STRONGEST HOPE (ERERI❤RIREN)

CHAPTER 28 - I GO WHERE YOU GO

"Why are you here, Levi?" Eren asked in a whisper.

Levi looked up at the trees above them and pulled Eren tighter to him. He glanced back to his beauty. "I love you, Eren."

Eren's eyebrows went up into a sad frown. He tried to smile. Levi's face went pale, and his arms felt paralyzed. He was too late. He fought back the sorrow forming in his throat. Eren looked so sad, he didn't want the boy to feel pity.

Eren struggled to find the words. "I've dreamed of hearing those words from you for so long."

The Captain loosened his hold on the boy. "I understand after everything I've put you through," Levi nodded and swallowed hard. "I don't expect you to feel the same way."

Confused, Eren shook his head. "What? N-no!" Eren ducked down to force Levi to look at him. "Levi, I love you!"

The older man felt his heart inflate at those words and he grabbed Eren, pulling him tightly against him. "You shitty brat! What is the problem?"

"It's just that I'm responsible for Erwin and all of the deaths that have hurt you so badly. How can you just forgive me for that and move on?"

Levi thought this boy had the most precious heart. How could he have ever caused him this pain? "Eren, look at me" he spoke softly.

Eren gazed into his eyes looking for a hint of doubt.

"You are not responsible for any of those deaths."

"B-but your squad-"

"No, none of them!"

"Erwin would have his arm if he hadn't come after me," Eren sobbed.

Levi pulled Eren's head to his chest and cradled it, running his slender fingers through his curls. "I know that I told you those horrible things. Armin told me what I said."

"He did? When?"

"It's not important. I'm glad he did. I couldn't face my grief...I was upset at myself and blamed myself for all of it." He rocked Eren. "I should have been there."

Eren pulled away from Levi, but pulled his hands to hold in his own. "There's nothing you could've done...you were injured! You could've been hurt or worse!"

Levi sighed and kissed Eren's knuckles. "Well, there it is. You and I can go back and forth about whose fault it was and what could have happened. I think it's the 'What If' questions that kill us. I've realized that there aren't any good answers to those kinds of questions."

Eren sat quietly, thinking about what Levi had said. Those questions had left him spinning and taken so much of his peace of mind. He didn't know how much more he could beat himself up for it.

He smiled at Levi, causing the Captain's heart to flutter. "My friends say I should focus on the things I did right."

"I think that's wise."

"Can you do that for yourself?" Eren asked.

"Maybe," Levi smiled.

The boy nodded with satisfaction.

"Hange always tells me to look at the good things that happen as a result of the sad things."

Eren lit up. "Like Armin and the Commander!"

Levi shook his head and gently slapped him in the back of the head. "How about me and you, brat?"

Eren flushed and his eyes welled up. Pushing up on his elbows, he practically shouted, "I love you!"

Levi threw his head back and laughed. "I know you do, brat!" He tousled Eren's hair. "But I didn't know that I loved you until you told me you loved me. I didn't know that the feeling I was having was love."