
Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/1029883.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Graphic_Depictions_Of_Violence, Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Shingeki_no_Kyojin_|_Attack_on_Titan
  Relationship:
      Levi/Eren_Yeager
  Character:
      Levi_(Shingeki_no_Kyojin), Eren_Yeager, Armin_Arlert, Mikasa_Ackerman
  Additional Tags:
      mafia, Underground, black_market, Alternate_Universe, Boys_In_Love, Yaoi,
      Eventual_Smut, Eventual_Fluff, Angst, Yandere!Levi, for_a_little_bit_-
      Freeform, Alternate_Universe_-_Canon_Divergence, probably_indefinite
      hiatus
  Stats:
      Published: 2013-11-03 Updated: 2014-09-21 Chapters: 5/? Words: 12713
****** Fallen Angel, Tell Me Why ******
by orphan_account
Summary
     "This world may have failed you, it doesn't give you reason why. You
     could have chosen a different path in life."
     It was almost as though Eren had never taken the time to think about
     what he was doing, or where it would get him. Somewhere? No. Nowhere?
     Not quite. It did, however, bring him right into the clutches of the
     Trost Underground. He may not act like it, but he's frightened, and
     only one person can bring him back out.
***** This World May Have Failed You *****
This again?
Eren let out a slow, quiet sigh, shifting his weight as he tried to seem like
he wasn’t completely blowing off his childhood friend. Well, more like brother.
He watched as blue eyes stared at him intensely, brows under his golden bangs
furrowing as he tried to make his point clear.
“Eren, I know you’re still stealing. You’re smarter than this. You know there
are better – safer! – ways to make money.” Armin almost sighed on his words,
exasperated by repeating the same advice repeatedly. “Don’t be such an idi—“
“Fuck off, Armin! Not all of us are lucky enough to actually have an adult
around to take care of us!” Eren didn’t wait for a response, knowing it was a
low blow, as he turned and stormed off, grumbling under his breath.
Eren checked himself over as he walked behind the old, broken down buildings.
This part of the district was in horrid disrepair, falling to thieves, whores,
and the like. And it only got worse the deeper you got. This part of the
district also remained in the shade of the Wall most of the day, making it
great cover for a thief such as himself.
Armin was right about one thing, Eren was smart. Maybe not brilliant like the
blond, but he knew what he was doing. Most people thought they should dress in
all black when sneaking, but really? Eren had realized quickly that, that would
just make him a dark silhouette. He needed to blend, and thus wore clothes of
mottled grays and greens, a dark gray scarf around his neck to pull over his
head. And at his side a small pouch full of lock-picking gear. Any self-
respecting thief would know something as basic as this.
It wasn’t long before he found himself in the underground tunnels, a
prospective city that had been abandoned years before he had even been born.
The smell of musty, stale air assaulted his nose, and he could hear a few too
many squeaking rats for his personal comfort. But more importantly, the sounds
of shuffling feet and voices.
Padding almost silently Eren crouched near the corner, pulling his scarf up
over his head like a hood. Peering around the corner, he spotted two men
stacking heavy crates. In the glint of the gas lamps they held, his bright eyes
caught a glimpse of the familiar shield with a unicorn’s visage. The Military
Police. He knew that they had black market dealings, and he had just discovered
a cache.
Jackpot.
He watched as the men walked out of sight, waiting for the light from their
lamps to die down. Staying crouched, he shuffled to the nearest crate. Running
gloved hands over the top of the crates, his bare fingers met with smooth,
fresh wood. Definitely Military Police. Kneeling in front of the crate, he dug
into the pouch at his hip, pulling out the narrow pieces of metal he used for
lock picking.
Eren had enough practice that it didn’t take long for him to pick the novice
lock, pulling it off and dropping it silently to the side. Lifting the lid
slowly, he cringed at the slight squeak of the hinges, holding his breath and
waiting to see if anyone would come check. No one did.
Turning his attention back to the crate, Eren’s eyes lit up like a kid in a
candy store. “Whoa…” His word was barely more than a breath. Curious hands
reached out on their own accord, removing a portion of the crates contents.
Guns... He glanced back into the crate. And 3D maneuver gear? The gear was
tempting, but stupid. Who was he going to sell the gear to without everyone
knowing where he got it from? The guns on the other hand. Those he could hock.
Eren couldn’t help getting lost in the thoughts of how much money he could get,
and what he could do with the money when he got it, as he stuffed some of the
smaller guns in his bag before turning to grab the rifles. The idea of some
decent money was so enticing, that he had let down his guard, and hadn’t
realized he wasn’t alone until he heard a loud shout to draw him from his own
mind.
Well… that and the intense pain as he was thrown against the wall, face bashing
into the stone before he felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. And then
nothingness.
===============================================================================
“So some kid was breaking into the crates?” The man’s voice was surprisingly
smooth, almost charming, and yet his appearance was completely unremarkable.
His face was plain, not overly attractive nor terribly ugly, chestnut brown
eyes, and mousy brown hair. All in all, he was forgettable. Which made him
perfect for his position. Easy come, easy go.
He was tall, built strong, and his bare arms were covered in ink and scars. One
of those well-muscled arms swung out to the side, vine sloshing out of its
bottle as he offered it up to his right hand.
“Tch. Fucking idiots. Why weren’t they at their post?” The smooth, stoic voice
belonged to a rather short male sipping his cup of tea, holding it by the rim
and aptly ignoring the alcohol that was offered to him. He tugged the hem of
his black shirt, pulling the sleeves past his wrist. “Outsmarted by some
fucking brat.” He tugged his gray cloak over one shoulder, resting his forearm
on a bent knee, holding the teacup by its rim and watching the steam rise from
the aromatic liquid.
The boss laughed, taking another swig from his vine. “Not everyone can be as
skilled as you, Levi.”
The shorter man didn’t respond, instead watching the tea swirl around his cup.
Running a hand through his hair, he felt as it fell immaculately back into
place, parting on the right as it had been trained to do, his fingers brushing
over the soft, military-like undercut.
Before the boss could make another remark, there was a loud clatter throughout
the surprisingly clean underground ‘throne room.’ Levi watched silently, his
narrow, ever-encircled eyes following the ruckus that was their struggling
captive. He was a noisy little shit, and pressed on his nerves.
He watched as the brat spewed obscenities and empty threats. He was at a
disadvantage and if he was going to be able to escape, he would’ve already done
so. But damn did the fucker have spirit. He kept his steel-blue eyes on the
young man, very young. He looked to be half Levi’s age.
He was surprisingly attractive. Lean body, tanned skin, thick, shaggy hair. But
what was really captured Levi’s attention? Those eyes... This little shit that
was stealing from them had the most beautiful Caribbean-green eyes. Large,
long-lashed, passion-filled, beautiful green eyes.
Levi stood gracefully, setting down his teacup in the process. His black pants
hugged his body, fitted but not suffocating, and his knee-high boots were
silent as he walked toward Eren. He studied him with insomnia-ridden eyes,
surprisingly threatening for his height. The brat was still shouting
incessantly, and Levi had to give him credit. Kid had balls.
“Not bad.” Levi’s sultry voice seemed to drowned out the brat’s yelling.
Levi could almost have laughed at the glower that came from the thief. If looks
could kill.
“What do you mean ‘not bad’? I managed to break into your cache, didn’t I!?”
His voice was a cross between an animalist yell and a childish tantrum.
Levi quirked an eyebrow, shifting his weight as he studied him for a moment
before the room echoed with the resounded thwack! as the leather of his boot
became intimate with Eren’s mouth, blood dripping from soft lips. He couldn’t
deny a certain sense of satisfaction as he watched the body slink to the
ground, breathing heavily.
Crouching, he grabbed a fistful of dark brown hair, lifting Eren’s head to
examine his face before he fell into unconsciousness.
“Shitty brat…”
***** It Doesn't Give You a Reason Why *****
Chapter Summary
     Levi couldn't do it.
