NOT WHAT IT SEEMS
It took him two seconds to realise that he was gonna miss it. He would, if he didn't run for it. Ungraciously pushing an embraced couple from his path, uttering a rather awkward apology, and jumping over a few pushing cars meant to carry luggage, he grappled his hand around the vertical iron bar in front of the threshold and catapulted himself through it, inside the train carriage; his earphones sliding onto his shoulders in the process, encircling his neck. Three, two; he huffed; one. The train departed.
Eren took a deep breath as the vehicle started to move. He patted his jumper, smiling quite satisfied at his prowess. He wouldn't be happy if he missed the last train home.
The brown haired boy strolled briskly between the seats until he found a spot he liked. The carriage, just like the rest of the train and the station, was actually pretty empty at this time, except for a granpa sitting on the first seats far ahead, engrossed with his newspaper, and a man lounging across his aisle.
He slumped onto his chosen seat and loved the feeling of his tired body sinking in the soft fabric. Eren had jogged a good deal today. His eyes strayed from the ceiling to observe his surroundings: it was painted red inside and the fabric covering the seats was a shiny brown, like coffee. It felt cosy, he thought, as his eyes landed on the man sitting on the seat across his own. He was wearing an elegant black suit, matching his jet black hair. His left hand held a cell phone, and his eyes never left the screen. Eren concluded he was a business man, and a very hard working one, to be reading business stuff - he assumed - until so late. He thought maybe the man was pushing himself, because his eyes looked so glazed and yet so dark. His features, though, didn't seem tired at all, even though he looked rather relaxed, contrasting with his stiffened posture. He had his right hand partially covering his lips as he read it, definitely very concentrated, despite the seemingly tired eyes.
Eren sighed. He could watch that man for hours and find something new about him at every glance. But he knew better and wouldn't stare, because the man would eventually notice and it would be awkward. Against his curiosity, he looked away and pulled the earphones back onto is ears, programmed his ipod to play his fast beat playlist. That would distract him until the end of the trip, but he still wouldn't restrain himself from sparing a glance every now and then at the man sitting at the other side of the carriage.
...
Levi searched calmly with his eyes, peering through the glasses at the almost empty train station. That boy was always late, but in the end he would manage to get through the door before the train departed.
He liked to watch it. How he would sprint towards the train, wearing such a troubled face in his boyish features, and then the triumphant smile he had plastered on his face as he made his way to his usual seat.
Tonight was no different. There he came, jumping over the obstacles in a straight line. Their gazes met briefly and the brunette flashed him a bright smile. Seconds later, he could hear his noisy landing on the carpet and loud breathing. Levi looked over his shoulder as the green eyed boy approached him and took his seat at the opposite side. He looked at Levi, smiling sheepishly.
"That was close!" He said, relief in his voice.
"Yeah, you're one lucky brat" Levi smiled, offering him a quick smile.
They sat in a comfortable silence until the end of the trip home and Levi found himself picking the faint scent of sweat in the air. It wasn't disgusting.
This time he didn't feel like reading anything on his way, so he noticed how that boy would often spare him glances. Levi would think that maybe the kid wanted to ask something, which he wouldn't mind at all; or try to start a conversation of any sort, but the look on his face was merely contemplative, with a distracted smile.
"Is he checking me out?"
...
Eren was spacing out in his seat. It was so hot today, but he was glad that he would usually jog at evening. It was much cooler.
He turned his head to the side against the soft seat and peered at the man that always travelled on that seat across his own, since he started taking the late train back home. Maybe he should try to talk to him. His summer holidays were soon to be over and he wouldn't be able to jog so late anymore. Consequently, he would probably never see that man again and it bothered him that he didn't even know his name. He knew nothing about him except his own assumptions and that he had tired but gentle eyes.
He didn't know why he wanted to get close; he just knew that he wanted to.
Tomorrow. Tomorrow he would ask his name.
...
Levi was surprised that the boy didn't just show up on the last five minutes like usual. He was ten minutes earlier this time, so jumping around like crazy not to miss it and that troubled face weren't gonna happen today. Not that Levi would actually mind it, because he got to appreciate the serene expression on the boy's face instead.
He seemed to be looking through the glasses of the wagons, as if trying to see inside. Their gazes met and his face brightened up. Levi was surprised.
"Was he looking for me?"
His answer came when he heard steps coming from the end of the wagon and then barely registered when the tall young man quickly sat beside him, with a warm smile.
