Tinsel Town

by TheWonderYears

There's Definitely Something In The Water.

1. Chapter 1

Tinsel Town

Summary: There's definitely something in the water.

Genre: HORROR, Romance, Drama

Warnings! GORE, HEAVY violence, language, Major Character Death, Mentions of Sexual—Okay, there is sex in this, its Ereri for god's sake.

Rated M, Definitely M!

(Eren and Levi are serial killers, so it's going to get a little wild!)

Got this prompt from Tumblr on the Ereri tag, and since I recently have become absolutely enamored with the paring, I HAD to try my hand at writing it (with a bit of my own spin on things, of course) , And I've got to say I like the way it turned out.

This is dedicated to Celadon Boogaloo, because she's the only one that knows the story behind why this came to be. She was supposed to be the only one to ever lay eyes on this…whatever this is, but I changed my mind. Anyway, this is actually pretty graphic. I'm warning you, it got a little gross and took on a life of its own.

---

PART ONE

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Currently

The room was heavy with smoke.

He was in some sort of shack; the walls were made of sturdy lumber, tied together in a style long abandoned. Rustic, he thought. Rustic save for the black iron cage he was tied and cramped in. Connie's legs were near his chest. He couldn't stretch them completely, and his neck was aching terribly from the way he was crouched over. He felt ashamed at the way he was huddled like a dog; he was close to whining and begging too. Begging for his life. He didn't want to look up, he didn't want to go to sleep, he didn't want to give up but he knew he had to.

Connie was scared.

He had never been so scared in his life. Not the scary-movie scared, that had you looking over your shoulder and flinching away from dark corners. No, this was gripping him like a physical being. Fear had him by the neck and it wasn't letting go. His heart wouldn't slow down and he couldn't fight off the shivers the rattled his body and rattled his cage. He was going to be sick— and then he was choking silently, again, on the smell of incense. It used to be his favorite flavor—on that his mother kept in living room to liven up the house—Dragon's Blood. Now, it made his eyes sting something fierce. Or, it could be the frightened and frustrated tears that rested there He had no way of knowing. He had no way of knowing how long he'd been here, either. He knew nothing. Not where his was—how deep in the forest was this place? How far away from home?—not what day it was and certainly not why this was happening to him. He was a good kid. He never hurt anyone. He got good grades, he helped the elderly in his spare time, so why? His thoughts pushed at his bottom lids, and a mournful cry pressed the patience of his sealed lips. He tried to muffle the sniffle that surprised him in its intensity, but it was too late. The figure on the other side of the room heard him. Connie watched out of the corner of his eyes as the man pushed off the wall, throwing his cigarette down and snuffing it with the heel of his boot, and squatted in front of him.

Levi have the boy a blank, looking him up and down in a disinterested fashion. He muffled a yawn with the palm of his hand, never breaking eye contact with the cowering child.

"Sorry for the incense." He said lowly. He laughed inwardly at the way the boy cringed at his voice. It was the first words spoken all night. He figured that, regardless of how many times Connie heard him speak over the last few months of his "stay", he would always jump like a frightened little squirrel the minute he opened his mouth. Levi always managed to find enjoyment in the small things. "It makes it stuffy in here, but Eren can't stand it when I smoke inside." Rivaille watched for his reaction silently. It was the first time he dropped Eren's name.

Connie's head jerked up at the mention of it. He felt panic seize him. "E-Eren?" He asked, frightened. "Eren Jaeger? Are you talking about Eren Jaeger?" He stammered hurriedly. God, he hoped not—

"Yeah." Shit. "Don't worry, he and the girl will be here soon. Then we can get things started." Levi was watching him again, noticing the way Connie's fists clenched. He let a little smile cross his face.

Connie didn't like the look of that. "You—you're not going to hurt him, are you?" Stupid. He'll probably lock him up, too. At least then you'll die with a friend. Connie looked fiercely into his cold eyes, waiting for an answer.

He was met with a dry laugh. "No. I'm not going to hurt him." Connie felt relief, but only for a moment. That still didn't explain anything as to why he was here. Or why Eren would be coming if he wasn't going to do anything to him. But then again, He hadn't done anything to Connie; He was knocked out for the majority of this nightmare, most likely with the help of drugs. It was a handful of days ago that his hands were tied behind him and he was shoved into this cage. So then why—?

"So why—"

"Suddenly chatty, huh?" Levi said, cutting him off. Connie wasn't stupid; he snapped his mouth shut. He noticed the stern edge in his eyes, even though the rest of his face didn't change. The man in front of him was intimidating to say the least. Three words had him shaking like an autumn leaf. He hated this weakness, this debilitating fear, but he was completely at this stranger's mercy. He had never been in a situation like this before, especially one that didn't make sense .So it made sense that he had questions! Or that he was chatty. No, he wasn't going to be a little bitch. He steeled himself.

"Yeah, I am." He said, trying his best not to wet himself. Levi raised an eyebrow and his lips curled at the ends.

"What's this?" he asked mockingly, waving a finger in Connie's face. "You suddenly grow balls on me?"

Before Connie could react, his face was mashed against the side of the cage. Connie grimaced, trying not to let the pain he felt show on his face. He felt warm breath blow across the side of his face, and he held his breath.

"Don't worry, little boy, in about—"He paused to glance at his watch. "Five minutes, all your questions will be answered, and then some." He let go, and Connie exhaled shakily. His breath caught when a cold hand caressed his face thought he bars.

"Oh, we're going to have so much fun." Levi said darkly, and Connie was sure, he would never be as scared as he was in this moment. That is, if he ever got the chance to be afraid of anything, ever again.

---

Three Months Before

Sasha needed to get a hold of herself. She had known him for too long to still not be able to look him in the eye without blushing horribly. She always managed to get caught up in the intensity those green eyes always held. Eren still didn't notice—or at least, she thought he didn't notice—and she was glad of it.

Eren Jaeger was made of dreams. His eyes, his smile—oh, his everything! Sasha was head over heels. She felt incredibly embarrassed about how much she liked him. They'd been going out for three months, since the end of September, and she was on cloud nine.

She never thought a guy like him would notice a girl like her. A girl that really loved food and most of the guys around her considered plain. Not to mention that she and Eren had been friends since freshman year and he never hinted at any sort of attraction to her until now. Even still, she would take what she got. She had done enough pining for the both of them.

But, she needed to get a hold of herself. It was a bad idea to get wrapped up in fantasies in the middle of class. Her teacher already had it out for her since she snuck snacks into her desk and munched on them steadily throughout the lesson. She had been called out enough for that, she didn't need to add "making googly-eyes at Jaeger" to the list of things her teacher held against her.

Sasha sighed, tapping her fingers on the desk. It was a little loudly if the way Mikasa glared at her was any indication. She froze. Mikasa was so mean to her. Sasha pouted.

She heard a slight laugh nearby. She looked over to see Eren laughing softly into his hand at her. She caught his eyes and they smiled. He then pointed to the broad and gave her a mocking, stern look. Sasha felt happy, even though he always caught her doing stupid things.

He was so dreamy. Did she say that already? Well, he was. He was the type of guy to protect her from big, scary monsters and make blood-oaths or something. And he was hers. Sasha still couldn't believe it. Eren Jaeger was dating her! Alright, enough. She would be able to dream more later. She spent so much time with him lately that she didn't have to fantasies anymore.

They even had a date tonight.

She loved to go wherever he wanted to take her. Sometimes, it was the park. Or the bookstore. A good looking guy like Eren, liking to read? Score! Sometimes it was the movies. She had even been over his house! He was the one, she was sure. No doubt about it! Lucky her, huh?

ǂǁǂ

Eren brushed his hair in the certain way he knew Sasha liked. He picked out some of his best clothes, brushed his teeth twice, and practiced his smile. He was set and ready to go. Sasha would be waiting. He smiled to himself secretly.

He was putting so much effort into this, just like Levi said he should. He couldn't help but feeling a little giddy every time he saw her. Did that mean he liked her? He wasn't sure. It didn't matter. He would do what he had to do. That didn't mean he couldn't enjoy it a bit, now did it?

---

In the night, I hear him talk, the coldest story ever told. Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul—

…

Time goes quicker between the two of us.

(Lay me down, let the only sound, be the overflow)

---

Thirteen Years Before

It first began when he was a child.

He hadn't been more than five years old. He was short for his age, barely coming up to his father's knee. He remembered in those days that he never stopped looking up at the man, both literally and physically. Not everyone's dad was a talented homicide detective that left more cases solved than not. On that day, he was sitting in the back of his father's squad car, fresh tears lining his face when he recalled the events of the day. He wasn't supposed to be here. His parents had just broken up, or he should say, his mother finally walked out on his over-worked father and only left her son because she couldn't physically couldn't pry the small, sobbing Eren out of his strong, calloused hands. He, for the first time in his short life, had watched his father lose his temper, watched him throw things and scream and rage. And Eren sat in the corner, shivering (not from the cold) while his mother cried and screamed and stomped. And then it was over, and he sat on his father's lap—he couldn't reach his little arms all the way around his father; only the tips of his finger touched no matter how hard he strained.—while his father nuzzled his hair and whispered nothings to him.

