When Eren roused the next day, curled up soundly, completely covered by the blanket, he heard a crackling sound. He cracked his eyes open and blinked a few times. He suddenly remembered where he was. Levis house. In the guest bedroom. He should have guessed straight away with the absence of screaming and fighting that he usually woke to at home.
As he stretched out his limbs, his head peaked out from the blanket.
"Oi!"
Eren jumped when Levi called though the door, rapping on it mercilessly.
"I'm up, I'm up!" Eren flung himself into a sitting potion as Levi pushed open the door.
He was poised to speak when Levi froze, staring at him blankly.
"What?" Asked Eren grogily.
Then Levi almost smiled.
"What the fuck happened to your head?"
Eren immediately bristled.
"Shut up." He grumbled, desperately trying to flatten his unruly hair. "It just does that. I can't help it."
"Right." Levi snickered, and dropped the folded clothing in his arms onto the end of the bed. "Your clothes are clean and breakfast is almost done. Take your time and I'll let you starve. Don't forget to make the bed when your done!"
Levi left the room, closing the door behind him. Eren fell back onto the bed.
"What is he? My mum?" Eren muttered to himself before sighing.
Then he sat back up and swung his legs down over the side of the bed. He ruffled his own hair, trying to force it back into a normal shape. Then he stood and pulled the baggy shirt off his body.
Man, thought Eren, Erwins one thick guy. Then he glanced down at the clingy shorts. And Hanjis alot more narrow then you'd think.
He quickly undressed and put on his clothes from the night before, now clean thanks to Levi. Eren then made an attempt at folding the borrowed clothing, but he knew his folding technique left a lot to be desired. Then he made the bed. This part he could handle. Before leaving the room he grabbed his phone from the bedside table. He checked for messages and found one from Mikasa asking if he needed a lift home. At one in the morning.
She's such a spaz times, Eren thought and rolled his eyes.
He shut the door behind him and stepped out into the hall. The smell of bacon immediately surrounded him.
"Something smells amazing!" Eren grinned, walking though the lounge room to the kitchen. Levi was standing over the stove, wearing a black apron over his pristine, although casual clothes. On the stove, was breakfast, sizzling away. "The beds made and I folded the clothes I borrowed but, beware. Out of all my house hold skills, that's definitely not one of my strongest."
"Thanks." Levi clicked his tongue sarcastically. Then guestured to several chairs, pushed under the bench. "Pull two chairs out."
Eren did as he was told.
"Anything I can help with?" He offered, placing his phone on the bench.
"Make tea?" Levi suggested.
"Sure." Eren was seemingly happy to help.
"Mugs are in the second cupboard."
Eren collected two mugs and put them beside the kettle, that he then filled with water and set to boil.
"Tea?"
"Fourth cuboard, bottom shelf." Levi directed smoothly.
As Eren set everything out, he glanced out the glass sliding doors of the balcony where the curtains had been pulled back. He'd only just realised the abundance of grey colouring the sky and the light drizzle of rain.
"And it was so sunny yesterday..." Eren tilted his head to the side.
"Weather happens to change occasionally." Levi quipped lightly.
"Oh, your so funny!" Eren rolled his eyes dramatically. "Tell me another!"
"I hate the rain." Said Levi, serving up the food onto two plates.
"That was random. Why?" Asked Eren. "I actually like it."
"One word." Levi replied. "Mud."
Eren couldn't contain his laughter.
"Of course that's why you'd hate the rain." Eren shook his head in assmusement. "So. Sugar?"
"Two." Levi said as he placed the plates on the bench infront of the chairs.
"Okey dokey." Eren grabbed the kettle and begun to pour the hot water into one of the mugs when lightening struck, loud and fast. His whole body jolted in surprise. He knocked over the mug, dropped the kettle and soaked his hand in the boiling water in the process. "Mother fucker!"
Eren hissed and shook his hand as if that would abate the stinging pain.
"You idiot!" Levi shouted at him and grabbed the arm of his injured hand more gently then Eren thought he was capable of. Levi pulled him over to the sink and turned on the tap. "Be careful. What, are you afraid of lightening or something?"
His touch may have been gentle but his words told a different story.
Crap, thought Eren, now he's pissed at me.
"No." Eren insisted honestly, winching in pain as cool water ran over his hand. "It was just really unexpected. It came out of nowhere. I'm sorry, about the mess. I'll clean it up, I promise."
"Are you stupid?" Levi sighed and let go of his arm. "I'll clean it up."
Levi pulled open a draw and grabbed a tea towel.
"But I made the mess." Eren pointed out.
"And now your hurt." Levi pinned him with a dissatisfied glare. "So, I'll clean it up."
"I'm sorry..." Eren grumbled, shuffling his feet like it he did when his mother scolded him.
"Shut up. It was an accident." Levi begun to clean up the water. "And...I shouldn't of yelled at you. I have some burn ointment you can put on it."
"Thanks." Eren smiled weakly at him. "You actually kind of remind me of my mum. Whenever I hurt myself doing something dumb, instead of asking me if I was okay, she'd tell me how stupid I was to be doing it in the first place and then she'd patch me up."
"Sounds like you never learnt your lesson."
"Essentially." Eren shrugged and turned off the tap.
"How have you managed to survive this long?"
