A/N: Hey guys~! So I know I said this would be out last week (I'm one day off fheiwahgfewio), but things came up. AKA my car breaking down, laptop may have a virus, starting full time work. This was finished Thursday, but life is what happens when you're busy making other plans. ^^' Anyway, I hope you enjoy this new chapter! Not much to say on it.

Except this... Actually I didn't have anything to say. I'm just drawing attention away from the story to create anticipation, because it'll slowly drive you into madness. :3

Enjoy!

-Misty

The Change You Wish to See

(Original summary, but screw the stupid character limits) Levi's never put much care into things. He doesn't put much care into things at all. Nothing ever peaks his interest. Well, that's until he meets Eren Jaeger. Levi isn't sure what it is that's so interesting about him, and it irritates him to feel these feelings he's never felt before. Regardless, he goes to talk to the boy. When he doesn't receive an answer, he just thinks that the boy is rude; however, he understands why when Eren doesn't answer him. Eren is deaf.

Rated M for sexual content, adult language, some violence, mild character death
Main pairing: Riren with some side pairs
Anime: Shingeki No Kyojin (Attack on Titan)

Chapter Twenty: Wake Up

Levi couldn't remember a time when he felt like he'd had a good night's sleep. If his memory served him well, and it usually didn't, the last time he felt so well rested was when he was a kid still living in France.

Years and years had gone by since the last time he had opened his eyes, feeling refreshed and relaxed like he was now. It had been a long time since he had bothered a glance at a clock and not groaned at seeing the numbers glowing on the screen. Seeing the sun peeking into the room through the door was actually welcomed for once. Hearing a bustling life outside wasn't as annoying as it usually was.

Was this what it was like to be in a "good mood?"

Levi sighed as he shifted, feeling the warmth of Eren's back pressed firmly against his chest. His arm was probably a better pillow than the ones they had, so Levi didn't say anything or make any complaints about Eren's head tucked away against his forearm, blankets tucked under his chin and self-awareness so far away right now.

He looked so peaceful like this. So cute, adorable, and innocent. Levi was sure he had never thought this way about anyone apart from a few respected people, which begged the question. Just what has this kid done to him?

He hated the idea of soon getting up and moving. They would both have to wake up and go their separate ways soon enough, lest they fear the wrath of his adopted sister. He hated to think that he'd even have to drop him off at home and see him on another day. Soon enough, the store would be closed. Their excuses would be dates, but would Mikasa allow that? She was fine with Eren working, but dating didn't seem to be in her dictionary.

He couldn't really worry about that right now. At least not for the time being. When the time came, it came. There was no stopping it. He'd just have to suck it up.

Or he could just focus on the beautiful brunette still sleeping in a peaceful world.

"Eren," He mused softly and kissed at the crown of his head. Eren didn't budge; not even a little flinch took over on his facial features. He was out cold, and maybe that was for the best. Let him sleep a little longer in a peaceful world. It was probably ten times better in his dreams instead of the living hell they faced in reality.

Levi was careful to lift his arm without jostling the teen awake. He moved his slightly numb limb and carefully set his head back down on his deflated pillow, watching to see any signals that would show the teen waking up. However, he was just as asleep now as he was before. When he was free and sure he couldn't wake him up with a sudden jolt of his body, Levi slowly scooted out of bed, careful not to lift the sheets up high enough to let in the cool air.

Swinging his feet over the edge of the bed, Levi lifted his arms over his head stretched out the slightly stiff muscles in his body, most residing in his lower back. Yeah, he was sore, but not as much as he thought he would be. It wasn't like he couldn't handle a little bit of it either. His back popped in just the right places and it felt good to have his muscles stretching with a light burn. He moved to stand, but it only took a little pressure on his leg to suddenly have him crumbling to the floor.

Levi covered his mouth to muffle the better part of a scream, the pain in his leg surging through his back and the rest of his body. Why he tried to cover it up, he wasn't sure. Eren wouldn't have heard him regardless, but knowing the teen, he'd probably feel the vibrations of it through the bed.

