UPDATE:

Hello all! I apologize for falling off the face of the earth for 4 years...oops. But I'm overwhelmed by the reviews, favourites, and follows I still get on a weekly basis.

I come bearing some good news! I've finally caught up with the manga/anime (thank you, Quarantine), so I finally know what direction I want to take this story in (I had been suffering writer's block for the longest time because I didn't have enough information from the manga). I'm going to try my hardest to get the newest chapter out within the next 2 weeks. I will try to stay as true to canon events as I can, but I will change some things around.

However, please understand, this story won't have a happy ending - I had never intended for it to.

Additionally, after reading through this fic a couple of times, I am going to go through it and re-edit/re-vamp it. Nothing major to change, just mainly spelling errors and getting rid of irrelevant A/N sections.

Thank you so much for your continued support and for bearing with me! And, just because ya'll are awesome, here is a sneak preview for Chapter 18:

After they had left, Eren leaned back on his arms and closed his eyes, taking slow, controlled breaths. The night air was cool and crisp, clearing his mind and giving him a sense of peace that he hadn't felt in a very long time. It was the calm before the storm.

As he continued to meditate, he felt a figure sit next to him. Thinking that either Mikasa had returned or even Taryn (if he actually knew where his sister was at the moment, he'd have a heart attack), he didn't say anything and left his eyes closed. But after a few minutes of quiet, he got curious as to why his silent partner wasn't saying anything. He opened his eyes just a bit and looked to his side to see someone he had never expected to see.

"Captain Levi!" he squeaked, jumping high in the air.

It was the Captain indeed. Levi gave Eren the stink eye for making such a loud noise.

"Simmer down, brat," he grunted.

"S-sorry, sir! I just didn't think that you would- I just never expected to- I-I-I,"

Levi sighed and rolled his eyes. "Stop talking before you give yourself an aneurysm, Eren."

Eren immediately shut his mouth, instead choosing to stare at the Captain in wonder.

Levi had turned his face up to the sky, just as Eren had done moments earlier, his deep grey eyes staring at the twinkling stars. With a slight blush, Eren noticed that the Captain was a very good-looking man. Idol-worship aside, Eren could objectively appreciate the man's beauty. He idly wondered why the Captain had never settled with a lover- he was sure that the man would have no trouble finding one.

The pale light of the moon shining on Levi only further accentuated his sharp features. His raven-black hair stirred in the slight breeze. Eren noticed that the dark circles beneath his eyes seemed to have gotten worse lately.

With a frown, Eren wondered if it was the Captain's attitude. He personally couldn't care less about Levi's harsh tone, but he knew a lot of people took offense at it.

"Are you going to stare at me all night, brat, or do you have something to say?"

Eren jumped again, embarrassed to have been caught staring.

"Sorry, sir," he found himself saying for what must have been the millionth time.

Levi smirked slightly. "There's no need to apologize all the time, Eren."

Eren nodded, gulping nervously. How could he not apologize? This man was his idol. He would literally kiss the ground Levi walked on.

"What's on your mind?" Levi asked, interrupting his thoughts.

"Huh?" Eren said with a start. Could Levi tell what he was thinking?

"You look like you're trying to take a big shit. Now what's on your mind?"