CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

"Levi~, can we please give it a second chance? You said I wasn't that bad last time."

He gave him those stupid puppy eyes, just like he did last night when Levi agreed to him staying in his room in the first place. Those eyes of a hungry pup who wanted an extra piece of meat for dinner and who thought that looking miserable and wounded would trigger the necessary sympathy.

Unfortunately, it was working. Again.

Levi cursed silently as the boy's face fell into an expression of almost authentic heartbreak. "Please~," he begged, and clung his form a little closer to him as if he could express his longing through pressure.

He was cursed. No, all men on this fucking planet were cursed. There was no other explanation. What was it about sweetly pleading creatures with huge cutie-eyes that turned them all to butter? And since when did he become unable to resist? Hange had tried it so many times, and she still does every now and then, but with her it had never been a problem for him. But now? Yeah, Eren fiddled him good. And really, really, the kid asked for so little and it couldn't hurt, could it?

"Oh, very well," Levi exclaimed with the attitude of one granting a great benefit, exasperated with both the boy and himself. "If you will shut the fuck up, we will continue your training."

Eren beamed up at him, and Levi could've sworn he saw tiny stars sparkling in them in comic-art style.

Dear Gods, since the fatigue had left his face, the kid hadn't stopped talking about it. Where his enthusiasm for training returned from, Levi couldn't tell. He liked him better when he sat quietly and sleepily in his bed. With the tangled hair, his eyes drowsy and yawning constantly. That sight alone was quite an exception to Levi's usual morning routine. But not the one really worth mentioning. It was 9:30 and by now he would normally have showered, made quick but thoroughly work of his cleaning habits, and he would be about done with his morning run on the treadmill before he would go up again, take another shower and have breakfast. Today? After he had watched over the boy throughout night with his warmth and his breathing right next to him, he had felt… relaxed. Almost rested. Which made him stay in bed, trying to remember when the last time was he did something like this. With a bitter taste, he realized that there had never been a previous time. Since he had met Erwin, there had been a good decade in which his life consisted of nothing but training. He stood up before the first sun rays kissed the morning leaves, drilling himself, learning, training, experimenting until his legs gave up somewhen late at night. Day in and day out. After that he had been on missions. Neither places nor times he could afford staying in bed. And before Erwin, the things he used as a bed could hardly be called as such. Besides, it had been dangerous to sleep. You didn't want to get caught without your feet on the ground.

When he had felt the boy stir in his arms, slowly waking up, Levi decided it was more safe to get out of bed before he noticed that Levi had been holding him in his sleep. He didn't feel comfortable with this shit, so it was better if the boy remained unknowing.

Since then Eren had been sitting between his sheets, at first looking like he was marveling about how he ended up in this room. When he noticed Levi sitting in the chair in the other corner, he blinked a few times as if not trusting his eyes. Judged by his scent, this had been the moment he remembered that he had sneaked in here and tried to snuggle up against him. He had grinned a bit awkwardly, excused himself, and walked into the bathroom, and Levi prayed for his own good that he wasn't using his toothbrush. He was willing to admit that the kid had acquired some privileges, but that he wouldn't survive. By the sound of the toilet flushing, Levi felt relieved. Afterwards, he heard the shower running, and he appreciated that the kid evidently was used to taking care of his hygiene in the morning.

And since he had come out again, he tried convincing Levi to resume the training lessons. Since the last time went so very well, Levi assumed that the kid was either plotting another move to get inside his pants or he truly was a bit of a masochist. Probably without even realizing it.

As the boy released his arm and strolled to the window, Levi watched the sway of his hips. Well, either way it was going to be interesting.

"You'll pay a high price, kid," he whispered to himself.

"Sorry, what was that?"

Levi stood up from the mattress he was sitting on and walked up to the boy. "What is there you can give me in return, I wonder?"

Eren had turned around with a puzzled look on his face. "What are you talking about?"

Levi allowed himself to smirk at the boy's naivety. "I'm talking remuneration. This job's description never said anything about teaching. How do you intend to pay me?"

