Please do read this chapter to the very end :D Today's a very special day for this fanfic. Can't believe it's this time of the year already :')

Thank you to Sakura245 and HeartElyse for your lovely reviews!

Buckle up and get ready for the chapter!

Eren was now currently gently wiping down a couch, making sure that his towel wasn't too wet or else the couch will end up being too damp. His mind went off somewhere else, thinking about what Eld said just before he left.

"You may even be able to establish a new basis of trust." Was what Eld said before leaving.

Eren did not know why he had to 'establish a new basis of trust' or 'connect to him more'. "….." Thus he continued silently cleaning away, thinking. 'I am staying the Scouting Corps thanks to Captain's supervision. Also…what else is there aside from him supervising me? Has he become my guardian or something?'

Just then, Levi happened to walk in. He had finally, at long last finished all six reports and polished them, and Hangi was meant to pick them up. "Oi Eren."

"Yes-" He turned around from the couch and saw Levi standing there. For some reason, he felt fidgety. 'Should I? What if he doesn't like it? Uh…..' He swallowed before collecting his guts to say it. It's now or never. "-Captain Levi..."

Levi paused in his tracks. His mouth was slightly open, staring. That feeling inside of him stopped, or more like he felt fulfilled. He quickly shut his mouth and pressed it into a thin line.

'Um…' "Captain…Levi?" Eren called again when he got no answer.

Levi's mind immediately flashed back to the times when he was first given a name. The memory was as clear as day, still resonating with him even until this day. Though the memory itself was painful, he now has many people in the present who are with him.

The first time that person bestowed him his name, he had an identity. That person gave him a gift of identity, which he will forever be thankful for. He would not be here now if it wasn't for that person. That person…

"…Eren…"

"Yes Captain Levi?" Eren replied to his calls again. By now he was used to being called and he ignored that weird feeling.

"Eren." Levi started walking again, stopping right in front of Eren.

"What's the matter, Captain Levi?" Question marks appeared around Eren's head as he watched Captain stare at him. 'He's a bit close…'

Levi's gaze turned nonchalant and endearing, eyebrows and eyelids relaxed as if he saw something treasurable. But Eren felt that Levi wasn't looking at him. Levi's gaze seemed nonchalant, and slightly hazed as if looking at something else that wasn't him.

Levi didn't know how to feel anymore. This damn brat made him feel weird, and even weirder after calling his name. The nostalgia and melancholy that suddenly ballooned in his chest made his goddamn heart hurt, but this type of hurt was actually more consoling then painful. It reminded him of many things that happened in his past.

It was painful, yet comforting. It was the past he held onto that protected him from the real world, giving him the false security he often needed like a blanket.

He took another step forward, then swung his legs and tripped Eren over. Eren, who had no idea what was coming for him immediately started panicking as he fell hardly onto the just-cleaned couch with a thud.

"Ugh!" He let out a grunt. Eren immediately knew he did the wrong thing by calling Levi by his name. Oh no. Why would captain stare at him as if he was an idiot when he said his name? Probably because he used captain's name without permission. Or maybe captain thinks he's not working hard enough. Or maybe his name was reserved for other people.

The panicking in Eren grew quickly. "Sorr…Sorry! Calling you that really is no good after all!" he started apologising. 'Gyah I guess I'm still in a different league in Captain's eyes than Eld and the others!' He tried to get up from the couch, pushing himself up on one arm.

But before he could, Levi seemingly 'tripped over' and fell directly on top of him, crushing the air out of him and forcing him to tumble back down onto the couch with another ungraceful thud. Levi's head rested heavily on Eren's chest, where he could hear his speeding heart.

"Woah!- why-" Eren tried yelling out, but it came out whispery. 'So heavy…'

Levi did not budge from his spot but instead replied with a simple, "Brat, I need a nap."

"Wait- Hah?! Here? Then I'll go grab a blanket-" Eren is currently slightly freaking out by all of this. He has absolutely no idea what was happening, and whether or not Levi's pissed about him calling his name.

