"Levi!" Petra couldn't believe it. After all the years of waiting, Levi just sauntered into the aisle she sat at in Barnes and Noble.

The black haired man glared. "How do you know my name?" He hissed.

"Sorry. I… you look like…" Petra's rationality - not the most reputed thing - caught up with her excitement as she remembered that he wouldn't know.

"Tch." Petra couldn't help but gasp inwardly. That 'tch' never changed. "And you're Petra?"

"Actually that is my name." She joined the Attack on Titan fandom knowing that she looked exactly like that character - Petra Ral - whose name was also shared. "What's your name?" She asked.

"Levi." She knew it! It was he who she waited at least 22 years for. The conversation drifted as Petra always tried to keep afloat the ship of talking Levi kept scuttling. They discussed their fandoms and the inconveniences of epitomizing a character. They discussed the small, useless Japanese phrases they saw and learned. They discussed their backgrounds - Petra's studies of history and Levi's job as a writer for a history magazine. Eventually, they discussed their next meeting.

The meetings were regular. Levi and Petra became friends as they spent time meeting at Barnes and Noble's and walking around the mall. Levi wondered how the couple he secretly shipped seeped into his universe. He realized quickly that he liked Petra more than he should or ever did anybody else. There was something about the way she was. She seemed familiar, almost like she expected his rude comment or asshole response. As creepy as it seemed, he found it oddly endearing and wondered how she knew. For Petra, the relationship was expected. It felt odd. She remembered so many, yet even this time made her nervous. She'd have to reveal her secret and she made her deadline to be during the first time they meet at one of their houses. That plan flopped, slightly.

"Want to go to meet the artists of AoT?"

"I can't." Petra hoped she'd not have to reveal why.

"Why?"

"I have… an appointment."

"Can't you move it?"

"Nope."

"What is it?"

Petra gave up hiding it. "Therapist."

"Therapist?!" Levi couldn't hide his surprise - Petra was perfect, what did she need therapy for?

"Long story."

"Explain."

"... Can I later… not in a mall?"

"Fine, where and when?"

"Now, my place." It was a huge risk and Petra knew.

"Ok." Levi got up and waited for Petra to lead him. He wanted to know why and see if the excuse was true. It also pulled at him because the one beauty he saw turned out to have a major flaw.

Petra lead Levi to a bus stop. Levi dragged her to his car - he could not wait. In fact, he tried to start during the drive itself.

"What kind of problem is it?"

"Nobody knows…"

"How does it show?"

"I guess it's everywhere…" Levi understood that this was going to be difficult unless Petra was in her place. Was it an OCD?

Petra led Levi into her small apartment. "Explain."

"Sit."

Levi sat and looked at Petra expectantly. "Ok. It is kinda freaky, so just promise me you won't leave, yell or anything. In fact, promise that if you don't like what you hear, we can pretend that this never happened." Levi gave a solemn, firm nod, wondering what the fuss was about. "I can remember earlier lives." Levi blinked slowly and his self-control was slipping. "I don't know how or why - I can just remember things I've never done before." She paused to sit across the table Levi chose to sit at. "Like turning 70 or having kids… " She glossed over the "with you" which almost came out "... or meeting you."

"Schizophrenia?"

"No - there's none of the hysteria or anything, my memories are just memories that I shouldn't have."

"If you're so good at hiding it, why do you need a therapist?"

"I wasn't always this good. I was two and I began to talk about things no two year old would. My father freaked out and I was sent to a kid's insane asylum." Levi looked at her a little softly. "Don't pity me. I was one of the best and left soon, only needing weekly appointments. In fact, now they're monthly."

"So what's the big deal?" Really, what was with the fuss?

"In all my other lives I loved you. In fact, I still love you." Levi began to understand. "It's why I understand you so well - I have spent almost 144 years with you in my memories." Levi nodded her on with a calmness he did not feel. "Well, first I'll explain the lives I remember: Petra-1 was in a time much like this one, we both taught and I died of old age with you and two kids. Petra-2 was during the Titan times - I remember being the Petra Ral."

"Wishfully?" Levi glossed over the hidden 'attack on Titan' is real - she did just admit to remembering previous lives.

