Chapter 45
Levi
He heard a soft, gentle knock on the door at the back, and he looked up from his laptop. The next sound was the familiar, almost silent footsteps. Then Levi saw Eren emerging from the darkness as he entered his living room. A couple minutes ago, Ackerman deactivated the alarm, because he got a message from Yaeger, informing that he was already in place. Eren grinned at the sight of the detective.
Levi felt indescribable relief inside. They were playing a very dangerous game now. At any moment, something could have gone wrong. He hated the thought that Eren was still taking part in this damn farce. If it was up to him, the boy would have joined his friends already, but they still needed his help… It shouldn't be like that.
Ackerman was still seated at the table as Eren stepped closer and stopped in front of him.
"Are you okay? Are you hungry?" The detective wanted to know. He closed his laptop and only then rose from his chair. "I can warm you something up if you want..."
The man fell silent as Yaeger cupped his face in his hands and kissed him on the lips. Levi didn't remain passive. He wrapped his arms around Eren's waist and kissed Eren back, also allowing the boy to deepen the experience. They kissed passionately for a long moment, tasting each other's lips, until they finally looked at each other closely, both slightly flushed.
"I've missed you," Eren whispered, holding out his hand and running his fingers through the short, dark strands.
"Well... you've mentioned it before" Levi replied quietly, raising one eyebrow higher. "How many times do I have to tell you these are business phones, you stubborn brat..."
"I know... It happens, just like that" Eren grunted, still smiling.
Levi shook his head, but his face lit up into a smile as well.
"I'm glad you're okay," Levi whispered, looking into bright green eyes in which he saw a fiery feeling. They stared at each other for a moment longer, until the detective decided they should move on to the point that needed to be discussed immediately. He looked at Eren more seriously. "So, your friends are safe now, as I texted you. Jean joined them, he's our next witness. Hey, are you listening to me?"
"Yes!" Eren said quickly, stepping back a little and looking at the man intently. "I'm glad that everything went well and that Armin is fine. It was close."
"How did Grisha react?"
"I haven't had a chance to meet him lately, but he's starting to panic. Especially considering that situation with Reiner. How is he doing?"
"He'll live," Ackerman replied, leaning his buttocks against the table top and crossing his arms in front of him. "He's now in one of our hideouts. Shadis doesn't know that Reiner worked for Grisha. He thinks that old bastard just wanted to get rid of him just because he joined our squad. Admittedly, thanks to Braun, we managed to rescue Armin, so that prick finally came in handy for something. So... Marcel is dead, and Porco is in custody and is about to be questioned, although I rather doubt that he'll say anything."
After a moment, Levi turned towards the table and reached for the pages of his notes.
"Since Grisha is starting to panic and losing support, we should quickly move on to the next stage. I need some information from you, such as how many people he currently has in his mansion."
"That depends," replied Eren, standing next to Ackerman. "There are usually about a dozen security guards at his property, although now, without the Gaillards, their quality will definitely drop. Grisha juggles people between all his locations. I suspect he'll shut down his laboratories for a while to bring more people to protect him."
"Then we have to try to arrest him before he does so. I suspect Erwin and Hanji will agree with me."
Eren suddenly looked at the clock on the wall.
"Speaking of them... What time are they even supposed to be at your place?"
Levi flipped through his notes, looking for the document he needed.
"About an hour from now. You're a little early, but that's okay," Ackerman muttered, then finally spotted the page he was looking for. "Please, look again at the building plans, to make sure that we'll be able to cover all exits..."
Levi paused as he felt Eren hugging him from behind. Slender fingers tightened on his chest, then slid down to his stomach. One of the hands continued its journey, finally stopping at the bulge in the man's pants. Levi sighed softly and felt his dick react automatically to this touch. He also felt Eren press him tighter against the desk.
"Nothing bad will happen if we take a short break. Let's wait for the rest," whispered Yaeger, kissing the back of his neck. Levi shivered slightly as he felt the warm breath against his skin. "And since we still have a moment to ourselves..."
