Excused

Captain Levi sat at the desk in his office, rocked back on the hind legs of his chair with his feet propped up. He ran his fingers through his hair, bunching sections at his crown with his fist. The moon rose high in the sky, shining its midnight glow upon him through the cracked window. Levi studied his surroundings half-mindedly as he became lost in his thoughts.

Although he could handle multiple squads at a time, Levi was not a social person, especially when forced into large gatherings. This particular trait served to be bothersome come time of the monthly recruit dinner, in which members from every squad congregated for a meal celebrating their star accomplishment: surviving.

However dreadful this event may be to the captain, his mind was less occupied by the idea of withstanding nonsense gossip from comrade to comrade. He faced a different problem; Eren would be seated directly across from him. This would be no different from previous recruit dinners had their relationship not changed, for two weeks had passed since they kissed.

What did that kiss really mean to Eren? Surely their declaration of love back in the shed was no reality, but simply their judgments being clouded by emotion. 14 whole days went by since that night, and the two soldiers hadn't spoken to each other about the events that took place. Did Eren regret the kiss? Was it just a game to him? A test of emotions? Levi nibbled the eraser of a pencil as he strained over these thoughts.

It was all an illusion, he thought to himself. That stupid kid just became overwhelmed, so he did something rash.

Regardless, Levi couldn't help but feel somehow bothered; the feeling lingered. Frustrated, he snapped his pencil in two and stood abruptly, heading out the door towards his sleeping chambers.

Several days flew by, and the night of the recruit dinner had arrived. The dining hall was prepared to the nines: dishes of every variety were set at each table, ranging from meats to French sweets and beyond. Beverages such as cream sodas and wines were bottled and ready for serving. There was even one roasted chicken in the center of every table.

The buzzing chatter of soldiers echoed throughout as they filed into the dining hall, seating themselves by squad. Among them was the captain, who sat groggily at his designated spot. He loathed the noise that surrounded him, for it aggravated his head ache due to lack of sleep. After acknowledging some fellow comrades with the raise of his eyebrows, Levi folded his arms on the tabletop and nuzzled his head within them. He closed his eyes, enveloping his view in darkness in attempts to shut out all outside activity. His meditative state was interrupted by the sound of a cheerful recruit approaching.

"Good evening, Corporal!"

Captain Levi didn't have to look to see who it was; his voice recognition was enough to know it was Eren. The boy took a seat across from him and began observing the food displayed with twinkling eyes.

"Wow... This food is golden compared to what I normally eat. Can we dig in yet?"

Eren scooped a spoonful of mashed potatoes and plopped them on his plate, followed by a fruit kabob, then some chicken. Eventually he had a plateful of sizzling food. Smiling but hungry, Eren began shoveling food into his mouth. Levi peered up at him through his interlocked arms and observed his eating habits.

"Why are you eating so savagely? You act as though you haven't had a meal in months," he scoffed.

Eren looked up from his plate and produced a goofy smile. "I wouldn't have to eat so much if you didn't push us so hard during training."

The captain snorted. "You'll thank me later."

"I suppose. I've always trusted your judgment," Eren remarked before returning to his plate.

Trusts my judgment? Is he trying to flatter me with offhand compliments? Levi closed his eyes and let in a breath, settling his chin on top of his folded arms. Perhaps I'm being overly analytical.

The captain scanned Eren with his eyes. The boy's cheeks were faintly rosy and his lashes long and dark. He wore clothes that fit loosely on his body and his hair was tossed and slightly messy, as though he had just awoken. Despite being one for cleanliness, Levi couldn't help but like Eren's unkept style. It made him appear naive and genuine, bringing an internal smile to the captain. He reached his hand across the table to ruffle Eren's hair. Eren froze, dropping his spoon to his plate.

"You're in desperate need of a trim." Levi's fingers fell loosely within his soldier's brown hair. It was just as soft as the last time he had felt it. The last time...

This is the first time I've had physical contact with him since that night.

Eren was well aware of this fact as well, for he had remained motionless the minute his captain touched him. His hands were just as rough and warm as before...

I miss him. I really miss him. Eren relaxed and let his eyes droop. Levi saw the boy blush and ease beneath his hand; he pulled back swiftly.

"U-uhm... D-do you want me to get you some gravy?" Levi quickly changed their focal point.

Eren lingered in his dazed state before accumulating a more alert response. "O-oh, sure." He handed his plate to the captain, whom busied himself with drizzling a small quantity of gravy onto the plate, his face slightly contorted.

"Aren't you going to eat?" Eren asked as he retrieved his plate and attacked it with cutlery.

Levi returned to his head-rested, cross-armed position, wincing as he covered his eyes with his sleeve. "This isn't my ideal relaxing dinner, and I ate beforehand," he replied in a muffled, unenthusiastic tone. He reached across the table to grab a bottle of wine between them, then poured its contents into his glass.

Eren peered at him quizzically as the captain parted his lips to the glass's edge and tipped in back. The dry beverage tickled Levi's throat, sending warm, pulsing sensations up around his head and down his spine. He closed his eyes in satisfaction, sighing as he returned for another sip.

"I bet that tastes pretty good…" Eren commented as he began to reach across the table. Levi's eyes snapped open as he grabbed a fast hold of the soldier's wrist, freezing him dead in his tracks.

"This is no taste for a brat," he barked, taking the bottle back in his possession.

Eren retreated in disappointment and slight shock. "Heh… right…" Captain Levi sure is grouchy when he's tired, he remarked. Could I possibly cheer him up? He reached across the table once more, this time with caution. The captain eyed his approaching outstretched finger as the soldier touched his fingertip to Levi's cheek and softly poked repeatedly.

