It's only natural Eren would've found a fucking person to love by now, Levi reasoned, briskly walking back to his car. It's my fucking fault for getting my hopes up anyway. I won't make the brat fall for me if he already loves Armin. Yeah, I'll forget about him, maybe fuck around with Erwin or something.

…Yeah, right.

Levi knew what he'd do. He'd run away and pretend he never felt anything for the wide-eyed boy. He'd lie and fake his way through life because this was definitely his punishment for his stupidity in his past life. He had made Eren suffer horribly back then for the sake of his pride, and now, he had to go through just as much pain.

Fuck it all. Levi leaned on his car hood, waiting for the fucking brat to come, but at the same time, not really wanting to see Eren after what he heard.

Levi, you're acting like a fucking pansy.

A cough interrupted his thoughts.

"Hey, Le- uh, Mr. Levi."

"Hey," Levi replied awkwardly, opting to get in the car rather than try to force a legitimate conversation with his ex (oh god, that was the first time Levi ever realized he had an ex).

The drive was ridiculously quiet. Levi was scared of fucking up again and Eren was probably pissed about Levi's shitty reason as to why he kissed him (or maybe he was thinking about Armin, Levi guessed, ignoring the jealous pang in his chest.)

Eren's sigh broke the silence. "Mr. Levi…"

"Hm?"

"About that kiss…"

Oh fuck.

"…when you said that I looked like I wanted it, was that the only reason?"

Oh god, Eren flushed, realizing that he completely forgot to deny wanting the kiss. Hopefully, Levi wouldn't notice.

Meanwhile, Levi was freaking out (or, as much as someone as emotionally constipated as he was could). He had no idea whether or not to confess how much he desired to hold Eren in his arms and kiss him and-

Levi looked away, "I… Y-yeah, that's all."

Fuck.

Eren didn't respond, just glad that Levi didn't notice his slip-up and forcing his blush down. He refused to admit how being in such close proximity with his (extremely hot) tutor made his heart race, and especially the fact that he felt somewhat disappointed in the other male's response, which confused him greatly.

The journey back to Eren's house seemed to take much longer than usually necessary. Eren wouldn't stop thinking about the kiss and Levi wouldn't stop thinking about wanting to kiss Eren so basically, the atmosphere in the car wasn't particularly suited for a decent conversation. That was why after Levi parked the car, the two of them quickly got out to escape the accumulating tension.

The lift ride up to Eren's apartment was, expectedly, filled with uncomfortable silence since they were the only two there. Instead of forcing himself to break the awkwardness, Eren lost himself in his own thoughts. However, he was immediately brought back to reality when he felt a rough hand caress his hair. He swiveled around, feeling his cheeks heat up as he quickly pushed Levi's hand away, sputtering, "W-what are you doing?!"

Levi frowned at something invisible on his fingers, flicking whatever it was away. "Dust," he explained, expression remaining unchanged.

"O-oh. Thanks," the brunet forced out, looking away and praying that the fucking lift would just hurry up.

Luckily enough, they soon reached Eren's floor and Eren had to force himself not to rush out in embarrassment. Knocking on his own door, Eren was greeted by a bubbly Armin who grinned at the sight of his best friend, slinging his arm around the taller boy's shoulder to drag him into the apartment. Seeing the bright-eyed boy so happy with Armin, Levi had to tell himself that the uncomfortable feeling in his chest wasn't jealousy, and that jealousy wasn't the reason why he wanted to leave immediately.

As such, he muttered an awkward goodbye and turned to leave, only to catch a flash of some unknown emotion in his love's eyes. Refusing to dwell on it, the ex-corporal forced himself to leave his ex-lover behind. When he was beyond hearing range, he picked up his phone and called Erwin, who picked up almost immediately.

"You win," Levi muttered, "I'll go for the fucking conference."

Behind closed doors, Eren could finally admit to himself how much Levi touching him could affect him so greatly. He remembered how the back of his head had burned when Levi's hand was on it, how it didn't stop burning until he was alone, how he didn't really want to brush Levi's hand off.

In the background, he heard someone else come home. Mikasa, probably. At that moment, she called out to him, confirming that it was her. He left his room to greet her, but before he could say anything, she said something that sent chills down his spine.

