True to his word, Levi stayed all night to help with the painting. There were no paint fights this time around, but Eren was sure there had been plenty of flirting. Again, a small doubting voice in the back of his head whispered that it was simply wishful thinking on his part, and he was imagining flirting where there was none. Thankfully, the bigger voice was saying, fuck yeah, Levi was flirting with him, and he gave as good as he got.
Maybe, when he has a bit more confidence he'll call Levi out on it. For now, he would continue to subtly flirt, sending Levi lingering looks and coy smiles. Eren could be rather awkward and clumsy, but when he was around Levi, flirting came naturally. He had spent most of the evening locking eyes with Levi when Levi was talking, or when he was talking, or just in random instances, making a non-verbal connection between them. He caught Levi looking at him a few times too, and that was what made him think maybe Levi liked him as well, or Levi simply got a kick out of flirting, but he wanted to be positive.
"We should probably call it a night," Eren remarked, as he had just yawned for what felt like the hundredth time.
"Lightweight," Levi teased.
"It's gone midnight!" He defended, before turning his outrage into a sly smile, he added, "Are you challenging me?"
Levi's eyes travelled slowly down his body and back up again - yep, he's flirting.
"I guess I am," he coolly confirmed, as his eyes locked with Eren's.
Flashing Levi an enormous smile, Eren laughed softly, "You're on," he stepped closer, "I'll talk so much it will bore you to sleep!" He announced smugly.
Levi shrugged, resuming the final stage of the painting, the final wall, "You're talking with an insomniac - remember! Besides, I have a friend, Hanji and they can talk the hind legs off of a donkey, so I'm used to senseless babble."
"Senseless babble," Eren said in outrage, "I have you know, I am a wonderful talking partner." He touched Levi's forearm gently, "Wonderful," he repeated.
Levi's eyes moved from looking at Eren's face, down to Eren's hand on his arm, "I think you've confused the word wonderful and annoying," he looked back up at Eren with pity.
Although Levi's face expression was stern and his tone serious, somehow Eren knew he was teasing.
"Oh, you'll see." Eren sang, letting go of Levi, and walking backwards a few steps, "You'll see!" he threatened. It would have appeared much cooler if he hadn't walked backwards into a booth and fell into the seat.
He heard Levi laugh, "All I can see is a clumsy tired idiot," he called out.
Eren sat up and pulled a face at Levi, choosing not to respond otherwise.
After a few moments, Levi offered Eren some coffee, "Oi, sleepyhead," he called, "want some coffee?"
"Yes, please," he accepted. Coffee sounded good, it might help him stay awake.
He checked his phone in his pocket and noted it was almost one o'clock in the morning. How long would this go on for? he wondered, would they both be that stubborn they would stay here until one of them fell asleep? Yeah, probably. Besides, it meant more one on one alone time with Levi.
He gratefully accepted the coffee, smiling at Levi as he handed it over. "Thanks," he mumbled, suddenly having the urge to yawn bit knowing Levi would wind him up if he did. He stifled his yawn instead.
Levi, glanced at him over the rim of his cup as he took a sip. He needn't had said a single thing, it was all in that look. Eren could safely say his crush was not just due to Levi helping him. He would dare anyone to look at Levi when he was giving one of his looks and not feel something stir within.
He had nothing sarcastic to add, no flirtatious remark, or clever facial expression - he was too tired, and if he was being honest, too busy staring at Levi. The man was hypnotic.
"Hey, moron," Levi called out, "You're zoning out on me," he stated, sounding amused and slightly offended.
Eren blinked dazedly at Levi, "Sorry," he shook his head in an attempt to shake off the doziness, "Hopefully, the coffee should kick in soon."
"I'm going to win," Levi announced, "you're pathetic, it's only 1 am."
Eren swung his foot out, aiming for Levi's shin, "Shut up," he pitifully beseeched. Levi had dodged his kick and glared at Eren as his actions had almost made him spill his drink.
