"Zeke Yeager, my fiancé."

Zeke swore the Smith guy just turned a few shades paler after Isanna introduced him.

Zeke arched a brow, gauging this random blond guy with the pretty face and unique eyebrows. Isanna had introduced him as Erwin Smith. Erwin Smith. The name rang familiar, Zeke thought to himself. He racked his brain harder, trying to recall where he heard the name before, until—

Ah.

Erwin Smith.

Zeke inwardly broke into a grin. What were the odds of meeting him in this life?

He thrusted out a hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Erwin," he drawled, ignoring the look of confusion Isanna threw at him for his tone.

Zeke watched as Erwin stared at his outstretched palm like it was the most disgusting thing in the world. He wanted to laugh, but then his fiancée was bound to get weirded out by that, and he wasn't about to cause a ruckus at her workplace. Just when he thought Erwin was going to refuse his greeting, the latter finally (begrudgingly) grasped his hand with a tight grip.

"The pleasure is all mine," Erwin rumbled in a low, strained voice, as if it took everything in him to muster that one sentence.

Judging by the subtlety of his hostile reaction, Zeke was certain Erwin knew who he was as well. That just makes everything interesting. He returned the favor by squeezing his hand in his, and he marveled at the way Erwin's brow twitched.

"By the way, Isa, when's your shift done?" Zeke asked as he pulled his hand back and turned to her. He failed to notice the way Erwin squinted at him.

Isanna turned to the wall clock near them and widened her eyes. "I think it should be around now. I'll go find Moblit." She looked at Erwin and smiled. "I'll see you around, Erwin."

She grabbed one of the boxes that stood by the side and once she was a good distance away, Zeke redirected his attention towards the other blond, who was semi-glaring at him for a while now.

Erwin Smith—he'd heard that name a few times in the past life, even though he never had the honor of actually meeting the man face to face (his fault, but we don't talk about that). He was everything Zeke imagined him to look like; he definitely had the gaze and disposition of a leader, the kind of person you just cannot fool around with. Back then, they both had a chance to showcase their battle tactics and strategies at the infamous Battle at Shiganshina against one another. It was about the only time they actually interacted, too; even though it was an indirect one.

When Zeke recalled who between them had managed to leave that battle alive, he couldn't help but feel smug.

He half-expected Erwin to say something, anything, to shatter the heavy tension, so imagine Zeke's surprise when Erwin just walked past him wordlessly and headed to the entrance of the library.

Zeke lightly snorted.

When he moved into the city with his fiancée a week ago, running into one of his enemies in the past life was the last thought in his mind. But now that they were here, where was the fun if he allowed Erwin Smith to walk out on him like that?

He rounded his heel and padded after him in long strides—damn that Smith walked pretty fast.

When he finally caught up to him, they were already in the empty corridor that led to the front entrance of the building.

"Leaving so soon?"

Just as Zeke expected, Erwin stopped, his back still facing him, and he swore his eyes caught sight of the way the latter's shoulders stiffened.

Satisfied at the effect he was leaving on Erwin, Zeke walked up to him with hands casually shoved into his pockets, stopping just about three steps behind him.

"Erwin Smith, if I recall correctly, you were the thirteenth commander, before Hange, right? A shame we didn't get to meet back then.. I heard you were a remarkable leader," Zeke lamented, as if he literally was not the reason why they never got to meet in the first place.

Erwin didn't move nor make a sound. Zeke had a feeling Erwin disliked him a lot more than he thought. Not that Zeke particularly cared. Whether Erwin hated him or not, this was a different life—they were not caught up in a war, so even if Erwin wanted to return the favor and bury him six feet underground, he couldn't do so without calling the attention of the authorities and getting arrested.

"Zeke Yeager," Erwin finally acknowledged him as he turned to face Zeke, a deep frown already painted on his face. "War chief of Marley."

Zeke formed a small 'o' with his mouth, pretending to be pleasantly surprise with little effort. "Oh, so you do know me. Someone filled you in? Was it Levi? He got reincarnated too?"

Erwin did not answer. Instead, he continued to stare at him as if Zeke was the most abominable creature in the entire universe—fair enough, Zeke thought. If he met his killer in another life, he'd grow a distaste for them too, but..

