Cherishing You
Genre: Drama | Romance | AU | Incest | Modern Days
Rating: M
Pairing: (mainly) Levi x Eren, and some other pairing which will be added as the story progressing.
Summary: Having separated from his brother ever since he was a baby, Eren didn't remember the face of his older brother aside from his baby photos. He soon found himself slowly attached to the new guy who appeared in his family's bakery during the first day of his moving.
Disclaimer: I don't own Shingeki no Kyojin, but this fanfiction is mine. ©AsakuraHannah
A/N: On the continuation from Chp 9, there's a slight progress on Farlan's investigating Rivaille. Anyway, I'm sorry for a terrible slowpoke update. Happy belated New Year from me! xD Enjoy~ I've got the plot ready for more. Chp 16 is on progress!
Chp 15: The Truth
It was getting late by the time Eren had stopped crying. The couple felt drained. Eren looked at Levi's sad expression. The man beside him looked so tired than ever. Eren knew that Levi got so much things to handle. His works were piling up, so many sick patients to take care of, so many assignments to be done and so many things to report. Eren frowned at the difference in their lives. As a student, he could take as much rest as he could, probably skip one or two of his lessons, but could Levi do that? Adult's life must have been so… tough. Silently, Eren looked down at his lap. He bites on his lower lip, curling his fingers as his mind running miles for any ice-breaking.
"I'm sorry." Eren whispered, eyes still staring on his lap.
Levi's dark eyes stared at his brother tiredly. "Apologizing in a situation like this is weird, Eren." The man clicked his tongue and ran his fingers through his black hair, sighing loudly.
Eren frowned at the man. He pressed his lips together, swallowing whatever words trying to come out. He slowly got on his feet.
"I'm just…" He trailed off, unsure if he should continue. He blinked when Levi raised an eyebrow. Eren let his hand which previously waving in the air fall to his side, giving up the need to explain. "I'm going home." Eren mumbled, eyes staring down to his feet.
Levi nodded without a word. It was heavy. He couldn't find the right words to make Eren stay. Both of them need time to think about this further.
Eren opened the door, he looked at the door before shifting his foot one to another. The brunet bit his lip, glanced back to Levi. Seeing the man had his back turned to him, Eren looked back to the front. He took a deep breath and grabbed the door handle. The brunette walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. Eren leaned against the door and closed his eyes.
Never in his life he felt so heavy about facing a problem. His eyes bearing the pain without needing to explain his inner turmoil.
The window rattled by the wind. Mikasa frowned in deep thought. Ymir and Christa silently looked down at the table, each of them was busy with their thoughts. Ymir absent-mindedly playing on her straw, trying to figure out how things should be. Christa was, on the other hand, frowning with her chin resting on her palm. Her lips pursed, glaring at nothing but her almost empty Frappuccino.
Mikasa was starting to wonder if she'd made the right decision to tell her friends about her problem. That was until Christa slammed her palms on the table, making both girls startled. Jean and Marco also jumped at the sudden noise, eyes staring at the girls in wonder.
"This is unacceptable!" Christa shouted.
"C-Christa?" Mikasa opened her mouth in shock. The quiet and goddess-like girl she used to know suddenly look so fierce as if she's someone new. Never before she saw Christa look so angry.
"I want to say that anyone can have their way to do things. No one should be afraid to love one another!" Christa curled her fist.
"Christa, we're talking about reality, here." Ymir mumbled, pulling Christa's arm to drag her back to her seat.
"There should be a way to finish this case. I'll see what I can do." Christa went back to sit, her face still full of rage.
Mikasa blinked at her antics. She couldn't help but smile. "Thank you for listening and thinking about the problems along with me." She chuckled at Christa.
"There have to be away, Mikasa." Christa pressed on the subject.
Ymir slurped on her drink, swallowing and gave a loud sigh. "You haven't talked to Ian about this, haven't you?"
"Not yet." Mikasa shook her head. "I couldn't."
