When Levi woke early that morning, outside, the sun was beginning to rise and he could tell that the house was silent. He glanced to his left and found Eren was still sleeping soundly beside him. The boy was on his back now, head lolled to the side towards Levi, one arm layed beside him just an inch from Levi's face. He studied the skin of his hand, smooth in some places, rough in others. Proof that Eren did more then had things handed to him. He could see the lines of his hand so clearly, like little valleys and rivers crisscrossing the surface of his palm. Long tan fingers, curled slightly, nails not in the best condition. Unsurprising. Levi never pegged Eren to be someone obsessed with the appearance of his hands. He didn't look at Erens face. He wouldn't let himself. Instead he carefully peeled back the blanket and cautiously climbed off the bed. He immediately felt the difference in temperature. With out Erens body heat, the room felt like the North Pole.
Levi grabbed his clothes for the day from his bag and stepped into the hall. He made sure to move as quietly as possible, he didn't want to wake anyone. So, silently he went into the bathroom down the hall and changed his clothes. Then he stealthily crept back into Erens room and but away the clothes he'd slept in. He cast a glance at Eren, still sleeping in the same place he'd been in when he'd left. Levi felt the urge to lean over and brush the hair from his eyes, but he steeled himself.
I already fucked up enough last night.
Levi stepped back out into the hall and froze when he heard a clattering noise down stairs.
Someone's awake?
He briefly considered that it could have been Mikasa or Annie and that would make for an awkward exchanged, but eventually he knew that he couldn't lurk outside Erens door forever and headed down stairs. He walked slowly, hoping not be heard so he could turn back is he had too. He stepped down into the entry way and looked down that hall at opening into the kitchen. That was where the noise was coming from. He could hear shuffling and footsteps and...
Is that humming?
Levi decided that neither Annie nor Mikasa were the humming type and poked his head into the kitchen. The occupant noticed him immediately.
"Oh, good morning Levi." Carla smiled at him cheerfully. "Sleep well?"
"Fine, thank you." He replied politely.
"Well, come on in." She motioned him into the kitchen. "Come and sit, I'll make you some breakfast, the others won't be up for a while."
Levi did as he was told and sat down at the bench. Levi honestly liked Carla Jeager and he hadn't lied when he'd told Eren that she'd reminded him of his own mother. They both had a sunny disposition, although Carla was definitely more excitable then his own.
"Coffee or tea, dear?" Carla asked him.
"Your busy," He nodded to the food she had spread out over the bench. "I can do it."
"I wish I could hear that out of Erens mouth one day." Carla pointed to floating cupboards by the sink. "Tea and coffee's in there."
Levi stood and starting preparing the tea.
"I apologise if we made you uncomfortable during dinner, Levi." Said Carla, her voice suddenly carrying a softer tone. "We are a little...forward."
"There's nothing to apologise for." Levi shook his head. "And the food was great by the way."
"Oh, you flatterer." She gave him a sly wink. "I had help."
"I get the feeling Eren doesn't bring people home alot." Prompted Levi.
"Not in years." Carla sighed wisfully. "Jean used to come around often, but then of course they were always friends, so he was practically part of the furniture. And I know Erens had a few dates since he finished highschool, but from what Mikasa and Armin have told me, none of them have really caught his eye. Well, not like you anyhow."
Carlas suggestive tone was very deliberate.
"I've met Jean." He said, covering up is embrassment by filling the kettle. "I'm surprised those two ever liked each other in any compacity."
"Believe me," Carla scoffed humorously. "we were all surprised. The only thing those boys had done since they met was fight and complain about each other. They're not bad boys though. Just a tad highstrung."
How funny, Levi thought to himself. Thats the exact word I used to describe you.
"What's all that for?" Levi asked as he waited for the kettle to boil.
"We're going on a picnic." Carla shoot him a beaming smile over her shoulder. "Grisha works alot, so a day when he's free and my babies are home is a special occasion."
"Fun." Levi answered simply.
"Oh, it is. I haven't been able to get them all together for a full day in so long!"
"Well, if you'd prefer, I don't mind staying. Especially if it's a family affair." Levi said honestly.
"Stop that nonsense." She waggled her finger at him. "Of course you have to come. Our families big enough for Annie and it's big enough for you too."
Levi felt a warm sensation by bubble up inside him. He was touched by her words. He didn't have many in his life that he truly cared for. His mother, Erwin, Hanji, Petra. Whereas Eren had large friend group to match his large heart. Levi could see where he'd learned it from.
"Thank you." Levi said softly.
Carla came over to him and placed a hand on either side of his face. She leaned down and pecked him on the forehead.
"Your very welcome, dear."
Then she went back to preparing for the picnic and Levi finished making his tea, fighting to keep the blush off his face.