"Oh don't be like that, Smith," Zeke said, waving a casual hand. "I know we were both on opposite sides in the past, and I also know I may have been the cause of your.. untimely 'end', but we can set aside those minor details, no hard feelings, right? Why don't we call a truce?"

He thrusted out a hand and gestured for him to accept his offer. Although deep inside, Zeke was anything but willing to make friends. Especially with a man like Erwin Smith.

This time, Erwin's reply came as quick as a heartbeat.

"I refuse."

Zeke released a low whistle, retracted his hand and put it back in his pocket, not surprised in the slightest. His smile never wavered.

"Salty, I see."

Now that Isanna wasn't here, there was no need for pretense; Zeke guessed that was why Erwin didn't accept his outstretched hand this time. And just when Zeke decided to be nice to him too. At least he tried to be decent. Plus, now Zeke had a reason to not have to put up a nice façade in front of his nemesis.

The next thing that Erwin said caught Zeke off guard.

"What is your motive?"

Blinking, Zeke raised an inquisitive brow. "Motive?"

Erwin stepped closer, and Zeke felt his eye twitch in mild annoyance when he noticed that Erwin was a few inches taller.

"I don't know what your intentions are, but if you touch a single strand on Isanna's head, I will not sit back," he threatened, only causing Zeke to furrow his own brows deeper.

Isanna? Zeke knitted his brows together. He was the one who wanted to mess around with him but now it felt like it was the other way around. "What's my fiancée got to do with this?"

Zeke didn't fail to see the eye twitch on Erwin's face and the way his gaze darkened some shades lower.

What? Do they know each other?

Now Zeke was getting more and more confused. And curious.

"No funny businesses, Zeke," Erwin warned.

"Look, Smith, I don't know a single thing what you're talking about. Why are you dragging her into this?"

"Because she's one of us," Erwin finally snapped. "A scout. She was one of my soldiers."

A heavy silence dropped, the air around them seemingly dropping a few degrees lower. Zeke could practically feel the animosity and utter rage radiating from the blond in front of him.

A scout? Zeke thought. Isanna?

Isanna was literally as harmless as a dove. Well, not entirely, but the idea of her as one of the enemy's soldiers never once passed Zeke's sphere of possibilities. One time they found a spider in her home back in the countryside and she told Zeke to just put it outside instead of killing it. Point is, she seemed too soft to be a soldier, much less a soldier from their past life.

Zeke snorted. "Never took you as one to joke, Smith."

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Zeke paused, and he leveled a gauging stare at Erwin, assessing him. Fair enough, Erwin didn't seem to be the type to joke around (it was more of Zeke's style anyway).

Huh. So Isanna's one of them.

Instead of getting shocked at the revelation, Zeke released a mirthless chuckle.

"Okay, fine. So she was a scout. Was," he emphasized, with all the quotation gestures. "Well, let me tell you this: I never knew any of that, so it's got nothing to do with our relationship. She may have been one of yours in the past, but things are different now. So do me a favor and chill out, Commander Hotshot."

The frown on Erwin turned into an outright scowl, and Zeke was certain that had it not been for the laws of this world, Erwin would have long throttled his neck moments ago already. Not that Zeke would let him.

Besides, he thought, why is he so worked up over one of his ex-soldier's love life? Unless..

Zeke froze. He looked at Erwin while his brain slowly pieced together the information. He prided himself in his astuteness and even got praised for it by Marley in the past life (it was literally the reason they had made him War chief), so his mind was whirring with all possible answers. Zeke Yeager had not been named War Chief just for funsies—setting aside his tendency to kid around and (un)intentionally provoke others by saying the most inappropriate remarks at inappropriate times, he had been quite a competent War Chief. Quick-witted, sharp, cunning, strategic—he had all of that.

He recalled the face Erwin had made when Isanna told him they were engaged, he recalled the scowl on Erwin's face every time Zeke mentioned her name, and how Erwin strangely got so overprotective over one of his so-called ex-soldiers, even going as far as to emphasize that she'd been part of his troops.

It couldn't be..

"Are you sure she was just a soldier to you?"

His scrutinizing gaze caught the way Erwin's face twitched, telling him he hit a sore spot.

Zeke blinked.

