Pairings: Levi/Eren

Warnings: AU Universe. Reincarnation. OOC. Gender swap. Taller Levi. Shorter Eren.

Disclaimer: I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin or any of the characters, but the OC characters belongs to me

Chapter Four: For Her, For She is Everything

It was nearly two days after the Stohess incident, or Operation Sina like how the Survey Corps' soldiers have dubbed it when Levi had finally gotten enough time to himself to go and see Eren who is still laid up in the infirmary.

Titan regeneration or not, there are still injuries that Eren wouldn't be able to heal from within a day.

The operation to capture the Female Titan, Annie Leonheart, had nearly ended up in total disaster, with half of Stohess destroyed due to the rampage of the two Titans in the city, and many people have died as a result. And as it is, those have been elements that Erwin had already taken into account when he had been planning the operation to capture the Female Titan with Armin Arlert's input and help when the younger blonde had been the one to put the pieces together and figure out just who is the Female Titan.

The Board hadn't been amused with Erwin and the Stohess incident, and the Survey Corps barely managed to walk away unscathed, with Eren still under their care when the Military Police had demanded for custody of the Titan Shifter to be handed over to them after the disaster that is the 57th Expedition.

But none of what had happened during the Stohess incident when they were pursuing Annie Leonheart in Titan form topped what they have found in the walls of Wall Sina itself when a piece of it had crumbled away after Annie Leonheart had crystallised herself.

A face of a freaking Titan within the walls.

Nearly every single soldier who had been present had freaked at the sight, including normally unflappable Mikasa Ackerman who had been hanging off the walls—having been the one to slice off the fingers of the Female Titan to prevent her escape over the walls.

The events that followed after that was a whirlwind of confusion. Armin Arlert and Jean Kirstein have been the ones to carry an unconscious Eren Jaeger to the infirmary to recover from her shifting whilst Hanji who is the next highest chain of command with Erwin's arrest by the Military Police and Levi who had to see to the soldiers had nearly snapped when Pastor Nick adamantly refused to tell her what he knows about the Titans within the walls, no matter how much Hanji had threatened him.

The normally eccentric Survey Corps' scientist had nearly thrown Pastor Nick off the top of Wall Sina had Moblit not stopped her.

As far as Levi is aware, Hanji is still interrogating Pastor Nick with Moblit's assistance—though not that it is going very well. Hanji is just one moment away from losing her patience and resorting to physical torture at any moment now. Last that Levi had seen Moblit when Hanji had sent him to get some rest, the normally patient and calm man looked to be on the verge of losing his cool too.

Armin Arlert walked past Levi at that very moment, carrying a tray with an empty bowl on it and used utensils. The younger blonde looked exhausted, and dark bags were even visible beneath his eyes.

Levi isn't surprised in the least, as with Armin's input and assistance with the plans for the capture of the Female Titan, Erwin had been very impressed with him, and had been roping Armin into nearly every military or tactical strategy meeting that he had with Hanji, Levi or even Mike. There was even talk about Armin being trained to hold the post of Erwin's tactical advisor in a few years once he's older.

That and coupled with the fact that Armin had been taking it in shifts with the rest of the 104th Squad to care for Eren, Levi is surprised that Armin even had managed to sleep at all.

Armin greeted Levi with a respectful nod of his head due to the fact that his hands were full, and headed towards the direction where the kitchen is whilst Levi continued on his way towards the room where Eren is currently recuperating.

The brunette hasn't been left alone since she had been brought in after Annie was captured, and Hanji had spent nearly an hour tending to her injuries. At least one of Eren's friends from the 104th Squad would be sitting with her at all times—with the most frequent visitors being Armin and Mikasa to no one's surprise. Jean Kirstein had been a frequent visitor as well.

The door to Eren's room was left slightly ajar, and even as Levi approached, he could see Eren sitting up in the bed, still with bandages around her forehead, her neck, and even around her forearms. There was even a gauze on her left cheek, and thankfully, the IV line giving her body the necessary nutrients seems to have been taken out of her when she had woken up at last.