"You know, I thought you and Levi made up or something, but apparently not, huh."

"W-what? We're on okay terms- well not really okay but… we're not fighting or anything. The hell is going on?"

"He's leaving."

"H-huh?"

"He chose to go on a conference with someone from his office, and apparently some intern shit after that. He'll be gone for months. He's under the impression that you're in love with Armin, and wants to leave you be," she rolled her eyes as if that was the stupidest thing she'd ever heard, "But what's important is this: do you love him?"

"I-I… I don't know, I have to think about this." Eren wasn't sure himself how he felt about Levi. It would be pretty ridiculous to fall for some pervert who he randomly met at Starbucks. Yet at the same time, Eren didn't feel something was missing when he was around the history teacher. He just… wasn't sure.

Mikasa gave him an understanding smile, and before she left the living room, she said, "His flight is tomorrow evening, so you still have time."

Eren nodded, leaving for his room so he could finally confront the painful ache in his chest privately. Why do I feel like this? he wondered, sitting himself on the floor –the same place Levi kissed him, not bothering to walk to his bed.

The mere thought of Levi leaving him scared him more than he was willing to admit, but he didn't know why. Or rather, he just didn't want to admit to how much he didn't want to lose Levi.

Not again, a voice in his head added.

Not again? Eren was confused. Somehow, the feeling of losing Levi was painfully familiar, but how could that be? Eren couldn't lose something that wasn't his in the first place.

And that was how Eren Jaeger finally admitted that yes, he was completely and utterly in love with Levi.

The next morning, Eren left the house early, despite Levi's flight being in the evening. Somehow, it felt like he was supposed to do that. However, since he had no real inkling of where he was headed, the teenager just settled for aimlessly wandering the neighborhood. Passing by a bus stop, he caught sight of an advertisement that made him stop in his tracks.

For some reason, the image of some naked giant with nothing between its fucking legs on the National History Museum made a burst of anger surge through him. He didn't know why, though. Since he had some time left, he decided to visit the museum. Levi would be glad I'm going to a history museum, he thought against his will, feeling the resulting pang of longing in his chest.

Just wait for a few hours, he told himself.

The "Titan Exhibit" was… weird. Glass cabinets displayed odd shit like some toaster-looking things called "3 Dimensional Maneuver Gear" or whatever and some sort of bendy swords, as well as some nutmeg-like thing that was supposedly a "titan's nucleus". While Eren was 100% sure he'd never seen any of those things in his life, he could somehow understand each of the explanations on each item, even if he didn't pay any attention during his history lessons. What was even more puzzling was that more than once, his mind had naturally filled in certain sentences about the "Titans" even without him reading the whole thing. Weird.

A small voice interrupted his thoughts from a distance, calling to someone he didn't know. "Hey, Mummy, doesn't that guy over there look like the one in the painting?" a tiny child tugged at her mother's sleeve, waving a pointed finger at Eren.

"Now, now, it's rude to point," her mother chided, but still looked up at Eren, "but yes, now that you mention it, he does look like the guy in the exhibit, doesn't he."

Excuse me? Eren thought indignantly, somewhat offended to have been likened to some display in a really weird exhibition that he really shouldn't find familiar but somehow does.

Despite everything, he was still curious, so he walked along walls covered in posters, artist impressions the titans and cabinets of really fucking huge bones- the same walls the mother and daughter had come from. He went slack-jawed at the sight of the painting gallery.

No way…

There was no mistake about it- the one biting his thumb in the painting was definitely him, but how? His eyes widened, and he quickly looked to his own left hand. He had always found it weird- the strange birthmark that looked exactly like bite-marks.

Below the painting read, in formal print, "Humanity's Hope, Eren Jaeger."

The wide-eyed teenager dashed about the gallery, making sure to check each and every painting.

"The 104th Training Squad."

"Titans destroy Wall Maria."

"Humanity's Finest, Levi Ackerman."

"Levi Ackerman's Squad."

"Levi Ackerman and his lover, Eren Jaeger."

