April Rain Showers Chapter 12
Eren shivered and crossed his arms, glancing out the bookstore window in irritation at the snow that was flurrying outside. Today was really slow, only a few customers trickled in this morning and it was clear to see that there wouldn't be any more today, or at least sane ones. Since Eren predicted this morning that there wouldn't be many customers, he brought along a few textbooks to finish up some homework but it was really hard to focus on Psychology 101 when you were freezing your ass off. He knew the heating was just fine in the bookstore, even on cold, wintry days but ever since he started having chemotherapy he's been freezing his butt off more lately.
The brunette nearly jumped a foot in the air when his mother snuck around behind him to wrap her arms around his skinny body to see what subject he was on. The woman rested her head against her son's head which was covered by a winter hat to hide his growing baldness.
"Ah psychology, that's your father's favorite subject you know," his mother hummed, rocking the two of them back and forth slowly that was strangely comforting. Eren shivered involuntarily and shrunk back against his mother who was warmer.
"If it was his favorite subject, why didn't he decide to be a psychiatrist?" the brunette asked, he had to say the subject was fairly interesting as a whole.
The woman sighed and hugged her son against her tighter when he felt him shiver," Ohhh he thought it would be just a tad too stressful, besides your father's talents were better suited to be a doctor rather than a psychiatrist. He didn't want to deal with all the crazies."
"But a doctor has the same level of stress."
"Yeah I know, I tried to tell your father that but he wouldn't listen," the woman laughed," Have you figured out what you wanted to do yet?"
The brunette sighed and sucked air through his teeth in deep thought before answering," I'm not really sure yet, but I think I want to join the medical field and help cancer patients…"
"I think that's a wonderful idea. I believe it's better to join a career where you have a little personal experience in. Oh my, where did you get this beautiful ring?" his mother questioned, her eyes widening as she took her son's hand to see the emerald green engagement ring sparkling on his left ring finger, Levi's had a bluish-gray gem on it and both had twin bands with the respectable owner's name on it.
"I bet Levi probably bought it for you, I swear that man spoils you way too much for your own good," his mother chided playfully.
"He proposed to me over the weekend," the brunette replied with a soft smile at his mother's chiding," And he does not spoil me!"
Eren's mother squealed in girlish glee at the news, covering her mouth in embarrassment when a random customer had snuck inside and looked up from a shelf of books he was looking at. Eren chuckled at how girly his mother could be at times before bracing himself for the barrage of questions she was going to throw at him.
"How did he propose to you? Was it at a restaurant? What did he say? And here I thought my only son would never get married! When's the wedding? Oh I wonder what I should wear…" his mother said excitedly, her eyes lit up like a little girl's on Christmas morning and clutching at her son's hands.
"He proposed to me with strawberries and chocolate dip. He wrote "Will you marry me?" on the plate in chocolate," the brunette began to explain," We haven't figured out when the wedding should be either."
"Ohhh," his mother squealed in joy," Did he get on one knee and confess his love to you? That seems so very unlike Levi, I can't even imagine him doing that! Oh it must've been so lovely! I wish I was there. Did you cry?"
Eren giggled, his mother's excitement was contagious, he couldn't help being excited for the wedding as well, with a small blush he replied, "Yes…I did cry…but only because there was something in my eye, I swear!"
Carla opened her mouth to say something, closing it when she realized there was a customer that almost literally blew into the store, "You just stay there honey, I got this one."
Eren let his mother take on the customer, turning back around in his seat to hopefully study for a few more minutes before his mother came back to ask him a zillion more questions.
"Oh Levi! I couldn't recognize you under all those layers, it's a chilly one today isn't it?" Carla asked.
"Hi Mrs. Jaeger….and yes it is. I came over to see if Eren would like to go somewhere to eat with me on his lunch break-" the man said with a charming smile, barely having enough time to brace himself as he was lifted a few feet off the ground by his fiancé's mother in a vicious hug.
"Oh my god I heard the news! It's about time Levi, I never thought you had it in you dear! Ohhh I'm so happy for you two!" the woman squealed in delight.
