Tu et Moi
Disclaimer: Still don't own Attack on Titan.
This is sort of a fix-it for Espérer and Auf Wiedersehen. As promised, dedicated to kittyotakuwriter (from AO3)~
You and Me
Eren woke up, the last vestiges of his final moments lingering in his mind. Always the same dream.
Of course, he wasn't Eren anymore. His parents ironically decided to name him Hunter, but he knew of his Jaeger heritage.
And he also knew about Levi. At least, he hoped so.
Looking around his modern room, he wondered if he would ever find the man who was bound to his soul. Sometimes he thought it was silly to think about his past life, but he couldn't stop the yearning he felt for his old friends.
"I'm going to the museum." He called as he stomped down the stairs.
"Again? You were just there the other day!" his mother called. But it wasn't really his mother, not Carla. He hadn't found her yet.
"History project!" he yelled back, bolting out the door. He couldn't explain to his parents why he kept going back, why he felt like he didn't belong.
There was a letter there, preserved from that time when humanity received a grim reminder of their own past, and he knew it was for him. The moment he laid eyes on that letter was the moment he realized his dreams were memories of a past life. After all, it had his name in it.
To You in 1,000 Years,
Eren, I never got to say I love you.
The beginning always caught him off guard. It was such a raw opening, something so personal, he felt violated for the author as it was displayed in public. Standing in front of the glass case, the letter slightly faded and old—ragged around the edges, stained with dirt (and maybe blood)—Eren felt something calling to him.
I always feared it would end this way. I didn't put my trust in you, because I couldn't even trust myself. Still, I never told you how I feel.
The handwriting was sloppy, as if the letter was written hastily and full of emotion. Eren imagined Levi writing this in the middle of a battle or right after his death, fearing that each moment would be his last, so he had to get everything out before it was all lost. Maybe some of the odd hitches in the writing were due to the footsteps of a Titan getting closer to Levi's location. Maybe he was writing this on horseback, on the run, or hiding out in an abandoned village with only a small candle for light.
Eren always thought about his dream, the feeling of desperation and fear, knowing something was wrong and that his life would end soon, snuffed out at the hands of someone he cared about deeply. When he was younger, it always brought him to tears. His parents never understood why he woke up crying. They thought he was having nightmares. In a way, the memory of his death was a nightmare. As he got older, he thought about being angry with the one who took his life. After seeing this letter, he only felt pity.
You were our last hope. I'm not an idiot who can't see the truth when it kicks him in the teeth. We all knew the fate of humanity would come down to you. It was a lot of weight to put on your shoulders, I realize that. You were young, too young. I refused to see what it was doing to you. Putting that much faith in one person was always bound to fail.
Eren was a bit rusty at this part. He got the sense that he was somehow important, and in his last moments he was failing. He felt so much shame and disappointment in himself, like he knew he could have done better, and he knew the impact it would have on the world. But the details were fuzzy. He would have flashes of his former life, training with his squad, the titans advancing, faces appearing in the darkness of his mind. Putting the pieces together was difficult, but he started making connections.
Erwin was a fool to force so much responsibility on you. He gambled on your life and it cost humanity its soul. I'll admit, when you came to the Scouting Legion as a titan shifter I actually had hope of winning this war. I didn't believe I was enough to stop the titans, just delay the inevitable fall of mankind. But when I saw you, I saw a future.
Now, all I see is a miserable existence yet again.
He could tell the author was struggling with his emotions, overcome with loss. It was odd, knowing how much this person regretted taking his life, yet understanding the necessity of it. What went wrong? Why did he have to die?
What I'm trying to say is this: I'm sorry. Maybe one day I'll see you again, and can say that to your face. Until then—
The last section could never be deciphered, no matter how many times they tried to restore the document. Eren pondered what it said every time he looked at the letter. He hoped he would one day know what the message was.
The last part was very clear. It stood out to him more than anything else.
I will never forget you, shitty brat
It was signed 'Lance-Corporal Levi' in a surprisingly flowing script. Scholars and historians attributed this letter to one of the most legendary titan killers from hundreds of years in the past, before humanity developed the technology to finally defeat the titans and cure the shifters. He had a record of killing the most titans, the most interesting back story for a historian to research, and was a hero to many children, even soldiers, to this day. A monument was built near the ruins of a city from that time. Books were written about his conquests, his victories were taught in every classroom.
As well as his defeat, shortly after penning this letter.
Shortly after Humanity's Hope, the titan shifter Eren Jaeger, was put to death in combat by Humanity's Strongest. It was known as one of the greatest turns of the war with the titans, where humanity was at its lowest, barely hoping for survival. Many scholars posed theories as to what happened that day, but no one knew for sure. This letter was studied so extensively, everyone had an idea of what it meant. But Hunter—Eren—wanted to know.
He sighed, shaking his head to clear the sorrow seeping in. He did a lot of research of his own, reading the books and writing essays for classes, but never felt close to the truth. There was only one way to find out, but he feared he would never get the opportunity.
He felt someone's presence nearby, a tingle running up his spine. He glanced to the person standing at the other end of the display, the side of his face the only glimpse he ever got. He saw this man a few times at the museum, always wondering who he was, but never got close enough.
The display case held some mementos of that time, including badges and parts of the uniform the soldiers wore. Eren stared at the Wings of Freedom, feeling an intimate connection with the renowned symbol. The logo was used in popular branding for large companies, everything from cars to restaurants to department stores. Shirts, backpacks, stickers, cups, the symbol was everywhere. Eren's heart clenched every time he saw it.
The man was staring at a badge thought to belong to Levi. There was an old poster Eren memorized, a wanted ad for the person who would one day fight until the very end for humanity's future. It was a rather shitty rendition according to most scholars, although there were many versions of what they thought Levi looked like, but nothing completely accurate. The man was standing close to it, enough to compare features, and Eren shuffled closer trying to seem casual.
The man turned slightly, catching his eye.
He knew that face. It was so familiar, and not just because the poster was right in front of him. The black hair was in a slightly different cut, but those dark eyes were stunning, just as they were in his dreams.
"C-Corporal?" he gasped without thinking, staring wide-eyed.
The man smiled, turning fully, still a head shorter than him. "Eren, it looks like I found you." Levi's voice was the same as in his memory, teasing Eren's ears and making goose bumps rise along his arms and the back of his neck.
Eren felt himself grin, a wide smile spreading across his face.
Levi smirked. "So, you want to know what I left out in that letter?"
Author's Note: Because I wanted to do a reincarnation AU anyway and this fandom deserves a happy ending. Also, if you guys beg, I might even continue this (wiggles eyebrows suggestively)~