Eren squared his shoulders and took a large gulp of his coffee, he looked at Levi with a newfound determination, "I'm good," he announced standing and heading for gloss, as they had to gloss the skirting boards.
Eren thought he heard Levi laugh, but it was so brief and quiet he may have imagined it.
They couldn't talk much without shouting across the cafe, as both were glossing at opposite ends of the room. Slowly edging closer together the more they got done. Eren survived the glossing, he sat at a booth and waited whilst Levi went and rinsed the paintbrushes.
When Levi returned, he was presented with a peaceful Eren, laying on his side asleep in one of the booths. One hand tucked under his cheek, as some sort of pillow, and the other resting over his stomach. levi took a moment to watch him. He looked calm and innocent.
Levi struggled with sleep at the best of times, he always viewed sleep when in a room with another person to be a thing of trust. He sees it as when a person sleeps, they lay vulnerable while someone else in the room watches them. They are in a relaxed state of mind and the other person is allowed to see this. To fall asleep in the presence of another person, to Levi, was a matter of trust. Maybe, it was the environment he grew up in. Having to sleep with one eye open, just in case one of his mothers night visitors came, and decided to get violent, or refuse to pay her. It meant a lot that Eren trusted Levi enough to fall asleep. Well, it was, partially trust and partially exhaustion Levi reasoned.
He fought the urge to stay there to continue to watch Eren, instead, he opted to clean all the paintbrushes, pack away the paint and once the paint was dried pull the masking tape off.
Eren woke with a start when he heard a crashing sound and an expletive that came from Levi.
He sat up and glanced around the cafe, he spotted Levi over by the counter, a tray at his feet. He met Eren's gaze and looked apologetic.
"Alright?" Eren asked, as he rubbed his eyes and walked over to Levi.
Levi had bent down to pick up the items that had fallen from the tray and the broken pieces of a cup, "Fine," he replied, "I accidentally nudged the tray and the fucking thing betrayed me and crashed to the ground."
"I fell asleep," Eren proclaimed still clouded by remnants of sleep and feeling groggy.
"That you did," Levi confirmed amused by Eren's unfocused state, "Which means," he stood and placed the tray firmly on the counter, "that I won."
Levi thought Eren looked adorable, his face screwed up in thought, frowning at Levi's words, "I fell asleep," he repeated as if the action would help clarify the situation.
"Yep," Levi repeated, "out like a light. I was tempted to paint on your face or something." Although that was far from the truth, he was tempted to do something, painting his face, was not it.
Eren grinned, "Well," he chuckled, "Thanks, for not doing that."
Now he was feeling more awake, Eren took in the area around him. He noticed that Levi had cleaned up and removed the tape.
"Oh," he proclaimed.
"I was bored," Levi stated trying to lessen the gesture.
"Thanks," Eren told him, yawning.
"Time for me to leave," Levi suggested, seeing that Eren was still tired. Besides, he could do with going home, showering and at least getting a couple of hours sleep.
It comforted him that whenever he mentioned leaving, Eren would feel disappointed or even sad.
"Okay," Eren accepted, feeling a little upset that he had wasted some of his time with Levi sleeping.
Eren's emotions crept over him, causing Levi to feel the need to settle them, he asked, "I can come back later if you want?"
The sense of joy radiating from Eren and washing over him was almost enough to make Levi laugh.
"Erm..." Eren said unsure, "Only if I'm not interrupting what you need to do."
"You're not," Levi quickly confirmed, "I'll come back around lunchtime. We can put the tables together and start laying out the furniture."
"Okay," Eren agreed cheerfully.
With the plans set, Eren and Levi stood awkwardly facing one another.
"So," Eren began, "I'll see you later,"
"Later," Levi conformed.
Knowing that they would both continue to stand and stare at one another, Levi picked up his coat and headed for the door. He unlocked it, turned and nodded farewell to Eren and left.
Eren locked the door behind Levi and then headed to his nice warm and cosy bed.