Warnings: two week skip from last chapter. Each chapter will be a two week skip unless stated otherwise.

Strenghten Me

Chapter 4

Mornings for Levi were always the same. He usually woke up a few hours before Eren, due to his insomnia. During those boring hours he had to wait before he finally got up he usually just watched his little brunette sleep soundlessly. Of course this morning had been somewhat different.

He'd woken up later than usual (he couldn't help but think it was due to the fact that him and Eren had played some 'games' together the night before which exhausted him completely). Of course there was really nothing wrong with waking up a little later than usual but it was just the way in which he'd been woken up that really made him feel somewhat... Irked.

"Levi... I said I was sorry... I didn't think I would do that! I promise!" Eren says, his voice shaking with the urge to laugh. "You punched me in the face, jumped up and screamed "you're a dirty pervert". I think I'm allowed to feel angry about that" Levi retorts, placing an ice bag on his one eye where he had been punched awake by Eren. "I'm really sorry..." Eren says, still holding back his laughter.

"This is going to look seriously wrong to the people at work..." The blackette says as he looks in the mirror (since they were in the bathroom) and pulls the bag of ice down from his face and places it on the counter. He examines the blue bruise that was starting to form right below his right eye. "I can't exactly tell them "oh no, my underage boyfriend punched me in the face while I was sleeping and then called me a dirty pervert afterwards". I might get fired and charged with rape or something"

"Ha-ha, just say you went to a bar and some guy picked a fight with you" Eren suggested and Levi gave him a blank look. "You know, if anybody tried to pick a fight with me they would be down within seconds. This... This is not something I've ever had to deal with before you know..." He says. "What... You've never had to deal with a punch to the face... I thought you were always fighting though?"

"Yes, but I wasn't the one who got hurt. This really caught me by surprise... I didn't even think you could punch that hard..." Levi answers truthfully. Eren chuckles. "To be honest I didn't think I could either." He says, an earnest expression on his face. "What were you even dreaming about that made you react like that?" Levi asks, shaking his head.

"I think I dreamed about you... But... Like it wasn't you at the same time...some guy in a leather coat and black pants, a hat that made it impossible to see his face and I think he wore gloves as well... He called himself Levi but I knew it wasn't you..." He says, "he started walking towards me, and I could tell that he was smiling. It was... A very weird smile..."

"As he got closer he started chanting 'shh, you're going to be okay' and 'I'm going to take good care of you'. The time it took him to finally stop in front of me felt like forever but I knew that it had literally only been seconds... I started to panic at this point. But he carried on chanting 'shhh, it's okay. Everything is going to be okay, Eren'. And then he wrapped his one hand around my neck... While the other ripped off my clothes... I tried to fight against him but he was much stronger..."

"He eventually touched... Me... And I snapped and punched him in the face. I guess my body must have woken up at that point and just reacted ... I'm really sorry. I didn't think I would punch you while I was still technically asleep." He ends off, a genuine apologetic look on his face. "Eren... I could care less about the fact that you punched me... But... The fact that you had this type of dream is something I care about"

"It's nothing to worry about really..." Eren says as he looks down at his feet. "Nothing to... Eren... You were dreaming of someone basically holding you down, ripping your clothes off and trying to rape you... That is something I'm going to worry about..." Levi says as he walks forward and wraps his arms around the youngers waist, embracing him. "I don't want you having nightmares like that..."

"Well... It's just a dream..." Eren says, sighing out. Maybe I shouldn't have said anything... He silently thinks to himself. "Besides... It was the first time I had a dream like that and I doubt I'll have the same dream twice so stop worrying. Let's enjoy ourselves today please." He says, kissing the tip of Levi's nose before pulling himself out of the males weak grip and walking back to their room.

"Whatever. But if you do have that dream twice, even if the chances are small, please tell me. Don't keep stuff like that hidden from me" Levi says as he follows after the brunette. Eren chuckles. "I think you'll know I had that dream cuz I'd probably end up punching you in the face again" he joked and Levi gave him a blank look. Eren, upon seeing the look he was given, stopped laughing and sighed out yet again. "Of course I'll tell you" he then says.

Levi just nods his head before walking over to the brunette and yet again wrapping his arms around Eren's waist and pulling him closer. Eren loosely wrapped his arms around the elders neck and pressed their foreheads together. They stay like that for a short while before a smirk forms on Levi's face. "You know... I only have a shift at one o'clock..." He says, giving the brunette a suggestive look. "We could... Play some games"

"Hmm, I don't know... I'm still a little tired from last nights 'games'. You had me in some painful positions, ya know" Eren replies, smiling down at his pesky lover who continued smirking at him. "I'm just trying to take advantage of the fact that you can use your body more efficiently now" Levi says and Eren chuckles. "Your libido has seriously grown. I don't even know how much times we've done it within the last two weeks" the brunette says.

