Chapter Text
Days passed and Eren can't still grasp at everything his sister explained.
Mikasa said that in his previous life, he was a soldier like her as well as Armin. But for some reason, only the raven girl remembered everything. She starts telling the tale of how Eren could turn into a titan and Levi- who was a Captian- was encharged to look after him and kill him when the war was over.
But what took Eren aback was the information that he and Levi were lovers then. Thus, at the time of his execution, Levi refused to kill him.
The raven did express that he is willing to protect him. They ran off to the far side of lands only to be tracked down. Eren, in his previous life, was assassinated while Levi was poisoned. The raven explained vividly while crying that he was paralyzed and the poison was killing him slowly. At that time, they killed his lover in front of him until the poison engulfed him.
"I swore to the gods- no, to the demons of the land that I'll seek revenge to those who planned the assassination and be reunited with my Eren. I didn't know that the demons listened to me and here I am," Levi ended that day.
And still, Eren had no idea what to do. He was so confused and a bit of a shock. Sure, Eren had weird hobbies such as ghost hunting and whatnot but what he just heard was another next level.
Eren tapped at his keyboard, he's been in out of the internet for a while. Not in the mood to film or to update his status to his followers. He did read a few comments from his last video and some DMs on his Instagram. Most were asking if he was alright while others thought he was dead because the demon killed him.
Closing his eyes, Eren sighed heavily.
"Aren't you going to film for your.... um, Youtube was it?" Levi asked sheepishly.
It was not only Eren who was a mess and awkward after their discussion. Levi was skittish, like a frightened bird while Eren was an awkward teenager. Stuttering, voice cracking when talking to the demon, there is also one time he started avoiding Levi but it was futile since they lived under the same roof.
"Um, I don't feel like it..."
"Okay..." Levi sat on his bed, head down as he examined his hands. "Eren, I wanted to talk to you."
Eren gulped but turned on his chair to face him.
"I-" Levi raise his head. "I don't expect you to love me."
"Oh," Eren blinked at him.
"You may be my Eren but things are different now, you don't have to do anything to fit into his shoes. You're not a replacement. My Eren was dead and I'm just a stick in the mud that refused to believe it," Levi cried. Grabbing one of the pillows he covered his face as he wept silently.
Eren frowned. He was indeed a little worried about that. He like Levi to some extent, surely the demon was cute and good-looking but like what Levi said, he's not his Eren.
"But," Levi looked up from his pillow and wiped his face. "I'm happy to see your face again. I never felt so happy after years and years of searching."
"Levi, I'm glad I made you happy and to learn about everything. Though I feel bad that you're not in the books or the museums."
"It doesn't matter, I don't fucking care about recognition," Levi sighed and stood from the bed. "Before I go, can I ask a favor?"
"Um, yes but what do you mean before you go?" Eren asked.
"Well, I have reached my goal. I can feel the power in me starts to fade."
"You mean you are going away?! Just like that?!"
"I don't see why I need to stay here. And besides, I wanted to sleep."
Eren slumped on his chair. He heard from Armin that demons- corrupted ghosts stayed in the living because they have unfinished tasked. But once the task was finished... Eren stared at Levi. The demon looked normal like usual but the brunette can tell the tiredness that was conveyed on his blue-stormy eyes.
"I'll do whatever you ask," Eren said with determination. Instead of feeling sad about Levi's final departure, Eren looked into the bright side. Everyone needs a well-deserved rest.
"Can I hug you?"
"Of course," Eren spread his arms wide and immediately Levi stepped in, wrapping his arms around the brunette.
"I love you Eren," Levi whispered. "Thank you."
And just like that, Eren hugged nothing but empty space.
------
"Is everything ready?" Eren dashes to towards his sister. The raven girl was arranging the pamphlets and Eren arrival caused the papers to shift from their spot.
"Eren, calm down, and yes everything is ready," Mikasa rolled her eyes on him.
"Okay, where's Armin?" Eren scanned the area for the blonde.
"He's with Hange, making sure that the new exhibits were placed correctly."
"Great!" Eren cheered and fixed his suit for the fifth time. "I'll check on them."
"Yep, sure. But hurry, the opening will start soon and your students will look for you as well as the historians," Mikasa reminded.
"Yep, I'll be quick!" with that said, Eren went to the new exhibits.
After Levi's departure, Eren decided to turn his life around. He uploaded his last video in YouTube, informing his followers and supporters about his decision. He decided to end his channel and pursue university and get a degree in education. He chose to major in history, with his past knowledge and skill in reading and writing ancient text, Eren graduated with honors.
While working as a teacher, Eren conducted a lot of research regarding the Age of the Titans. He traveled to different places to trace the history and record them, with Mikasa's help due to her intact memories. The brunette also met fellow historians who also agreed that the Age of the Titans was incomplete.
Eren made a dozen of research with his team until the board of education and historians finally approved it. With the help of the internet, the additional information about the Age of the Titans spread worldwide and was taught in every classroom.
