Levi dropped the last of the supplies on the ground in front of the small group. It had taken longer than he had expected to retrieve the necessary items. Now there was only one place he wanted to be.
"This is the last of it. I want everything sorted and taken where it needs to be." Armin nodded, joining the group in their task as Levi turned to leave, thankful that the snow had finally stopped falling. He reached Hanji's place in seemingly no time at all, this time not bothering to knock.
"Come on, Eren." Hanji's muffled voice reached Levi's ears as he reached the room. "You'll need your strength to get through this. You can't keep going like this, you haven't eaten anything for days and you haven't had much water." Levi frowned, pausing in the doorway.
Eren lay in bed, propped up by several pillows. His hands rested on his belly. He watched Eren reject the spoonful of soup the older woman offered.
Levi moved to the bed, reaching out to gently stroke Eren "Always. Saved most of it for you though."
"Yeah, I bet you did. How are you feeling?" Eren didn't reply.
"I haven't been able to get him to eat at all. He barely takes water. Between his fever and vomiting, he'll be severely dehydrated in no time. He's already well on his way."Hanji explained.
"Wouldn't stay down if I did," Eren mumbled.
"Try smaller amounts, give yourself a minute, and-"
"It's not just the throwing up, you don't understand." The titan shifter replied weakly.
"Then help me to." Levi pressed. Eren didn't elaborate. Shifting on the bed uncomfortably, a soft painful moan escaped him.
"Come on, Brat. Talk to me."
"It really hurts."
"What does?"
"Pretty much everything, eating, drinking, throwing up, coughing-" Levi raised an eyebrow.
"Coughing hurts your stomach?" Eren nodded.
"It's the movement, I think. He's been vomiting pretty hard lately. I wouldn't be surprised if he put too much strain on his stomach muscles. That would account for the increased pains and make it more difficult for him."
"Damn Brat, You're just all kinds of fucked up over there, aren't you?"Eren glared at the older man.
"Bite me."
"How about I just kick your ass instead." Levi ruffled Eren's hair.
"Asshole."
"watch it, Jaegar."
"You know you love me." Levi shook his head.
"You wish I did."
"You wish you didn't." Eren countered, wincing in pain. Levi stroked the cadet's hair.
"Take it easy, Eren." He soothed.
"Both of you need to grow up. Eren needs to rest, I don't think either of you-"
"That's not all he needs. He could use an attitude adjustment. I'll take it from here." Hanji sighed.
"Are you sure you're up for it, you just got back today."
"I'm fine." Levi insisted. "Take a break, looks like you've been up for a while." Hanji nodded, standing from her chair.
"If anything changes or you two need anything-"
"I'll handle it. You might want to go look through the supplies and see if there's anything you can use to at least make everyone comfortable until we get this figured out. Make a list of anything else you'd need and I'll see what I can do." Again the woman nodded, leaving them alone. Levi kicked off his shoes.
"Slide over a little."He instructed,
"Are you crazy? I'm sick and it's obviously contagious. people have-"
"News flash, I'm surrounded by this shit all the time, If I going to get it, it's going to happen either way."
"I'm not gonna help you increase your chances. "Eren insisted.
"Don't make me do it, Eren," Levi warned.
"Don't."Eren groaned. Levi carefully placed his arms under Eren, lifting him slightly and moving him over before climbing onto the mattress at his side and leaning into the pillows. Eren moaned in pain as he settled back in bed.
"You shouldn't-"
"I'm tired. It's been a long six days." He pulled the cover over himself and turned his attention to the young man, lightly kissing his head. "'Don't worry about it, if I get it, it's on me. Sounds like you've had a tough time too."
"How would you feel if you were being poked and prodded when you're sick and your stomach hurts. She tells me to rest then won't let me."
"So rest now. No one's going to bother you while I'm here. But you do know that she has to keep an eye on this, right?"
"Yeah, but it doesn't make it hurt any less. My stomach's so messed up, I don't know if I can even-" Levi moved closer to Eren, slipping his hand under the cover. lifting the titan shifter's shirt and laid his hand on his abdomen, rubbing it in gentle circles. The heat seemed to bring the teen some comfort.
