The Ereri Project!

Drift (Pacific Rim)

Eren had heard many stories about Levi since he'd become a trainee.

The message was mostly mixed. Some said he was the greatest pilot even let into a Jaeger. Other said he was arrogant. Most people who'd gone through a synchronization test with him called him a sociopath.

Eren doesn't really know what to believe. He mostly just feels sorry Levi's copilot has lost his arm and can't pilot with him anymore.

Erwin is his name, if Eren remembers correctly, he works in the control room now. He also wonders what the other pilots could have seen that would make them believe Levi is a sociopath.

That's what Eren's thinking about as his commanding officer leads him into the combat room for the compatibility test.

"I'm sorry about this Jaeger," Marshall says. "But we need Short Temper back on the field and Levi is currently the only person who knows how to pilot it. It would just be easier on us if we could find someone compatible with him so we only have to train one new pilot."

"I don't mind, sir," Eren replies. "I'm just surprised you picked me. I thought I needed to be in training for another five months after that incident with Kirstein."

"I know for a fact you must have heard about Levi being highly incompatible with most people."

"Well, yes, but I assumed most people were exaggerating, he's a great pilot."

"You'll see," Marshall says.

Eren wants to ask why, but they're in the combat room now and Levi is standing off to one side talking to Erwin. "Ready Levi," Marshall asks.

Levi gives a curt nod and walks over to the mat. Marshal goes to stand off beside Erwin. "As Levi's former co-pilot, Mr. Smith will be observing you today," he tells Eren.

"Yes sir," Eren replies and gets on the mat with Levi.

The next few minutes pass in a blur, Eren can't remember who scored the first point, he can even remember how well he did.

He just knows suddenly he's on the floor and Levi is leaning over him with a smirk. "Not bad," he says.

Eren sits up see Erwin looks incredibly surprised and Marshall is smiling. "Mr. Smith," he says. "Schedule a synchronization test for 1000 hours. Levi, Eren, you two suit up and wait in the Shatterdome."

Marshall and Erwin both leave while Eren is still blinking on the floor. "Huh?" he asks.

Levi snorts. "You don't know? No one can give me a run for my money like that, not even Erwin when he still had his arm."

He holds out a hand to help Eren up. "Think so?" he asks. "You should try my sister, she whoops my ass every time we spar."

"You have a sister in the program?" Levi takes a sip com his water bottle.

"Mikasa," Eren says. "Mikasa Ackerman, we -"

"Save it," Levi says. "I'll be inside your head in about an hour and half. I'll know everything then."

Eren thinks again about the others calling Levi as sociopath as the short man walks away. Levi glances back at him. "Come on, it'll take you a little bit to get in your suit for the first time."

...

The suit is tight, but not uncomfortable. It feels secure, which Eren feels like he really needs right now. Getting into Short Temper for the first time, he's kind of nauseous, but really excited. "I'll be on the right side," Levi says.

Eren moves to the left and takes a deep breath. "Are you ready?" Erwin asks.

"Yeah," Eren replies as the two of them get into position.

"Alright," Erwin says.

He hears a few more orders thrown around and before he knows it he's thrown into the drift. Dozens of memories fly though his head and he just tries to breathe and not chance the rabbit.

Visions pass through his head is rapid succession, happy memories and sad ones, but then he sees it. Eren knows immediately where the rumors came from.

He takes a deep breath and forces the memory away as quickly as he can.

Suddenly his vision is clear again and he's back in Short Temper beside Levi. It's different, having an extra voice in his head for the first time, but otherwise he feels alright.

He and Levi glance at each other and Eren immediately knows exactly which of his memories the older man saw. He doesn't say anything, but listens as the crew cheers outside. "How do you guys feel?" Erwin asks.

"Fine," they reply at once.

...

Eren finds himself in Levi's room after dinner that night. They don't talk much right away, there isn't much to say really just like they didn't really have anything to say after the drift was initiated this morning.

They sit, not awkwardly, and share space. Bask in the kind of silence you can only share with someone who knows you very intimately.

Eren is and isn't surprised Levi talks first. "It was easy with Erwin," he says. "Because I've known him so long none of my memories could surprise him. The problem with most of the other candidates is they as soon as they saw blood they immediately latched on and got stuck."

"It's hard for people who don't know what that's like to deal with it," Eren replies.

Levi lays back on his bed. "At least you didn't submit to the modesty reflex, there were at least three candidates we had to toss because they so afraid of me knowing their maturation habits."

Eren snorts. "I don't get people like that, it's not like you won't see what your co-pilot has going on. The Drift goes both ways and I think most people tend to forget that."

Levi looks at Eren. "I'm surprised and not that you were completely okay with me seeing everything. Almost every one of the prior candidates tried to keep something from there in there."

Eren shrugs. "It's what we have to do."

"Anyway," Levi says quietly. "I'm sorry about your family."

"Yours too," Eren replies.

Eren should go back to his own room to sleep, but he finds he doesn't really want to. "You can stay here if you want," Levi says. "You and I have training for this tomorrow anyway, you probably don't want to wake your current roommate up for that."

Eren lies down beside Levi, surprised at how comfortable he is around this man who was a stranger this morning. "Thank you, Levi."

"Good night, brat."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Hehehe, finally saw the movie!