"The power of stubbornness and a over protective sister."
"Fuck." Levi cursed. "She's going to boil me alive for this. That's if the freaky little blonde one doesn't do it first."
"Okay, well 'little blonde one' could be either Armin or Christa, but the added 'freaky' means it's so definitely Christa." Eren nodded in agreement. "I would rather kiss Connie full on the mouth then get on to that girls bad side."
"That's not helping." Levi gave him a death panned stare and finished up cleaning the mess. "I'm going to get that ointment. Don't move from that fucking spot."
"Aye captain." Eren saluted weakly with his injured hand.
Levi left the kitchen muttering to himself, something that sounded like an awful lot like 'fucking goddamed disaster brat'. Eren looked back over to the balcony. It was raining harder now. Then he looked down at his hand and examined his wound. The top of his hand was bright red and painful to the touch. He fought the urge to lick it, as if that somehow make it feel better. Then his phone on the counter vibrated loudly.
So, you think you can stone me and spit in my eye?So, you think you can love me and leave me to die? Oh baby. Can't do this to me baby-
Eren grabbed the phone with his uninjured hand and looked at the caller ID. It was simply labed as the cookie emoji. He looked down at the contact photo, it was him and his mother on the day he graduated high school.
"Yo ma." He said once he hit accept and held the phone to his ear.
"Yes, Eren." The voice of his mother, Carla Yeager answered. He could feel her unimpressed look burning into him from years of experience. "Nice to speak to you to."
"Hey. Don't start. I call you all the time." He frowned.
"Oh, really? Then why haven't I heard from you in almost three weeks? Why do Mikasa and Armin have to call me just so I know your alive?"
Eren had inherited his short temper from his mother, although she insists that she wasn't like that before he'd been born and had caused her unending stress. His father would say otherwise, muttered cautiously under his breath mind you.
"Chill, chill!" Eren groaned. "I'm sorry. I'll call more often, I promise."
"I'll hold you do that, oh son of mine." Carla sung though the phone warningly.
"Yeah, I hear you." Eren sighed.
Levi came back in though the lounge room, carrying a small white tube. He shot Eren a questioning expression.
"It's just my mum." Eren shrugged.
"Hmm?" Said Carla.
"I wasn't talking to you." Eren told her.
"I know that!" Eren jerked the phone away from his ear in surprise at the sudden change in volume.
"There's no need to scream!" Eren shouted at the phone.
A flicker of amusement danced though Levi's dark gaze and then was gone. He nodded to the stools Eren had pulled out from under the bench and they sat.
"Now who's screaming? You devil child." His mother rebutted scornfully.
"Excuse me? You raised me!"
"And what a waste of time that was."
"Okay, yeah, that's great for the self-esteem." Eren rubbed his eyes wearily, ready for this embrassing fight in front of the guy he liked to be over. "Look, mum. Did you call me for a reason or...?"
"Give me your hand." Said Levi.
Eren held out his injured hand and Levi careful placed it on the bench.
"Who's that?" Carla asked. "That doesn't sound like someone I know."
"He's a-" Eren glanced at Levi, who watched him out of the corner of his eye. He was sitting close enough to make out the words being said.
Friend? Thought Eren. Maybe, I'm not sure. I want to be more then friends.
"Eren? Oh, my, gosh! Are you with that art dealer Mikasa and Armin told me about?" Carla crashed forward like a runaway train.
He almost dropped his phone.
"What the fuck! What did they tell you?"
"Language!" He was scolded immediately. "They told me that you had feelings for this man and that you made a deal to see if you could win his heart in a week. I'm actually proud of you. My little guy out there chasing men. As long as you stay safe I have no problems with it."
"Yeah, thanks but WHAT DID THEY TELL YOU?" Erens cheeks were a brighter red then his burned hand, which Levi gently slathered with ointment.
"Watch your tone!" He was scolded again. He bit the inside of his mouth to keep from fighting back. "Armin told me he's a attractive, wealthy, art dealer and Mikasa told me he's short and shifty."
Levi looked up, his fingers were frozen, just gently grazing the top of Erens knuckles.
Did they have to make it sound like I went out got myself a sugar daddy? Eren frowned, brow twitching irritability.
"Why did they have to say anything?" He groaned.
"Well, dear, that'd be because my good for nothing son never calls his lonely mother."
"I have my reasons." He grumbled and then sighed. "Look mum, I'm not just chasing this guy. I really like him."
He stared into Levi's expressionless eyes as he spoke softly. Erens gaze was intense and unfaltering. The shadows the raindrops cast, fell over Levi's sharp features, painting his pale skin with grey streaks.
"He's really great and this is my last chance to have him in my life. No matter what werid stuff Armin and Mikasa have told you, I really like him."
Carla was silent. Forgetting himself, Levi grabbed Erens injuried hand.
"Ah!" Eren gave a sudden cry of pain.
"Shit. Sorry." Levi quickly pulled away apologetically.
"Eren..." His mother drawled slowly. "You know I love you, but please for the love of God, don't tell me your having sex when I'm trying to have a conversation with you."
"Mum! No!" Eren smacked his injured hand on the bench and winched as he realised what he'd done. "I had a little accident and burnt my hand. Levi was just pulling ointment on it for me."
Levi put the cap back on the tube and stood to put it away.