"No need." Levi muttered. "…"

A few strands of hair fell across his eyes as he remained still and silent. Nostalgia – a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. That was how he felt – but then it's not at the same time. He's been looking for something these past few days for the feeling that was rousing inside of him. He has found his answer – but not entirely.

The rise and fall of the person's chest beneath him reminded him of so many things. Oh so many things…

The rough texture of cloth between his fingers…black tea and the languid days that cruised by…but were abruptly cut short…

Meanwhile, Eren was lying there in a very awkwardly straight position not daring to move, so that he doesn't disturb Levi. Who knows what he's going to make him do if he did something wrong again. Shovel horse poop for a lifetime? Become a cleaner for the rest of his cadet-life?

Shadows formed over his eyes as more devastating thoughts went through his mind. He let out a small groan of helplessness and remained as still as a rock. But soon enough his muscles went sore and he couldn't help but fidget as minutely as possible.

Levi, who felt that Eren has started to fidget (and maybe started to suffocate as he was under a human made of pure muscle and solid stuff) decided to flip their configuration over. With one swift move, Eren was all of a sudden draped on top of Levi and pressed against his chest.

Levi let out a sigh and closed his eyes again, finally, after all these days, feeling content. Eren however, was still in the state of shock. Sure his captain would come up to him and pat him on the shoulder if he did good, or maybe be dangling from his arms whilst being rescued from his titan form – but other than that, that was just about the closest they would get.

But now? He was literally lying on top of him. Right on top. It took him a few seconds for it to fully pass through his mind and for him to register what was going on.

"…" Eren's eyes widened unbelievable wide and his heart finally started to speed up. "…Ha?!"

Levi felt the person on top starting to struggle and panic and for a reason, he wanted this to stay on the couch a bit longer. "It's better this way." He murmured, unfazed. Though he forgot to add to his statement– 'than being squished' and maybe a 'now shut up, brat' as well.

Eren, outright took that statement in a weird way and started struggling against Levi's vice grip. "W-W-Wait what? What do you mean!" he yelped, continuing to struggle though never being able to get up. "Uh- I really have to go." He tried but with no avail.

There was no indication that Levi was going to loosen his grip anytime soon. "Let go of me!-" he tried again, louder.

"Shut the fuck up." Levi interrupted in an emotionless tone. With an almighty chop to Eren's exposed neck that was surprisingly firm, Eren lost all his energy and flopped back down in mid-protest. He immediately stopped moving and scrunched his features up to the unexplainable pain that radiated from the back of his neck.

A faint moan of utter defeat came from his mouth. His brain was going to have a hella hard time processing what happened just then.

Levi loosened his muscles and relaxed, exhaling. The gentle silence that enveloped the room was comforting, a blanket of unspoken words that kept them warm. He shifted his gaze upon the brown-haired cadet – humanity's so-called hope – and allowed himself to ponder. Faint crinkles formed under his eyes as he continued staring at Eren, though unexplainably wistful.

He wanted to savour this moment, a moment that he probably won't be able to experience again. It was just him and Eren. This moment may stay with him forever – but maybe more of an embarrassment later on.

In the corner of his vision, he saw someone standing in the doorframe. "…"

Levi let out a dissatisfied exhale.

Hanji leaned against the door frame with crossed arms and had this very disarming smile on her face. "Chop chop! It's time to get up and work." Though her voice was nowhere near amused, but more like apprehension.

Levi sighed.

It was like waking up super late on days where he had nothing planned except maybe teach the boy some new things. His body blatantly notified him that he has been sleeping for incredulously long time and that he better get up or else he's going to get an overdose on sleep – if that was possible. Sleep was rare for him the last couple weeks, and a part of him still wants to drift off again.

The man cracked open his eyelids slowly and was greeted by the same faint lingering smell of tea, the warm and cosiness, except he didn't feel a heavy weight pressed against his chest. Instead, he was looking into a familiar pair of steel grey eyes which were only a few centimetres in front of him

"-H-ey-" He tried to speak, but all that came out was something extremely hoarse and painful. His voice hasn't gotten any water ever since…the time he left his dwelling? There was a whole list of questions beginning to appear in his mind, and each one of them made him even more insecure. There was a nearby clock, and all it told him was that the time was either 5 in the morning or afternoon.

