As soon as Eren was back at his place he threw his duffle down and decided that he may as well take a shower. Maybe he'd turn in early. He was just too upset to do anything else. Even the thought of TV reminded him of Levi.

Soon Eren was fresh out of the shower, buck-ass naked, and wandering around his apartment, directionless. He was thinking obsessively of Levi. He chewed his lip, remembering their quick kiss. He missed him already. He was sorry about how they had parted and understood that it was all his fault. He should call him. Should he call him? What's the worst that could happen?

The phone rang five times. Eren was sure Levi wouldn't pick up, then; "Yeah?"

"Hey, Levi. It's me, Eren … uh listen, I'm sorry to bother you. I know we fought but …"

There was only silence on the line. Eren could hear Levi's quiet breathing so he knew the man was still there.

"Levi? I'm sorry, I—"

"So the 'sorries' are back?"

Eren paused. Was Levi drunk already? He sounded funny.

"So, what are you doing?" Eren cringed. That sounded lame as hell.

There was a rustle then swallowing.

"Watching Netflix—and there's nothing fucking good on—and having some wine. A lot of wine. Why are you calling? Or did you just not reach your quota of 'sorry' for the day?"

Eren flinched at Levi's sarcastic tone and almost apologized again. Levi went on, "I thought we were done with all that? What happened to Hothead Eren? He was just at my place." Levi belched softly, then, ironically; "Sorry."

"Sorry for what you said or because you just burped in my ear?"

A quiet chuckle came down the line.

"Therrre he is …"

Eren sat on his bed. He wasn't sure how to put this. He finally laid down, phone still to his ear.

"I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you letting me stay, for being so kind to me. I'm sorry we fought. I'm sorry I left."

Another quiet belch from Levi's end and more sounds of swallowing. There was no background noise so Eren assumed that the TV was off. Was he just sitting on his couch, drinking?

Finally, Eren couldn't stand it.

"And, I … well, I kinda miss you."

A slow intake of breath from Levi. Eren rushed on.

"I mean, I miss being there. Y'know, having someone to talk to."

Levi hummed. In agreement? In irritation? "What are you up to the rest of the night anyway, Kid? Without me to argue with?"

"Nothing. Just got out of the shower."

There was a peculiar noise from the phone.

"What are you doing … without anything to watch, I mean?" Eren asked.

There was another rustling.

"Nothing, really. I fed Meggie, cursed Netflix, cursed you a little bit, and now I'm drinking way too much. I'm thinking of rubbing one out and going the fuck to bed. Work in the morning, you know. Fuck my life."

Eren almost missed the middle part of that. Levi had just had to mention masturbating. Without realizing it, Eren's hand strayed to his crotch.

"Y-yeah?" Was Levi, perhaps, thinking of him?

There was a long silence.

"Are you naked, Yeager? Did you call me up naked?"

Eren blushed. "Well, I did just get out of the shower."

"Fuck …"

A grin spread over Eren's face. Levi was thinking of him. He relaxed and stretched out on his lonely bad as if Levi was there to see him.

"Does that make you uncomfortable?"

"Uncomfortable would not be the word I would use."

Eren let his hand trail over his lean belly and chest.

"No?"

The sounds of shifting came over the phone again.

"No."

Eren was so embarrassed. Embarrassed and excited. His cock twitched. He took a deep cleansing breath and went for it.

"You … " He swallowed. " … need any help with what you're planning?"

The next sound was distinctly a moan.

"You're killing me, Yeager. I thought we were fighting. We argued. You left. What's going on?"

Eren hesitated. Was he bold enough for this? Would it be taking advantage of Levi in his tipsy state?

"I just wanna help …"

"Fuck."

"What are you doing?"

A long silence followed by more shifting sounds.

"Fine. I told you. Jerking off."

"You'll embarrass Meggie."

Levi barked a quiet laugh.

"Nope. She's out catting around right now. Besides, she's used to it."

Eren could definitely get used to it. He tucked his free hand behind his head and lifted his bare hips.

"Yeah? You pervert. Bad cat-daddy."

Another chuckle.

"So what are you doing right now, nudist? Standing by the window and flashing your junk at the neighborhood?" Levi asked.

It was Eren's turn to laugh.

"No. I'm in bed."

A quiet groan. Levi's breath quickened.

"Yeager … Eren. You really want to do this?"

