A/N: Hello my beautiful readers!

I would like to say a huge 'thank you' for the support I've gotten for this story over various sites.

WARNING: This chapter contains sensitive imagery.

B x

LEVI IS BOLD

EREN IS ITALICS

HANGE IS UNDERLINED

Chapter 9

~0~

Levi felt his mouth hang open a little as he uselessly ended the call and let his arm drop to his side.

Eren towered over him, his cheeks and nose tinged pink with the drop in temperature. His brain couldn't comprehend what his eyes were seeing. This was the guy he'd been texting for the last two months? He was much taller than Levi had anticipated, but he carried himself well. The kid's eyes were running over Levi, up and down, taking everything about him in; from his polished black boots to his military styled coat and his upper-cut.

His bright green eyes sparkled in stunned amusement. Eren pocketed his own phone, his leg already bouncing a little as their situation finally caught up with them. He ran a hand nervously through his already-mussed hair and gave Levi an awkward smile.

Levi, as usual, was the first to break the silence.

"You never told me you were a goddamn giant!"

'Smooth, Levi. Smooth.'

He inwardly cursed himself as he pressed his mouth into a thin line.

To his surprise, and relief, Eren tipped his head back and laughed. It was a bright, loud sound. "Well you never told me how tall you were so I'm gonna blame this one on you."

Levi stiffened, his cheeks flushing a little. He tried to loosen his fists. They stared at one another for a few moments before Eren snapped out of the daze he'd fallen into. Levi watched as the taller man shook his head and cast his eyes around.

Eren reached out with his hand and tweaked at Levi's sleeve. The older man's eyebrows rose in bemusement. "You're really real," the kid said. "I mean –of course you're real! I just –I was sort of half-expecting this to be some sort of joke."

"Joke?"

"Well yeah!" He bit his lip. "I was just –worried I guess that you were going to bail last minute."

Furrowing his brow, Levi straightened himself to his full height, which still only brought him up to Eren's shoulders. "I'm not that sort of person, brat."

Eren's face split into a grin. "Do you want to get a cup of coffee or something?" he asked.

Levi wrinkled his nose. "I only drink that when I'm hung over."

Eren cocked an eyebrow and grinned. "You can get tea if you like?"

Levi fidgeted on the spot before his schooled his features. "So … My height doesn't bother you?"

Eren bent down a little so he could lean closer. Usually this would have pissed Levi off, but with Eren it seemed different. It made him catch his breath as the kid's cologne drifted on the breeze. "Between you and me," Eren murmured. "I'm sort of into the height thing."

Levi felt his eyes go wide. "Are you sure?"

Why was he so nervous? Usually he was the epitome of cool confidence. Eren was … screwing with his defences. That blinding smile reappeared and Levi felt his insides squirm.

"Sure. Tea and coffee sounds good."

~0~

With their drinks ordered they walked towards a booth and settled down inside the café. They shucked off their coats and scarves before sitting down. The cosy light made it easier for Levi to relax. Still his gaze was focused on the tabletop and his hands folded neatly in front of him. Eren seemed awkward. He rubbed his hands on his thighs and proceeded to break one of his cookies into crumbs.

"Why do you drink your tea like that?" he asked out of the blue.

Levi looked up, startled, before looking down at his hand. He was holding his mug as he always did; by the rim. He never used the handle. "Oh … uh … It's just how I've always done it."

Eren gave a half-smile. "I'm sorry. I didn't think it would be this hard to think of things to say."

A weight shifted off Levi's shoulders. "I know. I'm sorry. All I keep thinking is that something is going to go wrong."

"You're not allowed to be nervous," Eren quipped.

"Oh? Why not?"

"No one as hot as you can be nervous."

Levi felt his mouth open a little in surprise. "What exactly about me do you find attractive, kid?"

"You have attractive features, I know you're intelligent and you have this sort of swagger about you."

Levi let out a low chuckle. "I have no swagger, kid."