Carla insisted on making him something to eat, despite that fact that he was perfectly content with his tea. So, she made him pancakes while she chittered away about how extravagant the neighbours do there Christmas lights every year and others things Levi pretending he was listening to.
Carla dished him out a plateful as Mikasa and Annie trudge into the kitchen, still in there pajamas and slippers, which Levi did notice were matching.
"Good morning." Carla greeted them both.
"Morning." Mikasa replied and went to refill the kettle.
Annie just nodded and rubbed at her eyes, clearly not an early riser.
"Sit." Carla told her. "I'll make you some pancakes.
"Thanks." She managed tiredly and took the chair beside Levi.
"Picnic?" Mikasa asked, eyeing the spread of food.
"Yes." Carla did a strange little happy dance. "I finally have you all in one place, how can I not take advantage of that?"
"The park?" Mikasa pulled two mugs from the cupboard.
"Naturally." Carla hummed as she flipped a pancake. "You'll be leaving me all alone again to tomorrow so let's make a day of it."
"You have dad." Mikasa reminded her.
"Oh, please. That old man hardly counts when he works all the time." Carla sniffed.
"He is the only doctor for miles."
"Yes, well he only has one wife." Carla pushed a plate over to Annie who nodded her thanks.
"That's cause your all I need, dear." Grisha came walking in, wearing the most hideously striped pajamas Levi had ever seen. And he had lived through Erwins onesie obsession.
"You just want pancakes out of me." Carla frowned.
"Yes, pancakes and a kiss." Grisha came around the bench to peck her cheek.
Levi glanced at Mikasa and Annie. Both seemed unbothered my the affectionate scene layed out before them.
"Your impossible." Carla pushed him away with her hip, smiling. "Now get away from the stove before it spontaneously combust."
"I don't think even I could manage that." Grisha chuckled.
"Just wait." Said Mikasa. "Eren isn't wake yet."
"Oh, that hazard of a boy." Carla sighed.
"Coffee?" Mikasa offered Grisha, as she set down one for herself and Annie.
"That'd be great, thanks." Grisha gave her a smile, sitting on the otherside of Eren. "Sleep well, kids?"
Excuse me? Levi internally twitched, Kids?
"Hmm." Annie hummed with a mouthful of pancakes.
"My bad." Grisha chuckled, somewhat bashfully. "Your hardly a kid, Levi."
"It's no problem." Levi assured him. "And I slept fine."
"Good, good." Grisha replied.
Levi hadn't been sure what to think of Grisha at first. He was much quieter and far more subtle then his wife and often excluded a very 'dad' like ambiance, especially in his awful pajamas. Levi expected him to break out into bad puns at any minute. Eren had definitely gotten his looks from his mother and from what he could see, the only thing Eren had inherited from him was trouble in the kitchen. But ultimately, Levi decided he had nothing against Grisha Yeager and seemingly the man had nothing against him.
That had surprised Levi a bit. A complete stranger sharing a bed with there son, who was a complete fifteen years his senior and they didn't bat an eye.
"Someone better have saved me some of those."
Levi turned in his seat to his Eren walking around the corner into the kitchen, wearing the same thing he had last night, his hair ridiculously mused.
Holy shit, Levi activitly tried not to stare. Why the fuck is he so cute?
"Morning my little Super Saiyan." Carla giggled at his appearance.
"Pancakes." Eren frowned, literally stamping his foot.
"Careful, Eren." Grisha warned him. "If you don't behaviour yourself, the monsters in the basement will get you."
"Stoppp." Eren whined.
"Eren was so terrifyed of the basement when he was little." Carla explained. "Oh and he used to tell Armin all kinds of stories and they'd be up all night with nightmares."
"It was funny at first." Said Mikasa. "Then they turned twelve and it just got sad."
A small chuckle escaped Levi and he quickly tried to cover it with a cough, resulting in him choking on a piece of pancake.
"Serves you right." Eren pouted at him.
"Don't be such a grumpy bum." Carla scolded him. Eren rolled his eyes and went over to the fridge. "I saw them eyes rolling mister."
"Congratulations. Age hasn't made you blind yet." Eren quipped.
"If your going to talk to your mother like that then no pancakes for you!" Carla pointed the spatula at him threateningly.
"What? Hey, no!" Eren seemed suddenly panicked.
"Naughty boys don't get pancakes."
"Dad!" Eren turned pleading eyes on Grisha.
"You know where the naughty corner is Eren." Grisha said with mock seriousness.
"I hate you both!"
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
"Help me with the blanket, Eren." Carla guestured to her son.
Eren grabbed the other corner of the large picnic blanket and pulled it straight, waiting for Annie to set the basket down before letting go. Levi put the cooler down the and Eren watched his muscles move beneath the skin of his forearms with way more fascination then was normal.