"I think we should rather..." Levi said, but his voice caught in his throat as the impatient hand gripped his erection harder. He had to admit Eren's argument was extremely convincing. That made the detective change his mind at that point. He turned to Yaeger and passionately kissed his mouth. The boy moved the papers and documents aside, then pushed Levi onto the table. Then he covered the detective with his own body, pressing him against the table top. Levi put his arm around Eren's neck and continued to kiss his lips.
Eren quickly took down the buttons on Ackerman's shirt, then began to kiss his neck and chest. Levi groaned softly, feeling the hot and wet tongue now teasing his nipples.
"I want you so much," Eren whispered, between one kiss and the other. Levi just sighed loudly in response.
Their bodies pressed together, trembling and wanting to be even closer to each other. Rapid breaths and grunted sighs filled the silence in the living room now. That was at least until Levi heard the loud bell.
The detective opened his eyes and stared ahead in surprise. Eren, on the other hand, completely ignored the sound. He was still kissing the man's neck passionately, his hands now were taking care of the fly of Levi's pants.
"Did you hear that?" Ackerman asked, rising gently on his elbows.
"Mmm," Eren stammered, but kept sucking on Levi's neck. He moved his mouth lower, but then the signal rang again.
"Wait," Ackerman muttered, then gently pushed the boy away from him and slid off the table. He buttoned up his fly and quickly walked over to a small screen on the wall, near the exit door. He activated the device, and just then his jaw fell down. He saw Erwin and Hanji standing outside the gate. The woman with glasses waved at the camera.
"Heeeey, Levi! Are you there?"
Ackerman cursed under his breath, then looked at Eren.
"Just great…" Levi grunted, quickly reaching for his buttons and starting to button his shirt in a hurry. Apparently Yeager wasn't the only one to show up early. Levi raised an eyebrow as he saw the boy's eyes widen. Eren stared at what was on Levi's neck. Ackerman felt a twinge of unease. "What is it?"
"Sorry... I just noticed it now," Eren whispered, and suddenly smiled with amusement, though he quickly tried to suppress the smile. Levi frowned and walked over to the mirror that hung on the wall.
"Fuck..." He blurted out as he spotted a maroon hickey on his neck. Still staring at the mirror, he shifted his gaze to Eren's reflection. Yaeger chuckled softly, and that made Levi narrow his eyes. "You're really asking for trouble, do you know that?"
"I didn't do it on purpose! Besides, it looks so sexy…" Eren walked over to the detective and put his arm around him, but Levi turned on his heel and started towards his bedroom.
"Open the door for them, please. I'll be back in a minute."
Ackerman locked himself in the bedroom and quickly changed into something that was his only salvation in this situation. When he returned to the living room, Hanji and Erwin had already greeted Eren and were sitting at the table. They were slightly surprised to see their friend dressed in a black turtleneck hugging his body, perfectly covering his neck. He couldn't help noticing that both Eren and Erwin looked at him a moment longer.
Levi ignored those looks and got straight to the point.
"Hanji, make some tea. Erwin, take a look at the building plans that lie on top. Eren, make sure once again they are correct."
The three of them went to work without objection, apparently sensing that Levi was out of sorts. Zoe quickly got the tea ready, and soon the whole group of them was seated at the table, bending over plans and notes. They tried to analyze all the scenarios, although they knew perfectly well that something could always go wrong.
"Will my testimony be enough to discredit him?" Eren asked suddenly as he rested his chin on his hand and stared at the detectives. Hanji, Erwin, and Levi looked at him intently.
"We'll definitely find something in his mansion as well," Smith assured him, casually sketching a random shape on a piece of paper. Levi knew perfectly well that the man often did this while working, it helped him focus. "He must have some weapons, cash, or drugs in there, right? Besides, you said that prisoners were often kept in the basement. One blood stain is enough."
"It's true. Something will be there for sure… "Eren replied. He seemed a little calmer.
"Leave it to us, honey," Hanji said, smiling at the boy. "I think it would also be safer if you were somewhere outside the property when all this will start. We don't want anything to happen to you. Grisha can get mad when he finds out about your betrayal."
"I know, but being there, I can have some influence on him. And I, on the other hand, don't want anything to happen to you, guys" Eren stared back at Hanji, there was a sincere worry in his eyes. Then he glanced at Ackerman, who sat across from him, sipping his tea slowly.
The man put down his cup and leaned against the table, placing both hands on the table top.