Chapter Notes
     mc_jaeger:OH MY GOD FINALLY.
“So, what do you propose we do with him?”
It had been an hour and a half since Levi had knocked the brat unconscious, and
since then, he’s been out. The shorter male turned to glance at his boss, an
unreadable expression covering his face with cold eyes. “You’re asking me?”
“Of course.”
“Well,” Levi shrugged. He didn’t care what happened to the kid despite being
mildly impressed with how he had managed to outsmart some of their men and
actually break into the crates. “'Killing him is always an option.”
“That is true, but he could be a valuable addition. He’ll need practice, but—”
“Hold on, are you suggesting we keep him?” Levi furrowed his eyebrows and
snorted at the thought. “That’s a terrible idea. More blood on our hands.”
“Or less,” The boss pointed out, taking a sip of his drink, refilled about half
an hour ago.
Levi didn’t respond. Instead he looked over to the unconscious teenaged thief
lying curled up on the ground. Honestly, he thought, did you really think you
could do this? He walked over to the boy and stared down at him, his
intimidating blue eyes scanning the boy’s face. The blood that had stained the
boy’s lips had dried, leaving an ugly red paint stream down his chin.
“Come now, Levi,” The smooth voice behind him was almost enough to make Levi
jump. “With the way you’re looking at him right now, seems you’re considering
it. Are you?”
“That depends.” His answer came out roughly. He nudged the boy’s shoulder with
the toe of his boot, rolling him over to a twisted-looking position, legs still
curled with his knees pointed toward his face, hips and waist turned with his
back now mostly flat on the ground.
A twisted smile marked the man’s face. “On?” He sounded more amused than Levi
was comfortable with.
“Who you want to look after the shit so he doesn’t actually steal and bail on
us.” The response was quickly followed by a sharp turn, the shorter male
jabbing a pointed finger toward his boss. “No, don’t even think about it you
fucker.”
With a husky laugh from his boss that made Levi want to hang the man with the
wire cord of 3D maneuver gear, he closed his eyes and shook his head. “You
assume things too quickly. What did you think I was going to say?”
“You want me to be responsible for the little shitstain?”
“If you insist, by all means.”
“I didn’t request the job.” Levi nearly growled and stepped toward the man,
still pointing his finger at him, his expression turning into a deep scowl.
“Why don’t you do it if you think we should keep him?”
“I have more important things to do than look over a child, Levi. Besides,
you’re the best choice for the job; kick him around a few times and you’ll have
your own little servant if you so desire.”
“Shut the fuck up, I don’t want to take care of this kid.”
The amusement left the man’s tone; his eyes narrowed and he stood. “Well then
kill him, as we have no use for him otherwise.”
Levi and the man shared a fierce moment of eye contact before the shorter man
lowered his hand and half-turned to look at the boy behind him. He was still
out cold. Turning the full way, Levi stepped over the boy and began making his
way out of the ‘throne room’.
“Levi,” His boss called out to him and he stopped, but didn’t turn around.
“Where are you going? Make your decision.”
“I already did.” He said flatly before disappearing from sight.
Minutes went by and silence was followed by sounds of objects being tossed
around and clanking against others echoing, bouncing off the stony walls until
Levi had found what he wanted and returned into the room with a sword torn from
the wire of one of the old and broken maneuvering gears.
“Why not get a dull one? He broke in, after all, it’ll be more fun for you that
way, won’t it?”
“There’s nothing fun about killing people” Levi shot back flatly before his
stride ended and he was beside the boy again. He pushed the boy (mostly his
legs) fully onto his back, his whole front side facing upward and his legs no
longer twisted and turned. He then looked at the blade in his hand and let out
a harsh sigh before narrowing his eyes at the end of the blade and pointing it
at the boy’s chest.
“Killing him while he’s out cold? Hmn,” His boss murmured. “You’re too nice,
Levi.”
Ignoring the other man, Levi placed the flat end of the blade against the
teen’s chest as though he were just going to cut into him like a piece of meat.
That’s all people are in this fucking world anyway, meat; a meal, rather, to
either the fucking beasts that tried to get through the Walls, or to each other
when succumbing to the need to kill and sacrifice for the sake of themselves.
Levi sneered and gripped the handle of the sword tightly.
He was going to do it.
He had to do it.
He could do it.
The teen shifted slightly and whimpered unconsciously under the sharp blade.
Levi couldn’t do it.
===============================================================================
Eren opened his eyes with arms bound behind him by thick leather straps. His
fingers scraped gingerly against the back of the cold wall he had been placed
against, his head tilting sleepily to the right with drool running down his
chin absentmindedly.
His vision cleared up and he could feel the pain in his mouth. At first,
confusion ran through him, but it was quickly replaced with a shudder of rage
as he remembered what happened and where he was. As though thinking the leather
straps could be ripped apart as easily as paper, he moved his arms and wrists
viciously. However, it was no use and he let out a growl of irritation.
I’m so fucked. This is bad. Very bad. He cringed. ‘Not bad’, Eren recalled the
male from before about his savage stare and acidic tone. He remembered the boot
that had rendered him unconscious, and the face that wielded it. Those grey-
blue eyes would forever be burned into his memory and he shivered at the cold
stare that violated his thoughts.
He looked around at his surroundings and realized he was still in the same room
where he had been knocked out. The only difference now is that he was alone. He
could feel the coldness of the Underground and it made him shiver.
I’m in way too deep. Maybe I should have listened to Armin.
Eren leaned forward, his back leaving the wall, and turned his head as much as
he could to see the straps that held his wrists together. They were a deep
shade of brown, colored the same shade as dark chocolate. These are maneuvering
gear straps…he thought. Why would they waste these on tying me up?
Footsteps on cold stone interrupted Eren’s thoughts and he looked up. The
man—the man with the face, the one that had knocked him into
unconsciousness—stood several feet away from him now, sword in hand. His icy
stare shot chills down Eren’s spine and as strong as the boy tried to look on
the outside, he was scared shitless on the inside.
“Are you going to kill me?” Was all he could manage past the attempted growls
and half-whimpers that mixed with his voice.
Levi just stared at him. He stared at him with those eyes. If looks could kill,
was all Eren was able to think at the moment. Then the man opened his mouth as
if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he just sucked in a breath by his
lips and made his way toward the boy slowly, sword pointed downward.
I’m going to die here.
“What did you think you’d accomplish?” A smooth voice silently hissed down at
him. Eren kept his eyes on the blade.
“Are you going to kill me?” Eren repeated, stronger this time.
Levi shrugged. “Maybe.”
Even though Levi didn’t even move, even though the sword didn’t sway from its
position, even though everything was momentarily calm, Eren flinched. The way
the tone of his voice and the flow of that word hit him. Eren was suddenly
horrified.
Maybe.
Maybe?
What did that mean?
Was Eren just dead meat at this point?
Was this man going to end him when he didn’t expect it?
“What is your name?”
The boy’s eyes snapped up from the bright glint of the blade and he stared up
at Levi. Their gazes locked, ocean green clashed with clouded steel, and for a
split second, everything stopped. Eren couldn’t get his mouth to work as it had
grown dry and he seemingly forgot how to breathe. He reprimanded himself
mentally; those eyes are going right through me.
“What is your fucking name.” Levi repeated, no commanded this time.
Eren had to force himself now. He didn’t want to look at the blade, but Levi’s
eyes were no better a place to stare down in search of hope of living. Maybe.
Maybe I’ll die. Maybe I’ll live. What was my name? Say it, idiot.
“It’s… it’s Eren.”
***** You Are My Savior In My Time Of Need *****
Chapter Summary
     levi goes all sasuke on some bitch ass
Chapter Notes
     kirschnickerdoodle ::look who finally wrote chapter 3. neigh neigh
     mother fucker.
"What's your fucking name?" Levi's voice was cold, impatient. He looked down
and swore he saw nothing but confusion. What, had the little shit really
forgotten his own name?
"It's… it's Eren."
