A/N: Aww, thank you for all the lovely feedback, you guys! =)

And yes, now I am properly replying to reviews, which I shall do right for the guest ones now... ^-^

animefan: NOOOOOO! -raises insulin needle- YOU MUST LIVE! FOR THE SAKE OF LEVIxEREN GOODNESS! XDDDD jk jk, but thank you, I'm glad you like it! ^.^

Miki: Thanks! Well, he might, for a price though... ;)

One could remain in denial for only so long.

Levi sat down on the edge of his bed as he briefly contemplated his situation. He briefly concluded that he was in deep shit.

Because no matter how furiously he had denied Hanji's earlier accusations, or how many times he brushed off Erwin's annoyingly perceptive comments, Levi couldn't lie to himself now.

He actually had feelings for the damn brat. Feelings that most definitely crossed the boundary of platonic.

It was troubling for several reasons. First of all, Hanji. Second, HANJI. Third, Eren was a mysterious, confusing boy who came from extremely dubious origins, and Levi still wasn't a hundred percent sure if the boy was a minor or not. Fourth... at the moment, Levi couldn't tell whether Eren felt the same or the boy was just horrified with himself.

Ever since they had nearly kissed the other night, Eren seemed to have made it his mission to avoid Levi at all costs. He had remained uncomfortably silent the entire car ride back (well, Eren always did remain silent, but), never wrote anything to Levi unless it was absolutely necessary, and, when they retired, slept so far away from Levi that the poor kid was literally half-off the bed.

Not that Levi actually wanted Eren close to him when they slept together.

...Okay, maybe he did. A little. But that was not the issue here.

The issue was that Eren's behavior had continued today. He practically ran away from Levi every time he attempted to say something, and spent the whole morning cooped up in the bathroom, much to the black-haired man's irritation.

It was now late in the afternoon, and Levi had had enough of the kid's ridiculous actions. Spotting Eren in the living room, he walked over to confront the brunet.

Unaware of Levi's presence, Eren was feeding his new goldfish the fish food Levi had been forced to buy (all alone, he may add) earlier that day. Levi observed Eren, the way his eyes stood out against his brown hair and tan skin, the shape of his slender form still visible underneath Levi's shirt, the way his b- maybe it was time Levi should speak up.

"Eren." His tone was rather soft as he said the boy's name, but Eren still jerked violently in surprise, nearly dropping the fish-food container into the pets' makeshift tank.

He hastily whirled around to face Levi, obviously panicking, and Levi, sensing that Eren was about to try and flee again, quickly brought his hands down on either side of the brunet, effectively trapping him against the table in a matter of seconds.

"Will you stop being such a fucking pussy?" Levi growled, locking his eyes with the frightened green irises. "Do you honestly want to pretend that the last night didn't happen?"

Eren, who had been struggling against Levi's arms, froze, obviously not expecting such a question. The brunet immediately went bright red in a matter of seconds, his hands fiddling nervously.

"..."

"...well, do you?"

After what Levi felt like was an eternity and a half, Eren, nearly shaking in shame, buried his face in his hands, his head slowly shaking as he did so.

"I see." As soon as he received Eren's answer, Levi felt a warm feeling wash over him. As he reached over to gently pry Eren's hands away from his flaming face, Levi realized it was relief. "I don't want to, either." He confessed frankly, causing Eren's face to get even redder.

Even Levi himself was surprised at forwardness of his words, quickly, he turned his head aside. "...I'm sorry." His hands slowly let go of Eren's to hang by his side. "I didn't mean... ah... ARGH..." Levi groaned. "Damn it! I've never been in this kind of situation before!"

Still blushing, Eren reached over for his notebook, writing shakily.

You think I have!?

Flip. Why else would I run away from Levi!?

"But..." Levi struggled for the words he should say, wanting and not wanting to look at Eren. "Eren... you do feel like you want to do... stuff... like we did last night...do you?"

In front of him, Eren nearly bursted from embarrassment, red to even the tips of his ears.

THIS IS WHAT I CAN'T HANDLE!

"...huh?" Levi blinked. "What? What do you mean?"

Flip. Levi is always so calm!

"Eh!?"

Flip. Levi's face doesn't change! Not last night or today!

Flip. I'm the only one who gets all weird and I have all these strange feelings and my face always is so hot and it's weird it's weird, it's WEIRD-

RIPPPP!

