Hei-chan
Chapter 3: Flower Bud
Chapter Summary:
Eren and Hei-chan slept comfortably on the same bed, while Levi was attacked by his thoughts causing temporary insomnia. By morning, another shocking event ensues
Notes below
Carrying Hei-chan, Eren maneuvered his way down the dungeon carrying a small lamp to light their way. Hei-chan was clinging to Eren ever so tightly and slightly shaking while he hides his face at the nook of Eren's neck, surprised at how fearful he is at the dark he tries to comfort the other
"Hei-chan, is it possible that you're a bit scared?" he gently whispered, no response. "You know what, if Hei-chan is scared of the dark, then he is also brave. Hei-chan is brave because despite being scared of the dark, you still went down with me, I'm very proud and thankful you're here with me, Hei-chan~" hearing Eren's words, Hei-chan finally looked up and pouted "I'll always be with Eren...because Eren will cook for me" a slight blush crept up on Eren's face reminiscing the event that happened in the kitchen
Seriously, how many times did this little guy made him blush in a single day? And he noticed how affectionate Hei-chan was getting. Eren mentally patted his back for a huge development. Hei-chan really warmed up to him. And then he thought. If only I could be the same for Levi Heichou...
He was fully aware that he liked Heichou, more than admiration and respect, he loved him. He never knew when it started but he just realized that he really loved the older man. The way he saved him from the titan that was about to devour him and Armin, the time at the court, despite the blows he received it still bore into his mind that he did it to save his pitiful ass from being blown to bits. The look he gave when they were heading to this castle, the way he comforts him after receiving hateful remarks from the team, the way he defended him, facing him with his back completely vulnerable. "I thought he was going to be yelling at me, to calm myself down probably thinking I was going berserk.. but no, it was the squad he was referring to.. not me.. He would go that far for me, a new meat that people find as troublesome.." Oh how he hoped that Levi felt something for him, he hoped with all his heart- that they would somehow share the same heartache of longing, he yearned for Levi's love
His thoughts trailed off as they finally reached the dungeon, surprised on how neat it was, fully cleaned, even the sheets were looking brand new and it wasn't a single sized bed, it was a queen sized one now. It was very convenient at that, if they have decided to let Eren babysit Hei-chan, then it wouldn't be enough to sleep on a single sized bed if they didn't want Hei-chan to be squashed.
Eren put Hei-chan down and proceeded to light a big candle that properly lit the whole room. He placed the candle on a long tray filled with water, just in case it fell to prevent any accidental fire, planning to let it lit open until it melts away or let Hei-chan sleep first so he wouldn't be scared.
Going back to face the other, Eren looked at Hei-chan his eyes very much awake his expression gave way for much curiousity.
"It's time for bed Hei-chan, are you comfortable sleeping with me tonight?" Eren gave his motherly smile at the young Levi which only responded blatantly with a-
"yes, but I don't feel sleepy yet" despite saying so he was already snuggled up on the middle of the bed, oddly tucked in neatly, Eren blushed at it's preciousness
"haha.. you say that, but you look like you're so ready for bed young mister"
"Eren... tell me a story, so I may possibly bore myself to sleep"
"you are still Heichou afterall" surprised at the vague insult he thought to himself that it was still Levi, only more smaller than usual
rummaging through the old chest that was beside the bed only to find nothing, he went for the cabinet that was located just across the room. Opening the compartments in search of a book to read, fanning his way through the dusty mist as he opened them
"hmm... let's see. What do we have here? AH-!" spotting a familiar cover, he pulled out a big brown leather book much to his extreme excitement the first time he saw it, it was the exact same book that Armin got from his grandfather, the forbidden book of the outside world!
Before heading beside Hei-chan to sit on the edge of the bed, he wiped the cover with a damp towel just clean enough for the approval of the little clean freak avoiding any dismay and a sneezy Hei-chan
Eren sat himself comfortably on the bed the book in hand. Opening the pages ever so slowly as if something was going to pop out from within, he flipped the pages on the one that he wanted to see the most. The Ocean.