"Eren…" The name rolled off his tongue and left a bitter taste in his mouth. It
was almost… disappointing. Such a beautiful face, all that passion, and his
name was Eren? Those bright eyes looked up at him, no longer with fear, but
with anger. He was challenging him. A worthless stray really shouldn't
challenge the beta.
"So this is the deal, brat," Taking slow steps, his short legs seeming longer
than they really were, he circled around behind Eren, who watched him until his
head couldn't turn any further. "See, my boss – he's the alpha around here –
has given me the option of killing you," the whir of a blade slicing the air as
he twirled it casually was unmistakable in the near-silence. "So, I thought,
you might be useful – as a slave."
"Fu—"Eren was cut off as Levi slammed his foot down onto the chain between his
wrists, pulling his hands to the ground and forcing the back of his head to
slam into the short man's knee. A gasp forced its way from those lips, along
with spittle, and those green eyes widened in shock and pain. Levi couldn't
help but smirk, pleased.
"You will do as I say, you shitty brat," He pressed the flat of his stolen
blade to the supple flesh of the boy's neck, "Or I'll slit your throat and
leave you as fodder for the other strays." Levi let out a velvety chuckle as
green eyes defiantly glared at him. Grabbing a fistful of dark brown hair he
yanked Eren's head back further, leaning in close and lowering his voice. "Do
we have an understanding?" He pressed the dull of the blade harder against the
skin, a warning about as subtle as a brick to the back.
Eren swallowed hard, angry and scared. "Yeah…" His reply was a hushed mutter.
"What was that?" Levi yanked his hair a little harder.
"Yes, I get it. Fuck!"
Throwing him to the ground by his hair, Levi stood over him. "Good." He took a
step back, shifting his weight to one leg and crossing his arms, looking down
at his charge with a bored expression. "Get up."
Eren stared up at him, breathing heavy with his face on the ground, blood
seeping from his lips which had reopened, and hands bound behind his back. If
looks could kill. The brunet lifted his face, Levi's lip twitching as he fought
a smile as he thought the wild dog was already obeying. Much to his disgust,
the boy spit at his feet, bloody saliva speckling the toe of his boot.
"Gross." Closing the gap between them, careful to step over the spittle, he
thrust his foot into the brunet's side, wiping off the tip of his boot in the
process. The boy coughed, bloody saliva flying from his lips. Grabbing him by
the hair he dragged him to his feet, pulled his head back toward him. "When I
give you an order, you follow it you piece of shit." Not giving him a chance to
argue, he grabbed the neck of his shirt, under his hairline, and dragged him
forward.
He led him down the dimly lit corridors of the underground city, shoving him
forward each time he dragged his feet. For only being five-foot-three Levi
managed to move through the hallways with surprising haste. It wasn't long
before he pulled a rod-iron door open, shoving Eren inside and making sure he
did it with enough force for him to smash into the wall.
Grabbing a fistful of hair, he bashed that pretty face into the stone wall with
enough force to bust open the thin skin under his eyebrow. "Now, you cunt, you
get to stay in your cage until I decide I need some entertainment. And I swear
to the fucking Maria if you piss yourself you will be licking this cell clean."
Turing on his heel, he slammed the door shut, snapping the padlock closed.
Stepping around the corner, he leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his
chest and ankles crossed casually. Well, brat, it's in your court now. A few
minutes passed, the hallway echoing with the sound of Eren banging his cuffs on
the iron bars, and throwing his weight into it in hope of faulty hinges.
Futile.
It grew quiet and Levi could just see the teen shuffling around as he found the
small pieces of metal within arm's reach of the bar. It was intentional, of
course. An elated gasp, the chinking of metal as deft hands picked the lock on
his cuffs, the heavy restraints clanking to the floor. Next he quickly worked
open the lock and opened the door just enough to squeeze through, cringing at
the squeak. Quick on his feet, the brunet burst around the corner, soon finding
himself flat on his face.
The sound of Levi's hands clapping slowly filled the corridor, Eren's tense
shoulders visibly sinking. "Well done, that was quicker than expected."
Eren pushed himself up, looking up at the steel-eyed man. "You did that on
purpose."
Levi snorted. "Well yeah. You think the Trost Underground would really let a
shit like you break out so easily?"
Eren sighed, defeated but not broken, and looked stubbornly at Levi. "What now?
Gonna kill me?"
"That's right. I'm going to kill your bitch ass the first moment you actually
show some potential." His voice almost sounded cheery if it wasn't for the fact
that it was just dripping with sarcasm. "Get up. Come with me."
He disappeared into the dark hallway, not waiting to see if Eren followed him.
If he made a break for it, he'd be killed on sight. It was that simple. Kid was
smart enough to figure it out, too. When Eren caught up to him, Levi threw a
damp rag at him. "Clean yourself up. That's disgusting."
===============================================================================
Over the next week Levi led his charge around, teaching him the ways of the
thief. He explained the basics of each branch of the underground, teaching the
brat what he thought he should know; Eren followed, albeit cautiously. The teen
had made several attempts to escape, all of them complete and utter failures.
Futile effort, that. Eventually the teen accepted his place, after a few too
many kicks to the teeth.
It was during the second week that Levi realized he wasn't the only one kicking
around his charge, using his method of negative reinforcement to 'train' the
new recruit. A twinge of irritation shot through him at the obvious
encroachment on his territory. Because of this, he decided it was time to teach
his stray how to defend himself.
"Look, kid. Anyone shorter than you is going to have an advantage on that
shitty ass of yours. You've got the strength and height to take care of
yourself against someone your height or bigger. But smaller?" He chuckled to
himself and shook his head. "Anyone smaller than you is going to be faster, all
they have to do is get to a weak spot and you're fucked."
Noticing the arrogant expression on Eren's face, he proved his point and
slipped past is defenses to easily topple him. Looking down at him, foot on his
chest and arms crossed, he clicked his tongue. "See what I mean, shitty brat?
Gotta keep your defenses up in front of you, and once they get close enough,
use your reach to your advantage." He kept his eye on the boy, waiting for his
nod of understanding. Once he got it, he removed his foot and pointed toward
the ceiling. "Up." Eren did as told.
"Aww, look at Levi's puppy. He's such a good boy, isn't he?" The underlings
made jokes like this often, and every time it got Eren riled up. Clenching his
fists he started toward them, walking past Levi. Without turning, he let out a
simple but firm command.
"Leave it."
Eren stopped in his tracks, stepping backward toward Levi but not taking his
eyes off the offenders. They laughed harder as they headed out of the training
room. "He even follows dog commands."
===============================================================================
Week three was different. It started the same, with the jabs from the other
guild members, and training from the short man. Levi had taken notice as the
taunts became more aggressive in nature, and found himself actually growing in
concern over the naïve young man that was his charge.
Because of the increased threat, Levi had increased Eren's defensive and
offensive training skills. Teaching him how to disable, how to kill. Sure, they
used fake weapons because Eren was an excitable shit and would probably stab
himself in the eye or something. But even with wooden weapons, he didn't take
it easy and left his protégé bruised and bleeding.
"Are you even trying, brat?" Levi tossed the wooden katana into the air,
catching it by the handle casually.
"Fuck, I've been here for three weeks, half of which you –"
"Aw, look at the poor puppy." "Doesn't want to hurt his new owner. How sweet."
Levi gave the onlookers the stank eye, his steely eyes narrowing to slits, ever
unflinching. "Out." He spoke again before they could even begin their protest.
"Out, now!" His eyes followed them, waiting until they left, the rod-iron door
closing behind them and their light disappearing around the corner.
"Um tha—"
"Again."
"Hey, I'm trying to –"
"Again." It was almost a growl.
Eren rolled his eyes and licked his lips, and Levi fought a smirk at his
obstinance. The ocean-eyed teen rushed him, his mentor easily side-stepping
him, lifting his leg behind him and planting a firm, flat-footed kick to his
lower back, just enough to throw him off balance. The brunet stumbled, hopping
on one foot before spinning back toward his challenger. He rushed him again,
his anger getting the better of him, and once again the raven side-stepped him,
a delicious thwack! echoing in the chamber as he swung the sword into the back
of the taller male's legs, causing him to fall onto all fours.
