Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The morning sunrise emitted a beautiful orange glow over the city. The sun was heavenly settled against red and yellow clouds, it shined a bright, divine radiance in the direction of an old book store on the Lower-East Side of the city.

This little shop called Kenny's specialized in unique, rare and used books. Kenny's had a distinctive and historic character, not only because of the range of books that lived there but also the history that had occurred under that particular roof.

Each and every early morning, the doors of the store were opened faithfully by a lonely, broken-hearted soul. Every late night when he closed, and slowly commuted back to his cold, empty apartment he wondered only one thing... if he would ever be able to get over his heartache and find another to love.

Someone who could love him back just at passionately as he loved them. For a long time, his prayers were met with no answers but on this special, bright morning something changed.

The doorbell of the store rang a sacred sound which alerted Levi that someone had entered the store.

The young boy kept his dainty fingertips against the cool glass on the door, making sure it didn’t slam shut. He smiled sweetly, and his nails were painted but the shine of the blue glitter had faded slightly.

The boy moved slowly through the numerous stacks of books that were at the front of the store. Levi only caught a sliver of a glance at the boy as he walked past but he was... intrigued.

Well, hello there. Who are you?

He was in his early twenties, a dark messenger bag slung across his shoulders and thin torso. His dark brown locks were tied up but a few strands fell amiably against his pretty face and the back of his delicate neck.

The earthy green color of his sweater fit perfectly against his soft, golden complexion.

Your sweater is loose. You're not here to be seen.

His feet patted softly along the old floor yet the colorful bangles rattled as they shifted on his slender wrist.

But those bracelets, they jangle. You like a little attention. 

Levi tracked the boy with his silver eyes and listened to the sounds of his gentle steps across the floor. He caught special glimpses as the boy moved through a specific section as he carefully scanned the shelves.

I watch you search the books. But you're too sunkissed to sit around reading books all day, aren't you?

The boy couldn't seem to find what he was looking for, so he moved away and towards another section but he accidentally jostled a passing customer, it startled him, "Oh- I'm sorry."

Your voice is sweet, apologetic, almost like you’re embarrassed to be a good boy.

The boy turned another corner, walked to the center of the aisle and stared right at Levi. He was beautifully bright, like an ancient deity glowing right before Levi's very eyes. 

Then you murmured your first words to me.

"Hello," His pretty fingertips fiddled with his necklace, but he dropped the hand as he asked, "Do you work here?"

"Guilty... Can I help you find something?" Levi tried to remain impassive, but he struggled not to crack a smile at the sweet boy conversing with him. He resisted the urge to avoid looking as desperate and besotted as he felt. 

"Paula Fox?" He answered with a quiet uncertainty to his soft voice, perhaps speculating that the little shop hadn't stocked up on authors like her. Thankfully, the store was filled with a plethora of older books with lesser-known authors.

It was a shame really, that not all writers could have the critical praise and recognition when they were living Sometimes it came after they were already long gone. But at least they got it in the end, some of the greatest written works were probably never even published or if they were, they never amounted to much in the eyes of public. It was a daunting thought, but luckily Paula Fox received a little acclaim and now her books comfortably rested on the top of a shelf in the store and Levi knew exactly where that was.

"It's a good choice." Levi was impressed, it wasn't everyday he met a person who was interested in real literature. And never anyone even remotely close in beauty to the boy that stood before him now.

"I feel weirdly validated." The boy playfully joked as his gold necklace danced along on his fingertips. When had he brought his teasing fingers back up to his neck, Levi thought but he couldn't afford to think endlessly about that because he actually had to help the boy find the book.

"Follow me." Levi led the boy down another aisle, and stopped at a particular shelf, "She's going be in here."

"Thank you." The young brunette smiled as he said the words. Levi knew he's never been the social kind of person, yet as he stood opposite this boy, he found he had a profound desire to talk with him.

Levi had helped him find what he was looking for, at this point he would always walk away from customers, yet his feet stayed planted firmly on the ground.

"You're welcome."

The boy turned his full attention to Levi, and there was a slight ruby tint across his velvety cheeks. Levi thought his green eyes appeared more like emerald gemstones as they stared back at him, they were so beautifully intense fueled by passion and curiosity. Levi broke the gaze, reminding the boy of why they were stood there in the first place, "Paula Fox, top shelf. Want me to--" 

"Nope, I got it." He went for the book, as he reached his sweater rode up, revealing his soft looking stomach. Levi silver eyes were instantly transfixed by the golden skin.

Are you doing that on purpose? Showing that delicate part of yourself. And you want me to notice?

Levi barely knew the boy. But he was convinced there was definitely something special about him. For a person who hated wasting his time with awkward small talk or useless pleasantries, Levi thought it was somewhat ironic he now wanted to force conversation on another person. He struggled to think of something he could say to interest the younger man.

The brunette had managed to grab the book he wanted and was carefully reading the back.

"Have you read her fiction? Desperate Characters, it's her best." Levi tried.

"That's what I keep hearing." The young man sighed with his eyes closed, like he was disappointed in himself for not having read it yet. He casually took a little step closer to Levi as he spoke.

The small but meaningful gesture gave Levi the green-light in his head to lean closer to the brunette as he replied, "You haven't read Desperate Characters?", teasing him with a playfully judgemental tone.

"I know. I know. I'm worried it's not gonna live up to all of the hype." He expressed as he stared back at Levi.

"I can safely tell you, it is just that good." Levi reassured, and his response put a high-spirited smile on the beautiful boy's face.

"That's a high endorsement..." he started, and Levi couldn' t help but notice the boy's eyes dropped from his face to his chest, or name-tag more specifically but only for a second. Their eyes made contact again as the boy finished, "And from a bookstore clerk, nonetheless." 

"Well, it's bookstore manager." Levi played along with it which put the brightest smile on the boy's face as he laughed. It was as if the boy was glowing with how perfect he looked like that, smiling and laughing to everything Levi would say.

You're so fucking cute. 

He wanted to smile back, but unlike the boy, Levi didn't think his smile was cute or special. It certainly didn't brighten up his whole world like the little angel in front of him. And who looked as though he were about to bless Levi with his voice, however before he could get any words out they both heard,

"Hello? Anyone working here?" A middle-aged man stood close to the counter as his loud voice echoed throughout the store and interrupted them.

Reverie broken, Levi looked over at the direction of where that unwelcome intrusion occurred. He stood there, unbothered with his obligation to help the man, especially when there was someone so important stood in front of him.

Just as he decided to ignore that unfortunate voice, he heard kind words confessed to him, "Sorry, I really didn't mean to take up so much of your time." His head down, voice quiet. Did the boy feel guilty?

"No, I'm glad I could help you." Levi declared and he swore he could detect the slightest tint of a rosy blush on the boy's face as he looked back up, along with a smile on his lips, "Thanks for the help." Levi nodded before he regretfully walked towards the till, the young brunette walked on as well, but turned back to look at Levi. He stared at Levi with a sweet smile on his face.

At the counter Levi served the man, behind him there was a glass wall to an office where Erwin worked inside. "Can you hurry, I'm in a rush here." The man exclaimed as Levi packed his books.

Levi didn't know why the guy was pissed and he didn't really give a shit either, his mind was on much more important things. He still told him to have a nice day, though the man only grumbled before he turned to exit. The boy approached with the book he came for, and Desperate Characters, "Okay, I’m going for it."

Levi felt elated that the young brunette had listened to him, "You won’t regret it." 

"I better not," he said as he went into his bag for his wallet.

The boy opened his wallet and Levi's sharp eyes scanned over the contents inside the best he could from where he stood without being too obvious. The younger man ignored the notes that were there and handed Levi his credit card instead. Levi gently took the card from him and immediately stared at one particular place near the bottom of the card...

You have enough cash to cover this but-- 

The name on the card read: E. Yeager.

--you want me to know your name.  

"Yeager. Is that German?"

"Yea, how'd you know? My dad's originally from there, but he came over here when he was around my age. Some people call me by my last name but mostly everyone just calls me Eren... And you're," he looked over at Levi's name tag before he read it aloud, "Levi. And what's your last name?"

"Ackerman. But everyone calls me Levi." The boy laughed at the joke as he took a pen from the side of the till and signed for his credit card. He turned his glimmering gaze up at Levi as he handed him the receipt back.

"Aren’t you gonna tell me to have a nice day?" Eren's tone held a mischievous accusation, it was flirty and expectant. 

"You have a nice day, Eren." Levi complied.

"You have one yourself, Levi." Eren held his hand out and Levi happily took it, they shook hands and with one last sweet smile, Eren left. Levi studied the receipt, he slowly placed his fingers over Eren's signature.

You smiled at me, laughed at my jokes, told me your name, asked for mine. 

When he’d gone out the door, Erwin looked over from the office, "He write his number on there?"

"No, he was just being nice." Levi said nonchalantly as he folded the receipt.

"I’d be googling the hell out of him right now. You know his full name..." Levi turned to give his friend a disapproving look as reprimanded the advice, "That’s pretty aggressive, Erwin." 

"I know you were disappointed with how things ended with Furlan but you have to try to move on. And just one little glance at his socials wouldn't hurt, would it?" Levi feigned indifference, but his friend seemed to know him well. "I suppose not." Was all he said as he stepped away from the till and strolled a trolley filled with books that needed to be shelved towards the front of the shop.

But the few words were enough for Erwin to have hope. "If you need me I’ll be near the history books. But for work, not for fun." Erwin promised as Levi walked away. He stopped near the front and looked out the window. 

At the end of the day, some people can really just be disappointing, can't they? 

He gazed at Eren in the distance as he headed down the subway.

But are you, Eren? Are you?

Levi’s eyes watched everything until there was nothing else to see, Eren had gone down the stairs of the subway. Levi turned away after that and looked upon the receipt that had not so long ago been in Eren's soft, delicate hands.

He pressed his fingers into the ink of Eren's signature again, and he noticed the ink earlier had marked his fingertips black. The ink of Eren Yeager had stained his skin, and that thought put a smile on his face as he carefully folded the receipt and put it into his in pocket.

The lovely blue sky had darkened to pitch black when Levi locked the store up. The late night air was briskly cold as he walked home deep in thought. 

People find happiness. They find The One. I believe that and try to stay open. I was in love once, Eren. But he broke my heart. I should’ve seen the signs. But we never do when we’re in love.

Levi headed inside of his apartment building, carrying a takeout bag. The estate was built with dreary red bricks and dark green climber plants encasing most of the exterior walls of the building. He looked up at the second story window, from where he could already hear his neighbors loudly fighting.

Exhibit A: Nifa and Darius. Nifa’s a nurse and a single parent. You think she knew Darius was an alcoholic bastard when she fell in love? No, she thought he was a prince.

Levi climbed the stairs and saw Isabel sitting against the mucky white and faded red paint chipped wall, reading an old copy of The Three Musketeers. 

And now, Nifa's life is not the only one that's ruined.

"What's up, Levi." She welcomed him cheerfully.

"Hey, Isabel."

They heard yelling from inside, something was thrown and it shattered, "Leave me alone! I don't want to talk to you! I'm sick of all of this!" That was Nifa straining out her weak voice, trying to scream at Darius.

"Everything okay in there?" Levi turned to question Isabel.

Isabel replied despondently, "Yeah. Mom and Darius are just talking," and her sad eyes returned to the old book that rested against her knees. Levi followed Isabel’s lead and pretended it’s not what it really was, instead he looked over to the novel on Isa’s lap, "You are burning through that book, aren't you?"

Levi's small acclamation of her reading skills put a little smile on her face and her eyes light up joyfully as she says, "Reads quick. With all the sword fights, it never gets boring. It's really good."

"Let me know when you finish. I’ll get you another one." Levi’s about to go inside but Nifa yells again, "Screw you! Get out of here!" He gave one more glance to the kid, "Are you hungry? I got this Italian wedge but I remembered I have Thai from last night."

Isabel’s eyes revealed how hungry she was but still, she sadly declared, "Nah. My mom will make me something later."

"That's a shame. It won't keep, so this shit is getting tossed."

"You sure, Levi?" Her young voice was constrained with a timid reluctance. Levi headed over and reassured her, "All for one and one for all." Isabel gratefully took the bag with a pleasant smile, Levi disappeared his apartment.                                                             

Levi's apartment had a vintage atmosphere, filled with old but well-kept books, small but very conscientiously tidy. As his locked the door behind him, he was deeply in thought...

The point, Eren: love is tricky.  He shrug his jacket off and hung it by the door, dropped his keys into a handmade pottery bowl by the front, walked into the petite kitchen area and looked inside the empty fridge, but he alreasy knew before he looked in as he hardly ever stocked up. Notably, there was no Thai takeout but he knew that as well. Food never particularly interested him, though he did make himself some black tea. He put his old vinyl on, it played soft music and walked past a picture of a younger version of him and Kenny standing outside of the bookstore.

He set his tea down and sat at his desk before he opened his laptop.

I had to find out more about you. Your name was a glorious place to start.

On his screen he opened Google, and typed in the boy's name.

There’s not a lot of Eren Yeagers.

A host of sites appeared -- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr. He began to click and scroll through it all. He searched meticulously...

There you were. Every account set to public. You want to be seen, heard, known. Of course I obliged.

There were seemingly infinite photos to be found, everything about Eren's life put online for anyone to see. Levi felt conflicted about this, he appreciated that he could access everything but a dark possessive part of him was irritated that others could see it all as well.

He pushed those grim thoughts aside, focused instead on finding out as much as he could about Eren. His Instagram account had a pride and trans flags in the profile, as well as his pronouns, 'he/him' with little love hearts around it.

This made Levi wonder a little, could he take this as confirmation that he's gay or perhaps trans? 

He scrolled through his whole account, but most of his posts were superficial, just smiling in the camera type pictures. He looked pretty but Levi wanted to know more, intimate details about Eren.

He found an old account that Eren stopped posting on over half a decade ago. He did post a lot before, from pictures of his home, his parents, friends to his little poems and rants. Levi read through it all. He wrote pretty poems about falling in love and breaking away from the restrictive barriers of society, he liked to refer to them as walls. Then, Levi found a little branch of the old account that seemed to have deleted a lot of the uploaded pictures, however some of the written content was still there.

It was invasive, Levi knew to pry into his past like this, especially seeing as Eren wanted it gone, was wrong. But he couldn't resist the pull of the unknown about the boy, and he finally got a few answers. Eren had posted photos of his slow, but steady transition when he was much younger. The text explained the sort of issues he faced, the next steps into the medical transition since he had explored a comfortable social transition during his early teen years. It was interesting to Levi, this discovery made him feel closer to the boy in some ways. Eren was strong, courageous and intelligent, in Levi's mind, he was beyond perfect. 

You were born and raised in Nantucket Island. You had a bestfriend Armin growing up. Your parents seemed to get on until your Mom died when you were in high school. Your dad dropped out of the picture after that. Armin got a full scholarship and early admission into an Ivy League college and left you. All alone.

Levi wondered if Eren still felt lonely inside, like he did. He looked through more photos, ones that showed Eren's college life as he drank and partied with his friends. Eren seemed to really like having beach days...with boys unfortunately.

You left to study at Brown where you majored in Literature. He scrolled and found copious amounts of unpleasant pictures of a particular man who appeared all over Eren's account. A pretentious, rich boy. He posed with his tongue out and a grubby beard.

Horribly privileged pricks aside, Eren seemed to like exploring forests, remote parks, and coasts. But especially loved boat riding on the ocean, Levi thought that was quite cute. After Brown, Eren posted how excited he was to move onto the next chapter of his life by starting at Columbia.

He noticed that around the time Eren came to the city, he had slowly begun to stop posting the little poems and short stories he wrote on his account before, instead only posting endless nights out with his friends.

Levi scrolled through more posts of Eren out in the big city. He had posted a video recording of his friends on the New York Highline, tipsy and carrying glasses of wine with them as they complained about needing to already be somewhere else.

You're too busy living out moments you won’t remember five years from now. You don't ever have time to write anymore, I know this because you post about your city life all the god damn time. Honestly, it’s the least appealing thing about you, Eren.

But that's not fair of me to say, is it? Because your online life isn’t real. You want it all to seem so care free. So you paste this version of yourself up everywhere, but that's not the real you.

Levi stopped on one photo in particular, Eren in front of a building carrying a moving box near the stairs.

He copied the image before he pasted it into a certain search engine. Something came up and he smiled.

...

A building in the West Village. The address: 171 Bank Street. 

Levi stood, tucked unobtrusively by a street tree on the opposite side of the road. 

There it is, with its big naked windows.

From across the street, Levi had a private, relatively unobstructed view of the slightly elevated first floor apartment. The windows were uncovered. Everything was on view.

It's nice, too nice. Definitely more than you could afford. Probably subsidized school housing.

Just at that moment, Eren walked by the window, wrapped in a green towel but still wet from his shower.

Christ.

Levi looked around at the people coming and going outside. They strolled right past, unknowningly and unbothered by what had captured Levi's undivided attention.

Inside Eren was on his phone, he scrolled on the device while he stood smiling to himself. Something made a bell sound which alerted him and he turned his head in the direction of the sound. Then went away to his small kitchen, approaching the microwave on the counter. Eren took the hot ready-made meal out, he quickly placed it on a little dining table to cool down, after he made his way over to his bed.

Levi smiled as he took a step closer. He heart told him there was a lot more to the beautiful boy, and he was practically buzzing with happiness that he was going to get to find out everything about Eren.

Levi opened his eyes in a wicked sense of excitement, he impatiently waited for time to pass by faster so he could get ready for what he knew was going to be an interesting day. He couldn't stand the daunting clock that seemed to deliberately make seconds feel as long as hours. But still Levi waited with such an eagerness that he couldn't recall ever feeling before in his life.

Our day starts at the crack of dawn. I know from your posted schedule that you teach a 6:30 excercise class.

Levi got ready quickly and made his way over to Eren's home, when he arrived he saw Eren through the large windows. Steel eyes widened as they laid their gaze upon the brunette, who was only half dressed, as he struggled to pull his shirt down all the way, down to where his black sweater pants hugged his beautiful waist.

In his apartment, Eren hurriedly prepped for his day as he pulled his pink sports top down to cover the waistline of his bottoms and drank some coffee.

Soon he rushed out of the building door and made his way to the Yoga studio. Levi discretely followed behind him and when Eren eventually arrived at work, he stayed outside but he wasn't too bothered about that because luck was on his side.

The studio had full glass windows for walls, so he secretly watched Eren from across the street. He stood to the side across the studio, the street was mostly empty as the young man taught a class, offering smiles and lies of encouragement.

By 10:00 am you’re at campus to TA a Romantics Class. 

Eren raced across the lawn until he caught up his teacher.

"Morning, Professor Shadis." Eren said it warmly.

In return the old man draped an arm around him, "I told you, it’s Keith." He tried to be casual but his tone was sleazy. Eren reacted only slightly to the uncomfortable arm around him, he plastered on a false smile but moved away with the excuse of trying to get something from his bag.

Eren and the creepy Professor Shadis headed inside the school building and Levi was left alone to mull over the events of the morning so far.

After the long hours at the college, Eren felt more than a little drained as he left the building doorway.

After class, you head to your favorite café to write for the first time all day. But  your life doesn't cooperate.

Eren's phone started to buzz to life in his back pocket. He pulled it out and stared at the screen as his weary eyes read over the messages from his friends.

Your wealthy friends have just now woken up and have nothing better to do other than plan their next pointless night out. 

Eren had sighed, as his tired eyes glanced at his surrounding before landing back on his phone but texted back, like he always did.

Levi followed him to a pricey, but fashionable retail store in SoHo, Eren spoke kindly with a saleswoman as he looked at the $3,000 handbags. After a while, the saleswoman smiled and walked away, leaving Eren to his own devices. It shocked only slightly when Eren quickly wrapped a fancy scarf up and shoved it into his bag. Levi gazed amazed through the shop window, with the unhurried grace of a shoplifter, Eren headed out of the store and dashed down the street, if he wasn't in such a nervous hurry he might of spotted his new friend from the bookstore.

In an upscale eatery in the Village, a warmly lit table seated a group of laughing, drinking friends in celebration. "Happy Birthday!" They cheered in union.

Eren sat opposite the birthday girl, Historia who liked to appear as a kind spirited girl, and she sat beside Ymir, who was mostly sarcastic and unbothered with anything that didn't concern her. And the Queen-Bee, Mikasa, sat closely next to Eren. Historia opened her present, inside the elegant, crystal giftbag was the scarf Eren had just less than legally acquired. Alhough, they were none the wiser about that little secret as they all cooed over it. Historia gasped in an overly excited manner as she held the scarf up.

"Do you like it?" Eren's voice was a little unsure as he asked. "Of course, I love it, Eren!" She was sounded genuinely happy for the gift to Eren, but doubt still lingered within his heart.

"Cause you can always return it--" Historia wasn't entertaining that, "Please! I said I love it. I mean it."

Levi sat at a nearby table, not too close as to be seen but close enough to hear what was going on as he faced away from them.

"Farm-Boy didn’t even get her something that nice." The blonde birthday girl semi-playfully smacked Mikasa, "I told you not to call him that, his family own the farm, he works in a bank, okay?" Her mouth formed a smile by the time she finished, yet she looked anything but happy. And Ymir's whole face soured when the banker boyfriend was mentioned.

"Please. Open my gift next and tell me how much you hate me then lady." Historia did, opened the small lavish box. It’s a necklace, with an opulent diamond encrusted dolphin. The girls were in absolute awe of the beautiful piece, but Eren's face contorted into a tight smile as he slouched back into his seat, his moment in the sun already eclipsed.

You want so badly to be one of them, don't you?

"A dolphin! It’s my spirit animal for the year. You remembered." Historia seemed genuiely happy now. "Only because you wouldn't shut up about it." Mikasa sat back, she knew the gift was a success.

"It's a shame Sasha couldn't make it tonight." The birthday girl sighed, but her freckled friend was quick to cheer her up again.

"At least now, there's enough food for everyone."

They erupted into laughter but Levi grimaced.

They spend some time talking, drinking and laughing the whole way. Eventually, the group said their goodbyes, though they had begged Eren to go out to another bar with them, he had resisted their pleas.

They’ve got nothing to do after this. So they can just party all night and scrape it together tomorrow. You can’t. You have to work for a living.

Ymir and Historia peeled off in one direction, but Mikasa didn't leave with them, "I’ll catch up with you guys," Mikasa lingered at the table with Eren.

They sat opposite each other now, "A McQueen scarf, Eren? How much was it?"

Maybe not all your friends are dumb.

"...it was on clearance," Eren tried.

"They haven’t put a McQueen scarf on clearance since he hung himself in 2010... It would be too much for you to pay even if she deserved it, which god knows she does not." Mikasa watched as Eren tried to shrug it off, he was clearly were uncomfortable with this conversation.

"You always do this. You make a big gesture that you can't afford because... I'm sorry, you're too nice."

"It's no big deal. I had,a.. umm..a gift card." Eren tried again to play it off, he couldn't just admit he stole the damn thing. 

"How broke are you? Just tell me what's up."

Actually sounds like she cares.

Eren’s taken aback by the direct question, "Look, I appreciate--"

"Eren. Why don’t you just let me loan you some cash? Okay? I keep telling you, it's nothing. I literally have three trust funds, all from relatives I hated, you’d be doing me a favor. How much do you need?"

If only she didn’t sound so condescending.

"Honestly, Mikasa, I don't need any. I'm fine... But if I ever do--" The dark-haired girl leaned closer and didn't let him finish again,"You better ask." She reached out her hand to pet Eren's head like he was her cute, little puppy dog.

Mikasa smoothed Eren’s hair and raked her manicured nails through his dark locks, a more than friendly gesture. "Can’t have you run yourself into the ground, you’re the only friend I actually like. I swear to god, don’t strand me with those dumb bitches."

Eren laughed heartily at that, and Levi wondered exactly how much Eren liked the special attention he got from the Queen-Bee herself. Mikasa had Eren’s hand in her other palm and stroked it a little with her snake like fingers. "You know.. I’d do anything for you. Don’t forget that." Eren looked down at Mikasa's hand on his, and for a split second, it suddenly felt just the tiniest bit...weird. Mikasa casually withdraw her hands after and the moment was over. "Sure you don’t want to come out with us?"

"Sorry. I gotta write."

"Catch you later." With that Mikasa headed off to join their other friends. Eren sat on the table by himself, and finished his drink with a frown.

So is that the best friend you’ve got? If so, Eren, you really are alone.

It was late when Eren managed to get back to his place, his windows illuminated as he entered and took a diet coke from his fridge. He sat on his couch and opened his laptop, he wanted to finally write something. Levi stood beside a tall tree on the opposite side of the street, watching Eren.

Your social media life is a lie. It says you’re a happy-go-lucky Lit student.

Eren sipped the drink and immersed himself in his writing, with a little smile on his face.

But you're not. You're not happy, are you Eren? And yet, you seem like the genuine article. As soon as the door closes, you're back at the keyboard, trying to write. Dedicated and determined, despite your exhausting day.

Eren sat focused on his screen, when his phone buzzed, he checked the alert and hesitated. He stood with a puzzled expression on his tired face, unsure of whether to answer or what to do.

A brawny man in late twenties, hipster type in expensive but unkempt clothes quickly jumped out of a yellow taxi as he yelled, "Thanks. Keep the change man," and ran towards Eren's building. Levi fell back into the shadows, he watched as Eren appeared in the window and looked down at the man. He yelled again, "Hey. Let me up!"

Through the window, Levi could see that Eren was frustrated but walked away to his door to push the buzzer. The guy smiled, sauntered up the stairs and into Eren's place.

Levi felt his chest tighten, almost painfully and his eyes felt like daggers even to himself as they widened in surprise.

Uh, Eren, who the fuck is this?

Chapter Text

Eren was pissed as his fingers tightly clutched an old, folded blanket. He didn't want to listen to their half-hearted apology.

"So that’s it, you’re not even gonna try to hear my side of it?"

"My best friend walked in on you getting your dick sucked by some random woman in a bathroom at a party that I fucking took you to!"

"I was wasted. And I didn’t even finish."

Eren was astounded by Reiner's brazen way of telling him he was sorry, "That’s your apology? You didn't finish?"

"Okay..okay, listen, I obviously shouldn't have gone in the bathroom with anyone that wasn't you. But she said she had good coke, and I'd been seriously stressed."

He took the moment to sigh, as thought the weight of the whole world were on his shoulders, "I thought, when Bertolt and I started our line, it was gonna be like picking out flavors and shit. It turns out it's 16-hour lectures on microbial management. And that's why no one starts their own artisanal soda company, and why America has to keep drinking crap that's giving them cancer."

A beat passed as Eren glared at Reiner with green eyes which stormed with an overflowing intensity of hurt and betrayal.

Across the street, Levi watched everything unfold. It wasn't long before he pulled his phone out, and scrolled through Eren’s Instagram account to quickly find a picture of this guy. He was tagged in one picture, so Levi followed the link to the man's account. Levi searched everything he could about him.

Reiner Braun. His father is CEO of Braun Brokerage.

Lev scrolled through the ridiculous account. He scoffed to himself, the whole thing would be hilarious if that no-talented, trust fund idiot wasn't currently in Eren's apartment.

He found the man had made his own soda company. Current CEO of Home Soda Artisanal Beverages. Fucking idiot.

The entitlement, the privilege...it was all so disgusting.

He looked back at the window. Reiner moved closer, undeterred by how upset Eren was about the situation. "Eren, I--"

"Seriously, Reiner, I’m drowning in work. I don’t have time to keep hooking up or whatever it is you’re even interested in." Eren's tone held a deeper sadness that Reiner was too self-absorbed to understand. He only understood the superficial part of trying to comfort him to get what he wanted, he gently moved forward and reached out for Eren. "I know I’ve done some stupid shit, but I’m really on it now. I don’t want to be just some guy you sleep with, Eren. I want something more for us." He stepped even closer and held Eren in his muscular arms.

Eren was hurt, his eyes were close to brimming with tears but he pushed those feelings away and gave in, like he always did. Reiner came close to Eren's face, kissed his cheek and down his neck before he whispered into his ear, "God... you make me insane." 

The words touched Eren deeply and he finally kissed back. They fell back together on his couch, Reiner's heavy body almost crushing Eren in the process.

Levi’s face is etched in deep disappointment, as his mouth fell into a frustrated frown.

This is why I do my research. You fall for the wrong men. Bad men. You let them in. You let them hurt you. 

On the couch, Reiner's movements were hasty, his breathes heavy, and he sweated more as his motions picked up. Eren craved this type of intimacy but with Reiner it felt...empty. He was rough with his strong hands, pushing and pulling Eren's body to do whatever he wanted. With a final thrust, it finished as quickly as it began.

Too far away to know for sure but if he came anywhere close to making you orgasm, you would have at least had some kind of reaction to it, but you didn’t.

Reiner sighed contentedly, sat up and rolled off. He grabbed for his pants and pulled them back on when he noticed the book sitting there on the nightstand, "Desperate Characters?"

Eren excitedly started, "I picked it up a few days ago. You can borrow it when I’m done, it’s supposed to be--" But he couldn't finish.

"Bertolt’s consultant we brought in, she’s all over me about that kinda thing. She staged the shit out of the office. Anyway, the book title has the word 'desperate' in it. You don’t want to think of yourself as a desperate character, Eren."

He knew not to take Reiner's words too seriously, and yet the advice still made him uneasy. Eren had his own insecurities, and thought it was a little bit of a low blow. But then, Reiner smiled, directed his eyes only on the brunette and simply said, "Because you’re the opposite, babe. You’re the smartest person I know. Honestly, you blow me away." With that, Reiner leaned closer and kissed him.

Eren smiled, it was a nice thing to say, but the moment evaporated the second Reiner checked his phone, "Shit. Gotta roll. Bertolt’s blowing up my phone. Hey, maybe you can come by, test the new flavors. We’re doing cumin cause I know how much you love Indian food."

"Sure. Sounds great." Eren could barely hide his indifference towards Reiner's soda company.

Reiner didn't bother to say goodbye properly, he just walked away on the phone.

Levi gladly watched him disappear down the street. Good riddance he thought as he finally stared back up at Eren, who looked a little exasperated as he surveyed his now empty apartment and flopped back down on the couch.

Levi watched on carefully and a minute later Eren's hand slipped under his shirt and his beautiful eyes slipped shut in concentration. His brows furrowed, there was something undeniably lonely and vulnerable about the gesture. The boy gently picked up a deep forest-green cushion and placed it between his thighs for comfort. Levi hastily took a few steps back on the stairs to the building he stood by, he went as far back as possible to be able to see Eren better.

But a sudden wave of guilt hit him, he knew he shouldn't be watching the younger boy like this. Eren would feel mortified if he knew he was being watched, that thought alone was enough to make Levi turn away, as if to give him some privacy. But then... he couldn’t help it. He had a terrible need to gaze upon the boy, his eyes focused back on him as he looked again.

Levi watched on with a passionate glint in his eyes that held curiosity and tenderness. So, you didn’t finish.

Eren pleased himself, his dainty hand amorously going down to the place between his soft thighs. Levi reached down to adjust what was clearly a hard situation in his pants. He looked around at the empty street and considered something for a second...

Eren was still on the couch, breathing hard and fast as he tried in vain to please himself. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see Levi was standing above him. But he didn’t scream or yell. Instead, Eren smiled and held his hand out invitingly. Levi let Eren's soft hands pull him lovingly against his warm body. Levi took hold of the back of Eren's neck, his fingers intertwined with his hair and kissed him with an intense devotion. Eren weakly pulled at Levi's shirt and Levi helped him remove it only breaking from their kiss for a few seconds before their desperate mouths reunited and they began to make love. Eren arched into Levi, grabbed his beautiful black hair and pulled him down, "Levi," the boy whined his name into his ear and it only propelled Levi into a fiery blaze of insanity, "please...just like that."

The sound of a door opened behind where Levi pleasured himself to his fantasy in the shadows of the building. An oblivious elderly, woman resident left her estaten and had interrupted Levi's heavenly imaginative vision in his head. Levi quickly buttoned up his pants, turned to where the woman struggled to carry her luggage down the stairs. Levi sighed, and moved to help her.

"Thank you. You’re so kind." The woman smiled, grateful for the help.

As Levi placed the luggage down on the sidewalk, he looked back but Eren was done. He walked away from the couch to move over to his bed with his laptop. Levi was struck by a sense of dread filled as he realized he had missed the big moment, and he reprimanded himself for creating obscene fantasies in his head instead of just watching Eren.

"I don’t suppose you can help me hail a cab. Can you?" The woman asked, naive to the fact that Levi was feeling miserable at that moment. Nevertheless, he glumly raised his hand to flag a cab. After the woman was in the taxi and it drove away, Levi took one last look at Eren, who worked on their writing as they sat comfortably on their bed, before he regretfully walked home under the dark sky and in the cold night air.

But little did Levi know he hadn't missed anything, Eren had tirelessly given up in the end. He was too upset, too distracted by his whole day. He got up on his feet, he hadn't wanted to stay on the couch or think about Reiner at all, he just wanted to lie down on his bed. When he reached his bed, he relaxed with his laptop close by. He wanted to write but he seriously wasn't in the mood, he lost the inspiration as soon as Reiner came over.

He sighed, frustrated with everything. He was tired; from waking up extra early for his job, to dealing with his creepy professor, stealing from extravagant shops, pretending he was like his rich friends, all of Reiner's shit...

As he laid down and pulled his duvet to smother his body, his mind wandered back to the nice guy he had met in the bookstore. Levi Ackerman, he thought dreamily. But he felt a little pathetic about it all, the man hadn't even said much to him in the shop, not more than a normal customer and manager conversation anyway but still... he thought they had a special connection.

Or maybe he was just making shit up. Levi was incredibly attractive and intelligent but, well, he couldn't tell if he would be interested in someone like him. He had wanted to ask for his number or give him his own, but the striking fear of rejection had overwhelmed him. The guy didn't really seem open or-- honestly, he just doubted Levi would want someone who was a mess like he was. But the idea of going back to see him, to tell him how great Desperate Characters is, he would have someone to talk to, someone he could be himself around... he wanted a friend like that, although sometimes his mind ran wild with other things he and Levi could do that wasn't so friendly.

He rested his weary head against his pillow, and closed his eyes. Although his mind plagued him with ugly insecure blows of the reality that Levi probably forgot who the hell he was, never mind the book he got and if he were to go back, Levi would look at him with a blank face and feel a sad obligation to engage in conversation with him. Despite all of that, he liked to imagine that Levi thought of him after he left, that he felt a connection with him as well... but he knew the truth would cruelly shatter his little dream.

Levi trudged up the stairs to his apartment building. As he got closer to his apartment, the unmistakable sounds of intense lovemaking emanated louder and louder. Nifa and Darius made up so it seemed, he thought as he reached the final steps. Levi walked up the landing, he found Isabel on the staircase by her door, reading the end of The Three Musketeers. "Look Levi, I've almost finished it now. It's so good. Sometimes the dialogue is weird though. Like when they’re killing each other and still all nice about it." Isabel exclaimed happily as Levi walked past. 

"Well, it was the 19th century, people thought those shitty manners were important." 

"I was hoping we could go get another one?" Her voice was small and uneasy as she asked the question.

"It’s pretty late, Isabel. It's not a good idea." She nodded but her face clearly expressed her sadness. Her eyes drifted towards the door of the apartment, from where the distubing sounds of the his neighbor and Darius could be heard. Levi glanced at the door as well, Isabel didn't need to be hearing that he thought as he pulled his key away from his door and turned to the young girl.

"Okay. Let’s go." Levi's words allowed Isabel to light up excitedly.

===

In the chilly winds of the dark night, a raven-haired man and young girl made their way to a small bookstore. The distance to Kenny's wasn't a long one, so they didn't have to endure the cold for long. 

Once they arrived, excitedly unlocked the door quickly, and held it open for the child to enter first. He flipped on the lights as Isabel weaved through the stacks and spoke in an adolescent torrent.

"Did you know Dumas was a black dude? I googled him. Anyway, Dumas’ grandmother was a slave and his dad was a Brigadier General and killed like half a battalion, you probably knew that since you work in a bookstore. How’d you get to work here anyway?" 

Isabel arrived at the counter where Levi scanned the shelf close by. "Kenny gave me a job when I was just a little older than you. Sort of took me in."

"Mr Kenny sounds nice."

"He was a dick. But he loved books and he taught me to love them too."

"I never see him here. Is he dead?"

"No. He's just old." Levi couldn't find the book, "I had one back here for you, but Erwin must've sold it."

"Sold what?"

"Your next book. Come on, I’ll show you where we keep the valuable items."

Lights flickered on, a dimly lit basement stacked with shipping boxes, cleaning supplies and in the middle of it all a massive cage really, a state of the art safe... a room within the room made of steel and plexiglas carefully constructed to house rare books. Isabel looked at the structure with more awe than fear.

"It's the cage. It’s where we keep the early editions and collectibles."

"It’s cold."

"Sixty-five degrees, for the book. Sound proof so that nothing would disturb Kenny’s reading. The old man even put a toilet down here, so he didn’t have to come upstairs to use the bathroom while he was reading."

Isabel enthusiastically declared, "If the zombies come, this is where I’m hiding."

Levi unlocked the cage. Isabel curiously walked towards the collectibles, while he lovingly ran a finger over the Lucite encased spine of an old edition.