His father hadn't even had the time to clean up the strewn papers and broken dishes before he got a call. Eren knew the number; he had seen it a thousand times before. He made no move to remove himself from the warm lap, and his father didn't either. The conversation was quick, his father's clipped words only remembered for the tone and not the content. Eren heard a word he never come across before: gruesome. The word was odd on his tongue as he mouthed it. He had no idea what it meant. He would make sure to ask what it meant when his father's face wasn't set in such harsh lines. He could wait. He expected to be dropped off at the neighbors or something like that. Not this time. This time he was strapped in the back seat of the car with his favorite elephant toy as he watch blurry caricatures of trees and glows from porch lights whiz by the car window.

It was late. Late enough that he was fighting off drooping eyes and the darkness behind his lids. In fact, his father probably bet on him nodding off so he wouldn't be bored in the car. But Eren wanted to know what gruesome was. As soon as his father finished up, he would ask him, and then they would go home and have hot tea with his mama—oh. That's right. His mama wasn't home. She left. She wasn't coming back.

(Even at such a young age, Eren understood that this wasn't like the other times. His father never cried the other times, his parents never physically fought for him. This was different.)

So he began to cry.

He cried his little heart out, wiping his nose on his elephant. His little body shook with the intensity of his sobs. Eren knew that this was a huge change. A shift that he didn't like. So he cried. Then he wanted his daddy, but his daddy was busy, he remembered.

(Eren only wanted daddy when he was sad; any other time he got his father.)

So he craned his little neck over the window, to see if he could spot his daddy. They were in front of a nice brownstone, smashed between other identical houses—an indicator of the nicer parts of the city—and from what he could see there was tape everywhere. He couldn't tell the color in the glow of the dim streetlights. He knew the difference between them. Yellow was for most crimes. Red was for death. Gruesome swam to his mind again. It didn't sound like a good word. Not something you would use for a robbery or running a yellow light. That meant the tape was probably red. He couldn't see anything from where he was, so he got out of the car.

He left Mr. Elephant behind for safety.

He didn't close the door all the way. He learned from his father that when the police didn't want to draw attention to the cars, the left the door slightly ajar as not to slam it shut. It didn't matter. No one was paying attention to him. They were all looking solemnly at the person on the ground. Some began to look like they would be sick. Even when he walked right up behind his daddy and raised his little hand to tap his shoulder, no one noticed him.

(He would note that, later, the city at the time wasn't yet known for violent crimes. So what they saw was especially shocking for such a quiet neighborhood.)

His hand hovered in mid-air as he saw what was over his father's shoulder.

So this was what gruesome looked like.

He guessed it was a synonym for beautiful.

There was a tarp covering the lower half of the body, pulled back for pictures and viewing. Eren was amazed that there could be so much blood inside of a person. Inside of a dainty woman like that.

Her neck was also completely severed and hanging on by a fleshy thread; blood winding in oddly pleasant patterns around her chopped neck. Her ankle twisted in an unnatural position—broken— probably from falling down the front stairs. They were deceptively steep. If the blood train was any indication, she had been suffering from minor wounds on her body as she ran down the stairs and tripped. She probably laid there. Writhing in pain trying to get up, when her assailant came and finished her off by splitting her throat. Only a huge weapon could have made a cut like that.

(It was the work of an axe, he would learn later from the police report he stole; why anyone would bring an axe to a burglary was beyond him.)

Her eyes were wide and unseeing, and Eren felt himself staring into them. She was beautiful. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark blood and all. He wanted to touch her. His eyes traveled to her gaping neck, suddenly wanting to put his hands in it and see how it felt. It looked squishy. Would it feel the same? He wanted to know. He had no idea how long he stood there, looking at the dried blood and the muscles in her neck. But in the next instant, his man behind his father was staring straight at him and swearing like a sailor.

"Fuck Jaeger, Eren's—"

He didn't even get to finish his sentence before his daddy whirled around with a quickness he'd never seen and grabbed him, swearing just as badly. All eyes were on them, and he could see that everyone had a distraught took on their faces. He had no idea why. His father got him to the care quickly, sitting him down and blocking his view of the woman behind him. He felt his big hands encase his face, the cold metal of his wedding ring causing him to flinch.

"Eren." His father said softly. He only spoke like that when Eren was scared or sad. Eren was far either. In fact, he was quite happy. A little excited. His thing felt a little weird. He didn't think he should tell his father that because he had a stricken look etched on his face.

"Eren," he said in a choked voice. "How much did you see? "

Eren blinked at him. "She was dead, wasn't she?"

His father reared back as If stricken. "Yes." He said after a few moments.

"Why?" He asked.

His father patted his head. "I don't know, I'm going to figure that out, but I need to keep you to stay in the car, alright?" Eren regarded him silently. His father waited for his answer. He didn't want to stay in the car. At all. He wanted to go feel her. But his father had a tired, horrified look on his face, and he didn't refuse him.

"Okay." He said.

His father gave him a weak smile and tucked Mr. Elephant back into his arms.

Eren looked past him, seeing the tarp was back over the woman, and seeing a new body being carted off on a stretcher from out the gaping front door. Red stained the cover on top of that one too; dead, like the woman. He quietly huffed over not seeing that one. His father followed his gaze and he heard him sigh.

"Eren, "He began, but everyone in the vicinity was suddenly distracted by the sound of crying. There was shocked silence.

A female officer emerged from the front of the house, holding a little girl in his arms. She was most likely the same age as Eren; a small black haired girl with big eyes too big for her face. She was sobbing loudly, and the woman holding her raised her hands to cover her eyes as they approached the mess of her mother. Eren's father stood stiffly, a string of curses flying from his mouth. The woman made her way over to them slowly, whispering nothings and patting her head to try to quiet her. It was barely working she was hiccuping and sniffling, but at least the onslaught of tears had ceased.

"Who—"His father began.

"The daughter." She said without much feeling. Her eyes gave her away to Eren, as they were brimming with things unsaid. "We found her hiding the pantry. She said she's not hurt, but it think we should get her checked out anyway."

"Of course. Anyone else inside?"

"Not from what can tell. Where should I take her?"

"I would say an ambulance, but since we thought—there's not one here."

His father considered for a moment, and then looked back at Eren sitting with his feet dangling out of the car.

He and the woman shared a look, and then his father was saying things to the girl that he didn't care listen to. He picked at his scarf. It was sort of itchy, but his mother made it for him. He liked it. It kept him warm. He looked up when he felt the girl's shining eyes were on him. Eren could tell that his father had introduced him to her and he wasn't paying attention. He gave a little awkward nod in her direction. He was placed back in his seat and strapped him and she was set next to him.

His father was saying something else and he nodded like he was listening. But he wasn't. He was getting tired and his eyes began to drop. Maybe he would dream of the woman, as her image was seared into his eyes even when they were open. He sure hoped so.

When his father closed the door, leaving them behind in silence. She was still sniffling, and Eren felt bad for her. She must be sad, losing her mom and dad like that.

"What's your name?" He asked, tapping her arm.

She jumped a little, rubbing the spot as if she'd been burned.

"Mikasa." She said after a while.

He tested the syllables out on his tongue, mouthing it mutely. It was a nice name. He liked it.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

She shot him a withering look, and then a firm: "No."

He kicked himself. No, she wouldn't be okay. She was sad. How did he make sad people feel better? He almost said his mom was gone too, but it wasn't the same. And his mother had taught him that bringing up yourself was not good to do when comforting someone else.

"How old are you?" he would just try to keep her talking so she wouldn't dwell on it. Or, worse yet, look out the window.

"Six."

"I'm five."

"Really?"

"Uh-huh."

"You're little."

"No I'm not!" he said huffily. She gave a little laugh, and he prided himself on being the cause of it. Mikasa have a little shiver, and he was reminded that she only had on a night gown. She had been woken up by her father's gurgling on his own blood and her mother's screaming, after all.

He thought for a moment. His coat wasn't big enough to fit the both of them, no matter how little he was, and taking it off to give to her would just make him cold. So, he pulled off his scarf—which still smelled like his mama, but he ignored it—and looped the over-large thing around her three times. She watched him the whole time, eyes nearly overflowing, and snuggled and smelled it when he was done.

"Not cold?" he asked.

"Yes." She said quietly.

"Feel better?"

"A little."

He frowned. He wanted her to feel better a lot. What to do? He looked down at the toy in his hands. Mr. Elephant was his favorite. He always made him feel better. He patted its head and handed it over. She took it, a confused look marring her features.

"He's my best friend and he makes he feel better all the time. You keep him until you feel better. Keep the scarf until you feel warmer, too."

Her lip parted, but no sound came out.

"Thank you." She sobbed. "Thank you, Eren. I'll keep him safe for you." She said.

He held her gaze firmly. "I know."

He knew nothing else until morning. Mikasa shared his bed, and they were wrapped up in his sheets tightly. He had no idea who his father talked to, or what about, but Mikasa stayed with them until the next morning, and the morning after that. She had no one, apparently, so Eren made it his business to become her someone. And her tears dried. And he got a little taller. And they went to the same school and ate the same cereal at breakfast and fought over the orange juice. And they walked hand and hand like a family should.

And she still clutched Mr. Elephant to her chest and wrapped his scarf around herself three times in the winter months, and each time he saw it with her he decided he would wait a little longer to ask for them back.

---

Then she starts to cry—mascara running down those little bambi-eyes, Oh, how I hate those eyes….

…

Sweet-sixteen and we had arrived. Running from the cops screaming "Get us while we're hot, get us while we're hot!"