"You're awake." The boy stated.

The man cleared his throat with a hoarse cough. Though he didn't want to admit it, he was slightly disappointed by how plain the boy's reaction was. "Yes, I am." He answered with a reassuring tug at the corner of his lips.

He then attempted to prop himself up, but before he could, the little boy who was seemingly stoic tackled him back onto the couch with a fierce hug.

The boy buried his head into the crook of the man's neck, arms wrapped tightly around the other's chest even though he couldn't reach all the way around. He wanted to make sure, make sure that the person that he was holding was there. Not just a figment of his imagination – not just any old and crippled man, but his old and crippled man.

Well, the man wasn't disappointed anymore. Now that type of reaction was what he was covertly hoping for.

The boy rubbed his face into the man's clothes and pressed his eyes closed, trying to force back the tears that secretly starting to pile. He stayed like that for a while, taking in the man's existence and forcing back the unshed tears. His pride was too big to show that he was on the verge of crying.

"Hey, hey, everything's alright." Though his head still has this faint sensation of a migraine. The man gently wrapped his arm around the boy and softly patted his hair. He gazed at the child in his arm with tenderness. It has been a while, but there was a moment when he came to a realisation that a connection between them had formed.

The boy leaned into the man's touch, face still embedded into his chest. "Shut up." He grumbled. "I don't need your comforting." But despite denying that he didn't care, he still held on tight.

A chuckle escaped the man's lips and it felt so refreshing, to both the boy and himself. He's finally got a good night's sleep and he wakes up to this fluffball who overtly denies that he cared for his wellbeing (though smothers him with a hug within the first minute he gets up). "Ha ha, ok twig," He responded with a feigned huff.

"Don't call me twig!" The boy complained, immediately looking up with sharp eyes. "You old cripple!" He hid his face back into the man's chest, ignoring the fact that hiding his flushed cheeks was actually going protect him. "But…" he continued.

"But what?" The man ventured.

"You're not…" The boy swallowed, "not going to die…right…"

"What?!" 'Skipping right to death again- well, I did pass out…I probably did scare him a bit.' The man looked down and finally realised how the boy was desperately clinging to him, hands clenched and gathering fabric. "I'm going nowhere." He stated firmly, 'Not until…'

"But you!-" He pressed his lips together, forcing himself to stop. The trauma he went through was enough. When he first slept in the spare bedroom, he had a terrible nightmare that the man lying lifeless in a dark alleyway. He immediately went to seek the familiar and comforting warmth which he would go to whenever he had a terrifying nightmare. If the boy could tighten his grip anymore, he did, and it was surprisingly strong. "But you…"

"You basically fell into a syncope at the side of the road due to hypotension and extreme mental exhaustion." A person's voice cuts in. It was silvery, clear and light but somewhat mellow and firm. Somebody who speaks with confidence in their words.

The man jumped slightly and tensed up, on alert. His natural reaction to a stranger would definitely be "who the hell are you," before proceeding to beat the crap out of them if they don't show him that they are of no harm. The underground was a dangerous place after all.

However, the boy in his arm did not seem at all alert and simply pressed his face into his chest even more. Though he did nudged himself upright a bit so that he would be more presentable.

The boy turned his face slightly so that one eye was peeking at the person. "Doctor." He uttered.

"Doctor?" The man echoed quietly.

Deilan the doctor stepped forward, however hesitated when he saw the one-armed man tensed up. he quickly went on to introduce himself to lighten up the tension. "I-uh-um, I'm uh Deilan. I saw that you were in need of medical attention at the side of the road so I uh went to help you." He didn't seem as confident now. Deilan is a sincere doctor at heart, but nothing more when it comes to everyday conversations.

"Oh." The one-armed man was still sceptical. Doctors do not just appear out of nowhere, and being in the underground, coming across a doctor would almost be impossible. All this could be an act.

