A.N: I finally have a new laptop!

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Levi Ackerman is my boyfriend.

It didn't matter how many times he repeated it to himself, but Eren just couldn't wrap his head around the concept. Levi had insisted over dinner that he wanted to do things 'properly', whatever that meant. Eren had asked Google but so far no answers had come. The promise of 'going slow' still held true, but it also meant that they were able to go on dates without anyone –namely Isabel –getting pissed off at Levi's absence.

Eren still felt on edge around the other goths, however Levi insisted that everyone just needed time. He was dreading ever approaching Levi in a large group when they went back to college, however he had to deal with tonight first. His parents wanted to have a little 'sit down and talk' session about something. They always said 'something' even though everyone knew what the elephant in the room was.

Levi.

Mikasa had not been thrilled when she'd learned that Eren went on a date on Valentines Day. He was almost positive she knew who he was dating, but he wasn't foolish enough to ask. Thankfully, their mum had stated that he needed some privacy and Mikasa needed to learn to respect that.

Holed up in his room, he struggled to fulfil the word count requirement for an essay due in the following Monday, when his mum called him down for dinner. He blinked, prying the headphones from his head. It had been a long, dull day trying to organise his homework schedule for the following week and tackling the hardest ones, first. Glaring at the mass of books on his desk, he dragging himself out of his room and down to the kitchen.

His parents and Mikasa were sitting at the dining table. No one had called him down to set the table, which he found odd. Taking a seat, he felt his body flush hot as all eyes watching him.

He grabbed a drink from the fridge before sitting down across from his dad.

The roast was carved up and served with roasted potatoes and vegetables, before his dad broke the stifling silence.

"So how was everyone's week?" he asked.

It was like someone had slammed a brick into Eren's brain. All coherent thought vanished and all he was able to do was stutter as he took a long gulp of his drink.

"Nothing unusual on my end," Mikasa said with a shrug. "Just went to see a movie that was utter crap and homework. Same old, same old."

Eren could feels the eyes turning on him.

"How about you, Eren?" Grisha asked. "How was your night out on Valentines day? Anything we should know?"

This was as good an opening as he was going to get. That didn't mean he was ready to grab at it.

"It was good," he managed to choke out. "The food was nice."

The silence was excruciating.

"Is that it?" Grisha pressed. "The food was nice, but what about your date? Who's the lucky girl?"

Eren sucked in a breath. "It um … it w-wasn't a girl."

Without missing a beat his Dad said, "Okay, so who's the lucky guy?"

That was it? No melodrama? No probing about 'how did you know?' or any of the meltdowns he'd anticipated? What about the horrors that the lonely souls on the internet preached about, regarding disowning and being thrown out on the street? Why was everyone being so calm!?

"You're … you're not mad?"

"About what?"

"Me going on a date with a guy?"

Grisha and Carla shared a concerned look across the table. "We only want what's best for you, Eren," Carla finally said. "We all go through phases like this. You have to grow into yourself, that's what being a teenager is about."

He frowned at his mum. "What about if this isn't a phase? What about my always being like this?"

She shrugged, giving him a little sad smile. "Then I at least hope you're using protection and being safe."

Eren spluttered, "Oh, no! We're nowhere near that stage yet!"

Both his parents laughed. "Well that's something then," Carla smiled. "At the very least I'd like to have him over for dinner at some point."

"I'm not sure we're at that stage either."

"These things take time," she agreed.

Eren turned his attention back to his dad. "Aren't you mad?"

"About what, Eren?"

"You two are taking this so calmly and I want to know why!"

Grisha accepted his son's outburst as he always did; with a pinch of salt. Setting his fork to one side, he regarded Eren over the rim of his glasses. "Eren, this is a bit of a shock, of course it is, but I'm a practical man. This doesn't change anything about you, it just raises concerns."

"Such as?"

"Going forward, you'll face complications, stigma, difficulties and abuse. I'd be failing as a father if I wasn't concerned about any of these things."

Eren furrowed his brow. "I –I get that."