Jean Kirstein was seated in a chair next to her bed, looking particularly solemn, only dressed in a white shirt and military pants and boots. The new recruits have been given some unofficial day offs due to the Sina Operation, and when they weren't visiting Eren and getting some food or rest, they were helping with the clean up in the Stohess district—though not that the reception towards them was very welcoming. In the eyes of majority of the stuck up fools within Wall Sina, it is the fault of the Survey Corps that half of Stohess was destroyed and that so many people have died.

Those fools didn't even take into account that if Erwin hadn't made that decision, lots more would have died, and humanity might even be wiped out. The true identity of the Female Titan was kept secret as well, and only the Board, the Supreme Commander as well as the three Commanders of the military branches outside of the Survey Corps' soldiers that were involved in the operation were aware that Annie Leonheart had been the Female Titan.

"…How are you feeling?" Jean had been asking, a gentle look in his eyes even as he looked at Eren, as the brunette stared down at her bandaged hands.

"I'll manage." Eren managed to say, smiling a small smile at Jean. "I heal so fast that it's almost creepy." She admitted. Locks of dark brown hair fell into her eyes even as she stared down at the bandages around her hands. "Is Annie…?" She trailed off slowly, looking at Jean who shook his head. "I see."

"They still haven't been able to get her out of the crystal that she'd encased herself in after the battle." Jean told Eren. "The higher ups haven't told us much of anything, only that Annie had been taken into the custody of the Survey Corps underground, and that we are not to tell anyone about her. The others have been helping with the clean-up of Stohess when they aren't eating or sleeping, or visiting you." He admitted, his hands curling into fists on his knees. "It's Trost all over again." Jean admitted, a warble in his voice giving away the fear and anger that he'd obviously felt. "Only ten times worst. I heard from Sasha and Connie that most of the bodies that they'd recovered couldn't even be identified."

"And the Survey Corps?"

"Armin and the Commander have it covered." Jean told Eren. "You are still to remain with the Survey Corps. Thank Maria for that." The two-toned haired teen muttered something beneath his breath. "If the Board had still demanded for your custody to be transferred over to the Military Police, I can only imagine Mikasa's reaction to it."

Levi cracked a smile despite himself even as he remained outside the door, listening to the conversation between the two cadets. Mikasa Ackerman's overprotective nature over Eren Jaeger was relatively well known amongst the Survey Corps—having begun even during their time in the Academy. If Nile had still insisted on having Eren placed in his custody, Levi wouldn't be surprised if Nile's body turned up in a ditch somewhere.

"…I froze up." Eren admitted, and Levi froze when he heard how…distraught that she'd sounded. "When I was facing Annie, I just…froze up. In the end, I couldn't do it. I just…" There was a light sniffle. "I even thought that it's fine if I just…died."

Levi's eyes widened a slight fraction from behind the door.

"Eren…!" Obviously, Jean is of the same opinion as Levi.

"But…" Eren continued as if Jean hadn't said anything. "I'm glad…that I'm still alive."

There was silence for several moments before Levi finally decided to enter the room, announcing his presence with a knock on the slightly ajar door. Both teens in the room looked up as Levi entered. Jean snapped to attention immediately, saluting Levi.

Levi frowned as he studied the taller and younger teen in front of him. Jean Kirstein looked as if he is going to collapse on his feet at any moment now. From what Levi had heard from some of his fellow soldiers—particularly Mike and Nanaba, and even Moblit who had been the one to monitor Eren's condition, any moment when Jean isn't resting or eating or even helping with the clean up, he had been sitting with Eren.

Just when is the last time that the two-toned haired teen had slept?

"Kirstein, go and take a break." Levi ordered. "You look as if you hadn't slept for days. You will be no good to us if you collapse. Besides, I'll need you at full health in a few days."

Jean hesitated, looking between Eren and Levi before he nodded, turning towards Eren. "Rest up," he told Eren. "Mikasa and Armin will be in here soon. I'll come again tomorrow if I can—I might have to take over Reiner's shift for clean up duty tomorrow."

Eren nodded. "Send my regards to the others."

"See you." Jean gave a backwards wave to Eren before leaving the room, thus leaving Levi and Eren together.

Levi said nothing for several moments before he dropped himself down in the chair that Jean had vacated, letting out a small sigh of relief as he took the weight off of his injured ankle and turned his attention towards the last member of his squad.