"I'm digging the glasses though," Eren stated with a grin. "I'm –uh –kindda glad you wore them."

"Why?"

"It completes your whole 'sexy teacher' vibe."

Levi allowed himself to smile a little wider. Leaning back in his chair, he crossed his arm over his chest. "So. Neither of us have run away yet. Can I assume we'll be spending a bit more quality time together?"

"Are you kidding?" Eren beamed. "I'm not letting you go anywhere! I've waited long enough. I barely slept all last night because I couldn't wait for this moment."

Inside, Levi felt his stomach twist and his heart jolt. Eren –this beautiful, tall, quirky guy –wanted to spend time with him? He was unused to anyone outside of his circle of friends to want to be around him. It would definitely take some getting used to.

Something nudged his knee.

Glancing down, the older man saw that Eren's leg was jiggling again. Smirking, he peered over his glasses at the brunette. "You're still nervous aren't you?"

Eren flushed and glanced away. "Sorry. We never exchanged pictures so … I'm just taking it all in."

Reaching across the table, Levi surprised them both my placing his hand over Eren's and giving a squeeze. "Well, the worst of this day is over. We can calm the fuck down and enjoy spending the day together."

Eren watched as the shorter man stood up, brushed lint of his trousers and swung his coat on. With a flick of his inky-black hair, Levi nodded towards the door. "Come on, kid. Time for you to show me London."

"Oh –er –right!" Eren downed the last of his coffee –probably unwarranted considering how hyped the kid seemed –before following Levi through the café and out onto the street.

Levi caught himself sneaking glances up at Eren as they walked side-by-side. He was tall and had a strong jaw, his skin was a soft tan colour, probably fading from long summer days basking in the sun. His hair was drifting in the breeze and Levi's fingers twitched desperately to touch it.

'You're just meeting as friends,' Farlan's words echoed in his head.

Still, whenever their hands accidentally brushed against one another he couldn't deny the flush that tickled the nape of his neck.

"So where are you taking me?" Levi asked after they had been walking for ten minutes and crossing over a bridge.

"Just a place a friend recommended. They claim it's a great place," Eren shrugged before looking up. "Oh, here we are!"

Glancing up past the brunette's head, Levi frowned a little. The SEA LIFE aquarium was large, with a low-lit entrance. Eren tugged gently on his sleeve and he felt himself stepping over the threshold. Families, school trips and other groups of young adults milled around. Levi suddenly felt uncomfortable as the heat crept in through his coat. At the desk, they handed in their coats as Eren flashed something on his phone.

Two tickets were passed over the desk.

Eren thanked the woman before handing one of the passes for Levi. The shorter man accepted the ticket and gave a wry smirk. "You pre-booked the tickets?"

"I managed to snag them last night."

Normally he would have swatted someone around the head, but Levi didn't want to cuff Eren. Not yet anyway. Instead he chuckled and shook his head, secretly pleased that they weren't going to walk aimlessly around London.

Passing through a low-lit hallway, they were stopped in a mock-up of a green room.

"Do you want your picture taken for a souvenir?" the guy asked, his thick mop of hair falling in front of his glasses.

"I don't think we –"

"Yes! We would." Eren cut across, before looking sheepishly down at Levi. "I mean, we don't have to if you don't want to I just thought –"

"Brat, you're rambling," Levi stated. Turning his attention to the photographer he nodded. "Go on then. Take a picture."

Eren snickered behind him. Levi glowered a little, ignoring the way people were queuing up in the corner of his eye. Before the flash went off, two arms wound around Levi's shoulders and something warm rested against his head. He grunted a little and rubbed at his eyes before a tug on his arm moved them aside.

"Here's your ticket. You can pick the photos up at the exit," the photographer droned on.

Levi wrinkled his nose in distaste before letting Eren pull him along down the blue-lit corridor.

~0~

Most of the rooms they walked through would have been bathed in total darkness, if it hadn't been for the deep, blue-lit fish tanks. Levi knew he should have been observing the fish and sharks that swam around –especially in the submerged underwater tunnels were you would watch the fish gliding over your own head –but he kept finding himself drawn to watching Eren.

