"Eren! Eren, open the door!" Mikasa screamed as she banged violently on the locked door.

"Eren! Please! Don't do this! Remember you said we'd see the world! Please, Eren, I'm begging you!" cried Armin. It was useless. Eren knew what he was and what he had to do. He made a promise... a vow. He had worked so hard... so long... and he was finally about to finish his task. Every titan was decimated, thanks to him. He was meant to go to an award ceremony, where he was to be promoted, but he just couldn't accept that. In the background, Eren could still hear his friends pleads. Even Jean begged for him to open the door.

"Dammit!" Eren cried. He grabbed the mirror that sat on the floor next to him. "I'm a monster... I'm a monster... a murderer. I'm sorry I failed you, Mother. I'm so sorry." Eren clenched his eyes, as tears streamed relentlessly down his cheeks. "Why!? Why me!? What did I do to deserve this!?" The sounds beyond the door ceased.

"Leave. Now." said a gruff voice from the hall. No, could it be? Eren's heart sank as he heard the faint clicking of distancing footsteps. Suddenly, a loud thud came from the door, followed by several more. One the last attempt, the door flew open. Eren didn't turn around, as he knew who already stood in the doorway. It was Corporal Levi. Levi slowly walked up to Eren, placing a hand upon his shoulder. His hand trembled as he tightened his grip.

"Co – Corpro – " Eren stuttered, but he was interrupted.

"Shut up!" Levi shouted, but his anger rapidly turned to grief. "Just... shut up." Levi fell to his knees, clasping Eren's shirt, with his head bowed. Eren, still frozen, was unable to muster the words he so desperately needed to say.

"You idiot..." Levi muttered. He began to let out uncontrollable sobs. "You goddamn idiot! How could you do this to yourself... to me?" Levi beat his fist upon Eren's shoulder. Eren had never seen him in such agony before, even when his squad had been killed. Levi's blood ran hot through his veins. "What were you thinking... Don't you understand the consequences?" Levi's body went limp as he wrapped his weak arms around Eren's body.

"Levi... you don't understand. I cause more bad than good." Eren said with an empty voice. His soul turned to ice in that moment. "I'm nothing but a monster, Levi."

"Stop that. Stop saying that. Even if you were a monster, I-" Levi cut his words short. Eren turned his head.

"Even if you were a monster, I wouldn't love you any less than I already do." Levi said. By this time, Levi had calmed himself, speaking his words in the form of truth rather than sorrow. "But you're not a monster. You're Eren. You're a soldier. You're a hero to humanity. Without you, we may not be here now. You're one of us, even as a titan-shifter." Levi's words were soft and meaningful. Eren's body trembled with emotion. He flung his fists to the ground. His rage echoed throughout the room and he beat the floor with bloodied knuckles.

"None of that is true! I've done nothing but get everyone around me killed! My mother, your squad, my friends... so many friends... There is nothing right with me! Stop saying these things! Stop making this harder than it needs to be! Let me die. I deserve death after all I've done!" Eren screamed as he stood. He grabbed his mirror and smashed it onto the ground. "Every time I look at my reflection, I see nothing, not even a soul! Look at me! I bet if I were to turn into a titan right now, I'd kill you because that's who – no – that's what I am! I am what humanity hates!" Eren grabbed Levi's shoulders. "I - I'm exactly what humanity hates..." His tone settled as he stared into Levi's eyes. "I'm nothing but a worthless monster." Eren stood, staring at the floor away from Levi, head bowed. Suddenly, a heavy forced shoved him hard onto the ground. Levi had him in an inescapable pin, with no way out. Eren looked at Levi, only to see angered eyes staring back at him. Levi lifted his fist and cracked it hard against Eren's jaw. He struck him time and time again, until his face dripped with warm blood.

"Tell me! Does that hurt!?" Levi screamed as he lay more blows to Eren's face. "Tell me! Tell me! Tell me!" Eren whimpered. Choking on his own blood.

"That's..." Levi smashed his bloody fist into Eren again. "...not..." and again "...an..." and again "answer!" Levi struck him a final blow, as the cracking of bone radiated through the room.

"Tell me! Does that hurt?! Tell me now!" Levi screamed, grabbing Eren's face in his crimson stained hands. "Tell me or so help me God I will kill you myself! Tell me, dammit, tell me!"

"Y-yes! Stop please!" Eren cried, tears streaming down his face, carrying heavy trails of blood with them. Levi pulled a cloth out of his pocket and began wiping Eren's face. Tears ran down Levi's cheeks and dripped onto Eren.

"I'm sorry, Eren." Levi said quietly. "You just needed to understand."

"Understand... what?" Eren question through his gagging and coughing.

"That monsters don't cry." Levi whispered as he held Eren in his arms. "You're no monster. You are human, just like me." Levi swept the hair from Eren's head and lay his cheek upon it as he cradled him. "Don't make me do this again. I've lost so much over the years... I don't need to lose you too." Eren pulled Levi in closer, squeezing him tightly.

"I – I'm so sorry, Levi..." Eren cried into Levi's chest. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry..." Levi promptly hugged Eren's head.

"Sh. Don't apologize. I'm just glad I got here in time." Levi whispered. Levi knew Eren deserved to live, especially after everything he's done. He's sacrificed himself time and time again. Finally, everyone was safe. Levi watch at Eren quietly went to sleep. He picked Eren up and gently carried him home.

"Monsters don't cry." Levi thought to himself. "Eren is no monster and I'm glad."