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Eren wouldn’t say he had favourites at his place of work, however, the woman who he was watching from the office, laughing and joking had to be his favourite if he had to pick.
Madeleine Ackerman was one of the funniest, unapologetic, independent women that Eren had ever met. From the moment she had gone into the nursing room, due to her not being able to be as mobile as usual, she has been a crack to be around.
Her family which usually consisted of her two children, Kuchel and Kenny, as well Levi, her grandchild would occasionally visit her, more so her grandson, Levi.
Levi had caught Eren’s eye from the moment he had met him in the visitors lounge. Eren had been helping Madeleine out of her room and into the area when he had met the ravenette for the first time, ever since then, Eren believed that he got more excited to see Levi than Madeleine did.
“Eren!,” Madeleine called out, waving her arm up in the air as Eren entered the room. “You look tired, love. Take a seat here.”
Eren laughed to himself as he walked over to the free chair next to Madeleine. It was true, he was very tired, he didn’t get much sleep last night due to his neighbors upstairs getting it on all night, while all he did was roll over onto the other side bed that wasn’t occupied by another. Another sad reminder that Eren did not have that special someone.
“How are you?” Eren asked as he sat down, smiling and waving at Joyce who sat in front him and Madeleine.
“I’m very good. The cook finally listened to me and made Brasillé for my breakfast. It was quite delicious.” Madeleine said.
“Well you did go into the kitchen and threaten Jean.” Eren laughed. “If I recall correctly, you said and I quote ‘Make me Brasillè, or I’ll shove this cane so far up your ass you’ll feel it in the back of your throat’ ”
“Tch,” Madeleine waved her hand around. “I got my food though.”
Eren shook his head and laughed, feeling himself relax in the chair. He wished that he could go home right now, and put his feet up. But, with Sasha off on her pregnancy leave, his hours had increased which meant more time in the nursing home, than his actual home.
“My grandson is coming today.”
“That’s great to hear.” Eren sat up a little bit in the chair. “Are you excited?”
“Should I be asking you that, dear?” Madeleine tease at Eren. Eren looked at her wide eyed and then gave a nervous laugh.
“I don’t know what you mean, Maddie.” A nickname that only Eren was allowed to call her by.
“Please, “ Madeleine said. “I may look like I don’t understand what is happening most of the time, but I know a crush when I see one.”
Eren coughed nervously, rubbing at the back of his neck now while he felt his cheeks blush slightly from how blunt Madeleine had been. It was no secret that Eren was sporting a little crush on the raven haired that would visit her. How could he not? Levi is hot, very fucking hot. Also, Levi is interesting to talk to. Eren and him had shared some conversations over TV shows and books that they had watched and read, especially when Eren had walked in with his old, battered version of ‘ Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ and Levi had made a comment about it. Ever since then, Levi and Eren would make small talk if he wasn’t the one bringing Madeleine to the visiting area.
“That’s quite enough from you, “ Eren said, getting up from the chair and giving her one of his famous smiles. “I’ll come and see you later.”
Eren had walked out of the room, leaving Madeleine to look over at her friend, Eliza and shaking her head.
“ Men. ”
Eren had just finished taking over some of his residents over to the table when Mikasa, his boss, had called out his name. Eren walked out of the dining room area, into the reception where he was instantly with those silver eyes that he often thought about.
“Mr Ackerman is here to see his grandma, I just told Armin to go up to her room and get her. Can you take Levi over to the visitor section? I have to take a phone call.” Mikasa asked.
Eren nodded his head and turned his full attention onto Levi who hadn’t stopped looking at him. Eren felt himself getting a bit warm, but he coughed it off and cleared his throat.
“Shall we?” Eren extended his arm out, embarrassed by the words that had just come out of his mouth. He wasn’t taking Levi out on a date, he was just showing him a section that he had been too many times before.
Levi nodded, and Eren swore he saw a faint smirk on the ravens lips before he turned his body around to go and walk over to the section.