The kid was in awe over almost everything.

His eyes were wide and lit up as a shark floated alongside the tunnel, so close that you could see the scales near its eye. Eren was like a child in a sugar-factory, however Levi found his curiousity endearing. Plus he, himself, did enjoy reading the placards and learning about strange and exotic fish that had been caught in various tropical regions.

Stepping into a large, cavernous room that had been decorated to look like a coral reef, Levi and Eren look a seat on the steps leading up to the oceanic tank. Kids skittered through, shouting in amazement as their parents settled down to rest for a few minutes. Levi watched as they ran up to the glass, their mouths hanging open wide as they watched the large fish swim idly around through the brightly coloured tank.

"Are you enjoying yourself?" Eren asked, his attention finally drawn away from the fish.

Levi rose his eyesbrows at the anxious tone in the younger man's voice, but smiled nonetheless. "I was wary at first, but yes. I'm really enjoying myself." He frowned for a moment, "Why do you ask?"

"I guess you're harder to read than I thought," Eren shrugged, his face still downcast. "I was worried that this was too childish for you."

Levi chuckled and stroked a hand over Eren's shoulder. He have a gentle squeeze. "This has been fun. I like learning knew things, and I've never really paid much attention to aquatic life. You don't need to worry. I was just happy to spend the day with you."

Eren turned to him with a timid smile. "So … I did okay?"

"Yes, kid, you did okay."

Eren let his shoulders relax. It was like his insides had finally unwound and relaxed. He hadn't realised how anxious he'd been the entire time. He'd watched the shorter man reading the placards intently. He'd chewed on his lip as Levi's deadpan expression drank in the bright blue tanks, the large fish and sharks swarming around their tanks, including the open sting-ray nursery tank.

He had been anxious as Levi crouched down and leaned close to the glass, watching as the sting-rays drifted through the clear water.

Levi nudged his leg.

Eren looked up, his eyebrows raised, as he watched the older man smirk down at him from his higher ledge. Those glasses really did look good on him. He bit his tongue to stop himself from blurting out something stupid and cheesy. Armin told him it was one of his many flaws when getting to know people. Eren wanted Levi to see the real him but he didn't want to appear too immature or dumb to the older man.

"Should we make a move?" Levi asked, glancing briefly at his watch. They'd been in the aquarium for just over two hours. The time had flown by.

"We can try but we might get mobbed by all those kids," Eren grinned.

Levi grunted quietly before standing up and dusting his trousers down. Eren followed suit. They wore their way throughout, following the exit signs and passing by the small 'touch-tank'. Eren had convinced Levi to hold a starfish and he had nearly wet himself at Levi's expression.

Entering the gift-shop, Eren made a bee-line for the counter to see their photo from earlier whilst Levi was left to sweep his gaze over the aisles filled with bric-a-brac swarming with children. He sneered a little but kept to the quieter sections of the shop, his feet guiding him over towards the little plush sea creatures.

Would it be too presumptuous to get something for Eren?

Was he over-thinking the importance of a stuffed dolphin?

Studying to pass his teaching exams didn't seem nearly as hard in comparison to choosing a plushie.

Eventually, he settled on grabbing a small, soft sting-ray. He managed to have it paid and bagged-up before Eren caught up with him, waving the plastic wallet with their photos inside.

"Jeez how many did you get?" Levi frowned, adjusting his glasses as he flipped through the numerous prints in various sizes.

"Well, I thought that you might want some too. They were also able to put the photo in a magnet."

Levi cocked an eyebrow. "You are far too excited for magnets."

Eren shrugged and slipped the folder back into its bag. "Okay I'm starved! Do you want to go for something to eat?" Levi's gut grumbled in response and Eren chuckled. "I'll take that as a 'yes'."

"Did you have anywhere in mind?" the older man asked as they stepped out into the overcast daylight.

