Hello again! Happy spring break! Thank you thank you thank you THANK YOU for those who have reviewed and added this to your favorites and alerts! :D
The original plan for chapter 4 was way too long, so I split my plan into two chapters.
With that, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 4 Beyond the Horizon Part 1
Levi slowly opened his eyes. He looked around, unfamiliar with where he was sleeping.
Oh, that's right... I'm sleeping in Eren's bed. Levi recalled.
He looked over to the side to see the freshman sleeping peacefully on the floor. Levi checked Eren's digital clock. 9:00 am.
Good, Eren's not late. His class doesn't start until twelve.
Levi glanced at Eren again. The brunette was breathing softly, a whistle sound escaping through his nostrils. His hair was mussed, splaying out underneath him.
This brat...
Levi reached his hand out to touch Eren's face. In his sleep, Eren leaned into Levi's touch, smiling. Levi quietly pulled away, the heavy feeling in his chest making another appearance.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Shaking his head, Levi got out of bed and grabbed his towel and washcloth. He walked in the bathroom to take a shower. Levi looked at himself in the mirror. He looked the same as always. So why did he feel like he was changing into someone he didn't know?
Levi turned on the water and stepped inside the shower, trying to clear his thoughts. However, he suddenly remembered his agreement to spend Thanksgiving with Eren and his family.
Why did I agree to that? Levi asked himself. What was I thinking? I wasn't thinking, that's the problem. I'm going to march out there and tell the brat I'm not going.
After showering, Levi opened one of the bathroom drawers and pulled out his exercise clothes. After he breaks the news to Eren, he was going to go out for a run to relieve his pent up stress. Levi stepped out of the bathroom ten minutes later to see Eren waking up. His hair was all over his face. Eren rubbed at his eyes before sliding his hair back with his hand, revealing his sleepy green orbs.
"Oh, Levi. Good morning." Eren yawned out, stretching. "You're up pretty early for someone who doesn't have class. Oh wait, that's every day."
Levi narrowed his eyes threateningly. Eren laughed uncomfortably at his silly quip before clearing his throat and continuing.
"Anyway, are you prepared for tomorrow? We're spending two days at my parent's house."
"Eren..." Levi began. He stopped after making eye contact with the young man. He suddenly lost the will to reject his invitation.
"...I'm going for a run." Levi finally said. The short man quickly grabbed his iPod before leaving the room.
"Well, I better get dressed." Eren murmured, not sensing Levi's inner turmoil. He walked over to his fish tank first, smiling at the three rosy bitterlings. "Well, Petra, Armin, and Levi, I have to return you to the marine biology building today." He said to the fish. "But don't worry, it's only for two days."
He glanced at the Levi fish. He was brooding in a corner of the tank, away from the Petra and Armin fish.
"I wish you could give others a chance." Eren whispered. "I wish the same for your human counterpart..."
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Levi ran his usual route through the Kibou University campus with "Never Surrender" blasting through his earphones. The cool breeze from the November weather swept through his hair as he let his stress dissipate. Petra was walking to her first class when she spotted Levi.
"Levi? Why is he still out running?" She wondered aloud. "It's been two hours..."
"Petra!"
She spun around to see Eren waving at her.
"Hey!" She called to him. Eren jogged over to her, smiling brightly.
"Whatcha doing?" Eren asked.
"Watching Levi." She replied, pointing to the running figure. "I see him run only when he's stressed out, which has been a lot lately. I'm a bit concerned, though. He usually only runs for an hour. It's been two hours now, and he's still going strong. I wonder what's bothering him."
Eren tilted his head. "Beats me."
"You should ask him." Petra suggested.
"Ha ha, that's funny. No." Eren told her firmly. "He gets mad when I ask him what class he's going to. Why would I ask him about his problems?"
"Because like it or not, you can't deny that you two are getting close." Petra pointed out. "And it's time to start acting like it."
Eren sighed. "Fine. I only have two classes today. I'll ask him later."