“So, no book today then?” Levi asked after a few moments of silence.
“Nope, not today.” Eren laughed. “I was so out of it this morning, I forgot to put it in my bag.”
“Rough night?”
“Rough life is more like it.”
Levi laughed, Eren immediately started feeling his heart beat faster against his chest. It had only been a few times that he had heard Levi laugh and it was something that would always make him flustered on spot. He couldn’t explain why it would make him almost weak to the knees, but he didn’t hate the fact that it did.
Eren had got to the visitor section and held the door open for Levi. Levi thanked him with a nod of his head and waited for Armin to come down with Madeleine.
“How has she been?” Levi asked, sitting down on the seat that was opposite to the one that Madeleine would sit in.
“She’s been okay, “ Eren answered, leaning his back against the wall and crossing his arms. “She hasn’t been in any more accidents.”
The accident that Eren was referring to was something that happened a few weeks back. Madeleine had been getting out of the shower when she fell, her legs gave in from the moment she stepped on the floor, causing her to fall flat. Eren had been on shift that day and thought it was weird that Maddie had not been down stairs yet, it was around the time that she would start arguments with Jean, the head chef, about his terrible food. Eren had instantly got a bad feeling, he couldn’t explain it, but he had to go and check on her. When Eren had gone into the room, he found Madeleine unconscious on the floor. He had never been so scared in his life as he called for Armin and Sasha to call for an ambulance. Eren stayed with her the whole time, until Kuchel, Kenny and Levi had turned up an hour later. Still, even after they had turned up, Levi asked Eren to stay a little longer. They didn’t talk much, only about trivial things and books, but Eren didn’t mind staying in silence, especially with Levi.
“I’m glad of that.” Levi said. “Here comes trouble anyway.”
Eren watched as the door opened up, and Madeleine faked a gasp of offence.
“Levi, “ Madeleine started off. “I am no trouble at all. Isn’t that right, Armin?”
Armin looked at her, laughing and helping her sit on the chair.
“I’m not getting involved.” Armin said as he left the room, causing everyone to laugh in there.
“Right, “ Eren brought himself off the wall and undid his arms from his chest, “I best be off then. Maddie, be on your best behaviour.”
“Not you too.” Madeleine sighed. “Jesus, you make one remark about shoving something up someone’s ass and you are instantly a misbehaving child.”
Madeleine laughed after she finished off her little ramble, something that Eren had gotten used to. Eren loved Maddie’s personality, it reminded him of his mother, who sadly passed away last year from an illness that couldn’t be cured. He misses her everyday.
Eren was just about to leave the room when he felt a warm, tiny hand wrap around his wrist. He looked down and was instantly met with Madeleine.
“Can’t you stay with us?”
“Don’t you want to be with Levi alone?” Eren asked.
“Oh dear, “ Madeleine started off. “I love Levi’s company, as well as yours. Please stay with us for a bit, I’m sure Levi wouldn’t mind, at all. ”
Eren watched as Levi looked at his grandmother, a look of shook his face while his eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his head. Maybe Levi did not want him to stay? Eren started to think to himself, he couldn’t explain why he felt sad, but he did.
“Uhm,” Levi coughed out, looking down at his hands that were on the table and in one another, “I don’t mind at all.”
Eren had cleared his throat and made his way over to the table, grabbing another chair from one of the tables in there and dragging it over to where Levi and Madeleine were seated.
“How is your mother?” Madeleine asked. “I hope she isn’t over working herself again. ”
“She isn’t, “ Levi reassured. “She told her boss that if her hours kept increasing, she could leave and look for other work. But, they wouldn’t get rid of their best worker.”
Madeleine hummed. Marco, another person who works in the kitchen, had come into the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. Eren knew that Madeleine and Levi only drank tea, they both didn’t like coffee in the slightest and thought it was an ‘illegal’ drink. Marco had poured some tea into the cups; even offering some to Eren who declined. Tea didn’t sit well in his stomach, for some odd reason.