"Not to mention, what if you want to settle down with a family one day? It's notoriously difficult to adopt a child, regardless of your sexuality."

Eren felt his cheeks flaring to life with colour. He ducked his head and twisted his hands around in his lap. This conversation was going in the complete opposite direction that he was expecting. Shit.

"Stop, stop, please stop!" he pleaded as soon as his brain caught the word 'condoms' coming out of his dad's mouth. He clamped his hands down over his ears. "Please stop! I just … let me take a minute."

He dropped his head into his hands, staring down at the colours of the food on his plate. All of a sudden the smell made him feel queasy. He'd completely lost his appetite, didn't really know what to feel about it all. They had reacted so well, not that he had any reason to doubt. He'd just read a lot of awful things online and hadn't even intended to tell them. He'd wanted to sit them down, as they were now, with the purpose of breaking the news to them.

This wasn't how it was supposed to happen.

"Eren?"

He glanced up at his mum's soft voice. She looked at him with a warm smile, the one she always gave him when he'd achieved something.

Licking his lips he said, "Yes mum?"

"Are you going to tell us anything else about your date?"

He swallowed thickly and tried to count to ten in his head. He released a heavy breath. "He asked me to be his boyfriend and I said 'yes'."

A sharp intake of breath made him look at his sister for the first time. She had a face as stoic as a statue but her eyes were a thunderstorm. Whatever suspicions she may have had, she was convinced she'd been right the entire time. Eren wasn't about to give her the satisfaction about being right.

"How long have you two been seeing each other?" Grisha asked.

"We've been getting to know each other since before Christmas," Eren hedged. "This is all … brand new. We're still trying to figure things out."

"That's understandable, darling," Carla said as she reached for the gravy boat. "There's no rush for anything."

'Tell that to Levi,' Eren thought and then mentally kicked himself. Levi was going him a huge favour for being as patient as he had been. Eren needed to learn to be a little more grateful.

"Just make sure that when you do decide you want to –go forward," Carla cringed a little at the clumsy words but laughed it off. "Try to make sure you're safe."

"Mum!"

"What? I'd say the exact same thing to Mikasa if she had a boyfriend."

Eren rolled his eyes.

Slowly, but surely, the conversation steered away from him and he was grateful. They laughed at the antics of one of his dad's more annoying patients and Mikasa even got chattier as Carla brought in dessert, telling of a hilarious joke she was told in her mathematics lesson. It was lost on Eren, but Grisha seemed to enjoy it.

Unfortunately for him, Mikasa corned him as he was coming out of the bathroom later that evening. He had been on his way to his room to finish off his essay and, if he was lucky, have a whispered conversation on the phone with Levi.

He stopped in the hall when he saw her waiting for him, arms crossed and leaning back against the bannister. He glowered at her. "What do you want?"

"Well I was going to say I'm tired of fighting, but I see that you're not," she snapped. He didn't respond. She looked him up and down. "I know who your boyfriend is."

"Been snooping have you?" he bit out.

"Hardly," she sneered. "It's written all over your face. Not to mention that hideous hoodie. You're fucking about with Levi Ackerman, aren't you?"

"Whatever you think, Mikasa, I'm not arguing," he tried to brush past her but she wasn't having it. She grabbed for his arm but he blocked her and barred her from continuing down the hall. "Don't try that shit on me again."

"Eren you can't date him! He's scum! He probably has several boyfriends on the go at once."

Eren rolled his eyes. "Anything else?"

"Don't act like that, you're going to get hurt."

"No I'm not."

"How do you know?"

"Because –as crazy as it sounds –I trust him! I don't care that he wears black all the time, or has piercings and tattoos. I. Like. Him. Mika. What's so hard to understand about that?"

"Eren, you've not exactly been in a relationship before, and you're starting with him? It's like learning to drive in a tank! It's too much all at once and I worry you won't cope with it."

"Well, then when I'm in the shit and don't want to spill my bleeding heart to mum and dad, it'd be nice to have my bitchy sister on my side!"

"I'm always on your side!"

