A/N: So I feel like I've been neglecting the gang, so here's a chapter full to the brim of the beloved 104th. Also: mass apologies for the slow update. I've just gone back to university so everything has been mental for the past few weeks. But hopefully, I can make up for it with a long chapter. 3
When Eren opens the door to the kitchen, there's music blaring in the background of the over zealous mass of conversations. He wanders in; flushed, dazed, and in a dreamy state of euphoria. This had not gone completely unnoticed.
"You alright there, Yeager?" Reiner asks slyly as Eren takes a seat. The boy's dark hair is ruffled and his clothes seem to hang untidily on him. Everything about Eren's appearance currently screams: post-orgasm.
"Fine," Eren replies with a grin.
"Alright; so Eren got laid then," Annie announces taking one look at him.
"AY, EREN!" Ymir yells, banging her hand on the table in appreciation, making all the drinks on the table wobble.
"Who's the guy then?" Connie asks.
Everyone turns to Eren expectantly. Armin's eyes look wary and Mikasa holds a degree of caution in her own eyes.
"Oh, God; it's Dr Ackerman isn't it." Jean buries his head in his hands just as Reiner, Connie and Bertl roar with laughter, the girls gives shrieks of surprise and Reiner slaps him hard on the back.
"Guys, stop," Eren blushes, unable to keeps a smug look off his face.
"Eren, I'm not sure this is such a good idea," Christa says uncertainly, sipping her white wine.
Marco hiccups. "Yeah, Eren … he is your teacher."
"Well I think it's hilarious," Ymir grins.
"Here here," Reiner agrees and pours Eren a large shot of gin.
"Look; keep it quiet. It's nothing, really." Eren says, refusing to meet Mikasa and Armin's disapproving eyes.
"We can talk about this tomorrow," Mikasa slurs sternly. Eren gulps.
"ANYWAY." Reiner claps his hands to diffuse the sudden tension in the room. "BACK TO BACK."
This announcement is met with a cheer of approval and the gang stand up and away from the table, moving all the drinks and stray cards off the surface, leaving it sticky but empty.
"Okay; who wants to go first?"
Back to Back is a game they play religiously in this flat: two people stand on the table, back to back, and the rest of the group fire questions at them beginning 'who is …'. If one of them drinks because they agree with the statement, no one else drinks. If neither drink, no one drinks, if both of them drink, everyone drinks.
"I'LL GO!" Annie hops up to the table, drink wobbling in her hand.
"I'll supervise," Bertl steps onto the table too, but has to bow his head against the ceiling.
The rest of the group stand on the floor in front of them. Connie grins wickedly: the game is always more fun when a couple is on the table.
"Who is kinkier in bed?" Connie asks.
Bertl doesn't even look at his drink as Annie takes a massive drink. "Damn right," he mutters and everyone laughs.
"Who is better dressed?" Mikasa calls.
Both of them drink and the rest of the gang drink, too. Annie turns around to Bertl.
"You wear jeans and a shirt every day," she argues. "I'm way better dressed!"
"Don't listen to her, Bert!" Reiner yells. "You always look great."
"Yeah, cheerleading; way to really man things up," Ymir says cuttingly.
"Who gets better grades?" Christa asks.
Neither drink. Annie digs her elbow into Bert's back. "You're cleverer than me," she tells him gently and he flushes.
"Only with books." He mumbles.
Everyone drinks.
"Right; swap them out – Jean, Eren. You're up." Marco decides and Bertl steps down, holding out his arms to carry Annie safely down.
Jean and Eren stand back to back, Eren looking down to his friends. Reiner looks gleeful.
"Who has a bigger dick?" Reiner grins.
Mikasa rolls her eyes and rolls them even heavier as both Eren and Jean immediately drink in unison. "Oh the fragility of the masculine ego." She mutters.
"Who is better in bed?" For all his usual innocence, even Marco can't resist winding those two up.
Again, Jean and Eren throw their heads back, drinking. Everyone takes a gulp of their own drink.
"Oh please, Horse-Face – I bet I'm better in bed."
"Not a chance Yeager." Jean scoffs.
"I bet all you do is give my sister some vanilla missionary sex and cry about your feelings afterwards," Eren retorts hotly.
"OI!" Mikasa snaps shortly.