Eren sighed and his cock twitched. "You have no idea …"

Levi's breath had gotten faster.

"So, tell me … where is your hand?"

"Where do you want it?"

There was another excruciating quiet.

"On your thigh."

Eren obliged, taking his hand from behind his head and resting it on one long thigh.

"OK."

"Stroke it."

Eren did. He imagined Levi on his sofa, jeans zip open, palming his cock. His eyes fluttered shut.

"Do you have hair down there to match your head? Down your thigh?"

"A bit. I'm not that hairy."

Eren knew from seeing Levi without a shirt that he had very little body hair. A bit on his chest and a goody trail winding its way down into his underpants. Did he like hairy guys?

Eren continued to lightly stroke his own thigh, enjoying the sensation. He'd never just taken it slow, explored his body. When he wanked he just went straight for his cock. Slow was sensual, interesting.

"What are you doing?" he asked Levi suddenly, "Where's your hand?"

"On a bottle of wine."

"Your other hand!"

A soft laugh. "On my cock."

"Are you hard?"

"As a rock."

"What are you thinking about?"

There was a swallow. He really was drinking and jerking off at the same time.

"Your thighs."

Eren grinned delightedly.

"You like 'em?"

"I imagine they're long and tan like the rest of you with a little trail of brown hair down the inside of each. Do you like it when you touch them? Does it feel good?"

"Yes." Eren blushed hard. "I … I'd like it better if you were touching them."

Another sharp intake of breath came down the line.

"Jesus, Eren …"

"Tell me about your … your … cock." Eren breathed.

A little sigh.

"It's nothing to write home about. Not small, not huge. Curved."

Eren moaned and palmed his own stiff member.

"Are you jerking it, Yeager? I didn't give you permission."

Eren's breath caught in his throat. Oh my god. His hand went obediently back to his thigh. "O-ok."

"Just stroke your thigh. Run your nails up and down through the hair. Don't touch your dick."

Eren struggled to obey, imagining it was Levi doing it.

"Now fondle your balls. Just your balls. Don't touch your cock."

Eren did so and arched his back, a little shuddery breath escaping him.

"You imagining me doing it?"

"Y-yes!"

"Does it feel good? Are you hard?"

"Jesus, yes, Levi! Please hurry!"

A pleased hum sounded. "Patience, Brat."

Levi's breathing was definitely accelerated. Eren imagined his strong, pale hand on his curved cock, stroking. Eren moaned.

"You better not be touching it," Levi warned.

"You're touching yours."

"True, but I'm in control here."

A shiver ran down Eren's body. God. "Levi, please …"

For several seconds Levi didn't reply, just breathed heavily. It was the sexiest thing Eren had ever heard.

"Levi … "

"You wanna touch it? Jerk it? You wanna imagine me doing it?"

Eren squirmed. "Levi!"

"I'll bet it's pretty, your dick. I'd like to have it in my hand right now. Going slow. Teasing you."

"Levi, please! I'm gonna cum just from your voice," he whined.

"We'll save that for another time. Go ahead. Grab it."

Eren snatched at his full member, groaning. He had no self-control left. He really was close. He started up a brisk rhythm, breathing into the phone harshly.

"Feel good?" Levi drawled.

"Hmm umm, oh god … yes."

For several long moments, neither said a word, both panting now, both tending to their own erections.

"Le-Levi … I'm close. So close."

"Fuck, yeah, Eren. Fuck, yeah …"

"Levi … Levi …"

"Don't you come yet, Yeager. Wait till I say you can."

Eren almost came at Levi's words. He bit his lip hard and squeezed the base of his cock, willing himself to wait.

"Fuck, Kid, I'm almost there. I'm imagining your cock, your thighs …"

"Levi! Please, please, please!"

"Can you come with me?"

"Yes!"

"You ready?"

"Yes!"

The sounds from Levi's end of the phone were desperate now, urgent. Suddenly, "Do it, Yeager. Do it now. Come for me."

Eren came with a cry, back arching off the bed, almost making him drop the phone. "Levi! Oh, fuck … Levi!"

A stuttering moan sounded from Levi's end, then a long sigh.

Eren laid, spent, on the bed. His naked body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat and he gasped for breaths.

"Did … did you come?"

"No … no, I was just acting all of that out … of course I came, you moron!"