Levi found himself admiring the brunet's form as he clenched his fists,
slamming one into the ground. He was lean, taut, with naturally tanned skin,
grabbable hair, and he had seen him shirtless enough times to know that part of
him desperately wanted to taste that glorious back. A growl pulled him out of
his thoughts, but before he could recover Eren was on him, pushing him against
the wall hard, the katana falling from his grasp as tanned hands grasped his
wrists.
Stunned, he narrowed his steely eyes and looked up into those green ones. They
just screamed 'I win' and it pissed him off. And it pissed him off that Eren
was close enough for him to feel the heat from his body. And he was pissed that
he could smell the cinnamon on the brunet's lips. He felt his tongue slide
across his own lips and before he realized it, he leaned forward, pressing his
lips hard against the younger male's.
Eren pulled back, stunned and flushed, and noticed Levi's smirk too late.
Before he could react, the raven hooked a leg behind the taller male's knee and
pushed hard against his shoulder. The smirk didn't leave his lips as he watched
him fall flat on his back, eyes wide and gasping as the air was pushed from his
lungs.
Kneeling over him, Levi almost chuckled. "Don't let your guard down, shitty
brat." He stood, looking down at him with an unreadable expression. "Go clean
yourself up. Disgusting." Without waiting for a response, he turned and left
the training hall, leaving Eren to make his way through the underground city on
his own for the first time.
===============================================================================
Eren lay on the floor trying to catch his breath. His arm was over his face,
eyes closed tight as he tried to figure out what the fuck had just happened.
Levi… Levi had kissed him… and what was that look on his face. Disappointment?
Was he disappointed in Eren? Why did he care if he was or not?
Pushing himself up, he ran his fingers back through his hair and found that it
was, indeed, sweaty. "I guess I really should get cleaned up…" He mumbled,
pushing to his feet and heading out through the same rod-iron door that the
jerks from earlier had ran away through. They followed Levi's orders like
frightened pups, so why were they always giving him such shit. Just because he
was new? Because he was young?
Before he realized it his feet had carried him back to his room, if it could be
called that. It was scarcely more than the cell he had originally been thrown
in, the only difference being the small water basin and pipe that he could use
to at least somewhat clean himself. He sighed, entering the chambers and
leaving the door open – what did it matter, the iron bars didn't exactly
provide privacy.
Pulling the rope, he waited as he watched clear, crisp water fill the bowl. It
was always cold, but at least it was clean and more than drinkable. Shutting
off the tap, he dipped his hands into the chilled water, forming a cup with
them and bringing it to his face. He repeated this several times, scrubbing his
skin with his fingers and pushing his hands through his bangs, pushing the
dripping locks from his face. Turning the tap on once more, Eren filled his
palm and brought the water to his lips, swallowing hard around his dry throat.
His fingers lingered on his lips as he remembered the heat and faint taste of
Levi on them. Why did he…? Was it really just some tactic…. His thoughts were
cut short as pain burst through his face, finding his cheek pressed painfully
into the age-roughened stone wall. His shoulder screamed with hurt as his arm
was pulled behind his back, threatening to be dislodged. He couldn't breathe
and he wasn't sure if it was from the fall he had taken or from the much-
larger-than-his-body pressed against his.
"You're always such a good little mutt, aren't you? Doing exactly as you're
told. I'm sure you give that pipsqueak whatever he wants, let him do whatever
he wants to you."
Eren forgot how to breathe as he felt something hard press against his ass, and
he knew exactly what this piece of shit was not so subtly hinting at. Green
eyes widened as he felt a hand tug down the back of his pants, cold air
brushing against his skin.
"Oh, don't worry, you'll enjoy the pain." The sneer was audible in his voice.
"Fuck, no, get off you piece of shit I will fucking shove this box cutter up
your ah-!" Eren gasped as he felt a finger push into him, pain flashing behind
his eyes.
===============================================================================
Levi sighed, running his fingers back through his hair, knowing it would fall
back into place. I never should've let the brat go back alone, the shit
probably tried to escape. Just making sure he's still there. The raven rolled
his eyes at his own thoughts, calling bullshit on himself. As he neared the
cell they had assigned Eren, he couldn't ignore the angry yelling followed by a
strangled scream. Pain.
Rounding the corner, he didn't even pause as he stepped through the threshold,
grabbing the taller man by the back of his shirt and throwing him into the
bars. The metal shifted and rang, sound echoing through the hollow hallways.
Pulling the thug down to his height by his hair, he slammed his kneecap into
the man's nose, blood splattered on his pants as he watched him fall through
the door way, obscenities spilling from his lips.
Levi turned back to Eren, who was looking at him with wide eyes. Before he
could ask if he was all right, Eren flinched in pain and shifted to cover
himself. Even so, he hadn't moved fast enough and the steel-eyed man had seen
the traces of blood smeared on his cheeks. His lips pulled back in a snarl as
he approached the man, foot connected with a rib as soon as he was within leg's
reach.
Anger roiled in his stomach, eyes glowered and teeth bared. Levi was nearly a
foot shorter than the bigger man, and that meant absolutely nothing to him as
he grabbed a wrist in each of his hands, his long fingers gripping tight.
Placing a foot between his shoulder blades, he tugged, savoring the pained
groan of panic that pushed from beneath him.
"You need to learn not to touch things," His words shifted more into a growl as
he pulled on the arms he held onto, "that don't belong to you." With a
satisfying pop! Levi felt the body beneath his foot shift, his arms pulled
unnaturally far behind his back. Grinning, he pushed against him with his foot,
watching as he fell forward, arms limp at his side.
He stepped over the body, back into Eren's cell. Green eyes looked at him,
wide, with some sort of mixture of awe and fear. "Well?" The brunet's attention
snapped to him, clear he hadn't heard him. "Are you all right?" It was obvious
by the look in his eyes what his answer was going to be.
===============================================================================
The following weeks passed by slowly, mostly uneventful. Word had spread
quickly about Levi's retaliation on the guild member who had attacked Eren. No
one had reprimanded him for it, nor had they bothered to tell him what happened
to the cunt. He knew he had survived, and somehow doubted they kicked him out.
Generally you left in a body bag and no other way. It was too much risk to let
a lowly member roam free.
A small snort filled the quiet chambers, a smile quirking the corner of Levi's
lips. Like anyone would try to do anything to me anyway. It was a well-known
fact that the short man was, in fact, the strongest and most skilled of them
all. Even more so than their boss. If he had wanted, he could've offed the boss
and taken over, no questions asked. But he didn't want to. He didn't want to
run this motley guild. He didn't much know what he wanted to do at all anymore.
Arms crossed over his chest, he leaned against the wall, letting out a sigh. He
had become an omnipresent shadow around Eren, sticking close to him ever since
the incident. He often shot him worried glances, only to receive confused or
angry glares. Or the brat avoided looking at him all together, as he was now.
Curled on his side, reading a book in silence, trying not to notice Levi's
presence.
Sighing inwardly, he watched the boy fidget. "Are you all—"
"Why did you do that…?" Eren's voice came out quiet; he didn't lower the book
or turn his eyes from the pages.
Levi's eyes wandered over him, studying him, studying his intentional aversion.
"Do what?"
Eren chewed the inside of his lip, the hand holding the book twitching in
frustration. "Everything. Yelling at those guys. The kiss. Ripping that guy's
arms out."
Levi clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth, a distinct tch! sound
coming from his lips. "I was saving your ass. Literally. Next time I'll enjoy
the fucking show." He wasn't looking at Eren anymore.
The bed squeaked as Eren shifted, rising from it. Levi kept his eyes forward
and down, the ever-present guardian with no fucks to give. The taller male
loomed nearby the raven, blocking out the light from his room's lamp.
"And the kiss?"
Levi looked at him, unflinchingly. "Just a way to catch you off-guard."
