Chapter 7

Summary: Chapters will be shorter than usual til the semester ends - Not too much longer to go!
now don't be too sad - by shorter I only mean I won't have any 8000+ word monster chapters in the near future - 5000 or less more than likely - Well I won't blab much ~ 3 Please enjoy and Thank you for all the wonderful feedback! 3

Chapter Text

Couples and friends chatted around them. The echoes of their voices merging together alongside the unique sounds of the café. The girls in the opposite corner giggling in high pitched voices as the hot air from the espresso machines steam wand whistled, a mother reprimanding her child for not behaving, the chime of the door as each new customer entered. Everything solidified into a mass that could be described as nothing less than white noise. The sounds bombarded his ear drums, pounding against his temples and steadily easing him into a headache.

Even with the sheer volume grating at him, nothing was worse than the silence between Armin and himself. It somehow remained deafening.

His hands remained in his lap, fingers locked and thumbs pushed together, slipping back and forth as they slid harshly against and past one another. The latte, which the blonde had ordered for him, remained ignored on the table before him.

He watched as Armin, clasping both hands around his own cup, periodically, he blew over the cap. Puffs of steam forced their way forward, dissipating in the air as they crawled toward the ceiling. Eren's eyes followed Armin's own bright blues, which continued to refuse to meet his own. They had to have been sitting for at least twenty minutes already, and hardly a single word passed between them.

From the moment they stepped into the café, Armin did little more than greet him and order him a coffee. It was bad enough he was dragged out here, with no indication as to what they needed to speak about, but on top of that, avoiding him as well?

He was left to speculate, the entire way here, what Armin may or may not ask him. He prepared himself for whatever may or may not be mentioned, asked of him, anything Armin might have to say, he tried to think of a way to respond. He was ready, as much as he could ever be given the circumstances, and now of all times, Armin did nothing more than shift his eyes and focus away every chance he had?

He wouldn't stand for it, not another second.

"Armin."

"Hm," the blonde perked up, yet his eyes never reached him.

It only served for him to grow even more impatient than ever. What did he mean to do by wasting his time? It was absolute bull shit. If this was as serious as Levi implied, if there was any reason he should feel intimidated by what this conservation might entail, he had every god damned right to know and now.

No aversions, no misleading, no more distractions. No more. This wasn't friends meeting for a drink. This wasn't a casual meeting to just 'hang out'. Something was boiling under the surface and burning under his skin, under Armin's even by the looks of his stiff posture. There was a foreboding, dark and heavy, surrounding him. He was sensitive to every subtle movement, every forced breath of air pushing against the cup clasped tightly between slim, pale fingers, which lie settled in front of pursed lips. He needed to know, he needed Armin to confirm or deny what Levi told him.

He needed to hear it. No more delays.

"Armin."

The name was spoken forcefully, giving the boy no other choice but to acknowledge him. Eren waited, waited mere seconds for Armin to speak once their eyes met. The most he received was a questioning look and slightly parted lips.

Needless to say, this did little to please him.

"What did you want to talk about Armin?"

When he was left with nothing to go on, not a solitary word, he felt his frustration building alongside his anxiety.

"Spit. It. Out."

He watched the blonde flinch, actually flinch. Could it really be so bad? Was Levi right after all? Did he know? Would he be ok with it?

A thousand questions burned in the back of his skull. He could feel his foot twitching as he waited for Armin to speak. Never letting his gaze waver as he silently demanded a response.

"Armin!"

His voice was spoken harshly under his breath and as quiet as he could manage keeping their environment in mind. He didn't want to draw the attention of those around them and further deter his friend from, finally, speaking his mind.

"I needed to talk to you," he admits solemnly, and the answer does little less than infuriate him that much more.

"Obliviously."

"This isn't exactly easy for me, Eren."

"Make it easy," Eren grits out impatiently.

The blonde ignored the open hostility.

"I imagine you might know why I called you," Armin speaks through folded brows, eyes pointed downward as they shifted side to side in concentration.

"I have an idea," he admitted.