"You can pick if you like," Eren offered, coming to a stop off to the side. Together, they leaned side-by-side on the railing overlooking the Thames. "Since I brought you to the aquarium."

"Give me a moment and I'll see what's around here," Levi said, whipping out his phone. Scrolling through the available links on his phone, he finally found a couple of viable places. Leaning over, he let Eren look at the screen. "See anything there you like?"

Eren pushed through the options with his finger, his tongue poking out the corner of his mouth. Levi watched him, perhaps a little too intently. The kid caught him staring and winked at him. Winked!

"This places looks good enough," Eren finally said.

Levi nodded. "And –it's only a fifteen minute walk away."

"Let's go!"

~0~

The Chinese restaurant was filled with the usual décor with torrent of red and gold embroided wall hangings and slat blinds helping to hide the bland street just beyond the windows. The low lights and rich aromas mingled in the air and made Eren's stomach growl loudly as they were seated. The waistress who seated them, slid two menus onto the table and took their drink order before prompty strutting off towards the kitchen.

"Well that was quick," Levi remarked drily as he slithered out of his jacket and gently combed his fingers through his hair.

Eren bit his lip and followed suit. It was fairly warm in the restaurant. He took the photos back out and placed them on the tabletop. Leaning on his hand, he stared down at the largest print and smiled sweetly. "I'm definitely going to get this framed," he said.

"Won't that alert your parents to my existence?" Levi quipped.

"To be honest you don't even look thirty-four."

"Are you telling me you would lie to your parents about my age?"

"I guess not," Eren mumbled. "It's just been such a great day so far and I want to remember it."

"You always have the magnet."

"True but it's so small!" the brunette moaned. "I have to squint to see your grumpy face."

"I wasn't grumpy," Levi protested.

"I'm saying that's how you looked," Eren grinned. "It's okay, though. I think it's cute."

Levi peered up at him over the rim of his glasses and smiled. "You're lucky you're pretty handsome otherwise I'd swat the crap out of you."

"I have a newfound sympathy for your poor friends."

"They deserve it," Levi stated.

"Oh, I don't doubt that! At least Mika and Armin don't harass me for information."

"Whereas in my case, I already have thirteen messages. Ten are from Hange."

Eren laughed. He looked so beautiful when he laughed. "Wow I don't know if I'd be able to handle her."

"Count your blessings that may not happen for a while."

"Ashamed of me?" Eren asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Levi rolled his eyes. This time he did swat Eren upside the head. "Quiet, brat. You don't want to meet that lot. They'd devour you like a pack of wolves."

"I would honestly go through all of them if it meant I got to have some candid photos of you."

"And with that, you've just shot yourself in the foot at ever meeting my friends or coming to my place."

Eren's mouth dropped open as he spluttered. "What? No! I was kidding!"

"You weren't," Levi deadpanned, leaning over the table on crossed arms. "But it's okay. I know how to threaten my friends."

"Don't you mean handle them?"

Levi blinked up at the brunette. "That's what I said."

Their food came quickly. Eren was grateful the plates had come with regular cutlery, although Levi went straight for the chopsticks in the paper wrapping. Eren watched, fork aloft, as Levi snapped the chopsticks apart, rubbed them together and swiftly started mixing his food together. As he was raising the chopsticks to his lips, he paused when he felt the weight of Eren's gaze on him.

"What?" he asked.

"I'm just –don't really know many people who bother with chopsticks."

Levi let his mouth form a smirk. "You'd be surprised at what I can do with sticks."

Eren choked a little. "Wow that was so awful but … fuck!" Levi had to bite back a smile as Eren drank some Sprite and cleared his throat. Once relaxed, Eren cocked an eyebrow. "Okay, Levi … Now that I know you're not an eighty-year-old lesbian, can you tell me something more about yourself?"

"You can ask me whatever you like, kid."

"Well, what's your last name?"

"Ackerman."

Eren furrowed his brows. "Levi Ackerman?"

The older man nodded. "And you are …?"