Hei-chan gave a questioning look at Eren which looked very excited and ecstatic from the book he found and tilted his head to the side to get a closer look on the book that Eren held
"Eren, what's that?" he gave a curious stare
"Hei-chan, when I was younger a friend of mine had the exact same book, this was a forbidden book that was labeled as taboo and was sworn to never be read or seen again, but here it is! An exact copy!, Oh man! I missed this!" he said with much enthusiasm
"But it being forbidden, aren't you doing a bad thing by looking at it Eren?" pouting as he gave Eren a warning glare
Seeing this, he only patted Hei-chan's head and smiled mischievously "It's okay as long as we keep it secret! okay?" also giving Hei-chan a wink
"You know, my friend Armin and I have read that there is a vast body of water outside the walls! It is also salty, salt was made from it too. Someday we'll get there, we'll be free from these walls, and when that time comes we'll have some salt to season your meals everyday! it will be much much much more delicious especially if I'm making it for Hei-chan!" he smiled
"Really?! I thought it was delicious already, but it can be more delicious than that?! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go beyond the wall together Eren!" Eren was really surprised from Hei-chan's energy and his enthusiasm about his food, he was so different from Levi Heichou, but he figured that it was better off that way, a child with no worries nor fear from the world. He'd protect this precious life, even if it would mean sacrificing himself. But at the back of his mind, he wondered what could have made Levi Heichou so near yet so distant from others, why was he such a big mystery despite being Humanity's Strongest
"Of course!, we will all go together beyond the walls someday and Hei-chan will eat plenty so he can grow bigger and taller than me!" Eren chuckled as he opened the book wide enough to let the other see clearly, trying to pus the fact that he made a height joke about Levi Heichou
Heichan scooted closer to Eren messing up the neatly tucked blanket into a pile of cluttered cloth trying to climb into the other to get the closest view possible. Eren noticing his adorable attempt to take on a better view, he climbed the bed instead and was now sitting, Hei-chan on his lap giving him the best seat and the best view of the book.
Flipping along the pages one by one they viewed images of the outside world with Eren reminiscing this moment when Armin showed it to him, the excitement, the curiosity and the sense of purpose came flowing through him with new vigor to unfold the mysteries of the titans especially now that he just made a promise to the little lump of precious sitting against his lap.
Hei-chan was marveled at the stories Eren told him, the wonders of the world bundled up in one book, information was flowing like a river to his young heart. He wanted to see them all too, the river of fire, the land of ice, there was probably more. He wanted to witness them all, but in his heart he knew what kind of reality was waiting for him
As they continue to flip the pages, Eren noticed a chapter in which Armin and him never encountered in the past, it was titled as "The Meaning of Flowers"
"The meaning of flowers huh?" thinking back from the moment at the garden, he remembered giving Hei-chan a daisy and in return got a white rose, looking at the chart of flowers and their meaning from the book he glided a finger on the page in search of the said names from the list
"Daisies means innocence and a white rose is purity" he breathed, a gentle smile carving his lips as he noticed how it was both so coincidentally synonymous with each other and the meaning was perfect for the kid, he was beautifully innocent
"I didn't know flowers had meanings too... How does people thought of these things" Hei-chan said as he stared at the long list amazed at how many varieties of flowers there were
"I guess on how it looks? or maybe how it makes people feel. When Hei-chan gave me that rose, I was really happy you know, thank you so much"
"I was really happy too! thank you!" Eren was pleased on how happy he made him
I wonder where they went though...
Eren fought back a yawn, much to his dismay they needed to get some sleep. Looking at the grandfather clock which was oddly working still read 1:30 am, how he wished it was just faulty or defective because it was so damned late!
Looking at Hei-chan, he seemed to be the only one who was still wide awake, no trace of sleepiness evident on his large smokey eyes.
"Hei-chan, it's time to sleep~" he yawned not even bothering to fight it this time
"What? but I'm not sleepy yet..." he said as he once again pouted in objection
"But Hei-chan it's pretty late and we have work tomorrow, aren't you excited for breakfast?" he teased
"aww... but I still wanted to know more!"
"We can read through it again tomorrow, okay?"
