I don't own SnK

FIXED. Thanks for pointing out the mistake : WiltedRose6063

"An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it's going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming."
-Anonymous

~Chapter Eight: Launching Into Something Great~

Eren vaguely heard the door of the office open because all sounds surrounding him seemed to be muffled. It wasn't after he heard Levi hissed under his breath that he finally lifted himself up, albeit reluctantly, from his position and turned his body around. He was greeted with a sight of a tall man whose blond hair was meticulously combed flat and seemed to possess an intimidating body built under that white button-up shirt. The stranger was wearing a gentle smile on his face, though.

"Hi, Levi. And Levi's friend...?" If he didn't know any better, he would've had thought that the man was confused about their sudden meeting. But Eren knew that he was asking if the way he addressed him as "Levi's friend" was okay. And he didn't know if he was really comfortable with that...

"Erwin, don't you know the term "knocking before coming in"? I'm pretty sure your manners are better than that." Levi's tone was clipped and the brunet felt a bit empty when the older pulled away from him, putting a safe distance from him. Well, it wasn't like he could blame him since they were still in his office; getting caught while in an intimate embrace wasn't the way to greet your coworkers.

"I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just gonna ask you about the case from yesterday," Erwin told him. There was amusement dancing in those blue eyes at first, but at the mention of the "case," they turned coldly serious. The green-eyed lad also noted that the blonde didn't come into the room; instead, he lingered on the doorframe. Eren suddenly felt conscious and thought that maybe he was getting in the way of some important matters, which probably couldn't be discussed in front of strangers like him. And the thought of him as a stranger to Levi sent a pang to his heart.

Unbeknownst to the brunet, Levi was eyeing him curiously; he already knew how to read the younger's expressions by then. He very much preferred that silly grin on his face anytime, any day instead of that forming scowl upon those kissable lips. He wanted to lift the brat's spirits a little so he turned to his friend.

"This is Eren. And Eren, this is Erwin," Levi acquainted both of each other; at least formally because they already had heard of each other from Levi. Eren looked at him, surprised, and panicked; he didn't know if he should stand up and shake hands with the older man at the door. Erwin saved him the trouble by finally inviting himself into the room. Was he just waiting for Levi to proceed with the introductions?

"Hello, Eren. I've heard so much about you," the blonde said as he proceeded to take the student's hand in his. His grasp was strong and firm compared to Eren's clumsy one, and it brought color in the younger's cheeks and had him stuttering.

"H-Hi," the brunet squeaked. They let go of their hands when a soft chuckle erupted from Levi. The teal-eyed lad sharply turned to the lawyer and the latter merely smirked at him.

"Come here," Levi beckoned him to occupy his seat next to him once again, and Eren could neither refuse the older nor want to stay awkward just standing there with Erwin. The thought of Levi wanting him to be close to him was a little endearing for the brunet, and he had to bite the inside of his cheeks in order to stop himself from grinning as he took his seat beside the black-haired man. Levi then spoke to Erwin, "Are you talking about the Reiss case?"

Erwin grew serious as his cerulean eyes grew a shade darker at the mention of the case. Eren noted that there was a beat or two after Levi said something, and he realized that Erwin was probably questioning his presence there. The lawyer seemed to catch on because he averted his eyes from Erwin and glanced at the younger.

"Looks like we're talking some serious business here. Would you wait for me outside...?" Levi asked hesitantly, concern flicking across his gray eyes despite his stoic facade. It was obvious that he didn't like the idea of Eren leaving his side, but the solemn tone of the FBI agent was something that Levi couldn't ignore. The matter that they were going to talk about was dangerous, and he'd rather put some distance between him and the younger if that would keep him from harm.

Those green eyes held understanding and the lawyer could only be grateful at how much his brat could become reasonably compliant to him at certain times like this. Eren gave a small smile and nodded before he rose from the love seat and nervously regarded Erwin as he made his way out of the little office. Before the brunet could close the door, he heard Levi said, "This better not be a waste of my time."

Once he was out of the lawyer's office, he scanned his surroundings and found the little lodge area to his right. There was a little hallway to his left where cubicles of workers were located, and by the shrills of the telephones ringing at least once every five minutes, the area seemed to be soundly hectic. He strolled towards the mini sofa in the area and he checked his phone for any missed calls or text messages. And there was one from Mikasa.

Mikasa: Good morning! Don't forget about the dinner later!

