Rating: M

ErenxRivaille

Filler Couples

/Edited Chapter/

Chapter 9:

White Walls

Wow, it is so warm, Eren thought. He felt incredibly comfortable. He was on his side, his nose in a pillow so soft and smelled so clean he could just rest his head there forever. His body was surrounded by warmth, a big, comfy comforter around his body.

He lay on a mattress that was so plump, he felt like he was floating on a cloud of some sort. He let out a content sigh. But, wait. The couches at the Club defiantly didn't smell this good. And, he's pretty sure his bed at home was never this comfortable. Where was he?
Eren's eyes flew open and he was surrounded by white. Didn't he read somewhere this is what Heaven looks like? Or that one place in Harry Potter? Whatever it looked like, it hurt his eyes to take in the light so suddenly.

The sudden flash of light hit Eren, making his head spin. His eyes closed, a huge headache forming in his head. His body felt sore and he felt slow. He tried to recall his memory, but his mind was blank. The last thing he could remember was drinking his sixth beer and watching Gunter and Auruo falling down in the rink, laughing their asses off.

Squinting, he took in his surroundings.

White, plump covers covered his body and it seemed like he was lying on a dozen pillows. The walls were plain, white, clean and untouched. It didn't seem like there were many personal items around the room. He turned his body, to take in the rest of the room, and shot out of his skin.

Black hair peeked out from underneath the white sheets, and broad, tan shoulders were against the mattress. It only took Eren a few seconds to realize who it was. He pointed out a finger, and was about to poke the body when it groaned and shifted. Letting out a yelp, Eren jumped back, not judging his distance, and slipped off the bed.

Eren's body rolled off the side of the bed, taking a couple pillows and some sheets to the ground with him. His hip hit first, and the rest of his body came hurdling after. His head hit the side of the bed frame and he fell in a heap.

He let out a loud groan, rubbing his head where he got hit. If he thought his headache was horrible before, it was even worse now. Fuck, he thought, the pounding just wouldn't stop. His mouth felt scratchy and raw.

He heard something shift from above him.

"Shitty brat, what a wake up call." His boss grumbled, Eren hissed under his breath at his luck.

"Sorry, I just didn't expect to wake up in your bed…" Eren put emphasis on the fact it was Rivaille's bed. His throat was dry but the words were able to come out of his mouth.

"Well, I didn't expect you to dirty my sheets with your body either." Rivaille retaliated, looking disheveled. His hair was peeking out in certain places, needing a good brushing. His eyes seemed to droop more that usual.

"I'm not dirty." Eren said, slightly offended.

"Yes, you are. Especially after you puked outside." Rivaille leaned back on his pillows, rolling his eyes in his head.

"Oh, jeez, I got drunk last night, didn't I?"

"What gave it away?"

Erin rolled his eyes. "Okay, obviously. This doesn't look good for me does it?" Eren suddenly felt a fleeting fear his boss was going to fire him. Having to be brought home from a night of heavy drinking does not show much responsibility.

"Why?" Eren looked up from the floor, towards the bed where Rivaille laid. He wasn't sure what Rivaille meant.

"Um, why?" Eren asked.

"Why should it matter what you do outside of work. It only matters what you do inside of work." He said it so blatantly; it took Eren by complete surprise. The words were oddly comforting for him, as if it was a reassurance. He wasn't sure what it meant, though.

"Oh, wow, Rivaille, that was really supportive of you." Eren teased, sarcastic, a small smile playing on his lips. The pounding of his headache was slowing down, and even though his body still felt like jello, he was feeling more lively.

"Shut up, brat. Don't let it happen again." Rivaille shifted in his bed, until he was sitting upright. His body was a bit sore, but he ignored the pain and got up.

"And how much longer are you going to sit on my fucking floor." Rivaille hissed. Eren only realized that he was indeed still on the floor. He ignored his comment, and got up, but as soon as he got eye level with Rivaille, he had to turn his head quickly.

"What? Nothing you haven't seen before." Rivaille commented. Eren's head whipped around to his half naked boss, in tight fitting briefs that accentuated the bulge in his crotch area.

At first, Eren had thought Rivaille was referring to their time in the car, but then he realized he was talking about how Eren's body looked the same way. He let out a breath of relief. But it was short lived when his eyes went back over his boss's muscles.

"Do you work out?" Eren let the words slip out, closing his mouth as soon as the words left his mouth. He really needs a filter. Rivaille looked at him suspiciously,

"It matters to you, why?" He questioned. Eren looked around the room looking for an excuse but coming up with nothing. He berated himself for asking such a dumbass question.

"Because, uh, I was thinking of working out?" Eren didn't sound so sure of himself and Rivaille caught onto it quickly. The glint in his eyes returned, looking a bit more amused than annoyed.

