I'm gonna post this one too, we need to keep the ball rolling an onto the next phase for Levi - he needs to be pushed a bit more out of his comfort zone... and again thanks for the love, ya'll! XD

Walking Gunther out, Levi felt a strange feeling overcoming him. He didn't want Gunther to leave. Could you still have sleep overs in your 30s? Levi shook the thought from his mind and smacked his own head.

He must be more drunk than he thought.

"Gunther" Levi hesitated slightly mulling over his next words. He met the man's eyes and nodded. "Thanks for coming over."

Gunther smiled tenderly and embraced Levi in a tight hug. Levi froze for a moment before he returned Gunther's hug awkwardly. When he still wasn't released from the embrace, he was unsure of what to do with his hands so he patted Gunther's back stiffly as if his hands were two stones instead of part of his body. Still feeling unsure what to do, Levi allowed his hands to lay limply at his sides. He hoped he was able to convey to Gunther what tonight meant to him even if he couldn't form it into words.

Gunther broke contact and held Levi away at an arm's length. Giving his head a quick pat, he started walking down the hall.

"You wanted to be my friend too, you just didn't know it!" he called over his shoulder with a wave.

And Levi was alone again.

He scowled slightly. With all the increased foot traffic in his life, it always ended up the same. Him alone with his thoughts, forcing him to come to turns with his inner demons.

Levi facepalmed. Was his world really turning in on itself because of a stripper?

Bartender

Levi stilled hearing the youth's words echo in his mind.

Frowning he moved back into the living room surveying the damage. Flipping the room off, he moved into his bedroom, too mentally and emotionally exhausted to care about cleaning. There truly was a first time for everything.

He scoffed as he moved the bed covers around him, trying to find a comfortable position. He tossed and turned and scrunched up his brow in determination.

"Oh, fuck it" He growled throwing the covers off of him and making his way to his walk-in closet.

Walking to the back, Levi knelt down and pushed away several shoe boxes. Feeling the smooth surface of the floor, he tapped the ground before finding a hallow sound. He pulled the false bottom from the floor boards, and reaching in, Levi pulled out a black box and sat back on his knees.

Turning the box over in his hand gently, Levi threw his head back and looked up at the ceiling, praying for a semblance of peace at his new-found decision.

Quickening his steps, Levi found himself in the kitchen turning on his gas burner. The flicker of the flame danced to life and casted shadows over Levi's features.

This was right. This was the right thing to do.

Levi felt excitement course through his body as he shakily removed the top off the box and placed it quietly aside.

Levi sighed as he pulled out an old-worn photo of himself with Farlan. They were standing outside their college's dorm, caught mid laughter as the camera took a candid shot of them. They were full of hope towards the future; young and unafraid.

It was later that same day that Farlan told Levi he had purposed to Isabel the day morning before. It was what provoked Levi to tell Farlan that he was in love with him. Levi remembered that day so vividly it was as if a knife continued to twist painfully in his heart.

"Pick me. Choose me. Let me make you happy…" Levi whispered, hot tears streaking down his face as he clutched onto Farlan's bicep.

Farlan blanched and wrestled his arm free of Levi's grasp, wincing slightly as he massaged the tender area. His eyes searched Levi's as he began to retreat his steps, shaking his head in disbelief as Levi's words struck him.

"Levi, you're going mad. This is sick. I knew you had a crush, but what the fuck. I don't love you like that. I'm in love with Isabel."

Closing his eyes, Levi felt his heart break. The ache spread in his chest so forcefully Levi cried out in agony and his hand gripped the space over his heart.

Panic filled him and he began to desperately lunge himself at Farlan attempting to hug him, to feel him again, but Farlan raised his arms in defense and caught Levi off guard pushing him back. Levi was blinded by his own tears and clumsily tripped over his own feet.

Keeping his gaze lowered, he stared at Farlan's shoes.

"But last night we had…Was I not good enough?" he asked, chocking back a sob. Levi remembered how Farlan's cock tasted in his mouth, how he swallowed Farlan's seed in pleasure. All the sounds, the tastes, the warmth… He knew Farlan enjoyed it just as much as he had. What changed?

"Your making this too fucking hard. You're supposed to be my best friend! You can't even be happy for me. Instead your making this about yourself! About your feelings, about a stupid drunken mistake. It was a fucking mistake! I don't want you! I wanted to be your friend, but this is too pathetic, even for me. Shit, I didn't not sign up for this, Levi. I never wanted to be your boyfriend."

He saw Farlan's shoes turn in a new direction. Levi summoned the courage to look up, only to see Farlan walking away from him.

Levi pushed his fingers forcefully into his eyes to stop the images from replaying in his mind.

"Fuck ready!"

Without a second thought Levi moved the photo into the small flame. He seemed entranced by how the orange glow engulfed the image, crinkling the sides of it darkly as the fire spread onto the rest of surface.

He dropped the photo back into the sparks and without a second thought, grabbed the box and threw it onto the burner. The flames licked the container and Levi watched on, a sick satisfaction creeping into his being as he felt his demons were being purified.

Feeling the box would continue to burn throughout the night, Levi switched off the burner and retreated back to his bedroom.

A fitful goodbye to the damage that had taken place so long ago. He allowed himself to carry for all this time, punishing himself as if he were so repulsive. Maybe he was pathetic to waste so much of his present self in the past, but no matter how much he grew, he still carried that inner youth around with him. At the time, he was young and naïve, drunk on the idea that only love would cure him.

Burying himself in his covers, Levi affectionally wrapped himself in a cocoon. Coming off his post-traumatic high, he nestling himself further and quieted the new-found hunger in his veins. He didn't know what to do with the excitement just yet, but he had an idea.

The box slowly wilted in the darkened room, releasing whips of smoke that curled into the open atmosphere whispering the promise of an undefined future.