Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Eren’s ability to see blood on people’s hands was an interesting ability to discover he had, to say the least. The first time he remembered having an experience with his gift, he was in the doctor’s office as a young boy with his mother and a broken arm. The doctor walked in, and Eren noticed a small red spot on the man’s hand. 

“There’s blood on your hands.” He said, completely innocently, in his own mind informing the doctor he should wash his hands. 

Eren’s mother rushed to apologize, but the doctor was frozen in shock. Mouth agape, he turned his hands over and over and didn’t see any blood. His immediate thought went to the young green-eyed boy somehow knowing that he cut the life supply to one of his patients years ago; and he broke down into tears. He apologised to nobody in particular, Carla standing awkwardly next to Eren saying that they would try another doctor. Eren, however, noticed the blood on his hand hadn’t brushed away when the doctor had been searching for the blood. 

The first time the abilities existence dawned on him, however, was in a school assembly. He was sat with his best friends Mikasa and Armin, and a veteran army recruiter had walked onto the stage. Everything about the man was completely and utterly normal, aside from the smeared blood on a few of his fingers reaching the first joint. 

Eren’s eyes widened in shock as he leaned over to Mikasa and whisper-shouted in her ear, pointing at the man on stage. “That man! He-” 

“It’s rude to point, Eren. Didn’t you hear it explained that he lost his leg in an explosion” Mikasa snapped, snatching Eren’s arm down from its previously raised position. 

“But his hands , look at his fingers ” He replied, his head nodding in the direction of the man on stage talking about joining the army. 

“They look normal, Eren. What are you on about?” She replied. 

Eren turned to Armin at this point, frantic. “Armin, look at his fingers!” He once again whisper-shouted. 

“I’m looking...at what exactly?” He whispered. 

“Can’t you see it?”

“They look normal, maybe a little worn but fine. What are you talking about, Eren?” Armin asked. 

It was then that Eren realised. All the times he had seen a few drops of blood on the hands of returning soldiers, interviews from veterans from wars, police officers, even television broadcasters being allowed to show murderers with a couple of blood spots on their hands. Eren realised he could see blood on people’s hands. 

After that assembly, he tested his theory by looking up pictures of serial killers and assassins on the internet to see what happened. And, sure enough, all of them had a few spots of blood on their hands. Thoughts raced through his head as to why he could do this, maybe he was some kind of psychic? Maybe a God of some description had given him this gift? He scoured the internet for hours, trying to see if there were any past examples of Gods giving people the ability to see blood on hands; but all he came up with were quotes about eternal damnation. 

Over time, Eren grew up and with his aging he grew used to his ability. He decided against going into a career in criminology, although it made sense in his own mind at first. Instead, he went in the complete opposite direction and studied teaching, eventually becoming a primary school teacher. Thankfully, there was never anyone with blood hands in that place of work, so he felt safe.

Out of work, he took extra effort to stay away from those people.  If he was walking down a street late at night and someone walked towards him with anything that could resemble blood on their hands, he crossed over. He even was going on a date once with a girl that had a spot of red on her hands that could have easily been makeup or sauce; and he immediately turned around and left the date. 

He didn’t really like girls anyways.

He stayed out of the way of meeting new people for a while, only interacting with work colleagues or his school and university friends. He didn’t go on dates, he didn’t really use public transport and definitely didn’t  even consider moving out of the flat he shared with his ex boyfriend until it became painfully obvious that 1 year was far too long to live with an ex. 

Said ex, Jean, proposed that he looked into a flat share. The idea was terrifying, attempting to explain it to the man saying “What if this stranger is secretly a serial killer”, which is almost exactly what his biggest worry was. Jean, however, had the genius idea to ask around their friends to see if anyone wanted to flat share with him.

Most people said no, and it was starting to look rather unsuccessful until his friend from university, Hanji, mentioned someone. They said that their friend Levi was looking to flatshare for a little while, as he didn’t really have anywhere to live. Upon asking if this so-called ‘Levi’ could secretly be a serial killer, Hanji laughed it off saying “If my Levi was a serial killer, I think I would know”. 

Eren took this to the heart, seeing as Hanji had always been very honest to him, and decided to agree to him moving in on the spot. Both of them needed to get straight into it so they had somewhere to live and someone to support the costs of living there so it made sense to dive in. 

He had tried to organise going out for a coffee or something with this Levi guy before he moved in, but he said he was away on business so it would have to be over the phone. They called and it was lovely, Levi sounded like a perfectly normal and nice man just trying to find somewhere to live to help him get on the housing ladder and Eren decided that there could be absolutely nothing wrong with the wonderful, cheery man down the phone. 

Eren went ahead and got the flat, with Levi’s help, and moved in as soon as he could into one of the identical bedrooms the flat had opposite Levi’s soon-to-be bedroom and began filling the fridge and hanging up posters and stuff to make it feel more homey. The restoration itself was starting to go rather well, when a polite-sounding knock bellowed from the front door. 

Eren sauntered over to the door, dancing in small motions to the radio he had brought out to keep him occupied when cleaning up the apartment. When he opened the door, though, his dancing faltered. 

The man that stood at the other end of the door was shorter than he was, but clearly more athletic if the muscles coming out of his black shirt were anything to go by. He wore his black hair with an undercut, a slightly off-centre parting to the style, and his facial features seemed almost bored and tired at the same time; in an annoyingly attractive way. Eren’s eyes widened in shock, however, upon looking at the man’s hands. 

No, not even his hands, up to just past his elbows the man stood in front of him was dripping with blood, each shocking red drop supposedly symbolising a life. Where previous people he had seen had had maybe a few droplets, or the murderers had up to maybe halfway up their palm, he was way above them. Eren had never seen the blood drip from anyone before, and he knew that this guy was trouble.

Instinctively, he took a step away from the entrance of his apartment and clenched on slightly tighter to the door. “Can I help you?” He asked, his voice tainted with terror. 

The familiar deep, velvety voice of the man standing opposite him flowed from his mouth with a slight French accent as he said the one thing Eren had been dreading him to say. 

“I’m Levi, your new roommate.” 

Chapter Text

“I’m Levi, your new roommate.” The man said, stretching out his bright red arm dripping with blood ending just above his elbows. “You must be Eren?”

Eren took a deep breath and smiled the most convincing smile he could muster, trying his best to mask the utter terror he was really feeling. “That’s right, so nice to meet you Levi” He gingerly took Levi’s hand, going against every instinct in his body. He flinched slightly when their hands connected, but was surprised to find he couldn’t feel the thick coating of blood on his hand but the warm flesh you would expect from a normal person’s hand. 

Levi clearly wasn’t normal.

After shaking hands, Eren stepped back and motioned Levi into their apartment. “Your bedroom is opposite mine, the one with the poster on it” he said, keeping a step or so away from Levi as he walked him to their rooms from the front door, Levi noticeably only having a rucksack with him and nothing else. 

“Oh cool, I love Alien” Levi said, commenting on the poster on Eren’s door with a friendly grin adorning his face. “We could totally do a film marathon sometime, order in pizzas and stuff”

Eren gulped, his head screaming at him to stay away from the clear mass-murderer already making plans to do stuff together. “Maybe, yeah that could be nice” He said rather nonchalantly, trying not to seem rude while thinking he should move to another country to get away from Levi. 

Levi beamed at his response, nodding encouragingly “Great! Well, let me know when you’re up for that and I’ll make time because that sounds like fun” 

Eren nodded and hummed affirmingly. “Yep.” He said, his voice small with sheer panic. 

Levi nodded in return, a soft smile still on his face as he opened his bedroom door to start unpacking his bag; he opened his mouth to continue enthusiastic small talk with his new roommate when he was cut off. 

Eren frantically opened his bedroom door and slammed it shut, shaky hands grasping for his pocketed phone to call his best friend. 

The phone beeped and Eren listened along in dead silence, acutely aware that there was a mass murderer in the next room. 

“Eren, I’m kind of in the-”

“I think my roommate is a murderer!” Eren squealed, keeping his voice hushed. 

“Eren...what?”

“Armin, can I move in with you? I think my roommate is a murderer.” He whispered, standing as far away from his bedroom door as he could pushed in the corner next to his wooden desk. 

“Why on earth would you think that?”

“It’s a bit of a long story, but I know for a FACT that he has killed...NUMEROUS times” He pressed, quietly starting to pack a rucksack with his laptop and a few t-shirts. 

“Eren, I really think you’re projecting something here. I can’t imagine-”

“Please, I’m telling you I know this” He begged, tip-toeing around his room.

Armin sighed, clearly frustrated with his best friend. “I’ll tell you what, stay with this guy for a few days and if he murders anyone while you live together you can report him to the police.”

“WHAT IF HE FUCKING KILLS ME?” Eren whisper-shouted, his heart racing and his body trembling making him feel lightheaded. .

“Breathe, Eren. If you really want, I can come over for a bit. But I’m on a date this evening so I’d just have to check in on you”

Eren paused his frantic packing to sit on his childish dinosaur-cover bed to take deep breaths and calm to panic that was overwhelming him. “Would you? I’d ask Mika but I know she’s busy with stuff…”

“I’ll come for an hour, I’ll say hello to your roommate then I’ll leave to go on my date that you’ve actually failed to ask who it's with and have a lovely evening. How does that sound?”

“Sounds great, thanks Armin” Eren sighed, holding a limp hand over his eyes as his breath slowed. 

“I’ll be over in 5 minutes.” Armin said, hanging up before Eren had the chance to say anything else. 

He gently placed his phone on the bed beside him and shook his head, continuing to take deep breaths while being grateful his friend was coming over. He started mentally planning how he would cope with having a murderous roomate; he’d have to install a lock on his bedroom door and he’d have to keep a close eye on his every move just in case-

A brisk knock sounded at his bedroom door, startling Eren out of his thoughts.  “Come in” he said, placing two shaking hands in his lap. 

Levi opened his bedroom door, resting his bloody forearm on the doorframe while holding onto the doorknob with his other equally bloody hand. If it weren’t for the fact that every time Eren saw him, he was reminded that Levi had killed multiple times, he could probably be quite attractive with his muscular build and pretty face. 

If he wasn’t a murderer. 

“I’m making a tea, would you like one?” Said murderer asked. 

The other man moved his gaze away from the droplets of blood falling from Levi’s arms only to disappear from sight once coming in contact with the floor, and stared up at the smiling face of his new roommate. “I’m more of a coffee guy” He said calmly, mentally planning an escape from his room if it was needed. 

“Oh, okay!” Levi grinned, his smile shocking for how pure it made the supposed evil man look.  “Do you have a machine or something? I get through a lot of tea bags so I really don’t mind getting you coffee beans or whatever you use while I get my tea bags.” He offered, a small peaceful smile resting on his lips. 

Eren hummed for a moment, feigning thought. “I think I’m alright for now, thanks.”

“Okay! If you ever need some just text me and I’m more than happy to get you some.” Levi nodded, and swiftly turned around to leave Eren’s bedroom. 

Eren stood up to close his door when he heard a soft knock at the front door, causing him to run as fast as he could to answer the door. On the other side, to his great relief, he found his best friend.

“Armin.”

“That’s right…”

Eren grabbed Armin’s hand and dragged him into his room, past Levi in the kitchen. 

“Hi! I’m Armin.”

“Hi, Levi.” He said, giving a quick wave as they passed by while he made his tea.

Eren slammed the door behind them and moved his rucksack against the door to shut them in.

“I’m worried.” Eren sighed, letting himself fall on his bed. 

“What about?” Armin asked, leaning against the wall watching Eren lie on his face in bed. 

“He’s creepy.” Eren muttered, his voice obscured by the bed sheets. 

“How so?” Armin questioned. 

“I don’t know, he just is. He’s really nice.”

Armin huffed in mild annoyance “That’s the opposite of creepy, isn’t it? That’s just being a nice person to your brand new roommate” 

“I guess…”

“Have you even spoken to him yet?” Armin asked, moving from his position against the wall to sit next to Eren in his bed. 

“We’ve shared maybe three whole conversations” Eren huffed glumly. 

“Well, I’m sure if you just spoke to him a little more then it would be fine. Maybe he’s being weird because you haven’t actually spoken to him so he must find that a bit odd. I think you’re overreacting a bit.”

“But Armin-”

“Don’t judge a book by its cover, Eren. I’m sure he’s lovely once you get to know him.”

‘If only you knew’ Eren thought, his mind shifting to the image of Levi standing in his doorway with bright red droplets of blood dripping from his bare arms. 

“Plus, he’s definitely your type and was checking you out for sure earlier” He added, wiggling his eyebrows. 

Eren rolled his eyes, images of Levi stood in his doorway flooding back. “I highly doubt that as he is almost definitely straight, and anyways I’m not really ready for another relationship yet. I’m way too busy with lesson planning.” Plus, he mentally added, I can’t risk anyone coming over for a while as they may get killed. 

Armin nodded glumly along with Eren’s words and then finally let out a breath he must’ve been holding “Well, I’ve got a date if that’s all” Armin stood up, walking to lean against the wall again. 

“I know, no need to flex your ability to get some” Eren huffed, sitting up from his bed holding his dinosaur stuffed toy tightly to his chest; feelings absolutely no shame for appearing childish in front of Armin. 

“It’s with Jean.” Armin blurted abruptly, a blush making its way onto his face as he stared at the ground. 

“Right…” 

“A-are you okay with that?” Armin mumbled, closing his eyes in trepidation. 

“Yeah, yeah of course. We broke up over a year ago, go for it” plus romance is the last thing on my mind right now, he thought. 

“Okay! Well good, because I really like him” Armin said, looking at Eren with a massive grin worming its way onto his face. 

“I’m glad,” Eren said, forcing yet another smile onto his face to prove his point. 

The other man nodded and looked at his watch “Okay I really have to go now, I’ll see you at work on Monday?” Armin asked, brightening up the whole room with his joy. 

“See you then” Eren replied, if I’m still alive by then, he thought. 

Chapter Text

Levi never slept much, having on average an unhealthy 2-4 hours of sleep per night was the norm for him. When he did actually sleep, though, he was a light sleeper. It was no different on his first night in his new flat; with his strange roommate - the guy that seemed overly confident and joyous over the phone in the brief chat that they had had, but surprisingly shy in person. 

Levi awoke from his brief, dreamless slumber to the sound of a blood curdling scream from outside his door. He grabbed the knife that had been under his pillow and sprinted towards the scream to find himself in front of Eren's room, desperately trying to prize open the locked door. 

“Eren?! Are you okay in there?” He shouted, one hand grasping desperately at the handle while the other banged on the door while simultaneously holding the knife. 

No reply came from his words, just the continued yet noticeably quieter screaming of his roommate. 

“Eren!” He yelled, banging as hard as his fist would allow him. 

The screams abruptly stopped, and Levi stopped banging and crouched to look through the keyhole to try to see what was happening in there. He was shocked, however, to see the room clearly as Eren had left his desk light on. 

Eren was in bed, fast asleep with his forearm draped over his mouth. He was dreaming? 

Levi watched as his roommate started to talk, his voice muffled slightly by his arm. “Blood” he heard him whisper. The raven-haired man sucked in a startled breath at the word, slowly being repeated over and over again like a chant. He tried to prize his eyes away from the sleeping man but all he could do was watch in horror as the man he now lived with continued to have his horrible dream. He moved the knife from his hand to the floor next to the door and repositioned himself to kneel in front of the keyhole to continue watching the sleeping man and his chanting. 

“How is there so much blood?” He muttered.

A chill crept through Levi's body as he watched Eren, hyper-aware of how deeply he was breathing and trying to avoid being heard. 

“Please, I don’t want to see it,” Eren continued to murmur, “there is so much blood.”

He couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the man, a sudden urge coming over him to protect him so he didn’t have to see anymore bloodshed. Levi wondered how he’d managed to be so affected by blood when he hadn’t mentioned being in the army or anything like that. 

He shook his head, mentally chastising himself for getting involved in other people’s business. He took one last look at his sleeping flatmate, seeing he had moved to sleep in silence, and went back to his own room making sure to pocket his knife. 

___________________________________________

Eren went through his morning as he usually would, but making his coffee run to the kitchen as quickly as he possibly could to avoid even the smallest chance of running into his murderous roommate. Once Armin had left the flat the previous night, Eren had practically barricaded himself in his room to avoid any direct contact with the man who noticeably didn’t leave his room for the rest of the evening. Aside from leaving his room to go to work, this is how he continued living for an entire week with both men keeping their distance from one another; before being scolded by his best friend at work. 

“I just don’t understand why you don’t try talking to him?” Armin asked, both of the men sat on a bench in the school playground after being assigned lunch duty. 

“Because hes fucking scary.” Eren mumbled.

Armin smacked his friend on the back of the head “Language, Eren!”

“I’m sorry but he freaks me out!” He countered, rubbing the spot that Armin had just hit. 

“Grow up! Just speak to him, you live with him for Christ’s sake.” Armin sighed, taking a sip from his carton of orange juice. “If you don’t talk to the guy, I wll” He said, his gaze moving around the children running around the playground ensuring they were playing safely. 

“You what?” Eren snapped, his head abruptly moving to stare at Armin’s smiling one as he waved at some passing children. 

“If you don’t make an effort and talk to him, I will do it for you.” 

And so, much to Eren’s sheer terror, he had to talk to Levi. 

Eren took a deep breath before unlocking his apartment door, shuffling in as if his feet were weighed down and gently closing the door. He hung up his coat on their shared coat rack and took his shoes off, before turning around to face the rest of the apartment. 

He hadn’t noticed Levi making himself a tea, but he was hard to miss with his bare arms resting on the countertop collecting a little pool of blood on the countertop. 

“Hi.” Eren said, his voice wavering slightly as he mentally imagined all the lives that pool of blood represented. 

“Umm hi?” Levi replied, an uncertain yet utterly inviting smile materialising on his face. Maybe he lures them in with his face?

“How are you?” He said, taking a seat at the kitchen island opposite Levi and blurting the absolute first thing that came to mind. 

Levi continued to smile, “I’m well, thanks for asking. About to make a tea if you want-”

“What’s your job?” Eren interrupted the man’s smooth talking, desperately trying to seem casual but utterly failing as general intrigue took over. 

“Excuse me?” The man raised an eyebrow, moving his arms and the pool of blood that surrounded them to cross over his chest; small droplets of blood raining from his arms as if he had just showered in the stuff. 

“I-uh, I realised Hanji never mentioned” He continued, gulping at the sight of blood falling from his arms.

Levi remained silent, before turning to continue making his tea and pulling out a second cup. 

“What’s your job?” Eren asked again, his voice stronger this time. 

Levi noticeably faltered with his tea preparation, before turning back to face Eren. His jaw briefly clenched, but then he went back to his normal soft smile. “I get contracted to do bits and pieces for different people, kind of an odds and ends job really” He replied with ease, clearly a well versed response.

So he’s an assassin, Eren thought. “How long have you been doing that?” He asked, yet again blurting the first thing that came to mind. 