---

Four Months Before

"So you like Sasha?" Eren asked Connie on the way to math one day. He laughed when Connie made a huge show of covering his mouth and shaking his head.

"You ass! Don't yell it out loud! "He hissed. Eren was tempted to lick his palm, but didn't. Connie raised an eyebrow, silently asking is Eren would say anymore on the subject. Eren shrugged.

The school year had nearly just began, but their school left no day carefree, and no student underworked. They thought it would be simpler now that they were seniors. No dice. They already had ass loads of work to do and it only been three weeks. Every student that wandered these halls couldn't wait until the break started.

When Connie deemed it safe, he moved his hands and made Eren swear to talk in a lower voice.

"But you've known each other since you were kids," Eren said, "Why not just tell her? I'm sure she cares for you. And I didn't yell." He added.

Connie sneered at him. "Because she likes you, dumbass. You with your pretty green eyes and your bad-boy image."

Eren raised an eyebrow at him mockingly. "Her words or yours?" he asked.

"Fuck you!" Connie flicked him off, much to Eren's amusement.

They came to, and sat, in math in silence.

Connie missed the odd, faraway look Eren shot him before they entered.

The hour-thirty dragged slowly, and Eren felt himself getting bored. He felt his phone buzz in his pocket near the end of the period.

A message from Connie, with only one word: "Mine."

His face screwed up in confusion. It took him a while to understand the meaning, and then—

Connie got tease him later when he got detention for looking at his phone and laughing loudly in the middle of class.

---

Six Years Before

His first kill was at age twelve.

He agonized over it. It was so wrong. He was a kid. He shouldn't fantasize over matters like this. But he did. He dreamed of blood and guts and gore. He wanted to see what everyone held inside of them. Red was his favorite color, and humans had loads of it packed under their skin. The thoughts clawed at him at the worst times, in the darkest hours. But in the end, he decided to go through with it. He put on an innocent child act; it wasn't hard at the time, with his overly round, expressive eyes and his boyish face. He lured in a pretty woman on the first try. It was on a lonely street in the dark of night. A woman like her, chatting away on her cellphone in skyscraper heels shouldn't have been out that time of night by herself. Neither should he. At least she wouldn't be making the same mistake again.

He ran to her from an alleyway he knew well. He scoped it out long before now. There was a dead end on the left, and on the right lead out to another street, making the alley into a 'T' shape. He thought it was perfect. The left end couldn't been seen from the street, and the right had enough depth that the streetlights couldn't penetrate it.

Eren carried a kitchen knife—a serrated, old thing that he was sure hadn't been used in years— in his back pocket. He didn't have much money, and he only decided in the morning that he was going to carry out in fantasy.

She closed her phone after a rushed goodbye, listening to his hurried words about a made up friend that was injured in the alley. She followed him willingly, her blues eyes shimmering with pity and worry. He purposely dressed in ratty clothing, making himself seem like some dirty urchin. Her heels clicked on the asphalt as she walked. His heart beat in time with her footfalls. He was too calm, he recognized, to be about to take another's life. His pulse was steady and his palms were dry. Too calm, too calm. He was scaring himself. Where was the fear he felt before? Where had it gone?

They were at the crossroads of the alley. He had set up a trash bag to sit like a slumped person. Her breath was coming out in puffs now, from her haste. She pulled him from his thoughts by pointing to the right side of the alley.

"Here?" She asked. "Is he over here?"

He looked down that alley for one second. Two seconds. Three.

"No," he said, "He's right there."

She turned to the left and took two steps towards his decoy.

He slipped the knife into her back without another word.

It took more effort than he thought it would. Maybe he didn't have enough strength in his young body. He jammed it into her hunched back. He watched her jerk forward, a pained noise escaping her lips. Her head swiveled, eyes wide, as she feel onto her hands and knees.

"Wha—"

This time he raised his arm instead of jabbing forward, curving it and embedding the knife in her shoulder. She screamed and lurched forward again. He took a stolen dish cloth from his pocket and stuffed it in her mouth. Even though she was a grown woman, and her strength would have exceeded his, she was hurt and disoriented. The woman kept trying to turn herself out her back, no doubt going to attempt to raise her hands to protect her face from his blows. She rolled and raised her hands, a muffled scream pushed past the cloth as the grooved knife cut through her palms like rice paper. He never knew that skin was so thin, so fragile. It excited him. Eren quickened his strikes. He was hitting so fast that blood began to splash back onto him. She was gurgling on her own blood so much that he was surprised she was still alive. It began to make him angry, her survival. Why wouldn't she die already? Every time he made contact now he dragged the knife downward, carving into her. Deeper, deeper, deeper! His mind screamed at him. He felt a smile curve on his face as the light fled from her eyes. She never got another word out.

Eren stopped, panting with exhaustion.

She was a mess. Nothing more than a giant wound. He stared at her for a few moments, the only sounds alive where the common hums of the night and his heavy breathing. She was more beautiful than ever. The red highlighted her blond hair. He reached a steady hand down to caress her face. Sticky. He smiled. He felt the blood on his hands, holding it up to his eyes in the light. He covered his face with his soaked hand, sniffing deeply.

"Beautiful. Wonderful." He whispered to himself.

But he wasn't done.

He wanted to know what her insides looked like. How she was put together. Eren had cut her in the stomach a few times, but none were big enough to fit his hand in. He'd have to fix that. He breathed, slicing a deep gash into her middle. He admired his handiwork. Next time—he determined that there would indeed be a next time—he would bring a straight blade instead of one with grooves. It marred her skin too much; he didn't like it. It left the skin too jagged and bloody for him to see. Next time he would definitely do better.

He had a large enough hole to fit his hand though. It was in the lower stomach. He grasped something long; it must have been her small intestine. It had an interesting feeling to it, while slick and saturated with blood. He squeezed, savoring the loud squelch that was released. Eren shivered and moved his hand around. His sleeve was heavy and dark, and the little bit of light that was present wasn't enough for him to see what he was doing anymore. He didn't care. He wouldn't stop. Her guts felt so good.

And then Levi was there.

(Of course, at the time, he didn't know him as Levi, or Rivaille, or anything for that matter.) He only knew him as a boy, not much older than himself, leaning against the wall behind him smoking a cigarette and chuckling softly behind it.

Eren's hand gripped mutely at his blade. Maybe his next time would come quicker than he thought. He jerked his hand out regrettably—he would make sure to explore the entrails of this one while the night was still young. He would take his time too.

That is, until he turned around.

In that instant, even in the darkness, he was able to see him clearly. And just like that, he knew this man would be a permanent part of his life. From the cut of his hair, the intensity of his eyes and the curve of his lips, he knew. Eren shivered in…something. He didn't think he would get to see eyes like that in a city like this, unless he was looking in the mirror. This man's aura buzzed of danger—of deep, dark things unseen. It permeated into Eren's skin and left him feeling slightly…frightened. Eren didn't get scared, certainly not of other people. But this wasn't a normal person; people like him didn't appear in this world very often. This man—was calling him a man even right? He saw a demon. He saw the devil in him, far more than he saw in himself, and he loved it.

"Sorry," Came a somewhat deep timbre that had Eren shaking like a goddamn tuning fork. "For interrupting, but I hate when people make a mess."

Eren blinked owlishly at him. "What?"

He barely caught the forceful eye-roll in the heavy darkness. "You," He said, pointing at Eren's chest, "Made a mess. Carved her up right good. You can't show her like this. Shame."

More blinking. "What?"

"You stink of inexperience. It's gross. What's the point of killing if you don't show anyone?" Levi flicked his spent cigarette to the ground, crushing it as he took quiet step after step in Eren's direction. "On second thought, don't answer that. What's your name, kid?" He switches gears quickly, Eren thought.

"Eren."

"Spelled with an 'A' or an 'E'?"

"An 'E'."

"Ah."

They watched each other, and Levi smirked when Eren looked away under his scrutiny after mere moments.

"Rivaille."

"Huh?" He asked, looking back to him.

Another hard eye-roll. "My name. But you may call me Levi."

"Um, okay. "

"Don't make that face, it's a privilege that not many get." Eren raised an eyebrow.

"A privilege?"

"Damn straight."

Who did he think he was?

Eren wanted to have a snappy retort, but he was confused. Why were they exchanging pleasantries like he hadn't just murdered a woman in cold blood? What the hell? This guy—Levi, his mind supplied—couldn't be that used to death that he barely blinked at finding a pre-teen boy with his hand inside a woman's stomach on the street, could he? That was…interesting, to say the least. Eren casually wondered what he killed like—He decided in that moment that he had to be a killer, and a much more skilled one than him at that—and what he did so he wouldn't make a "mess", as he said.

He was startled when a flashlight was suddenly in his face. Even more so when long piano-fingers were sliding into his hair and tipping his head back.

"Huh." Levi grunted with seemingly genuine surprise. "You're cute."

Eren blinked at him again. "What?"

Levi narrowed his eyes. "Stop saying that. You heard me. You're cute. I thought you would be hideous. Maybe like Quasimodo. But now I see that you're cute, which makes this even better. How old are you, brat?"

Eren bristled at being 'cute' and a 'brat' in one breath, but he answered anyway. "Twelve." Levi tsk'ed in slight…disappointment?

"Ah, I was hoping younger." He said with a sad shake of his head. "More time to teach you would be better. You're short for your age." He added.

