LLL- I'm back, sooner then the last update.

Levi- Tch

LLL- Wow you're actually being nice this time.

Levi- she doesn't own AOT/SNK. Just enjoy it. Alright.

LLL- YAY

Levi glares at Erwin and then back down at Eren. His first thought his to shove Eren on to the floor but that would risk waking him. Not that he really cares...

"So what happened last night?" Erwin jeers.

Levi looks back at him with the usual narrow, expressionless eyes. "Nothing happened."

"You'll never cuddle me like that."

"I wasn't cuddling him."

"You look pretty comfy to me."

Levi's insides are heated, but he's been dealing with this man for quite a while and is used to his crap. "Shut up."

"Maybe one day we can cuddle." Levi only raises an eyebrow and Erwin sighs. "A man can dream."

"You must want to die in this dream."

"Your sense of humor is cruel."

"Whatever. No more small talk." Levi slides off of the couch, careful not to wake Eren.

"I've never seen you be so gentle with a titan before."

Levi closes his eyes. It's one of his methods of calming. Don't look at someone he wants to kill. "Why are you here?"

"I actually came to make sure Eren was still alive, but it seems like you two are friends now."

"Why would you think something like that?"

"You were laying on top of him!"

"Because four-eyes drugged me last night."

"Oh, so Hange stopped by. I've been meaning to speak with her."

Levi rolls his eyes to the pointlessness of this statement. "Alright. The brat's alive. You can leave now."

"Wait. Has your memory returned?"

Levi thinks about this question. Erwin doesn't know how much he knows. This might work. "Yes. I have my memory back now. It took a while but I finally remembered Annie and the breach."

A sly smile is on Erwin's face and he walks up to Levi. "I'm glad to hear that. I was worried."

Levi looks off to the side. "Yeah. So what is the plan now?"

Erwin becomes closer to him. "Now that your memory is back, we celebrate and make love."

"Huh?"

"Your memory is back right. Surely you know that we are lovers."

"What.."

"WHAT!" Eren falls off of the couch and looks up at them.

Erwin steps back and looks into the air with a disappointed sigh. "Just when I was starting to enjoy this."

"What the hell are you talking about!" Eren stands up and Erwin pays him no mind

He looks back at Levi. "You don't have all of your memory back. You actually have a long way to go. I don't know what you were trying to accomplish by lying."

"What are you trying to hide by lying."

"I'm not trying to hide anything at all."

Erwin walks to the door and Eren's face is still showing pissed disbelief. He opens and exits the house, leaving the two in silence. Levi pinches the bridge of his nose. With unexpected force, he wraps his hand around Eren's throat and pins him to the couch. His voice is as plain as he can make it. "What aren't you telling me?"

Eren tries to speak but nothing comes out. Air can't even make it in. 'Akghhhh."

Levi rolls his eyes and lets Eren go. He falls over, gasping for air. "Not killing you is the hardest thing I've ever done."

"W-what about Erwin?"

Levi thinks about this. "Ok, second hardest thing I've done." He walks into the kitchen to wash his hands, still talking to Eren. "So you were awake the entire time. Why did you pretend to be asleep?"

"To be honest, I don't trust Erwin alone with you. He tells you things he wouldn't say around anyone else."

"I promise you, most of what he says isn't important in the least." Eren is surprised to hear this but doesn't speak on it. "I don't care about whatever it is you guys don't want me to know."

"Then why is my neck bruised?"

"I don't like being lied to. It's the fact that you don't want me to know that will take everyone to an early grave. Most likely I won't care. I don't..." He pauses, completely frozen.

Eren sends him a worried glance. "Is something wrong?"

Levi looks to his right and then to his left. He then looks down at his feet and back at Eren. Eren can see hell through his eyes and takes a couple steps back...for precautionary safety. "This kitchen is filthy."

"Whaaa-"

"Where are my things?"

"Your what?"

"My cleaning supplies." Levi's voice is as low as a hum but the roar can still be heard.

"Your room is upstairs where you were before, but I don't know exactly where you..."

Levi immediately leaves and returns minutes later. He is wearing his scarf, apron, gloves and is carrying a bottle of cleaning solution. Anxiously, he starts scrubbing the counters in the kitchen. Eren looks out of the window and sees that the sun has just barely begun to rise, leaving a blue glow in the sky.

"Hey, Brat!" Eren turns back to Levi. "Grab a broom and start sweeping."

"Where?"

"If it can be walked on, sweep it."

"Uhm..." Just as Eren is about to speak they hear small creaks in the distance. Seconds later, Jean is standing in front of them with his night clothes on.

He yawns and rubs his eyes before stretching his arms. "Really you guys, do you mind not making so much noise?"

"You, horse-boy, your face looks disgusting. Go clean it."