"Oi, you can't just blame me. You're just as bad. Don't forget about what happened while we were driving home from your therapy classes last week" Levi retorts and the younger just hums out. "I guess you're right. We're both just extremely horny I suppose. Maybe it's because we've deprived our bodies for so long and now they're trying to make up for all that loss" Eren suggests and this time it was Levi's turn to chuckle.

"In any case we still have five hours before I have to go to work" Levi says, yet again giving the brunette a suggestive look. Eren chuckles before shaking his head. "Ah, what am I going to do with you?" He asks, sighing out before gently pressing their lips together.

"There's a lot you can do to me" Levi says once their brief kiss ended.

"Pervert"

After their little "game", which had warn Eren out more than he was willing to admit, they cleaned up, cuz let's be honest the 'games' they played always ended up messing whatever room they were 'playing' the game in. after that they then had a nice shower together where they, luckily, did nothing but clean themselves before getting dressed again.

They fed the dog and then walked him for a short while and then returned back home. Levi had forced Eren to clean up, seeing as the brunette was able to do so now that his legs were fully functional (not that they weren't in the first place... They were just... Weak). Even though the brunette could properly use his legs now he couldn't exactly run a marathon or anything. Although cleaning up with Levi made Eren think he was training to run a marathon. Not really but Levi + cleaning = chaos. Chaos for Eren that is.

Of course he didn't really have many problems while cleaning. Well, he didn't have any problems until Levi came in and checked up on his work, only to tell him he did a shitty job and that it must be redone.

After being told he had to redo the room he'd been in charge of, which was his own of course, Eren had laid down on his bed and completely ignored Levi's orders. "He's way too into cleaning…" he said quietly to himself as he stared up at his ceiling. "I wonder how long it will take him to realize I'm not doing what he told me to…" Eren trails off, the corners of his lips twitching slightly.

He probably already knows I'm not doing it. He thinks to himself as he closes his eyes. For a few moments he just stayed like that. He did this all the time. Usually because he would eventually doze off and sleeping was one of his favorite pass-times. Of course he wasn't going to sleep today, or at least he was going to try not to sleep today.

It was the first time in a while since the blackette had started working that Eren and Levi was able to spend a morning together. Usually Levi had mornings off on some days but whenever he did Eren had to go to his therapy sessions and they couldn't spend time together. And even when Eren didn't have therapy Levi would be working a full day, meaning they'd only see each other at five clock at night.

Today was certainly a rare occurrence and even though they didn't have much time to spend together he was still going to bask in it. Of course he would need to try to stay up to be able to do that. Maybe I shouldn't lay down like this… he thinks to himself as he gets up and sits on the edge of the bed.

He gripped onto the edge of the bed with his hands while looking around the room and tapping his feet against the floor softly. As he looked around his eyes stopped at his desk where he found a small little envelope. It was the same envelope the letter which his dad had given him came in. He got up from the bed and walked over to it, picking the envelope up and pulling out the letter.

He read over the letter, a sad smile forming at his lips. He clutched onto the key that was on a chain around his neck through his shirt, squeezing the piece of metal until he felt a pulsing sensation in his palm. He read over the postscript, his heart beat starting to pick up.

The key inside is for a jewelry box. When you open it I'm sure everything will explain itself.

He hadn't yet checked out what was in the jewelry box. If he was going to be honest he felt somewhat afraid. He didn't know what his dad had meant by 'everything will explain itself' and quite frankly he didn't think he wanted to know. He would be lying if he said he wasn't scared of what might be in the box because the truth is that he was scared.

What if what he found in there was something he didn't want to know. Something he would have preferred living without. Of course there was a nagging feeling at the back of his head that kept on telling him that he needed to look what was inside that box. The brunette let out a sigh.

"What's wrong with you?" He heard Levi ask at the door. He looked up at the male, a defeated expression on his face. "I need to see what's inside that jewelry box..." He says and Levi stared at him for a few seconds, unsure of what to do. He had been trying to get Eren to look inside the jewelry box, which the brunette only had a key to, but Eren had been very stubborn about it.

Levi personally felt that whatever it was he found in there might bring him some closure and help Eren finally accept his fathers death. It wasn't that he hadn't already but having to deal with it 'twice' might make you believe the second time less. And Levi just had a feeling that Eren didn't fully accept the fact that his father had given his life for Eren's.

After a while of just staring at each other the blackette finally let out a sigh before nodding his head. He and Eren walked out of the room and traveled down to his fathers room which hadn't even been walked in to ever since... Well him and his father left that december evening to go to Levi's hometown.