Eren spun around only to double over in laughter because of the face Levi was pulling at being lifted like a child and hugged mercilessly. The raven shot a slightly pleading, but mostly a scowl-like look in the brunette's direction which only made the brunette laugh harder. Levi suppressed a sigh of relief when Carla finally put him back down, he gave the brunette such an evil look that both the brunette and his mother couldn't stop laughing. Well fuck, so much for being threatening, the raven thought, exhaling a defeated sigh.
"So brat, do you accept or not," the raven muttered with a pout, looking very much like a child. He was thankful that his mother was accepting of his pet names for her son, his father unfortunately was a different case though.
"Of course I accept, that is only if you pay for it," Eren smirked as he arranged his seat so he was looking at Levi.
"Oh come on Eren, I bought you an expensive ring, can't you pay for dinner for once?" the raven mock pleaded, they both knew very well Levi would pay no matter what, even though the brunette always tried to pay for it himself.
"No, sorry but I'm flat broke," the brunette replied with a sad sigh.
"Oh you stop that Eren, I pay you well enough compared to your father don't I?" his mother broke in, with a fake scolding look aimed at her son.
"Yeah because you actually pay me," the brunette joked back.
"You better hurry up and get going if you want to eat lunch, I can handle the store right now but you better be back by 1 o' clock, alright?" Carla said sternly as she tidied up a shelf of books that were falling to their sides.
"Okay, thanks mom!" Eren called out, giving his mother a quick hug before taking Levi's hand into his own and walking out of the store.
"I can't believe your mother hugged me….and even managed to lift me off the ground," Levi muttered.
"I know! And your face was soo adorable!" Eren cooed beginning to laugh once again.
"Why didn't you save me shit for brains!?"
"Hey I thought that nickname was for Oluo, remember, mine is brat! And like I said you were adorable and it was pretty much made my day."
"It has? I didn't know you were having a bad day, I would've brought you some flowers or any other dorky thing lovers do to try and cheer up the other."
"Not really, I think it's just the medication messing with my head, plus its fucking cold out here! Besides Levi, you know you don't need to get me flowers or stupid stuff like that, the fact that you showed up where I worked made my day better. The fact that you're here makes all my days better."
"Wow that's some real sappy shit their Jaeger, have you hit your head against a brick wall on your way to work this morning?"
"No, it was only a normal, white wall this time," Eren replied back with a smirk.
The raven sighed and sent a small smile Eren's way before saying," I should bring you flowers and chocolate strawberries whenever you're sad because I love you and if you love someone you should do anything in your power to make them happy."
Eren eyes widen and he looked over to the raven, a small blushing dusting his cheeks as well as Levi's, Eren grabbed both of Levi's cold hands in his own warm ones and gasped playfully, "Oh my what's this, the amazing Levi Ackerman is…blushing!? Who would've thought a hard ass, clean freak, bad ass motherfucker like him would have it in him to blush!?"
Levi tugged one of his hands out of the brunette's grip and used it to scratch the back of his neck self-consciously, "Ugh that was some pretty cheesy shit, I think I might just throw up. And newsflash numb nuts, I'm not the only one blushing!"
Eren giggled and placed a kiss on the smaller man's head, which caused the raven to blush even harder,"Awwhhh, I love you baby!"
Levi sighed and with a self-conscious pout he mumbled," Yeah yeah, I love you to."
The brunette's eyes widened in not surprise but concern this time and he held Levi's hands in his own," Holy Maria Levi, your hands are so cold. Did you ever think of bringing gloves perhaps!?"
"Aw come on brat who the hell needs fingers, my hands are fine, I just lost my damn gloves because a certain brat took them this morning when I wasn't looking," Levi brushed off and the pair of them continued walking, a small café coming into view.
"Uhm newsflash Levi, you need fingers in order to type on your laptop and a whole lot of other stuff!" Eren exclaimed in worry, the raven just brushed him off with an eye roll and decided to change the subject," So brat what do you think you want to order?"