Carla was the first to sit, immediately opening the basket. Eren sat across from her and petted the spot next to him for Levi. Grisha sat beside his wife and Mikasa and Annie occupied an empty corner. Eren sucked in a deep breath of cool air. He'd spent alot of time at this particular park over the years. They'd set up a fair bit away from the actual park itself, on the otherside of the large pond that seperated them. The morning sun glinted off the water, the ducks that swam about creating ripples. The laughter of young children carried on the gentle breeze across the water.
"It's nice here." Levi remarked.
"I know, right? We've been coming here forever." Eren turned to him with a grin and then guestured to the tree behind them. "You see that tree? I've been climbing it since I could walk. That trees my bitch."
"Eren." His mother scolded him, shaking her head.
"Oh, who am I hurting?" Eren pouted angerly. "The tree?"
"Shut up and eat." Mikasa shoved a wrapped sandwich his way. Eren seemed defiant for a minute and then he saw the ham peeking out if the side of bread and took it snidely. "Don't snatch."
Mikasa handed out the sandwiches and Eren stretches out on his back.
"You shouldn't eat laying down, Eren." Carla tutted at him. "You could choke."
"Wouldn't be the first time." Eren could just barley hear Annie murmur to herself. Mikasa immediately stiffled a giggle.
"You traitor!" Eren sprung back up, pointing a accusingly. "I am never telling you anything again!"
Even Eren, a complete loud mouth had his secrets and there were people, namely Annie and Jean, who knew way to much to still be alive. Then Eren thought about the sheet magnitude of the impossibility of him ever getting the drop and Annie and settled for thinking about killing Jean instead.
"And we're not going to dwell on that." Grisha pushed the conversation along. "So, Levi. Carla was telling me your an art dealer?"
"Yes, I am." Levi replied.
"You must have seen some great pieces."
"Some. There's alot more trash then treasure." Levi answered honestly.
"I can relate to that. I've pulled some things from patients body that are most definitely not treasures."
"We're trying to eat!" Carla elbowed him.
"Sorry, dear." He apologized gruffly.
Everyone finished there sandwiches and Carla made sure everyone had a drink. Eren had been staring at the tree for an increasingly concerning amount of time.
"I'll be right back." He said abruptly, handing his cup to Levi and standing.
"Can't you finish your drink first?" Carla sighed at him.
"I'll just be a minute." He said, toeing his shoes off.
"What's he doing?" Levi frowned.
"Climbing." Mikasa replied dully.
The trees trunk was thick and slightly twisted. The rough feeling was familiar and reminded him of late afternoons and the calls of birds. He planted his foot in the first hold as he always did and hauled himself up to the lowest branch. He planted his feet firmly and smiled down at the picnic six feet below him.
"Please don't fall out." Carla shook her head.
"Do you know who your talking to?"
"Yes." Carla said exasperatedly. "That's why I'm concerned."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence." Eren muttered under his breath.
His met eyes with Levi, posed with his cup to his lips. Eren grinned and pulled himself into the next branch up. By now he was high enough to see a clear view of close to the entire park across the water. It was just as peaceful in that tree as it was when he was young. It was almost like the world slowed down up there amidst the branches. He spotted a mother and her two children at the play ground. The eldest child was seven at the most and was less then impressed with the idea of home time.
Eren glanced back down at the picnic. The conversation had continued on without him. His mother was telling Mikasa something using strange animated guestures, but that wasn't what Eren was focusing on. Levi was still staring back up at him. He nodded absently at something Carla said, his head bent back slightly so he could watch Eren.
Eren inched his way forward on the branch, testing it's strength before going to far. He sent Levi and little wave and thought he saw the barest hint of the smile, but couldn't be sure with the glare of the sun shine over Levis features. For a singular moment Eren felt like they were the only two people in the world. He shuffled forward slightly more. Then suddenly a large bird landed noisily on the branch above his head, he tilted one way and so did the world around him.
He was weightless. With no time to think, his hands shot out to find purchase. He felt the rough bark scrape against his bare palms. He was hanging from the branch, easily eight or nine feet in the air. He sucked in a breath. The only thing his brain managed to process is that he hadn't fallen and cracked his head open.
Jesus fucking Christ, he cursed mentally.
He couldn't hear his mother shriek below him over the pounding in his ears. He pulled himself up with all his strength, managing to get his upper chest on the branch.
"Eren!" He faintly heard Mikasa call out.
"I'm fine." He hissed out, to quiet for her to hear.
"Be careful!" His mothers voice was louder.
He took in a shakey breath and pulled himself up harder. His arms ached, a bead of sweat roll down his temple. He slowly inched his torso up high enough to carefully swing one leg over the branch. His fingers dug into the bark painfully, his head felt light.
"Are you alright?"
That voice was Levis.
Eren finally looked down. He avoided seeing how far up from the ground he was and instead linked eyes with Levi. Everyone was grouped together under the tree, staring up at him with concern.
