A.N: Thank you for the all love and support! x

The Good, The Bad, and the Parent's

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They had officially been dating for little over a month, and life seemed to be settling around their new relationship status. Eren seemed to be accepted into the goth's friendship circle, even though he had sworn an oath on Mikasa's karate belts that he would not be getting any tattoos, piercings or dye his hair a funny colour. On the flip-side, Eren was pretty sure his friends had accepted Levi instantly, because they were afraid what either he, his friends, or Mikasa would do to them if they didn't get on board with it.

Eren was just grateful that Levi and Mikasa seemed to be on the same side now, so it was a huge weight off his shoulders. That didn't mean he was too keen on having her drag him into family conversations about 'safe sex'. Sure, he'd thought about it but he wasn't about to start running around buying different flavoured condoms. Why were there so many flavours anyway? Why would you want that in your mouth, regardless of the taste?

A lot still baffled him. A part of him was grateful his parents were so open about it around them. At the same time, there were some things you just did not discuss with your dad. Or your mum. Or, apparently, even your boyfriend.

Eren was inexperienced; he knew Levi knew that, but he didn't want to burden the older teen with inane questions. He wanted to be seen as someone Levi wanted to have sex with, not a virgin who needs every party of the penis labelled and to know point by point how sex worked, especially anal sex.

On top of that, he felt a little silly even trying to be intimate with Levi when he hadn't even met the guy's parents yet.

This had been bugging him for about a week.

It was the first Monday or March when Eren found Levi by his locker, switching his books around. He dragged his hands roughly through the black hair, eliciting a groan from the shorter guy. Levi didn't allow himself much time to enjoy the sensation before he was slamming his locker door shut.

"What's up, kid?" he asked.

"I was just thinking," Eren hedged. "How come I haven't met your parents?"

"How come I haven't met yours?" Levi shot back.

"Don't do that."

Levi clicked his tongue, gaze averted to the side as he toyed with his piercing. Heaving a sigh, he fixed Eren with a steady look; "My parents are not nice people, Eren. They don't even believe I'm gay!" he gave a sardonic laugh. "They think this is all a phase, that I'll grow out of it, and any guy I bring over and they happen to run into? It's my textbook way of making a statements of how individualistic I am."

Eren didn't think his eyebrows could climb any higher. "Are you serious?"

"Deadly."

"Fuck me." He raked a hand through his hair. He hadn't really known what to expect of Levi's parents, having only glimpsed them once or twice when they'd been unlucky whilst at Levi's home. Their personalities hadn't really engaged with him in those brief instances. He could sort of see where they were coming from; Levi only had hook-ups up until now, as far as he'd told Eren anyway. No guy was really there long enough to prove to them that this wasn't some phase. Maybe they'd just interpreted from what little they'd witnessed in their son's life.

"I still think I should meet them," he eventually said. Levi scoffed but before he could say anything, Eren continued; "Look, I'm just saying that it makes sense. We're officially a couple now, and we can't be sneaking around whenever both our parents are gone. We'd never see each other!"

"We managed before."

"And it got old really fast," Eren said, leaning in so that he could tug lightly on the chain hanging from Levi's belt loops. "Just one dinner. Just to prove to them that you have a boyfriend?"

Levi narrowed his eyes. Why was this so important to the kid? Dinner with his parents, regardless of who he brought to the table, was never going to end well. He didn't want to put Eren through that. He'd seen their disapproval first hand and it was never nice. He had grown used to dealing with it by himself, over the years. At the same time, this was all new to him. Would they really take him more seriously if he proved to them that he had an actual boyfriend?

The idea was ever-so-slightly appealing.

"Can I think about it?" Levi asked, just as the bell chimed for the next class.

"Sure," Eren smiled.

Grabbing the taller teen's collar, he yanked him down for a kiss, his teeth nibbling ever so slightly on Eren's lip. "See you at lunch, eh?"

Eren beamed after him. "Yeah, see yah."