"Eren Jaeger."

"Wow. Very German."

"I did say I was!" Eren grinned. "So what made you want to go into teaching?"

"Honestly?" Eren nodded, encouraging the older man to continue. "Well, it first crossed my mind when I was in recovery from being shot. Between the initial trauma therapy and physiotherapy, I had a lot of time to think.

"I decided that I was done doing what everyone else told me to do. I'd had enough of it. Doing what other people had wanted me to do had landed me in a hospital after getting shot three times. It hadn't done me any favours. So, when my therapist came in after the third month of recovery and asked where I wanted to go from there, I told her I had no idea. She encouraged me to think of myself as a role-model. It took me a while to get what she meant. To little kids I was like a super-hero, but to anyone older than nine, I was an actual hero. It freaked me out."

"I can imagine that," Eren murmured after a moment. "Obviously I don't know what you went through but I can only imagine how alien that must have felt to you."

"It did," Levi agreed. "I was suddenly a role-model for something inane that hundreds of men were still going through. That hundred's of men are still dying through. It didn't feel as though I'd earned it."

"And teaching did?"

"Of course. Every kid had that one teacher that's tough and encourages them to push themselves. I knew how to do that, so I figured doing it for young kids was the only beneficial thing I could do as a career."

Eren felt his heart swell. He could see in the older man's grey eyes that he was passionate about his job. He believed in his cause and he truly wanted to aid young minds to be the best they could be. There had only been two teachers in Eren's life that had left any good imprints on his mind. If Levi could be that to even a quarter of his students, then not all hope was lost for the younger generations.

"What about you?" Levi asked.

"Huh?"

"What do think you want to do as a career?"

"Honestly? I don't have a definitive career-set in mind."

"Even in your last year of Uni?"

Eren flushed and ducked his head. "I know it sounds really shitty but …it's hard to find a specific job that would suit me."

Levi gave a sympathetic look. "It's okay. I never thought I'd go into teaching. It took me a while to land on my feet after the fact, so it's not the worst thing in the world if you don't know what you want to do right this second."

"Mikasa knows though," the young man groaned, raking a hand through his hair. "She's got her whole life planned out."

"Some people are like that," Levi stated. "My commanding officer had always loved the military, his family had been military for generations."

Eren bit his lip and looked grateful over at the older man. "I … Wanted to ask a follow-up question but … I don't really want you to swat me again."

"Go ahead."

"Are you sure? It's sort of … personal."

"It's fine, Eren."

"I just don't want you to –"

"Eren," Levi cut across him, a stern look in his eyes. "Just ask your question."

The young brunette frowned before looking down at his half-eaten meal. He fiddled with his fork, his expression betraying just how anxious he felt. Levi felt a little guilty for sounding so harsh before he set his chopsticks to one side and reached out to wrap his fingers around Eren's forearm. He was warm and tense.

"Sorry, I don't mean to come off as harsh," he said softly. "It's usually how I keep people at arms length."

Eren shook his head and feinged a smile. "It's okay. I just –don't want to trigger an even harsher reaction that's all."

Levi didn't remove his hand. In fact, he brought it into the middle of the table and squeezed Eren's hand without breaking eye-contact. "Ask."

Swallowing thickly, the young man focused on the gorgeous teacher in front of him holding his hand. It was momentarily mind-blowing. His stomach flipped as he squeezed back a little. "I just … wanted to ask you," he drew in a deep breath and averted his gaze. "What was it like? Getting shot at?"

Levi felt a muscle in his jaw tick.

For a moment, Eren worried that he had over-stepped the line.

Squeezing Eren's hand tighter, Levi maintained eye-contact. Without flinching he spoke; "It was the single most horrifying moment of my life. It hurts of course it does, but it's almost like the pain is dull –happening to someone else. Then your body succumbs to shock. I tried to stay focused on what was happening but obviously blood-loss makes that hard."

"Oh God …" Eren breathed, his eyes wide.