"Yeah..." He panted out. "Yeah!"
Welp. That was fucking close.
"Eren Jaeger get down from the tree right now!" His mother stamped her foot furiously.
"Yeah..." Eren breathed put again, laying back against the trunk for a moment. He heard a loud craw and glared up at the crowd above him. "Stupid fucking bird!"
Eren shook the branch it was perched on violently with a growl and the bird immediately took flight.
"Eren!" Now his father was calling out.
"I'm coming!" He shouted back, climbing down onto the lower branch.
"Your way too old to be giving my heart attacks Eren!" Carla seethed.
"I didn't plan it." Eren huffed. "It was the birds fault."
"And your too old to be climbing tree!" Carla ignored his comment.
Eren rolled his eyes as he shimmied down the last of the trunk. His foot caught on the slope of the trees base and he stumbled back a little right into Levi. His heart was still hammering away in his chest and now it was trying to escape.
"Are you okay?" Mikasa asked loudly, but Eren was still looking at Levi.
"Your an idiot." Levi scolded him.
"It was the bird!" Erens brow furrowed in frustration.
"An idiot who's afraid of birds then." Levi quipped.
Eren glared at him. He could see the concern slowly fading from Levi's gaze. He couldn't say the same about Mikasa and his mother.
"You evil little devil child!" Carla smacked her hand hard against his shoulder. "Don't you do that again! You could have broken your neck and died."
"I'm sorry! I'm fine!"
"You need to be careful, Eren." Mikasa sighed. He noticed she was clutching Annies hand.
"Arg!" Eren growled in annoyence and thrust out his wrist. "I'm still alive! Here! Check my pulse! I'm not dead!"
"That's not the point." Carla smacked him once more.
"Could you stop that!" Eren stepped hurriedly back from, right into Levi once again.
"Everyone just calm down." Grisha put his hand on Carlas shoulder. "Erens fine, dear. Let's finish our picnic, hmm?"
"Don't patronise me." Carla shrugged off his hand with a pout, but sat back down on the blanket nonetheless.
"Your a walking disaster." Levi shook his head at him.
"It was the bird!" Eren whined loudly, crawling around the food back to his original position on the blanket. Everyone followed. Carla was giving him the silent treatment, Eren pretended not to notice.
"So," Annie spoke up suddenly, digging her hand into the pocket of her hoodie. "I think this is a surprising enough moment as any."
Annie pulled out a small black box. Eren choked on air.
"What?" Mikasa said, half buried by the hand slapping over her mouth.
"Oh my god!" Carla mimicked her actions.
What...?
Eren looked at Levi with wide eyes. Levi looked almost equally as shocked as Eren felt.
"Is that?" Mikasa mumbled through her fingers, face bright red.
"You said to surprise you." Annie said in that same bored tone, although she was smiling. "Did it work?"
Carla gave an inhuman squeal.
Oh my god, thought Eren. Oh mY GOD. OH MY GOD. FUCK.
Mikasa nodded earnestly, hand still over her mouth, Eren could see the glimmer of tears in her eyes. He then gave a muffled yelp as he covered his own mouth with both hands, glancing between Levi and the two girls hurriedly. Mikasa took the small box from Annie and opened it. Carla squealed again.
"Congratulations!" Grisha was the first to say.
"Oh my god." Eren whispered to himself.
Mikasa lifted the ring from the box. It was golden, a deep red circular stone boardered by crafted leaves on either side. Annie took it from her gently and slid it on to her ring finger. Mikasa wiped away a silent tear.
Eren practically screamed in his throat, smacking Levis thigh excitedly, too happy to be embrassessed.
"My baby girl..." Carla sobbed, leaning into her husbands touch.
Mikasa all but leapt at the other girl, trapping her in a tight embrace.
"Levi!" Eren beamed at the man beside him. "There engaged."
"I saw." Levi arched an amused brow. "You called it."
"What? I called it?" Eren thought for a moment and then remembered when he'd taken Levi to Simons for there date and had told him that he thought Mikasa and Annie would be the next to be married out of his friends. "Holy shit! I did!"
Mikasa pulled away from Annie cheerfully, kissing her cheek only to be attacked with a hug by her mother.
"I'm so happy for you girls!" Carla made sure to throw one arm around Annies shoulders as well.
"You've been part of the family for a long time." Grisha smiled widely at Annie. "But now it'll be official."
"Thank you." Annie replied softly, lowering her face into Carla's shoulder.
"I'm going to have a sister in law!" Eren realized.
"Hush, Eren." Carla scolded him. "This isn't about you. Your sisters getting married!"
"That's why I'm going to be a brother in law!" Eren shot back, still grinning.
"Two surprises in one day." Levi noted.
"Although I much prefer this to Eren almost falling out of a tree." Grisha laughed heartily.
