~ A year later ~

I whooped loudly as I felt the wind whipped by my face, my hair shooting out behind me in brown tangled streaks. Looking around, I saw the world blur as we raced through the trees, practically flying. Smiling widely, I clung to his shoulders, pressing as close as I could to the soothing warmth and reassuring sturdiness that is Levi. I heard him chuckle, followed by playful insults. He outright laughed at my audible pout.

He maneuvered us easily back to the cave and still managed to land gracefully even while carrying me on his back. "That was great!" I squealed as I slid off him. "We should do that again sometimes." He hummed, pretending to think on it while he pulled me into a kiss. His mouth moved on mine and, just like he taught me, I opened my own to welcome him.

This type of kiss had been a surprise when it first happened a while ago. I nearly fell over from shock when I felt his tongue brush over my lips. He then explained, told me how to do it and proceeded to give me the greatest kiss of my life(but then again, I've never really kissed anyone else so...). It shocked me but it doesn't mean I hate it, I love it in fact. Proof of this statement came in the form of a low whine as Levi nipped at my lower lip, tugging and sucking on the piece of flesh like it was something delicious. I smoothed my hands up his chest, over his shoulders and into his hair, pulling him closer than before. We parted for a breathless moment, observing the others completely disheveled appearance before rushing back in with a need I could only compare to a titans need for flesh. Levi wrapped his arms tight around me, slowly walking me backwards until my back brushed up against what I could only guess to be a tree.

His kisses started to miss their mark as they slowly inched towards my neck, teeth nipping at my pulse. I gasped as he bit a little too close to my nape for comfort. "No..." I breathed. "N-not there!" The urgency in my tone alerted Levi that this might not be the best idea. He pulled back immediately, searching my eyes for something, anything that might give him a clue as to what to do. "What's wrong?" He asked, breath coming out in little puffs and cheeks just the vaguest tint of red.

I shuddered in a breath, forcing myself to calm down because this was Levi damn it! He wouldn't hurt me, he's proven that more than enough over the years. He loves me and I love him and-fuck those blades were sharp.

My eyes were drawn unbidden to the gear hanging by Levi's waist and the blades that they housed. Why did this still bother me? Levi would never hurt me!

If you're so sure, why not tell him? Tell him what you are.

I cringed.

The thought had been popping up a lot lately and, though I disliked it, the answer was always the same. No, I can't, because no matter how much he loves me, even Levi wouldn't be able to love a monster like me.

"Eren?" He repeated, using his hand to force my head and eyes upwards to look at him. I suppressed a shiver at the concerned look in his eyes.

Not for me, not for the real me.

"I'm fine." I wheezed, "Just...don't touch my neck too much, it's very...uh...sensitive?" It really wasn't all that convincing and I could tell Levi didn't believe a word but he backed off anyways. "Sorry." I mumbled but he just waved it off with his usual scoff and dull expression. I mourned the pleasant mood that had been there just moments ago, now unable to be salvaged. I shuffled my feet awkwardly, wondering what to do next and sighed in relief when Levi took charge and announced that a bath was in order after all that exercise.

We started towards the cave when he punched me in the arm in what I can only guess was an attempt to diffuse the tension. I yelped, cradling the wounded limb against my chest and staring wide eyed at my ass of a boyfriend.

"What the fuck was that?" I cried indignantly.

Levi just ignored me, speeding up his steps to, supposedly, reach the the pond faster but I saw that annoying smirk. "Oh no you don't!" I yelled, just about to sprint after him but stopping mid stride.

I tipped my head back, nose twitching as it caught the scent again. My breath caught in my throat and I snapped my head back down to check on Levi, but by that point, Levi was inside the cave and had probably already reached the water.

This was bad.

They're not supposed to be here!

How the fuck did it get in?