The boy seemed to detect the uneasiness the man was going through. "He's the greengrocer grandpa's nephew."

With that, the man was able to relax a bit. "Well, I'm in your debt. Thank you."

Deilan saw the signal that he was allowed to continue moving forward, so he went briskly to the couch opposite and sat down. "Can I do a quick check up?" he asked. "I didn't get the chance to properly do so yesterday afternoon."

Slight shock swept over the man as he pieced together the information. 'Yesterday afternoon?! So I've been here for more than just a couple hours!' He could feel the headache ebbing back again, the constricting and thrumming pain beginning to grow. Releasing the boy, he used the hand to rub his temple.

"Are you ok?" Deilan asked when he saw the other showing signs of a headache.

"A-ah, I'm fine. And yeah, the check-up." He quickly answered.

The boy thought of something. "I'll get you tea." The man would always like tea.

The doctor gave an amused chuckle. 'This child is cute.' "Na-uh, for now, it would be better if he stuck to plain water. It help him recover better."

If Deilan didn't add on the fact that it would help the man recover, he would've got tea anyways, but the fact that it would do good, the boy listened for this one time. He unwrapped his arms around the man's chest and hopped down from the couch before walking off, looking back at the man one last time before he went.

"You must be a great doctor," The man suddenly commented. "He wouldn't usually open up to anyone."

"Ahh," the sandy-haired doctor gave an airy laugh, "You know, he didn't dare leave your side when I first carried you in – and…your son…was quite protective of you too."

The man's heart skipped a beat when he referred to the boy as his son. He never really thought about it that way, and now thinking about it the idea of him having a child made him a couple degrees embarrassed and flustered. "N-No, I-w-we a-aren't related ahaha…" He started blabbering and he immediately regretted it because it made things even more complicated.

Though Deilan was slow to catch on and immediately turned into a deep shade of red. "Oh! God, I'm sorry- Ahha I presumed that since you guys were together and all." He apologised, just as flustered. The Deilan inside his mind was currently flippantly banging his head against a wall and covering his face in shame. 'Gyaaaaa how could I embarrass myself this much?!' To distract himself, he took out some of his medical instruments and started the check-up.

The man silently complied, but his green-blue eyes were still restless after that 'son' incident. He unbuttoned his shirt and let the doctor do his job. However, seeing the cleanly cut stump uncovered made his heart heavy and his lungs constricted. He didn't like anyone seeing it – and he himself didn't like looking at it either.

But the doctor instantly saw the remnants of a missing limb. The stump did not end in a gathered lump, but more rather it was cleanly-cut as if something huge and powerful took it right off. "Your left arm…"

The doctor had suspicions that the missing arm might have been the cause to why the man fainted. Maybe blood loss or pain? However looking at it now, he discovered that the wound was nowhere near fresh – it has already properly healed since a long time ago so it couldn't possibly be related.

He had finished his inspections and was obviously interested in the missing arm. "May I…take a look?" he asked tentatively, seeing that the man was uncomfortable in the first place of revealing his missing limb.

The man looked over at where his left shoulder was and exhaled. "Y…yeah."

With permission, the doctor moved closer to take a look. The stump was more like a rounded off mound, and the scars running down it were peculiar too. "It's so clean-cut…but there's a small ridge near the side, almost like-" His eyes widened when he realised, his breath caught in his throat and his words were smouldered for a moment. "A titan's doing…" He slowly lifted his head up and looked at the man in new light. "Sir, you…"

The man remained quiet. His eyes dulled, his eyebrows lowered and his lips were pressed tight. It feels odd talking about his old battle scars. But one thing… "How do you…know about…them."

"Ahaha, Well I – uh, I'm from above and I came to visit my uncle, who I think you know." Deilan answered with a small smile. "I'm a doctor, but I wanted to come down here and check on the people, even though I might not be particularly welcomed." His gaze shifted to the mound again, slightly melancholy. "And since I'm from above, I see injuries like this all the time. It hurts me to see these."