.

"You're looking happy this evening," his mum commented as he sauntered into the dining room and helped himself to the curry she'd made. "Did your school finally ban homework?"

Eren rolled his eyes at the teasing, "I would throw a parade if that happened."

Mikasa snorted, "With what money?"

"I could save!"

Grisha chuckled. "So why are you so happy?"

"No reason," Eren shrugged. "I was just thinking how cool my family are that they're not trying to brainwash me with medieval mumbo-jumbo."

"Oh? What's brought this on then?"

Mikasa frowned up at him, her eyebrows knitting together questioningly.

"Just ... Levi said something today about his parents. How they don't really believe that he's gay. I just thought that really sucks, having to live with that under the same roof all the time. And I thought about how lucky I have it that you guys are so understanding."

His parents shared a look. Carla smiled at him. "That poor boy. He needs some proper support. Isn't about time that we meet him at least?" she pressed, eyebrows raised. "Mikasa has, so when do we get to meet him?"

Eren shifted awkwardly. He'd been purposefully avoiding dinner with his own parents for a while now, because he was sure something would set them off. Despite how he sang Levi's praises, and even Mikasa would grudgingly vouch for him, he knew that his parents would be irked somewhat by Levi's appearance and mannerisms. Even if they didn't say it in front of Levi, it would cause some tension for the rest of the evening.

"I think it'd be easier for me to meet his parents first," Eren hedged. "Not that you guys aren't great! It's just ... I don't want you to judge him on how he looks."

Grisha rolled his eyes. "Eren, as long as he isn't into drugs and doesn't distract you from your full potential right now, I don't see what harm he would do. No matter what he looks like."

"You say that now," Mikasa teased in a sing-song voice.

Eren shot her a look, she poked her tongue out in response.

"That being said, we don't want you adopting any of his habits or traits," Grisha stated, peering over his glasses with a stern expression. "You may be a teenager and want to rebel, however I will draw the line somewhere."

Eren nodded. He wasn't stupid; his parents may not be freaks when it came to rules and curfews, however he knew not to mar his body with tattoos or unsightly piercings. Smoking was a no-go as it was a 'gateway' addiction. All of this and more was exactly why Eren had yet to introduce Levi to his parents. Despite themselves, he knew they'd judge his boyfriend.

As soon as dinner was over, Eren went up to his room and dialed Levi's number. He picked up on the third ring.

"What?"

"Nice to hear your voice too," Eren quipped. "I'm not bothering you am I?"

"No, no. I was just ending a chat with Hange, so your timing is pretty perfect. What's up?"

Eren fidgeted, plucking at his shirt. "I ... um ... was wondering if you wanted to come to dinner? Meet my parents?"

The line was silent.

"It doesn't have to be this week or anything!" he rushed. "I just ... I would like you to meet them. Eventually. You know, if you wanted."

"Yeah I guess that's okay."

"Really?" Oh, he couldn't believe his luck! His heart was drumming so loudly he almost missed what Levi said. "What was that?"

"I said it's probably best if you meet my parents first. Get the worst out of the way and all that shit."

"Levi, I'm sure it'll be fine!"

Levi snorted. "You have no idea what you're saying, kid. My parents are the worst. I'd rather deal with this shit first before dealing with your parents. Can only go up after a meal at mine anyway."

"Okay," Eren grinned. "When would you want to do it?"

"We could always do it this Friday?"

"Yeah? Isn't that too soon?"

"I'll have to make sure both my parents are home, but yeah should be fine."

"Okay!"

"Okay. I'll let you know what they say."

"Okay um ... Talk to you later?"

"Sure kid. Night."

He hung up.

Eren stared at his phone for a moment. "Damn Levi we need to work on your pillow talk," he grumbled to himself before rolling out of his bed and making a start on his homework.