Ymir sipped her drink from the straw, "Of course…" she nodded to herself.
It'll be a tough road.
Eren hasn't come back yet. The shop had been closed for almost two hours. Mikasa stood up, and walked over to the window. Her eyes searching for any sign of her brother, hoping he would appear sometime soon. She frowned, wondering if something bad were to happen to him. She pulled out her phone, searching for Armin's number. She was about to press the call button when she heard a noise from the entrance of their house. Mikasa quickly ran out of her room, seeing Eren walked upstairs with a forlorn look.
"Eren."
Apparently, her voice made Eren jumped in surprise. He almost lost his footing, gripping on the rail tighter.
"M-Mikasa! Don't surprise me like that!" He hissed, keeping his voice low as not to wake their parents.
"Where have you been? Do you know what time is it?" Mikasa scowled at him when Eren groan.
"Okay, stop. I don't need to hear that right now." Eren raised his right hand in the air, signaling for her not to argue about his late homecoming. He put his forefinger on this mouth, nodding downstairs to their parent's room. He was satisfied when Mikasa pressed her lips together.
"I'll tell you in my room. Come on." Eren briskly walked past her, pulling her arm and dragged her inside.
"Wait, Eren!" She winced by the force of her brother's strength.
Once they were upstairs, Eren walked inside his room hastily. Mikasa followed him without a word, letting Eren be the one closing his room door. Her brother leaned against the door with a loud sigh. Mikasa watched, waiting for whatever reason he was gonna give her patiently, knowing something wasn't right. Her heart beating faster than before, hoping the news isn't as bad as she thought it would.
"It's… heavy." Eren whispered after a few minutes of silence.
"Eren?"
"Mikasa… Levi is Rivaille. He's our brother. My boyfriend."
Mikasa's eyes widened. "How did you-" She paused when she remembers Eren had mentioned her about the DNA test. "The result came out already, huh?"
Eren slide down to the floor, ruffling his brown locks. Mikasa caught the hint of pain which clearly visible in his green eyes. The raven-haired girl walked to her brother, her hand slowly reached him. She paused for a moment, wondering if Eren might reject the touch. Seeing Eren had no intention to move, Mikasa daringly touched his shoulder.
"Eren." Mikasa sadly called him once she heard sniffled coming from her brother. She pulled her brother into a tight hug, letting him pouring his sadness by the comfort she gave him. She never knew that love can be this painful for someone. Why does this have to happen to her brother? Could fate be much worse than this?
Never in her life, Mikasa thought lying is the only way out if it can make her brother happy with someone he loves. Is it a good choice though, to let them live in a lie forever? Will it make them fall apart in the future?
Despite her thoughts swarming around in her mind, Mikasa rubbed Eren's back. "It will be alright, Eren. Both of you will be fine."
Morning came faster than what Eren hoped for. He could barely sleep. He was glad that it was weekend. Eren sat up and looked around his room. He had packed several clothes into a small bag. The examination is coming, meaning it will be another routine of staying at the dorm. For someone like Eren who needs to work hard to get his grades up, he needed to have extra lessons. It doesn't matter what job he was going to take for his future. If he failed the test, his mom would kill him for sure. Eren sighed. Should he move out sooner than usual? He really needs some time alone. Away from his morning routine in the shop. Away from his problems…
Away from Levi.
Eren looked down to his lap. It reminds him that they barely know each other so well that he never even mentioned where his school was. Not even the routine examination. He curled his fists.
Maybe… It was for the better.
Armin leaned back against the register as he was being pushed down. He moaned when Marco licked his lips. Armin frowned as soon as he breathed tobacco from the boy's mouth. He pushed him a little and glared at his boyfriend.
"Marco, you really should consider quit smoking."
Marco smiled and nodded. "Yeah… maybe you're right for once." He chuckled while combing Armin's hair with his hand.
Jean shook his head seeing his boys. "We got guests, idiots." He nodded at the door opened ajar.
