My Regret
Chapter 28
Make a choice you will regret the least.
Mikasa's eyes widened, "W-What?"
The young doctor's face was flustered yet firm, "I asked you if you would be mine."
"B-But why me?"
"Why not you?" Rivaille gently took a hold of the girl's hands, "You are so captivating to me, I only wanted to be with you more than we already were. I wanted to safely say, this beautiful girl is with me, and no one else.'
Mikasa's face was completely red, this man would be the death of her. He did seem sincere enough, and didn't at all seem like…him. Rivaille never did anything that would make her suspect of him, he was only honest. So, why shouldn't she finally leave everything behind and be with someone who actually cares.
"Okay, I'll be yours."
The raven's face held a soft look, "Thank you, Mikasa. I promise to make you very happy."
She smiled, "I'm sure you will."
Rivaille leaned over and kissed her cheek softly.
Yes, she made the right call.
Should I remain with the living or die?
You even dare die, and I'll make your life a living hell, Vin.
I had a feeling you would say that Kuchel.
Flore had been on her way to see her husband, the man having been asleep for over three hours. She stood there in the waiting room, telling Rivaille how his father was, and how he was holding up.
"You on your way to see him too?"
The woman's eyes widened, "Levi?"
Levi nodded, "Thought you wouldn't see me here?"
"I didn't expect you to come here at all. I thought you didn't care about the outcome of what happened to Vincent."
The raven sighed, "I didn't give a shit at first, and then I realized, being angry is fucking tiring." He got some glares by some people walking by at his vulgar language, 'But this doesn't mean I forgive him."
"But what made you change your mind on coming to see him?"
"My mother's words. Make a choice you will regret the least. If I didn't come here, I would regret not talking to him one more time, and all that anger would be kept with me until I eventually snap. I'd rather give this a shot, and if this shit doesn't work out, I have no regrets."
Flore smiled softly, "Kuchel taught you well."
"Yes, mother did teach me it's better to try and make amends than to stay angry your whole life. I can forgive, just not trust. She herself held grudges longer than I have, and she hated that those ties were nothing but poison. She said she was satisfied knowing she got an apology. While I can't exactly forgive you or Vincent, I'm willing to give this a shot."
"I can tell that's not all that made you change your mind."
Levi chuckled softly, "You got me. It was Eren that kind of convinced me. He didn't really say anything, but I felt like Eren would want me to be together with my family and not alone and bitter about it."
"You are so whipped."
"I don't mind. With someone like Eren as my lover, hell, I'll be as whipped as any other man in this damn world. I love him more than anything in this world, well, the kids are a close second."
Flore smiled, "Come on, Vincent is waiting. You go on ahead, I'll talk to him after you've talked with him."
Levi nodded as a nurse came and led him to the room.
The man was sitting up in his hospital bed when his older son walked in, "Levi…"
Levi shut the door behind himself, "I can tell you didn't expect to see me here."
"I didn't really. I only expected my wife and Rivaille."
"Well, I came here because I wanted to try and make amends."
Levi will find it in himself to be able to forgive you. He'll only come on his own accord.
Kuchel's words rang through his ears as he heard his oldest son speak.
"Mother told me a lot growing up to make the choice I will regret the least. This is my choice. Do not misunderstand me, I still don't forgive you, I just want to push back all those unpleasant memories and make better ones."
The man gave him a tired smile, "I know, Levi. You still don't trust me nor forgive me. The moment you walked through that door, I didn't expect either. I'm just so relieved to hear you want to try and make amends."
Levi nodded, going over to stand by the man's bedside, "I'm glad to know you made it through alright."
"Thank you."
The young businessman held out a hand to him, "Here's to making amends."
Taking the offered hand, Vincent shook it, "To making amends, son." He was hoping Levi wouldn't snap at him for using that word at him.
"I hope it works out…father."
Weeks had come and gone, Levi now having a somewhat decent relationship with his father and step mother, and Rivaille and Mikasa announcing their relationship.
Levi was currently sitting across from his father, getting more answers out of him. He wanted to know more about him and what happened after he left.
"I left France obviously, and I came here to America. I wanted to have more opportunity and expand my knowledge."
The raven nodded, "When was my brother born?"
"Four years after I left." He was done saying after he went to America. The man was now more accepting of his mistakes.
Levi appeared a bit reluctant to ask his next question, "If you hadn't left, would life be different?"
Vincent was taken back by the question, "Why do you ask that?"
"I don't know. What do you think?"
The man thought for a moment, "I think it would be very different."
"How so?"
"For starters, you would have grown up with me in your life. But, if you really think about it, I still would have been working those long hours and you'd still be alone most of the time with your mother."
Levi was about to speak when his father raised a hand, signaling him to be quiet and listen to him.