"Your changing the subject on me," the brunette pouted before sighing defeatedly and rattling off his order," I kind of feel hungry for a cheeseburger and fries, you know stuff that isn't good for you but you eat it anyway to prove to society that it can't control you."
"Jeez Eren, you're such a rebel," Levi commented with a smirk as they approached Rose's Café.
"What are you thinking of ordering?" Eren asked," I already know the drink is going to be some sort of tea."
"Wow you know me so well…yes I'm getting tea but I want to try the new tea they added to the menu. As for food, I don't plan on eating," Levi replied.
"Levi you're going to eat even if I have to force a cheeseburger down your throat," the brunette said, he noticed the man had lost quite a bit of weight ever since he found out that Eren had cancer, although it wouldn't be the first time Levi had went through one of his anorexia phases. These phases only happen with the raven is writing a new book that he is seriously invested in, he didn't purposefully not eat, he just forgot to eat and had to have someone remind him. Thank god he had Eren there to remind him, he was quite skinny when they first met.
Levi sighed," Alright fine, I just don't see the point of it, I mean you're wasting time eating when you could use it to write. Why do we even have to eat?"
"We have to eat to survive idiot, and it doesn't take that long to eat. In fact some people find eating rather enjoyable, I do," the brunette said, holding the door open for Levi as they entered the warm café. It wasn't anything too fancy but it still held a comfortable atmosphere. Since Levi was a regular customer they always made sure the table in the corner of the café was spotless, thanks to one of his friend's named Petra. Rose's Café lived up to name because everywhere you looked you saw roses, there were glass tables in the booths that had roses inside of the glass as well as a nice vase centerpiece with roses inside, roses were painted on the walls in many different colors, and even the café itself smelled of roses, no surprise really. They made the best tea in the whole entire world
The raven smacked the back of the brunette's head gently, muttering a,"You need to learn to respect your elders brat."
"Your only a few years older then me!" Eren protested back, following Levi to their usual table.
"A few years older still makes me your elder, brat," the raven replied, looking over the spot carefully, nodding in satisfaction, and sitting down.
Eren grumbled something incoherent under his breath before taking a seat across from Levi. His attention was drawn to a woman with short, red hair and bronze colored eyes.
"Hey guys, what can I get you this time? I'm guessing for a drink you'd like our tea of the week, right Levi?" the woman greeted cheerfully a pencil and a pad of paper in hand.
"Yeah, and that would be all if this stupid brat didn't threaten me to order something to eat as well," Levi replied, giving the brunette a wink.
Petra giggled and replied,"Okay then, what would you like to eat?"
"I'll have whatever he's having," the raven spoke up.
"I think I'm going to have a cheeseburger and some fries with a strawberry smoothie, and if you can could you add a little bit of chocolate in it?" the brunette asked.
Petra smiled and said,"Of course I can, I know how you take your smoothies after all. Your food will be ready give or take 15 minutes if Oluo hasn't bitten his tongue off yet."
Levi smirked and rolled his eyes,"Tell that sorry bastard to leave his blood out of my food this time?"
"Will do! I'll go get your drinks," Petra giggled.
Once the woman walked away the raven returned his attention to the brunette who was trying to play footsie under the table and he wasn't exactly being subtle about it. Levi raised and eyebrow and with a sly smirk, reached his food under the table so it rested in between the brunette's legs.
"Now now now brat, are you sure you want to play this game. We already know who would win," Levi said, his eyes narrowed challengingly.
Eren's face flushed and he spluttered out,"L-Levi! T-That's not fair!"
"Did I ever say I played fair?"
"No?..."
"Exactly."
"I still find it strange that your description of your little sister fits with the waitress...they even have the same name. Are you sure that your sister died that day?" Eren asked, lowering his voice in suspicion and curiousity.
Levi hummed and replied with a thoughtful look,"You know, I find that very strange to..." with a shrug he continued,"I'm sure it's just coincidence, there's no way that my sister could be alive, she lost a lot of blood. Plus I'm sure if Petra knew anything she would tell me."
