The Misanthrope

Chapter 8

xXx

When Eren had woken up on Sunday, it was still slightly dark. He could see the first lights of dawn through the windows of Levi's living space. He blinked and his chest fluttered, remembering how he had fallen asleep. At the moment, he was alone on the sofa and unusually warm and comfortable. Coming to his senses slowly, Eren noticed a large soft duvet wrapped around him, and a matching pillow under his head. Those weren't there the previous night.

He thought he smelled tea and bergamot in the air.

"Levi?" Eren murmured softly, sitting up. He found the older man sitting at the dining table, watching him and sipping tea. "How long have you been up?"

"For a while."

"Couldn't sleep?" The boy squirmed on the sofa, wrapping the duvet around himself.

"I woke up because I was cold. But then, it's nearly dawn so I might as well get up," Levi shrugged and took another sip. "You can go back to sleep if you want."

"No, I..."

Eren was feeling kind of embarrassed. First of all, he had just spent the night in Levi's home without actually asking if he was welcome. The second thing that made him want to hide under the cover was the fact that he held Levi's hand probably for most of the night and what if Levi had woken up with him still clutching his hand? The third thing? He never told his parents he wouldn't sleep at home.

Eren blanched. His mother was certainly furious! Carla wasn't one of those mothers who would fuss too much over their children. No, Carla was loving but strict, and she wouldn't hold back whenever he did something that required a good ear-pulling.

Spending the night outside of his home without letting his parents know was worth of a good ear-pulling or two. And probably some yelling. And what if they banned him from seeing Levi?

"You look like you're gonna shit yourself. Or faint. Or both," Levi noticed with a small smirk.

Eren flushed from the uncouth way the other man was teasing him. "N-no, just... I'm gonna get in trouble. My parents have no idea where I've spent the night."

Levi frowned. "That is actually my fault," he muttered, looking pissed at himself. "I shouldn't have listened to you last night. I should've sent you home..."

"You know why I stayed!" Eren quickly stood up from the sofa.

"Yes, I know," Levi's gaze pierced him. "That's exactly why I shouldn't have let you."

"What are you talking about?" Eren's heart suddenly started to ache. "W-what I meant was..."

"You stayed because I flipped out and you wanted to know why."

"Yes..." Eren began and then frowned. "No! That's not the only reason."

The teen winced when Levi suddenly stood up from the table and strode towards him.

"What's the other reason?" He asked, gazing up at Eren and invading his personal space.

"B-because... because..."

'Because I can't stay away from you. Because I want to be with you all the time, I want to look at you, listen to you. Because I want to know everything about you. Because I love you...'

Eren's lips trembled. He couldn't. He couldn't say all those things he meant. Levi would think he was crazy. He broke the eye contact and stared at his feet.

"Because I was worried... I wanted to be sure you'd be okay," he nearly gritted out.

A low chuckle made him look at Levi again. With an almost gentle expression on his face, he was looking up at Eren and smiling softly. "You're... such an airhead."

"Huh?"

Levi reached up and took hold of the lock of hair that was falling over Eren's forehead, tugging gently and making the boy's heart throb. "Come on. Let's eat breakfast and then I'll go with you to apologize to your mother for keeping you overnight. It will probably save your scrawny ass, since I'm the mighty hero," Levi rolled his eyes, making Eren laugh a little.

xXx

"Eren Jaeger, you've got some explaining to do!" Carla's voice boomed the moment Eren opened the door to his home, making him cover his ears in expectance of some pulling.

"What were you thinking going off like that! You're only fifteen," she went on.

"Mom," he tried, making an awkward face.

"Don't 'mom' me now, young man!"

"Mom! Meet Levi."

"What?" She stared as the corporal showed up from behind Eren.

"Pleased to meet you, Mrs. Jaeger. I believe an apology from my part is in order."

"Um," she cocked her head quizzically. "Pleased to meet you too, corporal. What do you mean apology?"

Levi smirked at Eren and took a step inside the small house. "It's my fault that Eren stayed the night. We went to the fair last night but then I started to feel ill and your son helped me home and then stayed to make sure I was alright."

"Oh," Carla blushed.

"So, I just wanted to say that you have a great son. He's very kind."

That did it. The anger completely melted from Carla's face and she turned to Eren. "Honey, I had no idea..." She then turned again to Levi. "But you are feeling better now? You should stay for lunch! Or I'll just send Eren back to your house if you're still not feeling well."

"No, no," Levi chuckled. "I'm fine. I must have eaten something that didn't agree with me. But I couldn't stay, really," he was already turning to leave.

"Wait, Levi..." Eren stopped him. He didn't want him to go yet. He wouldn't be able to see him until the next Thursday or Friday. "Please stay for lunch."

Eren squirmed a little when Carla gave him a strange look, a mix of surprise and interest.

Levi shook his head at him. He turned to Carla and gave a polite smirk. "Maybe some other time, thank you. I already have other plans. I would stay, otherwise."

"Of course," Carla returned the smile. "Eren will let you know."

Levi said goodbye while Carla escorted him outside, leaving Eren behind. The boy watched him go and caught a look from the older man. Levi's blue eyes were piercing into his soul, looking at him in a strange manner – the same way like the day before, after Levi had given him the seashell. And like that morning when Levi had gently pulled on his bangs. The glance ended when Levi blinked and Eren felt like he had lost a piece of his heart.

xXx

When his mother came back into the kitchen, Eren was still standing right where she left him, with probably a pathetic look on his face – that much he knew.

"What is it with the face, Eren", Carla asked suspiciously. It seemed like he wasn't safe from his mother's scrutinizing eyes just yet.

"Nothing, mom," the boy sighed. He was disappointed but why would he have to admit it?

"Eren, it seems to me that you've grown pretty close to the corporal. Am I right?"

"We're friends," Eren murmured. "I just thought that he'd stay."

"Listen, Eren," Carla started a bit reluctantly. "I know he's your hero. He's everybody's hero, that's for sure. But, you know, he is a grown man. Maybe you shouldn't hang around him all the time. You have other friends your age, and I'm sure he has, too."

"What are you saying?" Eren's voice trembled. "That I'm bothering him?"

"No, honey, I'm sure he'd let you know if you were. What I'm trying to say is..." she paused, searching for words. "You've become attached to him a bit too much. I don't want to see you hurt."

"Why would I get hurt? Levi would never hurt me! I know you don't know that but I do!"

"I'm not saying he would! Your feelings-"

"Are my own," Eren interrupted angrily. He huffed, really trying not to yell at his mother. "Just... Just don't. I don't want to talk about this."

"Eren," Carla tried, but the teen hurried into his room.

He couldn't listen to that. He could feel that his mother was on to something, and he couldn't stand it. If she really knew about his feelings... Levi was seventeen years older than him. He had been fighting for the humanity for two whole years when Eren was born.

"Oh my god," Eren whimpered into his hands.

His mother was right. Levi probably only saw a brat in him. An awkward, lanky, fifteen year old brat, who just happened to be there when he needed him.

But even that was enough for Eren. He knew it was torture, but just being with Levi... Just hearing him talk, or watching him cook or clean...

The boy flopped on his bed and hugged a pillow, feeling the tears gather in the corners of his eyes. If only Levi would hold him like that. Only for one short moment...

xXx

To be continued...