Same, but Different

•Chapter XI•

"Help! Captain Levi!"

"Help m—" The sound cut off.

I skidded to a stop in front of an alleyway and what I saw made my blood boil.

Eren was hunched over, blood dripping slightly from his mouth, on the floor. He looked terrible, beaten and bruised all over. Standing over him was some random guy with his fists balled and a vengeful smirk on his face. Eren coughed roughly, a tooth, or at least part of one, falling into his hand.

With my mind in a fit of rage, I ran and attacked the guy, screaming and cursing at him until he fell over and didn't seem to pose a threat. My vision was red the whole time.

Screaming.

Cursing.

Crying.

Kicking.

Punching.

Eren.

Eren.

I stood in front of Eren and looked down on him and something flashed within me.

"As I heard it, when he turned into a Titan, he killed twenty other Titans before his strength ran out. If he were an enemy, he might cause more trouble than that intel's worth. He still can't stand against me though. What about you on the other hand? All of you who persecute him, think it over, can you really kill him?"

My body shook as I imagined a courtroom, countless people looking at Eren like a monster, something to be dissected and killed like a lab rat. The pictures of people in capes and giants that feed on human flesh suddenly became more real and my feelings for Eren became even more real too.

"Eren..." I collapsed by him, wrapping my arms around him and holding him. "I'm sorry... I'm selfish. I can't let you go, not after seeing what I just saw."

Eren seemed shell-shocked. "You... I know you. I'm not supposed to, but I do. And Mikasa, she— we saw you."

"Where? What is my name?" I asked, holding his face.

Eren's hands started tugging on his hair. "Captain Levi Ackerman... we were back in our hometown as kids. You- You were riding into Shiganshina on your horse with the rest of the Survey Corps..."

"Captain Levi!"

"Levi!"

"Corporal Levi!"

I hugged him tightly. "We... We should call the police..."

Eren gently pushed me away, creating space between us. "Matthew..."

"Eren, please—"

"I'm sorry, just— not now."

"You saw it." I hugged myself before shakily pulling out my phone to call the police. "I loved you then and I love you now."

"I'm sorry..." Eren apologized once again, curling up into himself. "I'm just— I'm sorry."

"It's fine." I lied. "I'm just going to get the police here and then take you to the dentist. Can I comfort you?"

Eren seemed conflicted, unsure of what to say or do. "... Please don't touch me."

"Okay..." I felt my eyes burn, but I controlled my breathing and held my emotions in.

I chose so, so wrong.

"Eren!" A voice yelled before the brunet was scooped into a tight hug.

Eren wrapped his arms slowly around Matthew's torso, burying his head into the policeman's chest and slowly starting to sob. Matthew whispered words of comfort into Eren's ear, his fingers trailing through Eren's hair as he reassured both himself and his boyfriend.

"Thank you," Matthew said sincerely. "I don't know what I'd have done if something had happened to Eren."

"Can we go to yours...?" Eren asked quietly, his voice frail. "I'm tired, Matthew."

Matthew nodded. "Yeah, I'll take you to mine now. We can go to anywhere else after you regain some strength, yeah?"

Eren nodded weakly. "Let's go."

"Thank you, Levi. My work partner is going to come in a few minutes to arrest the attacker, and if you could just answer a few questions at the station...? I'd take you myself but..." he gestured to Eren. "I'm so sorry."

I laughed humorlessly. "It's fine. I'll just take care of this and then Titan so that he doesn't worry."

Eren's eyes widened and his body shook. "Titan—"

"I said I have it. Just go calm down with your boyfriend..." I scratched the back of my neck. "Eren needs to get his tooth fixed. Can you... take him...?"

Matthew nodded. "Definitely."

"Thank you, Levi." Eren offered me a feeble smile.

I looked him in the eye and made a fist with my right hand, bringing it to my heart. "It's no problem."

Eren copied the gesture, though it wasn't as strong, as Matthew looked on confused. Saying nothing, he wrapped his coat around Eren's shoulders and escorted him away, giving me another nod 'thanks' on the way out.

My eyes focused on the sky and I didn't move when it started raining, as it was doing a damn good job at masking my tears.

Will he choose me? Will I have to live without him again?

I touched my chest, an odd stab-like pain spreading about my heart and suddenly I understood something that made me cry harder.

Will I even be able to?

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Author's Note:

Pretty heavy, don'tcha think? Do you think Eren will come back to Levi or will Levi be doomed to never live the life he's always wanted with Eren?

Thoughts?

-Ari-gami aka Author-chan