"We won't be alone, Eren. Believe me, Grisha won't stand a chance against our strike team."
"If you say so..." The boy looked a little more consoled again. He stared into Levi's eyes a moment longer. "But I will probably be terribly worried anyway..."
Suddenly, Eren reached out and, thinking little, placed it on Ackerman's hand without taking his calm eyes off him.
It was only when he noticed the sudden surprise on Levi's face, that Eren realized what he had just done.
The boy was speechless, quickly glancing at Erwin and Hanji, who widened their eyes at the sight of their clasped hands. Eren panicked at first, but soon he got an idea. He reached with his other hand towards Hanji, who was sitting next to him, and touched her hand.
"…so promise me that you will be careful!" He finished loudly, holding both detectives' hands up and smiling happily. Hanji laughed, and Levi gave a soft click and took his hand out of Eren's reach. He gave him a very telling look, like he wanted to give him a message, that he would deal with him later.
"We promise!" Hanji exclaimed, imitating Eren's noisy tone. Smith grinned. Levi just rolled his eyes and poured himself another cup of tea.
Eren
He watched Levi close the door behind the two detectives, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. His heart skipped a beat as Ackerman returned to the living room and looked at him. The resentment in the man's eyes amused him.
"Hey... You're not mad at me, are you? I really didn't do it on purpose. I mean, both the hickey and the fact that I touched your hand..." muttered Eren from the other side of the table. He reached out and placed his hand on the wooden table top. "Would you like to go back to where we left off earlier?"
Levi raised an eyebrow, then wordlessly walked over to the wide cupboard and opened the top drawer. Then he went back to the boy and threw the towel at him.
"No. Take a shower first."
Eren watched as Ackerman walked past him and headed for the bedroom with a cup of tea.
"Maybe you want to join?"
"Thanks, but I already had a shower" Levi replied, then disappeared into the other room.
The young man decided he wouldn't waste any time. He walked quickly to the bathroom. Once inside, he stripped off his clothes, took off the silver pendant as well so as not to damage it, and entered the cabin. He allowed himself a moment of relaxation. He relished the warm stream that washed his tired body. He needed a moment to collect his thoughts.
He scrubbed himself all over and finally got out of the shower. He dried his skin and hair, then tied a white towel around his waist. He reached for the pendant and put it back around his neck. He brushed the damp strands back and tied them up at the top, then left the bathroom.
When he arrived in the bedroom, Levi was sitting on the bed sipping his tea, flipping through pages of his notebook. When he saw Eren, he sat up straight and set his cup down on the nightstand, as did his notebook. His eyes were drawn to Yaeger's naked chest, which still contained single droplets of water.
Eren sat down on the soft sheets, next to the detective. He took the man's cheek and leaned in to kiss him, but Levi still had time to say:
"Not so fast. Do you think you can get away with it all?"
Eren blinked in surprise, then laughed as he saw something in Ackerman's gray-blue eyes twitch at the happy sound.
"Don't pretend to be so prude. Somehow, when you were lying on the table beneath me, you seemed to quite enjoy it..." Eren confessed, raising the corner of his mouth feistily.
Levi pursed his lips, apparently holding back a smile.
"Don't cross the line. Okay, now... Lie on your stomach" He ordered, not letting Yaeger provoke him. Eren, too curious to argue, obeyed immediately.
He pressed his face to the cool, wash-scented sheets. This time it was navy blue with dark, flowery patterns. He grunted in pleasure and closed his eyes as he felt a warm kiss on the back of his neck. After a while, soft hands tightened on his shoulders and began to knead them.
"That's nice..." Eren whispered, smiling gently. He felt his body relax, the stress of the day fading into oblivion. After a warm shower, the massage was another relaxing experience.
The hands suddenly disappeared, replaced by more kisses. Eren felt Levi's wet lips mark a trace along his spine. As the caresses went even lower, the boy's eyes widened and he let out a loud sigh. His heart skipped a beat as he felt the towel he was tied with was removed. Ackerman's hands tightened on his buttocks, then a wet tongue slid into his entrance. Eren jerked his head up and groaned loudly, feeling a whole new sensation.
