Chapter 03
"Whoa!"
Eren instinctively wrapped his arm around the raven's waist, hoisting him up before the smaller male kissed the ground.
"Thanks, it's hard to see stray rocks on the road in my condition." Levi just giggles, honesty more focused on the arm holding him securely on his waist.
The raven leaned on him as they walk, Eren would have enjoyed it if only Kenny is not drill holes on the back of his head. The brunet's can almost hear the growl that the older Alpha tries to suppress. Now, Eren is torn between letting the raven lean on him or simply let go of him. But Levi is so precious on his dress and hat, the outfit made him look smaller than ever and it drove Eren's instincts insane, telling him to protect the little thing with his life.
"Usually, I ride Rouge when I got to town." Levi said stealing the brunet's attention.
The raven is pissed to see that his uncle is coming with them, the older Alpha is overreacting on little things. It's not that Levi is ungrateful for his uncle's protection but some times it is getting annoying.
"Rouge?" Eren asked. Levi can feel the young Alpha relax now that his attention is not on the moody old Alpha.
"My horse. Erwin, my childhood friend, his family is a horse breeder. They had this horse that no one can tame. I was 10 when I met Rogue. The horse blocked my path to stop me from going near the pond's edge." Levi smiled at the memory. The Smith's villa is worth the visit, nice smelling flowers and a wide meadow, covered with soft short grass. Where Levi is free to run around without bumping himself accidentally on tress or tripping over rocks.
"Wow, that horse must really care for you."
"Yes, it was a shock to everyone to see a very violent horse being gentle with me. When I was old enough to ride, Erwin gave Rouge to me as a birthday present."
"You got a horse for a birthday present? Well, I'm jealous." Eren chuckled.
"You can have one too! I'll ask Erwin, he's big softy and he never says no to anyone!"
"Ummm.. I still don't know how to ride a horse though," Eren replied sheeply. Is this a normal thing in the country side? People giving away expensive livestock for free?
"It's okay, I'll teach you."
"No!" Kenny interject. Reaching for Levi and separating the two.
"What do you mean no?!" Levi swat Kenny arms away like it was an annoying fly. "You know I can handle it!"
Levi stump away from Kenny and settled on Eren's other side. Eren on the other hand, knew what made the older Alpha snapped. It was clear as day actually, the older Alpha's glare on the young tells it all. Kenny was not doubting Levi's abilities on teaching the brunet on how to handle a horse but the idea of the two being close is what Kenny got so worked up.
Eren remained silent. Not sure of he will decline Levi's offer or go on with it. His thoughts were cut short when the raven announced their arrival.
The town was not what Eren expected. He thought it was as busy as the city but he was wrong. It was quite, pleasant even. Each shop is surrounded by nature. Flowers in decorative pots, trees providing enough shade for anyone, hedges neatly trimmed, the path was covered in with bricks with green grass crawling in between.
The shops were also stunning, the structure of the buildings were unique in there on way. The nature that surrounds them gave then a homey vibe. Though they look old but the building aged graceful.
"Wait! We should start here. I want you to meet someone!" Following his nose, Levi grabbed Eren's hand and dragged him on the other side of town.
Eren watch the streets as he let the Omega drag him. There are less people almost none actually on the streets, he spotted one or two citizens and they waved at him with a smile.
Their pacing slowed down and Eren can't believe his eyes. Levi led him to a huge green house, a herbal green house.
Levi pushed the door opened and Eren doesn't know where to look. Herbal and medicinal plants are every where all in great conditions. He even identified herbs that doesn't grow on their land, rare flowers and expensive root crops.
"Hange!" Levi called out. Spooking the small birds that lived on the structure.
"Coming!"
Eren tear away his eyes at the plants and watch as a beta approach them. She wore safety goggles on her face and her brown hair was tied up in a messy pony tail.
"Oh, my god! Levi, is that him!" The beta shouted and pointed at Eren. Not waiting for the Omega's reply, the beta threw herself on the young Alpha.
"You're a real doctor right?! Right?! Right?!" The beta hopped around Eren like an excited dog.
"Ahhh, y-yes..." Eren replies, looking over at the calm raven at the side, silently asking for help.
Levi just giggled at his situation. Poor Eren though, not sure on what do to with an excited Hange.
"MY GOD! YOU'RE THE REAL DEAL!" Hange is now inspecting the Alpha hands.
"Y-yes, can... can you let go now?"
"Oh! Sorry! Sorry! I just can't believe it!" Hange lets go but her excitement didn't leave.