"Burnt your hand? Like, because you were playing with fire or because no one warned this man that your a major hazard in the kitchen?"
"...the last one."
"Just like your father." Carla clicked her tongue. "Eren, I really do hope this turns out well. Armin told me that he only agreed to the whole thing because you weren't allowed to try again after. You've never been very lucky in love. I don't want my little guy getting even more hurt."
"Mum..." Eren looked out at the rain fall. "That was one big lonely gay teen mistake. This is different."
"Well, I just want you to be happy."
"Yeah, I know." Eren breathed out and smiled.
"So. How many days do you have left? Will he be coming up with you and the girls tomorrow?"
This time Eren really did drop his phone. He slammed his thighs together to catch it. He patted his leg thankfully for there God given thickness. He grabbed the phone again and put it his ear.
"That was this week?" He bit his lip.
"Yes, Eren. You forgot didn't you?"
"Why didn't Mikasa remind me..." Eren slapped a hand over his eyes.
"She probably did. You just weren't listening."
"Arggg." He groaned in reply.
"Why don't you just bring him with you? I'd love to met him!"
"This is just, like, really short notice."
"Well, if you want this guy to stay around he may as well meet your parents sooner rather than later." Carla added. "And Annie and Mikasas schedules are only free this week. You know that."
"Yeah, yeah. I get it." Eren pouted down at his lap. "I'll ask him. And if he says no...then I'll just come visit you guys on my own later, okay?"
"Eren, you know I don't like the idea of you driving so far on your own." His mother chastised him.
"I'm fully grown, mum! It's time to stop worrying!"
"Oh, please. The entire exsistance of a parent is non-stop worrying until the day we die."
"I don't doubt it. Look, if I have to come up later, then I make it when Armin or someone else is free and have them tag along. Okay?"
"Okay, I suppose that'll have to do." Carla sighed wisfully.
Levi came back into the kitchen. He looked down at there cold, untouched breakfast distainfully.
"I'm gonna go now, okay?" Eren prompted. "I'll send you a text when I know what's happening."
"Okay, sweet heart. Well, stay safe. Use a condom. I love you."
"Yeah, you too." Eren flushed red as he quickly hung up, hoping Levi hadn't heard his mother's questionable farewell.
"Well, there goes breakfast." Said Levi.
"Sorry." Eren grimaced.
"Shut up." Levi snapped. "It was an accident."
"Right..." Eren trailed off nervously. "So...I gotta a question."
"What?" Levi turned to him sharply.
"Uh, you got anything planned for the next couple of days?"
"I have too meet with a client this afternoon and then Petra and the others will be handling all the small affairs until I have a dinner party with some stick-up-his-ass A list client next Wednesday."
"That's like literally perfect timing." Eren beamed. "Must be fate."
"Why?" Levi narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Because if you weren't busy then I wanted to ask if you were down to come to my parents house with me tomorrow." Eren spoke slowly and carefully.
"What will you do if I say no? You only have four days left as it is, and that's including today." Levi crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the bench.
"Then I'll stay. I visit several times a year and like you said, I have less then four days left." Eren said seriously.
"How long is this visit?" Levi asked sceptically.
"Three days, two nights. Mikasa and Annie are going as well but there work schedules conflict alot, so this is the only time we can all go up together."
"So, we'd be coming back next Tuesday."
"Yep."
That day would be Erens last chance. The last chance to convince Levi that a relationship would be worth it, after that...Eren didn't even want to think about how he would handle that situation.
Levi sighed and dumped the cold breakfast into the bin.
"Is it a long drive?"
Eren sat up straight in his seat.
"As in you'll go?"
"Yeah, what the hell." Levi shrugged as if it was of little concern.
But for Eren it was. Levi would be meeting his parents, seeing the home he spent an entire childhood in. What if he hated Erens parents? Or worse, what if his parents hated Levi? Suddenly Eren felt less excited then he had been, but he quickly schooled his features, not letting the apprehension show.
"It's a three hour trip." He told Levi.
"Goody." Levi put the dirty dishes in the skin and turned on the tap. "So, I have an appointment this afternoon at two."
"Cool. I guess I'll head home before that then." Eren nodded lowly.
"It's won't take long." Levi added, not looking at him. "You could come if you wanted. You'd have to sit in the car for awhile and amuse yourself though."
"Seriously?" Eren grinned at him. "I can come with?"
"That's what I said didn't I brat?"
Eren felt happiness bubbling over the worry, smothering it with a warm feeling deep in his chest. Somehow it didn't even scare him that Levi could cause him to feel so strongly in an instant.
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
Levi had made them toast to replace the breakfast they'd missed out on and he'd given Eren a stern glare when he moved to make the tea. Levi promptly ordered him to sit on the couch and not move. He threw Eren the remote and found, that quite like a child, or a Hanji, he was very easily distracted by morning cartoons.
As Levi waited for the kettle to boil, he glanced out through the balconies glass doors. The sound of the rain, the rumble of the kettle and the hums of Eren singing along with some shows theme song filled his ears. It all seemed so domestic. And also like he was baby sitting...
Levi had hardly used the TV since Erwin had brought it and Hanji had set it up for him. They'd both insisted that he needed to do something other then sleep, work and clean. Levi had reminded them, in a taciturn manner, that he also took shits. Hanji found this more funny then was reasonable.