Levi remembered his first time being inside the cage with Kenny.

...

"Careful, Levi," Kenny had said with a warning tone as he stood over a teenaged Levi with overgrown black hair and deep sunken eyes. Little did he know at the time, he was standing among the books and space that would in the future become a safe haven for him.

"When it comes to a book’s value, it’s all about condition. I’ll show you." 

...

Levi picked up an old book and began to instruct Isabel as he was once told before, "Always sixty-five degrees at all times. Humidity at forty percent, if it’s too moist the pages can mildew. Too dry, they get brittle. Keep books upright so the spines don’t become rolled or warped." He opened the book, to show the well-kept pages despite it's age, "You don’t want the flaps tucked or creased in any way. And we never want to fold or crease the pages. We dust the covers with a chemical-free duster and always dust toward the spines, so you don’t tear or rip the corners. And under no circumstances is there any sunlight in this room. Sunlight can ruin a book as fast as fire. Faster even." Levi snapped the book closed as he finished.

"Wow. That’s a lot of stuff to remember... just to take care of some old books."

Levi walked over and leaned down to Isabel.

"The most valuable things in life... are usually the most helpless. So, they need people like me to watch over them. Protect them. You know?" Levi's mind wasn't focused on books while he said the words, he was thinking of a precious boy with the finest pair of green eyes.

Isabel nodded along, to say she understood and Levi reached his hand out to a grab the book he was looking for, "Here you go."

She reached out to take it, looked at the title and tried to read it aloud, "Don Quicks-oat?"

"Quixote." Levi pronounced it correctly, "It's about a guy who believes in chivalry, so he decides to be an old-school knight."

"What's chivalry?"

"It's treating people with respect. Especially vulnerable people, like everyone should."

"I probably shouldn't take this home." Isabel held it respectfully with her small hands, a little worried because she didn't want it to get damaged.

"It's not a first edition, it's just an old one. Besides, I trust you." Levi reassured with an honest face which made Isabel smile, after all it's nice to be trusted.

Levi and Isabel, book hidden within her jacket, headed up the stairs of their apartment building. "Where you been, Isabel? You just walk off with strangers?" Darius stood there, waiting and he was pissed.

"Levi's not a stranger." The young girl tried but was instantly shot down by Darius.

"Yes, he is. Inside. Now!" His voice was stern but strangely, there was a shift as a poorly disguised phony smile appeared on his face, as he reached out for Isabel, "Okay?" He asked in a more friendly tone and Isabel threw an apologetic look to Levi before she headed in. Darius barely waited a second before the girl had got in before he slammed the door shut, and his fraudulent smile disappeared. He stomped aggressively towards Levi, and took a drag of his smoke. 

"Keep away from my girlfriend's kid."

Levi managed to answer calmly, "I'm sorry, but she was out here, and she could hear everything in there."

"Don't you tell me how to parent. This whole nice guy act might work on other people. But, I'm a parole officer, 15 years, and I can see what you are."

Well, you're an alcoholic shitbag who beats your girlfriend. So, please, enlighten me. What am I?

"You're a freak. So, stay away from Isabel, because if you don't, I'll grab a steak knife and I'll cut those freak eyes out." He may have had others intimidated with his little threat but Levi just stared back at him. His silver eyes pierced directly into Darius', the older man stood back a little and scoffed. His tough guy act was tedious and unconvincing for Levi but it did remind him that there were bad men out there.

There are scary people in the world, Eren. That's why it's important to always be safe.

And why I have to do what I'm about to do...

Chapter Text

The super greeted the gas company worker in his office, he was not aware of any gas issues in the building but routine inspections were always necessary for health and safety reasons.

They entered the building hallway together, the super's key jangled as he tried to find the right one. It wasn't long before the door was unlocked and the gas man walked into Eren’s apartment. 

The worker was left alone to complete the standard check of a leak but found nothing. When he was certain the results were completely negative, he started to pack his equipment, at that moment the front door of the apartment was pushed opened even more so than it already was.

Levi slowly stepped inside.

Eren, did you know the law requires all gas leaks to be investigated?

I've been learning a lot since I met you.

"Hey, Eren? You left the door open again. I thought we said we weren't going do that anymore."

I was careful to call the gas company on a day when you had a full schedule. I wouldn't want to scare you.

He walked across the hall and saw the gas man, "Hey. Is Eren here?"

"Nope. Super let me in. Someone reported a leak." Everything was packed now.

"Right. Yeah. He mentioned that. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, all clear. Tell your friend there's no leak." The worker remarked as he lifted his heavy equipment.

"Great. I can lock up."

The man nodded, picked up his other bags and headed out, which left Levi completely alone among Eren’s every worldly possession.

I just need to know who you really are. Besides a broke poetry student in a subsidized apartment, you could never afford.

Where is it, Eren? 

Levi delicately rummaged through Eren's place, touching but not disrupting anything in ways that would lend hints to Eren that someone was here.

He started at the couch, searched in and under it. His hand had hovered over the special dark forest-green cushion that had been comfortably positioned between Eren's thighs nights ago.

Every fiber in Levi's body screamed at him to take the precious thing. Steal it and take it back home where he could truly treasure the item like it deserved and ought to be. Except... 

He bitterly took back his lingering hand and placed it by his side. Except Eren would obviously notice its absence.

He turned to look elsewhere, his eyes were quick to land on a disgustingly dirty dining table. Levi stepped closer to the little table in which its surface was engulfed in mess, his sharp eyes scanned over it all; filthy Tupperware, old ready meal wrappers, left over takeaway food, half-filled cups and empty soda cans. 

But at least, they weren't Reiner's Home Soda cans. It wasn't so bad, nothing Levi couldn't fix, after all it was going to be his job to take care of Eren.

When we live together, your place won’t be a pigsty. I’ll clean for us.

And you won’t eat all this frozen shit. I’ll cook for you every day. I promise.

As he moved away from the dining area, Levi found himself enticed by what was on Eren's counter close by the window. He lifted a pair of dark lace underwear off the dresser. He held them tenderly in his hand, and thought about it a second before he pocketed them. 

I’ll even do your laundry.

He discovered a small shelf stacked with books, he examined the authors, opened one and flipped through it. It was heavily annotated, highlighted but a bit tattered. 

And take care of your favorite books.

Levi made his way over to Eren's unmade bed. He placed his hands on the cotton sheets and spread them out to feel everything, he imagined all the possibilities in the future.

 I’ll make our bed every morning.

He reached deeper within the duvet and blankets and --

And there it is.

He found Eren's laptop.

And no matter how hard you fight me...

Levi grabbed the computer and sat on the bed. Opened it up, and sure enough, it blinked right on.

And I will always make sure you password protect your devices.

Levi freely searched across all of Eren’s files. Photobooth was open and Levi inspected a stream of private selfies. In some of them, Eren's topless and his faded scars on his chest were revealed to Levi. He knew Eren had top surgery a few years ago, just before he started at Brown. He was glad that they had healed so well, but wondered whether Eren was insecure about it. 

If Eren was ever self-conscious around him, Levi would work endlessly to show him how beautiful he was, how incredibly brave he was and how proud he is of him. He wanted to praise Eren until it irritated the hell out of him. He looked at more of the pictures, he didn't ever want to stop looking.

"One day you won't need love anymore, you won't walk through the world as though it was your job to hold everything up, the sun, the sky, the hard part of night..." Professor Shadis read his work while Eren anxiously sat opposite him. 

"...You loved him the way fragile kids love gorgeous bullies. You wrote poems about him. You still write poems about him. You're writing one right now." Shadis finally took his eyes off the papers in front of him and looked up at Eren, "It’s good. It's quite good."

The boy let out a sigh of relief, "I struggled with the form more than I thought I would."

"But Eren, where's the rest and where are we on your thesis? You owe me twenty more pages."

"I’ve been-- honestly, working every day and grading papers--"

"If the schedule is too rigorous, drop back to part time." It wasn't an option for Eren, "But then I won’t qualify to TA. I..I need the cash, the housing. I’d lose my place." An edge creeped into his voice. It was desperation and the professor heard it. 

He spoke calmly, like Eren wasn't in any sort of crisis, "I’m sure you’ll figure that out. You’re smart or you wouldn’t be here."

"Please, Professor Shadis--" 

"Keith." He interrupted once again.

"Keith. I’ll get you pages by the end of the week. I can’t go to part time, okay?" Eren voiced his troubles in a despairing tone, and yet his professor only sighed. The older man took in the sight of his young student, as he leaned back in his chair a perilous glint appeared in his eyes. The predatory man was smiling on the inside, he had been itching for a vulnerable moment with Eren like this for a long time.

"I’m rooting for you, Eren. The poems are good. They’re just not going to earn you a degree. But I also happen to think with work your poetry could be something. I’m happy to discuss those further as well. After class some evening." His words were so casual, Eren could almost believe he wasn't hitting on him. 

"If we’re going to seriously discuss poetry, it should be over a drink. Thursday? There’s a small gastropub in the Bowery I love. Hidden away from all this madness." An uncomfortable knot punched Eren in his gut, his heart pounded against his chest as he tried to comprehend what his professor was asking of him. There was no doubt in his mind that Shadis was definitely trying something with him.

"I would love that, Keith. It’s just... how would your wife feel about--"

Shadis doesn’t need time to respond, he's too quick to answer, "About me helping out an aspiring writer? She’s used to my generosity." 

Had he had conversations like this with his other students? Eren swallowed his dignity and produced an awkward smile on his face. "So. Thursday night then?" His professor pressed him for his response.

"Thursday night it is." The boy smiled tightly.

"Excellent. Don’t worry about class the next few days, go home and get caught up." Eren tried to retain his composure, gathered his bag and left the office. He hesitated at the door but ultimately just gave in and headed down the stairs and towards the building's exit.

So, I learned a few definitive things by scouring your computer Eren...

As Eren walked from Shadis' office amongst the sea of students, he tries to calm himself to avoid getting too upset by what had just happened. He started to text someone...

           To: Reiner

I need to see you tonight.

                                           ( 7:15 pm)

Eren anxiously awaited his text back. But it didn't come immediately.

You’re really swept up in this Reiner insanity. You text him incessantly.  

                  To: Eren

Will if I can babe. Working late.  

                                                      (7:58 pm)

Levi was able to view all of the texts between the two as they came up real time in the messenger app on Eren's computer because he had connected it his phone.

                        To: Eren

P.S. I can still smell you on my fingers ;) 

                                                              (8:01 pm)

Levi was so utterly revolted by Reiner's careless response.

But Reiner's not important. Unlike your parents, and the trauma you still struggle with about your mother's untimely death and your neglectful father. 

You've written a lot of poems about your mother. They're depressing. But you never finish the ones about your father, on how he abandoned you, and how you didn't know where he was for years. I know how badly that hurt you.

You're deeply wounded, I'm sorry, Eren. I've been hurt too, we can understand each other.

But suddenly there was a sound of the door unlocking. 

Shit.

Levi very quickly closed the computer and buried it back in the sheets. He stepped away from Eren's bed and swiftly moved to hide in the bathroom.

"You know what it's like, I’m working constantly..." Eren walked into the bedroom, kicked off his shoes, on his phone, "No, I’ve looked, there’s no place cheaper to live."

Levi quietly stepped into the shower and painstakingly pulled the curtain shut. Eren walked into the bathroom, "I did and he basically offered to sleep with me... No, I can’t report him, that’s not how it works... That’s not how the world works." The last part was spoken so quietly.

I'm not worried. I’ve seen enough romantic comedies to know guys like me are always getting in jams like this.

Eren reached through the closed curtain, and turned on the water. Levi’s hit by the icy spray but didn't make a sound. "I know this was all my choice. I know how much you’ve helped me, it’s just-- just hard here. Harder than I thought."

Eren stood by the sink, "No. No. Don't-- don't worry. I've got some money saved up. Really, please don't tell her. I don't want it to be a big thing, okay? I can figure it out. I gotta go. Bye, Hannes."

Eren hung up and stood at the mirror as he took in his whole day, week... life. And he began to cry. 

His watery eyes flowed with sorrowful tears that fell down his soft pink cheeks, Eren met his own woeful eyes in the mirror, his strained fingers gripped the sink and he really began to weep. 

His lips trembled as little cries and whimpers escaped, he could feel his warm salty tears fall down his face and into the sink shamefully.

The shower pelted on him as Levi listened carefully.

It’s okay, Eren.

He wished he could comfort him with sweet whispers and gentle kisses.

Suddenly, they were both caught off guard by Eren's buzzing phone, the brunette quickly wiped his tears away and answered. Mikasa and Sasha were on the other end, oblivious to any trouble Eren was currently having.

"Hi, Erens." Mikasa greeted whimsically.

"Hey, where you at? Come play!"

"I can't. I just had the worst day." The brunette kept his eyes shut as he bewailed his grievances.

"Aww, Erealicious, whatever it is, there's nothing that we can't fix, okay?" Mikasa assured.

"What happened?" Sasha's concerned voice questioned the brunette, but he didn't want to speak about it. He had other plans instead.

"You guys love me?" Eren asked. An idea occurred...he was determined.

"Of course." Sasha was quick to answer, so genuine but Mikasa was almost offended,  "Why would you even say that?" 

"Okay, then. Meet me in Greenpoint." The request made both girls on the other end pause, and question Eren. 

"Look, why don't you come here, okay?" Mikasa tried.

"It's actually really fun where we are, I promise." Sasha chimed in.

"There's something I need to do for myself. I'll text you on my way."

"See you soon." 

"Bye..." Both girls said in unison

The words barely left their mouths before he had hung up the phone, his eyes no longer filled with tears but fueled powerfully with determination.

He reached into the shower and turned it off before he briskly rushed out of his bathroom. As the door shut, Levi, soaked in water, finally exhaled.

I never go to Greenpoint. But the things you do for love, right?

The bar is packed, with a neo-folk singer at the mic on the stage. Levi entered the glaringly lit bar and immediately saw Eren at the bar ordering drinks, he swiftly turned away to avoid being seen. 

His steel eyes found Mikasa and the rest of Eren's friends sitting a few tables away looking miserable. Luckily, he's able to secure a dark blue armchair behind the group, where he could discreetly listen to everything being said.

"What is he thinking? He’s just going to embarrass himself. These people don’t want to listen to a wannabe writer read a poem about the bleakness of life or whatever." Mikasa sat gloomily drinking her cocktail with a straw as she spoke.

"And all these chips I keep eating, they are making me feel so fat right now." Sasha snacked on a bowl of potato chips as the others nursed their own drinks.

"Hello, earth to Sasha. Our friend is about to go on stage and humiliate himself with his bad poetry and all you care about are some dumb chips?"

"I'm starving. You guys never eat, I haven't eaten all day alright? Besides, who cares what these idiots think. He can go on the stage if he wants, and I don't think his poetry is bad."

"His poetry is not bad, it's abysmal. I have to zone out after the first couple of lines when he forces me to listen to him read. Of course, I can't just tell him that, what kind of friend would that make me? I love Eren, but we all know he can be... simple-minded. He never thinks before, he just drives right off the edge. And I'm the one who always has to catch him. It's so tiring."

The other snobby girls laughed as Mikasa spoke, it was clear she was the leader of this little group of over-privileged bitches. What she says goes, the others base their opinion after she is done speaking. The freckled girl spoke harshly but quietly, "You're tired of his nonsense? I've been done with him since Brown. And simple-minded is a fucking understatement, he doesn't even know the difference between a boy and a girl."

Ymir lowered her voice even more as she slyly whispered, "Like how is wrong to say girls don't have fucking dicks under their skirts. He isn't even a proper boy, he hasn't had any surgery at all down there, you know. It's just a mindfuck, I think he just likes the attention he gets from guys for not having a dick. You know how many creepy weirdos are into that shit?"

"Eren clearly does. He needs to stop with all this begging for attention from guys shit. I keeping telling him and he keeps ignoring me, one day he could get seriously hurt." Mikasa spoke as if her words were law.

Levi listened to every word that came out of their traitorous mouths.

Your friends are disloyal. And that Mikasa, she's the worst. The way she talks about them to you, as soon as you turn your back, she talks about you the same way.

Levi looked towards the bar where the boy he admired was getting drinks for the very friends that were making fun of him behind his back. As a person who was rarely sentimental and quite stoical, Levi felt strange as his heart seized up in sorrow for Eren, he couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Why was he so blind to the low opinions his so-called friends really had of him? He was just too trustworthy and kind-hearted to see the truth.

Levi's heart felt horribly tight in his chest, he felt terrible for the boy he liked so much. Don't worry Eren, when we're together, I'll never let people talk about you like that.

Mikasa wasn't done with her rant, she was relentless, "This is about Reiner. He’s so desperate for his attention he will willingly go up in front of the most pretentious crowd in the city. It's just sad."

"Reiner is so full of himself. Why can't Eren get it through his thick-skull that Reiner just isn't into him. Wasn't it only a few weeks ago when he tried to hit on you at that party?" The taller freckled girl poked her blonde friend playfully, "Oh yeah. That was so weird, right?" 

The two girls crackled spitefully with laughter. "I'm pretty sure Reiner is in love with me. Poor Eren, I feel bad for him." But Historia's voice obviously betrayed her true feelings, she couldn't care less about Eren.

Levi could barely stand to listen to those bitches talk about Eren, they didn't have a clue about how special he was. They should be grateful that he wanted to be their friends, but they've been spoiled their whole lives. Their rich parents giving in to their every demand, they were told they were more important and superior to others. They're completely absorbed in themselves.

It disgusted Levi. It was the same for that piece of shit Reiner, just stringing Eren along, only using him for one thing when it was convenient. Levi silently seethed in his seat as they continued to chat among themselves.

"Don't feel bad, it's Eren fault for being too stupid to see what Reiner really wants from him. He makes it easy for Reiner. No offence, he's kind of a slut." They giggled together as she finished, but there was geniune spite in her words.

"Hey. That's not funny guys. Reiner's the stupid one, Eren's too good for him." Sasha crunched on the chips as she attempted to defend her friend.

"Obviously, Eren is too good for him. I have to find a way to get Eren to dump that loser, Reiner."

Eren arrived back at the table with more drinks. He’s for sure a little drunk already, "Another round of shots. I got extra limes for you guys."

"You’re a mite tipsy." Historia pointed out. "That’s the idea." Eren took one of the shots, it burnt his throat and he crunched his face as the sensation overtook him. His hand reached for a wedge of the sour lime that would soothe his scorching pain.

"Erenish, we sure now is the night?" Mikasa's puppy nicknames were apparently endlessy as she questioned him.

"Positive. I need to do this. All of my life lately has been about surviving. I need to remind myself why I came here in the first place." He looked down on his phone. Mikasa eyed the brunette suspiciously, "Why do you keep doing that?" Eren smiled like a child who’s gotten busted, "I invited Reiner... What? He likes poetry." He paused once he saw the blank, yet judgmental facial expression Mikasa gave him as soon as he mentioned Braun.

"Eren." He could hear the condemnation in just the way she said his name.

"He’s coming."

Mikasa's eyes slanted in dissapproval, "He texted he was coming?" Her question was laced in the unconvinced resonance in her voice. She knew he wasn't going to show up.

"He texted a row of smile emojis like... 45 minutes ago." His words trailed off at the end.

"Some guys are assholes and you just have to accept that. You can buy him all the books in the world, and he’s still gonna be Reiner."

"I get it, Mikasa."

"Do you? Because you’re the one who told me to keep reminding you he’s a bastard."

Up on the stage, the host read from the list of performers, "Up next, we have... Eren Yeager?" Eren turned his head, he was a little unsteady and clutched his phone in a tight grip.

He lifted another shot, and as if he were making toast, "To vulnerability and shit." Then he downed the drink, definitely drunk now, and headed to the stage.  

The brunette stepped onto the old wooden stage with his shaky feet that were desperately tired from running around all day. His dainty hands held his phone for his dear life as he stared at the crowd. 

The lights were heavily focused on him, and Levi knew he was nervous as he spoke, "Hey, everyone. I’m Eren, and I’m-- not to sound like, you know, whatever, but just... I’m a poet."

Levi's chair faced away from the stage, but he turned his neck to be able to stare at the boy on the stage. He felt for Eren as nerves overtook him but the brunette didn't let that stop him. He cleared his throat and read from his phone directly into the mic:

"One day you won't need love anymore. One day you won't walk through the world as though it was your job to hold everything up, the sun, the... t-the hard part of night, the too much, the secret time when you wake to the sound of beating. Rise to answer the door for him but he is not there because that sound is coming from inside you and you cannot answer it no matter how far in you go."

Eren looked up, checked the crowd and no one’s listening. This deflated him. His eyes eerily similar to the state they were in earlier as he cried inside his bathroom, instead of leaking tears, his eyes flickered around the room. He thinks not one person is interested, but Levi is transfixed. And frustrated with the audience that’s not paying attention, it's eating Eren’s confidence. One of Eren's friends, Sasha cheer tipsily.

Eren really struggled through it as he continued, "...You loved him the way fragile kids love gorgeous bullies." A musician carried a set of drums as he walked before the stage, stealing the spotlight from the boy for a moment.

The large metal drum banged as the man held them, the sound was shrill but loud. It distracted Eren who paused a second to glance at the bothersome musician but continued to recite the passage, "You wrote songs about him. You-- Uh, I mean... You wrote poems about him. You still write poems about him. You're writing--"

A loud voice from the audience interrupted him, "Why're you so sad? You're just so sad." 

The blaring voice belonged to an obnoxious tall man in the crowd, his friends around him snickered as he hassled Eren on stage, "Maybe read something happier for a change."

"Get the singer back." Another yelled from a different place in the crowd.

Eren looked distraught on stage, his trembling fingers still gripped his phone tightly but he nervously looked down, "Sorry. I just... I lost my place. It'll just take a second to find where I was." His voice sounded so defeated and quiet as he hurriedly scrolled on his phone.

The audience got louder in their rejection. One drunk man shouts for the next act. Others agree. It's a disaster.

I can’t stand seeing this. I’m sorry I just can’t. It’s obvious what you are...

Levi watched painfully before he finally left, walked away from the bar. He pulled his coat tight against him, keeping out the biting night air as he walked towards the station, he wondered how Eren would have reacted he if bloodily beat the bastard that had interrupted him. Would he be scared, horrified, repulsed...  

Or would his heart race in excitement. Despite how desperately his mind ached to know, Levi knew it wasn't a good idea , regardless of how badly he wanted to defend Eren. 

You’re blind with love. And what you love... writing, this city, your friends, and most of all men like Reiner, what all those things have in common is they will never love you back. While you give them everything. Crazy the lengths we go for love. We’re a lot alike, Eren.

When he stepped down into the station, he found it was completely empty. Levi stood at the platform as he waited for the train that would take him away, dejected and indignant.

I was considering how exactly I could help you, when the second luckiest thing this week happened...

A drunk, flustered boy descended down the stairs with uneven shaky footsteps.

Could it really be?

Levi's silver widened in astonishment, he looked a little closer, not quite believing it.

It feels like I’m dreaming.

The young brunette was in his own world, completely absorbed in staring at his phone screen.

I’m not. It's really you, Eren.

Levi moved behind a red, metal pillar to hide his presence, as his precious boy walked close to the platform edge. Eren, you’re too drunk to be alone. What if some sicko had followed you down here?

He watched Eren, who was drunk texting as he stumbled a little too close to the rails. And you’re too wasted to be standing so close to the tracks.

Eren moved again, closer to the tracks while his hands still tightly gripped onto his phone. He texted again...

                                     To: Reiner

Hey! Why didn't you show up to my poetry reading?

                                                                                         (10:34 pm)

Eren. Stop texting that arrogant, club soda, no show dickhead.

Levi watched on from behind the pillar, he couldn't have Eren seeing him down here. It would be too suspicious, but... Levi let his thought run wild with all the possibilities that the current situation presented him with.

Maybe it wouldn't be bad if he let Eren see him after all, the young boy certainly needed some help getting home. Levi wanted to help, but--

Eren's phone pinged and the screen lit up. But you don't want me. No, you want Reiner. You need Reiner. You hold that phone like it is Reiner cause it’s your only means to stay connected.

He began to text back, and he walked a little. Just a bit closer.

                 To: Reiner

I really wanted you to be there.

                                                     (10:35 pm)

Why couldn't Eren see that Reiner wasn't good for him, that he deserved so much fucking more.

Forget Reiner and to hell with that phone!

Eren pocketed his phone almost as if he heard Levi, but it buzzed and vibrated, he tried to get it back to look at the response and his hands accidentally tumbled with it. 

He stumbled to catch the damn phone, his shaky feet lost balance on the old platform and he fell harshly on the tracks with a startled cry. His whole body ached, he couldn't feel his lower half, but his hands and chest hurt like hell. 

He let out breathy whines when he tried to move to get up but found the motions too painful. His heart beat excruciatingly quick in his tight chest, Eren's panicked thoughts flooded his mind. He was here all alone, and he couldn't get the fuck up. His vision was blurry and his ears were ringing. He was going to die. Alone on the tracks.

Levi raced to the edge, looked down and Eren was in a complete shock, struggling to lift himself up.

"Hey. You okay? Are you alright? Can you stand up?" The fallen boy couldn't answer, he was disorientated. He tried to move to get up but his limbs weren't working.

"Just stay still. Half that shit down there can electrocute you, all right? So, just give me your hand."

He looked down the darkness of the tunnel, "A train’s coming--"

Levi reached out a hand. "You’ll be okay. Just take my hand!"

The alarming clinking sounds of a train speeding towards them worried Levi... Eren was right.

"Your hand. Now!" 

Something in Eren snapped lucid, he tried to reach up but he couldn't push his limbs far enough. Blaring lights and harsh reverberating metal warned Levi that he was out of time. The train was here, and it wasn't stopping.

He didn't think twice before he jumped off the platform, his strong hands gripped so tightly onto Eren before he picked the injured boy up from the menacing rails and lifted them back to the safety of the station ground.

They laid fallen on the platform, Eren on top of Levi as the train whooshed passed by them. Silver and emerald eyes met. Once the train was no longer in their radius, the station went deadly silent. There was only the sound of the brunette's labored breathing.

Levi pushed himself up with his elbows, his hands that he had clutched on Eren's top moved to steady his hips instead. The boy looked precariously unwell and and held on weakly to Levi's shoulders. One of the Levi's pale hands shifted from Eren's hip to his warm cheek, "Are you okay?" He whispered as his fingers unconsciously caressed the boy's tender golden skin. 

Eren tightly shut his eyes as his shook his head a little, his limbs struggled feebly against Levi's grip on him. This made the older man instantly release him, as he did the boy scrambled back to the edge of the platform and threw up. It suprised Levi... how unbothered he was by the vomiting, an action that always disgusted him to his core. But as he found himself kneeling besides the heaving boy, he knew his precious gem was an exception. The boy was incapable of repulsing him, he thought as his hands settled on Eren's head to gather his dark locks in his grip and out of his face while he continued to be sick. 

His other hand fixed upon the brunette's back, he gently patted the boy then just rubbed up and down, "That's alright. You're fine now." 

When the brunette finally stopped being sick, he barely had the strength to hold himself up. He stayed on his hands and knees as he quietly stammered apologies to Levi, "I... I'm really-- really sorry..."

Levi only shushed his attempt, he could feel how weak the boy currently was in his nauseated state. He would definitely need the Levi's help, the twisted thought caused a small smile to form on his lips. "Don't fret. Everything will be okay now."

Outside a small convenience store on the dark street, Levi poured a bottle of water over his spare napkin to clean Eren up with limited resources. Eren watched on as he sat on the bench Levi had placed him on, a lot more sober which only added to how mortified he felt, "Oh my god, I’m so sorry--"

"I told you, it’s fine."

Eren wasn't close to being convinced, "I really am sorry. I--" He stopped speaking as Levi dabbed his face with the damp napkin, it cold but oddly refreshing. He wiped across the boy's mouth which appeared cleaned now before he chucked the tissue paper in a nearby waste bin. He dripped a bit more water on his personal handkerchief, this time he very gently pressed them against Eren's slight wounds on his hands and wrists. The boy bit his bottom lip to avoid whining from the pain, it wasn't badly bleeding but it still hurt. "Are you feeling better?" 

Eren only nodded shamefully as his cast his eyes down, far too embarrassed to make eye contact with his savior. "Here," Levi handed the water to him, "You should drink some."

Eren thanked him before he took the bottle and drank the water slowly. Once Levi had cleaned away most of the blood, he let go of Eren's injuried hand, "Let's get you in a cab. All right?" He took a few steps away from the bench, and held his hand out for a taxi to take notice.

The seated boy felt sick with the need to negate whatever bad impression Levi just made of him, "I'm not always like this."

"I figured you had some kind of night."

"Yeah..." Only a few seconds passed by but Eren couldn't help but wonder why the man hadn't remarked on this being their second meeting. It pained him to think he had been forgotton so easily, did Levi really not remember him? It's possible the man didn't want to acknowledge their previous encounter for some reason or perhaps felt awkward bringing the subject up... Eren wasn't sure but he was never one to remain quiet, "Hey, I don't want to sound like a stalker, but... I think we know each other... from the, um-- the bookstore." It was easier to say as Levi had his back turned to him, while he looked out in the road. But as soon as the words were out, the man faced him, though he said nothing. His face was blank and unreadable to Eren, until his silver eyes shined with recognition.

"Oh... Right. Of course. I remember. I'm sorry."

Eren pulled his hair out of his face and held it above his head, "This is what I look like when I'm sober and have my hair up."

"Yeah. I remember."

"It's okay if you forgot me... I have a pretty bland face." Eren spoke as his hair fell back down, a tired expression on his face. When he looked up at the man, his verdant eyes made contact with the intensely steel slate irises.

"No. You don't."

Levi felt his heart flutter a little when the words left his mouth, it was just an indirect compliment but he wanted to say a lot more about Eren's face. But he couldn't, not now at least. He knew what a desperate, dirty creep he would sound like if he confessed to the boy how fucking beautiful his face really was. He had to be patient, a virtue that he previously thought he had mastered but Eren so effortlessly pushed him to his damn limits. "Yeah. Paula Fox. Desperate Characters... I remember."

"Yeah." Eren smiled, he secretly preened at the fact that Levi hadn't forgotten about him. Not only that, but he remembered the book and what had he meant by him not having a bland face? From what he knew, Levi was honest and didn't appear to lie to others just to spare their feelings, or perhaps he just wanted to believe Levi thought he had a nice face.  But he had just embarrassingly fallen and almost got crushed to death, Levi must have thought he was a pathetic mess. Eren didn't want his pity and false compliments, he wanted --

"Where are you headed?" Eren looked over, Levi had managed to get a cab, he had been so in his head he didn't even realize. "Village. You anywhere close? Please, ride with me. It's the least I can do." He fervidly asked his raven-haired savior.

"Okay." Levi let the single word out so casually, though inside his chest felt as though his passion for Eren had suddenly sparked the flames to the fireworks that wildly burned and exploded as his heart beat so fiercely, he was sure Eren would be able to hear it if he didn't calm down. He pulled the door open for the brunette to enter first.

...

In the cab, Eren and Levi were sat with a bit of distance between them in the backseat. Weary green eyes watched the city through the window, fading from the long night. He turned to look at the other passenger and smiled, as Levi was already staring at him.

"Did you move here to be something? I did. But it's not working out. And I'm just running around eighteen hours a day. Why?" 

He sighed dolefully, "I think it's in service of a dream that gets more and more... like when you want to look at the blue sky but as you stare, it suddenly gets cloudier and cloudier until you can't even see any blue. It's stormy clouds as well and it rains and suddenly you don't want to look anymore...

...actually you forgot why you even wanted to look in the first place and then... you're just there, stuck in a thunderstorm, wondering what the hell you're doing out in the rain..." 

His words picked up in speed the more he went on. He let   out a frustrated laugh, "I don't even know what I'm rambling on about, I’m sure those words made no sense, and that's coming from the alleged 'writer'."

"No. They made perfect sense." Eren stared back at Levi, astonished at the response he got from his outburst. Levi seemed genuine and caring, like he wanted to listen to him. 

That was a very unfamiliar feeling for the boy, if he had been more sober, he would have felt more embarrassed by how much he was sharing with Levi, who was essentially a stranger to him. But he had a spark with Levi from the moment they met and tonight he was his knight in shining amour. Their bond felt dazzling, radiant and special, it felt like in that moment, he could share anything with Levi.

"I’m like...doing the best I can. And why? My dad doesn't-- he couldn't care less about me. My mom won't ever see anything I ever do, even if by some miracle I end up doing anything remotely great. I can't even remember why I wanted this, what’s it all built on? A foundation of hope and adolescent dreams and-- never mind." Eren broke off what he was saying and looked at Levi. Then away, a little embarrassed, "Sorry." He closed his eyes.

"No, please. I feel the same way sometimes." Levi moved closer, "My uncle, he owns the bookstore. He once told me that all books add up to one essential truth. Which is, if your IQ is above a certain number... life is pretty much unbearable. And the number is not even that high."

Eren let out a little surprised laugh as he looked back at Levi, "I do think I'd be happier if I was stupider."

"But then the world wouldn't know your poetry." Levi had wanted to praise Eren's poetry just as much as he wanted to endlessly compliment his pretty face, although he let the thought out before he could stop himself because he forgot that he should have no fucking idea that Eren writes poetry.

"How'd you know I write poetry?" the young boy asked, but luckily for Levi his voice wasn't suspicious, just curious. "Doesn't every young writer in New York? I mean, I read a lot of poetry." He tried to go along with it.

"Who do you like?"

"Strand, Sexton, Merrill..."

"You're describing my nightstand."

"Well, if you read them to get to sleep every night, then you definitely belong here." Eren felt like that was just what he needed to hear, it made him feel so warm inside. He wondered whether Levi knew how he was making him feel. 

He craved to know if Levi felt anything for him at all, but he sensed this little flirtation was dangerous. He knew he sometimes lacked adequate judgement. With men, most of the time. It was always one-sided with him ending up on the wrong side, with his heart shattered and only himself to blame. But something felt different in that moment.

"What was your last name again?" Eren knew when you ask questions you already know the answer to, there was a devious game being played. Ackerman, he remembered. He just wanted a way to ask a question that would let him know where he stood here.

"Ackerman."

"Right, I remember now," he giggled a little to hide his nerves before he asked, "Do you... do you remember my name?" Eren stared right into Levi's intense silver eyes, they were sharp and commanding yet the words he spoke were so kind. He had never met a person like him before, though they had only met a few days ago he doubted Levi would be able to remember his full name. He knew it was unfair to judge him on it, but he needed to know.

While Eren struggled with his thoughts on the matter, Levi was having the same troubles of his own. In his mind, he knew he could come across as creepy if he was doing too much things in one night, 'accidently' meeting Eren in a place he never visited, remembering their encounter from days ago, knowing he wrote poetry and now declaring he actually knew his full name? 

He really didn't want Eren to think of him of him as the sad, lonely bookstore guy who showed up out of nowhere and creeped on him when he was vulnerable. Not to mention the fact that Eren couldn't even remember his own damn name which silently hurt him a little.

But still, there was a burning urge to tell him the truth. Levi desired to show the boy that they had a tender moment together in the store, one he didn't forget. As he looked into those defenseless forest-green eyes, he forced himself to see something other than beauty in the soulful orbs. He saw sadness and desperation, and that was all he needed to see to be able to answer his question.

"Eren Yeager. And your German father, right?" He was worried he had said too much for a second but as he saw how those eyes brightened, he knew it was the right thing to say.

"You remembered," the young boy whispered more so to himself, "And where did you come from, Levi Ackerman?"

"I grew up here. I left for a little while... chasing a boy."

His big, bright green eyes grew wide and he scooted a little closer, "But you came back?"

"Yeah, I missed it.. And I had to... let him go. We weren't meant to be, you know?"

"Mhhm..." He hummed as he tilted his head to rest on the seat and closed his eyes with a sleepy smile. Levi watched him. After a moment, Levi shifted towards him and Eren's head rested on his warm shoulder.

They drove on like that, he smiled as he looked down at the angelic boy sleeping on him, the moment felt so perfect, it was different and indescribable for Levi.

As the cab stopped, Eren woke up and Levi moved away a bit.

He looked out of his window at his building, "Oh, this is, uh... This is me."

Levi peered out of the window at the building he knew all too well.

"Thank you for sobering me up and... for saving my life."

"No, I didn't... I didn't save your life."

"Yes, you did." They stared longingly at each other, slowly they both leaned into--

A loud knock banged on the window! 

"Oh, God." Eren was jolted by the sudden sound, and their tender moment had been interrupted by the damn man that stood outside the taxi and gave a stupid half wave to the boy he neglected today.

Of course... Reiner.

Eren rolled down the window and Levi pulled away a touch. "Hi. Um, this is Levi. He literally saved my life tonight. I... I fell on the tracks. It was crazy and--"

"Babe, I told you people are basically good... It's a great job, bro."

God. It is like he's begging me the kill him, Eren.

"Okay. Eren, let's go, it's freezing out here." Reiner headed towards the apartment building. Eren met Levi’s eyes with a slightly embarrassed smile, "Thanks for everything Levi...um...do you think... think that maybe..." He stuttered to find the right words.

"Maybe I can get your info..."

"Yes!" his excitement and immediate response was thrilling for Levi. Eren searched for his phone, he checked his bag and pockets but couldn't find it, "Shit! My phone! I must've dropped it in the subway."

