I'm so ahead I decided to go ahead and update again - happy happy joy joy!
Warnings: RIREN RIREN RIREN! Oh and did I mention the Riren pairing? There also may be moments of depression and loneliness in case those may be triggers. Eventual romance. Uhhh... I dunno - stupidity? Oh! Probable language later on.
Bold and Italics is Eren's journal which is written in first person. Italics are thoughts.
Attack on Titan / Shingeki no Kyojin belongs to Hajime Isayama - not I.
Eren tapped away at his laptop, making note of the information Pixis had given him. He had files for everyone that he found, he wrote down all he remembered of them from the past and then updated their information with what they were now - what profession, under what name and their general location in the world. He also included a brief depiction of how the modern day meeting went. Usually they were sad notes that he wrote after the event, filled with disappointment and sadness. For once, he had good notes to write over a reconnection with a lost comrade.
He paused when his phone began ringing. With a small sigh, he looked at the number. Eren gave a low growl as he picked up, "What do you want Reiner?" The massive blonde had been a pain in his ass in the past and was proving to be just as much so in his reincarnated form.
"Such animosity," the man replied sarcastically, "and here I was starting to think you liked me."
"You've got one minute before I hang up," he said icily.
Reiner scoffed over the line, "Fine. Listen Jaeger, this is orders coming from over my jurisdiction, the higher ups are getting anxious over your extended absence. They want you to come back for a solid month and then they said you could go out 'adventuring' again."
Eren frowned, "A month is too long. This is my own privately funded research trip, if I keep giving this museum the information it wants then it will be more than worth all the time I'm spending away. And if they can't handle that - then I quit." With that, he hung up with an audible click.
He leant forward onto the desk, allowing his head to fall in his hands. Ultimately his other job was unnecessary, the Museum of the Walls was funding his exploration and researching. They paid for any expenses he might have and in return, he fed them valuable documents for the time period and information relating to any mysteries they might still have.
Though admittedly some of the documents were ones he had saved from all those years ago. One of his prized possessions was the book that he, Armin and Mikasa would look at when they had been young. He didn't think he would ever hand it over to the museum, not until he finally died.
His thoughts went to his most prized possession - a neatly folded and pressed cravat that he had every intention of returning. Levi had promised to return for it, he merely had to pray that he would.
Tears prickled at the corner of his eyes and suddenly he felt the urge to check on the said cravat. Eren dug through his laptop case until he came upon the worn wooden case with Levi's initials burned into the top. He gave a sad smile as unlocked it and opened the lid to peer at the crisp fabric. The box still smelled as it had 2000 years ago - something he found remarkable. The scent of his lover filled his heart. He missed the man dearly.
"Soon," he promised, "I swear I'll find you soon, Levi."
His phone began ringing again, a quick glance let him know it was Reiner. It wasn't exactly a personal problem he had with the man but rather the fact that he couldn't overlook what his past self had done; even if his present self didn't have any memory of it.
Eren scowled as he let it go to voicemail. He couldn't handle Reiner right then, maybe when he felt better. With a small sigh, he shut his laptop and slipped it into his shoulder bag. With much more care, he closed the wooden case and situated it too within the confines of his bag.
He needed a walk.
The weather was relatively fair as he exited the hotel. It was nothing like the climate where he liked to call home but it was still nice.
Mentally he reminded himself not to get attached as he would be leaving the area soon enough. He had gathered the documents he had come to retrieve, so he had to deliver them to the museum back in Germany.
Eren pulled out his phone and took a look at his airline tickets. They were set for that evening. He gave a low sigh. It seemed that would be his last day in the city.
Someone bumped into him interrupting his thoughts.
"Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry sir," the stranger spluttered, bending down to pick up the small stack of papers he had dropped.
His breath caught in his throat. He swallowed and forced himself to reply, "That's alright, I wasn't paying attention. Are you okay?"
The blonde flushed as he nodded, "Yes I'm fine, my apologies."
Eren offered a strained smile in response.
"I told you to keep your eyes up," another voice said gruffly.
Why? Why did life have to torment him so? He coughed to clear his throat from the lump that had formed there. Tears stung the corners of his eyes.
"Forgive him, he is a bit absent minded at times," the woman said with a small smirk.
"Mikasa..." The other grumbled.
Eren gave a breathy laugh, "It's okay really, I'm not angry. We all have our off days."
Armin brightened, "See? He's not even upset! No need to humiliate me in front of a stranger."
"Eren," he said added with another forced smile.
"And now he's not even a stranger," Armin remarked with a bright smile. He stuck out his hand, "The name's Armin Arlert, nice to meet you."
His heart broke at the introduction but he tried desperately to not let it show. They didn't remember. He shook the hand, "Likewise."
Armin looked over at the dark haired woman beside him with a pointed stare.
She sighed, "My name is Mikasa Arlert. I'm his older sister."
The blonde pouted slightly, "Adopted older sister, no way would I want to be blood related to you..."
Mikasa smacked him on the top of the head gently, "Shut it, twerp. I'm your sister, have been for ten years."
Eren laughed genuinely at that. At least they hadn't really changed that much. "I see there's a sibling rivalry at work here." He needed to escape. "Well it has been nice talking but I should go, sorry for the interruption in your day." He only managed a few steps before Armin called out to him.
"Wait! Come have coffee with us," he said, "as a way of saying sorry for being dumb and running into you."
He swallowed back his emotions and allowed his mask to slide into place. He smiled to them, "I'll have a tea, but sure why not." His heart was breaking every moment he had to stay beside them knowing they didn't remember but he did his best to push past it. He was getting to spend time with them and that was something worth the misery it brought.