The toast sprung up from the toaster with a 'pop'. Eren had requested peanut butter, so Levi quickly finished off there second try at breakfast.
"Come get your toast, brat." Levi called into the kitchen, as the kettle grew louder for a moment before going silent.
"I thought I wasn't aloud to move from this spot." Eren replied, eyes not leaving the screen.
"Fine. Starve then." Levi shrugged indifferently. "See if I give a shit."
Eren only grinned and grabbed his toast off the kitchen bench.
"Hand still hurting?" Levi asked as he poured the tea.
"A little. I'll live though." Eren spoke with a piece of toast between his teeth.
"Disgusting." Levi balked.
"Sorry." Eren said sheepishly and sat down at the bench, quickly finishing off his food.
Levi settled for simple butter on toast. He ate and then took Erens plate from him before he could offer to up wash up. Levi could only imagine what kind of terrors that could bring.
It was just after nine am. That meant there was five hours until his appointment.
What the fuck am I supposed to do with Eren for five fucking hours? Levi scowled to himself. He cursed his inability to see Eren upset. The face Eren had made when he'd said he'd go home before his appointment should have been punishable by death. Normally Levi would spend his free time scrubbing his house within a inch of its life and occasionally stopping for tea. And if Hanji and Erwin had decided to intrude, he spent half the time trying to convince them to leave. But this was Eren. An Eren who was seemingly easily distracted.
Levi glanced at Eren, sitting on the couch, his eyes glued to the screen, that displayed some kind of cartoon about a yellow cyclops triangle wearing a top hat.
Seems like the kind of shit Hanji would watch, Levi frowned.
"Hey, Levi? Wanna come watch with me?" Eren asked. Levi hadn't realised that he'd been standing there staring.
"What the hell is it?"
"Gravity Falls." Eren smiled. "It's about these two twins that have to stay with there great uncle for the summer but then all this crazy shit starts happening. Like Gnomes and mermaids and wax figures that come to life. It's pretty great."
"It sounds like someones hallucinating on acid." Levi frowned.
"Honestly, your not really that far off." Eren shrugged unabashedly. "So, what do you say? The episodes only just started."
Eren patted the empty spot on the couch beside him.
"If it's shit, I'm turning it off." Levi begrudgingly sat down.
And so Levi sat there for twenty minutes. He was fairly confused as well as strangely amused by the end of it.
"Since when we're cartoons like that?"
"Awesome?"
"That's not exactly the word I was looking for."
"Oh, come on." Eren twisted around on the couch and through his legs over the back, his head dangling over the edge, dangerously close to the coffee table. "Admit it. That got a chuckle or two out of you."
"You'll hear a chuckle or two out of me when you hit your head."
"What?" Said Eren as he sat up, smacking his head on the table. "Fuck! Ouch!"
Levi turned his face away so Eren couldn't see the corners of his mouth twitching upwards.
"I told you so." Levi chuckled as he said he would.
"Your so mean." Eren pouted, rubbing at his forehead. "But it made you laugh so I suppose it's not that bad."
Levi felt this warmth blossom deep in his chest, growing steady like a sunrise. He chanced a glance over at him. Eren was looking at him with those big glimmering eyes, innocent and honest.
It's hard to believe this is the same kid who tried to kill his friend via plastic bag last night, Levi thought to himself.
"So, what you want to do now?" Asked Eren, righting himself on the couch. "Around now is when all the boring shows are on."
"Does it seem like I frequently entertain collage brats?"
"Hanji and Erwin?"
"Point taken." Levi smirked.
"What do they do when they come over?" Eren seemed to stare right though him, hanging off his every word.
"Well, most of the time I'm either trying to get rid of them, or they brought alcohol in which case I raise my ban on morons for a limited time." Levi explained. "But since your ass is yet to turn twenty one, drinking is out of the question."
"Your really never going to bugde on that, huh?" Erens brow twitched in irritation.
"Not likely." Levi replied swiftly.
"Well, then. What are we going to do?" Eren sank back into the couch.
"I think Hanji left a USB here ages ago. She said she filled it with movies for me to watch. Not that I ever did or intended to."
"Damn, you cold." Eren shook his head at him.
"Uh huh." Levi rolled his eyes, standing from the couch.
He walked over to the TV and opened the top draw of the unit it sat on. He dug through it for moment.
"Where the fuck did I leave it?" He muttered to himself. "Ah."
Levi pulled a blue USB stick from the draw.
"Now. How the ever loving fuck do you plug this in?" Levi frowned down at it.
"There should be a port someone on the TV." Eren explained. Levi could hear the grin in his voice. "It'll probably be on the sides or the bottom."
Levi felt around the sides and the bottom, even moving the TV for a better view. After a few moments of helpless fumbling, Eren cleared his voice.
"Need a hand there?" He said smugly.
"Only if I get to beat you with it." Levi gritted thought his teeth.
Eren only laughed at him.
"Here." He said, getting off the couch and coming to his side. Eren twisted the TV in his direction and spotted the USB port low in the corner. "Right there."
Eren pointed to the correct area helpfully.
"Sit your ass down before I shove this TV down your throat." Levi grumbled aloud.