"Fuck..." Levi hissed and grabbed at the side of the desk.

That wasn't good. It wasn't good at all. This wasn't like yesterday when he could put weight on his leg. Now he couldn't put anything on it without feeling like his bones were snapping apart. Something wasn't right in his leg anymore. Whether something was broken or not he didn't know, but he knew he couldn't hide this from Eren.

He'd have to suffer a trip to the hospital and a couple thousand dollars on X-rays, medicine, and treatment. Hell, if this was that bad, he might need physical therapy, and what bad timing it was to need that. He could barely afford the bills he had, and with the reminder of his quick unemployment looming over his head, he knew he'd be in deep shit.

Levi looked over his shoulder to check on Eren, but the teen hadn't moved. Gathering up his strength and enough air in his lungs to hold onto, Levi pulled himself up by the edge of the desk and held his weight against the wooden surface. His leg was already recoiling, and looking down at his leg, he saw that the dark blue and yellow colors that had been there last night had darkened to sickening shades, painful just to even look at.

Whatever he had done was now seriously damaged and possibly infected. This was scary to look at, even for himself. He might even need to go to the emergency room, because who knew how bad this really was? Something could be broken or out of place under his skin and he wouldn't even know it.

He wanted to wait though. He at least needed to wait until Eren was home. He could hold out for another hour or so, couldn't he? He couldn't worry the poor brat after all.

Levi looked hurriedly for his pants, which, to his unfortunate pleasure, were across the room. When had they gotten over there? He used the desk to hobble over to them, and when he got them, he used the edge of the bed to sit down and somehow get them on.

Just the slide of his underwear and pants along his bruised skin hurt. How was he even supposed to drive like this? Eren said he knew how to drive, didn't he?

No, no. Don't worry him. Handle this himself.

Levi got his pants on after a few frantic attempts. His shirt was next, but that wasn't hard at all. The sweater wasn't any problem either. Now where had his phone gone? Last he saw it, he had it as a light source last night when the power had gone out.

The older man was careful to search in the blankets for it. He found it hidden under his pillow, but like his leg, it was dead and useless.

Figures. He had left the light on to help Eren sleep, even though he knew that it would kill the battery. He just hoped there would be some shred of light on his slowly dwindling luck, but he guessed not.

Eren's phone was in his own pants pocket, and the first light of luck shined for him today. Or rather, the light of his phone. It was on with only forty-three percent of its battery life left. That was just enough to contact his siblings and let them know they were alright, and then, if there was an emergency, it was alive for that.

Levi's eyes trailed across the screen, only to notice a new message. His first thought was Mikasa; she was probably losing her mind not hearing from him yet. It wasn't her, however, but Hanji, and the message had been from last night.

Message from: Hanji

Received at: 9:06 p.m.

"I'm home safe, honey! I sent a message to Levi, but he's not answering his phone, per the usual. Sleep well, and I'll see you at work tomorrow!"

That was all that had been left from her. Levi rolled his eyes, figuring as much. It wasn't like he could answer her anyway. Not until his phone was plugged in, and lord knows how long that would take.

Levi quickly started searching for Armin's number. He figured it'd be safer to message him, and, if all was well there, the messages would be quick exchanges and that would be it.

That was if all was well.

It sounded like Eren had never really spent much time away from his family. With the hell he had to go through to get him working? Oh, something told him Eren hadn't spent a night away from them before.

Mikasa must have been losing it, and Armin must have been doing damage control. Armin was a smart kid and he seemed to know how to work her, or at least to calm her down. If it weren't for him, she'd probably be calling right now, and there would probably be sixty missed calls already.

He had to remember to get Armin something nice sometime soon. It'd only be right.