“So many questions!” Levi laughed a breathy laugh, moving back to leaning on the countertop and moving his subtly uncertain gaze to Eren. 

“I’m just curious.” 

The other man let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck with his bloodied hand and moving it back to rest on the countertop. “Well...ever since I can remember, really. I lived with my uncle growing up; he homeschooled me and he did the same kind of thing so I learned from him and earned my own money doing little things as well. At first he taught me how to do all the different jobs, but once I got the contacts of the people who wanted stuff done; I was about seven or eight when I could do jobs without any help” He smiled easily, in his mind telling his flatmate a heartwarming story about working and learning with his uncle.

Eren’s mouth opened in shock, Levi’s voice fading from his concentration as he realised the dual meaning behind the man’s words. 

He’s been killing since he was a child. 

Chapter Text

Eren was stunned. No words were able to leave his mouth as it remained open, becoming dryer by the second as thoughts raced through his mind of a child serial killer living with him. 

“... Eren are you alright?” Levi asked gently, his head cocked to the side as a small smile graced his lips. 

Eren closed his gaping mouth and swallowed the lump in his throat. “F-fuck.” He blurted, coughing after speaking and turning his attention back to his roommate “Sorry, sorry. Just- working from that young?” 

“Yeah, it was never particularly hard, it’s just money at the end of the day” He shrugged, resting his chin on his bloodied forearms. 

Eren tugged at the sleeves of his worn knitted jumper, one of his common techniques he used to calm himself down. “So...it's not your dream job?” He asked tentatively.

“I’m not really good at anything else, unless reading can be a job” Levi quipped, a breathy laugh following his words. 

Eren replied with his own nervous laugh, though his thoughts were anywhere but with his roommate’s reading habits. ‘How old was Levi when he first killed?’ Eren found it hard to imagine any of his students killing anyone, even the ones that weren’t too well behaved. ‘He was raised like this’. 

A cool, stomach-turning sensation washed over him as the magnitude of the situation became apparent. The man sitting across from him, smiling and talking softly about whatever book he was talking about was brought up and taught how to kill. He couldn’t help but feel sympathetic for him, it’s not like he could put up much of a fight to his up-bringing. 

But he could’ve easily stopped killing by now...surely. 

“Don’t you think?” Levi interrupted his train of thought.

“Um- yep” Eren replied, having no idea what the question was relating to. 

Levi snorted and continued talking animatedly about a book, reminding Eren so much of Hanji. ‘Do they know he’s a killer?’ He thought, nodding along to the raven’s words. ‘Maybe he stopped, or he hides it well?’. 

‘Has he killed while being my roommate?’

Levi returned to the table a few moments later, shocking Eren awake from his daydreams. He placed a cup of tea on the countertop and a yellow book neatly next to it. “Eren?” He asked, his head tilted to meet Eren’s downward facing gaze. 

“Hi…”

“Do you want a coffee?” He asked, raising an eyebrow

“No! Thanks, I just had one.” Eren lied, remembering the situation he was in as his bloodied roommate rested his hands on the clean white surface. 

Levi tilted his head, seemingly reading Eren’s expression as the reply came and looking mildly dissatisfied. The look quickly vanished, being replaced with his usual soft smile. “Ah, okay. If you change your mind just let me know!” 

The brown-haired man sighed and stood up. “Yep...I’m going to go and plan a lesson”

The other man curtly nodded and picked up his tea by the rim to have a sip “If you need me, just knock for me. I’ll probably be reading.” He said, smiling gently. 

“Okay, Levi.” Eren walked away from the kitchen and into his room; collapsing onto his desk chair. 

He looked around the room hopelessly, knowing full well he had no reason to really be hiding in his room aside from the blatantly obvious fact that he was ever so slightly scared of his roommate. The man that offered to make him drinks, the one passionately ranting about books, the one with the soothing voice-

Eren shook his head, as if the physical movement would jog his train of thought. He opened his laptop on his desk and opened a new tab to search up something, and somehow ended up tying Levi Ackerman.

No social media profiles came up, so he turned to images. He scrolled down for a bit, finding pictures of jeans and a few pictures of some old guy with long greying hair. Eren nearly gave up on finding a picture, but stumbled upon one taken of the Eiffel Tower with three people standing in front of it. 

Eren recognised Hanji wearing jeans and a massive yellow t-shirt with some weird graphic on it, grinning widely at the camera. Stood next to Hanji was Levi grinning up at a tall muscular blonde man who had an arm draped around Levi’s shoulder. ‘Who’s that guy?’ Eren suddenly thought, some angry feeling coming over him as he looked at the man’s offending arm. Levi looked utterly overjoyed in the picture, his blood hands- and elbows for that matter- were covered by gloves and the sleeves of his coat. 

Eren had pictures over surfaces and hanging on walls in the more communal areas of their apartment of his family and friends, but had left quite a few surfaces and some wall space available for Levi. The man suddenly realised that the picture he was looking at was the very same picture that was hanging from a wall in the kitchen; the only picture Levi had put up. ‘Maybe there were some in his room?’ Eren thought, but he had no intention of ever going into Levi's room; nervous to find it dark and filled with medieval torturing devices and scattered books. 

His thoughts were disturbed yet again by a knock at the door and the deep voice of his roommate “Eren?” 

Eren manically closed his laptop to hide any evidence of his stalking, just in time as Levi opened his door. “Levi.” He replied.

“I’ve just got a call...I have a job this evening and I won’t be back until quite late I’m afraid.” He said, avoiding looking at Eren as he pulled his rucksack over his back with his bare and bloody arms. “I just thought I’d let you know I’ll be out.”

Eren gulped. “Okay- yep sure, no worries”

Levi nodded at Eren, “OKay...Well, I’ll see you tomorrow then”

“Yep” Eren replied, and Levi softly closed the door with his famous smile noticeably missing. Eren knew what this meant, and felt a familiar anxiety in his stomach. 

Levi was going to kill again. 

_____________________  _____________________

Over the next few days, Levi goes out of his way to attempt to get Eren to do something with him; constantly thinking up new things for them to do together. Despite his efforts, every time Eren manages to find a way out of it. He sat at the kitchen table, coffee in hand and slouching over in his chair feeling incredibly exposed being in his own kitchen out in the open. He rarely left his room, but every Saturday morning he felt incredibly drained after a week of teaching. 

“Hey Eren!” Levi greeted cheerfully, walking over to the kettle to begin making his morning tea. 

“Mornin’” Eren mumbled.

“I-uh, I heard from a friend that there's a showing of Alien at the cinema tonight and the price is actually really reasonable. Are you free? I just bought two tickets.” He said, turning around and crossing his covered arms over his chest. 

“I’m actually busy tonight, I’m afraid” Eren lied, looking down at his coffee and feeling his ears turn red; hoping Levi didn’t notice. 

“That's alright! Maybe we could grab lunch together instead then.” He offered. 

“Sorry but I’m actually having lunch with Armin later” Eren said honestly, making his first direct eye contact of the day with his roommate. It was odd to see the man who usually wore a black short sleeved t-shirt and black jeans most of the time in pyjama bottoms and a long-sleeved navy top. He looked...comfortable. 

“No worries, maybe another time then” He said, his smile fading as he turned to complete his tea. 

Eren inwardly cursed himself, and Armin for trying to get him to be a better roommate. ‘It’s on you if I die, Armin’ he thought, mentally sending the message to his friend. 

“Maybe we could order pizza tonight once you’re back from the cinema?” Eren blurted, not particularly wanting to but feeling increasingly guilty for constantly turning the man down. 

The look on his roommate's face was one Eren had not expected from the murderer, he looked thankful. “That’s a great idea! I’ll phone you when I’m on the way back?” He replied, grinning from ear to ear. 

“Yep, sounds good.” 

“Okay, great! Well, I’ll see you tonight.”

“Yep.” Eren said, standing up and slowly leaving the kitchen; terrified of what he had gotten himself into.

___________________________________________

The walk to the cinema was a bitter one, both for the weather being awful but also for the foul mood Levi was in after finding out he was going to the cinema without Eren. He really couldn’t figure out why Eren was so against getting to know him, even being in the same room as him made Eren seem incredibly anxious and Levi had noticed him lying to get out of things. He was trying everything in his power to make the man like him, but nothing seemed to be working. 

His mood improved, however, as he arrived at the desk after buying himself a small bag of chocolates to enjoy during the film and showing the usher his ticket. He couldn’t help but smile a little as he remembered the possibilities that having dinner with Eren involved for their bonding. Hopefully, this could be the start of something great. 

Walking down the aisle slowly while scanning the letters on the floor by the rows of chairs, he noticed that the audience was mainly made up of adults; save for a group of loud children who were in the centre row. Levi didn’t hate children, he just hated rudeness and ignorance towards others which is what these children were doing in front of everyone. It’s not even like they should’ve been there, as Alien is an 18; but as a child he snuck into the cinema plenty of times so he couldn’t focus on that too much. 

He arrived at his row and scanned across the seats, the noise of the children growing louder by the second until he stood in front of them. He quickly looked at the empty chair next to the occupied one to confirm the situation - one of the brats was in his seat. 

“I’m really sorry, but I think you’re in my seat.” He calmly stated, forcing his usual calm smile onto his face as his friend had taught him to do. 

“Oh!” The blonde boy sitting in his chair mocked surprise, looking around at the surrounding chairs, “Ah sorry, this is definitely my chair. I guess you’ll have to sit somewhere else” The boy said, Levi seeing his eyes flash red as he lied. 

“Are you sure?” Levi prompted, speaking slightly louder and holding his composure. 

“This is definitely my chair, thanks” The boy said, his eyes once again flashing red for Levi. 

“You’re lying. My ticket says that the seat you’re in is mine.” He calmly pointed out, not even needing to get out his ticket to be able to tell the boy was lying to him. 

“Chill buddy-”

“I’m not your buddy, move” Levi snapped, his expression going back to a familiar sourness he was so used to covering.

“Mate, just sit somewhere else!” He chuckled, his friends that Levi had forgotten about all laughing alongside him. 

Levi took a deep breath, one thing on his mind. “Okay.” He replied and swiftly turned around, heading for a chair the back of the cinema.

‘I’ll deal with this scum and his friends later.’

Chapter Text

Levi slowly slid the knife out of the last boy’s chest, allowing blood to ooze through his once white t-shirt and stain it a shocking crimson. The underpass where they were was deathly silent after the prior screams had been silenced, the only noise being the distant passing of cars from the streets a few minutes away. 

“I’m sorry sir…” A small voice cracked out from the dying boy, raspy and strained. 

Levi moved from his kneeling position to stare the boy directly in his eyes, his face closer to the boy’s. “Remember what we talked about.” He uttered darkly, his voice comfortably lower than his usual forced high. 

“I won’t lie again. The ch- The chair was yours. I-I’m sorry” The boy replied, his eyes flashing a dull gold as he spoke.

“Well done, you’ll die telling the truth.” Levi replied, and took a deep breath as he calmly used his knife to slit the boys throat. The boy attempted to choke out more words, but he was quickly silenced by the man’s movements and fell silent; the underpass yet again becoming devoid of all noise. 

Levi swiftly stood up, retrieving his knife and wiping it clean with a red cloth before placing it in the interliner of his coat. He retrieved his phone from his black jeans and sent off a quick text before putting his coat’s hood up and calmly walking away from the scene; plugging in his earphones and playing soft piano music to ease his tension. 

After walking for a solid 5 minutes, he decided that was enough time to wait. He picked his phone from his pocket once again and clicked the number at the top of his favourites list. 

Beep beep

Beep beep

Bee- 

“Levi!”

“Did you sort it out Farlan?” Levi snapped. 

“This wasn’t a hired one, was it? Kenny didn’t mention one for today.” 

Levi let out a breath, tilting his phone away from his mouth to hide the brief show of emotion. “What of it?” 

“You just haven’t done a random one in a while...what changed?” Farlan questioned, his voice sounding slightly laboured as he supposedly dealt with the issue. 

“Nothing.” 

“We were getting worried! I was beginning to think you’d gone soft…”

Levi scoffed. “Well, no. They were brats, it had to be done. Easy as that.” 

Farlan paused briefly, yet the pause was very noticeable. “Why did you stop doing random ones? You know Kenny likes those.”

Levi shook his head and briefly looked around before ducking into a side alley close to his destination. “I kill because it’s what I’m good at, and it puts food on the table. I have never found pleasure in it, and I found no pleasure in what I did today.” He spoke in a hushed tone, looking around and noticing he was much closer than he thought. 

“Why did you stop?”

Green eyes and messy brown hair immediately sprung to mind. “New roommate, wanted to stay off radar for a bit.” This wasn’t a lie, “That’s why I haven’t done a job since that last big one in Italy” Levi huffed.

“Okay...well I hope you’re settled in now because Kenny much prefers your work to anyone else's” 

“Tch.” 

“I’m serious!”

“Whatever. Text me when it’s done” Levi replied, and hung up giving Farlan no chance to respond. 

The alley he was in led back to the cinema, and Levi spotted the toilet window he had expertly spotted on his previous tactical trip to the bathroom. He nudged the window open and hoisted himself up from the window frame and slid into the small stall, closing the window to avoid the crisp cold air being let in. He gingerly stepped off the toilet and flushed it, for good measure, and left the cubicle to wash his hands and return to watch the rest of the film. 

_____________________  _____________________

Calling Eren at the end of the film had been awkward, Eren giving choppy responses and briskly asking what Levi wanted to eat. Walking along the pavement towards their flat with his hands in his pockets, he desperately tried to think about what could’ve gone wrong since their phone call to make his roommate so cautious of him. If he had continued to be how he had been down the phone, however, Levi could have easily been in danger of developing a crush on his beautiful roommate. This was the embarrassing thought that invaded his brain the second he unlocked their front door to find Eren in grey joggers and a baggy green jumper leaning against their kitchen island on his phone. 

“Hiya!” Levi greeted, bringing back his usual chirpy voice. 

“Levi, hi.” Eren replied, moving his phone into his pocket and taking a seat at the table. 

The raven removed his coat and shoes and put them quickly in his room, hanging the coat up and putting the shoes by his bed before closing his door and returning to the kitchen. “You alright?” He asked. 

“Yep, pizza should take about 20 minutes.”

Levi hummed, walking past the kitchen counter to their living room. They had a ledge on the wall where a mantelpiece on top of a fire would go, but without a fire; an electric heater in its place. Levi stood in front of the heater to warm his legs and took the time to look at Eren’s pictures on their fake mantelpiece. 

“Who’s in this picture with you and Armin?” He asked, making conversation. 

He heard Eren stand up and walk over to where he was, Levi acutely aware of the taller man’s presence. “Oh that’s just my sister and my ex- well Armin’s boyfriend Jean.” 

Levi raised a quizzical eyebrow, “Your ex is Armin’s boyfriend?” 

“Yeah…”Eren scratched the back of his neck, knocking his hair from its haphazard updo; he fixed his hair as he spoke. “It’s not awkward though. I was with Jean for about a year and I lived with him for a year after breaking up with him before finally moving here. We were always good friends, and we still are to be honest; we just fought a lot. Plus, he’s very busy with work as he has to travel all the time” Eren spoke, his eyes shining a dazzling gold as he spoke and returning back to their usual green once he had stopped. 

Levi gulped, doing his utmost to hide any signs of his daze brought on by his roommate. “Ah, right. That makes sense.” 

“Yeah…” He trailed off. 

The rest of the evening was relatively easy in comparison to the slight awkwardness of the beginning of it all. They ate their pizza and watched a terrible film about a T-Rex that can swim, sitting a respectable distance away from each other and occasionally commenting on the bad acting and embarrassing CGI. At the end of the film, the two men said goodnight to one another and went off to their respective rooms; a barrier seemingly broken between the two through the brilliance of low-budget sci-fi. 

This continued into the early hours of the morning as they sat on their sofa together and watched the morning news with their respective warm beverages. Levi was only half watching the news, preoccupied with the book he was reading; and Eren was similarly occupied with his phone and the game he was playing. His phone kept buzzing, however, and eventually he gave in and read the messages. 

“Hey Levi, someone just posted an article to the teacher’s group chat. Did you see these kids on the way to the cinema yesterday?”

Levi looked at the picture on Eren’s phone and immediately recognised the five children from last night, the article saying all five were missing. He mentally praised Farlan and Izzy for their quick work, remembering he had yet to reply to Farlan’s message confirming completion. “Nope, sorry.”

“Ah- They’re in Armin’s year and he’s asking around like crazy about them. They were supposedly in that area a bit before you so you could’ve just missed them. He’ll have to do an assembly today or something” 

“Jesus...Well, I hope they’re found soon. That must be so horrible for him, let alone their parents!” Levi said, sympathy painted onto his face. 

Eren nodded, seemingly satisfied with his response but the distance between the two on the sofa was still painfully obvious to Levi. “Yeah, I bet. Keep an eye out, yeah?” 

“Of course!” Levi smiled gently, feeling a foreign sense of guilt for lying to Eren.  

Chapter Text

Levi’s phone rang its shrill ring he had dedicated to work calls, making the sleeping man groan. He flopped onto his front from his previous comfortable position and grabbed his phone, yanking out the charger. 

He took a quick glance at the caller and made a crumbled face of disgust before swiping to answer. 

“Rivaille, I need you to do a job.” The voice spoke in ugly french, speaking before Levi had the chance to speak himself. 

“Its fucking 6am you fucking twat, what do you want from me.” He spat down the phone, matching the language.

“A couple in that ugly coffee shop, the one with the cats on Bethnal-”

Levi seethed, “I know the fucking one. Christ cats are annoying.”

“Whatever. Apparently they’re far too PDA obsessed and-”

“I don’t give a shit about why, Kenny.”

“Get it done.” 

Levi sighed, sitting upright and pinching the bridge of his nose. “I want upfront payment this time, none of that half-arsed 2 day late shit. Tell Erwin to get his shit together quickly for once.”

“Done. Have it sorted by 1, I’ll contact clean up.”

Levi moved the phone away from his face briefly to check the time, mentally going through when Eren would wake up that Saturday morning. “I’ll have it done by 8, next time just text me you fucking arsehole.” He replied, his voice quietening down as he remembered his sleeping roommate. 

“Do you always swear this much?”

“Fuck off.” Levi spat, and hung up the phone. 

He sighed again and started to carefully get dressed into his black trousers, jumper and jacket while tiptoeing around his room; collecting various weapons and putting them in his coat as he hadn’t decided how the kill would take place yet. He even zipped up his coat incredibly slowly to avoid waking Eren up, constantly keeping in mind that night he had found him screaming. Levi wanted to ensure Eren got as much sleep as he could, but little did he know all his efforts of being quiet were in vain. 

Eren had been awoken by the French man talking, and had sneaked out of his room to look through Levi’s keyhole to watch him speak. He ran away guiltily a few moments later, however, due to seeing his attractive, bloodied neighbour shirtless. He felt conflicted in his attraction, however, as the man was clearly tired and annoyed as Eren recognised the word ‘Merde’, and kept rubbing his face. While being scary, bloody and ridiculously attractive, he was sleepy and his most honest while freshly woken. Eren got back into bed smiling to himself, noting Levi’s efforts to be quiet. 

