Un-beta

...

Eren watched helplessly as Levi continued his game, softly whispering to himself as his various characters interacted. Eren had known Levi for as long as he could remember, before he even knew what love was he'd felt it. But it seemed it wasn't the same for Levi, although he knew about their old lives and the titans, the more personal details seemed to escape him.

"Oh shoot!" Raquel called out, drawing Eren's attention to her once again. "I left my tea downstairs."

"Psho." Levi mumbled, mimicking the 3D maneuver gear, completely ignoring his mother's comment.

"I'm going to go grab it, why don't you stay here and get to know Levi." She smirked, lifting up tall and leaving the room.

Eren looked on as Levi played, he was once again with the love of his life but could not act on his feelings. At first, all that bothered him had been the age gap but he had known he could wait, he'd always wait. However, if Levi didn't know him who was to say he'd ever return his feelings, had he made an unconscious decision to forget about him, to dedicate this life to starting again? A fresh life.

"Can I play?" Eren asked, his voice cracking under all the emotions running through his veins.

Happiness, relief, fear, dread, excitement, love. They all fought for dominance inside his mind.

Levi looked up at him with confused eyes, trailing over his face and assessing him, an act he hadn't really bothered to do earlier when his mum had been in the room. Eren felt his breath catch in his throat, under Levi's intense gaze his body began to heat up, flashbacks to steel eyes trailing his body in lust during late nights.

"Okay." Levi said in a quiet voice, finishing his assessment and deeming him acceptable. "You can be him."

Levi reached over to a discarded Spiderman figure with string around his middle before handing him to Eren.

"Thanks." He laughed slightly at the toy, knowing the hero didn't really fit in with the titans.

"But you have to listen to what I say because I'm in charge." He explained, frowning slightly.

"Really?" He asked with a smile.

"Yes, I'm the Corporal." He told him, pride filling his voice.

"Of course." Eren said with a smile.

So typical of Levi to take control even at such a young age, directing and instructing everyone around him. Even if currently, it was only Eren.

He watched with a grin as Levi played, the happiness within him that only comes from the innocence of childhood. Despite the gore he was acting out, the death of both the titans and his squad the smile was ever present on Levi's face.

Eren only wished he could have seen it more in their past, wished they had met in better circumstances, wished fate didn't love to play cruel tricks on them by taking Levi away too early or depriving Levi of the memories of their love.

"Eren!" Levi shouted, the older boy jumping slightly at the authoritative tone, a tone he'd heard often in the midst of a battle.

"Yes, Corporal." He replied, realising for most of the game he'd been far too absorbed in Levi's facial expressions, Spiderman hanging uselessly off his fingers via string.

"60m class!" He cried, grabbing a large, well-loved rabbit plush off his bed.

Levi made the bunny titan walk across his bedroom floor, coming to a stop next to the Lego wall and placing his paws on the bricks.

Eren swung his own character through the air to land on top of the wall, looking into the eyes of the titan.

"Colossal titan. Haven't seen you in a while." He said.

For a moment Levi froze, looking towards Eren in shock at his knowledge. Eren worried slightly he'd ruined everything, that Levi would be far too scared to be around the man who, as far as he was concerned, had read his mind. But as soon as the surprise had come it left again, Levi continuing his game as if nothing had happened.

"Eren?" Raquel said softly, announcing her return.

He looked up at the women who was watching the pair with a found smile, Levi ignored his mum completely and instead pulled the titan's leg back and kicked the wall.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?" She asked, gesturing Eren out the room with a curl of her finger.

"Later mummy! Eren's playing with me." Levi answered for him, looking up at her with a cross scowl.

"Levi, he can play giants with you later." She laughed, completely unfazed by a look that had once had Eren quacking in his boots.

"They're not giants, they're titans." He pouted as Eren placed the figure back on the floor and pushed himself onto his feet.

Reluctantly Eren followed Raquel out of the room, glancing back to Levi as he went, but the look was never fully returned. Stubbornly Levi looked up at him through his eyelashes before picking up the character he'd dropped and continuing his game.

"The walls have been breached." Levi called as Raquel shut the door behind them.

With a quick nod towards the stairs she lead them downstairs, the sounds of Levi's fun growing fainter and fainter, Eren yearning to run back into the room and bask in his once grumpy love's joy.