"Painfully - even dying." Petra's tone suggested an annoyance at Levi's doubt. "Petra-3 was some time soon after the titans were defeated - she also lives a full life with you and two kids. I'm Petra-4. I think there are more, but those are all I can recall."

"So how am I in it?" Levi wasn't so sure he really wanted to know how he fit into this lunatic's world.

"I think I'm meant to be with you. We always meet. After meeting, we become friends and later on I declare my love. Petra-2 finds it unrequited (although you may have lied) and dies early. The other two face a minor tragedy during our relationship and then are saved somehow."

"Great, so?"

"If I don't want to die young, I have to get into a relationship with you." Petra hoped this wouldn't end anything.

"Prove it." Levi said after a long pause. With this he hoped to show her how crazy she was being.

"How?! There's no evidence! Why else do you think they think I'm nuts?"

"What about the relationship part?"

"We always meet. It's you - I know it - you're rude, tense and stoic on the outside, but then deep down you care and that's why you're still here, as much as you pretend not to want to be. You have a compulsion with cleaning - that's why my apartment has been the way it is. You like your coffee sweet and tea strong - it's two spoons of sugar and a third of a cup of milk for the coffee and two teabags and spoons of sugar in the tea."

"Holy shit."

"Sorry if it creeped you out… I know you never tell anybody."

"Petra, you should write this stuff."

"Nobody would believe me."

"Just write it… If you're right about anybody, then they'd believe you."

"But, there's…"

"Tch. Just write it."

Petra shuffled. "You know I remember everything right?" Levi threw her a questioning look. "Like… our nights together… and the …"

"Don't make it awkward."

"How are you so sure I'm right?" Petra just realized that he may pretend and then just leave. That's not Levi, she reassured herself. Then again, would Levi ask her to write her crazy stories down?

"You know things that only a god would." Even a stalker wouldn't know how Levi liked his coffee - he never even drank one with Petra.

"And so you think I should write them…?"

"Firstly, your writing's great. Secondly, I am sorry for doubting you." Levi did read one of her papers and underneath the tangle of jargon, it was a great essay.

"It's fine. I didn't know what to expect either." Levi gave another quizzical look. "What if you left me or got too creeped out to be in a relationship?"

"Oh, and you'd die if I weren't in a relationship with you, right?" Petra nodded nervously. "The thing is… I think I love you."

"You would." The words slipped out before Petra knew.

"Don't get cocky." Even if this creepiness was there, not only did Petra do a great job of hiding it, but a lot of the familiarity had a nice touch, especially since the words familiarity and Levi never before mixed.

"Sorry."

"So, why don't we be in a relationship...?"

"Sure." Petra paused. She couldn't believe it. The love of her current life and love in all the others actually asked her to be in a relationship. Then an amusing incongruity hit her. "That's a first."

"What?"

"You starting it."

"You mean you started the others?" Petra nodded a 'yeah' with a hint of the annoyance she had about the fact - "yes - you never admit how you really feel."

"In fact, this is also the most casual we've been about it."

"What?"

"Petra-1 woke up with you after a drunk night. Petra-2 died. Petra-3 dragged you on a date after three years of friendship. I guess Petra-4 is just really lucky."

"You're crazy." Levi smirked as a thought turned in his head. "And I'm out of my mind."

"'Cause all of me loves all of you." Petra laughed along to the song they both recognized. Petra ran up to hug him. She was about to kiss him when recollection hit. "Oh… sorry."

"It's alright."

"If I ever… get… just remind me."

"Fine."

The talk became normal as the elephants in the room stampeded away. Petra and Levi were happy to be in their relationship and Petra proved the coffee and tea statements with her perfect brews. Levi realized that when Petra did not talk about her lives, she was very normal. It was nice, calming and felt as easy as their friendship.

Soon Levi left and the relationship turned out to be a good idea, Petra noted, despite the odd start it had. She wondered what form the tragedy destined to happen would take. She was confident in their recovery and survival. At least she got Levi. Even if there were other lives and chances, Petra fell in love again that day in the Barnes and Noble, and even for the fourth time if felt exhilarating.