Would he talk this time? Or he just wanted to sit close? But then, why sitting close if he didn't mean to engage into conversation? The questions inside Levi's head were many, and they just kept on coming. He couldn't help the uncomfortable feeling inside his stomach. It brought him memories of his younger days and right now he felt just like a teenager again. But he didn't dare to find this pathetic.
The brunette was so close and he looked a lot more handsome from this little distance. His hair looked so soft. His looks were just so fresh and the scent was musky with a hint of sweat. Once again, rather than disgusted, Levi found himself appreciating it somehow.
He tried not to stare too much, since they were so close, but he would notice how the boy would sometimes spare him glances. He saw when a sweet smile crept into his lips and he adjusted his earphones gracefully.
"What is he listening to?"
He lowered his gaze onto the ipod in the boy's grip and read the name of the song. His heart skipped a beat.
"Hatefuck" he repeated mentally "So that's the kind of music you are into?" he mused.
He knew this song. The passionate lyrics turned him on. He was half ashamed to admit that it turned him on even more to see how the brunette smiled at the sight of its name on the iPod's screen. The thoughts of that youth also being into rough sex made his body shiver. Levi crossed his legs when he realised the effect it was causing on his body. He wasn't surprised at it; the man was no saint himself.
Levi wanted to know more about the person beside him. He had to ask him today. They had been doing these silent trips for so long, and after today he just couldn't wait anymore. He wanted to know his name; where he lived. Surely wasn't somewhere far away, since they both got off on the final stop.
His chain of thought was interrupted by the sound of breaks and he cursed himself for not engaging into conversation sooner. The young man widened his eyes at him slightly as the train stopped and opened his lips to speak, but Levi beat him to it.
"Are you busy right now?"
"...No? I'm on my way home"
He could feel his heart racing under that emerald gaze. He licked his lips "... You want to get coffee or something?" Please say yes.
"Um... sure... okay."
Levi sighed in relief and suppressed a grin as they got up their seats and made their way out of the wagon. He hoped he didn't come across too sudden or too weird. The boy surely had a surprised look on his face, but he didn't seem afraid or anything.
They left the train station side by side, heading towards a nearby cafe. The silence turned a bit uncomfortable since the youth took out his earphones, but that didn't discourage their walk towards the cafe.
After they got inside, they saw a table near the window. Heading the place in a silent agreement, they sat facing each other.
"I'm Levi, what's your name?" He asked, trying not to sound too eager.
"I'm Eren, pleased to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine." So polite, he thought. He offered a tiny smile before continuing "I take it that you were exercising? You look quite athletic."
Eren blushed and smiled "I was jogging and since it's too late to jog back home I just take the train."
"I see. It would be dangerous to jog all the way back too, you take the train quite far from here."
"Yeah," He said before the waitress came and asked for their order. Eren asked for a coffee and Levi asked for black tea. After she left, the boy looked into Levi's eyes for a second, then quickly looked away, checking his reflection on the glass of the window. He fixed his hair in a nervous fashion as he spoke "I was thinking that today I should ask your name, because soon I won't take the train at that time anymore."
"Oh?" It was Levi's turn to be surprised. He knew his eyes had sparkled at that time. Maybe they had this mutual interest in each other? That would be good. Maybe he would like to keep in touch?
"Will you make other plans for the upcoming night? Or will you just stop jogging?"
"Well I'm on holidays, and once the summer is over, my free days will be over too."
"I see. So are you a student?" Levi asked, resting his chin on his palm.
"Yes, I'm on my first year of high school."
It was a good thing that their order arrived, because it distracted Eren's gaze from Levi's embarrassment. So he was interested in a 15 years old kid? He wanted to sink in that seat and hope that the ground would swallow him. He let Eren's body fool him. He was quite tall after all, though his features didn't look very mature, but that's okay because he could have been near his twenties. However, he wasn't, and now Levi felt like running away.
But the warm smile Eren beamed at him after he took a sip of his coffee held him tight on his chair.
...
Eren didn't jog on his last day of holidays. He wanted to look his best tonight.
Yesterday at the cafe, they talked quite a lot. He learned that Levi was indeed a business man, and that he didn't live far from Eren's house. But he could tell that in the middle of their conversation Levi started to look very troubled, as if something was wrong, but he couldn't figure what. He thought maybe Levi was worried by his own stuff so he decided to say goodbye to the man.
Even though Levi looked relieved that they were parting, he insisted on walking Eren home. He said something about it being his fault that Eren was getting home so late, so he should make sure to deliver him home safely. Eren was glad for that, because as they walked home the shortie seemed to relax again.