"Oh... okay, well just give me your number, for when you get a replacement."

"Yeah, okay." He dug into his bag quickly and looked back out the window at Reiner, who was distracted on his own phone. He ripped a page out of his small notebook and scribbled down his number. He hesitated a moment before he wrote something else on the page. 

The young brunette looked sheepish as he handed over the little note, his cheeks blushed a cute pinkish color as he spoke, "Uh, I wrote my number and email as well for the meantime."

Levi smiled as he took the note from the boy," Alright," he inspected the paper and turned to face him, "Eren Yeager."

"Thank you. Levi Ackerman." He opened the cab door and stepped out, Levi watched him.

Here's what I learned this week: You are special.

"Sorry I didn't make it, you know?" Reiner tried to put his arm around Eren but he shoved it away as he opened the door to his building. 

You're talented. You're passionate.

They both went inside and a light is turned on in the apartment. He was mad at Reiner for not showing up to the bar to listen to the poetry that which was really important to him. The blonde man tried to nuzzle close but Eren pushed him away. He started apologizing then. Again. His apology was just as empty as his last one.

You're smart...

As the taxi drove away, Levi turned away from the sight of them together. Instead, he turned his attention down to his pocket. --Except in the ways you are really not.

And pulled out Eren's cracked phone. He switched it on, and his home screen appeared right away. Like not locking your phone.

He closed his eyes, as much as he didn't want to imagine what was going to happen between Eren and that brute tonight, he couldn't help it. And falling for men like Reiner...

Eren was tired of everything, but especially of Reiner's bullshit, he moved away from him and sat on his bed. He sighed when Reiner stalked over and tried to kiss his neck. He turned away from it, he didn't want to forgive the man so easily, didn't want to let Reiner kiss him or have his way with him tonight but--

But you can’t help it because you have no one and when you need someone, you’ll reach for anyone.

But he thought it was better than being alone like he was most days. He hated the aching need he had for love and attention, Reiner could never satisfy him in that, but he still let himself be used by the man. 

When Reiner forcibly grabbed his face to turn it towards himself and closed their distance, Eren didn't resist it. He let Reiner touch him, kiss him... have his dirty way with him. 

You know better, but you still can't stop. Because, well... because everyone needs someone. 

In the bed, Reiner barely held himself above Eren, he breathed heavily and sweated a bit as his movements quickened. His motions felt rushed and rough. 

Eren had his eyes shut tight, he didn't want to see Reiner's face because he knew it would be twisted in an ugly expression of selfish pleasure, he knew his mouth wouldn't utter out words of praise or adoration and that his light brown eyes wouldn't hold the kind, loving glint he desired. 

He held tears in his own eyes then, he wished they were from the pleasure he was supposed to be feeling but he accepted it was because of something else entirely. A deeper kind of sadness that he couldn't explain. 

A recurring pain that he could never quite put into words-- or he sometimes wondered if he was just too afraid to express because than he would have to face it. He didn't know if he had the strength to...

A few more rugged thrusts and Reiner had finished. He fell forward on the boy beneath him, his breathing was hard and he turned his gaze toward green eyes. He smirked and declared, "That was great." He rolled off and sat up as he picked up the clothes he previously had chucked on the floor. 

Eren hated how desperately he wanted Reiner to cuddle him after their time together, like he knew most couples did afterwards but Reiner claimed that he hated that shit, so he had stopped asking. "Can't you stay the night?" His voice was small and feeble, he felt pathetic begging him like that but the despair of being abandoned overwhelmed his sense of pride in the moment.

"Sorry babe, you know I would if I could," his voice was disingenuous in nature though he tried to cover it with a false sense of fondness, the rejection hurt Eren. He fought back the tears that he feared would only embarrass him further. 

The brawny blonde man hadn't so much as kissed him goodbye before he was out of the door. Eren pulled his bed sheets up for comfort but he felt regretful. 

He wondered why he hadn't just told Reiner to fuck off earlier, he knew his night would end like this yet he still gave in. He hated how weak he was in the moment, and ruminated on what the point of having someone was if you felt completely alone with them. 

He wanted to finish himself, but he was too tired and distressed, instead he just brought his knees to his chest and curled in on himself. His eyes had gathered more tears and they flowed miserably down his face. 

Th boy dreamed of a version of Reiner that was more caring, someone who rushed to listen to his poetry, who never abandoned him, hugged him tight, kissed him with undeniable passion, someone who stayed the night with him.

What you really need is for someone to save you. I can help you. Let me help you, Eren.

Eren had shut his tired eyes and drifted into sleep. But he never did dream of a perfect version Reiner, instead he dreamt of being trapped by demonic monsters. They scratched and clawed their dirty, sharp nails into him. He bled, cried and begged but they only laughed. 

His tears and blood were fuel for their amusement. They grabbed his hair so harshly, he thought they were pulling it out, they dragged him in front of a mirror. He gasped at his hideous appearance. Their claws had scarred him all over, his face was littered with burning red cuts.

His tears streamed down his face, the sad droplets mixed with the crimson blood on his face, he was dropped to the floor to cry in despair. But when he thought he had run out of tears a chilling bang pounded against the door, the hit so powerful it smashed the door in pieces. 

The figure who entered wasted no time in slaying each and every monster. The evil creatures were no longer laughing at Eren's pain but instead experiencing their own.

Soon, the room was drenched in the blood of the devils, the man had gotten rid of them all. Eren was petrified as the man's gaze turned to him, and made his way over to the trembling boy. The man kneeled down close to him and ever so gently took his face into his warm hands, but Eren used his own hands to cover his damaged face and begged, "Please. Don't look at me. I'm hideous."

"No, you're not hideous Eren." His green eyes widen, as his heart raced at what the man was saying.

"You're beautiful. So fucking beautiful. I came here just for you my love, I had to rescue you." He was speechless as the man pulled him close and kissed him.

Eren couldn't understand why this man wanted him, he touched his own face, but he felt smooth soft skin, no blood or scars. He smiled up at the man, "You saved me." He embraced his savior. They kissed until he couldn't breathe anymore. 

The boy cried out now, not in pain or sadness but in happiness as his strong prince lifted him up and carried him out of the hellish place. He was saved by a loving prince with raven hair and beautiful bluish silver eyes. The prince held him close, doted on him and loved him.

Eren smiled in his sleep.                                                                                                                                                                   

===

Levi arrived at his place. The light in Nifa and Darius’ window was on but their apartment seemed silent for once. He was about to enter when from the shadows he heard a hushed, nervous voice, 

"Levi... Levi..." 

He looked to where his young neighbor stood in the corner. "Isabel... what are you doing out here?" The girl didn’t move. Levi crossed his way to her, saw more clearly that Isabel looked shaken. She’d been crying.

"It’s Darius. He came home drunk. My mom was at work and he started yelling at me. Saying I thought I was so smart, reading my books and looking at him like he’s dumb--"  

"What happened, Isabel? Did he hurt you?"

"No... he didn’t touch me. But he..." She looked heartbroken as she lifted the lent copy. It was torn and ripped at the spine. 

"I tried to stop him. I'm sorry, I promise I tried--" Levi stayed calm as he inspected the damage, "Isabel. Isabel, it’s okay. Come with me. We’ll fix this together. All right?"

...

The lights flicked on in the bomb shelter like basement beneath the shop. Levi walked to a supply closet, as he did, he explained: "The first step to fixing something, is to know that no matter how destroyed it seems, it can always be saved. Books are no exception. Got it?"

"Got it."

"Okay. The tools may seem excessive, but usually the more fragile the item the more specific the equipment." He removed the items and placed them on a table. "So, what we have here is a lying press. Basically, just a huge clamp. Polyvinyl-acetate glue, means no acid to burn or ruin the pages. Got your needle, thread, and finally... a trusty mallet." 

He held the book in front of Isabel, "You see this? We don't need this." With little effort he tore the whole cover off the pages.

The clamps hold the book in place while Levi drilled at the binding. He repaired the book with the skill of a Swiss watch maker. He continued to explain the complicated process to the young girl as he operated the tool: "Drill carefully along the spine." With great precision, he scraped the drill across, removing the excess glue and old bindings.

Levi threading the spine of the book. He motioned for Isabel to pull on the string. "Spine’s threaded. I want you to pull the thread as tight as you can, that way." She pulled on the thread with a firm grip.

Levi finished brushing glue and set the spine, "The glue is set. We've applied the binder. Now, we have to round the binder to seal everything into place." He lifted the mallet, "You can’t hesitate, you have to be precise, and use exactly the force needed." He swung the mallet at the binding with a loud bang.

===

The next day, Reiner was in his loft, a live-work space with the trappings of a start-up business, cases of Home Soda, young assistants milled about. He laid on a couch next to business partner Bertolt, playing a video game. His phone buzzed, he checked it and lit up. 

"Berto! Listen to this. 'Dear Reiner, Heard about your soda. Am interested in including you on my fall list of Must-Tries. Would love to discuss. Perhaps even try some? Roy Peaure.'"

"That’s the dude you’re always retweeting?"

"It's the culture guy from New York Magazine--"

He paused the game as he realized the seriousness of the situation, "Hit him back, bro."

"No shit. Back off while I think...

'Roy, So nice to hear from you, bud. Yeah, our sodas are legit. I would love to meet up to have you try the goods. Let's set something up'."

Reiner and Bertolt scoured Roy's site online as they awaited a return email, his phone buzzed again.

Reiner read the response aloud, "Sounds great. I can call between meetings to see if you’re available."

"Holy shit! This is gonna take us next level. What time you think we’ll meet?"

"No offense, Berto, we discussed this, it’s best if the product has one clear face at the beginning. That’s more just me." 

...

Reiner walked on his phone, he has a holding a twelve pack of Home Soda under one arm. He followed instructions and turned into an alley. He looks around, a bit confused, when he saw a man in the distance. The man held his hand up, "Hey."

"Hey, Roy. Nice to meet you, man." Reiner greeted him when he approached and they shook hands. The man indicated to the alley, "Nice to meet you, too. Have you been here before? Not a lot of people know about it yet. It's an incredible after-hours. Very exclusive." 

He opened the door to the basement stairs. "Yeah, I've been here a couple of times." Reiner lied as he stepped forward. "Yeah?" The man loomed over behind him.

"Hmm."

"Oh. Well, good. So, you'll feel right at home, then. Please, after you."

The blonde, confused man stood in the pathway to a small set of old stairs, it was a bit spooky, and suddenly... this all felt a little too weird. But he’s eager, so against his better judgment Reiner went down the cramped stairwell to the basement.

"Just down. To your left." Reiner couldn’t entirely shake the weirdness as he headed down into the basement. After a few steps in the anomalous crypt-like cellar he reconsidered, and turned to face the man, "Hey, man, I’m thinking maybe--"

The mallet that was innocently used to repair old books, was brutally swung high up in the air and smashed into Reiner's head before he could finish his last words.

The special ting of the store doorbell rang as a certain pretty boy entered. He walked towards the counter where Lev sorted receipts near the till. Erwin stacked books behind.

"Hey." They both looked up, Levi's eyes widened in surprise. The silver pools energized with pure hope and love as they gazed upon his precious boy.

Erwin smiled privately and looked away, pretending to be busy with the books before he moved into the office.

"Remember me? From almost dying on the train tracks?"

"Rings a bell."

The boy couldn't wipe the grin off his face"I wanted to thank you."

"No. You already did that."

"Well, I wanted to thank you again, so thank you. You really saved me. And I'm sorry for running off the other night, you know... so hastily."

Levi waited a moment before he gave the boy an excuse, "You had a guest."

"Hardly." Eren was so over Reiner. And he didn't want to talk about him, when there were much better things to focus on instead, "So, I got you a present." He handed him an bag.

"You don't have to get me anything--" 

"Please, just look at it." He pulled out a book, Levi looked at the cover, it was a collection of the greatest love poems. "Cause you know, we were talking about poetry and I don't know... I just thought of you as a romantic sort of guy. And don't worry, I didn't buy it from another bookstore... it's from my personal collection."

He opened it. It’s inscribed:

“Engine engine number nine,

on the New York transit line.

If your boy falls on the rail,

pick him up and get his email.”

We already have in jokes.

They stood there. Eren smiled, friendly but a little reserved. "So, anyway... that. I better...um, maybe...", the nervous brunette struggled to find the right words like he did the last time they spoke.

"Maybe if you’re not too busy, we could get a drink sometime."

"I would love to. But I still can’t find my phone. So--" 

Levi smiled, "I know. Email you."

"That’s right. See you, Levi." Eren grinned and left. Levi watched him go.

See you soon, Eren.

When he is gone, Erwin rounded the corner of the office door, to shoot a significant look Levi’s way.

"That couldn't have gone any better. You guys are meant to be, I just know it."

"Tch, don't get ahead of yourself, Erwin. It's just one date."

I’m not always right. I’m human. I make mistakes, Eren. You’ll see. 

"I have to check on a shipment downstairs. Can you watch the register?"

"Sure, no problem." Erwin nodded as he stepped behind the counter. 

Levi headed to the backroom, down the stairs and into the basement. A series of metal old locks unlock and the door slowly creaked open and the lights flicker on.

Hell, maybe I’m just a fool in love, but I swear I’m right about you, Eren. I know how special you are. And I’m going to help you get the life you deserve.

Levi eyed something in front of him. He looked at the cage, and more specifically Reiner, forehead bruised and caked with dried blood, locked in.

"Please... whatever you think I did, I haven’t. You have the wrong guy."

"No. I don’t." The pernicious words terrifies the man into silence. 

Levi felt a depraved grin incarnate on his face. He hadn't smiled so much the past year, but he's grateful to Eren for giving him his smile back.

You never have to thank me for anything, Eren. You'll see when we're together that I love doing things for you, unconditionally.

I can't wait to see you, I'll be counting down the seconds until we're together again.

We belong together. We should be together, forever. I promise we will be, I just have to get rid of a few obstacles first.

Then it will just be me and you!

Chapter Text

Levi's silver eyes burnt with excitement as he awoke with a warm, sunny glow that shined through his apartment windows.

Tonight's the night, Eren. Our first date. It just feels so right. I'm looking forward to it.

And I think you are too. But I've read people wrong in the past. One day, I'll tell you about Furlan. Every red flag I was blind to. How destroyed I was. We all have some kind of trauma. But I feel like I'm dealing with it the right way.

Eren on the other hand, awoke with a pounding headache and intense nausea. Another late night out drinking with Mikasa, he really needed to stop those. Why does he let his friends convince him of partying all night when he's the only one that has to wake up at 6:00am the same morning. 

Eren rolled over his messy sheets and groaned. He hoped he wasn't going to puke, besides being disgusting, it would make him late to his job. With a final sigh, he pushed himself up to hurry to the bathroom and to find some Aspirin.

Levi patiently waited outside Eren's home and fondly watched the young brunette after he left the bathroom.

I'm not bothering you, just checking in. Hanging out with you like this has become my favorite thing.

After a quick shower, Eren started to get ready by rummaging through their wardrobe and drawers trying to find something half decent to wear.

He glared at his reflection in the mirror, his clothes were old, and he had a hard time finding suitable outfits to leave his apartment in. 

Suddenly, his green eyes gleaned with irritation. His hands travelled down to the bottom of his misty pink sweater, where there was a noticeable hole. He pulled the fabric up, inspecting the problem, and sighed as he dropped it. He would have to repair it, but he didn't have the best sewing skills. 

Ideally, he would buy some new, more fashionable clothes. It's what he really wanted, but the issue was money. And he didn't have any to spare. He tucked the old sweater into his jeans, trying to hide the hole. He desperately hoped that no one would notice it throughout the day. 

You can't afford new clothes, but you look perfect in anything.

Eren had so much scheduled today, he didn't know if he would be able to get all his college work done and come back to change for his date with Levi. Or maybe casual wear was better, was it even a real date?

Evne if Levi was asking him to go out just as friends that was okay. They could gradually work their way towards something more. 

That thought soothed Eren's worries, he was going to woo Levi right off his feet, he had nothing to be anxious about. He would just wear what he had on now, and just pray Levi doesn't notice his clothes were falling apart at the seams.

He still needed to set up his new phone before he left. He searched around for the phone box, where had he put it? His tired eyes darted across his untidy place as he tried to remember where it was. He honestly needed to clean this place up, he jotted all over until he eventually found it on the floor beside his small table. 

He needed to set it up and quickly leave after to get to college on time for his teaching lesson with Shadis. The thought of his professor sent shivers down his spine. But he couldn't dwell on that, one problem at a time, and in that moment the issue was his phone. 

And fuck, he had basically used his last bit of money to get it. Too bad his insurance didn't cover losing phones when you're drunk and almost die on train tracks. He sat on his unmade bed, the old wood creaked and wobbled. 

His bed was getting worse, he was supposed to buy a new one, but he couldn't go around phoneless. Mikasa would crucify him, and practically shove money down his throat. It's not like he didn't need her money, it's just a complicated issue for him, he wished she would understand that. He opened his laptop to connect his accounts to the new device that had drained his bank account.

Levi looked up at Eren from his position on the street. He took out Eren's old phone as the boy set up the new one. The screen lit up, and he got a notification within the cloud, alerting him of the latest activation of Eren's new phone.

As you activate your new phone, I know you think you're also deactivating your old one. But you're wrong. Your old phone is still logged into the cloud. And that means I'm still logged into you. 

Soon after, Eren left his apartment on the phone attempting to call Reiner but with no success, he only managed to get through to his voicemail:
"You've reached Reiner...Leave some love. Namaste." 

"Hey. You haven't texted me back... I wanted to discuss something with you, like in person, okay? Can you please call me back... This is really annoying, Reiner." Eren was frustrated as they left the voicemail. 

Levi watched on as Eren put the phone into his pocket and walked away, his silver pools drenched in animosity, not towards Eren but rather his concern for Reiner. Why was he still bothered by that bastard?

It is annoying. You're not thinking about us, you're thinking about him. I kind of thought, I took care of that for you, Eren.

Despite his annoyance, the older man discreetly followed Eren as he walked to his campus.

In the busy hallway of Eren's college campus, he walked with Shadis to the lecture room that they were going to teach in this morning.

"Want to start off the class this morning?" Shadis asked as he balanced a few books and folders on top of each other in one arm.

"Sure."

Shadis slimed his way closer to the brunette, "Good. My last TA was like a little mouse, afraid of public speaking." 

"It's my job." Eren had barely finished what he was saying before he felt Shadis' hand heavy on his shoulder, he awkwardly beamed a rictus smile his professor's way.

"Well, lucky us, you're good at it... So, we're still on for tomorrow? Drinks, poetry?"

"Of course." Eren couldn't even hide the fact that he wasn't exactly looking forward to it, but luckily his professor didn't seem to pick that up as they continued to make their way to the lecture room.

...

Levi walked from the campus to Kenny's, he was lucky Erwin opened the shop today which gave him more time with Eren. Although his morning wasn't particularly as nice as he hoped it would have been. 

Eren was emotionally still with Reiner and physically with his shitty professor. When would Eren even have time to think about him?

Frustration etched on his face as Levi pushed open the door to the stroe. Erwin stood by the front, excitedly shaking a copy of Stephen King's latest novel in his hand.

"They came for the big day." He walked along side Levi as they headed to the glass office behind the counter, "Want me to move them down to the basement?"

Definitely not.

"No, I'll do that. Just get started on the window display."

"Okay..."

Just before Levi could get into the office, Erwin remembered what he had been meaning to say, "Oh, and that kid is back."

...

Levi found Isabel sitting crossed-leg with her face in a new book in the upstairs department of the store, it was a small space people didn't bother to concern themselves with but it was antiquely beautiful.

"Hey, Isabel."

"Hi, Levi." The girl beamed, happy to greet him after waiting all this time. Levi sat on an armchair beside her as he asked, "What are you reading?"

"This book about werewolves the girls in my class won't stop talking about... It's more about love stuff than werewolf stuff."

"You're not into romantic stuff? There's something else you may like. It should be right up here..." Levi looked across the many shelves that they found themselves surround by, his sharp eyes were quick to locate the book he had been thinking of, he took the novel out of its section and presented it to his young neighbor, "Here, try this."

"Frankenstein?"

"It's about a scientist who tries to defeat death, but he ends up creating a monster."

"What does that mean?"

"Read it, and you can tell me. Erwin's got snacks, if you want any."

She smiled sweetly at the kind sentiment as Levi quietly left her to read.

The lights were harsh on Reiner as they shocked him awake in his cage. His eyes flared open, slightly burning from the sudden flash of light and he quickly remembered the situation he was in. 

Bruised, bleeding, aching all over and trapped in some demonic unbreakable glass prison. And the man responsible for his pain was standing right before him, the worst part of it all was that he had no fucking clue what this was all about. 

Whoever the hell he was, Reiner wouldn't let himself be intimidated or cower down in fear.

He smashed his fists against the glass which only hurt his hands and confirmed to him that it was no ordinary glass he could break, nevertheless he was going to get out of this hellhole. 

"Let me the hell out of here! Now!" His voice roared, while his eyes filled with anger as he glared upon the short man that attacked him.

"Settle down, Reiner." Levi's own eyes bored in Reiner's, like he was looking into his soul which made the blonde man feel greatly uncomfortable and caused a feeling that stirred deep down he didn't want to admit, but it was bone shivering fear.

To try to deflect this feeling and take back some power, he yelled, screamed and bellowed all he could, "Let me out!" He bashed his large hands against the glass, he banged and banged on the other sides of the walls.

Okay, I didn't think too far ahead when I swung that mallet. I just knew Reiner was the worst kind of poison. The kind you know is bad, but can't stop taking. So, I did what I had to do to help you, Eren. But now I have no idea what to do with him.

"The basement's soundproof." Levi's words interrupted Reiner's screaming. He got most of his immediate anger out and despite his strength, and hard hits, the glass had not one crack or mark upon its walls. 

Reiner knew, if he was getting out, it would be somebody opening that damn door for him. He just needed to calm down and think logically about this. He could do that, he was fucking smart... smarter than this devious, deceitful little goblin of a man. Once that door was open, there would be nothing holding him back from beating him to a pulp. He swore that to himself, this man would regret fucking with him. He just needed to play along to whatever the freak wanted from him.

"Look, I'm sorry but I don't know who you are. I don't know why I'm here. I swear."

What the fuck am I supposed to do now, Eren? At first, I had the intention of killing him but what stopped me? My guilty conscience?

 "I'm gonna give you my family lawyer's number. He'll get you paid."

Of course, he thinks I want money.  

"You know who my father is?"

"Reiner Braun II, hedge fund manager."

Levi ignored his pleas and placed food in a transaction box built into the cage, "It's a poppy seed bagel."

"Go to hell. I don't eat gluten... It's an allergy, okay? That shit is real. Gluten, dairy... If I ate a peanut, I could die."

"Oh, well, whatever can I get you?"

"Just, like, a bare burger wrapped in chard."

Levi remained silent as he critically watched the gorilla of a man before him complaining about food.

"My diet is limited, okay? Please? We can just talk about this, I can give you whatever you want, you don't have to keep me in here..." He tried to bargain, the man must want something, why else would be go through the trouble of kidnapping him? "Look, whoever you are, you're not a killer, okay?"

Oh, how I wish I was. This would be much less complicated. I promised myself I would never repeat the actions of my past, but now... what else could I possibly do?

"Let me out of here. I won't say anything to anyone." Reiner tried sounding more sincere and innocent this time. But Levi kept boring his dull grey eyes into him, he wasn't buying into Reiner's act.

He doesn't even know my name. I can figure this out another way.

If not sincere, then Reiner would have to act more desperately, "I'm claustrophobic! I can't fucking breathe in here. My blood sugar's low."

Levi pulled out a mysterious small bag filled with a powdered substance inside, "Is this sugar? I found it in your wallet, along with three bars of Xanax, Adderall, half a sheet of acid, is it?"

"Whatever. It's not even for me. I network. I own a business."

"That's right. Home Soda."

"It's artisanal. It's gonna blow up." Reiner had fully convinced himself of that.

"Is it? Do your investors know you do heroin? Or, your father?" Levi's eyes were cold as they glared and his voice frigid when he added, "How about your boyfriend?"

Reiner scoffed as he quickly denied the accusation, "I don't have a boyfriend..." But then, a beat passed and his eyes widened in recognition, "Oh, shit!"

He pointed his shaking finger at Levi as he wildly exclaimed, "That's where I know you from. You were in the cab. Eren's cab! He, uh... he said your name. It's Lee. No..."

He racked his brain to remember what Eren had said to him that night... 'This is Levi. He literally saved my life.'

"...It's Levi!" His voice boomed as he finally remembered the name. His face even managed to produce a slight grin from the small achievement.

Now, that's a complication.  

His smile faded as his eyes darkened in spite, he pointed harshly at his capturer again, "Do not tell me that you're doing this because of Eren. He's not my boyfriend." 

But then his face calmed in a sudden remissed state, it almost looked like relief, he stopped pointing and instead opened his arms up as if display his willingly to corroborate, "You can have him. Take him!"

"Careful, Reiner. Don't speak about him like that, it won't win you any points."

"If you knew him, you would not be putting me in a cage and ruining your life over Eren goddamn Yeager!" His voice yelled the last bit of his words, his anger had got the better of him and he stared down at Levi with desperately destitute eyes, silently begging to be released.

But Levi had nothing for him, nothing but hatred and disgust. He was the bastard that just used and abused his love, a few desperate pleas from his mendacious mouth wouldn't do shit for him. 

Levi had observed with his very eyes the lies he manipulated Eren with, his careless after-sex promises, his false apologies, it was all so revolting... 

"If you want out, you'll do what I want." Although Levi's silver orbs were stern and his voice cold, Reiner had hope he was going to get out of here.

The evening sunlight had settled down from the day's earlier brighter shine, as only a slight gimmer radiated through Levi's glass windows into his home as he meticulously picked out the clothes to wear on his long-awaited date with Eren. 

Although Levi didn't take pride in a large materialistic collection of high-end clothing, or have a grand wardrobe filled with branded outfits, he did have everything in precise order. 

All of his clothes were carefully placed in his well-organized closet, crisply folded and tidy beyond necessary. He didn't own many colorful things, mostly his clothes were dark smart pants with black or white button up shirts. 

He picked out a simple yet elegant blue shirt and began to examine the clothing when he became lost in thought.

The days of being with a man who doesn't value you, those are over.

A sudden buzzing alert pulled him out of his thoughts, but it wasn't his phone, it was Eren's. He peered down at the device, Eren was texting Mikasa. And to Levi's great disappointment, he was talking about that brute.

           To Mikasa: 
I can't help it, I'm worried about Reiner. He' always getting himself into trouble.

                                                     (4.49pm)                                                                                                

You don't deserve to be worried about his issues, that's why it's crucial Reiner's out of your picture.

           To Eren:
Please. He's off getting shitfaced. Just forget about him, like you said you were going to. (4.49pm) 

          To Mikasa:
I know. I know. I want too really.

Maybe I shouldn't have left him the voicemail?  (4.50pm) 

What we have right now is just a little spark. Every choice is a message.

Levi took his own phone into his hands and went to Eren's email, he had to make sure Eren wanted it, perhaps not as badly as he did but still wanted it.

With Furlan, I always felt like I was pushing. But now I realize... you can't force it. The timing. The spark.  

To Eren:
Still on for later?

So, you tell me if you're too distracted, Eren.  

You decide...  

Eren sat on his couch, marking endless papers from the students in his teaching classes with Shadis. The red marker ink sunken into the pads of his fingers as he tried to neatly scribble down helpful critical notes on the essays. 

He knew all too well the harsh words of red criticism on his own papers, so he tried to be lenient and fair. When his phone alerted him of a message, he thought it would be from Reiner. Since leaving another voicemail, he was worried Reiner would be angry at him or hold some resentment for him.

When he anxiously grabbed the device, and saw it was actually an email from Levi, his heart skipped a little beat.

When he read it, he didn't know whether to be happy or sad. It wasn't a cancellation, thank god but it also didn't sound like Levi was too excited.

He knew he was overthinking and letting negative thoughts get the best of him, there wasn't anything to worry about. He was sure Levi wanted this as much as him, he was the one that had asked him in the store.

To Levi:

Of course. I've been looking forward to it. Free at 6:00?

I've has so much on my mind, I forgot to tell you, I got a new phone, but it's still the same number.

Eren was worried his message was overkill, but it was sent now. He breathed out to calm down, he just needed to finish marking the papers and then he could go meet Levi. He took the pen and started to swiftly make notes on the work.

The smile that graced Levi's mouth felt magical to him, he felt a wave of pure relief wash over him as he read over Eren's soothing words. Kind and reassuring, always so perfect for him. 

...

The sun had not set by evening time, although its bright radiance settled considerably, replaced by dusky white clouds that covered the whole sky, not allowing one speck of the blue sky to be seen in the city.

They decided to meet up close to Gramercy Park since they both knew the area fairly well. Levi stood waiting on the street just outside the park's entrance, his unwavering desire to lay eyes on his precious boy not only consumed his mind, but his heart and soul, it felt as though Eren had ingrained himself into his very bones. Every part of his body ached with the need to be properly reunited with Eren.

His mind recalled every moment of watching the younger man, it had been thrilling, exhilarating but also disappointing. This thing between them was so fresh and yet it seemed like there are thousands of obstacles standing in the way of them. 

Eren had problems, which meant Levi had bigger problems. But those thoughts vanished as he laid eyes on the beautiful boy across the street.

When Eren finally spotted Levi, a cute grin appeared on his face. He looked to find there were no immediate cars driving across, and he ran over, his smile never wavered.

They decided to just take a stroll through the city streets, the air was still warm yet the cool evening breeze made it quite comfortable, the roads were less busy and the views were great.

They spoke of more general subjects first, things about work and college life mostly, soon they had walked close to a side street food bakery trunk, Levi's noticed Eren's crystal teal eyes glanced at the small foodery for a good few seconds before looking away.

"Do you want to get anything from there?" Levi asked as he looked ever at the food trunk.

The question made Eren's eyes grow big, as if he was caught doing something he was not supposed do, he felt an indistinct shyness as he tried to stutter out a response, "Oh... I... yes, if you wouldn't mind."

"Not at all, I'll get you something. Whatever you want, just tell me."

"What? No, I didn't mean you had to pay Levi." The brunette nervously laughed, to think he was making demands of Levi on their first 'date' was unbelievable.

"I'm paying for myself." Ere tried to sound confident but the mysterious glint that appeared in Levi's alluring bluish silver eyes didn't seem convinced at all.

"Eren. Tell me what you want." The words uttered with an authority that felt as natural as the air they breathed in. Not forced nor a sad attempt of dominance over the brunette. To Eren it was simple kindness and overwhelming care that Levi was showing.

And so, he let himself sway towards the shorter man, he pointed to one of the freshly baked doughy sweet pretzels and smiled as Levi retrieved the soft, delicate treat for him.

"Thanks." Eren timidly uttered the word as he turned his gaze away from Levi, trying to calm his nerves and avoid blushing like a teenager in front of the man he liked.

They continued to walk down the street on the side of the park fencing. Eren was doing most of the talking, but he didn't mind since he liked expressing how he felt and having someone actually wanting to listen to him.

"...it was just one of those crappy diaries with a lock, but I couldn't stop writing. I just... I felt better having it all down on paper, you know? And then I did this little creative writing assignment and it just blew my teacher's mind. She acted like it was the best thing she'd ever read---"

Levi tried to pay attention to the words coming out of that perfect mouth but his eyes were transfixed. He could see Eren was still speaking but he couldn't hear the words, his voice was distances away.

His mind was lost and the only thing he could do was admire Eren. His pink lips, soft golden skin, silky dark brown hair, beautiful green eyes, those amazingly long eye lashes, the bottom layer lashes so thick and dark, seeming as if he were wearing eyeliner. Everything about him was perfection.

Honestly, part of me thought this date would never come, and now it feels so easy... so good. So right!

Levi managed to zone back into reality to hear the last bit the brunette had said, "... and here I am. Sometimes you just do things on instinct, because you have to, and then you scramble. You know?"

"I know." Levi agreed, it eerily described his little problem with Reiner.

"I totally didn't google you, but if I did, I might discover you aren't on social media?"

Because it renders you insanely vulnerable with zero upside.  

"It's not really for me, but you seem to like it."

"Wait... did you search me up?" The flirty accusation left his soft lips in a playful manner but Levi couldn't admit the whole truth about it, he wasn't an idiot.

"Perhaps."

"No! No... Now I'm embarrassed, please tell me you didn't look too far into it. I've been meaning to delete some things from my accounts, but I always forget. I knew it would come back to bite me in the ass someday." His rambling was uttered so nervously, Levi wondered if he should have even confessed to it in the first place.

"No need to panic, Eren. I didn't see much of anything. I don't even know where to start on all this social media crap."

"Okay, good. Not that I've got this totally fake persona online but I don't really like my socials to be honest. It's like, it's me but not me at the same time. I don't know. I just... think you're better off without it."

"I understand. But I liked the little I saw, if that helps." Eren smiled at that, and took another small bite from his pretzel.

I was harsh before, when I thought it was the least appealing thing about you, Eren. I was wrong, because it got me closer to you. And for that, I'm grateful.  

"So, did you study Literature at college as well? You seem to know your way around books pretty well." Eren's curious green eyes gazed at the man as he asked the question.

"No, I never went... my uncle was the one that taught me to appreciate books."

"Oh, right. I remember you told me he owns the store, is he the famous Kenny then?"

"That's him. I've been working there since he took me in over fifteen years ago."

"Shit... I mean-- I didn't know you had been there for so long. Do you like it, or... do you have a different dream you want?" While he spoke, Eren played gently with a stand of his dark brown hair, Levi couldn't help but admire the cute motion.

Besides you, there's nothing I dream of.  

"I know I'm in a city full of people with huge aspirations, and it's not big and flashy...but I love books. And I want my life to be about what I actually love." Eren felt a raw and tender emotion swell within him, what Levi had said hit close to home for him.

"Yeah, I get that. I want my life to be like that too. Just writing, reading and big ocean views." He laughed disheartenedly, as if his dream were as far away as the moon.

"And you don't think it's possible?"

He shook his head. "I'm sure you know the success rate of aspiring writers getting any kind of publishing deal. I just don't know if... if I'm even good enough for it. There are much better writers out there, every time I mark a student's paper or read my classmates' work, it's just another reminder that someone is so far above and beyond my writing skills... it's literally killing my dream." He sighed.

"You're well versed in authors and poets, I'm betting none of your favorite ones had a seamless career or struggle free pathway to success. It's seemed impossible for them too. If your life was all roses and fairytales, you wouldn't have much to write about, would you? Writing from real experiences makes stories become masterpieces."

Eren found himself nodding along, it was true that many authors didn't even get to see their work flourish into any kind of success, but that didn't hold them back. He tried to remember that when he was feeling really low.

"Besides, I see your dream clearly for you. My hands aching so painfully from how many of your books I'll be stocking in the store."

Eren's green orbs grew wide before he burst out in laughter while he shook his head his disbelief. A small smile even appeared on Levi lips as he continued, 

"And I'd always have to order more copies because they sell out as soon as the doors open."

He looked over at the man that seriously envisioned a future where he was a wildly successful writer and he couldn't think of the last time anyone had ever spoken about his aspiring career in that way. It was uplifting, he doesn't get that affirmation often.

"Yeah, right. And I'll tell my agent that I could only do booking signings exclusively at my boyfriend's store." That got them both to chuckle, but then Eren's words came back to him as he realized he had referred to Levi as his boyfriend and Levi seemed... well he seemed okay with that. There were no words spoken after, they only gazed at each other with something gleaming in their eyes.

An irritating vibration sound coming from Eren's phone broke the little eye spell they found themselves under, as Eren immediately went to check who was calling, "Uh, sorry, just a second. Okay?"

"Go ahead."

"Hey..." Eren took a little step forward as he answered the call from Mikasa. She was speaking at the other end but Levi couldn't hear a thing.

"Yeah, I know it's serious, Mikasa. I'm the one who told you I was worried.... Okay, yes, I'm coming." Once the call ended, he shoved his phone into his coat pocket and turned to face Levi. His face vexed with concern and stress. A part of Levi felt awful for causing this but he knew once the dust had settled, Eren would be much happier with Reiner out of his life.

"I'm sorry, I-- uh... I have to go...This friend, he just... Apparently, he had to go meet someone, and never came back. Everyone's worried about him." 

"Don't be sorry, we can pick it up some other time." As soon as he said the words, he could see a small relief wash over Eren's face, and he came up to hug the shorter man. "All right, thank you..." he almost whispered as he wrapped his long arms around Levi's shoulders.

After a few seconds they separated and Eren spoke again, "And you have my number, right? Text me so I can save your contact on my phone, okay?"

"Sure. I hope your friend is okay."

Eren nodded and turned to walk down the street. Levi was left alone to his own thoughts as he watched Eren walk away from him, a sight he hated.

Thought I'd done it. Gotten Reiner out of our way. Looks like I have to finish the job.  

After the sky had turned murky dark and the shop had closed, Levi made his way down the stairs and in the bone-chilling basement. He found Reiner half-asleep looking sickly pale and quite utterly debilitated on his back in the cage.

Deprived of every one of his basic needs, Reiner could do nothing but glare daggers at Levi.

"You're looking a little gray and mealy in there." Levi commented in a dead-panned manner, a part of him quite amused to see the man in such a sorry state.

