Complications Throughout Generations

Chapter 167

Eren's POV:

"I'm going back to school November 1st." Levi said. We were both facing each other in my bed with the light on. We just finished Ratatouille. Of course, he thought a talking rat was weird. But in the end, he was raving about it.

"Good." I pushed his hair back off of his forehead to get a better look at his features.

"Stop looking at my big forehead."

"Levi, you have a normal forehead." I smiled. I traced over his eye where his old scar used to be. "You think that's why you need glasses?" I asked, referring to the scar.

"100%." He held up his right hand, the hand he lost 2 fingers. I was incredibly shocked to see scars wrapped around the bottom of his fingers close to his knuckles.

"How did I never notice this?" I held his hand to examine the new discovery.

"Because you're too busy staring at my face."

"Can you blame me?" I kissed his forehead and pulled him close to my chest. I'll never get tired of having his smaller body attached to mine which is nearly twice the size of his. He's my little one, that's for sure.

"I'm no prize, Jaeger." Although he beats down on himself, I'll never stop telling him how he's entirely incorrect.

"Yes, you are." I kissed the top of his head and gave him a light squeeze. "But if you really don't think so, then I'm glad I can have you all to myself forever and ever."

"Forever and ever, huh?"

"I mean, yeah. I couldn't imagine being with anyone else. Could you?" He shook his head and squeezed me tightly.

"Not even Mikasa?"

"Absolutely not."

"Jean?"

"Not a chance. Just you."

"Okay." He whispered.

We both felt at ease in each other's arms. I felt protective of Levi and he felt that protection. That was always one of my goals. I've failed him too many times. I never want that again.

I was waiting for him to fall asleep because I was beyond hungry. He's a light sleeper and he's attached to me like a koala bear so I'm hoping for the best.

"Levi." I whispered; luckily there was no answer. As careful as possible, I took his arm off my waist and tried to roll off the bed. Once I was successful, I slowly opened the door and closed it so the light of the hallway wouldn't wake him. I went down the stairs and found my dad looking distressed on the couch.

"Oh, hey." He cleared his throat and took his head out of his hands. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I was just getting food. Are you okay?" I sat on the small lounge chair that was to the side of the couch.

"Yeah." He sighed, but seeming sad. "I just got off the phone with your mother."

"And?"

"She's at her sister's house."

"Is she coming home?"

He stayed silent for a bit. "I don't know. She said she doesn't want to see you." That created a lump in my throat and suddenly I lost my appetite. "I told her that I refuse to leave you. You're my family first. I've waited for this. I knew the second she knew the truth, she'd leave. I love your mother more than anything. But once I got my memory back...I didn't want to make the same mistakes."

"I'm with you on that." I sighed. "I mean, at least we've gotten half of it right. You may have your issues with mom right now but you have me. I'd say I fixed my shit with my friends and Levi, I'm just permanently damaged on the inside." I tried to say it jokingly but he saw right through me. Probably because he knew exactly what I meant.

"The Reiss family goes through my head every single day." His voice sounded more broken than before. I felt guilty because that was partially my fault.

"Levi nearly died...multiple times because of me. Hange died. Sasha died. I killed millions."

"You got rid of the Titans, Eren. You did what I tried to do. You were a destructive hero in the end."

"I was evil. What I did was genocide."

"Eren, it's okay to tell me the truth." Yeah, I figured he picked up on my bullshit. "You don't regret what you did. Yes, there were some casualties. But you knew it was bound to happen when you kissed Historia's hand. You beat yourself up every day, not because you did it, but because you want to believe what you did was wrong but you just can't bring yourself to truly believe that. You knew you were right."

He's right.

That's exactly how I feel.

But I'd never admit that to anyone truthfully.

"I'm so messed up." I stared at the ground in disbelief. "Mom's right, I'm a monster. That's the worst part of it. I know what I did. I hate how I handled it. That's the truth. How I treated Levi and Mikasa because of it; but that needed to happen. I hate how friends died because of me. That's my regret."

"Does Levi know the truth?"

"Of course not," I shook my head like it was obvious.

"Well, I did know actually."

Shit.

Levi came down the stairs and rubbed his tired eyes.

"How'd you know?"

"Because he's Captain Levi." My dad said proudly. I found that funny. He thinks it's the coolest thing in the world that Levi was humanity's strongest soldier.

"Damn right." He walked into the kitchen, mostly going to make himself some black tea.

"You know," my dad whispered to me so Levi wouldn't hear, "he can always move in. I'm sure it's hard being in that house."

"Trust me," I smiled at the offer, "Levi will die in that house if it's the last thing he does."

"I figured." He nodded.

Levi came back into the room with a mug of his that he keeps here and sat on my lap with his body laying horizontally.

"He's right." Levi said then took a sip. "I can't leave that house."

"Well, just know you're always welcome to stay here, Levi. Although I don't see you as much as I'd like, I still look at you as my son." I felt his body tense up, but I could tell it was in a good way. "You both have nothing but my love and support. Eren knows, I ask about you all the time."

"Thank you," he mumbled, taking another sip. My dad knew he was awkward so he knew Levi was genuine.

"Now you two need to get some sleep, it's a school night." He stood up from the couch and Levi got off my lap. We said goodnight and went back to my room. He put his mug on the coaster I bought for him and he got back in bed next to me.

"Let me tell you something, Eren. I'm just as fucked up as you are. It wasn't hard to figure out the truth. Whatever happens, whatever life throws at us, I'm not leaving. Never again. It's just us."

"Promise?"

"Of course I promise. I love you more than anything."

"I love you too. No matter what."

Forever.