"However, without going into shock all that's left behind is the pain. It's overwhelming, unbearable. It's like being burned from the inside and crushed from the outside. However, finding a place for cover, to keep myself alive to get to my squad was all that kept me going."

Eren didn't realise he'd been holding his breath until he choked. "I can't imagine how that feels."

"It's a hole ripped right through you. In my case, three. Massive internal bleeding. I've never had to control pain before that moment and I've tried to remain in control ever since."

Before he could say anything else, Eren had gotten out of his seat and settled down next to Levi. Before the older man could question what was happening, he found himself enveloped in the younger man's arms. He stiffened; Eren's chest was warm and solid, his arms firm and comfortable as he gently stroked Levi's back. It took a while for the older man to relax into the touch, but once he did it was almost too easy.

"Eren …" he breathed.

"Sorry," the kid pulled back, concern swimming in those bright green eyes. "I just –the thought of you going through that, so far from your family, alone and bleeding-out … that's the most heartbreaking thing I've ever heard!"

"It's okay, brat," Levi said. "I survived."

Eren looked down at him with an expression that stunned the older man. It was serious and concerned all at the same time. "You're an amazing man, Levi. Never doubt yourself for a moment, okay?"

"Listen kid –"

"No," Eren cut across him firmly. "Most people suffer unbelievable trauma from one gunshot wound. You took three and kept fighting. You're on a whole other level of amazing."

Levi pressed his lips together and let Eren hold him for a few moments. However, he began to touch upon his OCD and he wriggled out of the embrace a little to indicate for the brat to stop. "You're kind, Eren," was all he managed to say.

Eren's shoulders slumped. "Shit. I'm sorry. I knew it was too personal to ask. I should've kept my mouth shut."

"I like that you don't," Levi insisted. "Most people skirt around difficult subjects. I admire that you don't."

Eren frowned before exhaling heavily. "Lighter topic?"

Levi smirked, "Yeah. Lighter topic."

~0~

They talked for another hour to the point that their food got cold and they tried to wolf as much as it down in one-go so that they didn't come off as snobby to the waitress. Levi insisted on paying and then they bundled up in their coats and went outside. The sky was already darkening as they made their way down the street, hands in their pockets.

There didn't really seem to be any planned destination but Levi was more than happy to walk under the bright lights. They finally paused alongside the Thames. Somehow they'd found their way back to the ribbon of shimmery black water. They leaned against the railing, Eren actually having to stoop lower to rest against.

Their breath rose before them in the crisp air.

"This is so surreal," Eren finally said in a loud exhale.

Levi nodded in agreement.

"I mean, just two months ago I had no idea who you were. Just that I was mortified in texting a wrong number all Christmas day."

Levi huffed a small smile, the memories washing through his head. It had been a pleasant surprise that day. Even more pleasant considering that Eren had text him again to rekindle their intriguing discussions.

"So …" the kid hedged. He was rather adorable when he was nervous. "Where exactly do we go from here?"

"Well I'd imagine your parents will expect you home at some point," Levi deadpanned.

Eren looked up at him but when he saw the teasing smirk on the older man's lips, he smiled too. "I'm also twenty. I have my own key."

"Such a grown-up."

"Levi-i-i!"

"Dear God don't do that," he wrinkled his nose. "You really do sound like Hange sometimes. It's unnerving."

"Sorry." Eren flushed and ducked his head, his mess of brown hair falling into his eyes. Levi's fingers twitched to stroke the hair away, but he refrained. "I more meant –like –Am I still allowed to text you?"

"Of course," Levi shrugged. "It's a free country."

"But would you like me to text you?"

"You need to be more articulate, kid."

Yes, he was being an arsehole. He'd never claimed to be perfect, and baiting Eren so shamelessly was one of the things Issy had warned him not to do but –he couldn't resist. The brat was just too adorable. He had the most expressive face and clear, green eyes that it came together in one effortlessly beautiful picture and just stole Levi's breath away.

His teasing was a way to ground himself.