"Yeah well whatever you do with Dr Ackerman can't be that good," Jean replies slyly and Eren's ears go bright red.
"WHO EATS MORE FOOD," Sasha calls from an overly drunken state from her perch on top of the kitchen tops. With one last glare at each other, Jean and Eren turn back to back again.
"Who is the antagonist?" Christa asks.
Neither boys drink.
"Oh, bullshit; Jean drink up." Eren turns around to look in amazement.
"No chance, Yeager; you're the one always pushing my buttons!"
"I think you'll find –"
"ALRIGHT, SWAP OUT." Mikasa interjects. "Armin, you're up with Mir."
They carry on like this for a while until they're all suitably hammered.
"It's midnight guys; shall we go?" Armin, ever the supervisor, checks his watch.
Sasha is on a usual hyperactive buzz as she skips around the kitchen with a bag of crisps in her hands. "Can't we just go to McDonalds?" She whines.
"Sasha, no," Connie tells her firmly.
"But I'm starving!"
Marco steps in. "I promise you we can go afterwards."
Sasha opens her mouth to protest but is cut off by Ymir shoving a handful of crisps into her mouth. "Cut it out, Sash. Let's blow off some of your steam on the dance floor."
"We all ready?" Armin calls around the room and in unison the girls file out into Mikasa's room.
"Every time." Reiner shakes his head in bewilderment. "What is it they do that they have to do together?"
The boys stand out in the corridor.
"I'm gonna change quickly into a shirt," Eren says suddenly, looking down at his own t-shirt that he's been wearing for a few days.
"Yeah same here." Jean says and the two duck inside their separate rooms.
Eren opens up his wardrobe, scanning the rail quickly before pulling out a navy and red checked skirt. It's crisp and freshly laundered. Buttoning up and rolling the sleeves to his elbows, Eren sprays some cologne, rakes a hand through his hair and throws open his door to reveal Jean just leaving his room.
They stare at each other without speaking.
Reiner howls with laughter.
"You're wearing my shirt!" They say in unison and both flush red.
"Well isn't this cute," Ymir appears with an arm around Christa with the other girls behind her who start laughing at the sight of a stunned Jean and Eren dressed identically. "Is this so everyone knows that you're boyfriends?"
"Shut up, Mir," Jean grunts, looking apologetically to Mikasa who has never looked more done with anything in her entire laugh. "Eren, go change."
"What? No!"
"Eren, we can't wear the same shirt."
"You change then!"
"Why should I?!"
"BOTH OF YOU CHANGE." Mikasa snaps suddenly. The boys sulk off a reappear looking abashed. Eren is in a deep green shirt which compliments his eyes, and Jean is in a maroon shirt.
"Right. Now can we go?" Armin pleads, and finally they all file out.
It's much colder than Fresher's Week, several months ago. The clear sky means the chill is biting and unforgiving. The girls huddle together, linking arms, walking unsteadily and shrieking in laughter at something Ymir just said as the boys slink behind, hands thrust into jean pockets.
"So Eren." Armin begins.
Eren groans. "Ah, come on, Armin; not now."
"I'm just concerned."
"Yeah, even I don't think it's such a great idea," Jean adds, and for once, he's not taking the piss. For all the fighting the two of them do, they do genuinely care for each other. "I mean, you're a fucking idiot." They care deep down.
"I mean … it's weird. Sometimes, he'll be super into me, and then the next minute he tells me we're not anything and that it's hard for him." Eren shrugs, kicking at a stray stone.
"But it must be hard for him; you're a student. And a lot younger than him," Marco says evenly.
"Sure, but it doesn't give him the right to mess me around." Eren says.
"I agree; but what do you want?" Bertl asks.
Eren thinks. "I want to see where things go with him."
"No matter the consequences?"
"Yeah."
Armin sighs, evidently displeased.
"Don't worry about him, Armin," Reiner chips in. "Eren knows what he's doing."
"You do know what you're doing, right, Eren?" Connie asks uncertainly.
"Sure I do." Eren replies.
Eren does not, in fact, know what he is doing.
They walk the rest of the way to the club in a companionable lull of drunken conversation, but Eren can't stop thinking of Levi. He gets his wrist stamped at the desk and all it does it remind him how Levi will make him wash it off before he gets into bed.