_____________________  _____________________

Once finally reaching his floor on the last flight of stairs of what felt like millions, Levi practically sprinted to his front door to unlock it. He carefully shut the door and put his bloodied gloves in the bag in his pocket, mentally reminding himself to wash them shortly. Tiptoeing once again that day to his room, there was the unmistakable noise of the shower running echoing throughout the apartment. He walked normally to his room then, hanging up his coat and removing his shoes before using the kitchen sink to scrub his gloves. 

Once clean, he walked past the bathroom again and into his room, putting the gloves in his coat pocket. He left his room and quietly closed the door facing in the general direction of the kitchen. Instead of doing the right thing and going absolutely anywhere else; before he realised it he was standing in front of the bathroom door. 

He scrubbed his eyes, mentally reprimanding himself for his perviness before even doing anything and shook his head. He kneeled down to look through the keyhole as he had done a few nights ago at Eren’s bedroom door to watch him sleep talk, his breath catching as his eye reached the hole. 

Sure enough, Eren was mid-shower, and very naked. Levi’s eyes widened as they worked their way down Eren’s body, taking in every curve and muscle that he could from the distance. His lips went dry and his heart pounded in his ears as he knelt in front of the door, utterly transfixed by the sight before him. 

He even guiltily considered opening the door to get a better look, when the joyful guitar ringtone of his phone started to blare Hanji’s presence; announced like a royal fanfare. 

Levi bolted upright and ran away from the bathroom, finding himself scuttling around their kitchen-sitting room area finding somewhere acceptable to sit. He opted for the kitchen table and crossed his legs before calmly picking up the phone. 

“What.” He blurted, annoyed at himself and slightly at Hanji. 

“LEVIIIIII I miss youuuu! It’s been like two weeks and you haven’t told me a THING about ANYTHING!” Hanji screeched down the phone, their voice temporarily deafening Levi in his right ear. 

He sighed, immediately knowing what they were referring to. “He lied a bit at first, but he’s slowed down now.”

“Oh yeah?”

“His eyes go AND his ears go red too...double tell.”

“Oh my god that's so interesting! He lights up like a tomato.”

“I guess.” He replied, forcing himself to stop imagining his roommate naked. 

“And how is everything with work?”

“...fine.”

“Enough work on the table?”

Levi rolled his eyes, “Of course.”

“Levi I have a question.” They randomly said, a phrase Levi was starting to grow tired of hearing from Hanji.

The raven sighed and stood up to make himself a tea, “You’re not getting mates rates, idiot.”

“Come onnn I’m your best friend.”

“I’m not giving you a discount, it’s my fucking job shitty specs. I’ll get paid full whack to do it.”

“Ughhhhh you’re so annoying.” He hummed a weak response, picking a tea bag to add to his mug. “I hate to put up with my boring boss, he’s so quiet! And he's so small and old and-”

“Maybe he’ll die soon.” Levi monotoned, pulling milk from the fridge as the kettle pinged to signify it was boiled. 

“Hopefully, but he-”

“I have to go.” Levi blurted, cutting Hanji off as he heard the shower switch off in the bathroom.

“Why?”

“I want a tea,” He lied, tutting as he saw his briefly red eyes reflecting from the kettle . “Goodbye four-eyes.”

“Whatever! See ya shortie.” 

Levi made a noise and complained at the insult under his breath as he moved to sit back at the kitchen table. “Fuck you, you know what? Fuck off, shitty fucking-”

The bathroom door was opened by Eren, his wet hair tied into its usual bun and a towel loosely wrapped around his waist. Levi’s eyes immediately shot to the man’s exposed chest, wet and glistening with water droplets from the shower, but then switched to look at his face. “Hi.” He yelped, using every ounce of willpower he had in him to look up. 

“Hey.” Eren replied awkwardly, walking through the room with a small dusting of pink resting on his cheeks. He quickly glanced at Levi’s arms on the way, noticeably not his face, and made the rest of the walk to his bedroom. 

Levi raised an eyebrow, but sighed in defeat while continuing his tea. He used the time he had to himself to think about his beautiful roommate; closing his eyes to remember all the instances he had seen him. This was becoming an embarrassing thing he had started to do more frequently as the days went on, and he only felt slightly guilty as he told himself no damage was being caused. 

___________________________________________

After dressing from his shower in plaid trousers and a baggy jumper, Eren picked up his laptop and walked from his room to the living area and flopped on the sofa. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Levi cooking in the kitchen and humming something to himself. 

Eren opened up his laptop and quickly checked his school email account before opening up a news app to see if anything interesting had happened recently. 

“Ah, what a shame.” He blurted, reading their local news’ headline. 

“What?” Levi asked, his humming coming to an abrupt end. 

“A couple were on a boat and they both drowned! Some freak accident or something.”

“Oh dear, when was that?”

“They were found at 8 this morning.”

Levi moved the spoon he was using to stir to the countertop and retrieved his phone, appearing to send a quick message. “Ah, that’s so sad” he said nonchalantly, ‘ I’d better get a fucking pay rise ’ he thought. 

“I know.” Eren replied, not noticing Levi’s faked sympathy. He’d carefully watched his reaction to the whole thing, and had concluded that the raven’s remorse for the couple was sincere. He was watching Levi cook pasta with his bare arms poking out from his black t-shirt, crimson dropping in tragic droplets onto the floor. The image contrasted entirely to his entire lovely personality, the flatmate that would offer to make him coffee’s and ask if he was alright. Maybe this was all a misunderstanding , he thought, this guy couldn’t be a killer . 

“I made too much pasta.” Levi blurted apologetically, turning off the stove and interrupting Eren’s thoughts. 

“Oh…”

“Do you want some?” 

Eren thought about it for a moment, and concluded that eating together couldn’t do any harm to anyone. They sat down at the table and ate together, the quiet sound of the television and the scraping of cutlery against their plates drowning out the mildly awkward silence between them. 

While Levi fretted if Eren was alright, Eren pondered his situation once again. It can’t be a misunderstanding, the blood hands have never been wrong or even slightly incorrect, he’s a murderer. Then...why is he so nice all the time? When he was growing up, raised in an environment where killing might have been the norm, he must not have realised the depth of it all? 

Eren decided he had to figure Levi out. After all, he can’t be that bad. Right?

After their meal, Levi silently took their plates and hand washed them; a habit Eren had noticed the raven enjoyed much more than the normal person. He loitered around while Levi scrubbed, and then they both walked off to their respective bedrooms.

“Goodnight, Eren.” Levi smiled softly, nodding to the other man. 

“‘Night Levi.” Eren replied, and closed his door to get into bed. 

He smiled up at the ceiling, thinking of how the roommate situation hadn’t turned out to be as bad as he thought. He was even starting to think he could possibly like Levi, and come to be comfortable with him. Maybe we could live like normal roomates . 

_____________________  _____________________

The banging woke Eren up before the wailing started, leading him in his bleary state to stumble from his bedroom to the root cause of the noise. He glanced at the clock on the wall next to the door, noticing it was just after 3am, and briskly opened the door shamelessly in his alien print bottoms. He opened his mouth to shout at the intruder, but all noise faltered as he assessed the situation. 

Armin stood in the doorway, his eyes red clearly from crying as tears still clung to his eyelashes. The source of the wailing , Eren mentally noted. Armin then moved to run a shaky hand through his disheveled blonde hair, and that was when Eren noticed it. 

A singular red drop on his index finger, unaffected by Armin’s hand moving through his hair and over his face. 

‘Armin, what did you do.’ 

Chapter Text

Armin silently walked into the flat, carefully removing his vans and placing them where Eren’s shoes all were piled up against the wall. He walked past the gawking man and slumped down on the sofa, placing his head in his hands and taking deep, laboured breaths. Eren took a moment to rub his face with his hands, still drowsy from sleep, and closed the door before sitting next to Armin on the sofa. 

Eren opened his mouth to speak, but closed it when he saw Armin do the same. A soft sigh escaped the blonde’s lips, before he glumly moved his hands to wipe the still-clinging tears from his eyelashes. Eren’s eyes followed the small red dot on Armin’s hand as they moved, such a small thing having such shocking connotations. 

“I ran someone over.” He said, a loud sniff following his words. 

Eren’s eyes widened, but he grimly nodded. “Do you know who it was?”

“Some guy, I don’t know.” Armin shrugged, making Eren briefly question this response. 

“...did you plan to or-”

“It was obviously a fucking accident, Eren.” Armin snapped, his head flipping to face Eren’s once again before more tears began to fall. 

Eren jolted at the shock of hearing his best friend swear, but then moved to have a supportive arm around Armin, rubbing his back “Of course! Don’t worry, you didn’t mean it. It was an accident.” He said out loud, only partially to Armin. “You told the police that, didn’t you?”

“There was CCTV, they know I didn’t mean to ki-..I didn’t mean to! It was an accident, this guy was pushed into the road-” He broke off again in tears, his shoulders shuddering as he cried into his hands; while Eren's gaze stayed unwavering from the drop of blood. 

“I know you didn’t mean it, don’t worry. What happens now?”

“The police said community service a-at best, but what i-if it's not best?” He mumbled through his hands. 

Eren sighed, raking a hand through his long hair he had forgotten to tie up overnight. He had fallen asleep thinking about Levi, his embarrassing fantasies of the bloodied man wearing slightly less clothing doing unspeakable things to him taking precedence over all reason. The thoughts seemed to have come from nowhere, but were having a hard time leaving his mind. He cleared his throat. “It’s clear you didn’t mean to do it, Armin, and they must know that. There’s evidence.” 

“And what about school, what will they say?” Armin looked up at Eren, his eyes red-raw and vulnerable; reminding Eren of the common sight of a child that had fallen over in the playground at their school. 

“I’ll come with you when you talk to them about it. They know you, Ar, they know what you’re like. I bet you’ll be fine.” He poured every ounce of certainty he could into his voice, despite being secretly seriously concerned for his friend’s career working with children. 

Armin sniffled, looking away from Eren at nothing in particular. “...thank you.” 

Eren nodded, rubbing his back comfortingly once again. “Hot choccy?”

Armin nodded glumly, pulling the blanket hanging on the back of the sofa around his shoulders. 

Eren stumbled off the sofa and headed towards the kitchen, scooping up a random jumper resting over a chair  on the way to cover his progressively colder torso; moving on autopilot to make the drinks. Pulling the weirdly tight jumper over his head, Eren couldn’t help remembering Levi gawking over his chest on the previous day when he had been returning from his shower. 

Eren felt he exercised a reasonable amount, in his mind a few jogs a week and swimming most afternoons in the school’s pool they shared with the gym being enough. Levi, however, seemed to go to the gym about 4 times a week, explaining the ridiculously attractive arms bulging out of the sleeves of his sinfully tight black t-shirts. It was like he lived there, but you couldn’t tell by anything else he did; this being either reading or cooking. The stunning image of Levi faltered in his head, being grimly reminded of the man’s bloodied forearms. He shook his head as if to clear his mind of his thoughts, smiling softly as he replaced this with the image of watching another terrible film with Levi. He didn’t admit it to the other man, but he had quickly grown to enjoy spending time with Levi. 

“...Eren” Armin’s voice said slowly, snapping Eren from his daze and prompting him to bring the drinks to the coffee table. 

“Armin.” He replied, grinning to himself.

“Why did you say ‘ what did you do’ ? How did you know?” The gravity of the situation hit Eren like a pile of bricks, their previous conversation coming back into mind as his smile erased itself from sight. 

“What?” Eren choked out, fear stabbing him directly in the stomach as he knew exactly what his annoyingly intelligent friend was referring to. 

“Normal people would ask what was wrong, but you immediately asked what I had done.” Armin reasoned, the tears having dried from his eyes to be replaced with their own concern. 

“It's a long story...really don’t worry about it, Ar” He replied, grabbing a hairband from the coffee table and nervously putting his long hair up haphazardly. 

The blonde put a hand on Eren’s arm, covered snugly by the tight jumper. “Eren, I’m your best friend. Please, I want to know.”

Eren sighed, letting his head briefly fall against the top of the sofa and his eyes close with the movement. He desperately tried to think of something; anything he could say to go against the truth. He scrunched his eyes up, as if the pressure on his pupils would help his thought process. 

Unfortunately, that was not the case. He sighed again and sat up, having a quick swig of his hot chocolate before turning to face Armin face-on. “Fine.”

And so, he explained it fully for the first time in his life. From the time in the doctor’s office, to the assembly in school. The times he had crossed the road to avoid people who looked as though they had Blood Hands, but it could have easily been make-up. He told Armin as much as he could about what he could see, explaining what it looked like in every detail. He misses Levi out, noticeably, his mind turning to the man softly humming and ‘accidentally’ making him dinner while blanking out his blood hands.  

Once he finished, Eren paused to allow Armin to gather his thoughts. The blonde had taken the whole thing surprisingly well, taking into account the absurdity of it all. He hadn’t even questioned if Eren had been lying, he just wanted to know as much as he possibly could. 

“So...you always know.” Armin concluded, his voice steady as he took a sip of his drink. 

Eren nodded firmly, “Always.”

Armin looked away for a moment, making Eren slightly raise an eyebrow. The blonde frowned, as if doubting his own thoughts, but then spoke with a hushed voice. “When Levi moved in, you told me he was a murderer.”

He’s too smart for his own good , Eren thought to himself; silently cursing his friend. He laughed nervously, “Ah, yeah I-um...I jumped to conclusions. He had a cut on his finger and I assumed - I’m so paranoid about this kind of thing- it was clearly a cut.” This, of course, was a massive under-exaggeration of the bloodied arms of his roommate; the sheer mass of death somehow forcing blood to drip off his forearms. The image flashed in Eren’s head of Levi’s forearms resting on the kitchen counter, blood pooling in little circles representing lives he had taken. He forced the image out as soon as he could, yet again feeling incredibly conflicted. 

The other man nodded, somehow satisfied with Eren’s response in his daze. “Ah right, that makes sense...a lot of things make sense now actually. Thank you for being here, I would’ve gone to Jean but he’s away on another business trip.”

“No worries, anytime.” Eren smiled to himself, fondly remembering Jean buying him sweets and plants from his business trips. He purposely avoided telling Armin this in the moment, though, just in case Jean didn’t do the same for him. 

Armin stood up and headed back to the front door, closely followed by Eren as he put his shoes back on. “I’m going to get a cab to Mikasa’s place, I have overnight stuff in one of her spare rooms I’ll use. Thanks for letting me turn up.” The blonde said, the colour seeming to return to his previously drained face as he recovered from what had happened. 

“As I said, anytime. You sure you’ll be alright getting there?”

“Yeah, it’s fine,” He pulled out his phone and opened up an app to show Eren, “Apparently there's a cab just around the corner so I’ll use that one.”, pocketing his phone. 

“Alright, just let me know once you get there safely.”

“I will, thanks Eren.”

Eren offered a small smile as he opened the door, “Again, anytime-” He paused, briefly thinking about his sister he had failed to talk to for a good few months now. “Tell Mikasa I say hi...its uh- its been a while and I should probably talk to her.”

The blonde flashed a grin, the biggest smile he had produced that evening. “Will do.” 

Armin slammed the door shut, causing Eren to wince at his concern of waking his sleeping roommate. He grunted, however, and quietly padded over to his coffee machine; coming to the conclusion that once awake he may as well do some grading. 

Although, despite his efforts to remain quiet and turn the coffee machine on as softly as he could- his efforts amounted to nothing. 

In his bedroom, Levi sat down with his back pressed up hard against his door; an imprint of the wood inevitably carving itself onto his bare back. He stared down at his scarred hands, feeling self conscious of their appearance. 

He was sweating, hair stuck to his head from the nightmare he had been woken up from, the shrill sound of frightened wailing at the front door immediately raising him from his bed. He had opened his bedroom door to see Eren bumbling over to the front door, opening it to see his blonde friend standing there crying. 

Levi softly closed his door, but pressed his ear up against it and listened to the whole thing; eventually finding himself to be where he was. He glared at his hands, scrunching them up into fists before letting his head fall helplessly onto them. He didn’t have any cuts on his hands when they met, he had just come back from Italy where he wore gloves for every single kill. 

Eren must know if what he said was true. If he can really see blood on peoples hands then surely he knows…

Then why did he protect me?

Chapter Text

After a few moments of silence, Levi heard quiet shuffling around in the kitchen room followed by the light hum of Eren’s coffee machine springing to life. He had not moved since sliding into his position, his bare back painfully pressed against his bedroom door and his head forced onto his clenched fists- inevitably leaving two neat red marks on his forehead. 

Levi tried to take a breath, the lump in his throat refusing to clear, and felt his chest convulse at the sheer force of his anguish. He heaved his head up, only to stare down at his annoyingly clean hands with distant, glassy eyes. 

What the fuck do I do now?

He once again swallowed a breath, each attempt going towards removing the lump, and staggered up into a standing position; wobbly from the swell of emotions he was feeling. He brought his hands up to his face, massaging his temples as if to clear his thoughts; eventually opting to ruffle his sweaty hair away from the sticky closeness to his skin. Blinking a few times, his ears beginning to ring, he practically collapsed into his bed forcing himself to delve back into the nightmares he had woken to avoid. Anything but this . 

Levi’s sleep felt like it lasted seconds, brief flashes of red and gold accompanied by screams of terror plaguing every moment his eyes were closed. He was almost glad to wake up, bolting upright out of bed wide-eyed and very much unable to fall asleep again. Checking the time on his phone and seeing he had slept 3 hours, Levi slipped his phone into his short’s pocket and pulled on a long-sleeved black t-shirt and gently slid open his bedside drawer to retrieve the dark spindly frame of his glasses. 

He put them on, tutting at his own terrible eyesight and laziness to not put his contacts in, and carefully plodded out of his room in the direction of the kettle. His movements faltered briefly as he noticed Eren’s long hair hanging off the end of the sofa, signifying his presence in the room. Levi strongly walked on, filling up the kettle and turning it on while using every bit of strength he had to not go and look at the sleeping man on the sofa. He constantly fiddled with the ends of his sleeves, pulling them to hide his hands even from himself conscious of all the death they had caused, and all the death Eren could see.  

Eren himself opened his eyes slowly as he was woken to the noise of the kettle boiling, smiling softly to himself at the thought of Levi making a tea, but also feeling nervous for some reason. He yawned quietly while opening his phone, checking the time and sending a quick message to his sister asking if she wanted to meet up sometime soon. 

He rose from the sofa, feeling he’d left his hair down again and grimacing slightly at that fact brought it up into a haphazard up-do with stray bits of hair falling around his face in their usual annoying manner. He quickly looked down at his clothes, cursing himself for falling asleep in his pyjama bottoms and weirdly tight hoodie he didn't remember buying. For some reason, the thought of appearing dirty made him grimace when usually he wouldn't care in his own home. 

