Nearly a week had passed since the day Levi asked Eren to leave. Though the hollow feeling kept creeping back and gnawing at him, Eren tried his best to continue on with everyday life. Work was easy, allowing himself to be swept away on minor calls and some paper work.

Being at home, or even around the apartment, was more difficult. To know that each moment he sat in his bedroom, kitchen, living room, the man he'd fallen for was just through a wall. Most nights Eren would crash at his sites Mikasa's apartment across town, or with his friend Armin. He'd get himself drunk and stumble to the nearest motel. He went to night clubs and tried to forget. If there was a way, he was trying, wanting nothing more than to forget the look on Levi's face.

Unbeknownst to him, Levi wasn't doing too well either.

Levi spaced out at work, never ate his lunch, sat quietly in a salon chair staring at the ceiling during his breaks. His coworkers had attempted to coax it from him, but he'd always snap a quick 'I'm fine' and go back to working.

Dinner was a lonely affair. Since their meeting, Levi had only been inside Eren's messy, unkempt apartment twice. Levi ate very little of his meals, if none at all, opting instead to guzzle a few bottles of strong vodka before collapsing on the couch. Three days into this cycle, his boss told him to take the week off.

::::::

"Levi! I heard you were having some troubles~" His friend, Hanji, burst through the door, giant smile plastered on her face. Levi glared at her from his position on the couch. He was lying on his stomach, face pressed into a wine stain on the cushion. After Eren had left, Levi tried to finish his wine- only his hands shook so badly he spilled it onto the couch.

"What the fuck do you want," he breathed, pushing his torso up, glaring the best he could in his confused, hung-over state. "I don't need your help with anything." Hanji raised an eyebrow.

"So it's a guy, huh?" Hanji had been well aware of Levi's preferences for a long time. Levi was well aware of the fact Hanji was practically a fucking mind reader and lying to her was futile.

"Yeah." Hanji shut the door and plopped herself down beside him, kicking her muddy boots up on the coffee table and missing Levi's semi-exaggerated cringe. She blinked at him, waiting for an elaboration.

"He lives next door. He's twenty five. We started hanging out, he kissed me, and I asked him to leave. Now my life appears to be falling apart."

Hanji had to hold in a laugh. Levi, of all people, was positively in love with a man who lived next door. And was completely oblivious to this fact.

"Well, have you tried going over to talk to him?" Levi stared impassively, his entire face saying 'I cannot believe you just asked me that of course I did are you stupid'.

"He wasn't home." Hanji hummed in response, standing from her seat and spreading more mud across the carpet.

"You should keep trying. Bring something as an apology gift, too." She held up a gift card, one for a very nice restaurant. Levi decided not to ask where she had gotten it. "Use this. I was gonna ask of you wanted to have dinner with me, but I think you need it more."

Taking the card, turning it over in his hands, studying the black sleeve. "No. I have a better idea. Let's go, I'm hungry."

::::::

Eren was woken from his light nap in front of the T.V. when three banging knocks sounded on his apartment door. He wanted to ignore it, roll over and go back to sleep. But the knocking came again, accompanied by several loud swears through the wood.

Barely able to control the hope bubbling in his chest, Eren leapt from the couch, unlocking the door and throwing it open in one swift motion. He blinked down.

There was Levi, looking more than a little angry and sheepish, holding a dish covered with tinfoil. Eren opened his mouth, closed it again, looking rather like a fish. Levi glanced to the floor, shoving the warm dish against his chest.

"I brought you an apology lasagna," he huffed. "Brat." Eren just barely managed to hold in a choked laugh, a slight burn gathering behind his eyes at the pure relief that Levi did not hate him, that he hadn't ruined everything with one kiss.

"Can I come in or not?" The shorter male growled, Eren quickly skirting aside and allowing him through, shutting the door firmly behind him.

They sat at Eren's small kitchen table, eating the lasagna, not a word passing between them. Eren didn't want to say anything, he didn't know if Levi was trying to put the kiss behind them, further their relationship (if it could even be called that), or something else entirely. He just wanted to keep Levi with him as long as possible. After a few more minutes of silence, Levi spoke up.

"I wanted to tell you the way I acted, after... Wasn't what I meant. I was surprised. Didn't know what else to do." He gave a sidelong glance to the younger man. "But if that's how you feel, and you want to try this, I'm in." Eren smiled at the familiar bluntness. Levi spoke like they were striking some kind of deal. In a way, though, Eren supposed they were.

"Yeah. I'd like that." The second the words were out of his mouth, Eren felt himself being pulled down, until his face was level with Levi, both staring into the other's eyes. Eren slowly, gently, pressed his lips on Levi's, humming in appreciation when he accepted. Their lips moving together, breaking after a short time, panting slightly.

"I think this could work really well," Eren laughed.

"Shut up, brat." But Eren could see the minuscule smile on Levi's lips.