Jean's mouth routinely hits the floor. Stubbornly, he turns on his heals, heading back up stairs with a grunt. "Why couldn't you lose that part of your memory."

"I could never forget something as important as cleanliness."

Eren grunts at this, now sweeping aimlessly with the broom that was leaning against the wall. "So I'm wasn't important?"

Levi looks over. "What."

"I said I'm going to go sweep outside." With that, Eren walks out of the door with a slam. Levi takes his time cleaning dust off of the counters and getting the dirt out of the corners.

"Tch. This is disgraceful. How do they live like this."

He hears more creaks but doesn't bother turning around. Someone releases a soft yawn behind him. "Good Morning Captain Levi." Levi turns around to see the little blond boy. He then swivels back and continues cleaning. Armin shrugs his shoulders, used to receiving this response from the leader. He reaches around Levi, into a cabinet, and grabs a slightly cracked mug. Levi side glances every half second or so trying to get a better look at him. The blue eyed boy fills the cup with water and grabs a teabag from out of the drawer. Cold tea? Gross.

This is one of the only boys he's ever seen that is shorter than he is. He is somewhat built like a girl. And his eyes... "Hey Levi." The sudden call of attention wavers his thoughts but didn't phase him much. He turns his head slightly, trying not to make it seem like he was actually thinking about him. Despite the lack of response Armin starts talking again. "We had a lot of things planned before your showdown with Mikasa and laps of memory. Oh, have you been told about that yet?"

"Yes."

"OK Good. Today you and I are supposed to be on protection duty." Before Levi can ask what that is Armin answers that question. "Christa is somehow in danger and we need to keep an eye on her until we figure out what kind of danger she's in. We need to protect her." Levi doesn't know who Christa is but he's tired of asking questions. It'd be best to just learn things as he goes. "Do you know who Christa is?"

Levi raises an eyebrow. "No." Can he read minds? Armin takes the liberty of explaining the whole situation of Ymir, Reiner, and Christa. When finally understanding, Levi nods his head. Armin turns around, hearing someone coming down the stairs. Connie leaps over four steps, crashing to the floor with a thump.

"Mornin Guys! Man I'm starving."

"We're out of food. Jean is going to the market today to pick up some things."

Connie leans over, groaning. "Why can't Sasha go! She always gets the good stuff."

"Because the Military Police already have their eyes on us and I'm not getting arrested for eating stolen meat!"

"She would never get caught!"

"Fine Connie. Then why don't the three of you go together."

"Sounds awesome! I'll go tell Jean!" Connie turns around and nearly crashes into Mikasa in his happy fit. She can only send him a curious glare as he dashes up the steps. She then turns back to see Levi. He is taking off his gloves, looking around the house.

"Tch. It'll take hours to finish this atrocity."

"Good Morning Mikasa."

"Morning." She looks around. "Have you seen Eren? He wasn't in his room."

Armin thinks about this. "Nope. Not since last night."

"Hmmm." She no longer has reason of suspecting Levi of stealing him. That thought causes her look at him. He makes eye contact with her and she looks down at the floor. Lowering a lot of her pride and taking a deep breath, she speaks. "I'm sorry for..."

He walks past her before she can finish what she is trying to say, trudging up the steps. The air between them is cold. Armin stands, frozen in discomfort. "Just let him be, Mikasa."

"Whatever." She sits down at the table and drinks from Armin's cup of cold tea. The front door opens and Eren walks in. He has a glum expression and is staring at the ground. A broom drags behind his feet. Mikasa stands when seeing him. "Eren!"

Armin raises an eyebrow, studying Eren's demeanor. "Where have you been?

"Sweeping the damn sidewalk." He throws the broom against the wall and stomps up the stairs.

Armin looks over at Mikasa. "I think something's bothering him."

"You think? No one sweeps the sidewalk but Levi."

Levi takes a brief shower before going back to his room. He looks through the drawers, trying to see where all of his belongings are. The aching in his head is only occasional when he tries to remember something important. His mind has grasped the fact that Petra is gone, but his heart can't seem to accept it. Still, there'a more to his pain, he just can't figure out what it might be.

When his clothes are on, he walks into the hall way. The hall is basically a long corridor of room doors.

He walks a few inches to see who is in the room next to his. That's when he sees the bare back of a male. The brown hair already gives away that it's Eren. The creaking of the stairs sound, causing Eren to turn around. When seeing Levi his eyes go wide and he rushes on a shirt. Levi raises an eyebrow at his shyness. What is he? A girl?

The person coming up the steps is Armin. He stops when seeing Levi. "I'm going to get dressed now. I will let you know when I'm ready. We can leave together." Levi still can't understand how this is a male. Armin turns and goes into the third door from Levi's.

Levi walks forward and opens the cracked door to Eren's room. Eren's eyes are wide. His expression never really changed from when Levi had seen him from the hall. Levi looks around the room and then back at Eren. "You sleep in here?"

