Chapter 5 – Now you see me.
(Hello lovely readers! Here is another wonderful chapter! Warning there is smut in this chapter, but I think we all need a little smut in our lives! *Winks seductively* enjoy!)
The room falls into relative silence but Levi can hear the blood rushing and pounding in his head. He rubs his hands over his eyes as he feels a headache forming behind his eyes. Armin and Eren have been talking for over two hours now and Levi tuned out of their banter a while ago, choosing to make some tea and savouring the peace and quiet of the kitchen when he can't see the two teens.
Levi hears the jingle of Eren's bell and he automatically straightens his gaze so it's easier for Eren to slip into his field of vision. Levi is amazed at how he's adjusted to having the brat around and the more time he spends with him, the more he's convinced he isn't crazy. Eren glides into Levi's vision as he takes another sip of his tea. Levi can sense Eren has a more serious attitude and he begins to wander what he was discussing with his friend.
"Everything okay?" Eren inquires.
"Yep just dandy! Now can you tell me what's going on and why you have an uninvited playmate?"
"Sorry that's my fault" The smaller boy suddenly appears on Levi's other side, startling him. "I had some important stuff to tell Eren that couldn't wait. Sorry for coming uninvited" The blonde seems sincere with his words so Levi has no choice but to yield.
"It's fine, just remember to ring ahead next time"
"Actually we can't use phones. I'll send a letter instead." Armin answers.
"What the fuck? You can't use phones?" Levi suddenly feels angry. These people can't even use simple technology, communicating must be hard for them.
"Its just part of being a Periphery. To be heard we must be seen. To touch we must be acknowledged by those round us."
"What does that mean?" Levi questions. "Eren's told me shit about your people and I have questions" Armin chuckles and reprimands Eren for not telling him more.
"Okay I'll tell you everything I know. As you already know we are called Peripheries. Its self explanatory as it refers to your peripheral vision. This is because the receptor cells in your main field of vision are too sensitive to process our existence. However the receptor cells in your peripheral vision are a lot less sensitive and therefore can process our existence, which then sends the images to the brain. We unfortunately have no idea why your normal receptor cells can't detect us, it's almost a magical occurrence.
"However people who have very poor eyesight or those slowly going blind can see us normally. Most of these people however keep quiet about existence or are put in psych wards and mental facilities because doctors don't believe them." Armin takes a breath and gathers his thoughts. Levi's hanging off every word Armin is saying, wanting to hear more. "Our population has hit critical over the last couple of years because the only way we can reproduce is with humans. Two peripheries cannot reproduce together, so we must rely on humans in order continue our race. But with constant development of medicine and drugs it's harder for us to convince humans that we are real."
Levi takes his time to think over what Armin has said, his tea was downed long ago and he didn't even notice. Questions fill Levi's head which doesn't help his headache but he has trouble choosing what question to ask. Eren has been eerily quiet next to him but he doesn't bother to question it. Armin continues before Levi has a chance to speak.
"But, there are some instances when humans can look at us normally. This happens when…" Eren loudly clears his throat, effectively stoping Armin from continuing. Levi furrows his brow, feeling the tension between the two boys. Levi however is too curious and wants to know when he can finally look at Eren properly. He's suddenly hit with the realisation that he really wants to see what Eren looks like, wants to make eye contact and study every inch of his face.
"When what? Don't leave me fucking hanging." Levi says, quickly clearing his mind of Eren.
"It's nothing of importance" Eren dismisses. "It only happens once in a blue moon" with that Eren leaves and Levi hears the jiggle disappear upstairs. Armin stays quiet next to Levi, starring at the counter. Levi feels he has hit a sore spot with Eren but he has no idea what he did wrong. He wants to learn everything there is to know about their kind but he suspects Eren is hiding things from him. The more Levi dwells on the information Armin has provided, the more he needs to know. If he is being thrust into the world of the supernatural then he needs to know everything.
"Is there anything else you can tell me?" Levi questions. "Why hasn't anyone tried to expose your existence? Surely many humans know about you."
Armin stays silent for a few moments, thinking of how to approach the question.
"I want you to think carefully. Think about scenarios in which we could exist. The elderly woman on the bus who's talking to herself is in actually talking to one of our kind. Think about little kids and their imaginary friends, many of them are real but are dismissed by adults. Think of people in mental institutions who claim to see people who are not actually there. Humans always find excuses to dismiss our existence and many humans suffer because of that. Many humans are wrongly accused for being insane, crazy, high or simply disabled for believing in us."