And so he found himself sitting at a small booth at an equally small cafe, accompanied by his two best friends that didn't remember him. What an occasion.
"So what's so precious about those papers?" he asked out of curiosity and sheer need to break the silence.
Armin took a swig of his coffee with an excited gleam in his eyes. "It's an article I wrote with the hopes of getting published in a news magazine. I've been trying to make sure it's perfect for when I present it to my publisher."
Mikasa rolled her eyes, "You can't make something more than perfect," she muttered. "He's been at this article for a good two months and he's still freaking out about it. Even though everyone who has read it has had nothing but good things to say about it."
He gestured to the papers, "May I?"
The blonde passed them over quickly, looking away shyly and sipping at his coffee once more.
The title definitely peaked his interest: Two Thousand Years of Stories. Eren raised a brow as he read through the first few paragraphs with intrigue. It was a collection of stories about the times of titans and about the time period itself. He couldn't help a fond smile at the irony of it all. "One would think you'd wish to get noticed by the Museum of the Walls, as well, am I wrong?"
Armin blushed but nodded. "I love that museum and have dreamed since I was little that I might be able to become a curator or even a guide there."
Eren smirked and fingered a business card in his pocket, "Well I'll put in a good word with the masters of the museum. Just tell me when the article is published, I'm sure they'd love to read it."
The duo eyed him curiously. Though Armin's was mixed with awe.
"Y-You know the owners...?" He managed.
"Yeah, Lady Historia is very generous and caring, she would adore you," Eren said with confidence. "Lady Ymir would surely accept you as well if Historia gives her blessing."
Armin gaped at him.
Eren then slid a business card towards him, "I'm the resident adventurer, I go around the world collecting documents, information and artifacts from the time period and bring them back to the museum for m'ladies. In return they fund my trips and living expenses." He waved his hand in a dismissing gesture, "Anyways, if you're serious about it then I will tell them and try to get you a place there."
Mikasa narrowed her eyes, "Is there some kind of catch here? How can we trust you? We barely even know you..."
He raised his hands in surrender. Same old Mikasa. "I promise I'm not up to anything. I mean if you'd like to speak to Lady Historia personally, I could call her. She's expecting a call from me anyway..."
"Do it," the dark haired woman snapped at him.
He swiftly pulled out his phone and dialed the general number to the museum that he knew Historia would pick up. He put it on speaker when he heard the line connect.
"Thank you for calling the Museum of the Walls, how may we help you today?" Came her cheery voice.
Armin paled in realization.
"It's me, M'lady," he said lightly.
"Oh Eren! I was wondering when you would call," Historia said excitedly, "but why didn't you just call my personal number?"
Eren glanced quickly at the duo sitting with him, "No reason, I just wanted to call and ask you something real quick, if you're not busy."
The other chuckled over the line, "Never too busy for you my fine adventurer, what do you need?"
"Do we have any open positions for curators or guides currently?"
"Oh yes!" She practically shouted, "I could use a new guide as I just had one leave for schooling! Do you have an interested client?"
He sent a grin to Armin, "I may have someone for you, yes."
Historia was beaming, he was sure, "Oh gracious, well gather their information for me and tell them to consider moving out here! I'll pay for the move and help them get settled, we can set them up with language lessons too if needed! I'm so happy you may have found someone for me, Eren!"
"It's my pleasure, M'lady," he replied cordially, "and as far as my excursion here, it was a most fruitful venture. I'll be on the return flight this evening with the documents. Everything is fine on my end."
She gave a small squeal over the line, "You never fail in amazing me! A job well done Eren! Thank you so much, I can't wait to see you once you arrive back. Please let Ymir and myself know once you're properly adjusted back to the time difference. We must have a meeting over your latest venture!"
Eren almost rolled his eyes, excitable as always. "As you wish ma'am. I will send you the client's information once I receive it. His name is Armin Arlert."
"Armin... Arlert.." She repeated in a distracted tone, "alright I've made a note. Thank you again my dear! See you soon!"
They hung up at the same time, as was usual. He eyed the two before him cautiously. "So...?"
"Did you really just get me an interview for the Museum of the Walls...?"
He nodded.
"And that was really Historia Reiss, owner of the museum?"
Another nod, "Yep, that's basically what happened."
Armin's mouth flapped as though he wished to say more but couldn't find words or his voice.
Mikasa scoffed, "I won't believe it until we see her face to face. Or until we fly there for this 'interview'."
Eren downed a drink of his black tea. It wasn't up to the godly standards that Levi had but it was just fine for him. Vaguely he wondered if all of his practice preparing tea to Levi's standards had actually helped or not. He supposed it had if he could taste the difference.
"Fine by me. If I know M'lady, she'll be wanting an in person interview within a week or two, so be ready," he said nonchalantly.
Armin still sat in wordless shock nearby.
A man in a clean and pressed business suit came up to the table, "Excuse the intrusion, Mr. Jaeger but we need to begin heading out. The airport is a bit of drive from here."
Eren sighed and gulped down the last of his tea, "Alright Moblit, let's go. I'm sure we'll be in contact soon, Mikasa, Armin. Until the next time." He stood and followed the other out of the cafe wordlessly.
Once outside, Moblit peered at him curiously, "Do they..?"
Bitterness welled up within him as he shook his head, "Nothing. Let's go Moblit."
"Sir."
It was such a popular demand so I decided to go ahead and give it to you! R&R if you so wish, tell me your thoughts :D
~Ghosties