"Your welcome." Eren rolled his eyes and went back over to the couch.
"Here." He said, getting off the couch and coming to his side. Eren twisted the TV in his direction and spotted the USB port low in the corner. "Right there."
Eren pointed to the correct area helpfully.
"Sit your ass down before I shove this TV down your throat." Levi grumbled aloud.
"Your welcome." Eren rolled his eyes and went back over to the couch.
Smug little ass hat, Levi thought to himself and slumped back onto the couch.
"Let's see what's on here." Eren mused, remote in hand. "Oh, there's some good stuff on here."
"I'll take your word for it."
"Any preference?"
"I don't give a shit." Levi pursed his lips sourly. "But if-"
"It's crap, you can change it." Eren finished smoothly, sending Levi grin.
"Brat." Levi looked away from him.
"Tim Burton? Ghilbil? Tim Burton? Ghilbil?" Eren hummed to himself for a moment. "Ghilbil it is."
Eren selected the film and pressed play, he shuffled his way back into the cushions, getting comfortable.
"Don't suppose I can put my feet on the couch?"
"Not unless you want to lose them."
"Good to know." Eren nodded.
Out of the corner of his eye, Levi watched the younger man. The shadows of the rain fall drifted across his face. The movie was playing a smooth dream like soundtrack. Everything seemed almost idyllic.
He watched Erens lips moving subtly with certain lines. He clearly had seen this movie before. He suddenly wished his hadn't been focusing on Erens mouth, realising how pink and soft his lips seemed to be. He looked back to the screen. Of course this did nothing for the warmth that radiated from Eren. Was he born in a fucking volcano?
Not that his bothered Levi. It was on the cooler side today, what with the sudden down pour and Levi was known to not handle the cold well. A brief thought flitered though his mind. If he moved closer, then he could take advantage of Erens ridiculous amount of body heat. He almost slapped himself. That could give Eren the wrong idea. He didn't want to end up cuddling with some brat who he fully intended to never see again when the seven days were up. Now a image played behind his eyes.
His arm around Erens waist. Erens lips pressed up against his own. He fought the urge to physically shake the memory from his mind. It was like he could still feel it despite being so totally smashed that night. Most of what had happened then was a blur, but that moment was so clear in his mind. It had taken so much to pull back from Eren. But he was drunk and it wasn't supposed to turn out like that. Eren didn't deserve to have his hopes put up and then dashed because Levi couldn't control himself like a horny teenager. He wanted to forget but his could still feel Erens warmth, his lips, the shape of his waist under his touch. He'd done so well to not dwell on it since that night, but being alone with Eren was undoing him.
Levi moved to stand. He had to get out of there. Get some air, clean something. Come back when he had his head on straight. He glanced at Eren and paused. He was sleep.
"Your fucking kidding me." Levi cursed under his breath.
It's maybe half past ten in the morning and this fucker is napping, Levi stared at his sleeping form with a deadpan expression.
He slowly eased himself back onto the couch. This reminded him of the day before, when Eren had passed out on his couch and he'd snapped a secret picture.
Does he just fall asleep all the time? Levi frowned at him.
Eren was slumped back deep into the cushions. He had one arm slung over the arm of the couch and the other lay in his lap. Both legs were stretched out carelessly beneath the coffee table. Erens head lolled to the side ever so slightly, his dark bangs falling across his eye lids.
Okay, being that attractive while sleeping is seriously not fair, Levi fought the urge to poke him in the face.
He glanced at the TV screen. He'd never seen the film before so he had no clue how long was left in it. But from the obvious change in scene he'd been gawking at Eren for way longer then was socially exceptable. He could have stood up and left the room like he intended. Eren was asleep, he wouldn't care of Levi went off to do something else. But, for some unknown reason, Levi didn't want to go. He relaxed back into the couch. Eren was only inches away. He adverted his eyes and continued watching the screen. Just sitting near him wouldn't spur him on or give him false hope so it was okay. Levi could take this little moment for what it was and Eren would never have to know.
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
"Get the fuck up."
Eren scrunched up his features and turned his head to the side.
"Arggg..." He moaned groggily.
"Brat." The voice spoke again.
Eren cracked a single eye open. Directly above him was Levi. He was leaning over the back of the couch, above where Eren sat.
"Shit! What the fuck!" Eren scrambled onto his feet, hitting his shin on the edge of the coffee table. "Ouch, ouch!"
"Real graceful." Levi stared at him with a deadpan expression.
"Shut up! I swear you did that on purpose!" Eren rubbed at his shins.
"And how would you prove that?" Levi across his arms over his chest. "Your ass was asleep."
"Right. I was wasn't I." Eren chuckled sheepishly.
"Do you usually sleep so much?"
"No!" Eren shot back. "I just, like nap. Occasionally. If I'm comfortable."
"Then my couch must be real damn comfortable. That's the second time you've done that."
"My bad." Eren rubbed at his eyes. "What time is it?"
"Almost time to leave." Levi told him plainly. "Remember? My appointment?"
"Oh. I am a great sleeper." Eren seemed very impressed with himself.
"Good for you." Levi turned from him. "If you have to have piss, to it now. I'm not stopping."
"Who's the graceful one now?" Eren pursed his lips.
"Ten minutes brat!" Levi called over this shoulder and disappeared up the hall. Eren hear a door shut.