Huh? What dinner? And everything suddenly clicked in his mind, which was followed by a gasp on his part. Oh, shit. I forgot.

Eren: Good morning to you, too! And yeah, I'll go. This isn't gonna be at the Wall Maria, is it?

The brunet really didn't like going to that bar or just the idea of getting intoxicated itself. The thought of the hangover that could potentially split his head open the next day or the fact that he could embarrass himself, something that would last forever in everyone's memories, wasn't exactly thrilling. He still could remember the one and only time he got drunk and he ended up ruining Armin's hairdo by throwing up his dinner on him. The bruise on his eye that greeted the lousy him the next morning was not pretty, and he found out that his little blonde friend could mess up his face pretty badly if he wanted to.

He shuddered at the memory and read Mikasa's reply after a couple of minutes.

Mikasa: You really think I'll let you drink, dimwit?

He smiled and held back the laughter that bubbled up in his chest. No matter what happened, Mikasa really was the mother hen in the group and she was overly protective of Eren, regardless of her feelings for him. They treated each other like siblings and there wasn't a time when Eren hadn't wished that the two of them could really become true family.

Eren: Okay, I'll see you later.

Mikasa: K. See ya.

After that little conversation, he still hadn't heard the door open or close from Levi's office so he figured that their talk would be lengthy. The stupid game, flappy bird, caught his eye and before he knew it, he was aggressively jabbing his thumb on the screen as if the not-so-much-bird-looking-thing could actually fly higher or lower to avoid those Mario-looking green pipes. Well, then.

It must have been just a couple of minutes or maybe ten or twenty or half an hour, but the hot air that was blown in his ear startled him to death and he dropped his phone on the carpeted floor. He jumped from his seat and yelled out, "What the hell?!"

"Were you seriously playing that stupid game?" Levi asked nonchalantly but amusement sparked in those eyes of his and the brunet felt himself heat up. He bent down to grab his phone and clutched it protectively against his chest.

"Leave my games alone. You probably play it during your free time, too," he retorted back. Somewhere at the back of his mind, he cursed himself for being too focused in the game because he hadn't even heard the door from the office close or open, and he certainly didn't notice Levi's presence behind him until then. His gaze wandered back to that little hallway and didn't see the other man.

"Erwin left. He has some investigation to do," the lawyer said as if he could read the younger's thoughts. It made him self-conscious because he knew that Levi could read his expressions well and at that point, he could only wonder if the man had also heard his thoughts while they were wrapped in each other's arms a while ago. The memory made his blood rush to his cheeks, coloring it red, and he momentarily forgot that Levi was able to see right through him. Before the older man could open his mouth and embarrass Eren, the latter opened his mouth to speak.

"Aren't you gonna finish your paperwork first? Lunch is in a couple of hours, you know," he reminded him hastily.

The gray-eyed man just shook his head and the student knew that he could be laughing at him, but Levi just gestured to join him in his office again.

"You'll help me finish these paperwork then," he told Eren before handing him a stack of paper.

Why does it feel like that today is gonna be a long day?

"So you mean, you defended the man who almost killed the barista? Uh, why?"

It was almost one in the afternoon and Levi was already putting his pen down, ready to walk out of the office. Eren was following him like a little puppy, curiosity filled his voice as he voiced out his question.

"Because he should be defended," the lawyer merely told him.

They took the elevator and Levi pressed down the button for the ground floor, finally looking at the brunette next to him. He found it adorable (and he would never admit this out loud) how Eren's nose scrunched up and his brown eyebrows met together in confusion. He really seemed to be putting a lot of thought about this case that he read when he was helping Levi.

"He beat the shit out of the barista," Eren said, like it would make sense if repeated his words again, but it didn't and only Levi knew the answer to his question.

"Why would one have the drive to kill someone?" the gray-eyed man asked, his eyes were now directed to the little blinking lights that were indicating which floor they were up to and that they were steadily descending to their destination. The brunet was also looking at the same spot but his mind was running and was trying to come up with answers to that vague question of his companion.

"I don't know. Is it because he did something to him? Revenge, perhaps?"

"Yes. But why would he want revenge?" the lawyer pressed on, though his voice sounded a little too indifferent to be deemed appropriate with the discussion that they were having.

"Because he hurt him? Or..." Eren trailed off, and like a puzzle that fell back on its rightful place, everything clicked together. "He did it because the barista hurt someone he loved."