Reiner held nothing back as he quickly spat back, "Yeah, no shit. You stole my stash!" The tired blonde sat up with clenched fists, he wasn't going to last much longer without his fix.

"I thought it wasn't for you." Levi took a step closer to the glass as Reiner finally admitted he was a user, a very addicted one by the looks of it.

"Fine. You fucking happy? It's mine. Please man, just give me something. Anything!" He was practically itching for it, Levi slanted his eyes as he thought of his next move.

Levi said nothing as he retrieved a powdered bag from the work table, he came close to the glass box. A small exchange box window built into the caged, something Kenny had done. He placed some of the drugs on the surface inside the box, he had barely poured out a gram before Reiner's desperate hands attempted to force his side of the box door open. Of course, it wouldn't budge, it wasn't built like that. Reiner let out a shrill groaning sound as tried to get to his stash.

"Doesn't work that way. There's only one way." Levi glared up at Reiner as he explained before he continued to place a small amount of the substance down.

Reiner sighed a breath of relief, "Thank you. Thank you." But once he was done, Levi never shut his side of the door, keeping Reiner locked out.

"Just one more thing..." 

Proceeding with his plan, Levi pulled out Reiner's phone and slammed it against the glass.

..Password?"

Shock crammed through Reiner, the situation evening making him produce a dry laugh, he was almost impressed by Levi's vindictive scheming. He had nothing else to lose, so he revealed it, "Historia.

H-I-S-T-O-R-I-A."

Levi swiftly typed the name into the phone and it gave him access immediately.

With the knowledge that Reiner had told him the correct password, Levi finally shut his side of the door, allowing Reiner entrance. The deprived blonde was quick to shove the door open, instantly snorted the substance and passed out, probably from the high after not using for a few days.

Levi searched through Reiner's phone, his messaging history filled to the brim with sexual chats with girls, all of them recent so he was messing about with them while he pretended to be committed to Eren. Filthy late-night texts and dirty photos no one should ever have to see. But one thing was crystal clear to Levi...

Based on the evidence, he's not missing you when you're gone, Eren. You don't mean anything to him.

A quick glance in the cage let Levi know that Reiner was truly unconscious, he pushed the cage key into the door lock and turned it, he stepped inside to complete the next part of his plan. 

He carefully placed a bra over the blonde's face, Reiner was the one who gave him the idea, after he found a shit ton of selfies he posted with ladies' underwear and bras over his face along with a disgustingly sexual caption. 

Levi took the photo and posted it on Reiner's Instagram account under a false geo-location.

...

Eren got the message alright, his cheeks blazed in crimson red as he glared over Reiner's post, it was even more embarrassing that he was sitting with his friends and they all saw it too. 

He felt a deep shame in his gut, it threatened to embarrass him further with the need to bawl his eyes out. If he were alone, he would have absolutely given in and cried, but with his friends in public, he had to control himself. 

They always teased him about how he was a crybaby anyway, he wouldn't want to give them any more ammunition to their claims.

But he wasn't ashamed in the way he would have thought only days ago, nor was he upset like the scorned lover but more as the regretful ex. 

He had wanted to tell Reiner in person that he was completely finished with whatever the hell their relationship was, but Reiner hadn't picked up and this was the kind of thing you shouldn't text someone, so the best option to him was to leave a voicemail detailing everything. 

When he was done with it, he felt a relief like no other. His chest beat wildly at how free he felt, he had gotten rid of his worst addiction. It did help to think of Levi, how well and respectful the man always treated him, it was as if a huge bright, light bulb was placed over his head. 

That's how he wanted to feel, not used like a whore when Reiner wanted sex. That inexorably forced him to feel as though he was nothing. The burden of being degraded by that bastard was finally over, and that was such a grand feeling for Eren.

Nevertheless, he still cared enough to worry if the man was in serious trouble but to discover he's just whoring out and ignoring everyone was quite fitting. Of course, what else would he actually be doing?

"I was worried. And he's high in some random shitberg in Massachusetts." Eren slammed his phone against the table him and his friends were sitting at as he finished his sentence.

"At least we know he's fine. Just being the worst." Mikasa added in a dull voice while she picked up a glass of wine to drink.

Historia seamlessly changed topics, essential broadcasting her displeasure of conversing about Reiner, "So, we're all gonna go try that new bar tonight, right? In SoHo."

"You are such a lush." Her freckled friend teased her.

"Shit! I can't go. I'm sorry. I'm supposed to have drinks with my thesis advisor." Eren had almost forgotten about that dreaded event, Levi was a very powerful distraction.

While his other friends made disapproving sounds, Mikasa tightly narrowed her eyes at Eren as a questionable and worrisome expression appeared on her face.

"Ugh! How pervy is he ?" Historia asked.

"He won an award for a book of poems that probably has thirty-five references to, like, vagina lips, so..."

"Well, banging your professor is, like, a grad-school rite of passage." Sasha eagerly chimed in after she finished swallowing down two burger sliders.

"Is it?" Callous eyes not so discreetly fell on Sasha as Mikasa skeptically voiced her concerns before the girl could even finish what she was saying.

"Whatever! I banged my bio professor. It was fine. Notably, I passed the class." She defended herself before going to grab another slider.

"You know it, eyes on the prize. Ovary up, girl." Ymir playfully nudged Eren. There was an uncomfortable feeling unsettled in twisted knots within his stomach whenever one of his friends, usually Ymir, made some kind of remark addressing any sort of female anatomy on to him. He tried not to show it as he sat with a false smile plastered on his face.

It failed to fool one of them as Mikasa's dagger eyes flickered between Ymir and Eren, she could tell what was wrong. 

"Don't be a bitch Ymir, Eren doesn't want to 'ovary up', right?"

Eren felt a gentle relief that Mikasa always found her own way to stand up for him when he couldn't find the courage himself, when she did, he truly felt so grateful to have a best friend like her.

"Of course not, but... he controls my status as a TA. He could knock me out of my housing." Not like it really mattered anyway, since Eren was never going to have it on with Shadis, under no circumstances. It was just wrong, the looks and not so secret touches he continuously forced upon him, and not to mention that he was a married man. 

"Don't let him use that against you, I really think you should report him. Doesn't your college have guidelines that he is totally breaking?" Sasha advised as Eren stiffly sat looking hopeless, Sasha felt guilty for suggesting the tactless idea in the first place.

"I think it only works that way in the movies." 

"Whatever. We're seeing you tomorrow." Mikasa smiled as she just glossed over Eren's whole ordeal with Shadis. And it reminded Eren that while he was eternally grateful to have Mikasa in his life, sometimes it was just a little bit infuriating being her friend. Even now, he had no idea what they were meant to be doing tomorrow... A quizzical expression crossed Eren's face.

"My party." Mikasa's critical eyes were now directed at Eren as she continued to explain in an antagonizing manner towards him, "Tomorrow's the anniversary of my parents' divorce...The party I always have to distract myself."

"Of course, sorry. I'm coming." Eren wondered how it had slipped his mind, he had known about the party and yet his mind went blank. 

Once he apologized, Mikasa didn't appear as worked up, she gave him a little hesitant smile and her eyes gazed at him softly.

In the cold basement under the store, the desperate and depraved Reiner pleaded for his aching addiction, once he had one taste he needed it so much more now, "One more line, man. Come on...  please, just tell me your plan, and I will help you. Where is he right now? He's partying his face off with Mikasa and Sasha, right?"

"He's about to meet her thesis advisor, but good to hear you take him seriously."

That information made the larger man bounce up from sitting on the cage floor, "See, this is what I'm telling you." He leaned against the glass, so arrogantly assured with what he had to say, "You see this hardworking writer. How could you not? He's branded the living shit out of himself across the Internet..."

Levi stood by his work table as his dark silver eyes bored into Reiner.

I want you to know, if I wasn't about to be late to see you, I would beat this guy bloody for the way he talks about you.  

"I'm telling you; this is his thing. Right now, he's got on a sexy outfit, and he's getting ready to work his professor hard for that A."

The accusation of Eren made him sick, and Levi left without saying another word. He had brought some shitty gluten free sandwich for Reiner but after that, he could starve for all Levi cared. He left his prisoner scrambling against the glass in need,

"Hey! Come back! At least me some fucking food, damn it! I'm hungry!"

...

Inside the down town gastropub, the lights were quite dim, the whole place seemingly relied on the glowing lamps built into the rusty brisk walls to light the place up and there was a faint orange glow suffocating the atmosphere.

When Levi arrived, he walked the short pathway to the bar, his eyes quickly landed on a small table in the middle of the room where Eren sat opposite Shadis, as he looked over his piece of writing. 

The bar wasn't too far from the table, he had his back turned to them and strained his ears to try to listen into their conversation.

On the table, Shadis put the paper down before he spoke, "There's a directness. That's what's so special about your work. So, if it's not direct to the bone, cut it."

"Thanks, that's, um... really helpful. And coming from you, it means a lot." Eren tried forcing out something resembling a genuine smile, but it was difficult as he wished to be anywhere but here with Shadis.

Shadis deep eyes pierced into Eren, they were scaringly intense and put the young man on edge, "A lot of people find a direct attitude irresistible. You should lean into that in your life, as well." 

They had maintained direct eye contact since Shadis looked up at him, and it was too excruciating for Eren to do any longer so he turned his head to the side to play with his hair a little as he feigned a response back, "Yeah...easier said than done."

"Well, you can always practice on me. I'm safe." He waved his left hand up in the air, flaunting his wedding ring. He chuckled as he leaned his other hand forward, putting it down on Eren's own hand, "You really have nothing to be nervous about. The world is your bright red apple."

With his heart pounding heavily in his chest, the brunette could practically feel his nerves soaring throughout his body as tried to think of what he could say... "I wish I had your confidence."

When Shadis retracted his hand back, Eren felt more at ease but only for a second before Shadis leaned his while body forward, "Putting your work out into the world is a service."

"I'll try and remember that." A tight smile forced itself onto his face as he could do nothing else.

"I wouldn't tell you if you weren't talented. I'm happy to share all my secrets..." 

His eyes were fixated on the brunette as he spoke again, "So, Eren..."

He started before his voracious rough fingers schemed their way on Eren's leg, "...maybe it's time to acknowledge what there is here." Those predatory fingers attempted to inch their way closer to Eren's crotch area through the fabric of his dark pants. 

But Eren had reached his breaking point, he abruptly shot up from his seat so quickly it knocked his chair down which draw the attention of most of the customers. 

Shadis tried to laugh it off as he reached over for Eren's arm but the boy snatched it back, no longer playing along with his games, "Don't touch me! That's not sexy, it's repulsive!" The words were hissed out with a suppressed venomous anger from all the times he had creepy interactions with Shadis.

Shadis looked around, others were murmuring about the commotion which embarrassed him. That and Eren's obvious rejection against him.

Eren stepped forward trying to salvage something from the situation, "Sorry, but this is not--"

"You invited me to." Shadis brashly asserted as he interrupted the boy.

"No, I didn't--"

"Yes, you flirt brazenly." He slandered out in a low but aggressive tone, only heard by Eren. Shadis eyes glared down to his student's chest, "You wear clothes so sheer; I can see your nipples. What do you call that?"

"That's crazy!" Eren eyes stormed wildly at the accusation, his arms shot up to cross over his chest as he felt insecure with Shadis' eyes still on him.

"If you want to stay on the safe side of the plausible deniability zone, cover up where your tits used to be, stop the blowjob eyes and write... better." He taunted the young boy as he took out his wallet to put money on the table.

"I like you, but clearly you're overworked. It's only right to release you from the TA position." 

"What? No! You-- you can't just... " Even though he knew it could happen, Eren was still shocked by the callous decision.

"I can. Clearly you are not in the right state of mind to work at the moment. But if you want me to reconsider my decision, then you will need to do the same, understand? Think about it and get some rest, Eren." The old professor sneered before a slimy crooked smile appeared on his macilent lips.

Eren flushed pale, so starkly different from his usual golden self. The humiliation of burning eyes on him and the belittling words from his mentor was too devastating for him to handle. He sat back down, with his head low while his hand covered his eyes in an attempt to shield his face from prying eyes and so he could wipe his tears away.

Levi's eerily dragged his sharp eyes to follow the professor as he briskly stomped out of the bar, there was a tremendous amount of suppressed anger within him, a burning desire to kill that perverted menace for what he did to his love. 

You're right to be angry. Some things can't just be allowed to be. Something has to be done about someone like him.  

Before Eren's mind could even comprehend it, his hand hurried to find his phone and dialed the number of the one person he wanted to see. The man who seemed to fix all of his problems.

Silver orbs widen as he realized that the brunette was actually calling him, he swiftly jumped up from his chair and out the door, into the cool night breeze. 

His fingers rushed to accept the call and he answered, "Hello."

"Hey-- umm.. hey where are you? I'm in the... the Village. Maybe we can... do want to finish our da-- uhh... talk?" He winced and tightly shut his eyes as he almost said date, but he wasn't left in any suspense as Levi calmly responded, "Yeah, I'll be there in 15." 

"Okay. See you soon."

When the call ended, both men found themselves smiling and thinking how it wouldn't be long before they could see one another again.

Chapter Text

Levi stood around in the frozen night air until enough time passed so he could go back into the pub. When he stepped back into the warmth of the place, he noticed Eren was now sitting at the bar.

The boy turned his head to the sound of the door opening, and a smile caught onto his lips, a tempting invitation for Levi to go towards.

The younger boy pulled the seat close to him further out and patted it for good measure. Levi took his seat but he attempted not to lean into Eren's personal space but their seats were barely an inch apart. 

"I ordered a drink for you..." Eren's words were slurred ever so slightly. It seemed as though he had ordered one too many for himself while he had been waiting.

"Thank you." Levi politely picked the cold glass up, halfway filled with a natural green tinted alcohol with fresh mint leaves.

"Does it taste alright?" His emerald eyes shifted a little before settling on Levi. His usual bright eyes now appeared tired and glassy, not just from being drunk but probably from crying earlier.

"It's perfect... So, why did you call me now?"

"I don't know, " Eren's face was brightened by his giddy expression and honest smile, his eyes widened as he finished his thought, "Spontaneous impulse!"

It's okay. You'll learn you can tell me anything.

But that would be in the future. Right now, Levi had to be patient and listen to whatever Eren felt like revealing to him. And he had to pretend to actually care about his ridiculous concern for Reiner, "We cut it short last time because a friend of yours was missing, right?"

"Oh, God, he's fine. He's just an idiot." He uttered dismissively as he sucked on his straw, finishing his drink.

I agree with you there, but you want to keep it light. I can do that.

A young couple entered through the front, the man looking a little nervous and the lady had her a calm smile on her face.

"Okay. This couple here, coming in the door..." Levi discreetly pointed a finger towards them, turning Eren's attention towards them, "What do you think? First date?"

"Third," Eren played along and shifted around to face Levi again as he finished, "but she's not sure she wants to seal the deal." He giggled as he spoke the words in their little game.

His eyes caught sight of a middle-aged couple sitting a few tables away, they were arguing about something.

"And those two?" Eren slurred and his hand perched itself on Levi's strong shoulder, as he leaned in closer, "They're at the brink of divorce."

"That's cold." Levi remarked but Eren shrugged his own shoulders as he stared at Levi with beautifully wicked eye contact. It was just too easy for Levi to lose himself in those, too precious for his world set of eyes. He pushed himself to look away, and when he did, he saw an elderly couple by the front tables.

They were all smiles and kisses, Eren turned back to see who held Levi's attention and the sight made him feel warm inside.

"Awww. That's--"

"That's us in 30 years." Levi spoke before Eren could finish, and he instantly regretted uttering out the words.

And that was way too much.

Eren turned his head back to just stare at him, Levi not quite knowing if Eren thought what he said was too weird, felt a strange wave of nerves at the thought.

The nervous feeling was only cured when an incandescent smile found itself on Eren's mouth, "I love that!" He turned back to look at the couple before he spoke again, "Wow, you're in super good shape for an old guy."

"And you're beautiful as ever, but in a dignified, age-appropriate way."

"It's all the yoga. It keeps me young..." he laughed as he leaned just the tiniest bit closer to Levi.

"To be honest Levi, I'm so so happy that you could come tonight. It's been... really it's been the worst day for me... My thesis advisor, he tried-- he made a pass at me. I feel like an idiot but the most embarrassing part is... I actually thought he believed in me and my work."

"This isn't your fault." 

"Dumb shit like this happens all the time. Starting to think I'm some kind of magnet for dudes with serious issues."

"It has nothing to do with you. It's their issues, they just take it out on you instead of trying to solve them. Your thesis advisor should be fired."

"That will never happen. I don't know what I'm going to do about him... but I'll get through it... eventually."

"I believe in you."

Eren felt his heart beat incredibly fast by only a few words, that held so much power and meaning. He needed someone to believe in him, and Levi seemed so genuinely honest. He let his fingers brush a few strands of hair out of his face before he asked, "Hey, so do you think... that you would want to come to a party with me tomorrow?"

Already booking our next date?

"It's at a friend -- well actually it's my best friend, Mikasa."

"I would like to go with you."

"Really? Oh that's -- so great. Thank you!" Eren beamed and tilted his head while his green eyes focused on Levi and Levi's stared right back. How badly he wanted to shift forwards and kiss Eren for the first time. But when Eren was the one to lean forward, it felt like his wish was about the come true.

Eren came close which made Levi's heart hammer away in his chest, he held his breath and didn't move a muscle... but nothing came. Eren had only reached over to grab Levi's drink.

He delicately took the straw Levi just had his lips on before into his pretty hands, he sucked on the straw and smiled, "Mmm. I like yours better."

Levi only glared hopelessly at the damn glass and the taunting straw that had the blessing of having Eren's lips on it. He just had to be patient, but Eren painfully pushed him to his limits.

The next day, Levi prepared for a busy day at the store as he finished displaying the newest King book by the counter. Isabel sat close by reading the old copy of Frankenstein he had given her.

"It's cool how you get in the monster's pov. You understand why he does stuff, almost like it's, um..."

"Justified?" Levi finished for her.

"Yeah. But then it's weird cause he's bad, but not all bad, right?"

"Well, I think it's open to your interpretation."

"It's time to open." Erwin remarked, he unlocked the door, allowing the swarm of people to finally enter.

The customers were in a hurry to grab a copy of the new book for themselves. It wasn't long before a long queue was in front of the register.

Levi compled a transaction by the till, he handed over the paper bag to the friendly customer, "Thanks so much."

"No problem, your receipt is in the book."

The books on display were nearly all gone, they would have to restock the shelves immediately. Levi turned around to Erwin who was talking to a customer on the phone, "We need another box already, can you watch the register for a second?"

"The kid ran down to the basement to get it."

His words startled Levi, "What?"

"Yeah, I saw her grab the key."

Fuck!

Before Erwin even finish speaking, Levi dashed for the basement, hoping to hell that Isabel had not found Reiner trapped down there. He saw the basement door had been left ajar, she was already inside...

The young girl switched on the light on the stairs, the tinted bulb lit up and created discrete dark shadows that surrounded her in the small space of the stairwell. She felt that being here alone was frightening, with Levi she always felt safe. She took another step down, pushing away her fears and moved her feet to take a few more steps but froze in her tracks when she heard a voice...

"Isabel! Isabel! What did I say?" Levi bolted down the stairs to reach her, his voice was scarily low for his exasperated tone.

She had never seen Levi like this, he was always so calm, "I'm sorry. I was only--"

"I told you not to come down here."

"I just wanted to grab a book."

"Don't be an idiot! Why would you do that when I told you not to?"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry." Isabel shook away from Levi and ran away in tears.

Levi was left alone on the stairs, feeling a sense of relief that Isabel had not found Reiner but also... there was some feelings of regret.

Across the city, on the Upper East Side, Eren and Mikasa were together in her luxury home. Eren was sitting on one of Mikasa's deluxe French dressers. He remembered the first time Mikasa had ever invited him over, it was the summer after their first year of Brown.

The grandeur of her home made him feel as if he wasn't supposed to even be there. He was surprised by how carefree Mikasa was about him being around her expensive furniture. In the beginning he was afraid to sit on her hand-crafted, imported couch but over time he got used to it.

"So, what happened with you and your Professor?" His attention was turned to Mikasa as she questioned him, she stood a few feet away as she changed her clothes.

"Let's just say I better find a new job, or some kind of housing, or... I don't know."

"Okay, enough of this shit!" She vented and stormed towards her bag, she took out her check book and jotted down a few details with a pen.

"Mikasa, no, I can't... I can't accept it..." Eren pleaded to his friend as she approached him. "Stop." He reached his hand out, trying to grab the check before she could finish but she swiftly dodged him.

"No, you need to stop. Seriously, it's just first, last and a deposit, okay? Don't be so noble, just take the check and stop stressing... Here." When Eren didn't take it, Mikasa snatched his hand and shoved the check in it.

"I-- I don't..." The brunette stuttered, not knowing whether to thank her or try explaining how all of this made him feel. Not only was it mortifying, but so embarrassing to him.

Mikasa caught the stress in his voice so she leaned forward, "Eren, what are friends for? I mean it, I want you to have it, I hate seeing you like this."

She grasped his face, caressed her fingers across his smooth skin as she whispered, "You don't need to worry anymore. Not when I'm here for you... and you know that you can always rely on me, right?"

"I know. It's just... I can't always wait around for you to rescue me. I want to be able to do things on my own." Eren hated how whiny his voice sounded when he spoke to her like this, it seemed like it always happened in their relationship.

"I know sweetie, but this is just a one-time thing so you can focus on your writing instead of your ghoulish professor."

She kissed his cheek ever so gently before backing away to put her check book away, Eren deflated and his eyes turned down.

In the fading evening light, Erwin was delighted to be let off early because Levi said he was busy tonight. He felt elated that Levi was getting to really know Eren, he was an observant man and he knew his friend was much happier than he'd been in years.

Levi went down to the basement, he could already feel the headache Reiner's screeching will force upon him after he left.

"Jesus Christ! Finally!" Reiner groaned when Levi came into his line of sight, "Were you trying to starve me to death?"

As much as that would save him from his current forlorn predicament, he couldn't... not yet at least.

He placed some takeout and a plastic cup filled with soda into the exchange box, and as soon as the door was closed, Reiner's dirty fingers grabbed the drink and quaffed it down with difficulty.

"What the fuck man, are you trying to poison me? This tastes like stale drugstore soda. I'm not drinking that shit.." The blonde man complained putting the cup back in the box.

"Really? Because it's your drink, from the sample you brought over."

"That's bullshit!"

"Home Soda is, obviously."

Reiner's face turned red as his veins popped in his forehead and neck. He couldn't take being trapped here any longer, he banged his palm against the glass and cried out, "Let me out of here! Let me out of here! You psychopath!"

The stress, anger and hopelessness pulled the blonde down to his knees, "Fine. You win! I lose! Just please let me out."

Levi turned his back to him while he thought of the best solution to his problem, he couldn't just let him out. Reiner would never let him get away his this, his rich father would have Levi in jail before the morning.

"You want Eren, right?" The question made Levi face the blonde, "Let's be clear... He does not want to be with a guy like you, but I can help you." Reiner finished as he stepped towards the glass.

"No, actually, we're going to a party tonight."

"Let me guess... A Salinger party? Uh, Levi, he's taking you to add texture because he wants to seem interesting, like he's deep and an artist. The truth is Eren will always leave someone like you for someone like me. We never made it to a single party cause he couldn't jump on me fast enough. He's playing you for a chump, my friend. If you want to change that, you need me."

"I told you. Do not speak about him like that!" Levi felt a fire raging within, lit by the degrading way this bastard spoke about Eren.

"You don't believe me? Did he show you his ladle? He's got this red kitchen ladle. It's a whole 'call-you-daddy, spank-me thing'. He's kinky as shit with me, because I'm loaded. But not you, right? Cause who are you to him?"

"You're wrong, the only one who needs anything is you. You need me to let you out, and your chances of getting out are slimming with every filthy word that leaves your mouth about Eren." With that Levi turned on his heels and walked away.

He didn't even want to entertain the thought of not meaning anything to Eren. The brunette meant everything to him, and he couldn't believe any of the shit Reiner had said.

Levi met up with Eren a little later and they took a taxi to Mikasa's party. On the way, Eren recalled all the antics him and Mikasa used to get up to at Brown, Levi tried to seem interested but his mind was distracted by troubling thoughts of Eren truly not reciprocating any feelings towards him.

When they were finally there, and got out of the taxi Eren said, "I hope you two get along. I think you will." Levi was sure he wouldn't, unlike Eren he could see Mikasa for the self-entitled bitch she was, but he could pretend if it was for Eren.

As they ascended up the short staircase towards Mikasa's elegant mansion like home, Levi noticed that Eren had suddenly dropped hand... seemingly to adjust his hair before he walked ahead and pushed open the door, leaving Levi alone outside.

Well... shit.

...

The house was overcrowded with a bunch of pompous idiots, spreading gossip to one another, gulping down alcohol as if they were dying of thirst and dressed in pretensions mismatched fashion. He expected as much from Mikasa's party, only he couldn't imagine Eren would want to talk to these people.

One look and I can tell you, not my crowd. What they are is everything Reiner claims you want to be.

The voice of the hostess blares through the sound of the crowd as Mikasa approaches towards them as though she's ready to pounce on Eren, "Eren-ish! Hi."

"Hey."

The fake and obnoxious kissing sounds attack Levi's ears as Mikasa lightly kisses both sides of Eren cheeks, "Mwah, mwah." And she handed him a tall glass of overpriced champagne.

"Thank you." Eren's quiet response is barely heard, as he accepts the drink.

"Is this Lee?" She questions, turning her head to stare at the older man.

"Levi." He corrected in a deadpan tone.

If observing Mikasa was dreadful, interacting with her is hell.

"Now, Lee, I'm gonna have to borrow our friend here. So, uh, make yourself at home. Everyone here is friendly. Brown Alumni don't bite... Where'd you go?"

"I didn't."

"Hmm." Her judgemental eyes scrutinised Levi, her face barely hid an expression of disgust before she turned to Eren and pulled his arm, "Come on."

"I'm sorry." The two words were mouthed silently to Levi as Eren allowed Mikasa to drag him away.

Alone at a party filled with people Levi couldn't fathom having fake conversions or small talk with, the man made his way to the lavish wooden helical staircase. Up on the second floor, he was amazed to see a row of beautifully kept books. Shelves after shelves stocked with the most rare, first edition collections. He had to give it to Mikasa having such a collection in her house. His eyes scanned across the books, he caught sight of a particularly old one, Ozma of Oz. He thought back to a memory he had of it when he was still a kid:

A young boy stood fixated on the rare books on the metal shelves in the glass cage. His small hands delicately looked through the pages of Ozma of Oz. "If you have a full set, each one of them is worth three times as much for a collector." Kenny's voice startled a young Levi. "You read that one?" He eyed the third edition of the Oz books.

Levi shook his head, a little scared and hesitant to say, "No sir... just the first one."

"Typical," Kenny spat out in disgust making the child flinch, his uncle turned to leave in a huff before suddenly turning back to strike Levi with the back of his hand. His hard skin was rough against the boy's soft cheek, the hit stung badly. "You think I need some illiterate working in my shop?" Kenny angrily yelled as he stormed away out of the cage, he slammed the door shut, locking Levi inside.

"Hey!" Levi tried to reason with his uncle.

"If you want to work in this shop, you learn the value of these books."

"Kenny, please."

"Everything you need is in there." He yelled over Levi's pleading voice before leaving Levi trapped alone in the dark cage.

"Let me out! Please, let me--"

"Lee. There you are."

Levi's memories were interrupted by a shrill voice he hadn't heard a lot of tonight, yet had his limit of.

"It's Levi. This is a lovely collection, Mika." He remarked while he carefully put Ozma of Oz back in place on the shelf.

"It's Mikasa. And, I mean, you've probably read more of these books than I have. A good salesman has to know his product..." She paused with a phoney smile that seemed as though it was almost stuck on her face as she looked at her own shelves before continuing her line of inquiry, "So, you met Eren at a bookshop, right?"

"That's right."

"And then you just happened to meet again." Her phrasing wasn't overtly suspicions in tone, but her wild eyes gave her away.

Casual tone, detective eyes. Almost as if she wanted to hide the fact she hated me.

"It's lucky we did. He was on the tracks, at the time."

"So I heard. Thank goodness for you... I mean, being in Greenpoint of all places, at the very right moment..." Her eyes looked around as if she was really taking the time to think about her previous statement. Perhaps trying to bait a reaction of Levi but his face remained impassive and his mouth didn't move to utter out any kind of explanations. Her dark eyes eventually fell on her wrist watch, "Oh! It's time for the toast."

Her tone was deceptively ecstatic and calm after her prior questioning, she took a final glance at him before swiftly turning away and walking back into her party to start her speech. Levi looked back at the shelf and his hand found its way back on Ozma of Oz...

When he finally stepped out of the room, his eyes sieved through the crowd as he tried to look for Eren. Only when he finally did find him, the brunette was stood close to a tall, dark blonde man. He was smiling as the blonde spoke more to him. To make matters worse, Mikasa appeared behind them, joining in with the laughter between the pair.

So, in the time I was in there, you attract Reiner 2.0? Mikasa looks thrilled. Are you thrilled? What do you want?

Levi needed time to think, he walked up another slight of stairs until he eventually found a beautiful glass doorway leading out onto a balcony and stared at the lively city which looked particularly amazing at night with the glowing lights shining across the streets beautifully.

Which Eren are you? The one I see or the one Reiner does?

He wasn't given a lot of time to ponder on his thoughts because it wasn't long before he heard quiet footsteps behind him.

"Hey, how it's going?" Eren walked over to his side, the gentle wind blowing a few strands of his hair.

"Eren..." The brunette looked so pretty with the lovely moon shining so elegantly on him, Levi had to honest... "Why did you bring me here?"

"I ... I don't know." He lowered his gaze and stared out at the dark city, "I thought it -- thought that it could be fun?"

"I don't have a lot in common with your other friends."

"But I like that about you... I always think I'm going to love these things, yet somehow never do."

"Then why did we come?" He questioned affably. His tone made Eren feel as though Levi wasn't judging him like he was worried about, so after a little sigh he answered,

"It's been this way since Brown. It just feels like I'm getting sucked in." His eyes shifted around, but notably avoided any contact with Levi's silver orbs, as he spoke on nervously, "I could just be me, but that never feels quite good enough. You know, I stole this outfit... To fit in. Which is pathetic."

"No, Eren. It isn't."

"Not as pathetic as the fact that Mikasa wrote me a check to keep me afloat, which I don't want to cash, but now have to." The brunette admitted, feeling hot with shame but speaking to Levi about his problems was so easy and he hoped it would somehow make him feel better about everything

"If you're not one of them, it's just because stuff didn't just get handed to you."

"It didn't." Eren quickly assured.

"Right, and when it's like that, sometimes, you're just different from others. You shouldn't feel the need to fit in because you're different. It's not a bad thing... it makes you special." Eren felt understood and an unfamiliar sensation that shined inside of him because Levi's words were so kind and genuine... he truly believed in Eren.

Eren leaned closer, so close and Levi finally thought he was going in for a kiss. Instead, Eren fell against his chest and he hugged him, "I'm glad we met... Glad we're friends."

Friends? For the love of Christ!

...

Deciding they had stayed long enough at the party, Eren and Levi headed towards the front door together to leave. Suddenly a voiced beckoned them just as they were close to the exit. 

"Levi?"

I know that voice.

The pair turned to look at the person who had called Levi's name, they hurried towards them with messy brown hair and large glasses balancing on their nose, making their eyes appear like huge orbs.

"Levi Ackerman? Hange Zoë. I'm Furlan's friend."

Great. Little soon for you to hear this, Eren, but here we go.

"Hange. It's good to see you."

"So, I heard about you and Furlan." 

"I thought we were pretty happy, but he thought he could be happier, so--"

"It's just how he left so suddenly..." Hange cut in, they spoke with emotional sentiment behind every word, "I mean, we were all kind of hurt."

Before Levi could say anything, Eren intervened, "Would you excuse us? My Uber's here. It was nice to meet you." The lie giving them an excuse to leave quickly.

"I'm sorry. Good to seeing you, Hange."

The two were quick to leave, walking out in the night as the door slammed shut behind them.

"Sorry I thought-- I just felt like that needed to be over." Eren explained while he stared at Levi with that cute doe-eyed expression on his face.

"It's fine. It's not like I'm in the mood to speak about how my ex cheated on me." The response was spoken with a harsh accentuation tone of voice that shocked Levi.

And why the hell did he say that.... out loud? What was wrong with him today, making Isabel cry and exposing his past to Eren. The only reply he received from Eren was a quiet, "Oh..."

They both walked on soundlessly, but soon the dead silence between the pair felt suffocatingly heavy and awkward.

While Levi was overthinking everything that went wrong tonight, Eren was facing his own issues. He desperately wanted to kiss Levi, he had been wanting for so long it was making him weak. Levi seemed to like him, but he was also very hard to read, his face lacking emotion most of the time. Eren wasn't certain on anything, he thought perhaps if Levi did like him, he would be the first one to make a move but he hadn't tried anything with Eren so far.

His head was spinning. Levi was only kind and understanding to him, yet he was still afraid to tell him how he felt or even try to kiss him. It was so good now between them... he's so scared of losing it that he won't even attempt to start their romance.

But he deserved to be happy, and so did Levi. And if he just admit his feelings then, maybe they could make each other happy...

...

Levi felt miserable as he stomped his way up the filthy stairs of his apartment complex, he could already hear the booming voices of Darius and Nifa that threatened to give him a headache.

He spotted the small girl sitting on the steps without a book in her hands. Sad and lonely. It pained Levi to know how he had upset her, he slowly made his way over to the steps. Her eyes widen as she raised her head to look up at him.

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." The words are feebly uttered out in a tone just above a whisper.

"It's not okay to yell." Levi answered back.

Isabel shook her head, her eyes shifted downcast before she spoke, "Grown-ups do it all the time."

"Grown-ups are assholes."

The vulgarity surprised her, her head rose back up before she let out a little laugh.

"Some people used to yell at me, too, you know." Levi explained as he moved closer, he took a few steps until he was standing just in front of her, "And I don't want to be like them..."

She nodded, she understood what he was saying to her but she knew he hadn't meant to hurt her feelings, "You're not like them. You're different."

Levi appreciated her forgiveness. "I got you something." Her young eyes flew wide open as she was presented with a decorative, first-edition type book.

Ozma of Oz.

She accepted the gift in her hands, her excitement overtaking logic for a few seconds... her joy dwindled as she remembered why she couldn't take it.

"I can't take this in the house... Darius." She somberly looked back up at Levi.

"All the bathrooms in the building have the same kind of ceiling. The ceiling tiles around the vent move if you push them. So you push one, put the book in there and slide it closed." Levi carefully delineated the place she could hide her book from Darius to her.

"Like a secret hiding place? Cool... Thank you." Her grip on her new book tightened as she knew confidently that she could keep it safe away from Darius now.

"Don't worry about Isabel. Have a good night..." He stood up to leave, but left a bag filled with takeout food on the steps close to the young girl, "If you want it, it's here."

Isabel grinned as she reached over for the bag.

Levi had not woken up in such a miserable state since he still lived with Furlan, the man caused him to suffer from daily headaches. But Eren wasn't like that, he hated comparing them because there was nothing to compare.

Eren was so different in all the best ways, and he was amazed that he could feel such a deep, pure love towards Eren. He thought all love felt the same but with Eren, it ignited him with such intense passion and emotion he hadn't known he could even feel...ever. He liked it though, it was new and exciting. He only wished Eren felt even a faction of how he did, but he just didn't know.

His thoughts ran wild while he got up and ready for the day, he needed to get to the store early to check on Reiner. But as he walked to Kenny's his overthinking didn't help at all...

You are not responsible for my feelings Eren, I am. But for the record, I feel like absolute shit right about now. What was the point of taking me to that party? Am I not special to you? Am I just your friend because you don't want someone like me? Was Reiner was right?

In the alleyway behind the bookshop, Levi carried a small paper bag with Reiner's breakfast and prepared to go down the steps to enter the back door to the basement when he heard something. He turned around, expecting to see another person yet he was surprised to come face to face with a small cat. He had seen this particular one a few times this past month, he figured it was a stray cat and fed it when he got the chance.

He definitely wasn't a cat person, they were too messy and noisy, although this one seemed to tug on his heart strings. The cat never made much noise or any sound really, she only gazed at him with her big eyes. As odd as it sounded but Levi felt bad for the little cat, it reminded him of when he was living on the streets before Kenny found him.

Levi was no expert but he was certain cats shouldn't be eating gluten-free breakfast bagels, but it was the only thing he had. He tore a half of the sandwich off and threw it in front of the cat, apparently it was what the cat was interested in because she quickly ran towards the bread and began to eat it.

The basement felt colder than usual as he placed the rest of Reiner's breakfast in the transfer box, though Reiner made no move to get up. He sat in the middle of the cage looking sick and tired. "Enough of this, man." He uttered out the stifled words as he looked up to Levi through the glass.

His voice was low, with an inconsolable tone, "I've had a lot of time to think in here... You're right. I am a fraud. I've done things... things worse than you. And that's how I know, Levi, you're not a killer." Levi could sense the honesty through his words, he hadn't thought Reiner would get to this state. He appeared broken and utterly vulnerable as he sat miserably on the hard floor of his prison.