The captain sat with a blank face, seemingly uninterested by Eren's futile attempts to raise his mood. "Are you a puppy?" he muttered. "Needlessly trying to get my attention…"

Eren grinned, tilting his head to one side as his eyes twinkled. "Hehe, even with that monotone expression, you still manage to look cute, Heichou."

Levi felt his cheeks grow slightly warm; he turned his face to one side and pushed the soldier's prodding finger away. "Tch, shut up and eat your dinner." Why is he being like this? His flirtatious ways are starting to piss me off…

At that moment, another soldier seated himself alongside Eren.

"Armin!" Eren exclaimed. 'What took you so long?"

The blonde soldier scratched the back of his head. "Well… I took an afternoon nap and slept a little later than I wanted. Looks like there's still a lot of food though. Are there any more plates nearby?"

The boys idly chatted as they dined, while Levi observed their mannerisms between sips of wine. He felt himself growing a bit dizzy. I should probably relax a little on wine. Yet again, I haven't gotten buzzed in a long time. I have a clear head on my shoulders, what's the harm? The captain released himself from his alcohol limitation, and within ten minutes, he was downing the final sip of his fourth glass.

"Woah captain, shouldn't you slow down a little?" Eren suggested upon noticing Levi's dazed appearance.

"Sh-shut up… you're…" Levi hiccuped. "... just a brat."

Eren and Armin turned to each other, shrugging as they continued their conversation. Meanwhile, Captain Levi was in a fit of intoxication. His face felt warm and heavy, his eyes drooped and swiveled, and he hung limply on the edge of the table.

He was feeling careless, and transfixed his gaze on Eren. The soldier's lips were perfectly shaped and stuck momentarily to one another between his words. His cheeks had a permanent rosy stain and his striking green eyes pierced right through him. His hair had a dashing rough appeal.

He's so god damn sexy… Levi noted the soldier's every feature, right down to the defined tendons in his arms and the apple that bobbed up and down his throat when he spoke.

Uhh… I feel… weird… warm…

His perfect smile.

Guhh…

His taut jawline.

Fuck…

His teeth clenching beneath his cheeks. The captain was utterly entranced by the soldier.

Eren caught sight of Levi's staring. "Uhm, heichou? Are you alright?"

He's talking to me. Levi thought. I should probably respond.

"Armin! Watch what you're doing!" Levi was ripped from his concentration as Eren leapt from his seat, drenched in water.

"I-I'm so sorry, Eren! I wasn't paying attention to my hands!" Armin grabbed fistfuls of napkins and hastily wiped down the spilled liquid off the countertop.

"It's okay, don't worry about it. But this shirt is completely soaked."

"Just take it off, nobody's gonna care."

Eren turned to Levi. "Captain, can I take my shirt off? I don't want to disgust anyone during dinner, especially knowing your standards of cleanliness."

"Mmm? Mmmhmm…" the captain mumbled.

Eren grabbed the bottom of his soggy shirt and tugged it slowly off his wet torso. Levi's eyes widened at sight of the soldier's glistening abdomen. Water trickled across his chest and glided along his hipbones; his biceps flexed slightly beneath their dripping glaze.

The captain's breathing grew more intense as he felt his crotch grow warm. I can't take this anymore. He stood from his seat, tilting from side to side, and left brisky from the dining hall. He headed upstairs and shut himself inside his office, slumping against the back wall and sliding to the floor. His vision doubled and his head was swimming as Levi rested his head back and tried to calm his pounding heart.

That stupid brat is so careless. He was practically undressing right in front of me. It's normal to react this way, especially after someone has kissed you, right? What a fucking tease. Guhh… Tension surged beneath Levi's pant zipper; he clenched his teeth. God damn it…

The captain tugged his zipper down and allowed what was within to pop out from underneath his boxers. It's already like this… He wrapped his hand around his shaft and shut his eyes tight as he started to stroke up and down. He lifted his legs to allow his pants to fall, binding his ankles together. Levi's heart began to pick up speed and his breathing intensified once more as the arousing feelings took over. He snaked a hand up his shirt to tweak a nipple and bit his lip.

"Uhh… hah…"

Sensory images from the night in the shed began to flash through his mind as he approached his peak. Eren's smooth hands pulling at the back of his neck. The plush feeling of the boy's tender lips against his own. His seductive nibbling on Levi's neck and ears.

"Guhh… mmm… E-eren…"

The room around him spun as sensations of ecstasy pulsed within his shaft and tip. He picked up speed, stroking up and down his cock rapidly, then snuck a hand down to finger himself. Eren's dripping wet body played with Levi's mind and urged him towards his peak. He remembered the soldier's soft whispering and intense tugging of his shirt collar that night. I love you, captain…

"E-ren… Eren… guh…"

Levi tightened his muscles, twitching and sweating as his eyes rolled up to the ceiling. His hair napped and stuck to his forehead and his toes curled. The captain's moans grew more and more audible as he began to climax, cum oozing from his tip and spurting onto his exposed abdomen.

"Fuck… ah… E-ren… Eren!… hah…"

Suddenly, Levi's office door clicked open.

"Sorry to bother you, heichou, but I really need a new shir-"

The captain's eyes shot open, then he froze, mortified. Standing before him was Eren, half dressed and slightly damp, staring at his captain's current state in mid sentence. Neither spoke, too afraid of what the consequence might be. Levi's face was beet red, as was Eren's, and his hand still held his aroused, dripping cock. Without a second thought, Eren turned on his heel and left the room, shutting the door behind him.