A/N: Wow time really slips away from me! I hope you guys don't feel too sad at having to wait!

Now to address some issues that people are not grasping.

1. This story is set in LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM. That means that everything I write in regards to schooling system and ages is correct.

2. If you are American and don't understand any of my British terminology, please don't litter my reviews with inane nonsense. Genuine questions are appreciated. Mindless ridicule is not.

3. Britain terminology is far older than American-English terminology.

4. English COLLEGE is the equivalent of American HIGH SCHOOL. In the UK, you attend college generally between the ages of 16-18 years old.

5. English UNIVERSITY is the equivalent of American COLLEGE. In the UK, this tends to refer to any further education beyond the age of 18 years old and takes three years to complete, depending on your subject of choice.

6. Any guest reviews whining that I don't know how to write simply because I'm not using American English will be deleted. Any other reviews doing the same will be reported.

I'm not saying any of this to come across as mean, it's simply that I don't have the patience to read reviews that don't know the differences between English and American terminology. The internet is a thing. Use google if you really have no clue what I'm talking about. If you have honest questions, I'll try and answer them as best I can in the next author's note.

For those of you who love this story, I adore you right back!

For the rest ... OK.

Now onto the chapter!

Boundaries

.

.

For the rest of the Christmas holidays, Eren didn't really talk to his sister unless absolutely necessary. He only went out of his room when he was sure she was elsewhere, and refused to converse over the dinner table.

Towards the end of the week his mum had had enough, and asked him what was going on. He told her what had happened, making sure to mention that Levi was only a friend and it was his hoodie Mikasa had ripped. Carla accepted the explanation and didn't press for more. She was patient like that. Instead, she offered to mend the hole for him. By the following morning, it was as good as new.

That didn't mean Mikasa was forgiven.

.

.

He sat away from her on the bus on the first Monday back at school. He had the hoodie wrapped up in his bag. He could only hope that he saw Levi at some point during the day. The last week seemed to have gone on forever. He marched on up the driveway to the school building, not bothering to look back to see if Mikasa was following. He was at his locker in record time, fumbling with the padlock and trying to decide if he needed to carry the jumper around with him all day, or take a risk and keep it in his locker?

He decided to keep it in his bag.

The day dragged; each lesson was introducing new topics, with lots of extra papers flying around, meaning that Eren's bag doubled in weight by the time lunch rolled around. He had been anticipating the break all day. He rushed out of the room before Armin had even packed his belongings up.

Around the back of the building, like clockwork, he found Levi. He was just lighting up a cigarette as Eren approached. At the sound of approaching footsteps, the goth looked up. His stoic expression morphed into a smirk as he relaxed. "I was wondering if I'd see you today."

"I er …" Eren had so many things he wanted to say. It wouldn't be appropriate though. "I brought back your hoodie!" he said triumphantly, digging it out of his bag. "My mum mended the hole. It's good as new."

Levi cocked a black eyebrow. "You came out here to tell me that?"

Eren ducked his head, not wanting Levi to see the blush creeping up his neck. How was it that the guy could still make him squirm with just a look?

"I told you not to worry about it. It's old. I have tons at home."

"Oh …" Now Eren felt foolish. He should have realised that would be the case. "So … you don't want it back?"

Levi shook his head, blowing smoke out between them. "I don't need it, but I'll take it back. Don't want to be a hassle for you."

Eren dug the hoodie out of his bag and handed it over. With the cigarette caught between his lips, Levi shoved the hoodie into his own bag between his boots. They stood there for a moment whilst Levi sucked hard on the cigarette, blew out the smoke and then ground the butt out with his boot.

"Well, you gonna stand there gawping all day or are you gonna kiss me, brat?"

Eren started, not realising he'd been watching the tongue piercing tease him between Levi's lips. He reanimated, crossing the two steps between them, and letting Levi snatch his mouth in a deep, greedy kiss. It was like he was trying to drink in every oxygen molecule in Eren's lungs. He threaded a hand in Eren's hair, gripping the younger teen tighter as he explored his mouth.

"Fuck," Levi hissed as he pressed his face into the crook of Eren's neck. "I've missed this."

Eren felt his dick twitch at the groan. It wasn't fair for him to get so worked out just from a kiss. However, he couldn't deny he'd missed kissing Levi too. He felt a little bolder as he circled his hands around the older teen's waist and pressed him harder against the brick wall.

"Cocky, eh?" Levi smirked. "I like this side of you."

"Damn, I wish we could just get out of here," Eren groaned.

"I wish we could," Levi sighed. "My parents are keeping sociable hours at the moment for who the fuck knows how long. Sorry kid, sneaking around here is the best I can do."

