The Misanthrope

Chapter 13

xXx

When Eren woke up the next morning, he didn't even have to open his eyes to know that Levi was there beside him. The whole evening and the night had not been a dream. He enjoyed the naked warmth pressing against his side, the strong arms wrapping around him, and the raspy masculine voice that greeted him.

"'Morning," Levi husked, nuzzling his cheek.

"Hi," the boy blushed, not exactly used to waking up next to the man he was head-over-heels for.

"What's this now," Levi teased, "You're only shy during daylight?"

Eren sputtered, still blinking the sleep out of his eyes. "I'm not shy, I'm just..."

"You're cute," the older man said and then groaned, covering his eyes with both his hands. "I can't believe I just said that. Keep away brat, you'll ruin my grumpy personality."

And just like that, Eren's slight embarrassment completely disappeared, being replaced with unreserved happiness. He loved it that he managed to break through Levi's walls; to see the person who was hiding there all that time.

Eren snuggled up to the older man, hiding his face into his neck and sliding his hand down his abdomen. When he felt the different texture of skin under his fingertips, he peeked down and flinched as he realized he was touching the bite mark scar on Levi's left side.

"I'm sorry!"

"It doesn't hurt anymore," Levi sighed.

"How did you... I mean, when..." Eren trailed off, not knowing how to even ask about it, but was too curious to refrain from it.

"On my first mission outside of the Walls. I was young and cocky and I believed I could take an aberrant on my own. I wanted to prove myself so badly. One second of miscalculation and the bastard had its teeth in me as if I were a chew toy. I really thought I was a goner."

Eren gaped. "How did you escape?!"

Levi snorted. "Erwin saved me."

"Erwin Smith-danchou?"

"Yeah. He came swooshing down like a fucking whirlwind, killed it on the spot. And I fell out of its mouth like a piece of meat. Erwin was so pissed at me..."

Eren shivered in dread.

Levi squeezed him tighter. "It was pure luck that its teeth didn't go all the way through the muscles. And it taught me a lesson I'll never forget. I was never so reckless again."

"I'm glad," Eren whispered into Levi's neck.

"Believe me, I am too."

The boy chuckled. "Hey, so, you were friends with Erwin Smith? Why not anymore?"

"You should know the answer to that by now," Levi sighed. "I've pushed everyone away. Erwin wasn't as persistent as Hanji, so he just let me go, while she kept pestering me and dropping by whether I liked it or not. I guess... I guess maybe I could talk to him now."

"Did I fix you?" Eren asked half-teasingly and half-hopingly.

The older man rolled his eyes at him. "Dream on kid. You've turned me into an old pervert, so we can't really talk about 'fixing me' now, can we?"

The teen snickered. "You're not a pervert."

"But I am old, is that what you're saying?" Levi raised an eyebrow and Eren couldn't keep his giggles inside anymore. "I'll show you who's old, you damned brat," he muttered and wrestled the boy into the mattress.

Eren wiggled against the other man's weight, laughing helplessly between the kisses, bites and Levi's empty threats. His heart was hammering from the exertion and from the turmoil of emotions.

"I love you," he blurted, stopping Levi in his tracks. The older man stared down at him. He'd said it last night when Eren was too overwhelmed to even try. "You have no idea," Eren continued, "No idea just how much... When you kissed me last night, I thought I was gonna die... I'll never feel this for anyone but you..."

Levi's mouth twitched into a half smile. "I might have some idea."

Eren felt his cheeks flush with heat. He felt like a love-sick idiot and to be honest, he liked it. Nothing could ruin those feelings for him... Nothing...

The warmth got suddenly replaced by anxiety.

"What's wrong," Levi noticed immediately, shifting his weight and settling down next to Eren again.

"I have to explain... To my parents."

"I know."

"W-what should I say?" He was starting to panic.

"The truth. Well, not the whole truth because your mother will castrate me... But the general idea. You like me, I like you back... I'm not corrupting you... Or I'm trying not to, at least," Levi added, nipping at the teen's earlobe.

"Will you go with me?" Eren asked hopefully.

"Not a chance. I think it's wisest if I kept some distance from your folks for now. Trust me, they probably wouldn't be too thrilled to have their son's older suitor in their house when you tell them about us. If I were as old as you, then maybe."

Eren groaned and took a deep breath. "Okay so..."

xXx

The boy gave a sheepish smile as he came through the door of his house.

"Hey mom..."

Carla looked both angry and relieved all at once. She hurried to Eren, yanked his ear hard and then embraced him with all her strength.

"Don't ever do that again, Eren," she sighed, caressing the back of his head.

"I'm sorry," he sighed, returning the hug.

"You know I only wish the best for you..."

"I know," Eren murmured. "Listen, mom..."

"You stayed at Levi's house, right?"

"Yeah. He... I..."

She released him from her hold. "What's the matter?"

"I'd like to have that talk with you now..."

Carla smiled and led her son to the table, sitting him down. She sat across the table and leaned towards him. "Alright, I'm listening."

"Yesterday, I took off because... Because I was hurt." Eren sighed, collecting his wits. His heart was pounding but he was going to go through this. "You guessed correctly that I have feelings for him... But then you told me that my feelings weren't real and to top that, you said that he would never feel the same and that made me really sad."

"I never wanted to hurt you, Eren," she said remorsefully. "I was trying to save you from heartache..."

"I know, but you were wrong, mom," the boy said with a little smile.

"I was wrong?"

"That's what I wanted to tell you. To dad, too, but he's not home now. It doesn't matter. I'll say it over and over again if I have to. Levi, he... He feels the same."

Carla's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yesterday, when I ran from home, he gave me dry clothes, he fed me and we talked for a long time. He wanted to know why I was crying when I came knocking at his door. So I told him everything. And mom, he does feel the same... He loves me... He said he loved me..."

Eren's words were now a whisper, the feelings overwhelming him once more. He wanted to smile and to cry at the same time while his mother kept staring at him with a shocked expression.

"Eren..."

"Mom."

She swallowed and blinked once. Twice. "I... I see that you're really smitten but... Eren, he's so much older... And he really said he loved you?!" She sounded incredulous.

"Yes. I'm not imagining this. He really said he loved me. And he kissed me." He blushed. Not the whole truth, Levi's voice rang in his head.

Carla paled. "H-he what!" She reached across the table and grabbed Eren's hand. "Eren, if he forced you in any way..."

"What, no! He didn't! What are you saying?"

"I don't care if he's a veteran, your father is a renowned physician and we can have him sued-"

"Mom, mom, stop!" The teen interrupted. "He didn't do anything to me. I promise!"

She gave him a look. "You're not just defending him now?"

"No, I'm not. He didn't push me, or force me, or hurt me in any way. We just... came to realize we both feel the same. He was reluctant at first and angry at himself because I'm so young. He said he didn't want to be an old pervert."

"Well, at least he has some sense to feel guilty," Carla muttered, frowning still. "And why isn't he here with you, like the last time?"

Eren smiled a bit. It wasn't going so bad. "He said it's maybe wiser if he kept some distance at first. To give you and dad time to get used to the idea of him being... with me."

Carla grumbled and looked at her son. "Damn it. He's respectful."

"He is. And he's actually very kind and caring. He just forgot how to show it."

"Okay, I'll trust your judgement. And he seemed decent the other day when I met him. But Eren, if he ever hurts you... I'll hunt him down and I will geld him."

"He mentioned that too, so I believe he won't," Eren laughed and after a long sigh, Carla's own soft laughter joined his.

xXx

To be continued...