And as if on cue, the elevator let out a 'ding' and both men stepped out. Levi confirmed his answer, "Yes, but in my point of view, it wasn't a revenge."

"Why?"

"Because I think he did it to protect his girlfriend from that asshole."

It took a moment for him to realize the underlying meaning and green eyes widened in the revelation, biting his lip while his eyebrows further furrowed in concentration. Thoughts like, How could someone do that? Why didn't they see that the man was trying to protect someone? Why? ran in his mind, and his scowl deepened as he realized that he was also like them; he also questioned the man's innocence.

"The others were pointing fingers at him, but I knew with one look that he wasn't the only guilty one. I had a hard time making him confess of his reasons because he didn't want the world to know about his lover," Levi explained further and his squad at the reception desk gave a playful salute, and Eren waved them goodbye, before they were out of the building and to that familiar silver car. "This world isn't just black and white. There are sides that need to be taken into consideration, because humans are not fucking innocent. We are capable of hurting other people no matter what our intentions are, whether you're sane or motivated by those deadly sins. That's why I knew that the man had a motive in doing what he did to that barista."

It was the first time that Eren heard Levi talk about justice or his work in general, and he wondered if those years spent studying cases that involved the human action and the human mind had somehow hardened the lawyer as a person—as a human. Somewhere in this world, someone was being accused unjustly, or being sentenced without hearing the truth. To choose to protect someone when their head was in the line was more than noble of them; it was remarkably courageous.

"I...," Eren started, eyes looking forward as Levi drove through the maze of streets. "I don't remember much about my mom's death. I just remember going to the hospital then to the funeral. For some reason, I don't even know what I was doing that night...that night when I lost her." He paused and looked at his fingers, "I just know that the person responsible for the car crash had ran and hid himself." He closed his mouth as his thoughts began to go to directions he didn't like.

They were silent for a while, until Levi spoke with bitterness under his tone, "And the man who did that is probably rotting in fear and guilt right now. The fact that he doesn't have the balls to tell the truth about his crime just tells us that he's also a monster in human form."

"Does...Does it get better?" he asked hesitantly, still not looking at the black-haired man. He didn't need to voice out what specifically he was talking about because Levi already answered.

"Truthfully, no. As a lawyer, I just need to deal with it as best as I can. And..."

"And...?"

"Situations come up when you're stuck between two decisions; whether you are to defend your client against your beliefs or you'll just follow what you think is right and not accept the case at all." Levi glanced up to him, hitting the breaks as the red light came on, and he continued, "And I wouldn't know what to do if I were to turn a loved one to the law."

The car ride was silent after that. Eren couldn't help but think about the last thing that Levi said. If he were in his position and he had to turn Levi or Mikasa or Armin to the police, would he be able to do it?

No.

No, he wouldn't be able to. It probably wouldn't be long until the guilt of putting them through that, consumed him and his whole being. He wouldn't be able to live knowing that he destroyed someone else's happiness, especially if that someone he held dear to his heart. But... wouldn't it be wrong to ignore what was right?

But how could it be wrong if the man who killed my mom hasn't been found yet?

"Hey."

How could it be wrong if there are many criminals out there who still haven't been caught?

"Brat...!"

Levi shook him out of his thoughts, making him jump on his seat. Eren realized that he had been spacing out, gaze was now at the familiar bakery store of Mike. He wondered if this was where they were going to have lunch.

"Are you okay?" Levi asked him, concern colored his voice and the way he didn't bother to hide his emotions at that time told Eren that he somehow freaked out Levi.

He gave him a smile to reassure him and said, "Yeah. I was just thinking."

"I don't know if thinking is good for you or not..." It didn't feel like a joke, but the brunet laughed anyway. The lawyer seemed worried about him ever since his episode in the office earlier, and the young lad didn't want him to feel that way anymore.

"Let's go eat. I have work later so I'm not gonna come back to the firm with you. Oh, and I have class tomorrow morning," Eren reminded him sheepishly. Honestly, spending time with Levi was what he wanted the most. And speaking of spending time... he forgot about the dinner again.

I'm just gonna tell him later.

They went out of the car and together, they stepped into the bakery. Eren inhaled the air filled with that familiar aroma of bread and sweets. This was the place where he spent his time at, building something for himself—a step towards his independence. It was where Mike took him in after seeing him wandering around the streets, looking for a job right after he moved in. It was where he learned that there were different kinds of people that he was bound to meet, people who ranged from a sweet little child to a very grumpy business man. Now that the bakery had no Mike in it, something felt out of place. It was very rare for the baker to take a break and now that he thought about it, he was always there in the bakery.

