A/N: So I lost the proofing to this that Lady Mari Chan did and then she reread it to do it again. Giant thumbs up for Lady Mari Chan? I think so. *Thumbs up* As to this late update, life happened, but I'm actually going to work harder for this story in particular. I'm going to be focusing on this one a tad more for a while, which is not to say I won't update Lost Cause, but I really want to get this one done since we are so close. They are a little short right now, but the chapters will get longer again. There's a reason. ;)

I can taste the ending! Quick! Grab my hand and join me on this journey!

-Misty

Song of the day: Save Me from BTS

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 Thirty Two: Trouble

Painting seemed to take up a lot of his time.

While Levi worked on his art, worked to make it his living, he managed a job at an old bar a few blocks over. It was nothing glamorous, but it was keeping a few of his bills paid, and that was enough. He worked terrible night shifts, yet still managed to keep himself up long enough to get one or two hour's worth of painting in before he collapsed on the couch to sleep. He couldn't even make it to his bed.

Eren worried greatly for him. He wanted him to work again, but not like this. He saw the toll it took on his body, but there wasn't much he could do. He was too busy looking for anyone willing to work with him while he worked on changing out his major, which wasn't as difficult as he felt it'd be.

Mikasa and Armin were supportive, which took away most of the stress he'd been feeling. Levi was behind him as always, and on days when he wasn't working on his new assignments and trying to follow along with the new courses, he'd sit on Levi's couch with his laptop and mindlessly write. Sometimes he'd pretend to work, but really he was watching his exhausted boyfriend try to get his bearings together long enough to get some sketches done. He wouldn't ever let Levi in on this of course.

He decided if it would help, he'd get people in on it. After a month of hard labor, he secretly took a picture of Levi's art and posted it online while the man went to sleep. The older man had been right; it took the right people to see it to make him big, and that meant people needed to see it. He wasn't expecting much from people, but it was something to start with.

Levi's reaction when Eren had told him he posted the photo online was... Not pretty. He wasn't necessarily mad, but he wasn't happy either. Maybe it was his big, golden eyes, the way his expression was a pout when he was upset, or the way he apologized, but the older man just couldn't be upset with him. Well, not for long anyway.

Maybe, even though he had previously lied, the idea of rejection really was something he worried for. He had simply told Eren that to get him off his trail, but maybe that was really a fear. He'd never painted for others. Every now and again he'd make something for Isabel and Farlan's as gifts, but just them. He didn't paint to make money or receive judgement, so the idea that it was going to happen, whether he likes it or not, was worrisome.

He had a reason for it now though. He had a reason to paint, a reason to make it his job and make money from it, and that reason was Eren.

Sender: Eren (Brat) Jaeger

6:15 p.m.:

"Can you come over?"

Levi had gotten that after waking up. He slept most of the day now, recovering from his long night's shifts, so Eren knew he wouldn't respond right away.

The text sounded wrong though. Something was off about it. Usually Eren would mention why, but that was on the rare occasion that no one was home and he wanted some private time with his boyfriend that he would text him. If Levi was correct though, today was Armin's day off, so the house wasn't empty.

Draft

Written at 6:30 p.m.:

"Why? What's wrong?"

Sender: Eren (Brat) Jaeger

6:32 p.m.

"We really need you here..."

We? As in not just him alone. What was Eren doing texting him to come over if Armin and Mikasa were home?

Levi knocked on the door, at least waiting for a response first. Both Mikasa and Armin's cars were in the driveway, so that meant both of them were home.

He suddenly had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. What if something was wrong? What if one of them was hurt or sick?

He didn't want to wait to find out, and thankfully, the door opened before he barged right in.

"Hi Levy..." Eren greeted in a soft, but worried tone. Levi had half a mind to question how he knew he was at the door, but that was a redundant question. Eren was completely capable of knowing when someone knocked at the door.

"Hey brat..." He greeted in his usual manner, trying to ward off the uncomfortable feeling residing deep within his gut. Even the look on the teen's face spoke something wrong, and it was enough to have his walls up and armed. "What's going on?"

"Come here..." Eren didn't give him the time of day to answer his question, instead grabbing at his wrist and pulling him inside. The vast contrast from the coldness to the heat was ridiculous, but welcoming at the same time. Eren didn't allow him to get used to it, let alone tug his shoes off before pulling him further into the house, where Mikasa and Armin sat in the living room.

"You invited him here?" His sister asked in an exasperated tone. "Really, Eren?"

"Mikasa, don't be upset with him." Armin told her. "He doesn't want you upset."

"Upset about what?" The older man questioned as they joined them in the room. "What's going on?"