Eren glared. "You're one to talk." He retorted. Then he thought about his words. "Wait, teach me?"

Levi leveled him with a disappointed stare. Like he already missed something he was supposed to catch on to in their short exchange. "Naturally, You. Suck." He said, punctuating the words. "You'll be caught up in no time. You need discipline, and lucky for you, I'm in the market for a disciple."

"Thanks, but no thanks." He said before he could stop himself. What the fuck are you doing? He asked himself.

"Oh no, you've misunderstood, It wasn't a request." Levi said with a destructive smile and eyes harder than stone.

Eren jerked in surprise. What? "What."

The hand in his hair tightened. "Look, Eren," He was a goddamn tuning fork again at the mention of his name. "I'll put it in words that your one-pubed mind can understand. I like your face. I like that you kill. I even like that your eyes are really fucking green. So before any other sick fuck snatches you up, I'm staking a claim. Be flattered, I actually think you can be something. None of these other two-bit slashers had the guts to do what you did at such a young age, and I'm fairly impressed. But like I said, you suck. Someone will have to teach you patience and good cleanliness habits. And that someone is me."

Eren was about to say what again, but he decided against it. He was afraid that if he did, he would get yelled at and possibly have his hair tugged right out of his head. He didn't want to be double-dared. It didn't mean that this made sense, though. Who the hell did he think he was? Eren didn't bow down to anyone, especially not someone that looked to be sixteen at the most. One-pubed? What the fuck was he, ten? No. Hell no. Fuck no. Fuck this. He realized that his knife was on the ground behind him; he could easily jerk out of his hold and end him right here. Like it would be that easy. He mustered up his strongest death glare—which left most people running from the hills—but Levi remained unfazed.

"And if I refuse?"

Rivaille let out a short, unamused laugh. "I don't know how you keep misunderstanding me—will I have to teach you the basics of English too?—No, for you to be able to refuse, I would have to ask you something. I did not. I said, you're coming with me, and that's that. As of this moment, you're mine. Mine to mold, mine to shape, mine to—"He sighed, looking Eren up and down. "That will come later. Anyway, when I see something I like I take it. Or I kill it."

He dropped the flashlight and seized Eren's chin with the same hand. "So either I help you learn to be like me or I leave you in a puddle of your own blood right here in this alley. The choice is yours." Levi smiled sweetly at him.

"What gives you the right—?"

"I own this city." He said emotionlessly, in a way making Eren shut his mouth. "And I own the shadows. You could even call me the King of them. As it so happens, my dear boy, you just stepped into one. So now I own you." Levi's eyes were so serious, so dark and deep with things Eren didn't understand, that he stood stock-still. Transfixed. He thought for a moment. No one else had claimed the title, as far as he knew. Levi seemed like a hardcore, all-in kind of guy. He looked as if he knew tons of things, things that Eren's mind hadn't even thought of. Being under the guidance of the King of shadows? Not too bad for his first try.

"Alright, fine." He said. Levi didn't seem surprised in the least. He smirked maliciously at him. "I'm yours, then?"

"Damn straight."

And from that moment he didn't remember anything else.

It was all a blur from there. Somehow, in the next couple of nights and weeks he ended up exploring the night with Levi—dodging his father's sharp eyes and Mikasa's even sharper ones— and learning under Levi's tutelage.

Levi liked to hunt.

He rarely killed people quickly. Sometimes, if the mood suited him, he would ease behind someone without a sound—

(Eren, to this day never understood how he could be this quiet and agile like some sort of cat. Levi never had a concrete answer for him and would always laugh quietly whenever Eren brought it up in slight jealousy of him.)

—and slit their throat. But for the most part, he liked to plan. He had a frozen warehouse where he kept bodies stored. The first time he took Eren there, he was sure he had never been so hard in his life. It was glorious. He kept them all elevated on meat-hooks with cuts on their ankles so they could bleed into buckets on the floor below them. Eren thought it was creative. Levi would cut out their organs—the heart, the brain, the liver, and the genitalia were his favorites—and then sow them back up with thick, red thread and put them on display all over the city. He also had a giant tarp over the ground to keep the blood off his nice, clean floor. One which he hosed down every week with a bonnet and latex gloves on.

He was an exhibitionist. 'What's the point of killing if you can't show anyone?' He had said. It made sense now. Eren thought it would be fun to see if people were maybe on a stroll in the park of riding their bike and happened to see a bloodless, seamed body. He quite liked the idea. Levi, of course, did too.

Not to mention that they both had an affinity for fire. They liked to burn things, and people. They couldn't do it as often as they would have liked—fire always attracts attention—but whenever they got the chance, Eren would mirror Levi's look of wild abandon and uncontainable excitement, then he take Levi's hand willingly so they could run through the shadows together.

Fire made them closer.

In those days, somehow Eren went from disliking Levi, to admiring him immensely, to being downright in love with him. Being gay didn't surprise him as much as being a murderer did, so he took it in stride. Besides, didn't Levi think he was…cute?

"Yeah, I did." Levi said when he asked.

Eren tried to mask his hurt.

He failed.

"So you don't think I'm cute anymore?" He words sounded strange to his own ears, but he didn't waiver.

Levi hit him with his famous eye-roll. "Fuck, kid, don't look at me with those eyes—didn't I tell you I like the fact that your eyes are really fucking green? — At least let me wait until you hit high school to start touching you. You're killing me, here."

Eren laughed and he was content.

Four Months Before.

He comforted Sasha while she cried over Connie's disappearance.

The school held a candlelight vigil for him. Everyone in their grade showed up. He was a good kid. He deserved it. He deserved to live. All of his friends were distraught, and secretly, he was too. He didn't like to cause those close to him pain. Or himself. But he knew what he had to do. Nothing to get in his way, not now, and certainly no one could either.

Annie said nothing on the matter. Not at lunch, or in math, or in the hall. Nowhere. But she knew. And he knew it. The secret smiles always pissed him off. The anger would subside when after a while the smiles faded, and he would notice her gazing into space, or when her eyes would unconsciously wander to the empty seat next to her at lunch. He couldn't be angry when the edges of her eyes would crinkle in sorrow and her eyes would drift to her lap silently. No, he couldn't be angry at all.

Armin's eyes were red more than once when he would come to school. He would sniffle sometimes throughout class, and the shallow-dark bags under his eyes indicated that he was losing sleep. Eren would make his way to his house rub his back in the dead of night when Armin would be nearly hysterical with grief. He would feel his friend breaking more and more, even as he told him that everything would be okay.

Mikasa made a point to keep Connie's desk and seat at the lunch table free. She knew as well as he did that it wouldn't be filled again by him, but he didn't comment.

Marco ran himself ragged with worry too, ringing his hands together until they were hurting. Once, and only once, he said what they all were thinking.

"It's like Jean all over again."

He closed his eyes and prayed after that, and everyone was silent. And Eren knew, just like Jean, they would never hear from Connie again.

Levi was a master at hiding bodies, living or dead, after all.

---

The prettiest little in crowd that you had ever seen. Ribbons in her hair and her eyes gleamed mean. A freshman generation of degenerate beauty-queens.

…

Just stay where I can see you douse the lights. We sure are in for a show tonight!

(Stay where I can see you—!)

---

One Year Before

Eren appreciated his normal friends. He valued those that didn't function like him. Like Armin. Armin was an angel in disguise. Armin knew how to put a smile on his face that wouldn't end up with someone dead. With his innocent, blond friend, he had a view on what a regular teenager should be like. They talked about the weather, and schoolwork, and TV shows, and if Armin finally got the courage to talk to the girl he liked. That would be a no. Eren never remembered the girl's name no matter how hard he listened because he just felt she wasn't right for a guy like Armin. She wanted too many material things, too much attention. She was a heartbreaker, and if she hurt someone as precious as Armin, he would break her.

(This is why he didn't get involved in his friends' relationships often; his possessiveness and protectiveness got people killed.)

And then there was someone like Annie. She was not…normal, in so many words, but she hadn't murdered anyone. Purposely, anyway. Kidding. Not really. Anyway, Annie talked to him however she liked. She was blunt, reserved, and sort of angry. Which reminded him of Levi. That's probably why he liked her so much.

But he was pretty sure that she knew what he did.

She always had these odd, contemplative stares and secret smiles that she gave him when she thought he wasn't looking. But he noticed them out of the sides of his eyes. He wondered if she would ever tell. Probably not. He never got much out of her, but he knew that Annie had a story of her own. If she was ever ready to tell him, he would be waiting.

He had a handful of other friends too. Like Marco, Connie, and Sasha. Sometimes, even Reiner. But he was a senior that became a little too cool for them, so not so much anymore. He was never much of a people person—he could count the number of people he called just to spend time with instead of just when he needed something on one hand— which was weird because people flocked to him no matter how rude or mean he could be. He appreciated their normalcy, too. They got him through his life in the daytime.

But then there was fucking Jean.

Eren did not consider him a friend. Just someone that hung around them by his own decision. Connie liked him, and so did Armin, and Marco, and Sasha. And sometimes, even Reiner. Mikasa and Annie, as always, didn't care either way. So he had to put up with him quite a bit. But even though Eren made it very clear that he only did so because his friends were fond of him, Jean didn't get that. He went out of his way to bother Eren, saying stupid, corny shit like:

"Hey man, how's the dirt down there?"