"Levi, said something didn't he?"

Rather than let Eren answer, Armin spoke again.

"No, I'm sure of it. He certainly said something…"

The sentence was soft in the loud area, spoken mostly to himself though the brunette had still picked it up. Eren set his jaw, refusing to speak. He kept his intense gaze on the blonde. His rigid body language, still growing increasingly tense and irate. Licking his lips, he swore, he could feel his blood pressure rising; pounding against his ears and throbbing against his the back of his forehead. He was becoming fidgety, far too warm, and itchy even.

Armin held the silence a moment longer. His gaze analyzing every inch of Eren's features before he even dared to continue.

"Eren… I saw."

He didn't hear his own intake of breath, rather, he felt the burn of his lungs as he held it, waiting for Armin to continue. So he saw them? When? What did he mean by that? Saw what? What did he see?

"The other day," Armin's eyes lowered, once again, to his coffee lid. As if the puffs of steam slowly thinned as it cooled, he licked his lips and swallowed before he could continue.

"Y-Your fa… Levi. I saw Levi and you…," he trailed off, but the look in his eyes, as found the courage to raise to Eren's own eye level, spoke volumes which he could not.

Eren felt the heat of his body honing in on his ears and cheeks. He couldn't possibly have...

"W-Wha," Eren cleared his throat into his hand and tried to sound more firm, "What do you mean? You see us together all the time."

"Eren."

He hated that tone. He hated when someone chided him like this. The way he said it was no different from the times Levi would say his name whenever he didn't want to hear any bullshit. But that was Levi. He was ok with Levi calling him out on playing dumb, but Armin? As dear a friend as he considered him, he found the tone to be beyond offensive in this situation.

Why should he not play dumb when Armin wasn't coming out and just fucking saying it? Was he just trying to get Eren to admit to things he had inklings about but no solid proof? Was Levi right in all this, and fuck, how many more times would he have to ask himself the same questions?

"I came to the house, the morning after Levi kicked us out."

Armin began to choose his words carefully, Eren could tell. If nothing else, he was afraid of angering him any further. They both knew how hot headed he could get, and though Armin had never gotten the brunt of it before, he wasn't willing to provoke any further aggression.

"Before the curtain was closed…," Armin sighed and steeled himself for the one question he needed to know over all else, "Is he forcing you Eren?"

Mortification set in, his eyes widening in a way that would be comical in any other situation, "What? No! Christ Armin, he would never, how could you even think that?"

"You consented then," Armin breathed out, not entirely sure whether or not he should be relieved.

"Eren, how long have you two... been like… that?"

Eren frowned. Why was he being put under interrogation? It was none of his business anyway.

"I don't really get what you're asking me," he choose to feign ignorance.

"Please, Eren. I'm just… I'm worried about you."

Eren swallowed as he felt his chest constrict; guilt. He felt guilty for how he was acting, but wasn't he justified? This entire time he was on the defensive, because he knew he needed to be to some extent. But Armin didn't mean to accuse or attack Levi or himself, he wanted to talk. Actually talk, not blame, not scrutinize, at least, that's how he seemed to have approached it thus far.

He was worried, just worried. That was understandable. He didn't know what to make of this anymore. Could Armin really be ok with this so long as it was consensual, as long as he was happy? He didn't realize he was chewing his lip until he pulled a piece of chapped skin, causing a short gasp, as he released it from his teeth.
Licking his abused lip Eren heaved a sigh, forcing his hand through his hair. He kept it intertwined in his messy mop, leaning his elbow against the table to hold the weight of his head.

"Would it bother you," Eren muttered, not quite sure how to phase the question, "If we were… like that?"

Armin didn't really expect Eren to admit to anything. Honestly, even this much was more progress than he thought he'd ever make. The second he touched on the topic, with Levi's warning, he was sure Eren would have stormed out without a backward glance.

"It bothers me," he said slowly but quickly spoke back up, knowing if he didn't, he ran the risk of Eren shutting him out, "But I also trust your decisions. It's just…"

"Why would it bother you, if we were?"

