EruRi

"What a man."

- Levi about Erwin, Attack on Titan: No Regrets

EruRi is the slash ship between Erwin Smith and Levi Ackerman from the Attack on Titan fandom.

Canon
In "A Choice with No Regrets" it is shown that Levi once intended to kill Erwin to gain citizenship on the surface. However, Levi later chose to instead follow Erwin and work with him to serve humanity.

Over time Erwin earned Levi's trust and subservience. Despite this Levi still spoke rudely around him sometimes, though Erwin didn't seem to mind. Erwin was also one of the few people who could maintain a casual conversation with Levi which enabled them to converse with one another on equal grounds.

When Erwin asked Levi if he would take the titan serum Kenny had swiped, Levi requested that Erwin just give him the order. During the Survey Corps' final meeting before the Battle to retake Wall Maria, Levi closed the door behind the other members to talk to Erwin privately. Levi made it clear that he was concerned about Erwin’s physical condition and told him to stay put. When Erwin declined, Levi threatened to break his legs as a joke. However, Levi soon realized that he couldn't change Erwin's mind which left him looking slightly glum.

Facing imminent defeat against the beast titan, Erwin began to grieve over the failure of his attempts to learn the truth of the world. He thought back to the many soldiers who had died for the sake of humanity and who he had used to get closer to his dream, picturing himself standing on a mountain of their corpses. Erwin began to question his dream as a childish delusion. Levi knelt down and told Erwin that the Survey Corps wouldn’t have been able to get so far without him. He then told Erwin to give up on his dreams, die and lead the new recruits into battle, promising to take down the beast titan. Despite his dreams coming to a bitter end Erwin gave a smile of relief at Levi's words and soon charged into battle. After capturing the Beast Titan Zeke, Levi had hope that Erwin was still alive so that he could revive him with the serum. Levi became enraged when the Cart Titan rescued Zeke, his only chance at reviving Erwin, from him. Levi recalled his promise to Erwin and looked pained by his failure to kill Zeke.

Levi changed his mind about saving Armin with the serum when a soldier delivered a critically wounded Erwin to him, causing Eren and Mikasa to lash out and accuse him of being biased. Once they had been restrained Levi proceeded to inject Erwin. At this point Levi thought back to Erwin's dreams and the last words of Kenny. Erwin, in his near-death state, suddenly knocked the needle out of his hand. Levi then recalled the look of relief on Erwin's face when he had resolved to sacrifice himself. He decided to let Erwin die peacefully, despite wanting to have him back. Levi told Erwin that his promise to defeat the Beast Titan would have to wait, but Erwin had already passed. Levi later admits that he was influenced by his personal feelings, having allowed Erwin to escape the burden of his responsibilities despite knowing that humanity still needed him.

Four years later, Levi is shown having an inner monologue much like Erwin's and thinking back to the promise he made. When Levi is caught in Zeke's blast, it appears that he has lost his right arm, just like Erwin had.

In an interview with Isayama, the author revealed that Erwin's bones were recovered some time after his death and Levi was the one who buried him.

In the final chapter after defeating Eren, Erwin and the rest of the deceased scouts can be seen saluting at Levi. Levi salutes back to them in tears.

Quotes
"So I choose the guy whom I want to put my faith in. Erwin is like that, too. No one knows what he is really thinking deep down. But I trust his judgement… That’s why I chose to follow him. And I chose to fight...I have chosen for myself. Even if I am led into hell, I have no regrets. Not one bit."

- Levi, Monologue In Character Song 'Dark Side of The Moon'.

"I can do it when I'm with you."

- Levi.

"I promised him!"

- Levi.

"But I think... it's time to let him rest."

- Levi.

"Levi... thank you."

- Erwin's final words to Levi.

"Levi doesn’t allow anyone to get at his heart except Erwin who is the only one he completely trustsIn order to catch the freedom, “I felt outside the wall. I chose everything by myself. Even if Erwin will lead me to hell, I will never regret. Never. Not even a bit."

- Levi’s monologue from SnK Song CD

""What a man", —Levi thought to himself."

- Choice With No Regrets

Behind the Scenes
"Levi is a person who becomes a significant part of Erwin's flesh and blood."

