Work Text:
~ 1 ~
Of all the things Eren had expected to see when walking into the stables – he had been assigned stable duty and it was one of his favourite chores as the comforting scent of fresh hay and horses had never ceased to calm him – it definitely wasn’t the small and slightly shaking form of no one else but captain Levi in the middle of a huge pile of clean hay right next to his horse’s stall. The raven haired man’s head was resting on top of his knees that he had pulled towards his upper body; face hidden from Eren’s view though Eren had the unsettling suspicion that the man was crying and therefore hid his face to spare himself from the embarrassment of someone seeing his tears.
“Captain Levi?” he carefully asked; hoping not to startle him as he obviously hadn’t noticed his presence yet but it was to no avail. The second his voice disturbed the silence the captain’s tearstained face whipped up and he stared at him with wide eyes full of shock. The sight made something in Eren (it definitely wasn’t his heart) break.
He wasn’t entirely sure what had possessed him to do this but he couldn’t help but rush forward and crouch down right in front of the captain and carefully pull the man’s small form into his warm chest. Eren was aware that the captain could probably feel his fast heartbeat in this position but he couldn’t bring himself to care in this moment. All that was on his mind was that he needed to give the man – that he had always looked up to and also had a huge crush on – some comfort and maybe a nice little hug would give Levi exactly that.
Eren could feel captain’s body tense – hugging him probably hadn’t been the best idea considering the fact that this was captain Levi and the man wasn’t particularly fond of any kind of skin contact – and he braced himself for being punched but to his surprise nothing happened. Levi stayed right where he was, however, his body remained tense.
It was clear that Levi wasn’t really comfortable with their current position – maybe it was just the fact that Eren had caught stoic humanity’s strongest crying – but he didn’t seem to hate it either. If he did he would have already pushed him away and kicked the crap out of him. So Eren decided to be daring and slowly embraced the captain’s small form with his arms; his hands gently pushing him even closer to his own body and he allowed his fingers to draw figures on the man’s back in hopes of it helping him to calm down.
Levi remained tense for a while but as Eren continued to gently run his hands over his back, he slowly started to relax into the embrace. He was still slightly shaking and Eren could hear the occasional sniffle every once in a while so he definitely was still crying but as the time went one he seemed to slowly calm down.
“If you tell anyone about this I’ll kill you…,” the raven haired man mumbled into Eren’s neck – he had proceeded to bury his face there after fully relaxing into the hug and had refused to move away even when his hot tears got Eren’s skin and also the hem of his shirt wet – and Eren couldn’t help but giggle. He knew that Levi was serious and that he would definitely kick the shit out of him if he ever dared to actually tell anyone that he had seen Levi cry (oh how much joy this would bring to Mikasa who hated “the midget” as she liked to call him with a fiery passion) but his raspy voice made it rather hard for him to take the threat serious.
“Oi stop laughing brat! I’m serious…,” Levi grumbled and it only made Eren giggle even more. *This already sounds more like the captain. I’m glad that he has calmed down and is apparently back to his old self though this makes me wonder why he still allows me to hug him. Maybe he likes it?,* he thought to himself and couldn’t help but feel hopeful. Maybe one day his feelings would be reciprocated and until then he would try to be patient.
“I know captain… I’m just so happy that you’re feeling better…,” he then finally admitted since he realized that Levi was probably waiting for an answer and he almost expected the man to pull away from Eren’s warm embrace after getting a reply but nothing of that sort happened. Instead he shifted a little and leaned more against him to get more comfortable and Eren would rather bite his own tongue of than ruin this moment. He realized that captain Levi trusted him enough to let him see him in such a vulnerable state and he would enjoy this as long as the man allowed him to.
“Thank you Eren…,” Levi mumbled into his neck – face still hidden there – and Eren felt like he would burst from all this happiness he felt when he heard those words.
The captain had called him by his name. Not brat. Not any other insult. No. By his name and in this moment it meant everything to him.
***
~ 2 ~
The second time he saw captain Levi cry was after another mission had gone awry. Many soldiers had lost their lives in a expedition that was bound to fail from the beginning on and Eren could sense the sadness and irritation that surrounded the raven haired man during the whole trip back to the old castle that was the temporary survey corps HQ. Levi didn’t utter one single word after what had happened – another blood bath they all had to witness; more trauma for all of them to block out or else insanity and panic would take over – and it was extremely unsettling to Eren since Levi was so obviously upset and though he knew that all those pointless deaths didn’t leave the stoic man unbothered, he usually tended to not show it. This time however he didn’t seem to have the strength to hide his feelings. He wasn’t the only one that noticed and the whispers he could hear around him were even more unsettling. Cadets were questioning captain Levi’s strength and it broke his heart break a little as he realized that Levi could hear every single word.