"I'm gonna tell you something, and once I tell you... I'll know your worst secret, and you'll know mine... Then you can let me go."
...

Reiner sent him to his apartment, explaining that his secret was kept locked in his nightstand in the form of a small drive. That drive apparently contained video footage of the worst thing Reiner had ever done, Levi couldn't imagine what that was but he would soon find out.

The video started out your standard-issue frat hazing as Reiner and his friends tormented a young man at the back of their frat house near a pool, but soon enough a certain intensity kicked in. 

"Teach this bitch a lesson! Teach him a lesson!" Reiner and his group of friends chanted out as they hazed a young man who didn't seem entirely conscious. They threw alcohol on him and forced him to drink until he physically couldn't anymore. They smacked him around, thrashed him and Reiner dashed him into a pool.

They all stood there, laughing. And Reiner was the worst, because he stood there holding the camera. The victim's body floated in the pool while they snickered among themselves, cracking up with laughter as Reiner picked up a stick to poke the boy.

"Oh shit! Shit, man. Get him out!" A voice among the group started to panic as they realized the boy was not moving. They pulled him out, slapped his face to wake him up, "Wake the fuck up man!" Reiner smacked his face harder, shook his shoulders but nothing changed, the boy laid there dead.

Their parents made it go away, but Reiner kept a copy of the video, I assume to hold over his friends' heads.

Instead, I get to hold it over Reiner's. And he doesn't deserve it, but he's right. It is enough to buy his freedom.

Levi had seen enough, he slammed the laptop screen down as he exhaled a sigh as he thought of what the hell he was meant to do with this new information.

While Levi was struggling to think of a solution for his Reiner problem, Eren stood outside Shadis' office, afraid to confront his professor after their previous encounter in the pub. He took a few breaths to steady himself and calm down. His palms felt sweaty and his heart was beating at an alarmingly fast rate. He shrugged off his backpack, to find a paper tissue to dry his hand but instead his hand settled on his phone instead. The cold device was a welcome suprise in his warm hands, and it made an idea come up in his mind...

He knocked on the office door, and walked in after he heard Shadis tell him to enter. He didn't wait before speaking, "I, uh... I just... I want to ask you to please reconsider. I need the TA job. I really -- please I need housing."

"Have you put some thought into my offer since we last met?" Shadis looked unbothered as he didn't even look up at Eren, instead he continued making notes on his desk.

"I have but-- but you're married, how could you want anything to do with me?" Eren couldn't understand why Shadis was so willing to commit adultery, it honestly disgusted him.

"If your answer is no, then you already know mine." He finally looked up at Eren, while he leaned back in his chair. His face was cold, with scarily vacant eyes, "I don't think you understand the full benefits of having a tenured professor favoring you like this? I could make your time here so easy? I have agents interested in young writers with one phone call, I could give you a career, if... if you are willing to give me something back."

"Can we... maybe discuss placing me with another advisor?"

"You want another advisor?" He questioned but paused after... the silence was deafening for Eren. The professor suddenly stood up, taking a few steps towards his student before speaking, "It might have passed over your pretty little head the favoritism I have been affording you." Shadis remarked in a patronizing manner to the young boy.

"I won't beg for your affections, and if you refuse nothing bad will happen.... Of course, I can't be as lenient with your work as I am currently, no extended deadlines or extra help. You may find it difficult to continue passing my classes, and have trouble graduating with honors." A crooked smile slyly appeared on his face while he elaborated on the exact position Eren was stuck in.

"You can't just do that. There are rules. Rules you're breaching, I can tell on you if you fail me because I didn't want--"

"And what exactly would you say? I've done nothing inappropriate. You want to make yourself a public liar, that actually would sink your career." He sneered and took the last few steps towards the boy, so he was stood right in front of him. "Why not choose to make your life easier, Eren?"

The old professor reached out his wrinkled, pale arm to touch his students, but Eren sprang back, away from him.

"No! You and your stupid TA position can get fucked." He voiced exasperated, before he bolted out of the office.

...

He sat alone at the library marking what would be his last papers for his TA position. He had always complained in his mind about the shitty work Shadis made him do but now he has lost his job, he could only stare dismally at the papers in sadness. Fuck Shadis and his bullshit he thought to himself.

"Hello."

Eren turned his attention towards the young woman's voice in front of him, she looked familiar but Eren couldn't recollect their name. She definitely wasn't in any of his classes, although it could of been one of his students... or ex-students now.

"I'm Ilse. Umm.. I... I'm in the class you teach with Mr. Shadis." The girl was nervous, her unsteady words made Eren feel on edge, was she going to tell Eren some bad news or that she got the job from him? That wouldn't make sense, she's only in her first year.

"Right. Sit down, is everything okay?" Ilse listened, she sat quite close to the brunette.

"The thing is, it's just... just-- the point I'm trying to make is...that everything is messed up."

"What is? What's wrong?" Eren was curious, he had a bad feeling about it in his gut.

"You're always nice in class so I thought-- I'm only telling you because I really don't know what else I can do?"

"Tell me what?"

"Shadis he... he tried something with me. He wanted... wanted me --" She paused to steady her nerves before speaking again, "Do you understand what I'm trying to say?"

"He... propositioned you?"

"Yes. Yes, he wanted me to give him a blowjob." She whispered so quietly, Eren could barely hear what she was saying. "He said I would pass if I did. And he's been failing me ever since and I don't know what to do... I've been missing all my classes to avoid him, and the college threatened to kick me out if my attendance and grades don't improve..."

"Ilse--"

"I couldn't tell another professor, I just couldn't say the words aloud to them... But I figured telling you was different. You believe me right? Because that's all I have, my word on this and if you don't--"

"I believe you. I do, okay. I just... not sure I'm the best person to help you. I'm sorry--"

"Why?"

"Because... I can't even help myself. We've... both been forced into similar positions."

"Oh god... Are you saying-- He harassed you? You're his student and TA, have you told--"

"I'm not his TA anymore, he took the job from me... He's a tenured professor here, respected and well liked. They won't take our word over his. He would say we plotted against him because we're both failing his classes. Honestly, I've been too afraid to tell because..."

Eren put his head down, and took a breath before he could continue, "I'm ashamed of how I acted with him for years. I let too much slide, the dirty comments and inappropriate touching... How can I report him when he thinks I encouraged it the whole time?"

"Don't say that shit!" A sudden discordant tone from the quiet girl made Eren flinch, "You're not to fucking blame, okay. Don't think that even for a second. He's the only guilty one here and I won't just-- just let him get away with this. We can report him... together."

"I tried to speak to him to get my job back today and well -- I recorded the whole thing. But, I'm not sure it's convincing enough... maybe it would just get us into trouble?"

"You have a recording? They can dismiss one or even two people, but they have to accept a recording as evidence. They can't dismiss it!"

The two young students stood strong together as they endeavored through their college towards the office door of the head of their department.

Eren felt anxious as he made his way home, when he got to his entrance, he was pleasantly surprised to see his Aunt Faye, who he had not seen in many years.

"Auntie?" He called out.

"There you are. My perfect little nephew." She ran up to him and embraced the young boy, "How I've missed you."

"How -- When did you get here?"

"Well, I haven't been waiting long for you, but I've been in New York for a few days."

"I can't believe you are here. You're really here." He hugged her again.

Eventually, they both pulled apart and Eren opened the door, allowing them both to enter his home.

"I've got something to tell you." Faye said, smiling bright, so excited to finally reveal her secret to him. She couldn't wait any longer as she shoved her hand in his hand, "I'm getting married."

Eren gazed amazed at the beautiful engagement ring on her finger, he gently held her hand to get a better look. "Oh my, who's the lucky man?"

"He lives here, in New York. And we met when he travelled to Germany for work and we've been inseparable ever since."

Faye looked as if there were stars in her eyes speaking about her love, she walked across his studio and plopped on his bed.

He followed suit, taking a seat besides her, "And if he lives here, does that mean--"

"It means I am moving here. Permanently!" She eagerly proclaimed raising her hands in excitement.

"I can't believe it. That's-- it's so great. We can see each other all the time. When is the wedding?"

Eren saw the stars disappear from her eyes immediately, her face turned stern and she pursed her lips.

"The wedding... well that's what I wanted to talk to you about, Eren." She took his hands into her warm, soft ones as she avoided eye contact. "What's wrong?" Was he not invited or something? Eren had no idea, but he wanted to go.

"The thing is... I know you and your father have a complicated relationship but... but he really wants to reunite with you at the wedding. He is doing so much better these days, and the only thing he wants is to make everything up to you."

Eren took a breath to calm himself, the mention of his neglectful father made his heart pound in his chest. It was more than complicated... it was broken. His father made that choice when he abandoned him after his mom died.

He just left him and never looked back. It was years later when Grisha tried to contact him, he called and sent letters. Eren had ignored it all despite how desperately he wanted to reply back, there was nothing he craved more than to reconcile with his father but there was always something that held him back. His unrelenting anger and sadness towards his father made it feel impossible for him to reunite with Grisha.

And there was something darker to it as well, he wanted his father to hurt like he did when he left. But was it time to finally stop all that and see him again?

"I'm not sure..."

"I didn't expect you to be. I understand it, I really do... I just wanted you to know the opportunity is there for you. I'm not here to tell you what to do-- but, I think it's hurting you both." Eren said nothing to respond, but it wasn't silent for long.

"And there is something else I wanted to show you." She pulled a small envelope from her pocket and she handed it to him, "Here."

Eren took it and peeped inside, wondering what it could be... it was a card? He took it out, a dark blue prepaid card?

"I know it's not easy to be alone in the big city, Eren. And Hannes told me--"

"I told him not to. I'm fine. I've got a job, student loans and--" Faye gently placed her warm hand on top of his, silently interrupting him.

"Listen Eren, I know all that. And you don't know how proud I am of you for working so hard, so relentlessly to achieve your dreams. You've done so much hard work but so did I, and your father did as well. Back in Germany when we were much younger, sometimes he would work three jobs to help the family... he didn't want me to work but I did too. We weren't just working for ourselves but for our future, and your that Eren. Grisha, well-- he..."

She exhaled a small breath before she spoke again, "He had a very difficult relationship with your grandfather, he always told how when he had kids, he wouldn't let them work like us, how he would support them in every way. His dreams became my own, I want to take care of you like no one did for us. You're my nephew and you've already had to handle so much in your life, let me help you in this one small way. It would mean the world for me if I could just help you. I love you so much and I don't want you struggling when you could be enjoying life in this great city."

There was a swell of emotions inside of him, but the most powerful on building up within him was love. Aunt Faye always managed to make him feel like that, "I don't... don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything." She embraced him in a tight hug.

"Thank you. I'm so... so grateful."

"Oh, my sweet boy. I care so much about you, and now I'll be here to show you every chance I get."

Eren felt so happy as he hugged his auntie back. Things were looking up for him.

Should I have changed the subject? On that balcony. Tried to kiss you sooner? It's not fair, how easy it is to kill a spark. It's a miracle love ever happens, if it's not a myth.

Levi was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a little knock against the glass walls of the store, he looked up and gazed upon the gorgeous face that belonged to the men who tormented his mind. Why was Eren here so early? Why was Eren here at all?

He made his way over to the door and unlocked it, Eren slipped through before Levi could open the door fully.

"Hello..." Levi spoke first as he walked back to the counter.

"Hey, I came over to say... Thanks to you, I stood up for myself."

"What happened?"

"Another student and I reported Shadis and he's officially under investigation and suspended as far as I know, but... I was honestly scared we were going to get kicked out or something."

"I'm glad he won't be bothering you anymore. I mean, I was worried... about you. But, with any luck he'll never teach again."

"Well, I wouldn't have had the guts if you hadn't-- ... so, really, thank you."

All I want to do is help, Eren.

"You're stronger than you think. I didn't do anything, it was all you. That's why I believe in you."

"But you saw something in me and not everyone else does. I thought you should know that it really meant a lot to me."

He pushed a small, light blue bag close to Levi's face, "It's a thank you donut..."

The older a bit taken back by the brazen attitude of the boy, slowly reached out and took the bag.

"Aren't you going look? See if I guessed the right flavor?" Levi opened the bag and peered inside. "Classic, glazed, and secretly better than all those crazy, trying too-hard ones."

It is nice to be seen.

"Thank you, Eren." Levi barely had the chance to look back up before Eren leaned forward. Although his heart fluttered at their closeness, he knew not to duel on any excitement it began to stir within him. They've played this game twice now, and he wouldn't fall for it again. Eren was not ready to kiss him yet and he had to be okay with that. He could be patient... for Eren he would wait for eternity.

"Levi," his name was chanted in a whisper from the brunette's pink lips, "...there was something else on my mind as well."

"And what is that?"

"I just... just wanted to tell you..." his voice was so low, Levi felt as if he was straining his ear just to hear his words, "I had a great time with you the other night."

It wasn't the kind of confession Levi yearned for hear, he knew Eren appreciated him as his friend last night, he couldn't have been more clear if he banged Levi over the head with a club inscribed with the word friend on it.

"Yeah, me too." He said back, or sighed back really as he moved around the counter to prepare the register. The store was opening soon and he still had tons of work to do... his hand speedily coded in the digital keys to the register before he heard Eren bid his goodbyes, "I have to get to class now."

He didn't want Eren to go, he truly wanted to reignite their spark so Eren would see Levi in a romantic way but how exactly was he meant to do that. He thought they were on the right track before, Eren did choose to go out with him and call him at the bar, but perhaps he misread the situation. He responded the only way he could, "Have a good class, Eren." He raised his head to see a sad little smile on the brunette's face, he nodded his head and turned to leave.

Levi focused on the register that was now prepared for transactions, he exhaled a slight sigh at his disappointment. What idiot lets a precious boy just walk out without trying to tempt him to stay, even if it's just seconds longer. His time with Eren was sacred, but he just let it pass by.

A few seconds passed by, but he hadn't heard the bell by the door... just as he raised his head, a wicked nerve ran through his body as he felt Eren's warm fingers against his right arm. Eren hadn't left, he had returned to Levi's side and whispered, "Umm... can we go in there?" He pointed in the direction of the small office behind the counter, Levi raised a brow at the request... the room was small, stuffy and filled with books, why would Eren want to go in?

Nevertheless, without a word he walked ahead into the office space with Eren following behind him, the young boy shut the door with a little slam barely a second after he got in.

"I wanted... I've wanted to ask you something for-- well for a while now..." Eren's verdant eyes found contact with Levi's, as he struggled to speak. "I don't know how else to say it, so...so I'm just going to... is there... is there anything going on between us?"

Levi's once impassive expression morphed into a surprised one, his steel eyes widen and he opened his mouth to confess but a pretty, soft finger was pushed against his lips, silencing him.

"Wait! Before you say anything, I just... I needed to say that I know you didn't like that party. But I barely go to those kind of parties anymore, and I know I'm a mess right now... I didn't mean to emotionally dump on you with money and professor problems. I'm working on all of that, and that guy you saw me with the other night, he's-- we're not together, like at all. So if you thought--"

"Eren. You don't need to say any of that to me." Levi had gently moved Eren's hand just enough to be able to get a word in, he held the dainty fingers in his warm hands. Eren's fingers tightly wrapped themselves around Levi's strong hands, as he quickly spoke again, "I just needed you to know--"

"I like you."

"You... you do?"

"Yes. I like you, Eren. I like everything about you... Honestly, I thought you were indifferent to me.

"No! I really like you, Levi."  He lowered his gaze, shying away from the man he admired. His cheeks felt on fire, he must have been blushing the whole time. He felt strong fingers moving his chin up, so that he was looking back at Levi, "I just can't believe you like me back." 

"How could I not?" He stood staring at the beautiful brunette, they both felt an undeniable urge to get closer to the other. Their lips collided in a unison of love and passion. Levi's hands held Eren's cheek as he pulled the boys down more, a little whine left Eren's mouth...

Soft tan hands reached out to hold onto Levi's shoulders, as he didn't trust himself not to lose control of his knees when Levi had him in such a state.

When they pulled apart, Eren was just a little out of it as he sucked in a breath to calm himself. Levi's silver-blue eyes pierce its gaze at the beautiful boy before him, not wanting to forget how perfect he looked at this moment, he committed it all to his memory... locking away deep in his mind, where he could treasure it forever.

Eren face lit up with a smile, and he let out a little laugh, "I've been... wanting to do that for a long time."

"You have no idea." Levi found himself with a smile on his own face as he spoke. His heart was finally at peace now he knew Eren liked him back. Even being so close to the boy was electrifying, he wanted more of course but he refused to rush his precious Eren, they would go at a pace he was most comfortable with.

Eren's very being consumed him, his mind, body and soul radiated towards the young boy. He hadn't believed he could feel this way. He was utterly enthralled by Eren, he didn't even know how to handle these new emotions he felt.

"I do, I've been dreaming of this since we met." Eren's stubborn words were proclaimed before he quickly pulled Levi back into a kiss. It wasn't intense, his lips moved across Levi's affectionately, not as needingly as before, but it felt as though it lasted a little longer.

Eren pulled back to hastily ask, "Are you busy tomorrow? I was thinking we could have dinner together but if you're--"

"I'm not." Levi was just as quick to assure, making Eren beam at the news. "Good. It's a date." He leaned forward to steal another kiss.

"Did you get it? The video?"

Reiner's desperate voice questioned Levi as soon as he entered the basement that night.

Levi said nothing as he placed an oat-latte in the glass exchange box for Reiner. He saw Reiner's face, plastered with pure anguish and bulging eyes, Levi knew what he wanted to hear, "I saw the video."

"Yes, yes, yes!" He practically sang in happiness and balled his fists in relief that his plan had worked, he finally took the drink and swallowed the coffee, "Oh! Mutually assured destruction!" He commemorated with a grin, so thankful this nightmare was about to end.

"Let's talk about something first...What you said about Eren basically being a gold digger?"

"I was just being honest, that's all."

"What you are is wrong. You create the problem when you assume this stuff about him... when you treat him like trash. You cast him in a role that isn't him, and you trap him in it."

"Bro, I'm done with him! I don't want him... seriously. After this he will never see me again!" Reiner spoke back in a definite manner, and Levi believed him. He wasn't in love with Eren, and when he got out he wouldn't try to pursue things with him.

Levi nodded to acknowledge he heard what Reiner had said, "Say I can trust you. I've got the video, right? The thing is... that doesn't make up for all of the damage you've done."

"I'm sorry for all that shit! Fuck! I regret the way I treated him, okay? When you let me out, I'll... I'll apologize to him for everything. I swear!"

"Like you said, I'm not a killer," Levi spoke in a cold manner, no expression on his face as he slowly walked up to the glass cage, "But this is about him."

Reiner tightly held onto the coffee cup as with a panicked look unsettled on his face, his voice was distraught as he started, "I'm telling you--"

His pale neck convulsed wildly as he tried to speak. His breathing was uneven as his mouth tried to suck in as much air as possible. In panic, he placed his hand over his pulsing throat but it did nothing to help. His cup fell from his weak hand, and splashed all over the ground.

He looked at Levi for help as he gasped so desperately for air, his choking sounds got louder until he fell backwards, unable to support himself any longer. He shook violently, his strained fingers contorted within themselves as he struggled to take in any air.

Levi watched the dreaded event with curious eyes, he honestly hadn't known what to expect when he fortified the latte with a few spoonfuls of peanut oil. His steel eyes watched on as Reiner took his last trembling breath. After a few moments, Levi entered the cage and stood before Reiner's dead body.

Could've gone either way. He's lied about so many things. Who knew? The peanut allergy was real.

I couldn't let him go after everything he did to you, Eren. 

He wasn't a good person, he was rotten to his core. A privileged, selfish, bigoted, abusive murderer.

And now he's gone forever. Never to hurt you again.

When Levi returned home that night, he went straight to his bathroom, carefully moving a ceiling tile which revealed his secret hiding spot. Within the dark ceiling, two boxes sat alongside each other.

A distinct rose gold metal rectangular one with a lock and a more ordinary wooden box. He took hold of the wooden one, and dumped Reiner's phone on top of an old book inside. Shoving the wooden box back up in the ceiling before more delicately removing the metal one.

He opened it to reveal an array of sentimental items he collected from being around Eren; the receipt the boy had signed the day they first met, the black underwear he took from Eren's apartment, the bloody napkin he used to clean Eren's wounds after his subway accident, Eren's old cracked phone and now, he gently placed the small paper bag Eren had gifted him with this morning with a smile gracing his face.

I'll always protect you, my love.

Chapter Text

The sun happily shined over the city. Levi woke up early at dawn, it reminded him of all of his prior mornings following Eren.

So much has changed since then, Eren lost his TA position and quit his yoga job. But it was all for the best, now instead of stalking his precious Eren, Levi could actually spend time with him.

Last night they had an amazing dinner together, his eager little puppy told him all about his lovely aunt and the money she gave him to look over himself.

It made Levi happy, knowing Eren wasn't going struggle through his days as much now. It was a burden uplifted from his delicate shoulders that had already had to bear too much.

But right now, things were going perfectly for them...

It's been three days since our first kiss. Things are looking pretty good for us.

You wanted us to meet up for coffee and go on a walk in the morning sun...

A small, novel cafe located on one quiet street corner in Manhattan Valley, it served a whole menu of unique beverages and it was a good walking-distance to Eren's college.

They met in the coffee house, were promptly served their drinks and set out on a peaceful amble along the beautiful Riverside.

Eren blissfully sucked on his paper straw, the sweet iced-latte tasted delightful as he swallowed the cold drink.

An uplifting smile came upon him, a tantalizing warmth gleamed deep within him, it radiated throughout his body making him feel light and velvety.

His mind occupied with thoughts of how wonderful it was to be walking with Levi.

He was also ecstatic that at last he was placed with a new advisor.

"I'm finally going to meet my new advisor today. She's amazing, you know... she has gotten so many of her MFA students working with agents, like real book publishing agents... that could be me one day."

"I don't doubt it."

Levi felt exultant when he discovered that a sweet blush flourished on Eren's cheeks after his comment.

Eren must have noticed as well because a nervous smile overcame him, which was adorable.

Eren tried to turn away to hide his face, he brought his cup up to drink again before he continued to speak,

"I've got a better chance now I don't have to work. It's liberating, I can finally focus... but it's also scary. When I used to bomb an assignment, I shifted the blame on how busy I was but now I don't have anything to blame but myself."

"All the brilliance will be you too. Great writers needed time to think about what they wanted to write."

"Hmm...." Eren couldn't find the words to speak after Levi's ones to him. Tender compliments from the older man were so gratifying to Eren, his chest felt warm and his heart raced with excitement. He felt he needed to change the subject so Levi wouldn't see how easily flustered he had got.

"Oh, my bed has one more night in it before it collapses in on itself," he laughed, "I was thinking of going to the store and picking a new one out."

Levi's thought slipped out of his mouth as quickly as it popped into his mind, "I can take you."

"Really?"

"Yes, we can take it back to your apartment in my car too."

"I didn't know you had a car..."

"I never drive it. My uncle gave it to me, so I just keep it around. So, we can go as soon as you want."

"That's so great, I've literally been dying for a new bed for... I don't even know how long."

You deserve so much, Eren. And I want to be the person who gives it all to you. The one who sees you. You deserve that after Reiner.

Eren had been waiting for a good time to bring up the situation of Levi's ex. He was naturally curious after that odd encounter at Mikasa's party.

He spoke carefully, feeling, "So... your old boyfriend, that person at Mikasa's party was talking about... Furlan, was it?"

Levi's stoic face didn't display any change in emotion but inside he dreaded the prospect of Eren wanting to dig deeper into his old life with Furlan. The man he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. The first person he had opened his heart to, only for it to be broken beyond repair. Or so he thought. 

Furlan. I'm not sure how to tell you about him yet.

Even with no clue of Levi's inner anguish, Eren sensed that the older man was not at ease to speak on the matter, "Sorry if I'm pushing you, I know you said you didn't want to talk about it last--"

"Don't worry. There's just not much to speak about. I mean, it's the old story - thinking you're right for someone, and you're not."

"Hmm..." Eren felt resolved in the fact that he wasn't going to get any information from Levi at that moment, but it didn't stop him from pushing just a bit further, "Maybe you can tell me sometime over a drink?"

"Maybe... after ten drinks."

"Yeah. Ten?" Eren laughed, he couldn't imagine Levi who was always calm and put together drunk. But at least there was hope that when Levi was ready or just really drunk, he would get the truth about Furlan.

Although Levi was sweet and always kind to him, Eren knew he was not the type of person to fall in love easily, so of course Furlan was playing on his mind a lot.

Last night, Levi had walked him home but refused his offer to stay over. His mind went to the worst of places... he couldn't help but feel like he was just a placeholder for Levi. A rebound until this Furlan person eventually returns and takes him back.

The brunette boy found himself confused, Levi had told him he liked him, that he liked him a lot. They had been making out ever since the confession, but anything sexual was just not initiated by the older man and certainly not reciprocated when Eren had tried. What could be the reason, unless Levi wasn't over Furlan?

He hadn't been with Levi for long but the last thing he needed was for his ex to come back in the picture. And as far as he knew, Furlan wasn't even living in the US. He hoped Levi wasn't the forgiving type, surely he wouldn't want Furlan back after the man had the audacity to cheat on him. That thought calmed his mind down, and Levi said he wasn't right for him, Eren really didn't need to worry about his stupid, cheating ex.

The pair walked up the Riverside until they could see Eren's campus in their sights. They stopped to bid farewell to one another.

"Thanks for walking with me..." Eren said as he pulled Levi towards him. He pressed his lips against Levi's as the two embraced each other.

Levi held Eren close, his fingers warm from the sun placed on the soft, golden skin of the boy's face. He bestowed chaste kisses against his angel's impassioned mouth.

Eren was always enthusiastic about kissing Levi, and perhaps the older man would act the same if he wasn't invariably stunned by the brunette.

Locking lips with Eren knocked Levi into his own dream world, his senses gone and mind reduced to nothing but Eren...

The older man reluctantly pulled away, only for his eyes to fall upon Eren's pouting lips and puppy dog eyes.

"Come on, don't give me that face. You need to get to class." Levi's words were true, the brunette was already pushing his luck with the time and he knew it, which he why he had to concede.

"I know, I know... I just," he tightly wrapped his arms around Levi's body before whispering into his ear, "I just want to be with you all the time."

The quiet remark sent a shiver of excitement through Levi. He returned the gesture, embracing the boy with his strong arms, glad Eren felt the same way he did.

Unfortunately, time was not on their side and eventually they had to part ways. Levi wasn't happy to see Eren walking away from him, he wished he could follow him around campus like he had done so many times before but...

Right now, I have something rather pressing to deal with.

You're finally moving on. And now that you've dealt with Reiner, it's time for me to do the same.

Levi took a quick bus ride to get straight to Kenny's.

How exactly does one get rid of a body? I can't just google this kind of thing without creating a pretty damning evidence trail.

But after considering all of my options for the past few days, I think I finally have a plan for Reiner.

Here's what I know. There can be no dead Reiner for you to mourn. He needs to disappear for good.

Reiner's iPhone became an invaluable tool to help aid Levi's plan, all he had to do was post regular updates on his active social media accounts and no one would blink twice about his 'disappearance'.

Already handled the optics on social media. Portrait of a dude hard-partying his way off the grid.

Levi had made one more trip to Reiner's apartment since he found the hard drive there. He packed a bag, ensuring he selected all of Reiner's personal items and clothes, anything he would absolutely need on one of his getaways. That way, when his friends and family start to get worried, it won't seem too suspicious when they investigate his home.

But that was the easy part, the difficult part was dealing with his actual corpse...

As for the body, cremation seems expedient. But that requires chemicals, a steady blaze, and absolutely no dental records.

Smashing out a person's set of teeth was a brutal task, but it had to be done. And as for burning Reiner's corpse, well that was going to be an issue.

Fortunately, for Levi, luck was on his side because there was an upcoming bomb fire night where a bunch of idiots would be burning all kinds of shit in the middle of the forest.

It was the perfect cover for the huge fire he needed to finally get rid of Reiner. But that still wasn't until a few days which meant he had to keep Reiner in the basement the whole time... his cold dead body, it's foul odor and spirit tainting his book cage every moment he was there.

Levi was forced to slow down the natural biological roll-on Reiner. It's all about temperature and humidity. He had to drop the temperature to the lowest level and cramp as many old humidifiers the store had close to the body.

He knew the low temperature and humidity put all the rare books at risk. Even the small changes to their environment would leave them dry, brittle and lost forever.

But he wasn't going to let that happen. It was only temporary, then with Reiner gone, everything would fall into place.

An electric excitement buzzed passionately within Eren with every step he took forward on his way to officially meet his new advisor.

It wasn't long before he stood outside the seminar room and knocked on the door, a beat later he heard, "Come in."

The brunette stepped in the duskily lit room, with the only source of light dimly shining through the windows,

"Hi, there. I'm Eren Yeager. I'm your new MFA transfer...."

He took a few more steps in the room which was empty but there was wooden door archway further in, he assumed his advisor was waiting there.

He was a little taken back when a young woman appeared through the archway, "Oh, sorry. I'm was-- I'm looking for Professor Brzenska?" He spoke as he walked towards her with a perplexed expression on his face.

The girl looked of similar age to the brunette, give or take a few years, she had a pretty sort of complexion of pale skin and pitch-black hair that just went past her shoulders, but it was tied in two separate parts that she had brought forward.

The raven-haired girl was dressed smartly, with a nice but peculiar pendant around her neck.

"Eren, is it?" She inquired with a modest smile.

"Yes..." Eren extended his right hand out, "Hi..."

The girl did the same as she gave her name to him, "Mina Carolina." And they shook hands.

"I heard you were joining us. We meet here for workshop on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Brzenska is nothing like Shadis, though, so bring your A-game."

Mina disclosed the information in what some may assume was a condescending tone.

However, it went right over Eren's head, as his mind distracted him with the thoughts of absolute elation he had of finally being free from the demonic Shadis.

"I intend to." A set of gears began to turn in his brain, as it suddenly clicked why Mina's name was familiar to him,

"You know, I actually... I read one of your essays in the Review last month, and it was so illuminating... I mean, I tweeted it."

An initial look of beholden written on her face soon morphed into a complacent expression at the mention of Twitter.

She took in a breath before in a voice of the typical malapert she declared, "Social media. It's like the next great genocide of our generation."

The unconventional sort of patronizing words failed to fly past Eren this time around, he stood quite awkwardly and lowered his gaze out of nerves.

He nodded slightly along, but said nothing because he had not a clue in his mind of how to respond to that.

Luckily, or unluckily for the brunette, Mina was the one to break the silence as she asked, "Jersey, right?"

"Sorry?" Unnerved and feeling confused, Eren voiced the single word as a question.

"That's where you're from?" She elaborated with a foxy smile.

"No," jittery laughter left him as he corrected her, "I'm from Nantucket."

"Oh, interesting." Why was it so interesting? Eren thought to himself as he felt Mina's odd gaze heavily upon him, judging him? He wasn't sure but what he did know was that the silence was too much between them, he just had to break it...

"Where are you from?" The question came out before he could think of anything else to say.

"Such a tough question. I was born in Papua New Guinea, but my dad worked for the State Department, so we moved around a lot. I actually separated from my parents at one point. Did some modeling in Tokyo and--" A loud ringing sound hailed from her mobile.

It cut her off from finishing her sentence as she quickly reached for her phone from her pocket, she glanced at the caller ID for a second before answering, "Hej där mormor. Hur mår du och morfar?"

Upon hearing the unknown foreign language, Eren furrowed his brows as he stood uncomprehending and bewildered by Mina.

Mina moved the phone from her ear and placed her small hand over it as she explained, "I'm sorry. It's my grandparents. I'll see you in class, okay?"

He mustered up the best goodbye he could in his current state, which was a tight smile accompanied with an anxious laugh and the single word, "Okay."

Mina only nodded and turned to stroll into the same room she was in before Eren had arrived, leaving him alone.

He was still able to hear the language he couldn't quite name as he was left feeling awkward while Mina happily chatted to her grandparents,

"Nej, jag är inte upptagen, jag pratade med en ny pojke som gick med i vår verkstad. Han verkar trevlig. Men hur har vädret varit där uppe? Du vet att jag kommer att hälsa på så snart jag kan..."

The nervous smile swept off his face, his shoulders sagged and he frowned on his way out.

...

In a crowded, misty bar lit only by dim lights against the dark-painted walls and burning candles, Eren stood beside his best friend as he recalled the terribly awkward meeting, he had...

"And then she walked away, and I melted into the earth." He confided in Mikasa as he leaned against the small table they were around, while their other friends were sitting at the bar.

Mikasa's shrewd eyes narrowed as she listened to her friend, without hesitating she commented, "Sounds like a pretentious bitch, if you ask me."

"No. Mina's amazing. She wrote this piece about how she --"

The young brunette felt Mikasa's dark gaze pierced his soul as she interrupted him, "Please, she's not amazing, Eren. Just forget about her, okay?"

Before he could say anything back or just nod along to what she said like he usually did they both got their attention stolen by Sasha's booming voice from the bar, "What the... Is that? Did he really--"

"Shhh... Don't announce it to the whole damn bar. It's a private."

"Disgusting is what it is. " Ymir voiced out, her nose crinkled in disgust. She turned her face away, unable to bear witness to the depraved photos on her good friend's phone a moment longer.

It didn't help matters that Sasha was laughing her ass off while Historia was dreamily smirking at her phone, gazing at the pictures as if they were actually a piece of art. She even tried grabbing Ymir's arm to pull her back while defending the images the freckled girl found so disturbing, "No. He's thinking about me."

Mikasa and Eren stepped over to discover what was going on, the brunette was quick to ask, "What is it?"

Historia giggled as Ymir wiggled her way out of her grasp, refusing to look at her phone, the blonde girl instead presented the crude image to Mikasa and Eren on her phone.

"Oh...uh... that's--" Eren stumbled over his words as he stood disconcerted, while the phone was pushed further into his face. The unexpecting image of a penis of who he assumed her was farm-boyfriend was forcing itself upon him.

While the photo may have uncomfortably stunned her poor friend, Mikasa was less than impressed and certainly not afraid to express what was on her mind, "I don't get it. I mean, why do men think disembodied members equal foreplay? They're not aesthetically pleasing."

"Oh, I disagree. I think it's sweet." Historia declared before putting her phone back into her own sight as she laughed with Sasha.

Ymir took a swig from her frothy beer that had been sitting out too long on the wooden bar, she shook her head as Historia swiped through more images on her phone.

"Sickening." She uttered the word to herself, thinking no one would hear it, although it was caught by one other person.

Mikasa leered over at Ymir, a sneer playing on her lips as she discreetly asked, "Jealous, Ymir?"

The freckled girl put her nose up as she swallowed the warm beer, "Ha, like I would want a guy sending me shitty pics of their tiny dicks?"

"I didn't mean that." Mikasa slyly remarked with a devious smile. Her crafty comments forced Ymir to lower her gaze to hide her embarrassed red face. Ymir glared at her beer glass, her dormant anger gradually growing with every passing remark from Mikasa, knowingly teasing about her one-sided feelings for Historia.

At times, Ymir despised Mikasa, really fucking hated her guts. She could dish out every insult, cruelly sneer at Ymir's little crush but one word about her own fondness for a certain brunette and Mikasa wouldn't hesitate to destroy her.

Literally, Ymir had witnessed it herself many years ago, when they were still studying at Brown. A young bright and ambitious girl, who worked relentlessly to earn a scholarship to Brown.

Ymir remembered a time she tried to warn her of Mikasa's character but the girl just wouldn't budge. She was obsessed with Mikasa, and Mikasa liked her too, which was rare for the raven girl to genuinely like someone, particularly a person without ties to wealth, or from a family of elite class.

While Ymir quietly raged at the bar, Levi stood a few feet away from the group, easily blending into the busy crowd. Unfortunately, that also meant everything was extremely loud, he was barely able to hear anything from Eren and his friends but he thought he had enough.

Your friends kind of treat sex like it means nothing.

But you're different, aren't you?

"Honestly, I see her point. I hooked up with some guy the other night, and the next day he sent me a photo of his... you know?" Eren blurted out before he could stop himself. Historia was finally pleased to have another person on her side, while Mikasa looked on with an obscure expression and a sharp intensity in her dark eyes.

"Whoa!" Sasha cheered him on, "Just tell me it wasn't Reiner?"

"God, no! I'm finished with that asshole." Eren was quick to assure his friends, however Mikasa was still curious.

"Already done with that little, freaky bookstore clerk?" She sniggered as she stepped closer to Eren before pushing for an explanation, "What, was he that terrible in the sack?"

"Bookstore manager." Eren corrected her before he looked down from Mikasa's gaze, feeling abashed from the improper question, "But no, we didn't... we haven't had--"

"Why not, if his height is anything to go by were you afraid you wouldn't feel his micro-penis." Mikasa snickered, and where she led everyone else followed, so it wasn't long before the others were laughing as well. It felt uncomfortable for him yet, he couldn't build up the courage to defend Levi against Mikasa.

Levi was always so calm, like nothing anyone could say would bother him, Eren admired that quality about him. He only wished he could borrow it from time to time.

I should just tell her to not speak about him like that. Stand up for yourself, Eren. Tell her! His inner voice screamed at him.

"No, it's not that, I just... just not sure about him, you know? He's is still a maybe."