- Daisuke Ono (Erwin’s VA)

"I always want to write Levi and Erwin as a mutual and equal relationship."

- Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan Guidebook, 2017)

"But to Levi, Erwin is the person who once said to him, “let’s save humanity together”."

- Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan Guidebook, 2016)

"Levi is always on the lookout for everyone except Erwin. Levi completely trusts only him."

- Guidebook SnK OUTSIDE Osamu

"Levi trusts this man like no one else."

- Erwin’s profile from SnK OUTSIDE Osamu

"In order to fulfill the vow he made to Erwin four years ago, Levi was obsessed with killing Zeke, and gets severely injured in the process."

"[Erwin is] the man [Levi] had thought was enigmatic, the man whose existence surpassed his own."

- Hajime Isayama (Shingeki no Kyojin Answers Fanbook)

"Levi keeps aloof, and if we talk about people whom he can call his 'close friend', then the only such person will be Erwin."

- Animedia, March 2019 Issue

"His one and only partner, [Levi] faces the titans with Erwin’s feelings in his heart."

- Animedia, March 2019 Issue

"I think Levi was the last stronghold through which Erwin could exist as a human."

- Ono Daisuke (Erwin’s VA)

"Levi put his absolutly trust in Erwin, making use of his power to serve his Commander. Erwin for him is a person whom he considers his "chosen one"."

- Levi's profile from Character Encyclopedia 2017

Songs
• Mignight Sun | Cinema Staff
 * Midnight Sun is a second candidate for ending theme song for season 3 part II. Cinema Staff, who recorded ED theme Name of Love, released Midnight Sun, inspired by the episode of the same name. The title of the song is the same as the title of the chapter in which Erwin dies. Fans mainly associate the contents of the song with Levi’s difficult decision, Erwin’s death, and the aftermath of that day.
 * Like a gentle prayer among the city of rubble.
 * Midnight sun, the stillness, dried tears.
 * The rain shower carries my feelings away.
 * Midnight sun, atonement, your body growing cold.
 * In the winds of beyond, who will lead the way?
 * Open your eyes and hear this song of affection.

Fanon
On AO3, EruRi is the most written ship for Erwin and the second most written for Levi. It is also the second most written ship in the Attack on Titan tag and the second most popular ship on Pixiv.

Many fans have noticed that the relationship between Erwin and Levi is unique, based on deep trust and respect. Their long history together leading to a strong personal bond also leads to many shipping the two. In fanworks is often depicted alongside with EreMika and KenUri.

Interestingly enough, Erwin's death has not deterred the pairing's popularity, in fact, after the second part of season three and Erwin’s death, the ship’s popularity has only increased. Many shippers have created comics and art to show their support of the ship. The comic by a Japanese artist known as Hitomi became very popular as the style is similar to Isayama’s, and many people outside of the ship often mistake panels from that comic for original Isayama’s panels. Just like that, a panel with Levi drinking alcohol right from the bottom and cussing has been circulating the fandom space for years, and many people still believe it comes from the original manga.

Fans have noticed how both Erwin and Levi fit each other’s type perfectly. As Isayama mentioned in one of the interviews, Erwin’s ideal type is “someone who understands him and is willing to support him”, many fans believe that Levi would be a perfect fit for this description. Mangaka posed a rhetorical question that casts doubts on whether Levi likes women at all. Levi, as Isayama said, being a short person himself, must like very tall people.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Erwin/Levi tag on FanFiction.net
 * Erwin/Levi tag on FanFiction.net

ART
 * エルリ tag on Pixiv

TWITTER

TUMBLR

Trivia

 * While Erwin refers to other friends and comrades with the pronoun "kimi", he uses "omae" to refer to Levi. In Japanese, this pronoun is considered informal, intimate, used only in a conversation with someone very close.
 * Armin’s Japanese VA Marina Inoue described Erwin’s last scene as “it was the moment when the whole of Erwin and Levi's relationship was packed into one. I can't verbalize this feeling…”
 * People in conversation with Erwin call Levi in relation to him as "腹心", which consists of the characters "belly" and "heart", and translates as "soul", "depth of the soul", that is, the usual "friend" does not convey all the depth of the meaning of this word.

Gallery

 * EruRi/Gallery

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