When they finally arrived back in HQ, Levi was the first one to storm off - pushing the reigns of his beloved horse into the eager hands of one of the cadets who had stayed back – and not even Erwin’s calls (he seriously wanted to have a meeting about the expedition right after they had just gotten back ) could stop him. No one knew where he had gone to and when he didn’t show up for dinner, Eren decided to go and look for him. He felt like Levi might need some comforting company and considering the fact he was able to help him calm down the last time it might also work now. So Eren started his search for Levi.
He knew that captain Levi was a master in concealing his presence but he hadn’t expected that it would take this long to find the small man. It was already getting dark outside and after spending at least two hours searching for him, Eren decided that there was no point in continuing his search. The captain obviously didn’t want to be found and he was exhausted from both the expedition and also his search for Levi.
As he also couldn’t find anyone from the superiors either – usually Levi was the one to accompany him to the basement and lock him in for the night – Eren decided to just go to his “room” by himself. Maybe someone would come down to look for him later and if he wasn’t in the basement by then he might get in trouble and he would rather avoid that. The day had been stressful enough already and he didn’t need to add any more stress to today’s gruesome events.
Eren walked down the stairs that led to the basement and slowly entered his cell – he couldn’t help but wonder what Levi was doing right now and how he was feeling – only to freeze in complete utter shock. Nothing could have prepared him for the sight he saw right in front of him. There laying on his bed buried under his blanket was the shaking form of no one else but captain Levi. Eren could hear quite sniffles and he immediately was aware of the fact that the man was crying.
*I’ve searched for him pretty much everywhere, hell I even checked his office and he will for sure kill me for entering it without permission, and he chose to hide here of all places?! My fucking bed!? I can’t believe him! But I guess I need to give him credit for his hiding spot choice. No one would have expected him to be here…,* Eren thought to himself as he slowly made his way over to his bed.
He carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and for a moment he wasn’t sure what he should do. He wanted to reach out and pull the raven haired man into his arms but he didn’t know if that was a good idea right now. Levi might not appreciate that this time and he didn’t want to upset him even more. Eren sighed. He also couldn’t leave him like that and as it appeared he would need to risk getting kicked.
So he carefully reached out and slowly - he didn’t want to startle him even though he was sure that he was already aware of his presence - pulled the blanket down so that he could see the captain’s face. As expected it was tearstained and red from all the crying. Eren could tell that Levi wanted to hide his face – probably embarrassed – but he didn’t; maybe he didn’t have the strength and he wouldn’t dare to judge him for it. Levi had seen enough terrible things and the last thing he needed right now was someone judging him for having human emotions.
They stared at each other quietly for a while and Eren’s heart was beating like crazy; he had never allowed himself to really intently study Levi’s grey eyes and now that he did he felt himself get lost in their depth. They always looked dull from afar but right now he felt like he was looking right into storm clouds and it sent a shiver down his spine. God in this moment he really wished that he could just pull Levi close and kiss the sadness away. Of course he couldn’t do that so he tried his best to snap out of those stupid thoughts and cautiously asked the man that was still laying on his bed, “Can I hold you?”
Right. Maybe he shouldn’t have said it like that but there was no way to change it now so he might as well just accept the fact that his mouth was sometimes faster than his brain (most of the time). It’s not like what he had said was wrong though. Last time being held in a warm embrace had helped the raven haired man and he figured that this time it might work as well. He was just asking for permission and taking into consideration if Levi was even comfortable with the idea of being hugged. Maybe he just let his feelings affect his actions a little too much but who was here to judge him anyway? It’s not like the captain really cared. Especially not now when he was laying in Eren’s bed and crying about all those soldiers who had lost their life today.
Eren understood why Levi was feeling this way. He felt like he had failed them (at least that’s what Eren thought) and guilt was slowly eating him up. Eren had felt the exact same way the day Levi’s old squad died. He still felt guilty about what had happened back then and as he basked in those memories a realization suddenly hit him. Levi had probably cried back then just like right now but he hadn’t trusted Eren enough to let him see him in such a vulnerable state. Now though he did.
“You didn’t ask last time. Why now?,” Levi suddenly asked; his hoarse voice disturbing the heavy silence that had been hanging between them and it’s suddenness startled Eren out of his thoughts. He had almost expected the captain to just ignore his question. Apparently he was wrong once again but that wasn’t really surprising to him.
“I figured you might not be comfortable. Last time I just acted on impulse…,” he admitted and hoped that his answer wouldn’t upset the man even more. He might lash out and Eren wasn’t ready for a beating after having witnessed so much violence today already.
Levi sighed and he lifted his hand up to wipe away his tears. It didn’t really make any difference as new ones immediately spilled from his already irritated eyes. Eren patiently waited for him to say something which he after a few moments (until he had given up wiping his tears away and just accepted the fact that they wouldn’t stop streaming down his face for a while longer) finally did.
