It was on that day Eren remembered. Remembered what it was like to feel the snow melting as soon it made contact with his cheek, the way his chest warmed at the memory of him, Mikasa, and Armin having snowball fights together. He recalled how Armin would always surrender with a brave face as Mikasa pelted him with snowballs, he collapsed to the ground, all the air having left his lungs from laughing so hard and how Mikasa knelt down to help the blonde up as a tender peace offering. It had been nearly 10 years since the last time it had snowed, and this time he was left alone in the snow. Isn't it funny how things we haven't thought about in years still have the power to haunt us, he thought solemnly. As he recalled how his friends had fought valiantly to protect him he collapsed into the snow, his face in his hands.
Unlike the memory, however, he wasn't laughing this time. No laughter rang from his mouth, only bitter sobbing noises as tears flowed from his eyes. Why did they have to die? Protecting me of all people. Thoughts along these lines ran through his mind as the grief flowed anew from his heart. It was then that he felt a hand on his shoulder; a small but strong hand, tender but callous from years of training. Eren knew whose hand it was without even having to look up. Levi. The one person who knew just how he was feeling, only he knew how to hide it whereas Eren had no clue nor did he want to.
The short man had probably lost dozens of comrades; he had to have, being in the Recon Corps that long. Eren recalled his old squad, who had been brutally murdered in attempting to detain the Female Titan, and that only made the tears flow faster. His lips were quivering, his knees had already buckled, and his features were contorted in bitter sadness. When Levi placed his steady hand on Eren's shoulder, some of his grief subsided but the majority remained. The strategically placed hand suddenly moved to stroke the blue-eyed boy's face, shocking the younger boy. Realizing that it was Levi's hand, ever so stoic Levi, touching his face in such a tender manner, Eren rested his hand on the lance corporal's. Out of the blue, the lance corporal knelt down to the younger boy's level and kissed him softly on the forehead as he removed his hand from the other's face and put a scarf around Eren's neck. The sudden kiss snapped Eren out of his reverie.
"Gaki, you shouldn't be out in the cold with nothing to keep you warm," Heichou remarked with a tone full of that good old sarcastic Levi concern.
"I wasn't-" Eren stopped as he realized it was Mikasa's scarf around his neck. "How did you…?"
"Some things should stay secret, kid. All you need to know is that I got it and now you have something to remember her by, no thanks to me," Levi said, picking the snowflakes out of his hair.
All Eren could muster was a thank you, a heavyhearted look on his face as he appreciated the warmth of the scarf and the gesture.
"Now she can protect you from being an idiot like she always did."