Not The One Who Dies ⇀ Attack on Titan *Original*

Part 8: Thank You

"Eld!!" Logan huffed as he knocked on the door of the second in command of Levi squad late at night. A groggy looking Eld opened the door, his blonde hair drooping down onto his face.

"Kid? You weren't supposed to be back until tomorrow." Eld mumbled out as he rubbed his eyes. Logan nodded as he pushed past the man into the room, scanning it for the familiar face of Eren Yeager.

"What's going on?" Eld asked as he closed the door to his room, sitting on his bed. Logan sighed as he pushed his hair back to get it off of his face.

"I just got back and can't find Yeager anywhere. I checked the cellar and he wasn't there." Logan spoke as he sighed, worried for his friend. Eld slightly smiled at the boy before ruffling his hair.

"I snuck the kid into your room a few hours earlier. He was having nightmares and well, what the captain doesn't know won't hurt him." Eld said causing Logan to sigh, a weight coming off of his body.

"You remind me of myself when I met Emily," Eld said causing Logan to shake his head at the man.

"You're tired Eld, it's nothing like that," Logan said as he huffed. Eld looked at the boy with confusion in his eyes, the man couldn't wrap his head around why Logan wouldn't just admit he had a crush on the boy to anyone but Petra.

"Kid, why are you denying it? You told Petra that-" Eld was saying before the boy cut him off.

"I told Petra that before I actually knew Eren. He's like, I don't know. He's so kind and smart and brave." Logan said as he looked at Eld who had a confused face on.

"Okay? What has that got to do with you?" Eld asked, curious about the boy's worry over the situation. While he was the one to try to give him advice on girls, he didn't expect him to develop feelings for a Titan shifting boy.

"And I'm me, Eld! I'm just some kid who is somewhat good at killing titans! Just some kid who couldn't protect his mother and father! Just some kid." Logan said, finally letting his emotions getting the best of him. Tears flew from his face as he tried his best to cover them. He hated crying and looking weak in front of his comrades.

"Oh...Kiddo. Come here." Eld said, moving his body to the kid who he thought of as a little brother and pulled him into a hug, letting the tears soak into his bare shoulder.

That's how they sat for a few minutes, Eld rubbing the boys back and trying to calm him down. Logan hadn't let his emotions out in as long as he could remember. He always needed to be strong, for his comrades or humanity.

"Logan, I want to tell you something okay? I need you to listen." Eld said, pulling his body away from the boy who nodded.

"You are not just some kid. You are a survivor, you made it through what happened with your parents. You've made it through countless expeditions, hell you've killed more titans than I have. You are not just some kid. You inspire the whole squad to be better." Eld said, keeping his hand on the boys back. Logan nodded as he sniffles.

"Thank you, Eld. I'm sorry for waking you up as I did." Logan said as he rubbed his face to try to scrub away the tears. Eld gave him a soft smile before responding.

"Don't apologize, kiddo, I'm always here if you need advice. Now go get some sleep okay?" Eld said as Logan stood from Eld's bed. Logan nodded as he made his way to the exit.

"Oh, and Logan?" Eld said, still focused on the boy in front of him. Logan turned, curious what Eld could've forgotten.

"The boy, Yeager. He'd be lucky to have you." Eld said with a smile and a yawn. Logan's cheeks got hot as he nodded.