“I would appreciate it if you could get me a tissue to clean up. I would rather not get snot all over your pillow. Then you can hold me if you still want to that is.”
Eren was fascinated that even when crying the man was as blunt as ever but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
Without replying to what he had just said (he knew that Levi didn’t like that but he just wanted to grab a damn tissue as quickly as possible and then get cozy with him) he hurried out of the basement in search for a tissue. He found one in one of the storage rooms and as quick as he could without having to run and cause any suspicions he walked back to his “room” where a still crying Levi was waiting for him.
With a quiet, “Here”, he handed the tissue over so that the captain could clean up. He patiently waited besides the bed so that he could get rid of the tissue when Levi was done though to his surprise he just rolled over slightly and put it on the floor right next to the bed.
“I’ll get rid of it when I leave. So do you still want to hold me or should I leave? You’re probably tired and here I am occupying your bed. To my defence though this was the only place that came to my mind where I could have some peace.,” Levi said and Eren really wished he could just kiss him to get him to shut up. Of course he still wanted too. What a dumb question (not that he would ever dare to say that aloud).
“Yes. I still want to and I think that’s exactly what you need right now…,” he replied and would have liked to slap himself the second those words left his mouth. *Smooth, real smooth Jaeger.*
“Tch. I guess I just look that pathetic huh?”
Those words were painful to hear. The captain was just too harsh on himself. Everyone deserved to feel something and showing emotions definitely wasn’t pathetic.
“No you don’t sir. Please don’t say that…”
“Whatever. Just come here.”
Eren decided that it was probably best if they dropped that subject. It would only get Levi even more upset and he really didn’t need that right now. He was already feeling bad enough; there was no need to add even more fuel to those negative emotions.
So he carefully crawled on his bed and settled down right next to Levi’s small form. He grabbed the blanket to cover the both of them – it was always kind of cold in the basement and though Eren’s titan powers usually kept him warm, he figured that his body heat alone wouldn’t be enough to keep Levi warm – and then turned on his side so that he could look at the man laying right next to him. To his surprise Levi had also turned to his side and was already watching him. He felt his cheeks warm up slightly and in this moment he was really thankful for the fact that it was too dark in the basement for the captain to see the blush that surely covered his face. They have never been this close to each other. At least not in a such a position that felt incredibly intimate. This was different to last time and the both of them seemed to feel the change.
Eren hesitated for a while longer but then he finally found the courage in himself to reach out and carefully pull Levi’s strong but yet so small frame into his larger form. Like last time Levi shifted a little so that he could comfortably bury his face in Eren’s neck – yet again not caring about the fact that Eren’s skin and his shirt were getting soaked by his hot tears (they hadn’t stopped spilling from his eyes since he had first entered the basement and Eren couldn’t help but wonder if the reason for this was that the captain usually didn’t allow his emotions to break free) – and Eren gently traced patterns into Levi’ back with his left hand. His right hand softly held onto the man’s waist and though he wasn’t sure when exactly he had placed it there (probably when he had pulled Levi close and since he was now partly laying on his right arm he couldn’t really move it away anyway) neither Levi nor him seemed to mind at all.
At first the man’s body was tense – exactly like last time and it was probably because he was just not used to being held like this – but as Eren persistently continued softly stroking his back, he gradually relaxed into the embrace until he was laying completely calm in Eren’s arms. He also stopped crying at some point – he wasn’t sure for how long they have already been laying on the bed together – though he made no effort to move away.
*I think I was right last time. He seems to like this.,* he thought to himself and could help but smile like an idiot into Levi’s hair (when the hell had he even buried his face there!?).
“Do you enjoy this?,” Eren suddenly asked; for some reason feeling bold and in that moment confirming his thoughts from before seemed like a good idea. It probably wasn’t but who cares?
“Maybe…,” Levi mumbled into his neck and Eren almost choked on his own spit after hearing those words. He wasn’t sure but to his stupid lovesick brain that sounded terribly like Levi was trying to be flirtatious and god did that do things to him. The man could probably hear and feel his incredibly fast heartbeat; hell he was sure that his heart was trying to jump right out of his chest so of course Levi was aware of it. But even if he was, he didn’t bring it up. Maybe he did it because he didn’t want to hurt Eren’s feelings but whatever the reason it was, he was glad for it. He wasn’t ready to be rejected yet and just wanted to enjoy this a little longer.
They stayed like this for a little while longer and although Eren’s heart was still beating like crazy, he felt exhaustion taking over him. He was surrounded by warmth and Levi’s smell and as he was slowly drifting off to sleep he could hear Levi whisper a sleepy, “Thank you for being there for me…”, into his ear before he fell asleep with a smile on his lips and the stoic captain of the survey corps still in his arms.