"Eren, this is Hange. The town's herbalist." Levi calmly introduced.
"I'm not a doctor but I took the role for the sake of the town. I'm a botanist, I love studying plants but when I came in town, I focused on herds and medical plants to at least help the people." Hange straighten professionally and finally toning down her excitement.
"I saw some rare herds over did you cultivate it?" Eren asked, turning into professional mode as well.
"No, I didn't. Before I settled here I traveled. Discovering and learning more and more until I knew how to take care of rare herbs, especially if they were taken from their natural habitat."
"That's amazing..." Eren let his eyes roam at the spacious green house. "I can go over there?" He pointed towards the area with a sign saying 'nursery'.
"Sure! Sure! Go ahead!" Hange guide him before going back to Levi who find himself a seat.
Hange sat next to him and eyed the Omega from head to toe.
"What?" Levi raised a brow at her.
"Are you Levi? As in Levi, Levi."
"What are you talking about?" Levi rolled his eyes on the beta's question.
"Levi, you're in a dress."
"Because I'm an Omega?" Levi ask sarcastically.
"The last time you wore a dress is during the Harvest Festival and Petra literally forced you into it."
Levi's whole demure change in an instant. "Don't you fucking dare say a word if you don't want to me to fucking beat you up until you vomit all your shit."
"Geez! Okay! Okay!" Hange threw her hands up in submission.
Levi took a deep breath before standing up. "Eren!" With all smiles, Levi ran towards the Alpha, following were the scent led him.
It was easy for Levi to maneuver himself on the greenhouse for he's been here even before Hange moved in and took over.
Spotting the brunet, he manage to picture out the Alpha's position. It seems like Eren is squatting down at a certain plant.
"Turmeric."
"Huh?" Eren turn towards the Omega.
"It is turmeric. Am I right?"
"Yeah, did you figure it out based on the scent?" Eren asked in amazement.
"Yeah, I like plants and flowers. Each have distinct scent and it is calming." Levi inhaled the heavenly scent. This is the reason how he made friends with Hange, he loves staying in the greenhouse.
"That's amazing! It sounds like you have super powers." Eren chuckles, getting back on his feet.
"It's nothing. T-Thanks, anyway." Levi knew he is blushing. His face is heating up, not mention he can smell Hange nearby, probably taking notes of Levi's sudden changes.
"Eren, can we move on? We can come back here later because there is still so much to see." Levi cheerfully tugged Eren's arm and drag him out of the greenhouse.
"Okay, see later Miss Hange!" Eren calls out to the herbalist.
"Just Hange, sweety!" Hange shouted back and she swore she saw Levi glare back at her before they finally disappear.
"And you said that it's impossible for someone to change because of love." Hange chuckles to her best friend speech. "Well, look at you right now. I should tell him 'I told you so'. Man, why I forgot?"
The trip to the rest of the town was pleasant. Eren met almost everyone. There was the Ral household, they owned a flower shop and they have a daughter Omega, Petra. The Springer household, they raise and sold chickens and eggs, while Blouse household raise and sold pigs and cows as well as meat and milk. The Springer and Blouse both work together to run the bakery/pastry shop.
The Reiss family owned the big merchant shop in the middle of the town. The Bruans and the Hoovers managed the shipping of the people's products. The Leonharts owned the Crystal Restaurant as well as they have a vineyard, supplying the town with fresh, delicious wine. The Arlerts managed the small school and the library and there are the other Ackermans, Levi's relatives. They owned a bathhouse that comes with a bed and breakfast for travelers.
They reached the town square with bread, pastry and wine on their hands.
"I'm amaze at the people's kindness!" Eren exclaimed as they sat down on one of the stone shaped in picnic benches under the trees. In the city, people don't just casual gave you food for free.
"Of course, this is a small town so we all look at each other's back." Levi sat down next to Eren, instead sitting on the other side where they are facing each other.
Eren nodded and ate his bread. After a few bites, he realized how close Levi is sitting next to him. He didn't mind Levi clingy when they walk around, mainly because the Omega had limited vision and Eren doesn't want Levi to trip again. But now, it is different.
Teal eyes study the area. Kenny is nowhere to be found. Eren finally breath, he doesn't want to push the Omega away.
"Levi."
Eren almost flitch, thinking it was Kenny behind them but what he saw is huge yellow eyebrows.
"Erwin." Levi acknowledged, his nose scrunch up at the strong unpleasant scent the blonde Alpha gives off. But he tries to endure it. "This is Eren, the doctor everyone's talking about!"