Petra gave him a thumbs up. "Good luck. May God have mercy on your soul."
"Wait, what?!" Eren cried.
Petra was already running off in the other direction. "Hope Levi doesn't kill you! Bye!" She called to him.
"Wait!" Eren shouted, exasperated. "Goddamn it, Petra!"
Petra simply waved until she was out of Eren's vision.
Muttering under his breath, Eren continued walking to class.
~.~.~.~.~.~.
Despite his best efforts, Eren could not pay attention to his two classes. All he could think about was Levi.
I hope I can approach him without coming off as nosey. Are we really as close as Petra says we are? I would like to think so... but what about Levi? I mean 95% of the time he calls me brat. Does he even want to get close to me?
His thoughts were plagued with worries. After his last class, Eren walked hesitantly back to his dorm. When he reached for the doorknob, he saw his hand begin to shake.
"Why am I so nervous?" Eren asked himself. "Levi and I are friends. I'm sure Petra was kidding about him killing me. As a concerned roommate, I ask if he's okay. No big deal-"
Levi forcibly opened the door, accidentally slamming Eren against the wall.
"Huh. Thought I heard voices." Levi murmured. "Oh well."
He closed the door. Eren fell to his knees, clutching his head.
"God...damn...it...!" Eren seethed.
Eren unlocked the door and went inside, prepared to yell at Levi. However, his anger disappeared when he saw Levi packing some clothes in a duffel bag for the trip. He looked down and noticed that Levi's blue duct tape was gone.
"Hey." Eren greeted Levi.
"...hi." Levi replied evenly, not looking up.
"The duct tape's gone."
"So it is."
Eren was slightly discouraged by Levi's indifference. "Any reason why?"
"Not particularly." Levi eyed Eren curiously before looking back to his duffel bag.
The brunette cleared his throat, the awkwardness getting to him. "So, Levi... what's stressing you out?"
"What?" Levi looked at Eren incredulously. His expression read 'How the hell do you know about that?'
"W-Well," Eren stammered. "I ran into Petra today, and we saw you-"
"Petra?" Levi repeated, his brow furrowing. "How the hell do you know Petra?"
Eren felt himself shrink like Jean's penis. "I met her at the cafe."
"Of course." Levi scowled.
"Anyway, she told me than you run for an hour to relieve stress. How long did you run today?"
Levi closed his eyes. "Four hours. What's it to you?"
"I'm just concerned, that's all!" Eren assured Levi. "When I'm stressed, I usually talk to someone I trust." His voice grew quiet. "You can trust me."
Eren waited for a response, but one never came.
Damnit, did I screw up?
Eren felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up to see Levi in close proximity.
"You're so fucking nosey." Levi murmured, whacking Eren on the side of his head.
"Ow! What gives!" Eren yelped.
Levi's expression remained vacant. "But... if you must know, I'll tell you. Yes, I have been more stressed than usual. And you're the cause of it, brat."
Eren's eyes widened. Wait, me?! But why? I've done my best to keep my cleanliness up to Levi's standards. I don't bother him when he's busy. What am I doing wrong?
"Why me?" Eren asked him.
Levi chuckled to himself as he walked back over to his bed. "Cuz you're a brat." A brat that is slowly breaking down my defenses...
Eren looked hurt. What the hell? What will it take for Levi to see me as an adult?
"Well," Eren stood up and walked over to the door. "My mother is coming to pick us up at seven. Make sure you're ready."
With that, Eren walked out and slammed the door behind him.
Ah, shit. Levi sighed to himself, following Eren out the door. When he looked down the hallway, Eren was nowhere in sight.
"But... he only left five seconds ago. There's no way he could have made it out the fast... unless he ran."
Eren spent fifteen minutes sitting on the bench near the Ocean Prime Cafe, staring at his hands. He hasn't moved an inch. Passersby have walked up to him, waved a hand in front of his face, and even asked "Are you okay?", but they received no response from Eren.