"Oh! Oh!" Carla turned to her husband urgently. "The camera! We have to take a picture to remember this!"
"Yes, dear." Grisha stood to go collect the camera from the car.
Eren took the chance to also wrap his arms around his sister.
"I'm so happy for you." He whispered in her ear, winking at Annie over her shoulder.
"Thanks, Eren." Mikasa wipped at her face.
"Congratulations." Levi nodded to them both. Annie nodded back.
"Thank you." Mikasa was practically glowing, looking down at the ring on her finger.
Eren could hardly sit still, vibrating with joy. He couldn't believe what had just happened. It had been so sudden and Annie had been so casual that it had taken him a moment to even realise what was happening. He was going to have Annie for a sister in law. He grinned at Levi, who smirked at his goofy face.
"One down, one to go." Carla clapped her hands excitedly.
"Mum!" Eren whined, flushing bright red like the new ring on Mikasas finger.
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
After Grisha had snapped Carlas desired pictures, Mikasa had pulled Annie away for a moment alone and Eren took his opportunity to do the same with Levi. His mother had complained about them leaving her all alone. Grisha had frowned and reminded her that as they were married, she hadn't been alone over two decades.
"This is great." Eren walked with a bounce in his step, brimming with nothing but happiness for his sister and her fiancee.
"Do you think they'll move out once there married?" Asked Levi, watching the water as they walked the path along the small lake.
"I hadn't through about that." Eren hummed and tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe? Connie and Sasha were already living together before they got engaged. Connies uncle is actually there landlord, he gets like a relatives discount or whatever. So, when they tied the knot nothing really changed. Mikasa and Annie might not even be able to afford a place to themselves."
"Maybe they'll move when they finish school then." Levi suggested.
"Yeah, that's more likely." Eren agreed. "I'm so happy for them. I'm gonna be a brother in law."
"Yes." Levi rolled his eyes. "You've mentioned that once or twice."
"Weren't you happy when your friends all got together?" Eren frowned.
"Of course I was." Levi sounded almost offended.
"Do you think they'll have kids?" Eren gasped, slapping a hand to the side of his face.
"Mikasa and Annie or my friends?"
"Mikasa and Annie! Mikasa loves kids, I know she'd want some eventually. Not sure about Annie though."
"I'm sure children is pretty far down the track for two twenty year olds." Levi stated.
"Yeah, I suppose." Eren nodded. "But do you think they'd adopt? Or like get a sperm donor or something?"
"I think this is all stuff you be ask them." Levi arched a dark brow at him.
"Good point." Eren chuckled.
He looked out at the lake, they were about half way around now. He could faintly see his parents under the tree and adjacent to them across the water, was the park. The sun was high in the sky, glinting off the lake, a cool breeze rolling over it and through Erens shaggy hair.
"You know Armin fell in once." Said Eren randomly.
"In the lake?" Asked Levi.
"Yeah, we were like eight. Armin was on his bike and I had my roller blades-"
"You had roller blades?" Levi cut in smugly.
"One; Yes, I did. They were bright red and covered in cat stickers. Two; Shut up, skates are great." Eren turned his nose up. "So, back to my story. There were these teenagers on the path, and they were taking up the whole fucking space, like we couldn't get around them at all. When we got near them, Armin yelled out 'excuse me', so we could get though and they just straight up ignored us. So, I rode right into them and Armin rode right into the lake trying not to do the same."
"You had a truly eventful childhood, Eren Jaeger." Levi scoffed good naturedly. "Destroying barns, dating horses and crashing into teens on your roller blades."
"Well, it just sounds weird when you put it like that." Eren pouted. "You have to owe me by this point. Come on, spill. Tell a story about your childhood."
"I told you about it last night."
"No, I want like a story. Tell me but a time you got in trouble or about your favourite toy or something."
"I had this knife."
"Not what I meant at all, Levi."
"Not a real knife, dipshit. It was plastic." Levi huffed lightly. " I got it for Christmas one year when I was around six or seven in this pirate set, I wasn't really into pirates, but I remember carrying around the knife in my pocket for months on end, like it was a real weapon. I used to tell my mother that it was to protect the both of us."
"Awe, that's so cute Levi." Eren gushed. "Do you still have it?"
"My mother threw it out after I used it to poke some asshole kid in the face at school."
"And you told me you were a good boy."
"He knocked a girl off her crutches and then hid them."
"Okay, serious jackass alert." Eren nodded.
"Mother said it was good I stood up for her, but I stood have told a teacher instead of almost making him blind."
"Eh." Eren shrugged. "He deserved it."
"That's what I said." Levi laughed lightly.
The little chuckle went right through Erens being, rendering him breathless for a moment.
"God, I wish you'd do that more." Eren practically gaped at him.
"Stab people on the face with plastic?"
"What? No! I mean, laugh!"