He wanted to laugh at the disappointment that graced the brunette's features. "If you want money, why don't you just say so?"

Levi took another step towards him and leaned forward, placing his lips very close to the boy's ear. "I ain't talking money, kid."

He could almost feel the warmth of the delicious pink colour flushing the brunette's cheeks. "I- ehm... then what do you want?"

Levi turned his head and grabbed Eren by the neck, pressing forward to slid his mouth onto the brunette's.

Eren's eyes shut the second those pale lips ghosted over his own. He blamed the delicious bubbling inside his stomach on the happiness that he could continue his training with Levi and not that fact that said man wasted no time in trying to pry his mouth open with his tongue.

When Eren didn't react fast enough for him, Levi tugged the back of his hair to make him gasp, widening his parted lips. His other hand sneaked around his shoulder and travelled slowly down his spine as if counting every vertebra, massaging little circles on each of every single one. Green eyes widened in surprise when Eren felt the hand continuing further down, before it pressed against his ass, lifting him up against the raven's body. He blush deepened a dark red, but he was too lost in the tongue battle with Levi to care. The air between them grew heavy of their heat, and Eren felt the same fuzzy feelings stir in his stomach as he did in the living room two days ago. He wondered if they had even left back then. Because by the way their mouths melded together, it felt like they've never been separated.

Eren felt his shoulders colliding with something solid that turned out to be a dresser. He hadn't even noticed that they were moving across the room. A bit annoyed at being on the receiving end again, he finally kissed back, defending the cavern of his mouth with his own tongue. He sighed quietly into the other man's mouth when the hold of Levi's hand loosened from the back of his head in favour of leaning on top of the dresser behind him. The rough kissing had slowly dissolved into a warm caress, and Levi's body shifted. It caused his mouth to tilt slightly, and Eren happily took the opportunity to push the war into the raven's territory. The heady taste of Levi's mouth overwhelmed him for a second, but he didn't let it stop the eager exploration along the insides of Levi's cheeks. The other's tongue slid under his own in a way that made Eren's toes curl and his knees buckle. Shit, when had he become so damn devote?

Eren found he didn't really care that much when Levi's hand returned to the back of his head to pull him back and let both of them breathe for a second. Through the haziness, Eren noticed Levi's eyes were closed. But the raven didn't give him time to question why he wasn't looking at him.

When Levi came back this time, they met halfway, shoving all sense of reasoning and embarrassment to the back of Eren's head. His hands reached up to grab onto Levi's shirt, trying to get a hold on what was happening, but in response this hellish but soft tongue swiped on Eren's upper lip. Eren let out a weak moan when the other's just as soft fingertips slipped under the hem of his shirt and brushed against his bare stomach.

No sooner Eren's mind started to accept the pleasure of Levi's skin against his own, a loud noise shoot through the fog. They both jolted back, and Eren instantly grabbed at his pants when he saw that Levi's hands had chosen the same destination. The raven looked up at him, and Eren saw the foggy mixture of aggravation and distance in those cast iron eyes. He wasn't sure what to think of the inconsistency, but he assumed his gaze was worse.

"Fuck," the raven cursed as he turned and walked towards the door.

As he opened, Maria stood in front of him. "Mr. Levi. I was wondering if you've seen Sir Eren anywhere? Breakfast is taking place in the dining hall and he hasn't arrived yet."

Eren cowered against the dresser, hoping that Maria couldn't see him from her angle. He was sure, his face was flushed as a tomato's, and this added to him being in Levi's room, only left one more than evident conclusion. He didn't feel ashamed about being here or doing what they just did, but…

Okay, maybe he did feel ashamed. But shit, wasn't it normal? All of this were first times for him, and he still didn't had a clue how to handle himself. Much less the man on his side of the door.

"I haven't seen him, Maria," he heard Levi answering her. "If I do, I'll let him know you were looking for him."

First times…

Eren wondered if this was where they were going. Had Levi reached for his pants to do it ? Eren put his hand up to his neck, drowning in images of being under Levi's body while he moved inside of him. What would that be like? To be taken by him? The reckless part of him was desperate to know.