"How would you feel about a test run tonight?" Raquel asked, placing a tea and biscuits in front of Eren on the table.

"Tonight?" He echoed in shock.

Granted, there was nothing he wanted more than to spend all the time possible with Levi he just hadn't expected to be given responsibility for someone else so soon.

"I know it's quick. Originally I'd hoped that I could stay with you today and see how you and Levi are together but I got a call from work and they need me." She explained.

"Right." Eren nodded, reaching out for a biscuit.

"I'll be right at the end of a phone if you need me and Levi is quite an independent child so he won't be much work." She smiled. "I'm really hoping you'll say yes so Levi doesn't have to sleep in my office again."

Raquel smiled hopefully up at him, eyes pleading with him to agree. It turned out that this look was one she shared with her son and Eren had no control over his words when he opened his mouth.

"Sure, I'll do the trail." He agreed.

"You will? Thanks so much." She gushed, a smile spreading across her face.

"Don't worry about it." He smiled back.

How hard could it be? Eren added silently as Raquel made a grab for her keys and handbag.

"Feed him with anything you can find in the fridge or the freezer." She told him pointing around the kitchen. "And obviously feed yourself. About eight send him off for a shower then to bed for him to tell you a bed time story."

"He'll tell me a story?" He asked, wondering if he'd misheard her.

"Yeah, he loves telling people about the giants."

"Titans." Eren corrected automatically.

"Titans." She said with a dismissive wave. "You're new so there's a lot to catch up on."

"I look forward to it." He bluffed, hoping he could help Levi fill in his blanks, remind him of the past they once shared. He'd obviously spare all the intimate details but to know they were close was important.

"He'll fall asleep around 9, so if he's still talking just tell him he'll have to save the rest for another day." She told him, with a smile.

Deciding that was enough information to take care of the small boy, Raquel walked into the hallway and shouted up the stairs for Levi.

"My phone will be on my desk the whole time so if you're confused about anything, even the slightest thing, just give me a call." She told him.

"Yes?" Levi asked, crossing his arms slightly when he arrived at the bottoms of the stairs.

"Listen sweetie, mummy has got to go to work." Raquel explained, bending down to reach his eye line.

"Do I have to come too?" He sighed, Eren smiling at his eerily similar attitude to the old Levi.

"No, Eren's going to stay here and play with you." She smiled.

"Okay." Levi said slowly, eyeing up the older boy. Although he'd been willing to play with him it was clear to see he was quite wary of being left alone with him.

"You'll have lots of fun together." She reassured, pulling him into a hug. "You going to be on your best behaviour for Eren?"

"Yes mummy." He nodded against her neck.

"Good boy." Raquel gave Levi a quick kiss before standing tall again.

Eren smiled at the exchange, Levi finally having the family love he'd always deserved, that he'd once admitted to him late night in bed that he yearned for.

"Honestly Eren he'll be no trouble. He'll probably just be playing upstairs." She reassured.

For the first time since Eren had arrived Levi appeared shy, standing behind Raquel as she checked the contents of her bag. The idea of his mum leaving him with this stranger causing him slight nerves.

Apprehensively he stepped towards Eren, lightly slipping the Spiderman toy into his hand in what he assumed was a silent invitation to continue their game.

"Oh Eren!" Raquel cried out, lifting her head from her bag. "I'll show you how to work the TV before I disappear. Levi, darling, you can go back and play."

She took hold of Eren's wrist and led him into the living room, clearly having missed the whole exchange between her son and the older boy.

"Tch." Levi muttered.

Eren snapped his head around so quickly he felt a slight twinge in his neck, the simple phrase throwing him back to nights in the castle. Levi watching, and judging, his every move.

Levi quickly shot Eren a look, obviously deeply offended that he'd chosen to listen to his mother over him, before stomping back up the stairs.

Raquel frowned slightly as she heard him go but then quickly shrugged.

"It will pass." She reassured before showing him the basics of the TV.

...

True to Raquel's word Levi still hadn't left his bedroom, Eren having sat and watched TV for almost an hour now. He was tempted to go check on him but the glare he'd received before Levi left told him to leave him alone. Even after all these years he still knew how read him.

