EREN

Why is he so beautiful? Eren thought. He could see him across the room and couldn't stop watching. I hope he doesn't see me, the thoughts laid out in his mind, but these feelings are useless, he will never love me – he belongs with Mikasa, right? I would just ruin their engagement. Eren's mind always took to this way of thinking. He couldn't stop thinking about the subject. His sister, Mikasa, was getting engaged before him but he hadn't even thought of finding a wife. He felt like a useless older brother.

Looking at how Mikasa and Levi interact, he could see how distant they were. He didn't think that Levi was a bad guy and he could tell that he respected Mikasa, so he (and everyone else in the family) didn't see a problem with the engagement. It's unspoken, but everyone knew why the engagement was happening. Levi didn't seem like the type to believe in love. Eren thought he seemed like the kind of person to put up with something they don't like because it's their duty. But he thought that it's a good quality.

Everyone knew that the marriage is because of ulterior motives. Mikasa is pretty attached to Eren and she never really expressed interest in anyone else. Actually, she never really expressed interest in men in general. Eren thought she was weird. She wears all his gifts, she is bad at socializing, she has an unapproachable air to her, but he knows she's a good person inside.

Levi is a weird guy too. Eren thought that even if they don't love each other, at least they would be great friends. They have so much in common. Levi is a mystery to Eren. He has a lot of money but no living family. He keeps to himself, but if they're alone, he'll make a really awkward joke that Eren doesn't know how to respond to. He is engaged to Mikasa, but he spends time with Eren the most.

But right now Levi's talking to Mikasa as Eren is sitting in the big armchair in the sitting room. Everyone is bored. Eren has his head in his hands, waiting for his Dad to discreetly call him out for bad posture. He keeps making eye contact with Levi and then quickly looking away. He didn't think he'd ever felt that miserable in his life.

Levi is always dressed in an expensive suit and it really stands out against Mikasa's simple yet elegant dresses. Eren thought he must seem out of place to Levi in his boyish suits that almost resemble the "play clothes" he wore to climb trees and catch fish in as a child. But Eren never felt confortable in nice clothing; he liked to be able to move around freely.

Eren's parents sat across from Levi and Mikasa making polite conversation and asking Levi all sorts of questions. Eren thought this was incredibly boring. He wanted everyone to leave the room for some unimportant reason so he could have an excuse to be alone with Levi. Because as of now, being the brother of Levi's fiancé, he had no reason to claim any part of Levi's personal time.

I wonder if he's thinking the same thing, Eren thought. He didn't only wonder if Levi was thinking about him, he hoped for it. Even though he knew their love was not only improbable, but also impossible, part of him still wanted Levi to fantasize about him. He didn't want to be the only one.

"Oh, Eren, sit up properly," his father said in an exasperated tone, "really now, he's too old to be doing this. Mr. Aker- I mean Levi, would you please be a role model for my son? He's too carefree."

Eren shot up in his seat, his body in a flush of heat, and his mind racing with embarrassment. Levi just politely (and with slight annoyance) smiled at Eren and then at Eren's father.

"I have to decline because I would not consider myself a good teacher," Levi said.

Eren's father laughed and said that Levi was being too modest and too formal. He urged Levi to call him Grisha because they were family now. Then he glanced at Eren in an irritated way and changed the subject. Eren hated this forced conversation. He just wanted to be in his room. Although he couldn't deny that he was embarrassed by his posture just now. His father, Dr. Jaeger, had become a very successful man. He had saved the town from a terrible epidemic before Eren was born and had the respect of even neighboring areas. Eren should become a son befitting of his father's prestige.

"It's getting late, I should probably show myself out now," Levi said after a pause in the conversation.

"Are you sure," Dr. Jaeger said, "I could send Eren to walk you to the door."

At this, Eren flinched. He could barley stand sitting next to Levi, how could he manage to walk him out alone? It would be too difficult to hide his feelings. Fantasizing about it being alone and actually being alone were two different things.

"Yes, if it isn't too much trouble", Levi replied with a forced smile.

Levi stood up and looked down at Eren still sitting in his chair. Eren shot up stiffly from his chair and awkwardly moved next to Levi, who was still standing by his seat. Everyone looked at Eren with second hand embarrassment and tried to ignore the uncomfortable atmosphere that was steadily gathering between the two.

"If you'll excuse me," Levi said, shifting his weight toward the door. Eren suddenly understood the situation and rushed out of Levi's path and over to the hallway.

"I'm sorry! This way, please..." Eren's words trailed off.

Levi moved next to Eren and they began to walk down the hallway to the front entrance. There was a heavy silence between them and Eren though the mood could not get any worse. He caught himself glancing at Levi frequently and when Levi accidentally met his gaze he snapped his head back forwards.

"Are you admiring my jacket? It's new. I thought you would like it," Levi commented.

Eren looked down to hide his embarrassment. He was so uncomfortable. But wait, he thought, what was that about Levi wearing it for me?

"It's…nice, I guess. It suits you," Was all Eren could reply.

The rest of the walk was silent. When they got to the door, Levi stopped before grabbing the doorknob and turned back around.

"Is something wrong?" Eren asked.

Levi moved toward Eren and acted like he was starring at something. He said Eren had something on his jacket and Eren moved back, allowing Levi to remove it. Levi moved closer to Eren, removing the dust, and started whispering something in his ear.

"I know you've been staring at me all evening, Eren. Do you have something you want to tell me? Why are you getting so flustered when I move close to you?"

With that, Levi opened the door and walked out into the late summer night air. Eren stood frozen at the door. He didn't know what to do. Levi obviously knows about his feelings, or at least he knows that Eren has been acting strangely toward him. Was Levi also interested in him? He was so confused. All he could do was calm down, take a drink, and return to the party.