Written for the 500 word winter-themed drabble challenge on AOW' discord server. Hope yall like it!

Christmas.

The happiest time of the year! A season of joy and giving that everyone could take part in!

What bullshit.

It was a time of corporate greed and consumer lunacy. Worst of all, it was Levi's birthday.

He hated the holiday for as long as he could remember. A time other children would eagerly await for was one Levi dreaded. After all, he hated watching his mother whore herself out in hopes of extra money to buy him a gift. The sadness and guilt in her eyes every year she couldn't afford to buy a gift and to put food on the table. He learned early on to not ask for anything. One year he asked for a teacup, a small teacup to drink tea in like he saw on the TVs in the windows of shops. She slaved away to get the money to afford one, unbeknownst to him she stopped eating so she could afford to feed him. Christmas morning she happily gave it to him, a tiny white teacup with blue accents on the sides. He nearly screamed with happiness, excited he was as he brewed tea for his little cup. Kuchel watched happily at his joy as he filled it and picked it up, finger crooked into the handle just as he saw on TV.

The handle broke off and the little teacup crashed to the floor, hundreds of porcelain pieces scattered at his feet. He never asked for anything again, couldn't bear seeing his mother work so hard just for her mistake of a son to break what she gave him. He went 30 some years hating the holiday, never celebrating, never joining in on his coworker's or family's shenanigans. Until-

"Levi~"

Right, I have the literal incarnate of Christmas joy as a boyfriend.

Slowly, Levi began to open his eyes, confused to see that no annoying sliver of light was coming out of his ratty blinds. What time is it? Looking over confirmed it was well past 10 am, meaning the sun should definitely be blinding him right now.

"Levi! Happy birthday!" The voice said from behind him. Levi suppressed a groan and turned over, grey eyes meeting with excited green eyes. The room was surprisingly dark, only the dingy light from the hallway illuminating Eren's lithe figure.

"Why's it so dark?" He asked, Eren's smile somehow brightening at the question.

"Blackout curtains! I set them up while you were sleeping. Now you can finally get a good night's rest." He explained, quickly laying beside the stunned man and nuzzling into his chest. Warmth bloomed in him, melting away the ice he was so used to, making way for something fleshy and vulnerable.

They held each other for a while, Eren talking about all the plans he had planned to do with Levi that day to celebrate his birthday, and the softness of the moment further melting Levi's heart. His eyes darted towards the dresser drawer, where he knew a little box that would change his life rested.

Yeah, Christmas is slowly becoming my favorite holiday.