"Despite having me physically there, you really wouldn't have seen me much. You still would have met your friends, but through different circumstances. You met Hanji because your mother was working, and you were at the library alone. You met Farlan and Isabel because you were at the park alone because your mother was sleeping and Kenny was at work. You met Erwin because of a fight defending your mother. You met Petra, Rico, Eld, Gunther, and Aurou because of the reputation you had to protect your mother and they admired that. Levi, if you look at it, your persona was formed because of the hardships you faced. Yes, you can easily say, my parents were working a lot and I didn't really get to see them, a lot of people can say that about their childhood, while said thing does create not very fond memories, it's true."
"Hmm, I never realized that one event would have changed so much about life."
Vincent nodded, "And here's another thing."
"What's that?"
"You more than likely would have never moved to America if you had both parents there, and didn't see any reason to leave. You would have never met Eren if you hadn't done that. Do you now see how things are in a chain reaction now?"
The raven did now. Because of his father leaving, that made his mother work more and him see her less and see his uncle more. That was sort of a good thing because he couldn't really remember a time before that where he saw Kenny so much. They were sort of distant at first, then grew very close after all that happened. It got up to the point where he saw his uncle like a father figure, not the best example sometimes, but a father figure nonetheless.
Then holidays. Before when his father was there, he would ask for things, sometimes things he didn't really need. Yet, when he left, he began to appreciate things that he got, small or grand, he loved them and kept them in great condition. He still had the bear his uncle got him for Christmas, which now belonged to Yami and the watch belonged to his brother Sebastian. And the book he got, still even to this day, reads it when he has free time.
Family time. He learned to really appreciate that one. Since his mother was normally working and his uncle was doing god knows what half the time, Levi learned that family time really isn't so bad. It was actually something he came to love now. He loved hearing about how his kid's day was at school, listening to what they had learned, and all the friends they made. He really enjoyed listening to Eren talk about his day, it was oddly comforting for him.
Yet, when he really thinks about it, his father is right in that sense. He would have never learned to appreciate everything, more so become a spoiled rich boy. He wouldn't have met his friends, never met Eren, and never had his kids. It's amazing how everything starts off, from one event.
"I do see it."
"Would you want things to change, or would you rather keep them the same?"
"The same without a doubt."
The man chuckled, "I didn't doubt you for a second."
Levi didn't doubt his answer either.
Several weeks later, Levi was out with Eren, the twins, his father, step mother, brother, Mikasa, uncle, Farlan, Isabel, and Carla. They were all currently at his father's home celebrating.
The raven was seated by the pool, arm wrapped around Eren as his brother was teaching the twins how to swim.
Rivaille smiled as he encouraged Yami to float by himself in the water, "See, it's not so bad."
The small brunet giggled, "You're right uncle Rivaille."
Glancing at the other boy, Rivaille raised a brow, 'You're not coming in Sebastian?" It was rather odd because the boy knew how to swim.
Sebastian shook his head, wrinkling his nose, "No, the pool could be dirty, uncle. Do you know how many things could be in there?"
Levi broke out laughing at that, making Eren face palm and Rivaille roll his eyes, "That kid is way too much like you, bro."
The small raven went and sat down in his father's lap, a small pout on his face.
Isabel grinned as she slowly crept behind the two ravens, she quickly pushed them in and heard a string of curses in French and Sebastian squealing.
Everyone broke out laughing, Levi looking like a pissed off cat, and Sebastian a drenched kitten.
"Aunt Isabel." The small raven whined out.
Both Levi and Eren covered their children's ears, the raven glared at his sister, "I'm going to fucking get you later, Isabel."
The red head grinned, "Oh, how?"
A devious smile made its way onto Levi's face, "Moist."
Isabel shivered unpleasantly, "You mother fucker. You know I hate that word."
"You know I only use it when you piss me off like that."
"Who told you I hate that word?"
Levi casually let his eyes fall on Farlan, who was looking anywhere but his brother and sister.
"Farlan!"
The blonde shrugged, "What?"
"I trusted you!"
"And I trusted you with my brand new limited edition figurine from Japan. You had it coming."
The red head pouted, "It was an accident."
Farlan gave her a deadpan expression, "If it was, why were you cheering that it was finally broken?"
"It was creepy."
"So are you when you have your face mask on."
Isabel scoffed, "You two are so mean to me."
Levi got himself and his son out of the pool, "You had it coming to you." He received a towel from Mikasa and began drying his son off.
Rivaille grinned as he swam towards his brother, Eren taking his other son from him, "You looked like a cat in the pool, bro."
"Fuck you."
"No thanks, not into incest."
"I can tell. Just look at those marks on Mikasa's neck. I didn't take you for a biter."
