A/N: Manako; I'm sorry, I can't reply you directly since you are a guest, anyway hahah well somehow I'm planning to write side story for them, actually. I still not sure when I'll post it. But I've had in mind what I wanted to write. In a time like this, I keep wondering if I don't need any extra hands to type more XD
Anyway, this chapter contain threesome topics and such, sensitive topics. If you prefer not to read, it's fine, better leave now quietly than leaving something unnecessary.
Chapter 12: Trust and Love
Hanji knew what was coming as soon as she saw Levi lead Eren inside the lab. Her glasses glistened, hiding the reflection of her eyes. Levi coughed, breaking the awkward silence. Eren walked closer to the table and sat down on the high chair.
"Hanji-"
"I knew it! I should have seen this coming!" Hanji cut him even before he finished the sentence.
Levi's eyebrow twitched in annoyance, especially when Eren threw him a questioning look. "Listen to me first, will you?!"
The glassed scientist leaned against the table across them, grinning widely. "Are you going to check the blood test? Have you finally made Eren pregnant, Lev- Ouch!" Hanji yelped when Levi backhanded her. "No need to be so violent, shortie!"
Eren's cheeks were tinted with an adorable pink hue as he fidgeted in his seat. He looked down, too embarrassed to look at Levi. Levi sighed and put his hands on Eren's shoulders.
"Hanji, I want to have a DNA test, quickly!" He slammed his fist on the table, giving the woman in front of him a menacing look.
Hanji blinked in confusion. "What? Finally? Now? Who are you going to match it with..." She trailed off while her gaze drifted to Eren. Her lips went dry at the realization. "Your… brother?"
"We're not sure yet. That's why I need to check our DNA." Levi said, eyes meeting Eren's and nodded. He wrapped his fingers around Eren's palm and the younger boy clenched his hand tightly.
Hanji adjusted her glasses, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Okay… I'll need to prepare the things to draw your blood." She quickly rummaged through her things from the cupboard, pulling out a large box full of needles and cotton balls.
Eren gulped at the sight of so many needle sizes. Hanji noticed and chuckled, pulling out two blood collection tubes and medical adhesive tape from the cupboard below. "Have you ever gotten your blood drawn, Eren?"
"Only when I needed to check my blood type." Eren gave his arm when Hanji pulled him to open up.
It didn't take 10 minutes to draw their blood and put back the things to where they belong. Hanji named each tube for further checking.
"It'll take about 2 weeks or more to find out the results. I'll let you know when it's done, Levi." Hanji gave him a look and Levi nodded cooperatively, quite surprised that she didn't hear any objection of how long it would take to process.
"Okay, I will leave the check and document to you." Levi patted Eren's shoulder and drag him outside the room.
"Tell Petra to come here." Hanji called out before the door closed. The glassed woman sighed, looking down to the two blood tubes in front of her. This was more complicated than it should have been and she felt a little bad for teasing Levi about his relationship. A door opened and Erwin walked in, eyes immediately darting to the blood tubes.
"I should have known when that intelligence gave me the document." Erwin mumbled, taking the blood tubes.
"Are you going to check it today?" Hanji raised her head.
"The faster the better for them." Erwin said, waving his hand for Hanji to follow him.
Eren moaned as his head hit the wall behind him when Levi pushed him further, kissing him intensely. He gasped when his boyfriend gave him space to breathe only by attacking his neck. Eren's fingers made a mess of his raven hair, hissing at the feeling of sharp teeth marking him. Levi's lips came back to his lips, sucking on his lower lip enough for it to swell.
"Mhhn… Le-Levi…" Eren pushed him, flushing when Levi refuse to listen. He stared right into his eyes while their lips collided. His fingers curled Levi's back collar when a wet tongue swept inside his mouth. Eren closed his eyes again. They shouldn't be doing this here. They should be doing this in a more secluded part of the lab's hall. Eren didn't know what Levi had thought as soon as they walked outside the lab. They were only turning to the entrance of the door when Levi suddenly pushed him right when he was about to go out. His… boyfriend? Brother? He should be more patient about this. Maybe Levi was nearing a break down just as he was. Eren gasped for breath in the middle of their tongue battle, submissively enjoying the way Levi had won over him almost immediately as soon as he started it. The hardness in the middle of his legs was starting to bulge and was easy to notice. Eren started to pull away in shyness, wishing that Levi wouldn't notice.