"Eren, calm down!" Levi grabbed the boy's hand as the ferocious force of Eren's writing caused the paper to tear. "Eren... what do you mean, my face doesn't change?" Surely, the boy had seen Levi get all... ...well...

I mean that Levi only looks grumpy or angry all the time!

"...oh." Sometimes, it slipped Levi's mind that he had somewhat of a poker face. Or constipated face, as Hanji liked to call it. But even so... "Can't you tell how fucking stupid I'm feeling right now!?"

Levi just looks grumpy! And maybe a little scary!

"..." Levi shrugged his shoulders helplessly. "...Eren, I can't help it, that's the way my face just is."

The boy glared, obviously unimpressed by Levi's response.

Then change it!

"...Tch." Levi gave another sigh and grudgingly sat down on the couch, motioning Eren to follow him. He couldn't believe he was actually going to have to do this. "Eren... come here."

Eren hesitated before timidly stepping forward in front of Levi, his fingers twisting awkwardly. Levi promptly snatched him by the waist and pulled him into his lap.

"!?" The boy's eyes nearly doubled in size at the close proximity of their faces, clutching his notebook as if his life depended on it. Gritting his teeth in resigned determination, Levi leaned his face closer to Eren, who was once more blushing like mad.

"..."

"...how about now?" Levi managed to mumble out, feeling like an utter fool. "Do I still look the same now?"

"..." Eren hastily averted his gaze to scribble in his notebook.

You look... a little different?

"...see, I told y-"

Flip. I still can't really tell...

"..."

Flip. Because Levi still looks calmer than me!

"Shitty brat!" Levi hissed in frustration, reaching up to grab Eren's head, curling his fingers around brown strands. Not knowing what to expect, Eren gave him a frightened look, but Levi simply shoved the boy's face against his chest.

Neither of them spoke (or wrote) anything for a few seconds until Levi began to talk again. "...Eren, can you feel that? It's my heartbeat." He felt the boy stiffen, then nod against his skin. "...You can tell that it's really fast, isn't it?"

More nods.

"...It's probably as fast as yours right now." Levi muttered reluctantly, absentmindedly stroking Eren's hair. "So... even though my face is like this, you're not the only one who thinks they're acting weird. Okay?"

Eren hesitantly rose from Levi's chest to glance at the man's face again. Then, he suddenly smiled brightly and nodded, taking Levi's hand from his hair and wrapping their fingers together.

"..." Damn. The kid was really cute.

Eren blinked before beginning to write in his notebook again.

Levi? Just now, your eyes got more scary-looking...

"Ah? ...No, it's nothing." Increasingly aware of their position, Levi cleared his throat. "Eren, I... if we're going to be... ...together..." Oh lord, he was talking like a fucking twelve year old. "...I have... some... conditions. I want to know several things."

Okay?

"Right. First of all..." Levi scrutinized Eren's face carefully. "Are you sure there's no one out there that can claim you? As their guardian or family?"

Eren stared back at him seriously before beginning to write.

I don't belong to anyone!

"...and are you sure you're more than eighteen years old?" Levi knew that they would get nowhere if it was about Eren's "real" age, but he had to know that the kid was at least legal.

Eren's answer is immediate.

I AM!

"...fine." Levi closed his eyes, resting his head against Eren's. "That's all I really needed to know, I guess." He murmured, clutching Eren closer and feeling the brunet squirm in embarrassment against him.

He opened one eye as Eren suddenly broke free and raised his head, looking triumphant despite his blushing cheeks.

Levi, I want condishions too!

"...that's not how you spell the word, brat."

Eren ignored him and continued writing, a wide grin on his face as he showed the notebook to Levi.

First, I want to eat cotton candy again! Every day!

"...I'll buy it when the festival comes around again."

Flip. I want to keep taking care of Car and Grishy!

"Why else would I get them for you, brat..."

Flip. I want to drive again! ALL THE TIME!

"...once you've taken and passed driving school, sure."

Flip. I want to learn how to write and read better!

"Tch, you'll be doing that whether you'd want to or not."

Flip. I want to be able to wear the maid dress sometimes!

"...we can discuss that later. Is that all?"

Eren shook his head.

Last one. Levi has to promise, no matter, what...

Levi inwardly groaned. Oh dear, now he was going to have to make some cheesy promise about never having to leave the damn brat...

Flip. To never let me fall into the ocean.

"...huh?"

Eren simply smiled, this smile seeming almost... sad.