"Gosh," It blurted out of his mouth. He began to breathe faster as currents of unexpected pleasure flooded through his body. His hands tightened on the sheets, as he still felt the hot tongue penetrating him. The caress took longer than he expected. His breathing became more and more rapid and his cheeks flushed.
At one point, the tongue disappeared, and Eren took a deep breath and tried to calm the heart that raged in his chest.
He looked slightly back, to glance at the detective. Levi got to his knees and smiled pugnaciously at him. Eren watched the man pull off his black tight turtleneck. He was naked underneath. The dark red mark on his neck caught the eye from a distance. Levi reached lower and unbuttoned his belt, then his pants. Eren's pulse sped up again as he realized what that meant.
"Have you ever done it this way before?" Levi wanted to know. He reached out and threaded the fingers of one hand between Yaeger's brown strands, caressing the skin of his scalp. Eren purred softly. He was still lying on his stomach, under the man.
"Yes, sure," he said before he could think about it. He heard Levi gasp softly.
"Don't give me bullshit."
Eren bit his lower lip, his cheeks flushing again. He turned his face to the detective again.
"Why do you ask if you already know the answer? It's just... You don't have to be gentle. You can do what you want with me."
He saw the sincere surprise appear on the man's face. Levi blinked several times, then lifted the corner of his mouth.
"You're a complete idiot."
"What...? Hey!"
Eren tried to get up, but then he felt Levi hugging him from behind. The warm lips began kissing his neck and shoulders again. This made the boy stay where he was.
"Your pleasure is most important to me," Eren heard a soft whisper against his ear that made him tremble. He also heard Levi open a drawer. "If something's wrong, tell me right away."
Eren nodded, though he had no idea if the detective could see it. He snuggled into the soft sheets, waiting for what was about to happen, and after a while he felt it. It was hard for him to compare this feeling with any previous experience. When Levi entered him, at the very beginning he felt only pain, although Ackerman's movements were very slow and gentle, and he was already prepared for the close-up. Even so, Eren's fingers tightened on the sheets and he took a deep breath. Besides the pain, he felt incredible excitement. Eren also could feel how hard Levi's dick was, and knowing he himself was the cause of it, made it hard for him to breathe or focus.
Ackerman slowly backed away, then pushed his hips forward again. Eren groaned softly and pressed his face against the sheets, this time feeling the hard erection hit him much deeper. The detective's subsequent movements made the pain slowly fade away, giving way to the unusual, crazy pleasure that overwhelmed his body. He felt the man's hips against his buttocks, felt the soft hands gripping his thighs. He felt a warm breath against his neck, and most of all, felt a hot, throbbing cock inside him, and he wondered how something could be so damn pleasant.
"Are you okay?" The whisper rang against his ear, this time a little hoarse. Eren felt a rush of desire as he heard Ackerman's rapid breathing. He smiled to himself.
"Yes," he replied, gently turning his face to the side to look at the detective through narrowed eyes. "Harder, Levi."
He saw surprise appear in the detective's gleaming passionate gaze. Ackerman parted his mouth and was clearly speechless. After a while, however, he complied with this request. He sped up his movements, entering Yaeger's body with greater force. Suddenly he grabbed Eren by the hips and pulled them upwards, forcing him to bend over, to deepen the penetration.
Yaeger groaned loudly and pressed his face back into the dark pillowcase, allowing the detective to change the rhythm. Only after a while was he able to move. One hand clenched on the sheets, with the other one he reached for his dick and began to touch himself, feeling that he was close to fulfillment. He knew he wasn't alone in this.
Levi suddenly pressed him against the mattress, fucking him even deeper and wrapping his arms around him. He pressed his own body against his lover's back and entwined the fingers of his hand with Eren's fingers. Yaeger felt Ackerman's lips on his shoulder kissing him, and he felt his teeth gently biting his skin. He sighed loudly, feeling the thrusts getting stronger and stronger, hitting him deeply, right on that most sensitive point.
He felt Levi's body tremble. He heard his muttered groan that left no doubt as to its source. Yaeger felt strong hands tighten on his hips, and he felt the man's penis throbbing in him. Eren groaned against the sheets, accelerating his hand movements and coming as well.