Coming across somebody with such an open heart, especially a doctor. Doctor nowadays either become to mysterious and shrewd after they come in contact with the rich, or they simply have lost hope in humanity. But this Deilan, was still pure and the man notices this. Because he's seen doctors that have lost their heart.

After that, there was a silence that fell between them too, mainly because Deilan was intrigued by the injury and the man was sated with not speaking.

"Hey, I don't think I know your name yet." Deilan suddenly exclaimed.

'Name, huh.' The man thought. A small shiver went down his spine when he thought back to the boy, asking about his name. "I-"

The boy walked in and held a cup of water in front of him, interrupting whatever he was going to say. "Hey, here's water."

"O-oh, thanks." The man took the water and took a couple sips before placing the cup down.

The boy was now concentrated on something, something he hasn't really seen before either. The missing arm that was never in the sleeve that he always held on to – and how much hidden muscle he had. No wonder the man always won when they had a dual. Out of curiosity, he poked the man's muscles.

"What was that for?"

The boy went on to pinch the muscles.

"Oi!" The man yelped.

Retracting his hand, the boy stopped and plopped down next to the man. "I want to have just as much muscle as you."

"Haha, wait until you get older. You're still too much of a twig now." The man stated, successfully baiting the gullible boy. "Do a couple circuits around the place and few hundred push-ups every day and you'll be as strong as me." He flashed a playful grin, earning an earful from the boy for calling him a twig.

In the end, Deilan never really got to know the man's name.

The grandpa led the two to the doorway, and Deilan was there to bid the farewell.

"Thanks again for getting to be before anything else did," The man took his coat from the coat rack and slipped it on, with one empty sleeve lying beside his torso. "You're a great doctor, Deilan."

"Ahh, really there's no need to thank me, and well…" Deilan scratched the back of his head and beamed. "Thanks, I'll strive to be a better doctor! Come and visit me anytime if you don't feel well. I'll be here for the next 2 weeks!"

"I'll keep that in mind. You'll definitely be a great doctor." The man added with a subtle smile. The grandpa was kind enough to gather the dropped groceries for them. So he picked the rucksack up and slung them back onto his shoulder. "We'll be leaving now." The boy heaved up a few bags too, purposely not allowing the man to take anymore by dragging them away from the man's grasp.

"Oh wait! One more thing," Deilan called out. "You uh, you really remind me of a doctor-friend of mine. He wears glasses and he has brown hair too. He's a prodigy doctor and he could cure all the impossible diseases…I was just thinking if you would know him since…" – 'you had an injury and it seemed to be very welly treated…and you guys do look alike.' Though he didn't know that the injury simply healed by itself and not with any medical attention.

The man stopped in his tracks, with his foot hovering just above where he was going to step. His eyes widened but did not say anything. 'It can't be…' But he doesn't even know if it really is the same person. He resumed walking and turned around slightly, giving a shake of the head before giving a brief wave and walking back towards home.

The moment the boy stepped into the familiar dwelling, he placed the bags down and ran to the kitchen. He quickly came bounded back with a cup of water and offered it to the man, though looking away and not meeting his gaze.

The man was surprised by the sudden care the boy showed towards him (he found it cute) and tenderly smiled down. He really has softened up these couple months since the little boy has entered his isolated and meaningless life. "Thanks." He downed the water and placed it on the dining table before generously ruffling the boy's hair. "Since when were you so nice?"

The boy let him ruffle his hair – just this once. "I've always been." He deadpanned and huffed.

'He's a bit too serious for his age, ain't he?' The man let out a light laugh. "Well come on, It's nearly eight pm. Dinner would sound good."

The boy nodded and scrambled off to retrieve the bags. A small ballooning feeling of happiness when the man thanked him. He wanted the man to recover faster, and Deilan said that water makes the healing process better. Though he's still highly shy of doing things like this.

But as long as the man's fine…then he is too.

Ten o'clock soon came and the boy was tired, mentally and physically. He spent the past day worrying, stressing and painfully waiting for the man to open his eyes and what he really wanted now was to sleep – but only if he's sure that the man's on the road to recovery too.