"How are you feeling?" Levi asked as last, noting inwardly to himself that Eren looked like shit. And honestly, he can't blame her either. He doesn't look that good himself either, and he is pretty sure that nearly every single soldier of the Survey Corps hadn't been looking their best for days now.

"…I'll manage." Eren managed a small smile at Levi. "I always do."

Levi said nothing for several moments. "…We're going to be moving out in ten days, once you're well enough to walk on your own," he told Eren who looked bewildered at that. "We have a mission that Erwin is particularly adamant that he wants us on, along with Hanji's squad. Mike and Nanaba will be joining us a week later with their squads." He looked disgruntled when he remembered what Erwin had told him. "Your friends will be joining my squad as part of the Special Operations Squad. There is a plan that Erwin wants executed…"

XXXXXX

School carried on like normal, though nearly the entire school seemed to have learned about Levi and Eren by the second day—which isn't too surprising as Levi turned up on their front doorstep to walk to school with Eren, something that amused Mike greatly, and annoyed Mikasa.

Eren still spent her lunch hours with her friends, but her after school hours were spent with Levi, which no one had objected to, as all her friends knew that Eren had missed Levi greatly. Eren had settled down well into her role as the basketball manager, and both vice-captain and manager have several long discussions about strategy and formations, often in the clubroom of the basketball club.

…No one honestly wanted to know just what is going on behind those doors.

It was nearly a week after the new school year had begun when Levi had sprang a most surprising suggestion to Eren when they were both sorting through the profiles of the new members that had just joined the basketball team after the recruitment exercise held a few days ago.

"A party?" Eren echoed, raising an eyebrow in confusion even as she sorted out the profiles of the new members of the team according to name and year.

"It's really Hanji's idea." Levi pointed out even as he sorted out the data statistics of the basketball club members that Eren had made, absently noting how incredibly detailed it had been—and she had only been the manager for a week. "A kind of 're-introduction' gathering at Erwin's place, since his house is the only place large enough to hold all of us, and his parents are going away for the next week or so for some convention."

Eren's hand paused over writing some notes in the notebook that she had opened on the table. Levi, Erwin, Hanji and Moblit were the only ones amongst the former Survey Corps' higher ups that she had met thus far. She had avoided the original Special Operations Squad like the plague, though it's a little difficult to do so when Eld, Oluo and Gunther were in the basketball team too.

The truth is that Eren didn't know how to face them. Sure, she knows that Petra and the others knew what they're getting themselves into when they have given their lives willingly in the battle against the Female Titan the last time. Even still, it didn't change any matters that Eren had basically seen all of them fall against the Female Titan, and had seen how each of them had died.

Gunther, with his neck broken.

Eld, almost bitten in half.

Oluo, almost entirely flattened by the Female Titan's fist.

Petra, slammed against the tree.

Each and every single one of them have died fulfilling their duties as Survey Corps soldiers admirably that day. And even after their deaths, and when Erwin was particularly insistent on having the former recruits from the 104th Trainee Squad to fill in the empty positions in Levi's squad, Eren had always felt that they have always been near her—supporting her and helping her. Even during the final moments of her death after the Final Battle, she had felt as if she isn't alone with Levi that day—almost as if she could sense that there are other presences in the room with her to guide her to the next life.

"It's not your fault." Levi said suddenly, almost as if reading Eren's mind. "We've been through this before. You didn't make the wrong choice. And I've told you before, didn't I? That none of us would know what the outcome of our choices would be until the end. Besides…" Levi placed down the stack of papers that he had been sifting through, grasping hold of Eren's shoulder gently, thus forcing her to look at him. "None of them blamed you. They made their choice that day. They never regretted it. And if it had been you in their shoes, wouldn't you make the same decision that they did?"

Eren was silent for a long time.

Levi had sat with her for a long time not too long after the new Levi Squad had moved into their temporary base of operations about a few weeks before Reiner and Bertholdt have revealed themselves to be the Colossal and Armoured Titans. He had spent hours talking with her, trying to make her see that his squad members' deaths were not her fault, letting her grieve for them, since Eren wasn't exactly in a condition good enough to attend the Burning after the 57th Expedition had ended in failure.