"Laugh?" Levis brow creased.
"Yeah." Erens cheeks coloured.
Should of kept your mouth shut, Eren cursed himself.
Levi just stared at him for a moment, expressionless.
"Brat." Levi started walkingahead.
"Hey!" Eren hurried after him. "It was a compliment, I swear!"
"Keep your compliments to yourself, if you please." Levi kept walking.
"What crawled up your ass and died?" Eren frown at him.
"I'm sorry," Levi sighed, suddenly seeming tired. ",but your compliments are better spent on someone else.
"What are you talking about?" Eren felt his heart immediately slam against the cage that was his chest.
"Eren...this isn't going to turn out as you hope." Levi paused and turned to him, talking softly.
"Hey, don't you dare talk like that." Eren irked slightly. "I still have a whole day left."
"Eren..." Levi looked at him pityfull.
"Don't you 'Eren' me!" Eren fought the urge to stamp his foot childishly. "I still have time left Levi! You gave me a week."
"And how this week ends was always going to be the same." Levi insisted gently.
Eren didn't like how calm he was being when Eren was getting visibly riled up. It wasn't fair. He didn't want his pity, he wanted to be close to him.
"Oh, fuck off!" Eren hissed. "I know you've enjoyed yourself! Just admit it!"
Levi's gaze hardened and Eren wished he'd just settled for pity.
"You can't harrass me for weeks and get your panties in a twist when it doesn't happen the way you want." He spat coldly, his eyes then softening slightly. "I've been saying no since the beginning. Your a good kid, Eren. You'll find someone else."
Somehow the more gentler of the words hurt more then being told that he had truly been harassing Levi. It was like Levi had taken that plastic knife of his and driven it into Erens chest.
"I don't want anyone else!" Eren shouted, the pain clear in his voice. "I want you! Has this week meant anything for you? Anything at all? There has to be a part of you who saw what I did!"
"Stop it. Your just upsetting yourself." Levi looked around, encase anyones attention had been draw by Erens shouting.
"No you stop it!" Eren shoved Levi hard.
Levis solid mass didn't move an inch.
"We have something Levi! Don't lie, you know we do! You have to feel it as well. When were together, just talking, or with the others, or kissing." Eren pressed on desperately. "Levi, please! Know you feel it."
"You don't know me." Levi's eyes harden again, lips set in a straight line. "I don't know you. When this is all over, you'll honour your agreement and this will go back to how it was. Completely nonexistent."
Tears gathered in Erens eyes and before he could stop them, were rolling down his cheeks. Levi looked startled for a moment.
"You fucking coward!" Eren shoved him again. "You barstad! Why are you lying? Why would you kiss me if you didn't want me?"
"Shut up!" Levi shoved him back, his strength actually making Eren stumbled slightly. "I was drunk. It was mistake, and I apologise if I lead you on. It wasn't intentional."
"You asshole..." Eren wiped at his face. "You fucking prick... don't lie to me..."
"Get it through your thick head, Eren!" Levi was shorter then Eren, but seemed to tower above him in rage. "It's the fucking truth! And it's clear that this whole week was a mistake. I should never have agreed to this."
Levi turned and starting walking away. Eren quickly leapt forward, reaching for his arm. Levi slapped his hand away.
"Stay away from me." His glare cut though Eren like ice.
Levi stormed away and Eren screamed after him.
"You fucking asshole!" He dropped his hands into his face miserably.
How did this happen? Thought Eren. How did this all go wrong so fast? It hurts so much...
He wiped his nose on his shirt and glanced up, Levi was still walking away and showing no signs of stopping.
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
Eren took out his phone and quickly texted his father.
Dad- 11:57am;
Me and Levi had a fight. Going for a walk to cool off. Won't be too long.
His father would definitely be the most rational person to tell. His mother would throw and tantrum and demand details, Mikasa would hunt Levi down in minutes, no doubt with Annie at her heels. Yes, his father was definitely the right choice. Eren sighed and leaned his forehead against the wooden panelling of the wall.
He had jumped the back fence of his old school and easily found his way back to where he, Armin and Mikasa used to sit. Down beside the art building, wedged all against the short brick wall that seperated that side of the school from the stream that was there. Everyone knew that this was they're place and that if anyone else tried to claim it then Eren would fight them and that meant fighting Mikasa. Even back them she was a force to be reckoned with.
He pushed himself off the side off the side on the people and turned to lean on the wall brick wall. The small alley was only a metre wide at most and hardly as big as his young mind had remembered.
"Why am I such a fucking moron?" He asked out loud.
He'd fucked up. He wasn't going to take all the blame mind you, it was definitely a team effort. He needed to fix things. Apologize for being annoying and angry and pushy, but he didn't even know where Levi was or where to start if he did. He checked his phone. It had been almost half an hour since he'd last seen him.
