A/N: OMG yikes sorry guys but here is an update I love you all even if it seems like I don't thank chyuuuuu ~3


Paradox
Chapter 8


The cold nozzle of the gun rested on the man's sweaty forehead. His eyes were open so wide Levi could see the spindles of veins across the whites. Trembling hands covered his balding skull. From down the hall there was a faint sound of alternative style music.

"Please..." the man sputtered. "I didn't—I didn't want to get mixed up in this, I don't want anything and I won't tell anyone—"

Levi glanced at the dining room table. Splayed out across the tables were statistical charts, base DNA codes, and pricing lists. Stapled to the inner fold of the file was a fairly recent picture of Eren, smiling like a bluebird. Next to his, the picture of a woman with the same gorgeous eyes. Levi blinked, taking the time to align the nozzle with his hostage's left eye.

"What did Grisha want from you?"

"Money, of course. Just take the file, the entire proposal is in there."

"What is he proposing?"

"I—I guess he thinks Eren was a success and—"

"Dad?"

Standing in the dim hallway was a young woman wearing a frayed band shirt and sweat shorts. There was no makeup on her face and the bun that typically held her hair had been let down, her sunshine-colored hair falling past her heavy shoulders.

"...Dad?" This time her voice was a little higher. She took a step back towards her room.

Levi glanced from the man to the girl, then back again. He pulled the gun up but didn't point it at her. "Stay where you are." he said.

"I..." She put her hands up, quickly looking to her father for guidance. He hid from her behind his freckled hands.

"Are you Annie Leonhart?" Levi asked.

"I... I am."

"You should get dressed then. We will be leaving soon." He turned to the table and began putting all of the papers neatly back into the file. When he turned around, Annie was standing in the hallway with trembling fists.

"You're not taking me." The hatred in her blue eyes was stunning. Levi sighed, lifted the gun, and fired.

"No!" Annie screamed as she ran to her father's hunched shape. Thick blood the color of a cherry sweet was flowing from a ragged hole in his temple. "No..." Annie whispered again as she cradled her father's wet face in her hands.

"Don't worry," Levi said. "It's not your fault he had to die."

"You're evil..." In her palms she could feel his fading pulse.

"Grab anything you want to take." Levi took Eren's file from the table. "We won't be back."

"You... you just killed my father... How can you..."

Levi pulled out a handkerchief and small vial. "Mine's dead too." He began sprinkling drops from the vial onto the cloth. "Now we will have something to talk about on the long drive."


When Levi opened the door to Eren's house he was a quarter of an hour late and the kid was on the floor in front of the mirror with a purple silk tie knotted disastrously around his neck. Two fingers were looped into the mess while the tip of his tongue poked out of his lips. Eren lightly tugged on one of the ears, causing the whole mess to suddenly dissolve. Grunting, Eren ripped the tie from is neck and tossed it on the ground.

"Do you want some help?"

What Eren expected to see was something that would make him blush, perhaps even regret acting so childishly. When Levi came into the room Eren quite expected him to look dashing as always. What leaned against the door frame was the antithesis of every single expectation Eren had of Levi Ackerman.

The jacket of Levi's suit was gone, the shirt smudged with traces of dirt or oil. The cravat he normally wore was gone, the top button's of Levi's shirt open to reveal his delicate collar bone. His forehead was against the door jam and the shadows Eren had only seen once before were collecting beneath Levi's dark eyes.

"That'd be great."

Levi came and sat beside Eren. Picking the tie up, he smoothed the creases with his thumbs.

"Why are you wearing gloves?" Eren asked.

"Mmph." Levi looked a touch surprised. Without looking at Eren he said, "No reason." Quietly, Levi removed the gloves and set them aside before returning to Eren's fashion emergency. He draped the tie over Eren's neck, pulling each end until it was even.

"I did that part." Eren said.

"Yes, but you let the edges fold in. It looked like crap."

"Oh..."

They were quiet while Levi began weaving the two sides together. His fingers rested against Eren's chest, the weight of Levi's hands an odd comfort. Eren had thought Levi was only focused on the knot but he glanced up at Eren, then back to the knot.

"You look good in this color."

"Ah," Eren looked at his own hands, warmth spreading behind his ears. "Um, thanks."

"You don't have to blush, it's just true."

Hearing Levi's words made the warmth spread to Eren's cheeks. "Y-Yes... Thank you, Levi."

"Mmm. Now stand up and let me look."

Eren did as he was told, standing before the mirror he began to turn in slow circles. Levi was still on the floor, his eyes looking at Eren but not in the mirror. His tastes required the real thing. Eren swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry and gritty. The heat from earlier had never left. Buzzing in the background was a slight dizziness.

"Handsome as ever." Levi muttered.

"Thanks." Eren said, straightening the tie absently. "I have a presentation today."

Levi tucked his hands into his pockets. There were many things he wanted to say. So many things he had silenced that screamed inside of his head as he watched Eren smile sweetly at himself in the mirror. So much he could do to that boy to make him know the things Levi wanted to say.

Clearing his throat, Levi said, "Good luck, then."

"With your help, how could I lose?"

Levi sighed, closing his eyes as he leaned back. "Your optimism is almost endearing."

"You think it's—"

"I said almost."

"Oh." Eren scratched the back of his neck. His fingertips felt odd, as if they were going to sleep. Sensations were suddenly dull. The buzzing in his head was louder. Why was he still hot?

"Do you need me to drive you?" Levi asked.

"No, but..."