"Well, I haven't actually slept in here in a couple days."

"So that's why it looks like this." Eren doesn't say anything to this. He kind of looks like he's holding his breath. "I want my memory back soon." Eren snaps out of his strange state and pays close attention to Levi's words. "I don't care if I'm in the dark, I'm used to it, but only if it doesn't involve me. Whatever you are holding back involves me and I don't like it. I will get it out of you, even if I need to torture you."

Eren takes a step back.

"Levi!" Armin is in the hall.

Levi walks to the door and opens it. Armin sees him and smiles. Then he sees Eren and his expression changes to something a bit more uncertain. "Uhm. We can leave out now. It's best to get there early to relieve the Military Police.

"Why are they involved?"

"They don't trust us. They wanted to take part in this."

"Idiots." Levi sighs and walks out.

Eren shoots a curious look to Armin.

Armin shrugs his shoulders. "We have duty together today."

Eren grabs his shoulders with great force. "Don't tell him! Armin, you can't. I-I want to be the one to tell him."

Armin smiles and pries off Eren's fingers. "I won't tell him. I promise."

"Ok. Good. No matter what he does to you. Bite your tongue."

Armin turns around, ready to walk out and stops when really thinking about Eren's words. "Wait. What would he do to me?"

"Oh nothing. Have a good day." Eren turns and Armin leaves, somewhat frightened now. He walks down the stairs and sees Jean, Connie, and Sasha now in the kitchen.

Jean stands up, not happy. "You!"

"Me?"

"You suggested that those two come with me!"

Armin looks over to them where Connie is standing on the table in a ninja stance holding spoons and Sasha is below him with forks. Sasha has a strange look in her eyes. "Your spoon is wise but you are Weak. May the fork be with you!"

Connie raises his knee up higher. "Hooowahhhhhh!"

Armin cringes as he leaps off of the table and they engage in battle, silverware clinging. "Well, good luck with that Jean. Have you seen Levi?"

"He just went outside."

Armin runs to the door. "Thanks!"

"Wait! What about these idiots!"

"Ask Eren to help you!"

"What! But I hate him too!"

Armin is already out of the door. Levi leans against the house, looking into the sky. "Ready to go?" Armin walks ahead and Levi follows behind. It's been a long while since Levi has followed behind anyone other than Erwin. And the first time it has been someone shorter than himself. The two walk in distinct silence for about fifteen minutes before reaching a cute little house. Standing outside at the door are two Military Police soldiers.

Armin salutes to them. "We will take it from here."

The soldiers exchange glances. "Alright. She's still asleep."

"Thank you." With that short exchange of words, Levi and Armin take their places. The sky is light blue and an orange glow emits from the direction that the sun is rising. It is at least 7 o clock by now. A slight breeze blows in from the north and the air is thin and cool. Armin yawns and Levi looks in his direction.

"Hey," Levi calls over. "What's your name?"

Armin is surprised to hear him speak first. "Oh. I never told you, did I? I am Armin Arlert of the 104th trainees squad."

"You are close friends with Eren?"

"Yes. We grew up together. He and Mikasa used to always defend me against bullies."

"What is our relationship?"

Armin tilts his head. "Excuse me?"

"You and I. What was our relationship before my memory was gone."

"We don't really have much of a relationship. This is actually the most we've ever spoken together. But I've still always thought of you as a friend."

"Interesting."

Armin leans against the wood of the house, relaxing himself. "How?"

"We don't speak much, but you react to a lot of my actions. We've been together for a while now."

"Well yeah, all of us have. We've had no choice but to stick together. And you've led us."

"Then how could I let something like this happen? Losing my memory."

"It wasn't really your fault. Both you and Mikasa are temperamental. The consequences were just bigger this time. You couldn't have predicted that."

"I'm surprised someone like you joined the scouting regiment. You're built small like a woman."

"No offense captain but you're not so big yourself." Before Levi can say anything in his defense, Armin speaks again. "I guess I joined because of Eren. I wanted to help him and Mikasa. I didn't want to feel useless. Graduating top ten of our squad, I could have chosen anything but I wanted to stay with them."

"Top 10?"

"Yes. My stamina is not good but in the area of strategics, no one is above me. Not to sound conceited of course."

Levi nods at this before looking into the sky, buried in his thoughts. "Ah, I just thought maybe you were forced into it. Like me."

Armin raises his eyebrows at this. He doesn't know anything about Levi's past so this is news to him. "You were forced to join?"

"It's a long story."

Armin looks into the sky with a sigh. "We've got all day." Just as Levi is about to begin the tale of his days underground, the door to the house opens and Christa pokes her head out. Armin smiles. "Good Morning."

"Good Morning, Armin." She looks over. "Good Morning, Levi." She turns back to Armin. "I was just checking to see who was out here. It gets boring in this stupid house all day."