It reminded him of those ominous thoughts that were intertwined with Mike's warning before he left the apartment complex. It also made him recall of that blue cast around the baker's arm, indicating that he might have had been under a very dangerous job. It made the younger worry about him, and he couldn't erase the thought in his mind that he was missing something—something that was somehow connected to him.

His thoughts were interrupted by Ymir, his coworker, when she whistled a suggestive tune.

"Eren! I didn't know you have a new boyfriend!"

Uh-Oh. Well, shit.

"Uh," he started, wanting to collect his thoughts that somehow got scrambled after hearing that word. His face was already beet red, and he really cursed the timing of Ymir's question. He had been thinking about the status of his relationship with Levi and he really didn't want another person jabbing it to him, reminding him of the painful fact that Levi and him weren't official. If there's really a relationship to be considered...

"Can I get a butter croissant?" Levi asked (it was more like an order, really) curtly. He looked perfectly indifferent for someone who sounded a bit annoyed, and Eren wondered if he was also affected by the greeting.

"Is that all you're getting?" the brunet asked. They really could've had gone somewhere else with real food (or fast-food...) but Levi drove here.

"No, I was thinking of dropping by Subway after this."

"This isn't the first time you've been here..."

"I like their croissant here. I once stopped by when I got coffee from that cafe across the street."

"Ohh."

Ymir went to work and without their knowledge, she had been observing the couple with scrutinizing eyes. Seeing Eren get flustered and embarrassed was damn amusing, so she decided to tease him.

"So he's not your boyfriend?" she asked, a playful grin was threatening to break out of her face.

There was no response and it merely encouraged her to press on, not the slightest frightened of the dangerous aura around the short man.

"Sooooo you and Jean are okay?"

There was an instant response: "Hah?! How is that related?!" It gave Ymir the satisfaction to smirk, because she wanted to prod and prod until that stubborn shortie finally snaps, instead of the twitch that she happened to catch from him.

"Because if you don't have a boyfriend, then that means that you guys are back together!" she stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, and it merely fueled the fire on Eren's face and this time, it was out of frustration and annoyance.

"No! That doesn't make sense!" Eren defensively squeaked, and by the way his eyes were nervously darting back and forth between his coworker and Levi, Ymir could guess that there was definitely something going on with the odd couple.

"Then, maybe you'll re-ignite that fire again tonight at the dinner? You and Jean will definitely gonna be there since it's a class reunion."

Squash.

The sound of a water bottle being crumpled echoed between the silence and Eren reluctantly turned to look at Levi, who was currently burning a hole on the wall next to Ymir. The woman didn't even budge and merely smirked wider, and Eren could only guess that the courage she had came from that fact that she was a lot taller than the lawyer. It was rare for Levi to be openly angry which was why the young man started to sweat anxiously when shorter man started glaring at Ymir. He really was glad that there weren't that many customers because they would surely be holding up the line by now.

"How much is the croissant?" the black-haired man asked, his low voice sent chills down the spine of the green-eyed lad. And before World War III could start, he stepped in between them (What the hell? Deja vu?) and attempted to appease the irritated man behind him.

"H-Hey. We're gonna go now, and I'll start my shift after lunch! Here!" He slammed a five dollar bill on the counter and grabbed the wrapped croissant before he pulled Levi out of the door. It wasn't an easy escape, especially since Levi was damn adamant about paying with his own money, but the younger managed to put him in the car. It didn't erase the tense atmosphere that they somehow brought inside though, because there was still that line between the older's eyebrows and a scowl that was threatening to take permanent residence upon those nice, thin lips. Eren didn't want to further ruin Levi's mood but he knew that he had to speak sooner or later.

"A-Are you sulking?" If looks could kill, the brunet would be dead by now. Those silver eyes flashed but upon seeing the troubled face of the teal-eyed student, they softened, almost unwillingly. Levi shook his head as he stepped on the gas after the light turned green.

"I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

"I told you, I'm not."

"But you're annoyed!"

"No. I'm just thinking."

"Huh? Thinking about what?"

"You didn't tell me you're going to a dinner."

"Ohh."

That makes sense... Of course, he would be annoyed that I didn't tell him. But I was planning to tell him anyway, before Ymir beat me to it! Eren then remembered Ymir's remark: "So he's not your boyfriend?" Levi was annoyed, sulking even. But if there was no relationship between them, then why should he be obligated to tell him things about his everyday life?