Eren tried not to pout. He tried to think of all the times he could be spending time with Levi outside of class. They hadn't really spoken about it before, but he got the impression that being 'out and proud' at college wasn't an option. "We could hang out again like we did at the theatre?" he suggested.

"As great as that is, neither of us could afford to always go to the theatre," he added a dramatic drawl to his voice. "And, let's face it, I can't go down on you without giving some poor geezer a heart attack."

Eren spluttered, not expecting for Levi to say that.

Truthfully, he hadn't been thinking about how much Levi must be aching for all sorts of physical contact that Eren had been denying him. Not because he didn't want to, but because he wasn't ready. Levi said he understood that … but what if this was the longest he'd been without the physical company of someone else?

Guilt stabbed at his heart.

"Bloody hell, you must really be into me for the offer of my mouth on your cock, to make you look like that."

Eren flushed and clenched his jaw. "Sorry," he said, straightening up. "I guess I was just feeling guilty.

"About what?"

"Making you wait around for the off-chance of me being ready."

Levi rolled his eyes, "It's true, it's been a while. That doesn't mean I'm gonna give up just because I'm horny as hell. Fuck, whenever I look at you Eren, it makes me want to just grab my dick and cum there and then!"

"Levi …" Eren groaned, ducking his head to the goth's shoulder.

He chuckled. "Sorry, prude. I like sex. It's pretty great. However," he lowered his voice to a husky whisper in Eren's ear, "I bet sex with you is gonna be amazing. And if it is, I'm sure I'll be glad to have waited."

"What if it isn't?"

"Then I'll hire a goddamn prostitute," he drawled before rolling his eyes.

Eren grinned, still feeling somewhat shy. Levi glared up at him for a moment before his façade gave way to a somewhat endearing smile. Eren let out another sigh, "I really do want to see you soon, though. Christmas dragged on forever."

"Aw. You missed me."

"Fuck you, you missed me too!"

Levi chuckled, "Yeah, brat, I did."

Levi wriggled out from between the wall and the tall teen, swiped up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. Eren frowned at him, but the bell chimed in answer to his silent question. It was only then that he remembered he'd not eaten.

"I need to get to class."

"I have the rest of the day off."

"Lucky git," Levi smirked. "Go eat. I'll harass you when I get a chance."

"Yes, please do." He'd said it sarcastically, but secretly hoped that Levi kept his word.

~0~

"Eren! Eren wait up!"

Eren stopped just outside the campus gate and frowned over his shoulder. Armin hurried down the slope from the South building, waving his arm madly in the air. Eren smiled and shook his head as Armin doubled over beside, wheezing for breath.

"You know, we're really not doing the gym right if you're still out of breath running down that hill."

"You have long legs!" Armin protested. "Fuck you."

As soon as Armin had regained the ability to breathe, the two teens set off down the long street towards their bus stop. It was a relatively clear day, for January, and Eren found himself feeling a little better now that he'd had a chance to talk to Levi.

"So what's going on with you and Mikasa?" Armin asked, "Did you two fall out or something?"

"We had an argument last week and she ripped a hole in a hoodie I'd borrowed. My mum had to fix it."

"Ouch, that's kind of shitty. What made her do that?"

"She got mad," Eren shrugged. "She went to grab me and ripped the hoodie instead."

He was careful not to tell Armin too much. He feared that, considering how strongly Mikasa had reacted, Armin might react the same way too. He knew how judgemental people could be when it came to the goth kids. Hell, even he'd freaked out about interacting with Levi one-on-one. That didn't mean he was a bad guy.

Thankfully Armin didn't say much else on the matter. His bus arrived just as they were discussing the latest video game that came out and whether it was worth going half-and-half on it. Eren waved his friend off, before getting his own bus home.

.

.

The house was empty when he got in.

He was glad of that. The last thing he needed was to be bombarded with questions about the hoodie and what his new lesson plans were. He went straight up to his room after grabbing some strawberry tart off the counter. He changed into warm tracksuit bottoms and a long-sleeved shirt before going onto his PC. He browsed through the usual shit; Facebook, twitter and youtube without any real interest in what he saw.

He finished off at the last of his Christmas assignments just before 5PM. The house was still empty and Mikasa was going out after classes ended, as far as he remembered. She'd been discussing it with their mum in the kitchen over breakfast.

Just as he was about to browse Steam, his phone buzzed. Levi's number flashed on the screen.

Leaning back in his deskchair, he pressed the green button and put the phone to his ear. "Hello?"

"Hey lover," Levi growled in his ear.

Eren felt his insides jolt. His mouth ran dry. "H-hi," he said. "What's up?"

"Well I just got home and put that hoodie on that I let you borrow."

"Oh?"

"Still smells like you," he growled teasingly. "I like it."