Levi's eyes found the most recent texts from Armin, eyes looking over the previous sentence from him. Curiosity seemed to peak his interest, however. He wasn't really one to go through personal things; he wasn't a snoop or a child, but whatever it was that had been seen from the corner of his eyes had him scrolling to find the oldest part of Eren and Armin's conversation. Whatever it was pulling at his curiosity had his eyes reading over lines to walls of texts, which had been sent only a few days prior.

11:34 p.m

"It's different. It's scary. I've only ever loved family before in my life. I love you and Mikasa, but this... This isn't the same. It's such a big difference and it's asking for more in a relationship than I know how to handle..."

11:35 p.m

"I know it's scary. Relationships can be. Someone else suddenly knows us as well as we do and they are there to be in our lives for a majority of the time. It's a big change, even more so the deeper they get into it."

11:36 p.m

"It can be a good thing though! It can be new and exciting just as much as it is terrifying. It's a whole new experience and you should really try having fun with it while it's there."

11:44 p.m

"Eren, did you fall asleep?"

There was a long gap in between Eren's first text message and his newest one. This either indicated that something had pulled his attention away or that he was thinking very hard about the answer.

11:45 p.m

"But I think I'm ready for this..."

Armin's response came quick.

11:45 p.m

"Ready for it how?

11:46 p.m.

"I mean I constantly begged for something different, something to change my world so it wasn't so boring. In comes Levi out of the blue, knocking me out of a chair and cussing me out. He's apathetic, he's cold, he's distant, he's nothing like me and we don't have a lot in common to begin with..."

Levi felt his heart sink as he read over the words.

11:47 p.m.

"But despite all of that, here I am now saying I'm in love with him. Those rare smiles, the way he holds me and looks at me. I'm constantly lost in his eyes... God, Armin. It sounds like some sappy romance plot and yet I feel like I'm living it. I feel like a girl constantly thinking of him the way I do, but I can't stop! He's always on my mind and being near him isn't just something to occupy my time."

11:48 p.m.

"It isn't enough time for me when I'm with him. I don't want to leave his side anymore..."

11:49 p.m

"You're right. You do sound like a girl.

11:49 p.m

"Fuck you, Armin."

11:50 p.m

"Eren. That was a joke... Partially. It's not a bad thing to feel this way. You aren't a girl either. You're just suffering from being in love, and that's not a bad thing. I envy you honestly, Eren

11:51 p.m

"We don't find true love often, and if you've found it, don't let it go. Don't let go of him if you really feel this way. If you do you'll regret it entirely, so don't get scared away by this."

11:51 p.m

"How could I? Even when I'm scared and worrying over things, he's right beside me making me forget about it. I don't have time to worry about this when I'm with him."

11:51 p.m

"Too much information, Eren."

11:52 p.m

"Shut up, Armin! I didn't mean it like that! I'm still a blushing virgin, if you must know!"

11:52 p.m

"No, I don-... Wait, seriously? You two haven't done it yet? How...? I've seen the way you make out with him. That's serious sexual tension that can cause an awkward silence in the room."

11:53 p.m

"So is the way you jack off when you're in the shower, but I don't say anything about that!"

11:53 p.m

"Eren, I don't-!"

Levi stopped reading there.

He probably shouldn't have read that last bit. Hell, he shouldn't have read any of it. He shouldn't have been going through Eren's text messages to begin with, but it was just curiosity.

After reading it, however, a lot had been brought to light that he hadn't put into perspective until last night.

Eren really was in love with him. He cared for him far more than Levi thought he did. How could he not see it before? After all, Levi had done this much for him already. While it didn't mean much to him, it must have spoken volumes to the brat.

His brat.

Yeah, Eren was his. In more ways than one. He really did love him, and just as Armin suggested, he wasn't going to let him go.

As if he could. Realizing it now, Levi understood that it wouldn't happen. They'd tried that once already and it hadn't worked out in their best interest. Or maybe that was their best interest. Staying together was all that could happen now.

Saying goodbye was a far cry away.