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~0~

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The week vanished in a blur and throughout those days, Levi's insides had been knotting so much he felt physically sick. He was dreading tonight. By some magical alignment of the cosmos, both his parents were free and had said that yes, they could have a family dinner to let him introduce them to his new boyfriend. The entire conversation, they had both looked at Levi with barely concealed amusement. They still thought his sexuality was a joke after he'd paraded all those one-night stands in front of them.

Slamming his locker shut, he ground his teeth together as he slung his bag over his shoulder. He was tempted just to spend some time in the library so that he didn't have to go home. However, Eren was coming over tonight and it wouldn't do to show him up. His insides prickled and his throat salivated for a cigarette, but he steered himself off campus and towards the bus stop.

The sooner he got home the sooner he could drill into his parents heads not to be arseholes.

And people wondered where he got it from?

"I'm home!" he called out, kicking the front door shut with his foot. He shoved his belongings onto the coat rack and then started clomping up the stairs to his room, not even bothering to take his boots off.

Dumping his school things at his desk, he peeled his clothes off and went hunting for something a little more formal to wear. He almost winced at how monochromatic his wardrobe was, before pulling a steel grey button down from his wardrobe and shrugging into it. He sprayed himself to make sure he didn't feel too grubby after a grueling day at school. He toyed with his tongue piercing as nerves starting to set in. Somewhere downstairs he could hear his mum in the kitchen.

"There's no need to be nervous ..." he hissed to himself.

Kicking off his boots, he trotted back downstairs to help set-up the dining room. They only ate in there for special events anyway. He was just laying out the cutlery when his mum glanced in and laughed lightly. "Well don't you look smart," she teased. "I can't remember the last time you bothered to look nice for anything."

Levi grit his teeth together. "Well I want to have tonight go well," he stated.

His mum scoffed. "Oh honestly! If he's seen you at school, he knows that shirt is probably only grey because of dust!"

He clenched his jaw and continued to to lay the table.

"I don't know why you're making such a performance," she sighed, raking a hand through her hair and standing over him, hands on her hips. "It's not like he's going to be around long enough to learn his name, is it?"

That did it.

"Listen here," he snarled, pointing at her. "Don't you dare say shit like that in front of Eren. He doesn't need to hear that shit, especially not from you."

His mum quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? So he doesn't know about all the exes you've paraded around here, then?"

"He knows enough," Levi growled. "And the reason I'm 'putting on a performance' as you put it, is because I ACTUALLY give a fucking shit about your opinion on this!"

"Since when?"

"Since I actually started caring about someone else." The look of pure disbelief on her face was enough to make his blood boil. Feeling defeated, Levi practically tossed the last mat into the center of the table and shrugged. "I'm doing this for Eren's benefit not yours," he said calmly. "Frankly, I don't expect you to care because you never do. I don't expect you to like him or understand any of this, but I want you to give him a chance."

"Fine," she shrugged. "I don't know what's so special about him though?"

Levi glowered at her. "Just ... shut up, mum."

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It was about half an hour later when the doorbell rang, signalling Eren's arrival.

Levi opened the door, his nerves wound tight. It was cold out and Eren had bundled up as per usual. He shrugged his coat and scarf off, allowing Levi to take them for him. He looked good in a green checked button down and dark jeans. Somehow, seeing him in the flesh made Levi feel a little calmer about everything. Eren, on the other hand, looked as though his muscles were made of live wires; he was jitty and kept shifting around, his shoulders hunched around his ears.

Levi found it endearing.

"You nervous?" he asked in a low voice, tugging at one of Eren's cuffs.

"Totally shitting myself."

"Good," he smiled. "Me too."

"They're your parents."

"Which is how I know this is all a mistake."

"Want to run away together yet?" Eren teased, smiling slightly.

"It's tempting ... but no. We should do this."

"Okay," the taller teen nodded. "I think I'm ready."

"You're not, but I appreciate the lie."

Eren smiled nervously and allowed Levi to steer him towards the dining room. Levi had wanted to take Eren's hand in his own but he thought it might seem a little over-kill to his parents. "Mum, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Eren."