Levi smelled another wave of arousal crushing against him, as he tried to get rid of the maid in front of his door. Shit, what a timing she had.

On the other hand, maybe he should see her as a blessing. When the boy somehow managed to push his tongue inside of his mouth and Levi slipped his own tongue underneath the boy's, his vision went white. In his veins, his blood was rushing with a numbing pace, he felt his fangs elongating, and he knew his eyes were shining like pale moons in the darkest of nights. He had to separate himself from the boy, but he was far from wanting to stop. Everything of him was just too tempting. His scent, the little noises he made against his lips… the heat of his skin that burned the very tips of his fingers whenever he touched him. Yet, Levi had somehow succeeded gathering the reins again when he kissed the boy once more. He didn't know if it was the constant feeding from the blood bags Hange sent him or because they were only doing kissing or even because he truly didn't want to hurt the boy like that. Shit, it might have been all of those reasons combined, but the outcome was what mattered. He had regained control. Something that had been unthinkable before. But wasn't that exactly why Eren was so bewildering? And therefore piquing his curiosity? Nothing felt quite right, but yet so good whenever the kid was around. He made him act in ways, Levi didn't know he was capable of. But who knew what would happen if they'd take it further down that road? Which, honestly, he had intended when he reached for the boy's pants in the heat of the moment.

So, yes. Maria had a great timing.

He shut the door again and turned to the boy who hadn't moved an inch from where they parted. And evidently, he was thinking about the same Levi had thought just seconds ago.

"You should go down, kid. Your family's having breakfast as it seems."

Eren lifted his gaze to him. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"I am not hungry," Levi said as he made his way into the bathroom.

"That's what you said last night as well," Eren replied, and when Levi turned around again, a flirtatious smirk played around the corners of the boy's lips, rendering Levi speechless. Shit, confidence looked way too well on him.

Training had been grueling. Eren was a mess today. His feet were slow, his hands were always in the wrong place at the wrong time, and he had no physical coordination. Man, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't find his balance. His body was like a shifting, lurching bag of water; if he moved in one direction, the whole thing flopped over on him.

They've gone through this sequence of coordinated body movements for a good ninety minutes by now, and to be honest, Eren had thought that things would went a little differently. After the kind of inspiring morning he had, the joyful breakfast with his family and a rather successful Math class in the afternoon, he was quite confident that training would be as delightful as the rest of the day had been. His plan to get closer to Levi and learning something very helpful at the same time hadn't by any means be a new one. After all, this had been his intentions for the first attempt as well. But he figured that after last night and him having proof that Levi was on the same line as him, it would go a lot smoother. Instead, the man had obviously decided to NOT go any easier on him.

"You're doing worse, brat. Concentrate!"

Putting his hands and the weight of his upper body on his knees, Eren panted as he let his head dangling loosely from his spine for a moment, before heaving it up again. "I try, but I am a bit distracted today."

"Doesn't matter. I won't waste my time on you if you don't intend to take this seriously."

"Yeah, you're right. I'm having this agonized look on my face because I'm having so. Much. Fun here." Eren let his butt fall onto the mats rather disgracefully, but he didn't care anymore at this point. "God, everything hurts…"

Levi marched up to him. "Oh, quit the whining and grow a dick, will you?"

When he was right next to him, looking down on him as if he was year's greatest loser, Levi kicked him in the calf. It wasn't hard, really, but Eren winced at the slight contact. "Ouch, damnit."

The man beside him knelt down, suddenly giving of a sincere air as he placed one hand on his ankle while the other palpated up his lower leg. When he reached the hollow of his knee, Eren cursed and involuntarily tried to get away from the other's touch.

Levi looked at him angrily. "You've strained your gracilis. Why the fuck didn't you say something?"

"I'm sorry, doctor, I promise I won't do it again. By the way, I've no idea what you're talking about."

"It's one of the adductors of your anterior thigh."

"And?"

"You've strained it."

"Yeah, that's what I got so far. And now? Is it bad?"