"L-Levi, wait… Mmnn…" Eren clenched his eyes, breaking their kiss and looked to the side.
"Trying to hide it from me is useless, Eren. A boy around your age is quite sensitive when it comes to these things." Levi brushed his fingers lightly on Eren's bulge, his wet lips softly kissing the corner of Eren's lips.
"You did this on purpose." Eren complained, pushing him away and trying to calm himself down.
"Did I? You're reacting like this even when you know I could be your brother?" Levi softly caressed his hair, now pulling Eren into his hug.
That fact made Eren frown. It was true. He was reacting to his kisses and soft touches. "I guess…"
"It's kinky." Levi cut in and licked Eren's lips one last time before he let him go.
Eren sighed and rubbed his palm over his red face.
"Call me brother, next time."
Eren's eyebrow twitched. "Levi, are you enjoying this?" He glared at him.
Levi stared at him without replying for a moment before answering, "No, Eren… No."
Eren nodded and slid down to the floor, leaning against the wall. "I don't know what to do if the result told me I'm related to you." Eren whispered, hiding his face under his bangs.
"I am not sure what to do either. I don't even remember anything of my childhood. I lost my memory, Eren."
Their eyes met and Levi took his hand, pulling him up and hugged Eren into a tight embrace. Eren clutched his doctor's robe, sniffling and hiding his tears. Levi hussed him, patting his brown hair.
"What the hell happened to you? Everyone kept telling me that I had a brother named Rivaille that loved me very much. I always followed him around whenever he was in the store or even in the house. One day he just vanished and I couldn't see him anymore no matter how much I cried. When I was around 4 years old Mom and Mikasa told me that Rivaille was in heaven, dancing in the clouds. I wanted to join him but they told me I couldn't until I was able to get the power to fly. Clouds are like cotton, so soft and fluffy, so we humans can't dance in the clouds with our heavy bodies. So, until the time comes that we can dance in the clouds, I would have to wait." Eren paused, smiling, and brushed his tears away. Levi kissed his eyelids, urging him to keep going. "When I got older, I started to understand that my brother had passed away. And yet here you are, in front of me. Those documents told you that you are my brother. I don't know if I should be happy or sad..."
"I don't remember anything aside from waking up in the hospital bed. The first person I saw was Petra. The only name I remember is Levi. I knew I had a little brother with green eyes that I loved very much."
Eren's eyes widened, he started to shake his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. "Please… I don't think I can receive that information right now." He choked a sob.
"We could have a memory that's actually related to one another. It's not enough proof, Eren. I keep on denying the fact that you lost a big brother and I have a little brother. It was just a fluke. The only thing that we can hope from our DNA test is the truth." Levi rocked him like a baby, kissing his forehead. Eren sighed shakily and let Levi coo him.
Armin stared at his phone. The screen showed Eren's message, telling him that he had done the DNA test and will be waiting for the result in about two weeks or so. Someone put an arm around his chest, kissing his nape. Armin sighed and leaned back against the warmth of Marco's chest. Jean pulled his phone away, eyebrows frowning at the message.
"What's with him?"
"Mmn? Nothing that needs your concern, Jean."
"Would you like to discuss it with us?" Marco smiled, staring into his blue eyes. Armin looked up to him and then to Jean.
"Not at this time, the topic is too heavy." Armin offered a smile, glad that both of them would let go of the topic.
"If you say so. Then no phone in the middle of the fun, alright?" his boyfriend only chuckled in reply. Armin allowed Jean to toss his phone inside the drawer of his night table.
"Armin!" Eren shouted, running inside the classroom. They attended the same Science class when Eren had been calling him for a few times. Unfortunately, Armin hadn't picked up his phone, which made him a little worried. Armin had never left his phone anywhere else before. Eren was glad that his best friend already in the room ahead of him, saving him the trouble of searching for him everywhere.
"Eren? Why are you in such a hurry?" Armin asked while pulling out his notebook and textbook out.
