered his gaze modestly. "I know, but..."

Driven by a powerful need to touch the man, Eren suddenly embraced him tightly. Levi grunted as he was practically lifted off his feet by the taller man.

"Easy, Jaeger," groused the captain, but he relaxed a moment later and he gave him an awkward pat on the back.

"Sorry, Captain." Blushing, Eren released him and he stuck his hands into his pant pockets to resist doing it again. He looked at the magnificent animal that Levi had rode in on and he nodded at it. "Is that the same horse you used to have?"

"Shit no," answered the captain. "I put him out to pasture right after the war. He was getting too old. This is his foal, Arimus."

"He's really beautiful," complimented Eren. He reached out to pet the horse's nose. "What are you doing here in Onderath? Are you on an expedition?"

"I'm passing through on my way to the next township to the southeast," explained Levi. "What is it called...Dalecrest?"

Eren nodded.

"At any rate, we've been expanding our ranks to other areas outside the wall. The goal is to have a squad in every outlying settlement available to protect recaptured areas. We've been building forts for that purpose. This way we'll have men available from all directions in the event of a titan sighting."

Levi patted his horse again and he looked up at Eren. "So, what of your friends? The last I heard all of you moved here, or nearby."

"Yes, we did. We all wanted to stay close to each other. In fact, Armin's right behind me." Eren turned around to see his friend digging something out of his horse's saddlebag. "Armin, are you coming?"

"Just a moment!" The blond found what he was looking for and he jogged across the street, holding a bag similar to the one he'd presented Eren's gift book in. He also saluted the captain, though it was a bit awkward due to the bag he held in his hand. "Sir! Good to see you again, Captain Levi!"

"Cut it out," muttered Levi, "there's no need for that now."

"It's just out of respect for you, sir." Armin smiled and he offered his free hand for a shake. "You look well."

"Likewise," answered the captain, placing his black-gloved hand in Armin's to shake it. "What's this?"

Armin handed over the bag. "It's a copy of my latest book. I was going to try to mail it to your main headquarters in the hopes that you would receive it, but now that you're here by happy circumstance, I can give it directly to you."

"Still the wordsmith," mused Levi. "I'd heard that you'd become a writer. I half-expected you to join the medical field or take up law."

Armin shrugged modestly. "Books and writing are still my greatest passion, sir."

Levi opened the bag and he pulled the book out. He stared at the cover for several heartbeats, and then he opened it to read the leaf inside. He nodded and he closed it, his eyes meeting Armin's. "Well done. I'll begin reading it while I'm on the road."

"I hope it's to your satisfaction, Captain," said Armin modestly. "I did my best to accurately document everything that wasn't classified."

"I'm sure you did fine." Levi slipped the book back into its fancy bag and he tucked it into his horse's saddlebag.

"How long will you be in town, Captain?" asked Eren. He knew Levi was a busy man, but he hadn't seen him for so long. He desperately wanted to spend time with him.

"A day or two," answered Levi, "and then I've got to get back on the road to rendezvous with my soldiers in the next town and choose the next batch of recruits for that regiment. Are there any decent, clean Inn's around here that I could stay at?"

"Well, there's the Olive Branch down on Edgar street about two blocks from here—" began Armin.

"You could stay at my place!" Eren blurted the offer without even thinking, and he flushed when Levi tilted his head and looked at him. "I mean, it's a duplex and it's kind of small, but I keep it clean. You wouldn't have to spend any money and you can have my bed. I'll sleep on the couch."

"You don't say." There was a spark of something in Levi's eyes...amusement? The man's face was impassive as always, so it was difficult to be sure. "Well, so long as it's clean. Would there be a stable nearby for my horse?"

Eren nodded. "Of course, sir. It's not big, but its sheltered and they keep it clean, too."

"I apologize," Armin said, checking his watch again, "but I really do have to go or I'll be late. Captain, it's an honor to speak with you again. Eren, are we still on for this weekend?"

"Uh, sure. Talk to you later, Armin. Have good lecture."

Eren scratched his head as the blond went to mount his horse and leave. Now that he and Levi were more or less alone, he wasn't sure what to say. "Er...tea?"

Levi frowned at him.

"I mean would you like some?" Eren said in a rush. He pointed at the establishment that he and Armin had just eaten in. "They serve it there, if you want to rest and refresh for a little while before we go to my place."

"Hmm. Is the tea any good?"

Eren was about to say that it was, but then he recalled how picky Levi was when it came to his tea. He likely wouldn't enjoy the sweet brew they made in the cafe. "Um...probably not. I do have some black tea at my place. I could brew some up for you when we get there, if you'd prefer that."