"I thought dad would have locked his room... Do you maybe have a key?" Eren asked as he looked over at Levi. The blackette nodded his head before walking down the corridor and over to where they kept the keys next to the front door. He came back with a single key and handed it over to Eren. The brunette took it, thanking the male silently before turning back around and looking at the door.

He took in a deep breathe before inserting the key into the keyhole and turning it, pulling down on the handle once he heard a click sound and pushing the door forwards. As to be expected from a room that hadn't been opened in almost a year, it was dark, dusty and very stuffy. Eren felt around on the wall inside, searching for a light switch. Once he eventually found it he flicked it on.

Eren and Levi had to walked into the dimly lit room, squinting their eyes in an attempt to adjust to the different lighting. "Wow... You'd think that since he was a doctor and worked in such bright places he would use brighter lights..." Eren commented as he walked over to his dads wardrobe. He knew that the jewelry box would be in there because he remembered seeing it once when he was snooping around his dads closet when he was smaller.

He opened the two large doors and split apart the clothing that was hanging, looking down to find the beautifully oak carved box. He bent down and picked it up, surprised at how light it actually felt. He walked over to his dads bed and sat down, placing the box on his lap. He stared at it for a few seconds, in a daze, before he felt Levi poke him on the shoulder, snapping him back to reality.

"Come on, open it" the blackette encourages and Eren nods his head. He pulls the chain around his neck off and uses the key attached to open the box. Once he opened it he didn't know if he was supposed to be relieved, surprised or disappointed.

There wasn't much in the box. A small envelope, a stack of photos and two colored stones. Eren, not wanting to look at the contents of the envelop just yet, picks up the stack of photos. There was a small note attached to the top that read "pictures Eren hasn't seen".

The brunette took the note off, along with the rubber band that was around them to keep them together and started looking through them. Levi watched as the brunette's face went through different expressions, ones of surprise, awe and then just smiles.

"Their pictures of us... There's Mikasa... You, your mother... My mother... Our fathers... They're all here... And look..." He says as he puts one of the photo's in Levi's hand. The blackette's eyes widened slightly. It was a picture of both Eren and Levi (and not as small toddlers), sitting together at the kitchen table. There was really nothing odd about the picture. But Levi was surprised at how they were looking at each other. He didn't know he was capable of looking at someone with so much... Affection.

Although that wasn't the only thing he was surprised about. "Uhm... We've never taken photo's together so... This is a little weird..." He says. He liked the photo but he didn't remember taking it so it freaked him out a little. "Dad must've taken it while we were too busy staring at each other to notice" Eren replies, chuckling. "It's a nice photo. We should frame it... We should frame all of these... See... Dad took more of us together... I mean it's a little creepy and stalkerish of him but they're really nice pictures..." He says as he hands over a few more pictures to Levi.

There were pictures of them laughing at each other, smiling and even one where they shared a kiss. Levi picked the one where they were kissing and held it up so Eren could see. "It must have been somewhat awkward for him to take this one don't you think? Just imagine how a father must feel while taking a picture of his son kissing another male" Levi says and both of them share a laugh.

"I think he wanted to make a book for me... It explains all the photo's... But there's not that many so... He didn't get enough and obviously didn't finish it..." Eren trailed off, looking down at his lap. His eye caught sight of the envelope. He place the photos back inside and pulled the envelope out. He tore the seal and took the letter out and started reading it.

Eren,

Hello there my lovely son. It me, your mother. Not that you can answer me or anything. I'm guessing that by the time you're reading this both I and your father will have passed on. I hope that by this time you are well into your forties and that your father lived to see you and Levi adopt little african babies (1)

Yes, Levi. I just have, or I suppose had, a feeling that you and that young man, or should I say boy since that's what you two were as I wrote this. Boys. Ah, but you're my boys. I loved you guys so much. You were the only thing, asides from your father, that kept me happy.

I really do hope you two find love in each other because, call it a mothers intuition, but I know that there's something within you two that binds you together and makes you inseparable. You're a match made in heaven.

But enough about that. As I'm writing this I'm lying on my death bed. To be honest I thought I would live to see my child grow up but it seems I am needed elsewhere. Of course just because I'm dead doesn't mean I won't be doting on you and looking out for you. Any form of "miracle occurrences" then know that it was me, your mother, looking out for you.

You never really listened to me but even so you are still my son and I love you. And that is why, even during death I will still look out for you. I'm really sorry that I have left you and since your dad is now probably gone I suppose you're all alone.

Though... I wouldn't say all alone since you'll have all your friends. They may not be me or your father but friends are also very important in ones life and I want you to cherish the ones you have. Don't push any of them away.