"Err- well, I called your phone but you didn't answer. I was just worried." Eren fumbled with his bag.
"You called? But I didn't hear you- Oh!" Armin sharply gasped when he felt his pocket empty.
"Did you lose your phone?" the brunette became alerted.
"No… I… I forgot it." In Jean's night table drawer.
"You forgot it? It's not usual for that to happen." Eren blinked when Armin's face turn redder.
"No, I was careless this morning." He mumbled, avoiding meeting Eren's questioning look. The truth was, they were having a lot of fun and Armin was too lazy to get up. In the end, he was rushing out the door when Jean told him they were late.
Watching Armin fidget, Eren slowly lowered himself on his seat with an eyebrow raised.
"Anyway, the test result will be… A week or two?" Armin tried to change the topic.
"Yeah. Hanji said it's going to be that long."
Both of them drowned into their own thoughts, nobody saying a word until the teacher walked in. Their minds were strangely following the lesson, as if trying to think about something else other than reality. The lesson ended faster than usual.
Eren told Armin to take his bag along while he ran to the toilet first. Armin nodded, getting out of the class without him. He bumped into Marco on his way to his next lesson. The boy smiled.
"Marco…" Armin nodded, flushing at the memory of their fun together. Marco waved at him, beckoning him to walk to an area secluded from the flood of students changing their lesson's room. Armin tiptoed quietly, wondering what he wanted to talk about. He wasn't surprised when Marco linked his arms around his chest. Armin chuckled, leaning back to him.
"What's wrong?" The blond gasped when Marco's hand slowly crawled inside his pants.
"Your phone." Marco whispered.
"O-oh… yes, thanks." Armin stuttered, avoiding looking at his face. Feeling his phone dropped inside his uniform's pocket, he knew Marco was telling the truth.
"Why are you acting like this? Don't make me want to do naughty things to you with the students around us."
Armin choked. "Give up." he nudged Marco's stomach with his elbow and chortled when the taller boy playfully tickled him.
"Armin?"
Both boys gasped, looking at Eren who was giving him a confused look.
"Eren! You're fast." Armin quickly stood properly, getting space between him and Marco.
"Eren." Marco nodded, face flushing as he chuckled.
"Anyway, Marco was giving me back my phone just now. Let's go-" Armin stopped when Marco pulled his wrist. Staring at Marco's eyes, Armin smiled. "Eren, can you go ahead?" That was an order. Eren didn't say anything and walked straight to his next classroom after he took his bag. As soon as Eren walked away, Marco pulled Armin up, capturing his lips with Armin's.
The act made him receive a kick on his butt. Marco yelped, stumbling back on his feet. His hands caught the wall before him. Armin gave a sharp gasp when the back of his head hit the wall.
"Are you stupid enough to do it in public, Marco?" Jean hissed at him.
"Aah… Jean… You surprised me." Marco gave a nervous laugh.
Armin sighed in relief.
"I told you, I forgot my phone. Marco was delivering it to me." Armin chased after Eren right after their lessons ended for the day. Eren was grumbling as he was pretty sure Armin was hiding something from him.
"Why did he have your phone to begin with?"
Armin frowned. "Eren, do you dislike Marco?"
"No, Armin. Why would I?" Eren stopped when Armin pulled on his arm.
"Then why are you mad?"
"It's just that… I don't know. The way you talk to each other, he can't be considered as just a 'friend'. Are you two… cheating on Jean?"
Armin sucked in a breath. "No, we aren't…" the frown never left his face. "I'm still going out with Jean. Marco, on the other hand… He's a special kind of friend too. They are special for me, Eren."
Eren stared at his best friend. He thought he knew Armin close enough about everything. Right now though, there was a slight pain in his chest. Why wouldn't Armin tell him the truth?
"So, by special you mean, you are now Marco's boyfriend?"
The chortle that Armin let out somehow made Eren surprised. The pink hue coloring his face showing the shyness surfacing from within made Eren hold his breath for a second.
"Eren, it's a little bit complicated but… let me tell you something. It's a matter of trust and love." Armin smiled gently at his best friend. "I will tell you about it someday." Armin raised his pinky finger, asking for Eren to link his own with his.