"Your body couldn't keep up with your big head." Rivaille snorted. Eren looked offended and turned towards his boss who could clearly outmatch him in a fight.

"Whatever, old man." Eren mumbled, causing Rivaille to look over at him.

"Are you challenging me?" Rivaille asked, incredulously. Erin was a child, how dare him address him as such? It was rude and he was not going to back down.

"What are you, a child?" Rivaille continued, berating the teenager that was now standing up. Eren felt a little wobbly, trying to get his balance point. He felt dizzy and his body felt sore and slow to the point that he wanted to sit down again.

"No, I'm not!" Eren counter reacted.

"You act like one." Eren let out a low growl, chewing on the inside of his cheek. He dropped the subject, as a heavy silence hung between them. Thankfully, Rivaille was the one to break it.

"I'm making breakfast. I have clothes in my closet. If you pick it out, I don't want it back. And, god, go clean up." With that, Rivaille turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Eren stuck out his tongue at the retreating man. Why was he so infuriating? It was almost as if he enjoyed seeing Eren squirm in his seat with annoyance.

Following his directions, Eren went to his closet, pulling open the doors. He almost burst out in loud laughter when he saw the clothing. There was no variety. One side of the closet had white dress shirts and the other side of the closet was full of black or darker colored shirts. Eren had never noticed before until now, but Rivaille always wore black t-shirts outside of work.

Eren took notice he wasn't wearing a shirt. Rivaille probably pulled it off him last night, because it was dirty. That wouldn't be the first time.

He pulled one of the black t-shirts from the closet, putting the hanger on the bed. The shirts length was too short for his abdomen, but it was a bit broader around the shoulders and chest area. It hung a bit to awkwardly for him.

He pulled out a different shirt, looking for the right size, or close to his size. One of the navy shirts in the back didn't look like it was worn often and Eren found out it was because it probably didn't fit him as well. Eren slipped it on, and it was a snug fit, but covered his body well.

The sweatpants he had on were not his own. Rivaille must have changed it during the walked towards the bathroom to the right wall of the bedroom.

When he looked at himself in the mirror he turned away from his reflection. Rivaille was right, he looked disgusting. His eyes were a puffy, angry red and his hair was hanging down and strands flew around, giving him a disheveled look.

Splashing cold water on his face and running his course hair under the cool water helped a lot. His face looked a little less pale and at least his hair wasn't sticking up in all directions. Grabbing a towel, he dried himself, feeling fresher.

His headache was slowly leaving him and his joints were waking up. Rolling his shoulders, he stretched his arms and did his business.

Walking out of the bathroom, he picked up his mess and cleaned up to some extent. He even made the bed, although, he was sure Rivaille would probably clean the sheets. Eren knew he owed him a thank you.

Leaving the bedroom, it finally hit him that he was actually in Rivaille's apartment. The very thought of it made him want to leave. No, no, no. He was supposed to be avoiding and separating himself from Rivaille. He just wanted a boss to employee relationship. He was not supposed to be in his apartment.

Shaking his head, he started to walk down the hallway. The walls were the same color as in the bedroom. The whole apartment seemed to be very plain, not many personal items were on the wall or even on any tables.

It was as if Rivaille's apartment wasn't an apartment. It seemed to be just a place where he slept, or ate in. It didn't seem like it was anything special for him. Eren thought it was kind of sad.

He noticed there was three doors, one leading to his bedroom, down the hallway. When he stepped into the main room it looked like the rest of the apartment, however there were a couple of potted plants in the corners of the room and a large television hung off the wall. A couch sat in the middle of the room, facing the television. A large bookcase situated itself on the east wall, filled with books big and small. The carpet was so white it looked like stone. Eren was guessing this was the living room.

An open doorway opened up to the combined dining area and kitchen. It was a sweet little home. It didn't feel like a warm home, but it was simple. Eren liked it.

A smell hit Eren's nose and he smelled in the warm aroma of breakfast. He didn't realize Rivaille was serious about breakfast, but now his stomach was growling for something else other than the beer that still lay in the bottom of his stomach.

Following the scent, he walked into the open kitchen. From the rest of the apartment, the kitchen seemed to have the most personality. Granite counters outlined each wall and a little island sat in the middle of the kitchen with bar stools at the ends.

It seemed to be used often, since there was appliances that only advanced cooks would use, such as various mixers and blenders. Everything was well organized and clean. Erin wondered how often Rivaille chose to cook for himself. He lived alone, so most likely often. Living with Mikasa, Erin could not imagine having a meal by himself. It was part of the enjoyment of the food. He began to feel a bit lonely for Rivaille.

Rivaille stood near the stove, pan in hand, something sizzling in the pan. It sounded like hot oil. Rivaille looked toward his entrance.

"You look better." He commented.

"Just better?"