"That will be fine." Levi unhitched his horse and he mounted up. "I just want to get out of these boots and relax for a bit. Lead the way, Eren."

"Okay!" As excited as a teenager, Eren sprinted over to his brown and white spotted horse. He vaulted up onto it with the enthusiasm of a man about to go on an adventure and he smiled over his shoulder at the captain, raising a fist into the air. "Advance! To the Jaeger house!"

He didn't have to keep looking to guess that Levi must be rolling his eyes at his theatrics, but he was so happy to get to spend time with him again that he didn't care how silly he sounded.

"Sorry it's so small," Eren said to his guest when he opened the door and let the captain go in first. "Like I said; it isn't much but I recently got a pay increase, so maybe I can save up for something a little bigger."

Levi looked around with a critical eye. The floors were polished wood, and there was a large rug in the center of the parlor. The parlor opened up to a small dining area and the kitchen. There were a few paintings decorating the white plaster walls, along with a collection of medals and badges from Eren's days in the military. These were framed with care to keep the dust off of them. Levi went to the loveseat facing the fireplace and he inspected it. The material was soft and brown, with swirled patterns on it. He ran a finger over the surface of the coffee table between the loveseat and the fireplace and he looked at it.

"Jaeger, I'm impressed." He set the saddlebag he'd removed from his horse down beside the loveseat and he sat down with a sigh.

"You...you are?" Eren looked adorably surprised.

~And there it is. That look. He may be an adult now but he still seeks my approval like an eager kid.~

Levi nodded. "When you described your place as 'clean', I honestly didn't think it would meet my standards. I recall your housekeeping skills to be—"

"Lamentable, I know," finished Eren for him with a smile. "I learned from you, though."

"So you did," mused Levi.

"I like to clean now," admitted the younger man. "It...makes me think of you, and the way you used to always wear those scarves over your hair and mouth."

"Hmph, I still do." Levi glanced up at Eren and he noticed the blush in his cheeks. "So you think of me when you clean, do you? Do you imagine me coming up behind you and getting on your ass when you miss a spot?"

Eren chuckled. "Yes sir, actually."

Levi nodded in satisfaction. "Good."

"Oh, I'll go change the bedding for you," Eren said. He started to head for the short hallway leading to the bedroom and bathroom, but he stopped and turned around. "Oh wait...your tea! I should get that started too..."

"Eren..."

"And you said you wanted to take your boots off," the young man went on. "Can I help you with that? I could run you a bath. I just cleaned the tub this morning and—"

"Eren..."

"But I'll bet you're hungry also. I've got some leftovers I could heat up, or I could make something fresh if you'd rather—"

"Eren Jaeger," snapped Levi sternly, "slow down and stop running around like a chicken with its fucking head cut off."

Eren winced. "Sorry, sir. I'm just trying to be a good host."

Levi sighed and he softened his tone. "I'm not going to bed right away, so that can wait. So can the bath and a meal. Right now, my main objective is to have some hot tea and get these boots and gear off. One thing at a time, kid."

"Right. Just relax, sir. I'll go and get the tea started and then I'll help you with the boots and gear."

"I don't need—Eren..."

Jaeger had already gone into the small kitchen, seeming not to hear him. Levi smirked and he rubbed his forehead before pulling his gloves off. "Shit...he's still as hyper as a pup."

"You don't need to help me out of this," Levi said softly when Eren came back into the parlor.

The younger man stubbornly assisted anyway, unbuckling the straps of Levi's harness and helping him out of that before assisting with the removal of his boots. "You're my special guest," murmured Eren as he gently slid Levi's right boot off, then his left.

Levi sighed when the boots came off and Eren set them aside, along with his ODM gear. Eren smiled up at the captain from his crouching position. "Feel better?"

"Much," agreed Levi.

The tea kettle started to whistle and Eren jumped up to go and finish preparing it. Remembering exactly how the captain preferred his beverages, Eren poured his first and added a little bit of milk. He then poured some for himself and added some honey and lemon. Carrying the tray back into the parlor, he stopped for a moment and he stared at Levi, wondering if he'd fallen asleep. The Captain was sitting with his legs crossed, his arms resting on the back of the couch and his head drooping slightly.

Eren cleared his throat as he carried the tea tray to the coffee table and set it down. "Sir? Are you awake?"

Levi raised his head and opened his eyes. "Yes. Just resting for a moment."

Eren offered his teacup to him. "Here you are. Is it okay if I sit next to you?"

Levi made a vague gesture with his right hand. "Sure."

