Hey guys! So, just a note, when I was in school, we had English, Irish and Maths classes every day, so I'm taking this school to be the same on the English front, okay? :D
The next day, Eren's day went slowly, and a midday text alerted him to a cancellation of his detention, some meeting or something. He took his lunch break as an opportunity to ask Armin and Mikasa if they would like to hang out after school. Both were delighted to do so. The end of Eren's day in English class was tense, eyes focusing on Levi, his ears not focusing on his words. He couldn't understand how the man he had come to like so much could even reciprocate. It was almost like a fantasy. In the back of his mind, he wondered what his parents would think if they found out. He felt a niggling that he should tell them, it was a big deal. But they'd never approve. Instead, he kept his eyes on Levi, following his every movement. He loved how he dressed; it was what had first appealed to him. The way his slacks hugged his hips in a way that made it seem like they were made only to fit him, the way he kept his back straight underneath his crisp white shirt, the arms of the shirt tight over his toned arms, it all drove him crazy, he wanted nothing more than to have his hands on that taut body, and as the final bell rang, he stalled so he would be last out, glancing up at Armin and Mikasa as they walked by, understanding his intentions. "We'll meet you outside." They whispered. Levi was piling sheets into his messenger bag when Eren approached him, almost too quietly. "Hi." The syllable was low, but Levi turned nonetheless, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Hi yourself. Have you made plans for this evening?" Eren's eyes lit up, imagining that Levi was changing his mind about detention being cancelled. "No! Well yeah, but I can cancel, it's no problem." Levi shook his head. "I have a meeting in a few minutes" Eren tilted his head to question "Some schedule bullshit for next semester, and it's a friend's birthday too, so party is in order." He seemed to almost shiver in disgust at the thought of a party. "I hope you'll have a good time…" his fingers ghosted over Levi's hand, trying to weave their fingers together. Levi accepted, tugging Eren's hand to his lips and placing a kiss on his knuckles. "I won't. But at least I can drink enough to forget it." Eren chuckled, stepping closer to Levi, wanting contact. But he shook his head. "No, Eren. We can't. Yesterday was risky enough, that won't happen again until you're of age." Eren pouted a little. "Sorry, Eren, but we have to be careful." Eren sighed and stepped back. "I know, but it's like getting just a taste of your favourite drink. You just want more once you've had a little." Levi nodded, understanding the strange analogy. "Only a few months. Like I said. Absence makes the h- ugh don't make me finish it, okay? Just. You know." Eren nodded, squeezing Levi's hand lightly before dropping it. "I better go. Armin and Mikasa are waiting for me." He stepped forward kissing Levi's cheek lightly. "I'll see you tomorrow." He smiled at the older man before leaving. As the door slammed, Levi touched the spot he had kissed. The skin there tingled. He was beginning to regret this set up he had with Eren. He was falling harder for the boy every time he saw him. It may have started with lust, but every second without him started to seem tedious, and there were times he just wanted to sit with the boy and learn everything about him. His favourite colours, the childhood memories he loved the most, his opinions on…just about everything. But he couldn't. Not yet. Maybe not in the future. As much as his feelings were growing, he wanted Eren to be with someone his own age. However the thought of him lying with anyone else left a sour taste. He had known he was jealous after his last relationship. That hadn't ended well, and he shook his head to rid himself of the memories. Tonight would be an ordeal. All he wanted was Eren. Not the fuss of this party. He sighed, accepting his fate as he left the room.
Spending time with Mikasa and Armin was exactly what Eren needed. They sat around his living room coffee table once more. The two lifted his mood despite how much he missed Levi. He found himself getting distracted quite often, glancing around in some kind of hope that the older man would appear out of nowhere and whisk him away in the most beautifully cliché fashion. He barely heard Armin when he said he needed to leave. "Wait what?" "I have to go, I have plans with Jean." Armin blushed at the mention of the other boy's name. Eren couldn't help but suspect that something strange was going on between the two. "Okay, be careful." Mikasa glanced up at the blonde boy, looking almost uncomfortable. "Have a good night, Armin!" Eren smiled, he didn't like Jean but if he made his friend happy, that was all that mattered. Even though Jean was still a douche. As Armin left, Mikasa watched after him, a strange response from his ebony haired friend. Didn't she like Annie? Before he could question, she turned, looking like business was ready to be done. "Eren, I hope you've considered my suggestion." Eren looked at her quizzically. "I…haven't, I'm sorry." She frowned as she linker her hands and placed them on the table. "Please…it would be so much better for you." He frowned; she wasn't starting this again, surely. "Mikasa, I don't want anyone else. Age shouldn't even matter, you shouldn't even be concerned." The brunette was starting to get irritated with his friends attitude towards his relationship. "Eren, I'm trying to look out for you." Her voice hardened, she was getting angry. "And I don't need you to! Seriously, Mikasa, I can handle myself, how about you try focusing on your own life for once instead of focusing on my business?" He heard his voice rise unintentionally, but he wasn't going to back off now. He had every right to stand up for himself. "You are dating, no. Not even that. You are fucking a teacher, it's nothing but lust!" Her voice rose to match his. "And what is wrong with that? That's all you and I were!" "You are still a child! In the eyes of the law, you are a child and he is an adult and a paedophile!" He stood abruptly, hands slamming against the table. "Do NOT call him that!" "And why shouldn't I?" She didn't stand, only glared up at him. "Because, he's not! He cares about me, he holds me in a way you never did! He actually gives a shit about me and isn't only after something physical, like you!" Mikasa looked taken aback, opening her mouth to speak before being cut off by Eren. "That's all it ever was with you, you only used me for your own needs! And now you're doing the same thing to Annie!" Mikasa finally stood, he almost smirked, thankful he finally got a rise out of her. He opened his mouth to speak once more but this time Mikasa cut him off.
