[Captain Levi, ever concerned with cleanliness, mutters at the physical consequences of crying, wiping it all away with a handkerchief; just like that, he's strong again. Eren feels so grateful, and so ashamed. His Captain-- No, something else - family, maybe - asks him what he needs, and Eren knows that he doesn't have an answer.
[He has to give him some kind of answer.
[His jaw clenches with emotion, but not anger, this time.]
[ It's such a simple answer. The only thing that keeps it from being as painful and sharp as everything else before it is the disbelief that his mere existence on its own is all that matters; it's certainly never been enough, but to an extent, Levi is usually well aware enough of his place in the order of things. He isn't so self-important as to believe he could prevent any one thing from happening, to convince anyone so determined on their own paths to change their mind. Most of the time, he's never wanted that. Erwin...Eren...Hange...they could all make their own choices.
All of this strength...all of this power, and they all manage to make him feel powerless in the face of their convictions. It's still true, now.
But at the same time, it means so much more than anything else Eren could have said. Levi understands what a family is; he's seen what they're meant to look like, and oh so briefly, preciously, felt the joy of his mother's love. Part of him has to wonder if this isn't something like that, maybe, if this is all that Eren wants from him.
It won't be enough. It was never meant to be. They may yet find themselves at odds with one another, if their future is anything to go by.
That doesn't mean it isn't worth giving. ]
[ Levi settles a hand on Eren's shoulder, looking down at the top of his head. ]
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[He has to give him some kind of answer.
[His jaw clenches with emotion, but not anger, this time.]
You. You're important to me.
If I lost you...I don't know what I'd do, so...
Just...you. That's all...
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[ It's such a simple answer. The only thing that keeps it from being as painful and sharp as everything else before it is the disbelief that his mere existence on its own is all that matters; it's certainly never been enough, but to an extent, Levi is usually well aware enough of his place in the order of things. He isn't so self-important as to believe he could prevent any one thing from happening, to convince anyone so determined on their own paths to change their mind. Most of the time, he's never wanted that. Erwin...Eren...Hange...they could all make their own choices.
All of this strength...all of this power, and they all manage to make him feel powerless in the face of their convictions. It's still true, now.
But at the same time, it means so much more than anything else Eren could have said. Levi understands what a family is; he's seen what they're meant to look like, and oh so briefly, preciously, felt the joy of his mother's love. Part of him has to wonder if this isn't something like that, maybe, if this is all that Eren wants from him.
It won't be enough. It was never meant to be. They may yet find themselves at odds with one another, if their future is anything to go by.
That doesn't mean it isn't worth giving. ]
[ Levi settles a hand on Eren's shoulder, looking down at the top of his head. ]
...you have me.