'Those rare smiles. The way he holds me and looks at me. I'm constantly lost in his eyes...'

Levi must have been as distant as Eren spoke of. How could he not notice the way he made Eren feel? He was stupid, or rather, he was just in love and blind.

"I'm a fucking idiot..." Levi called himself. He didn't know why he bothered to whisper; whether Eren was awake or not didn't matter. He wouldn't have heard him anyway.

Levi's fingers grazed the screen to close out Armin's messages. He shouldn't have been looking through them anyway, because the saying curiosity killed the cat applied to this moment. Now he couldn't get the mental imagine of Armin in the shower out of his head.

It made sense, didn't it? He was human after all, another teenage boy among the rest. He worked and had school, and that was a lot of stress. Sometimes a release helped pull tension off of the shoulders, so it wasn't a bad thing...

Yeah, he needed to evacuate the gutter immediately. If he thought too much about it, some images would be permanently ingrained into his head forever, and he didn't want that.

Levi looked through previous messages until he found something from Mikasa. He would just text her, and if she was awake, then it would be a quick reply. If not, and she was a light sleeper, it was just another reason for her to have something against him.

Levi pushed himself against the wall and leaned against his bad leg. It wasn't an unbelievably torturous pain, but it still hurt like hell. The pain was more than likely caused by the excessive use last night, and then leaving it to sit for more than eight hours. If he could get it working, then maybe he could avoid a visit to the hospital.

The older man hobbled his way out of the room and into the store, finding it colder in there than he had in the other room. He wobbled to the windows and looked out past the curtains, finding the roads now clear of snow. His car, however, was buried, and the sidewalks were in no better condition. This wasn't going to be easy to get through, with or without his leg, but he could manage.

With that in mind, Levi began typing out a message for Mikasa.

Draft

Written at: 8:15 a.m

"Good morning. This is Levi. Eren's still out cold, but we're both okay. The roads look better, so when he wakes u-"

Levi's message was suddenly canceled out by an incoming call. Speak of the devil and the devil shall appear, or rather, she would call. Mikasa must have known he was texting or something.

"Hello...?" Levi answered the call.

"Hi Levi..." That wasn't Mikasa.

"Oh, Armin." Levi said. "I didn't expect you to be on the end of Mikasa's phone."

"I couldn't find mine, and hers was right here, so I just used hers for now." Armin explained quietly.

"Right. Well I was just about to text her. Eren is still out like a light, so I didn't want to wake him up yet. The roads are looking better though, so when he's up and moving we'll come back."

"Sounds good." Levi could hear Armin walking around, probably leaving the room so he wouldn't make too much sound.

"Is everything okay there?" He asked.

"Yeah. Power went in and out a few times here, but it stayed on for most of the night." Armin said, followed by a tired yawn. "Thankfully it was on this morning too or we'd be freezing our butts off..."

"And how's Mikasa doing?"

"She's still sleeping. It's not often when Mikasa can sleep in." There was a light chuckle in Armin's voice as he spoke.

"I bet. When I bring Eren back, want me to bring anything over for breakfast? There's a fast food place right down the street, and looking at it now..." Levi peeked past the closed curtains again to look outside. The sun was bright and reflecting off of the fresh snow, but the streets were once again busy like the storm had never happened. "It seems they're open."

"You don't have to do that. I wouldn't want you wasting your money on us."

"It wouldn't be a waste. Besides, it'll save you some effort in cooking."

"Well... If you really don't mind..."

"Not at all. Text Eren's phone since mine is dead and put down what you two want for breakfast. I'll go over and get it before he wakes up. I figured he could sleep a little longer."

"Sure, that'd be great. Thank you, Levi."

"It's not a problem, Armin. See you guys later."

"Yep," And with that, the other line lost connection. Levi sighed as he leaned against the wall, eyes staring at the space around him, soon to be empty.

