“Levi!” Kuchel yelled, chasing after the small boy who screamed in glee.

“You can't catch me, Mama!”

“Levi get here right now!”

Levi laughed loudly, using the trees nearby to hide his tiny frame. His Mama would never be able to find him behind such a giant tree! 

He squatted down, making himself even smaller and curling. He was definitely never going to be found now! It was silent and that meant his Mother had either given up or was simply searching elsewhere because frankly, hiding behind a huge tree was the perfect place.

Tentatively, he stood up and peeked around the tree, sighing in relief once he noticed that the presence of his Mother was nowhere near.

“I’VE GOT YOU!” Kuchel yelled from behind him, quickly grabbing his middle and hoisting him up.

A horribly loud scream followed suit. A mixture of pure shock and overflowing glee.

“You can’t escape me, Le,” Kuchel said fondly, nuzzling her nose into Levi’s hair as she walked back to the castle with her son in her arms. “I’ll never let you go.”

“I’ll never let you go.”

“Levi. Wake up.”

It had been a peaceful sleep and a nostalgic dream. The love of his Mother was so warm he swore there’d never be anything as warm as that. If he could travel through time, he’d save his Mother and though his Uncle was good to him, he’d sacrifice his Uncle Kenny to take her place, without hesitation. One had to die and he would be selfish this once and keep the one woman he’d forever hold dear.

But unfortunately, Levi was shaken awake from his dreams and all happy thoughts instantly vanished.

“What?”

“Wake up, Levi. You’ll be late for your date if you don’t get up.”

Levi blearily opened his eyes to find his Uncle gently shaking him with a smile and Joan glaring at him with crossed arms. There was no way in hell he was willing to see that witch right after having one of the nicest dreams and being woken by the only member of his known family as if he were a child with a smile.

“First of all, it’s not a date, and second, why is that standing at the door like a creep?”

Kenny chuckled and shook his head, “Always sour, huh? I’m on my way to talk to her and whether you like it or not, it’s a date. Now get dressed because you’re looking like a stripper again without your clothes on.”

“Whatever,” Levi grumbled. “I’ll be ready shortly.”

He stretched, making his joints mildly crack before pulling on his dress and shoes. A bit wrinkled but not noticeable enough. 

He walked down a flight of stairs to the first floor where his Uncle awaited him at the front door as if he were a butler. A boring goodbye was what Levi expected to happen but then he remembered he hadn’t been able to pay the carriage and that sparked his question.

“Did you arrange something with the carriage? I wasn’t able to pay and it just drove off.”

“Oh. You don't know?” Kenny asked, slightly surprised but amused.

“Know what? You know I haven’t been around here in ages.”

“I just thought you’d know your favourite Uncle owns the carriage company.”

“You what?!”

“I’m sure you heard right. Well, I can’t keep you back, can I? Now go!”

With a push, Kenny had Levi out the front door and headed to the awaiting carriage. 

There was no choice but to now climb in and take a seat while staring out of the window, watching the scenery rapidly pass by. His mind was blank as he waited the few minutes it took before arriving in front of the school where students were just beginning to file out. 

He could barely thank the driver before the carriage was gone, leaving him to walk to the front doors while squeezing through the students that were coming from the opposite direction. He swore his body was crawling in disgusting germs now.

“Hey look, it’s Mr Smith’s boyfriend,” someone said in a badly concealed whisper. “They’re probably going to go out on a date.” 

“Shut up, he can probably hear you,” someone whisper yelled back. “Besides, Mr Smith said they aren’t a thing.”

“You seriously believed that lie? Even professor Hanji agreed with us!”

Levi gritted his teeth a bit, cursing Hanji in his mind for fueling the students' thoughts into thinking him and Erwin were seriously dating. Stupid to think, really.

It didn’t matter though because he kept walking as if he couldn’t hear them. 

There he found Erwin in his class where he walked in without knocking. A girl with short black hair stood talking to Erwin about something on a piece of paper that appeared to be a test while Eren stood beside her, frustrated. 

Eren was the first to notice Levi’s presence and weakly glared at him before nudging the girl.

“Look, Mikasa, it’s one of your family members that left you.”

“Huh?”

“Look, the door.”

The girl turned and Erwin glanced at Levi with a small smile, beckoning him to get closer.

“Hello. Am I interrupting?” Levi asked, walking to stand beside Erwin’s side, as far away from Eren as possible.

“Not at all,” Mikasa said. “And Eren, what do you mean my family member? You know I’ve never spoken to them since my one Uncle a few years ago.”

“Well his name is Levi Ackerman like one of your cousins. Coincidence? I think the fuck not.”

“Language,” Erwin scolded.

“I apologize but in all my years of living I was led to believe I only had one family member and that was my Uncle,” Levi explained, not wanting to get on her wrong side if there was a possibility he had just ‘gained’ a new family member. “If you tell me his name I’d be able tell you if we’re related or not.”

“Kenny. Kenny Ackerman,” Mikasa said without hesitation, a hopeful look in her eyes.

Levi stared at her in shock, slowly nodding. He could do a pirouette with how excited he suddenly felt.

“That’d be him.”

Levi and Mikasa stared at each other for a few seconds, desperately trying to soak up the information they learned. It was interesting though that Mikasa knew he had existed and he didn’t know of her. Either way, they were happy to meet. 

Mikasa turned away with a small smile, the most she could do with not having ever met Levi before and not knowing if they were now supposed to hug and cry into each other's shoulders.

“It was nice finally meeting the last member of my family. I’d really truly like to chat but I have to go. Maybe some other day?” Mikasa asked hopefully.

“Most definitely. Just get Blondie here to get you to my house,” Levi said, glancing at Erwin with a smirk, grabbing his arm.

Erwin looked at Levi with a soft smile and laugh. He placed his larger hand over Levi’s tiny one and gave a gentle squeeze in confirmation. Mikasa watched with a knowing smile while Eren stared at them with the clear sign of being tired of being alive.

“I’ll make sure to do so. I’ll be leaving now so have a good evening.”

“Good bye!”

Mikasa dragged Eren behind her, leaving Erwin and Levi alone.

“Ready?” Levi asked, looking up at Erwin who still had his hand on Levi’s one.

“Yeah but I’m kind of confused.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re uncle’s name is Kenny and-”

Levi held his breath, hoping that it wasn’t what he was thinking. He would fall to his knees and pray if it meant that Erwin wouldn’t say what he hoped he wouldn’t say.

“-the other day someone was here by the name of Mr William and Eren insisted that he was Mikasa’s uncle.”

Levi let out a small sigh but immediately felt upset when he realized his Uncle had been there using a fake name. 

“Maybe he confused him with someone else?” Levi suggested.

“Yeah, maybe,” Erwin said, trailing off before he shrugged. “Well, let’s go.”

It was until then that Erwin let go of Levi’s hand, leaving his hand to go cold and empty. 

Since when did he crave that kind of warmth?