Eren took his seat next to him, mindful not to get too close and crowd the man. He picked up his own teacup and he sipped it gingerly, finding it a little too hot to have a bigger swallow. He noticed the way his guest sipped his tea and then pulled it away from his lips to stare at it suspiciously.

"Is something wrong?" Eren felt dismayed. He was sure he'd made it the way Levi liked it.

"This...is my tea," uttered the captain. He looked at Eren. "The same tea leaves I've always used."

Eren smiled with relief. "Well, yeah. I've been keeping some on supply for a while. You know...just in case. You probably think that's stupid."

Levi stared at him for a moment, and then he looked away, reached out and ruffled Eren's shaggy brown hair. "Yes, I think it's stupid." He dropped his hand back down on the back of the couch and he met Eren's eyes again. "Did you really miss me that much, Jaeger?"

Eren was too stunned by that unexpected gesture of affection to answer immediately, but Levi's glittering, sleepy gaze demanded an answer. "Yes sir."

"I see." Levi took another sip of his tea. "So tell me about the other brats. I suppose I should stop calling you all that, seeing as you're adults now. How have they been fairing?"

"Good," answered Eren. "Sasha's living just outside city limits and as you saw, Armin's been doing well with his writing career. Jean's become an artist and Mikasa trains self-defense classes. I guess Hitch and Marlo are still in the walled city where you live. I haven't heard from them for a while."

"Mikasa doesn't live with you? That surprises me."

"Actually, she's with Jean now, sir." Eren shrugged. "She has her own place, but they've been together for a few months. I think it might be getting serious."

"She chose Kerstein over you?" Levi blinked slowly, the only expression of surprise on his face. "I'll be damned."

"It was never like that with us, Captain. Not really. I think...maybe she thought it would be, but she's like my sister. It would be like me getting with Armin. Just didn't feel right. We're still very close, though."

"Interesting," muttered Levi. "What about you, Eren? What have you been doing with yourself?"

"Construction work," answered the younger man. "I know it's not glamorous or creative or important, but—"

"Why would you say it's not important?" interrupted Levi. "You're rebuilding society. Creating new homes for people and important structures. There's no shame in that."

Eren couldn't tear his eyes off the captain's. "I...I guess. I never thought of it that way. It was just something I knew I could do and the pay was good. It keeps me occupied too, so I'm not always thinking of...you know."

"Yes, I know." The barest hint of a smirk appeared on Levi's pouty lips. "Hey Eren, I picked up a local newspaper on my way into town, and I found a small article in it that caught my interest. Apparently, there was an incident yesterday at the construction site of a new bridge they've been building that's meant to span from this side of town to the next. One of the workers' support straps broke and someone on the construction team saved him from the fall using ODM gear. That wouldn't happen to have been you, would it?"

Eren felt a mixture of pride and embarrassment. "Yes sir, that was me. I asked them not to print my name in the paper and leave me anonymous."

"A lot of good that did you," observed Levi. "How many construction workers in these parts use military grade mobility gear on the job at construction sites?"

"Not many," admitted Eren softly with a little smile.

"Try none." Levi sipped his tea again. "So, you kept it after all this time, did you?"

Eren nodded. "We all did, but I don't think the others use theirs as much as I do. Well, except for Mikasa. She and I go out practicing in the woods when we can. I'm glad we were allowed to keep it when we retired from service."

"You all earned it," insisted Levi. "How did you convince your employers to let you use that kind of gear on the job, though?"

"Oh, I got in trouble for it, at first. I looked at the sort of work I'd be doing and I thought: 'why not'? The foreman chewed me out, but I convinced him to let me try it and once he saw what I could do on the job using it, he approved it."

Levi nodded. "Finding practical uses for weapons of war. Maybe you aren't such an idiot after all. Tell me though, Eren; why do you and Mikasa feel the need to stay proficient with the blades?"

Eren thought about it and he hoped he wouldn't sound stupid when he answered. "I know it's over now sir, but...I can't really let it go. The titans took us by surprise when they first attacked, back when I was a kid. We weren't prepared in the least, and so many people died because of that. There are still stragglers out there—not only in unclaimed territories but even in the lands we've taken back. I can't help but feel the ones still out in the wild that haven't been taken down or cured might start moving back into our territory again and if that happens, I want to be able to fight."

Levi's gaze was steady on him, and he nodded slowly. "Good answer, Jaeger." He had another sip of his tea. "Once a soldier, always a soldier."