"ARE YOU OKAY?" Mikasa yells into Eren's ear who nods assuredly to her as they head into the main light-up dance floor of Club Maria.
They dance and jump around like idiots for a few hours, scream-singing the lyrics to almost every terrible pop song. When Eye of the Tiger comes on, Jean almost has an aneurysm in pure excitement.
"GUYS." Eren waves to get their attention over the thumping music. "HEY. I'M – HEADING – BACK." They all give him a deadpan look. Eren sighs. "OKAY. I'M GOING TO LEVI'S."
Mikasa and Armin don't seem to approve, but nod anyway. Mikasa points to her phone to indicate that he should text her when he's there to let her know he's safe. Eren nods and kisses Mikasa on the forehead in assurance.
"WHERE'S MY KISS?" Reiner yells.
"Shut up, Reiner." Eren laughs. "BYE, YOU LOT!" He waves and turns, leaving the heavy, sticky dance floor and out into the cool fresh air. It's a lot colder and when Eren pulls out his phone, he sees that it's 3am. He types a quick message to Levi: ssetrring foff fnooww.
A reply comes through within two minutes.
LEVI: Try that one again, brat.
EREN: sETTingggg foff nOww
LEVI: Almost.
EREN: SEDDN SDOFFNO W
LEVI: Third time lucky?
EREN: 2 minssss
LEVI: That'll do.
Realising himself to be drunker than he previously gave himself credit for, Eren somehow manages to make it to Levi's apartment, pressingly heavily on the buzzer until Levi lets him in. Eren staggers into the lift up to the fifth floor and knocks repeatedly on the door.
"Chill out, Eren," Levi answers, opening the door. He's wearing grey pyjama bottoms and a pale blue t-shirt which brings warmth to his slate grey eyes.
"LEVI!" Eren throws his arms around the shorter man.
"Come on, you."
Levi winds a strong arm around the teen's waist, half guiding, half dragging him to the bedroom, and into the bathroom, sitting him precariously on the edge of the bath. Eren sways unsteadily.
"Teeth." Levi says firmly, picking up the toothbrush Eren has started leaving for nights he stays over. He dispenses a small amount of toothpaste on the stiff bristles and grasps Eren's chin to shove the toothbrush in his mouth.
Eren giggles. "That tickles," he says thickly through the froth and brush.
"Open wide, brat."
Levi finishes and Eren manages to spit in the sink. They head into the bedroom and before long, Eren is completely asleep, snoring softly on the soft white pillows.
Levi watches the teen from the doorframe as he brushes his own teeth. He studies the ridiculously long limbs sprawled over the bed and dark brunette hair sticking up at odd angles.
I wonder if this really is such a good idea, Levi asks himself tiredly. But he doesn't want to worry about that now. Not tonight. Tomorrow he will talk to Erwin and Hange and he will be honest with his best friends.
But tonight, Levi just climbs in the bed beside Eren, pulls out a book and lazily runs his fingers through the boy's hair as he reads for a few hours.
…
Eren teases his eyes open and groans.
"Good morning, sunshine."
Eren looks over to see Levi sat up in bed, reading the last few pages of a particularly thick History book. Levi looks heavy lidded and behind his glasses, his eyes are ringed with dark circles.
"Morning," Eren mumbles, rubbing his eyes. "Did you sleep?"
Levi heaves a sigh, putting the book down and removing his glasses to rub at his eyes. "Not a wink."
"Sorry; was I snoring?" Eren asks, embarrassed.
Levi smiles wryly. "Not at all. I just had a lot on my mind."
Eren sits up and cuddles against Levi, reaching for his phone on the bedside table. "My head hurts."
"Tsk. Students."
Eren nuzzles his nose into Levi's cheek, trying to tease some affection out of Levi who somewhat reluctantly turns his head to give a tight lipped kiss.
Eren whines.
"Morning breath," Levi says flatly. Eren huffs.
"Fine." Eren swings his legs out of bed, groaning again as the room spins. "God, my head."
He makes his way to the bathroom, brushing the taste of alcohol from his teeth before hopping back into bed with Levi, who immediately kisses him deeply.