I never meant to be a bother to anyone... especially Levi. Can't I do anything right? Eren asked himself.
"Wow Eren, you've become quite the spectacle. People are starting to think you're a mime."
Eren didn't look up. He knew it was Levi.
"That was quite bratty of you to run off, you know." Levi continued.
Eren didn't say a word. Levi stared at Eren. His face was hidden behind his hair.
"You know, Eren... I never said my stress over you was a bad thing."
Eren perked up slightly. "What do you mean?" He questioned.
Levi looked over Eren's head. "I've never felt stress like this before. Whenever you cross my mind, I get a headache and I feel like I'm playing tug of war with my chest. Then... it takes a while for you to leave my mind."
Eren felt his heart beat faster. What is this?
"It sounds like you're talking to Dr. Phil." Eren teased, trying to ignore his sudden nervousness.
"Well, if you keep being a smartass, I'll make sure you're as bald as him." Levi replied.
Eren finally let out a laugh. For some reason, Levi felt relieved.
"Come on, let's go back. You said your mother would be here at seven, right? That's in ten minutes."
Eren stood up and followed Levi back to the dorm, his heart still thumping.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"Carla's here!" Armin called to Mikasa, Eren, and Levi.
Mikasa was not very happy, to say the least, about Levi coming along them to Shiganshina. She knows about Levi's treatment towards Eren. Hanji wouldn't shut up about it.
Carla parked the van and jumped out. "Hi!" She said cheerily. "Oh my goodness! It feels like it's been forever since I've seen you three!" She squealed.
Levi watched the happy reunion. Tch... this is making me sick.
Even though he didn't want to admit it, Levi felt a pang of envy. He never had a chance to have a nurturing family like Mikasa and Eren. He was all alone.
"Mom, this is Levi."
Levi snapped out of his thoughts at his name.
Carla smiled at the slightly shorter man. "Well hello, Levi. My son has told me a lot about you! Seriously, when he's on the phone with me, he talks about you constantly."
"Mom!" Eren hissed. "Don't tell him that!"
Levi seemed unmoved, but he felt another tug in his chest.
"It's a pleasure, Mrs. Jaeger. Wish I could say the same about your son." Levi replied.
Eren scowled at Levi while Carla laughed. "Wow, you're funny! Please, call me Carla like the rest of Eren's friends!"
"Sure." Levi replied, a bit startled by Carla's bright personality. Well, at least she isn't crazy like Hanji.
"Well, we better get going!" Carla told them. "We have an eight hour drive ahead of us. Put your bags in the trunk of the van, please!"
Armin smiled at Levi before tossing his bag in the trunk and climbing in the van. Mikasa stood next to him.
"If you disrespect Eren or anyone else in my family while you're staying with us, you will regret it." Mikasa warned Levi.
"Tch." Levi brushed by Mikasa and put his bag in the trunk. He was slightly amused at Mikasa's threat.
I haven't disrespected Eren, have I? Levi couldn't help but wonder. Sure, I've roughed him up a little, but-
Levi felt a hard slap on his back.
"What're you standing around her for, Levi?" Eren grinned. "Let's go!" He hopped in the van.
"There better not be a fucking handprint on my back, brat." Levi growled, filing in after him. "There will be consequences."
Mikasa growled at him, but Levi paid it no mind. He and Eren ended up sitting in the very back of the van.
"So... who's up for another round, of I Spy?" Armin asked as soon as Carla drove off campus.
Levi stared at Eren. "He's joking, right?"
"Nope." Eren laughed. "Unlike you, we can't sit stoically for long periods of time. We have to amuse ourselves somehow. Call me a brat or whatever, but I'm still playing."
"Hmph."
"Mikasa won last time, so she can go first." Armin said.
Levi stared at the freshmen in disbelief. Were they really going to play children's games?
Mikasa looked out the window, tapping her chin. "Hmmm... I spy with my little eye something that is... red."
"Your bag." Armin said immediately. Mikasa nodded.
