Together Again

Chapter 9: Eren

It was early February when Gunter dropped a book onto Levi's desk one morning. It was thick, bound with smooth black leather with fancy golden writing on it. "Okay Gunter," Petra said, "Who'd you have to beat up in order to get some musty old book?"

Gunter put on a face of mock hurt, "I didn't have to hurt anyone actually. My father is a preacher so he's gave me this book of religions. I guess he thinks I'm going to replace him one of these years." Oluo let out a strangled-sounding laugh, obviously trying hard not to laugh too much at Gunter.

"What church does your dad run again?" Oluo asked, "'Cause I'll make sure to stay well away from that one when we get older." Gunter responded by punching Oluo in the arm, which had quickly become a favorite spot for Erd, Gunter, and Petra to hit him at.

Levi raised an eyebrow, "So why did you bring it?" Gunter returned to his former sitting position and shrugged, "I dunno," he said, "Maybe because I could get one of you guys to explain some things and concepts, 'cause this book is a total pain to read and understand by yourself."

Levi raised his hand to his temples, rubbing slowly as he listened to the conversation, trying to ease a building headache that was setting in. Erd dropped his backpack down next to Gunter's seat with a loud thump; the blond boy's buy was forever five to ten minutes behind everyone else's for some reason, even though there were fewer children that had to be picked up.

"Gunter, I'm surprised, you're actually reading something!" Erd said, his voice light and joking. Gunter flicked Erd, "Yeah Erd, shockingly enough I actually read occasionally." Erd stuck his tongue out and dropped into a chair, "Well go on, fill me in, what exactly did I miss?"

"Well," Petra said, launching herself into an explanation, "Gunter's dad gave him a book on religion and he needs our help with some parts of it apparently so we're going to help him not understand a single word we read!"

Gunter looked over at Petra, mouth open in objection. "Kidding, kidding," Petra giggled. Gunter frowned and shook his head slowly from side to side. "So what are you reading about right now?" Oluo said, leaning forwards. "Reincarnation," Gunter said.

Levi looked up for a moment, his headache growing by the moment, "… Reincarnation?"

"Yeah, it's about how people are born in one era and then their souls or something are reborn a period of time later. The people who wrote this book say that they act the same and in some cases even look the same." Levi winced as a sharp pain went through his head; it went unnoticed by his four friends, who were continued to listen to Gunter. "They also wrote something that went along the lines of 'when a newborn cries it's because they're remembering their past life.'"

A bolt of white-hot agony ripped through Levi and his spine locked out instantly. It as like two suns had imploded in his head, just behind his eyes, masking everything in a blinding-white light that pierced his head and made him cry out in agony. Sounds suddenly became dim and incoherent, as if he was hearing them from deep underwater.

"Levi… Levi, are you alright… Levi!" Another bolt of raw agony tore through his mind and his body jerked backwards, his mind and body falling together into the darkness that had blotted out his vision, crowding out the pale, anxious faces that loomed overhead.

Levi spun through the air, twisting so he could keep his feet underneath him as he hit a tree and pushed off of it, leaping back into the air. His 3-D Maneuvering Gear hissed, propelling him forwards, faster than what was probably wise as he raced through the trees. The sound of crashes came from ahead, piercing inhuman roars filling the air and echoing throughout the forest.

There were few Titans left at this point; over the last three years they had slowly eradicated them with the help of Annie, Ymir, and Historia's knowledge of the hellish creatures. All it had taken was fire, swords, and well-aimed blows by both the soldiers and the Titan-shifters for them to quickly take the upper hand.

The Titan's, whose body temperatures were already at the degree to boil water, only required a single spark or ember to land on them in order for them to more or less spontaneously combust, splattering everywhere before evaporating into nothing. Levi considering it crude and disgusting but it was efficient and inexpensive. Hanji had been placed in charge of developing incendiary rounds for the cannons, which had taken a massive toll against the Titans who haunted along the outsides of the walls.

There was a massive crash and Levi saw one of the trees in the distance sway before toppling over slowly, its massive size and bulk holding it upright for a few moments before momentum brought it crashing down, scraping at the nearby trees. The Forest of Giant Trees, Levi thought, who would have thought we would have ended up back here.

