Chapter 4 : I am here for you.
All the way to the office Erwin was holding Eren closely to his side, assuring the younger boy that he is by his side.
As they reached the office Erwin opened the door and let Eren in, him closely following.
"Take a seat Eren while I make tea for us. Do not take Levi's words too seriously. Do not let them get to you, it will not end up well if you do. Just relax for the time being, okay?" Erwin gently smiled at him.
Eren quietly took the seat near the front of the desk and just nodded. Even if he was trying not to overthink things, he couldn't help it. Levi's words were on one side truthful, on the other side he could have chosen at least not so harsh words. But in the end, we are talking about Levi. And he is just like Erwin said too straightforward and do not really hold back when something does not seem to please him.
Erwin purred the hot tea into two cups and brought them to the desk. Eren hesitantly took one of the cups and took a little sip from it. Erwin sat down on the chair behind his desk and took the cup and took a sip from it.
Eren put the cup back on the table with clearly shaky hands. Poor boy, he does not deserve the threatening his getting from that embittered dwarf Levi.
Erwin knew that there would be problems with Levi, but he would not have thought that it would be this bad. But honestly, with Levi, no one really knows what to expect to happen. He is just too unpredictable and moody. One time he is ok and one second later he will slash your throat without hesitation if you piss him off.
But after today he had enough of his sassy attitude. It is unacceptable behavior, which will not be tolerated anymore. Especially it will not be acceptable towards the person who is close to the Commander.
Erwin reached out one of his hands towards Eren. "Give me your hand Eren." He said as gently as he could. Eren hesitantly did as Erwin told him.
"Eren, I know that this is really hard for you. Especially since you are in constant contact with him unwillingly. But do not worry just one wrong word or one wrong move from him and he will find himself behind the bars for a long period of time. And I will not give a dam fuck about his status as a captain. He is also just as an ordinary mortal as all of us. he will end up in deep shit if he does not watch out. But do not let be confused with what I am saying. It is not that easy for me to say these things as it may look like. We have a shared a common past that I am not proud of a slightest bit. Now that I can see his true colors it makes me realize that breaking up with him was the best thing I could ever done. However, it saddens me that he couldn't move on like I did and now all he is doing is venting his anger on you, who are innocent in all of aspect, since you have done nothing wrong. "
Eren carefully listened to Erwin's words. He was quite taken aback with them. It was the first time that he heard Erwin talking in such a moderate manner. He did not really know what to say and so he stayed silent.
"Eren, listen to me. It is already too late to back off from all this mess what is happening around us. But I am determined that at whatever costs it will take I will make sure that Levi will leave you alone and will not bother in any aspect. With me you are safe, you don't have to worry about anything. Okay?" and he gently look into those emerald - green eyes, which were full of doubt yet unspoken feelings.
"But what about the others? They will think that I am with you because of your influence and other benefits which will favor me above others. I am still apprehensive about Levi spreading some bullshit among the others to make sure that they will turn their back on me and trying to discredit me in front the whole Castle including you. "
Erwin squeezed Eren's hand tightly. "Do not worry about that, Eren. I am pretty sure that the others are already gossiping about us, and that Levi is scheming against us something, it wouldn't be him if he wouldn't do that. But I will make sure to the rest of the Castle knows where their places are. Messing with my partner equals messing with the Commander himself. And that is something that no one wants. No one, trust me. The consequences can be quite radical yet effective. In any case, if they will not leave you alone or will harass you or mock you for it, please do not hesitate and tell me and I will personally take care of can count on me like I count on you, Eren. Do not think that you are alone. You are not. I am here for you. Do not forget that."
And he gently smiled at the boy. Eren just dryly gulped. He was still confused a bit, but Erwin's words put his mind a little bit at ease.
"For the time being not to be too suspicious you will stay with the others, doing things that you were doing until now. You will train and doing chores like the others. I will not interfere until it is necessary. This way you will not feel that you are the chosen one or you are getting special treatment from me. it is okay with you?"
Eren nodded. "Thanks for that. I wasn't expecting anything less from you. Hopefully, it will be okay. Not sure about Levi though. However, this time, I will try not to take him seriously. He will hundred percent making my life a living hell but maybe if I show him that he cannot break me he will eventually give up, what is unrealistic, yet not impossible."
"That's the spirit I want to hear. Keep your head high, ignore his comments and do not let him fool you. He isn't the guy he was before. He will try to trick you to believe that I am just using you and I have plenty of other lovers that no one knows about it. That is a complete bullshit undoubtedly. Do not ask why he would do that, but he did that once and do not end up well so… He will try anything on you so just be careful and do not let your guard down when he is near. Even, I do not really think he will do that, though. But I know him enough to know that he is capable of anything to reach his goal. So, it is better be prepared than be later be surprised. "
Erwin than stood up and went around the table and sat down next to Eren without letting his hand go. Eren blushed heavily.
Erwin chuckled. "You are so cute when you are blushing."
"I am not cute at all."
"Yes, you are, just you do not want to see it, Eren. "He let go of Eren's hand just to move it up to be able to cup his chin up gently into his hand.
And without any further warnings he leaned closer and kissed those slightly chapped lips, which were tempting him for some time now.
Eren's eyes widened in Erwin's clearly "unseen" intention of kissing him, yet he closed them quite quickly and just let himself be carried away by the feeling of Erwin kissing him.
….
Tbc :D