"Oh," Zeke slowly said, now genuinely surprised. Now everything made sense. "Oh."

Erwin Smith and his fiancée were—

He didn't even get to say anything else because right at that moment, Isanna arrived. Zeke wasn't sure if she had the best or worst timing.

"Zeke, I thought you went home without m—oh, you're still here, Erwin?"

Zeke didn't miss the way a hint of hurt flashed through Erwin's eyes as he looked at his fiancée, and that was all the confirmation he needed.

Isanna stepped up to the two blonds, and based on the innocent expression on her face, Zeke doubted she heard their conversation nor felt the bubbling tension in the air.

"Do you have a ride?" she asked Erwin, completely oblivious. Zeke balked at her from the side, not liking where this was going. "If not, Zeke and I can—"

"No," Erwin immediately said, most likely thinking the same thing as Zeke. They would rather die than ride in the same car. Erwin had said it so forcefully that Isanna blinked at him in surprise, then Erwin realized his tone and added more gently, "I appreciate the offer, but I have a ride."

"Ah, is that so?" Isanna nodded. "That's good to hear."

Zeke rolled his eyes. This woman's too nice for her own good. Then he grabbed her wrist and walked past Erwin. "Well that's that. Let's get going, Isa."

She stumbled after him. "Hey, you didn't even say goodbye to—"

"Bye!" Zeke bid with a hint of a hiss, not looking at Erwin but lifting his free hand in a short wave that looked more like a flick of a wrist than anything, as if Erwin was a nuisance and he was shooing him away. Perhaps for Zeke, Erwin was. After connecting the dots between Isanna and him, being around that damned Smith was the last thing Zeke wanted.

"We'll see you sometime, Erwin," Isanna called out good naturedly as Zeke continued to drag her to the front entrance and down the stairs, towards the parking lot.

Zeke mentally grumbled. With the current circumstances, he doubted Erwin would be enthusiastic to see them again.

Erwin watched, legs heavy and so was his heart as he watched that blasted bastard drag Isanna away, until they descended the stairs and were finally out of his sight.

He continued to stare in the open space, the distant honking of cars and city noise meshing together in his ears. He got so lost in his thoughts that he also lost track of the number of minutes he spent, standing and staring at the spot where Isanna and Zeke had disappeared from. He didn't know what he was waiting for at that point; for Isanna to come back and tell him that it was all just a sick prank? He desperately hoped so. But as time continued to tick by, she never came back. Instead, she had went with him. To wherever they were heading to.

Were they living together?

When the events finally sank in, Erwin broke out of his trance and grounded back to reality, much to his dismay.

By the time Erwin came to his surroundings, he was already opening the door to his car, sinking into the driver's seat with a slump. He shut the door with more force than needed, gripped the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles went white, then slammed his face against the horn that a loud hooooonk! resounded throughout the parking lot for maybe ten seconds.

Realizing that he was causing a public nuisance, he lifted his head and leaned against his headrest, suppressing a groan.

Isanna is engaged to—

Erwin stopped. He didn't even want to think about it. Thinking about it was only going to make him feel worse than he already was.

He swallowed a heavy pit of saliva.

Why him of all people?

It wouldn't have hurt as much as it did had it been someone else. But no, of course fate had to give him a big 'HA! You thought!' with a middle finger in the form of Zeke Yeager.

When he felt his phone vibrating, Erwin pulled it out of his pocket and looked at the incoming call.

Moblit Berner

xxx-xxxx-xxx

Erwin stared at his screen for what seemed like forever. He eventually chucked it to the side, hitting his briefcase before he leaned forward and rested his arms on the wheel.

New memories, Hange had told him. Happy ones, she'd said.

Erwin released a hollow, short-lived chuckle that resembled more like a pained, disbelieving scoff. Somewhere in his chest, there was the feeling of something being squeezed tight.

How was he supposed to start all over again when the love of his life was in the arms of another man? And not just any man, but the one who had killed him in his past life and ruined everything?

Erwin was faintly aware that he was acting childish. Of course, being re-born into another life didn't guarantee that it was going to be the same as the past, and that whatever happened in the past should stay there, so he shouldn't harbor any resentment towards Zeke. But he'd waited for the last fifteen years for her, no matter how bleak the idea of a reunion had seemed.