Eren groaned a fell onto the couch dramatically.
"I wish he would stop doing that." He spoke into the couch cushion.
He shifted to lay his head on the side of his face and let out a puff of air.
It'd be great if he could not be so damn hot all the time too, Eren thought to himself. He thought about Levi leaning down over him and burried him face back in the couch. That was way to close for comfort. I was totally not prepared for that.
Eren rolled on to his back, legs dangling over the arm of the couch. He glanced down at his feet.
Right, Eren sat up. Shoes.
He went into Levi's guest bedroom and grabbed his shoes off the floor, slipping them on once he got back to the couch. He dug his phone out of his pocket and opened his and Armins text conversation.
Brunett Bestie- 1:22pm;
Yo, so I'll be back later then I thought. I'm going with Levi to a clients house.
He waited a moment for a reply.
Blonde Bestie- 1:23pm;
Okay...Do you know what time you'll be getting back?
Brunett Bestie- 1:23pm;
No idea.
Blonde Bestie- 1:24pm;
Well, okay then. Just behave yourself?
Brunett Bestie- 1:24pm;
I'm offended!!! I ALWAYS BEHAVE MYSELF!!
Blonde Bestie- 1:25pm;
I'll believe it when I see it. I got to go, Connie and Sasha bought fireworks over and Marco needs some back up.
Eren wasn't sure of he was missing out or if he was safer being as far away from Sasha and Connie as possible.
Eren didn't have time to ponder it as Levi came back though to the lounge room, now dressed in his business attire. Cravat, black slacks and all.
"You ready?" Levi asked.
"Yep." Eren bounded up off the couch and followed Levi down the stairs and into the garage.
Levi climbed into the drivers side as Eren did the same on the passengers side.
"So, who's the client?" Asked Eren, admiring the cars perfect condition.
"I can't tell you much. Confidentiality and all that shit, but the guy is loaded." Levi's shrugged.
"Like, how your loaded or like Kardashian loaded?"
Levi rolled his eyes at that as he stuck the keys in the ignition.
"More like sketchy illegal activities loaded."
"Oh, nice. He a pimp?"
"You looking for a job?"
"I mean, if he pays well." Eren grinned.
"Real classy." Levi scoffed as the garage rolled up before them and they drove out onto the drive.
They sat in silence for several minutes as Levi pulled out onto the busy roads that crisscrossed over town. Eren noted that the rain had stopped, the sun beginning to bathe the afternoon in a golden light.
"Since I'm going to be meeting them tomorrow, what are your parents like?" Levi suddenly asked.
Eren smiled, it felt good to know that Levi cared enough to ask questions.
"Well, dads a doctor. We live in a pretty small town and he actually owns his own practice so he knows almost everyone there. He's pretty chill for the most part. But then there's mum." Eren explained. "She's an absolute nightmare when she wants to be."
"I'd gathered." Levi nodded, clearly alluding to Erens phone call that morning.
"Yeah, I mean she's my mum and I love her but sometimes I kinda want to shove her in a vat of acid."
"That's not extreme at all."
"You don't know what she's done though! When I was in highschool she found a condom under my mattress, right? One; what the fuck was she doing looking under my mattress. Two; she pulled me out of a class to talk about it!" Eren exclaimed. "I could have died! And then when I was a kid we had a fight and I refused to come back inside the house so she had all my friends over and legit had a party right in front of me and told me I wasn't invited!"
"What were you arguing about though?" Levi glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"...I broke her favourite cup and then hid it in the backyard..."
"That's it?"
"...and when she found it I told her it wasn't me so..."
"So, your were being punished for lying?"
"Are you seriously taking her side right now?!"
"You should have just come clean in the first place." Levi shrugged nonchalantly.
"I was eight!"
"Old enough to know better."
"I can't believe you! You can't tell me stuff like that never happened to you when you were kid." Eren pouted.
Levi grew silent for a minute, then it seemed like he almost wanted to smile.
"No. I never lied."
"I call bullcrap."
"I'm telling the truth."
"Your mum must be a total push over then." Eren crossed his arms over his chest.
"Hardly. She was terrifying when she wanted to be."
"What about your dad?"
"Never met him." Stated Levi. "He fucked off before I was born."
"Oh. Well, that sucks." Eren was suddenly feeling extremely guilty.
"It never bothered me." Levi shrugged. "Can't miss what you never had."
"Yeah, I guess so." Eren agreed softly. "Any siblings?"
"Just me." Levi shook his head.
"Consider yourself lucky. Siblings can be great but they can also be a curse."
"I assume your referring to your sister?" Levi smirked.
"Yeah, Mikasa." Eren rolled his eyes. "She's not always so bad. To be completely honest, I wouldn't trade her for anything. I don't know if you already knew this, but we actually adopted Mikasa when she and I were nine. My dad knew her parents and he was doing a house call at there place. He was worried because they'd made an appointment days ago and never showed up. He called them and no one was answering. So, dad headed out there to check on them and when you got there, both Mikasas parents had been killed and he found Mikasa hiding in foot locker. She'd been in there for a few days at that point."
"Did they ever find who killed her parents?" Asked Levi.
"Yeah, these three guys. They were human traffickers." Eren clenched his teeth. Just telling the story made him angry. "Absolute fucking scum. They'd been spotted standing outside our school a week before."