Eren was breathing hard, still lying on his stomach. He could hear Levi panting as well, and that made Eren smile to himself, happy to be witnessing the detective in this state. He felt Ackerman withdraw, leaving an amazing warmth behind him. A moment later a soft hand touched his shoulder and rolled him on his back. Eren looked at the man's face, saw flushed cheeks and dark strands sticking to Levi's forehead. The sight made him feel very tender. Levi must have seen a similar view because he smiled back, then leaned over and kissed Eren on the lips.
They stayed like that for a while, hugging each other and exchanging passionate kisses. Yaeger thought again about how every moment of closeness with the detective tasted as the first one. Every time it was so amazing, as if he could never get enough of his mouth.
Levi finally got up on his elbows and looked at him closely.
"So, will you say anything? Did you like it?" Ackerman wanted to know. He stroked Eren's brown strands that escaped from his chaotic bun.
"I'll just say… I want more" Yaeger confessed, and that made Levi snort softly.
"I don't know, you should be in full health. You must not have any problems with walking or sitting down. What will you tell Zeke if he notices something?"
"Zeke thinks that... Like, he goes to see chicks every few days, and I go to a different type of club. He doesn't ask for details. This is the only way that I can have a moment of peace."
Levi nodded, studying him closely. Finally he rose slowly to his feet.
"I'll be right back," He explained, and left the bedroom, zipping up his pants. Meanwhile, Eren wiped his body with a towel and tried to dry the stain on the sheets he had caused, but eventually found his attempts to be futile.
Levi reappeared with a bottle of wine and two glasses in his hands, as well as a corkscrew. Eren smiled as the detective skillfully opened the bottle and then poured red liquor into glasses. He handed one of them to Eren.
"You want some?"
"With you, always." The boy took the glass and tapped it against Ackerman's glass. He also looked at the elegant label on the bottle. "Is that some good wine?"
"Oh... Believe me, it is." Levi sniffed the drink, then took a small sip. Eren watched him, still with a tender smile wandering on his lips.
They sat next to each other, leaning against the pillows and sipping slowly. Eren reached for the blanket and casually tossed it over their bodies.
"Maybe... Let's talk about something," The detective said, looking at Eren curiously. "I'd like to know more about you."
"You can ask me anything," Yaeger smiled at Ackerman closely. He stroked the man's bare arm with his free hand.
"I don't know what to ask you... Maybe just tell me something about yourself. For example, what do you like to do in your spare time?"
Eren raised an eyebrow to this question.
"What do I like to do...?"
Levi let out a soft snort again.
"Don't say it's too hard a question for you."
Eren laughed shortly, realizing what it must have sounded like.
"I just... I don't know what to tell you. I have no idea what I like to do. I have no free time, you know that. During those six months I spent at Marley, my free time was mostly filled with parties, drinking alcohol, doing drugs, and... with shooting competitions. And of course, with walks in the laboratories. None of this is my hobby."
Levi watched him with visible sadness in his eyes. Eren felt a twinge of irritation, he didn't want them to bring up difficult topics today. Their moments together were very limited and he wanted to focus on positive aspects during them.
"You wanna talk about it?" The detective asked, holding out his hand and placing it on Eren's thigh.
"Hey, that's another question! First you have to answer the previous one. I'm curious about your interests."
"What are these strange rules?" Levi laughed a little under his breath, but stated that Eren was right. "Fine. In my free time I like to take care of my plants, clean and exercise."
"You like to clean... You'd be a great housewife," said Eren, an amused smile on his lips. He could see something dangerous twitching in Ackerman's eyes, so he quickly added, "Okay, what else do you want to know?"
Levi considered it.
"Maybe I'll put it this way: if you had free time, what would you like to do?"
Eren narrowed his eyes as he considered the answer. He rested his head on the detective's shoulder. He immediately felt Levi's fingers entangle his hair.
"I like to eat," The boy replied, and suddenly he heard Ackerman's soft laugh. His eyes widened, he still couldn't get used to the sound. "What? You already know about it. If I had time for myself, I would learn to cook. Or... I know! You could teach me, because you cook pretty well."
"Are you interested in anything else besides food?" Levi asked, still smiling broadly.