"Fine!" Eren straightened up to his full height. He grasped Levi by the shoulders and turned him so that they were face-to-face. Levi sort of hated that he had to look up at Eren, but he sort of liked it too. "Levi, I would love to keep texting you. I don't want that to change."

The witty comment was on the tip of his tongue.

He swallowed it down.

Instead, he smirked up at Eren and placed his hands over the brunettes. "Then text me, kid. I don't want it to change either," he added as an afterthought.

It would have been so easy to kiss him in that moment.

Levi was suddenly filled with a weightlessness he couldn't remember having felt before. The only thing pinning him to earth were Eren's hands on his shoulders. Those wide, green eyes were vibrant, almost dancing with anticipation.

Levi's ringtone blared through the quiet, shattering the moment.

"Fuck!" he hissed, digging the offending object out of his back pocket and answering the call. "What the hell do you want?" he snapped.

Eren's eyes went comically wide as he tried to suppress his laughter.

"Fine. There's a spare key on top of the frame." Levi clenched his phone tighter. "Yeah, bye."

Eren finally let his laughter out. "Oh wow! You were not kidding about being a dick to your friends!"

"When they do dumb shit like interrupting me on days like this, they deserve every ounce of abuse I dole out."

"Clearly," Eren grinned. "I hope I never piss you off that much."

Levi pocketed his phone and sighed. His rhythm had been jolted and it unsettled him. It shouldn't, but it was one of those ripple effects from the army. He'd calm down eventually.

"You –don't need to get home, do you?" Eren hedged, shifting awkwardly on the spot.

Shaking his head, Levi leaned against the railing again. "No. Issy just locked herself out."

"What about her boyfriend? What was his name?"

"Farlan," Levi said. "He's working late."

"Are you okay? You seem a little rattled."

"I'll be okay, kid," he insisted. A frigid wind rushed over the Thames, making ice pool in the pit of his stomach. He flexed his fingers. "Maybe we should be heading back. It wouldn't do to get ill now."

"I suppose not," Eren hummed in agreement, though his voice was tinged with sadness. Levi tried not to read too much into it. It had been a good day. There was no need to focus on the negatives. "There's a train station just ten minutes this way," Eren pointed. "It should get us back to Charing Cross."

"Lead the way, kid."

They walked in silence, their arms bumping against once another as they walked. Levi delighted in the warmth whenever he touched against Eren or vice versa. It was nice. Charing Cross was teeming with people which was never a surprise. Scanning the boards, Levi saw that he had a fifteen minute wait for his train. Following Eren through the crowd, they came to a stop a few meters away from the barriers that led to the platform.

Drawing in a deep breath Levi turned to the younger man.

"Eren –" Wow even the name sounded strange out loud from his own voice. "I had a wonderful time today."

Green eyes lit up.

"Really? Are you sure?"

"Yes, one hundred percent," Levi smirked. "It's easy considering how adorable you are when you're nervous."

Eren's cheeks flushed pink as he dropped his gaze away and mumbled something incoherent.

"What was that?" Levi probed.

"I said you're pretty incredible yourself."

Levi felt his body flush but tried to keep his face neutral. He wanted to 'correct' Eren's perception however he felt that –for once –he could just accept the compliment. For Eren.

"So I'm still allowed to text you right?" Eren asked, his hands in his pockets. Levi watched the fabric twitch. He probably had a fidget-spinner in his pocket.

"I hope that you would," Levi stated.

"Good."

"Good."

Eren bit his lip. "Fuck, why is it so awkward to talk to you? I've just spent the whole day with you?"

"Maybe because we're out in public?" the older man suggested. "We can only do so much that is publically appropriate."

Eren's cheeks blushed bright pink. Levi finally caught the implication of his own words and wanted to smack himself. Eren chuckled and his eyes sparkled. "Maybe next time we go out it can end somewhere a little more … private?"

Levi cocked a sleek, black eyebrow. "Brave now, are we, kid?"

"You bring out my brave side, clearly."