Eren stared at it, slowly raising his pinky finger. The stupid grin on Armin's face made Eren helpless to chuckle at him. He linked his pinky with Armin's, shaking it, saying if Armin lied, he would have to eat a thousand needles.
"Is there something you'd like to talk about?" Armin pulled Eren's hand into his, staring right into him. All of the defenses in Eren's face fell down, the smile he gave to Armin holding nothing but pain. "Eren…" Armin wrapped his arms around his best friend.
"What should I do… Armin…" Eren sniffled, trying to act strong. He fisted Armin's shirt, growling as the pain overtook him. Armin's caresses did not help a bit.
Jean and Marco, who were stalking their conversation from the beginning, looked at each other in worry. At first they were worried that Eren might find out about their relationship, but now… they were more worried about Eren's condition.
"So you're saying that there's a big chance that he might be your brother after all…" Armin looked down at the hot tea in his hands. Leaning back against the barrier on the lake, he sighed, staring off into space in the dim light of the park.
"I… we kissed… for a bit."
Armin looked at Eren's blushing face, he smiled warmly. "And?"
"Even if I know he'd be my brother… It didn't felt wrong… I mean, it should've felt wrong but it didn't. The first time I started to fall for him, it's hard to think that he's someone else."
Armin chuckled. "I remember that day, Eren. You acted like a damn virgin."
"Armin! I still am!" Eren protested, face flushing brightly.
"Do you love him? Will your feelings change after the result? Do you feel aroused when you kiss your own brother?"
Their eyes met for a second before Eren looked down. The moment Levi pushed him against the wall, he didn't feel disgusted. All common sense was thrown outside the window, as if he didn't care anymore. The world was for the two of them and nothing else.
Eren touched his lower lip with his fingers, the lingering feeling of Levi's lips against him didn't change the fact that he did enjoy the touch of his warm lips.
Armin seemed to know about it.
"Eren… Jean is my boyfriend. Marco too, is my beloved boyfriend."
Eren looked up at him in surprise the moment those words registered into his mind.
Smiling in response to Eren's shock, Armin continued. "I love both of them. I can't have Jean without Marco by his side, nor that I can have Marco without Jean near me. Jean is the one who can control both of us to be steady, not to go all the way in front of everyone else, who kicks us if we go overbroad. He also takes good care of both of us. Marco on the other hand is someone very dear, but also the one who can take care of me like a brother, like family. In the end, if one of them is missing, I'll feel like there's a hole inside me. That's how I love them, Eren. One is stupid and easily gotten mad, one is smart and calm." Armin chuckled at the mental image of Jean hitting him. "You keep asking me if Jean is going out with Marco, yes, he is. They are cousins, even. But they also love me, Eren. I love them too. I cannot imagine being separate from the two of them."
"Armin… What? I don't understand." Eren raised his palm to touched his pounding forehead.
"I'm sorry if it's too much for you to receive. I just wanted to tell you that, it's a matter of love and trust. Your love for Levi… Will that disappear once you know that he is your brother? Is it that shallow that it'll be over between the two of you?"
"But… We're brothers…" Eren mumbled.
"But, we are three people." Armin pointed to himself.
Eren didn't say a word to him.
"I love Jean, Jean loves Marco, Marco loves me, Jean loves me, I love Marco… It's possible Eren! Even if he is your brother!"
Eren was having a hard time thinking about the possibilities. His headache was getting worse. "Armin, I'm going back now…" Eren swallowed the lump in his throat.
"Eren… Trust you heart. That love will not disappear just because there is a barrier called 'brother'!" Armin raised both of his hands in the air. His voice echoed in the empty park. His breathing turned heavy as the seconds passed. He sucked on his breath when Jean and Marco caught his both of his hands, holding them tightly.
They hugged him, caressing his hair and back, brushing away his tears and fear.
"Will he be disgusted by me?" Armin chocked a sob.
"Shuussh… You said it yourself, your friendship won't be as shallow." Marco whispered.
Jean kissed his cheek and patted his waist. "Eren is stupid, but he values his friends too much for that."
Armin nodded, feeling relief wash over him.
TBC