(Implying that he was short. That was a new one. He had never been called short at this age. Jean just liked to make the point that he was smaller than him. Seriously, the dumbass needed to see Levi before he called him short again (He was normal-sized, dammit!); Levi's a twenty-one year old man.)

Or:

"What's that on your—Oh wait, that is your face!"

(And then he would fucking laugh and Eren was so fucking glad that Mikasa had persuaded him into not bring a knife to school. But there were always pencils….)

And so on.

It took Annie's not-to-gentle wording, after two years of the group having to listen to their back and forth, to figure out that Jean probably liked him and wanted to get his attention any way that he could.

("Just shut up about him and let him fuck you already, Eren. If he asks me what you favorite color is again, I'm going to kill him before you ever get the chance to." She said with a pointed look. )

(She definitely knew.)

(Shit.)

He still didn't believe it. Jean was…Jean. Eren didn't see him that way. The only person he saw like that was Levi. He never thought it strange that he was not sexually attracted to anyone but him. Everyone else was just…there. He tried to see Jean as a man instead of as an annoying fuck, but it barely worked.

His smile was nice. He had soft hair.

But he's fucking corny, Eren. Huge turn off.

Then Jean started to act oddly. He didn't see him around like he used to. Everyone was surprised when he didn't demand to be Eren's partner in Science or try to "slyly" ask for his help in English. Eren found it peaceful while everyone else found it strange. But he also knew that more than anyone, peace never lasts.

Jean came to him after class one day, when Eren was cleaning up. He didn't have to turn to know it was him. He always barreled in with the noise of a thousand buffalo. He just stood there. Jean didn't seem too keen on talking, so Eren ignored him. When he grabbed his bag, threw it over his shoulder, and went to leave, Jean grabbed his arm. Eren tugged to get away but Jean's words stilled him.

"I know about you." He said in a voice Eren didn't think he was capable of. Gravely serious was a good look on Jean, but he pushed the thought away. He was ninety percent sure he knew what he meant by it, but he played dumb and asked anyway.

"What?"

The grip on his arm tightened. Why did everybody like to grab him? "Don't." He whispered. "Just fucking don't, Jaeger." Using his last name? Old boy was serious.

Eren went to speak, but Jean was quicker. He pushed him against the wall and held him there. Eren felt his eyes narrow. Dangerous ground. He didn't like being threatened. If he really knew about him then he should fucking know that this was a bad idea.

(You're going to wish you, never had met me… at all.)

"Jean—"he said in warning.

"I saw you and your boyfriend," Jean continued as if he hadn't spoke, and hissed the word boyfriend like it was acid on his tongue. "I saw you drag a lady into a car. And then you drove off. You killed her, didn't you?"

Ah. Maybe he knew more than he thought.

"I always knew there was something about you, Eren," He went on." I couldn't figure it out. But I knew—I knew you were like me somehow. I just knew it!" His eyes were lit with excitement now, not anger.

What?

"What?"

"I didn't know how to say anything to you, after that. I wasn't supposed to be there, anyway. I had some shady dealings—but it's not important—you don't know how that made me feel Eren, to see you do something like that. Once I got my emotions in check, I knew I could breathe easy around you. Around a fellow—"

"Have you done it, yet?" Eren asked suddenly.

Jean blinked at him, and then his brow furrowed. "What?"

Eren lowered his voice. "Have you killed someone yet?" Jean looked away.

"Well, no, not yet—"

"Then we're not fucking alike." He said cruelly, trying to drive the point home. Jean was notoriously thick headed. "No, don't look at me like that. I know what you're going to say to me: "I've done it in my head a million times." So has everyone else in the world. And then you'll say something about how you've struggled about it, about the dark thoughts you've had, and how hard it was to come to terms with it. Yeah, yeah. I get it. I'm not a shoulder to cry on, but I digress." Jean's lips parted slowly and his eyes crinkled in pain. But his grip didn't up and it was beginning to piss Eren off.

"We're not alike, okay? I don't have time for someone that just fantasizes shit. I'm in way too deep for that." What was it about this city that made everyone so insane? The so call peace it boasted about? Genetics? Was something in the water? Probably.

He pulled away successfully this time, but right before he slipped out of the room, Jean grabbed him again—this time around his middle—and whispered in his ear:

"Come with me tonight, I'll show you."

ǂǁǂ

Jean, as he used to be, was messy. He was too happy with his blade, slashing up all the good parts. That wouldn't do; he and Levi wouldn't be able to make art out of this poor soul later. What a waste. Jean was panting, eyes alight, and nearly salivating at the mouth as he worked. Eren rolled his eyes about as hard as he could from his position on the wall behind him. Was this how Rivaille saw him at first? Bouncing in excitement with a rampant boner? He blushed at the thought. Had he been hard at that time? Yeah. He had. Good lord, what had Levi seen in him?

Jean stood up, admiring what he'd just done. He turned to Eren, grinning and holding his knife like a prize. If Eren squinted hard enough, he might have looked cute in the dying light while covered in someone else's blood. He was smiling in a way that said: "See? I told you I could do it!"

Eren gazed at him, uninterested, arms folded in front of him. "Are you done?" He asked. Jean nodded obediently. Eren pushed off the wall, reaching down to get the change of clothes for Jean that he stored in his bag, when he was pushed up against the wall, again.

"Jean, if you manhandle me again one more fucking time today, I swear to god I'm going to—"He began angrily. He was cut off by a deep groan. He paused, looking into Jean's half-lidded eyes.

"What's wrong with you?" He asked.

"I'm so hard right now." Jean moaned out, resting his forehead against his chest.

Eren froze.

Ah.

Well.

And then Jean kissed him.

There was no grand…anything, really. He felt the pressure of something against his lips, but it didn't really excite him. Didn't make him shake or shiver. Didn't make his toes curl. He just really wanted to huff and push him off. He could fell Jean poking him down below. Honestly, it was weird to have someone else other than Levi touch him. He didn't like it.

But he didn't fight it.

He knew that this was about, why he didn't kick Jean in the dick and storm off. Because he was being neglected lately. Levi hadn't the time for him like before, since he was splitting his time between full-time work and their hunts. There was no time for just the two of them; No cuddling, or reading together, and definitely no sex. It bummed him out. So he wasn't sure how to act to another male's attention. The act itself didn't make him feel anything, but the parts of him that loved love and affection were reacting violently.

Jean began dragging him back to his car. Eren let himself be dragged. He was too caught up in his own thoughts to react. It really could not be normal that he only reacted to Levi's touch. That was insane. But then again, he was kind of insane anyway. That was kind of the point, wasn't it? He shouldn't be attached to just him. Or maybe it was just Jean. Yeah. That was probably it. He knew Jean. Stupid, annoying, corny Jean. This didn't seem like Jean at all. He didn't know the Jean that liked him. He didn't like that, either.

While he was off in the clouds, Jean had somehow collected their stuff—actually smart enough not to leave anything behind, surprise, surprise—and drove him to a house nearby. Eren had no idea what he was doing. Why was he going with him? He knew what Jean wanted. Would he go through with it, even though he felt nothing?

"Eren," Jean groaned as he threw Eren onto the bed. Eren bounced a little and stared at the ceiling.

"What?"

"Eren, talk to me." He begged.

"What do you want me to say?" He asked, looking at him. Jean was flushed and panting. He began to strip off both of their clothes. Eren was a little pissed that Jean got blood all over him from not changing earlier, but he didn't mention it.

"Tell me this is okay." Jean said, eyes searching.

It's not. "I'm not going to let you fuck me." He said instead. Jean's eyes flared with something akin to disappointment, but he nodded.

"Okay." He said after awkward silence. "Can I at least touch you?" He asked.

No. "Yeah."

Jean attacked him like a man starved. It was in those moments that Eren realized he had no idea where he was—who knows if this was Jean's house or not— or what the hell he was doing. Was he just doing this to prove to himself that Levi didn't own him in every way possible? That he had it in him to seek something other than just an occasional quickie or a few exchanged text messages? It would be nice to have someone that would value him. He and Jean were the same age, in the same classes. They would see each other a lot. What on earth was he thinking? That was a stupid reason to throw away everything he had. Was it?

Eren stared up lifelessly as Jean continued to lick his neck and ears. He nibbled on Eren's ears and Eren bit back a sigh. He had never been that sensitive in those places, it was more his—

He jerked when Jean flattened his tongue over one of his nipples, and let out a tiny, little hiss between his teeth. Shit. Bad place. Hurry up and move on—

Jean looked up in surprise, probably at getting even the barest reaction out of him. He did it again, this time rewarded with a louder noise from the back of Eren's throat. He seemed to be encouraged, because he began running his hands down his sides, sucking and nipping at his chest. He felt him up like he never touched another body before. Eren felt his virginity though his fingertips, but was surprised that the inexperience wasn't bothering him. That was a lie, it was bothering him a little, but it wasn't too bad. Besides, Jean seemed to catch on quickly to what he liked a disliked. Eren shuddered when Jean rubbed against him experimentally, short pants escaping through his clenched teeth. Huh. Maybe he was wrong. Maybe Jean had to work incredibly hard to get past the onion-like layers of Levi in his brain, and the deeper-still coatings that were etched into his skin.

Jean was getting impatient, wanting more, but at least Eren was hard now. They bumped against each other though their pants as Jean kept working him up, and they both swore colorfully. Jean wrestled them out of them, staring down at Eren when he was completely nude. It was somewhat dark in the room, and Eren could see a slight sheen of sweat glitter off of Jean's chest. Eren was throwing logic to the wind; he was bothered now and he wanted some gratification, dammit.