Eren smiled at the captain's approval. It always made him feel so good to get even the slightest praise from Levi, and that hadn't changed since he'd served under him. His gaze flitted over the captain's dark hair and the sparse strands of silver here and there through it.

"Admiring my grays?" guessed Levi between sips.

Eren winced, hoping he hadn't offended him. "Actually yes, sir. I think it looks good."

Levi looked at him sidelong. "You don't think they make me look old?"

Eren shook his head immediately. "Not at all." He smiled. "You still don't look much older than me. I swear you haven't changed at all, except for that little bit of silver in your hair."

"Genetics." Levi shrugged.

"I like the black, too." Eren nodded at the sleek black uniform combo the older man wore. "That really suits you."

"It's better for concealment," explained Levi. "Most of the abnormals out there now tend to move around at night. Some are still more active in daylight, but even then, it's easier to blend in with the shadows in darker uniforms."

"That makes sense." Eren finished off his tea. "Do you want me to refresh that for you, captain? I can start getting dinner ready if you want to read or just relax for a while. Or you could have a bath and change while I cook."

"One cup is enough for now," answered Levi. "Did you say you had leftovers?"

"Yeah, but I don't feel right just reheating yesterday's dinner for a guest. I'll make something fresh."

"That's your choice." Levi set his tea cup on the tray and he leaned over to open his saddlebag. He procured a neatly folded bundle consisting of a white button-up shirt and casual pants. "I think I'll take you up on that bath now, Eren."

Eren proved to be an attentive host. He even placed a fresh new bar of soap for Levi in the bathtub tray and hung a fresh towel for him before getting on with the cooking. Once Levi had bathed and changed into his more casual outfit, they had a meal of some kind of goulash Eren cooked up. It was filling and tasty enough, and afterwards Eren lit the fireplace and sat down with Levi to chat some more. They avoided talking about the war, and instead focused on getting each other up to date with everything that had been happening in their lives. Eren did most of the talking of course, with Levi asking a few short questions here and there.

Levi examined Eren covertly as they socialized. The baby fat was gone, to be replaced by the more refined features of a man. He was still recognizably Eren without a doubt, but he'd grown from a cute brat into an attractive young adult. His muscles had filled out too. Not that he was built like Erwin, but he had a strong, tall frame. Those bright green eyes were still as expressive and earnest as they ever were, and Levi could see hints of the teen Eren had once been coming out once in a while when he got excited about a subject.

"I'm sorry for talking your ear off, sir," Eren said after about an hour when Levi covered a yawn. "I know you must be tired. The bed's ready for you if you want to go to sleep. Um, would you like a nightcap before bed?"

"I'd better not," replied the captain. "Like I said, abnormal activity's been happening more frequently at night, and should I need to go and take care of any hostiles, I'll need a clear head." He checked the odd device he'd brought with him and Eren looked at it curiously.

"What is that, sir?"

"They call it a titan meter," answered the captain. "It goes off when any of them come within a couple of miles and the signal gets stronger the closer it gets." He adjusted a dial on it and he grimaced slightly. "I'm still learning to use the damned thing. It's more useful out in the open, but this town is small enough that it should alert me if anything starts closing in. They've got titan alarms here, don't they?"

Eren nodded. "That was the first thing they installed after building the walls."

"Good." Levi covered another yawn. "I don't trust this thing to be very accurate with the electronic interference from the power lines. Hey Eren, do you have a working phone yet?"

"Yes sir, it's in the kitchen. Do you need to use it?"

"Yeah, I should call headquarters and let them know where I am in the event they need to reach me. What is the number here?"

"Er...it's written on a note on the corkboard in there," answered Eren.

Levi raised a brow. "You don't know your own telephone number?"

Eren shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "Well, I never call myself, so no. I haven't memorized it yet."

"Hmm, fair enough."

Levi got up and he went into the kitchen to make use of Eren's phone. It was odd to be using old technology that was more advanced than what they'd had available to them over the past century, but that was due to the fanatical monarchy trying to bring in a new world order. Levi picked up the ear piece from its cradle and he checked to be sure it was clean before using the rotary to dial the number for his headquarters. He checked the number posted on the corkboard and he made a mental note of it for future reference.

Eren awoke startled to a sound he'd never heard before. At first, he thought he was imagining it, but then the last vestiges of sleep fled and he realized with shock what it was.

Captain Levi was screaming.

It seemed so impossible that at first, he thought he was just caught in a dream. Levi never screamed—at least, not that he'd ever heard. It was a raw, aching sound of fury and it was terrifying to hear. Eren had made such sounds himself before in the past, and he knew that they could only be provoked by terrible, world-shattering loss and blind rage.