"Geez, I didn't think! I should've washed it!"

"I don't mind," Levi said. It sounded like he meant it. "I think it's kindda sexy."

Eren's stomach flipped. "You do?"

"Yeah. So sexy, in fact, that I'm wearing nothing but the hoodie."

"W-what?!"

"I'm lying in bed, naked, with the hoodie on." He let out a soft groan, the sort of groan you only ever here when you're in bed.

"L-Levi …?"

"I like it when you say my name. You sound so small, so helpless. Almost like you want to beg me."

"W-what would I beg you for?"

"Be imaginative."

"I –I don't know."

Levi chuckled as Eren stammered. "Ever had phone sex before, kid?"

"N-no. Obviously not."

"I want you to slide your hand up over your chest and stroke your nipples."

Eren opened his mouth to protest, but found he was intrigued to see where this went. Pressing his lips together, he slid his hand up his shirt and slowly started to rub his fingertips over his nipples. They got hard almost instantly. He let out a soft exhale.

"Does that feel good, Eren?"

"It does …"

"Pinch them. I want to bite your nipples so hard. I want to leave marks all over you."

Eren groaned as he did as he was told. His dick twitched in response.

"Such a good boy."

"What are you doing?" Eren asked, surprisingly himself at being so bold.

"Me?" Levi chuckled. "I'm stretched out on my bed, stroking my dick. Every time you moan I tug a little harder."

"You like it when I moan?" Eren frowned.

"I do, Eren. It's such a sexy sound. You get me all wet just by moaning."

Fuck, that imagery was too hot. Eren bit his lip to suppress a groan, but failed. He slid his own hand down his stomach and below the waistband of his bottoms. He was slick with precum. A shiver ran through him as he wrapped his fingers around himself and started to stroke his dick. Another little moan escaped him.

"Are you touching yourself Eren?"

"I am … I –I wish you were the one doing it."

Another deep chuckle. It rumbled through him. His dick twitched hard at the sound. "Maybe next time I get you all to myself, I'll see how brave you're feeling."

"What if I'm not that brave?"

"Then I guess I'll have to hear you cum over the phone."

Eren squirmed in his chair. "I wish you were here right now."

"What would you want me to do, Eren?" he purred.

"Touch me … I want to feel your hands on me."

"Just my hands?"

"And your mouth. God –I want your mouth on me, all over."

"Do you want me to bite you?"

"God yes."

"You want to have your cock in my mouth?"

Eren stroked harder, his breathing labouring. "Yes –Yes, Levi I do! I really need to feel that!" If he closed his eyes, he could feel everything; the pinch of Levi's teeth, the cold ball on his tongue and the wet heat of his mouth. "F-fuck, Levi I'm com –" he didn't finish as he came inside his bottoms. He choked as he stroked the last few drops.

He saw stars.

His brain was spinning.

He drew in deep breaths and only refocused his brain when he heard Levi groan and grunt on the other end of the line. "Fuck!" the older teen cursed. "I came so hard for you, brat. You've made such a mess of me."

Eren blushed. His hand was cooling down, the sticky mess drying immediately. He grimaced at the feel of it. "Yeah you made a mess of me too."

"At least I'll have better wank material next time I'm alone in the shower."

Eren frowned but didn't have the energy to complain about Levi's blunt words. "I should probably get cleaned up," he finally said, not liking the idea of either one of his parents walking in to him with his hands down his trousers.

"Yeah I should probably do the same," Levi agreed. "Well this was fun. We should do it again some time."

"Okay –just let me know beforehand so I can make sure I won't be disturbed."

Levi chuckled, "Sure thing, brat. I'll see you around college."

"O-okay. Sure thing. See you."

The line went dead.

Eren sat there stunned for a few minutes, letting his brain catch up with what had just happened. Then a quick glance at the time, told him to hurry and clean up before anyone else got home.

~0~

The next few days passed by in such an ordinary manner that they all blurred together. Eren caught glimpses of Levi in the hallways between lessons, but other than a quirked eyebrow and a smirk, they didn't interact with one another. It was moments like these when Eren felt the most useless. He'd never been brave enough to approach Levi outside of their sneaking sessions behind the South building. He didn't know what the outcome would be if he approached Levi while he was with his group of friends.

Not that Levi had ever approached Eren when he was with his friends, either.

It wasn't until Thursday during a free period before lunch, that Eren had the chance to be alone with Levi again. He found the goth in his usual smoking spot behind the South building.

"Thought I'd find you here," he said, loud enough for his voice to carry.

Levi looked over at him lazily and cocked an eyebrow. "Well, where else would I be?"

Eren shrugged but couldn't help but smile. He leaned next to the wall next to Levi. "One of these days my parents are going to ask why I come home smelling of smoke."

