The Misanthrope

Chapter 4

xXx

After that time when he'd first entered inside Levi's home, the man began to let him in on a daily basis. There was nothing to do in the garden and around the house anymore, and the days have grown colder.

Eren mostly sat on the rug in front of the fireplace, doing his homework or studying, while Levi either worked around the house or read one of the many books he had. Eren's visits became longer. At first he'd leave before dinner time, but lately Levi began preparing his meals earlier and then asked Eren to stay.

Not that he minded, honestly. Eren loved being around the hero, even though his parents began to worry that he'd wear out Levi's hospitality. But they didn't know the man. Eren was by now completely certain that Levi would have thrown him out the window if he didn't want him there. He surely wouldn't put up with him if he was such a hassle.

It made Eren strangely happy. Every time he ditched his friends in order to go to Levi, he'd feel bad for a short while, but as he approached Levi's home, the guilt would change into a strange bubbly feeling in his stomach which made him want to laugh out loud.

He was grateful that he had friends like Armin and Mikasa. So many times he ditched them for Levi, and still they didn't mind. He believed it was Armin's doing because the boy often understood things that other kids their age didn't. He saw on Eren that hanging out with the corporal did him good. Even his grades improved.

xXx

Having good grades or not, schoolwork always doubled around November and Eren suddenly had too much to do. One November Tuesday, he sadly decided not to go to Levi's. Aside from studying for tests, he and Armin had an assignment that was due by the end of the week and they had to work on it together.

The work stretched out until Friday and by the end of the school day, Eren could barely wait to run to Levi. During those three days, he missed the warmth of the fireplace, and the rug – his special spot as Levi called it teasingly – and the smell of bergamot that always lingered around the house. He missed the tea that Levi made and the madeleine cookies that sometimes accompanied it.

When Eren finally arrived and knocked on Levi's door, he was so thrilled to be there that his face got flushed even before the man answered his door.

Levi was about to greet him and then blinked. "You ran?"

Eren huffed, the cold air stinging his overheated cheeks. "No, but I hurried," he grinned. "Hi."

"Hey," Levi opened the door wider and turned back inside. He seemed colder than usual, Eren noticed.

"Is everything alright," Eren blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. He followed inside, closed the door behind him and removed his shoes, as always. Levi liked a clean home. A very clean home.

"Just peachy."

The boy stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, watching Levi as he continued to wash dishes.

"Er... Am I bothering you? I can leave if you want..."

Levi shrugged, with an unreadable expression on his face. Was he pissed?

"Are you angry at me? Did I do something?" Eren grew desperate. He wished that the man would just turn to look at him. It felt almost painful to be treated like that. He heard Levi sigh.

"No, kid. Just forget about it," he finally said, putting up a kettle and preparing two cups. The moment he saw that, Eren felt more at ease. He smiled and sat at the dining table, studying Levi as he moved around the kitchen. He had to stretch when he wanted to reach the top shelves or cupboards and Eren almost offered his help, but bit his tongue remembering the last time he did that.

They were picking apples and Levi climbed the tree to reach higher branches. He still couldn't catch a few apples and Eren, not thinking at all, offered that he could climb up there instead and be able to reach. Instead of a reply, Levi wordlessly and very deliberately dropped the fruit on his head.

"What are you smiling about," Levi suddenly asked, jerking him out of his daydream.

"Ahh, nothing... I remembered how you assaulted me with apples."

Levi smirked, pouring the tea. Eren sniffed the air, taking in the aroma. "Hey, are there any of those cookies? Madeleine, was it?" He was a bit hungry, after all.

"No. I wasn't expecting you today."

Oh.

"I-I'm sorry..." Eren retreated to his insecure self all of the sudden. "Really, I'll leave if you don't want me here..."

"Idiot. I didn't say you're not welcome here. I said I wasn't expecting you today, after not coming for three days. How should I know when you'll show up?"

It dawned on Eren. That's why Levi was so cold to him. He was sulking.

"Ne, Levi... Did you miss-"

"Shut it!" Levi snapped, his eyebrow twitching, making Eren snicker into his hand.