Armin's words are sad and Levi's heart pangs with grief at the thought of people being forced into isolation for simply believing. Both men sit in silence for a long while, no more questions are asked nor answered, Levi is satisfied with the information he has been given.
Armin hangs around the house a little longer, going back upstairs to check on Eren before quietly showing himself out. Before he leaves, Armin retrieves a card from his pocket and places it on the dresser next to the front door. Levi keeps his gaze sideways while inspecting the card.
"I was told that you are looking for a job." Armin explains. "I talked to Mikasa and she has agreed to let you work at the police station. Simple administration work and filing papers but it's better than nothing. If you want the job ring that number and talk to Commander Erwin, he'll help you." Levi can sense to genuine smile on Armin's face before he disappears from his sight. The door opens and closes signalling his departure.
Levi continues to be amazed by these Periphery people and how informative the little blonde one was. Levi is a bit pissed off that Eren has not explained much and he's hiding something important but he can't help but feel that he can wait until Eren is ready to tell him. Levi begins to flip and play with the card Armin gave him, debating if he wants the job or not.
It's true that he's low on money and he will eventually need a job, plus he is starting to become bored at home, even if he does have the company of an invisible friend. He thinks back to the officer who he has gotten to know well over the last couple of days. Mikasa as he recalls. The way she looked at him, with both venom and amusement. Levi wonders if he can deal with her moods on a daily basis or deal with that Kirstein kid who looks like a horse. He knows he has little patience but his need for money outweighs the annoyingness of his future colleagues.
With his decision now final, Levi grabs his phone from his back pocket and dials the number scribbled on the card. As it rings, Levi walks into the lounge room and seats himself on the couch, preparing himself for a long conversation. The phone continues to ring and he starts to think he won't be answered. At the last second the call is put through.
"Hello, Local Police department, Commander Erwin speaking" The voice is low and clipped, sending shivers down Levi's spine as he feels the authority dripping from the voice.
"Ahh… Hi my name is Rivaille Church. I was … told…" Levi suddenly realises he can't mention Armin because he doesn't technically exist. "I mean I heard that you were looking to hire someone for an admin job" There is an awkward pause on the line and Levi fears the Commander has ended the call.
"Ah yes! You're right. We are looking to hire someone. If you want you to come down to the station tomorrow for an interview so we can get an idea of who are and do a quick background check and all that."
"Sure I can do that. I'll see you then" Levi replies. He hopes his nervousness isn't portrayed in his voice.
"Alright. Make sure to bring a resume and we hope you can be a part of our department." The line is immediately disconnected and Levi breathes a big sigh of relief. He hasn't felt this kind of nervousness since he was a teenager looking for his first job. He begins to worry that his alias won't hold against a police department, but he has to try.
"What was that about?" Levi jumps in his seat at the sudden voice beside him. He didn't notice the bell alerting him of Eren's presence nor did he see the boy move into his line-of-sight.
Once Levi's heart stops pounding and recovers, he answers.
"I need to write a resume"
Levi jiggles his leg nervously as he waits outside Commander Erwin's office. The Police Department is a flurry of movement and phones are constantly ringing. Most of the officers at the station are too busy to notice his presence but some do give him weird looks, Levi suspects because this town is so small everyone knows everyone, therefore he's the outsider.
Shortly after arriving at the station Levi ran into Sargeant Ackerman and her house-faced partner. Both officers glared at him before being called to a car accident, much to Levi's relief. He clutches a plastic folder with his resume and a few other credentials in it. He hopes spending nearly all night fabricating a resume and making sure it seemed legit is worth it, however if they did too much digging they would eventually find it was a fake. Most of Levi's nerves are due to that prospect of being caught and then subsequently being found by Kenny and his gang or being in prison.
There is a commotion near the entrance of the building and multiple officers rush to the scene. It seems a woman is in distress about a their baby gone missing and she's crying hysterically. The scene distracts Levi from his impending doom (AKA his job interview) but he is suddenly brought back to reality when someone taps him on the shoulder. He spins around in his chair to see a tall, broad man with neat blonde hair. Levi assumes this is Commander Erwin because his appearance matches his dominating voice.
The taller man smiles slightly and offers his hand.
"Hi, you must Rivaille Church. I'm Commander Erwin but please just call me Erwin." Levi shakes his hand and follows him into a private office. Once both men are seated in their respective seats, Levi notices Erwin is staring at him intently, almost evaluating Levi before the interview even starts.
"First of all I would just like to ask how you knew about this job opening? Not many people knew about it" Levi's panic escalates and his can feel his palms become sweaty. Shit Levi thinks, he can't tell the man about Armin because that would ensure a one-way ticket to the nut house. He has to think on his feet.