"Can I—?"

"No." Eren said firmly.

"Then—?"

"No."

"What can I do?" Jean asked exasperatedly.

Eren wanted to roll his eyes. "Hump me, you idiot. Don't just fucking look at it." He didn't think he would have to detail almost-sex to a seventeen year old boy. Jesus.

(Eren was terrible at denying others what they wanted when he could tell their emotions were genuine. Even if it did not benefit him, he was weak against it. A point Levi and he always disagreed on. He couldn't deny anything, Levi could deny everything.)

He groaned when Jean laid over him, and shut his eyes tightly when Jean encased the both of them with his big hands. Eren spread his legs (The only thing he gave back during the night) so that Jean would have more room to work. Jean went to kiss him again, and Eren didn't stop him. Kind of intimate, his mind whispered. He ignored it. They moaned against each other's mouths.

Building, building, building—

"Shit!" Eren yelled when he was there; he nearly head-butted Jean in the process. He sank back into the bed, catching his breath. Jean followed soon after and collapsed on top of him. He felt sticky, and spent, and fucking guilty beyond all belief oh my god.

Jean smirked lazily into his neck. Eren felt a little pinches there. He moved away when he felt Jean starting to suck. Did he fucking just—

He froze mid-thought when he felt a slick hand trail down the place beyond his balls. He shut his eyes tight against the pleasure, and blurted out the only thing he could think of before he let things get too far:

"He'll literally kill you, Jean. You have to stop!"

Don't you mean we, Jaeger?

Jean looked up. "What?" Eren scowled at him and pushed him off. He dragged on the spares he brought for Jean, overlooking that the clothes were a little big and he had to roll up the sleeves and the legs, and turned to glare at Jean who hadn't moved.

"My boyfriend, remember? Or did you manage to forget?" I certainly did.

Jean scoffed huffily. "I'm not afraid of him." Eren wanted to cry. Dammit, why was he gay? He would never escape male pride and false bravado.

"You should be! I should be. I fucking am! I'm sure you want to give up the ghost with a little more effort than that?! You really want to fucking die for fucking the most dangerous man in the city's man?" he began to pace. "Seriously Jean, this never happened!"

Jean watched him move back and forth across the floor for a while, as Eren tore his hair out and thought of good lies as to where he was instead of here.

"Eren." Jean said softly. Again, in a voice Eren hadn't thought possible for him. Low and sincere. "I care about you."

And what about it! "I know, okay?" He snapped.

"And I want to be with you."

Eren shook his head and laughed humorlessly. "It's too late, Jean. There's no part of me that doesn't belong to him for you to have."

(He still isn't sure who was more stricken by that statement, even now.)

He left without another word.

ǂǁǂ

He went home. That was logical. Mikasa already covered for him being out all night. His father didn't question him. He thought he was having a sleepover at Armin's. He must have thought they were too old to still have those, but he didn't question it. He was to see Levi the next night. He couldn't blow it off; that would be too weird. Not when he was always excited to be able to see him. Not when they hadn't had much time together lately. He never canceled plans with him. Never. But he was thinking he should really start, but not now.

He came at the appointed time, jittery the whole damn time as he stood outside the door. Levi was taking longer than he should to open it, or maybe he was just paranoid. He felt like Levi already knew. Like he was watching him from some secret security camera and getting off on his squirming. They both nursed some pretty weird kinks. Just when Eren was about to bolt, he got a text saying that the door was open. He walked in.

The smell of chicken hit him full force, and his stomach instantly growled. He hadn't eaten a thing since yesterday, and the thought of Levi's cooking made his mouth water. Until he sunk back to the lowest depths of despair. Fuck.

"Hey." Levi greeted as he stepped into the kitchen. He didn't turn around and Eren was glad for it. Levi would only have to take one look at Eren's guilty face and he was sure there would be a shiny meat hook with his name on it.

"Hey." He echoed.

Levi stirred some tea on the counter. "Food's on the table."

He was being a little distant, and Eren didn't like it. He didn't pay attention to him if he needed to. He narrowed his eyes at Levi's back. He looked down at the food. Looked good. Only one plate. So he already ate? He could have at least waited, since he knew he was coming. Eren tried not to feel put out, but he was failing miserably. He ate in silence, save for the sound of the metal spoon hitting the sides of the mug.

This was all they did recently. Don't get him wrong, he knew that things had to change when people got older, but he didn't like being downright ignored. He felt like he was acting like a brat. Levi had a job after all. He was an adult. He never felt their age difference as much as he did now.

He ate slowly.

Tomorrow was a Saturday, so he could stay over. But it would only mean getting up early to join Levi on his morning run.

When he dropped his fork, Levi seemed to snap out of it, picking up his mug—and book—moving across from the counter to sit across from him.

Ah.

He was reading, that's why he was distracted.

You need to calm down, Eren.

"What did you do yesterday?" Eren's head jerked up. Levi was staring at him now, eyebrows raised in humor. Then Levi's eyes changed for split second—into something strange and unrecognizable—and then, normal once more. What was that?

Yes, Eren, that's calm. You're doing great.

"Went over a friend's house." He tried to sound casual. He guessed it worked, because Levi looked down at the book and begins absently stirring again.

"Uh huh. What did you do?" He asked.

"Played video games." He lies easily. It's easier when he's not being stared at, to lie. They played alright.

"Have fun?" He asked.

Eren thought back, seeing himself moaning and groaning while Jean was on top of him. "Yeah." He said.

Levi stopped stirring.

"You did?" He said, eyes nearly black. Eren flinched, feeling as though he should push away from the table and run as fast as he could. "I'm guessing, from that hickey on your neck." He said coolly. One second of tense, shocked silence. . Two seconds. Three.

Levi had him pinned to the floor before he could blink.

Shit! He'd forgotten. He'd been so caught up with fabricating a story and guilt yesterday that by the time he got home, he'd totally forgotten about when Jean bit him. How had he missed it when he was showering or dressing? He should have put a Band-Aid over it and say he was stung by a bee, if he was thinking. Fuck.

"Rivaille—"he tried. The grip on neck was already tight, but it became unbearable when he tried to speak.

"Don't you fucking 'Rivaille' me!" He seethed in his face. Eren couldn't breathe. Fuck he was scared. Levi never hurt him. He didn't like this. God, he fucked up. "I'm this close to snapping your neck! What did he do to you?!" Eren didn't have enough breath to answer. He started choking, the pressure was becoming too much, as Levi squeezed with every word he spoke.

"Ah—"

Levi shook him while still holding his neck. He was in trouble. Levi was barely here anymore, that's how livid he was. His eyes were so big and his breath was coming so fast that Eren was worried for half a second that he would hurt himself. Then he had mind to worry about his damn self.

"Did you fuck him? Or did you let him fuck you?" He punctuated every word. "Answer me! Who was it? Huh? Who?! Dammit Eren, Dis-moi!"

Eren's vision was swimming. He tried to claw at Levi's hand but to no avail. He started to see little black spots at the edge of his vision. Damn, was he going to die like this, without a chance to explain? If the way Levi was nearly frothing at the mouth and his nails were drawing blood from Eren's neck, be guessed so. Some part of him always knew that he was going to die before his time, Levi would be the one to do it. He hadn't expected it to be because of this. Was that terribly sad or terribly romantic?

Sad. Definitely fucking sad.

Suddenly, he caught the sight of big, bare feet above him.

"He could tell you if you weren't cutting off his air supply, Rivaille." Said Erwin in a firm, quiet tone. "That's enough, let him go."

He forgot that Erwin was here. Thank god.

"Leave." Levi said, deathly calm while staring at his brother. Erwin stared right back. At least while Erwin was present, Levi's hand eased up a little, but it wasn't enough to suck all the air back into his greedy lungs. "This is not your business."

"I'd say it is, when I boy I happen to be fond of is slowly dying on the floor because my brother can't control his temper. I'd say it is." Erwin's eyes were narrow beyond belief, and his body was basically strumming with anger. Levi wasn't fairing much better. He'd become incredible still, eyes still wild and wide from adrenaline and hair hanging in his face. He looked every bit a beast. Unstable. Uncontrolled. Of course Eren would be one to push her closer to the edge, after all this time. Eren wouldn't been surprised if he bared his teeth soon.

"You're going to kill him." He added softly when Levi didn't let go.

"Good." He shot back. Erwin took a step closer, but did not touch him. He was smarter than that. He'd been dealing with Levi much longer than Eren had. Much longer than anyone had.

Erwin sighed. "Nobody wants that, and you know it."

"I beg to differ."

They stared again. Once second. Five Seconds. Ten. And then, finger by finger, Levi let go.

Eren coughed immediately, chest heaving as are torn back into his body. He turned onto his side, not quite able to look either of them in the eye.

"Good, you saved him." Levi said after Eren's breathing calmed down. "Now get out. We're having a private discussion."

There was no room for debate.

Erwin looked at Eren, nodding to him silently. Eren nodded back. He would just scream if he needed help again, that is, if Levi gave him the chance. Only if need be. He didn't think Levi would attack him again, but that didn't mean he wasn't shaken. Levi never—He'd seen those eyes before, many times, but they were never directed at him. He caught a sob before it escaped, smothering it. Eren collected himself and tried to cease his shaking. Erwin gave him a look a pity and retreated from the kitchen.