"Yeah...I guess your right..." Eren said nodding in agreement.
Feeling the need to change to subject away from his dead sister, Levi asked,"So Eren, have you thought of a date yet for the wedding."
"Not really, although I think somewhere in April would be nice, it'll be warm and we could have it outside you know?"
The raven nodded deep in thought,"I see what you mean, we could have it at Trost Park, the cherry blossoms will even be in bloom."
"I think that would be beautiful," the brunette sighed wistfully,"But we have plenty of time to figure it out, you proposed to me like three days ago after all."
"Yeah but I think we should at least think about it from time to time so we don't plan everything last minute and have people flip their shit at us because they couldn't get that day off," Levi said, saying a quick thank you to Petra as she arrived with their drinks.
"Sorry, I couldn't help over hearing but...you guys are getting married?" Petra asked, her eyes lighting up,"Oh my god could I help!? I have so many ideas-"
"Petra, you need to stop eavesdropping on the customers," Oluo complained loudly from the kitchen,"It's none of your damn business!"
"Oh just shut up already before you end up biting your tongue so hard you can no longer talk properly," Petra snapped.
"That would be very entertaining," Levi commented.
Eren smiled at the couple's bickering. Okay, they weren't necessarily a couple...yet, but they could definitely be one, they argue like one after all.
"Actually Petra, it would be really great if you could offer us some ideas...I think a female's point of view would probably be better then just a male's point of view," the brunette said.
"See Oluo, someone is actually grateful for my assistance," Petra shouted with a victorious smirk.
"Then that someone is probably brain dead. Now that I think about it Petra dear, you are a female, aren't you supposed to be in here instead of me!?" Oluo shouted back.
"Why you stupid man-" Petra started, her face flushed in anger, but that anger was extinguised when she heard the couple laughing inside the booth.
"Another reason why I chose this place is because there is always entertainment," Levi chuckled.
"Thank god we don't fight like that..." Eren added in between giggles.
Levi nodded in agreement, before finally taking note of his tea and making a strange face at it,"Whoa...why the fuck are there rose petals floating in my tea?"
Petra rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious thing on earth,"Levi, it's rose tea. Rose's Cafe? Roses? Any connection?"
"Well no shit, I just never expected to find flower petals floating in my drink is all. How the hell do I drink it? Do I drink the petals as well? Were the flower petals sanitized."
Petra giggled,"Yes Levi I have made sure that they are sanitary to your standards, and you can drink them if you like, they won't kill you."
"Really I thought they were used just to make it look pretty," Eren replied after he took a sip from his smoothie, moaning in pleasure,"Oh my god Petra,you make the best smoothies ever! I swear you probably put meth or some shit in here because I'm always craving it."
"How did you know?" Petra joked," I'm glad you like it, you two deserve the sweetest things in the world with the shit you two are going through right now."
"It's not as bad as I expected...I mean at first it was but I'm getting used to it. I have to just keep going you know so I can get better," Eren said after another sip.
Petra pouted,"It just sucks, I loved your hair. I just hate it when the most nicest people are the ones that have to go through the worst shit in the world. How are you going to do the whole "guess the shampoo" thing now?"
"I'm just going to use the shampoo as a body wash, it kind of works the same way. And I don't think I'm the "nicest" person in the world. If anything I'm average," the brunette replied, blushing at the flattery.
"Your not average brat, if anything I'm average, or below average. Holy shit this tea is fucking...amazing," the raven said, his eyes widening as he stared at the majestic cup of tea. How in the hell could a flower taste so good? He tried to eat flowers when he was younger but they tasted nasty in comparison to this.
"Glad you like it Levi," Petra giggled, sighing sadly when another customer blew into the store,"Ah, looks like I have to get back to work, I'll call you guys up later to tell you about my ideas okay?"
"Sounds great, thanks Petra," the brunette replied.
"Any time Eren, if you two need anything at all, just call us okay? We'll help in any way we can," Petra said, shooting a glance at Oluo who nodded in agreement.
