“Tender gaze”

Because!!!

> Eren canonically dreams about Levi (see Eren-heichou)

> Mutual hatred and passion to exterminate titans くちく！

> Levi is fixated on mentioning Eren’s ass throughout the story

> Levi willingly breaks into Eren’s home.

> Unconventional yet significant touching foreheads (see volume covers), fingers (see theme song), shoulder leans (x3), indirect kiss scene (lol)

> Most popular ship in the fandom! (Ereri and Riren both have strong followings and works dedicated to the pairing!)

> Eren cleans best according to Levi

> Mikasa’s VA, their English VAs voiced support for the ship!

> Kaji Yuki’s love for Levi! (see his “heichou...” tweet) and Hiroshi Kamiya loves Kaji’s work on Eren

> constantly being centered in the official arts next to either Hanji, Mikasa, Erwin, Jean, Armin

> Levi doesn’t care how messy Eren is, he’ll still care for him (nosebleed, cleaning Eren up in the 4-panel, saving Eren)

> Levi’s sacrificed so many of his trusted friends and comrades for Eren ( m a n g a )

> Levi’s protective of Eren (see Yelena interaction)

> They work as werewolf x vampire, reindeer x Santa, director, celebrity, zookeepers, businessmen, mafia, cooks, so many different canon AUs with them together

> Them being featured on every calendar cover

> multiple visits back to the sea (AND THE FACT THAT THEYRE WATCHING THE SUN SET WHILE EATING TOGETHER), ride horses together across the horizon and sunset

> the lottery poster where Eren eats with Levi again, the connected lottery poster where Eren is buttoning his shirt and Levi is just there sewing—!!!

> the fact that Levi calls Eren—Ereeeeen

> the fact that Historia questions their relationship together

> complementary colors!!! (Red and Green) Levi being referred to as cool and Eren as hot!

> Wings of Freedom symbolism (Humanity’s Hope x Humanity Strongest) see the black and white rings

> Eren bringing along Levi with Armin and Mikasa to hanami, flower crown making (Note Levi’s line of eyesight!!!)

> Levi forcefully washes Eren and shaves Eren (4-Koma for episode 67!)

> Levi following Eren (secretly) in manga and gazing at Eren in official arts

> Levi constantly calling Eren “not bad” and even in a promo for 進撃の阪神競馬場, calling merch of them together—“not bad”

> Eren making Levi his phone case choice despite the other anime characters using either themselves, another object, or their confirmed CP in the docomo select campaign!

> Eren also vehemently arguing for a motherly Levi look! While he himself, told to have a motherly look by Isayama.

> Levi’s dish being a three tier chee-burg steak at the hot spring promo! (Eren’s favorite food — 2021)

> Ererin (from drama CD) and No Name parallels

> Eren celebrating Levi’s birthday in junior high and at Fukuoka Tower (Christmas 2020)

> Red Swan Spotify album cover is just the two of them

> Their backs—touching!!

> Pretty much all of Attack on Junior High episode 2 is Eren chasing after Levi

> no one else understanding why Eren works so hard to protect Levi (Historia’s punch), get praised by Levi (Levi’s disappointment at their lack of cleaning)

> Eren constantly defending him from bad rumors (interview with Eren)

> Mikasa making out Levi to be a pervert for taking Eren away too often (2013 drama CD)

> Levi kicking down doors for Eren (return to the basement)

> edit: Levi and Eren got in the same sauna room nekkid and nothing happened 😊