And just when he thought his patience was finally to be rewarded, this happened.

It was the worst case possible; his rotten luck in the past life seemed to have followed him in this life.

───

Zeke rolled his grey BMW onto the smooth pavement. The clock on the car read 6:34 PM. They were stuck in the middle of a painfully long traffic, and his stomach had been rumbling for the past five minutes.

He shot a side glance at Isanna, who had gone silent ever since the start of the ride, just looking out the side window the entire time.

"How's city life for you?" he broke the silence, eyes fixed on the road. A car from the lane beside him was getting too close for his liking and he pressed his horn. Bastard.

"It's only been a week," he heard her say. "But so far it's pretty nice here. Lots of fun places to go."

Zeke hummed as the line started to move again. Thank god. He flicked his signal lights and made a turn to the right.

When he was still a kid, his grandparents moved to the countryside, about an eight-hour ride from the city to be nearer to his parents. He was about seven or eight, he recalled, still a grade schooler. He met Isanna there, and they've known each other since then. She was practically his best friend and lover rolled into one fine woman. Fast forward to twenty years, they both decided to relocate to the city both for a change of scenery from the countryside and to find a job.

One thing Zeke never would have expected was to run into one of his arch-nemesis from the past life—and find out that his fiancée used to be said nemesis' lover. Or maybe it was just a crush? Who knows. Zeke never got to specify their relationship, just that Isanna was someone important to Erwin. And quite important too, seeing the way Erwin acted around her.

Too bad I got to her first, Zeke thought, smug.

"Say," Zeke started, and from his periphery he saw her turn to him, "about that Smith guy."

"Hm? What about him?"

"What's he like?"

He could practically picture her raising a confused brow. "We just met today. I told you."

"I know," Zeke said, waving a hand before he returned it to the wheel. "I mean.. for a first impression, duh."

Isanna hummed, signaling Zeke she was mulling over his question. It didn't take long for her to give an answer.

"He seems pretty well-mannered. You know, the classic gentleman type," she said.

Seems his manners are quite selective, Zeke thought as he remembered the way Erwin had been glowering at him the entire duration of their first meeting, but did an entire 180-degree turn whenever he talked to Isanna. Zeke huffed. "So basically, he's your type?"

"What are you on about?"

He shrugged. "Just asking. Aren't classic gentlemen your type? Suit, neat and prim intelligent men."

"I thought you weren't the jealous type."

His defensive senses spiked up. "I'm not," he quipped, shooting her a frown before he turned back to the road. "I was just thinking.. maybe we could be friends or something," he lied. He wanted to laugh. Friends? He'd rather be friends with Levi. Teasing that shortie used to be his favorite past time in the past life. Although he doubted Levi thought the same of him.

"So," he drawled when Isanna didn't add on to the next conversation. "What do you think of Smith?"

"You just asked that."

"No, it's a different question."

"It's the same."

"It's not."

"It is."

"It's not."

"It is—LOOK AT THE ROAD YOU IDIOT!"

Zeke muttered a curse before he stomped on the brakes, barely avoiding the car that was about to cross over. They both leaned forward due to the sudden stop before they slammed against their seats with a thud.

A loud honk sounded from the car before it passed by.

"Dobe!" Isanna cried and smacked the back of his head, eliciting a grunt from him. "Are you trying to get ourselves killed?"

"We were on a green light! He was the one who—"

"Just. Drive." Isanna glared at him.

Zeke knew that look. He had seen that look a thousand times in his life that he could feel it in his bones. It was the 'talk-back-and-you're-dead-to-me' look that Isanna always used on him to make him shut up. It had a hundred-percent success rate, too.

Maybe she really had been a soldier before.

He grumbled and stepped on the gas, a hand rubbing the sore spot where she had smacked him.

"You can be so childish," she sighed as she folded her arms.

"Oh but you love me anyway."

When she didn't answer, Zeke shot her a glance and caught the way the tips of her lips quirked upwards. She tried to hide it by looking out the window.

"See? You're smiling. You love me."

"We're engaged," she pointed out with an exasperated tone, but even then Zeke could practically hear the smile on her. "And focus on the road, will you?"

