They got in bed, Eren facing outward and Levi facing in, a discreet distance apart. Eren looked as tense as a guy wire.

"Relax, dickhead, I'm not going to jump you."

Eren's shoulders didn't relax, they sagged and Levi frowned. What the hell?

There was a brief silence then, "do you ever think about dating somebody?"

"Nope. I just hook up occasionally, like I said. Quick, clean, no strings."

The hot, revolting, volatile wave of jealousy washed over Eren again. The thought of anyone else with Levi made him want to punch something.

"You should try dating."

"You, I suppose."

"Why not?"

"Because I'll just get hurt. I'll get attached and you'll get bored and then BAM, broken heart."

"I told you I'd never hurt you."

"Eren, that's what everyone says. Can we talk about something more cheerful?"

Eren was silent so long that Levi was afraid he'd descended into a mood and wasn't going to talk at all.

"No school tomorrow."

Levi barked out a laugh. "Incorrigible."

"That's me." Levi could hear the smile in the young man's voice and it made him relieved and happy

"Well, 'night irritating elf."

Eren laughed, "g'night crabby old troll."

Levi snorted.

Eren snuggled down into the covers. The bed was super comfy and smelled like Levi (a perk that Eren appreciated.) Because Levi kept the heat low to save money, he'd piled the bed high with blankets, old quilts, and a well-worn duvet. The effect was very comforting and snuggly.

Eren wished suddenly that he could snuggle with Levi. They were just friends; it could be completely platonic. Then he imagined getting his hands on that velvety looking porcelain flesh, getting to stroke it, warm it under his touch.

No. Nope. Nuh-uh. That was not happening platonically.

Eren huffed and scrunched down into the covers.

"You OK over there?" Levi's voice was even deeper and a bit husky with drowsiness. Eren squeezed his thighs together on his half hard cock and bit his lip. "Uh-huh."

"Well settle down. I'm sleepy."

For a brief moment Eren envisioned going down stairs and jerking off in the bathroom. Would that be considered in bad taste? Oh, wait, Moblit was down there, only feet from the bathroom door. Goddamnit. Another resounding nope.

Eren sighed quietly and closed his eyes.

Levi listened to Eren shift and squirm on his side of the bed. He opened his eyes to stare at the lump that was his bedmate. The kid acted nervous as hell. Did he really not trust Levi? If not then why did he ask if they could kiss again?

Levi frowned.

Oh. Oh, no.

He was an idiot. Eren wasn't nervous. Eren was hopeful. He was hoping that Levi would lose his resolve and initiate sex with him. Shit. Levi should have let Hange and Moblit share the double, he and Mikasa could have slept on the twin and then Eren could have had the couch. Or Eren and Mobes in the double and Hange on the couch.

Ugh. He'd made a terrible choice and now he'd probably be up all night with a horny 21 year old tossing and turning in the bed beside him.

Jesus, why had he kissed the brat anyway?

Oh who was he kidding? He'd kissed him because he'd been wanting to kiss him for weeks. He'd been attracted to Eren from the first time he'd seen him.

Jesus he had fucked up.

Eren suddenly rolled over, facing inward. He opened his eyes and found himself and Levi regarding each other from a foot and a half away.

"You're still awake," he said.

"Well you keep wallowing around in the bed."

"Sorry. I told you I was nervous."

"I don't know why," Levi said, lying.

Levi, who was on his left side, had his right hand resting in front of him. Eren reached out and touched the silver bracelet on Levi's wrist. He remembered vividly the first time he'd ever noticed it, after the robbery, and it being smeared with blood. Levi's blood.

Eren shivered.

"You OK?" Levi asked.

"Just remembering the flower shop … and that guy."

"Ah."

"You wear your mother's name on you all the time."

"I do. She means a lot to me."

"You were so young …"

"Do you think I don't remember her all that well?"

"No! No, I'd never—-"

"Take it easy, brat. I'm not angry. It's a reasonable thing to think."

"I adore my mom but I can't even remember being five," Eren admitted.

Levi looked fondly at the name on the bracelet. "I think it was losing her. It's like it sharpened my memory."

"You don't have any brothers or sisters or other family?"

"Nope. Just my shitty uncle Kenny. You?"

"Nah. No siblings, anyway. My mom has a small family but my dad's a bit of a mystery."

They lapsed into silence. Eren's fingertips still rested on the inside of Levi's wrist. He could feel his pulse, quick.

"You mentioned him, Kenny, before. You said he was into some bad stuff."

"Still is."

"Did you … did you ever …?"

Levi sighed and withdrew his hand to card his fingers through his hair. "Put simply: yes."

He settled his hand back down on the bed, almost touching Eren's and Eren put his fingers, feather light, back on Levi's pulse.

"You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

Levi hesitated.

"There's nothing to talk about. I used to do it. I don't anymore."

"Fair enough."

"What about you? What wild and bad things have you gotten up to in 21 years?"

"I got suspended from school for fighting … a few times."

"You?! Noooo!"

"Asshole old man," Eren said.

"Tiresome juvenile delinquent," Levi countered, a smile tugging at his lips.

Levi found his eyes drifting closed. Eren's finger on his pulse had started stroking softly and it felt good. Eren, not nearly as sleepy, just watched him, a small smile on his lips.

As the two men slept, their stand-offish postures relaxed. Levi was a still sleeper and Eren tended to roll around. Eventually Eren settled down and both slept deeply and soundly as the snow fell silently outside.

The only problem was that the room was chilly and Eren ran hot; he was a natural human heater. That inevitably drew Levi who was always cold. Sure enough, when Eren woke later in the night, Levi was on his side of the bed, pressed against his back, arm loosely thrown over him.

Eren froze when he realized.

Oh shit. What do I do?

Tentatively Eren stroked Levi's pale, muscular arm, the one that was draped over him. His skin was smooth and the fine, scant black hair that was sprinkled along his forearm was soft. Eren ran his finger over the silver bracelet, tracing the grooves of Levi's mother's name.

"Levi," he whispered. "Levi?"

No answer.

Eren gathered up his courage. "I know you can't hear me but I … I just wanted to say it out loud." Eren took a deep breath. "I love you, Levi. I think I really love you." He stroked Levi's arm again. "I wish you'd reconsider dating. Dating me. I swear I wouldn't hurt you. I couldn't. I love you too much and I love Mikasa, too." Eren lapsed into silence for a second. "Anyway, that's all I wanted to say." He sighed then and snuggled back against Levi's warmth. Levi's arms tightened around him instinctively. Eren closed his eyes.

Behind him, Levi's eyes, lucid and awake, slowly opened.