Fuck! You're such a loser, Eren. Next time, keep your stupid mouth shut.

"A maybe?" Mikasa questioned, slightly amused by the concept.

The same couldn't be said for Levi, who was not too far away and heard everything. He turned his head away and lowered his gaze, hurt glistering within his grey eyes.

A maybe? I'm a maybe?

And you're still screwing other guys? Eren! How did I miss that? How did I read this so completely wrong?

While he tried to comprehend everything Eren had said, Mikasa pulled the brunette away from the others before she questioned him herself, "Look, I get that you want bone Reiner out of your system but I just want to make sure that you're respecting yourself."

Eren avoided her eyes as he tried to explain his way out the hole he dug for himself, "I mean, this is... This is my process. It's like a Reiner exorcism. I'm just exploring my options in a city of eight million people. It's only reasonable, right?"

Mikasa didn't look convinced in the slightest, but Eren had nothing more to add so he gave up, instead of elaborating further he said, "I'm gonna get a drink."

He took the opportunity to order more drinks than he should have but he couldn't resist the numbing effect of the alcohol, how he felt less shitty with every sip he took. So he kept drinking...

Despite all the booze, the night ended with Eren walking home alone, feeling like an absolute piece of lying shit. Why did I say all that back there? He thought as the cold air brushed against his face, he clutched his jacket tight but it was freezing. The coldness made him think of the man who always made him feeling warm inside, I wonder what Levi is doing?

Unbeknownst to Eren, Levi carefully followed behind him, barely a few feet away as the young brunette hurried on his way home. When he finally arrived at his apartment, Eren was grateful to finally be out of the cold as he slotted his keys into the door lock. He fell asleep almost as soon as he dropped on his warm, comfy bed, he wrapped himself in his blankets and closed his tired green eyes.

Levi could gaze upon him, not entirely but just enough to see how his precious boy fell on his bed, all alone. Like he did every night Levi watched him. He was always alone, it made Levi's heart wretch with want. His desire to be besides the boy, in his bed was astounding but he had to wait.

Love is patient and kind. And so am I, Eren. For you, I can be patient.

The freezing air didn't bother him as he stood close by Eren's home, he knew the boy had fallen asleep but it comforted him to even just be close to his angel.

He dug into his pocket and snatched Eren old, cracked phone out. He hadn't been looking through it much since he starting spending more time with Eren but now he needed to. He has access to view all the apps the brunette had downloaded, he scoured through rigorously for any suspicious ones, like Grindr or some other cheap online hook up ones...

Maybe this is your process. But a quick password search on your iCloud has revealed... absolutely nothing.

No messages about hook-ups and thankfully no nude pictures. So what? You were just lying to your friends?

Levi blew out a sigh of both relief and frustration, his breath creating a cloud of cold air before him. He wished he had the ability to look into Eren's mind and read his thoughts. The things he said and his actions don't always align right, and it was confusing for Levi.

But there was one thing he knew for sure...

This thing between us, it's new, tenuous. And the cost was a corpse. If I want to win your heart, I'm going to have to show you, Eren...

I'm not a maybe. I'm the one.

Chapter Text

An irritating vibration forced Eren's tired eyes wide open. The early alarm he had set the day before now tormented him. He groaned before sitting up on his broken bed. An unpleasant nervousness weighing heavily on his chest. There was also a part of him that was extremely excited to finally begin his first seminar with his new class.

But the set up was so different to Shadis', the whole group was sent the work of two of their peers ahead of time to read and analyze, then in the seminar they would give their critical feedback.

He felt a huge relief that he was not selected, his other peers seemed much more confident than him, which was quite nerve racking. He read through the two pieces of his classmates, but that only served to make him feel even worse. They were good, excellent even... he hoped his own work could match up to the high expectation.

To make matters even worse, Mikasa was pissed with him. He had told her again and again about his first seminar. But when it was time to leave the club last night, her face had soured as if he had insulted her. He checked his phone to see if she had left any messages for him.

She had, a few drunk ones telling him how much fun he was missing out on. He signed, a little annoyed she kept pushing him to go out. It's not like he didn't want to, she had to know that he couldn't.

Sometimes, it really felt like Mikasa wanted him to feel guilty when he couldn't spend time with her and he just didn't need that to start his day. 

His eye also caught an unread message from Levi. A smile crept on his face before he even opened it. He wondered what the man would be texting him, perhaps another meeting for coffee? He tapped on his screen, eager to see what it was... 

Morning Eren,

If you still feel nervous about class, just remember you've worked too hard to doubt yourself now. 

His eyes were glued to the screen, his heart beat sped up and he simply stood in awe. An overwhelming wave of emotion swept over him, it blazed with passion within him.

But a grave memory unsettled his bliss as his guilt from last night resurfaced. Playing down his feelings for Levi in front of his friends, he couldn't have felt more pathetic if he wanted to.

When Levi gave him everything, how could be return it all with slander? But as his eyes read back over and over the text, the answer was crystal clear to him. However, stoic or difficult to read Levi may appear, his feelings were always honest and true to himself. Levi cared for him, and he didn't let anything hinder that.

But for Eren, all his thoughts and ideas were mixed up in his head. Things were just easier when he went along with others even when it betrayed his own beliefs. He let his friends influence every part of his life, he wanted to impress them, make them happy and hang around them. He needed them to like him back in return, to want his approval or happiness but it never felt like that at all. 

Miksasa was the only person he could confidently say genuinely liked him and enjoyed his company. Sasha was always kind to him but they never shared deep conversations or anything of the sort. They were more friends by association, Eren liked hanging with her but it felt as though the only thing they spoke about was the type of food she wanted to eat.

Historia and Ymir weren't exactly his best friends. He never brings up the weird way they had actually met, and Ymir would never overtly say she didn't like him to his face but he felt it either way. Historia hid her true feelings much more, but Eren knew she wasn't overly fond of him either. It felt more like they just barely tolerated him than friends with him.

And he hadn't spoken to Armin in forever. They used to keep up constantly after Armin left for Harvard. But after a while, their chat just sort of dried up. There were less and less things to exchange with one another.

It felt as though Armin had got new, much smarter friends. He was in countless academic societies and won numerous student awards, why would he need his simple-minded friend anymore? But the more rational side of Eren knew Armin wasn't like that, and he truly was just busy.

But where did that all leave him?

Well, still feeling like an idiot for the other night. But an idiot with strong determination. Levi was right like always, he had worked hard and he had just as much right to be present in class as the other students.

The smile that had solemnly dropped from his face quickly returned in a bashful manner as he began to type out his reply to Levi's message...

"The swine and I.

Eye to eye.

My heart is his...

And that was sunset."

Connie read the poem from his iPad in a workshop room under the censorious observation of all his peers and tutor. His focus uplifted from his device and scanned the silent room. His nervous, brown eyes met with mostly blank faces, but also a few critical ones. His throat began to heighten as the awkward silence continued...

Eren's eyes initially stayed on his laptop, but the uneasy tension made him look up and the first thing he focused on was Mina.

Her dead eye expression left him feeling uncomfortable, it was as if the poem had stultified her and she didn't suppress the fact that she was not at all impressed,

"I'm not sure it had the vigilance or depth that you're capable of. I just wasn't fully invested."

She declared her criticism in that condescending voice Eren recognized from when she last spoke to him.

Eren found himself fixing his gaze upon Connie, curious to how he took the Mina's judgement. He took it well, nodding along with her statement but Eren caught onto his tighten jaw and jaded eyes. He was disappointed his piece wasn't viewed more positively by his peers.

Their tutor, Rico Brzenska stood at the front of the room, just before Eren and Mina, "Interesting, Mina. How do we maintain the reader's attention? We infuse the universal with painful specificity. Or they simply turn the page."

Her words grasped Eren complete attention, it is something he struggled with in his own writing. And he wasn't the only one with an opinion on the matter.

"Exactly." Mina expressed her concordant with the tutor.

She turned her eyes to the class as she continued to express herself, "My worst fear, and I'm not commenting on Connie's poem per se, is not to be bad but... unremarkable." She voiced out the final word as her gaze fell on Eren's forest eyes. He turned his head away to escape her patronizing eyes, and emitted a silent sigh to himself as he waited for the lesson to finally end.

"Unremarkable. That is the fear. I hope this was helpful, Connie? I think that does it for today." Rico spoke cheerfully as if this class has been a great success, Eren certainly didn't share her sentiment as he began to pack his things.

Her fingers quickly lifted her dark, academic folder and she adjusted her glasses before reading out, "Next up is Mina and... Eren. Send a piece of your choosing to myself and your fellow classmates, and we'll review them tomorrow."

Mina only smiled, it was clear she was overly excited to finally share her work with everyone. "Okay." She joyfully voiced out as she carefully shut her device.

Her enthusiasm was not at all shared by Eren, his nerves had gotten the better of him as a heavy look took over his face.

What the fuck am I going to submit before tomorrow?

...

Eren sulked his way home, his body tense and mind disjointed. When he finally arrived at his apartment, he found the smallest little things irritating the hell out of him -- the messy dishes he forgot to clean, the pile of clothes he was suppose to wash, but most of all, it has his darn bed that toppled over as soon as he sat on it.

The sudden motion had shocked him as the broken bed forced him off its side, making him land on the floor, "Argh!" 

He exhaled a heavy sigh before a beeping sound emitted itself from his new phone. He lifted himself up to get to it, as he peered down at his screen he discovered that not all was bad in his life.

He had Levi, who was currently waiting for him outside his apartment in his car so they could pick out a new bed which he desperately needed, but he needed Levi's company more than anything.

He breathed out again, but this was a sigh of relief because everything felt okay when Levi was around.

Outside Eren's home, on the opposite side of the street was parked an old-fashioned but oddly classically-modern sleek black vehicle.

The man sat inside the warm car practically buzzing with excitement to see his angel again. Within his pining soul, he had the strongest determination to show Eren that he was the one for him.

Levi was a logical person, he never felt the particular need to suppress his emotions from himself, he refused to deny himself of the cold truths the world presented him with, even when they were wicked. 

However, he was still human and on the rare occasion he did fool himself into delusional thinking, which had always evolved around Furlan.

He loved Furlan with so much of his heart, he convinced himself that love was returned wholeheartedly from Furlan's side. He truly believed Furlan loved him, no it was more than that... he thought Furlan was deeeply in love with him. That he craved and needed Levi just as badly as Levi wanted him. But those were fairy tales he created in his own mind to deceive himself of the terrible reality of his broken relationship.

He rejected any false beliefs he may of thought of Eren, he was not going to keep falling into the same traps. This time things would he different. He had to acknowledge everything about Eren, he couldn't lie to himself. 

But Eren had lied the other night with his friends at the bar, he led them into the false idea that he was having sex with people and perhaps he downplayed his genuine feelings for Levi too? 

Levi could forgive Eren not being heads over heels for him right now, but only if one day he truly was in love with him. That dream burned within Levi's lonely heart. And it didn't have to be soon, patience was cemented into Levi from his childhood, so he could wait for Eren to love him back.

But the real Eren didn't keep him waiting outside for long. The slight distant creak of Eren's building front door opening caught Levi's attention, and his eyes focused on the beautiful brunette who strolled out...

You bound down the stairs in that lovely, creamy white blouse. Your green eyes are gleaming and your finger nails sparkling so bright in the golden sun.

Your dark locks are up in a bun with only a few stray strands coming out, and you just look so perfect.

Eren excitedly strode over to Levi and pulled open the car door as he happily exclaimed, "Oh, my God! I can't believe this is your car!"

The brunette quickly buckled in before turning to face Levi, with a feverish grin on his face, "You have no idea how much I needed a new bed." 

The engine hammered away as the pair drove to the  store, with Eren recounting every detail of his miserable seminar to Levi. The ride was a short one, and soon they were parked right outside the store.

Before heading to the bedding department, Eren asked if he could glance around the home area, so they ended up browsing through the kitchen essentials section. Levi slowly trialled behind his brunette as the boy looked at overpriced drinking glasses, although Levi's mind was drastically preoccupied.

How do I segue this from Eren browsing glassware to thinking, 'Holy shit! Levi's the one'?  

The boy in question suddenly got his interest piqued as his eyes connected with the top of a display cabinet. He stepped over to it, carefully reached up to pick up a plastic ladle, "Weird." He uttered the single word before turning and presenting what he found to Levi, "I have one just like this."

Yeah, I know all about it. Reiner told me.

Eren's eyes shifted sadly to look back down at the utensil in his dainty hands, after a few seconds he continued to explain, "It was my dad's." 

The infamous red ladle. How you like to be spanked with it. Is that what you really want, Eren? 

To Levi's dismay, Eren couldn't answer his questions and only placed the ladle back in its place as he stepped away from the cabinet.

Unable to discover anything particularly useful in the home ware department, the pair made their way to the display beds already made up luxury sheets and embroidered cushions to entice customers to buy more than what they came for.

Wide green eyes scanned over all the beds carefully, a perplexed expression overcame his face.

"What do you think, Levi? I can't decide, should I get the Queen size or... maybe the King?"

Your room isn't big enough to fit a King. But I definitely shouldn't know that.

"Is your place big enough for a King?"

"No, not really." The boy huffed. A ping sound from Eren's phone interrupted them, a look of grief struck the brunette's once bright face as he glanced down at the alert on his phone, "Ugh."

The young boy allowed himself to drop down on the bed closest to him to help process the information.

"What's wrong?" Levi voiced his concern as he took a few steps towards the boy.

"This girl, Mina, in workshop. She just submitted her short story..." Eren spoke distantly as his eyes appeared glazed over, completely distracted by scanning through the submission on his phone.

"And?" Levi pressed as he now stood just before Eren, who hadn't even blinked since his eyes laid sight on Mina's story.

"And I haven't even started mine, and it's due tomorrow." Only a few seconds passed but Eren had seemingly read enough before declaring his judgement, "God. Hers..." His eyes were glued wide open as he continued to read, "It's brilliant. It's about a crow that flies into a woman's house, runs into the walls and leaves blood everywhere."

"That sounds terrible."

"Read it." Eren pushed his phone into Levi's hands with a scrunched face, he barely waited a moment before he had to ask, "Well?"

Levi skimmed along the well structured sentences, filled with riveting phrases and imagery, it certainly wasn't as terrible as it sounded but he didn't want to discourage Eren. But he couldn't lie when Eren already knew it was good, so he said nothing until too long had passed and he simply voiced out, "It's... alright."

The irritated boy sighed as he fell back against the bed, "Why couldn't it of sucked?" 

Levi joined him, he laid besides Eren on the soft bedding. The older man felt doltish by the electrified delight that ran through him by fact that he was technically in bed with Eren. The filthy images he has dreamed of in his mind of this situation never failed to make him feel like a dirty, perverted old man.

But from time to time, he gave himself permission to indulge in his own prurient fantasies. As long as they were just in his mind it couldn't do any harm, that is what he told himself at least.

Avoiding Levi's gaze, the boy stared up at the high ceiling as he spoke up in a voice just above a whisper, "Can I ask you something?" 

"Anything."

The speed and promise of dedication in Levi's low voice pushed Eren to finally turn his head yet his gaze was not properly focused on Levi when he asked, "Promise to tell the truth?"

Levi raised his hand over his heart before answering, "Scout's honor." 

"Do you think..." Eren let his head fall to the side, his emerald eyes clashed with Levi's piercing silver ones, "...I'm unremarkable?"

Levi reached his sturdy arm over, using his slender fingers to sway through the beautiful hair that had fallen besides Eren face. The older man soothed the locks back a little, Eren's ocean deep eyes never leaving his as Levi quietly spoke,

"Honestly... you are without a doubt, the single most remarkable person I've ever known."

His golden emerald orbs widened even more than they were as he took in Levi's words. A feeling that he couldn't describe took over within.

Things moved so fast, Eren could barely keep up, one moment they were gazing into each others' eyes and the next Levi had him pinned against a huge room divider a few steps away from the beds, covering them from the prying eyes of the few customers in the store with them.

The older man pressed against him, his arms tightly holding onto Eren as he passionately kissed him. The young brunette felt lightheaded as Levi moved down across his face, planting little kisses against his warm, pink cheeks, his jaw and soft, tan neck.

A tremendous amount of thoughts raced through the boy's mind, he was quickly losing track of them all, his head going crazy with every little kiss Levi pressed upon his skin.

In the back of his mind, he marvelled at Levi's shocking strength, his muscular arms that held him with such ease and Eren only now discovered how well-built and powerful the older man was as his hands pulled against Levi's hard chest while he begged for more. More of anything Levi was willing to give him.

This is it, Eren. This is the moment. I'm going to show you just how remarkable you are. If you want it, then so be it...

Levi dropped on his knees, with precise and agile fingers he started undoing Eren pants...

"Wait..wait... Stop Levi! What are you doing?"

"I thought that you... that you wanted--"

"In the middle of a store? No. Why would you think that?" Eren shrieked before turning away from Levi to leave in a rush.

I guess I read that wrong. I'm a fucking idiot!

You haven't made eye contact for the past ten minutes.

Levi carried the heavy boxes containing Eren's bed to his car and carefully piled them up in his trunk. Eren helped of course but no words were exchanged between the pair.

Things couldn't get any worse right now.

But that wasn't true, as Levi would soon discover when his phone began to ring.

"Erwin?" He answered after seeing that his friend was the one calling.

"Hey, Levi. Sorry, I know your busy but the thing is, the power's completely out here. The electrician says he thinks the system is overloaded, but he can't get to the fuse box because..." 

It's in the basement with a fucking dead body.

"...which is locked." Erwin finished.

Eren couldn't hear everything but picked up on the fact there Levi seemed to be dealing with a problem on the other side of the call.

Erwin continued, "He thinks he can pop the lock, but I just wanted to, you know--"

"No." Levi refused the offer, perhaps a little too quickly, "Just tell the electrician to go home. I'll call him later. You lock up and go home. I'll deal with it when I get back."

"All right." Levi ended the call with a face hindered with affliction that didn't slip the notice of his doe-eyed companion.

Eren stepped up besides him suddenly, uttering his first words since their little incident in the store, "Everything okay?" 

"Yes, it's fine. It's just a little problem at the shop... I should get you home." Levi spoke almost indifferently, in his usual casual but cool voice. He offered a shadow of a smile to the younger boy, to which he got a brighter one in return, though not as brazen as his usual ones. Along with a small nod of agreement, "Okay." 

While on the outside Levi appeared collected, the same couldn't be said for how he was feeling internally. But on that matter, Eren was none the wiser as he simply got into the car after Levi held open the door for him. The car ride home fell silent, as both men found they were talking to themselves into their own minds.

Eren felt a heavy burden of complete embarrassment from his actions in the store. His pink cheeks burnt as he recollected the incident, in his attempts to hide this from the older man he pretended to gaze out of the window, giving him the opportunity to turn his head away. But he couldn't avoid the voice in his head that chastised him, but what was he supposed to do in that moment? 

Levi had just called him remarkable, and he wanted to be... maybe not everyone would think he was but he needed Levi to. Because that feeling that swelled inside of him after Levi had said it, it felt like the older man was truly touching his heart, ever so gently putting it back together after being broken so many times before.

And so he just panicked when Levi tried to get into pants down. At first Eren thought it would be better to get Levi in bed at early as possible before the older man got bored of waiting but Levi wasn't into that at all. But regardless of when their first time was, Eren thought he would at least get the chance to tell Levi he was trans and that he shouldn't be expecting a penis in his underwear.

The older man just startled him because he didn't want Levi finding out like that. Now Levi must be confused and maybe even frustrated with him. Eren would have given anything to look into Levi's mind at that moment just to see what the man was thinking about him...

Levi certainly had Eren on his mind, just not in the way the boy might have expected. Of course, he was worried he had blown it in the store with Eren by pushing the young brunette too far but he also had even bigger problems running loose in his head.

I was afraid this might happen. Six humidifiers and an AC unit from the late 70s cranked to its lowest setting. Even in death, Reiner is a colossal pain in my ass.

What if Erwin had not called, just given the electrician the clear to knock the door down? I would be in prison for life and Eren?

Eren would hate me and only think of me as the creepy weirdo who stalked him for weeks.

God, he had to get rid of that fucking rotting corpse before it was too late.

Levi had dropped Eren off outside his building and rushed over to Kenny's. Upon unlocking and pulling open the basement door, he was relieved to find that Reiner's deadly odour had not spread throughout the store despite the power switching off.

But the relief was short-lived however as he only needed to take a few steps down the basement stairs before the Reiner's repulsive stink filled the dead aroma around him. His arm was quick to shelter his nose from the rotten smell as he moved forward to glare at the state of the corpse.

With the AC out deterioration speed's really picked up. Levi stood disgusted as his eyes explored the biologically dire situation of the corpse.

Reiner had to go. 

Levi held his breath before venturing over to Reiner, it was hard to see what he was doing now as the only light source came from the torch on his phone. But he managed to roll the body over in the rug that had been stained with Reiner's blood, although it was not large enough to fully cover his brawny body. Levi was lucky to be so well equipped down in the basement, he had a tough rope he needed to tie the rug around the body and durable tape to secure it in. He also found a brown sack big enough to cover Reiner at least twice over, so it wasn't long until Levi had the corpse tightly sealed up.

The only question now was how he was going to get this in the back of his car. The sun was still up high in the sky, shining its light which threatened to expose his crimes every second he was moving the body in the open if he were to do it immediately.

But Levi couldn't afford to keep the body in the basement any longer, so he was willing to take the risk. His accommodating vehicle was parked directly outside the back. He had to take the same route he fooled Reiner with in the first place, it was a little amusing to Levi as he dragged the heavy corpse through the back of the basement doors.

Levi left Reiner waiting on the last step so he could check the area was clear before he hauled the dead body to his car trunk, thankfully the streets were quiet, giving him the perfect opportunity to solve his issue. He slammed the trunk with a heavy hand and took a breath of relief, he was finally going to rid the world of this fool. But that actually had to wait until the sun went right down and others had started their own bomb fires.

He went back down to the basement and eradicated any evidence of Reiner ever being there, he threw all of his belongings in a spare black bag, he sprayed the place to hell and back with any bottle of air freshener and mist he could find to get the area in acceptable condition for the electrician to fix the power. He even managed to discover some old, scented candles that were not only helpful against the smell but also a much needed source of light in the dim basement. 

With the basement looking as though nothing had ever happened, Levi felt ready to call the electrician but when he opened his phone he found he had a 'Missed Call from Eren' followed by a series of texts from the boy.

To Levi:

Hey, did you fix the problem at the store?  (6:38pm)

Just wondering if you wanted to come over?  (6:43pm)

I can't find the bed intrustions in english :(  (6:50pm)

He cursed inwardly as he checked the time, which was now a few minutes past seven. The electrician could wait, because he had to get over to Eren's apartment, help him build the bed and hopefully salvage the mess he made with the younger boy earlier. 

The rare books are fine once again now their rid of Reiner and the basement is completely corpse-free. I can't burn the body in the daylight, so the least Reiner can do is wait in the car for a little while.

Levi's mind recalls the first time he saw Reiner outside Eren's apartment and now he's driving to the young boy's home with Reiner's corpse in the trunk. It's quite a crude thought he muses as he approached Eren's building.

He forgets all about the dead man in his car as Eren buzzes him in, this would be his first official time in Eren's home with his permission and with the boy actually there as well.

Eren had managed to find the English instructions and had successfully dismantled his old bed, making space for the new one. It was simple for Levi, the instructions were clear and he moved the heavy pieces of the bed quite easily to fit them together perfectly.

He would not blink an eye if Eren decided to just sit pretty while he did all the work but that wasn't really the younger boy's style, once he had a mission he wasn't going to stop until it was completed by his own hands. Levi inwardly smiled at the determination shining in his sparkling green eyes.

Eren wasn't an expert in following the written instructions, but he was exceptional at listening to Levi when he told him what to do.

Levi was quietly thrilled with giving orders to Eren, even if it was only to build his bed, but he would take whatever he could get.

The younger boy didn't seem upset with him but Levi still felt an obligation to make up for his indecent behaviour just hours prior. When they had finished the bed frame and base, they pulled over the mattress and wrapped it in the soft, new sheets Eren had also purchased. Once the bed was covered in blankets and Eren's numerous cushions, the pair sat down together.

Eren sat against the wooden headboard while Levi was closer to the end of the bed, the silence between them was broken when Eren confesses, "I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to get so upset."

"Don't apologize Eren. I was the one who tried--" 

"No. It's not that I didn't want it. It's just-- well I don't want you to think of me... like that."

Like a cheap whore, that's what all the men interested in him see him as. And Eren even felt it was true sometimes but he couldn't let himself feel that way with Levi. He was so different from any man Eren had fallen for in the past, and Eren wanted so badly for things to work out with Levi.

He struggled to find a way to explain himself to the older man, he huffed out a deep breath before he spoke again,

"I like you, Levi. I really like you... And I was a little in my head, to be honest. Mina's short story kind of threw me for a loop." Eren sighed, feeling discouraged from the memory of Mina's submission and reminder the intense pressure he had to send his own story to his class.

"It's not a competition." Levi assured the younger boy, noticing the sad infliction on Eren's face.

"I know, but I wonder... Am I ever gonna write anything that amazing?"

"You're talented."

Eren gives Levi a shrewd look, he had no desire for the older man to lie to him, "You don't know that." 

Levi sat up a little more, getting closer to the insecure brunette, "I know you need to get out of your head. Forget Mina. Forget everybody. Just write what you want."

But Eren has heard that before, in many different forms so it only makes him shake his head at Levi, "You say it like it's so easy."

"I know. I know. Okay, Don't think. Just answer."

"Okay."

"What hits you like a gut punch, when you think-- The first thought." 

"My dad. Before he..." Eren cuts himself off, his answer surprising even himself. It was a topic he never spoke about with others, it held too much raw emotions for him to handle. He would have thought his answer would be centered around his mother. About the incredible loss he felt in her death. But instead, the first thing that came to his mind was his father. He had so many repressed feelings about Grisha, thoughts and emotions he never let out but maybe it was time for him to at least try.

He shut his eyes, and even though he could no longer see Levi, he still felt the burning need to put his head down as he spoke, "He was an addict. It was hard. And scary."

It was the worst time of his life, after his mother had passed and his father turned to drugs before evetually abadanoning him all together.

A sad smile gradually found its way on Eren's face as he remembered how his father had tried to look after him afterwards.

"I mean, there were good days, too. Like, I always knew it was gonna be one of those when I woke up to the smell of pancakes cooking. He used this red ladle to scoop up the batter."

Wide metallic blue eyes watched the reminiscing young boy in great wonder, a sudden deep realization finally hitting him.

This is the red ladle story?

"And I would be laughing, singing along to songs on the radio. When everything would be right..."

The smiled dropped from Eren's face, "But then he'd go out and the ladle would go back in the drawer. I'd wait for the next good day... until there weren't any more."

Eren's voice was quiet and hoarse by the end of his words, he was visibly upset from the old memories but soon a warm hand reached out to soothe him.

Levi's comforting hand fell on Eren's thigh, it made the brunette look back up at the older man, staring deep into the kind eyes looking back at him.

Reiner was wrong about all of it. His whole red ladle story. You don't just want to be spanked. You want to be taken care of... to have someone who will make pancakes for you.

You want to feel safe. You want to be loved.

Eren shifts a little on the bed, trying to get closer to the other man and placing his own soft palm on top of the Levi's pale one on his leg. He took a deep breath in, preparing himself to finally tell Levi what he had been holding on to since they met, "There was something else I've been meaning to tell you, Levi."

Levi looked over his face expectantly, leaving Eren to huff out a little nervous laugh, "I-- umm... I don't know if you know and just don't wanna say anything or you actually just don't know... but I'm trans."

Knowing the topic would eventually come up, Levi had already decided to pretend he didn't know. So it would appear like he had just been waiting the whole time for Eren to tell him or that

But he noticed a drastic shift in Eren's demeanour, he's shaky and uncertain. He was worried about admitting the truth, as if Levi would refuse him. 

"Eren..." He turned the boy's face up to plant a delicate kiss against his lips before backing away a little.

The relieved brunette found himself smiling from Levi's reaction, "I was in my head too much. I seriously thought, I don't know... that it would change your feelings for me."

"I'm sorry the thought even crossed your mind." Levi softly spoke the words as his hand found Eren's trembling palm, "Nothing could change my feelings for you. But I'm glad you told me, I want you to know that you can tell me anything. I like learning new things about you."

Eren tightens his grip on Levi's hand, "What if you discover things you don't like?"

"I'm not expecting you to be perfect, Eren. I know I'm not, I just... really like being with you. You're..." Levi paused, gazed into the depths of Eren's gorgeous eyes before he finally finished, "I feel that you are so special."

"Really?" Eren's quiet voice shaken with uncertainty and insecurity, but his doubts were quickly soothed over when Levi moved closer and held his face in his palms.

"I told you before didn't I? I just like being with you."

Levi leaned forward to bring them together in a kiss, pushing his moon, pale fingers into Eren's midnight locks. He pressed his lips on Eren's eager mouth. 

Every touch placed on the needy brunette ignited a fiery passion inside of Eren, burning excitement raced through his veins the more Levi kissed him.

Eren gripped onto Levi's dark shirt, dragging him along as he falls back against his bed. Levi's lips never left Eren's mouth as he moved on top of the younger boy, but before anything more could happen between them--

A series of ear-breaking bangs pounded against the front door intereppting the pair.

Eren swiftly jumped up to answer it.

Upon opening the door and seeing who it was, he asked, "Is everything okay?"

"No. Thank God you're here."

The shrill, overbearing voice in response let Levi know exactly who it was. 

Mikasa. I should've known.

Levi sat up on the bed again, inwardly sighing and prepared himself for the headache of interacting with Eren's best friend.

Mikasa steered herself into the room, complaining with every step she took, "I'm having a really bad flare-up. I think I need you to take me to the emergency room."

A look of surprise fell on her face as she spotted Levi, "Oh, Lee? I didn't realize you were here."

She was dressed in something she would likely call chic but Levi thought looked ridiculous. She held her hand on her stomach as she made her way over to the couch and Eren explained, "Mikasa is really sick."

From where she sat with his legs crossed and hunched over herself as if truly in pain she continued the explanation, "This is probably more than you need to know, but I have a rare chronic bladder disease called Interstitial Cystitis. Gosh! I mean, you know, some people think I'm being uppity, but I can't have any fast food. And if I drink, it has to be a high pH, you know, like Ketel One or pear juice."

"Weren't you doing Jäger shots at your party?" Levi asked in a deadpan manner, but the question was ignored in favor of Mikasa wailing out in all her sickness. Eren was by her side right away, rubbing her back which left Levi wondering whether he was too cynical or if his boy was just naive.

"Let's get you to the hospital. Levi has a car. He can take us... Right, Levi? You can take us?" Eren asked the last part, looking at Levi with soft, sea-green eyes.

"Of course."

I mean, I've got a dead body in the trunk, but, hey, no problem, right?

It hadn't even been ten minutes since they left the apartment and got into the car before Mikasa found something else to complain about.

"This is taking forever. He took the worst street to get across town." She groaned from where she sat in the back with Eren, annoyed at the traffic on the busy roads to the hospital.

"Please, be nice." Eren quietly tried to encourage anything other than the disdain that constantly left her mouth with no luck.

"I'm in real pain!" Mikasa excused in rebuttal as she held tighter onto her stomach and turned her head away. But it wasn't long before there was something else she had to voice her opinion on.

"Lee, I'm feeling nauseated. Can you crack a window? There's a putrid aroma that keeps wafting in the back seat." A repulsed expression appearing on her face, as she made no move to open her own window. Levi and Eren lowered their own, before the brunette had to lean over Mikasa's annoyed form to open her side to let fresh air flow into the car.

 The sick girl shoved her head out of the window, breathing in the air as if she was dying, "Oh, God. I can't deal. I can't deal!" 

The car was at a standstill due the traffic, giving Mikasa the opportunity to push open the door, angrily ranting, "We'll walk. Need to get out of this."

And where Mikasa lead, his poor Eren had to follow. The alarmed brunette hurried out of the car, but before rushing to chase after his friend he came to Levi's window, "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, Eren." Levi assured him, before Eren ran off to find Mikasa.

Levi looked up at the darkening sky...

It's time. Time to get rid of Reiner, so I can focus my undivided attention on you, Eren... On us.

You believed you deserved Reiner and his neglect. And you believe you deserve Mikasa and all of her drama. And on and on. I want to tell you, but I can't, not now at least...

All there is left to do now is to grab the supplies, drive the narcissistic cadaver, formerly known as Reiner, to his final destination, light a match, and I'm yours forever, Eren.

In a private hospital room, a nurse left Mikasa's side after affirming she could be discharged when she was ready.

Misaka sat on the hospital bed, pulling her expensive jacket back on before turning to look at her friend, "Thank you. Thanks for staying with me, Eren. Honestly, I don't know what I would've done without you." 

"You can always count on me." Eren stood to the side, a tired expression on his face.

"Thanks." Mikasa let a pleasant, genuine smile spread along her pink lips.

"So, what do you think about Levi?" Eren questioned with a small but happy smile plastered on his face.

"Uh... Yeah, you know, I like him." The uncaring tone was not only dismissive but also a dead giveaway she didn't like Levi at all.

Even Eren didn't miss the undertones of her words, but he had expected an answer like that. The next words came slowly as he built up the courage to tell her how he really felt, "I think I might really like him... I mean, I wasn't being honest before when I said he's maybe. I think he's the--"

"No! You can't be serious?" She stopped all her movement to look directly at him, with her haunting piercing gaze. "Eren! The guy works at a bookstore. Look, I know you. You don't want to spend your fifth anniversary going dutch at Katz's Deli. You need someone to take care of you. So you can write, be free, happy. Not someone like Levi and his... financial limitations."

 The smile on his face had long disappeared, "That's not fair."

"Nobody pays me to be fair." Mikasa finished on the subject with a condescending smirk on her face. She picked up her handbag, ready to leave, "Now, what do you say we get a bite to eat? I'm starving..."

Eren sighed, shaking his head as he took a step towards the door, "I think I better skip it. I'm going home... Glad you're feeling better." With that he went to leave, but he didn't make it past the door before Mikasa's voice screeched at him.

"Wait-- Eren, you know me better than anyone. You know I just want to look out for my best friend. I'm not trying to be a bitch, but I want to always be honest with you."

"That doesn't make me feel better."

"But I know what will. You need to come with us for a night out. It's banker boy's birthday, and he's having a party in some up street bar." 

"No. I've got--"

"Please, the best authors wrote their greatest works when they were blind drunk. Just one drink and I'll take you back home and watch you write myself."

"Just one?"

She raises a single finger, jazzled with expensive rings and glossy nail polish, "Just one."

...

In a crowded, warmly lit bar, Eren slammed down his fourth glass of the night. He felt loose and free, untied to all his daily worries that drained any happiness from him.

His body turned over to face Mikasa, a silly smile on his mouth, and a feverish spark of fire burnt within him to share his feelings, "Levi is so good to me."

Mikasa sat next to him with a hard smile, feeling absolutely infuriated with every mention of Levi's name. She had heard enough of that prole. She rolled her eyes in vexation, Eren too unaware to take notice of, and slid another drink to her dear friend, "Sure, whatever you need, Eren. I'm just saying and I mean this, honestly, maybe a simple life isn't so bad."

Glazed over, shiny verdant orbs eyed the drink before immediately accepting it. His grasp on reality fading away with every minute ticking by but he still attempted to deny Mikasa's claims, "No, Levi isn't simple. He's different... Complicated."

Mikasa didn't even try to hide her scorned expression, she had it with Eren talking so reverently about that loser. She much preferred when Eren was getting drunk, with tears in his eyes as he complained about Reiner.

Reiner was a loser as well, but at least he was rich one.

Soon, the gears in her scheming brain started to turn, her hard smile replaced with a cunning one before she suggested to Eren, "How about instead of speaking about Levi to me, you just speak directly to him? Call him!"

Eren's oblivious eyes widen from the idea...

The sky was now a dark abyss, the new moon shining no light and not one star could be seen. In the deep, dark woods Levi had purposely driven so far out that not a soul would see him, and hopefully a place so desolate that Reiner would never be found. 

The soil was dry and rough, perfectly accommodating for a blazing fire. He gathered up small, fallen branches but just as he was about to flood them with fire starter fuel, a buzzing phone vibrated in his pocket. An irritating force in his mind told him he needed to answer it, he quickly pulled the phone out and saw who was calling him.

Eren! Oh, no. Not now.

He shoved the phone back in his pocket, how morbid would it be to speak to Eren while burning his ex-lover to ashes. Levi had to focus, to get this right so he could finally get rid of this sack of shit. He drowned the branches in the fuel, the only thing left was to drag the body to his final destination.

The only problem, his fucking phone kept going off while he was dragging Reiner to the branches. When he finally dropped the body in the right spot, the fourth call was still ringing...

Why would Eren be calling so much? Maybe something happened? Levi's wishful thinking wondered if Mikasa's shitty illness was real and perhaps she died at the hospital. Only in his dreams. He had to find out regardless, he pulled his phone out to answer it.

Okay, Eren, all right.

Immediately after he picked up, he heard Eren's soft, slurring voice, "Levi! Finally-- Levi, you know I- I called you like a million times? Why-- are you ignoring me or something?"