Farlan chuckled seeing the two flustered boys. He put Isabel down and walked toward the counter.
"Chocolate and strawberry Ice cream!" Isabel shouted while running to the cashier.
"Sure, young lady!" Jean used his charming smile. Marco quickly prepared the ice cream.
Farlan ordered Green tea and told Isabel to choose her seat. The girl happily chose the nearby seat across the register. Farlan followed her after he paid for their orders. It didn't take long for their orders to come to their table. The two were enjoying their food and drink, absorbed in each of their thoughts. It was until Farlan's ears perked up upon hearing someone mentioned his childhood friend's name. He looked to the register to see the three of the waiters were chatting while keeping an eye on the door of the cafe, in case a customer walked in.
"It's almost examination again. Do you think Levi know Eren's routine?"
"Considering their relationship, surely he must have known, Jean." Marco leans again the island, checking for any dust.
The taller guy named Jean sighed loudly. The blond haired boy noticed Farlan staring at them, blinked when Farlan suddenly stood up and strolled to them.
"Can I help you?" Armin looked at Farlan slightly surprised. Jean and Marco stopped their chat and looked at their customer aghast.
"I'm sorry to butt in, but, did you just mentioned Rivaille?"
"Rivaille? You mean Levi?" Armin corrected.
"Yes, I mean… That's what he used to be called." Farlan pointed his forefinger to the shorter boy, correcting him.
Remembering Eren's brother, Armin slowly nodded. "Uhh… I guess… Is something the matter?"
"He's my childhood friend. I'm searching for his whereabouts. I wanted to make sure about something. I'm pretty sure that he's the same person, but-" Farlan paused. All of a sudden, the words don't seem to make sense anymore. He felt his head spinning and he was pretty sure he made a fool out of himself in front of these guys.
There was an awkward pause until Jean broke the silence.
"I have a photo of my friend's boyfriend. If he's the same person, then you can go ask him." Jean pulled out his phone and search for Eren's Facelook account. He tapped on Eren's name and showed Farlan his photo with Levi. "Is this the guy you're searching?"
Farlan blinked when he saw Levi at the photo.
"Eren!" Isabel suddenly shouted. All of them looked at the girl who was pulling on Farlan's shirt. Farlan pulled Isabel up in his arms, carrying her to have a better look at Eren.
"You know Eren?" Marco asked enthusiastically at the girl.
"We've talked! He helped us out!" Isabel chirped, pulling on Jean's phone.
"Isabel, no." Farlan politely apologizes while pulling Isabel's hands away.
"But surely, if you've met Eren, then Levi would have been there."
"I don't know how to explain to you guys, but if you remember about Trost accident, you might know that a boy went missing. He is my childhood friend. And when I met Levi… I'm pretty sure his name supposed to be Rivaille."
Armin sends him a terse smile. "That's what we're talking about. Rivaille is supposed to be Eren's brother. That is if your childhood friend had the same name."
"Levi was just finished having DNA test with Eren." Jean pointed out.
Surprised by the news, Farlan frowned. "DNA test? What for?"
"To make sure that he's Eren's brother for real." Armin answered.
"But you just mentioned 'boyfriend'-" Farlan's eyes bulged as the realization dawn on him. "No way." He whispered. He had seen the two of them during their visit to his house. He should have known that they were dating already.
Marco sighed and put his finger on his chin. "Both of them had been stressed over it. Levi doesn't seem to remember his background. That's what I read from this situation."
"Oh shoot." Farlan cursed.
"Are these all?" Carla asked after she put Eren's luggage in the car.
"Yea, thanks for the help, mom." Eren smiled.
"I hope you're doing well in your studies over there." Carla smiled and pulled Eren into her arms. She ruffled his brown locks and kissed the top of his head. "Take care of yourself, Eren." She received a nod in reply and she let him go.
"I will, mom. Thanks." Eren said and smiled at her. He looked at his dad who walked outside the shop with the car keys.
"Are you ready? Did you forget anything?"
