Let this be our prayer
Woo, another update. Finally, we're getting some progress made here.
Chapter 9
Love between siblings was always highly encouraged, some say that it makes everything within the family better. However, for the love of siblings to turn into something else, its simply something no one wants to happen.
The raven still laid stiff on his back, his younger brother hovering over him with the blush still present on his face, icy blue eyes searching his own for an answer he should fully well know he would not obtain.
"Farlan-"
"Levi, please, listen to me."
Not like he had another choice.
"I've been in love with you before you left for university. All that time that you spent away was hell for me. I tried to date other people in order to forget you because I knew that loving your own brother was wrong in every way. But dammit, I couldn't help it. That girl Isabel, is nothing but a shitty replacement to help with the love I can't express for you."
The blonde brought a hand up to stroke his cheek, fingertips making his skin tingle, "You were that one constant for me. Other people tried to replace you, but I would never let them. They would never know me like you do."
In some sense, that was true. Levi knew that Farlan liked having his hair stroked after a very tough day at school, napping on the couch with the faintest of mumbles coming from him, his eyebrow twitched when someone gave him something he didn't like, his nose would wrinkle when in deep thought, liked playing games more when someone was watching him, and when he had a nightmare, he would crawl into his brother's bed and spend the night sleeping as if nothing happened.
Yes, Levi knew Farlan better than anyone.
But only the one would know Farlan better.
"Farlan. You know I love you more than anything in this world. But only as a brother. I've watched you grow up and get attached to me. Never doubt the fact that you're important to me, because you are. However, I can never return the love you feel for me, especially when it's like that."
The blonde lowered his head until it was resting on the others chest, "Please, please, just one week to live out what I've always wanted."
There's many a reason as to why something like this would never work. They're family first and foremost, what would happen should their parents catch wind about this? They entrusted Levi with one of his younger siblings. Both would be harshly ridiculed because of such a decision.
"Fine. But after one week, don't expect more." And once again, there goes his own fucking mouth.
Such a lovely smile graced Farlan's face, and honestly, it should have brought some sort of comfort to him, when it only brought on dread.
He better prepare himself for the next week.
"You're going to study in Shinganshina?"
Levi had Mikasa over for an evening while Farlan was off doing who the hell knows what with Hanji. Somehow his sister caught wind of that, and took the chance to come over.
"Yeah. They have a better program over there and it will give me the chance to be on my own for a while." Mikasa fiddled with the end of her jacket.
It was honestly no secret to the oldest Ackerman sibling that Mikasa always had a desire to travel and be on her own someday, the girl already liked her alone time after all. This would be a very good experience for her. She could not only further her education, but also expand her horizon and perhaps meet some life long friends along the way.
As a former university student, he knows how thrilling it was to live from his parents and make his own rules, living the life he had always dreamed about. It was certainly an experience alright.
However, as a brother, he did have some worries, not that he should since Mikasa was more than capable of taking care of herself. But she was the baby in the family, so it was more than warranted.
"What did mom and dad think about your decision?" He carefully adjusted himself on the couch as to not irritate sore muscle.
The raven sighed, her face slightly dejected, "Mom didn't think it was a very good idea to be so far away from home. She said that's she more comfortable knowing that I'm close by and have my two big brothers to look after me. And something about the program here being better than in Shinganshina."
"I'm going to assume the old man encouraged you."
Mikasa nodded, a fond look in her eyes, "Yeah. Dad was actually really supportive. He said since you already left for university way farther than I'm going and nothing happened to you, why shouldn't they let me go?"
True. Levi did attend university in Rose; which would take five days by car and an entire day by plane when it came to travel.
Honestly, his baby sister would only be a couple hours away and they could easily make time to go and see her. Hello, phone calls existed as well. Maybe his mother didn't take that into consideration.
"And Farlan?"
"He was really happy for me. He knows how much I care about my major and future and he said that he would support his baby sister with everything he's got."
His sister was majoring in Chemistry and health, some things she had an absolute fascination with since she was little.
"And what about you Levi?" She looked more nervous to hear his response.
Ever since she was little, Mikasa had always looked up to him because he was the oldest and the most level-headed in the family, next to their father of course.
She had admired him for carving his own path and leaving the safety and comfort of their home town. She did tell him at one point that she would follow in his footsteps about leaving home and finding out who she was outside of Trost.
The world was a big place after all.