Eren felt his cheeks go red at the introduction. He'd never met a boyfriends parents before and somehow he'd been expecting something a little more ... more? As it stood, Levi's mum and dad looked him up and down as though trying to guess his height and nothing else. Their expressions were close to boredom, looking as disinterested as a parent could be. He felt almost cheated by their lack of reaction as he took his seat next to Levi at the table. He cast a pained look in Levi's direction but the older teen gave him an encouraging nod.

"So, Eren, we've heard literally nothing about you," Levi's mum said with false cheeriness. "Tell us about yourself."

"Oh er ... Well I just started college and it's a little daunting. I'm learning to drive and me and my sister do Karate on the weekends."

Levi's dad frowned. "Only just started college? Surely you mean University?"

"Uh no ... College. I'm too young to go to Uni."

"Eren's only seventeen, Dad," Levi cut in.

If anything, that made his dad frown even more. "So how are you liking college, Eren?"

"It's okay, a lot different from Secondary School. It takes some getting used to, but I think I manage alright."

"Have you had many boyfriends prior to Levi?" Mrs. Ackerman asked.

Eren worried his bottom lip, his leg jiggling a little under the table. He took a drink from his cup, hoping to steady his nerves a little. They were firing questions at him but it almost seemed to be rehearsed, as though they'd Googles the top ten worst questions to ask over dinner for your son's boyfriend.

"Not really," he managed to say, his throat feeling tight. Out of sight under the table, Levi rested a hand on his thigh and squeezed. "Levi's my first."

If they were surprised by his admission, they didn't show it.

"So you haven't tried these tricks on anyone else, then?" Mrs. Ackerman said after a brief pause, spearing a piece of carrot with her fork.

"Tricks?" Eren frowned. Levi's nails dug into his thigh. Suddenly, all of his appetite for the rather bland dinner, was evaporating quickly.

"Yes, tricks," his mum said. "To try and convince our son that he's gay."

"I'm ... I'm sorry?"

"Sorry doesn't really cut it."

"She's right," Mr. Ackerman intoned in a deep voice. "Levi has been under a lot of pressure lately, what with looking at Universities and such. We understand that teenagers rebel in numerous ways hence the tattoo's and his ... lude behaviour. However, coming into our house and trying to convince us and him that he's gay is just ..." he sighed and shook his head.

"Are you fucking serious?" Levi hissed. "He's barely been here twenty minutes and you're already being shit?"

"Levi, tone," his Dad glowered at him.

"Fuck my tone," Levi spat. "I wanted Eren to meet you two. As a courtesy. I, personally, couldn't give a shit what you think."

Eren clenched his hands into fists on his lap. He felt physically sick and like his insides were on fire. His head was thumping and all he could focus on were those horrible, horrible words. He could feel the blood thumping through his body. He had so badly wanted to make a good impression, to make it easier for him and Levi to see each other but how could he, when his parents had already made up their mind to hate him? It wouldn't matter if he was the Prince of England, he still wouldn't be good enough for Levi, because he was a guy.

He was dimly aware of Levi standing up at the table and berating his parents. He barely caught any of the words. He needed to get out, to get some fresh air, to just ... be anywhere that wasn't in that dining room.

"Levi," he muttered, not even sure if the older teen had heard him. He reached out blindly and grasped Levi's forearm. The motion stopped Levi mid-rant and he whirled his grey gaze down at Eren. He was so angry his eyes were a molten, smoky grey. Eren swallowed thickly and shook his head. "Don't. It's fine."

"No, Eren, it's not. They -"

"I'm aware," he cut in, softly. He stood up without meeting anyone's gaze. He must have looked mildly forbidding considering he was taller than everyone in the room. "I think it's best if I just go." He tossed his napkin onto the table and leveled his gaze as Levi curled his lips into a sneer at his parents. "I'll see you at school," he murmured, pressing a chaste kiss to Levi's cheek.