With a slap to the face.
He recoiled, holding his cheek, furious. "Mikasa w-" "How dare you?! How fucking dare you, Eren! Armin and I have done nothing but try to help you in any way we can and you repay us like this?!" Mikasa looked furious, tears threatening to spill. "I have been there for you through everything, I have defended your name even when you weren't around to see it when this entire time you've been such a…a…a fucking asshole!" Her tears finally flowed and she left. He couldn't stop her. He was frozen in place. She had never left him before. They had fought, sure but she had never stormed out. Or cried. The sound of the door slamming brought him back to reality. "Mikasa, wait!" he screamed, even though he knew it was too late. She was gone. He had made his best friend leave. He felt tears streaming down his cheeks. He had no one. Armin was with Jean and Mikasa was gone. He only had one other place he could go.
The walk to Levi's apartment took too long for Eren's liking. He knew he shouldn't, he was told Levi was busy. He ignored him. He had no one. He pounded on the door, impatient. "Erwin, calm your shit, I'm-" Levi stopped when he saw the brunette outside his door "Eren, I told you, I'm busy tonight." "I had a fight with Mikasa and I just…I didn't know where else to go." Eren pouted, tears forming once more. "Why can't you just go apologise?" Eren couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Because…Because I can't okay? I just…needed you." Eren tried to take a step towards Levi, only to be stopped with a hand to the chest. "No, Eren." "Just one hug" "I said no." "Le-" "Eren, no. Go home." Eren felt his mouth hang open. First, Armin left him to be with Jean. Then Mikasa, because he was an ass. Now, Levi was rejecting him. He felt the final crack snap through his heart and his tears flowed freely. "Eren, stop crying. We made an agreement. We can't act like we're a normal couple, because we're not. This isn't acceptable, if you want us to continue, you need to follow the rules, otherwise this won't work." Levi's ultimatum served to make his tears more powerful, his mind clouding with ideas of their relationship ending. "Hey, hey now, stop it" Eren felt a hand grip his own, but pulled away. "Eren." Levi's voice was firm. "What? What else could you possibly have to say? Do you want to reject me some more? Is that it? Well you don't fucking have to, I can do it, it's pretty damn obvious that you don't give a shit." Eren shoved Levi back, and turned to leave, close to running out of the building. His tears blurred his vision and he could feel eyes on him constantly, but he couldn't care less. He slammed the door behind him, and ignored the calls from his mother as he barged to his room, shutting another door far too loudly. He threw his jacket on the floor and fell onto his bed, tears now flowing harder than they had. He could hear his sobs echoing and he knew his mother would too, but he didn't care. His friends were gone, his lover was gone, what else could go wrong.
He spoke too soon.
"Eren Jaeger!" His door shot open and his mother, filled with anger he had never seen in the woman, stomped into the room. "Just what the h-" She stopped as she heard his sobs. "Eren, Eren, honey, I'm not that angry." She ran to her son's side, her hand resting on his hair as she quietly shushed her son until his sobs quietened. "Now, tell me what's wrong." He would never admit it, but he loved when his mother spoke to him like this. It made him feel like a child but it also made him feel safe, like nothing else could hurt him. He turned his head away from the pillow. "Mom, I'm going to tell you something and I want you to keep it a secret and not get mad, okay?" She nodded, and she knew the hidden meaning. He wanted her to hide it from his father. "I…I really like someone, and I have for so long and they…" he swallowed, working up the courage to say it. He rarely spoke about his sexuality with his parents. His father hadn't been happy when he came out. "…he feels the same but he's a little older than me and he said we have to wait until I'm 18 and I had a fight with Mikasa and Jean has taken Armin from me and now L-the person I like doesn't want to see me." Fresh tears fell and he buried his face in his pillow once more. "Darling, your happiness should never be centred on one person. This person you like should not be the be all and end all for you. You're not even 18, you will meet so many other people in your life, and you don't need to rely on only one person to be happy. If I had done that, I wouldn't have you, and I'm not the only one who can say that, your dad would say the same. You have many friends, Eren, they will help you through this, and I'm sure you will find the perfect companion." Eren felt his heart relax and his stomach settle. She was right. He smiled right when it seemed impossible. But something else bothered him. "Mom, you never mentioned his age" his mother smiled again, warmly, in a way only a mother could. "Because, Eren, if this person makes my baby happy, it doesn't matter to me what age he is. I'll go make some tea." Carla kissed her sons head and left, glancing at her son, knowing he'd be fine.
Thank you for reading! I chose to use "my baby" for Carla because my mother calls me her baby on a regular basis, especially when introducing me. As always, reviews are appreciated. See you next week! :D