Same, but Different

•Chapter II•

I let him go, reminding myself that he was safe here.

"Japanese noodles with broth and all kinds of stuff in it," Aki explained.

Titan grinned. "It sounds yummy."

"It's pretty delicious," Aki agreed.

Levi shrugged. "I don't see why we can't get ramen. Do you want clothes too?"

Aki thought. "Just one outfit. Mr. Eren and Titan actually need it."

Titan hugged his oversized jacket protectively, raising his voice uncharacteristically. "You can't have this, no touching! It's mommy's!"

"No one is going to take mommy's coat, Titan. Don't worry," I assured him. "Right, Levi?"

Levi nodded. "You'll just get more clothes and your dad can mend the jacket so you can wear it forever. If you two could brush your teeth and wash up, then we can leave shortly."

I let Titan crawl onto my back when he tugged my shirt, taking him upstairs after nodding thanks to Levi. Guilt swelled in my gut slightly at how shit I'd done at raising Titan, despite trying my best. Sometimes best just isn't good enough.

The two of us brushed out teeth with brushes Levi left out and then washed our faces, Titan somehow turning the act into a water fight of sorts. When we got back downstairs, Levi and Aki were speaking in what I assumed to be a mix of Japanese and French.

"Sorry we took so long," I apologized, Titan hopping down the stairs to pet Richie, hugging the dog happily.

"Can Richie come?" He asked.

"No. He's not a service dog," Aki explained.

Titan frowned. "That sucks."

"It is a shame." She stood beside him and hummed quietly. "How come you aren't as healthy as me, yet you're taller?"

"DNA," Levi muttered.

"Daddy is tall too!" Titan hugged Aki. "Daddy always says that I'm gonna be careful because otherwise I'll hit my head on stuffs. He hits his head a lot."

I laughed softly. "That's very true."

"Papa doesn't have that problem..."

"That's coz he's not tall," Titan replied nonchalantly.

"You two are just giants," Aki and Levi mumbled in unison.

"It's a blessing and a curse," I responded. "Tight spaces are a difficulty I'll never overcome."

Titan cheered, "We're like the BFG!"

Aki just looked at Titan. "Can you give me a piggyback ride to the car?"

He hummed 'yes', bending down. "If you wanna then yeah!"

"Don't drop her," I instructed. "She won't appreciate that, and neither would Levi."

Levi nodded robotically. "To the mall."

"Onwards," Aki agreed.

"Hop on!" Titan sang, standing up and skipping to the car once Aki complied.

I smiled. "They're like siblings already."

Levi chuckled. "What would that make us?"

"I don't know." I hummed in thought, "I guess it'd make us both their fathers, husbands? No way in hell I'd find someone else who's going to put up with me, might as well just settle with you." I joked.

"You can definitely find someone who'll want to spend the rest of their life with you," Levi responded, opening the door for me.

"Thanks, hubby." I winked in a corny manner, cringing at my actions, as I got in and laughed lightly.