He gave one last look to Levi's parents before turning and leaving the room. Out in the hallway, he quickly shoved his hat on his head and shrugged into his coat, dimly aware that the adrenaline coursing through him was waning fast. If he didn't leave now, he'd rush back into the room and grovel for all his was worth to prove that he was good enough Levi.

'Nonsense,' he thought. 'No man would be good enough for Levi.'

"Eren, wait."

He froze, his door on the doorknob. He spun around, unable to let himself relax. "I was sort of hoping you'd follow," he whispered. "I was about ready to explode."

"I'm so sorry you had to deal with them! I knew this would fucking happen!" his mouth twisted into an ugly expression. It broke Eren up inside, knowing there was nothing he could have done to make the evening go well.

Unless he grew a vagina.

"I think I'm just gonna head home," Eren sighed, "Hopefully there'll be some dinner left."

Levi's expression was hard to read, but Eren was sure he saw a glimmer of hurt in those eyes. It really didn't help that the food was still piping hot in the other room. It really had only been about twenty minutes since he'd sat down. He shook his head in disbelief. Hesitating, listening out for any approaching footsteps, Eren bent his head and pressed his lips to Levi's, the kiss melting away some of his pent-up energy.

"Call me later, okay? Let me know how things go."

"Sure," Levi grunted. "Text me when you're home?"

"Of course. Bye."

"Bye."

As soon as the door slammed closed a little too hard, Levi stormed back into the dining room. "Right you arseholes, what the FUCK was all that about?!"

.

Eren sped walk up his road from the bus stop, trying to keep himself as warm as possible. If he kept moving quickly he wouldn't feel as angry when he got indoors. Kicking the front door shut, he was just unwinding his scarf when his mum called out from the kitchen. "Eren is that you?"

"Yeah it's me mum!"

He ran his hands through his hair and sighed, trying to dispel the jittery feeling thrumming at his nerves. He took out his phone and shot a text off to Levi, letting him know that he'd gotten home safe. He waited a few moments, but didn't get a reply. He told himself he shouldn't have been surprised, but it still irked him.

"Is there any food left for me?"

"Of course, I was just about to put the left overs in the fridge, but you can pop it in the microwave." Eren went ahead to the stove and heaped a plate with pasta and sauce. He shoved it in the microwave, slammed the door and punched in some numbers. It whirred to life. His mum turned away from where she was washing the dishes and draped the tea-towel over her arm. "Want to talk about why you're home so early?"

"If I'd stayed there a second longer, I'd have said something rude."

Carla frowned. "You haven't even been gone two hours, Eren, what happened?"

"For starters, they were on my case about never having a boyfriend before Levi."

"You're young."

"Then they started trying make excuses for why Levi has a few tattoo's and wears black all the time!"

"Okay."

"Then they started blaming stress and hormones and the fact that's basically an idiot who doesn't know that he prefers blokes!"

"Granted, teenagers experiment and rebel," Carla nodded. "However Parenting 101 is basically NOT telling your child not to do something, like who NOT to date. They're going to wind up wanting to do it more because you said 'no'."

Eren frowned just as the microwave dinged. "So you're saying this could just be hormones?" he asked, as he fished out his dinner and set it on the table.

"Whether it is or isn't, the parents don't get to decide any of it. If you end up liking women, then that's just how things will be. If it's men, so be it."

Eren sighed, "I wish Levi could have a mum like you. Seriously, it's like she doesn't even realise she birthed a human being. They're so detached from parenthood." He toyed with his dinner without really seeing it. All the anger had burnt out leaving him feeling like a husk, even the temptation of his mum's cooking couldn't persuade him otherwise. "It just sucks. I pushed Levi to have this whole meet the parents stuff, and now he's probably yelling at them right now."

Carla frowned disapprovingly.

"Trust me, mum, they deserved it. They outright said that I was trying to corrupt their son."