And now present in every museum.
"Armin! Hange!" Eren called out.
"Hey, honeybunch!" Hange cooed at him.
"How's everything?"
"Good," Armin nodded. "All exhibits are placed and ready to go. I reread all the descriptions on each plate and all were correct."
"That's great!" Eren smiled, eyes gaze at the new addition on the space of the Age of the Titans. The gears were polished, new prints were displayed and 3D paper cuts of giant titans hang on the ceiling. All had their mouth open as if they were falling to catch humans in their mouths.
But most of all. Eren turned at the center statue. Commander Erwin Smith was no longer alone on the spot, behind him were soldiers. Each had unique features and all had names. It was thanks to Mikasa that they all get to craft the new statues right. His sister was crying when she first saw the new statues but she was wearing the biggest smile Eren ever seen.
Luckily, while planning for the new addition, the museum decided to renovate. They added an outdoor garden with a fountain. And the only way to access the garden was to pass through the Age of the Titans.
Eren studies the area. Right there in the archway was a bench with two statues of silent heroes sitting side by side with their hands laced together. The description plate was placed at the stand of a drinking fountain next to it. Eren spend his own money for that, instead of a normal drinking fountain, the brunette had it designed like a teapot that was tilted up.
"I'm going to check on the description plate for those two," Eren pointed at the bench.
"Sure, go ahead," Armin smiled at him.
As Eren approached the said bench he noticed someone was looking down at Levi's statue. Eren slowed down his pace as he squinted at the person.
Raven hair, pale skin, piercing blue eyes, short and lean physique. Eren's breath hitched when he was finally close enough to see the person's face.
"Levi?"
The person looked up, his blue-stormy eyes bore at Eren to the core.
"Um, hi. Yes, my name is Levi," The person pointed at his ID that was clipped on his breast pocket. "And it seems like this hero dude is Levi as well."
Eren eyed his ID. Levi Ackerman - Museum's Janitor. His aqua green eyes glance up to the person's face. He does look like Levi but younger, he doesn't have an undercut, he parted his hair differently and he didn't wear the frown that Eren was familiar with.
"My mother said she named me after a great hero. I never knew who it was. I thought she was joking but after reading about this 'Levi', she was not kidding." Levi chuckled.
Eren swore he fell hard. The smaller male's laugh was so genuine, so pure, and the way he smiles-
"You think," Levi turned to him. "Do I looked like him?" He asked.
Eren snapped out of the daze and quickly stood next to him and eyed the statue. "Well, if you had an undercut and maybe older?" He suggested.
"An undercut? Huh, I was just thinking about cutting my hair like that. Guess I'll go with that." Levi raked his hand on his raven hair.
"I'm Eren by the way," the brunette offered his hand.
"Levi," the smaller male accepted it and the moment they touch, Eren felt his heart skip. "Eren," Levi tilted his head and glanced at the other statue. "You looked just like that Eren, only younger."
"Are you saying I'm not young-looking?" Eren teased, with a smile plastered on his face.
"No!" Levi panicked. "It's just that, that dude still had his baby face and all!"
"I'm just joking," Eren laughed. "I've been hanging out in the museum for a while, why I haven't met you?"
"Oh, I just started yesterday," Levi supplied as he fixed his blue overalls.
"Eren!" Armin called out, grabbing both of their attention.
"You better go," Levi glanced at the blonde inside.
"I know you have work but are you interested in the new addition?" Eren quickly offered. "I can show you around."
"Thanks, I'll check it out the exhibit during my lunch break." Levi took his broom that was rested on the drinking fountain.
"You do want to join us? For lunch? We'll have buffet ready here in the garden."
"Really? I'm not sure, I'm not a guest or a student..." Levi averted his gaze shyly.
"It's okay, I'll personally invite you," Eren pushed.
"If you say so," Levi turned away and whispered shyly. "I would love some good food.
"Deal! Where can I find you at noon?"
"Um, just ask for me in the staff office."
"Eren!" Armin called again.
"Shit," Eren shifted on the balls of his feet.
"You should go and I have work on the west halls," the raven said and was about to walk away.
"Wait!" Eren immediately stopped him by grabbing his hand.
Levi turned to him, confused. His blue-stormy eyes landed on Eren's hand, then he glanced up at the brunette's face.
"Look, I know that we just met but I really want to get to know you more..." Eren paused, taking a deep breath he continued. "Would you like to have coffee with me? After your shift?"
"Umm," Levi looked away, contemplating then he shrugged. "I mean, sure. Why not."
"If you prefer tea, I knew a really good cafe that serves tea."
"Yes, please!" Levi immediately perked up, making the brunette chuckled.
"It's a date then. I'll pick you up at noon in the staff room for lunch and after your shift," Eren noted.
"Yeah... I'll look forward to it," Levi nodded shyly.
And they parted ways, leaving the two statues on the bench.