“So, “ Madeleine drank some of her tea before asking. “How has work been?”
“It’s been okay.” Levi replied. “But, it hasn’t been easy since Petra left to go on maternity leave. I’ve been doing double the work, today is the only day I’ve had off for a week.”
“I felt that.” Eren said, out of the blue.
“You too huh?” Levi asked, picking up his tea from the table and blowing on it slightly.
“Yup, “ Eren ran a hand through his hair and then rubbed at his tired eyes. “Ever since Sasha went on her pregnancy leave, I’ve taken most of her hours.”
“Sasha..?”
“The women who kept eating the bread all the time. You remember, the one who came in here that one time with half a baguette stuffed in her mouth.”
“Oh, “ Levi looked cringed out. “I remember.”
Eren chuckled to himself, seeing the expression on Levi’s face is what Eren would also look at Sasha like on the daily. He really didn’t understand how Connie coped sometimes with her.
“So Eren, “ Madeleine called out. “May I ask you a question?”
“Sure, but I might not have the answer.” Eren teased, grabbing one of the biscuits of the tray and taking it into his mouth. Madeline clicked her tongue with an amused smile on her face.
“Are you gay?”
Eren choked on the part of the biscuit he was swallowing when Maddie asked the question. He began to cough loudly, hitting his own chest as he tried to breathe. Levi grabbed some water from the table and quickly poured it into the glass, handing it over to Eren who even though he had shaky hands, had accepted.
Levi began patting Eren’s back, everytime he stopped having a sip of water. Eren had managed to get the biscuit down, but Levi continued to pat his back. Was it weird of Eren to not tell Levi to stop? Probably. Did he care in this particular moment? Not really.
“Grand-maman!” Levi looked over at his grandmother and glared. “You can’t just ask questions like that!”
“Why not?” Madeleine asked. “Are you okay, Eren?”
Levi had stopped patting Eren’s back now, which Eren had been silently disappointed by, and went back to his seat at the table.
“I’m fine, Maddie.” Eren reassured, watching Madeleine's worried expression soften. “To answer your question; yes, I am gay.”
Eren is out and open, proud to be who he is. I took him a long time to figure it out himself, but once he did, he hadn’t been happier and more comfortable in his own skin. He was grateful that he had supportive parents and friends who were there for him.
“That’s wonderful, “ Madeleine smiled as she clapped her hands together. “Please do not think I was being ignorant when I had asked that question. I only asked because Levi here, is gay too.”
Levi made a choking noise next to Eren. Eren glanced over to see Levi who had a red face, as if he had been sitting too close to a fire or been out in the sun all day.
“Gra-gran-“
“And,” Madeleine started off again, “He’s very much single!”
Madeleine had winked at Eren. Eren couldn't stop the feeling of relief in his stomach when Madeleine had announced that not only was Levi interested in guys (too), but, Levi was also very much single, like himself.
“Grandma, please..” Levi whispered over to Madeleine.
“What?” Madeleine asked, completely oblivious to the scene that she had just created.
“Eren, “ Mikasa came into the room, holding the phone to her ear and covering up the bottom end of it with her hand, “Armin needs you in room 39. Code 6.”
Code 6 meant that a resident has had an accident in bed. Eren sighed and got up from the chair, brushing off the crumbs that had landed on him from when he tried to eat the biscuit that almost killed him.
“See you next time?” Eren said to Levi, although it sounded like a question.
Levi nodded, his cheeks still having a faint blush on them.
Eren had left the room and went over the room that he was needed in. He couldn’t stop thinking about Levi though. Especially the look Levi had on his face when he left the room, his cheeks all blushy while he tried to glare (but failed) at Madeleine across the table from him.
Eren did have a crush on Levi, he would admit that much. However, he didn’t have the backbone to ask Levi out on a date, even after the news that he had received today. Eren didn’t want to end the little thing that they had going on between them at time, even more so, he didn’t want to get rejected.
