[DISCLAIMER!]: I don't own or claim to own any part of SnK besides the idea for this particular fanfiction.
A/N: Hehe… I know this was originally a one-shot, but I got an interesting idea for an epilogue from ProtectorWolfForever that I just couldn't leave unwritten… lol btw this is actually a chapter two… the epilogue is coming up. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD FEEL SO HONORED! I NEVER CONTINUE COMPLETED ONESHOTS! AND THIS ONE GETS ESSENTIALLY THREE CHAPTERS! BOW TO ME!
~Roxy~
A Safe Place to Sleep:
But What is Strength Without Hope?
Dawn had barely broken by the time Levi woke up the next morning. The muted radiance of the newly risen sun came spilling into the room through the gap between the curtains, stretching across the wooden floor to the opposite wall. Levi cautiously cracked his eyes open, gradually adjusting to the dull daylight. It didn't take him long to notice the brunet burrowed comfortably in the covers, still clinging tightly to him at the waist—almost like leech. Levi combed lightly through the teen's hair, sweeping away a messy veil of chestnut bangs from his face. When he caught a glimpse of Eren's peacefully sleeping face, Levi let the corners of his mouth twitch upwards into a subtle smile. With his muscles relaxed and calm, quiet breaths slipping through slightly parted lips, Eren looked so chaste and innocent. It was intriguing how someone who's seen such horror could, asleep, seem untouched by those grave realities—almost as if their unconsciousness exposed them for the child they really were. Needless to say, Levi was glad the brunet had been able to finally get some rest.
Once he was done examining Eren's face, Levi decided it was time to get up and ready—at least for him, the teen didn't have to wake up for a while yet. So the man shifted a bit, preparing to carefully pry the younger male off and get out of bed. As soon as he moved, however, the arms snaked around his midsection tightened. Levi sighed—not an irritated sigh, but an impatient one.
"Mmm… Levi, dun go…" the mumble surprised Levi and he glanced down at Eren to see if he'd woken up.
Nope. Still asleep.
So then, he was dreaming? Levi set his hand on Eren's arm as the brunet pulled himself closer and buried his face in the crook of the man's neck. Another unintelligible murmur hummed against his collar. Levi strained his ears, trying to decipher the slurred speech.
"…Please." Eren clutched the fabric of Levi's nightshirt and let out subtle keening whimpers, his breath hitching, becoming shallow and erratic.
Shit, he was having another nightmare! Levi took hold of Eren's shoulder and jostled him lightly in an attempt to wake him.
"Oi, Eren! Eren, wake up." Levi shook him a bit harder.
Suddenly, Eren awoke with a violent start and whipped his head around, still stuck in a panic between the waking world and his dream. Levi immediately wrapped his arms around the teenager and rubbed comforting circles on his back while whispering reassurances until Eren's breathing evened out. They both fell silent for a few minutes.
"I'm a burden… aren't I?" Eren finally muttered, refusing to lift his face from Levi's chest. The latter shrugged.
"A bit…"
Eren cringed, but Levi continued.
"…But," he sighed, "you're my burden, I suppose." Levi glanced down at the brunet. "Eren."
"Yes, si—!" As soon as Eren looked up, slim fingers took hold of his chin and guided his face forward to where his nose bumped gently against Levi's. An intense blush consumed his face, spreading as far as the tips of his ears when he felt the older man's hot, silent breaths brush against his skin. It sort of tickled, but Eren was too shocked to laugh at the odd sensation. He stared dumbly, heart pounding relentlessly in his chest; why hadn't Levi done anything yet? Did he just plan to draw out the suspense until Eren spiraled out of his right mind? They were so close.
So close he could easily…
Eren leaned in as he closed the thin gap, eyes fluttering shut. It began as a butterfly-light kiss, but with far too little hesitation he pressed his lips more firmly against his superior's. Levi's lips were unexpectedly soft; Eren's blush darkened a shade, embarrassed by how chapped he knew his own lips probably were. The hand under his jaw slackened and Eren's gut twisted as he felt that same lithe hand fall to his chest. Positive he was going to be shoved away, the nervous brunet broke the kiss only to be pulled back by a sudden tug on his shirt collar.
The kiss Levi led was more confident and held an air of experience; it didn't take them long to settle into a steady rhythm with fluid back-and-forths and a delicate spark of friction that pulsed through Eren just underneath his skin. Just as the teen was beginning to get into the swing of his first real kiss, Levi backed away an inch or so, leaving Eren to whine almost noiselessly.
Levi fell limp against the pillows and lazily draped his arm over Eren's waist, dragging the brunet closer with practically no effort. He grumbled sleepily when Eren let out an inquisitive hum.
"It's still kind of early… we can afford to sleep in one day, right?" Levi groaned, "they can come get us when they need us."
"Huh?"
"Just go back to sleep, brat." Levi spat, though it didn't sound as snappish as he would have preferred.
It took no more than ten minutes for Eren to drift back into a blissful sleep. Levi made sure the boy was asleep before he brought a hand up to tenderly caress his cheek with the pad of his thumb.
"Even if everyone else leaves you, I never will. I'll protect you no matter what, Eren." Levi whispered, "Because you're not just Humanity's Last Hope…"
'I'm beginning to think you may be mine, too…'
A/N: Haha… this was supposed to be an epilogue, but it ended up being a lot longer than an epilogue is supposed to be. I'll be writing the epilogue to this which includes the fun idea given to me by ProtectorWolfForever! Like I said in the first Author Note, you are very lucky readers! This story was originally meant to be a simple, fluffy oneshot. So you should all thank me!
~Roxy~