He probably hadn't heard the conversation then, if he could still look at him like that.

They listened for his footfalls on the stairs, craning to hear him open and close his door, and the creaks of his movements above them. Eren made no move to rise, so Levi grabbed his fallen chair and spun it face him. He sat, crossing one leg over the other and clasping his hands.

For many moments, they sat in silence.

"How far did you go?" He asked again in a much calmer tone. Eren looked up, trying not to flinch away from the cold abyss he saw in those eyes.

"He kissed me." Eren muttered shakily. Levi nodded stiffly.

"And he gave you a hickey." Not a question.

"And he gave me hickey." He echoed.

"He kissed you on that mouth." Again, not a question.

"Yes."

"That mouth that belongs to me."

"Yes, Levi." Levi set his jaw, probably to keep from screaming something.

"What else?"

"He touched me."

"Where?"

This was so awkward. "My chest. My legs. My arms. My sides."

"What else?" Levi was flying though them with the clinical precision of a surgeon, making a mental checklist in his head. His voice was flat about each question and it made Eren want to sink into the floor.

He might just hurt him, Eren, if he gets a name out of you. But if you say any more, Jean will die. He'll die. Don't tell him. Lie.

"Nothing."

Levi fixed him with a frigid stare. "Are you lying to me, Eren?" He asked testily. The 'again' hung in the space between.

Eren whined in the back of this throat. "I'm done lying to you." He said steadily, tiredly. But he wasn't. He was more awake than he'd ever been.

Levi watched him for a long while, and Eren held himself still under his scrutinizing gaze. Eventually Levi nodded, although still stiff.

"Alright. I believe you. Now tell me his name."

"What are you doing to do —"

"Don't worry about it." Levi said quickly.

"Levi—"He pleaded.

"You think I'm going to let this go? Do you really think so, Eren?" Eyes flashing, he stood. "I told you, that you were mine. Mine to shape, mine to teach, mine to fuck, and mine to have. I don't like when people but their dirty little hands on what's mine. So I'll ask one more time. What is his name?"

Eren looked at the floor.

"I can't tell you."

"Why not?"

Something was cracking. Something carefully constituted and skillfully grown between them. Eren grasped at it unsuccessfully. Too late, too late.

Eren's voice was little more than a whisper. "I don't want you to hurt him."

"It's too late for that." I know, that's what I'm afraid of.

Gone, into pieces.

"Then I won't tell you." He said. Levi looked off to the side, teeth gritting and fist clenched. They said nothing.

.

..

….

….

…..

"Get out." He heard him say. He jerked his head up to look at him, but Levi was already walking towards the door.

"What?" Levi spun, dragging him to his feet, and threw him towards the door. Eren barely kept himself from hurtling into it.

"Get out." He repeated.

"Levi—"

This time, instead a hand over his neck he got a finger to his lips. Eren stopped talking right away.

"I was willing to forgive you," He said. "But now I'm not. So get out, we're done."

"Done?" Eren repeated behind his hand.

"Done." No. No way. He couldn't mean—

"Levi, please! I'm sorry! I won't do it again, I swear, please! Don't do this!" He begged. Since when was he willing to beg for anything? But Levi wasn't just anything. He was everything.

"I'm not even going to question where I went wrong with you." He continued as if he hadn't spoken.

"Levi, god, will you—"

"Until you decide when you want to say something, you can come back. For now, get out. I don't want to see you around, and if I do, who knows what I'll do." He said, opening the door.

"All your secrets will die with me, Eren. You don't have to worry. I won't say a word. I would say I expect you to do the same, but I can't trust you now, can I? So do what you will with what you know of me. Honesty, I don't care about that right now. Just get out."

He pushed him out.

"Rivaille!"

The door shut in his face.

ǂǁǂ

---

I am—alone in this bed, house and head—and he never fixes this. (But at least he…)

…

Some say, I'll be better without you, but they don't know you like I do. (At least the sides I thought I knew.)

---

"I have a surprise for you."

Six days, and he felt as if he was dying. This couldn't be real. Maybe Levi had killed him back then, with his hands around his neck, and Eren's personal hell was to be apart from him. His chest hurt—isn't it possible to die from a broken heart?—and he wished he could take it all back.

But it didn't change the fact that he still didn't know if Levi loved him.

Now that he had time to think about it, it made sense. They did everything together. Levi showed him the world. But at the end of the day he was nothing more than a quick fuck and a hunting partner. And Eren wanted more. Why the fuck was he so complicated? He didn't want to be a toy, a prized possession. He wanted to be loved.

Pathetic.

Six days, and he wallowed in self-pity and a bit of self-hate. And then, on the seventh day, he got a phone call. He answered it immediately, knowing the number by heart, and waited. He clutched the phone like a lifeline.

"I have a surprise for you." Was all he said before he hung up, which left Eren more than a little confused. But he knew where he had to go.

ǂǁǂ

Eren could honestly say that he didn't get surprised at anything anymore—before this, of course—but then he would be wrong. He expected blood all over the place, or an acid bath brewing. But, if there was one thing he hadn't anticipated, it was Jean chained to the wall with no hands and no lips.

Levi had a twisted sense of justice, after all.

Eren paused at the threshold, taking the sight in. He swallowed thickly. Jean barely knew he was there, in all his pain. His head was leaning forward limply, but if the shallow breaths he took were any indicator, he was still alive. For the moment. For a split second, he thought to how Levi managed to keep him to the wall, but then he noticed the thick chain that rested against his Jean's chest snuggly. It was most likely hindering his breathing just as much as the pain was. Eren made a small, displeased noise in the back of his throat. Poor thing. Hopefully Levi wouldn't drag this out too long.

Speaking of the devil himself, Levi was leaning back on a small, wooden chair, cigarette in hand. His eyes were closed, but that in no way meant he wasn't paying attention. He had a way of watching without looking. He was silently gauging Eren's reaction and filing it away in some dark corner in his mind.

Eren refused to speak first, as this wasn't his show. He'd put on enough himself to know when a stage was set. So for a few moments, nothing. Save for the steady tap of Jean's blood on the floor.

(That's how he knew it was serious; the absence of a canvas on the floor and Levi's bloody, uncovered hands. For this, he didn't mind the mess. Even still, Eren would most likely be cleaning this up later.)

"He screamed a lot." Levi said casually, tapping the ash on the edge of the seat. "That is, until he couldn't."

Eren sighed. That was his signal.

"How did you find out?" He asked. He wanted to know. Jean's head came up slightly, reacting to his voice. He made a small, pitiful sound in the back of his throat. Eren was tempted to waltz over and snap his neck to get it over with.

Levi looked at him sharply. "I see and hear everything, remember?"

He let out a huff. "That doesn't answer my question."

It did. And it didn't. At the same time. Maybe the shadows told him. He lived and breathed this city. He was the city.

"What's your point?" Levi asked, bored.

Eren could tell he would get nowhere, so he changed course. "Do you want me to watch?" He asked.

Levi expected it. "Naturally."

"And…?" There was always more.

Levi stood, making a scene with the way he extinguished his cigarette and sauntered over to lean in Eren's face. Eren couldn't help the way his eyes followed his hips. He snapped then back up to his face when long piano-fingers slid into his hair and tilted his head back.

"Kiss him, since you like it so much." He said simply. Bitterly. He couldn't hide the way his lips tipped downward and his eyes narrowed. Eren chose not to comment.

"What?" He said instead.

"I said: Kiss. Him." It was Eren's turn to frown.

"No, I heard you. If you haven't noticed, Levi, he doesn't exactly have lips anymore."

Levi rolled his eyes and pushed him in the direction of Jean. "No shit. Now do it."

Eren landed on his knees in front of him. "Don't push me, I'm going."

Why was he doing this? He didn't have to listen to him anymore. He never had to listen to him, he chose to. They were supposed to be done, remember?

"We were supposed to be done, remember?" He felt a slither of rebellion rise in him.

"We are." Dammit, still stung. "This would have been done last week if you hadn't been a little shit about it." Eren said nothing.

Levi squatted beside him, looking at Jean's slumped form. "You protected him so…valiantly. He would probably appreciate you efforts if he wasn't fighting unconsciousness. So give him a goodbye kiss, I'll allow that."

"Allow?" He said angrily.

"Allow." Levi turned to look at him. Eren tried, he really did, to hold his gaze, but he found that he couldn't. He had fucked up after all, and Jean was a good as dead. He would bleed out from his leaking mouth soon enough, and he wouldn't do much surviving without arms. Levi had been smart about it: He cauterized the nubs instead of leaving them open. Eren marveled at the burns. Levi did it with a lighter, which must have been a painfully and long process for Jean. For him to close both sides up neatly, he must have started at least an hour ago. If Eren thought about it, he realized that Levi must have, just before he came inside, just taken off his lips. Otherwise he was sure that Jean would be dead by now.

He gave into his pining stare.

He leaned in close to Jean's face. It was better and worse than he thought. Just a hole. A bloody, gaping hole. There was a single line of flesh down the middle. Only the dip in his upper lip and a little of the bottom remained. On either side of the strip, he could see his teeth—once straight and bright—stained with his favorite color. The blood made interesting patterns. Seeping from the seams and curving under his chin. It dripped to his collarbone, parting the sea of red momentarily and then joining together again to disappear under his dark-stained shirt. Eren wanted to see how it would look if it made it down to his chest or lower. Too bad. He felt his breath deepen. Levi chuckled softly beside him.