"Oh, nonsense!" She scoffed. "You couldn't corrupt a baby, and they're very impressionable little things."

Eren almost smiled at the joke.

He ate the rest of his meal in silence, listening as his mum washed the dishes and recounted parts of the latest show she was watching, the possibility of getting a new family car and maybe taking Eren for a spin in the old one beforehand, to get him used to driving a little more. His emotions calmed as they talked. Grisha came downstairs after a while, glasses perched on top of his head as he put the kettle on for some tea. Eren was just about to head into the lounge to flick through the TV channels, when his phone started vibrating in his pocket.

"Hey Levi what's up?"

There was the sound of heavy breathing and ... was that wind? "Hey kid, I was wondering if I could come over?"

"Um it's a little late. Why? What's wrong?"

"My fucking parents kicked me out."

"They WHAT?!"

He was dimly aware of both his parents turning to look at him from the doorway.

"Well, we had a massive fight as soon as you left, and they said if I was willing to throw everything away for some tart, I was more than welcome to go after you."

"And you just left? Just like that?"

"No, I gave them an earful. Told them they were shit," Levi paused, breathing hard. "That you were great, and that me fucking dudes was not some rebellious phase. I told them that if anyone had corrupted me, it was them with their negligence and disinterest. Of course I was gonna do things how I wanted when I wanted, if they didn't show the least bit of interest. Honestly, it's a wonder they had me at all."

"Yeah ... I felt bad for thinking that."

"Anyway, can I crash at yours? I'll give them a few days to stew, and then go back."

"You're going back there?"

"This is how shit goes. By Monday neither of them will be in the house and it'll be back to normal where we don't really see one another, unless briefly on the way to the bathroom."

Eren rubbed a hand down his face. "This is a lot. Um ... Let me just ask, hold on a sec."

"Kay. Try and make it quick, I'm freezing my bollocks off out here."

Holding the phone against his chest, Eren turned to where his parents were both looking at him expectantly. "Hey ... er ... Would it be okay if Levi came over? His parents sort of ... chucked him out."

Carla's eyebrows shot up, and Grisha pinched the bridge of his nose. This was not exactly how Eren pictured introducing Levi to his parents. The more he'd ranted about his experience with Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman, the more he realised he was dropping Levi in it. His parents could have easily said he was being bias, because he was Levi's boyfriend. So even if he was a rotten son to his parents, how would Eren know?

"Since it's a Friday night and you don't have school, yes he can come and stay," Grisha finally sighed. "Don't make this a habit though."

Eren shook his head, unable to contain his relieved smile. Turning away, he put the phone back to his ear. "Hey Levi?"

Gravel crunched. "Yeah?"

"My parents said you can come over." Why did he feel giddy when he said that? "Where about are you?"

"Uh ... What's your house number again?"

"23."

"I'm here now."

There was a knock at the door. Eren hung up the phone and hurried over to answer it, annoyed with himself for practically skipping over to see his boyfriend. He hurried Levi inside out of the wind and slid the deadbolt into place. Levi rubbed some feeling back into his hands before unzipping his coat. His nose and cheeks were flushed with the cold and he was shaking a little.

Eren took the coat and scarf from him and hung them onto the coat rack by the door. He had the desperate urge to kiss Levi, but wasn't about to do that when his parents were lurking near the stairs.

"Christ it's cold!" Levi hissed, his shoulders hunched up as his eyes flickered over to Eren's parents. He felt a wave of nausea hit him in the gut.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

THIS WASN'T HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED T-

"Mum, Dad, this is my boyfriend, Levi," Eren said with an awkward smile, his cheeks blushing a little. The warm hand he slid into Levi's was a firm, warm life-line he could cling to. He almost felt too exhausted to smile. "Levi, these are my parents, Carla and Grisha."

It was going to be a long weekend.

"Hello," he said, his voice catching. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

A very, VERY long weekend.

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