…
After patting down his pockets one final time to check the essentials Eren decided he was ready to leave. He'd been pacing his room for almost an hour now, trying to find a way to occupy his mind. Levi hadn't specified a time for him to turn up, all he had said was 'morning' but Eren assumed anything before nine was just ridiculous.
But the moment his clock ticked to nine he was bounding towards his door, a very obvious bounce in his step and flutter in his heart.
He tried his hardest to creep down the stairs, not wanting to alert anyone else in the house to his departure or he'd be questioned to within an inch of his life.
"Where you off to?" A voice asked him, making Eren jump with a small yelp.
"Just out." He offered lamely, turning to see Jean sauntering down the stairs behind him, looking as if he had just rolled out of bed.
Why did it seem wherever he turned Jean was right there behind him? If he didn't know any better he'd think the boy was getting a little obsessed with him.
"At nine in the morning?" He questioned in disbelief.
"Can't waste the day." Eren shrugged.
"You're going to see that hooker aren't you?" He demanded.
"At nine in the morning?" He repeated his question with a nervous laugh. "I doubt it."
"You're a shit liar Jaeger." Jean scoffed.
"Whatever, it's too early to deal with you." He rolled his eyes.
Eren turned from Jean and head towards the door, his hand was grasping the cold metal when the other boy spoke up again.
"Did you even listen at all yesterday?" Jean groaned, causing Eren to freeze.
"Yes, your concerns were noted." He rolled his eyes, turning back around.
"And ignored?"
"Something like that." He quipped with a smirk.
"Hard as it may be to believe I'm not just being an interfering dick, I'm trying to do you a favour." He sighed.
"And what might that favour be?" He questioned.
"Stopping you from getting fucked over." He shouted.
"I'm not going to get fucked over." He defended softly.
"Look the man sleeps with people for money and I'm not one to shit all over someone's career choice but he's got to be a little bit shifty. I just don't see why he'd keep you around if there is no benefit for him." Jean explained, for once in his life knowing where to tread carefully around Eren.
"He's not like that." He shook his head. "And I know you don't believe me but outside of work he's a different person. He's caring and he's kind, maybe not always to me but I know deep down he doesn't mean any harm. Sure, he's closed off but he's letting me in me slowly, letting me be around him when he's exposed and vulnerable. There's no angle, he just needs a friend."
Jean opened his mouth to say something but his throat froze when he saw the look in Eren's eye, it was admiration, adoration and naïve love. He knew that no matter what he said Eren wouldn't listen, he had fallen hard.
"Okay, if you think he's legit I'll take your word for it." Jean nodded slowly.
"Wait. What?" He frowned, never knowing Jean to back down from an argument.
"I trust your judgement Jaeger." He said, almost shivering at the compliment as it fell from his lips.
"Right." Eren raised his eyebrow in disbelief.
"Go." Jean said, gesturing towards the door. "Have fun with your little boyfriend."
"Whatever." He rolled his eyes but took the other boys hint and left.
Once he was alone Jean sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, it was his fault Eren had fallen for the guy. How could he expect him to sleep with someone and not grow attached? That was just the kind of idiot Eren was. He threw himself into everything he did completely, tackled every problem with mind, body and soul. And losing his virginity was no exception.
…
With a smile, Eren knocked on Levi and Hange's door, anxiously shifting his weight from foot to foot as he waited.
His heart leapt into his throat as Levi opened the door, looking as gorgeous as he always did, stubble still present on his cheeks, hair slightly ruffled from sleep. Maybe he had come a little too early.
"Morning brat. Didn't realise you even knew what this time of day looked like." He teased, moving aside so Eren could walk inside.
"Very funny." He rolled his eyes, following after Levi as he wandered to the kitchen.
"Drink?" Levi asked, grabbing the still steaming tea from the counter top. "Literally just boiled the kettle so water should still be warm.
"Yes, okay." Eren nodded, helping himself to a mug from the cupboard.
He made his drink in silence, not feeling awkward but something wasn't quite right. Where they just going to pretend the other night never happened? Eren wasn't going to bring it up if Levi didn't plan on, it would only cause problems.
He turned to see Levi leaning against the side, head tilted to one side as he assessed the other boy, Eren finding himself flushing under the intense gaze.
"So." Levi drawled, dragging out the o before taking a sip of his drink and placing it back on the side. "Won't your boyfriend mind that you're here?"
"Boyfriend?" He frowned. "What boyfriend?"
"Two toned kid you were with yesterday." He said.
"Jean?" His eyes widened in surprise, Levi thought he was dating Jean.
"If you say so." He shrugged. "If it were me I'd be a little bothered if my man hung around with a hooker. Unless your precious doesn't know."
"Jean knows."
"Cute. What an honest little relationship you have." Levi rolled his eyes.