Please.

Flip. Because if I fall into the ocean,

Flip. I can't be with Levi.

His eyes suddenly seeming distant, Eren didn't look like he wanted to explain anything more, and Levi wasn't about to push him.

"...all right." Levi ruffled Eren's hair lightly. "I don't really get it, but if that's what you want, brat, then it's fine. I'll protect you."

Eren gazed back at him with slightly wide eyes before smiling widely again. All traces of sadness gone, Eren's face was simply pure joy, his mouth opening in a silent laugh.

Thank you, Levi!

Flip. As I thought, no matter what, Levi is always the best!

...that was... strange... what was this weird feeling in Levi's chest- OH FUCK NO HE SO DID NOT JUST HAVE A SHITTY "DOKIDOKI" MOMENT FUCK FUCK FUCK THIS SORT OF CRAP SHOULDN'T HAPPEN TO HIM-

"Brat, let's kiss!" The rash words falling out of Levi's mouth nearly gave poor Eren a heart attack.

WHAT WHAT AHWAT WHAT WHATHAWHAT LEVI!?

"Do you not want to?" Levi demanded almost haggardly as Eren covered his face with one of his hands as the other wrote.

I don't not want to, but Levi looks scary again!

"What!? You didn't have a problem with that last night!"

Eren peeked out shyly from the spaces between his fingers. Levi promptly grabbed his hand and tore it from his face. He was pretty sure that his own face didn't become any gentler, but the look in Eren's eyes slowly turned into something that suspiciously resembled anticipation-

Vrrrrb. Vrrrrb.

"Ah." Levi's phone was ringing. Since it was in his reach, Eren leaned over to get it for him.

Levi glanced at the caller id, saw that it was Erwin, and answered, still not letting go of Eren's waist. "Erwin?"

"Levi... I hope I'm not interrupting you with something..." Erwin's voice sounded like it always did, but Levi could have sworn there was as trace of humor in his tone.

"It's fine." Levi replied stiffly, his eye twitching in irritation. "What is it?"

The trace of humor immediately disappeared. "It's about Eren, Levi... I'm sorry to ask you this, could you come over to my place? I have something to talk to you about. In person."

Levi raised an eyebrow as Eren watched him, puzzled. Something about the brat that couldn't be talked about over the phone? He instinctively tightened his grip on the boy's waist. "...sure. When? Now?"

"That would be good."

"Okay, I'll see you then." Levi closed his phone, slipping it into his pocket. "Eren, I have to go out for a while to see Erwin." He explained, his hand leaving Eren's waist to stroke his hair again. "I won't be gone for long, so stay here with Bean and be good, okay?"

Eren nodded obediently. Levi patted his head one more time before quickly setting off, wondering if he had just gained a potential lover or another pet.

The familiar drive to Erwin's home didn't take Levi long. Soon, he was already inside the police chief's house, seated at a table across Erwin.

"So? What did you want to talk about?" He questioned, noticing in trepidation that Erwin looked rather... shaken, as if he had received a huge shock earlier. "Erwin?"

"After the day at the hospital, I decided to try do some more researching. Want a drink?" Erwin offered, already pouring himself a glass.

Levi simply watched him warily.

Erwin took a small sip from his glass before continuing. "Well, Levi, I stand corrected. It turns out that there was a Yeager, after all."

Levi stared at him, unable to fully register the words. There was a person named Yeager. There was a person that could be Eren's family. There was a person that Eren could return to. It was news Levi had been practically praying for a few days earlier, so why-

Erwin could not help smiling wearily at the look on the writer's face. "Don't worry, Levi. He shares the same surname with Eren, all right, but he's been dead for well over a hundred years."

"..."

"...haah?" Levi choked out in disbelief. "He's dead!?"

"Yes." Erwin confirmed. "The last of his family, actually. He didn't leave any children or any close relatives behind."

"...oh?" Was all Levi could say, not knowing how he exactly felt at the moment. Sad? Happy? Relieved? Slightly shamed? "So... you've called me over just to confirm that you can't find any living relatives of Eren?"

Erwin shook his head lightly. "No, I have not. I wanted to talk about this man who died over a hundred years ago. I read his story and... well, I think you need to hear it, Levi."

Levi leaned back in his chair, his blank face concealing the feeling of uneasiness in his stomach. "Go ahead, then."

His friend took a deep breath. "His name was Grisha Yeager. He was a German doctor and lived in a village near the ocean. He appeared to have had an ordinary life... except for one incident."