"d'aww fine... but promise me you'll make my breakfast later, okay?" he lit up
"Of course! I promised didn't I?" smiling as he slowly closed the book and placed it on the desk next to him, then shifted their position so Hei-chan was beside the desk and he was positioned on the other side.
Pulling up the blankets and tucking Hei-chan neatly again they faced one another giving a greeting of a promised pleasant night
"Goodnight, Eren" Hei-chan said as he playfully poked Eren's nose for an unknown reason making Eren blush a deep scarlet at the sudden contact
"G-g-g-g-goodnight! Hei-chan!" he managed to say and being startled at the same time. He gave a quick kiss on Hei-chan's forehead affectionately before his eyes turned heavy lidded and eventually fell into deep sleep
Muffled noises was heard at the same room a little later that night
It was true that he was proclaimed as Humanity's Strongest but his principle still stands. He was concerned for the faith of humanity and if those worthless shrimps of a soldier haven't got the guts to sacrifice themselves in the battle for survival then fuck it, Levi will be the one standing on the front lines defending it, even if it means including the little shitty cowards along the list even if sacrificing his own flesh on the line.
It might not seem like it but Levi treated everyone equally with the consideration of the higher ups of course until Eren came in
A pair of lids shot open revealing two smokey orbs of frozen ice belonging to Levi who had failed the attempt to fall asleep for the fifth time tonight. Shifting his head to the side of the bed to get a view of the clock, it read 1:30 am, followed by a chain of curses mumbled by the man lying on his luxury bed
Levi has been struggling to get some sleep, aside from the loud snoring being heard from the next room belonging to Hanji there was another thing that was bothering him making it impossible for him to sleep at the moment
Other than the familiar pang on the left side of his chest, the difficulty in breathing and the building lump on his throat was the thought of actually liking someone, a certain shitty little brat
but he couldn't believe it, when did it happen? How come he hasn't realized sooner so he could have avoided it. There was still shittons of decent bastards who could have vouched for Eren other than Levi himself, but then again he thought...
Levi witnessed it himself, the determination and the blood-lust evident on Eren's eyes screamed at him, that face he made grabbed his attention in an instant, he found it oddly in worth of interest. A titan shifter giving his heart and body for the alliance of humanity was a risk, but it was a rick they just HAD to take.
For a moment, he felt as if other than Erwin himself, the person who can understand him the most was Eren, and as much as he hoped the kid understood him back.
Being Humanity's Strongest meant he shouldered all the weight of Humanity's hopes for freedom and this is where Eren comes in. Eren was proclaimed Humanity's last hope. The titles were like a match made in heaven. But jokes aside, a fifteen year old brat shouldering the weight of humanity's hope against his shoulders. Being as bad-assed as it is, he deserved respect, honor and equality among the rest, not treated like a monster. He was willing to sacrifice himself and offer his ability to those fucktards and what do they fucking want to do? Blow his head off. They shared the same responsibilities, and Levi knows that he understands his inside insecurities together with what it feels to carry the burden of the world
He was the ONLY one who could do it, although never intending to fall in love with the boy, his quick heartbeat desperately begged to differ
Levi sat up giving up on his attempts to sleep as his mind bombarded him with thoughts about the young lad sleeping below at the dungeon. Swinging his left leg to the other side found it's way to the other both slipped through a pair of old slippers as Levi stood up and gave a quick stretch. Looking at the clock again it read 2:00 am, guess he wasn't going to be sleeping too soon tonight.
Picking up his lamp he had desided that he could grab a glass of water and maybe grab some leftover bread would accompany him with his thoughts he went down the stairs and headed out to the kitchen
But before he could realize it himself, he was at the dungeon face to face with Eren's room door
"How the fuck did I get here?" Levi's sweat dropped from the side of his face, confused on how his legs manage to drag him here instead of his hands grabbing some midnight snack.
"This is insane, I'm going back" he breathed denying the fact of his embarrassment and his nervousness, he turned to face the other side only to turn again and faced Eren's door
"Guh... why is it that I can't be my normal self when you're around..." he breathed leaning his forehead against the wooden door beforeopening it ever so slowly to prevent any noise from being emitted from the old iron hinges.