After Eren had helped Armin in room 39, he went back downstairs and saw Levi in the office area. When he got down the stairs, he noticed that Madeleine was now back in the room she would often sit in.
“Are you okay?” Eren asked as he walked over to Levi.
Levi looked at him and opened up his mouth to stay something, but quickly closed it as Eren watched Levi’s expression look conflicted. As if he really wanted to say something, but he kept telling himself not too.
“Can you talk outside for a moment?” Levi finally asked after a minute of silence. Eren looked at his watch and noticed that his lunch was going to start in a minute, so he nodded his head and ushered Levi to the door. Eren pinched in his code and opened up the door for Levi, who walked out in front of him before mumbling ‘thank you’.
Eren walked Levi over to the area where he would often sit when he needed a breather. It was a field with a bench on it, sometimes the residents of the home would come out here too, however, with the troublesome weather they had been having lately, it would only be occupied by Eren. Eren had grabbed the bag that he kept in the corner and placed it into the bench that was wet, he covered a wet patch and made more space for Levi to sit next to him. Although Levi looked reluctant at first, he actually did sit down.
“So, what’s up?” Eren asked.
“Uhm, I just want to say sorry.” Levi finally said. “About my grandmother and all.”
“Don’t be.” Eren laughed off. “She’s a riot. I can’t help but like her.”
“I’m still sorry. She shouldn’t have asked those questions and told you that stuff about me. I promise I’ll-“
“Levi, l really don’t mind, at all.” Eren reassured, turning himself to face Levi who hadn’t looked at Eren at all.
“I guess, “ Levi finally looked up and faced Eren, “I can’t believe she just basically told you that I’m single.”
Eren laughed and shook his head.
“Like I said, I don’t mind in the slightest.” Eren said. “If it makes you feel any better, I’m single too.”
“How on earth are you single?”
Levi looked royally embarrassed as the words fell out of his mouth, all while Eren felt himself blush furiously and his stomach felt like a cage of butterflies had just been released in there.
“I’m sorry, that came out wrong and.. fuck. ”
Eren watched as Levi struggled to say anything, all he could hear was Levi’s mumbled curses to himself.
But then Eren began thinking of something. Would it be so bad for him to ask Levi out on a date? He now knew that Levi was also playing for the same team as him, what was there to stop him? Levi was also single and extremely fucking attractive. They also had a lot of things in common that Eren had found out in the few months that they had known each other.
- Levi loved Anime; so did Eren.
- Eren loved mint custard, so did Levi.
- They both enjoyed reading.
- They both enjoyed watching Tv shows like Brooklyn 99 and How I Met Your Mother.
- They both loved pineapple on pizza. (A controversial statement, Eren knows)
- Eren loved simple nights like sitting in front of a fire with a warm cup of hot chocolate, Levi had told him that he enjoyed doing the same.
- They had so much more in common..
So what was stopping him from asking Levi out on a date? It could only go one or two ways; Levi could say yes, Eren would feel victorious. Levi could say no, Eren would feel rejected. But, Eren didn’t care for those odds anymore. His mother had always told him to be bold, and that is what he is going to do.
“Levi, “ Eren put his hand on top of Levi’s that was currently on the bench, “would you..uhm..like to go out sometime?”
Levi looked up at Eren, his shocked expression slowly softened as he smiled at Eren.
“I would love to.”
Unbeknownst to them, Madeleine had been watching them both from the window that she was currently looking out of, with a grin on her face as she held her weight onto the cane that she carried around with her.
“Madeleine, “ Armin called out behind her, making his sway over and standing next to her, “You should be sitting down.”
Madeleine waved her hand off at Armin, still smiling at the two young lads sitting on the bench now laughing and talking to one another.
“You see that, “ Madeleine pointed at Levi and Eren sat on the bench, “I did that.”