"Tell them you have a nasty addiction and need to quit."

Eren understand the double meaning and glanced down at Levi. "Is that what you want to do?"

Levi shrugged, blowing out a puff of smoke. "I should, but I don't."

Eren couldn't help but smile. He nudged the goth lightly, their hands brushing against one another. He couldn't help but notice the way Levi's hand flinched away. It made his heart sink. "So er … I was wondering if you want to go out again, sometime?" he asked, even though his heart didn't anticipate anything positive of the answer.

"I don't really know what my schedules like but I can let you know."

Eren frowned. Levi seemed distracted, his eyes kept darting to the far end of the building. Was he on the look-out for any teachers? "Hey," he said, nudging the teen again. "What's wrong? Have I annoyed you?"

Levi glanced at Eren and shook his head. "No, it's not you."

"Well then … What is it?" Eren frowned.

"Isabel".

Eren was about to ask who the hell Isabel was, and then he remembered. She was the goth girl with her red hair always intricately braided around her head. The girl who was in Mikasa's class. He pushed himself off the wall and turned to face Levi. "What about Isabel?"

"She's been noticing some things."

"Things?" Eren repeated. "Things like what?"

As far as he was concerned there was nothing for anyone else to see. They only ever saw one another behind the South building, and sometimes acknowledge each other in the hallways. Mikasa knew something was up, that much was obvious, but he doubted his sister would suddenly become friends with a girl she detested just to one-up him. She wasn't that childish.

"She's been noticing that I don't go out after school to hang out with our group anymore. That I'm always on my phone texting."

Eren thought that was a bit of a stretch, considering Levi only seemed to text after he'd been messaged first. He didn't want to but-in though.

"She also noticed that I seem to be looking out for you –or someone at least. I don't think she knows it's you, but she's clever."

"Would that really be a problem if she knew?" Eren asked with a shrug. "As far as she knows we're just friends. What's the problem with that?"

Levi looked up at Eren. The cigarette seemed to quake in his fingers. His large, grey eyes seemed vulnerable in that cold, brightness. Eren's inside churned at the sight. It would definitely be a problem if Annie knew. That's what Levi couldn't seem to tell him.

"So, what do you want to do?" he asked, his words as hollow as his chest.

"I think we need to cool it," Levi said, turning his gaze back to the other end of the building.

Despite knowing what was coming, the whiplash effect it had on Eren was brutal. He felt numbed by the words, refusing to let them sink in. "Cool it?" he repeated. "What does that even mean?"

"Jesus!" Levi cursed and tossed his cigarette to the floor, grinding it out with his boot. "It means we can't sneak around! We can't meet up behind the building while I smoke, we can't go to the bloody theatre and you can't come over to my house after school! It means I can't call you or text you!"

Every word was like a knife.

"And you really want that?" his mouth asked. He had no control of his body. It was like he was standing outside of his body, watching helplessly as the events unravelled before him.

Levi averted his hard gaze, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "No."

"Then why not tell Isabel to mind her own business?"

"It's complicated."

"No, Levi, it isn't. Chemistry is complicated. This is simple; you either want me around or you don't."

Levi rolled his eyes, "Don't act like a brat, brat," he snapped. "Things aren't always black and white, you know?"

"They would be if you explained it."

Another shake of the head. "Isabel has been through a lot of shit and she depends on me to be there for her. She feels neglected and that's my fault."

"Doesn't she have other friends?"

"Not close ones."

"So the last few months meant nothing to you?" Eren really didn't want to hear the answer. He knew it would break him if the answer was 'no'.

Levi seemed to heave a deep sigh. Those grey eyes were dulling down, the emotion burning out of them. "I guess it didn't mean enough."

Eren felt his muscles growing tight and hot as he fought back the tears. He clenched his fists tightly. "I know you're lying," he said.

Levi closed his eyes as though begging for strength. They both knew he was lying, but he wanted to push Eren away. This was the way to create a schism between them; a cold, calculated lie.

"You can't even tell me the fucking truth!" he spat.

"It is the truth Eren."

"The Isabel stuff I believe, but the rest?" he shook his head in disgust. "You're a fucking coward!"

He didn't mean to swear.

He certainly didn't meant to punch Levi in the nose.

He definitely didn't feel better after walking away, leaving the older teen cupping his nose, bloody dripping down his chin.

He didn't even feel better when, in the last lesson of the day, two girls were whispering in the row behind him about how that goth kid was seen in the nurses office with a bloodied tissues under his nose.

He should have felt justified and glad that Levi was feeling an ounce of the physical pain he was putting Eren through.

But he didn't.

He just felt numb.

A/N: Oh yes, there shall be AAAAAAAAAAAAANGST!