"I don't believe you."
Levi didn't respond to the quiet words, didn't look away, a forced
expressionlessness overtaking his face. He saw Eren's brows furrow, his eyes
filled with determination and anger and… was that hurt? He felt the neck of his
shirt tighten, a hand jerking him forward by it until he felt his lips meet
another's. He felt his core churning, eyes looking at the out-of-focus pair in
front of him, shut tight below angry eyebrows. He felt himself relaxing and
pulled back, finding himself against the wall with a hand still holding the
neck of his shirt. Green eyes focused down on him, a snarl on the lips that
were on his mere seconds earlier.
"Levi, don't you feel anything at all!?"
Steel blue eyes stared up to meet angry, desperate green ones. "No." Without
hesitation, he turned and left the room, disappearing around the corner. He
heard a loud clatter from the chambers, an angry Eren likely throwing
something.
Levi paused as another guild member passed, their eyes studying each other. He
waited, listening as the man ordered Eren to follow him, that 'boss wanted to
see him.' It was unusual that someone else would seek out the young man instead
of his keeper, and his cold eyes followed the pair as they walked past him.
Levi let out an exasperated sigh, thinking back over the past few weeks, since
the incident. He had watched Eren struggle. Watched him fight for sleep that
evaded him, and the sleep he did get was often haunted. He watched as he pushed
through the days immediately following, the painfully slow healing. He noticed
how he'd flinch when certain people would get too near, or look at him certain
ways, or even just a certain tone of laughter. It didn't matter how much he
trained the boy, or how naturally skilled a thief he was, this was not his
world.
"Fuck!" He whisper-yelled, slamming the side of his fist into the wall before
turning and following Eren and his guide to the throne room.
As he entered, Levi's eyes darted around the room, taking in everything with
that once quick glance. His vision quickly narrowed and focused on the 'king'
that sat upon the throne, before him a young stray. He couldn't ignore the way
his boss was smirking, that charming, charismatic glint in his eyes, that
velvety tone in his voice. That same manipulative tone that he had used to lure
Levi into this lifestyle, and he watched as Eren seemed to fall for the same
trick, completely unaware.
Stopping in the middle of the room, he cleared his throat. It seemed
unnaturally loud, drawing everyone's attention to him.
"Levi? What is it, can't you see I'm bu—"
"I'm leaving." He kept his eyes on his boss, who didn't seem to understand. "I
quit." The room grew silent, only to be filled with overwhelming laughter that
erupted from his boss' mouth. Levi kept his eyes steeled, unrelenting. "I mean
it, I'm out. I'm leaving. I'm done."
He watched as his boss shifted on his throne, more focused, as he considered
the situation. He would let Levi go. He didn't have a choice. If Levi really
wanted to go, he would go or die trying, and he'd sure as fuck take his boss
down with him.
Slowly, the man on the throne nodded in agreement. "Fine."
Levi looked away callously, gesturing toward the green eyed teen that was
looking at him so betrayed. "And I'm taking my prized bitch with me."
***** I See The Angels, I'll Lead Them To Your Door *****
Chapter Summary
     Dorks that clean and cook together stay together.
Chapter Notes
     mc_jaeger: 4 months later and the hiatus is over. i am so sorry this
     took so fucking long guys, holy shit.
The looks he received from the handful of others in the “throne room” varied
from fearful expressions to surprised and shocked. Not to mention the stare he
could feel boring into his back courtesy of Eren. When he wasn’t graced with a
response from the boss, Levi took it as permission—weather or not it was—to
leave. 
He took Eren by the wrist and led him past the lackeys that were gathered near
the entrance.  He half expected Eren to protest or try to pull his arm away,
but the teen did nothing. Not even a noise came from the younger’s mouth until
they were mere steps away from Eren’s room.
“Why are we leaving?”
Levi ignored his question; the answer should have been obvious. “Just hurry and
get your shit together.”
Eren sighed and stepped into the small room that he had been living in for the
past while, gathering his lock-picking gear, the change of clothes Levi had
given him, and the book he had probably read fifteen times. When he walked out
of the room, managing to tuck everything under his right arm, Levi held out a
small but sharp blade to him.
“What’s this?” The teen reached out to take the weapon from the black haired
man and he examined the sharpness of the steel object when he had it.
Levi turns his back to the boy and began walking off, expecting Eren to follow,
which he did. “It’s a dagger. I thought that would be obvious.”
“Well, yeah,” Eren followed the man close to his heels like a puppy. “I can see
that. I mean what is it for.”
Being sarcastic was one of the few things Levi enjoyed, and the brat made it
really easy to respond in such a way almost every time he spoke. “Stabbing
someone. If you have to. It’s for protecting yourself, if you couldn’t figure
that out.”
Eren only rolled his eyes.
They arrived at Levi’s quarters in a silent manner, minutes after leaving
Eren’s. It was bigger, at least three times the size—length and width—of Eren’s
“room”, with much nicer furniture that actually counted as furniture.
Admittedly, the teen was a bit jealous, though he knew that Levi being the
boss’s second-in-command gave him some pretty fucking great benefits.
“Close that gaping hole you call a mouth. You’ll attract flies if you don’t.”
Shutting his mouth, Eren watched as Levi moved around the room at a fast pace
to gather the things he would take with him to… wherever the fuck they were
going. While Levi placed some clothes, weapons, and what looked to be like a
few canisters of cleaning supplies and twin dusters, Eren couldn’t help but
notice how clean Levi’s room seemed to be from the rest of Trost Underground.
Yes, he knew no person—not even those living beneath Trost like he, the other
lackeys, Levi, and the boss—would want to live in filth, but Levi took it to a
whole other level.
Levi tossed a pale brown knapsack in Eren’s direction. “Put your stuff in there
so you don’t get it dirty.”
Eren obeyed the order and once his possessions were dumped into the knapsack
Levi walked out of the room, once again expecting Eren to follow at his heels.
They walk through the hallway, silent and eyes forward as not to make any eye
contact with the passing lackeys. Being that the story about the incident with
the guild member and Eren had passed around so quickly within the day it
happened, the lackeys didn’t even try to meet their eyes.
Nobody tried to stop them as they approach the tunnels that led out of the
underground society, and Levi couldn’t help the suspicious feeling bubbling in
the center of his chest. He carried one of his own blades—bigger than the one
he had given to Eren—closely to his side, gripping it so tightly that his
knuckles had turned white, giving an almost ghostly glow to his already pale
skin.
The teen wanted to ask his unanswered question from earlier, but as they
approached the almost blinding opening that lead to the surface, he felt an
overwhelming sense of joy fill his young body. He didn’t stay at Levi’s heels
much longer, running around the older male to embrace the sunlight he had
missed so much. He didn’t care how rundown this part of his world looked—it was
more home than Trost Underground could ever be.
He let the sunlight hug and warm his body as Levi approached him. When he saw
Levi squinting his eyes tighter than they normally were, he couldn’t help the
bubbly almost child-like giggle that rose from his chest and passed his lips.
Not that his own eyes didn’t have to adjust, but it was funny, really, to see
Levi momentarily blinded by the bright sun. The underground was well-lit, but
it was still dark, cold, and ugly. Eren never realized how much he could miss
the sunlight, and in only a few weeks.
“Jesus, you really are a fucking puppy.” Levi walked past him. He scanned their
surroundings which consisted of rundown buildings and houses that had long
since been abandoned and most likely filled with rodents. Eren ignored his
comment, throwing his arms out and letting the sun warm him through his
sleeves. “Come on, would you? I don’t want to watch you prance in the sun like
a fairy all day.”
When Eren continued to ignore him, Levi considered punishment. He thought about
grabbing the brat by his hair and dragging him to their unknown destination,
maybe kick his face in again. With a sigh, he discarded the thought and pulled
Eren along by the collar of his shirt.