He walked over to the kitchen, leaning against the doorless doorway with his arms crossed watching Levi prepare his tea. 

Levi noticed Eren stood in the doorway immediately, yet avoided looking or even saying anything as he felt his cheeks warm slightly at the concept of being watched by Eren and desperately wanted to cover it. He’s not looking at you because he likes you, his type is very clearly tall and joyful men, and you are neither of those things , he thought. 

Oh, and he knows you’re a murderer . 

None of these thoughts crossed Eren’s mind as he watched Levi scuttle about their kitchen carefully, constantly pulling his long sleeves over his hands and poking his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Eren’s nerves came back seeing Levi like that, the sleeves concealing any signs of his blood hands.

A small drop escaped the blood’s material confines ruined this image briefly though, causing Eren to shake his head in annoyance. Shut up! He’s not cute, he’s a murderer with blood dripping from his hands! Stop!

He cleared his throat. “Hi, Levi?” He said, for some reason as if it were a question. 

Levi moved his head towards Eren, briefly raking his eyes over his roommate’s body and praying he didn’t notice him lick his lips. “Hi, Eren. Do you fancy a coffee?” He forced out, looking up from the toned legs and tight-fitting hoodie to stare at his sleepy face and messy hair; the promise of making him a warm beverage distracting him from the real thoughts in his mind. 

Eren sighed and slumped down onto one of the chairs at their kitchen island. “Yes please.” 

Levi nodded in affirmation, and quickly turned to switch on Eren’s coffee machine, the familiar ritual of making their morning drinks now becoming a regular occurrence bringing back a familiar sense of security he had been missing. 

After a few moments of comfortable silence while he made the drinks, Levi turned around and presented Eren with his drink, raising an eyebrow slightly as something became immediately apparent as he looked at Eren once again. 

“That’s my hoodie, Yeager.” Levi huffed out, his hidden bland and deeper voice making a rare appearance in front of Eren. Levi’s own blandness surprised him, and he forced an awkward smile at the end of his statement to make it seem more realistic for the person he pretended to be.

Eren’s face immediately flushed a deep red, his eyes widening, “Oh, sorry-” He reached down and began to lift the bottom up over his toned stomach. 

“Don’t worry!” Levi interrupted, holding his hands up defensively, “Have it if you want, it’s a bit too big for me anyway.” Levi reasoned,  deciding that the thought of his attractive roommate wearing his clothes was quite exciting. Eren, however, was mentally laughing as the ‘ too big ’ hoodie was unreasonably tight on him but keeping his expression plain to avoid giving his thoughts away. 

“Sorry…” Eren smoothed the hoodie back down, taking a quick sip of his freshly brewed coffee. Levi sat down opposite him, yet again pulling his sleeves over his hands and poking his glasses up as if it were some kind of ritual. Eren hadn’t even seen Levi wearing glasses before. He cleared his throat again and began talking before he had even thought about it, “Armin was in an accident last night.” He practically blurted, placing his coffee down on the counter in preparation to tell the story. 

“Oh gosh, really?” Levi replied, tilting his head slightly as Eren explained everything Levi had already heard the previous night; the raven focusing his attention on Eren’s fingers drumming on the counter or his knee bobbing making their drinks jolt around or his lip biting between explanations. 

“Wow...that must’ve been terrible for him!” Levi said, choosing to speak once it had seemed like Eren hadn’t spoken for a while. 

“He’s really struggling, understandably.”

“I’m sure he’s got it all covered having you around, but if he needs anything be sure to let him know I’m here for him too.” Levi said, physically restraining himself from reaching over and holding Eren’s hand; the projected image of Eren jerking his hand away being too much for the raven to handle. 

“Thanks Levi, he’d really appreciate that.” Eren replied, smiling the sort of sad smile you would flash at a funeral. 

“A pleasure…” Levi looked down at his hands again, clenching them back into fists before carefully speaking again. “...about last night-” 

Levi looked up to see Eren had set down his finished coffee and stood up from his chair, stretching his long muscular arms into the air; exposing a line of tanned flesh from under Levi’s own hoodie. Levi averted his gaze, taking another sip of his tea. 

“Yeah?” Eren responded, resting his forearms on the surface not too far from Levi. 

“Oh-ummm” Levi realised in that moment that he didn’t want to ruin the bliss that they had created. Eren smiling over at Levi, belly warm full of coffee the shorter man has just made for him, his hair in a state of haphazard disarray. The man had lived and still seemed happy to live like this while being aware the entire time about Levi’s career, maybe he didn’t mind? “Don’t worry.” Levi blurted, without much thought. 

Eren nodded and flashed a large grin, one Levi was being graced with more and more often of late. “Okay, I’m going to have a shower.” He said, and swiftly turned around heading towards their bathroom. 

“Okay~” Levi responded, his eyes following Eren’s backside as it taunted him towards the bathroom. 

He took another sip of his tea to take his mind off of Eren, weirdly feeling comfortable with the situation they were in. He allowed himself a small, natural smile at Eren’s willingness to take off his hoodie simply because it was Levi’s. He almost got lost in that thought, when he felt his phone vibrate an irregular pattern he had designated from one contact only. 

He removed his phone from his short’s pocket and opened up the text to see a name, description, address and time crop up as a text from Kenny; followed by the sum he was going to be paid for it and the payee’s initials. He glanced towards his bedroom door, mentally planning what he would do now and what to bring, and swallowed another lump that had formed in his throat. 

What now?

Levi was eager to work again, but felt conflicted to do so knowing his roommate knew what he did. He had never felt so conflicted over a kill before, his throat feeling like it was closing up as he moved on autopilot to his bedroom to change and collect the items he needed. While preparing for the job, he repeated a mantra over and over again in his head to keep him going. 

Eren would’ve said something by now if he really cared.

Chapter Text

The kill itself was swift, after years of practise Levi knew the perfect placement of his favourite knife through someone's rib to slice their heart and end their life. He debated other methods, such as asphyxiation or maybe even asking Hanji for a new drug concoction to try but a knife wound seemed the fastest and most efficient method for what he wanted to achieve.

When Levi killed, he never really felt anything and was never particularly observant to his victims or anything aside from doing the job and trying not to get too much blood on himself. However, when he slid his knife into his victim’s chest he found himself looking directly into her eyes. He watched the woman’s final few moments, her eyes blowing in shock and slowly calming down until becoming motionless. Once she had passed, the raven staggered up and shot a quick text before leaving her bedroom; taking one final look at the figure slumped at her dressing table. 

Levi left the house through the back door and expertly skirted through the garden and side alleys by the house after taking a few minutes before entering the house to plan an escape route. Once he made it to the main road not far from his flat, he slowed his pace to blend in a bit more and calmed his breathing. 

_____________________  _____________________

Levi’s hands felt numb from the cold as he unlocked the front door, shaking slightly while he gently pushed open the door and took a shaky breath. “I’m home!” he yelled. 

The flat was silent, the only noise being the fridge’s gentle hum it always made alongside the heater under their mantlepiece keeping the flat warm. “Eren?” The raven walked through the apartment and dumped his stuff in his room, before plodding out and finding himself in the kitchen.

He scratched the back of his neck and looked around for a moment before he realised, “He’s at work.” The raven sighed at his immediate disappointment, making his way over to the kitchen sink and beginning his routine of cleaning everything he had used. 

He scrubbed everything to a meticulous level, his thoughts slowly racing away from him as he scrubbed his hands raw. The woman’s eyes flashed every time he blinked, fading from the greeny gold they had adopted to their normal pale blue as life left her body. 

The shrill tone of his phone ringing broke his cycle of furiously washing his hands, finding them red and slightly more stratched than usual. He carefully patted them dry, not wanting to aggravate them more than he already had, and answered his phone knowing the ringtone meant it was someone from work but not checking to see who it was. 

“What.”

“Hey! We did it, was a quite easy clean.” Farlan answered lightly, a lilt in his voice reserved for when he was in a good mood. 

“...Good. Could you not fucking text this?”

His friend was silent for a few seconds, stuttering slightly before speaking again, “It’s just...this might’ve been your quickest kill yet!” 

“Tch.”

“It was as clean and efficient as always, incredible marksmanship. Normally you bleed ‘em a bit more though.”

Blood. Visions of Eren screaming in his sleep, terrified by all the blood he was subject to on a daily basis; and that was Levi’s fault. 

“Just wanted to minimise blood today, less cleaning.” He leaned against the kitchen island and hung his head, screwing his eyes closed and hoping Farlan hadn’t noticed the slight wobble in his voice. 

“Alright...I mean- is it getting too much? It’s unlike you to be that bothered-”

“Farlan, just drop it.” The raven snapped, forcing his voice to adopt its bland tone. 

“You can talk to me, Levi.” His voice softened, and got much quieter.

Levi felt his chest tighten at the words, knowing the one thing he wanted to talk about would be incredibly difficult to explain. “Thanks, Farlan.” 

Before he could reply, Levi hung up on his friend and threw his phone onto the countertop, briskly pacing back and forth across the kitchen trying to think of what to do next. 

He ran a shaky hand through his hair and closed his eyes, taking another deep breath and trying to think of something to calm him down. When in the past, his immediate thought had been his mother or sitting by the sea his mind went to just the night before where he had made food for Eren. 

It was because of this that instead of spending his free time reading or researching ways to improve his work, Levi ended up rushing around the kitchen and making palmiers for Eren using pre-made puff pastry from the fridge he had bought a few days ago. He wasn’t completely certain why he was cooking for Eren, if he could pinpoint any one main reason why he felt the need; if it was either to impress Eren or it was just to give the raven something to do. 

Either way, once Eren finally returned from work Levi had a large plate filled with palmiers waiting for him on their kitchen island while the raven sat on their sofa reading a book, having a sip of his tea. When Eren walked in and removed his striped scarf and dark blue fluffy coat, Levi’s head shot up to watch his actions and allowed a soft smile to form on his face. Eren looked back at Levi sitting on the sofa underneath a blanket and let his own small smile form. 

“Hiya.”

“Hey, do you want a coffee?” 

Eren grinned and nodded enthusiastically, sitting down at the kitchen island. “Ooh yes please, those smell incredible.” 

Warmth sprang up in Levi’s chest at the compliment, Eren liked the smell of his food! He looked down at his long sleeves he had put on after cooking and sighed at himself, standing up and going to make Eren’s coffee. He heard Eren flick on the television and put on something with a laughing audience in the background, Eren himself laughing along softly at whatever had been said. 

Once finishing Eren’s drink, Levi joined him on the sofa and placed the plate of palmiers he had carried in his other hand on their footstool. 

“Thank you so much Levi, what a treat!” Eren smiled again, his eyes flashing a breathtaking gold before he gently picked up the pastry and took a bite. 

The raven noticed how close they were sat when Eren’s small moans of appriciation sounded shockingly close to his ear, Levi’s face flushing at the erotic noises. He picked up his tea to distract himself. 

“These are so nice!” Eren muffled, face full of pastry. 

A small buzz came from Levi’s phone at that moment, but he chose to ignore it, turning his attention back to his roommate. “I’m glad you like them, I made them for you actually.”

“You did?” He asked, grinning as he looked at Levi. “Oh you little softie.”

“Little?!” The raven exclaimed, and was met with laughter. 

“Am I wrong?” He justified, and Levi annoyingly found himself chuckling alongside him. 

Another message came to Levi’s phone and he willed it to stop, nothing could be as important as watching his beautiful roommate laugh. 

They continued to laugh about Levi’s height for a few seconds more, until they were interrupted by the shrill ringtone from Levi’s phone he had designated for work calls. His face paled, falling as he knew what it all meant. 

Eren grew silent, making the immediate assumption that the phone call meant that someone’s life was in danger. 

“I kind of need to get this, I’ll be back in a moment.” Levi sighed, pulling the phone from his pocket and standing up. 

“No problem.”

Levi stormed into his room and closed the door, picking up the phone with a scowl. “Tu veux un visage de baise?”

[What do you want fuck face?]

“Ah, Levi, so glad to hear from you.”

“What the fuck do you want Kenny.” He snapped, leaning against his bedroom door. 

“I texted like you requested, but that didn’t seem to work. This needs doing, you can find the info-”

“Spit it out now you’re here so i can do it.” He mumbled, hating the words as they fell out. 

“Freckled idiot needs dealing with, he’s the reason some guy is cheating? I’m not too sure, some little nervous blondie came by-”

“When have I ever asked for details, Kenny. Give me the place and I’ll do it.”

Kenny clicked on his computer for a moment and hummed, “His house would do, he’s in right now. I texted the address, the client wants it done ASAP.”

“On it.”

Levi hung up and picked up the same bag he had used that morning, putting in a few extra things just in case they were needed. He hurriedly grabbed a jumper and put it on while leaving his bedroom, heaving his bag on his back as he re-entered the living room. 

Eren looked up from him from where he was sat, a sad expression on his face Levi knew he had caused. “Sorry Eren but I’ve got to go out, I won’t be long though it’s just a little job.” He mumbled, ashamed that they both knew what that really meant but that he didn’t want to explicitly say it out loud. 

“No worries,” The teacher smiled, taking Levi’s blanket for himself. “Want to put on a film when you get back?”

Levi smiled back, “Sounds great.”

_____________________  _____________________

The raven thumped on the apartment door softly, allowing himself a few moments to compose himself and come into the character he needed to play for his job. 

The door opened to a young man, around Eren’s age, with chestnut brown middle-parted short hair and a soft-featured face scattered with freckles. “Hiya! Can I help you?” He smiled, seeming far too cheerful to be talking to a stranger. 

“Hi, is Erwin in?” Levi asked, subtly moving his glasses away from his eyes for a moment as the lie fell out; desperate to avoid the red glare it created. 

The freckled man frowned, “I’m sorry but I don’t actually know an Erwin.”

Levi gulped dramatically and brought his palm up to his forehead, looking at the floor. “Oh my God! I’m so sorry I was given this address for a date! He must’ve given the wrong place.” He rambled, the excuse ringing partially true from when the once budding policeman had stood him up. Oh how things have changed, he thought. 

“Are you sure it was this flat?” The man frowned, tilting his head sympathetically. 

“Yeah…” He moved out of the doorframe and looked up and down the hall, pretending to read the numbers. “He gave me this exact flat.” He said at last, looking at the man with every ounce of hopelessness he could muster before looking down. 

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry.” 

The raven looked up from previously frowning at his shoes and feigned gaining composure, “I-... I just really thought he was the one, you know?” He sighed, “I’m really sorry for disturbing you.”

“Don’t worry! I was actually just making tea, maybe you’d like to join me?” He asked. 

That was fucking easy, Levi thought. “Really?”

“Of course!.” The man’s eyes shone a dazzling gold and the raven felt himself walk inside the apartment, sitting down at the kitchen table while the man brewed tea in his small kitchen.

He gazed around at the pale yellow room filled with bright green plants and pictures of smiling people. In one of them Levi noticed the freckled man kissing another man in a park somewhere, another showed the same horse-faced man laughing at the camera.

Oh shit that’s Jean! Levi suddenly realised, frantically looking at all the pictures again to confirm his suspicions. 

Did that make the little blondie Armin?

“You make a wonderful couple!” Levi shouted in the general direction of the kitchen, keeping his eyes locked onto the picture of the man and Jean kissing in a park. It was definitely him. 

“Oh, thank you! Jean and I have been together for about four years now.”

Levi’s mind raced, Jean...four years. Eren was with him about two years ago, and Armin is with him now. 

Who was this guy?

Chapter Text

“-Jean and I have been together for about four years now.”

Levi’s mind raced, Jean...four years. Eren was with him about a year ago, and Armin is with him now. 

Who was this guy?

“Wow, that’s a long time.” Levi answered nonchalantly, squinting at the pictures again to make sure he wasn’t projceting anything. This was definitely the right Jean, the same weird two-toned hair, the same stupid long face, the same laughing face he showed in pictures with Eren and his friends. The only difference was that he was with the freckled man in these pictures, his expression appearing as joyful as when he was with Eren.

“Here you go! I hope you like it.” The man placed an ornate yellow teapot onto the kitchen table, and a few moments later put down two similarly yellow tea cups and matching saucers next to it. Levi watched the freckled man rushing around his kitchen, scrubbing down a tea strainer and getting out a small pot to pour milk from his fridge in and then placing it alongside all the other fancy items. 

Levi calmly poured himself a tea, the pleasant and faintly sweet scent of the chamomile wafting up; instantly relaxing the slight nerves he had started to feel. The man followed his movements with a similar level of expertise, watching Levi’s movements carefully with a look of hopeful joy pasted onto his face. The shorter man took a sip of the tea and hummed in approval, finding the tea itself to be one of the best he had ever had. 

“Is it alright? I’m still trying to wrap my head around tea brewing, I just hope it’s okay.” The freckled man blabbed nervously, having a quick sip of the tea himself. 

“The tea is lovely! Thank you so much for letting me have some.” Levi responded, attention away from the tea and entirely focused on the other man as he watched his movements. The pessimist in him wondered if this guy knew about Eren and Armin, and if the whole ‘ Jean and I ’ happy families act was some sick game they played together. 

Levi had a deep inlaid hatred of people who went against built-up trust. Within the syndicate he had grown up in, the group his uncle lovingly referred to as his family but was clearly a gang, loyalty was the most valued trait a person could possess. While qualities of inflicting harm, torture and the like were understandably regarded highly since being a young boy, he was also raised to have trust with those close to him and give what he would want in return. 

He’d found it hard to trust other people that weren’t involved with the group he had been raised in, partially due to the values placed on him since childhood but also the fact that he always knew if he was being lied to. He also couldn’t imagine breaking the trust of someone as close to him as a lover, despite the fact that the majority of his lovers had been one night stands. 

“You’re more than welcome, it's a pleasure.” The freckled man stirred Levi from his mental ramblings, jolting him back to the present. “You can take a box if you want, I recently stocked up and went a bit overboard.” He nodded towards some boxes piled up against the kitchen wall, stacked identical purple boxes with intricate gold lettering. 

Levi grinned and plucked a box from the pile, “This is amazing, thank you so much.” and carefully placed a box inside his bag, alongside a pair of gloves, a knife and some rope reminding him of why he was even there in the first place. He zipped his bag up again and forced his face to shift to a frown, coming back into the character he had created for himself. “I’m really sorry about this, I’m just completely thrown off guard by it.” 

The other man nodded gently in understanding, putting his teacup back onto its saucer. “It’s honestly completely fine, I’m sure this must be awful for you.” He sympathised, his eyes glowing gold as he spoke. 

“Yeah...it’s just that this has happened before-” He sighed, placing a hand over his eyes as if to hide the lie, “I should really be used to this by now.”

“No! Nonono not at all! He clearly wasn’t worth your time.”

Levi moved his hand, his eyes forcibly glassy, “You think so?”

“Yeah! I believe that there’s someone for everyone, obviously I’m slightly biased with my Jean but I really do believe that there is someone for everyone, even you…” He paused, realising he was unsure of a name for his houseguest. 