The man turned to his kitchen and began to rummage through his cupboards and ice box, taking out flour, sugar, butter and eggs. When he prepared the baking pan, Eren realized that he'd be getting those cookies after all.

"Can I help you," he asked, standing next to Levi.

"Wash your hands first."

Eren did so, and then rolled up his sleeves. "Ready!"

Levi had him sift the flour and mix it with the butter. It wasn't the first time Eren did something in the kitchen, but he surely didn't know how to knead the dough. It ended with Levi grabbing his hands to teach him properly.

"You don't squish it, dammit. Gotta be gentle and firm at the same time. Ever gotten a massage?"

Eren blinked stupidly.

"Of course you haven't. What am I asking," Levi murmured more to himself than to the teen. They continued to work in silence until they've put the cookie pan into the oven.

When Levi turned to look at him, he smiled and lifted a metal tray for Eren to see his reflection. He had flour on his nose and cheeks and now a blush as Levi decided to ruffle his hair. Thankfully, his hands were clean from dough; otherwise it would be a hassle to remove.

"I missed being here these last few days," Eren admitted.

"I..." Levi began, "I like having a routine."

"So... I messed up your routine?"

"Yeah. You messed it up when you appeared in my yard the first time. But when you kept coming every day, it became a new routine. You... You're not such a pain to have around, after all."

That was such a 'Levi' thing to say, Eren mused, smiling at the confession. It made him feel funny again, tickling inside his chest.

"Can I ask you something?"

"You just did," Levi deadpanned.

Eren huffed and ignored it. "Do you ever have visitors? Other than me, I mean."

It seemed to be a sour spot for the older man. "Have you ever seen someone other than yourself here?"

"Well, no..."

"Well, see?" Levi copied.

Eren suddenly remembered. "How about Erwin Smith-danchou? When he lectured at our school, he mentioned you and he seemed to know you?"

"Erwin... Erwin knew me, once," Levi sighed. "Come on, kid, just drop it."

"But why? Why don't you hang out with your friends?"

Eren didn't expect to be grabbed by his shirt and yanked closer. Levi pulled him down so their eyes were leveled and stared at him.

"I didn't choose to be alone at first. Later, I did. Now I'm rather on my own. It doesn't concern you."

"It does," Eren grunted defiantly. "I'm your friend now, too."

Levi yanked him even closer, their noses almost touching. "No one asked you to be."

Eren felt a shiver down his back. He could feel Levi's breath on his lips and it irked him to no end how such a stupid thing like breathing could make his knees buckle. He felt threatened, but at the same time exhilarated. Almost as if he wanted to annoy Levi more just to see what he'd do next.

"You can say all you want, I'm not turning my back on you like they may have."

Levi's breath caught. He released the boy and shoved him away, collapsing onto a dining chair afterwards.

"Don't say those words..."

"I mean those words," Eren was stubborn. He sat down across the table from Levi. "I'm not leaving."

xXx

Levi remained grim for the rest of the afternoon. They ate madeleine cookies in silence, and even though they were exquisite as always, they tasted like dust in Eren's mouth. He wanted to reach Levi. He wanted to know what made him like that. The man hadn't uttered a single word after their dispute and Eren knew this time that it wasn't about him. This wasn't the silent treatment. This wasn't sulking. It seemed like Levi wasn't even there with him, only an empty body that moved on its own.

Eren stayed much later than usual, just keeping Levi company. The tea went cold, there was nothing else to eat and it became harder to hide the sounds of his growling stomach. His squirming must have woken Levi out of his reveries and the man gave him a tired look.

"You should go now. It's late."

"Okay," Eren said softly. He put on his jacket and shoes and turned to Levi before he went outside. "I'll come again tomorrow."

Levi didn't say anything. He only stood up to escort Eren out.

"I'll come here," Eren repeated. "I promise."

A faintest shadow of a smile passed Levi's lips. "Okay."

"See you tomorrow," the teen smiled and walked out. Before the door closed, he heard Levi say 'goodnight, Eren'.

He said 'Eren'.

The boy squeezed his eyes shut and grinned, his chest fluttering.

xXx

To be continued...