He rubbed his eyes and walked up to the man, who was wiping down everything for the night. Cleanliness was something that he wouldn't abandon even if he has other things to do.

The boy tugged at the sleeve and the man looked down. "What's up- you tired?"

The child nodded and tugged at the sleeve again, and somehow, the man understood. His eyes crinkled and started walking to the bedroom. "Fine fine, I'll send you off to bed." He's noticed that the boy has become more open too, and not constantly being embarrassed by his own actions.

Once he successfully tucked the boy in, he sat down next to him.

"You idiot…" The boy mumbled.

"Hey, I'm sorry." The man apologised.

"Hn." The boy pulled out his arms and wrapped them halfway around the man's waist. 'You were a nice mattress…' In some way or another, the man agreed to lie with him a bit until he fell asleep after a series of sleeve-tugging. And in the next moment, the boy was smothering the man again with a death grip.

The man tried peeling away the boy, but it proved hard to do with only one arm. "O-oi, kid, my neck-mmf!" The boy was once again comfortably lying on top of him. "Hey, there's a bed for a reason, you don't need to lie on me-"

"Shut up." The boy mumbled, nearly half asleep. A part of him didn't want to leave the supposedly 'ill' person alone and for a good reason. He thought back to the moment, the horrifying moment when the man's face scrunched up in pain, stumbling dangerously to the side and collapsing. The gang was closing on to them, and in that moment, all those terrible memories of him when he was back in the dark side of the underground of him struggling to live every single day. He would get beaten savagely when he got caught, or simply beaten by his own uncle.

His uncle…

Thinking about him made his blood run cold. He tightened his grip, and pressed his face into the man, wanting comfort.

The man tried once again to peel away the arms, but somehow they tightened again. "I'm going to die of asphyxiation if you-mmf!" And so, he really had no way to get the extra clingy boy off. The boy would never, ever be this clingy to him. Never. So this was a new problem he's facing. Then, he thought of something.

He brought his right arm up and chopped down on the boy's neck, and it was surprisingly effective. The boy immediately relaxed his grip, giving the chance for the man to finally escape. He gently unravelled the boy's arms from him and laid him down softly on the bed before pulling up the blanket.

"You troublesome kid." He said, though without any sneer. Giving one last ruffle, he quietly exited the room and headed to his room before sitting down in front of his desk.

This time, he didn't feel tired enough to grab a strong tea (he's not allowed to anyway – and if the boy found out he'd probably be banned from tea for life) nor to sleep. Instead, he pulled open a drawer and took out the journal, and started writing once again.

87

Guess what day it is today? I made this chapter superrrrrr long just for this occasion! I was going to split it up in two, but you guys deserve this long chapter :)

\\It's the one year anniversary since the first chapter serialisation of this fanfic!/

Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear 1 Hundred, Happy Birthday to you!

Hip pip, Hooray! Hip pip Hooray! Hip pip, Hoorayyyyyy!

I can't believe it's already been a year :'D Time goes so fast! *cries*

First of all, I would like to say thank you to all those who have been reading and writing absolutely fantastic reviews for this fanfic. It means a lot to me as an author, and a lot to this fanfic as well. I want to tell this heart-warming story to all those Attack on Titan fans, because when I first read the doujinshi, I sat there in revelation. I was touched by it, inspired by it, and that's why I decided to turn it into a fanfic (despite my not-so-good job of writing, like I always get C's for English).

I once again, as the author, want to thank you all for the continuous support, no matter how big or small. If you really felt touched, or in any way enjoyed, loved and moved by this fanfic, please share your experience to others by spreading this story :')

It doesn't matter if you're a long time follower, newcomer, or a binge reader that has discovered this hidden in the flow of others, thank you :) and by the end of this fanfic, please do leave a humungous brain dump of your feelings into a review. (Of course, the long-time followers get more credit cos lol they have a hell lot of patience xD )

And of course, to all those who have reached this point of the journey, let's continue the journey together til the end!

And so, until next time,

~Bubblesss.

Ps Happy Halloween and pls excuse any mistakes!