Feeling eyes on him Eren glanced towards the door to see Levi stood there, hugging the once colossal titan bunny to his chest. Looking at him now Eren realised that the Levi he knew was gone and in his place was a young, innocent child.

Gone was the confident, if somewhat cocky, corporal who carried himself with an aura of superiority. All that remained was a little boy who was left alone with a strange man, a little boy who wanted to appear strong but underneath it all he still needed comfort and reassurance.

Eren knew he had to start again with this Levi, he wasn't his Levi anymore and holding onto that would make things worse. Levi was unsure, just like in the past he was a loner, never letting anyone get close, he knew if he came on too strong he'd scare him away. But Eren had won Levi over once he could do it again. Granted their relationship would have to be different this time but he didn't mind, as long as he could be with Levi once again he would be happy.

"Hi." Eren said quietly as Levi slowly walked into the room.

"Are you one of mummy's friends?" He asked, tightening his arms around the rabbit.

Eren debated his answer, unsure of what Levi wanted to hear, what would make the small boy trust him.

"Mummy's friends come over sometimes for sleepovers but then they don't stay very long." He explained.

"I'm not one of Mummy's friends." Eren shook his head, he was definitely not one of those friends.

"Then why are you here?" He questioned, frowning slightly, Eren having to suppress a grin at the look, the same look he'd use to intimidate young trainees.

"I want to be your friend." He smiled, wanting to reach his hand out to him but forced it down. "Would that be okay?"

"I guess so." He said, hesitantly walking over to the sofa and sitting with him.

He was sat at the other end, as far away as he possibly could get, but at this stage it was good. Small steps and he knew they would get there.

Eren washed up the plates that they had eaten dinner off, relieved to see that Levi no longer carried the bunny around for protection, that he was happily talking to him and that he'd eaten all of his dinner despite the slightly burnt pizza base.

"Eren?" Levi asked, pulling himself up with a slight struggle onto the table.

"Yes?" He replied, glancing over his shoulder at him.

"Can I have some ice cream?" He questioned, smiling up at Eren innocently.

Earlier he and Levi had searched together for something to eat in the freezer and of course Levi's eyes had zoned in on the tub of vanilla at the back. Looking at his happy face Eren found himself unable to say no, he'd never been able to deny Levi.

"Alright, since you've been such a good boy." He smiled, getting the treat out of the freezer.

"Thank you Eren!" Levi exclaimed, eagerly taking the ice cream and spoon offered to him.

Once he'd cleaned the kitchen he turned to Levi, happily eating his ice cream while his legs swung back and forth. How simple his joy could be in this world, all the troubles of the past were long gone and Eren couldn't be more thankful.

"Do you want some?" He asked, holding out the spoon for Eren.

"Sure." He agreed, walking over towards the other boy.

He leant down, ready for the treat, only to have the frozen, sticky ice cream smeared across his nose where Levi had also been lifting his arm to his mouth. The small boy watched with wide eyes as it dripped off his nose and landed with a plop on the floor.

Suddenly, Levi's grin grew twice as big before he broke into fits of giggles, the loud, lyrical noise filling the room. Eren felt his throat turn dry at the sound, he'd only heard a hollow chuckle coming from Levi before never such a pure laugh.

Eren's heart beat in double time, he wanted to reach out and pull Levi into his arms, hold him tight and never let go. His perfect, precious Levi was finally back in his life and he found himself still unconditionally, irreversibly in love with every little part of him.

"You're so silly Eren!" Levi tried to say between breaths, his whole body shaking with laughter.

"I think this was actually your fault." Eren said with a fond smile.

"Nu-uh! You're the one who nose-dived into the spoon." He said adamantly.

"And I didn't even get any ice cream." He pouted falsely for Levi's benefit.

"Here you go." He smiled, holding out the now empty spoon.

"Thanks."

He sunk the spoon into the ice cream and dug down deep but instead of bringing it to his mouth he pressed it against Levi's cheek, giving the boy a matching smear.

"Eren!" He cried out, giggling once again, Eren completely addicted to the sound.

"Sorry." He apologised, wiping some cream on his other cheek.

"You're getting me all sticky." He complained, going against the smile spreading across his face.