"Which is...?"

"Which is... when, only a month or two after starting his practice, he found... an abandoned girl by the beachside." Levi unconsciously gripped the glass Erwin had poured for him.

"Upon finding her, he realized she was unable to speak or walk properly. After helping the girl, he tried to find her relatives or family, but no one recognized her. The girl communicated to him by writing. She told the doctor that her name was Carla, and that she was an orphan with no family. She was a young, pretty, and kind woman, and many of the villagers would have taken her in, but the doctor offered his own home to her. She stayed with him for several years."

Erwin gave Levi a meaningful look before continuing.

"Carla was eventually able to walk, but she never gained back her voice. She and the doctor grew very close. They were actually engaged to be married, even."

"...so they married?"

Erwin shook his head again. "No. Carla disappeared before the ceremony could take place. She and the doctor were riding on a ship to visit his parents when a storm suddenly broke out. Grisha got thrown overboard. He was found almost immediately afterward, washed up safely on a nearby beach. But there was no sign of Carla, not on the ship or in the water. Grisha never saw her again."

There was a short pause between the two men, Erwin finally breaking the silence. "Levi... doesn't this sound familiar? This girl came from the sea... she couldn't talk... she couldn't walk properly... it's almost like... Eren..."

Levi wasn't listening to him, his eyes riveted to the table's surface, not really seeing anything. Disappeared... never to be seen again...

"Levi? Levi?"

It took him several seconds to realize that Erwin had been calling his name. "Levi... Eren said his parents were probably both dead... he said he came from waters that are suspiciously close to where that doctor lived, and they just happened to share the name surname! I read Grisha's stories from his own private journal (don't ask what I went through to get my hands on it), and the dates indicate that Carla disappeared almost a hundred and ninety five years ago, less than a year before Eren claims to have been born! Levi, you don't think that possibly..."

"I'm going to name them Car and Grishy!"

Car and Grishy... Carla and Grisha... a rather strange coincidence... almost too strange to be a coincidence...

Levi didn't say anything for several minutes. Then he suddenly downed his glass in a swift gulp. "No. Yes. I don't care. It doesn't matter." He sighed. "Eren is a human. And he won't disappear. He won't." Levi repeated, more to himself than Erwin. "He won't. Eren will talk about his past when he wants to. He'll have all the time he wants because he'll be staying with me."

Erwin studied the black-haired man's face carefully before slowly nodding in agreement. "All right. I won't talk about this to anyone else. You're right... we should focus more on getting Eren to adjust to life here. He doesn't look like he wants to leave anytime soon..." He added, chuckling faintly. "I heard you both enjoyed the festival."

"...shit..." Levi swore, reaching over to pour himself another glass as he realized it was futile to try to deny anything. "I thought these sort of things are supposed to take months, not days. And the kid's such a fucking brat. A fucking adorable brat. Oh shit, did I actually just say that? Don't you dare tell Hanji."

Erwin gave another laugh. "Then you better hurry back to Eren, Levi. Brats can grow up quickly. Or perhaps Eren already has?"

Levi would have liked to pretend that he wasn't shaken up by Erwin's story. There was no way Eren could disappear like that.

But he drove home at a speed faster than usual, and he found himself practically running as he threw open the door with more force than was necessary. "Eren-" Whatever Levi was going to say, he promptly forgot.

Because Eren was there, he was right there in front of Levi's eyes, sitting peacefully with Bean on the floor. At the sound of Levi's voice, the brunet looked up and gave Levi that same damn smile again. He picked up his notebook.

Welcome home, Levi!

Flip. How was your visit with Chief Erwin?

Eren was simply flipping the pages, Levi realized, the brat had already written his notes earlier. Because he had been waiting for Levi to come home. Like Levi had been expecting to see him when he got home.

"...I'm home." Levi said the words thickly, too thickly, and maybe the alcohol had gotten to his head, because he could only think of Eren, Eren, Eren, Eren, and before either of them knew it, Levi suddenly scooped Eren up, burying his face into the brown locks.

"Eren..." He murmured, and the boy raised his head, peering bemusedly into Levi's eyes as he tentatively touched Levi's cheek. Levi took Eren's hand and brought the fingertips to his lips, much to Eren's shock. He then pressed his lips the back of Eren's hand, his forehead, his cheek.