Eren shook his head. "Nope, let's go." He walked over to the front seat and opened the door.
"Eren!" Mikasa ran to the house after seeing her brother was about to go. "Eren, wait!"
"Mikasa?" Eren blinked in confusion seeing her sister ran to him hastily.
"Did you… did you let, Levi know about this?"
Eren looked at his father who had gotten inside the car and started the engine. He received a nod and Eren looked back at Mikasa.
"No. Please don't tell him anything."
"But why-"
"I've made up my mind, I don't want to bother him any longer. He has a happy life now. I don't want to drag him down anymore. He doesn't belong here."
Mikasa frowned. "Do you think that's the right decision?"
Eren frowned and shook his head. "I have to." He whispered. He patted Mikasa's shoulder and smiled tersely. "Take care of yourself, Mikasa."
Mikasa watched in frantic as her brother got inside the car. "Eren, I still think this isn't the right thing to-" She stop when Eren shook his head.
"No, I need some time to think too. Please, Dad, drove away." Eren closed the door.
His dad complied with a sad look. Whatever things his children talking about, it must be something difficult to be shared with the adults.
"Eren!" Mikasa clutched her bag, glaring at the car that drove away.
"Eren." Grisha spoke up after he turned to the right side of the road, going to Eren's dormitory.
Eren looked up to his father, waiting for him to continue.
"I know you're old enough to think, but whenever you feel like you can't handle only just the two of you, please discuss them with your parents."
Eren's eyes glistened in surprise. Never had he heard his Dad became such a caring person. He was changing. Eren looked down to his fist on his lap, he bit his inner cheeks and held back his tears. How could he explain his relationship problems so openly?
"Dad... I..I have something to tell you. I-I'm gay." Eren confessed, his hands were curled into fists, nails cutting crescent marks into his palms. He stared at the ground, not having the courage to see his dad's reaction.
Grisha flinched in response and tightened his grip on the steering wheel, trying to stay focused on the road. Both father and son sat in silence for a few minutes. All Eren could hear his heart pounding in his ears; the silence in the car too deafening.
His palm was starting to get sweaty. Cursing inwardly at his impulsiveness, he berated himself for speaking without careful consideration of the consequences. What if his dad react badly to the news and treat him the same way as he did to his brother?
Grisha stepped on the brake, stopping the car when the traffic light turns red. Directing his gaze at his only son, he raises his hand toward Eren's head, breaking him out of his inner turmoil.
Eren flinched at the sudden movement from Grisha. Expecting some blows to land on him, Eren closed his eyes tightly, but it never came. Instead, he felt his hair got ruffled, making Eren snapping his eyes open in surprise.
Grisha's heart broke at seeing the scared and disbelieving looks that his son has given him. He offered him a tender smile to reassure him that there is nothing to be scared of.
"Just make sure you would stay true to your feelings." Grisha advised Eren's gently.
"I.." Eren blinked, confused and frowned at himself before continuing.
"I choose to walk away because I want him to be happy."
"What makes you so sure that he would?" Grisha replied.
Eren stare at him, lost for words to reply.
The green light turned up, Grisha put his hand on the steering wheel when the light turned green. It felt odd, saying 'him', but he could try. Grisha glanced at his son when Eren didn't answer him. He didn't continue, letting him have the time to think.
Those words rang in Eren's ears even after he arrived in his dorm. Grisha helped his son to put his belongings inside his room. While in the middle of tidying up, Eren stared at Grisha's back. No harsh treatment and rejections. Eren smiled to himself. He felt one of his burdens were lifted from his shoulders.
A loud cracking sound broke the silence of the apartment. Levi cursed at the new cup he had bought for Eren crashed while he washed it.
"Levi, are you alright?" Erwin who just visited him during his break looked over to the kitchen sink.
"My hand slipped. I'm alright." He waved at the man nonchalantly. He picked the sharps and threw them in the trash can.
He will need to buy the new one.
To be continued...