"Don't get used to this," Levi said.
"I really missed you," Eren admitted Levi raised his head, detecting a change in Eren's tone. "But you shouldn't be here."
"What's wrong with you?" The older man asked.
"Nothing, I just don't think you should come around anymore, at least until I'm not sick. Nothing's-"
"Don't lie to me, Brat."
"I was just...thinking.
"About what?"
"While you were gone, people died from this. I was thinking that if something happens-"
"You're not dying." Levi interrupted.
"But if something did happen-"
"It won't. You seem to be a lot better off than most people were at this stage. This isn't like you to worry about this kind of-"
"Can you just shut up and listen to me?" Eren growled. "This is important."
"Fine. But you're not going anywhere."
"I'm not afraid to die." Eren continued. "I just need you to know that whatever happens, it's not your fault. There's not much you can do and I need you to know while I can still tell you...I love you."
"I love you too, Eren. But I'm telling you, you're not dying. Your abilities-"
"They might be slowing it down, but I can feel myself getting weaker. I didn't want to miss the chance to say these things. I don't want you finding a way to blame yourself for this."
"You're freaking yourself out," Levi said dismissively.
"Even if that's the case, I don't want you going through all that. Promise me?" Eren requested.
"What, that you're-"
"That you won't do that to yourself when I'm gone. They need you."
"Eren-"
"Please?" Levi's concern for Eren was growing. It wasn't like him to talk this way.
"Just get some rest. You're tired." It hurt Levi to see Eren in pain and in moments like this, where he wasn't quite himself. "You've got to be stronger than this, Brat. I need that from you. I don't think you understand just how much."
The following day proved to be more challenging than the captain had anticipated. The teen was awake most of the night with worsening pain and spiking temperatures, keeping Levi constantly busy, replacing cool compresses, and comforting Eren through his illness despite his own fatigue. All the while, Eren pleaded with Levi to go, not wanting him to catch the disease. After yet another unsuccessful attempt at getting his love to eat and drink, Levi placed the bowl of soup on the bedside table, taking the titan's hand.
"I know you feel like shit, I get that. But you're not doing anyone any favors by giving up like this."
"I can't "Eren replied, closing his eyes. " 'M just..tired. You should-"
"Yeah, I know, Eren. You just have to hang in there." Hanji reappeared, carrying a small glass. She approached the bed.
"I know this sucks." She said. "But this will at least ease the pain. I need you to try to take it." Eren turned his face away, rejecting the offer.
Levi took the glass from Hanji, carefully slipping his arm behind the teen's head and forced him to take the medicine. Eren felt the pain and nausea increase immediately. He hugged his belly tightly.
"Give it a minute," Hanji said. Eren retched.
"Don't even think about it, Brat. You keep it in there." Even through his harsh tone, Levi found himself using a gentle hand to stroke Eren's dark hair. He was at a loss.
"This sucks." Eren groaned.
"Yeah. Welcome to living, Brat. Sometimes it does. No one ever said it would be sunshine and rainbows. Important thing is that you keep moving forward. The sooner you get your ass out of that bed, the sooner I can kick it for all this crap."
"Geez, I love you too, Captain Germaphobe," Eren said sarcastically. beginning to relax into the pillows as the liquid took effect. Levi sat back in his chair at the teen's bedside.
"There's that little asshole I was talking about. You see how that works?" He reached out, ruffling Eren's dark hair. Eren allowed his head to fall to the side, looking away from Levi. Heavy fatigue set in quickly.
"Don't fight it, Eren, just rest, "Hanji instructed. "You've been through a lot and we've got more to do."
"Another time," Levi replied. "Give him a few days. It's not going to help if you overwhelm his body with whatever it is you have planned. I know we're up against the clock here, but he's not going to be any good to us that way." Hanji turned to him.
"I don't think you understand. I know you love him, Levi, but it's bigger than that. When he falls asleep, we really need to talk. you'll see why later." Hanji turned exiting the room, leaving Levi to tend to Eren and wonder.