And if truth be told, if it had been Eren in their shoes, and she had received the order to protect a squad member with her life if necessary, then yes, Eren admitted to herself that yes, she would have made the same decision that Petra, Gunther, Oluo and Eld did too—and that she wouldn't regret her decision.

"…If I had been them, then yes, I probably would have made the same decision." Eren admitted at last.

Levi sighed. "You know, before you and your friends made your appearances in this life, I blamed myself for your death too," he admitted, and Eren looked at him in surprise. It is something that he had kept to himself, and only Erwin and Hanji knew—as the two have spent most of their junior high years trying to convince Levi otherwise. "My mind…wasn't exactly the healthiest when you'd died. I just…didn't care about anything then when you'd left me too." Eren looked saddened. From what her friends could tell her, Levi had all but stopped caring about anything when she'd died, and he nearly broke. "The words that your father said to me really convinced me that it is my fault." He smiled wryly at Eren. "And then all of us got a second chance—a life where there are no Titans, no war, no politic battles, not having to worry about getting eaten by some Titan, and not having to wonder if the next body that we're burning would be one of our friends. It was then when I understood—that you wouldn't have blamed me either way—that you made your decision. And that we can start all over again." Levi looked at Eren gently. "Petra and the others missed you, Eren. They're a little hurt that you've been avoiding them, but they understand. Why don't you come to the party? You can invite your friends too. I think Erwin would like to talk with Armin once more. And I know that Isabel and Farlan wanted to meet you too."

Eren was silent for a long time.

"…Let me think about it."

"A party?" Jean asked in confusion that day during lunch hour when as usual, they were all up on the rooftop having their lunch. "At the Commander's house?"

Next to Eren, Armin sighed, munching on his beef sandwich. "Jean, you really should stop addressing them as 'Commander', 'Corporal', 'Major' or even 'Squad Leader'," he reprimanded Jean, and his friends grinned. "People have been giving us weird looks whenever they overheard us talking."

"Besides, none of us are in the military anymore." Marco reminded his best friend gently, and Jean grinned. "Just like how Mike isn't our superior officer."

Eren cleared her throat, and everyone turned towards her. "So. This party," she said once more. "You guys game for it?"

"Well sure." Connie was the first to answer around a mouthful of sandwich. "I mean, none of us have even seen or interacted with them much unless you count the few occasions when we saw them across the hall or even during assembly sessions, or even the few classes that the freshmen and juniors took together."

"Well, we'll go if you go too." Annie said uncomfortably, glancing at Reiner and Bertholdt who were both sitting on either side of her. The two boys nodded solemnly, and only a fool wouldn't know why they're so apprehensive.

"It's this weekend." Eren sighed, opening the sketchbook that she had with her, and slipping out several dozen invitations before handing them around.

Armin who was next to Eren noticed that the pages where the invitations were slipped in was of a pencil drawing of a sleeping Levi that is resting his head on the table—and by the looks of things, it wasn't a 'past drawing' which is what their friends have often dubbed Eren's drawings of their military days—but more of a 'present drawing'.

"I say that we go." Reiner was the first one to break the silence after reading the words on the invitation that he was handed, looking at his friends. "None of us are in the military anymore, and thus, there are no Titans here, and no war to fight. All of us have a second chance at life. Besides, we can't avoid them forever, seeing as how we're all in the same school—with some of us in the same club furthermore." He glanced at Jean, Eren and Connie as he said so.

Annie sighed, examining her invitation once more. "When is it?"

"This Saturday night."

XXXXXX

Mike and Nanaba were actually also invited to the party held at Erwin's house for a 're-gathering' of all the former soldiers, but the two had declined, as they have their own couple's night out that day.

Mikasa had headed over to Sasha's house with the rest of their friends to prepare for the party before heading to Erwin's house together. Eren on the other hand however, would be going together with Levi—with the latter picking her up at her place.

…Something that Mikasa isn't too happy about apparently.

Music could be heard blaring from the two-storey tall house (or mansion) as Levi brought his motorcycle to a stop. Several pairs of shoes could already be seen on the front porch, and if Levi knew his friends well, he knows that half of them would probably be dancing, with the other half somewhere in the pool at the back of the house.

"Come on, Eren." Levi held his hand out to his girlfriend who is looking at the house with wonder and awe, and with some apprehension visible in her eyes.

