"Truth is, I won't do anything to you because I just want to treasure you, and I don't need to show you that by making love, right? I want to hug you and kiss you and tell you things I had never been able to tell you before, and make you feel stupidly in love with me as I am with you," Levi told him as he stroked his cheek with a single finger. "So please, don't be afraid that I'll do anything you don't want me to do."

Eren gradually began to relax.

"But, can we stay like this for a little longer? I want to feel your warmth," Levi requested before bowing his head down in slight embarrassment.

"Of course, but after I get a bit more rest I have a suggestion."

"And what would that be?" Levi asked as he rested his head against Eren's chest, just above his heart.

"I need to see Hanji," he said.

"Who is she? The one with the glasses, right? Why do you need to see her?"

"If you haven't forgotten, Erwin is dead. I'm assuming she was very close to him, so it must be certain that she knows a thing or two about why they decided to choose my parents as some sort of sacrifice. I need to know answers, and I don't think I'll ever sleep peacefully until I get them."

Levi's eyebrows knitted together in concern. "Don't you think that would be dangerous? You're a threat to them now, you know. You know things they don't, and you know vampires. I don't think they would be willing to tell you anything."

"But Hanji isn't like that, I think," Eren started. "She's not too stern. If I ask in the right way, I am almost certain she would tell me a few things. It's worth a try."

"But what if she doesn't tell you anything of importance? It would be a useless attempt then," Levi told him.

"But like I said, it's worth a try. If you're so opposed to this idea, you don't need to come with me. I wouldn't be gone for too long anyway." Eren said with a slight shrug.

"What are you talking about? Don't be stupid, I'm going with you. I'm just worried."

"There's no need to be worried," Eren exclaimed with exasperation. "As long as you're with me everything will be okay, don't you know that?"

"Do you really believe that? Do do your trust your own words?"

"I don't need to. I already said so; everything will be fine," Eren reassured him as he lightly slapped him on the head. He frowned as he read Levi's expression and exhaled slowly. "I have hope in you so have some hope in me, alright?"

It wasn't that Levi felt like he wouldn't be able to take care of Eren, but that Eren might get into trouble. He stayed with him long enough to know that he was that kind of person who did things without thinking about it first, and that was what worried Levi the most; he was afraid of rash decisions and actions. Levi couldn't argue with Eren at this point, he looked like he already knew what he planned to do.

---

Eren felt a little better after getting some rest, which was good but he still felt gross and weak.

He noticed how Levi's hand squeezed his more firmly as they entered the quiet town. Everyone was alert; eyes wide open, frigid movements, and hushed whispers. Levi hissed under his breath, but began to behave when Eren shoved him. Levi was wary, and his eyes never stopped moving. They moved too much as if trying to watch for anyone wanting to harm Eren. 

"Relax," Eren murmured. "You're going to make us look suspicious."

"As if we aren't already," Levi retorted. 

Eren quivered as the intense and brisk wind caressed his cheeks and neck. Levi pulled off his cloak and placed it around Eren's shoulders before pulling him closer. 

It wasn't too long before they reached the shattered remains of the camp entrance. The once sturdy fence was crushed and demolished, and the camp itself looked horrid compared to the fence. The tents were ripped apart and flattened on the ground, the supply crates were nothing more than a few pieces of cut wood and the remaining soldiers inside were scavenging for anything that has a second chance of being used. They appeared like they were not having much luck. 

The air reeked of burnt trees and cigarette smoke, which was not a pleasant smell when mixed together. Eren could see that the main tent was still sitting up strong and guessed that Hanji was in there. There was no one who looked threatening so Eren entered with pausing and went straight for the tent. Levi's hand tensed up in his as the soldiers looked their way. Hatred and fear covered their faces, but they did not step forward to do anything. They watched intently like hunters watching prey.

As soon as he reached the tattered tent, he entered with announcing his arrival. Hanji was perched behind the familiar desk and looked up immediately. It seemed that Eren interrupted her while she was writing a note. She showed a kind but small smile.

"Eren, hello. I haven't seen you in a while," she greeted him as she set down her pen. "What brings you here?"

"I would like to discuss a few things but first, what happened here?" he asked.