After a while they joined the hustle and bustle of the inner district, farther
away from the underground’s entrance than Levi had been in years. Most of the
people ignored them, some passing strange glances toward them, but nobody spoke
to them. They make the most of their commoner appearance and try to keep from
standing out.
A child’s giggle not too far away distracted Eren and he finds the urge to run,
to play, like a child, because he hasn’t been able to be childish for a month.
However, he knows straying away from Levi would be a bad idea, so he keeps his
head down, watching the man’s feet in front of him.
===============================================================================
“I’m hungry.” Were the first words Eren had spoken when they had left the
underground.
Levi remembered the brat eating breakfast that morning, though the energy given
to him from the small amount of food had no doubt been burned through during
their trek. Sadly, he didn’t have any food for the kid, not right now at least.
“Shut up and keep walking.”
Eren whined but continued on behind the man. Levi didn’t want to admit it, but
he was starting to get hungry as well. The difference between Eren and Levi,
however, was that Levi could go a long time without feeling the need to whine
about being hungry.
In the distance they could see a small cabin surrounded by tall grass and
overgrown weeds with a large, beautiful weeping willow tree standing proudly in
the yard. Eren smiled his heart filling with warmth at the sight of the tree.
He remembered the one that sat beside the stream by his old home and how he and
Armin would sit under it and read about the ocean.
It didn't take long for them to reach the cabin; the weeds reached Eren’s mid-
thigh, almost reaching Levi’s hips, and the blade made a good weed-whacker up
to the door. Eren didn't ask who lives here, or if Levi even knew, as the man
moved over toward the window. It was covered in a thick coat of dust that was
accompanied by a cobweb, and as Levi blew the dust away to get a look inside,
it was easy to tell the place has been without inhabitants for a while.
“Well fuck.” Levi mumbled. He moved back in front of the door and touched the
grime covered knob. With no luck opening the door, he took a step back.
Eren grinned, feeling it was his time to shine. “Oh, I got it!”
He had the knapsack halfway off his back before Levi lodged his blade between
the door and the frame, feeling for the lock, and eventually breaking it. It
wasn’t very sturdy, having been out of use for quite a while, it was worn down
and practically too useless to be used for its original purpose.
The older man pulled his sword from its place nestled between the wood, and
turned the knob again. The door opened with a loud, slightly unsettling creak,
and then Levi stepped inside. Eren noted by the look on Levi’s face that the
man wasn’t too pleased with the condition of the inside of the cabin.
Dust, dirt, and cobwebs practically engulfed the interior, not to mention
whatever that fucking was that smell.
“Fuck me sideways…” Levi grumbled.
Eren quirked a brow at him as the man pulled his own knapsack off. He took out
the dusters and the different kinds of cleaning supplies—so I was right! It was
cleaning junk! Eren thought—and placed them on the equally as dusty table.
“What’s all that stuff for?” Eren hums. Levi shoots him an exasperated glare.
“I mean… are we gonna clean this whole place?”
Levi hands Eren one of the twin dusters and points at each canister on the
table, naming off their purpose one by one. “This one is for windows. This one
is for floors. This one is for the furniture. Do not use the duster on the
windows or the floors.” The brunet makes a mental note of each. “Get rid of the
webs and then start on the windows.”
The teen wanted to be surprised at how serious Levi was about the way he wanted
the place cleaned, but he honestly wasn’t. Not after seeing the man’s room
earlier. He nodded, moving along to clear the cobwebs. 
===============================================================================
 
Orange sunlight shined through the clear windows and shimmered across the
smooth wood floor almost enough to show a reflection. Three candles sat on a
long thin table that was pressed up close to a wall beneath a mirror, their
flames dancing with their reflections.
Eren stood in the now-near-spotless kitchen with Levi while water boiled in a
pot on the stove. They were surprised to find canned foods that had yet to
parish waiting for them in the pantry. It was mostly vegetables such as carrots
and green beans, but they were lucky enough to come across three perfectly
edible canned meats.  It was nice, to say the least, that they had gotten the
entire cabin cleaned virtually spotless at a reasonable dinner time.
Levi said nothing as he cut up the canned carrots on the cutting board with the
blade he gave Eren—“that blade I gave you is cleaner than anything you’ve ever
owned and I will use it to cut these carrots, or you can starve for all I
care”—and Eren waited for him to pass it along so he can open one of the canned
meats.
And when dinner was finished, it was delicious. They only had to share with
each other instead of an entire union of greedy assholes who went for seconds
before some even had their firsts. They didn’t talk as they ate; Eren made the
mistake of trying to initiate conversation which granted him a very heavy
worded lecture on why it’s disgusting to speak with your mouth full.
When they had finished, they washed the dishes in silence. While cleaning
earlier, Levi had announced there was only one bed, and Eren wasn’t sure what
they would do about that, later figuring he would just sleep on the sofa he had
cleaned so well.
By the time everything was dried and put away, the sun had set and both Levi
and Eren were tired. Eren pushed himself into the den area and plopped down on
the sofa, exhausted.
“Are you going to sleep?” Levi asked, louder than Eren expected to hear his
voice. The teen looked up to see Levi leaning over him a bit, his eyes
narrowed.
“Um… if that’s okay.”
Levi nodded. “Alright. Sleep well, shitty brat.”
Eren watched him walk away, but reached out to him, albeit hesitantly before
dropping his arm. “Hey, Levi—er… sir?” The poor brat stuttered, unaware of what
to call the older man.
“What is it?” Levi paused in his step, looking over his shoulder.
The boy sat up and averted his eyes, feeling shy and embarrassed for no reason.
“Um… thanks.” It was a loaded word for him at the moment. Thanks for getting me
out of there. Thanks for bringing me here. Thanks for protecting me.
Justthanks.
He watched the man give him a single shouldered shrug. “Don’t mention it. Go to
sleep.” Levi took one of the candles from the thin table by the mirror and blew
the other two out with a gentle breath.
Eren’s eyes followed the single flame until it’s glow disappeared down the
hallway. A wave of exhaustion rolled over the already present one and Eren felt
his eyelids growing heavy with every passing second. When he finally allowed
sleep to pull him under, the last image in his head was that of Levi ripping
the guild member’s arm out of its socket.
It was, in a weird way, the most comforting thing the boy had seen in the last
month, and the most pleasant image to fall asleep to.
***** The Warning's So Clear *****
Chapter Notes
     kirschnickerdoodle :: hey look i finally updated after five months
     [nervous laughter]
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It had been approximately a month since Levi and Eren had ‘defected’ from Trost
Underground. A month since they had commandeered the now-spotless house which
they were staying in. Eren had asked about the house on more than one occasion.
Was it someone’s home? Did Levi know them? Did Levi killthem?
The questions died down quickly enough, at least until the brunet had found the
placard at the front of the house. It was nothing more than a thick plank of
wood with the word ‘Zoë’ carved into it. Of course, Eren insisted he needed to
know who Zoë was. What was their first name? What were they like?
The thug would only shrug him off; what did it really matter? Where else was
Eren going to go? These conversations usually ended up with a fuming brat on
the couch and an exasperated criminal scrubbing the kitchen counters until they
squeaked.
Still, they had found a sort of balance. It was difficult, Levi ‘adjusting’ to
the upper world and Eren adjusting to life as a fugitive. Not that either was
doing it well. Levi still lived his life constantly looking over his shoulder,
lest he ended up with a blade in his spine. Worse so, because he had to watch
for the brunet, too. The brat sure as fuck didn’t comprehend the severity of
the situation he had put them both into.
Then there was the issue of Eren attempting to adjust. It wasn’t that he was
rebellious, a fact that surprised Levi to no end after the way he had been when
they first met. Then again, having someone kick the shit out of you and then
seeing them pop a man’s arms out of socket with as much ease as popping the
head off a daisy…well maybe it had that effect.
Mostly, the brunet was bored. And clearly didn’t get the same amount of
satisfaction from cleaning as Levi did.
Eren was young. He was trapped. He had been trapped his entire life. He was
born within these Walls, and would die within them. Yet he sought freedom. And
right now, that meant desperately wanting to not be in this shitty little house
with a man who thought shit jokes were funny and got off on pushing him around
– his words, not Levi’s.