"Damnit, Armin!" Eren shouted. "How the hell did you guess that?"
"She started off with that last time, remember?" Armin grinned.
Oh my god, they're actually playing I Spy. Levi groaned to himself. I'm surrounded by children.
"Fine, my turn." Eren huffed. He glanced at Levi slyly. "I spy with my little eye something that is the size of an Oopma Loompa."
"Levi." Everyone said at once. Even Carla chimed in.
"You all can just go straight to hell." Levi spat.
"But I'm there already. It's called our dorm." Eren laughed, only meaning to tease Levi.
However, Levi's face fell for a split second before quickly turning towards the window.
You brat... you have no idea what hell is until you've been what I've been through...
The game continued on for two more hours until the sandy beaches transitioned into mountains.
"Damn, there's not that much around to work with." Eren sighed. "Hey, Levi."
"What?" Levi snapped.
"You're good at pretty much everything. How about you have a go at I Spy?" Eren suggested.
Levi scoffed. "I'm not a child."
"Well sure you are." Eren sneered. "You always hit me whenever you get mad."
Levi opened his mouth to say something, but quickly shut it. For once, he didn't have a retort.
"Fine." Levi conceded.
"Alright! So, you can choose anything inside the van or outside. It might be hard, since we've exhausted every single option." Eren explained.
Levi didn't take his eyes off of Eren. "I spy something that is green and looks stupid."
"Green and stupid...?" Eren repeated. "Well, it can't be grass."
"Mother's necklace?" Mikasa pointed at Carla's piece of jewelry.
"Hey!" Carla cried. "My necklace doesn't look stupid! Your father gave this to me!"
"Wrong." Levi smirked at Mikasa. "Guess again."
"Er... the lettuce stuck in your teeth?" Armin guessed hesitantly. The last thing he wanted was for Levi to hit him like he does Eren.
Levi quickly scraped his teeth. Sure enough, he found lettuce from his lunch.
"Disgusting." Levi muttered, rolling down the window and flicking the piece out. "But no, you're still wrong."
The three freshmen were stumped. What could it be?
"I think we all give up." Eren told Levi. "So what is it?"
"Your eyes." Levi replied.
Eren felt heat creep up his cheeks. Wait from embarrassment for not guessing his own eye color? Or was it something else? He couldn't tell.
"Wow. Looks like Levi is the new I Spy champion." Armin said.
"That's a title I do not wish to have." Levi snapped.
At that moment, something clicked in his mind. The reason why Levi was so annoyed with Eren, Mikasa, and Armin's childish games was because he never had a proper childhood.
He looked at Eren and saw the blush on his cheeks. He suddenly felt captivated. Mikasa remained silent, observing the way Levi and Eren were staring at each other. What exactly is going on between these two?
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~
Five hours into the ride to Shiganshina, the college students fell asleep. Armin was curled up against the window. Mikasa was sprawled on her seat, snoring softly.
Carla looked in her rear view mirror, smiling at the sleeping young adults. As she looked towards the back of the van, she was slightly shocked at what she saw. Eren was cuddled up against Levi, his head on his shoulder. Levi's head was resting on top of Eren's. He had one arm around Eren. The two looked so peaceful.
Carla smiled softly before bringing her attention back to the highway.
"Wake up, we're here!" Carla called to the passengers. She got out of the van and walked inside the house to make sure their spare room was ready for Levi.
Armin and Mikasa woke up, sitting up groggily. Levi and Eren were still out cold. Mikasa frowned when she saw what position they were in.
"Hey, Eren. Wake up." Mikasa poked her adoptive brother.
Armin took out his phone and took a few pictures of the cuddling roommates. He was certain those would come in handy at some point.
"Eren!" Mikasa called more forcefully.
Instead of Eren waking up, Levi stirred at the sound of Mikasa's voice. When his vision focused, he saw Mikasa and Armin staring at him.