"I think you should do whatever you think is best. If you feel that you'll better yourself by leaving Trost behind and starting somewhere else, who am I to tell you not to?" He raised a hand, a gesture that told his sister to not interrupt his thought process.
"I know that I'm your older brother and that's it no secret you really looked up to me when I left for school. However, I did one thing I'm not sure you'll do that same at. And that's coming back to Trost. I came back because it's my home town and the place I'm most familiar with. Now, I'm not saying that I didn't like Rose for the place that it was. It certainly would have been a nice place to get everything started that I worked so hard for. But it wouldn't have felt right for me. I felt like my place was established here in Trost a long time ago."
Rose was such a beautiful city that once you arrived, it was hard to get away from there. Levi however felt like it was a place he didn't want to come back to afterwards. It would be nice to come and see some friends from university every so once in a while, but he just thought it wouldn't be a good place to settle in.
"You might find that your place was determined here for Trost or you might find it in Shinganshina or where ever else you decide to go after university. I don't know, I'm not you. We both have similar mindsets; we both chose to leave home in the pursuit of something more. Although, our paths separate because while I'm content being here in Trost, I don't know where you'll want to be after university. Hell, who knows? You might meet the one at Shinganshina, make some life long friends, or simply decide you have bigger ideals than being here in Trost. The decision is ultimately with you. With that being said, you have my full support on this and I wish you the best of luck."
His sister not only looked so content on gaining his support, but also his opinion on how things would perhaps turn out. Her brother was the most knowledgeable in the family after all.
She got up and moved to carefully hug him, "Thanks, Levi."
He placed his hand on his sister's back and gently rubbed up and down, "Of course, Mika."
The next morning, the entire family gathered together at their childhood home to help Mikasa pack and see her off.
After everything was placed in her car, Mikasa faced her parents and two brothers. "Well, I better head off so I can get settled into my dorm."
Kuchel immediately wrapped her daughter up in a hug, nearly bursting into tears when she felt arms hold her back just as tightly, "Oh, my baby. I'll miss seeing you everyday. It won't be the same without seeing my princess."
"Mom, you can call me anytime you want. And it's not like you can't come visit me and I'll visit home too."
Her mother eventually pulled back and kissed her forehead whispering a gentle 'I love you'.
Kenny came over and lifted his daughter off the ground into the air, getting a laugh out of her, very much reminding him of when she was a child and always wanted to held this way, "Never thought I would see the day when my little queen would leave her folks and older brothers. You better answer every call and accept every visit I make, you hear?"
"Loud and clear dad."
The man gently lowered his daughter down and placed a kiss on her temple before going to stand beside his wife.
Farlan had a soft smile on his face, crushing his sister into his chest, placing his chin on her head, "Ahh, my baby sister is all grown up now. Can't really call you my little Kasa now, huh?"
"You still can." She loved that nickname her brother gave her, but it's not like she would admit that and increase his ego.
"You're right, sis. You take care out there and if anything happens, let me know. I'll show anyone not to mess with my baby sister." He pulled back and left a kiss on her cheek, gently ruffling her hair.
Finally, Levi brought his sister into a gentle hug, "Take care out there, Mika. I'm always here for you if you need me, alright?"
Mikasa held onto him tightly, her face buried in his neck, "I'll miss you, Lee." Came out as her muffled reply.
"I'll miss you too."
The raven slightly panicked when he felt his sister begin to sob quietly, "Hey, Mika. Remember, even if Lee isn't with you by your side, that doesn't mean what?"
"T-That doesn't m-mean he d-doesn't love me. I-It just means h-he'll love me e-even more when I-I see him a-again."
Ever since she was a child, Mikasa always had slight separation anxiety from Levi. Somehow in her child mind, she thought that the less time that she saw her older brother, that he would come to forget her and love her even less.
He started telling her that even though he wasn't nearby, it didn't mean he didn't love his sister. No. He would just simply love her even more when he saw her again. It helped her when Levi left for university, and now it'll help her now that's she's the one leaving.
The raven continued to hold onto his sister until she finally managed to calm herself down. "Love you, Mika."
"Love you too, Lee."
After everyone's goodbyes were said, Mikasa finally climbed into her car and pulled out of the driveway, waving at all of them as she finally drove off.
Kuchel was taken inside when her son's and husband noticed she was already feeling the sadness from being apart from her only daughter.
