Chapter 3 – Switzerland

-The next day-

Eren woke up to the smell of bacon and eggs. Once the scent had registered in his mind, and he realized that meant Levi was up, his body shot up. His feet groggily slipped into his shoes and he headed downstairs. As he reached a certain point on the stairs, he could see Levi's torso come in to view. He was standing in front of the stove, swirling a spatula around a pan that contained the eggs. As Levi reached up to open one of the cabinets, Eren's gaze slid down a little lower, then quickly returned to the man's shoulders. Hearing Eren's feet hit the floor, Levi glanced over his shoulder and greeted Eren.

"Well, he's alive. I thought you were dead when I walked in to check on you earlier." Levi said while sprinkling pepper into the pan.

"Morning. You do know you aren't supposed to be cooking right now, right?"

"Yeah, but I had to make something for you before you woke up, it's common courtesy."

"I could've waited." Eren said as he moved behind Levi, grasping his hand to move it away from the skillet.

"What're you doing?" Levi protested.

"Keeping you safe. Now, come sit down while I finish the food." Eren lazily said as he guided Levi over to the couch, forcing him to sit down. He trudged back to the stove and finished scrambling the eggs, he then poured Levi some orange juice. He placed everything on a tray next to the counter, and brought it to Levi like some kind of house maid.

"Here, I got you some juice, too. I hope you like it." He stated while setting the tray on the coffee table.

"Thanks."

"Mhm."

Eren sat down next to Levi, he found a remote sitting nearby.

"Do you mind if I turn on the TV?"

"Sure."

Eren clicked the 'on' button and the TV turned on, revealing a news channel. There was a lady talking, she was showing the scene of a crash that happened a few weeks ago. The next news reporter stated that they hadn't located the victim, but that the driver of the car was in stable condition. Eren intently listened to everything they were saying, then Levi's voice caught his attention.

"Turn it off."

"H-huh? Why?"

"Just turn it off." He said as he finished the last of his bacon, setting his fork on the plate with a clink.

Eren clicked the 'off' button on the remote and stared at Levi. His mouth opened to say something, but a knock at the door stole his words.

"Levi! Are you in there!?"

"Who is that?" Eren asked.

"He's my boyfriend."

"B-boyfriend?!"

"Yes, now open the door."

Eren hesitantly complied, stepping over to open the door, allowing the man outside to enter. He had blonde hair, sapphire blue eyes, and extremely broad shoulders. Eren was quite taken aback by his height, too.

This is who he sleeps with!? He's so tall! How the heck does Levi deal with that?

"Levi, I was so worried about you." The blond strode up to Levi and pulled him into a tight embrace, at which the smaller man flinched, surprised by the sudden contact.

"Hi, Erwin."

"Oh, Levi. You have no idea how worried I was. After I heard about the accident, I rushed here, but you were nowhere to be found."

"Yeah...I was in the hospital." Levi said, wiggling free from Erwin's grip.

Erwin nodded and settled onto the couch next to his partner.

"Are you alright?"

Levi was staring at his plate, his eyes unmoving, as if he was in deep thought. Erwin tapped his arm a couple times before the man finally looked back up. He gazed at the blond, not realizing that he'd asked a question. Noticing this, Erwin repeated himself.

"Levi, are you ok?"

The smaller man frowned slightly, then returned to eating. Lifting the fork to his mouth, he glanced over to Eren, then continued what he was doing.

"Of course. You didn't think a little car crash would sweep me off my feet, did you?" He said while chewing.

"No, but...you seem..." The larger man faltered, thinking of the right words to say. "...different."

"Oh? I do?"

"Yes, you aren't looking at me, all you're doing is staring behind me. Why won't you look at me?"

Eren was still awkwardly standing near the door, and what he was hearing frustrated him to the max. He had studied seeing-impaired people for years, they never precisely locate where to look and, to most, their eyes seem hollow. People like Levi, who aren't used to being blind, don't really know how to talk to people. They don't look at the person they're speaking to, find ways to look at something else, or ignore the situation completely. After listening to the two for a while, Eren had concluded that Erwin had no idea Levi was blind. So, he decided to speak up, believing it would be better for them both.

"He's blind, so he doesn't know where to look."

Erwin glanced over to Eren, who was shifting from one foot to the other. Narrowing his eyes, he spoke.

"He's what?"

"He's blind, Sir. He can't see you, that's why he isn't looking at you."

The entire room dropped to silence. Meanwhile, Levi was internally facepalming.

"It's true, Erwin. I am, in fact, blind. Everything is black. I can't even tell where you are, except that you're next to me."

"What? You can't see me at all?"

"Exactly." Levi said as he pointed his fork, as if to say 'bingo'.

It took a few seconds for Erwin to process everything. He couldn't comprehend what was happening. Levi couldn't see him?

Well, this complicates things. I didn't expect a change in plans.

"Erwin?"

"Ah, yes, Levi?"

"Are we still going on that trip?"

Jeez...It's like he can read my mind. What am I gonna tell him? We can't go now that he's blind. Shit.

"Um...well...you see..."

"Mhm?"

"Eh?! I'm sorry, was that rude to say?"

"Huh?"

"Oh...n-nevermind then. Anyway, I don't think it's probable that we'll be going to Switzerland any time soon. Not with the condition you're in." Erwin said, not so much as blinking. His posture was so tense, and his hands were shivering.

Levi nearly collapsed at his words. He'd been waiting 5 years to go to Switzerland. All he wanted to do was visit his grandmother's grave. Levi and his grandma were very close when he was little, but he was separated from her after his parents divorced, his mother taking him to the US. She died when he was a teenager and he wanted to pay his respects, but it took him a while to locate where she was buried. And now, the thought of never being able to see her again made him sick to his stomach. He clutched onto Erwin's arm and squeezed with all his strength, hoping to convey his feelings of desperation.

"Please, Erwin...I'm...begging you..."

"You know that you can't go in the state that you're in."

Levi gripped to the man harder, teeth clenching in the process.

"I just want to see her again!"

"You can't see her and you know it, so what's the point?"

"I don't care! I just want to be near her. Please?"

"No. It's impossible. I'm not guiding you all over Switzerland just to find a worn-out grave that means nothing to me." With that, Erwin walked out, slamming the door behind him.

Levi was sitting in the middle of the floor, having fallen off the couch when Erwin jerked away from him. Eren's arms wrapped securely around him, his body was trembling, shaking from the anxiety. Eren tightened his hug, allowing the man to lean on his chest.

"It's ok, I promise."

"I... I just wanted...to be with her...one last time." Levi choked out through sobs and hiccups.

"I know, It's alright. I'm here." Eren calmly cooed, brushing his hand across Levi's silky hair.

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Hello! I know this is an angsty chapter, but it started off really cute. I know, I know, 'How dare you, Author-chan!' Erwin is also kinda mean...so yeah...bye bye! ;)