"What the hell are you two staring at?" Levi asked. "And why is my shoulder so stiff-"
He got his answer as soon as he looked down. Levi's eyes widened. He quickly sat up, causing Eren's head to fall in his lap, closer to his crotch than he would like. Somehow, Eren still did not wake up.
"Wake the fuck up!" Levi shouted.
Eren's eyes shot open, and the first thing he saw was Levi's crotch.
"What the hell?!" Eren cried, jumping back.
"This is the first and last time I'm ever sitting with you." Levi snapped, unbuckling his seat belt. "Get out of my way!" He barked at Armin and Mikasa.
Amused, Armin and Mikasa complied. Levi hurried out of the van. As soon as she stepped out, the cold Shiganshina air blew around him. The neighborhood the Jaeger household was in is on the outskirts of a forest. Levi zipped up his jacket. Wow. We're definitely not in Mitras anymore. Is it really November in this place?
Meanwhile, Eren was trying to ignore the shame that filled him.
"Damn, Levi flipped his shit." Eren groaned. "That rarely happens."
Armin giggled. "He seemed pretty flustered, though. I could've sworn I saw him blush."
Eren sighed. "Levi and blush don't go together."
"Okay, whatever you say." Armin decided to leave Eren alone... for now.
The three freshmen exited the van and went to retrieve their bags from the trunk. Levi didn't dare look at Eren when he approached him. Eren searched his mind for a way to lighten the mood, but his brain turned to mush, which is why he chose to go with...
"Levi, if it makes you feel better, your lap was pretty soft.:
Wham!
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
"Owwww!" Eren whined as Mikasa placed ice of the swelling lump on his head.
Eren, Armin, Mikasa, and Levi were standing in the kitchen after Levi hit Eren on his head. Mikasa snarled at Levi, who was calmly watching Eren.
Armin glanced at Levi. "Oh, would you look at that! My grandfather is here to pick me up. I better get going. Eren, Mikasa, see you guys tomorrow. Bye!" Armin ran out the front door.
"He's going to pay for hitting you, Eren." She told him.
"Mikasa, don't worry about it. It's fine. I said something inappropriate, and he retaliated." Eren assured his sister.
Luckily, Carla was still in the spare room cleaning, so she missed the assault. Getting irritated by Mikasa's glares of death, Levi decided to walk around the one story house. It was small, but cozy. The smell of the Thanksgiving turkey in the kitchen followed him around. There were three bedrooms plus the small spare, one bathroom, and a medium sized lounge with a fireplace, a TV, and two couches. Even with the fireplace on, Levi still felt cold because of the wind roaring outside. And Levi loved it.
A simple house, and a simple life. That's what I want. I'd give anything for that. Eren... you're a lucky brat.
Levi walked back into the small kitchen. Mikasa was getting something to drink, and Eren was balancing the ice on his head. Levi suddenly felt guilty for hitting him. He exhaled heavily through his nose.
"Hey, Eren."
The freshman looked up, seeing Levi walk over and kneel in front of him. Levi ran a hand through Eren's hair.
"Sorry."
Eren felt his mouth drop open in awe. Did Levi just apologize to him?
"Levi!" Carla called from across the hall. "The spare room s ready for you!"
Levi quickly stood up and grabbed his stuff. "Goodnight." He muttered to Eren before walking over to Carla.
Eren felt his blush return. "G...goodnight."
What's wrong with me? Eren asked himself. Why am I getting embarrassed over a simple gesture? Why do I have thins tingly feeling where he touched my head?
"We better go to bed, Eren." Mikasa said, bringing Eren out of his thoughts. "We're helping Mom finish her Thanksgiving dinner in the morning."
"Right." Eren stood up from his seat. "See you later this morning, Mikasa."
She nodded before retiring to her room.
Eren walked towards his room, passing by the spare room. To his disappointment, the door was closed. After standing outside the door for a few minutes, Eren smiled and finally walked inside his bedroom.
Goodnight, Levi.
That's it for chapter 4! Chapter 5 will hopefully be out this week! School has kept me busy, so I do need sleep. XD
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