Levi took a second to comprehend Eren's current predicament. He noted the loud music from the bar and took a guess where his Eren was but nevertheless asked, "Eren... where are you?"

The playful, drunk brunette giggled in response, ridiculously amused by the question, "I'm, you know-- I'm celebrating with my friends." 

"And how is Mikasa? Is she with you?"

Of course Mikasa was there, all that sickness nonsense was just for show... for Eren to give all of his attention to her, Levi thought as soaked the corpse in the fuel and layered the spot with odour neutralising chemicals. 

"Oh yes, yes. Everything was fine at-- oh thanks for the ride cause the doctor said it was good we came when we did. She's here... here with me-- actually, she... she's one told me to call you."

She did? Levi raised his dark brows by the admission, but he was running out of time and couldn't take the time to understand Mikasa's motives. He couldn't let the corpse still be in form when the sun came up, it needed to be burnt to nothing.

Eren's voice still verged on playful, but now with something more wanting in his tone, "Hey, so... so why don't you meet me back at my place-- we can you know... we can pick up where we left off. What do you think?"

In his haste, Levi quickly pushed his phone between his ear and shoulder while he tugged the matches out of his pocket. An unfortunate element of being in a anxious rush is that it forces some things out that you really didn't want to slip out, "You complain about not being able to write, but then you drop everything for some medical emergency, which many believe to be fucking psychosomatic in origin."

 "What? No I- I meant about you.. coming over." Levi felt the uncomfortable sensation of his facial muscles flinching from the hurt dripping from Eren's vulnerable, quiet voice. 

With one swift strike of his wrist, Levi lit the large matchstick. The flame mutely illuminated its place in a pale hand. "Eren, you have a class in the morning, it's not a good idea." 

"Stop reminding me! I'm trying to forget about it, okay?" 

"What about your writing? Did you finish it already--" 

"God, can we just forget about my stupid class for one second?" The strained question came across as a desperate plea to Levi, who in that moment flicked the burning matchstick on the drenched corpse. The biting air was a powerful force against the thin stick with a struggling flame which ultimately vanished. Levi glared miserably at the failed attempt, before sighing into the phone.

"I'm trying to do what you want, but I can't tell what that is. I only want the best for you, Eren."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" 

Levi had witnessed Eren drunk, like falling on the subway tracks level drunk, but this? He hated the belligerent undertones to every word slurred from the young boy's mouth, Levi could only assume the stress of his imminent seminar was guilty for the way Eren was acting.

"Look, you're not thinking right now because of the alcohol. But--"

"Am thinking fine not-- not drunk Levi, what the hell? I know what am doing, do you think am some idiot who can't--"

"No, I'm not saying that. Eren... I just want you to know, I'm here for you, if you needed a ride back home or--"

"I don't need any help, not from you... I have to go."

"But Eren--"

The call cut off, forcing Levi to stop talking before he could even finish his sentence.

He struck the matchstick again with new found frustrated strength, and produced a strong wild flame. He dropped it on the rotted corpse, the fire never going out on its way down as it fought against the bitter air. It landed on the fuel drenched body, immediately exploding the spot with a blazing hot fire. Savagely burning away at Reiner's corpse.

Levi stepped back from the flaring heat and sat against a fallen tree trunk. He watched the flames and dark smoke emitting from the fire.

I believe in love at first sight. I had it with you, Eren. And maybe...

The flickering sparks rose to the peak of the fire only to burn into smoky fumes. The once promising spark turning into nothing.

... just maybe, I destroyed it in the space of a single phone call.

Chapter Text

Eren feels debilitated as he runs to class. He's already late and he never submitted a piece for his peers to review. He didn't have time after Mikasa dropped him off at an ungodly hour that morning. Why did he have to go out and get fucking wasted?

And what possessed him to call Levi? Because he fucking made a mess of that like he did with everything else in his life. His cheeks blazed red with the mere thought of his conversation with Levi.

The older boy was probably sick of his antics by now, was he going to break up with Eren? They weren't even officially in a relationship yet, and he still found a way to fuck it up.

When Eren finally made it to class, his peers were singing praises to Mina about her annoyingly, brilliant bird story.

Even their tutor, Rico was impressed, "Again, great work, Mina. Excited to see what's next from you." 

When Rico caught sight of Eren stumbling inside, she was more than a little surprised, "Eren, we weren't expecting you. You didn't send along pages?"

"I know. I'm sorry. And I'm sorry I'm late, it's just... I lost track of time. I do have something written but it's only one page--"

"That isn't really enough for us to critique." Rico's dismissive tone sends a wave of shame over Eren. Everyone was looking up at him from their seats, silently judging him. He even heard a few snarky snickers from the back.

Rico's voice took on a softer tone as she spoke again, "Let's just reschedule your review for another time, okay?"

Eren felt a dead smile on his mouth as he nodded his head.

After he was done with his dire class, Eren decided he needed to face his problems instead of avoiding them...

❁❁❁

Levi somberly trudged around his bookstore, mindlessly putting away the books customers had imprudently dumped around instead of putting them back where they belong.

It seemed like Levi was stuck in an endless cycle of taking one step forward with Eren, only to be forced two steps back. Why did it have to be so difficult? He's finally gotten rid of Reiner and yet it's like nothing has even changed in their relationship. He never knew what Eren was thinking, and his obsessive devotion to Mikasa was infuriating.

He placed a terribly, overrated romance novel back in its section. It was a bestseller, which confused Levi since the story was filled to the brim with cheap thrills, ridiculous clichés and a bunch of treacly dialogue. It's not like Levi wanted an easy romance with Eren, he could deal with disagreements. He was a pragmatic man, and he knew Eren was perfectly imperfect. He knew the boy had a long list of his own problems and he wanted to help solve every last one of them for him, he really did. 

He wanted to do everything he could for Eren, but would it all come to nothing? Eren had the power to end their little relationship whenever he wanted. He had no such attachments towards the older man that would prevent him from doing so if he simply didn't wish to entertain Levi any longer.

Levi treaded on his tired feet around another bookshelf, but he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw who was there standing before him.

"Eren?" The name uttered out of Levi before he could even think why he would be here of all places.

The younger boy jumped, startled to hear Levi's voice calling him. An uneasiness appears in his enervated green eyes when he steps towards Levi, "Hey... can we talk?"

To procure them with some privacy, Levi takes Eren down to the dim basement. And perhaps, deeply buried in the back of his mind, Levi wanted Eren to see the place he killed Reiner for him. 

"This is where we keep the rarest books. The collectables. First editions. And everything we need to preserve them." Levi presents Eren with the glass cage, unlocking the door so they both could go inside.

"Wow," Eren stands in awe of the unique collection of old books, "This is incredible, Levi."

After a moment of silence between the pair, Eren turned to face the older man with a doleful expression smeared all over his face.

"Okay, so I..." Eren exhaled a frustrated sigh as he tried to find the right words to express himself, "I know what you must think of me and I'm sorry. I was completely wasted last night, and honestly I had no idea what the hell I was saying... You were right. I shouldn't have ignored my writing. I hide behind my friends and use them as an excuse not to write... Honestly, I'd use anything as an excuse not to write because I'm afraid I might fail. And I'm one terrible page away from confirming I'm the worst writer in history."

Eren's usual blazing green eyes appear so subdued as he looked deep into Levi's own irises, "You know who you are, and you've got everything sorted out. But I can't help turning into a mess any chance I get. I told you I would be better but I just... just wanted to say sorry for everything. Do you... think you could forgive me?"

The final question was uttered so queitly, Levi almost didn't hear it. This wasn't at all what he was expecting.

"Eren," Levi takes a hold of the younger boy's hand, connecting their palms together, "It's okay. What I think about you never wavered for a second. You don't need to apologize to me. I told you before, I'm not perfect and I don't expect you to be."

Eren tightened his grip on Levi's hand, before he pulled the older man towards his chest and hugged him tight. The pair embraced for a while and made plans to meet later. They were finally going to finish what they started on Eren's bed the day before.

❁❁❁

When Levi knocked on Eren's door later than evening, he couldn't hold back his excitement when the boy answered the door in rosy-red, lacey underwear.

Eren dragged Levi inside and slammed the door shut. His crafty fingers pulled Levi towards his bed as the pair passionately kissed along the way.

The younger boy nudged Levi back against the bed, pressing his body down on the older man as he climbed on top. Eren playfully licked across Levi's face and down his pale neck with his wet tongue.

When Levi felt Eren's tantalizing hand caressing his stiff member, a burning sensation ran through his entire body. It was terribly overwhelming. The scorching pleasure coursed through him like a deadly thunder bolt. It was too much for him and he wasn't going to last.

For the past few weeks, everything in his life had been focused on just one thing.

One person. 

And now he was here, kissing his soft, pink lips, touching his sun-kissed skin... so close to being inside of him.

His mind nothing but Eren  Eren  Eren.

Perhaps he was even saying out loud, he wasn't sure.

"Levi..." Eren moaned against his lips.

With one single utter of his name whispered into his ear, his whole world shattered and that he was about to come if this lasted a second longer. He just about managed to push Eren off of him before that could happen.

"Stop. I can't..." Levi mumbled, more to himself than Eren.

Can't handle it without coming in my pants, he thought in his head. How mortifying!

"What's wrong?" Eren's voice quivered as he questioned with confusion storming around in his wide eyes.

Levi pulled himself away, leaning away from the young boy as he shifted to the edge of the bed. "Nothing."

Eren didn't undersand what happened. He thought everything was going well. He pulled himself up, trying to get a better look at Levi, "Something has to be. Just tell me. What it is?"

"Eren, there is nothing wrong." The dark hair man's voice was rigid as he spoke, refusing to look at Eren.

Levi's tone didn't settle well with Eren. How could he be so dismissive of this like it didn't mean anything.

"You say that but... is it me? Do you not want to--"

"It's not that. It's just... not the right time."

Eren sighs, upset but more than that, he was confused by Levi's rejection yet again. And now he just felt so stupid wearing nothing but underwear on a bed with a man who didn't even want to look at him.

Levi had his silver eyes averted away from him, looking down and not saying anything to explain himself.

"Levi--"

Before Eren could continue, he's interrupted by his phone ringing. Could the timing be any worse? When he reached over to see who it was ruining the moment, he was unnerved to find it was Grisha calling.

Aunt Faye had given his father his number but he didn't expect his father to call before they reunited at her wedding. He found himself harshly biting his bottom lip as he decided what he wanted to do.

It was still ringing, yet Eren made no move to answer his phone. He dreaded the thought of having to speak with Grisha. He shifted his eyes to look over at Levi, he was still sitting on the edge of the bed.

After a few moments, his phone finally stopped ringing. Eren didn't have time to sigh a breath of relief because a second later, his phone started to chime all over again. Grisha was not giving up. 

"I... I'm going to get this." Eren quietly muttered before picking his phone up and locking himself in his bathroom. Immediately, he shoved his finger down on the Decline button. He didn't care if Grisha he knew he purposely rejected the call. He didn't want to speak with him.

But did that mean he should just ignore him? Eren wasn't sure.

His restless fingers moved along his phone to bring up his message app. He forgot for a second what name he had given to his father. The day he saved Grisha's number, he had been feeling sentimental and titled his father under Captain.

A nickname his mother had given Grisha years ago. The old memory threatened to pull out too many repressed emotions from within Eren, so he pushed it all away. He clicked on his father's contact.

He was so mad. Mad at the stupid memory. Mad at Grisha. Mad at Aunt Faye for essentially forcing him to reunite with his father. Mad at Levi for not wanting him. He had to let it all out.

To Captain:

This isn't the right time to talk.

I'm not going to answer your call.

I can't speak to you now! 

(11:38pm)

In an instant, a pending speech bubble appeared on the screen. Grisha had read his message and now would reply back with his own...

Outside the bathroom, Levi was not alone despite Eren's absence. No, he accompanied with his shame and humiliation. His pants were still tight around his crotch. What would have Eren done if Levi climaxed the second he touched him? Would he be disappointed? Would he have laughed at Levi's lack of control?

The older man was grateful he managed to avoid that nightmare. Yet he still felt like he was stuck in a bad dream.

Who had been calling Eren? It didn't sound like the boy was speaking to anyone in the bathroom right now. Did Eren just use the call as an excuse to run away from him? He honestly couldn't blame the boy. All of their sexual liaisons had ended miserably and Levi could only blame himself.

And if Levi was being truly honest, he was nervous to be with Eren. He had only been with Furlan and that didn't end well.

After years of enjoying what he thought was a beautiful relationship with Furlan, the man turned around and told Levi their life together was becoming dull.

Closer to the end of relationship, Furlan complained about everything - how boring  sex was for him, how restricted he felt, how monotonous his life was becoming. The thing that hurt most was that Levi knew he wasn't just trying to insult him for the sake of argument.

Levi didn't want to acknowledge their decaying relationship but he couldn't ignore it forever. He had loved Furlan since they were kids on the streets together. They had no one but each other back when they escaped foster care, but the truth was hard to face. Furlan had outgrown him. He simply didn't need Levi once they grew up. It hurt to accept, but Furlan just used Levi until he didn't need him anymore. 

Levi was desperate not to disappoint Eren. He didn't want to be a second option or a maybe. He wanted to be the one Eren wanted! But that was easier said than done. He had just failed miserably in trying to please Eren because he had gotten too overwhelmed. And now Eren was hiding from him.

This night was a disaster. 

Levi pushed himself up, he glanced at the bathroom door with sadness in his eyes before he walked to the door and left the apartment.

Chapter Text

Inside the bathroom, Eren hears his front door suddenly open and then slam shut.

He drops his phone by the sink, "Levi?" He calls out, but only silence responded.

He quickly yanks open the bathroom door, only to find his room completely empty. The apartment stood silent and dark, the shadows of the evening creeping across the room. Eren stepped out into the living area, his breath shallow, his mind struggling to understand what happened.

Levi had gone. He just left. Only leaving behind an aching void for him.

A knot of frustrated anger twisted in his gut. Why was everything going so wrong for him? He just couldn't get anything right. He fell against the cold, wall and sighed.

Eren, you're a disaster!

The night had been more than a disaster.

The thought tortures Levi with each step he takes down the street. The frigid wind bit at his face, sharp and unforgiving, but it was nothing compared to the pain in his empty chest. Each step he took felt heavier than the last. The world around him was still and unnaturally quiet.

He could still see the look on Eren's face when he walked out the room, the sad resignation in his eyes. Eren had been hurt—angry, maybe—but hurt more than anything. And Levi couldn’t shake the thought that he had driven him feel like that. 

You should be screaming my name right now, digging your nails into my back. You expected me to please you. But you didn't scream, and my back is not bleeding, and you definitely did not get pleased. You must be mortified.

All the words Levi had wanted to say, all the apologies that had burned on the tip of his tongue, had never come out. Instead, he had left. He hadn’t even tried to fix it.

The streetlights flickered above him, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch forever, like the distance between him and the boy he loved. He had never wanted to hurt Eren, never wanted to make him feel small, or unimportant. But that’s what he had done, again. The same mistakes, the same misunderstandings. Always pushing, always pulling, always getting it wrong.

The walk back to his apartment felt endless and he couldn’t escape the thoughts tormenting in his mind, the self-loathing and misery. The darkness stretched on forever, as if it would never end.

When Levi finally reaches his home, he immediately goes to get his precious box from the bathroom. He pulls out Eren's old phone to check the call history.

The call that interrupted them was from someone called, 'Captain'?

What the hell is this, Eren? Just when I think we're getting somewhere...

Levi woke to pale light spilling through the window. The dull, gray morning casting a dreary feeling inside the room. He lay still for a moment, staring at the ceiling. He felt just as miserable as he did before he managed to fall asleep. His sheets were cold. A reminder that he shouldn't be here, all alone. He should have woken up next to Eren's warmth, and the first thing he wanted to see in the morning were those sparkling green eyes. The quiet hum of the city outside felt distant. His mind was still tormented from what happened with Eren the night before.

He pushed himself out of bed with a quiet sigh, his body was as reluctant to face the day as his mind. His usual routine felt foreign, getting ready for work was a mindless task, mechanical and empty. His felt hands stiff as he pulled on clothes. As he reached for his coat, his gaze flickered toward Eren's broken phone. His fingers hovered just above it. The cracked screen was a reminder of things left unsaid last night. He decided he should keep it on him more often, he wanted to feel more connected to Eren, even in the smallest way.

The air outside was sharp but not as cold as last night. The streets bustling with the usual morning rush and people moved around him in a blur. He walked along the sidewalk, his mind, though, was far from the present. It wandered back to last night, to Eren's face, to the sadness in those beautiful eyes. Somehow, his own lack of control had exploded into something much worse. All he could do was watch as Eren shut down before him. But it was more than that. There was a feeling weighing on him, that he had pushed Eren away too far this time.

When he finally arrived at the store, the day seemed to stretch out before him, endless and heavy. The quiet hum of the fluorescent lights above, the dull scraping of the door as it opened and closed, the faint scent of cleaning supplies. But Levi couldn’t focus on the mundane tasks that lay ahead. His mind kept drifting back to Eren, to the apology he didn't know how to offer, to the distance that grew between them with each passing minute.

The store was empty, save for a few customers wandering the aisles. The soft shuffle of their footsteps echoed through the otherwise silent space. Levi found himself moving through the motions mechanically, arranging books on the shelves. The hours passed—slow, meaningless and each one more empty than the last.

When finally, Eren's phone buzzed alive in his pocket, a sudden jolt in the quiet of the store. He fumbled for it and pulled it out, glancing at the cracked screen. An email. His fingers hovered over the message before he opened it. It was from some motel, informing Eren that his room is booked.

You've been confirmed at the Seahorse Motel?

Eren was leaving the city? He needed to fix everything before Eren left.

Erwin looked up from behind the counter, his eyes narrowing as he noticed Levi’s distant expression. “You alright?” Erwin asked, his voice low.

Levi gave a stiff nod, swallowing the lump in his throat. “I need you to close tonight,” his voice was sharp but didn't betray how he was feeling.

Erwin hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Tonight? I’ve got plans—”

“Just lock up early,” Levi interrupted, his tone flat, emotionless. “I have an appointment out of town.” The lie hung in the air between them, he could feel Erwin’s eyes on him. Erwin was always observant, but now didn't feel like it was the right time to say anything.

Erwin paused and tried studying his friend closely but Levi's expression was unreadable, “What kind of appointment?” He asked, sensing something was wrong. “Are you sick?”

“Nothing serious,” Levi said, gathering things to go. Only love sickness his annoying brain told him. But something inside him was unravelling, and he wasn’t sure if there was any way to stitch it back together.

As Levi made his way over to Eren's house, he couldn't help but feel regret. He shouldn't have just left Eren alone last night.

When he arrived outside the apartment complex, he wondered if Eren would even be open to speaking with him. After all, he was going to be meeting his Captain soon, which was such bullshit.

Eren, I should be your Captain.

He pressed on Eren's buzzer and was let in without a word. The front door was left lightly ajar, and Levi made his way inside.

He noticed a packed night bag on the ground near the bed. Eren had probably just finished packing it. The boy's face wasn't as open and easy to read as it usually was for Levi. He had not one clue of what he could say to break the tension between them.

"I'm sorry," Levi starts, "About last night... I wasn't happy with how we left things, and, apparently, neither were you, seeing as how you were hiding out in the bathroom."

"I wasn't hiding, I swear." Eren interjected.

"I just... thought it wouldn't be good to leave you with that memory of me for too long." Levi points towards the bag, "Are you going somewhere?"

Eren nodded, but a look of deliberation flickered across his face for a second, "Actually... the thing is, I wanted to ask you last night. You see, my aunt is getting married and the rehearsal dinner is today and I just wondered if you would have wanted to come with me? I mean, it's too late now-"

Levi didn't even need to think about it before he said, "Yes."

A bright smile sprung on Eren's face, "Really?" Levi found himself in a warm embrace, Eren's arms tightly holding on to him in gratitude, "Are you sure? What about work?"

"Erwin can handle things, don't worry."

They took a train to the coastal area, the rhythmic clatter of the tracks provided comfort when they settled into their seats. Outside the window, the city’s gray sprawl faded into a patchwork of fields and distant hills. Eren leaned against the cool glass, his eyes tracing the horizon, watching as the deep, blur of green give way to the endless blue of the ocean. If Eren wasn't going to see his Dad, he would of been quite excited. 

It wasn't long before the sea breeze started to seep through the open windows of the train, carrying with it the scent of salt and freedom.

Eventually, the train slowed, pulling into their destination.  As they stepped off the platform, the sound of the ocean's waves crashing against the distant shore was like a quiet lullaby. The salty air was more profound now that they were outside. It was a welcome change from the stale, recycled air of the city. The wind tousled Eren's hair, and for a fleeting moment, he could almost forget about everything else. 

The walk to the Seahorse Motel was short, but it felt like a journey of its own, the town was small and welcoming, with rustic buildings painted in soft pastel colors. The sea was always within sight, glimmering in the distance. There was something calming about the simplicity of it—the way the streets curved naturally toward the water, the way everything seemed to slow down here. They passed by quaint shops, their windows filled with local crafts, and a small café where the scent of freshly baked bread wafted out onto the street. The world felt different here, softer, as if time itself was willing to wait for them.

Levi took the lead as they walked toward the motel, his steps confident and sure. The narrow streets and winding paths seemed to hold no mystery for him as he navigated them effortlessly. Eren followed closely behind, impressed by the way Levi always seemed to know exactly what to do.

The motel had the kind of charm only a coastal retreat could possess. The sign swayed lazily in the breeze, its weathered letters reading "Seahorse Motel," creaking softly as if in tune with the rhythm of the sea. The building seemed to belong here, its muted colors blending perfectly with the soft shades of the surrounding landscape.

They checked in and  made their way up to their room. As they entered, the room smelled faintly of salt, sun and fresh linen. The bed was large and soft, its white linens neatly arranged. They dropped their bags by the door, and sat down on the edge of the bed. The very distant sound of waves crashing against the shore filled the space between them as Eren prepared himself to speak about his past. He let out a slow breath and shifted uncomfortably on the bed, he wasn’t sure how to start, or if he even wanted to. But Levi was there, patient as always.

"One day when I was twelve, I got home. It was just another day, you know?" Eren swallowed, his throat tight, but the words kept coming, as if they had been locked inside for too long. "I went into the basement, and there he was—my father. Unconscious, with a needle in his arm. He looked... he looked like he was dead. I thought he was dead."

He looked down. His hands shook as his mind replayed the horror of that day. The coldness of the basement, the scent of something metallic and bitter in the air. The emptiness of his father’s eyes, and the panic rising in his chest. Levi reached his hand out, letting it rest gently on Eren’s arm. The young boy finally allowed himself to look up. The gesture was small, but the gentle, warmth of it seemed to say more than words ever could. Eren didn’t feel so alone in it.

“I mean, he survived it,” Eren continued, his voice breaking slightly. "Which, was this amazing thing. After, things were okay for awhile. But-" He shook his head, the bitterness creeping into his voice. "But then he relapsed. And disappeared. He just left me. I don't even know where he went. And that’s when I decided. I told myself he was dead to me."

His words faded into a hollow silence. He took a shaky breath and continued. His words came a little easier now, the sadness still heavy, but something had shifted, “After a few years, he got back with a former girlfriend. And now, it’s like he's got this new wife, this new life, and he’s just expecting it to be like it was before. Like we can be this... this happy family, but without mom."

Levi kept his hand there, as if offering a silent understanding, the pressure of his fingers a subtle comfort. But Eren felt a little better, a little lighter with each word that left his mouth, as though the weight of his pain was slowly being healed. And for now, that was enough.

Levi gently reached up, brushing away a sad tear that had escaped from Eren’s wet eyes. 

He hadn’t realized how long he’d been holding it in. His chest tightened, and before he could stop it, more tears began to betray him and fall down his cheeks. His hand trembled, wiping furiously at his face, but it didn’t help—nothing could stop the ache that had been building for years.

He pushed his head forward, sinking into Levi’s shoulder. He needed the contact, the silent comfort, as his body shook with the weight of everything he’d kept hidden. Levi didn’t say anything, but his presence remained solid and steady. Levi's hand soon settled on Eren’s back, rubbing ever so gently.

In time, Eren’s breathing began to even out and the tears subsided. He still wanted to hold onto Levi, he found himself nudging closer to the older man. His nose brushed against Levi's neck, the snowy skin there was soft and warm. He was sure he heard Levi's breath hitch after he gently pressed his lips against the enticing pale skin. Eren didn't stop there, he planted kisses along Levi's neck, up to his sharp jawline and eventually he kissed those pristine lips.

Levi kissed him back, tracing his warm fingers down Eren's arm until he interlocked their hands together, allowing their wanting palms to embrace. They enjoyed each other's company for a short period before they were disrupted by a notification on Eren's phone.

The family was waiting for them, eager for the meeting to take place.

"Shit. That’s him."

Eren's heart jolted in his chest, a sudden pang of panic twisting in his stomach. The man standing across the room hadn’t changed much, at least not on the surface. 

"Your dad?" Levi asked, eyeing the party making their way towards them. Two women and a man. Levi could see the resemblance, he was tall with a slightly lighter hair shade of brown than Eren. And Eren must have gotten his eyes from his father too, but Eren's were much brighter.

Eren could only nod. His throat felt dry, the words stuck somewhere behind the weight of his thoughts. He hadn’t seen this man in years. It was like looking at a stranger despite how familiar he appeared. Before he could retreat further into his thoughts, the small group had just walked up to them. 

"You made it, finally. We're all so happy you could make it." Aunt Faye broke the ice, but the situation still felt cold and awkward. She smiled, but Eren could see the way her eyes darted nervously between him and Grisha. The quiet that followed after felt too loud. The years of absence pressed in around them.

“This is Levi. My-- He’s my friend,” Eren said, looking between his father and Levi awkwardly.

“Hi, Levi. I'm Grisha, Eren's father. And this is my wife, Dina.” Ned's voice cracked slightly as he spoke, a tremor that didn’t quite reach his eyes. Grisha’s smile was tight, and strained.

Eren tried not to wince. His father’s voice was just like he remembered.

“Eren. It's so good to see you again. How long has it been now?” Dina asked, her eyes shining with genuine care but Eren didn't want that from her.

He even couldn’t answer. It had been too long, too many years. He shifted uncomfortably, his fingers twitching at his sides. Eren nodded slowly, his mouth dry. He could feel the eyes of his father on him. It was too much and not enough at all.

"Many years..."

The words hung in the air, aching and painful.

“Well, we're just glad you're here now.” Aunt Faye tried getting rid of the tension in the air, "Let's all sit. The dinner is about to be served." She finished, gesturing towards the embellished tables.

Of course, his father wanted to sit close to him. A desperate hope that somehow, they could sit at the same table and pretend the years had never torn them apart. 

But the years had stolen something between them—something that couldn’t just easily be reclaimed by an apology or a moment of vulnerability. Not after everything.

Eren hesitated before he sat down, his fingers twitching again, his heart heavy with indecision. His father’s eyes held a wish for connection. But all Eren could feel was his own anger and hurt.

He felt a familiar hand, calming his nerves. He looked down to see Levi and his hand joined together. He finally took his seat, more thankful than ever that Levi was by his side.

The rehearsal dinner buzzed around him, a dull hum of polite conversation, but to Eren, it all felt stifling. His gaze wandered across the room, restless, searching for a way to escape the conversation between him and his father.

"This year, we're going up to the North to celebrate the holidays. Do you think you could join us? You've always had a soul that thrives in nature. We could wander the hills, follow the rivers. Anything you want." His father’s sincerity was right there in front of him, but it was too much, too late.

Eren kept his gaze trained on his dinner plate, "I don't know my schedule that far out." 

His father nodded, a diminutive but understanding smile pulling at the corners of his lips. "Of course, I understand." His voice was tentative, as if he wanted to say something else. Eren could feel his father's eyes on him, but the little silence between them made him curious enough to steal a glance at his father.

"How have you been, son?" His Dad finally asked what Eren had been dreading.

Riddled with anxiety, low self-esteem, on antidepressants. But don't worry, you abandoning your son didn't scar him at all.

"Fine." Eren dismissively muttered back. It's not like he could tell his father the truth.

"And how's school going?"

Eren hesitated. “It’s... going okay,” he said, though he didn't want to say too much, “I’m just working on my portfolio. So, yeah—”

His father's eyes lit up, an esteemed smile spread across his features, "That's brilliant, Eren!"

Eren stiffened, caught off guard by the praise. For a moment, he didn’t know how to react. His cheeks warmed, and he looked away quickly, hoping his father wouldn’t notice.

God Eren, you're pathetic. 'Love me, Daddy. I'm gonna be a writer, Daddy!' God, just shut up forever.

Someone at the table, one of his father’s friends, Eren couldn’t even remember their name, spoke too loudly. “Grisha has come such a long way, hasn’t he?” The words came too easily, like maybe he had too much to drink. “New relationship, new job…” he said with a half-hearted chuckle, but the next sentence caught Eren off guard. “And now, a baby on the way. Can you believe it? Guess the family’s finally complete, huh?”

For a moment, Eren was frozen, caught in the suffocating realization. His mind went blank for a moment, and then the anger hit him like a flood. A baby? His father was going to have a baby with Dina. Without thinking, Eren stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. 

“You’re having a baby?” His voice was low, trembling with something much darker underneath.

His father opened his mouth, but no words came. Eren didn’t care about the judgment or the stares. He couldn’t control the fury that was pouring out of him. His father didn’t even need to say anything. The damage was already done.

He's starting a new family because fixing the one he had obviously wasn't an option. Why would he ever do that?

"Congrats on the baby," Eren spat, his voice cold and cutting. Without another word, he stormed out.

The sea was a blur of blue in the distance, its waves crashing roughly against the shore as Eren walked toward the wooden shelter by the water. His emotions roiled like the sea before him, tumultuous and impossible to calm.

The sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting dark shadows over the water. The sky was painted in shades of orange and purple. His elbows rested on his knees after he sat down, his hands clenched into fists. The salty breeze tugged at his hair, but he didn’t notice. All he could think about was his father. And now, this fucking baby. Eren’s breath came in shallow, uneven gasps as the tears welled up again. His throat burned, but he refused to let them fall.

From the distance, Eren could hear footsteps walking towards him but he didn’t look up as Levi sat beside him on the wooden bench. There was a long pause before Levi spoke, his voice cautious,

“Are you okay?”

Eren’s chest tightened even more, “No."

Levi moved a little bit closer, "I wonder if," he hesitated, trying to choose his words carefully. "Look, he's here. Use that as an opportunity to talk to him. Or, you're a writer. It could be helpful to write about him. Cathartic even-"

Eren's body stiffened, and without thinking, he snapped his head around to glare at Levi, his green eyes blazing, “What are you doing?"

Levi faltered, confused. He didn’t know what he was doing, only that he was trying to help, trying to make things better. He shook his head faintly, unable to explain. “Nothing. I-”

"Are you serious?" Those weren't the right words, because Eren's eyes burnt with real hatred. Towards his family, his own insecurities and helplessness but he could only project it onto Levi.

"Do you hear yourself right now? You don't even know me." His voice was blazing with reticent anger. His emerald eyes burned into Levi, “I don’t even know why I bothered asking you to come here.”

"No, Eren, I didn't mean to-"

"Just go! Leave me alone." Eren’s voice wavered, the words coming out more harshly than he intended.

Levi doesn't move. He wants to tell Eren that everything was going to be okay, but the boy didn't want to hear it.

"I'm serious. Fucking go! I don't want you here." Levi had never been at the back end of Eren's anger before, in fact he'd never seen Eren speak like this to anyone before. He didn't know what to think of that.

He felt painful confusion as he pushed himself up, leaving Eren alone, like he wanted. It wasn’t the way he wanted things to go, but there was nothing more to say. His steps were slow and uncertain as he made his way back to the motel. Inside, the silence seemed to close in on him, his mind a restless whirl of painful memories and unanswered questions. He couldn't make sense of what had just happened. How could he have gotten it so wrong? ​But more importantly, he had to think of how to repair their shattered relationship. Yet again.

And when Eren came back here, would he even want to see me again?

The quiet hum of the sea was not as helpful as it usually was for Eren as he sat on the old wooden bench. Suddenly, his father's voice broke through the silence. 

"Hey, Eren. We're going to head back to the hotel now."

Eren didn't show his father any consideration, not even trying to pretend to care about his presence. He kept it short and to the point. "Great," he muttered. His gaze still fixed on the horizon. Because he really didn't care, did he?

His father hesitated,  before he took a step closer. "I don’t want to leave it like this, son. Do you know how badly I’ve wanted to see you?"

Eren’s heart ached, but he refuses to look at his father. He scoffs, "How would I fucking know that? It's not like you need me, you've got a new baby now."

The painful words hung in the air between them. Everything felt like it was slipping away, just like it had before.

"I’m sorry you think of me as nothing more than just a neglectful addict." Grisha said, his voice quivered with an emotion that Eren didn’t want to hear, "I’m sorry I failed you."

Eren holds back his tears, reusing to cry in front of the man who was making he feel like this. Not after all the years of wondering why he had left. "I just want to be alone."

His father didn't listen, he took a seat next to him. Eren can't decide what he actually wants to hear from his father anywhere, so he decides to hate everything.

"I miss you, Eren." His father’s voice was strained and fragile, "I miss you so much. The life we used to have together."

Eren’s eyes narrowed, the bitterness inside of him only increasing. "Whatever," he muttered, shaking his head. "You’ve got the life back. You have a new wife. New baby."

It wasn’t just anger that filled him now, it was something deeper, darker—resentment for the years lost. He couldn’t bring himself to believe in the words his father was speaking now. He was afraid to. Eren’s heart skipped as the memories rushed back in waves. 

"It feels like you did die that day in the basement all those years ago," Eren whispered, his voice wavering in contempt.

"I'm sorry you feel that way," his father continued, his voice intertwined with regret. "But you're the only reason I'm here. If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve given up a long time ago." His father took a shaky breath, his hands trembling. "You saved me, Eren. In more ways than one. The day you were born was the best day of my life. The years I spent with you and your mother were--" Grisha drew a deep, unsteady breath, his eyes glistening with sorrow, "I know I can’t just replace them. Not with Dina, not with my new baby. I’m just trying to move forward. I lost Carla, then I lost you. Those wasted years... The despair I felt after-" His father paused, finally taking a steady breath, "Thank you for saving me that day, Eren. I never thanked you for that. You don’t even know how you saved me. I’m only here because of you. I love you."

Eren lost the battle against his tears, he couldn't hate those words. He had wanted to, he had tried, but in the end, it was too much. His heart clenched, and a tremor ran through him as his eyes finally met his father’s tearful gaze. Eren felt his resolve crumble, the walls he had spent so long building up dissolving in an instant. And for the first time in so long, he allowed himself to feel something different towards his father.

"Dad..." Eren's voice shattered, and he hated how it sounded, how vulnerable it made him feel. He couldn’t stop it. He couldn’t keep it all locked inside anymore, "I- I laid awake at night wondering where you were," he tried to speak but the words were coming out in broken gasps, each one more painful than the last, "Wondering when you were coming back. Why you didn't love me anymore?"

Eren used to keep telling himself it didn’t matter, that he didn’t need his father. But he was lying to himself for so long. He needed his Dad more than he could even admit. 

"I'm so sorry, Eren."Grisha pulled his son into his warm embrace, holding his child for the first time in years. The hug was hesitant at first, as if both of them were unsure how to navigate this fragile, broken moment. But Eren soon melted into the embrace, his father held him tighter, trying to make up for all the lost years. 

"I missed you so much, Dad..." His vision blurry with tears, and the young boy found it hard to breathe under the sheer pressure of everything he had kept buried for so long, "Don't leave me again." Eren clung to him, his hands trembling. The anger that had pained him for so long began to fade away, replaced by love and hope.

"Never again, son!" They clung to each other, lost in the moment, as though the pain of all the years apart could be undone in the peaceful solace of that one embrace.

Eren pushed the door to his motel room open to find it completely vacant. The place, once a quiet haven, now felt cold and lonely. The windows were slightly ajar, the faint sound of the waves still drifting through, but they only served to remind him of the distance between himself and Levi. The older man had really left him.

He dropped his bag on the floor, then fell onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. His phone buzzed, pulling him back to reality. Mikasa was texting about some party they have to go to. Eren stared at the screen, her tedious words blurring together as he lost focus. He didn't want to deal with her now and he really didn’t care about the party. He wanted to call Levi. But what would he say now? The anger, the frustration, it had all spilled out of him in a way he couldn’t take back. He’d told Levi to leave. He’d pushed him away, and for what? To shut out the only person who had ever tried to make him feel understood?  He really fucked that up.

He'd been so angry at his father, at himself, at everything, that he’d lost sight of the man who still cared about him despite everything. And now, Levi was out there, somewhere, probably doubting everything Eren had ever said to him. The coldness of the room wrapped itself tighter around him. The sea breeze that had once felt like a gentle comfort, now only sent chills down his spine. 

Eren turned his phone over in his hand, letting out a sigh of regret. His thoughts were tangled and bruised. He thinks about his mistakes. It makes him want to write, to get all of these emotions out of him.

With a deep breath, Eren grabbed his laptop from the bedside table and began to write. But the words were hard to find. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a long moment. Eren let his memories guide him and for the first time in a long time, he just let all of his emotions rush out of him and onto the screen. Writing felt like the only thing he could do to keep from drowning in his own regrets.

