Eren tried to tell himself that their deaths weren't his fault. That there was no way he could have known what would happen. It was all in vain because Eren knew. If he had been smarter, if he had been stronger, then they wouldn't have died. Countless lives were lost because he trusted someone to know what to do.
But he hid the pain that those undeniable truths caused. He pushed his anguish down and tried to carry on. But despite that, his regret rose inside like bile, threating to choke him. It was only a matter of time till he broke.
And when he did it was, as the fates would have it, in front of Levi.
When Levi found him, he was shaking, sobbing bitterly for what he had done in his room. At the sound of the door opening, he looked up in horror to see Levi. He turned away and tried to compose himself but the tears wouldn't stop.
To his suprise, Levi didn't reprimand him. Feeling the bed shift under the weight of another, he kept his gaze to the floor and tried to contain his cries to quiet whimpers. He flinched when Levi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong, Brat." His words, though harsh, were comforting in their familiarity.
Eren opened his mouth, but all that came out was a choked sob. He leaned into Levi's touch and was shocked when the hand rubbed comforting circles on his back. Eren tried to speak but his voice was hoarse from crying.
"I-It's my fault. They died be-because I..." He couldn't finish, drowning in the never ending sorrow that settled in his chest.
Levi sighed and embraced the teen. "You couldn't have known what would happen."
Eren buried his head in Levi's shoulder. The other male's words and touch were comforting. Eren didn't know how much time had passed as Levi held him. But he did know that every whispered word and soft touch eased the ache in his heart. When Eren leaned back and looked Levi in the eyes, he thanked him and meant it more than anything. Levi didn't verbally reply, but his lips on Eren's were better than words could ever be.