Shinganshina wasn't big and Levi did know what the main road looked like, but it was still very possible he was lost. Eren couldn't exactly imagine Levi calling him and asking for directions.
Maybe he just went back to he house? Eren thought to himself. Maybe he's packing he's bags and checking bus times right now.
"This fucking sucks!" Eren growled and kicked at the wall, winching when his foot came into contact with the brick. "I've ruined everything."
Eren clenched his fists tightly. Today was supposed to be a good day. A picnic, Levi's forearms and company, an engagement. Today was supposed to be happy and then that happened. His stomach was all twisted and knotted painfully. He could feel a head ache coming on. He'd always been prone to stress head aches and this definitely qualified.
"How do I fix this?" He dragged a hand back through his hair. He turned and leaned back against the wall, slowly sliding down it until he was sitting.
I need to find out where he is, Eren decided. He pulled his phone out again and opened his contacts. His thumb hoovered over Levis phone number, it was labelled 'Small Angry Hot Man'. He sucked in a deep breath, tapped his screen and held the phone up to his ear. It rang. Twice. Three times. Four. Five. Six.
Please.
Eventually the call cut out. Levi hadn't hung up, Eren could only guess the other man had simply ignored his phone.
Maybe if I keep calling he'll eventually just answer.
Eren called again. The dial tone rung through to no avail. He tried again and then one more time. If Levi wasn't going to answer, he wasn't going to answer. He glared down at his phone screen and another number caught his gaze. This one was under 'Captain America'.
Erwin? Eren frowned and then remembered Erwin and the others from the BBQ at Levi's house drunkenly putting there numbers in his phone encase he ever needed them to beat up Levi for him. He scrolled down a little and saw 'Call for a good time!', 'Mama Ral' and a number simply under the microscope emoji.
Eld, Petra and Hanji, he remembered. Maybe Levis called one of them to vent? It can't hurt to try.
Eren selected Erwins number first, this time the call picked up after three rings.
"Erwin Smith speaking." The voice spoke in a business like tone.
"Uh, hey. It's Eren?" He said nervously.
"Oh." Came the singular answer.
"Have you heard from Levi? Do you know where he is?" Eren asked urgently.
"Calm down." Erwin ordered softly and it somehow did seem to work on Eren. "Levi just called me. He's coming home."
"Fuck..." Eren breathed out.
"I told him he was being an idiot." Erwin continued. "But I don't know if anyone could ever convince him that he's worth your affections, Eren."
"Are you saying I should give up?" Eren snapped.
"I never said that." Erwins voice had a hard edged quality, almost like a school principal. "But Levi's extremely stubborn, Eren."
"I know." Eren bit his lip to stop it from quivering.
"What are you going to do about it?" Erwin said expectantly.
"I'm going to get him back." Eren replied immediately. "I don't know how yet, but I will."
"That's dangerous determination, Eren." Eren seemed impressed.
"Sometimes that's all you got."
--Tuesday To Tuesday--
"Eren don't go!" Mikasa stood in his door way as he hurriedly shoved his things into his bag.
"I can make my own decisions!" Eren shouted back.
"Sweetheart listen-" Carla tried.
"No!" Eren turned to her and found everyone standing in his door way. "I'm not a little kid, okay? I'm not giving up."
I need to do this. I need to do his for both me and Levi.
"Eren please!" Mikasa pleaded.
"I said no!" Eren yanked his bag over his shoulder to mad to react to the stinging on his hand. He headed for the door. "Get out of my way."
I can't let anything get in my way. What I felt when I was with him, I'm not willing to loose that. I'm not willing to loose him.
"Eren, listen to us." Said his father, always the calmer man.
"You can't stop me." Even cut him a dark glare.
"I'm not going to stop you."
"Dad!"
"Grisha!"
"Erens right." Grisha told them. "He's and adult and should be able to make his own decisions and deal with the consequences."
"Look at him!" Carla screamed and pointed at Eren. "He's not in a right state of mind to be going anywhere! He could crash and die! Is that what you want that!"
"I think he should go." Annie spoke up. Mikasa have her a shocked expression. "If he wants it, he has to fight for it."
"Annie..." Eren starts at his in surprise.
"What else can you do?" Annie shrugged.
"That doesn't change the fact that your too riled up to be behind the wheel, Eren." Carla grabbed his shoulders and stared at him desperately. "Please. Just wait until morning. Levi will still be there, okay? You shouldn't leave like this. Give yourself sometime to think it over and then leave first thing tomorrow."
"But-" Said Eren.
"He might need time too." Mikasa cut him off. "If you go back now while your both mad you'll just fight again and be even worse off."