Eren stared at his phone, a small smile tugging at his lips as he read Mina's message:

"Your poem was incredible, Eren. Honestly, I'm so there for it!"

He read the message over and over, feeling the weight of her praise settle on him like it was gold. He finally felt something other than regret, it was wearing away the sense of self-doubt that often plagued him.

His fingers lingered on the screen, hesitating. He wanted to share this moment with Levi. He wanted to apologize too. For pushing him away. For everything. But when he pressed the number, his heart sank when there was no answer. He tried again. No answer.

You're such an idiot, Eren.

He needed air. Stepping outside, the cool evening was a welcome change from the suffocating air inside the room. The salty scent of the ocean mingled with the fading scent of the night. His gaze wandered out to the horizon, where the last traces of daylight were slowly sinking beneath the water, leaving a dark orange glow across the sky.

He didn’t know how to fix it with Levi. He stayed there, standing by the edge of the motel, staring out into the darkening sky, wondering what Levi was thinking.

The motel receptionist who checked them in was outside too, taking a smoke break. He took a long drag from the cigarette, the smoke curling in the air as he exhaled, Eren watched as the smoke dissipated into nothing.

"Trouble in Paradise?" He's not even looking at Eren as the question is asked. But there was no other person around.

Eren blinked, taken off guard. "What?"

"You and your boyfriend. Y'all get in a fight or something?"

This guy was getting on Eren's last nerves. Did Levi tell him they fought? No, he wouldn't do that.

"It's not really any of your business," he muttered.

"Hey, now," the receptionist drawled, leaning back in his chair. "I've seen it all, nothing bothers me no more. Get on up there and go make-up." He gave a dirty wink.

Eren sighed, "Yeah, well. He left so-"

"He ain't gone. He got himself a room on the second floor. Room 209."

The receptionist's voice followed him as he made his way to the staircase. "Hey, don’t go sayin’ I told you, boy! I can get into trouble for that!" The shout echoed down the hallway, but Eren didn't turn around. He was too focused on reaching Levi.  Room 209. Engine, Engine number nine... His heart pounded in his chest when he finally reached the door. Eren hesitated, unsure of what to expect. Would Levi be angry? Would he be relieved? Would he even want to talk to him after everything?

Eren knocked. He held his breath when the door was finally pulled open a moment later.

Levi was there, standing in the doorway. He hadn't left him after all. Although, Eren wouldn't have blamed him if he did.

"Hi," His voice is barely above a whisper, "...can I come in?"

It was hard to tell exactly how the older man was feeling, his face was blank but his eyes seemed sad. No doubt because of Eren's earlier outburst. He felt so shitty about that. He needed to make it up to Levi.

"I'm so sorry," Eren paused, looking to find the right words, "What I said, it wasn't-"

"It's okay, Eren." Levi cut him off.

"No! It's not." Eren sighed, why couldn't Levi be angry or annoyed at him for once. How could be always be so calm all the time? 

The brunette stepped closer, only inches away from the older man, "I was wrong and it isn't okay. You can be frustrated or...or you can yell at me, you can-"

"Eren, stop. I know you were just upset."

"So? That doesn't mean anything! I never want to treat you like that again, Levi. I- I really, really like you. I don't know, it's like you just make everything better. I just want to be that for you."

Eren hung his head after the admission, breaking away from Levi's gaze.

"You already are, Eren."

Levi's tender words made Eren smile. The younger boy couldn't resist surging forward, closing the small distant between them. The moment their lips met, Eren felt a wave of beautiful bliss wash over his body and mind. The warmth of Levi's hands on his waist sent shivers down his spine. Levi's usually cold fingers trailed their way up his abdomen, the riveting sensations coursing their way through his body were beautifully overwhelming.

Eren pulled his face away to take in a few breaths. He let his head fall against Levi's shoulder and sighed into his ear, "I want you, Levi." The younger boy backed away to search for the bed in the room, his mind already thinking of all the dirty things they could do on it. But he finds Levi's harsh grip preventing him from doing so. He felt a crushing force on his stunned mouth as his back hit the door. Levi had shoved him against it, he realized. He let out an air of laughter in between the hasty kisses.

Eren could barely keep up with Levi's behavior as he was dragged over to a small, couch. Levi pushes him down and gets on top of him within a second. The brunette embraces Levi with desperation, he couldn't believe the older man liked to play so rough. He kept his eyes closed as Levi attacked his neck with hunger. Practically, biting his sensitive skin but not too painfully. It felt good. It made Eren feel so wanted and that always went straight to his heart. But, it also went straight to another part of his body.

He bit his lip as he felt his pants growing more and more damp. "Levi..." he moaned, desperate and wanton.

Little did Eren know his diary lay open on the table right in front of him, its pages filled with thoughts that weren’t Levi's to read. And yet, just before he arrived at the door, Levi had been doing just that. He had been reading Eren's diary to try to understand the boy a little better. The older man felt his nerves agonizing him at the thought of Eren finding his own journal. There was absolutely no explanation for that. Levi's pulse quickened as he discreetly lifted up the diary and tucked it behind the couch cushions, hoping it would stay hidden there.

He looked up from the place he had been planting kisses on Eren's collarbones, his eyes instantly focused in on the bed. The light reflected off the cracked screen of the stolen phone that was in plain sight. He had to find a way to conceal it from his precious boy.

The gorgeous brunette was currently whimpering beneath him. Levi hoped Eren was too worked up to recognize his own phone. He picked the young boy up like he weighed nothing, his feet moved quick as he made his way to the freshly made bed. His grip on the boy finally fell loose, letting the brunette gently fall on the soft mattress. Just as Eren turned his head to the side, almost looking directly at his old phone, Levi managed to interlock his fingers into those dark locks and force Eren's head to the other side. Blocking his view as Levi slid the broken phone under the pillow, out of sight.

Levi could finally breathe, he heaved a sigh of relief into Eren's neck. The boy was oblivious as he laughed, pulling Levi into a searing kiss. And in that moment, Levi realized something. He was here, kissing the beautiful boy he loved and he wasn't about to fall apart. He had been so distracted from trying to hide all of Eren's belongings that he never got overwhelmed like he did last time. Which was fucking great.

This time would be different. This time, he was going to make Eren fucking scream his name. Levi kissed his way down soft, caramel skin. His eager fingers pulled on Eren's clothes, delighted when more of that sweet skin was exposed to him. He felt completely intoxicated when Eren's pants were discarded, leaving the mewling boy only in his underwear. When Levi's hands touched the remaining fabric, he looked up at the boy, silently asking if it was okay. The beautiful, gemstone eyes he made contact with were glazed over, bright and aroused.

"Please," the plea came from his trembling, pink lips, "Levi, please... I need-- please touch me."

Eren's words were Levi's law. He couldn't disobey even if he wanted to. His heart pounded in this chest as he finally pulled down the black underwear. And his eyes at long last looked upon Eren's pudendum.

"Fuck, you're so beautiful, Eren." Levi's fingers harshly dug into the delicate flesh of Eren's thighs, pulling them even further apart and making the boy cry out. Those sweet moans only encouraged the older man to continue, he moved down until his face was hovering above it. He almost felt drunk from the memerizing fumes. But when his tongue finally licked its way inside, and Levi got his first taste of Eren's sweet essence, he knew he could die a happy man.

His bruising grip was unrelenting as he pulled Eren closer, he couldn't get enough of the boy. He kissed, sucked and licked every part. The brunette's feverish fingers had found their way into his inky, black hair and he found himself being reeled in even more.

"Oh fuck!" Levi's wet tongue felt like heaven, "Yes... please, Levi-- So... fucking good. Levi, please. Fuck!"

Eren couldn't even process how deliciously he was getting fucked by the older's man mouth. He couldn't compare this to anything he had experienced before, it felt like he was being worshipped and that was mind-blowing to him, in the most delectable way. Soon, the sensations were becoming unbearable, he knew he was about to implode with all this pleasure. But when it finally happened, it wasn't like he had ever come before. It felt so raw as he whined out Levi's name. He had to look down, it felt like he had completely drenched the bed sheets.

Levi worked him through it, gently licking away any displeasure. After that, Eren's head fell back against the fluffy pillows. He was definitely going to need Levi to do that more often. He opened his eyes, when he felt the weight shift on the bed. He found Levi closer to him now, his lips still slick and so very tempting. Eren grinned, he pushed himself up on his elbows and tasted himself in Levi's mouth. When they took a break to catch their breaths, a flicker of displeasure crossed Eren's face, his lips pressed into a disapproving frown when he noticed that Levi was still fully clothed, and his pants were tight in one area.

"I want to see you, too." Eren murmured as he reached out and started to unbutton the older man's shirt. He already knew Levi was packed with muscle, but it was one thing to know and another thing to actually see with your own eyes. Really fucking different. His breath stunted for a second, Levi was absolutely ripped. But he couldn't just drool over the man without doing anything. Levi still hadn't come, he had to do something about that.

Levi unzipped his own pants and took them off. Eren inched a little closer, he couldn't stop his hand from gripping onto the handsome man's package. It was practically begging him to touch it.

Eren was surprised when he heard Levi's breath. And when he let the boxers fall down, he found himself quite surprised too. His eager tongue licked along his flushed lips, ready to go down on that beautiful cock, only to feel Levi's hand on his chest, stopping him.

"Just touch me," Levi uttered, his voice more calm then he looked, "I want to see your face." The last part did make Eren's lips turn up. He liked that. He leaned forward, seizing the moment to kiss the alluring, dark-haired man. A second after their lips connected, Eren's warm hand found itself enveloping the unbelievable member. It felt good to taste the groans from Levi's mouth.

He gripped tighter and his movements sped up, "Feels good?" 

"Hgn... Amazing," Levi groaned out, his usually pale cheeks not slightly flushed. Eren loved seeing the other man slightly lose himself because of his touch.

"Yeah, you going to come hard for me?"

He was shocked by the words escaping his mouth, he felt exhilarated and free. He wanted to hear more from Levi. He had never seen the older man so uncollected, lost in the pleasure. The thought of him being the cause of that was so addictive.

"I can't wait for you to fuck me with this," He squezzed his fingers around the wet cock, sliding his hand along the whole length, "Do you want that, too?"

Levi words came out in a rush, "Y-yes, fuck... So bad. Need you to be mine."

Eren leaned closer, he loved the weight of Levi in his palm, he felt good to finally give something back to the man who did everything for him. He could almost himself getting wet as he uttered out his next words,

"I am. All yours, Levi. I fucking belong to you." Eren breathed the words against Levi's mouth, kissing him right after the words left him. "And you... do you belong to me?"

There is no hesitation, Levi nods so quickly, "Yes. Yes. Eren, I..."

I love you, Eren. I fucking love you so much. I belong only to you.

Levi almost lets the words slip, but he caught them at the last second, "I do. I fucking do, Eren!" He said that as he pushed his wanting lips against Eren's sweet mouth.

And with that feverish kiss, Levi was tipped over the edge and he spilled all of his pleasure in Eren's inviting hand. For a while, they simply stayed like that, wrapped in each other's arms. And for just that little while, nothing else mattered. It felt like a brief eternity, where they could forget everything but the warmth of each other’s presence and the soft rhythm of their breaths as they kissed languidly.

Afterwards they cleaned themselves up in comfortable silence, their movements slow and easy as the afterglow of their previous activities lingered between them. When the lights were turned off, they fell deep into bed sheets. Underneath the warm blankets, their bodies instinctively intertwine, limbs tangled in perfect harmony. For Levi, it felt like that was the most divine, indelible experience of his life. It felt like he was wrapped in a warm, golden haze and the world around him blurred into a distant memory as he held onto his previous boy.

The sunlight was gentle in the morning as it softly trickled through the motel curtains, casting a serene glow over the space. Eren stirred awake. He stretched, the warmth of the sheets still clinging to his body, and remembered the events of last night. The beautiful sensations still lingered through his body as he leaned up on the pillow.

Levi, already awake and sitting at a small table, smiled softly at the sight of him, "You're so cute when you sleep."

Eren blinked, a little surprised, and then squinted up at Levi, "Were you watching me?"

"Maybe." Levi teased, his voice light with affection.

Eren rolled his eyes, a small smile tugging at his lips, "You stalker."

Levi chuckled, he couldn't really argue with that.

Eren needed to use the bathroom and quickly headed in that direction. Once inside, he washed his hands, the cool water rushing over his fingers as he let out a quiet sigh.  After a few moments, he finished washing up and headed back. When he stepped out, he joined the older man at the small table where the breakfast waffles looked delightfully inviting. Eren noticed how Levi’s eyes softened when he sat which his heart do a little flip. 

The boy sat uneasily, his fingers tapping nervously against his knees.  He quickly looked away from Levi, his gaze drifting to the floor. He tried to gather his thoughts, unsure of how to say what he needed to. After a beat, he finally spoke, his voice quiet and unsteady, "I just... I wanted to apologize again. About what happened before..." His words seemed more thoughtful now, he really understood what he was saying. "You were just trying to help me, and I took it badly. You were right, but I didn’t want to hear it. I'm sorry. I’m really sorry, Levi." He paused before saying, "I finally had a proper conversation with my dad. Things feel so much better between us now."

He didn’t look up immediately after he spoke, but there was a shift, something lighter in the air between them. His own guilt was starting to lift.

Levi smiled softly, "I’m glad. That’s what you wanted."

The boy finally looked up, his lips pulled into a shy smile and his green eyes brightened, "Yeah. It is," he said quietly. "So... the next time we meet my dad, can I introduce you as, 'Levi, my lovely and sweet boyfriend'?" Eren asked, his voice uncertain but hopeful. "I mean, if that’s something you want?"

Levi’s eyes widened for a moment before a rare grin spread across his face. Without another word, he leaned in and kissed Eren, deep and passionate, like the answer was already clear between them. Eren pulled him closer, their kiss full of affection and promise.

When they pulled apart, Levi gladly affirmed, "I wouldn't mind being your boyfriend, Eren."

Eren let out a relieved laugh, feeling the pressure in his chest vanish completely. "I'd hope not." His hands still resting lightly on Levi’s chest, as if testing the new reality of it all. Levi laughed softly, leaning up to kiss Eren, his arms pulling him in close again. In their small motel room, everything felt perfect at that moment.

Later that day, they joined the others at the wedding venue. It was held on a small, sunlit terrace overlooking the sea. The guests were gathered in white chairs, the soft murmurs of conversation mingled with the gentle sound of the waves below. The scent of fresh flowers danced through the air, carrying the sweet promise of love and celebration.

Eren and Levi, their fingers entwined, took their seats near the front. The brunette boy was glad to feel the warmth of his Levi's hand in his, a steady reassurance as they waited for the ceremony to begin.

Soon, Aunt Faye appeared, radiant in her flowing, white gown. Her smile glowed with happiness, as she walked down the aisle. The ceremony unfolded like a dream. As the vows were exchanged, the words floated through the air like gentle waves, soft but profound. The promises echoing over the sound of the water.  When the couple sealed their vows with a kiss, the applause that followed was like a wave of joy crashing over everyone in attendance.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of laughter and music, the reception held on a nearby deck, where the sea sparkled beneath the setting sun. Eren and Levi sat side by side, the clinking of glasses and chatter swirling around them, but they were content in their own little world. It was a day for love, for family, for new beginnings, and they were grateful to experience it all, together.

And as the night drew on, stars began to appear in the dark sky over the sea. Eventually, it was time to say their goodbyes. Their smiles were warm despite the bitter-sweetness of the moment. Hugs were exchanged, promises of future visits filling the air. 

After one last embrace with his father, Eren and Levi made their way back to the train station. The coastal town, with its quiet beauty and simple charm, began to fade behind them as the train pulled away. As landscape outside began to blur, the younger boy leaned back against his boyfriend, the exhaustion of the last days caught up with him. The older man's arms were a comforting embrace, and Eren let his eyes drift closed. The steady rocking of the train, the warmth of his partner beside him, and the distant hum outside were all he needed to slip into a peaceful sleep.

Levi couldn't help but gaze at Eren with all the affection he felt in his heart. As the train swayed, he took the Eren's old phone and gently brushed his fingers against the cold screen. He knew his boyfriend had been texting with his so-called friends about how they were officially a couple now. The messages were there, lined up like little secrets waiting to be uncovered.

He scrolled, slate blue eyes reading words that weren’t meant for them. 

I wouldn't dream of preventing you from telling anyone. It's not bad to hear felicitations from your 'friends'. Even if not all of them can share in your happiness.

From Mikasa:

We’ll see how long he’s actually interested in you. Enjoy it while it lasts xx

It's really too bad. The one whose approval you crave most isn't my biggest fan. But you belong to me now. That's what you said. So if Mikasa still has a problem — well, every relationship has its obstacles to overcome, right? I won't let her get in the way of us, Eren.

I won't. No matter what.

Chapter Text

A soft smile touched Levi's face as he gazed at his boyfriend, still soundly asleep beside him. Eren's dark hair, messy from sleep, framed his face in gentle waves.

What a sight you are to wake up in the morning, Eren. This is my favorite time of day. When it’s just the two of us.

The faint light from the early morning sun danced across Eren's features, casting a warm glow around him. The soft, serene expression on his face made Levi's heart flutter. It wasn't long before Eren blinked his eyes open, the haze of sleep still lingering as he shuffled closer to Levi, seeking warmth and comfort from his boyfriend. His movements were slow and idle.

When their eyes finally met, Eren's lips curled into a knowing smirk and a mischievous twinkle lit up his green eyes. "Were you watching me sleep again?" 

Levi only smiled, his gaze remained soft but unreadable.

I love our little routine. Always the same, but never stale.

It was a quiet kind of magic they’d cultivated over time. Every morning, Eren would slowly wake up and drift toward him, a comfortable, wordless intimacy in the air between them. After a few moments, his boyfriend would rise, moving like he was still in a dream, and the two would go through their usual rituals. Today, it was no different.

After their shower, Levi got to work preparing breakfast, his hands moving with practiced ease. He carefully spread the creamy, vibrant green flesh of the avocado over a  slice of fresh, toasted sourdough bread.

He paused for a moment, glancing over his shoulder toward Eren, who was already sat at the small desk, typing away at his laptop. Levi's heart warmed as he watched his boyfriend, so absorbed in his work.

I protect your time. I let you focus on your writing.  Levi inwardly smiled with satisfaction as he carried the breakfast over to Eren.

It made him happy, knowing Eren could finally immerse himself in his writing without the usual distractions that came with the chaotic world outside their safe, little haven. Now that their mornings were sacred, there was peace.

The peace unfortunately did not extend next door. Across the complex, familiar yelling began. It was Zackly and Nifa, their voices rising in anger.

"Darius again? Can't we do something, like make an anonymous report?" Eren asked, his brow furrowed in concern. He despised the way Zackly berated Nifa. 

"I don't think that would help much. He's a patrol officer. The police wouldn’t write him up. It would just make it worse for her."

Eren sighed, running a hand through his hair as if the whole situation weighed on him. He glanced at his phone, frowning. "Shit, I’m so late. I’ve gotta get to class." Eren’s words trailed off as he hastily grabbed his things, his movements rushed and urgent.

The worst part of our mornings..?

Levi bemoaned inwardly, his gaze lingering on his boyfriend as he gathered his belongings. It never seemed to get any easier. As much as Levi loved their mornings, there was always that one moment, that inevitable separation he dreaded. The worst part of their mornings... They always ended. 

"Bye, Levi." Eren said, his voice sweet as he leaned down to give Levi a kiss on the lips. "See you later, okay?"

Levi nodded, though his chest pained at the thought of Eren leaving. And as the door clicked shut behind Eren, Levi found himself standing in silence. 

I pass the time by counting down to the next moment I see you. You're teaching me to be even more patient.. .  And God knows I need the help when it comes to your friends. More often than not, we spend our evening with them in your apartment.

Tonight was no different.

Levi helped Eren set the table while Sasha, Ymir and Historia joked about some guy on a stupid reality dating show they were about to watch. 

“Hope you didn’t start the fun without me,” Mikasa called out as she walked through the doorway with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

A few of them laughed. But it couldn't smooth over the awkward pause that followed. Her arrival always seemed to change the atmosphere of the night.

“Historia!” she snapped, her tone sharply cutting through the remnants of laughter. “You’re spilling guacamole all over that Himalayan blanket I got Eren.”

"Sorry, Mikasa." The blonde girl immediately stopped her movement, looking for something to clean her hands with... the silence that followed was mercurial and brittle.

“I can get you some paper towels,” Levi offered quickly, already up out of his seat. 

“Wait up. I need a refill,” Eren said, rising as well, his glass dangling loosely between his fingers.

“No, I got it. I’ll get it for you,” Mikasa cooed, her manicured hand shooting out to snatch Eren’s glass before he could follow Levi. Her smile was wide, her eyes were narrow and calculating.

Levi stepped between them with a firm voice, “It’s fine. I could use the company.”

Eren smiled, taking his boyfriend's hand and followed him toward the kitchen without looking back.

Ymir couldn't stop herself from letting out an airy laugh. She was careful not to meet Mikasa’s gaze, clearing her throat and pretending to take a sip of her drink.

Her gaze was icy, but Mikasa managed to disguise it well behind her facade. “This is so much more fun than the classic girls night,” Mikasa said sweetly, turning her dark eyes to Levi. “You know, back when it was just the five of us.”

In the kitchen, Levi glanced over just in time to catch a flicker on Eren’s face. It was quick, controlled, but telling. Eren, who usually wore his heart on his sleeve was suppressing his emotions.

Levi didn’t need to ask what was wrong. He already had a suspicion. It was her. It was always her. Mikasa had been tormenting Eren non-stop ever since he told his friends that he and Levi were officially boyfriends.

Mikasa has it out for us. But if I just keep being the perfect boyfriend, you'll realize that life is so much healthier away from all of her toxicity.

...

Regrettably, Levi was forced to sit right next to Historia after he handed the paper towels to her. She was clumsy the whole night, nearly spilling her drink on Levi more than once. He couldn't do anything but help her. After a while, Levi caught the sour looks Ymir constantly threw his way. Her desirous attachment to Historia was inexplicable to him. What was more perplexing was the fact that Mikasa was seemingly the only other person in the room who knew about it.

While Levi waited for the night to come to an end, his other half couldn't help but feel a bitter jealousy creeping up inside of him. 

After a few more painful hours, the night finally came to a close. When all of Eren's friends left, the apartment settled into a fragile kind of quiet. Eren and Levi moved through the kitchen, cleaning up together in silence.

Eren moved slowly, his motions stiff as he wiped the counter a little too hard, his eyes fixed on the same spot he already scrubbed twice.

He couldn’t help it—the sight of Levi and Historia had unsettled him in a way he couldn’t quite explain. It made him feel unworthy and envious watching his boyfriend helping Historia. The nasty thoughts hadn’t left his mind all evening: He likes her more than you. He thinks she looks nicer than you, he doesn't want to say it to spare your feelings. He pities you too much to be honest.

Reiner didn't care about Eren's feelings when he made his opinion crystal clear. But that was in the past and Eren didn't want to feel so horribly jealous like this. He could admit Historia was better looking than him. Did he want Levi to just admit it as well?

He finally broke the silence, his voice hesitant. “Do you like hanging out with all of us?” 

Levi looked up, surprised but not startled by the question. “I always like being with you, Eren. You know that.”

“But I mean… do you like my friends?” Eren pressed, the question was more uncertain now and his voice was tight. "Because sometimes, I look over at you, and you just seem miserable. Not  bored or anything, more... annoyed? Or something."

"That's just my face. I had a nice time tonight."

Eren paused, his fingers tightening around the cloth in his hands. He couldn’t stop the bitterness creeping into his voice as he muttered, “Maybe because you sat next to Historia this time. You guys seemed to get along pretty well.”

Historia wears her 'charm' like a costume, stitched together with contrived beauty and fallacious royal bloodlines. Beneath the silk and smiles, there’s nothing but a spoiled rotten, selfish girl playing pretend.

But Levi couldn’t say that. Not without hurting Eren—who, for whatever reason, cared about her. Instead, he forced a nod.

"She could easily be a model, right?" Eren said, the words spilling out before he could stop them. "I mean, with her looks? Everyone says she should be one."

His words hung between them, the unspoken jealousy lurking just beneath the surface. And the silence only made his envy grow even though Eren hated himself for feeling this way. He felt so pathetic. The more rational side of Eren's brain prayed for him to shut his mouth. But he just had to say it, 

“She’s like the prettiest person in New York, right?” The words were reckless and sharp as Eren squeezed the rag in his hands.

Is that what Eren was worried about? Me thinking Histroia was good looking? Reiner thought so didn't he. The damn bastard had her name set as his password. 

Levi's expression softened—not with pity, but with empathy.

“I wouldn’t go that far,” Levi said carefully. “She’s nice. She’s kind. But I don’t look at her the way you think I do.”

The insecurity clawed at him, fed by old wounds that had never quite closed. Eren scoffed, looking away. “You don’t have to say that.”

“I’m not saying it to make you feel better,” Levi stepped closer,  his voice calm and comforting. “You want to know what I think?”

Eren finally looked at his boyfriend, eyes wide, a little unsure. He didn’t answer, but his silence gave permission.

“I don't think you see yourself clearly,” Levi said. “You look at her and see everything you think you’re lacking. But when I look at you... I don’t see anyone else. I just see you.”

Levi smiled, just barely. "And you are perfect."

Eren’s throat tightened, but the sting in his chest was slowly unraveling. Levi reached out, brushing Eren’s fingers where they clutched the cloth too tightly.

“You’re kind of bad at taking compliments, though,” Levi added with a serene grin.

Eren let out a shaky laugh, “I know... I'm sorry, Levi.”

The older man pulled Eren into a tender hug—one that made the doubt and fear in Eren’s mind go away.
“You never have to be sorry with me, Eren.”

Later in the week...

Eren hadn’t been expecting anything special when he submitted his last assignment. So, when his Professor asked him to stay after the lecture, he was more than surprised to hear how much the Rico liked it.

She told Eren there was a freelance opportunity with an agent she could offer him. Just a modest position— writing short articles, stories and maybe even a few essays. It wasn’t anything fancy, Rico said, but it was a good start.

Eren couldn't contain his excitement. He left the room with a huge grin on his face. Finally, his career path didn’t seem so impossible. It actually felt close, like he could just reach out and grab it. He couldn't wait to tell Levi.

Eren found that sharing good news felt just as exhilarating as hearing it for the first time. The warmth of his Levi's embrace, the gentle press of lips in a celebratory kiss—those moments lingered in his mind, sweet and perfect.

He imagined telling his friends and family would be just as amazing. Mikasa seemed to always have a sixth sense for his secrets, knowing all of them before he even had the chance to tell her. And this time was no different. Although, Eren was a bit shocked she agreed to meet him at Levi's book store since she hated the downtown area.

As soon as she stepped inside the place, she was scrutinizing everything with a raised brow. “Is Levi here?” Her bleak eyes narrowing slightly as she asked the question.

Levi stayed hidden on the upper balcony, even her voice incensed him. He wouldn't go down and greet her until it was absolutely necessary.

Eren nodded. “He’s working upstairs.”

She hesitated, then pressed on, “Anyways, what’s the big news?”

Eren’s face lit up with a broad smile. “Okay, so my professor is hooking me up with an agent!"

“That’s amazing and... surprising,” Mikasa’s expression shifted. Her happiness flickered into something else... disappointment, perhaps. She winced, her voice warm but edged with a strange undertone, “But shit— I’m so mad at myself.”

Eren laughed unevenly, caught off guard, “What do you mean?”

“You know, with my family and everything, I have agency connections. I was gonna call a friend—Willy Tybur.”

Eren’s brow furrowed. “Willy Tybur? But doesn’t he only represent famous writers?”

Mikasa smugly boasted, “You mean Pulitzer winners, Booker Prize finalists, and most authors on New York Times Best Sellers list? Yeah, Willy’s represented some pretty big names.”

Which, no offense, begs the question: Why would he be interested in an MFA student like you Eren?

She smiled, a little too brightly. “You can write for magazines. That’s fine. But Willy doesn't sell common articles, he represents real authors. So… it just depends on who you want to be, Eren.”

Eren hesitated, stepping forward nervously. “I mean, if you can introduce us… that’d be amazing.”

“I'm happy to. I know him from way back—” she paused, an idea suddenly overcame her, “You know what? Lee? Lee! Lee?” She yells across the store.

Levi descended the stairs with a calm, measured gait. His eyes looked deceitfully bored, "Mikasa, I didn’t know you were here.”

Mikasa’s tone shifted, her smile tight. “We’re gonna need you to shut this place down tomorrow night for a private party. It’s perfect. Willy’s obsessed with the gritty, sad side of New York. I’ll take care of everything, if you can just…" She wiped invisible dust off a nearby book with a look of distaste, "You know, clean up a little.”

Eren’s face lit up with admiration. “Really, Mikasa? You’re amazing,” he said, oblivious to the undercurrent beneath her words as he pushed forward to embrace his friend. "Thank you so much."

"You don't owe me anything, okay? I'm more than happy to." she replied, her voice smooth and unwavering. She gripped tightly onto Eren. Appreciating the soft body of her best friend with a genuine smile on her lips.

Levi stood back, watching the horror scene play out before his eyes.

Oh, Eren. Can't you see how much Mikasa expects you to pay her back? But what am I supposed to do, root for your failure That's not love. That's not me.

Eren, I'm sorry. I'll miss you this morning. But this is what it's come to.

Until yesterday, I put all my effort into avoiding Mikasa. But you know what they say  —  keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

I have to know what we're up against.

Levi watched as Mikasa ran through Central Park like she owned the path. She ran every morning without fail. She shut the world out with white earbuds. The wires bounced rhythmically with every step. Completely unaware of the silver eyes following her. She didn’t look back. Not once. Still, Levi was careful to stay out of her sight at all times.

He’d known her long enough to know her patterns. She ran the same route every morning. Then she made a brief visit to her office. He knew she owned her own private Interior Designer business. She was loathed by all of her employees because she treated them like trash. There's always someone for her to scold. Today's victim was her assistant.

“You got the order wrong. Again!” Mikasa's voice was sharp and disdainful. “And the design specifications for the Kirstein townhouse were supposed to be on my desk at 7 am.” 

Levi watched as she shifted the weight of her designer tote across her shoulder. He could see the top of her laptop peaking out.

She doesn't go anywhere without that laptop. Which means, I need to know what she has on it.

Following Mikasa was its own kind of punishment— to say Levi was feeling miserable didn’t even scratch the surface. But to make things even worse, he caught Isabel reading a book titled - The Prosecution of Minors in New York State. It didn't take a genius to guess that the girl wanted legally defensible options in case she needed to put herself between Zackly and her mother. The thought was depressing.

Levi didn't need to read the book to know how her case would end up. Best case, she hurt him just a little bit. Worst case? Zackly gets pissed and hurts her back. Next thing you know, CPS is banging at their door. Nifa loses custody and Isabel gets dumped at one terrible group home to another until she's 18.

Levi recommended The Count of Monte Cristo instead. Even he needed to learn a simple lesson from that book — sometimes, to get what you want, you have to be willing to live with your enemy.

Eren had imagined the party would be small—just a handful of writers and agents, tucked away in the tiny corners of the bookstore.

But when he arrived, the old store had been transformed into a sprawling event. There were clusters of people everywhere. Eren paused at the door, his breath catching in his chest. The casual, laid-back atmosphere Mikasa had promised was nowhere to be found. And he had no idea how to navigate this sea of strangers, each of them sharp-eyed and well-spoken. The sheer number of people was overwhelming.

"Hi," Mikasa greeted them breezily, her smile wide and practiced, as if she hadn’t just lured him into a trap.

Eren’s heart skipped a beat. "I thought you said this would be casual?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief.

Mikasa gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "Oh, it’s fine," She replied casually, as if his nerves were some minor inconvenience. "Come on, I’ll introduce you to Willy."

"No. Wait. I need to get a drink first," The words stumbling from his mouth, his grip tightened around Levi's hand before he pulled his boyfriend towards the beverage table.

Levi stood by his side, offering a reassuring smile. "Don’t be nervous," Levi said, his tone gentle, "Just be yourself."

"I can’t be myself," Eren muttered bitterly, more to himself than to anyone else. He took a large gulp of his drink, the alcohol stinging his throat. It didn’t do much to help, but it was something. 

"I mean, the only reason an agent like Willy would even be interested in me is because he’s friends with Mikasa."

Levi’s voice was soft but still firm, "You’ve got potential, don't forget that. Your professor thinks so."

But before Eren could respond, Mikasa had already spotted Willy across the room. She grabbed onto Eren's arm with a tight grip, and pulled him to the center where the literary agent was.

"Willy," she called, her voice enthusiastic and shrill, "This is Eren, the amazing writer I was telling you about."

The words Eren had been struggling to say to Levi were left hanging in the air, unfinished, as she swept him into the dreaded conversation.

Willy's face lit up with a wide, rehearsed grin. "Eren Yeager! I love the name! It’s so unique!" His voice was loud, his enthusiasm way over the top. 

Mikasa gave a little laugh, almost as if she were in on a private joke. "Well, I’ll leave you two alone," she said, her tone teasing as she stepped away, leaving Eren standing in the middle of the room, feeling like a nervious wreck.

She walked back towards Levi, her voice low as started, "Hard not to stare, right?" she whispered, her gaze lingering on Willy across the room. "Willy's just so easy on the eyes. I guess the book business isn’t always so pale and flaccid." She looked down at Levi as she spoke the last few words.

Levi didn't bother to respond. He stood stoic and silent, his expression unreadable.

Mikasaa didn't appreciate the quiet between them. She broke it with a sly tone of voice, "Can I be honest? Eren... he’s lucky he has me. He rarely knows what’s best for him." Mikasa smirked 

Levi couldn’t help but agree with the last sentiment. His boyfriend couldn't even see that his best friend was a maniac. 

As the conversations swirled around him, Levi found himself with the perfect opportunity to finally get his hands on Mikasa's laptop. Nobody noticed when he slipped away with the device, heading for the dimly lit basement.

He carefully took the laptop from her bag , his eyes settled on the sleek, black device as he opened it. His fingers hovered over the keyboard as the cold and unyielding screen stared back at him, demanding a password he didn’t know.

A flicker of frustration coursed through Levi. He hesitated, then gently snapped the laptop shut. His gaze lingered on the device a moment longer, wondering if he should risk guessing her password. He decided against it, shifting his attention to the bag's interior. His fingers brushed against something else—a small diary. Curiosity ignited within him. 

He pulled the diary out and opened it. The pages were filled with neat, mechanical handwriting, but disappointment settled in his chest as he realized it was just a food journal No secrets, just useless entries about everything she ate in a day.

Then, suddenly something flew away from the pages, tumbling onto the floor. Levi bent down, eyes narrowing as he reached for the photograph that lay face-down on the ground.

He turned it over carefully. The image was grainy, faded with age, but an unmistakably young face stared back at him—smiling awkwardly, pure innocence frozen in time. Levi’s brow furrowed, his mind racing. 

How old were you when this was taken? And what is Mikasa doing with it?

He tilted the photo to catch the faint light in the basemnt. Eren's features were blurry but recognizable enough for Levi’s instincts to tighten. The brunet was young and unguarded. Did Eren know Mikasa kept this picture of him in her bag?

He tucked the photo back into the dairy. He slipped the small journal back into the bag. He would have liked to keep it, Mikasa shouldn't have pictures of his boyfriend like that. It felt dirty somehow. Levi moved quietly up the stairs, just as he was about to look for Eren, he spotted his enemy up on the balcony floor. Levi wouldn't have given it a second thought, but Willy was also there, standing close to the raven girl. By sheer luck, Levi was just in time to catch the tail end of their conversation...

"Your friend’s got some firey spirit—can he actually write??" There was mockery in Willy’s voice, stretched tight across the sneer on his face.

 Mikasa leaned against the railing. "There's potential. But he's not quite there yet, though," She replied, a note of amusement in her voice, as if relishing in her own spiteful words.

Willy took a lazy sip from his glass, voice dripping with condescension. "MFA programs are such a scam. You want me to give your friend some advice? If he wants to be a real writer, he should drop out."

A grim chuckle escaped Mikasa’s lips. "I'm working on it. Just, you know, be gentle turning him down."

It sucks to be right, Eren. Mikasa is trying to sabotage your career.

And I have to know why.

...

The next day, the store was especially quiet. The air held the gentle scent of aged paper. The windows hadn’t been opened in some time, and outside, rain rattled against the glass unevenly.

Levi stood by the counter, half-heartedly arranging a stack of poetry books that had sat untouched for weeks. But his mind wasn’t on poetry. It was on Mikasa laptop. He didn't think she was stupid enough to have picked a common password. How was he supposed to get into it?

He leaned on the counter, rubbing his temple, his tired eyes unfocused. The store's only customer was a woman with headphones, slowly pacing the fiction section.

The sound of rain deepened, and his phone, tucked in his back pocket, began to vibrate.

He pulled it out. The screen lit up with his boyfriend's name.

He answered immediately. “Hey, you.”

There was a tense silence. Then came Eren's voice, low and strained, shattered the silence as he finally spoke. "Mikasa is here. Here, as in your apartment... something about a stolen laptop?"

Levi's phone nearly cracked beneath his grip as his hand tightened on it. His eyes darkened, staring outside where the rain turned violent against the glass, like the sky had finally lost its patience.