Armin and Mikasa exchanged glances, as if a silent, but understanding conversation was taking place. The blonde seemed apprehensive about speaking out, as if he didn't want to bring it up, but with a somber wave of her hand, he seemed to have gotten reluctant permission.

"... Mikasa lost her job today." He revealed grimly, to which the girl turned her head away, as if ashamed by the information.

"What...?" Levi questioned, surprised. That wasn't the kind of information he had been expecting from them. "How...?"

"They fired me..." She admitted in a flat tone, almost as if she wasn't affected by it, but by the look on her face, she was simply hiding the pain.

"For what?"

"Well I-..." She began, but stopped short. Eren took a seat beside her on the couch and rubbed at her back, trying to bring her some comfort. Maybe he was wrong, but maybe she didn't want to talk about it in front of him. Maybe she didn't want to put any burden on his shoulders.

Eren didn't have a job, and Armin was the only one with one now as it stood. Not only didn't this out problems on them and their financial situation (Which, from the last time he and the teen spoke, it wasn't doing so well), but she knew, deep down, Eren must have been thinking about the implants.

How they'd be pushed back. How the wait would be longer. How it'd have to take a back seat until she got another job.

She knew him. She knew he wouldn't bring it up, nor would he even think about it when he knew she was so upset about this, but eventually it'd be there, and when it did, he'd be heartbroken again.

"I tried taking your advice... About not working so much, and I want to spend more time here with my family, so I told my boss I wanted to reduce my hours..."

She strayed away from her sentence, obviously not keen on the subject.

"So what? They fired you for that?" Levi asked in a gruff tone. "They can't do that, Mikasa. They can't fire you for that shit."

"They said I had been slacking off..." She excused.

"That's bullshit and you know it." The older man reprimanded her for her thoughts. "You're one of their best employees and they know it too. They just made up an excuse, because they aren't happy with your decision, and that's utter horse shit."

"Levi..." Armin said, a slight warning tone within his voice.

"No, Armin, you know it's true. You should report them for that crap."

Yes, he knew it was true, but the way he went about talking of the subject wasn't justifiable. He was being ruthless about it, even when they knew that was simply how Levi spoke.

"No..." Mikasa instantly turned down the idea.

"Why...? Mikasa, you have a perfect-"

"I'm embarrassed enough, alright?" She suddenly bit out and stood up to face him. "I don't want to go back after what they did, and I don't care! I'm tired of it! So no, I'm not going back and I'm not arguing over it! I don't want that job!"

As quick as her outburst, Mikasa suddenly up and left the room. Eren called out to her, but she ignored his plea to instead go to her room. Even the brunette could tell she had shut the door by how hard the house shook.

A morbid silence fell over the group. It wasn't just her little outburst that did it, but the implications of her without a job. Mikasa was most of their income after all, giving up most of her free time to pay the bills while still somehow managing school work. Even with Armin's new job, it wouldn't be enough now. He only covered a few expenses, seeing as how he only worked part time. She was going to have to find a new job, and soon. It was bad enough not having one, but to have the weight of everything else on her shoulders?

They were in trouble.

"She didn't mean to bite your head off..." Armin excused after the silence was deafening. "She's just worried, and... Upset."

"You don't have to explain it to me." Levi assured and found his spot on the couch beside Eren. "Trust me, I've been there... I feel bad though. I feel like this is my fault for mentioning it in the first place."

He shrugged his shoulders as if the weight and tension was putting pressure on him.

"It's not your fault." The blonde teen assured him. "She's wanted to do this for a while. I think you just drove some sense into her and she knows you're right."

"So... What are we going to do?" Eren asked them cautiously, his lips pulled in a tight frown.

"Well she's probably going to look for another job, and I guess I'll have to take more hours at work." The blonde suggested.

"I meant about Mikasa..." Eren signed while rolling his eyes. "But I guess that's another thing that we should talk about..."

"Mikasa will be okay. We'll just be there for her like we always are."

"Are you sure you can handle a full time job, Armin?" Levi asked. "I mean, you have your school work. I know Erwin's job isn't the most taxing, but that's still going to put stress on you."

"I think if Erwin is willing to work with me, I can manage. If anything I'll just work long hours on the days I have off." The teen told him, admittedly weakly. "Do you think he'll be okay with that?"

"I'm sure if you explain the situation he will. I know you're a hard worker, so he isn't going to want to lose you, but are you sure you're able to handle working hours like that?"

"I don't really have much of a choice..." He spoke grimly as his shoulders shrugged. "It's okay though. Summer vacation will be here soon, and then I won't have to worry. I just have to get through these last few months, and everything will be easier."

If only he could believe his own words.