With his eyes still closed Levi was leaning against the wall, waiting for Eren to finish his sentence. When the suspense of Eren's silences became stupidly long, Levi opened his eyes. Eren was staring quietly at the wall, sweat covering any exposed skin.

"...Eren?"

"I'm—I'm—" He blinked rapidly. "I can't see anything anymore."

"What do you mean?" Levi asked.

"There's just nothing to see anymore."

"Stay there." Levi pulled out his phone. He was punching in the number of emergency services when he heard the cold thump of Eren's body hitting the floor.


Everything was slow. The light. The warmth. The smell of clean, fresh sheets. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the covers a little closer. When he opened his eyes, he saw a dark and foreign bedside table. Sitting on top was a crystal ashtray with several cigarette butts and quite a bit of ash. Three paper coffee cups and their sticky rings flanked a sorry-looking table lamp.

Blinking away the sleep, Eren saw beyond the bedside table to the walls. They were concrete with exposed piping, the individually labeled tubes snaking around a small rectangular window whose light illuminated the dust in the air.

Eren tried to sit up but he was held in place by something strong and warm. Suddenly, there was a breeze on his neck. No, not a breeze. It was too hot; too soft. Right in Eren's ear, there was a delicate moan. Against his chest, he felt something pulling him in; pulling him closer to that comforting warmth surrounding him. Then Eren knew. He knew those pale hands that pulled him in.

Taking the hand in his own, Eren closed his eyes, letting himself feel all of that comfort for just one moment.

And then Eren felt something hard against his tailbone.

Using his elbows Eren separated himself. Scooting to the opposite side of the cot, he turned around to see Levi staring back with something like fear.

"I'm—I'm so sorry—" Eren's throat was dry, like he hadn't spoken in ages.

Levi sat up, taking Eren's face in his hands. "You're..." His thumbs were stroking Eren's cheeks.

"Levi..." His hands felt good, so good they left Eren's skin burning. "Why are you... touching me like this?"

"You're awake." Levi said as if this was a satisfactory explanation for his behavior.

"I am, but—"

Instead of letting him finish, Levi pulled Eren into him. His fingers were tangled painfully in Eren's hair, holding him there against Levi's chest.

"I missed you." Levi whispered.

"Wait!" Eren tried to push Levi away but he seemed adamant to hold onto some part of Eren as though a cloud might carry him away. Seceding, Eren let Levi hold his wrists as he spoke. "Why are you acting like this? Why are you here in my bed? Why am I here?"

Levi's grip lessened. "I guess you don't remember."

"What am I supposed to remember?"

"Wait, your IV is tangled."

"Levi, no, I—"

Reaching down to Eren's side, Levi unwrapped the knot from the clear tube. As he did so, Eren felt the needle tugging underneath the skin of his wrist. He stared at the tube in his arm.

"...Levi?"

"Listen," Levi put his hand on Eren's cheek again. "Some things happened. And I had to protect you."

Eren's breath was getting faster. "What does that mean?"

"I think you should take things slow. Eat something and then we can talk."

"Levi—"

He placed his hands firmly on Eren's shoulders. "Please, trust me."

Eren blinked, unsure what emotion festered Levi's wide eyes. "You were in my bed, and..."

Quite suddenly Levi looked away, his pale cheeks tainted with color. "I'm... sorry. I shouldn't have done that, Eren. You were gone for so long, I was—"

"Eren's awake!?" Standing in the doorway was the very girl Eren found naked in Levi's bed. She let go of her clipboard to pump her fist in the air. "Hallelujah! I'll get everyone!"

"No, Hanji," Levi let go of Eren and slipped off of the cot to follow her. "Don't do that."

And then Eren was alone. The only thing he had was Levi's fading warmth and the scent of pine on his sheets. Grabbing the blanket, he pulled it over his head so they wouldn't see the tears.


The next person he saw was Hanji. She brought bread, water, and questions. How did he feel? What did he remember? Did anything hurt? Eren changed the subject when she broached his bowel movements.

"What happened to me?" he asked.

Hanji took a deep breath. "Oh, yikes. That's a big one." She wrapped her hands around her knees and smiled. "Maybe Levi should start. He's better at these things."

"Then can you tell me where I am?"

"Oh, phew! That's an easy one! We just call this the basecamp. Don't worry, you're still in the same country and everything."

Eren moaned, not having considered Levi might jump ship with him until this moment. Then he wondered why that seemed like a plausible event.

"Why am I, uh, at basecamp?" Eren asked.

"Well... that kind of goes back to your first question." Hanji said.

"And you won't tell me. Right?"

"Well..." Hanji uncrossed her legs. "I mean... I guess I can tell you a little. Let's just say that you were sick and Levi had to help you in a really unconventional sort of way."

"Glasses," Levi was in the doorway again. The memory of Levi spooning him in bed flashed hot and red in his mind's eye. Eren looked at the floor, blushing.

"Go ruin another kid's life. This is my responsibility."

"Yessir!" Hanji stood and gave a mock salute. "See you later, Eren!"

Levi walked across the room and grabbed the chair Hanji had been sitting in. He turned it around so he could sit in it backwards, pulling it close enough that his knees almost touched Eren's. Gripping the backrest of the chair, Levi spoke.

"So, are you still mad at me?"

Eren closed his eyes. "I don't know. Because I don't know anything."

"Then I'll tell you. " Levi said. "Then you can decide. But my God, Eren,"

He peeked up at Levi. The intensity of his gaze made it difficult to hold eye contact. "What?"

"I missed the color of your eyes."