"I'm sorry, I know this must sound strange but, have we by any chance met before?"

As soon as Levi hears the words, it feels like time stops moving. All sounds around him simply fade out except for the loud pounding of his head, the erratic beating of his heart. No matter how many times he repeats the words in his head, he can't seem to understand the meaning of them.

What does that even mean?

Nothing makes sense, none of this. His head feels like it's going to implode, if his heart doesn't give out first.

"Have we by any chance met before?" Does that mean Erwin remembers, that he wasn't the only one? Did he finally meet someone who knew, whoremembered? Could he really have found someone-

"-met before?" But what if Erwin didn't, what if he really thought he'd seen him somewhere in town before?

Or worse, oh god no, what is this was a really bad pick up line? Levi cringes inwardly.

Levi realizes he was supposed to answer the question a while ago but he can't find the right words. He doesn't know how to reply, the question keeps echoing in the back of his head.

What if Erwin didn't remember? What if he did?

Levi wasn't sure he was ready to talk about any of the things he had seen. It felt wrong to share information about the world he kept locked tightly inside his mind for all these years. It is something he considered private, something solely his, something he didn't share with others because they just wouldn't understand.

But this was different, wasn't it? This was Erwin with whom he had fought side by side till they bled and then some, this was Erwin who had picked him up from the underground, this was Erwin Smith.

It was finally someone familiar in this confusing and unfamiliar world.

When time finally felt like it was moving again, Levi noticed Erwin looking at him, with that worried look in his eyes. It reminded him of the Erwin from back then, it really was the same pensive look, worry and unspoken questions lingering in the silence between them.

He really hasn't changed, Levi thought while clenches his fist, this is not the right time to think about that. He should say something before Erwin would rush him off to a freaking hospital, which seems entirely plausible give the others worried look.

"Is that a really bad pick up line or are you serious right now," he finally asks, trying to keep his tone light and mocking, trying to make it seem like the second part of the question wasn't loaded with more meaning than it should have. He almost rolls his eyes at how forced his voice sounds but he hopes this Erwin wouldn't pick it up.

Erwin just stares at him, eyes slightly widening as his words and their implication finally sink in.

"Oh no, I- no I didn't mean it like that," Erwin hastily tries to explain, sounding very awkward, a little embarrassed and very unlike himself, Levi thinks. Or at least the Erwin he knew. The whole situation almost makes him laugh because it all seems so surreal.

"That really sounded like a bad pick up line I realize now," Erwin smiles tentatively as Levi raises an eyebrow, "but I really meant it when I said that it seems like we've met before," he concludes, but it sounds more like a question and Levi isn't sure how he should answer.

He sees the other giving him another look, as if trying to find the answer that way somehow and Erwin looks so fucking lost it twists something sharp in his chest.

"I only moved here a few weeks ago," Levi offers, carefully choosing his words, dancing around the subject.

He isn't sure how to proceed from here. Erwin obviously doesn't remember him or anything else but there is something, probably a nagging feeling in the back of Erwin's head that keeps telling him Levi isn't just a stranger, a feeling he knows all too well himself. He would go to sleep and wake up with names lingering, just out of reach in the back of his mind that kept nagging him long after he had woken up and it used to drive him crazy. But it never happened with a real person before and Levi can only imagine how strange and disorientating it must be for Erwin right now.

Something akin to disappointment flashes over Erwin's face for a split second before he smiles. Levi notices that doesn't quite reach his eyes. He briefly notices how rehearsed the action seems and wonders if Erwin has someone in his life who notices too.

"I see. I don't think we would've met before then, my mistake, I'm sorry for saying such strange things all of a sudd-" "My name is Levi," he offers again, a little forceful this time because Erwin looks so fucking lost and confused with the whole situation.

"Levi," Erwin repeats softly, and this time his smile reaches his eyes. "Nice to meet you. I'm sorry for not introducing myself earlier, especially considering all the trouble I've caused you," he gestures vaguely at the car door and Levi narrows his eyes slightly, "but I'm Erwin Smith, nice to meet you."

Levi has to bite back an"I know". He tells him "nice to meet you," instead and shifts around in his seat.

He isn't sure where to go from here, doesn't know what more there is to say without freaking Erwin out.

He is abruptly interrupted from his thoughts as he hears "wait," and suddenly there's a hand is on his wrist with a tight grip on it. Erwin seems surprised by himself and eases his grip a little, "Don't- don't go yet," which confuses Levi before he realizes Erwin must have thought he was moving towards the car door. "I wasn't going to, at least not before you make it up to me for slamming me down you know."

Erwin smiles, a little apologetically but sincerely and Levi sees something akin to relief in his eyes.

Erwin quickly offers him to treat him to lunch, or dinner if he had already eaten. Levi accepts his offer and tells him lunch is fine. Erwin asks him if he has a place in mind so Levi suggests a small caféclose by that he likes to frequent. Erwin tells him he's never visited the place before and asks for directions. Levi notices Erwin relaxing for the first time since their meeting and settles into the seat when he hears the car engine roaring to life.

Turning his head to look out of the window and safely out of sight of Erwin, Levi slightly smiles to himself. He feels calmer than he had in a long time, something seemed to settle down in him when he met Erwin today. He allows himself to think that maybe, just maybe, he wasn't completely alone in this world, like the thought for so many years.

Levi had found Erwin today, or maybe Erwin had found him, it didn't really matter. Because it means that it was possible that the others were out there as well. He just had to find them.

He didn't realize just how much he needed that proof until today.

And for the first time in weeks, maybe even longer, Levi feels himself relax as well.