By now, Eren was blushing like mad, but he still met Levi's eyes, his hands shyly cupping the pale face. Once more captivated by the bluish green, Levi curled his fingers tighter around Eren's shoulders and leaned forward, his breath caressing Eren's reddening cheeks.

They end up moving at the same time; Levi bent down while Eren tilted his head up and their lips met in the middle. It was gentle, chaste, and warm, Eren's mouth was soft under Levi's, and Levi would have continued the kiss longer had they not needed air.

Levi drew back gently before whispering quietly against the boy's mouth. "Since I did that... you won't be able to go back from where you came from, right?"

Seeming a little dazed from the kiss, Eren simply caressed Levi's cheek.

"You said you don't belong to anyone, right?"

Eren nodded, his green eyes clear and honest and lovely, Levi thought. "Then... belong to me. Just me. Just stay here."

The brunet watched him carefully, then opened his mouth, and it took Levi a few seconds to realize that Eren was carefully mouthing words to him.

I will not leave Levi. But... Eren pointed to Levi and then himself before beginning to mouth words again.

I want Levi to belong to me.

"...Damn brat. Fine then. It's a deal."

This time, Eren snuggled happily against Levi as they lay in bed, the older man occasionally dipping his head to kiss or caress Eren's hair.

Levi was ready to doze off when Eren poked him again. "Mmm?"

Levi, he mouthed, I want to know more about you.

"...like what?"

Anything.

Levi ran his fingers through Eren's hair. "You already know a lot. My name is Levi. I have a minor height complex and can be a little... anal when it comes to cleanliness. I have a short temper and a blank face. I used to write books, but I'm on a break. I have two friends, Hanji Zoe and Erwin Smith."

How old are you?

"...I'm a little over thirty years old."

Eren's mouth opened in slight shock. Young! He mouthed. Levi is young!

"...shut up."

"...yes?"

Where are your parents?

Levi frowned again. "What is this, twenty questions?" Eren shrugged.

You were all asking me questions. I'm not sure if there was 20, though.

"Eren, that's different."

"..."

The brunet still looked put out, so Levi relented. "It's like you, damn brat. They're no longer around."

What happened to them?

"They got into a car accident." Levi said bluntly, tracing his fingers against Eren's cheek. "Five years after I finished school. It was a long time ago."

Eren's mouth opened slightly as the brunet nodded his head in understanding. Levi half-expected Eren to mouth an apology or become uncomfortable, but the brunet did neither.

Were you angry, Levi?

Levi let out a small sound of distaste. "What the hell was there to be angry for, brat? It was no one's fault. Shit happens. That was all to it."

Eren opened his mouth again, but hesitated slightly, as if he wasn't sure if he should say what he wanted to say. Levi watched him attentively.

I envy you, Levi.

The brat's eyes seemed sad and distant again.

They stayed quiet for some time until Eren broke the silence in his own way.

Levi, were your parents grumpy people too?

"...no." Levi said honestly. "They were pretty happy people, actually."

Eren raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"Yeah, no one else could understand it either. My dad used to lamely joke about how I somehow got the grumpy genes of the family." Levi paused. "...maybe that's why I turned out to be so grumpy. I heard too much of his lame jokes when I was young so my face turned out like this."

He hadn't meant to be funny when he said it, but Eren still opened his mouth in a noiseless laugh, his eyes once more joyful.

"...you really can't make any noise at all, can you?"

Does that bother you? Propping his chin against Levi's chest, Eren looked neither worried or offended, merely curious.

"No. In fact, I think you being able to talk would bother me." Eren's face scrunched up, displeased. It was actually becoming a very familiar expression to Levi.

I'll have you know that my voice was very nice! Eren forgot to mouth the words slowly in his indignation, Levi barely managed to understand him.

"Oh, I believe it. I already can see you singing opera dramatically." Levi was pretty sure Eren had no idea what the word "opera" meant, but from the scowl on the brunet's face, Eren could tell that Levi was insulting him again.

Singing is boring, anyway!

Eren rolled his eyes and blew a puff of air out of the corner of his mouth, clearly intending to empathize his message.

Levi simply gave him a quick kiss, pulling back to see Eren's flustered face and smiling, truly smiling, for the first time in years.

Sorry, I know this chapter's shorter than most, but I felt like this was a good note to end it. ^^" Kinda rushed along their development... oh... oh well... ^-^"

Reviews make me dance to Shingeki no Kyojin's first opening~ XD