Eren sighed heavily and rubbed at his face. This was so difficult. All he wanted was to get in the car and get Levi back, but he couldn't deny that they had a point. His mind was going a hundred miles per hour. He could cause an accident and more people then just him could get hurt, turning an turning crappy situation into a veritable shit storm. An then there was what Mikasa had said. If he turned up on Levi's door step in three hours, the both of them still steaming, emotions tearing them apart, they'd definitely fight again. Even knew himself well enough to know that he could argue and scream for hours.
"I'll wait." Eren finally decided reluctantly. "But I'm leaving first thing tomorrow!"
"Thank you-" Carla started saying, but Eren shouldered them out of the way and slammed his door. He heard his mother call through the door. "I'll bring dinner up to you later."
He listened to the footsteps disappear down the hall and Mikasas door close. Eren slid down his door onto the floor, dropping his bag beside him. He sat completely still. He was worried that if he moved he'd be out the front door in moments.Five minutes passed and then ten. He listened to Mikasa and Annie argue in hushed tones across the hall. Now he felt even worse.
I need to apologize to them as well. Today was supposed to be special for them.
Soon his butt started to fall asleep and his knees started to cramp up. He stretched out across the floor on his stomach, face pressed into the carpet miserably. An hour dragged by, the sun light faded and the shadows grew. He eventually became restless enough to crawl over to his bed and pull an old blue and yellow box out from beneath it. It was a gift box he'd gotten for one of his birthdays. The lid was embossed with imagines for balloons and cakes. Eren ran his hand over them, feeling the scratch in the surface from all the times he'd carelessly shoved it under his bed. He removed the lid and looked down at the contents.
It was filled with wide variety of strange objects, all things that means something to him. He'd left it here for safe keeping when he'd left for college. That fact that Jean already knew it existed was annoying enough. He could only imagine the crap he'd get if Ymir got her hands on it. Instead of dumping the objects out like he'd usually do with his own things, he carefully picked them up one by one, lifting them up to see them in what day light was left.
There was a rainbow pin that said 'CAN'T HIDE MY PRIDE', from his first pride march when he was seventeen. There was a long dead Tamagotchi that had been Armins prized possession until he'd gotten a new one and gifted it to Eren to look after, only for it to promptly starve. There was a shell from a visit to the beach and a white quartz rock from a camping trip. Then there was a collection of old writings, stories and awful poems from his early teen years. In the bottom of the box was a photograph, ceased in one corner. It was taken soon after Mikasa had come to live with them. His mother had set up a huge white sheet in the backyard and let Mikasa, Armin and himself go nuts with paint. Eventually Eren got covered in it, Armin cried and for the first time since Mikasa had come into his life, she'd smiled. They stood beside there master piece proudly, Eren had paint smeared across his forehead and cheeks, Armins eyes were puffy and red, Mikasa held the hands of both of them. They each wore a large beaming smile. The warm memory almost cheered him up. Then sudden knock at the door made him slid the box back under the bed.
"Dinner." His mother called out.
"Come in." His voice was thick and dry from being silent for so long.
His mother pushed open the door and sat down a plate of steak chops, mash potatoes and gravy beside him. It was his favourite.
"Thanks." He said, avoiding eye contact.
Carla crouched down beside him and petted his head tenderly.
"Don't worry, dear." She told him sweetly. "You'll get him."
"But...what if I don't?" Eren squeezed his eyes shut tightly.
"Then he never deserved you in the first place."
"You have too say that, your my mum." Eren grumbled.
"I am." Carla leaned forward and kissed the top of his head. "And I love you very much."
Then she stood and left, closing the door gently behind her. He could hear Mikasa talking to her in the hall for moment and then silence.
He ate slowly. He didn't have much of an appetite, but knew his mother would have a fit she got the plate back practically full.
The night wore on. He was too lazy to get up and change so he fully intended to sleep in his jeans. His mother came back for the plate and kissed him goodnight. His father knocked on the door and bid him the same. He listened to the signs of life in the house die down to nothing. He could just barley hear Mikasa and Annie talking. For the first time in hours, he stood up, a little shakey on his cramped legs.
He sat in his desk chair and pulled open the top draw. He found the walkie easily. He pressed down on the button and spoke into the crackling.
"Come in Red, over." He coughed, clearing his voice. "Red, this is Rouge, come in, over?"
He paused, waiting for a response.
"You there Red, over?"
He waited again.
"Red are you there, over?"
He sighed and went to put the walkie talkie away when the speaker crackled at him.
"I'm here, over."
Eren felt his chest fill with relief.
"What's your position, over?"
"Across the river, over."
"I..." Eren hand tighten on the plastic device. "I'm sorry for today, over."
"It's fine, over."
"No it's not."
"You forgot to say over."
"I'm sorry I ruined your day." Said Eren. "Over."
"It's fine." Mikasa insisted. "It's not like it's the wedding, over."
"I guess." Eren agreed solemnly. "Hold your position for now, over."
"Affirmative, over."
"Over and out."
"Over and out."