As it is a casual party, they weren't all that dressed up—with Levi in dark jeans and a studded brown belt, along with a long sleeved white shirt and a short black jacket. Eren on the other hand had on a black shirt with fitting dark jeans and a white jacket, with a plain black choker around her neck.

"Come on, they won't bite." Levi said albeit impatiently even as he removed his sneakers, placing it neatly in a corner so that no one would place their dirty feet all over his shoes.

Eren nodded silently even as she removed her sneakers as well, taking Levi's hand, nearly hiding behind him as he opened the door. The low sounds of the music that they could hear from outside came out at full blast immediately the moment that Levi had opened the door, and Eren identified it as some rock music.

The hall of the house seemed to have been transformed into some sort of dance floor, with strobe lights flashing all over the place, and loud music was blaring out from the stereo. There was even a high table where glasses of champagne and soda could be seen—as none of them were of age yet to drink alcohol.

Eren could already see Jean dancing with Mikasa in the middle of the dance floor, and the two-toned haired teen was grinning like a loon, with usually impassive Mikasa having a small smile on her face as she had her hands on Jean's shoulders, with the latter having his hands on Mikasa's hips. Annie and Bertholdt were dancing not too far away from them, and the normally cold Annie was laughing. Connie and Sasha meanwhile were stuffing their faces in a corner, and Armin could even be seen with Erwin in a corner—with both engrossed in a conversation with each other—most probably about some book or the other. Reiner was engaged in a conversation with Marco, with both males laughing about something as they nursed glasses of soda in their hands, watching their friends behave like fools on the dance floor. Ymir and Christa were nowhere to be seen, and Eren could only hope that they're in the pool at the back of the house, and not making out somewhere in one of the several rooms in this large house.

The brunette could still remember their graduation party after their junior high graduation last year. It was a small combination party held to celebrate their graduation along with the celebration for winning the Nationals, thus, the entire basketball team was invited as well. Their principal was happy over their championship win as well, and had kindly sponsored them the usage of one of his vacation houses for their party.

And let's just say that Eren wouldn't be wandering about in the rooms in any house that a party is held in anytime soon.

"Levi, you're here!" Hanji squealed, dragging Moblit behind her by the hand. "I thought that you're never coming! The freshmen have already been here for an hour! Isabel and Farlan have been here since morning, helping Erwin and myself to decorate the place." Hanji gestured towards a corner where Levi's younger twin siblings were manning the drinks counter.

"Sorry, I have to go and pick up Eren from her place." Levi grunted, tugging slightly on Eren's hand, and making her come out from hiding.

Hanji beamed widely at Eren before jumping on the surprised brunette, startling her. "Eren, long time no see!" Hanji nearly screeched in Eren's ear. "I've missed you so much!"

Hanji's loud voice attracted the attention of nearly every single person in the room, and as one, all heads turned towards them. There were startled and bewildered looks on the faces of the former higher ups, including Isabel and Farlan who have never met Eren before, but have seen her around the school, as they are both in the next class—and not to mention that it isn't too often that they get two sets of twins in the same year.

"Eren!" Petra was the first to approach them, smiling widely at the younger girl whom she'd once seen as a younger sister, and had taken her beneath her wing the last time when Levi had first taken Eren into his squad.

Petra, being the only other woman on the Levi Squad had also been the one to teach Eren about all the 'female stuff' that all the female soldiers have to know—the most important one being the regular once a month health checks and birth control medication so that the female soldiers don't get pregnant—especially if they are sexually active with a fellow male soldier. Traditionally, it had often been the older female soldiers that teach the new female recruits what they have to know. If there isn't a woman on the squad that they were assigned to, it then falls under the squad leader's responsibility to approach a female soldier to have them teach his subordinate the stuff that she needs to know.

Eren smiled back at Petra even as the rest of the original Special Operations Squad came up from behind the ginger haired girl. "Hello Petra-san," she greeted, an unsure smile on her face.

"It's been a while!" Petra enveloped Eren into a hug before pushing her backwards to check her well being. "You look well. And I've heard about everything from Levi." She winked mischievously at Eren, laughing at the light flush that crept up on her face. "Hooking up with your commanding officer, huh? I can't say that I never saw it coming."