"My friend Petra, who works at the hospital, she told me about it when I was there" It seems a plausible explanation.
"Ah the lovely Petra. I know her very well. She often visits here if an officer is injured. I hope you were at the hospital for good reasons." There is slight concern in Erwin's voice but Levi knows that he is faking concern in order to gain trust more easily, it's a tactic he's familiar with.
"No I was actually admitted there for a few days, I was struck by lightning" Levi doesn't know why he shared that information. Maybe to make his lies more genuine.
"Dear god! And you survived? You're a lucky man" Erwin gives a smile that could fool anyone but Levi has had too much experience with these kind of people and he can tell that Erwin is shadier than he looks.
"Thank you, luckily I was only left with a scar" there's an awkward pause where both men say nothing. Eventually the Commander clears his throat and suddenly looks more professional than before.
"Now down to business. If I could have a quick look at your resume to make sure the job suits your skills. I will also have to do a quick background check to make sure you're not a criminal in disguise." Both men laugh at this but Levi is screaming internally because that's exactly what he is, a criminal in disguise.
Levi hands his resume over the desk and sits in silence as the Commander reads it, nodding in approval every once in a while. When he is satisfied he then moves to his computer to do the background check. Levi is eternally grateful that he learnt how to hack secured websites. He was able to access the local Police database and create his identity and add a few minor speeding tickets to make it look more realistic. He also added the photo that is on his fake drivers licence.
A few minutes pass in silence as the blonde man continues to stare at his computer, with each passing minute Levi is considering more escape options. Finally Erwin looks away from the screen and leans back leisurely in chair.
"Everything looks good Mr church. Just a few more questions and we'll be done."
"Great" Levi deadpans, he doesn't know what else to say.
"You can relax Mr Church, I won't bite"
"I know but I feel your eyebrows might"
There is a still silence and Levi fears he's gone too far with the joke but a second later Erwin bursts out laughing. It's an unexpected reaction but Levi is glad he won't get into trouble before he even gets the job. It takes a good minute for the blonde man to regain his composure.
"You're a funny man. I think we will get along famously."
The rest of the interview goes smoothly after that. Levi however still has his suspicious about the Commander but he has no proof there was foul play involved so he is giving the man the benefit of the doubt.
Levi walks out of the building feeling satisfied that he got the job and he will soon be earning some money, hopefully his true identity won't be found out. Levi finally reaches his black sports car (Thanks to the previous owners of the house) and sits behind the wheel, taking a moment to breathe and remind himself that he's safe and everything went well.
"Sooo… How did it go?" Levi startles at the voice next to him before he realises he forgot that Eren is in the car. Eren had insisted on coming to the interview but on the condition that he stayed in the car, Levi couldn't have an invisible person scare his chances of a job. Eren is bouncing in his seat, waiting for Levi's response.
"It went fine, brat. He was… interesting"
"Interesting how?" Eren inquires while picking at the lining of the seat.
"His first couple of questions were odd and unnecessary, almost like he was testing me to slip up"
"Did he notice any of the fake credentials?" Eren sounds genuinely concerned for Levi that creates warmth in his chest that he tries to ignore.
"No he seemed satisfied with all the information." The car falls silent and Levi has a suspicion that Eren wants to ask something else but is too afraid to. "Alright out with it. I don't want you getting constipated"
"Well… there is something…" suspicion confirmed. "Why have you changed your name and keeping your true identity a secret? I mean I know your first name is really Levi but that's it." The question surprises Levi. He doesn't have an answer. He tries to think of a lie but it doesn't feel right lying to Eren. He also realises that Eren doesn't know his full name, it hasn't come up in conversation so he's never told him. He decides to keep it quiet for now in case he blabs to Mikasa, which will end badly.
"Maybe one day I'll tell you" Levi concludes before starting the car and driving away, trying to concentrate on the road instead of rising emotions from his previous job.
Levi starts his new job the next day. It's a full on job and he is swamped with paper work from day one. He doesn't mind the paperwork or the phone calls he has the answer, but the one thing he hates is the coffee run. Because he is new to the department everyone thinks they can push him around and make him get coffees for everyone. Only a few days into the job and Levi wants to pour coffee over everyone's desk.
It's Levi's third day and he he's running late. He blames Eren entirely. On a normal morning Eren will sit and have breakfast with Levi before he leaves for work, it almost feels domestic. But this morning Eren was nowhere to be seen. Levi looked in every inch of the house but couldn't find the brat. Eventually he had to give up and leave for work only to realise he was running late.