I don't know what all to say really... As a mother you don't expect to die, but at the same time you do. Any parent knows they die before their children, or at least that's how it should be. Even though I know this I didn't think it would come so soon. Again I am really sorry for leaving you my sweet boy. I didn't want to but I had no choice in the matter.

I would have liked to just stay and watch you grow up but I think your father has watched for the both of us.

There are two stones in here. A Aquamarine and a Zircon. They are both birthstones. I want you to use them and have them made into rings. The aquamarine you should give to Levi (I'm dead set on him being your lover, sweetheart) and then the Zircon is yours. Zircon is the birthstone for December. Levi's birthday is in december and I want you to wear that as a reminder. Not just to remind you of his birthday but to also remind you of the person who you are sharing your life with. The Aquamarine is your birthstone and I want you to give it to Levi for the same reasons. Your father and I did the same thing.

I think I'm dragging this on... I'll say one last thing.

I love you son and I'm sorry you didn't have a mother to dote on you while growing up. Hopefully your father filled that role partially.

Well... Goodbye dear. Please live on for me and your father.

Love, mom.

After reading the letter Eren became silent. Levi didn't know what he was supposed to do but he knew that tapping him or speaking really wasn't the way to go. He contemplated if he should have just gone outside and let Eren deal with it but then he felt the brunette tug at his hand. He looked down at his hand to find Erens shaking one.

He looked up at the brunette to find that he'd dropped the letter to the floor and his head was bowed, his hair covering his eyes. He was shaking. "L-levi... Please hold me..." He whispers out softly. The blackette's eyes widen slightly before softening.

He nods his head before wrapping his arms around the brunette and placing Erens head on his shoulder. It didn't take long before he felt a wetness start to spread on his shoulder, indicating that Eren was crying. "S-she... She said she hoped my dad lived to see me till I turned forty... She hoped he filled the role of mother and father for the both of them... She thought he would have lived and watched me grow up for the both of them... But... But... He's... He's d-dead... Levi... My fathers dead... He died... He died... He died for me... My father gave me his heart... He died... He... He's dead..."

Levi just rubbed comforting circles on the brunettes back while he let it all out. Levi was proud. Had Eren delayed the process of accepting his father death any further he felt like Eren would soon develop a false reality where he thought his dad was alive and just out while Levi looked after him in his place. That would have hurt even more.

"Levi... I'm all alone... It hurts... It hurts to be all alone... I can't stand it... It hurts..." Eren sobs out. "No, no Eren. You're not alone. You have me, you have Armin and Jean, there's my dad, Mikasa and even your dog Levi... We're all here for you. You're not alone... The pain you're feeling is the pain of losing someone special..." Levi says, his tone of voice soft and comforting.

"B-but... It hurts..." Eren cries. Levi just pets the brown tufts of hair that surrounded Erens skull. "Shh-shhh. It's going to be okay Eren. You're going to be fine"

I'm going to take all that pain away from you

Once Eren had finally stopped crying he passed out and Levi had to carry him back to his room before getting ready for work and then leaving. He didn't want to leave Eren alone after what the brunette had gone through earlier that day but he had no choice. Work was work. He couldn't not show up.

Eren had slept for most of the day. One he woke up, already having realized that Levi was gone, since his room was starting to darken. He'd sat there, just staring up at the partially dark ceiling. He felt like something, a weight, had been lifted off of him. Of course his moment of relaxation hadn't lasted very long as he was interrupted by his phone going off.

He picked the device off of his bedside table and looked at the caller ID. "Mikasa?" He questioned before pressing the green icon. The woman had even given him a chance to speak before she herself did.

"Eren? Is Levi home yet?" the woman asked and Eren rolled his eyes. "Hi, how are you doing Mikasa? I'm doing great, thanks for asking" he says and he could almost feel the woman's irritation through the phone.

"Yeah, hello. I'm doing well. Seriously, is my brother home?" she asked again and the brunette sighed. "Not yet. He should be soon… I think" he says and the woman makes a sound on the other end of the line. "That doesn't sound very rewarding"

"Why do you need him?" the brunette asks. "It's a family matter, Eren…" She says and the brunette found himself burrowing his brows. "Mikasa, I am family" he says and the woman sighs.

"My father's dying"

And that is where I'm ending off! I'm sorry for the lateness! I tried, I really did! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Though there wasn't really much to enjoy!

1; haha, sometimes while watching TV I hear couples that can't concieve say they want to adopt an african baby. Preferably a South African baby. I'm from South Africa myself so I find it funny cuz believe me. You don't want to aopt anything that comes from my country. Maybe animals. And trees. We have nice wild life... But not nice people XD. I'm nice though so you can adopt me if you want ;) I mean... Why you want to adopt me? I have ginger hair, pale skin, blue eyes and I write yaoi! lol.

Please review! I need my fuel!

Till next time!

Ciao~