"Then why are you trying to end my relationship before it's even started?"

"I think you can do better," she stated simply.

"You don't even know him!"

"I know enough, Eren. All those rumours at school, all the jokes people say, there's a base for all that shit! It doesn't just come out of nowhere!"

"Most of the time it does."

Mikasa clenched her jaw. "For God's sake Eren, I'm trying to look out for you!"

"Well maybe you could do that when you actually meet my boyfriend."

She scoffed, "I already know about Levi."

Eren glared down at her. "You know the rumours. I'm asking you to meet my boyfriend before anyone else, including mum and dad." He let out a weary sigh. "I really like him Mikasa. I need you to like him too."

Mikasa pursed her lips and regarded her brother. He was such a soppy little git sometimes, he probably wouldn't smell burning if he was in the middle of a bonfire. And yet, she was sick of the fighting and the silent treatment. She may not like this Levi prick, but the least she could do is give him a chance –for like ten minutes –and then claim he's a bad egg and forbid Eren from seeing him again.

Forcing her face to remain neutral, she inclined her head with a sigh. "Yes, fine, okay. I'll meet him, but I'm not promising that I'll like him after that."

Eren tried to bite back his smile. "Thank you."

It was a small victory compared to what could potentially happen, however Eren was glad that Mikasa was making the effort.

~0~

At lunch the following day Eren found Levi behind the South building as normal, however this time he had two of his band mates with him. Only the guy with the shaggy blonde hair was smoking with Levi. The tall girl with huge glasses was just standing there, her wide grin unsettling. They all turned to look at him as he approached.

Eren tried to steel himself for their barbs, but none came forward.

"Miss me already?" Levi smirked, grinding his cigarette butt out with his boot.

Eren fought the blush with a roll of his eyes. "Sod off, you're not that amazing."

The tall girl, Hange, snickered. "He's got you there, shorty!"

Levi shot her a glare before looking at Eren. "Ignore Hange, she's a bit of a cow. This here is Mike. Doesn't say much but -"

Eren jumped when the lanky blonde leaned close and took a deep whiff of his hair.

"-He does that."

"Jesus Christ!" Eren backed a few steps away, his heart drumming in his ears. "What's your problem?"

The guy -Mike -didn't seem bothered by Eren's antics. He simply turned to Levi and said, "He smells okay."

Eren turned a stunned gaze back to his boyfriend.

Levi waved his staring away, "Ignore him. Guys, you know Eren."

"Not at all!" Hange grinned at Eren, "Tell me, is Levi a pervy little bastard in the sack?"

Spluttering the younger teen shook his head, "I don't -We haven't -Fucking hell Levi!" He was going to die of embarrassment, he knew it.

"Alright you two, piss off. I'll see you in the recording room."

"Ooh want some alone time with your lover-boy!" Hange sang off-key.

"Fuck off four-eyes!" Levi snarled.

The tall girl seemed to take great pleasure in pissing the short guy off. She was completely unphased as she looped her arm through Mike's and steered the blonde back indoors, calling out over her shoulder, "Be a good boy for mummy and daddy!"

Levi flipped her his middle finger. The door banged closed between them, and Eren ran a hand down his face, his cheeks still burning red. "I take it you told them we're dating?" he asked pointlessly.

Levi shrugged, "It was either that of have Hange harass me for gossip."

Eren couldn't tell if that was a good thing or a bad thing. At least he didn't have to hide away from Levi's friends, so far. "Okay. Listen, my sister wants to meet you. Size you up and all that."

"No."

"I -what do you mean 'no'?"

"I mean 'no' as in that doesn't sound like a very good idea."

"Well you'll have to meet her eventually. Along with my parents."

"Eurgh why?" Levi groaned, digging around in his pocket for another cigarette and a lighter. He lit the end and took a long drag, smoke streaming from his nostrils. Eren couldn't help but think he looked a little ... sexy. "Why do I need to meet your irritating sister?"

"She's convinced you're a bad influence on me."

Levi snorted. "She'd be right."