Stumbling into the office, Levi heads straight for his desk that sits outside Erwin's office. Just as he sits down and boots his computer up a figure looms over his desk. He looks up to see Officer Ackerman, looking pissed as always.
"The fuck do you want?" Levi doesn't care if he's talking to police officer, she has been nothing but trouble since the beginning.
"I just wanted to say 'Hi' and to see how you're doing" this is said so sweetly that Levi knows it's meant to be sarcastic.
"Bullshit! What do you really want?"
"Have you seen Eren today?" Levi's stomach sinks. It can't be a coincidence that she asks this question on the one day Eren doesn't show up. If his so-called 'friend' is asking his whereabouts then something is seriously wrong.
"Not yet no" He states "He's probably still sleeping. Why do you ask?" The female officer glares at Levi, figuring out if she believes his words.
"Just wondering" she tries to play it cool "wanted to make sure you haven't murdered him yet"
"Don't worry honey! If I murder him you'll be the first person I tell" the tension in the air is thick as they continue to stare at each other. Eventually officer horse-face steps in and informs his partner that they have a call to attend to. Levi is half grateful for the boy's timing.
For the rest of the day Levi is worried sick about Eren. It's not like the brat to not show up for breakfast. He's usually the first thing he sees in the morning. Now with Mikasa asking about him, it multiplies his worry. Levi wishes the day will go faster so he can get home and find Eren and put his mind at ease but the more he looks at the clock, the more time moves slowly, it becomes agony.
Finally the clock reads 6pm and Levi quickly cleans his desk and heads straight for the door. When he's about to step out the door Erwin calls from behind. It takes every ounce of energy not to scream.
"Oh Levi, leaving so soon? I was hoping you could file a few more documents for me before you go home for the day." The request is simple and won't take long but Levi is seething.
"Sorry Commander… I mean Erwin. My friend just called and said he was sick so I need to go over a make sure he's okay. Don't worry I'll file those documents first thing tomorrow." Not bothering to wait for Erwin's response, he runs out the door and down a flight of stairs to the underground car park where his car sits. Revving the engine he speeds out onto the road, being careful at the same time. All the pent up frustration and anxiety races through Levi's body, everything screaming at him to get home and find Eren. He almost has animalistic instincts guiding him to an injured member of his pack.
Once Levi arrives home he sprints into the house. Levi discovers that finding someone through peripheral vision is a challenging task. He walks around the house sideways, keeping his eyes straight ahead so he can catch a glimpse of the brat. He calls out for Eren as he searches the bottom level of the house, but he also stays quiet to listen out for the bell around Eren's ankle.
With the lower level covered, Levi proceeds upstairs to the bedrooms. When Levi checked earlier in the day Eren's room was empty and his bed was neatly made, it was very unlike Eren to be neat.
Levi reaches the top floor and slows his pace, being careful to keep his eyes straight. He enters the hallway that leads to the guest bedrooms and Eren's bedroom. All of a sudden everything becomes crystal clear and he is hit with an amazing aroma. Like Levi just walked through a soundproof barrier and now he can hear every single noise in the house.
And Dear God the noises send shivers down Levi's spine.
At first they are soft noises, grunting and whimpering, sounding far way. But as Levi edges closer to Eren's bedroom door they grow in volume. Levi instantly knows the noises being made but he can't stop himself from moving closer. Heavy breathing and panting sounds drift into the hallway, causing Levi to freeze just outside the door that is opened ajar.
Levi's whole body is shaking as he hears more moans and whimpers leave the room. Then it hits him like a ton of bricks. He shouldn't be able to hear Eren talk or make noise unless he is in his field of vision. He is now very confused. How can he suddenly hear everything Eren is saying and doing without seeing him? Why must he hear everything at a time like this?
Levi is drawn from his confused thoughts when a loud moan splits the air and it sounds a lot like Levi's name.
"fuuu…. Levi! Ughh… Please Levi…" Eren voice sounds strained and tired, like he's been doing it all day. His moans are sending jolts of pleasure through Levi and it's going straight to his dick. Levi grabs himself through his pants and stifles a gasp at how sensitive it already is, just from listening to Eren. He listens closer and he can now hear the slapping and sliding of what Eren is doing to himself.
Levi's self-restraint shrivels up completely at the gasp of his name, he can't take the suspense any longer, and he needs to see Eren now. Turning his head to peek through the crack, Levi shifts his eyes to the side so he can see through his peripheral vision only he doesn't need to. Eren comes into full focus while Levi looks directly at him and he nearly faints at the sight.
