Levi nearly slammed his brakes "What?"

"I just meant...it's just...it slipped out. I'm sorry!" Eren stumbled around. It really had just slipped out. He cursed himself for ruining such a tender moment, by bringing up that damnable L word.

"It's okay. You really feel that way?" Levi asked, trying to keep his racing heart in check.

"I...I don't know if I'm ready for love yet."

Levi deflated a little on the inside "Of course. Heat of the moment. It's understandable. Oh, here we are."

After everyone parked their cars, they had all met up outside the restaurant. Mikasa pulled away from Hange, and she and Levi immediately began to stare each other down.

"Shrimp." Mikasa said.

"Brat." Levi retorted.

"Uncle Levi." Her eyes looked soft.

"Little Mika." He held his arms out.

"Uncle Levi!" She all but yelled, throwing herself into his arms. They both stood there, embracing for a long time. Levi was comforting her crying and shaking form.

"I never knew you were so close! I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, Mika."

"I forgive you. I'm just...I'm so happy. I truly thought you forgot about me."

"Are you crazy?" He asked, pulling back from her, and grabbing her hands "I still have that picture you gave me at the funeral. Oh my God, Armin and Eren are in that picture too."

Eren didn't know why, but that sentence left a foul feeling in his body. Doubt began creeping up on him. Is that why Levi had orginally talked to him? Was he subconsciously looking for the boy in the picture, to reconnect with his long lost niece. His chest suddenly felt really tight.

"Oh, I remember that picture. I thought you wouldn't stay with us, so I had Carla take a picture. So you wouldn't forget us." Armin said.

"I gave it to Levi. He allowed me to stay, and I didn't want him to forget me." Mikasa smiled.

"I didn't." Levi said.

Through dinner and congratulations for his achievements, Eren tried to repress the feeling, but it kept nagging. He tried to eat it away, drink it away, but nothing helped. A smart man would have questioned it, but this man was a stubborn man named Eren. He felt stupid for questioning Levi, but he couldn't help it. Armin noticed Eren's face, and immediately stood from the table

"Eren, come with me to the bathroom! I'll get lost, you know me."

Eren eyed the look Armin gave him, and excused himself. Once in the bathroom, Armin stared him down "What's wrong?"

Eren tripped over his tongue "I... it's silly."

"Your feelings aren't silly, Eren. This is celebration party for you. You aren't looking so jovial."

"Do you think Levi loves me? Or did he stare at that picture, and subconsciously try to find me?"

"Eren, you have to ask him, but I doubt he would treat you the way he does if he were using you."

"But I don't know for certain. This whole thing makes my head spin. Maybe I'm not ready for this."

"Eren, I have gone through too many emotions, too much doubt, and everything else, to see you throw this away for something so ridiculous!"

"I'm just...I...why do I feel like this? I'm not good enough for him. I'm a young, stupid, poor college kid. He is old enough to be my dad, rich, owns his own company, and he is incredibly smart. What do I have that he likes?"

"What about a gorgeous smile, or the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen?" Levi said, opening to door to the restroom. Eren jumped, tears sparkling in his eyes. Levi took slow deliberate steps towards Eren "A great personality, beautiful chocolate hair, and a tight ass." Eren broke into a grin, there was his Levi.

Armin nod to Levi, before exiting the bathroom.

"I can't promise that maybe I wasn't looking for you. Why else would I ask a shitty brat what he was doing with no intention of fucking him? I could have left when you mentioned Mikasa. I could have stopped, but I didn't. I didn't want to, because as time went on, you grew on me Eren. I hate to say something so fucking cheesy, but you make me believe in love again."

Eren stood there, frozen in door with wide eyes. His face fell, from the first sentence. He didn't hear what else was said, and his body began to tremble "You...you used me!"

"Only in the beginning. You grew on me."

"What? After I let you fuck me? You bastard!" tears poured down Eren's face.

"Eren." Levi went to hug him, and make the tears stop, but was greeted by a solid fist against his face. He grabbed his injured jaw "I deserved that," he spit blood into one of the sinks "please Eren, I said I'm sorry."

Eren stormed past him, and ran out of the bathroom.

"Eren!" Levi cried out after him.

Eren ran as fast as he could 'How could I have been so stupid?' He thought as he ran out of the restaurant 'of course someone like Levi wouldn't love me for me. He was looking to gain some benefit from it. I'm such an idiot! This is why I can't do relationships! I hate you Levi Ackerman. I never want to see you ever again.'

Levi's jaw was swollen when he ran to the table. His eyes were downcast, as everyone looked at him.

"Levi, good lord, what happened?" Erwin asked.

"Eren left. He probably hates my fucking worthless guts."

Hange stood to comfort Levi. They turned to Mikasa and Armin "Run. Find Eren, quick. We will stay here with Levi."

The two of them nodded, and took off out of the restaurant

"Eren!" Mikasa cried out to the night, Armin following suit.

Armin then snapped his fingers, and pulled out his phone. He found Eren's number, and pushed talk. He was surprised when Eren actually picked up.

"Where are you?" He yelled at his phone. Mikasa pushed her ear against the phone as well.

"Head left, and follow up the street. I'm at a bus stop." The line went dead, and the two ran as fast as they could. Mikasa reached Eren first, and wrapped her arms around him on impact "Eren! What happened? Are you okay?" Armin was behind her, but stopped to double over and catch his breathe.

"Levi used me to find you...and he...he..." Eren just let out a heart wrenching wail, as he collapsed onto Mikasa. She held him up easily, and Armin moved behind him to hug him as well. They stood in silence, letting Eren just cry it out until he couldn't any more. Eventually, his frame shook from the aftermath of intense sobbing. Mikasa pulled Eren to sit on the bench at the bus stop. She grabbed one hand, Armin grabbed the other.

Eren sniffled "I never want to see Levi ever again."

A/n) I'm sorry. I really am, but I had to throw a wrench into the happy. Things in life are never perfect. You have to get over lots of obstacles in life to find some happiness. This isn't the end! I promise the next chapter is already in editing. Sit tight everyone. Thank you for the continued support! You guys are the best!