His eyes lit up as he witnessed the person of his just-realized-affections sleeping ever so peacefully, shoving out the jealousy he felt as he embraced his little self around his arms
"sly little bastard" he glared at his little self as he slowly entered the room and approached the pair
Taking his time looking around the room, he found the candle still lit open only half way to burning all out, trying his best to calm his nerves before he yelled and kick the person who was responsible and waking up the whole squad at 2 am, the cabinets partly open providing evidence that it was recently used made his curiosity bloom which made him search the room for the reason behind.
Looking closer to the desk he found a large book bound in leather, picking up the dusty object he took the hint that they were reading this tonight. Taking interest, Levi opened it at a visible fold and read the contents only shock evident on his face as he encountered something peculiar within.
"Eren~ It's time to get up and make breakfast, hurry up or else Levi Heichou will get mad!" Petra gleefully announced from the top of the stairs not bothering to go down to wake up the pair and proceeded to head up again
Eren awoke upon hearing the call, he sat up stretching his arms over his head as he heard the faint disappearing footsteps of his superior
Scratching at his torso with his right hand and wiping his eyes with the other, he made an audible yawn that echoed through the room as he shook his leftover sleepiness away
Looking at the clock it read 6:00 am, it was almost time for breakfast and he hasn't still manage to get up from bed, especially for the fact that it was his turn for kitchen duty
Eren stumbled to get up and wry himself free from the bounds and comfort of the blanket that was enveloping him making a pile of blanket mess, he turned to see a miniature mountain being visible across him and he knew who was down beneath
"Hei-chan, it's time to get up! We need to fix the bed or else Levi heichou will scold us." he said as he shook Hei-chan from under the blanket
"Hrmm..." Hei-chan moaned, objection audible from his voice as his hand swept Eren's away.
"His hands seem... huh? bigger?" Eren thought but brushed the thought away because it would be too impossible and decided that maybe he was still a bit off since he just woken up himself. Looking at the clock again it was ticking away quite fast and found out that it was already 6:15!
"Come on Hei-chan you really need to get up!" Eren panicked and without thinking took off the cover that was enveloping Hei-chan only to find a boy probably looking to the age of seven curling up to a ball, a pillow against his chest
Eren backed away in an instant and didn't know what to do
"wait...wait... am I dreaming?!" he said panic stricken and unconsciously rubbed his eyes again in attempts to fully adjust and make sure he was awake, in an also desperate attempt he lightly pinched himself but the person who had started to shift against the bed sat up and looked at him with confusion written all over his face
"Eren? what's wrong?" Hei-chan said with worry as he looked at the flustered teen on the side of the bed clearly hyperventilating
"EH?! Hei-chan!?... y-y-y-y- YOU GREW!?" Eren shrieked and fainted
END NOTES:
Aaaaaaaaaaand aaahh... finally, the update! So sorry for the wait!
Saw your reviews guys, so sorry about that D:
I just wanted to update as soon as possible and thought of giving you a tinnie trailer glimpse on what was about to happen, I didn't mean to break anybody's hearts ; A ;
Thank you for those who gave time to leave reviews for my work, like seriously I love it when you wonderful people do that, it makes me cry ;/u/;
And I am also shocked at how the amount of views skyrocketed to the heavens on a single day, I wasn't used to that and it felt wonderful ahhh...
and I just had to say this, due to the nearing next semester, I will update Hei-chan and finish it first before updating SNK HS AU ( I have really big plans for this ).. I can't seem to find the time for them both and my mind gets all jumbled, I'm so sorry but will try my best to update ASAP!
Again! Thank you for the support. Seriously, I love you guys, especially the Ereri fandom
If you would like to have more on those fluffy darlings look up my tumblr account, I always reblog Ereri stuff there :D
Shamfully Promotes my Tumblr name aahhh: Pooptartz
NEXT CHAPTER: working on it right nao.. dunno if update tonight or tomorrow :D
Personal note: I cracked up when I let Eren faint -slaps self-