Disclaimer: I own none of the characters!

Notes: Day number...4? Yep, it's day 4 for Ereri Week! As always, thank you all for the support and love!

It took Eren some time to convince Levi to simply leave and let him be the sole one to deal with Armin. And it took Levi some time to accept that Eren was fully capable of handling the situation on his own. So when Levi finally drove off, Eren looked to Armin with firm determination on his face.

"Armin, I—"

"I cannot believe you didn't tell me!" Armin snapped. "And that you just…have been…who knows what with our teacher?!"

"I know," Eren groaned. "But it's not like that."

"Your tongue was in his mouth!"

"Yes, you are correct, but just let me talk?"

Armin opened his mouth to argue but the look Eren gave him made him surrender. Armin's shoulders slumped and he held out his hands for Eren to continue.

"Thanks. So…we haven't done anything. And he's not forcing me into anything. Don't think it's for a grade or something weird either. We happen to have a mutual attraction to each other and things sort of went to the next level…"

"That's illegal."

"I know that and he knows that but I'm graduating next year. And I'll be eighteen. It's not that illegal."

"It's still illegal," Armin sputtered in disbelief.

"I know it is…," Eren said, "that's why we haven't done anything more than kiss and hold hands. I swear. Armin, please don't tell anyone."

Armin raised his hands in frustration, visibly torn. He stomped around in a circle, ruffling his hair until he came to a firm stop in front of Eren.

"You know, I always expected this. I had this feeling because you always stared at Mr. Ackerman."

"Was it really…that obvious?"

"Uh, yeah. You're not exactly the most subtle person, just so you know," Armin scorned. "Not that it matters at this point."

"Don't tell anyone, Armin! I'm fucking serious!"

"I'm not Eren! I'm not evil! I just meant that you're awful at keeping secrets; even your own! Does Mikasa know?"

Eren's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"Didn't think so. I'd fear her more than the law, honestly."

"Yeah seriously…"

Armin sighed, shaking his head. He gently placed his hands on Eren's shoulders, shaking him to attention. Armin smiled as Eren looked up at him.

"Your secret is safe with me. I may not condone it but if you're happy and if he's not forcing you to do anything against your will then...I guess you're okay."

Eren smiled, feeling a little lighter. Like a heavy, frightful burden had been lifted from his shoulders. He knew he was in the wrong and Armin could acknowledge that as well. However, Armin was still willing to stand by him. To protect his secret. To protect him and Levi.

"I do know how to take care of myself," Eren laughed.

"Most of the time," Armin said, punctuating it with a little shove to Eren's arm. "Just don't do anything incredibly reckless?"

"I promise."

Needless to say, convincing Armin he was going to sneak off with Levi on a road trip was not the easiest conversation either.

It took some careful maneuvering but after a few weeks of careful planning, Eren managed to snag four days of freedom away from Mikasa and his parents. She was going out of town to stay with Annie's relatives for a week. Armin happened to be going with Jean to the beach for a while so Eren told everyone he would be bumming off them for the hour ride.

Armin was willing to vouch for him and claimed he would carefully explain it all to Jean on the way.

"So that's why if anyone asks, I'm with Armin," Eren said, throwing his suitcase into the trunk of Levi's car.

"You must trust that Armin kid quite a bit to form this devious plan with him," Levi replied, reorganizing the bags so that they wouldn't shift around too much while driving.

"I'll owe him bigtime probably."

"We'll get him a souvenir," Levi said, walking around his car. "Everything set?"

Eren nodded. "I think so."

"Good. Go ahead and get in. I'm going to lock up the house."

Eren happily jumped in the car and settled down. He was excited. His mind was rushing and his heart was racing. And for someone who tossed and turned in his sleep all night he was wide-awake and fully alert.

He pulled on a pair of sunglasses as Levi got into the car, earning him a gentle nose thump.

"Ready?"

"I am!" Eren excitedly replied as Levi drove the car from the driveway. "I made us a playlist on my iPod and I brought the DVD player so we can watch movies—"

Levi smirked, which soon turned into a full-blown laugh. Eren trailed off, silently sinking back against his seat.

"You're incredibly endearing," Levi said once he caught his breath. "And bratty. But I adore your thoughtfulness. What would I ever do without you…"

Eren's cheeks turned bright red. He folded his hands in his lap and turned his eyes down, looking at his knees. "Really?"

"Really really."

Eren's heart did a little leap of excitement in his chest.

It took no time at all for Eren to fall asleep. Within the first half-hour of driving, the boy had leaned the chair back and closed his eyes too hard. Levi didn't particularly care. He knew Eren was sleepy; he figured Eren had stayed up the entire night jumping around in excitement.

The silence for the first part of the trip was much needed, however. Levi didn't care for early morning banter. Especially when driving. He pulled over and got himself a large thing of coffee and small thing of hot chocolate for Eren in case he woke up.

Once back on the road, Levi set his eyes on the car in front of him.

He couldn't believe it was all real. It felt like a dream, driving away with the boy he was slowly falling for at his side. There was a part of him, a small part, which felt guilty for dragging that boy down his corrupted path. Eren didn't deserve that.

Eren deserved someone his age and in school with him. Someone who was young and just as beautiful. And yet, Levi couldn't stomach the thought of seeing Eren with someone who wasn't him. Who wasn't incredibly selfish.

And what of the next year?

Eren would eventually go to college. Move away. Find someone stable and realize how stupid he was for falling for his lousy teacher. He'd get married and possibly start a family and the summer he kissed his teacher would fade away into the back of his mind. Levi knew he'd become a washed up memory. Nothing more than an afterthought if that.

But for now, he wanted to worship the boy next to him. To love and adore him throughout their summer together. He wanted to set a standard that every partner after him would have to meet because Eren deserved the very best a person had to offer.

And Levi was willing to give it to him.

Eren woke up to find the car stopped. He sat up, rubbing his eyes and looking around. Trees surrounded the car and the sun was high in the sky; far passed morning now. He looked out the window and saw Levi leaning against the hood of the car, a cigarette in his hand.

He unbuckled his seatbelt and slid out of the car.

Levi looked over his shoulder at the sound of the car door opening and a faint smile spread over his lips.

"What are you doing?" Eren yawned, walking close. Levi blew smoke and gestured to the state line sign in front of them.

"Right over there, on that ground, we'll be free. For a while. You're legal over there. Just twenty feet away, you're considered a legal adult. Over there, I'm not some sick pervert."

"You're not a sick pervert here," Eren said. "And you won't be over there, either. You'll just be you."

Levi took Eren's hand, intertwining their fingers. He brought Eren's hand to his lips, kissing his fingers. Eren shuddered and tugged on Levi's hand, dragging him forward. Levi followed Eren towards the state line sign. With an innocent smile, that made Levi's chest tighten, Eren stepped across the state line, pulling Levi with him. He leaned forward, cupping Levi's face and kissing him gently. Levi let his hands fall to Eren's waist.

The summer air was hot. The exhaust from the car was still warm. The high sun snuck in through the trees, burning their skin.

And the butterflies Eren felt in his stomach turned to fireflies; bright and incinerating. Overwhelming with passion instead of simple flutters. Burning everything they touched like Levi's fingers against his skin.

They were going to be fine.