Oh… Oh my god… All along…

Eren slumped to the ground, ignoring the questioning stares from around him as his head pounded furiously. Flashes of his past life flashed before his very eyes- saving Mikasa as a child, The 104th Training Squad, his friends dying, turning into a titan, being trialed at court, Levi saving him, going out of the walls, Levi suddenly pulling him aside to kiss him, kissing the corporal back, wishing he'd just say "I love you", dying before that could happen. Images of Levi's loving face took over and burned themselves into Eren's mind.

And he cried.

He didn't know whether it was from the happiness that every single one of his friends was safe or from the sadness stemming from realising what everyone had to go through when they realised he couldn't remember his past life. Or maybe it was because he realised just how much he had hurt Levi with his ignorant words and actions and how much the man he loved had to suffer because of it.

But he cried, nevertheless.

It took a while more before Eren had the strength to wipe away his tears and force himself up. Eyes burning with determination, he chased after Levi with everything he had. He couldn't lose him a second time.

Lost in his adrenaline, he'd completely forgotten to ask Mikasa for Levi's flight details, and since it was already evening, he was worried he may have already missed it. As he whipped out his phone however, he realised Mikasa had already messaged him the flight timing, along with the words "I think you've already found your answer. You better hurry up."

Saying a silent thanks to his adopted sister, he checked his watch, only to realise that he'd really have to rush in order to catch Levi before he left. Eren quickly sprinted to catch a passing taxi.

The taxi driver was pretty pissed of at the panicky teenager trying his best to stop at asking, "Could you go a bit faster?" just twice (it didn't work in the end, though). After what felt like forever, the taxi pulled over at the airport and Eren shoved a wad of bills into the driver's hand, telling him to keep the change and he sped out of the cab.

At that point in time, he thanked his lucky stars that the airport wasn't too crowded. However, he still wasn't sure how he was going to find Levi amidst the crowd of strangers. He didn't even know who Levi was with. Whatever, he decided, telling himself that it didn't matter anyway and dashed towards the departure gate.

"Mr. Levi…!"

Levi's eyes widened in shock, not expecting the younger male to show up but not exactly hating it either, "Huh? Eren?! What the fuck are you-?"

Before Levi could continue, Eren quickly pulled the other into his arms, crushing him against his chest. This was also when Eren realised just how much muscle the shorter man had, and had to force a blush down before he got distracted. "E-Eren, what are you-"

"I remembered everything- my past life, the titans, you. Everything," he repeated.

Levi didn't respond, so Eren continued to elaborate on how he'd visited the museum (to which Levi chuckled at the thought of his lover going to a museum), before lightly resting his head on the other's shoulder, whispering, "I'm so sorry… You must've been through a lot of shit."

With that, Eren put a bit more space between them, trying to give the other room to think, but it wasn't necessary. Almost immediately, Levi pulled the other close again, and voice laced with affection, he muttered, "It doesn't fucking matter anymore. You're back, and that's all I care about, brat."

"I love you, Mr. Levi," the taller boy hummed almost teasingly.

"But… What about Armin or whoever?"

Eren chuckled, finding a jealous Levi utterly adorable, but explained what had happened around the corner after Levi had left.

"F-Fine, that's good, I suppose," Levi said under his breath, telling himself that if he was blushing, he'd fucking stab himself "Whatever, but it's Levi, remember? Not Mr. Levi," he grimaced at the mere thought of Eren addressing him that way.

Eren just smiled, sinking deeper into the embrace, and whispered, "Yeah, I remember. I love you."

"I love you too, Eren."

With that one sentence, Levi could suddenly feel a huge weight off his shoulders as he was released from the chains which pound him to his previous life. Now, what happened in the past didn't matter because Eren was finally here and his at the same time.

When the pair finally broke their embrace, Levi suddenly noticed Erwin's absence. Realising that he'd left on his own without a word, Levi was grateful for how understanding he could be, and messaged him a thanks. After that, Eren and he decided to just crash at his place, where there was no one to interrupt them.

On the way back to Levi's place, Eren still tried to apologise for forgetting about his past life, and it was seriously starting to irritate the ex-corporal. However, at the same time, he couldn't have been more satisfied now that he had more than just memories of Eren.

Author Note:

Wheeeee I'm finally done, you guys~ I'm so sorry this took so long ^^; I just kinda forgot about it orz

A big thanks to all those who reviewed, faved, followed etc. or i probably would've let this rot until next year oops

-Midnight dream-catcher