Zeke shook his head, a smile of his own forming. A comfortable silence trickled in the car as they turned to a street with lesser cars and a housing neighborhood lined up at the side.

"So.. about Smith—"

"Why do you keep bringing him up? Do you have a crush?"

Zeke gagged. "No, I absolutely don't. I just wanna know if—"

"What I think of him?" Isanna sighed defeatedly. Zeke saw her purse her lips in thought.

She didn't answer after five seconds. Ten seconds, she was still silent. Zeke was beginning to wonder. He just wanted to know what Isanna thought of him (although they literally just met an hour ago). He told himself it was just out of curiosity and he wasn't anything 'worried'.

Because, Zeke Yeager, worried? He had no reason to be worried.

They ran into a red light and Zeke pulled the car to a stop before he turned to her.

What he saw confused him even more.

Isanna was staring ahead as if lost in her thoughts, brows furrowed and lips slightly parted. Her eyes had a distant glaze to them, as if she was looking at something else entirely.

"Hey," he called. "You don't have to think about it that seriously."

She finally snapped out of whatever she was thinking about and flinched, flinging a hand to her temple as she closed her eyes. When she groaned, Zeke got concerned.

"What's wrong?"

She still had her eyes closed, and had a hand firmly pressed against her forehead.

"I don't know, I just.. my head suddenly hurts."

Zeke pressed his lips tighter into a thin line. "Close your eyes and lean back. I'll tell you when we arrive."

She didn't answer and just nodded, leaning back with her eyes closed and a frown etched on her face. Zeke leaned back into his seat and turned just in time to see the red light turn green. He sped the car forward.

The rest of the ride was silent. Zeke occasionally glanced at her to see if the headache had gotten worst, just in case. When they finally pulled into the driveway of their home, which was an apartment complex, he took his seatbelt off and turned to Isanna, who was already sound asleep.

He reached over to caress a few of her side bangs away, clearing her forehead and feeling the soft strands of her hair.

As much as how they bickered over stupid stuff, he did care for her. Although unlike most other lovers, Zeke expressed more of his affection through constant, harmless teasing (at least, he liked to think they're all harmless). That was why when Erwin accused him of having 'intentions' against her, he was offended. He didn't even know that Isanna was a scout. It was purely coincidence that he moved into the countryside when he was young, purely coincidence that he met her, and it was purely coincidence that he fell in love with her.

Zeke guessed that even if he knew she was a scout, it wouldn't stop him from pursuing her.

What made him wonder was why he never saw nor heard of Isanna even back in the past life. Did she perhaps die before he got to meet her? That was the only logical conclusion he could think of.

"No matter," he mumbled to himself. It's all in the past. Who cares if Smith throws a little tantrum?

Zeke got out of the vehicle and circled around, before he opened the door to the passenger's seat and took Isanna's seatbelt off. He grabbed her sling bag and slung it over his shoulder, and with careful movements, hooked an arm below her knee and neck, slowly lifting her out of the car. He kicked the door close and pressed the buttons on his keys to automatically lock it.

With a snoozing Isanna in his arms, Zeke walked up the stairs to their newly-bought apartment.

Or maybe, he thought, finishing his contemplation. Maybe it wasn't coincidence.

Maybe it really was fate.

And Zeke had a feeling that this same fate was going to bring a hurricane to stir things up—

—and he wouldn't be at all surprised if, at the middle of that hurricane, was Erwin Smith.

~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: hii

I hope you're all enjoying this so far, even tho it's still just the second chapter. This story won't stretch as long as my first, prolly only around 20-30 chaps (or even lesser, I hope)

Zeke x Isa may feel weird, considering everything she went through with Erwin in the past.. but then that just paves the way for more drama, and for a writer, we thrive off dramas

Zeke is an interesting character to write, especially his role in this story. I want to make him likeable, but still have that dick attitude, yknow? Its more fun. And challenging

One last thing, this is the first time I'm writing a prominent love triangle. I avoid writing harems and triangles bc they're pretty easy to mess up and end up getting cringe, so pls bear with me as I try to deliver a satisfying sequel for you

-Thank you for reading this long author's note. Future chapters will have lesser notes or none, so worry not

Stay safe! With love, buncha