"Well, with all the googly eyes that she kept making at Levi…" Oluo trailed off slyly, only to get a jab in the sides for his trouble by Petra, thus causing him to bite his tongue…again. "Ouch!"

"Hey Eren." Eld smiled at the younger and smaller girl, ruffling her hair and making it messier than it already is. "Long time no see."

"You've been avoiding us." Gunther joked. "It hurts." He faked being broken hearted, and everyone laughed. "You should listen to Hayden singing your praises the other day at basketball practice when you weren't around. He thinks that we might have a chance at winning the Nationals this year."

Eren laughed. "He's been after me for some training methods for a week now," she confessed, laughing. "Just be prepared for some Spartan training from him for about a month in a week or so, since that will be around the time when I have to hand in the training menus for each member to him."

The members of the basketball club – Levi, Eld, Gunther, Oluo, and even Jean, Connie and Reiner who were blatantly eavesdropping on their conversation paled. Giving their maniac of a basketball captain more ideas for insane training methods is going to kill them! The juniors were still wondering how Hayden managed to find the time to take his supplementary prep courses for his university entrance exams.

"All right. I have to steal Eren away. You can talk with her at school all you want." Levi grumbled, taking Eren's hand in his, and ignoring Hanji's grin or even Moblit's amused chuckle.

"Ever the possessive one, aren't you, Levi?" Hanji grinned.

Levi only grunted and ignored the snickering group as he led Eren away. "You see?" he told Eren, smiling at her who is smiling back, the light coming back in her eyes. "They've never blamed you. Besides, this is a new life for us now—especially for those that were killed. The Shifters aren't Shifters anymore—they aren't enemies in this life. Thus, there is no need for us to fight. We are just normal high school students with a normal school life here."

"Right." Eren smiled.

"Erwin, aren't you being a pretty bad host?" was the first thing out of Levi's mouth the moment that he'd approached the corner where Erwin was still engaged in a conversation with Armin.

"And aren't you polite?" Erwin joked before he smiled at Eren. "Hello Eren. It's been a while. Armin has been telling me about the things that you and your friends have gotten up to since your elementary school days. What's this about your teacher's wig when you were back in elementary school?"

"Oh God…" Eren groaned, covering her eyes before glaring at a grinning Armin. "For the last time, Armin, it's not our fault! How were we supposed to know that Mr Willis wore a wig? And it wasn't my idea!"

"No. It was Jean and Connie's." Armin added, grinning. "I know. You told us that countless times. Still, you have to admit that it's funny."

"Not so much for me." Eren mumbled, ignoring the amused looks that Levi and Erwin have traded between themselves. "If it hadn't been our graduating day, Mr Willis would probably have assigned the lot of us detention for a year."

"Well, Mike at least found it funny." Armin added with a grin, remembering the barely restrained grin on Mike's face when their red-faced homeroom teacher had told the tall blonde man what the kids have done to his wig.

"I would love to hear about it in detail later." Levi interrupted, having a feeling that it is going to be an amusing story—if his memory about Connie Springer and Reiner Braun being pranksters during their recruit days was accurate. "But there are two people that wants to meet you, Eren."

"Who?" Eren was confused as Levi dragged her away from Erwin and Armin's corner—with both blondes going back to whatever conversation that they were in the middle of before Levi had interrupted.

"My brother and sister." Levi told Eren. "You should have seen them around from time to time, as they're both in your year."

"Hey Big Brother!" Isabel squealed the moment that she had seen Levi. "I thought that you aren't going to show up!" She then beamed at Eren—with both the Ackerman twins having had their eyes focused on the petite brunette behind Levi from the very first moment that they have both walked in. "And is this Eren?" Isabel beamed brightly at Eren before hugging her around the neck. "Nice to meet you! I'm Isabel! I'm Big Brother's little sister! I'm in the class next to yours, so we would be sharing PE and Physics together!"

"Izz, give the girl some room to breathe." The boy with dirty blonde hair next to her laughed, and dragged the excitable Isabel off Eren. He then looked at Eren with kind eyes. "Hello. We've never really met before, but both Isabel and myself have heard so much about you that it feels as if we've already met. My name is Farlan. Nice to meet you. And like Isabel said, we would probably be seeing each other a lot more as we would be sharing some classes together."