"So how come you couldn't sleep?" Eren asks, pushing his forehead under Levi's chin, feeling the older man's sigh ruffle his hair.
"Just a lot on. What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Levi glosses over.
Eren checks his phone. "I'm gonna head back to the flat in a bit; I promised them I'd go to the Christmas Market later. I don't want them to feel like I'm abandoning them. Jean gets especially touchy about it."
Levi scoffs. "You and Jean aren't secretly married, are you?"
"Feels like it sometimes."
"And how does your sister feel about that?"
Eren rolls his eyes. "Mika is basically our marriage counsellor."
"Poor girl."
"You're telling me."
Eren's phone starts buzzing wildly, the Beyond the Wall chat firing up with everyone waking up.
SASHA: Will there be food at the Christmas market?
CONNIE: Obviously, Sash
SASHA: CAN WE GO NOW?
YMIR: NO.
MIKASA: Control yourself.
JEAN: Gods sake, Sash.
MARCO: NO.
REINER: Didn't sleep a wink last night.
BERTL: … sorry.
ARMIN: Eren, where are you?
JEAN: Yeah, Eren, where are you?
EREN: Where you think I am.
ARMIN: No, we know WHERE you are, but when are you coming home? You can't avoid me and Mika forever, y'know.
MIKASA: You're coming home now.
Eren sneaks a sidelong glace to Levi, who's face doesn't giveaway any sign that he's read the conversation, but there's a tell-tale tightness around his eyes. Eren clears his throat to diffuse the tension. As he types a reply.
EREN: I'll be an hour.
MIKASA: Eren.
EREN: Half an hour?
ARMIN: Eren.
EREN: … ten minutes.
Shutting off his phone, Eren turns back to Levi who turns his head. They're close. "I'm sorry," Eren says apologetically.
"It's fine," Levi moves his body so he can face Eren properly.
"My friends –"
Levi shuts him up with a kiss. "I get it. Hange and Erwin are going to be the same."
Eren blinks at him. "Going to be?" He asks.
"Yeah, I'm having a talk with them today. Or tomorrow. Not sure yet." Levi states casually as if he's only making lunch plans.
"Rewind," Eren sits up properly and moves to sit in front of Levi. "You're going to talk to them? I thought you were taking it slow? And we were going to re-evaluate?"
Levi gives Eren a dead-pan look. "Nothing about last night said 're-evaluate'. Anyway; I thought you wanted this?"
"I do!" Eren insists. "I'm just scared."
"Of your sister?"
"Have you met my sister?"
"I'd like to meet her properly."
Eren stares. "I don't understand you sometimes, Levi. One moment you want me, the next you want to take things slow and re-evaluate, then you want to meet my sister properly and tell your friends about us? I'm confused."
Levi sighs. "I know. It's complicated. And it doesn't make any sense."
"So … can we clear this up? My head feels like it's going to explode." Eren shakes his head and rubs his eyes. Levi watches him fondly.
"Okay. So we've known each other for three months right?" Levi begins patiently. Eren flicks those intense green eyes up to meet Levi's.
"Right."
"And in those three months, we've spent a lot of time together. And I like you. You're smart, good looking, funny … and you annoy the hell out of me. But somehow, that doesn't make me want to kill you."
Eren laughs a little. Levi smiles encouragingly.
"So here's what we're going to do," Levi takes Eren's hand. "You are still my student. I am still your professor. I am going to talk to Hange and Erwin and ask advice. You should do the same with your friends. We can see each other over Christmas and see what the new year brings. But … I do really like you, Eren. I like you a lot."
Eren tries not to feel deflated as he attempts a smile. "So … we're going to give this a try?"
Levi hesitates. "After Christmas, yes. Let's see what the next few weeks bring us, okay?"
"Sure."
"Hey, brat," Levi pulls Eren close to him. "You better not get with anyone else."
"Wouldn't dream of it, old man."
Levi kisses Eren hard and they melt into each other. Eren is snaking a hand down Levi's chest when his phone rings. Eren groans into Levi's mouth and even more so when he reluctantly pulls away and sees Mikasa's name flashing on the screen. He can practically feel his sister's anger from Levi's apartment.
"I don't want to leave knowing this is the last time I'll get to kiss you," Eren mutters, avoiding Levi's line of sight.