"Don't get cocky." He countered, flipping what Eren could now see as eggs, cooking them all around. He noticed sausage on a burner on the counter closest to Rivaille. A rice cooker in the corner of the kitchen was steaming. The food smelled delicious. His mouth was almost watering.

"Do you need help?" The faster the food was done, the sooner he could eat. Rivaille raised a slight eyebrow.

"Do you think you can manage grabbing two plates and silverware?" Eren rolled his eyes as he started looking for the plates.

"I think you'll find I'm very competent." Eren responded.

"You have yet to prove me wrong." Rivaille mentioned, only for Eren to roll his eyes again.

'I'm still learning."

"I know that." Eren was taken aback by what Rivaille had said to him. He sounded, almost, understanding. Eren let slip a little smile, his mood shifting.

The food was done in a couple of minutes and Eren was starving. As soon as the food hit the plate, Eren was grabbing a fork and digging in. Rivaille hardly had time to put his own food on his plate.

Eren was shuffling food in his mouth, the juice from the meat streaming down from his mouth. Rivaille looked at him with disgust. With a shake of his head he pulled a napkin out from his back pocket.

"You are disgusting." He commented. Eren looked at him with his mouth full.

"Whm dighou say?" He smiled, showing off all the food particles in his mouth. Rivaille looked on, exasperated, shoving the napkin in Eren's face. He wiped his mouth for him, only very roughly.

"Mmph!" Eren tried to pull away but Rivaille grabbed the back of his head, forcing him to wipe away all the grease and food surrounding his mouth. When he was satisfied, he released Eren, letting him dwell in what just happened.

"What the hell was that!?" Eren could finally talk now that he swallowed. Rivaille sighed.

"Such a child." Although, Rivaille was trying to look irritated and annoyed, he looked more entertained than everything. His naturally half lidded eyes had a brighter color to them and Eren couldn't find anything he was saying seriously. So instead, he grinned. Rivaille noticed but ignored him.

They ate in silence for a bit. Eren was comfortable, finally filling his stomach after it had been empty and then filled with alcohol. Gosh, he really shouldn't have drunk last night.

"So, was I really that drunk last night?" Eren finally decided to break the silence. Rivaille looked up from his plate.

"Yes."

"Did I do anything stupid?" Eren had to ask, as he knew he usually fucked things up when he drank. He was not the smartest drunk.

"Yes." Rivaille grabbed a piece of toast. He took a bite, acting nonchalant. Eren waited for him to continue, but he stayed silent.

"What?" Erin pushed.

"You kissed me." Eren was drinking some orange juice, but as soon as he heard those words leave Rivaille's mouth, he spurted the drink of out his mouth, spraying it onto his plate and it's surroundings.

"And you called me a fucker." Rivaille continued. Eren though the first thing Rivaille had said was bad enough, but the fucker part left him panicking.

"I am so sorry. Like really sorry." Eren cowered in his seat, trying his best to apologize but feeling like he didn't mean it. He wanted to escape, get out of the apartment. He was so mortified. He promised himself he wouldn't get drunk ever again it it meant that he could erase the past.

And he fucking kissed Rivaille? Fucking fuck. His plans to stay away from the man were backfiring on him more and more with every turn. He wanted to push away, but he was left getting closer. He wasn't going to touch him; they were going to keep their relationship apart, but first the hand job and then this kiss. If Rivaille didn't know who he was yet, he'd defiantly find out in the soon future.

"You were drunk, doesn't matter." Rivaille blew it off as nothing but Eren was freaking out. He wanted to go hide his face or do something, but all he could think about was the fact that his lips were on Rivaille's only less than 12 hours ago.

He continued eating, and tried to keep his overflowing thoughts from overwhelming him. Trying to find anything to distract him or change the subject, he focused on the food in front of him instead.

"How do you make eggs taste so good!?" Eren half-yelled, enjoying the taste in his mouth. His eyes couldn't look Rivaille in the face. So, he looked directly at his eggs, as if talking to them.

"It's the spices." Rivaille had a warm aura about it, as if talking about something important to him.

"You are a really good chef!" He stuffed another spoon full in his mouth.

"It's not like it's hard." Although, he seemed to be poking fun and acting nonchalant but Eren could see the sense of pride in his chest.

"Stop eating like you haven't eaten in days." Eren stopped eating for a moment, thinking.

"Well, hmm, I think the last time I ate was maybe, er, a couple of days ago?" Eren said it as if it didn't matter, and continued with his meal.

Rivaille looked at him a bit differently. He wondered what kind of home life he had. What, kind of home-style did he live? One, where it wasn't unusual for him to not eat for days?

He already knew about his other job, it must keep him busy at night, but he didn't know much about what he did during the day. He only knew he went to college at the nearby campus.

"So, you're a college student?" Rivaille began, deciding a conversation was best. The silence was to still for him.

"Oh, yeah. I'm in my second year."