It frightened Eren so much to hear it that he yanked his blanket off and stumbled to his bedroom immediately. He pushed the door open and he found his guest tossing and turning, having kicked off the sheets in his struggles with his ghosts of the past. Eren went to his side without hesitation and he winced when one of the captain's flailing fists struck him in the shoulder. He grabbed his wrists and he pinned him down, desperate to help him without getting beaten to a pulp.

"Captain," he said urgently to the older man. "Captain Levi, what is it? Are you having a nightmare?"

~What a stupid-ass question. Obviously he's having a nightmare, moron.~

Levi cried out two names. One Eren couldn't catch, but the other was "Isabel".

Then he heard Levi say something in a growl that was very familiar to him: "I'll kill every...last...one of you!"

"Levi," breathed Eren. The man had always seemed so calm and collected, even in a fight. His entire elite squad had gotten wiped out trying to protect Eren from the female titan, and yet Levi still persevered and made his command decisions with a level head. One could never have guessed he lived with such inner torment.

"Captain, you're having a nightmare," Eren said as calmly as he could. "Ow!"

Levi's bare foot kicked him in the shin and the older man bucked him off. Eren sat up and scooted back warily, more than familiar with how dangerous Levi could be. "Captain Levi," he called out again.

Levi sat up abruptly and he grabbed Eren's pajama top with fisted hands, gray eyes wild and glittering in the moonlight streaming through the window. Eren held his hands up defensively, afraid to make any sudden moves. The glistening tears streaming down Levi's cheeks shocked Eren nearly as much as his screams.

"Sir, it's me," he urged, "Eren Jaeger. Please...you aren't awake!"

Breathing heavily, Levi blinked and his eyes came into focus. The naked pain in them made Eren's heart ache, and he dared to reach out with trembling hands and cup Levi's face. "Shh, you had a nightmare. Can you understand me?"

Levi's eyes finally focused on him and the confusion in them was evident. "Jaeger," he said hoarsely, loosening his hold on Eren's shirt. "I was...somewhere else."

"Yeah," Eren said, brushing his thumbs over Levi's face to wipe away his tears. "I know. I've...been there myself." He slid one hand down to squeeze Levi's tense shoulder comfortingly, and then he placed it over the older man's heart.

~His heart...beating so fast. Levi...~

"Was it about the past?" hedged Eren. "Some friends you lost?"

Levi closed his eyes, still panting in the aftermath of his horrible nightmare. He nodded. "The first I could ever call friends."

Eren sat back, cautious of overstepping himself and getting into Levi's personal space when he was like this. "Do you...want to talk about it?"

Levi shook his head. "Nothing to talk about. They died on our first expedition. That's all."

Eren swallowed. It had to have been terrible, to provoke that sort of emotion in this normally stoic man. "Can I get you anything, sir? Some water, maybe?"

Levi fell back on the bed and he covered his eyes with one hand. "No. It will pass. Haven't...dreamed of that since..." He shook his head as if struggling to recall the last time. His chest was partly exposed, the buttons of his shirt having come undone at the top in his struggles.

Eren tried not to look at the captain's bare legs. He didn't have the right to look at him like that at all—especially not at a time like this. "If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know."

"I just...need rest," answered Levi softly. He rolled onto his side and he stared at the wall. "Just ignore it, Eren."

Eren lowered his eyes and he bit his lip. That was the problem; he couldn't ignore it. He admired the captain more than anyone else alive and he'd just seen the first hint of vulnerability in him ever. Maybe that should be off-putting to him, but it wasn't. Levi was human. He felt pain like anyone else, and this confirmation of that made Eren just want to hold him and comfort him. He knew he'd better not try it, though.

"I'll be right on the couch if you do need anything, sir. Try to get some sleep, okay?"

Levi mumbled something into the pillow and Eren took his leave. As he walked into the parlor and sat down on the loveseat, he kept thinking of that haunted look in the captain's eyes. The minutes ticked by and Eren just sat there, unable to stop picturing it. Finally, after nigh thirty minutes of just sitting there staring at the dying coals in the hearth, Eren came to a determined decision and he got up. He grabbed his pillow and blanket and he tip-toed to his bedroom. Opening the door slowly and carefully, Eren peeked in. Levi was rolled up in the sheets, with only his head poking out.

As quietly as he could, Eren spread his blanket out on the floor beside his bed to make a pallet and he fluffed his pillow. He lay down with a sigh and he closed his eyes.

~I'll just sleep down here. I'll stay with you, Captain...even if you don't want me to.~

-To be continued