This time it was Eren's turn to scoff. "Hardly! I don't skip school, my homework is always on time and I haven't started drinking, fucking around or drugs. All the things she's convinced you'll soon get me to do!"

"Gee, and you think I'd like to meet here?"

"Sarcasm isn't helping you here."

Levi sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. "This isn't going to go away, is it?" he finally asked, subdued.

"I'm afraid not. You've seen Mika, she's pretty pushy."

Another sigh. "Fine. But only for an hour."

"Two hours."

"One and we see how it goes from there," Levi challenged. "How's after college on Friday?"

"We both finish at two. Don't you have classes until half four?"

He shrugged, "I know where you live, brat. I'm sure I can find my way there."

"Okay," Eren gave a shy smile. "I'll make sure it's just the three of us then. I don't want you suffering through my parents if you're not ready for it."

"Yeah I don't think we're quite there yet."

Ah, there it was. The nerves. Clearly Eren wasn't the only one feeling off-kilter about the sudden progression of their relationship. He reached out a hand and squeezed Levi's shoulder, "Hey it'll be okay. Mika will see how great you are and stop bugging me about you."

Levi rolled his eyes and scoffed, "I'm not worried!" It took all of two seconds before he sagged a little under Eren's touch. Looking up into the bright green eyes he gave a softer smile, "Thanks kid."

Eren bent his head and pressed a chaste kiss to the goth's lips, the piercing sending a spike of cold shooting through him. He rather like it. "You gonna come in for some food?" he asked, lingering close.

Levi shook his head, "Nah, not feeling too hungry. I'll eat later."

"You sure?"

"Yes, kid! Now go before your interfering sister hunts you down."

Eren stole another kiss before turning and heading back inside. As the door swung closed behind him, he was almost positive he'd seen the shorter teen blush a little.

~0~

How had it come to this? Him standing outside Eren's house intentionally, all in the name of seeing his sister and stomping the absolute shit out of all the rumors she'd been listening to?

Levi was sure Hange would call him 'whipped'.

He had a momentary notion to run back across the front garden, hope into his dads car and speed off home. Something -God knows what -kept him rooted to the doorstep, listening as footsteps approached from the other side. The door swung open letting a rush of warm air and the smell of pizza hit him in the face. Eren grinned down at him and dragged him inside out of the cold.

"We ordered pizza for dinner, I figured it'd help with some of the tension," Eren said as Levi took off his coat and hung it up whilst kicking his boots off. "Is that okay?"

Shrugging, he followed Eren along the hall and into the kitchen, "Sure."

Mikasa wasn't as tall as Eren, although she still seemed to tower over Levi as he came into the kitchen. Her dark eyes immediately narrowed in on him and he felt his muscles tense, ready to defend himself. "So you're Levi?"

"Yes," he said tightly. "What of it?"

"Heard a lot about you."

"All bad things, I'm sure."

"Yeah, they were."

Levi narrowed his eyes at her, "So? You think I'm going to drag your brother over to the dark side?"

The girl tenses immediately, her free hand curling into a fist. He steeled himself for an attack. Eren's eyes seemed to flit between the two of them. He clapped his hands loudly and said, "Right! Before anyone murders anyone else, can I grab a slice of pizza? I'm not missing out on good food because you two are too busy having a pissing contest."

"What?"

"EW!"

Eren sighed with relief as he grabbed a slice of pizza dripping with melted cheese. At least his random turn-of-phrase had distracted them long enough to remember he was in the room.

"I just don't like you hanging around my brother," Mikasa snapped, clearly not caring for decorum.

"He's old enough to make his mind up."

"Yeah? Well you know what's going to happen if you fuck him up?"

"Surprise me," Levi sighed, bored.

"I'm going to kick your arse, shorty! I'm not a brown belt for nothing!"

"ENOUGH!" Eren snapped, rounding on both of them. "I am sick of this! All I want is for you two to get along! Now, I'm going up to my room and I don't want either of you to come up until you've made some damn effort for me!"

Without waiting for a response he stormed passed them and hurried up the stairs, slamming his door especially hard.