"Okay, let's get one thing straight I am not nor will I ever be dating Jean." He shuddered at the idea. "And even if I were why does it matter to you?"
"It doesn't, I don't care." He snapped quickly.
Eren felt himself slowly smiling in triumph as Levi glanced to the side in supposed disinterest. He'd seen that glint in the others eye, that flash that he had tried to hide.
"You're jealous." He smirked, pushing off the counter where he was stood and walking towards the other man.
"Jealous?" Levi scoffed. "And why exactly would I be jealous?"
"You tell me." He whispered, pressing his weight against Levi.
They stood flush, every inch touching, hearts beating as their breaths mingled at the close proximity. Levi's eyes trailed his face, settling on Eren's lips while his tongue darted out to lick his own.
"Tch. Cocky little brat." He huffed despite making no attempt to move.
Satisfied that Levi wanted this as much as he did Eren began to lean in, heart palpitating as the distance between them slowly grew shorter and shorter. His lips barely grazed Levi's before a loud crash had him jumping and cowering in fear.
"What the hell was that?" Eren asked, glancing around the room to find the source of the sound.
"Hange." Levi sighed, taking a calm sip from his tea. "But if she thinks throwing a tantrum will make me change my mind she is seriously mistaken."
Almost to confirm his point a pair of shoes were thrown down the stairs, landing in the hallway with a clatter.
"Why is she upset?" Eren asked with a groan, watching Levi leave the kitchen and realised their moment was ruined.
"She wanted to go bowling." He shrugged, flopping down on the sofa.
"What's the crime in that?" He winced as he heard a loud scream but Levi seemed entirely unfazed.
"She wants to go alone." He explained. "But she can just snap so easily that I can't let her."
"I hate you!" Hange screamed from upstairs.
"And this is just proving my point." He laughed bitterly.
Eren watched Levi lean forward into his hand and rub at his cheeks as Hange continued to shout abuse down the stairs. He wondered how often Levi played this part, how often Hange hated him for trying to protect him, how often he broke a little bit when the one he cared about the most resented him.
"I'll take her." Eren offered.
"Excuse me?" He scoffed.
"Yeah, I'll take her bowling. I will look after her." He promised.
"She wants to go alone, meaning without a chaperone." He told him.
"True, but she doesn't really see me as a chaperone. I'm her friend." He smiled.
"Well, if you can get her to agree you're welcome to take her." He shrugged.
With a nod Eren practically skipped from the room, taking the steps two at a time until he was outside Hange's door.
"Hange?" He asked softly knocking on the door.
"Get lost!" She screamed back. "I don't want to see you."
"It's me." Eren replied. "Eren."
He listened carefully for the sounds of shuffling on the other side of the room and jumped slightly when the door was thrown open, a slightly dishevelled Hange on the other side.
"Eren?" She grinned. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to visit you." He offered, had she already forgotten the plans they had made yesterday?
"Really? That's so sweet of you." She gushed, reaching out to grab his hands.
"Right." Eren nodded.
Levi did say Hange often forgot things but he'd never been there to witness it, sure she'd always seemed excitable and naïve when he was around but not like this. There were no tantrums or memory gaps and by the way Levi was acting this wasn't even one of her terrible days.
"So, what did you want to do today?" Eren asked, despite already knowing her answer.
"I want to go bowling." She pouted. "But Levi won't let me."
"What?" He gasped in outrage.
"He's being such a dickhead." Hange growled, Eren resisting the urge to smile at her choice of words.
"Well, I want to go bowling as well now so why don't we go together?" He suggested. "Without the dickhead."
"Levi won't let me." She shook her head.
"Don't worry about him." He dismissed. "You get ready and I will take care of grumpy."
"Okay." Hange nodded eagerly pushing Eren out the room so she could change.
Feeling extremely proud of himself, Eren bounded back downstairs to find Levi in the exact same position he had been left. The only subtle difference was a slight tilt of the head, poised and ready to listen for signs of distress from upstairs.
"So, how did it go?" Levi casually questioned, taking a sip of what was surely cold tea.
"Fine." Eren shrugged, dropping next to the other man on the sofa, so close their thighs and arms brushed. "She agreed to go bowling with me."
"Really?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Yep, you should have more faith in my abilities of persuasion." He practically purred.
"Please." He scoffed. "I have seen those abilities in action and they left me quite cold."
"Does that make you feel good? Lying to yourself?" Eren questioned.
"In your dreams." He rolled his eyes.
"I think it's more likely to be the other way around."
"How do you figure?" Levi asked.
"Look at me. Nice young thing, still tight and firm while you, well you're getting on a bit aren't you?" He teased with a smirk.