"Shut up." He muttered.

He leaned in, smelling him. The copper hit him intensely. Eren licked his lips. Beautiful. Wonderful. Levi knew him well. He wanted to dig his fingers in there, to feel the flesh of his mouth while soaked in his blood. It would feel glorious, he bet. But he fought himself. A kiss. He was supposed to kiss him. He leaned in.

Jean's screams made him groan.

He jerked back immediately, feeling the wave of blood on his own lips and its heat curve down his own chin. He panted. Oh god, yes. He pressed his lips firmly to the blank spaces this time, licking the hardness of Jean's teeth over and over. He curved his tongue to encircle the tiny seam still present, the wetness making it easy to navigate. Not to mention how much he was salivating. He felt tears hit his nose and he paused to lick those too. Levi really a genius—he left just enough flesh there for Eren to take purchase of. He nipped at it, releasing a new gush for him to lap up. He turned his head sideways and grabbed the strip again, pulling. Jean's cry was cut short as he pulled off the last bit of his lips with his teeth.

He spit out the meat and closed his eyes, tipping his head back and swallowing down the blood. He shivered. So good. The warmth tickled his throat.

Fuck, now he was horny. He palmed himself though his woefully tight pants.

He really wanted Levi to fuck him into the floor right now, but they weren't done.

Levi watched him the entire time with a small, satisfied smile on his face. He grabbed Eren's hair and gently pulled him back.

"That's enough." He said. "Was it good?"

Eren's eyes drifted open and he lazily met his eyes. He bit his lip unconsciously. It barely registered when Levi swallowed audibly and the hand in his hair tightened.

"Don't look at me with those eyes, kid." He nearly growled. "We'll have time for that later."

Levi barely caught Jean's head when it fell forward. He produced a syringe out of his pocket, an ominous liquid swirling inside of it. He stuck in into Jean's neck with surgical accuracy.

"Oh no, not yet. Stay awake." He said. Then he pointed to Eren. "You see this?" He asked.

He did. His eyes were wide as saucers now. Whatever was in that needle was warding off death and keeping him alert.

"That face belongs to me. That absolute jubilant fucking satisfaction on that face is all mine. You don't know how to put that look on his face. You don't know half the shit I know. And you never will. You picked the wrong fucking person to fall for, asshole, and it's too bad you won't get the chance to regret it any more than you already do."

With that, he buried a knife deep into Jean's heart, extinguishing him in a matter of seconds. Eren couldn't care less. The chain on the wall kept him from slumping over completely. Levi removed his hand. He dug so deep that his hand was covered in blood. He licked it off, watching Eren silently as he did so.

The only sound for a moment was Eren's heavy breathing. He couldn't calm down. He shifted uncomfortably.

"We good?" Levi asked.

It took a few seconds for Eren to remember how to speak. "Why are you asking me?"

Levi rolled his eyes, hard. "Because you were upset about something." So he did notice. He probably didn't know what about, though. "That's the reason for him, right?" He jerked his head in Jean's direction.

Eren nodded. Levi seemed satisfied. He returned the nod and stood, pulling up Eren so they were face to face. Without as much as a word, he leaned in and licked Eren's face clean, never breaking eye contact. Eren bit back a moan.

Levi regarded him for a moment, before rolling his eyes and pulling him into a hug. Eren tried not to be surprised but his body was extremely tense.

"Are we good?" Levi repeated.

Eren bit his lip.

Should he—?

He should.

"Levi, do you love me?" He asked, closing his eyes and waiting for rejection.

"You're an idiot." He responded gruffly, arms tightening.

Eren smiled into his shoulder and closed his eyes.

"Yeah. We're good."

Eren smiled and he was content.

"But you still betrayed me." Levis said without much feeling at all.

Eren's eyes shot open.

Shit.

"What do you want me to do?" He begged softly. He squeezed Levi for all it was worth. He wasn't letting go unless Levi pried him off.

Levi thought for a moment, his head resting on Eren's shoulder. Eren wasn't sure it was a good idea, but he took the moment to slide his arms upward. He slipped his arms up to encircle his neck.

"You're a heartbreaker, Eren Jaeger." Levi said into his ear. Eren fought off a shiver, choosing instead to lean back to look him in the eye, confused.

"You have an odd charm about you that people are drawn to." He continued. "So I want you to break a heart."

"What?"

Levi rolled his eyes. "Make it up to me by killing one of your friends."

Holy shit.

Eren was speechless. But, who?

"Not Armin or Mikasa, I won't do that to you. Mikasa's to smart and technically she's your sister, so she doesn't count. She'd likely catch on and kill you first anyway." He mused. "And I find myself liking the little blonde kid, so he's out too."

"What about Sasha?" Eren said without thinking. Why offer up people, you idiot? You don't even know if you're going through with this, anyway.

"Sasha? I don't know that one." He said.

"Yes you do. I told you about her. The one that likes food."

Levi nodded. "Hmm. A girl? That's perfect." He said. "I always said I needed to teach you some patience. You need to learn to value a kill. Seduce her. Take your time. We'll make a game of it. And then rip her heart out—literally and figuratively, of course—while I watch."

Eren raised an eyebrow. "You'll be okay with that? That will make you happy?"

Levi laughed darkly. "It will."

Eren nodded. "So be it." He said without hesitation.

"Just don't fuck her." He threw in jokingly. He wasn't joking.

Eren was sure he shouldn't laugh.

Eren turned to get one of the hacksaws off the opposite wall—they would have to clean up, after all—but then Levi grabbed his arm and spin him around. He felt his breath catch at the promise in Levi's eyes.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I—"

"I said we would have time to fuck later." He said. "It's later."

And they descended into chaos.

---

Looking for heaven, found the devil in me…

…

Be careful making wishes in the dark.

---

Currently

"I had to make sure you stayed out of the way. For the grand plan." Levi said, making his way out of the shack. The five minutes were up. "I had to test him, after everything. It's nothing against you. I had to make sure he'd be loyal to be after his first betrayal. " Connie didn't understand his words at all. Whose way? Eren's? Why? What grand plan? What betrayal?

Eren must have known this guy somehow, but from where? Where would a guy like Eren meet a kidnapper that has shacks in the middle of the woods? He was scared for his friend as much as for himself.

Just what the fuck was going on?

---

One and One Half Months Before.

He must have went on a millions dates with her already, but they never ceased in being fun. Today was a dinner date. A date which he instantly regretted. How on god's green earth did he forget that Sasha was a food maniac? He watched her eat all the time at school! What was wrong with him, bringing her here?

She shoveled food in her mouth, barely breathing in between each bite before something else was stuffed in too. She nearly scratched the skin off his fingers when he tried to grab a bread roll, so he retreated. Eren wasn't sure if embarrassed was the emotion to feel when the people around him began to stare. Maybe it was. He was tempted to act as if he dropped something and roll away on the floor.

"Sasha…" He whispered.

She paused mid-chew, with her mouth open, and he grimaced.

"Slow down a bit. I don't want you to choke." He said.

Although, it would make things a bit easier for me.

Once she swallowed down enough of the food, she spoke. "Oh! Sorry, I'm being rude."

"It's okay." He said, tapping her arm in comfort.

"It's just—it all tastes so good!"

Eren laughed. "I know. I just don't want you to hurt yourself. " I do a little.

Sasha smiled. "You're such a good guy, Eren. I'm so lucky to have you." She said.

Eren instantly sobered. Now why did she have to go and say that?

Once they were done, and he paid, he began to walk her home.

"No, you're really not." He muttered.

By that time, she had no idea what he was talking about.

ǂǁǂ

They were in front of her door. The lights were off in every room but her own.

"I had a good time." She said, looking down.

"Me too." He said.

Was it weird that in all the time he they were dating, he never kissed her on the lips? Yeah, it was. Straight boys didn't do that, right? They would have made a move by now. Dammit.

Part of him was wary. The last person that kissed him that wasn't Levi, well…

But this was different. Levi had given his permission to seduce her. Hell, it was his idea! So he wouldn't have to worry about her getting hurt because of him, right? That was a stupid question that he already knew the answer to. She wouldn't be hurt, yet.

Eren didn't like to dwell on his and Sasha's time together. It was weird. She made him feel weird. He tried to only remember the things she said and what she enjoyed. He never intended to make serious memories with her, but it would be suspicious if he didn't kiss her one of these days.

Too bad she beat him to it.

She leaned forward suddenly while he was lost in his thoughts.

Oh.

My.

Fuck.

This was certainly new.

Why was he getting a warm tingle in his chest and buzz against his lips from Sasha?

He made an odd noise in the back of his throat when she pressed a little harder. She must have taken it as a bad sign, because she pulled away hastily and began to mumble apologizes. He stopped her quickly.

"It's okay," He heard himself saying. Where had he heard that before? "I'm not mad."

"Really?" She asked, eyes shining.

"Yeah. In fact I was going to kiss you but you beat me to the punch." He tried his best to grin.

"Oh, sorry." She said sheepishly.

He laughed truly. "No you're not."

"You're totally right."

He kissed her forehead and mumbled his goodbye.

"I'll call you tomorrow, alright?"

She nodded and disappeared inside.

"Oh fuck." He whispered to himself long after the light in her room went black.

---

End of Part One