"More or less. Because of its location, the gracilis muscle is particularly vulnerable, not just to trauma but to general wear and tear. Such injuries can cause pain and make mobility difficult, but fortunately are relatively easy to treat. Even more so if first aid is used immediately after the injury occurs."

Levi raised himself from the ground and walked towards the equipment room. When Eren saw him stepping behind the perspex and roaming through one of the wall cabinets, he called: "Why do you know so much about those things."

Levi seemed to have found what he was looking for and came back to him, holding something in his hand.

"Anatomy's important, kid. Especially for someone who benefits from knowing which parts of the body you better not cut when you plan to interrogate someone. Spread your legs."

Eren laid back onto his back, doing as he was told. Yet, he watched Levi intensively as he crouched down to the ground once more, this time right between his parted thighs. What he just told him, should probably scare him off a bit more than it did. And made him feel less excited. Shit, something was genuinely wrong with him. From the very beginning, he knew what kind of man Levi was, although he hadn't known the details. The only thing he was sure about was that this man can cause danger. Serious danger. Like the one sixty tons of vehicle could cause. And even after he learnt more and more about him, he had never felt frightened by him. Frustrated, angry, desperate. Even turned on. But never frightened. Which once again let him assume he was slowly becoming mental.

"Elevate your leg on my shoulder," Levi's voice cut through his thoughts.

As he followed this order as well, feeling even more exposed at the awkward position he was currently in, Levi rolled up the nylon fabric of his training pants. How lucky he was that Maria had bought him some new pairs after her confession on last training's day. Unimaginable what he would feel like right now if he had to train in one of Mikasa sport shorts.

Levi started to wrap a compress around his knee.

"So reckless," he mumbled under a sigh.

"Hey, you're the one who pushed me so hard today," Eren defended himself. "Moreover, who's the one who got shot just a couple of weeks ago? Talk about reckless, why don't you?"

The man with his leg still on his shoulder gave him an annoyed look. "I know my limits, kid. On the very contrary to a certain brat who didn't get off my dick about continuing giving lessons and has now to rest for at least a week before we can do that." Eren let his head fall on the ground, suddenly feeling very tired about their situation.

When Levi finished wrapping him up, he put a cold pack against the hollow of his knee. "Here, keep it there for a couple of minutes. It'll help reduce the inflammation and thus the pain."

Eren locked his eyes with the raven's. "At least a week, you say?"

Levi's gaze softened as he seemed to sense his disappointment. "Don't worry. There are other things I can teach you where you have nothing to do than just standing straight. Think you can handle that?"

Damn his shitty hormonal mind, but every one of his mental processes ground to a halt at Levi's words. His body was what responded. Instantly. He thickened in his pants, his erection popping up fast as a breath even as he was utterly ashamed of himself. Closing his eyes, he tried to figure out how he could manage to kick his own ass and still remain lying still as if nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

What he saw when he opened his eyes again, he wasn't prepared for. Emerald met iron and Eren held Levi's gaze, blushing at the hungry look in the other's eyes, but also feeling deep sorrow about the inner turmoil, Levi was obviously going through. Pushing himself onto his elbows, looking at the pale, beautiful man before him, he wanted to tell him that it's okay if he didn't want to do this. But before the words could slip from his lips, Levi ran a finger over his weeping erection. "Stop being a fucking tease," Levi said in a deep voice, causing a shiver to run down Eren's spine. The brunette's mouth felt suddenly dry and he licked his lips before closing his eyes halfway and moaning, "Oh god..." He watched Levi carefully putting the leg from his shoulder to the ground, pushing the cold pack under his knee, before he leaned forwards and was on all fours, hovering over him like an animal watching its prey. The moment Levi's body weighted down Eren gasped and arched into the pale man. Levi's hands gripped his partly exposed hips and forced Eren back onto the ground. Shuddering slightly as Levi's erection pushed against his own, he felt buffering waves came out of the other's skin, something like heat rising off asphalt.

When delicate fingers slid through the back of his hair, Eren ran his hands up Levi's sides and squeezed his shoulders before pulling him down to his mouth. Or maybe he kissed him first, Eren wasn't really sure. What he was sure off was that Levi's mouth had a numbing and simultaneously electrifying effect on his body.