"Yes, I'm interested in you." Eren pressed his face against the hollow of the man's neck and heard his soft laugh again. Then he added, more seriously: "I used to like to play basketball. Besides, when I was little Carla signed me up to piano lessons and I remember I liked it… But you can guess that working for Grisha, I didn't have many opportunities to pursue my hobbies."
They sat for a while, saying nothing, just putting their arms around each other. Eren raised his glass to his lips and drank the wine. It had a tart, bitter taste, but he liked it. He could feel the alcohol warming him up inside. Levi drank the drink much slower than he did.
"What exactly is between you and Erwin?" The boy suddenly asked. He sat up straight to be able to see Ackerman's face and he saw a slight surprise on it. The man apparently decided that the answer to this question wasn't a problem for him, as he spoke calmly.
"We were together for a while, before we started working in the police. At first everything was going well, but then it got worse and we decided that we would go back to being friends."
"Do you still have feelings for him?" Eren wanted to know, staring curiously at the detective. Levi looked back at him with composure.
"I think so. I think I will always feel something. I care about him. But I don't plan on getting back together with him."
The boy nodded, wondering what exactly this "something" Levi had mentioned meant. Recently, however, he promised not to be jealous, so he didn't continue the topic. After all, it was him who was currently sitting in Ackerman's bedroom, completely naked, resting after sex and sipping expensive wine, not someone else. He shouldn't complain.
"Let's change the subject. What's your favorite dish?" Levi ran his fingers over Yaeger's back, making Eren feel shiver through his body.
"Why? Would you like to cook me something?" Yaeger asked, grinning widely.
"Maybe…"
Eren laughed as Levi cuddled up to him and kissed his neck. Then he looked into his eyes, waiting for an answer.
"As you already know, I like all kinds of pizza," The boy confessed, squinting thoughtfully. "I like shrimp. And the ribs. And the pasta. And the chicken. And pancakes and cakes... Ooh, you could bake me a cake, any kind."
Eren glanced at Ackerman.
"And you? What do you like to eat the most?"
"Hmm..." Levi looked to the side, this time it was he who considered the answer. He also took another sip of wine. "I like cauliflower chops. And quinoa with vegetables. And baked cod."
"Sounds delicious," Eren said, then rested his head on the detective's shoulder. They fell silent again, savoring each other's presence and the taste of the wine. Yaeger was the first to break the silence as another question popped in his head and he was very curious of the answer: "Is there anything you are afraid of?"
Levi didn't answer for a long moment, so Eren moved to look at his face. He was surprised to see that a small crease appeared between the man's eyebrows, indicating that he was considering the question very seriously. Yaeger suppressed a burst of laughter. He didn't expect Levi to take it so seriously, but at the same time he was glad that they could actually get to know each other better.
"I think... I'm afraid of being lonely" The detective finally replied. Eren's lips parted slightly and the smile faded from his face. He stared at the man, waiting for him to expand on his speech, and so he did. "I'm afraid that something will happen to my friends and I'll be left alone. I'm afraid I won't be able to keep them safe. I'm afraid of… this silence and emptiness. A phone that will never ring. A door that no one will knock on."
Levi saw the boy's concerned eyesight, so he quickly brought a calm smile to his own face.
"Don't worry. I think it's because I lost my mother early and the man who took care of me left me after some time. After that, I visited various foster families until I came of age. It wasn't a pleasant experience."
Eren leaned closer and kissed the detective on the lips. Levi sighed softly, closing his eyes and returning the gesture. When they broke apart after a while, they exchanged tender smiles.
"Now it's your turn," Ackerman said, looking into those green eyes. "Is there anything you fear?"
The boy nodded almost immediately, though not very willingly.
"Of course it is. I'm afraid that something bad could happen to you or my friends... But if I had to reflect more deeply on this question, something else comes to mind. I'm afraid that…" Eren paused for a moment, trying to choose the right words, as well as wondering if he really wanted to share this thought with Levi. However, he stated that if he was going to talk to someone about it, Ackerman was the right person, so he sighed softly and then continued. He could see gray-blue eyes staring at him, beaming with tenderness and understanding. "You probably will tell me that we've talked about it before, but a lot has changed since then. You used to convince me that I wasn't like Zeke and Grisha, but… When I was in Marley, I've done some really nasty shit… including killing. I know it's unforgivable and wrong, but while I was there, I thought I was doing the right thing. I was sure that if I want to protect you, I have to pay any price."