"Hello." Eren nodded to the two politely.

"Farlan, can I have a soda?" Marco approached just then.

"Want to get away for a moment?" Levi bent down to whisper into Eren's ear even as he took two glasses of soda from the drinks counter that Isabel and Farlan were manning, and Eren smiled and nodded. Sure, she loves her friends and all, but she just wants some alone time with Levi for just a few moments without anyone interrupting. "Come on."

As their friends were either engrossed in conversation or dancing with each other, no one noticed Levi and Eren sneaking away towards the back door that opens out to the swimming pool at the back of the Smith residence. Levi knew the house well as he had been here several times with Hanji ever since his junior high days, and both he and Hanji have always been welcomed guests here by Mr and Mrs Smith—especially during Christmas and Thanksgiving Day.

The water of the pool was smooth as no one was using it—with everyone currently in the house. Even still, the underwater lights of the pool were turned on so that anyone who wishes to take a dip into the pool could see what they're doing.

"Shitty music is giving me a freaking headache." Levi grunted even as he sat by the pool with Eren beside him—far away enough so that the water don't reach them, and placed the two glasses of soda that he'd taken with him on the ground before them. "I can't even stand half the crap that they call music these days."

Eren laughed. "You're not alone," she smiled. "I think Annie, Reiner and Bertholdt were talking about forming some music band with some of the others."

"They play?"

"As far as I know, yes." Eren nodded, remembering when the three former Shifters were used as a stand-in band one time in junior high during a school festival when the music band supposed to be performing couldn't make it due to their lead vocalist losing his voice. She then sighed, a small smile tugging at the end of her lips.

"What's on your mind?" Levi asked, hiding his surprise when Eren leaned against him, resting her hair against his shoulder.

"This." Eren gestured around them. "With everything that has been happening for the past few weeks ever since the new school year had begun, it had only just begun to sink in after meeting Hanji, Petra-san and all the others earlier. That we are truly all alive now. That we have another chance at life. In a better time. In a world where there are no Titans, no war, no military laws to make things difficult for us, no having to worry whether we'll come back alive or not on the next expedition, not having to worry about the higher ups, and no having to keep our relationship under wraps just because you're my commanding officer, and I'm a soldier in your unit."

"We aren't in the military anymore." Levi said the words that had been said so often by nearly every single one of them at least once. "We aren't fighting in a war anymore. I'm just a year older than you are now. Here, there is just…" He closed his eyes briefly, a small smile on his lips before he intertwined his fingers together with Eren's. "There is just 'you' and 'me'. There are no…politics getting in our way. No Titans. No heavy burdens with humanity's hopes and dreams lying on our shoulders. Nothing like that anymore. We have a second chance. In a much better world."

"Armin said the same thing." Eren smiled, snuggling closer into Levi's side. He said nothing, but merely wrapped his arm around Eren's shoulders, pulling her closer. "Back then when Annie, Reiner and Bertholdt have first turned up, and he had been the first to approach them."

"Yeah, Erwin said the same thing once when I'd met him and Hanji during junior high." Levi laughed. "What is it with these two? They think so alike. If I didn't know any better, they could almost be twins."

Even back then, way before Erwin's death, he had always been extremely taken with the brilliant young blonde that is Armin Arlert, and his brilliant strategic mind. Hence Erwin's last words to Hanji before he'd gone marching off to the capital had been that she utilise Armin Arlert's strategic skills during the civil war that they were involved in at that time that involved the royal family and the central division of the Military Police. If things haven't been so hectic at that time, Levi is pretty sure that Erwin would have probably pursued a friendship with Armin, despite their age differences.

"And they're right." Levi turned his head to look at Eren, smiling at her, tightening his hold on her hand. "We have another chance." He echoed. "I do not have to worry about the Military Police or the court taking you away from me." Like the time they did after the 57th Expedition, Levi thought sourly to himself.

Levi himself had nearly gone ballistic when Erwin had summoned both himself and Hanji to his office at five o'clock in the morning only to inform them tiredly of the summons by the Military Police. If Armin Arlert hadn't knocked on the door only moments after that, Levi is certain that he would have probably flown at Erwin, his injured ankle notwithstanding.