The ground under my feet shook, loud thumps and the snapping of trees could be heard in the distance. The sounds grew louder, closer and I couldn't figure out what to do. There was a chance that Levi would come back out which meant I couldn't risk transforming, but my instincts to defend my territory were too strong to just let me go inside the cave, not to mention that though the cave is sturdy and made of rock, it could still be crushed if the right amount of force was used. So I can't go inside, but I can't do anything in this form, so what do I-

My thoughts cut off as a loud crack shocked me out of my daze and I turned immediately to meet the glazed stare and smug grin of my own kind.

It wasn't as tall as my true form, but for this one, it would be enough. Its yellow hair was short, covered in dirt and bits of the trees it undoubtedly destroyed on the way here. Its eyes sunk into its skull and its grin was too large, leaking drool in a show of excitement.

I gulped.

It sprung at me and I couldn't help the terrified yelp I let out as I dove to the side. I rolled, stood and backed up against a tree as it got down on all fours, back towards the cave, and crawled towards me. Its face came unbearably close to me in a sick reenactment of what had happened earlier with Levi.

I held my breath as it opened its jaw, inching forwards to catch me between its teeth.

Then it stopped, sniffed and seemed to hesitate.

It seemed confused, not sure what to do.

Then it jerked harshly and collapsed into a steaming pile of flesh.

"Eren!" Levi yelled, his usual deep voice hitching a little higher with worry. I couldn't respond, all I could do was stare at the large teeth disappearing just by my toes. I don't think I had ever been this scared of my own kind before. Sure, she and the other two had a tendency to make me worry about my well being but never actually fear for my life. The lower class titans couldn't even hope to make me worry, they were weak, smaller and had no actual thought process unlike the four of us. This was a new experience, a terrifying experience.

This was the first time I had experienced my kind as a human.

I felt sick just thinking about it.

This was Levi's life? This was the life of a human? Living each day with the possibility of facing deaths smug smile?

How terrifying.

I felt something press up against me and jumped, almost letting out a scream until I realized that I knew the soft and silky strands of midnight hair. Levi had wrapped himself around me, breathing in deeply and squeezing my arms into my side. "Levi!" I gasped. Suddenly he let go, pulled back and punched me.

His face was impassive as he watched me whine and clutch my cheek.

"Call me next time you fucking piece of shit. If I hadn't come out just now you would be titan shit." He practically growled, glaring at me. It proved to be very intimidating with the steaming corpse just behind him.

He reached out again and I flinched. His glared softened into something more caring as he continued the gesture and pulled my hand away from my cheek to inspect the damage. "So don't you go doing that again, you hear me brat?" I nodded but twitched as he prodded the tender skin. I only hoped that the steam from the titan covered up my own steam. "Now stop that shivering, you're freaking me out." I hadn't even realized that I was shaking. I tried to stop but I just couldn't. I glanced behind Levi and stared at the dead titan.

"C-can we j-just go inside?" I asked, desperate to get away from human reality. I knew of it before, but I had never really experienced what they must feel during the act.

Levi nodded and helped me to the cave, through the tunnels and to my bed.

"I thought you would be used to this by now." He said as I sat down on my bed. I shook my head. "They've...uh...never come this close before. It's just...a shock." He nodded in understanding as he rubbed soothing circles on my back. "At least you didn't piss your pants, most people in the survey corps do on their first expedition." I guess he was expecting a laugh at that because he was suddenly staring at me, waiting for something. I probably would have laughed at that if I couldn't imagine just how those poor people felt when they saw a titan. Instead, I found myself asking whether he had. He sighed, "No. I could barely bring myself to find them all that terrifying. I actually almost laughed at their idiocy and deformities that made them walk funny. That, of course, was before the killing started." His face twisted in a mix of grief and anger at the memories and I had to grab his hand to bring him back. He looked at our entwined fingers and squeezed.

"You shitty brat, don't go dying on me, you got that? I already have too much to bear."

I smiled at him, reaching out and pulling him in for a sweet kiss.

"Wouldn't dream of it, Angel."