Eren sighed. He cursed in his mind, because a moment ago he had promised himself that he wouldn't raise difficult topics, and he had just confided his darkest thoughts to Levi. Ackerman, however, didn't seem disgusted. At first, shock crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by sadness and compassion. He must have guessed the truth for some time. He hugged Eren tighter, but kept silent, giving him the opportunity to continue.
"And... I'm afraid that if it had taken longer, I would have gotten lost in it and I couldn't stop... In all this killing, violence... I would cross the line, after which there would be no return. It'd be too late for me. It's a little ironic, but I feel that if Zeke hadn't kidnapped you, and then if Mikasa hadn't saved you, I would still be up to my eyes in all of this."
Levi pondered Eren's words for a moment, then spoke softly.
"You didn't know what would happen. It's hard to predict the future." Suddenly, anxiety appeared in the detective's eyes. He crossed his gaze with Eren. "Forgive me to change the subject for a moment, but I have to ask... Does Grisha have any evidence of what you did in Marley?"
Eren was slightly surprised, but shook his head, though with obvious hesitation.
"No. I don't think so… We were careful. You don't need to worry."
Levi nodded. He stroked Yaeger's arm, gazing calmly into his eyes.
"Going back to what you said... The most important thing is that you're back with us. With me." Ackerman said, smiling gently, as if to take those dark thoughts away from Eren. The boy lifted the corners of his mouth, thankful for it. -"You don't have to be afraid of it anymore. Soon, you'll leave this life behind you and you'll be safe."
Eren nodded with relief on his face.
"Oh, yes. I can't wait." He suddenly looked into the detective's eyes again, his face lit up in a smile. "You don't need to be afraid either... I mean, if it comes to your fear. You won't be lonely. I'll always be by your side."
Yaeger leaned over and wanted to kiss Levi on the lips, but froze as he saw the sudden change in the expression in the detective's eyes. The man opened his eyelids and his face turned sad for some reason. Eren frowned, not understanding what was going on.
"Eren..." Levi began in a cautious tone, as if explaining something extremely important that seemed obvious to him, but for some reason made him uneasy. "Do you realize that once we get you new identities and help you leave the country, we won't be able to see each other or even to keep in touch?"
The boy looked at the detective with a blank expression. He stared into the man's eyes, which in turn were staring at him. Levi looked concerned, and for some reason guilty as well, as if he had just realized he had made some unforgivable mistake.
Eren didn't move, processing the detective's words in his head. Was he aware before of what Levi had just told him? He wasn't sure. Some part of his consciousness suspected before that hiding witnesses must have been that way. For some reason, however, it was very possible that he was trying to persuade himself that this time it would be different, as if he didn't want to accept the truth.
This time it was his face that seemed calmer.
"There has to be a way to work it out somehow," Eren said slowly, reaching out and placing his hand on Ackerman's leg. He felt the rough fabric of his jeans against his fingers. "We could be in touch as we are now. Each of us would have a separate phone, that would only be used to talk to each other, nothing else. I know it probably wouldn't happen too soon, but after a while we could finally meet..."
"Eren, you don't get it." Levi sat up straight, releasing himself from Eren's embrace. Yaeger felt a twinge of irritation. This wasn't what this evening was supposed to be like. "When you and your friends leave the country, you will pretend to be completely different people. I won't know where you are, I won't know your name. I won't be able to know that."
"But..." Eren kept going. He shook his head, feeling the tears under his eyelids, which he tried his best to hold in place. "There has to be a way..."
Levi took the glass from Eren. He put it on the bedside table, as well as his own glass. Then he turned to the young man and took his hands in his.
"Everything we do is to keep you safe when you leave. It would be stupid to put you and your friends in danger. Once Grisha is in prison, he'll still be able to give orders to his people or associates that we don't know about. That's why we can't risk it. Do you understand?"
Eren looked into those gray-blue eyes he loved so much. He saw concern in them, but also consistency. Levi wasn't going to make any mistakes. He wanted to help them at all costs and allow them to escape. So why did this firmness in the man's eyes hurt him so much? Why did he want to see in them hesitation, or even a hint of selfishness?