“Levi.” The shorter man supplied.

“Ah, nice to meet you Levi. I’m Marco.” He smiled. 

“Likewise…” He responded, feeling a sinking feeling down in his stomach. For the first time in what felt like his entire life, he didn’t feel like he could kill someone. He knew there was good money in it, but this guy isn’t a problem. In fact , he thought, he reminds me of Eren and the way his eyes shine a breathtaking gold when he tells the truth . He cleared his throat, “I’m really sorry if I’m disturbing you.” He reiterated, forcing himself back into the correct mindset. 

“Not at all! Jean’s just gone on an emergency business trip, you see. He’s a travel writer so he travels a lot, but sometimes his bosses need him urgently in different countries- so I’ve been left to my own devices for a few days.”

Levi remembered Jean rushing back that morning from his prior so-called ‘business-trip’ to comfort Armin after what had happened. Jean is on the other side of town with Armin right now...I should tell him. 

The taller man continued talking, babbling about their dream to move to Italy together and detailing the house, a balcony filled with plants, brightly painted walls. He even went on to say how his boyfriend is ‘ really trying his best ’ to learn italian. “But, anyway! I was a bit bored so really, Levi, it’s nice to have the company.” He smiled yet again, his whole face telling Levi all he needed to know. This guy was completely genuine and honest, he meant every single word he said. 

“Thank you so much for having me-” Levi shook his head suddenly. I can’t do this. “I actually need to say something to you, Marco.” 

“Oh?” The other man questioned, a small smile still on his face. 

“I’ve done something I hate doing, and it’s made me feel terrible doing it-” Levi swallowed a shaky breath, staring intently at his teacup and incredibly aware of the silence in the room. He glanced up to see Marco cocking his head to the side, questioning him but giving him plenty of room to speak. “I’ve lied to you.” 

He frowned, “Oh...s-so…”

“Marco, I’m sorry...I was hired to come to your apartment today.” Levi spoke with a strained voice, sitting up and forcing himself to look the other man directly in the eyes. 

“You were? I don’t understand...what you mean by that.” He broke off in nervous laughter, picking up his teacup again and holding onto it without actually drinking anything. 

“I was hired...Fuck!” He shouted, taking a deep breath to get the words out. “I was hired to kill you, Marco.”

“Kill me?! Don’t be ridiculous, you got given the wrong address because Erwin is a horrible man and he stood you up.” He reasoned, the ghost of a smile still on his face but uncertain in its place there. 

“I couldn’t be more serious right now if i tried, and I never do this. I just know something that I need to tell you...There are a few reasons why I feel like I can’t do this. I can’t kill you.” Levi started talking with his voice steady and confident but progressively grew smaller and more insecure as he went on. 

“What’s wrong?” 

“You’re not meant to comfort me! I’m literally here to kill you, Marco.”

“I know but...please tell me what’s wrong.” 

“Your boyfriend Jean.”

Marco’s comforting smile faltered, but still no anger registered on his face, “ HE hired you? He wouldn’t, I don’t-”

“ He didn’t hire me.” Levi interrupted.

“Who hired you Levi?”

A thought came to the shorter man’s mind as he scrambled to get out his phone, and opened it up to his last text message. He gently placed it on the table and turned it to face Marco, displaying the details of the job in addition to the payee’s details. “Jean’s boyfriend, Armin.” Levi replied, his voice strained. 

The freckled man looked down at the phone, taking a few deep breaths and clenching his jaw, his expression hidden behind a curtain of dark hair. “His...I don’t understand.”

Levi spoke again with a careful soft voice, one you would use to an injured animal when comforting it. “They’ve been together as far as I can tell for a few weeks, when I moved in-” Green eyes immediately came to mind, what would Eren think of me now? Levi thought. This is the right thing. Marco doesn’t need to hear Eren’s name, “When I moved into my new flat. He also had a boyfriend before Armin and they were together for about a year and a half I believe.”

Marco was silent, still taking breaths to steady himself while he stared at the phone in front of him. “I’m so sorry Marco.”

“So, Jean’s current boyfriend- I’m really sorry what was his name again?” He asked, moving his face up to look at Levi, small trails of tears already on his cheeks and more gathering in his eyes. 

“Armin.”

“Right, so Armin hired you to kill me?”

“That’s right. I never ask why someone hired me, but my boss mentioned cheating when he spoke to me down the phone. I assume that means Armin found out about you somehow.”

“And he wants me dead instead of sorting out the situation?”

“Apparently so.” Levi replied, a grim expression forming on his face out of confusion and utter heartbreak for the man. Of all the responses to finding out your boyfriend was cheating on you, and that someone had been hired to kill you, this was incredibly far from the response he was expecting. 

“And the other boyfriend...He had no idea about me? I didn’t know about him.”

“As far as I’m aware, no.” Levi wracked his brain, thinking back to Eren and his brief mentions of Jean. He talked about their argumentative relationship, about his business trips, but he never mentioned cheating; it was made out that they broke up due to their incessant arguing.

The other man took a deep final breath and nodded his head, firmly glueing his teary eyes to Levi. “Okay, well I suppose that answers it.”

Levi raised his eyebrows, “Answers it...what?”

“Levi, the love of my life has never been loyal to me. He grounded me to this earth, he’s the reason I breathe. I don’t think I can live on this earth with the knowledge that he doesn’t and never did care for me the same way I do for him.” 

The shorter man shook his head in disbelief, feeling a lump form in his throat. “That doesn’t mean you need to die!”

“What else is there?” He gave a watery smile, his voice wavering. 

“There’s so much in this world, so much. Please...I don’t think I can do this.” He replied, feeling his cheeks dampening from his own tears that had started to fall. 

Marco placed a hand on Levi’s arm resting on the tabletop, rubbing it affectionately much like a friend would. “It’s okay, Levi.” He spoke slowly, carefully getting out his words as sincerely as he could. “You can get your money and I can get my peace. I don’t want this.” He searched Levi’s eyes, giving him a sad smile while his own eyes shone a dazzling gold. 

The shorter man let out a muffled sob, placing his own shaking hand on top of Marco’s steady one.  “...You’re the most honest man I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, Marco.” Levi mumbled.  

The other man nodded, “Thank you...Can I actually request something of you before you kill me?”

Levi barked a laugh at the request, wiping away the tears brimming at his eyes. “Anything.”

Chapter Text

The TV grumbled lightly in the background as Eren sat on the sofa scrolling through social media, not looking at anything in particular but more doing so to fill time. He had ordered pizza about an hour ago assuming Levi would return soon and thought it would be a nice surprise for his roommate, but when he still wasn’t back and the pizza arrived he resorted to putting it in the fridge ready to heat up once he returned. 

He continued to scroll for a little while longer when a thought popped into his head, and he moved over to his text messages. Frowning down at his phone, Eren realised that Mikasa never replied to his message asking if she would meet up with him. He quickly sent another one, adamant to get a reply from her after his revelation. Eren had struggled to trust people his whole life, and was ashamed to admit he had lost his trust in his father and sister a long while ago now. 

He hadn’t spoken to her in a few months, the only contact he had had with her had been watching her play rugby on the TV, but of course that didn’t really count. The thing that made him even consider messaging his sister again after what she did was Levi moving in, he realised suddenly, and snorted at the thought. Who would’ve thought that all it would take was a serial killer moving in for Eren to talk to people again?

As if on cue, the door rattled and opened to his roommate three hours after leaving for his ‘little job’, but Eren immediately noticed something off with the man. Levi looked tired, his shoulders slumped slightly with his head hanging as if in defeat, and without his usual broad grin. Despite all this, he still found it in himself to offer a small smile. “Hey Eren.” he croaked, his voice gravelly and uncharacteristically small. 

The brunette grinned and nodded his head in greeting, standing up and walking over to the kitchen with Levi. The smaller man put his bag onto the kitchen table and searched through it for a moment, before producing a small purple box with golden lettering on it. 

“I got fancy tea, would you like one?” He said, his voice still in a similar state but seeming more relaxed as he settled back into the security their home offered. 

“Ooh yes please, I bought pizzas for our dinner.” Eren replied cheerily, retrieving their dinner from the fridge and transporting them to the oven. 

The raven made a small noise of appreciation, and went about his own task of rooting around their kitchen. Eren wondered what the man was looking for, until he came out with a proper teapot and all the extra bits he was pretty sure he’d never seen Levi use before. 

“Very fancy.” Eren mused, focusing back on the pizza. He anticipated a snarky remark, the man jokingly calling him a brat or even just telling him to shut up, but strangely enough was met by silence. He glanced back over to see Levi making the tea incredibly slowly and carefully, even more so than usual with his bloodied hands as steady as always. He chose not to comment on this and completed the rest of his task in silence, leaving Levi to mull over whatever was clearly bothering him so much. 

Eventually, they sat down at their sofa together, Levi placing their brewed to perfection tea on a small tray and Eren with their pizzas on their own little plates. No words were exchanged in the process, the pair having become comfortable enough together to act with ease in setting up their evening dinner time. They then sat and enjoyed their dinner together in a comfortable silence, watching but not really watching the television together. Eren was almost ready to try and start a conversation when Levi spoke with a small and insecure voice, one he had never heard from the happy man before. 

“Thank you for waiting up for me, Eren. I-.” His voice faltered and he abruptly stopped speaking, filling the uncomfortable space meant for words by taking a bite from his slice of pizza. 

The brunette paused his chewing to look over at his roommate; from their closeness he could clearly see the bags under his eyes and the hopeless look of defeat written all over his face. He looked down at the man's lips, noticing the raven tighten his jaw and breathe harsh breaths. Whatever happened must have really affected him. 

Eren nodded slowly, “Of course.” he plainly said, his voice coming out soft. He wanted nothing more than to give this guy affection, for some unknown reason, give him a hug or even just rest his head on his shoulder to make him feel better. He gulped, and briskly turned back to face their small television and eat some more of his pizza. It still didn’t feel right to do nothing, though, he still felt like he needed to show Levi he cared about him. 

He took a few deep breaths, and eventually roused up the courage to move his leg ever so slightly closer to Levi’s. He watched Levi’s leg out of the corner of his eye, and saw the toned limb shift ever so slowly to rest against Eren’s. Nothing else felt like it needed to be done, but the small movement of affection was greatly appreciated by the shorter man. 

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The raven practically fell into the apartment the next day, balancing the shopping from his trip in one arm and a bag in the crook of his elbow so he could use a free hand to unlock the door. 

“Let me help!” A familiar voice shouted from within, very shortly followed by the effortlessly stunning face of his roommate bounding up to him and willingly taking bags from his bare arms and hands into their apartment. 

“Thanks, Eren.” The shorter man sighed, feeling bad for making him get so close to his hands but being glad all the same for the assistance. He felt a lot better after the previous night, but was still slightly on edge over everything. Levi made his way to the kitchen, only noticing once he had looked up from the bags and torn his eyes away from his usual staring at his roommate that they had guests. 

Sat huddled close to each other on their kitchen island, whispering and giggling quietly to each other sat Eren’s friends Armin and Jean. Levi’s mood soured instantly. 

“Ooh is this pastry for more palmiers?” Eren caught Levi’s attention, wiggling his eyebrows with a stupid grin resting on his stunning face. 

Levi snorted rather unattractively, turning away from Eren to hide the slight reddening on his cheeks to start packing away his bags. “You’ll have to wait and see, crocs.” He replied nonchalantly, earning a small laugh from the taller man packing away the rest of the bags; wearing a pair of bright yellow crocs he usually took to the school swimming pool. 

The harsh noise of laughter cut through the Raven’s calm, Jean laughing in an annoyingly bashful way while his boyfriend continued to giggle beside him, looking up at him with doe eyes. Levi clenched his jaw, brats, he thought, I hate both of them, how could they do that to Marco? He almost snapped the spring onions he was holding in half, having to forcibly loosen his grip and gently place them in the fridge. 

“Oh Levi, that new Italian restaurant just got a michelin star.” Eren butted in, almost as if he noticed Levi’s annoyance at the pair, forcing the raven’s face away from its prior glare. 

“Oh right, that one thats just down the road?” 

“Yeah! Their risotto sounds incredible.” The man replied, apparently finished with his shopping and opting to sit on the kitchen counter while on his phone. 

“Oh great, do you want to go?” Levi asked without thinking, his eyes immediately widening after he had spoken. Obviously he doesn’t, idiot, he’s terrified of you . 

“Yeah sure. Armin, Jean?” He replied casually, looking up from his phone to look at his friends. 

Jean moved away from having his mouth pressed up against Armin’s ear, taking a quick sip of coffee. “No thanks, I think I might have to work this weekend actually. I’m just waiting to hear from my boss.” He replied, Levi seeing his eyes shine red as the clearly well-rehearsed lie fell from his filthy mouth. Sat seething beside him, Armin clenched his fists in his lap. 

Eren nodded and continued scrolling on his phone, not making a big deal of the whole thing. Levi, however, kept his gaze focused on the two men sitting at their kitchen table in their ugly display of affection. The raven turned and began to make himself a tea, purposely using one of Marco’s bags and seeing if it gained any sort of reaction, the cheater too focused on his conversation to even notice. 

“Ah shit, some guy was found this morning after committing suicide on the other side of the city, they-” 

“No one cares, Yeager.” Jean groaned, interrupting his boyfriend mid-sentence to go out of his way to ridicule the brunette for talking about a suicide. 

“No this is sad, Jean, he had a note and it said ‘ It didn’t have to be like this, I’m so sorry .’” Eren replied, reading the message out with a slight strain to his voice. 

“That's awful!” Armin exclaimed, his eyes flashing a deep and shocking red. Armin was the kind of person to be incredibly empathetic, from what Levi had heard. Then why else would he lie about it being awful?  

“Does it say who it was? I have a friend on that side of town I haven’t seen in a while, and was thinking of visiting him the other day.” Levi asked, his voice lacking its normal forced lilt and intentionally coming out closer to being his comfortable emotionless. 

Eren nodded and scrolled for a little while before looking up to face Levi, the raven staring intently at Jean still. “His name was Marco Bodt, was that yo-” 

A crash disrupted Eren, all eyes turning to Jean’s face of utter agony. He had dropped the cup he was drinking from, hot coffee spilling onto his front and down his jeans, his eyes brimming with tears. “Fuck.” His mouth hung open, as if he was letting out a silent scream, his eyebrows pinching together in distress. 

“Jean! Are you alright?” Eren asked, hopping down from his seated position on the counter and running around to see his ex-boyfriend. 

Jean leant down and picked up the broken pieces of the cup, placing them one-by-one onto the kitchen table. “Sorry Yeager, I liked that mug.” He offered carefully. 

Eren glanced down at the pieces on the table, “It’s alright,” he placed a hand on Jean’s shoulder, “are you okay?” 

The raven glanced over to Armin, seeing the man staring at the ground with an unreadable expression on his face. Levi knew that in that moment, Armin regretted what he had done. 

Jean stumbled away from the table in the general direction of the door. “I should, um...I need to call my boss ab-about my business trip.” He mumbled, his eyes turning a watery red as he talked and reached the door, running a hand through his hair before leaving the apartment. 

With the drama of Armin running after him, asking if he was alright, Levi turned to face the only person he now cared to see the reaction of. The man stood with his eyebrows raised, confusion covering his face. 

“Did you know him?” Levi asked finally, watching Eren blink a few times and redo his hair out of habit. 

The other man shook his head slowly, finally looking away from their door and down at his roommate, “No, I’ve never met someone called Marco before...that was weird wasn’t it?” 

“Very weird.” Levi replied, having all the information he had making the situation even weirder. 

“Was he your friend?” 

Levi stiffened at the question slightly before slightly nodding his head, “He was a great guy.”

“What do you say we go to that restaurant tonight? My treat.”  The other man provided, his voice soft but strong enough so that Levi didn’t feel like he was being pitied. 

The shorter man looked up at Eren, his kind green eyes telling him everything he needed to know without being able to see a lie. The man was being sincere, yet again going out of his way to show the shorter man that he cared for his well being despite his profession.“Sounds perfect.” Levi replied, thankful for the gesture but also content that Eren was finally agreeing to go out with him, platonically or not. 

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The restaurant visit was pleasantly uneventful, both men having a perfectly nice evening eating their food, feeling very underdressed in their respective jeans and jumpers. Levi tried his very best, however, to enjoy the meal in its entirety, but he kept spooking himself. 

Out of all the people walking past, he was certain he saw a member of Kenny’s rival gang walk past a few times. In the end he had to turn his body away from the window to enjoy his evening, dispelling the nagging doubt that he was being watched in favour of staring at the beautiful man sat across from him. 

Levi left the matter for a good long while, trying his best to stay in the moment and watch his roommate’s face light up with laughter and his eyes shine a breathtaking gold. In a moment of silence after the laughter, Levi inevitably gave in, twisting in his chair to look at the window facing the road. 

The figure standing in front of the window was not in the rival gang, he was a blonde and towering man who worked for Kenny. A man who was currently glaring darkly at Levi in a way that should've intimidated him but did nothing but annoy him, single-handedly ruining his evening. 

Erwin.

Chapter Text

Erwin

The towering man motioned his head towards the dark outside where he was standing, causing the raven groan in annoyance. The taller man’s ability to intimidate him had lessened over years of seeing his glare, the look becoming akin to a child’s tantrum. 

Eren tilted his head at Levi, and glanced over to where he was looking, noticing the scary looking man stood at the window. “I’m really sorry Eren but I just need to go and talk to this big fucking idiot.” Levi monotoned, forgetting to give his voice its usual lilt in all his boredom of seeing the familiar sight of an angry Erwin. He was surprised, however, to hear Eren laughing at his uncharacteristic bluntness. 

“Okay, I’ll be right here when you get back.” He smiled, speaking slowly. He wasn’t sure what else he could say in a situation like that, seeing his roommate go from being on a bit on edge to immediate stress upon seeing a man Eren vaguely recognized from somewhere. A man shrouded in mystery, his hands and arms entirely concealed from view so Eren had no idea if he had blood hands. It felt like second nature to assure him that he wasn’t going anywhere, and the comment alone seemed to make Levi’s shoulders relax just a little; enough to be worth it. 

“I won’t be a minute.” Levi muttered, reaching his hand out on instinct but then pulling it away just as quickly, wondering slightly to himself what his intentions would have been with his hand aiming towards Eren’s. The other man simply smiled broadly, happy to support Levi through whatever was about to happen. 

Levi briskly nodded and stood up, worming his way through the tables and servers to reach the front door of the restaurant. The cold hit him like a ton of bricks, his hands moving up from hanging by his sides to fold across his chest in an attempt to keep himself warm after forgetting to get a coat, exposed to the elements in nothing but a thin black shirt and dark trousers. 

The blonde stood tall and intimidating, similarly wearing dark clothing but much more practical for the weather they were standing in. He seemed startled to see Levi up-close, but moved his expression back to glare as Levi appeared in front of him. The shorter man walked them away a little from the restaurant window, eager to keep their conversation away from Eren, and ended up outside a shop that had closed for the night. “What the fuck are you doing here you shit, did you stalk me?” He snapped quickly, getting the first word. 