Because he cares. And because you care. The brunet didn't want to admit that his subconscious was right—that it didn't matter what they really had. He decided just a while ago to trust Levi just like how he trusted him. Surely, it meant something special to them, right?

And while Eren was busy thinking, Levi had somehow reached the Subway, leaving the younger in the car with his own thoughts without telling him that he was leaving or if the brunet had to follow him.

Oh. Levi was definitely sulking.

It was amusing to some extent, because the sight of that stoic lawyer brooding over something trivial wasn't an everyday occurrence. Levi had rarely express his emotions candidly. And what were his thoughts about being special again? Yeah, the man definitely cared, alright. He's probably worried. Or...

Is he jealous of Jean?

The assumption was not unreasonable (far from it, actually) because Eren remembered the time when things were rough between Jean and Levi after the latter had shamelessly announced that he prepared Eren's lunches. Of course, it might have been also because of pride but there were no recent sightings of the two bickering whenever Levi decided to pay the student a visit in his campus. His ex had also toned it down over the past weeks and whether he was just being passive aggressive or had completely given up, Eren was appreciative of the little peace that he had now.

Levi came back after several minutes and he still wasn't looking directly to the green-eyed lad. The action seemed to hurt Eren more than he expected it to, and he thought that whether Levi was mad or not, he couldn't help but feel sorry. Yes, his reaction was entertainingly childish, but it was also reasonable. The younger didn't mean to forget to tell about the dinner, and the way he was being ignored right now told him that the shorter man must be disappointed, or perhaps a little betrayed by him.

And it hurt. So he decided to break the silence again before he chickened out.

"I-I'm sorry. I was gonna tell you but Ymir just beat me to it," he apologized, head downcast. It must have had been a couple of minutes before the car was filled with a voice again.

"Don't worry about it." Levi's response was tense and it only made the student turn his gaze everywhere but him.

This was the first (serious) argument they had. And Eren wanted to rewind the last twenty minutes of their time together and make things right. But he knew that what was done have already been done, and that thinking of running away would definitely not make things right between them. He already decided to put his trust on Levi, and this was because the man was someone he could share his feelings honestly. If he feared his reaction, then that would be the same thing as not trusting him at all. If he really wanted to build something between the two of them, then he had to start right there.

Before he could even start talking, Levi had already pulled over to a curb and in front of his apartment complex. It made Eren disappointed and disheartened because the notion seemed to be the gray-eyed man's way of saying that their day was over and that they wouldn't talk about it anymore. However, it also angered him. Levi still hadn't heard his reasons, for crying out loud!

"Levi—"

"Eren, do you want to be in a relationship with me?"

He blinked. And blinked. And blinked.

The brunet's throat seemed to be a little constrained because his mouth opened and closed, like a fish, without any sound coming out. His green eyes were widened to the extent that Levi could see the different shades of bright blues and greens around the pupil of the student. His cheeks were pale at first, and then as the seconds ticked by, they exploded with tomato red. Levi couldn't count the times when he didn't see Eren blush, and while he was damn amused about the little reactions that the young man had showed around him, he was also worried that his little veins wouldn't be able to take it anymore.

"W-What?" Eren gasped out, finally speaking but ended up choking at the question. He couldn't comprehend how the situation had turned out like that, and his mind was running a thousand miles without him really understanding any of it.

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose in mocked impatience (maybe he really was, a bit) and looked at the artist square in the eye. There was something that was undoubtedly sincere in those gray eyes, and it prompted Eren to finally think properly.

"In other words..."

"In other words...?"

"Will you be my lover, Eren?"

Lover. Oh, god. He didn't just say that word. Being the crybaby he was, the brunet let some tears leak out of his eyes. The sight of Eren tearing up, biting his bottom lip to keep more tears from coming down, was utterly cute... but the idea of making him cry drained the color from Levi's face.

"I'm not forcing you to do it, brat. Why are you crying?"

The taller man glanced up to him with those big, bright eyes and Levi wondered how could he not get any heart attack whenever he saw those goddamned beautiful eyes. And those thoughts that were running in his head was unknown to Eren, and he'd rather kept it that way.