"It's not stupid to me..." Eren whispered, feeling his body betray him. Tears rolled from under his eyelids. He could see panic appearing in Ackerman's gaze, that's why the boy quickly rose from his seat. He wrapped a blanket around his waist and wanted to walk to the door, but Levi grabbed his arm.
"Eren..."
"Give me a minute, okay?" Yaeger asked, not looking at the detective. He felt Levi's hand withdraw, so he quickly moved. He left the dimly lit bedroom and walked into the dark living room, where he took a deep breath. He stood there for a moment, wrapped in a warm blanket, wondering what the hell he was doing.
It's not like he didn't know about everything, what Levi had just informed him about. He just hoped they would come up with some solution, with something, that would make them see each other again and maybe even allow them to be together.
Eren made his way slowly to the pots in front of the window. He reached out and ran his fingers over the great leaves of a plant whose name he still couldn't remember. The thought that he would leave this place and never come back to it again, was breaking his heart. He felt safe here, which is how he should feel at home. He considered it unfair that their relationship would end when it had just begun.
He wiped his cheeks, then stared into the darkness outside the window. Small lanterns stuck into the ground lit it. He stared at the wooden bench, where he and Levi had once had a night conversation. Eren suddenly thought that it was probably during that conversation that he had fallen in love with this man.
He closed his eyes, trying to calm down.
He had no choice. He had to be cool about it, as Levi did, and just accept the situation. Whatever would happen, he would remember this place and this man forever. After all, happy memories are probably better than emptiness...
He spun on his heel and walked briskly back to the bedroom. Levi was sitting on the edge of the bed, hands on the sheets, staring darkly ahead. When he saw Eren, he shuddered and looked at him with concern. As Eren sat down next to him, Ackerman grabbed his hand.
"Eren, forgive me. We should talk about this at the very beginning. I was sure you were aware of all of this. I'm sorry if I misled you" Levi said and for the first time the boy saw real fear and deep guilt on his face, he looked lost. "I didn't want to hurt you or take advantage of you. If you feel like I did it, then..."
Levi paused as Eren closed his mouth with a kiss. He pulled him onto the sheets. They hugged each other, kissing tenderly and sighing softly. After a while, Levi landed on top and tore himself from Yaeger's lips to look at him.
"Wait. I want us to clear it up..."
"It's okay, Levi," Eren replied tersely. He smiled slightly. His damp brown hair escaped from his hairstyle and scattered on the sheets. "Let's not talk about it anymore. I don't want to waste our time together on some strange dilemmas. Since this will all be over soon, I want to enjoy moments like that for as long as I can."
The detective pursed his lips as he regarded Eren with obvious hesitation. He looked as if he wasn't entirely sure he should end the conversation at this point, but apparently he wanted to restore the previous mood as well. That's why Levi finally bent down and put their lips together again. Yaeger put his arm around the older man's neck, pressing him against himself. After a moment the detective deepened the kiss, his tongue slipping into Eren's mouth, forcing a soft sigh. They hugged each other with all their might, continuing to caress each other's lips.
At one point, Eren decided it was the right moment. He rolled Levi onto his back, leaning over the detective and breaking the kiss. He looked into Ackerman's eyes.
"I love you" He whispered, tenderness was perfectly audible in his voice. It was surprisingly easy for him to say these words. They were appropriate, they fit perfectly on his tongue and sounded just as they should.
He could see the detective's eyelids opening wider, he also saw the daze in his eyes at this sudden confession.
"I suspect it's no coincidence that you're telling me that right now" Levi replied quietly, staring at Eren without blinking. "It's not fair."
"I just wanted you to know..."
"I know that," Levi replied, and this time it was Eren who froze. "I love you too. Very much."
Yaeger was speechless, completely confused.
He wanted to tell Ackerman the truth, that's correct. But with his confession he also wanted to make Levi hesitate, to doubt their inevitable separation. But he hadn't expected an answer from him, at least not like that. It felt as if his own weapon had suddenly turned against him.
He had no idea how he would come to terms with the fact that he and Levi were going to have to say goodbye forever in the near future.