The boxes had already been laid out, books were already being stored, and the shelves were presently growing emptier. Soon enough, it would all be gone. Every bit of his life here, boring memories, but memories nonetheless, would be just that. Memories.

This meant that his time well spent with Eren was soon drawing to a close. It wasn't permanent, but he had grown very fond of the hectic style his life had become since Eren came around. Granted, it was loud and obnoxious mostly because of Hanji, but Eren added what needed to be there to make it enjoyable and less annoying.

What were they going to do? Levi probably could and would find a job shortly. It would be nothing like this (he wasn't that lucky), but it would be something. If he was even remotely lucky, it'd pay better than what he got now.

What about Eren though? There really weren't many jobs offered to people with a lack of hearing, such as himself. Even while going to college online, while his degree was in business, what could he do with it? Not much when people weren't understanding enough to help him get a job.

No one would go that far for him. People wouldn't pick up sign language, and they wouldn't wait for him to write out his responses in a notebook. They weren't patient enough, and time was money in the adult world. It kept everything moving, so they couldn't have one person slow them down and hold them back.

It was understandable, and yet so unfair. The world was so cruel, and Levi knew it. He just didn't see it how Eren saw it.

This would all be over soon enough. He'd have to figure out a way to see Eren, to help him. He wasn't going to treat him like a charity case (He knew how much Eren detested that), but he wasn't going to let his boyfriend rot away in his room like was before. That wasn't right no matter how one looked at it.

Levi sighed again as he carefully pushed himself off of the wall. There was no use in worrying about it. Things happened and changed against anyone's will. He wasn't the first for it to happen to, and he wouldn't be the last. All he could do was enjoy the time he had with Eren now while he had it, and later down the road, he'd think of something.

He'd gotten this far into this "relationship" with Eren. He wasn't going to back out now, even if he wanted to.

Just as he began slowly making his way back to the office, the phone in his hand buzzed. He checked it quickly, seeing a text from Mikasa's phone, most likely from Armin, of the things the two of them wanted. Armin knew of the place down the street after visiting the store so many times with Eren, so he was aware of their menu. Levi quietly nodded his head before getting back to the office at his own pace and quietly pulling on his boots.

Before leaving, Levi wrote out a note and set it on the pillow beside Eren's head. He left his phone beside him too, making sure Eren would know where he was going if he woke up before he got back. If there were an emergency, he'd need his phone after all. Of course Levi didn't plan on being gone for that long.

Just before he walked out of the room, Levi turned back to look at the peaceful boy slumbering. He moved back to cover him with the sheet, making sure to tuck him in and keep him as warm as the thin sheet could provide. He kissed his forehead softly, feeling Eren's body shift with a heavy breath, almost as if he were sighing in relief in his sleep. That wasn't a possible thing though, was it?

Levi decided to ignore the idea and left. His leg was finally warming up. The muscles were loosening up from the long night of relaxation, and he found that to be working in his favor. It still hurt like a son of a bitch, but it didn't render him on the ground in pain within seconds.

He could do this. He just needed to work his leg lightly and breathe through the soreness and pain.

After getting outside, Levi saw the snow plows going through the streets again, with the addition of men going by with snow blowers. They were the men who generally did this for the city, so it was a relief to see them making paths in front of his store.

Of course that meant his car was buried in another two feet of snow.

The older man offered up a thanks as he limped past one and down the street to the restaurant. Once inside, he reveled in the heat of the building and the smell of breakfast wafting through the air. It was a nice way to refresh his senses after being stuck in a dusty bookstore for an entire night, though he hoped the smell of sex wasn't too obvious. He dreaded waiting in line, his leg aching and throbbing with each second he stood, and then lurching into a whole new pain as he took a step forward. After ordering what Armin and Mikasa wanted, what he needed (Coffee was a heavenly thing in the morning), and then what he guessed Eren would want, he took a seat at the table. He was grateful when they brought him their breakfast. Obviously they had seen the limp and knew he was in pain, so it was a slight joy to know there was still healthy minds in the world.