"Or you're just too damn cocky for your own good."

Eren smirked mischieviously. Levi was about to chew him out for being filthy-minded, but his eyes caught the large digital clock overhead.

"Shit," he sighed. "Looks like my train leaves soon."

"You'd best get going."

"Yeah." He paused for a moment before ignoring the pressure in his chest and pressing a chaste kiss to Eren's cheek. "See you soon, brat."

On the other side of the barrier he glanced over his shoulder and watched just as Eren's hand fell away from his cheek, a stupidly broad grin breaking out over his face. Levi jogged the last few feet to the train, climbed in and tried to keep his breathing under control as he found a vacant seat and settled down. His heart summersaulted in his chest and his mind was spinning.

Within moments, the train was pulling out of the station.

~0~

Opening his front door he was greeted with bright lights and the sound of the TV in the living room.

'Oh right,' he thought bitterly. 'Issy's here.'

Taking his shoes off at the door, he folded his coat into the cupboard and padded through to the lounge. Bundled up on one side of the sofa under a thick blanket and with a bowl of popcorn in her lap was Issy. When she saw Levi, she grinned and patted the seat beside her. He glowered at her but draped the blanket over his lap regardless.

She turned the TV down a little.

"So?" she prodded his arm. "How was the date?"

"It wasn't a date."

"Okay so how was your non-date?"

He threw a glare at her but there was no heat behind it. "It was good. We had a few awkward moments but on the whole, it was a good day."

"Only good?"

"Well how good are first meetings anyway? We're still getting to know one another."

"So … You're taking it slow?" she hedged, popcorn halfway to her mouth.

"I suppose," he shrugged. "There's not much to tell. At the very least I didn't waste my time today, which is the top three things I'm glad about."

"So what does he look like?" Issy asked.

Levi was about to describe Eren when he realised he didn't really need to. Out of his back pocket, he drew out one of the magnets from the aquarium. It was small, but under the bright lights it was clear enough. He passed it to Issy in exchange for the bowl of popcorn.

"Oh wow!" Issy exclaimed. "He's cute!"

"Yes, he's very cute."

"And tall!"

"Half-giant, yes. I just about reach his shoulders."

"That may very well be the perfect height," she snickered.

"Hey now," he warned. "I let you into my house and make popcorn of all things. Do not make me kick you out."

"Okay, okay!" she giggled. "I promise I'll behave."

"Good. Now, what trash are you watching on my Netflix?"

Later that night, after Farlan came home and Isabel bade him goodnight, Levi was lying in bed and reading when his phone buzzed. It was from Eren.

.

(23:12) I still can't believe I got to meet you today. It's so maddening! Can't believe I had to wait nine weeks to meet you.

(23:19) Would totally go through it all again. I'm enjoying getting to know you … x

.

Levi allowed himself to smile at the little 'x' at the end. Damn, he really was becoming smitten. He stroked his thumb over the screen just as another message popped through. It was a photo-message. As soon as Levi opened it up his heart soared.

It was their souvenir from the aquarium.

It didn't sink in until a minute later that Eren had probably walked around his house for the brightest light in order to take a decent photo of their souvenir. Warmth bubbled inside him. He smiled as he tapped out a reply, his eyelids already growing heavy.

.

(23:27) Thanks for the photo, brat. At least now I have a photo of you.

(23:34) Your death-glare is adorable. I want to frame it!

(23:40) Go to sleep, brat.

(23:43) Sweet Dreams Levi!

(23:49) P.S. I'm so glad I met you! :D

(23:52) I'm glad I met you too.

A/N: SO HOW DID OUR BOYS DO ON THEIR FIRST DATE? DID YOU LOVE IT? I LOVED IT!

Today is a huge day -hence why I am uploading a story to celebrate -I have just been offered a publishing deal! I know I shouldn't gush as it's in the early stages but I am so thrilled as it's been years striving to get myself noticed and now that time seems to have arrived!

Love to you all! I cannot stop smiling! :D