"Jesus..." Levi breathed out.
"Yeah." Eren nodded solemnly. "They could have come after any of us."
A moment of silence passed and Eren gave a nervous laugh.
"Way to ruin the mood, am I right?" He rubbed at his neck awkwardly.
"If anything," Said Levi softly. "It just goes to show that she doesn't want to loose her family again. That's probably why she's so over protective."
"Oh. Wow. Yeah, I guess I never thought of it that way." Eren smiled at him. "That's was way deep Levi."
"And now the mood is definitely
dead." Levi sighed with a breathy chuckle that did strange things to Erens body. "Well, fucking done brat."
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
The rest of the ride had been fifteen minutes of Eren insisting to Levi that sandwiches tasted better cut up into triangles as opposed to squares or rectangles. The conversation only halted when they pulled up to a pair of grand brass gates.
"Is this the place?" Asked Eren.
"We've been driving on it for the last five minutes." Levi informed him.
"Your fucking kidding me." Eren balked, looking back at the long stretch of woodland they'd just driven though.
Levi stuck his hand out the window and gave a small wave.
"What was that?" Eren looked at him in confusion.
"Just wait."
Just as Levi said those two words, the gates swung open soundlessly.
"Yooooooooo..." Erens jaw dropped, eyes wide.
Levi glanced at Eren from the corner of his eye as he drove though the gates. Cute little fucking prick, he thought to himself. Just wait until he sees the house.
"Don't tell me this guy is actually a pimp?" Eren seriously asked him.
"Your a moron, but honestly? Who can fucking tell with these rich bastards." Levi shrugged.
They drove onwards for another for another minute before coming to another large gate. This was was even more grand then the last. The gold was polished and glinted at them in the sunshine. Beyond that gate was the main building.
"Well, stick a pole up my ass and call me a scarecrow." Eren said, half of his body out the window in amazement. "That's one big fucking house."
"Has anyone ever told you that you should talk less?" Levi shot him a droll look before leaning sightly out his own window.
He pressed down a small red button beside the intercom.
"Levi Ackerman." He spoke clearly. "I'm here for the two o'clock."
They was a small crackling noise and then a voice answered the way it always did.
"Come on though Mr Ackerman."
"Get your fucking head in the window brat." Levi grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back into his seat before he could drive the rest of the way though the gate.
"This is nuts." Eren looked out his window at the expansive and finely kept gardens.
"The house is over a hundred years old." Levi felt the need to mention.
"Nuts I tell you." Eren shook his head in disbelief.
Levi up infront of the house, careful not to block the front steps leading up to the double doors.
"I think those doors are worth more then my kidneys." Eren told Levi, who promptly rolled his eyes.
The front doors opened and a young woman wearing glasses and a grey suit stood at the top of gleeming marble stairs.
"I'm pretty sure your an accident waiting to happen after this morning." Levi unbuckled his seat belt. "So, try not to destroy my car."
"You can't expect me to just sit here after all that!" Eren exclaimed.
"Don't make me regret bring you along." Levi snapped and climbed out of the car quickly
He didn't want to be taken in by Erens adorable pout again. "Stay in the car."
Levi shut the door behind him and started up the stairs.
"Good afternoon Mr Ackerman." The young woman nodded.
"Miss Brzenska." Levi greeted her stoically.
Levi didn't mind her personally. She was generally business like and didn't bore Levi with small talk.
"Baby sitting?" She guestured to Erens form sitting in the car, his arms crossed over his chest and wearing a sour expression.
"Something like that."
Levi could only imagine how annoyed Eren would be to hear that. He almost wanted to get back down to the car and tell him just for his childish reaction.
For the furrowing of his brows forming that little crease on his forehead. To see him pucker his lips as if sucking on a lemon. And especially to see that pretty pink dust his cheeks.
Wow. This whole situation gets gayer by the second, Levi thought to himself.
"He's waiting for you in his office." She turned to face the inside of the house. "If you'll follow me."
Levi sent a quick glance at Eren with a warning glare before disappearing though the doorway and into the lavish home.
Levi could feel the thickness of the plush red carpet that stretched across the wide entry way and up the spotless double split stairs. Levi could always appreciate how clean the place was even if it was ridiculously huge.
He'd come here enough times to know the way to the office himself, but Rico Brzenska was always there to lead him soundlessly up the stairs and along the halls. If knew if he own a place like this he wouldn't just let people meander about. Especially the people he knew. The image of Hanji setting the house on fire and cackling manically while walls crumbled around them and screams echoed on torrential winds suddenly filled his mind.
Fuck that, he blinked, wiping the image from his mind.
"Sir, Mr Ackerman is here to see you." The woman knocked on a pair of large ornate doors.
"Ah, come in!" A cheerful aged voice replied.
She pushed open the doors and Levi stepped in behind her. The office, like the rest of the house, was finely furnished, a floor to ceiling window dominating the back wall.
"Pixis." Levi inclined his head to the man sitting behind the desk, holding a DS in his hands.
"Levi!" The man stood, grinning at him warmly. Dot Pixis was an older man, with no hair but a thick grey moustache. "Good to see you. That'll be all Rico."
The woman nodded curtly and left closing the door behind her.