Eren missed his friends, he missed being able to go. He didn’t have to tell
Levi, he could see it written all over his face. When he had told the kid he
had to stay on the property, preferably indoors, he could see the way it just
broke him.
And so, they worked into a routine. They cleaned the house and the yard. They
made this place livable. Levi eventually brought home a mattress and tossed it
on the floor of the living room.  It was for Eren, so he didn’t have to sleep
on the couch. It didn’t take long for him to switch the beds around, opting to
sleep in the living room instead of Eren. The bedroom held no exit except a
window that the brunet would have to break, and thus his first attempt to sneak
out had been his last.
If Levi was being honest with himself, things had gotten borderline complacent
with the brat. He had been cooperative. Suspiciously, so. He did what Levi told
him, with minimal argument compared to the way he had been when they first met.
Once he stopped being a little bitch, he wasn’t so bad really. The raven
couldn’t even deny that he might possibly enjoy his company.
And he definitely couldn’t deny how Eren looked at him. It had gone from anger
to fear to submission to…something. Admiration, he thought.
“Gross.” Levi sighed, lifting the back of his arm to his forehead, swiping it
across to do what he could to remove the sweat from his skin.
It’s not like he wasn’t aware he’d be sweating. It usually began to cool down
this late in the season, but apparently an Indian summer had decided to bid
them fucking hello. Even so, that didn’t mean the work didn’t have to be done.
He spent more time than he’d like out in the rather large property they had
waylaid.
With the help of the brat, it hadn’t taken too long to till and turn the earth
enough to plant crops. It wasn’t fun. Hell, it fucking sucked ass. Which Eren
had told him. Repeatedly. Yet, it had to be done. The more self sufficient they
were, the safer they were.
Growing their own crops meant that they only had to go into town for things
like breads, dairy, and on the lucky occasion, meat. They could live on the
crops alone, if they had to. And Levi had taken to hunting what he could. It
was illegal, but what’s another mark on his slate?
Just as Levi lifted his hoe to swing it into a particularly dense row of earth
between the crops, he heard someone’s voice in the distance. Two voices, he
amended. Pausing mid-motion, he let the metal fall into the earth, fingers
gripping the wooden handle tightly as he scanned the horizon.
His steel blue eyes quickly caught on a red scarf and a head of golden hair
that shimmered in the sunlight. They looked young, though it was hard to tell
in the distance. Levi thought they couldn’t be any older than Eren. As they
came closer, he knew he was right.
The girl with the red scarf looked like she hated the world as much as he did,
yet there was a certain sadness in her eyes. It was faint and hidden, something
someone would only recognize because they saw the same thing in the mirror. The
blond, however, seemed much more…personable.  His eyes were large and bright,
blue shimmering with brilliance than no one could deny. Perhaps personable
wasn’t right. There was a certain calculation to them, as if he was only
showing people what they wanted to see. Levi knew he’d have to be careful of
that one.
He remained silent, watching closely as the two came close enough to speak to
him. Too close, really. His personal bubble was bigger than most, and they were
in it. He was less than thrilled about it, hand tightening on the handle and
waiting for them to state their business.
“Um, excuse me. I’m sorry to interrupt your work – clearly you’re very busy—”
The blond seemed nervous, but Levi wasn’t a patient man.
“Clearly.”
“O-oh, uh,” The blond fumbled a bit, and Levi didn’t miss the way the other was
glaring at him. Nor could he deny he found it amusing. “Is this the Zoë
residence?”
Levi said nothing, simply lifting a finger and pointing at the nearby sign that
so clearly read ‘Zoë.’
“Ah, right, okay, good!” The blond laughed nervously, scratching the back of
his head. Either this kid was smart and knew to be intimidated by him, or he
was a coward. Levi was betting on the former. “Is Eren here?”
“I don’t know anyone by that name.” Levi’s voice was even, stoic as he looked.
It was a blatant lie, but he wasn’t about to tell two strangers that the brat
was here. They might be assassins, newbies or specialists hired by the boss;
the female certainly looked like she could be. Her response only furthered his
suspicions.
With no more warning then the frustrated almost-growl that pushed from her
throat, she lunged at him, reaching out and twisting her fingers into the
collar of his shirt. She was strong, surprisingly strong. Not to mention she
had four inches on him; enough for the action to force him onto his toes. Even
so, he couldn’t help but react as he ever would in this situation.
Gripping the wrist at his neck bruisingly tight, he held her fast and pressed
the blade of a small knife he had been carrying against her throat. He didn’t
cut, simply watched as the skin dipped around the blade, her chin rising in
response. Neither spoke for a moment, steely eyes glaring into the others.
“I know he’s here!” Her voice was full of a fury that he was certain he had
heard warnings over. “He wrote us letters! He told us to come here! Tell me
where he is!”
Levi’s eyes widened at her words, his pupils shrinking and his grip tightening
around the blade handle in his hand. Eren had what!? He had told, blown their
fucking cover? Everything he had done, all the work he had managed, it was all
for naught? Because that fucking brat told them? Were they the only ones who
knew? Would killing them keep the secret? Were they even telling the truth?
I hate useless deaths.
“Levi, wait! Don’t hurt her!”
Eren’s voice was urgent, panicked even. He had run up from the small sitting
area under the willow tree, his cheeks flushed from exertion and breath heaving
in his chest. It wasn’t all that surprising that he was so worried, not with
the way Levi looked. His eyes were wide and his features set.
It reminded Eren of the way he looked when he protected him. But this was
different. More…fatal. Levi would do what he had to do, he was certain of it.
“That’s my sister!” He panted out, hands on his knees and green eyes shining
from under his mass of dark hair.
Levi tensed, fingers tightening around Mikasa’s wrist. He ignored the way her
lips curled back in pain.
“What.”
Eren visibly winced, wanting to look away but more worried about his sister
with the knife at her throat than the possibility of getting kicked in the
face. Again.
“That’s my si—they’re my siblings. Armin and Mikasa.” He pointed at them
respectively, breath finally caught as he stood up straight.
The muscles in Levi’s jaw visibly tensed, hand ripping Mikasa’s fingers from
his shirt and roughly shoving her back with enough force to cause her to
stumble a few steps.
“You…” Levi’s voice was low, nearly a growl. Eren had never seen him this
angry. Hell, Levi couldn’t remember the last time he had been this angry. Even
when the anger took over in the underground, when he had to protect Eren…it was
secondary. Anger was always secondary, but at that time he knew why. Protect
Eren. But now? All he could see was red.
“You fucking wrote them? You gave them instructions telling them how to fucking
get here?! Are you fucking stupid!? Do you wantthemto come and kill you!?” Levi
was nearly breathing fire with the way his breath heaved in his chest and his
body burned. He just couldn’t calm down. Couldn’t stop being so Maria-damned
pissed.
Eren’s lips were pressed together, nearly pouting like the petulant brat Levi
liked to assume he was. “They’re my family! What was I supposed to do? Just let
them think I was dead!?” Eren was yelling back now, but he couldn’t help it.
How else was he supposed to react? He just wanted to see them.
“Obviously.”
“Yeah, well, I can’t do that. Not everyone is a cold-hearted bastard that is
happy to be fucking alone!”
Levi watched as Eren’s eyes widened with realization of what he had said. Too
late, as the shorter man’s fist connected with the brunet’s jaw with a
resounding thud; Eren falling to the ground from the force. He ignored the
injured look in those bright eyes as the teenager held his jaw, ignored the way
Armin was physically restraining Mikasa.
All he could focus on were the words echoing in his ears and the way his heart
had apparently taken up residence between his eyes. He took a few steps before
turning back to the trio, jabbing a strong finger in the direction of Eren’s
siblings, eyes focused on the kid himself.
“Send them the fuck home. If they ever come back? I’ll kill them.” His words
left no room for argument, and he didn’t stick around to give him a chance.