"And, your major?"

"Ah, I haven't chosen one. I'm kind of just going through college." Eren replied. Rivaille let the conversation fall. He wasn't looking to get to deep into Eren's life; after all he was only an employee.

Finishing his food, Eren put his plate in the sink, filling it with hot water. Acting polite, he cleaned his seat at the table and washed up his spot at the counter. At one point, he dropped the washrag he was holding. Rivaille watched with little amusement.

When Eren had finally finished his cleaning job, he turned towards Rivaille.

"Rivaille, I want to thank you for lending me a bed and for the food. I really appreciate it." Eren was sincere in his words.

"Whatever." Rivaille started picking up his own dishes.

"More importantly, Monday, you are meeting one of the biggest fashion designers in the company. Dress better." Of course, how did their conversations always come back to business? Eren nodded his head, explaining he understood and would do his best.

It was his time to leave; he knew he overstayed his welcome. Picking up his old clothes, he left, knowing he'd see his boss again in a couple of days. Hopefully, that was enough time to forget about all that happened this weekend. But, he hardly doubted it.

[]

Eren was trying to sneak into his house. It was almost impossible because he knew Mikasa was home and she had the instincts of a fox. He didn't want to face her right now, because he knew she'd be pissed.

He put one-step on the wooden floor, making it creak, and he heard Mikasa shoot down the stairs. She stood at the top step, looking down at Eren. Her eyes looked dangerously fierce.

"Mikasa, I'm sor-" Mikasa rushed down the steps, cutting off Eren's words. She grabbed a hold of his shirt, pulling him by the collar. She pulled him in, hugging him deeply.

"I was so worried." Mikasa whispered, bringing his head closer to her mouth so he could hear her better. She was angry, so angry that she was actually worried.

He didn't call. He didn't say anything. He had told her he had to work, and she knew that. But she had expected to be back early that morning, but there was no trace of him at all.

"I know, I'm sorry." Eren responded into the hug, allowing Mikasa to feel the warmth of his body, a reminder he was still around. She shouldn't worry about him as much as she did, but he was her only family, and she had a deep adoration and protection of him.

"Where were you!?" Mikasa pushed away from Eren, looking him dead in the eye. She knew he'd been lying to her; there was something off about him lately. She didn't appreciate it. For them to have a good relationship, it began with honesty.

"I went to a party, got drunk, and accidentally fell asleep." Eren was going to be honest without the whole truth. He felt horrible about forgetting about his adoptive sister. She didn't deserve the treatment she had just received.

"And, you didn't call?" Her voice was slowly going back to her nonchalant tone. Her eyes were lidded a bit, as if she was tired from lack of sleep. Eren was sure his little disappearance didn't help her stress levels.

"My phone died. I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise! I'll even make dinner." Eren teased her, trying to make the serious tone a little more joking. Mikasa looked at him to make sure he was joking before responding.

"I would rather not die." She said it so easily that it almost seemed serious, but Eren has known her long enough to know she was joking.

"My cooking isn't that bad!" Eren burst out laughing, feeling the tension begin to dissolve. It was a good feeling.

"I'd rather you cleaned the bathroom." Mikasa pointed out.

"Ew, no!" The last time the house was cleaned was when they bought it. Mikasa usually cleaned when she had time, but it was a quick job, enough to keep their living conditions livable.

"Eren, don't be a baby."

"Mikasa, don't be a mom." It was their usual insults to each other. They hardly made a dent in their relationship, but it was fun to tease each other. It helped decrease the stress around the house, and reminded them to take it easy on each other.

"I still expect you to clean." Mikasa started walking towards the kitchen, throwing the words over her shoulder. Eren shook his head, following right behind her.

His hangover was almost gone, the food in his stomach helped calm down his mind. The nice bed was an added bonus. His bed at home was hardly soft enough for him, but it was a bed. However, Rivaille's apartment was much nicer than his.

But, he hardly cared. He appreciated what Rivaille did for him. For such a stoic man, he seemed to have the capacity to care. Eren has seen a little bit of that side of him here and there but until today, he didn't think it was actually there.

But, it seemed that Eren had a lot more time to learn about him, especially since it seems like he's going to be stuck there for a while.

Let me tell you guys, I got a lot of reviews last chapter, so I blew off my English homework this weekend and my grade is super low right now, but I was able to get this chapter out and that was my only goal.

If you continue to Review, I may blow off homework again and write instead!

Question from Glass of Milk (about other character appearances):

Yes, I will be focusing on other members of the club. Probably, mini back stories so you can get an understanding from where they come from, since they are all so different. I may expand on those mini back stories if it helps my plot progress.

Expect Hanji soon, she's too loveable to forget! And, Reiner and Bertl is going to be in here. You're just going to have to wait to see how I incorporate them. And yes, they won't be minor characters.