"Don't be such a sap, Eren," Levi teases, but kisses him again. They get off the bed and Eren throws his clothes on in a rush, pocketing his phone, keys and wallet.
Levi walks him to the door and they stand looking at each other for a minute before Eren pulls the shorter man roughly towards him for a hard, desperate kiss.
"I need to go before Mikasa actually kills me," Eren says finally.
"Eren – it's going to be okay. I'll see you soon." Levi promises. Eren tries not to look deflated. "And you know; you can text me whenever you want."
Eren cheers up at this. With one last kiss, Eren says his goodbye and leaves the apartment. On the walk home, Eren can still feel the pressure of Levi's lips against his own, his clothes smelling of Levi. Eren doesn't know how the next few weeks are going to pan out.
Eventually, he's back at the apartment. With rising dread, Eren slides his key in the lock and opens the door, closing it gently behind him. Walking down the corridor, he pushes through the door at the end of the corridor and into the kitchen where Mikasa and Armin are already waiting, cups of tea in hand, sat side by side on one of the sofas.
"We made you one, but it went cold," Armin says gently.
"That was longer that ten minutes." Mikasa snaps. Eren gulps.
"Hey guys," he says weakly. Mikasa narrows her eyes at him.
"Sit down, Eren."
Eren goes and sits himself on the sofa opposite them, right on the edge. Fire is burning behind Mikasa's cool grey eyes.
"So in the beginning, the thing with Dr Ackerman was mildly amusing," Mikasa starts. "And when you needed someone, it was comforting in a way to know that you had Ackerman looking out for you. But now it's clearly turned into something … else."
Eren wants the ground to swallow him up.
"Eren," Armin's calming voice has taken over to diffuse the situation. "We're just concerned. Can you tell us what's happening?" Armin flashes his eyes at his best friend, pleading him to stay calm and collected.
Eren takes a breath before replying. "You don't need to worry. I know it's a … questionable situation. But we talked about it – that's why I'm late – and we're not rushing into anything. We're leaving it all until after Christmas so we have some time apart to re-evaluate and see what it's like. Please don't worry." Eren directs this last comment to Mikasa who softens a fraction.
"I do worry," she says quietly, the tense defensiveness in her shoulders suddenly dropping.
"I know," Eren tries for a smile which she tightly reciprocates. Armin too visibly relaxes.
"Right so now that's all sorted," Armin says suddenly. "I'm going to go and have a shower."
Armin leaves the room, knowing full well that Mikasa and Eren want to talk alone. When the door closes, Eren goes and sits beside Mikasa where Armin had just been.
"I know you worry and I'm sorry. But Levi is good for me. He makes me work hard. He makes me take my degree seriously and would never jeopardise my education for whatever feelings we have for each other."
Mikasa sighs. "But the age gap, Eren."
Eren nods. "I know. I've thought about that. It's ten years. So not unheard of … but it's a lot when I'm only 19."
"At least we all came to uni a year late. Would be so much worse if you were 18." Mikasa sighs and rubs her temples. "I mean we're all turning 20 so that sounds better."
Eren squeezes his sister's hand. "I know you care. It's going to be alright." Eren pulls her into a hug which she allows herself to be enfolded in. They stay like that for a while until Mikasa pulls back.
"I trust you with this, okay, Eren? And I won't tell mum and dad until you're ready to."
"Thanks." Eren smiles appreciatively.
"Now go and get showered you smell like a tavern."
Eren laughs. "Sure."
He stands and leaves, his shoulders and heart suddenly feeling a million times lighter. As much as he liked Levi, if Armin and Mikasa really had a problem with it, he would let it go. Because nothing is more important to him than those two.
Eren enters his room and pulls out his phone. Already there's a message from Levi: hope you're still alive, brat.
Eren grins: interrogation over. All fine here.
Levi's reply has Eren feeling nervous: Glad to hear. Mine is yet to come.
EREN: Good luck.
LEVI: Cheers, brat.
EREN: No worries, old man.
LEVI: Don't make me regret this shit.
EREN: You'd miss me if you let me go.
LEVI: Unfortunately.
Eren smiles and puts his phone to charge as he sets the hot water of the shower running. He washes himself down and can't help thinking about Levi.
The next few weeks were certainly going to be interesting.