The three men ended up distracting her for the remainder of the evening by Levi cooking in her kitchen, Farlan introducing her to some very interesting shows on a channel he recently found that he thought his mother would like, and his father offering silent comfort by holding their mother's hand the entire time.
When Levi and Farlan left, Kuchel was much more calm and over the moon when he daughter called to let everyone know that she got to her new dorm safe. She met her roommate, Annie.
After talking with each of her family members, she hung up because she had a class early in the morning.
Bidding her son's goodnight, the blonde and raven set off for home.
Levi woke up sometime before his alarm went off and the action confused him. He usually slept until the shrill noise finally roused him from slumber.
The raven finally understood why when he felt something non-too-gently suckled on his shoulders and back. "Farlan."
Farlan absently hummed in return before licking a patch of skin and making more marks.
Unconsciously, Levi was letting out soft noises that seemed to encourage the other male.
Eventually, he was pinned under Farlan, the blonde connecting their mouths together, moving in perfect sync. Almost like it was practiced and perfected over years of intimacy. Yet, that was not the case for one of them.
Neither of them knew how much time had passed.
They only knew several articles of clothing were being removed, the bed creaking, moans filling the air, and wandering hands.
Finally, the alarm broke what was going on. The shrill sound piercing through the air.
Levi's legs were hooked over Farlan's shoulders, the blonde just about to enter him, both panting with love marks all over each other.
Reluctantly, the two pulled away and got ready.
Neither spoke about it in the car.
At work, Levi kept himself plenty busy in order to forget how the morning went and how it would have gone had his alarm not been his saving grace.
"Levi."
At the sound of his friend's voice, the raven looked up and saw Erwin walking over towards his desk.
"I overheard that the youngest of the Ackerman bunch left for Shinganshina." Well, not overheard, more like Hanji somehow found out and practically came sobbing towards him after one of her babies left the nest.
"Yeah." The man sighed as he leaned back in his chair, "She left to better her education. It's been rough on our mother."
"I would imagine so. Her only daughter left for another city. I'm sure it didn't feel any easier since the oldest left first." Erwin vividly remembers Kuchel sobbing when he came to pick up Levi when the two were headed off for Rose.
"Tell me about it. Mother was upset the entire day. Farlan, the old man and I did our best to try and calm her down."
"Work?" The blonde crossed his legs as he got comfortable.
"To some extent, yes. She was a lot more relieved when Mikasa called to let us know she made it to her dorm and met her roommate."
"That's good."
For some moments, it was silent.
"Is there a reason for your visit or are you simply here to fuck off?" The raven had several documents that he needed to get through for the evening and if it wasn't complete, Rico would have his head for being lazy about his work.
Erwin seemed reluctant to talk, which only confused Levi.
"Well. There is some rather important information that I do wish to share with you."
"I'm all ears then." He reached over and put his laptop into sleep mode to conserve some power. Giving his friend his full attention.
"As you're fully aware, I recently took some days off to go with Flagon to see my father."
Levi nodded. He knew that was something Erwin tended to do several times a year so that their relationship wouldn't become strained again, and his half-brother could become acquainted better with Erwin's father.
"Well, when the three of us went out to see the city for a while, I felt like there was something familiar there in that city and that feeling would not leave me alone the entire day. So, I left Flagon with my father for them to have some time to talk."
The blonde shifted nervously in his chair, an action his friend did not miss, "I couldn't exactly pinpoint where the feeling was coming from, so I simply walked around town to see where that feeling would finally die down enough."
"I walked into several shops that seemed to ease the feeling a bit, however it was still lingering. At first, I thought I was nervous because I left Flagon with my father. But then, I walked by a tea shop."
Erwin stopped there. It looked almost like the man didn't want to share the last bit of his story.
Levi raised a brow, "You walked by a tea shop and what? Something happen while you were there?"
Rubbing his hands anxiously, the blonde seemed to be having a debate with himself based on how he should word his last sentence to his story.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, Erwin spoke up, "When I walked by that tea shop, I saw him." He leaned closer towards Levi, "I saw Eren Yeager, Levi. He's alive."
Levi went completely stiff at hearing the name.
"I found out absolutely everything about him. Hanji helped me gather information about him. He lives in Shinganshina and attends the same university as Mikasa. Levi, if you say the word, I can have you and Eren immediately in the same room. All you have to do is tell me."
Eren...?
Alive...?
This was turning out to be one hell of a ride.
End of chapter 9.
Oops, my hand slipped.