He swung around a tree, free falling through the air for a moment before sending his hooks flying again, pulling his body forwards. Hold on Eren, just a few moments longer, he thought. He could almost see them now, the flash of skin and muscle through the trees, standing out against the browns and greens of the forest.

Levi shot forwards one last time and dropped down onto a branch and stopped, watching for a moment now that he could clearly see without the trees blocking his vision. Eren had his fists raised and his back turned towards Levi as he faced the other Titans, six of them all together. The six Titans differed from regular Titans; they were leaner and muscled and their eyes gleamed with human intelligence instead of the blank, ravenous look of the Titans.

They shifted slowly, wary of Eren, moving around him in an attempt to form a circle around him. Eren turned before the smallest one, a 7 meter, could exit his peripheral. He lunged forwards, jaws gaping and arms outstretched. With one smooth movement he grabbed the smaller shifter and whipped it around so that he was still facing the other shifters as he buried his teeth into the neck savagely, ripping through muscle and sinew.

The Titan let out a scream of pure agony as its body shuddered. Eren raised his head, a body sticking out of his teeth; it was a boy, unconscious and hanging limply in Eren's teeth. There was a sickening crunch as Eren's teeth clamped down on the boy and blood went flying.

Levi let out the breath he had unconsciously been holding and he clenched his swords in his hands, crouching down low. He pushed off fell through the air for a moment before he deployed his hooks, sinking them into one of the 15 meter shifters. A wall of hot flesh slammed into him and he was flung through the air, slamming into a tree trunk and lying there stunned and winded, blacking out momentarily.

When he came to, Eren was in his human form in front of him, shaking his shoulder frantically, his eyes wide with fury and fright. There was a roar and Eren turned, raising his hand to his mouth and leaping down, transforming within seconds after leaping away. Levi blacked out again, coming to again when the tree shook beneath him. Levi rolled over onto his stomach, wincing at the pain in his ribs and leg, the same one he had injured the last time he had been in the forest.

Eren was below, his Titan form lying limp against the bottom of the tree as a 15 meter shifter raised its fists again and again, slamming them into Eren's steaming body. The forest was quiet except for the sound of the other Titan-shifter's roars, which echoed through the forest, wordless despair and rage filling it completely.

Levi stood shakily; his right leg could barely support any weight, his ribs on the right side blazed with pain, and his head was spinning madly. He clenched his swords again and let his body fall forwards, straight towards the Titan-shifter, his eyes burning with fury and his teeth bared in a snarl.

I'll save you Eren! He screamed inside of his head, you won't die like the rest! Steel bit through flesh and part of the Titan's neck flew away from the rest of it. It stiffened and fell forwards, its body steaming and shivering madly. Levi hit the ground and stumbled forwards, head spinning and black spots dancing in his eyes.

Concussion, probably a broken leg and some ribs too, he thought, Hanji would love to get a chance to dissect that body before it dissipates. His thoughts were running, randomly cobbled together and half-coherent except for one goal; get to Eren. His Titan form was already disappearing, leaving a small body to half slide, half crawl down the ravaged Titan form.

Levi fell to his knees next to Eren's limp body, his hands somehow finding their way to his shoulders, his forehead falling down to the other man's chest. He turned his head to the side; no sound, no movement, no heartbeat. There was nothing left but an empty shell, bloody and broken.

The tears that Levi had held back for so long fell then, breaking the countless dams and walls he had built and fortified in order to hide it all from prying eyes. This world truly is a cruel one, Levi thought, cradling the body close. Eren… did you finally find peace?

Levi opened his eyes, the sterile white surrounding him being momentarily blinding. A hospital…? He thought, no… the nurse's office. He sat up slowly his hand moving to his head, touching his forehead and temple with the lightest of touches. I remember… I remember everything… The agony, the terror, the fury, the sense of being alone… I remember Eren.

The sound of a doorknob being fumbled with dragged him from his thoughts and he looked up as four familiar faces spilled into the room. "Levi!" Petra cried, rushing forwards and grabbing his hand in a bone-crushing grip, "OhmygodI'msogladyou'realrightwethoughtyouweregoin gtodieohmygoddon'tscareuslikethat!" Levi blinked, startled at the girl's rushed outburst. "She means you worried us," Oluo translated and Levi gave a small half-smile.