"And I have another chance to do this."

Levi then pressed his lips against Eren's own, with startled blueish-green eyes widening a slight fraction in surprise before Levi then felt arms around his neck. He then deepened their kiss, threading his hand into Eren's silky brunette locks, slipping his tongue into Eren's mouth, his other hand going towards Eren's waist and trailing upwards, memorising the shape of her body.

The two could probably have continued for several more moments if it hadn't been for the fact that they heard faint giggles and whispering somewhere behind them, and Levi scowled. The two parted slightly away from each other, a trail of saliva trailing from both of their lips, with Levi's hand still at the back of Eren's head.

"How much further do you think they are going to go?"

Smack!

"Ouch!"

"Should we really be watching this?"

"Thank God that Mikasa didn't follow us out."

Levi's eye twitched before he turned his infamous Glare of Doom onto the cluster of potted plants that Mrs Smith had planted around the swimming pool area. "Whoever is hiding there, come out now," he growled, fingers flexing, and wishing that he had his blades with him right now.

There was silence for several moments before Reiner, Connie, Sasha, Hanji, Moblit and the members of his old squad emerged, all grinning sheepishly at Levi. Or rather, Petra, Gunther, Oluo, Eld, Sasha and Moblit are. The others are grinning at him like an imp.

"Sorry." Hanji sang at Levi, a wide grin on her face even as Moblit face palmed from behind her. "We noticed that you were both gone for quite some time, and Farlan told us that you both have disappeared towards the back of the house. We got worried, soooo…"

Levi's eye twitched. "So you decided it a good opportunity to spy on me, you shitty glasses?" he nearly growled.

Sasha chuckled nervously, clutching at Connie's arm like it would protect her from Levi's wrath. "Well… I can see that you're both busy, so excuse me!" And the brunette then disappeared from Levi's sight faster than thought possible, dragging Connie with her.

Taking a cue from Sasha, the others followed suit, with Moblit dragging Hanji with her, glancing at Levi apologetically as he did so.

"Should we go after them?" Eren asked, annoyed.

"Later." Levi grunted, laying down on the ground, with his arm acting like a pillow for his head. "I don't feel like going after them now."

Eren laughed, but she agreed with him. If she knows her friends like how she does, they're sure to corner her sooner or later, wanting to get all the 'juicy titbits'. But just for now, she wants to have her alone time with Levi.

In a world where they are no longer soldiers.

A/N: It sounds awfully like the end of a story, huh? But rest assured, it's most definitely not! And yay for fluff! And I found out that I'm absolutely terrible at writing romance, something I realised when trying to write Levi in character! Thank you to all those who have placed this story on their alerts or favourites! You have no idea how much it meant to me, and a bigger thank you to all those who have reviewed!

Anyway, what would you like to see in future chapters? It might give me more ideas and faster update times! I might or might not write about the side couples, and while I don't write yaoi, I might place a mention here and there—you might figure out which couples I might be talking about. A cookie to anyone who managed a guess!

Anyway, I hope that you like this chapter, and please read and review! Reviews give me inspiration to update!

Upcoming Stories:

Nighthunters: An Alternative Path

Set in Nighthunters Universe. An alternative route in Nighthunters when the Red King was never denied his heritage and was named the Crown Prince. And life soon grew pretty complicated (and amusing) for the ones in the palace, especially when romance started to bloom. Midorima/Fem!Kuroko. Sibling!Akashi/Tamaki/Seijuro

Nighthunters: Before the Fall

Prequel to Nighthunters. To dedicate your life for the protection of one's kingdom had always been something that Kuroko Tamaki knew what she wanted when she'd chosen to be a soldier like her father, and headed to the Royal City to attend the military Academy. There, she made some fast friends, amongst which was a group of three boys whom would also later be known as the Generation of Miracles. Midorima/Tamaki

Daughter of Black

Hilda Potter died fighting Voldemort during the Final Battle. But the clash of spells had formed a paradox, giving Hilda Potter a second chance at life. Being thrown back nearly 30 years in the past, Hilda had a chance to rewrite history, only with one catch. She is reborn as the younger twin sister of Sirius Orion Black. Fem!Harry