The way Eren kept speaking of it, as if it wasn't already confirmed; obvious; only confirmed that he didn't quite trust speaking to Armin on this topic. Each step of their conversation seemed like a futile attempt at walking over egg shells.

Leaning closer, so as not to speak to loudly, Armin clarified.

"He's your father Eren. It's not normal to have that kind of relationship with your son."

Eren bristled, shoulders setting back as he straightened himself back.

"We're not related."

"But he 'raised' you."

Eren felt a little defeated at that. He couldn't deny his relationship with Levi wasn't normal, but he felt, in his heart, there was truly nothing abnormal about it; not for them at the very least.
"It would be alright if no one else understands…"

He spoke so softly, he wasn't quite sure Armin had caught it.

"Have you told anyone," Eren asked, but quickly tacked on to remain consistent, "About what you think you saw?"

"I talked to Jean about it, but I didn't say anything to anyone else. I just… you two are alike in different ways, and I need to…"

"You told Jean," he hissed incredulously, "Armin, what did you tell him?!"

Armin raised his hands and motioned them up in down in an attempt to calm him down and urge him to lower his voice, "Not so loud. People will stare. I didn't tell him what I saw, honest. I just told him I suspected something was up between you and Levi. That's all I swear it."

"I can't believe you talked to him about this. For fucks sake. You didn't tell him anything else, you promise?"

"I promise, I promise. He's actually supposed to meet us here, but I gave him a later time. I wanted us to talk to you, but I wanted to ask you a few things privately befor-…"

"What the fuck Armin? Are you serious? You're getting Jean in on this?"

Panic. He was beginning to panic. Levi could damn well be right after all. It was a slim chance to be able to trust Armin, but Jean? There was no way in hell. Jean had a mouth on him, he like to talk. Sure, this was something that Jean might not necessarily go spreading around, even he had some level of sense and care. But it was too risky. It was too risky even just having Armin knowing.

He would deny everything, whether they believed him or not. He couldn't lose Levi. He couldn't allow himself to be taken from Levi's custody. Years and years of confliction and confusing emotions, now finally realized. For Levi to be taken from him now, after everything they'd been through, after everything finally became clear and all his richest desires were reciprocated, he couldn't allow something like that to happen. The pieces began falling into place with each passing second.

Why Levi wasn't thrilled with his friends. Why he was so apprehensive with them. Why Levi treated them ill, as nuisances. Why Levi wanted him home schooled. Why Levi needed him to stay with him and him alone.

Because his life, Levi's life, they revolved around each other, they needed one another. Trust was not something easy to come by, and given their situation, they could, truly, trust no one. Anyone could jeopardize them. He knew, all too well, that their feelings were taboo. And while he didn't care, others would seldom be so understanding.

This was Levi warned him of. This is what Levi was afraid of, afraid, actually, completely, utterly, afraid. They could snatch him away. Even his friends, even they could set everything to ruin. The thoughts pained him, so much it physically hurt. He knew, now, he couldn't completely trust Armin, Jean, or Mikasa. He could never truly place his faith in anyone.

He couldn't lose Levi. He wouldn't.

"I wasn't getting Jean 'in' on anything. Christ, can you blame me? That man has watched you grow up, and now he has you.."

"First of all, you have no idea what you're even talking about. Second of all, don't get so high and fucking mighty with me."

"Eren, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, calm down. This isn't like yo-.."

"Whether you meant to or not, you're starting one. You're pissing me off. Just who the fuck needs to calm down? I don't need to calm down," he bit back any regret he felt before.

The idea of him being separated from Levi overriding any guilt he could feel for his harsh words, "What I need is for you're to mind your own damned business."

"You're being unreasonable. Can't you see it from my perspective? No matter how you look at it, this isn't right Eren. Levi's twice your age, he's practically your father. I thought you were just abnormally fond of him, but this isn't healthy. This is wrong. What you two are doing is wrong."