That was an extra two dollars in the tip jar.

With hot food in his hands, which felt great against his cold fingertips, Levi made his way back to the store. The man with the snow plow had cleared a better path, so he found himself back into the slightly chilled store faster than the walk it took to get to the restaurant.

By now, his leg was so cold he couldn't really feel the pain anymore. It was freezing out there, and any complaints he had before about it being cold in here; they might as well have been thrown out the window.

The older man set his stuff down on the counter before limping back into the office where the brunette still slept on, hidden under the sheet on the pull out. He leaned against the door frame to give himself and his leg a break, but also to just sit and look at Eren. Maybe this was creepy, and when he thought about it, it would probably creep anyone else out. He was just staring at him after all, but he couldn't help himself. The brunette fast asleep, sheet tucked under his chin and reality miles away.

Honestly, what had Eren done to him?

Levi hated to do this, but Mikasa probably wanted him back within a day. While he didn't want this to end just yet, he feared her wrath if he didn't bring him home soon, and also feared the wrath of another snow storm. While they were supposed to work today, he'd give him the day off to sit at home and relax. He probably needed it.

Levi pushed himself away from the door and used every ounce of being in him not to cringe in pain as he kneeled down beside the pull out. He angled his leg in an odd position, but this was to stretch it out to lessen the pain, and to also release the pressure on it. He needed to make sure he didn't worry Eren, and doing that meant not showing his pain.

"Eren..." He mused as he ran a hand along Eren's shoulder. He fingers trailed up until he could reach bare skin, until he could feel the warmth of his body soaking into his slightly chilled fingers tips. "Come on, Eren. You've got to wake up now." The older man said softly and shook at his shoulder.

There was no response. Levi didn't think he was that heavy of a sleeper, but then he remembered that he'd never actually woken up beside Eren before. He wouldn't know how deep into sleep the brunette could get. That, and Eren couldn't hear.

Wouldn't he notice the movement though?

"Eren, come on. I've got to get you back home before your sister kills me." He said and shook his shoulder again. It didn't even occur to him that he was talking out loud. It was just a reflex, but not even the shaking was waking him up.

No one was that heavy of a sleeper. It didn't matter how little of sleep they had gotten the previous night; no one just slept through that. Maybe Eren's case was different, because he couldn't hear?

No, Eren would have felt it. He was too prone to the sensitivity of everything else to not notice someone shaking him.

So why wasn't he waking up?

"Hey, Eren...!" Levi raised his voice as he shook at his shoulder hard enough to roll his body onto his back. The brunette fell awkwardly against his back, but it was then that Levi noticed how stiff his body was. His heart gave a painful lurch within his chest at the sight of it, of him not waking up, of his body uselessly flopping against the mattress.

Of the blood suddenly seeping past his barely parted lips.

Levi panicked and pushed his fingers into his neck. There was still a pulse, but nothing made sense. If he had a pulse, what was causing this?

What happened to him?

"Eren...!" Levi cried out his name as he picked him up and pulled him into his lap. He didn't even notice the way the movement and weight hurt his leg. All he could focus on was Eren's comatose body laying stiffly against his legs. "Eren, damn it! Wake up!"

The older man shook at his shoulders over and over, but nothing was working. His body was still stiff like rigor mortis had set in, muscles tense, and the blood that had seeped past this lips now dribbled down his chin and onto the mattress below him.

He had no idea what this was. He had no idea how to fix it. He didn't even know where to begin. There was nothing he could do. Nothing at all besides call for an ambulance and hope that whatever this was, whatever was happening to him, didn't kill him.

"Please, please wake up..." Levi pleaded in a shaky voice, his fingers trembling as he dialed nine-one-one into Eren's phone.

A/N: Haha! I still have some tricks up my sleeves for this story! *Rolls up my sleeves and the tricks fall out* Gah! No! Don't look at the tricks!