“No,” He started calmly, keeping his gaze on Levi so the man could see he wasn’t lying. “I was just walking past and happened to notice your little date” He said through gritted teeth, his eyes didn't change to red, but neither did they to gold. The man knew how to avoid telling a lie after a good few years of being close to Levi, concealing the full truth in favour of telling a partial one. He probably found someone who works for the gang’s surveillance and used them to track me .

“Oh yeah, just walking past in this part of the city.” He replied casually, feeling heat rise up his chest as his anger blossomed. “Plus- it's not a date, he's my roommate. PLUS what do you fucking care if I’m on a date! What's going on?” Levi blabbed, not caring if he wasn't entirely coherent and simply just letting his emotions speak for him, something he very rarely did but found himself doing in the instance of keeping Eren away from the gang. 

The taller man sighed and shifted his gaze from Levi, looking around briefly and then turning to the ground, “Kenny wanted me to remind you about the meeting with The German in a few days, as you are in the country now, you can participate. Kenny has missed you coming to these meets.”

Levi groaned, “You mean he was going to call me and you decided to just fucking come and find me, hmm? Don’t pull this shit on me Erwin, I know my uncle. You’ve clearly gone out of your way here for no fucking reason.”

“I forgot how much you swore.” He mumbled, shaking his head, his face and voice becoming strained “I just wanted to tell you-”

“Then why do you look so fucking constipated? Huh? If you just wanted to deliver Kenny’s message you wouldn't get this angry at me because I’m eating out instead of being at home studying the intricacies of killing with a butter knife or some shit.”

The man looked up through his annoyingly long eyelashes, moving his gloved hand to point in the direction of the restaurant, “We were-”

Levi knew then what the man was so weird about, his expertise of hiding a lie from Levi falling flat through his jealousy of Eren. “We fucking were , thats right. Don’t get all-'' He waved his hands in front of him with a  disgusted look on his face, “Whatever the hell is going on here. You shouldn’t have stayed, like Hanji, but now you seem to always be near Kenny. You handle the fucking money for christ's sake. This is your own doing...all of this shit. I’m not asking you, Erwin, fuck off out of here. I’ll be at the meet.” 

The taller man looked angry, like he wanted to punch something, but huffed and looked back in the general direction of the restaurant. “So...that's your roommate?” 

“Not that it's any of your business but yes, that's him.” Levi replied with as little fondness as he could, staring at the taller man. 

Erwin hummed, disinterest finding its way onto his face. “Fine. I’ll see you at the meet.” he said flatly, turning around. 

Levi gritted his teeth, waving his hand dismissively “Tch, whatever. Fuck off.” he said in Erwin’s general direction, tension he didn't realise he had lifting from his shoulders as the man stalked off in the opposite direction of the restaurant. A different kind of stress settled over Levi, one he rarely experienced. Panic . Erwin had seen Eren’s face, and he could probably tell from Levi’s reaction that he was important. 

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The laughter and excited chatter of the children grew progressively quieter as Eren walked away from the school, smiling lightly to himself on the way to his apartment, excited by the idea of going home. He found himself looking forward to coming home more and more recently, Levi had today promised to make them more palmiers. His day had been particularly stressful, so the thought of returning to his roommate baking specifically for him did nothing but make him walk faster. 

He was just about to put an earphone in his ear as he passed an alley in between two restaurants when he heard a strangled sob echo from within the darkness. He whipped his head around on instinct, and carefully walked towards the noise, focusing his energy on listening intently. The alley was almost entirely grey, filled with bins and smoke billowing from the kitchens, but the grey was disturbed by an unmistakable figure. 

Sitting with his knees pulled against his chest on the alley floor was Jean, his head resting against the brick wall while tears flooded down his face, his hands resting raked half through his messy hair. 

“Jean?” 

The man looked towards Eren, and as soon as he noticed who it was buried his head in his knees, his arms covering his facial features as he shook his head almost manically. “No no no please no-”

“Jean, what's wrong?” Eren asked gently, standing a few metres away from the man. 

“Fuck off Yeager.” Jean grumbled into his arms, his head still shaking. 

The other man’s face moved from concern to annoyance at an alarmingly fast rate, “What? Jean you’re crying and you barely ever cry.” he glanced around at the alley, trying to understand why his ex was there. “What's wrong?”

“I said fuck OFF Yeager!” The man shouted, moving his head to look at Eren, his eyes red raw from obvious crying. 

Eren looked at the man he used to love falling apart in front of him, and felt a lump forming at the mere sight of it. “What-” 

The man stood suddenly, practically running at Eren and ramming him up against the wall, “Leave me alone, you piece of shit.” He snarled. The teacher struggled in his surprise, trying to swat Jean’s arms away from him and escape his grasp. Jean moved his forearm up and against Eren’s chin, “This is your fucking fault.”

“What!? What’s m-my fault?” Eren choked, his hands grasping at both ends of the arm resting near his neck. 

“Marco!” 

Eren’s hands dropped, his eyes widening as a new stream of tears began to fall from Jean’s eyes, the stunned silence being filled with the sniffling of the man holding him against the wall. “Who?..Do you mean Levi’s friend that comm-” 

“Don’t you dare fucking say it.”

“I don’t understand...What did I do?” Eren asked softly, trying to read his ex’s facial expression. 

The other man let go of Eren, walking away and raking his hands through his hair once again, pausing a few feet away with his eyes closed and his head tilted towards the floor. “Why did we start dating?”

“I- what?” Eren muttered as he tightened his hair and straightened out his brown cardigan, an arched eyebrow raised at the suddenness of the question. One quick glare from Jean told him all he needed to know, just answer the question . “Ummm you said you were in a bad mood, we went out for a pint, aaaand ended up in your bed, if my memory serves me right. About a week later you asked me to be your boyfriend, bit soon if you ask me but whatever.”

The other man huffed at the comment, awkward eyes shifting to the floor. “I was in a bad mood that day for a reason…” Jean started. He was met with silence, and sighed as he realised this meant he had to continue. “My boyfriend and I...we had a fight.” 

“Oh, you had a boyfriend before me?” Eren asked, glancing over at Jean. The man stood with his hands clenched at his sides, his teary eyes pleading as they looked at Eren, guilt written all over him. “It wasn’t...Oh Jean.” Eren shook his head, angry suddenly for so many reasons and especially for not noticing sooner. “How long then? Was it the whole time we were together?” His voice progressively grew in volume, at the end forcing himself to take deep breaths. 

“Up until about a few days ago…”

“A few days ago? But that’s when…” When I had dinner with Levi, when he was mourning the death of his friend that Jean seemed so surprised about, so suddenly affected by the suicide of someone he’d never met before . “Fuck.” 

“I know.” A small voice replied almost instantly, his eyes and jaw clenching shut. 

“How could you do that to Armin?” Jean shot his head up to look at Eren with wide eyes, seeing the man’s face screwed up with anger.  “You need to break up with him and you need to fucking leave. Move out to- I don’t care where, you can’t be near my friend anymore.”

“Eren I did this to you too, I’m more than happy to leave but I want you to be angry at me too. I fucked up. Be angry at me.” 

Eren sighed and paced a few times, forcing himself to think of something that would calm him down, the time he went to the beach with his mother, his sister and himself having a movie marathon when they were small,  the idea of Levi at home cooking just for him. A soft smile appeared on his face at the last thought, I have Levi to go back to . He stopped pacing and paused in front of Jean, forcing himself to maintain eye contact. “Explain this to me. As much as I want to fucking deck you right now..” he placed a gentle hand on Jean’s shoulder, the man jolting at the touch. “I can tell Marco meant a lot to you.” 

Jean nodded slowly, wetting his lips and sniffling. “He meant everything to me. He was my entire world, the air I-...he was everything.” 

The teacher sighed, “Why did you do it?” 

He paused, looking up to the sky, “...We barely fought. It was that one fight...he stopped talking to me. So, I went out. I hadn’t told everyone about him because I assumed you would take the piss. I went out, and there you were. Things happened. About a week later, Mar- he wasn’t talking to me so I assumed he had moved on. I asked you out...then he called, saying he regretted not talking to me and he wanted his boyfriend back. Hearing your entire world say that they wanted you back-” he paused, taking a deep breath once again. “I couldn’t say no.” 

Eren rubbed his arm, a small way of encouraging Jean to continue, eager to hear the whole thing. “I didn’t break up with you, and I should’ve. We weren’t exactly an average couple, we argued all the time. And...no offence but for some reason it never seemed like you were fully there.” Eren frowned at this, but knew Jean was right. He was a pretty awful boyfriend. “It was like- this other life I had on the side. When we broke up, it felt great to just have my Marco again. I nearly told you all about him then, I was even thinking of proposing-” 

“Oh Jean-”

“And well, Armin then asked me to dinner. It was fine, I guess. I thought it was just a friend thing, but then he looked at me with his big stupid eyes and I felt like I had to make him happy. He was so sad, Eren, he didn’t feel like he had anyone at all. I thought it would just be for a little while, I’d look after him. We never had sex, you know, we just spent a lot of time together. I didn’t….I didn’t think-”

“That’s right, you didn’t think. You had no obligation to do any of that for him and become his boyfriend.” 

“I know…” His tears were freely falling now, the man making no move to wipe them away. “Marco was it. I can’t believe...I can’t fucking function, Eren. Everything, everything about him-” He mumbled, his words becoming incoherent. 

Thoughts began to race in Eren’s mind from his ex’s words, Levi sitting opposite him at the restaurant, the way his whole face lit up when he laughed, the way his cheeks flushed red in the brisk winter air on their walk home, his hair ruffling in the wind. Even how he insisted on saying goodnight to him every time they went to their separate rooms, it was the little things that his roommate did that put him in Eren’s mind more than he cared to admit. Everything…

Jean’s sobs grew louder bringing Eren away from his thoughts, and he brought his ex into a half-hearted hug. The man clung to him desperately, his body shaking as every sob worked its way through his body. He seemed in pain . 

“It’s okay.” Eren cooed, holding Jean’s head and closing his eyes, trying to understand why Levi of all people came to mind in that moment.

Chapter Text

Understandably, the funeral had been a sombre occasion, sparse noise made aside from the wind ruffling the trees and the distant sound of road traffic coming from the city. Jean and Eren had spent the whole service at the back, remaining in complete silence and separate from everyone else. The only time any noise ever came from either of them was when the occasional family member would make a choked sob nearby, causing Jean to inhale a deep breath and tense up as if physically pained. 

The two walked at the back and far from everyone else as the procession made its way to the gravestone, and they continued to watch from their distance away as the coffin was gently lowered into the ground. Both were wearing their black suits, Jean stood rigid with his eyes locked on the black box while Eren carefully looked back and forth from the coffin to his ex. In the days leading up to the funeral Jean had been incredibly distressed, but Eren had gone out of his way to meet up with him despite everything that had happened. He wanted to show Jean that at least someone was there for him, even if he met up with him for an hour or so after work before going back home to Levi. He knew he shouldn’t feel so bad for him after what he did, but he wasn’t inhumane. 

Eren had told his roommate about Jean and Marco; he knew it probably wasn’t his right to talk about it but he also somehow trusted the man and felt like he deserved to know about their friends. Despite this, Levi didn’t have much to say on the topic, upon finding out he only seemed disappointed and tired if anything. Eren couldn’t help but wonder if Levi knew Jean from the start as he was Marco’s friend, but he couldn’t have because he didn’t seem to recognise him in their pictures or when meeting him. He just seemed angry at the man, so maybe he did know?

He forced himself to stop thinking about Levi, as he often found himself doing recently, and moved his gaze around the cemetery. He noted a few people visiting graves, leaving flowers, the odd person trimming weeds and attending to their loved one’s graves. The sight itself made his heart feel heavy, remembering how he used to do similar things with his mother’s grave. Maybe I should visit my mum again, he thought as his gaze followed a father and his child walking up the hill. 

At the top of this hill, however, two solitary figures in the distance caught his attention, both standing facing towards Marco’s funeral. There was a taller man wearing a dark brimmed hat, cloaked entirely in black with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Even from his distance, Eren could see the shocking red coming up to a neat line just before the roll in his sleeves. The other man was significantly shorter, wearing a long black trench coat, with his sleeves rolled up to show a similar band of red reaching much higher on his arms. 

Eren wondered why they were watching the funeral from so far away, and what on earth the two murderers could possibly gain from visiting Marco’s funeral. A chill ran through him at the thought as he shook his head and turned back to the procession in front of him, mentally noting to leave as soon as possible and go in the opposite direction to the one the two men were standing in. 

With his attention back on what was going on around him, he noticed the man next to him had started to sob silently, his shoulders shaking violently while tears streamed down his face. Eren silently put an arm around the man, allowing him to rest his head on his shoulder while he cried. 

The last few words of the ceremony were spoken and Marco’s family started to slowly walk away from the grave, the odd person giving Jean a polite nod; but Eren realised that no one had come over to them. The two men stayed in place for a few moments until they were the last ones standing by the grave, Jean still letting his tears fall but his shoulders had finally stopped shaking. The man looked incredibly tired, and after a little while rubbed his eyes and moved away from Eren’s shoulder, slowly turning and walking back towards the bus stop they had arrived at. 

Eren looked back to where the two men had been, and upon seeing that they were no longer there ran to catch up with Jean, walking side by side with the man and glancing over to make sure he was alright. “Why did no one come over to you?” He asked slowly, a mixture of curiosity and pity taking over any sensical discussion point. 

“His family never liked me too much, because I’m a guy.” He murmured out, keeping his eyes focused on the path ahead of them. “They were happy with me because I made him happy, and I think they would’ve been fine coming to our wedding. This changes the whole dynamic, I was only in the family with Marco here.” 

Eren knew he should hate Jean for the way he treated Armin and himself, and Marco for that matter, and he knew that finding this out shouldn't have such a big impact on him. But seeing the man he used to be with having his world torn apart in front of him without a nearby family to support him was too much for Eren to handle. He didn’t want Jean to have to go through this alone. 

“Don’t move.” He blurted, not entirely thinking it through but knowing what he was saying was right.  

“What?” Jean whipped his head round to look at Eren, his teary eyes searching Eren’s to try to understand what was happening. Eren confidently nodded, resting a comforting hand on the other man’s shoulder. 

“Don’t leave the city, Jean. I want you to stay.”

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Once people had started trickling away from the funeral, Levi and Kenny left immediately to trudge through the nearby fields near the graveyard in the outskirts of the city. Both had opted to wear boots on their journey out knowing full well what their trip would require, leaving Levi on edge from the second he had left the apartment that morning, knowing full well the day would require a muddy walk. He kept in mind the promise of cleaning supplies for his boots once they had finished, despite this meaning that he had to go back with Kenny before returning back home. 

After a while spent walking, the older man let out a sigh, clearly unable to cope walking in silence. “That went well.”

Levi rolled his eyes. “Of course it went fucking well, Kenny, it was a funeral.” He shot back, thinking about the moment Eren put his arm around Jean and allowed the man to cry on his crisp black suit. He very nearly ran over to the pair and tore them away from each other, not wanting Eren anywhere near the man. 

He kicked a nearby stone in his frustration, earning a raised eyebrow from Kenny, but carried on walking as if nothing had happened. 

“Y’know what I mean, it was convincing. I always worry when Farlan pulls a suicide on me, so I’m glad there weren’t any issues.” 

Levi hummed noncommittally at the comment, “Kids gone, Kenny, It’s over.” 

The other man glanced around at the fields they had been trudging through, smirking as he noticed their destination appearing closer and closer. “You’re right, I’m over it…” He carefully said, checking his pockets as he ensured he had everything with him.

He suddenly moved his hands out in front of him and turned them so the palms faced each other, moving them up and down in an alternating way while gently wiggling his finers. Feu . Levi understood this as a question, and he nodded harshly with no room for misinterpretation in response. Yes, I have firearms . 

Not long after, they finally reached the abandoned and rusted farmhouse they had been walking to, seeing the array of vehicles of either gang carefully split so that none were in the other’s territory. Levi held back a snort at this, finding it weirdly funny in its pettiness that even in their parking they still had to be opposites.

They walked in through the entrance located in the middle of the building, and from the prior mumbling the building was generating coming to a sudden end, it was clear they were the last to arrive. Kenny walked ahead of Levi towards the side of the farmhouse their gang was standing, and as Levi glanced to their group he noticed Erwin stood at the back of the group with a notebook clutched in his hands. He didn’t normally attend these kinds of meetings, so Levi could already guess this meant money would be discussed. 

The two groups had regular meetings together, mainly to ensure that no one was stepping on any toes and that everything was fair between the two, both having an old rivalry with each other but still eager to not start a needless war. If money was being discussed, the conversation was likely going to centre on drugs, Levi could practically feel himself falling asleep already. 

After rolling his eyes at his ex, Levi quickly searched the group to find Farlan as he took his spot near to Kenny. They locked eyes, and Levi quickly took his hands from his pockets to crack only his left knuckle, a signal that only the two of them had developed together to signify things were okay without anyone else understanding. Farlan mirrored the movement, briefly giving a sideways glance at the shorter girl standing next to him to signify she was also alright. Good . 

Izzy always came to these meetings even though she wasn't needed, much to the disappointment of Levi and Farlan as all they wanted was to keep her safe. Farlan himself didn’t need to come, but if Levi was there then so was he. 

Kenny finished his slow walk and stood with his arms crossed, Levi standing next to him in his prime location; close enough to sprint and take a bullet but far enough that a shot meant for him would not accidentally hit his uncle. Levi stood with his hands in his trench coat pocket, feeling the cool metal of the shotgun strapped to his side against the bare arms and letting the weapon calm his nerves. The familiarity of it offered him comfort, however twisted that may sound. 

They had given up long ago trying to avoid bringing weapons along to meets like these, someone always secretly bringing some in. Both sides clearly had people carrying firearms, most people making no effort to disguise them but Levi didn't like a public display of weaponry. He preferred to keep his weapons hidden, giving him at least the element of surprise if something bad were to happen. Kenny himself never came with weapons anymore, though, banking on his associates to be prepared to lay down their lives for him. 

Levi took a few moments of silence to glance at the opposition, it had been a little while now since he’d last been to a meet but he always remembered the faces of the people who were in attendance. He noted the old familiars, a man he knew to be called Reiner stood front and centre in a comparatively colourful beige jacket with his closest associate standing tall behind him wearing an all-black suit. Levi recognised the other man to be the one that handled their money, but couldn’t quite place his name. No threat . 

He moved his eyes over the others, noting Reiner’s muscle Marcel standing similarly to Levi with his eyes scanning the opposition. His eyes landed on Levi and they gave each other a polite nod before continuing to look, something they had done in one another's company a few times now. It had become almost customary for the two to exchange in niceties, despite never having a conversation together. They both knew that if anything were to go wrong, they would both be the first to put themselves at risk and they held an element of respect for one another for this. 