"I bet. If you want I can come in and we can talk for a while."

Christa smiles. "Ok."

Armin looks at Levi. "At least one of us needs to be outside."

Levi shrugs and Armin leaves him. Unlike most people, his heart doesn't feel loneliness. He felt lonely only when his friends from the underground city died. He felt lonely after waking up and finding his only comrades were no longer living. Nothing can top that loss and overcome the loneliness that will forever invade his heart.

About an hour later Armin returns. "Hey. Sorry for taking so long. She let me go because she doens't want you to be to lonely."

"I'm not."

Armin looks directly at him and then at the ground. "You say that, but I can see it in your eyes. You've been alone so many times that you don't even know how it feels anymore. I don't understand how you do it. If I had lost Eren and Mikasa I don't think I'd be able to go on. Captain, you possess a strength like no other."

"Can you tell me what that is?"

"I only wish I knew.

After another two hours of standing in silence and observing their atmosphere Christa opens the door again. "Excuse me, but may you guys come in for a second?"

"Christa, one of us needs to..."

"Please! Just for a second."

Armin and Levi make eye contact, nodding at one another. Together, they walk inside of the tiny house. There is a cute sitting area set up with two chairs. Armin and Christa sit down. Levi hovers slightly behind Armin. "So what's wrong."

Christa nervously bites her lip before blurting out,"I want to see Ymir!"

Armin's eyes go wide. "We can't do that!"

Tears stream down Christa's face. "I really need to see her! Please Armin! You don't understand. She's my best friend. I know she's being tortured. I know she's the enemy right now! I understand that but please. There's got to be something you can do."

Armin has never been good with tears. "O-Okay. Stop crying. Tonight. When things are less obvious, I'll figure something out. Just stop crying."

She sniffles and wipes away the tears. Levi looks at the two and can't help but notice how much alike they look. Armin stands. "We're going to go back, ok?"

"Ok... Tonight then?"

"Yep. Tonight."

"You promise?"

Armin is a little hesitant before nodding. "I promise."

They stand outside, attentive. At around noon, Connie and Sasha stop by with lunch for them to eat. For the rest of the time, there is no significant activity. At 6 PM, Military Police arrive to relieve them of their duties. "She is inside knitting," Armin tells them. The two other soldiers nod, not making any verbal exchange with the Scouts.

On the long walk back to the house Levi tells Armin of his history. When finished telling him his story he looks over at Armin. The blond teen has a tear running down his face, but still his expression is strong. "That's unbelievable. Really, I don't know if Erwin helped you or hurt you with what he did."

"Why are you crying?"

"How can you not cry? I don't think I could live experiencing something like that."

"I guess I just don't have the heart for it."

Armin stops walking. "Don't say that. I've seen it. You've just got to remember it is all."

Those words tug at Levi. He can't help but notice how much Armin appeara to care. Levi turns his head back. "Keep walking Armin. We're almost there."

Armin shakes his head and speeds up to Levi's pace. "Right."

Back at the house, Erwin, Mikasa, Hange, and Eren sit in the kitchen talking when Levi and Armin walk in.

Erwin smiles and sips from his cup. "I see you two have had a long day of work. Would you like some tea?"

"Sure," Armin says, not able to smile at Erwin right now.

"I'll pass," Levi grunts. Before Erwin can say anything else, Levi cuts in. "I want to see her. Ymir. I want to talk to her."

Erwin is caught off guard by this demand. "Oh... of course. Eren can take..."

"No. I want Armin to go with me."

Erwin raises an eyebrow. "What."

Mikasa chokes on her tea. "What?"

Eren chokes on the oxygen. "WHat!"

Hange leans against the counter. "Heh."

Erwin smiles. "You could always go by yourself, Levi. You don't need an escort."

"I don't need anything. I want Armin to go with me. Stop wasting my time." Levi turns on his heels and grabs Armin's wrist, dragging him.. gently.

When the two exit, the room is filled with nothing but distraught expressions. Except Hange. She raises her arms in the air with a stretch. "Ya know, this is the first time I've heard him call someone younger than him by their name and not brat."

"This isn't good, is it?" Eren mumbles.

Erwin looks into the air. "For Armin, no. For you, no. For me, I think I'll enjoy this."

Mikasa gives him a questionable glare. "Exactly how many people know you are this crazy?"

"Only a select few." Erwin answers. He walks across the room and to the door. "Be thankful you're a part of that."

LLL- I'm really really sorry this is moving so slow. I feel bad for dragging it out so long now. I don't want it to get boring or anything like that, but thank you to everyone for reading and thank you especially to those who review! This is currently my second most popular fanfic. And my second favorite as well.

if anyone has any requests for something they'd like to read/or like to happen in this story, just Review or PM me. Id be happy to abide.