Levi stared Eren down for a moment before cracking, it started out as a small snort but it soon became a full laugh. Deep from inside him, so loud and strong that his whole body shook with joy. Eren smiled to himself as he watched the other man lose himself, the first time he'd ever seen him laugh and he was sure he would remember it forever.
"You really are something else kid." Levi shook his head fondly.
"Eren!" Hange shouted, running down the stairs. "I'm ready."
"Okay." Eren shouted back.
The girl never came into the room, obviously determined to avoid Levi as long as possible just to show how truly annoyed with him she was.
Eren pushed himself off the sofa and headed towards the hall only to have a hand tightly grip around his wrist. He turned back around to see Levi looking up at him.
"Take care of her for me." Levi said quietly.
His eyes shone like a fathers, his daughter growing up faster than he realised while all he wanted to do was protect her, shield her from all that was wrong with the world.
"Of course I will." Eren reassured, placing a hand over Levi's and giving it a squeeze before heading out.
…
"Did you see that?" Hange cried, jumping up and down as she scored another strike.
"Wow, amazing." Eren congratulated half-heartedly, he wasn't exactly an incredible bowler but he wasn't used to losing quite so drastically.
"There is no way you will beat me now." She sang with a triumphant grin.
"You never know." He grumbled, walking up and taking his turn.
He strutted up to alley, shaking his hips in a fashion that had Hange cackling as he gracelessly threw the ball down. It landed with a clunk and slowly rolled sideways until it fell into the gutter.
"Remind me again why we couldn't put the shields up?" Eren grumbled as he grabbed a second ball.
"Because shields are for children." She smirked.
With new found determination Eren rolled his ball, watching as it actually reached the bottom and knocked down a few pins.
"Wow, four pins." Hange congratulated him. "That's your best score yet."
"Thanks." He shrugged, flopping back in the seat with a pout.
"Don't be a sore loser." She teased, going for her next go and effortlessly getting a half strike.
"Are you not getting bored yet?" Eren asked as she came back to him.
"You're only saying that because I am winning." She grinned.
"Well, why don't we go to the arcade or something?" He suggested.
"I suppose, we could win Levi a teddy on the crane machine." She said enthusiastically.
"Do you really think he'd want a teddy?" He asked sceptically.
"No, but I need to get him something." She bit her lip. "A sorry present."
"I don't think he'd be angry at you." Eren said softly.
"Levi is never angry with me." Hange sighed. "He used to argue with me when we were younger, he'd get angry and sometimes fight with me but not anymore. Can I tell you a secret?"
"Sure." He nodded, moving closer to her.
"Sometimes I miss the old Levi." She whispered. "I miss when he didn't tell me what to do."
"It's only because he cares."
"I know, he's trying to look after me because my head isn't like it's supposed to be." She said, causing Eren to gasp slightly.
He'd never heard Hange talk about her problem, he assumed she didn't know, another horrible truth that Levi protected her from. But she talked about it openly and it didn't bother her, she was still happy with her life despite her limitations.
"But I'm not as incompetent as he thinks, I can look after myself sometimes you know?" She smiled.
"I know." He agreed.
"So, we will go to arcade soon." Hange said. "Right after we finish our game."
Eren groaned as he was pulled out of his chair and forced to bowl yet another gutter ball.
…
"Levi is going to love this!" Hange shouted as the pair walked home, holding up a small dragon teddy above her head.
The dragon was rather fluffy, purple with wide green eyes and matching spikes. He was sure Levi would hate it but no doubt if it came from Hange he would fake.
They let themselves into the house and followed the tinny sound of the TV to find Levi, the mess that Hange had left behind all gone – obviously his first task for the day before settling down in front of the TV.
When they walked into the living room they both froze, curled up on the sofa and wrapped around a cushion in the foetal position was Levi. So deep in sleep he had barely noticed them crashing through the front door or into the room he currently resided.
Hange crept over to Levi and gently removed the cushion from his arms, replacing it with the dragon. She smiled widely at the still sleeping man before slipping from the room, gesturing with her head for Eren to follow but he was rendering immobile.
He'd never seen Levi look so calm and relaxed, despite being scrunched up on a sofa that wasn't even long enough for someone of his short stature. He looked so young and carefree, all the frown lines in his head where released, the tension gone from his shoulders and even the bags under his eyes – that he was sure he covered with makeup for work – seemed less prominent.
Levi seemed completely at peace and nothing would wake him, not even Hange clattering in the kitchen. He supposed that was a result of too many late nights and early mornings, Eren wasn't sure how much longer he could go on like this before he completely burnt out.
Hange walked back in the room with a mug in her hand, the smell of strong beans filling the air. Almost like a small animal Levi began to sniff the air as he was slowly roused out of his sleep, Eren had bit his lip to stop from giggling at how adorable he looked.
"Wakey wakey sleeping beauty." Hange sung, holding out the drink.