Turning on his heel, he stomped back into the house, assuming Eren was trying
to explain what the fuck just happened to his brother and sister. And why he
had to stay here instead of leave with them.
Maybe he would leave with them? It would make things easier for him, wouldn’t
it? No longer having to look out for some hard-headed brat.
Why the fuck would I care—do I care?
Levi hadn’t bothered to check on Eren, assuming he’d do what he was told.
Frankly, he thought if he saw the kid right now he’d punch him again. Instead,
he took a way too fucking cold shower before crashing on the bed in the
bedroom, trying to ignore that it smelled of what he assumed was Eren.
He wasn’t sure how long he’d been asleep. He hadn’t even remembered falling
asleep, actually. Levi didn’t sleep much as it was – insomnia had long ago
decided to be his best friend. He groaned as he rolled off the bed; this
impromptu nap meant he probably wouldn’t be sleeping tonight.
As he made his way into the living room, he couldn’t help but notice how dark
it was. The sun had set, and no candles had been lit. Odd, usually Eren was
quick to light them, taking a little too much joy in the fire.
Maybe he really did go back with them?
There was a pang in his chest that he chose to ignore, instead grabbing one of
the many knives he had hidden throughout the house and exiting it. He had made
it a habit to check the perimeter at least nightly, to make sure there were no
assassins hoping to make an easy kill of them under the guise of darkness. He
had yet to encounter one.
Even so, he made his rounds. Luckily, the property was pretty flat and lacked
many things to hide behind. Or trip over. Its only real feature was the willow
tree, its branches dense enough to hide someone within. Usually there was
nothing there, but this time…there was a silhouette.
They couldn’t be an assassin; why would an assassin just be sitting there? It
wasn’t hard to figure out who it was; even so, he couldn’t pass up the
opportunity. Taking careful steps, he snuck up behind him, slipping the knife
from its sheath in his boot and pressing the dull side to Eren’s throat; he
found it far too amusing at the way the kid jumped.
“L-Levi!?”
Levi narrowed his eyes at him, pressing the cold blade against his neck before
pulling it away from him.
“You let your guard down too easily.” Levi shook his head, pressing his hand
against the trunk of the tree for balance as he tucked the knife safely away in
his boot. Not that he needed the help, it was more a habit. And he couldn’t
help but notice when his fingers ran over the unnatural ridges in the bark.
He squinted in the dark, barely able to make out the letters. And then he did,
and he found himself less surprised than he thought he should have been by the
fact that it was his and Eren’s initials; likely carved by the brat himself.
“Sorry for the way I acted earlier.” Levi’s voice was hesitant, even yet
awkward. He wasn’t used to apologizing. And he couldn’t really convince himself
that he was completely wrong. Though threatening the kid’s family might have
gone a bit too far. “I was just…worried.”
And that was the heart of the matter. The one he really had preferred to have
not realized. He was angry because he was worried for Eren. Worried about his
life…and maybe even worried he was going to leave.
Levi’s fingers brushed over the surface again before turning back to Eren,
noting the way the teenager’s cheeks flushed and he tried very intently to not
look at him. A smile tugged at Levi’s lips but he said nothing, instead moving
to sit beside him.
They sat in silence, both simply watching the way the fireflies peppered the
open fields, lighting up like small fireworks before fading again, only to
reappear moments later. Levi had no idea how many there were, he was just
amazed at how beautiful they were. Apparently, he was amazed enough that it
showed.
“I’ve never seen you look like that.”
Levi almost jumped, Eren’s voice seeming unnaturally loud after the long
silence filled only with the whir of cicadas. “What?”
Eren’s lips pulled back into a grin, a smile that reached into his eyes. “You
just looked so…in awe. Happy even.”
The raven only stared at him for a moment before nodding, turning back to the
horizon. “Not much to be happy for inside these Walls. But,” He nodded toward
the field of fireflies, “I’ve never gotten the chance to really see them
before.”
“Really?” Levi only nodded, Eren following his gaze back to the field. “I used
to watch them a lot during the summer. With Mom.” When Levi didn’t say
anything, the brunet continued. “We used to sit outside under the tree in the
backyard. We had one of those swings, y’know? I’d sit in her lap and we’d
just…watch. Sometimes she’d sing to me, or we’d roast marshmallows; the
marshmallows became a regular thing after Mikasa was adopted. But it was
just…so peaceful. It made me think ‘maybe life inside the Walls isn’t so bad.’”
“It sounds…nice.” Eren hummed his agreement, Levi’s eyes still focused on the
universe of fireflies before him. “I never had a chance to do anything like
that. Never had parents…grew up in the slums underground. I was always on the
run, or hiding underground. I started out thieving, like you. Then it was
always Trost Underground, any time I was on the surface…well I had an objective
other than looking at the little bugs with asses that light up.”
Eren said nothing, only looking at him. This was the first time Levi had really
said anything about himself, even if it wasn’t much. Even so, it was also the
first time that he had actually made it seem like he was unhappy with what he
had been doing with his life, not just an unhappy person in general.
“Your siblings seem to really care about you, Eren. And you clearly have a
great mom, so how did you end up a thief?”
“Had.” Eren’s voice was soft, and Levi wasn’t sure he had really spoken.
“What?”
“Had a great mom. She died…” Eren’s eyes were directed at the fireflies, but
they looked like they were seeing something else entirely, and Levi noticed the
way the brunet’s hands fidgeted. He wondered if he wanted to cry.
“I—sorry.”
Eren shrugged, but Levi could tell he cared.
“It’s okay. She…and then Dad disappeared. Mikasa and I were left to fend for
ourselves – well Armin and his grandpa helped how they could. But…I could make
more with thieving than I could ever hope to make working myself to the bone
for some spoiled fat rich man or toiling away in the fields.”
Levi only nodded and Eren seemed slightly surprised by this. Perhaps he had
expected an argument. It wasn’t a life he’d want anyone to get into, but the
criminal could understand where the brunet was coming from. And he couldn’t
really say he was wrong either.
Silence fell over them, a heavy blanket that was nearly suffocating. Eren was
still shifting, clearly uncomfortable. And Levi was shit at comforting.
“So what’s that?” Levi lifted his hand, gesturing toward the carving in the
tree. He nearly laughed at the way Eren’s eyes widened, cheeks and ears
flushing red and his entire body growing tense.
“Oh—um—er—” Eren was undeniably blushing, brows furrowing upward and Levi
wondered if he was going to try to hide; he had never seen him embarrassed like
this before. “It’s nothing – it’s stupid.”
“Yeah, well, you’re a stupid brat; that’s nothing new. What is it?” Levi’s
expression remained unchanged, even if he found this all highly amusing.
Eren let out a heavy sigh, eyes focusing on his hands in his lap, thumbs
pressing together. “It doesn’t matter…” He bit his lower lip, next words coming
out a nearly heartbreaking mumble. “It’s not like you could ever like a ‘brat’
like me, anyway.”
Levi couldn’t help it, he didn’t even try. Laughter bubbled up from his chest,
lips pulling back into a smile and eyes crinkling with genuine amusement at the
ridiculousness of it all. This kid was infatuated with him, or maybe it had
turned to more than infatuation, and then he had the audacity to pull his
heartstrings by saying something like that?
Then there was the fact that him saying that could pull his heartstrings. All
he could do was laugh at himself and the situation he had gotten himself into;
he was in way too fucking deep.
And then he saw Eren, staring at him with those big green eyes, looking like
Levi had just kicked his puppy. He should probably apologize, explain his
laughter. But well, he was shit with words and he was pretty sure the brunet
wouldn’t find it nearly as funny as he did.
Before he could think better of it, he gripped Eren’s jaw and leaned in,
pressing their lips together in a short, firm kiss that managed to take the
brunet’s breath away. A smirk tugged at his lips as he looked into those bright
eyes, lingering close to his face.
“Idiot.”
 
Chapter End Notes
     uhh hehehe *goes back into hiding for another year*
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