Eren giggled and relaxed on the bed wishing Levi was there.

There was more rustling from the other end of the phone and another long swallow. "Was it good?"

Eren nodded enthusiastically, forgetting that Levi couldn't see him. "Yeah. Mmmm, that was awesome."

"It would have been more awesome if you had still been here."

Eren felt a pang of guilt, of regret. "Levi …"

There was an awkward silence.

"Soooo …" Eren began. "I guess we need to talk about stuff."

"Ya think?"

Eren ran his fingers through his still-damp hair. "Will I see you tomorrow?"

"Did you order a sandwich, College boy?"

Eren flinched. "Yeah."

"Then you'll see me tomorrow. Get some sleep. I gotta go bathe, I'm covered in jizz."

Eren snorted. "Yeah, me, too."

"Then I'll see you tomorrow, Yeager."

"Yeah. See you tomorrow. Levi?"

"Yeah, Kid?"

"Thank you."

"Any time, Yeager. Now go shower again, you nasty bastard."

To say that lunchtime was awkward the next day would be an understatement. Eren fidgeted, ran his fingers through his hair, bit his lip as he waited in the crowd for his sandwich.

Levi was perfectly composed, going about his business like normal. When they got close, Eren was blushing like a schoolgirl. He shifted from foot to foot. "Hey."

"Hey, Kid. How's your day been?"

"Not as good as last night."

Mike Zacharias, one of the only people left to get his sandwich, twitched visibly where he stood nearby and stared at the two of them. A huge grin took over his face but he didn't say anything. Levi caught his knowing look and a faint dusting of pink spread over his cheekbones. "Yeah, well … " Levi muttered. Eren caught the tall lawyer's look and smiled sheepishly. Levi handed Eren his sandwich and Mike strode away, still grinning like a fool. Eren was as red as a tomato.

"When can we talk?" Eren finally asked.

"Not now, obviously. I'll see you tonight when I come to clean."

Eren nodded.

That evening Levi arrived at six on the dot as always. Eren met him at the receptionist's desk as he was unlocking his custodial closet.

"Do you want to clean first or …?"

"Nah," Levi said, dropping his keys in the pocket of his coveralls. "This is important. Let's go ahead and hash this out." He settled one hip against the wall. Eren stood awkwardly between the desk and the elevators. He didn't look happy at all.

"So what are we doing, here?" Levi asked. "We fight, you leave, we immediately have phone sex. Are we friends? Are we not friends? Are we friends with benefits or just hooking up? I told you last night that I don't want a relationship."

"Can we take it slow? See how it works out?"

"You mean date? No. That's a relationship." Levi crossed his arms stubbornly. "I'm afraid you'll just get the idea that we're getting together."

"Levi you know I would never hurt you. Ever."

Levi scowled. "I don't know that. I've been told that before."

Eren ran his fingers through his hair and thought about it. Now that he recalled, he'd been told that too—by the man who had cheated on him in college—and look at how that had turned out. Eren's heart was breaking. Abruptly what Levi had asked all sank in.

"Wait … hook up? Do you … do you want to hook up?"

"Jesus Eren, we had phone sex. If you're asking me if I'll fuck you, the answer is hell yes."

Eren fidgeted and stared at the floor. He was hella flattered and pleased and he was also bothered. Could he do that? Just have sex with the man and then leave it at that? He recalled their recent phone time and blushed. Then he frowned. He'd love to have sex with Levi, it was a fantasy, what he jerked off to, but would he be satisfied? The answer was no.

Levi stood with his arms folded and watched Eren. In his own heart, he would sincerely jump at the chance to bone the cute, clever, sweet young man. Hell, he'd fuck him right here in the office. Right now. Maybe on Nile's desk. He straightened and shifted uncomfortably.

But it was not what he wanted.

He wanted meals together. He wanted to watch TV with him and have a couple of beers. He wanted that kind of intimacy. He sighed to himself and dropped his arms. Jesus, he was well and truly fucked. What the hell?

Abruptly Levi turned and locked the custodial closet up. Fuck the cleaning. He kept this place so clean no one would notice if he wasn't there one night.

"What are you doing?" Eren asked.

"Leaving. I'll call the cleaning service. Tell them I'm sick." He headed for the elevator. "You think about it. I'm going home."

Eren watched him get on the elevator. He didn't know. He had nothing to say.