"I'm sorry... I thought you were mad at me." The brunet was sniffling and the lawyer offered some tissues without truly looking at him because he couldn't take more of the sight. Eren, on the other hand, was still staring at Levi with pure adoration and disbelief. He still didn't understand how did things become that way, but he didn't want to take this opportunity for granted. So he would take it.

"That means that you'll be my boyfriend, you know," he said bashfully, keeping what Ymir mentioned earlier. He wouldn't need to worry about those kinds of things if what was happening right now was real. And he wouldn't constantly question himself about Levi anymore or feel insecure about their relationship.

"Whatever you call it, brat. And here I was expecting to ask you on the right time." Levi mumbled the last line in a super quiet voice, but with Eren restraining his ears to hear everything that the black-haired man was saying, he was able to catch it.

"You were planning on asking me out?" he asked dubiously.

Levi looked at him like he was the tiniest bug on the earth and it made the younger squirm under the gaze. "Are you seriously dense or were you dropped on the head when you were a baby?"

"Hey!"

"Because no one can be this dumb—"

"—Are you looking for a fight?!"

"—because I'm pretty damn sure that I made myself straight—"

"You're not."

"..."

"..."

"Shut the fuck up and let me finish. I told you that I care about you, and I'm more than willing to take care of you. But I know that you're not a child who needs pampering—"

"—Damn right, I'm not."

"Fucking let me finish or I'll kick your ass. And I just thought..." Gray eyes finally met those Caribbean green eyes, and they were interlaced with some worry and uncertainty.

"...thought...?" Eren tried to urge him on—tried to put some force behind his eyes—and Levi finally exhaled the words that he wanted to say.

"You're too precious that I didn't want you to get hurt, especially by me."

Eren's insecurities paled in comparison to that and he knew it. And he spoke, "So, the reason why you avoided that question was because you're afraid that you'll hurt me?"

The silence he got was enough for an answer and then he took that pale hand, idly resting on the steering wheel, in his slightly tanned ones. He raised it close to his chest, to his heart where it was beating drums once again, loud and enthralling against his ears.

"Can you hear that?" he asked, closing his eyes, and he knew that Levi was now watching him. "You said that people do what they do with certain motives. We're just the same. Keeping other people at an arm's length to protect them... But I'm probably different."

"...Why do you think that?"

"Because before I met you, I only thought about protecting myself. I wanted to protect myself from hurting—save myself from experiencing something painful again—so I put distance between me and the people I care about. But after meeting you..." Eren's green eyes opened, glistened with unshed tears. "I want to keep believing in people. I want to trust them and myself not to crumble after I let them into my bubble. I realized that don't want to be alone, Levi."

"Trust me, you're far from being alone."

It made Eren smile and he continued, "I built my own walls in order to keep the others out, and yet you were the first one to kick them all down in one go. I want to believe that I can trust you, that you won't betray me."

There was a small desperation for assurance in his eyes, and Levi caught it. He wrapped his other hand around their hands that were entangled together on Eren's chest, and he slowly leaned forward, pressing his forehead to their hands.

"I think I'll break before I could even break your trust." Those words took away the breath that the brunet was unconsciously holding back. Levi soothed him off his worries that instant, and it was still astonishing how could this man manage to affect Eren in such a way.

"And I'm the same. Levi..."

"Mhm?"

"I...I think I lo—"

Levi used his hand, slightly angled awkwardly towards Eren, to clamp his mouth shut. The younger's eyes were bewildered and he was about to ask why, when the older male told him, "That's enough for today. Let's pace ourselves and don't say anything that we will regret later on."

"I'm not gonna regret it!" Eren insisted, voice was muffled under Levi's hand. The lawyer rolled his eyes at the blatant naivety of the college student.

"Trust me, brat, there will be a certain time when you know that it's okay to say it. And as much as I hate to wait, I'm willing to wait on you forever."

A heartbeat of two had filled the stillness that followed, but the young man refilled it once he lowered Levi's hand from his mouth, gently grazing the smooth skin with his lips. "Then... will I also be able to hear those words from you?"

Levi flashed him a rare smile, not a smirk but a genuine smile.

"I'm sure as hell that you will. So wait patiently, brat. If we're meant to be, then we are. And oh, yeah..."

"What?"

"Tell horse-face I'll fry a finger or two if he touches you."

And Eren could only laugh at his lover's possessiveness. Yeah, his lover.

A/N: Whooops. I know hahaha but as Levi said, "Wait patiently" XD The time will come, don't worry :D Thanks for reading!
-CrimsonHazelEyes