Maybe what he was worried about wasn't such a big deal. Maybe it was just the fact that he was causing Eren to get home late that was making him look troubled. Whatever it was, today would hopefully be different. He wanted to get closer to that man that looked so cool. Eren was totally crushing on him.
The boy sighed and sat down on a bench in the station. Today he was dressing smarter, no jogging outfit. He was also wearing some cologne and even got there before the train arrived. It seemed that Levi wasn't there yet. Eren put his earphones on and hummed to his favourite songs as his keen eyes searched for the black haired man.
Eren jumped on his seat when he felt a hand pat him softly on the shoulder, and then smiled relieved when he saw standing behind him the man he was waiting for. He felt a bit silly for barely being able to hide his eagerness while removing the earphones, but he figured that Levi was happy to see him too, because he was holding two cups of coffee.
"You're early, Eren." Levi said, handing him the extra cup of coffee
"Thank you! And yes, about that," he scratched the back of his neck "It's the last day I'll take the late train so I wanted to see you again."
He felt uneasy when those eyes pierced through him, but Levi quickly looked away and took a sip of his coffee. "We live quite close to each other. If you want to meet it doesn't need to be at the train station so far away."
Eren blushed. Of course, that was an obvious thing what he pointed out. But at least Levi didn't seem against meeting him somewhere else or just meeting at all, and that was great news for the boy.
"...So where could I meet you?" Eren hesitantly asked.
Levi hummed and drank more of his coffee. He had a very thoughtful expression.
"Could be that cafe we went to yesterday!" The green eyed boy suggested, receiving a nod of approval. "Would you like to visit my place some time?" He hoped he wasn't being too hasty, but he did want to get close to Levi. He wondered how the other man felt about it, but he didn't really know how to knack the subject.
He thought Levi looked troubled again, but he quickly took another sip of his coffee and looked at Eren with the corner of his eyes "Sure," he said. "Sometime."
...
The train arrived and as it slowly stopped, they got on their feet and walked towards the vehicle.
Levi sighed as he fell 2 steps behind. He was giving in easily. He was ashamed of himself, but at the same time he was not. Even though on the previous day he learned Eren was still 15. He felt bad and he knew that Eren had noticed, but couldn't quite point out what was the matter.
And there he was now, allowing Eren to get closer and seeking for closeness all the same. He was infatuated and there was no denying it. His senses of rightness or wrongness were just a nuisance, but he couldn't completely ignore them.
He felt hypnotized by those eyes and lips, and somehow his musical taste just made him irresistible. Maybe he was reading too much porn on his cell phone. He shook his head absent-mindedly and just noticed what he was doing when Eren stopped talking and looked disappointedly at him.
"I'm sorry, were you saying something?" he quickly asked.
"Yes. Are you worried about something? You looked like you were in another planet just now." He replied, biting his cheek.
"I'm sorry. It's nothing I should trouble you with. Anyway, I suppose you are free tonight too?"
"Ah, yes I am. We could do something fun!"
Levi quickly averted his eyes, looking through the glass at the buildings that rushed past them. Something fun huh? Levi's idea of something fun was probably totally different from whatever that innocent kid had in mind. The short man almost punched himself. He felt so pathetic.
He needed to run away.
But he didn't want to.
"What do you suggest?" He asked Eren politely, looking at him with the corner of his eye.
"Hmm." He definitely saw Eren blush. He did. Didn't he? "I suppose arcade games probably don't interest you anymore?" asked the boy, sheepishly.
Of course. He blushed because he thought of the age difference and how Levi probably a boring oldman. He should prove him wrong. "To tell you the truth, I enjoy it quite a lot," he felt encouraged when Eren's smile grew wide "I just don't have much time anymore, you know."
"Well tonight seems you have a little time for it!"
"I guess"
Good decision, bad decision? He didn't know. He just knew that he felt like a teenager just like Eren, with butterflies in his stomach and the thrill of experiencing something he shouldn't be doing.
To be continued...
A/N That was based on an illustration by a friend on DA, which was called Not what it seems xD That's why I named the story that, even though it might not make that much sense afterall xD It was a pair of comic stips, one in which Eren was listening to music looking cute, but he was actually listening to Hatefuck, and the other was Levi looking at his phone quietly on his corner, but he was actually enjoying some porn xD So I liked the concept so much that I told the artist that I was gonna write something about it sometime... It's still in progress but I hope it will match the strips in quality hehe!