"I wasn't sleeping I was resting my eyes." Levi grumbled, sitting up and looking down at the small green creature in his arms with confusion.
"Sure you were." She grinned, handing him the drink and kneeling before him.
"What's this?" He asked after a good gulp of coffee.
"It's you." She told him.
"Me?" He questioned, turning the toy over in his hands. "How'd you figure?"
"Well, he thinks he's super cool because he breaths fire when he's angry but in truth he's just short and adorable. Just like you." She poked his nose.
"Cute." He commented.
"I'm sorry about earlier Levi." Hange apologised, looking up at over her glasses with wide eyes.
"It's nothing." He shrugged, ruffling her hair.
"I don't like arguing with you." She said softly.
"Me neither." He shook his head with a smile. "Now, make it up to me by putting this guy on my bed."
"Come on Little Levi." Hange spoke to the toy as she snatched him from Levi's hand. "Let's go put you with your friends."
Eren couldn't help but wonder just how many soft toys Levi had upstairs, all likely to be gifts that Hange had forced on him that he couldn't bring himself to throw out.
"Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to lurk in doorways?" Levi asked, never once glancing at the other boy.
With a slightly awkward laugh he sat down next to the other man, eyes set forward as they remained in silence. Until, Levi took a leaf of Hange's book and apologised.
"I'm sorry I kicked you out the other day." He practically whispered.
"Oh, that's fine." Eren stuttered, not expecting Levi to bring up that topic again.
"It's just a sensitive subject for me." He admitted. "I'm trying really hard to make sure Hange has everything she could ever need, even if my life is shitty hers shouldn't be. But then when people tell me I should get help it just reminds me that I no matter how hard I try I'm not good enough."
"I never meant it like that." He furiously denied.
"I know you didn't but that's how I took it, how I always take it. I snapped and took out my anger on you and I am sorry." He apologised again.
"I forgive you."
"I don't want anyone else in here Eren, poking around and telling me I'm doing it wrong. That I'm just a fuck up." He said.
"They wouldn't think that, after all you've been doing singlehandedly they'd probably congratulate you on a great job." Eren gushed, he knew he'd never have the strength to let men use and abuse his body just to provide for someone he loved.
"Sure, I'm a real hero." He rolled his eyes.
Eren bit his lip, choosing his next words carefully, nervously replaying them in his mind to make sure the tone, the wording was perfect so he wouldn't cause upset again.
"Look, even if you don't want professional help let me help you." Eren suggested as Levi shot him an incredulous look. "I did it today didn't I?"
"Don't you have better things to do?" He asked.
"Perhaps." He nodded. "But that's what you do for friends."
"Friends?" He raised an eyebrow.
It wasn't exactly what he wanted from Levi but Eren knew he had to take things slow. Levi didn't want to let anyone in, he was closed off and protective but if he took it slow he had a chance at becoming something more, something real.
"Yeah, friends." Eren agreed.
He watched as Levi's eyes flitted around the room, mind processing this new information. He was like a timid deer, as if Eren were to move too fast he'd get frightened and was likely to leap away.
"I suppose being your friend wouldn't be the worst thing in the world." Levi relented, stubbornly refusing to meet the others eye.
"I just want to help." Eren said softly, reaching out and squeezing the other's thigh.
"I know." He nodded in response, still not looking at him.
"Levi! Eren! Look what I found!" Hange shouted, bounding down the stairs.
"What is it babe?" Levi shouted as Eren quickly withdrew his hand.
"Mouse trap!" She sung, dancing into the room with a box in her hand.
"Christ." Levi chuckled. "I haven't played that since I was about ten."
"What's mouse trap?" Eren asked, looking at the brightly coloured box in confusion.
"You've never played mouse trap?" Hange asked in shock.
"No." Eren admitted.
"What a deprived life you have led." Levi commented.
"Well we have to play it now." Hange insisted, dropping to the floor with the box.
With a slight shake of the head Levi joined the girl, shortly followed by Eren. He smiled to himself as Hange picked her colour and Levi's, obviously remembering his preferences from all those years ago. Eren grabbed the green mouse and set it next to the others before Hange grabbed the dice and rolled.
"What about all this other stuff?" Eren asked as Hange moved her counter, wondering why they had only half set up the game.
"You put it together as you go." Hange explained as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
Almost as if to prove Hange's point on his go Levi landed on a take a part space, sieving through the box until he found a long piece of plastic and slotted it into position.
The game continued pretty much the same, Hange overly enthusiastic, Eren slightly confused and Levi just quietly participating. In the end Hange won, she apparently had a knack for games or Eren was just terrible at them and Levi was letting her win.
Either way he wasn't bothered, Eren enjoyed his afternoon with his new found friend. It may not have been much but it was a step in the right direction and that was enough for him for now.
…