EreRi

Pairing
Pairing:	Eren Yeager/Levi Ackerman
Alternative name(s):	Riren, Rivaille, Rivaere
Gender category:	BL, mlm, yaoi, slash
Fandom:	Attack on Titan
Canonical?:	No
Prevalence:	Popular
Archives:	AO3 tag
Other:
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Ereri, or Riren, is a pairing in Attack on Titan fandom. Their canon relationship is one of commander/soldier, or mentor/mentee. Fans are drawn to this ship because of both characters' crucial role in the fight for humanity's survival, especially at the series' outset. Fics, fanart, and doujinshi are particularly popular for this ship.

Canon

Levi appears early in the manga, but the two of them do not meet until after the Trost arc. They have a rocky introduction--in order to save his life from the Military Police, Levi has to publicly beat Eren in courtroom in Episode 14 of the anime. Along with the rest of Eren's class, the two of them grow closer over the course of the series until the time-skip, in which Eren ostracizes himself from nearly all his friends and family, Levi included.

Fandom

Alongside the explosive popularity of Attack on Titan after the debut of its anime adaption by Studio Wit, Ereri likewise grew in popularity--particularly after Episode 14 of the anime. Many of the most popular fics for this pairing on AO3 were posted around this time, from 2013-2014.

Common Tropes and Fanon

Age gap

Although Levi's age is not explicitly given in canon, there is at least a decade between them. Many fanworks explore this dynamic, especially given the fact that Levi is Eren's superior officer. Sometimes the age gap is merely a fact of their relationship that is largely ignored, and sometimes it introduces real problems about power imbalances and gaps in life experience.

Humanity's Strongest Soldier and Humanity's Greatest Hope parallels

Perhaps one reason for the ship's popularity is the necessity of these two for the survival of humanity (at least, pre-timeskip). Many fans explore how these labels may burden or uplift them, and how they might find solace in one another.

Levi as Eren's handler

After the reveal that Eren is a Titan, Levi steps forward and convinces the Military Police to let him live, stating that he is capable of killing Eren should he go rogue. Many fanworks delve into this dynamic, often extending it to their romantic/sexual relationship by portraying Levi as the more dominant of the two--or, in a reversal of the trope--making Eren the one in charge.

Other common tropes

• Aged up: Many fan creators choose to simply circumvent their age difference, and either age up Eren or age down Levi.
• Reincarnation: Because of the nature of Attack on Titan canon, many fanworks explore AUs in which either or both are killed fighting the Titans, then are reincarnated in the present-day.
• AUs: Due to many fans' unhappiness with the timeskip in the final arcs of the manga, many fans simply end their portrayal ofcanon when Eren and his friends reach the ocean at the end of the Return to Shinganshina arc, and isntead focus on alternate universes that do not include the final Marley and Paradis arcs.
• Big Guy, Little Guy: Levi's canonical height is 5'2", a fact which often plays a role in depictions of their physical relationship, as well as a point of humor in many fanworks.

Controversies

Age Difference

Due to the large age difference between the two, many fans find the ship distasteful.

Example Fanworks

Fanfic

• 1994 by Vee: popular 90's AU fic
• These Weren't Memories by mongoose_bite: canonverse fic about Eren pursuing Levi.
• On Elba by appleapple: fic that incorporates events from the post-timeskip arc--often seen as something difficult to do due to Eren's radical character change.
• The Intern by Lutte

Fanart

• art by longnoodlesss.
• art by huchidori
• art by bonemarr0w

Doujinshi

• Not Your Kind of People (2013)

Archives and Communities

• Ereri Lost and Found: Tumblr ask blog for Ereri fic.
• AO3 tag.