After looking over a sea of familiar faces, his gaze landed upon a woman he had never seen before leaning against the back wall and looking incredibly bored, the woman next to her almost mirroring her exactly. The first had short black hair that blended into her entirely black attire, with a deep red scarf appearing shockingly bright in contrast, and the second was blonde wearing a hoodie and jeans. He concluded despite being unusual, they were both without weapons, no threat . 

“Thanks for coming to this, Reiner. It’s always beneficial for both parties to do this, so I’m glad that someone could come.” Kenny started, making a slight dig at the fact that there was a clear lack of The German at the meet, and we were still yet to meet him. 

Reiner grunted in response, looking calculatively at Kenny. “So...where is the German?” Kenny asked, keeping his face unreadable. 

“Busy.” Reiner responded, his eyes briefly shining a tell-all red. 

Levi moved a hand from his pocket and briskly ran his index finger under his nose, blankly staring at Traute to his side with her back against the wall. The blonde repeated the action while staring at Kenny, a common action they used often as a group. 

Lie. 

“Busy doing what?” Kenny pushed, seeing the movement out of the corner of his eye and wishing to understand the entire situation. 

“He only comes to the most important meets, I am his ears if he ever needs them.” Not a lie, but also not an entire truth . 

Levi rolled his eyes, turning his head slightly in the general direction of the people standing behind him. “Il dit que l'Allemand est un lâche” He spat, earning a few scattered laughs from his comrades. 

[ He says The German is a coward ] 

“What did he just say?!” Marcel boomed, an angry scowl worming its way onto his face. The room quietened suddenly, the atmosphere souring as the opposition seemed to take on a defensive attitude at the comment.

“Who the fuck even is that little shortie, huh? I’ve never seen him.” Reiner retorted, glaring at Kenny. 

Levi scoffed, he’s never even noticed me . 

“He’s my muscle.” Kenny calmly replied, not even bothering to look away from the angry people standing in front of him. 

“He looks like an infant.” The taller man wearing the black suit said, the comment itself earning a few laughs from his own comrades. How very funny . 

Levi’s facial expression did not change as he expelled a breath and reached up behind him, as if scratching his neck, and grasped onto the object he needed. Seamlessly out of nowhere, he hurled a concealed knife at Marcel. 

The man had no time to react, the blade sinking deep into his eye socket with a satisfying pop . He screamed on impact at the agony of the shot, his hands moving to hold the knife while blood rained down from the place of impact. 

Kenny nodded slowly, while the scene in front of him played out. The opposing gang rushed to Marcel's aid and stared with looks of terror at Levi as he continued to stare at Reiner, the man looking surprised yet sobered at the incident. 

“As I said, he’s my muscle.”

Chapter Text

It started the same every time, and had done since Levi was a little boy. He’d be standing in the darkness of a small room, a blinding light shining on someone he couldn’t yet decipher. The air smelt metallic, the hazy red coming into focus to be understood as seemingly buckets of blood covering the person under the light. 

Although, recently, the person sitting at the table in his dream was decipherable. It was Eren. Ridiculously large lights shone on him, and he painfully winced under their gaze; the blood on his clothing starting to dry crispy and dark while arms and face were littered with bruises and cuts.

Levi’s hands slammed onto the table, his knuckles blood-splattered and bruised. 

I did this . 

“Fucking tell me, are you afraid of me?” A voice came from him, one too dark and angry directed at Eren to be his own but he somehow knew it was indeed his. He wanted to immediately apologise but he had no control of the situation. He felt like a puppet. 

Eren was crying now, his tears mixing with blood like watercolours. “No, I’m not afraid of you.” He croaked, his voice raw from screaming, Levi assumed. His eyes, however, flashed a deep and clear red. Levi’s stomach dropped. 

“You’re a fucking LIAR!” Levi roared, landing his fist square into the man’s jaw as he leapt forward.

He woke up suddenly, his body bolt upright and sweating. This new addition to his childhood nightmare was plaguing him, seemingly worse every night. He could never hurt Eren in that way, and seeing it over and over again in the few small hours he managed to maintain any sort of sleep physically pained the man. 

He had spent the previous night at work, Kenny talking him through their strategy plans and their rivalry with The German, on top of some upcoming jobs they were anticipating. Like clockwork, he was given a new job to do and had it done without a second thought and returned home at 6am stinking of the pungent cigarettes Kenny liked to smoke with him. 

He shivered upon noticing the stench still clung to him, taking the sheets off his bed and putting them in the corner of his room as a reminder to take them to the laundry room before sleeping on them again. He quickly changed into a new pair of dark jeans, having collapsed in what he was wearing, and put on a black shirt before creeping out of his room with his mind set on having a tea and hopefully not running into anyone. 

He plodded towards the kitchen, the soft hum of something on the television alerting him to the fact that he was in fact not alone. Despite this, he made no effort to communicate and continued on towards the kitchen, adamant to have his tea. 

“Hi Levi! You’re up late” Eren’s cheery voice sounded from the sofa, his voice slightly hoarse as if he had been talking too much or perhaps not enough. This alone gave Levi a slight shiver after his dream and led him to reply with a simple nod, not trusting his voice. 

“Hey.” A second voice chided from the front room, however, halting Levi on his approach to the kettle. Jean . 

“Afternoon.” The raven guessed, flicking the device on and starting his routine of making a tea while purposely avoiding asking if anyone wanted anything. He was rigid in his movements, acutely aware of the serial cheater in the room. At least the coconut wasn’t there.

Once completed, he begrudgingly sat in the space next to Eren, not really paying attention to what they were watching but sitting all the same. He couldn’t seem to get the image of Eren in his dream out of his mind, crying and pained, his eyes flashing a horrible red. I wonder if he’s really afraid of me . 

Lost in his thoughts he barely noticed Eren standing up and heading towards their bathroom, muttering something about being right back. This brought Levi crashing back into the present, however, as he realised that he was now alone with Jean. 

He tutted slightly, muttering under his breath about his hatred of the man. “ Putain de cul. Pourquoi es-tu ici, bâtard? Après tout ce que vous avez fait .”

[Fucking ass. Why are you here, bastard? After all you've done]

“After who did what, why?” Jean said next to him suddenly, replying to Levi in English despite not being spoken to be understood.

“...you speak French.” He sighed, more of a statement than a question. Of course he spoke French he’s a fucking travel writer . 

“Uh, yeah. Jean isn’t exactly an English name mate, is it?” 

Levi barked out a laugh, too tired to care what he sounded like. “Assez juste.” He sighed, rubbing his eyes with his rough fingers. 

Jean frowned, confused by Levi’s outburst immediately once Eren had left the room. He gave the man a strange look. “...are you coming on to Eren or something?”

“Something like that.” The raven muttered, wanting nothing more than for Eren to walk in so the conversation could end. 

“I don’t mind if you are- really!” He added, noticing Levi’s eyes squint in question. “He likes foreign sweets and pastries, and he’s secretly really nerdy.”

“I know.” 

“Well he’s totally into you, if you’re thinking about it I’d definitely support you. It wouldn’t be weird because he’s my ex.” Jean continued to add, his voice getting faster and slightly higher as he went on. 

“Tch. Well…maybe-” Levi was cut off by the all-too familiar shrill tone of his phone, giving him an eclectic combined sense of relief for the conversation ending in addition to annoyance for the call itself. He simply shrugged at Jean who was still staring at him strangely and headed back to his room, ensuring the door was firmly closed behind him. 

“What.” He replied, wanting to get the job over and done with.

“Levi, it’s Traute.”

Traute was a woman of few words, even preferring the usage of sign language after having learnt it for the organisation. The fact that she was the one calling him already suggested this was last minute, giving Levi worry he didn’t really need while thinking about his love life for the first time in years. 

He sighed. “What.”

“Boss needs you in for an interrogation.” 

The words hit Levi right in the gut, flashes of his dream not too long ago coming in waves. “Why couldn’t he call me.”

“He’s busy. Everyone is excited, Rivaille, we haven’t seen one of your interrogations in a while.” 

And for very good reason . He sighed again. “Does it have to be right now?”

“The guy showed up on his own accord, he’s in custody. Now or never.” 

“I’m fucking tired, you do it.” He stared at his discarded bag and coat on the floor he had used from the previous night and knew it wouldn’t take long at all to get ready. They had been dumped and not even unpacked, but it was a weekend and all he really wanted to do was spend time with Eren in any capacity he could. 

“Levi, I will come and get you if you don’t come. I know where you live now, it won’t be hard.” 

That was all it took. His punched stomach dropped and everything seemed to turn fuzzy. They cannot come here . They cannot see him . Levi was suddenly acting on autopilot as he prepared to leave, words spilling out of his mouth he wouldn’t usually utter to someone in the organisation. “Fucking fine, okay? I’m sorry, I’ll be there in a half hour tops. Alright? I’m on the way.” He opened his bedroom door, carrying his bag containing less weapons than usual, leaving space just in case he passed a bakers on the way back. 

He slipped into French in an attempt to conceal their conversation, “I just got back, you know? All night I was out with him. The fucking audacity…I’m fucking COMING alright?” He spat, finally hanging up the call with shaking hands. 

“Such strong language, Levi.” A voice drawled from the sofa, sounding far too relaxed for how Levi was feeling. 

“Shit.” In his tiredness, it had slipped his mind Jean spoke French. At least he didn’t hear anything incriminating. “Tch. Bye.” He replied, not even bothering to turn as he headed for the door. 

“You’re going?” Eren casually asked from the sofa with Jean. Levi must’ve been tired, from where he was standing his roommate genuinely sounded upset. 

He spun around, a soft expression working its way onto his face. “Yeah, I’ve just got a little thing I have to do. I won’t be too long.” 

“Okay…will you be back for dinner? Jean and I were thinking of cooking something nice for us all.” He asked. 

Levi couldn’t help but stare a little longer than necessary at the man, his beautiful face full of hope and slight nervousness. He hadn’t had a proper chance to look at his roommate that afternoon, but he was wearing his long hair down for once. The way it framed his face was really breathtaking, making him look younger and his green eyes even bigger. “Perfect.” He slipped out, practically no longer in control of his mouth. 

Before he had a chance to correct himself the man was already grinning, his whole face lit up and slightly reddened. “Great, I can’t wait!” He responded, his emerald eyes momentarily turning a sparkling gold. 

Levi nodded solemnly and walked out, cursing himself for the inappropriate thoughts racing through his mind.

___________________________________________

“So! We haven't done this in a while, Rivaille.” Kenny muffled while lighting his pungent cigarette, just before passing the lighter over his desk to the man sitting opposite him. 

The room itself was dark, like most of the rooms the organisation stayed in. All the windows were covered having been smashed in, and all the lights were mostly a dull and muted blue colour that made Levi feel sick if he looked for too long. A very similar feeling to smoking one of the cigarettes he was currently begrudgingly puffing on. 

“Thats because I was never stupid enough to live in this city.” He replied simply, really hoping they could just get on with the interrogation so he could be home for dinner. 

The second he had walked in, Levi was ushered to Kenny’s office for a brief chat before they started. It seemed that regardless of the urgency of the interrogation, this was more important. For once in his whole career, though, he truly couldn’t care less. The one thing powering him through was the image of Eren smiling up at him in their living room on their sofa, his long dark hair running down his tanned muscular arms and ending just above his elbows. 

“I thought you would’ve left by now, kid, this was meant to be temporary...no?” The man rudely interrupted his thoughts, blowing smoke purposely in Levi’s direction.

Levi looked away slightly, deciding in that moment the artwork of a naked lady riding a horse just like Napoleon to be of great interest. “It’s a decent location, better than a shitty town. Commuting was a pain.” Plus I may be obsessed with my roommate who I can never make a move on because he’s terrified of me. 

“It took you a while to move here.” He stated, keeping his eyes glued to Levi as the other man found differing items to stare at instead. 

“I love France, of course it took a while.”

“Well, I’m glad.” Kenny replied, puffing another obnoxious cloud of smoke. “It’s good to have you back and so close to the family again.”

The family, don’t make me laugh . “Tch.”

“It's also nice that you’ve got a roommate you’re getting on so well with, Eren Yeager. I hear he teaches at Trost primary school, how very rewarding for him.”

Levi’s head snapped to attention, as if ice water had spewed from Kenny’s revolting cigarette. He was tense all over, his fists white on his knees. 

He nodded slowly, he didn’t need to be told twice. 

They’re watching Eren . 

The man watched his reaction and nodded in return, scraping a dirty hand through his lightly greased grey hair. A smirk has appeared on his stubbled face, one of victory. He enjoyed finding weaknesses in Levi, but what he most enjoyed was using them to his advantage as he knew this would work in his favour no matter what. 

“That’s great, so anyway-” He said, standing up from his chair and motioning his head towards the door, signifying their chat was over. Levi stood up and carefully followed into the winding corridors of the building lit with the same grim blue lights. He was only half trying to follow Kenny’s fast words while they walked, but nothing could stir the image of Eren beaten and bloody from his mind. 

“It's a weird one, he did a job for us that he actually didn’t mean to do.” Levi raised an eyebrow, vaguely interested and deciding to pay more attention. “He’d already asked us to do a job for him but couldn’t afford the full whack at the time so, as repayment, we were going to ask him to do something in return for his job. He asked a load of questions, and we asked him to wait.”

“And you didn’t just get rid?” Why would Kenny keep someone annoying around, losing the organisation money, what possible reason … “You want him to work for us.”

“Bingo.” Kenny replied flatly, the two men turning a final corner and slowing as they approached the worn metal door of the interrogation room. 

“That kill must’ve been great.” 

Kenny nodded slowly, putting out his cigarette on the wall. The man was noticeably more calmed down than usual, a factor that hadn’t gone unnoticed by his nephew. “He somehow got it into his head the guy he killed was the one he’d asked us to kill, and it wasn’t. Loads of witnesses, CCTV, yet by some miracle it was considered an accident and he got minimal sentencing. He’s a teacher and they’re still letting him work there.”

This immediately reminded Levi of Eren, of course, and how his beautiful roommate was very much incapable of killing or even slightly injuring a fly. “Innocence,I get it.” Levi bit out, mirroring Kenny’s actions with his own cigarette. 

He knew by now the adjoining room to the interrogation room was probably filled by now with his comrades, looking forward to a show. Levi felt warm, his chest vibrating with adrenaline as he gave his coat to Kenny and rolled up his sleeves. “Let’s get it over with then”

Kenny snorted and unlocked the door, seemingly relaxing into his typical wicked state as the door swung open with a painful creak. 

The room inside was the same, almost exactly the same as his dream. As Levi had grown up and they had moved bases, they’d tried to maintain almost exact similarity with the room and its layout. A small desk sat at one end of the room with a purposely uncomfortable chair sat behind it, tiny metal hoops adorning on both items of furniture just in case shackles were required. 

On the other side of the room was where Levi stood with his uncle, large LED lights shining from their end to blind their victim and dazzle them so that they did not see their interrogator. It had always been like this, and this room was no different, but Levi knew immediately that this time was different for him. 

A man sat at the table perfectly still with his hands restrained onto the cool surface of the desk, wincing slightly under the blinding glare of the lights but still squinting to attempt to decipher who was coming in. 

Immediately upon seeing the man, Levi sucked in a tight breath and tried to act unphased in his recognition, feeling all his prior anxieties grow even larger than they had been before. 

It was Armin.

Chapter Text

Upon the realisation that he would be interrogating Armin, Eren’s best friend, nothing seemed to make sense to Levi anymore. He had grown into the concept of living two separate lives, the two only occasionally mixing by mere mention, but never like this. 

Armin sat at the table, and this was proven to be even stranger in the fact that he looked perfectly pristine in appearance and not even slightly like he had been forced into his situation. His hair was ever so slightly messy, resembling bed hair, and he wore a spotless pastel blue button up shirt that had clearly been ironed due to the lack of creases. 

Confusion spiralled in Levi’s head, knocking around like a pinball. He felt as though something was clearly missing, the situation of interrogating his roommate’s best friend proved even stranger in the fact that the man seemed entirely normal . 

Levi groaned slightly and positioned himself to stand against the recently closed door, crossing his arms over his chest and finding comfort in the coldness of the door and the security of his arms. Kenny’s previous words echoed in his mind, and the thought jumped out at him all at once. 

Armin killed someone intentionally . 

He knew this was bad, and he knew he couldn’t do anything bad to Armin for Eren’s sake. But, he also knew he was missing something big. 

“So, you came back.” Kenny drawled, slowly pacing in front of the table Armin was seated at. 

“I don’t understand why I’m being interrogated, I’ve been waiting to hear from you for a while now.” Armin chirped up, his voice strange in its lack of nerves. 

Levi frowned at this, Armin seemed a lot less timid than he remembered, and a lot less so than the majority of people he’d seen in an interrogation setting. Does murder do that to you? Or has this guy been hardened after finding out he’d been cheated on. 

“So, you genuinely don’t know why we brought you in here?” Kenny responded, voice sounding bored as ever. 

Armin was silent for a few beats before speaking “...No.”

As soon as the words came out, Levi could tell from the man’s eyes this was untrue. 

“Lie.” Levi spoke, keeping his voice as low and dark as possible to avoid detection. 

“What?” The man asked, the first tinge of worry in his voice so far. What the fuck was going on here?

“So!” Kenny replied, almost a cheer as he stopped pacing to directly face Armin despite the fact that the other man could not see him. “Tell us Mr.Artlet, we’ve heard how intelligent you are. Indulge us, even. Why are you here with us today.” 

Armin kept his gaze on Levi’s general direction, his head tilted slightly in question. “How did he-”

“Why are you here, Mr.Artlet.” Kenny prompted, sounding slightly impatient. 

Armin cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from Levi’s general direction and moving it to Kenny’s. “I, uh…When I found you guys and I told you I couldn’t entirely afford the uh- the thing I needed. You said you’d get me to do a job in return.”

A beat of silence passed, Kenny clearly waiting to see if Levi had any input. “That is correct, and what exactly did we ask of you?”

“You asked me to do a job for you.” 

“Lie.” Levi barked, his hands now gripping hard onto his biceps. 

Armin quickly started speaking again, growing accustomed to the living lie-detector. “Well, I was told-” 

“Answer the fucking question, Artlet.” Kenny interrupted, slightly too quickly with a raised voice to silence the man. 

Levi moved forward slightly, and whispered to Kenny in fast French. “Qu'est-ce qu'on lui a dit?”

[What did we tell him?]

Kenny waved Levi off without even turning to look at him, continuing back with his prior pacing. 

Levi was definitely missing something. Who was talking to Armin?

“The car incident was on your own terms, you can’t blame us for that. You got lucky we needed that guy dealing with.” Kenny continued, Levi begrudgingly shifting back to his position against the door.

“You just told me to wait.’ Armin signed, moving his bound hands up to scratch his chin and looking far too comfortable while doing it. 

“So you took matters into your own hands while we were figuring it all out, and you ran over some random guy.” Kenny stated, pacing slowly.