"Sorry…" he said, "I was just feeling a little sick. I'm better now though." His friends smiled with relief and Levi offered a smile back. I always regretted not doing that more often before… he thought, this time though I won't mess anything up.

Levi sat in the waiting room, agitated in his impatience. His mother had gone into labor earlier that morning, at nearly three o'clock. His father had left him with the Smiths, who had then kindly dropped him off around noon. That had been a little over an hour ago and Levi was about to go mad.

The waiting room was dull; he had already flipped through the magazines, barely even bothering to read a single sentence within them before tossing them aside in his irritation. The doors swung open and Levi looked up, disappointment crashing down on him when he saw that it was just a doctor and not his father

Levi sighed and leaned back in the uncomfortably stiff chair, resting his head against the wall and the back of the chair. His foot bounced up and down and he tapped his fingers on the arm of the wooden chair, mindlessly tapping out one rhythm after another.

The doors creaked open again and Levi jerked his head up, offering a small smile when he saw that it was his father. His father walked up and sat beside him, his face glowing with happiness. "Your little brother is so cute," he said after a moment, "Your mother is ready for visitors if you want to come and see." Levi glanced at his father, the look clearly saying of course I want to see him, are you nuts?

They stood and pushed their way through the heavy wooden doors leading to the maternity ward, striding quickly down the sterile white halls. Levi struggled to keep up with his father, taking nearly three steps for every stride of his father, but he still managed to remain close. They turned down a hall and stopped at room 22.

His father opened the door and Levi walked in, apprehension building up inside of him. Eren… the thought was a mere whisper in his head, Eren, is it finally you? His mother looked up and smiled softly, cradling a small bundle wrapped in a light blue blanket against her chest. Levi walked closer, his steps slow and unsure now. He peered down into the blue blanket, mesmerized by the tiny sleeping face bundled within.

"Look Eren," his mother murmured, "Your brother is here to see you." She turned to Levi, smiling softly, her eyes shining with exhaustion and happiness. "It's a nice name, don't you think? After all, that's all you would say for a long time when you first started talking." Levi stretched his hand out, trembling with anticipation.

His finger brushed Eren's tiny fist and the sleeping boy stirred, opening his eyes blearily and looking up at Levi. His mother wordlessly passed Eren to Levi, both of his parents watching Levi as he held his brother, ensnared by the vibrant green-and-hazel eyes, so full of life once more. Eren smiled up at Levi and cooed softly, soft baby noises passing his lips as he looked up at Levi.

Levi bowed his head, shoulders shaking as tears slowly dripped down his face and onto the pale blue blankets. You're late Eren… Levi thought. I've been waiting for two thousand years for you. Through the horror and despair of my first life and the confusion and heartache of the second I've waited for you. Waiting for so very long… waiting through the nightmare of the lives I had to live without you. I never stopped waiting; how could I? Now today, after so long, I can finally return what I never did before. This time I'll return your heart and mine along with it. The tears fell thickly now, Levi's shoulders shaking hard, but his sobs were silent.

Eren saluted, standing tall and proud, a grin spread across his face as he looked at Levi. "I swore Corporal," he said, "I swore I'd come back! Just like I swore I'd always stand by your side! Trust me Corporal. If you can't trust anyone else, trust my word."

Levi fought to regain his composure, next to impossible at the sheer joy he felt. You'll be able to use it to make your own happiness. And this time, I'll be there every step of the way.

Chapter 9: End

An explanation to the first memory; I kind of felt like writing something a tad bit depressing, plus I wanted to show how Eren died. I also spent about three hours deciding whether to use that one or another longer, more-drawn out version which was almost completely different except for the whole Eren-dying part.

This is technically the last chapter although I am going to write an epilogue-esque chapter, which will be uploaded sometime on the 15th-16th, being mostly about growing up. It might be a long one, depending on how I'm feeling and how many ideas I can come up with.

I am in the process of writing/developing 2-3 stories, all of which are currently about Shingeki no Kyojin and starring Ereri. One is going to be a little more... graphic...

Anyways, thanks to all who clicked on this story, this chapter, or a link that led you to this.

(I still have to find the link to the doujin that this was based off of so it may take me a while to wade through the blog(s) I think I remember seeing it on)