"Petra told me that you had an oil painting to sell." Levi spoke matter of factly. "I was surprised. You generally buy more then sell."
"Straight to business. Same old Levi." Pixis chuckled and stroked his chin, setting down his DS. "But you are right."
The older man stood and came around to the front of his desk.
"A friend of mine from Greece recently had there first show case and I couldn't help but notice a certain item that I think you'll like in particular." Pixis mused.
"This 'friend' wouldn't happen to be an navie attractive young lady?" Levi stared at him plainly.
"Oh, what you must think of me Levi?" Pixis replied in mock offence. "Really."
Levi knew Pixis was hardly some dangerous predator. Lover of women and men alike? Sure. A notorious flirt? Absolutely. But generally harmless seeing as he understood the word 'no'. Although Levi couldn't for the life of him see what all those young friends of his saw in him, besides the money of course. But then again, it was likely thats all they could see. Pixis didn't seem to mind all the same.
"The piece, Pixis?" Levi prompted him.
"Ah, yes." Pixis smiled and moved over to a large covered canvas behind his desk. He grabbed one corner of the dark blue fabric and pulled it away, displaying the painting beneath. "The artist, a sweet little thing named Phaedra, painted this portrait of her grandfather."
Levi stepped up close to observe the painting. It was done in natural colours, light browns and beige. He lifted his hand and touched it gently. He could feel the textures of her man's long beard and the smooth strokes that filled the background, that appeared to be a garden in autumn, done in oranges and muted reds. He feel that this was a real person. He could see the creases marring his forehead, showing a long full life and the laugh lines around his mouth, showing one filled with smiles.
"What do you think?" Asked Pixis. "She's very talented isn't she? And such beautiful hands too."
"She has something I'll give her that much." Levi nodded in agreement, studying the gentle details in the dark eyes.
"I have a picture of her." Pixis declared and rounded his desk to rummage though his top drawer.
"No offence, but I really don't care." Levi told him, his eyes still on the painting.
"Ah, your so cold. Really, she's beauty." Pixis insisted. "Look here- oh, Levi, I didn't realise you'd brought someone along."
"What?" Levi looked up.
Pixis was looking out the floor to ceiling window, out on to the front lawn. Levi came to stand beside him and peered down at front drive. Eren was leaning against the outside of his car, talking to another man, clearly someone on Pixis's staff. The other man was tall and muscular, posed with both hands on his hips. Eren laughed at something he said, grinning widely. Levi felt his gut wrench almost painfully.
Suddenly the man seemed distrustful. Levi felt as though he had to march down there and separate the two, despite the fact that they were doing nothing but having a conversation. He knew Eren had probably jumped at the chance for distraction.
Don't be fucking stupid, Levi cursed himself. He can do whatever he wants.
And then the man reached out and touched Erens shoulder. The action was smooth and gentle. Eren didn't seemed bothered by it but gave no indication for the man to do anything further. Levis hold body tensed.
"So, this is the infamous Mr Eren Jaeger then." Pixis smiled at him.
"What?" Levi looked at him in confusion. "What do you know about Eren?"
"A mutual friend of ours may have slightly divulged the entire situation to me." Pixis admitted, completely unashamed.
Levi knew there was only one person they had in common who knew about Eren.
"I'm going to shave Erwins eyebrows and make him eat them." Levis gaze immediately darkened.
Pixis laughed heartedly.
"Really, now. There was no harm done. I'm actually quite interested in the whole affair. He must be a very determined young man to pursue you." Pixis appraised him. "I was told you gave him a week."
"Four days after today." Levi looked back out the window.
"And your already so jealous after such a short time? I can see a very interesting future for you both." Pixis said casually.
"I'm not jealous." Levi snapped to quickly for it to be convincing.
"Levi, there's no shame in romance." Pixis grinned lecherously. "And other things."
"I don't care how much money you have, I will push you out this window." Levi told him seriously.
"I don't doubt it." Pixis shrugged. "What I don't understand, is why you doubt yourself?"
"We are not having this conversation."
"Oh, but we are."
"I came here on business."
"But you'll stay because I'm so pretty." Pixis said battered his lashes at him. "Come now, Levi. He's an attractive young man and from Erwin told me, he's nuts about you. What's stopping you but yourself?"
"I don't want this and neither should he." Levi sighed in annoyence. "I'm pretty fucked up, you know. He's just a kid, he should go find someone else."
"Someone less fucked up?" Pixis raised his brows at him. "We're all fucked up in one way or another Levi. Doesn't mean we don't enjoy some happiness in our lives. And for some of us, that happiness is another person."
"I really don't want to have this conversation." Levi frowned.
He watched Eren smiling at the other man, listening to him eagerly. The man clapped Eren on the back and Levi felt it like a rock dropping in his stomach.
"Don't let this is beat you, Levi." Said Pixis. "You won't be young forever. Take this advice from a lonely old man."
"A wealthy lonely old man with dozens of sexual partners." Levi corrected him.
"Well, you know what they say," Pixis shrugged. "once you have everything, you realise you don't."
"Who? Who says that?" Levi gave him a blank stare.
"Another lonely old man."
"It was Erwin wasn't it?"
"He, Mike and I had brunch the other day."
"My day just got progressively gayer. Thanks for that."