As Levi slowly let his tongue slip over his bottom lip, Eren felt something spark in him. The electric surge that went through him distracted Eren long enough for Levi to enter his mouth, gliding across his own wet muscle and easily starting to increase the kiss. But Eren wasn't going to complain about another chance to taste him. He was becoming addicted to the taste of spices. Eren's eyes slammed shut when another squirm intensified the unusual heat in his body. Levi slid his tongue along the inside of his cheek before retreating, allowing both of them to breathe.

"Damn," Eren muttered when Levi's forehead pushed his head to the side. There was a hot breath on his neck as Levi pressed against him, and Levi licked the side of Eren's neck, earning a small whimper from the boy below him.

Eren tugged at the other's hair in retaliation while trying to keep his throat from making any more noises. He hated sounding weak, especially around him. But it was hard to swallow the groan at the delicious pressure of lips against his erratic pulse. He shut his eyes as if in pain, his head arching back while his body shook.

His eyelids glued shut, he was left unprepared for the feather-light run of Levi's fingertips up his stomach. The action had Eren gasping for air and thrashing his hips to continue the torturous pleasure. Another heated lick was placed along his neck, and Eren felt his nails dig into Levi's shoulders when his hips pressed him forcefully into the ground underneath him. Eren tried fighting against the pinning, but the struggling only increasing the winding coil of pleasure in his stomach. How did this happen? One minute Levi was saying he had no dick, the next he didn't stop grinding against it. The pre-cum Eren could feel slipping from his tip only made his squirming more frantic. He needed to cool the heating ache in his stomach. He was currently playing Jump rope at the edge of his orgasm.

But Levi had other plans. Before Eren knew what happened, his vision became dark and his arms were lifted above his head. Cool air dusted over his heated skin, and he saw a pair of shirts flying on the floor before the man in front of him returned to his previous place on top of him.

The first contact between their skins was hot, making Eren hiss when Levi's body brushed against one of rosy nubs on his chest. The slight arch of his back made room for the other's hands to sneak underneath his back and pull Eren's hips against his own. The pants' fabric that separated their bodies was both heaven and hell. It made Eren bite Levi's shoulder to keep some semblance of sanity, as he tried to think of anything that had ever felt as strong as now. But actually, Levi wasn't giving him time to think of anything other than finding a way to rub through the material of those damned pants. Stopping himself from moaning became more and more impossible.

It wasn't until Eren felt the pressure of Levi sucking hard at his neck that he saw white. His head cracked against the ground while he swore, the complete pleasure of his orgasm dulling any pain he was going to feel later. The continual rubbing against his body was intensifying the sensitive skin of his cock, making the orgasm uncontrollable. Their hips continued to press and grind into each other, prolonging the pleasure as long as possible. After what seemed like an eternity, Levi slowly stopped his movements and Eren tried to catch his breath. His body felt boneless, not a bit of strength left in it, and his head fell back to the ground. He watched the red marks starting to show, and Eren felt guilty at how much force he had used.

He watched Levi rolling off of him before the man sat up, his knees up and his elbows resting on them, his arm creating a circle of solitude in which the raven let his head hang loose. No one would've ever guessed what had been going on between them when looking at him. His breathing was low and steady, his face as straight as ever.

The silence was becoming deafening to him, and stretching as wide as a six-lane highway.

Well, if this wasn't awkward.

While Eren could feel his crotch getting cold due to the moisture in his pants, he wondered if this had been as one-sided as it felt right now. His face heated up from a whole other feeling than those there've been before, and he felt tears threatening to collect in his eyes.

He didn't want to cry. Not now. Not ever in front of this man. If what had happened right now made Levi realize that he didn't want him for whatever reason, Eren wasn't going to make it worst by breaking out in tears. He ain't gonna lose his fucking countenance. Ain't gonna happen. So with all the pride he could muster, Eren swallowed his tears.

Finally able to, he shifted his body and almost yelped at the sore skin around his waist.

In the shapes of finger bruises along his hip bone, Levi had left his marks as well.