This is the first time Levi gets to have a proper look at Eren, to study his face, to learn all his features but all he can focus on is the sweating, panting mess of a boy as he fucks himself. Eren is void of all clothes, lying in the middle of his unmade bed, pumping his cock vigorously while sliding two fingers in and out of his entrance. The angle looks a little awkward but Eren looks like he's in absolute ecstasy, the way his hips thrust into his hand and increasing the rhythm.
Levi continues to stare at the boy, mouth hanging open as he watches the erotic display. He knows he should turn away and stop watching but he's rooted in the ground. His hand is still clutching his dick through his pants and he fears that if he lets go he might come straight away. He knows this is a once in a lifetime chance to memorise Eren's face but he can't bring himself to tear his eyes away from the boys' glorious cock.
Eren abruptly slows his pace, focusing his hand on the head of his cock, teasing the slit and twisting his wrist, drawing more lewd sounds from his mouth. The fingers in his entrance slowly grind and thrust, covering them further in a clear slick that seems to be coming from Eren, it certainly isn't lube. Levi finally begins to rub his cock in time with Eren's thrusts, imagining it was his dick inside Eren. He keeps his moans as silent as possible to make sure he isn't found out, biting his lower lip hard.
Eren's movements speed up again and with more vigour, his hand moving wildly up and down while his other hand thrust deeply and he adds a third finger as well. Levi increases the pace of his rubbing without realising, he notices that Eren's whole body shimmers with a layer of sweat, like he's been doing this for hours and he can tell by Eren's facial expression that he is exhausted. The boy hardens his expression unexpectedly and flips his body over so his face his pressed into the pillows and his beautiful ass is in the air. Levi sees this as the ultimate invitation to satisfy the boy himself but he holds himself back with great effort.
This new position allows Levi to see more and it looks a lot more comfortable for Eren. Eren continues to pant and moan into the pillows, occasionally gasping Levi's name, which sends fresh waves of arousal through Levi. He can tell Eren is close to climaxing as his legs begin to shake with effort and his movements become erratic, desperately trying to find relief.
"Leevviiii… Fuck! Please Levi!" Eren cries as his fingers hit his prostate, sending the boy over the edge. He moans loudly as he comes hard all over the bed and hand, body flinching as he continues to ride his orgasm out. Levi feels in orgasm burning in his groin and he quickly shoves his hand inside his pants and grips the base of his cock, effectively stopping him from coming. He bends over to try and regain his breath, his body vibrating with unsatisfied arousal. He can hear Eren panting heavily as he recovers and Levi knows this is his time to exit. Before he moves he catches one last glimpse of Eren's face, flushed from exertion but his eyes capture his attention. The green and gold swirls are hypnotising and Levi commits the image to memory, hoping he will see those eyes again.
With great effort Levi stands straight and walks towards his bedroom, still holding his dick for fear of dirtying his pants. He darts straight for his bed, shedding his tie and button up shirt on the floor. Crawling onto the bed as he makes quick work of undoing his pants, unzipping them enough to reach in and free his aching cock. He sighs happily at the freedom and swipes a drop of a pre-come from the tip, hissing at the pleasure and sensitivity.
"Fuck!" Levi curses as he starts to slowly pump, his cock twitching with every swipe. Levi knows he won't last much longer as he was close to the edge a few minutes ago. He groans and bits his lip, trying hard to stay silent as he pumps faster. With his other hand he reaches down to massage his balls, heightening his pleasure further. The image of Eren in a similar position moments ago springs into Levi's mind and sends him over the edge, his back bowing off the bed, come spurting over his stomach and chest. Eren's name falling from his lips.
Breathing heavily, Levi slowly comes down from his high, trying to regain some strength to clean the disgusting mess he made. It's been a long while since Levi has found time to pleasure himself so he's not surprised he didn't last long nor has any energy left. With a groan, he reaches over to his nightstand and grabs some tissues, quickly ridding himself of evidence. Levi's brain finally catches up and a wave of regret and self-loathing crashes over him.
He can't believe he wanked off to the thought of a kid. Shit! Does that make me a paedophile he thinks. Even though he has no idea how old Eren is, he still feels dirty for it.
He's totally fucked.
While Levi is having an internal crisis, he doesn't notice Eren lurking by the door. Having just watched the display Levi put on, Eren overjoyed that he has such a big effect on the older man. Feeling a fresh wave of desire course through him, he creeps back to his room and uses the new images Levi provided to alleviate his growing arousal.