"Hello, I am Erwin Smith. My family's farm is just right next to Levi's."
"His my best friend other than Hange." Levi supplies. With that, Erwin frowned.
"I can join you?" The blonde asked, trying hard to keep the smile on his face.
"Ah, sure." Eren said, unsure.
Erwin sat in front of them, the blonde Alpha is staring and it was not a friendly stare. "So, you're a doctor?"
"Yes." That was all Eren can say. Erwin is clearly challenging him, his body language tells it all but his scent is not mirroring this actions. Then it clicked. Erwin doesn't want Levi to know.
"Congratulations for not dying on Kenny's hands." The blonde Alpha joked but Eren can read the message loud and clear. Eren's eye twitched.
"Haha! Almost! But Eren is going to fix my vision! I'm so excited!"
"What?!" Erwin sounds excited but his expression is shock all over. His blue eyes holds doubt on the brunet.
For some reasons, Eren wants to punch him. Then, Levi started coughing.
"I think I should go." Erwin stands up, this time hurt shows on his face, voice and scent.
"Please, I can't breath." Levi gasped in air.
When the Erwin is out of sight and few breeze passed by, Levi finally even out his breathing.
"Are you okay?" Eren asked, still fanning the Omega with the flatten box of the bread they ate.
"Fine... His scent is just so strong, it's suffocating me." Levi took a few deep breaths before continuing. "I didn't mean to make him feel bad."
"It was not your fault."
"It's just that... Erwin was my best friend since childhood but everything changes when we both got presented. I just can't stand his scent."
"It must be your heighten sense of smell."
"Yeah, uncle said that too. Last time, I tried to stay with him for an hour, hoping that I'll get used to it and..." Levi stopped, recollection passed on his memory. "I fainted. Uncle was furious, he threatened to kill Erwin if he didn't stay away from me."
Eren was speechless. He never in counter situations like that before but it did justice to Levi's heighten senses.
"But Erwin is so understanding as ever, he rarely visit me but he made it count. Last time he gave me a music box. He's the best."
It is clear that Erwin is showing advances towards Levi and Levi is clearly thinks Erwin as his best friend. Eren felt sorry for the blonde but what still made the brunet hate him is how he lied to Levi. Erwin is taking advantage of Levi limited vision. Eren witnessed it earlier, how the Alpha didn't show his true emotions on the Omega, instead me masked another scent telling the Omega that he is happy when he is not. Not to mention, Erwin showed his real emotions when it is time to leave, making Levi felt terrible when it is not the raven's fault in the first place.
But one thing is sure, Eren won't trust that blonde.
"Hey! I saved the best for last. We can't go there yet because it under recovery but we can still see it from the other side!" Levi hopped excitedly, grasping Eren's arm to follow.
"Haha, where are we going?" Eren laughs at the raven's excitement.
"Somewhere everything is better."
Levi dragged him on the dense part of the town. The tress almost covered the sky but their is a clear dirt path going up the hill.
"Follow me!" Then Levi ran.
"Wait! Levi stop!" He ran after the Omega. What happens if Levi trip and roll down the hill? Eren won't let that happened.
The raven was laughing until he passed through the hedge and disappears.
"Levi?" Eren calls out. He followed the raven but it was harder for him to passed through because of his big size. Then, he was blinded by sunlight.
Blinking a few times, he let his eyes adjust. Then the view before him took his breath away.
The ocean.
He can't believe it, he is seeing it. The blue waters, the majestic waves it was a dream come true. The sight before him put every photos and books to shame.
"Beautiful, right?" Levi asked, standing next to the gaping Alpha.
Eren looked down at the raven.
"Don't feel sorry. I can still see the colors and smell the ocean breeze, for me it is beautiful."
"Thank you for taking me here." Was all the Alpha said, he doesn't care about himself anymore, Levi deserved to see this. Levi deserved to see the world. Taking the Omega hand on his, Eren swore. "I'll do everything to help you see. I promise, you have my word, Levi."
Levi look surprise for moment, he didn't expect to have an Alpha's word to the person he just met yesterday but he didn't complain. He knew how an Alpha's promise works, his uncle swore protection on him when his mother died and the older Alpha never failed to protect him. "I'll treasure your promise from this moment and so on."
Eren felt his Alpha's happiness. The Omega fully trust him with his promise.
"Then let's drop that letter now!" Levi hopped on his spot before dragging Eren to the mail box back in town.
Eren did Levi the honor to drop the letter in the mail. And he watch as it fell in, waiting until Saturday comes in.