.

Eren jolted awake when a knock came on his bedroom door.

He didn't remember falling asleep, and his mouth felt thick and fluffy as he rubbed his eyes and staggered to the door. Levi stood on the landing, his expression barely changing as Eren towered over him. "What d'you want?" Eren grunted.

"Your sister and I talked."

Eren waited for the rest of the sentence. Levi was not forthcoming. "And?"

"And we found some common ground. Sadly."

"Was it the martial arts?"

"Oddly, no."

Eren glowered down at the teen. "You're being a real dick, you know that?"

Levi shrugged. He looked to the side at nothing in particular.

"Is it safe for me to come down?"

Scoffing, Levi turned towards the stairs. "It was never not safe, brat."

Eren shook his head, feeling a weight lift off his shoulders as he traipsed down after Levi. He found Mikasa in an armchair in the living room. Levi sat on the edge of the sofa. Eren glanced between the two before gingerly sitting down beside Levi, grateful that the pizza boxes were now on the coffee table. They were still warm; he couldn't have been asleep for long. Mikasa looked at him, but the murderous thunder that he'd seen earlier wasn't there. Was that a good sign? He could never be fully convinced in regards to his sister.

"Everything okay with you two?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Well, shorty here seems to like similar movies as I do," Mikasa shrugged. "But I can still take him."

Levi snorted as he popped the tab of a coke can. "Sure, I'd like to see you try."

Eren frowned, "So you're okay with me dating Levi?"

Sighing, Mikasa's shoulders slumped. She flicked the tab of her can, "I really don't know, Eren. He's a sarcastic prat -"

"Oi!"

"-But he's not a completely hopeless mess."

"Gee, thanks. Remind me to buy you chocolates next time I'm over," Levi deadpanned.

Mikasa shot him a look, but Eren saw the way her lip twitched upward at the sarcasm. At least they were on the same wave-length for quips and insults. Was that a good thing? Settling down in the vacant spot on the sofa beside Levi, Eren helped himself to some pizza as Mikasa surfed through the TV channels.

"Give it up. Just put a movie on or something," Levi groused, looking bored as he glowered at the TV screen.

"What does everyone want to watch?" Eren asked.

He slid over to the cabinet on his knees and began rifling through the DVD cases, calling out names as he went. He tried to hide his amusement as Levi and Mikasa bickered about the merits and downfalls of each movie. Finally, they settled on one. Eren collapsed back onto the sofa, squeezing a little closer to the goth as he could manage without it looking too obvious. Levi quirked an eyebrow at him, but didn't comment as the title credits came onto the screen.

It was towards the end of the movie when Levi leaned in and whispered, "I need to make a move. I'll call you later, okay?"

Eren tried to hide his disappointment. "Yeah sure. Let me walk you to the door."

Getting up, Levi offered his hand to Mikasa, who jerked a little, surprised at their sudden movements. "You off?" she asked.

"Yeah need to get my dads card back."

They shook hands. "See you at school then, shorty."

Levi groaned, "Great, that's gonna stick now isn't it?"

At the front door, once he'd bundled himself up in his coat and scarf, Levi turned to Eren and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. "So how do you think I did?" he murmured.

"Well you were both able to stay in the same room as each other and no one died," Eren smirked, "I'd say that's a win."

Levi chuckled, not wanting to let go of Eren as they hovered, letting the cold air seep into the house.

"So are you ever going to tell my what you two were actually talking about earlier?"

Levi paused, pretending to debate before shaking his head. "Nah, think I'll keep that to myself. Keep some mystery between us." With one devilish and a chaste kiss, he turned on his heel and crunched across the gravel driveway towards the main road.

"H-Hey that's not fair!" Eren protested, his voice carrying through the darkness.

At the front gate, Levi blew him one last, patronising kiss, before he turned right and disappeared from view. Eren stood there, dumbstruck for a few moments, before a gust of cold wind had him retreating inside with a grumble.

A/N: I'm so sorry this update took a lot longer than it should have done. I hope this chapter helps to make up for it a little. x