Without thinking, Eren's body lunged forward, hand fisting in the neck of Armin's coat as he ripped him to the center of the table to meet him halfway. The screech of the table and the, now spilled, cups of coffee, cast an eerie silence over the room. One which Eren, couldn't notice past his rage.

"I jumped in countless times to save your sorry ass without a second thought. I had my ass handed to me, more times than I could count, sticking up for you when you need me to. I didn't question whether you were right or wrong. I accepted that you were up against something you couldn't stand up to alone, and I never questioned it. I never fucking questioned any of it."

He could feel his voice crack under the stress of his frustration. Heated tears welling in his eyes. Who was he to tell him he was wrong. He was he to say 'they' were wrong.

He doesn't understand. He doesn't know. He doesn't understand a damned thing.

"I'm not asking you to accept anything. Hell, look the other fucking way for all I care," his grip tightened as a mad glint flickered in his eyes, "But don't you dare tell me we're wrong. There's nothing wrong with us."

As if all the factious god's of the world convened at that exact moment, Jean chose then to make his appearance, Mikasa in tow.

"Eren! What are you doing," Jean rushed over to separate the two, perturbed by how much force he needed to pry Eren's hand out of the death grip he had on Armin's jacket.

Without skipping a beat, Mikasa rushed to Eren's side, placing a hand on his shoulder and asking what was wrong. He didn't hear what she said, not at first. Not until one name slip past her lips, the following sentence triggering his animosity without effort.

"Jean! Why is Mikasa here," Armin asked frantically.

"She overheard everything. I'm sorry man, I couldn't lie to her, she was right there!"

"What did you say?"

Eren's voice silenced the rest. All eyes were trained on their group, Jeans and Armin's locking on Eren, whose voice dripped with deadly threat.

As if oblivious to it all, Mikasa only faintly smiled, trying to fight back tears, "I had to protect you. I couldn't let him put you through this. I'll find a way to keep you safe from him. I'll keep you safe, Eren, I promise. We can find somewhere he won't be able to hurt you. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner. I'm sorry."

"What did you do Mikasa?"

The question was spoken dangerously low. Eren's fists balled against the table, he could feel his shoulder quiver and shake.

There was nothing wrong with them. There was nothing wrong with him loving Levi. There was nothing wrong with Levi loving him. They had each other, only each other. They were right, they had to be. Nothing else in his life had ever fit in place as perfectly as Levi did.

"I called Social Services. They'll take care of everything."

Her voice was meant to be reassuring. A futile attempt at comforting him. How could she not realize she wasn't offering comfort at all? How could she? How could she?

Even knowing her intentions were sound, the moment she reached to rub his shoulder blade, another vain attempt at soothing him, he felt something inside him snap.

Smacking away her hand, he stood up abruptly, knocking back his chair in the process. His chest was heaving with the effort of his lungs to fuel his body with the oxygen he suddenly felt deprived of. He stared, hard, into the wide coal eyes in front of him. If she were anyone else, if it were anyone other than Mikasa, Armin, and even Jean, he would have their heads.

Even now he had to fight every cell in his body from reeling his arm back. He wanted to hit her. He really wanted to hit her, and not hold back. He had to keep reminding himself that she meant well. That she only did it because she wanted to help him.

Help him?

What a joke.

"There's nothing wrong with us," he spat it off his tongue as if it were venom, "The only ones wrong here are you three."

Jean held his hands up to stop him from leaving.

"Eren, come on don't be like…Jesus!"

Shoving past Jean, he sped out the door. Away from the three, whom he felt, betrayed him. Away from the gawking patrons. He just wanted to be home, away from everyone and everything, everyone and everything but Levi.

With a baited breath, he quickly dug through his pockets, searching for his phone. Each movement urgent as he dialed then tugged the phone to his ear. Each ring urged his steps forward quicker. He needed to tell Levi. He was right, he really was right. He needed to warn him. He needed to talk to him.

The line clicked over and Eren felt the rush of air leave his lungs as Levi greeted him. They could manage this. They could come up with some sort of plan.

"Leevi! Mikasa calle-…"

"So you're just now hearing it? Get home brat, we already have a guest."