Armin’s gaze followed Kenny’s voice, “I-” he started, his voice getting caught in his throat. “I thought it was Marco.”

Levi tensed at the mention of the man, gripping his arms to the point of discomfort. Flashes of golden glassy eyes and a colourful kitchen filled with plants and tea flew through his mind. 

“..but it wasn’t, was it. You fucked up.” Armin nodded slowly, staring unblinkingly at his hands. “We wouldn’t have helped you, you know. You got really fucking lucky that they let you off, kid.”

“I know…”

“So what are you going to do now?” 

Levi frowned again, this can’t be it. He’s grown up seeing people put through tortuous agony until any and all information, regardless of significance, is provided for Kenny. He was certain by now that something was certainly unexplained to him, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to find out what. 

“I…go home?” Armin questioned, his eyebrows twitching upwards

“You wait, this time do as you’re told. We’re not done with you yet.”

___________________________________________

Levi stormed into the recently cleaned bathroom adjacent to the interrogation room, stinking of bleach and other assorted chemicals he could practically taste. The whole room was painted the same sickly green, save for the burn marks on the doors from cigarettes and small pieces of graffiti.

He approached one of the sinks and flipped the tap on, splashing his face with ice-cold water. He felt dirty, more mentally than anything after involving himself with whatever was going on. At the forefront of his mind, despite having learnt all kinds of new information, was Eren. It was always Eren. 

Things within the organisation were getting much closer to him, and Levi desperately wanted to maintain distance between the two. Should I move out? He dried his face with a stray tissue, discarding it into a small bin and moving to grip the sides of the sink, staring at his face in the cracked mirror. 

They know where I live now , he thought, I can’t leave Eren on his own. 

He squinted at his reflection, taking a deep breath. “I like him.” He whispered, his voice cracking slightly. 

His eyes softly glowed a gentle gold for a moment before returning to their usual steel grey, and Levi let go a sigh of relief. He often did this when he was younger, telling himself a truth just so he could know something that was real. 

It had been a while since a person had grounded him like this. 

Just as the ghost of a smile had started to form on his lips, the door to the bathroom creaked open behind him. Levi turned abruptly, finding with great anger that Armin had just walked in. 

“Levi!” The blonde exclaimed, letting out a nervous laugh as his eyes widened in shock. “Why…what are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same thing.” He gritted, his teeth clenching with his arms held stiffly to his sides. Eren was supposedly really close to this guy, his best friend even. Did Eren know? What would he say?

“Yo-you're involved with this gang… blood hands …you’re a killer! I need to tell Eren.”

“Don’t pull that shit on me, coconut.” Levi responded, clenching his fists at the mere mention of his roommate.

“What do you mean?” Armin questioned, his voice too high to be comfortable. He had taken a small step back, his hands fiddling with a pen he’d obtained somehow. 

“I know what you did.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He replied, his eyes flashing a bright red. 

“Lie.” Levi growled.

Armin lifted a hand, pointing at the other man with an expression of horror painted onto his face. “You! It was you! How do you do it?”

Levi took a step forward, forcing his voice to stay calm. “You fucking bastard don’t you dare turn this around. As if you’re protecting Eren. I know what you fucking did.”

The blonde shook his head, his voice small. “What did I do?”

Levi pulled out his phone, his movements sharp and evidently angry. He scrolled for a while until he landed on what he needed, holding up the phone into Armin’s eyes so he could see. 

NAME - MARCO BODT

5’10”

DARK HAIR. FRECKLES. 

[ ADDRESS LINK ]

PAYEE - A.ARTLET

Chapter Text

Armin sucked in a sharp breath, pointing to the phone with a shaking hand. “You can’t tell anyone.” He whispered, his eyes wide and crazed.

Levi let out a rare snort, finding it strangely funny in that moment that after doing such a thing, he would still behave in such a way. “Why did you do it, Armin?” He sighed, shaking his head while pocketing his phone. 

“He lied to me!” The man yelped, voice wobbling slightly.

“Oh, to you personally was it? You talked to Marco and he lied to YOU, huh?” Levi spoke, his voice steady and dark. 

Armin gulped, the other man was glaring at him so hard he felt as if he averted his gaze he’d lose a limb. “So you turn to murder?! Marco was a lovely person.”

“Marco was cruel to me.”

The casual lie feigning as an accurate retort broke something in Levi. He snapped. 

Levi grabbed the man by the collar of his shirt and shoved him against the grimy wall, Armin crying out in pain as his back slammed into the concrete. 

“Marco was the nicest person I’ve ever had the pleasure to speak with. He didn’t have a cruel bone in his entire fucking body. YOU need to get your fucking act together and get out of this. It was a shitty idea for you to do this, but you’re in it now. The jobs they get people to do are never small ones.” Levi gritted out, his jaw clenched tight. 

“Is that how you joined this?” Armin squeaked, eyes blown wide but voice slightly less wobbly after Levi’s rant. 

“No, I’ve been in this all my life.” Levi blurted at a confused-looking Armin still pinned against the wall, so he kept going. “Kenny, your interrogator, he’s my uncle. I was raised in this shitfest. I never got in with the drugs, they wanted kills and I was good at it. You don’t do one job and get away with it, unless you do it right.”

Armin frowned. “Where are you going with this?”

The raven rolled his eyes, pulling up the metaphorical wall he used around people to hide all his emotions. He released the man and took a small step back but maintained his glare. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m helping you.”

_____________________  _____________________

The kitchen smelt slightly of burnt onions. Eren had briefly forgotten his ex-boyfriend was a terrible chef, but the small open window in the kitchen in addition to Eren’s new attempt at cooking was slowly altering the smell. 

Jean had moved to be in charge of the music, standing opposite the oven and scrolling absently through his phone queuing music.

 Eren began to fill the pot with various prepared vegetables when Jean broke the comfortable silence. “So what time is he getting back?” Jean started, his voice not entirely focused on the conversation, purposefully failing to mention any names. 

“Not sure, he’s working.” 

“Oh yeah? What’s his job?” Jean replied, putting his phone down to place his attention onto Eren. 

The other man sighed, stirring the vegetable chilli around after adding the required spices. “He does jobs for people. Like a handyman I guess, but with all sorts of stuff.” 

“Oh cool.” 

Eren continued, his back facing Jean. “Yeah he works really hard, sometimes I can tell he'd rather not go. He just does what he has to do I guess.” 

A few moments passed, Jean quirked his eyebrows slightly as he felt more was coming. “I think he must be really good at what he does, though. He gets called a lot, and he can be quite quick sometimes.” 

“Right..” 

“Yeah. In general, as a person, he’s very hardworking. Like, he puts everything into whatever he does even if he’d rather not do it. He looks like he doesn’t care but he really really does.” 

“He does?” 

“Yeah!” Eren dropped the spoon he had been using to stir on the wooden chopping board, turning his back on the cooking to look at Jean. “You can tell by his eyes when really cares about stuff, I think he hides it. For sure. He- umm…” Eren paused abruptly, looking around awkwardly and shook his head, tightening his ponytail. 

“No go on, explain his eyes to me Eren.” Jean deadpanned. 

Eren snorted, covering his face with his hands. “Shit sorry.” 

They both laughed for a moment, whether at the awkwardness or at Eren’s momentary oblivion was unclear to them both. The silence returned, perhaps more uncomfortable than before. 

“So…Levi huh?”

“What?!” Eren yelped. “No- Don’t…” He broke off into another awkward laugh, scratching the back of his neck and tightening his already tight ponytail. 

“Oh come on! Eren, it’s so obvious.” Jean rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “He likes you back, you know?” 

“Fuck off, would you?”

“Whatever bro, you seem happy.” Jean sighed, turning around again to fiddle with the upcoming music. 

Eren stared at him in silence. He was wearing baggy pale blue jeans and a blue and white sports hoodie, one Eren had given to him as a christmas present a few years prior. It reminded him of that day every time he saw him, how halfway through the day he got a call and had to abruptly leave for a job. 

He wondered now if he really went to see Marco instead. 

“Are you really a travel writer?” 

“What?” Jean replied, a slight lilt in his voice. 

“Well… you always went on business trips, but you were really seeing Marco.”

Jean put down his phone and turned back to face Eren, the gentle singing coming from the speaker filling the absence of conversation in the room. He sighed, letting his head drop onto Eren’s shoulder. He breathed softly for a moment, gaining his composure. 

“I’m sorry…” He started, a few more small breaths escaping his mouth. “Yes, I really am a travel writer. About half the time I’d actually travel, the other half I’d be with you or M-... him.” His voice broke slightly, Jean tilting his head as he spoke softly. 

“Did you buy him gifts too?”

Jean spoke softly, as if it pained him to admit anything. “I did. Mainly plants because he doesn’t- uh he didn’t really like sweets or candy.” 

“I’m sorry Jean.” Eren whispered.

Jean stood up straight again, playfully hitting Eren’s arm on the way up and humming a noise of annoyance, no real malice held behind it. “Stop apologising, Yeager. I’m an arsehole. Stop being nice.” 

Eren snorted in response, going back to stirring the chilli while Jean went back to queuing music. “You’re not so bad.”

_____________________  _____________________

“You never answered why you're helping me.” 

Levi rolled his eyes, pausing in his walking up the steps towards his apartment for a moment. “We were in the fucking den and spent a half hour going through the underground and you choose now to have this conversation?” He raked his hair out of his face, glancing up briefly before shifting to face the blonde. “Brat.”

“I just want to know! You have no obligation to help me because I got myself into this.” Armin continued walking, his voice a little too loud as he argued his corner. 

Levi begrudgingly followed him up the remainder of the steps, purposefully speaking softly after a long deep sigh. “If Kenny wants you to do a job for him, it won’t be your last job. If you do it, that’s it. You’re in.” 

Armin carried on walking, nodding his head slightly as an inclination for Levi to continue. 

“If the job doesn’t get done…well you get killed. If we do it this way you can move on, plus killing someone…changes you. I can’t say I enjoy it, but after years of doing it it's not as big of a deal now as it is to other people.” They reached the front door of the apartment and came to pause in front of it, Levi keeping his voice quiet.

“You’re Eren’s friend, I don’t want you to end up like m-” 

His voice caught, so he cleared his throat before finishing what he had to say. “I don't want you to have this hanging over your head for the rest of your life.”

Armin put his hand on Levi’s shoulder, an action that made the man flinch at the sudden physical contact, immediately brushing the hand off with a scowl. 

“Thank you Levi.” Armin whispered sincerely, refusing to break eye contact with the man. 

Levi met his gaze, “Tch.” he made a noise, and then spun around to unlock the front door. 

Their whispering was obviously not needed, the apartment filled with loud music they hadn’t heard from outside; in addition to terrible singing from Jean and Eren while they plated up their homemade dinner. 

“Great timing! Is there enough for four?” Armin chirped, his voice typically as joyful as ever without taking much work to hide it. 

Levi closed the door behind Armin, removed his shoes and looked up to see Eren already looking at him, his singing coming to an abrupt pause upon seeing his roommate. The man looked happy, and even ever so slightly nervous, and one single thought raced through both of their heads. 

I missed him.

Chapter Text

After sharing a meal together and spending time chatting about nothing in particular, Armin and Jean didn’t stay in the apartment for much longer. Around the end of the meal, the small talk ended abruptly upon the announcement of their breakup, nicely rounding off the evening.

Levi was glad to an extent, they mentioned they wanted to remain friends so he was at least happy that their romantic relationship was over, he was just annoyed that this meant he still had to interact with them both at the same time. 

The next morning, Levi was woken from his unusually undisturbed and long sleep to the sound of gentle knocking at his door. He was shirtless and tired, and not considering his own state too much he immediately got up and opened the door, his bleary eyes immediately focusing on the sight before him. 

Eren stood at his door, also shirtless, wearing only a pair of loose green shorts. His hair was down and trailed down along his torso, coming to an end around his nipples. 

“There’s a- uhh..” Eren faltered, forcing his eyes away from Levi’s equally bare chest and clearing his throat.

Is he also interested? 

“There’s a postcard for you.” He said, leaning against the door frame. 

One of his arms crossed against his chest, Levi’s eyes following the movement for a moment before briefly peeking at his stomach. 

“Oh?” He replied innocently. 

“It doesn’t say who it’s from.” Eren spoke slowly, his voice still slightly gravelly from sleep.

Levi’s eyes met Eren’s, hard and sharp. “So you read it.” 

“It’s a postcard! Obviously I read it.” He huffs, looking like a stroppy toddler. He fumbled around in his pocket for a moment before producing the card, his eyes resting just above his roommate’s head. 

“Tch.” Levi couldn’t help the small smirk appearing on his lips at the sight, plucking the card from the man’s slender hand. He scratched his stomach with his free hand as he observed the card, acutely aware of his roommate's eyes following his hand and thoroughly enjoying every second of it. 

The card was a personalised photograph, showing the view from inside a brightly coloured room filled with various knicknacks leading onto a balcony filled to the brim with various plants and flowers. A small black cat sat on the balcony, staring at the photographer. 

Levi turned over the postcard to read the tiny inscription written next to his address. 

-M

“Does that mean anything to you?” 

Levi grinned, turning around and gently placing the card on his bedside table “It means something.” 

Eren hummed, taking the opportunity to quickly glance around the otherwise plain and barren room. “Tea?” He said absentmindedly, the question becoming a common thing for him to say to his roommate. 

“Nah I’m good for now thanks, about to have a shower.” Levi responded, picking out a pair of  clean boxers and a towel from his cupboard. “I’ll take one after though if you’re-” he started, only to notice Eren had abruptly left. 

He stood there for a moment, baffled as to why the man left so suddenly, but shortly shrugged it off and headed towards the bathroom. 

-

Eren turned on the coffee machine, not entirely sure how he managed to walk all the way into the kitchen without realising how he even got there in the first place. The only thought racing through his mind was his roommate, shirtless and wearing his black jogging bottoms. They were loose but they looked comfy, and he wanted nothing more than to touch them, or have the legs within them wrapped around his waist. 

He rubbed his face slowly, forcing himself to put incredible focus on the coffee. He just needed to wait for the machine to warm up, maybe put some milk in the microwave, and then he could finish. That was all he needed to do, stand in front of the machine and not get distracted. Not even by the thought of his roommate in the shower, a tempting as that might be. 

It wasn’t a lot for him to do, but he somehow found himself standing in front of the bathroom door with his eyes closed. 

“What am I doing?” He whispered, shaking his head. He turned his body to the side with every intention to go back to the coffee machine, when a muffled noise caught his attention. 

Not any old noise, a very specific and male voice from the bathroom. 

Eren was on his knees with his eye to the keyhole before he could even think twice about what he was doing, his throat dry and his mind slowly catching up with his eyes. 

Through the keyhole, Eren could see Levi in the shower with one hand resting on the wall, while the other slowly palmed his cock. He rocked into his hand slightly, his eyes closed and his jaw slack as more quiet noises escaped his mouth. 

“Eren.”

The noise went straight to Eren’s cock, his eyes blowing wide.

H e said my name?

He stood up fast, striding to his room and closing his door silently. Eren started pacing, putting his hair up and taking it down again multiple times in a row. He couldn’t get the image out of his head, the small noises meaning the man was obviously trying to hide what he was doing, the shape of his mouth. Eren knew he should be concerned about his roommate masturbating over him, he should be embarrassed about hearing his name, he should be scared it was him . 

But he wasn’t any of those things, he was unreasonably aroused and soon found himself lying on his bed wiggling out of his shorts. He freed his already aching cock and closed his eyes, mentally picturing Levi again, his wet hair sticking to his face, water droplets falling down his bare arms and chest and down his muscular legs. 

“Eren.”

A shiver ran up Eren’s body. “Levi.” he whispered, almost in response. 

He thought of the man arching his back, his jaw slack, and moaning Eren’s name to take him over the edge. 

Eren came on a strangled yelp, one name on his lips. 

-

After cleaning himself up, Eren put on a big jumper over his shorts and got his laptop before sitting on their shared sofa and immersing himself in his work. It wasn’t long before Levi’s bedroom door opened and he padded out, the coffee machine and kettle coming to life without his roommate even asking if Eren wanted one. 

He felt like he should feel dirty he just came over Levi, but so should his roommate. Neither of them had ever expressed any interest in each other of this sort before that day, so they should both feel awkward. 

Levi sat down next to Eren on the sofa, putting his coffee on their footstool and placing his tea next to it. 

“Thanks.” Eren murmured, Levi humming in response. 

It felt so natural, they had been growing close over the past few days, slowly moving to sit closer and closer to one another on the sofa. This time, Levi sat close to Eren and read his French book, pulling his blanket over them both without saying a word. He tilted his head to the side, then very slowly rested his head on Eren’s shoulder while he continued to read silently, not making a big deal of it. 

He didn’t ask, and Eren didn’t want him to ask. The small action brought a small fire to his chest and he smiled a small smile, continuing with his work. 

All too soon, their bliss was interrupted with a harsh ringing noise. 

Levi huffed, shaking his head as he marked his place in his book and retrieved his phone from his pocket. He would usually roll his eyes or sigh at his phone when it would ring, but this time his whole body seemed to stiffen as he suddenly sat up. 

Eren couldn’t help but look over at the phone, the name Farlan reading at the top. He was sure he hadn’t heard that name anywhere before. Was this that tall blonde man, or was it his boss? 

“ Merde . One minute.” Levi sighed, standing up and plodding to his room and closing the door gently behind him. 

Eren raised an eyebrow, turning on the TV to let the background noise drown out the conversation while putting his laptop on the footstool and walking over to the bedroom door, letting his curiosity get the better of him yet again as watched the conversation. 

-

“Levi, what’s wrong?”

“What do you mean, you called me . You only ever call me on this phone if something is wr-”

“We should be having this conversation in person, but this has been on my mind.” 

Levi sighed, sitting down on his bed and ruffling his still-damp hair. “What.”

“I know how hard it is to see you in person now, it's just… about your kills. They’ve been really quick and clean for a while now.”

“...What of it.”

“It’s just…Its so unlike you. Its like you don't enjoy it anymore”

Levi scoffed. 

“You can always leave, Levi. I’d rather you didn’t because you’re my brother. Izzy and I would be in the shits without you, but just because Kenny is your uncle doesn’t mean you have to stay. You’re an adult now, not like when we started, you could find a way to leave now.” 

While he had been talking, Levi had moved a hand over his eyes, the desperation in his friend’s voice chipping away at his composure. 

“I will always protect you, brother. You know this. Always to the best of my ability.”

Farlan sighed. “I know, but I don’t want it to cost you your sanity.”

“They have someone new over me, Farlan. We cannot- I can’t be having this conversation.” 

The man was silent for a minute, seemingly mulling over what he had just been told. “What do you mean?”

“Kenny…keeps people over me, you know this…He has someone new. I can’t leave now, There’s just no fucking way-...I can’t, Farlan” Levi choked the last words out, rubbing his eyes and taking a breath. 

“Why not?”

“...I can’t put him at risk, Farlan. You don’t understand. I can’t lose him.”