"Pesky vampires, most likely Petra's men. You already know that don't you? Let's cut to the chase." she answered as she glanced at a cautious Levi. "But I doubt he was a part of it, seeing you with him and all. Oh! How rude of me. Please take a seat, I'm going to assume this will take a while?"

Eren and Levi helped themselves to the wobbly wooden chairs opposite from Hanji, but neither of them relaxed. Hanji mentally took note of this.

"I won't order any of the soldiers to attack you," she said as if their minds were up on display. "What would you like to talk about? I'm all ears."

"My parents."

"Of course you do. I figured you would bring that up. The real question is, what do you want to know about them?"

"Why. Why did you choose them?"

"You know what type of blood you have, right? R, and we all know that that's luxury to vampires. You see, Erwin intended to kill you, not your parents. But executing them was a last minute choice. We didn't have much options at the time."

"What do you mean by options?" Eren demanded.

Hanji pushed up her glassed as her expression grew more solemn and serious. "You were not present at the time when Petra was going to... get rid of you. You see, if you don't know yet, Levi has been on the loose in the past and has murdered many innocent lives. Everyone was and is still aware of what he's done, and naturally they fear him. This was before the government enforced a new set of rules. We had to kill him too. He had to pay the price of the slaughter he had created, so we thought we could lure him in by using you. There was no other person in the village who had R class blood, and so we chose you without further discussion."

"But my parents were not R class, right?"

"Correct, but by now you probably know what Petra is like, especially you, vampire."

Levi glared in response.

"She gets frustrated and angered very easily so when she saw that you were not there, she snapped and ended up taking the lives of your parents instead. In the end, it attracted Levi anyway so Erwin did not see it as wrong. He carried on and attempted to capture Levi when he was the most vulnerable, but did not succeed. Much to our surprise and disappointment, he managed to escape, meaning your parents had died without a purpose. Erwin did not care at all."

Eren was trembling in anger before she could even finish her sentence.

"It really wasn't intentional, I can promise you that," she added quickly. "It just happened so fast, and Petra was thirsty."

"But from what I remember, she didn't take much blood. Perhaps a lick or two, but nothing more than that," Levi suddenly said. "Eren, I told you all of this already. What was the point in troubling ourselves by coming here?"

"I know more now," he replied. "But there's still something I'm curious about."

"Go ahead and ask," Hanji squeaked.

"Why Petra? I'm sure she's also done a ton of horrible things, so why did you let her join the army?"

"Because she was once close to..." Hanji trailed off and glanced over at Levi, who had his arms folded and a frown on his face, "Levi. She knows most of his weaknesses and she's the one who knows him best up until now."

Eren placed his hand over Levi's. "But if Levi has done a bunch of crimes, why aren't you doing anything about him now?"

"New rules," Levi answered for Hanji.

"Yes," she agreed with a nod. "They prevent him from being arrested because he was a newborn at the time, meaning there was no way he was aware of his actions. But Petra is a whole other case... She's too strong for us. We decided if we can't defeat her, then we would have to work with her. She understands that she isn't exactly welcomed here, though. I know it sounds very foolish, but we were not able to think of anything else. We both had something in common anyway; we both wanted Levi dead."

Eren flinched. 

"Oh! That reminds me... I have some unfortunate news for you both..." Hanji shifted uncomfortably in her seat as she rubbed the nape of her neck. "The town doesn't want you here."

"As if I don't already know that," Levi muttered sarcastically.

"They don't want Eren here either," she said.

"Pardon?" said Eren. 

"They think you're a threat so I'm afraid I need to kick you out. I really don't want to but if I don't do what the people want, they will think their own army isn't on their own side."

"Where will I go now?" Eren demanded in panic as he realized his new home was technically part of the town territory. 

"I'll take you somewhere," Levi cut in.

"I would advise travelling somewhere very far, for some town's people might be planning to eliminate you and because Petra and her goons are very close here."

"You're telling me I'm no longer welcomed to my own home town?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying.

Eren looked over at Levi and swallowed nervously. He knew the many risks and dangers going from a location to another held, and the memories he had associated with travelling was not very good at all. He was afraid.

But the fear wasn't strong enough to shut him down.

---

AN:

i know i say this almost every time but i really am sorry for the late updates.

i don't have much time nowadays and it makes me sad bc i really love writing for you guys :^(

~your best friend takeshi