Warning : Mentions of suicide

Chapter 9 – Dutch Courage

-November 12th-

It'd been a week since Levi had abruptly screamed out in a raging, suicidal fit, Eren wasn't having an easy time controlling him either. He'd stayed up all night one day, sitting next to the older man as he tried to ease his tears. The day after that, the boy found a razor blade sitting in the bathroom with specks of blood on it. He took Levi straight to the hospital once that happened, forcibly shoving him into his car and speeding down the road. The man had protested, but he couldn't do much about it either way. A few days following that lovely escapade, Eren had to go back to college. His classes wouldn't hold up for him, even if he was aiding someone who clearly needed help.

A foggy Monday morning wasn't boosting his mood in the slightest. He'd gotten up early, only to be stuck in traffic for the next hour, making it to campus just as the bell echoed across the school. Grunting as he sat in his seat, he pulled out his textbook for the class. The poor thing was worn and ripped beyond repair, but it wasn't his problem, he didn't do it, it was just that way when he got it. His best friend, Armin, ended up arriving late, which made Eren anxious since he knew Armin never missed school.

His eyes lifted once he saw a familiar gloss of blond hair come into view.

"Hey, sorry I was late." The boy whispered as he took his seat, scooching closer to Eren.

"What happened?"

"Traffic."

"Ah. Gotcha."

Armin leaned over to his friend's side, watching intently while he texted on his phone.

"Who're you texting?"

Eren gave a side-glance before saying, "A client."

"Ooh. Do tell me more." The blond gently nudged Eren with his elbow, visibly teasing him.

"He's just a client from work."

"And?"

"And he's blind."

The boy widened his eyes, then straightened his back. His breathing narrowed out, sinking back in his seat, he drew out a long, steady sigh.

"Well...what's he like?"

"Oh, um...he's kinda...distant."

"And? C'mon, there's gotta be more." He continued teasing.

Eren scratched the back of his neck before continuing. "I don't know. I haven't known him that long."

"Is he cute?"

Eren's cheeks flushed a bright red, in attempt to hide his face, he knocked over his textbook, the hardback falling with a loud crack. Everyone except the professor, who just kept lecturing, looked back towards the two friends. Eren slumped down in his chair, still blushing pink, with his arms across his face.

"Ugh..."

"Sorry... But seriously, is he?"

A tired sigh was breathed as an assumed answer, but then Eren spoke.

"I guess." He mumbled, Armin just barely catching his words.

"Mm...what does he look like?"

Another sigh.

"He has obsidian-black hair, steel-gray eyes, and he's really short." The boy grumbled the last part, acting as if Levi was there in the room.

"Oooh. He sounds handsome."

"He's not."

"Huh?"

"I said he's not...because he's gorgeous." Eren made sure to add a French accent to his voice, enunciating the word with an effortless grace unbeknownst to Armin.

"Wow. Do you like him?"

"He's my client. I can't get involved with someone from work."

"Hmm...when he stops being your client, then you could. It would be unrelated to work at that point. Right?"

Eren gazed at the ceiling, pondering the idea, but quickly throwing it away despite how much he wanted his older companion.

I couldn't do that to him. He's been through way too much, I'd just make everything worse.

"That's true, but I'm not that kind of person. Plus, he's blind. Do you really think he wants his every move to be controlled by some cocky, college brat? I think not. Anyway, I have to go, he's expecting me back in half an hour." With that, he rose from the bench, shoved his book into his duffle bag, and walked off. The class hadn't even bothered to ask why he left, even though a few side glances were shot at him as he did.

Back at Levi's place, the man was getting annoyed with how late Eren was. He'd been awake ever since Eren had woken up that morning. He just couldn't go back to sleep, no matter how hard he tried. He'd read a book, hoping it would bore him enough to take a nap, but when even that didn't work, he just gave up altogether. At least Eren cracked the window before he left, so Levi could hear the birds and young children outside. The morning breeze was wafting through too, just enough to where it wasn't awfully cold or unpleasantly humid.

The brunet just knew he was going to get yelled at, he'd been late every single day that week, and Levi would kick his shin every time. His skin was developing a light bruise now, the boy trying his best to hide it, especially from Armin. He figured a little makeup would conceal it well enough from his friend, and he'd succeeded so far.

Ah...crap, crap, crap, crap! I'm late again! He's gonna murder me!

Nearly falling as he opened the door, Eren tiptoed his way through the house, hoping and praying that the crotchety man was still asleep. Albeit, luck definitely wasn't on his side that day because, as soon as he laid a foot on the stairs, Levi was poking his head out of the bedroom with a skeptical look plastered on his face.

I'm dead...

"Eren, that's you, right?" He cautiously asked, carefully gripping the doorframe as a sort of security.

"Y-yes..." Eren stumbled over his words, and knowing he was going to get a kick later didn't help any. "I-I'm sorry for being so late."

Levi slowly turned around and fumbled his way back to the bed, laying down as soon as he got there. The lovely feeling of the mattress, the silk, the velvet, everything about his bed was luxurious. His entire house was that way, all the way down to the floors.

He let out a long-withheld sigh while he sank further into the plushness. "Hah...man, this sucks..."

Eren cocked his head in confusion, then spoke up for himself.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, I mean my situation. I can't perform simple, daily tasks anymore. I just wanna go to work, but my boss isn't budging at all." Another sigh escaped the man's pursed lips.

"Um..." Eren stumbled again. "Excuse me for asking, but where exactly do you work?"

Levi tensed, sinking even further back; he glanced in Eren's general direction and, closing his eyes, said, "I'm a doctor."

.

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Hellosies! Don't mind me, I'm being weird. Anyway, I'm so grateful to everyone who takes the time to read this. I know it's a rather short chapter, but I had to have some way to start the next one. OH! I'm also going to incorporate others ideas into this, so if you guys have any requests or just want a cute little cafe date then be my guest. lol. ;)