"So I am, I'm not very good at this." He sighed dramatically, finally moving the spoon away from Levi's face.

"I'll help you!" Levi shouted, grabbing onto Eren's hand and pushing the spoon into his chin.

"I'll get you for that." Eren warning swiftly grabbing the ice cream out his lap.

"No!" He screamed in excitement, jumping off the table ready to run.

Before he had a chance to escape Eren grabbed him around the waist and pulled his back against his stomach. He leant down to cover the boy in ice cream when his nose was filled with Levi's scent, the familiar smell transporting him back.

He was in the castle, holding Levi close as he deeply inhaled the scent that drove him wild but made him feel safe all at the same time. He pressed open mouthed kisses to his neck as the man in his arms gently ground against his crotch, slowly arousing him and filling him with lust.

With a gasp Eren quickly released the squirming child in his arms, his whole body turning cold at the disgusting thought he'd had around the boy. Levi looked up in confusion that their game had ended to abruptly.

"Your mummy won't be happy when she finds out I let you have ice cream and wiped it all over your face." He burst out in panic as he noticed the beginnings of a pout forming on Levi's lips.

"I won't tell her." He promised.

"You go have a shower and I'll clean up this mess so she won't know." Eren winked.

"Okay, I'll call you when I'm finished." Levi said, attempting to wink back but just blinked at him.

Eren took a deep breath and ran his fingers through his hair once he was alone, he couldn't let himself have thoughts like that anymore, not now Levi was a child. It was wrong, it was sick. He may have loved a man but that certainly wasn't what he had now.

"Eren! I'm ready!" A now clean Levi called down the stairs.

"Coming!" He shouted back, turning off the TV and heading up to the boy's room.

He walked inside to see Levi already settled in his bed, eyes drooping as he struggled to stay awake, his small mouth opening wide in a yawn.

"Ready for bed?" Eren asked, leaning against the door.

"Not yet." He shook his head, rubbing at his watery, sleepy eyes. "We have to have a story."

"Okay." He nodded, chest tightening at the word story.

It was one thing to hear Raquel call the Titans a story but with Levi doing it too it was clear to him that he didn't believe them either. To him it was just a game, not a world that had once been, everything that happened back then was just a dream.

He sat down on the chair at Levi's desk and looked at him expectantly only to have Levi shake his head at him.

"No, you have to get into my bed just like Mummy does." He explained, shuffling over and pulling the corner of his duvet back in invitation.

"I think I'll stay over here Levi." He said, swallowing thickly.

After what had happened in the kitchen Eren felt it best if he kept a safe distance between them, keeping their physical contact to a minimum for a while.

"Please Eren." He whined, the sad voice squeezing at Eren's heart.

"Alright, just this once." He relented, glancing at the clock, it would only be for ten minutes and then he'd go. It would be fine.

Once under the covers Levi snuggled into Eren's chest, wrapping his arms and legs around his body like ivy. A tired Levi always was a more affectionate Levi.

"So, you going to tell me about the titans?" Eren asked awkwardly, wanting nothing more than to wrap his arms around the boy but knew he had to resist.

"There are four different class of titan. 5m, 7m, 15m and 60m." He said, almost losing the end of his sentence to a yawn.

"And where do they come from?" He asked.

"Nobody knows, where they come from or how they're born." He explained, nuzzling his face into Eren.

"Maybe people can change into titans?" He pressed.

"No. People fight titans why would they want to be them?" He questioned.

Eren's pulse quickened at his response, Levi's mind hadn't reached the titan shifters yet, he hadn't even reached the point where he and Eren met. There was hope, he'd remember who they were one day, he'd remember their relationship, he'd remember everything they meant to each other.

"Is there anyone else with you?" He continued his questioning, despite the slur to Levi's voice as he spoke.

"My friends." He yawned, his breathing slowing as sleep began to take over.

"Who?" He asked but never got a response as Levi was gone.

He looked down at the mess of limbs wrapped around him, holding him tightly even in sleep. He knew he should leave but instead he basked in the familiar warmth and comfort that he always got from Levi's embrace.

Subconsciously, his arms wrapped around the boy, pulling him flush against him, their heart's beating together once again.

"I'm so glad I found you." Eren whispered, pressing a chaste kiss into Levi's soft hair.