Said raven haired female buried her face in her hands while Rivaille had the decency to blush like a virgin, "Hey, hey, you do the same with Eren."
"Unlike you, I have no shame. Besides, Eren really likes that." The brunet at his side blushed heavily, swatting him in the arm.
Flore called out to them, "Everyone, dinner's ready." She already had the table set.
Everyone moved over to the table, chatting away and laughing.
Later that night, Levi and Eren were laying in the brunet's bed, neither one able to sleep, and as you can imagine, they were talking. Nothing serious, more so being dorks.
The topic about moving in together came up.
Eren laughed as Levi suggested they get a dog. He could already imagine his older lover training the dog, cursing the damn dog for digging holes and ripping things apart.
"Hey, but our kids would love that. Of course, you know me, I would curse the shit out of that dog."
"Poor dog." The brunet snickered.
Levi leaned close and rubbed their noses together, "You shit."
"Your shit."
"Gross."
"And you call me the shit."
"Hey, Eren, every time I look at a toilet seat it reminds me of you."
"How?"
Levi grinned, "Cause you're the shit."
"Oh my god, Levi."
The raven laughed, kissing the younger's cheek.
Eren hummed softly, "You know what I really want?"
"What?" Levi's voice was muffled as he buried his face in Eren's neck, tightening his hold slightly.
"I want a television in our room, like not one of those cheap ones, like a big ass one to watch movies and my soaps."
"I didn't take you for the type to like that sappy shit."
"I like you."
"…You got me there."
Eren grinned, "Damn right I do."
Levi kissed the brunet's neck, "You know Eren, I've been thinking."
The young man nuzzled his lover, "About what?"
"What do you think about going on a vacation. You, me and the kids."
Eren smiled, "Really?"
"Yes. Somewhere we can have some quality time together. We can take the kids to a zoo, you know they've been asking forever."
"We can also go an amusement park."
"The aquarium."
"Museums."
"The ocean."
The raven's gaze softened, he knew the brunet simply loved their last visit to the ocean years beforehand. "Of course, we can't forget to go to the ocean. Perhaps we can collect some sea shells."
"Levi Ackerman, you always said you would never touch sea shells because of the endless amount of germs that must be covering them."
"That was before. I realized they're actually nice. I wanted to get them mainly for the kids, they've never seen a real sea shell before, only the fake ones in the stores they try selling. This would be a great memory for them."
Eren smiled, "They would be so happy to show them in school."
Levi grabbed the brunet's hand and intertwined their fingers together, "We can have some private time together. One of my old friend live up there and they can look after the kids while we do something together."
"Oh? Like what?" The brunet simply loved the idea of spending some much needed alone time with Levi.
"Have some nice dinner at your favorite restaurant, take a walk on the beach, lay a blanket on the sand, look up at the night sky, point out some constellations, something along the lines of that."
"That sounds absolutely wonderful. But where would we go?" The two had traveled a lot when they were younger, so he was curious as to where they were headed.
"Why don't you pick that one out? You decide where we go, and I do the planning from there."
Eren pouted, "Why can't I help?"
"You are already."
"How?"
"By looking beautiful."
"You sap."
"Your sap."
The brunet smiled, "I love you, giant sap."
"Love you too, bright eyes."
"Now I feel bad for not giving you a much more fitting pet name."
"You can try. Just don't tell shitty glasses."
Eren thought to himself for a moment, then a soft smile graced his face, "My lovely blue rose."
My little blue rose.
The name sounded so familiar to what his mother used to call him. It brought him a sense of love and security. "I love it."
"Do you really? Or are you saying that because you know I'm not good at names."
"No, love. I really do love it."
"Good. But you do know I really suck at names."
"It's a miracle you were able to name the kids."
"I had help from mom and Mikasa."
"Thank Satan for their help."
Eren laughed, nuzzling Levi's chest, "The names weren't that hard to choose. I knew you always liked the name Sebastian and I always liked the name Yami, so when I was expecting twins, it made so much sense."
"But who knew Sebastian would turn into a little mini me and a clean freak."
"You pretty much had a field day after that."
"I did when he scolded you on not cleaning up their toy room to his and my standards."
"I thought you would crap yourself laughing."
"I almost did."
Eren rolled his eyes, then glanced over at the clock, "It's getting late, we should get some sleep."
Levi nodded, "You keep thinking about where we should head for vacation, then let me know where you would like to go."
"Alright. Goodnight my lovely blue rose, love you."
"Night, bright eyes, love you too."
When they both drifted off to sleep, Levi was looking forward to the upcoming vacation. And he would be damned if he didn't put a ring on Eren's finger by the end of the vacation.
End of chapter 28.
Let me know where you guys would like their vacation to be, I don't know myself.
You can now track the fic on tumblr using the tag: fic: my regret-ereri.