"Thank you Petra, that's very nice to know," Levi sighed out gratefully, for once his bored, dull eyes, reflected how grateful he felt.
Eren gasped and smirked slyly at the raven,"Well well well, it also looks like the amazing Levi is growing rather soft around his annoying but lovable brat, eh?"
"I'm not growing soft, it's this damned tea's fault, it's turning me into a fucking girl," the raven replied, taking another sip.
"Surreee, whatever you say Levi," Eren replied with an eye roll, muffling a yelped when he felt the man's foot gently rub at his crotch.
"Levii stop we can do that here," Eren whined,"Plus I have to go back to work and I'm sure my mother doesn't want to see my hard on."
"Well that's too bad, you'll have to wait until tonight then. Besides, I heard some couples like it when someone watches them make love, it's supposed to be kinky. Maybe I can invite your fan girl of a mother...you know how curious she can get," Levi smirked.
"OH MY GOD LEVI NO NO NO! Th-That's so wrong! Y-Your so perverted! Why would you say that!?" Eren yelped covering his red face.
Levi could barely manage to keep his laughter toned down at the brunette's face. It was totally worth it. Even if what he said was really wrong and the fact that if he said that around Mrs. Jaeger, well he would probably not have testicles anymore.
"Calm down brat, our foods arriving," the raven said, smacking Eren's arm lightly as their food was placed in front of them.
"Awesome! I'm starved!" Eren replied as if nothing happened.
"Brat, you need to stop that. That freaks me out."
"What freaks you out?"
"The fact that you were blushing one second and now your fine thing. It freaks me out. Are you sure your not bi-polar."
"Positive."
"We should get you tested, if anything you probably have ADHD..."
"Levi..."
"Or slob-itus, I mean look at the mess you leave in every room."
"Levi!"
"Hey I'm just pointing out a fact, there's that one time where you didn't flush the toilet after taking a shit," Levi said matter of factly.
"LEVIIIIIIIII!" Eren whined with a small giggle.
"Alright, Alright fine, I'll shut my mouth and eat," Levi said with a small smirk.
"It's about damn time. Who knew you could be so talkitive," Eren commented.
"I'm not, this is all a dream and your currently sleeping on the shitter," Levi said.
"Sure I am," Eren said with an eye roll.
"I'm serious, that or you've gone insane, we should get you tested for that to, I mean you gotta be insane to be hanging around and old fart like me."
Eren grabbed the raven's hand and leaned in close, his tone very serious,"Levi, I love you. No amount of sanity...or insanity, will ever change that. And your not old, like I said your only a few years ahead of me."
"Pfft brat stop spouting random shit..."
"It's true Levi. I love you. You make me the happiest man on earth and I'm happy to be going through this journey with you, no matter how hellish it is," the brunette replied, kissing the man's hand.
"Fuck brat, that's the cheesiest shit I've ever heard, probably enough to make me constipated. You gotta stop saying that stuff around me or I'm seriously going to cry," the raven mumbled, looking away, a little misty-eyed.
Eren sighed and giggled,"Your the only man I know who can make a shit joke while holding back tears."
"I'll take that as a compliment..." Levi smiled.
"Just shut up and eat Levi, mom is going to kill me if I'm late returning..."
"The only thing I want to eat is you..."
(OH MY GOD I KNOW IT'S BEEN A MONTH YOU CAN KILL ME! I'm soooo sorry, please don't feel bad lovelies, your not the only ones who think I probably forgotten about you. Junior year is really busy for me and I couldn't find the time to write, although that's not an excuse. Either way for your long wait I will be updating a random Levi drabble that I wrote as well! Even though it probably sucks. I had to take two huge tests in one week and believe me it was stressful but I'm back for right now. Sorry I'll try and not make that happen again, I'm trying to play catch up with everything. Hope you enjoyed it, I made it a little longer...I think and I'll try and make them even longer as well. Tell me what I need to improve on and I'll see you next time!)