***
~ 3 ~
After Eren had comforted captain Levi for the second time it kind of became a regular thing for them. Levi would show up in his “room” every once in a while – usually after particularly rough expeditions or when he was feeling down and sometimes even when he just felt the need to be close to someone – and Eren always gladly welcomed him in his bed; pulling him close and gently running his hand over Levi’s back. They often laid there for hours without uttering a single word and just enjoyed each other’s presence.
Eren had been a little hesitant at first - not daring to just pull the man into his chest without confirming that it was ok for him beforehand – but now it was only natural to him to pull the small body close to his own. He also didn’t hesitate to touch him anymore; confidently running his hands over Levi’s back and sometimes if he felt particularly daring even along his sides. That didn’t happen that often though as he was still unsure if Levi was even comfortable with that.
One of the many things he had discovered during their little “cuddle sessions”, as he liked to call them, was that Levi really enjoyed it when Eren let his fingers gently wander up his spine and into his hair; his incredibly soft hair. He always hummed appreciatingly into his neck when Eren would run his fingers through the silky strands and it never ceased to make his heart race.
He was aware that he probably shouldn’t get so used to this – his feelings only growing stronger because of all their “cuddle session” that started to happen more and more frequently for some reason (he wouldn’t dare complain as he was grateful for every moment together with Levi) – but he couldn’t help it. Not when Levi willingly cuddled into him and let him gently caress him.
***
~ 4 ~
Eren was feeling a little restless today and both Armin and Mikasa were aware of it. They hadn’t tried to figure out the reason for it yet but if he kept this up they would surely start to ask questions. He was also aware that although he hadn’t told them about his feeling for the captain and their regular “cuddle sessions“ so far, they knew that there was something going on between them. How could they not notice when they continuously caught him ogling the captain was the real question here. He probably looked like a lovesick idiot (he definitely was).
Eren sighed and couldn’t help but wonder if Levi would visit him tonight. He hadn’t come by to cuddle for a while now and he was staring to worry if he had done something to upset the man. It was probably completely stupid of him – he had warned himself that he shouldn’t get too used to this and not get his hopes up but of course he hadn’t listened – but he just couldn’t help it. He was absolutely in love with the man and the thought of Levi not wanting to continue their arrangement was breaking his heart. After all this was the only way for him to be this close to him.
The whole day was a mess – well he was a mess during the whole day to be precise – and when it started to get dark outside he only got more restless. Eren tried to ignore the gazes that his two best friends and also some of the others from the second Levi squad sent his way and when it was time for him to retire to the basement and get ready for bed he pretty much fled from their curiosity. He couldn’t bear it a second longer.
As he entered “his room” he was immediately greeted with the sight of an empty bed and a disappointed sigh escaped him. Of course he wasn’t there. Why did he even get his hopes up when it was obvious that he would only get hurt?
Eren tried his best to keep his tears back – how ironic – and got ready for bed as quick as possible. He had already showered in the community showers and was also already changed into his sleep clothes so the only thing he had to do was prepare his clothes for the next day and take of his boots. The straps of his gear were a tangled mess so he also quickly fixed that mess (he would hate himself the next morning if he didn’t do it right now) and after that was finally done he flopped down on his bed with a sad sigh.
Sleep just didn’t want to save him from his racing thoughts this night and his head was starting to hurt; both from the lack of sleep and also from his aching heart. God he could really hit himself right now for being this stupid and allowing his feelings for captain Levi to grow. Really fucking stupid.
Time went by slowly and Eren just kept restlessly laying there; unable to sleep. He tried those breathing exercises Armin had once showed him to help him calm down although he already knew that it was pointless but at this point he was really fucking desperate. He needed to rest or otherwise he wouldn’t survive tomorrows’ training. They would be doing drills and also some 3D manoeuvre training. That by itself wasn’t too bad but Levi was in charge of tomorrows’ training so it definitely was going to be hell.
He was deep in thought – definitely not what he was supposed to be doing right now – but when he suddenly heard soft footsteps coming closer he was involuntarily forced back into reality. It was probably one of the superiors coming to check if he was where he was supposed to be. Maybe one of the squad leaders.
To his surprise it wasn’t one of the other squad leaders. It was captain Levi and the sight of him painfully reminded Eren of his unrequited feeling for the stoic man. God he really was fucking stupid.
“I’m sorry that I haven’t come by recently. Erwin has given me a shitload of paperwork and I swear that bastard is trying to kill me with sleep deprivation.,” Levi mumbled and although Eren knew he really shouldn’t get his hopes up he was already reaching out for the man to come and join him in his bed before he could stop himself. He almost expected him to refuse and crush that newly blooming hope but his fear was unnecessary as Levi quickly made work of the straps of his gear and also took off his boots (that were shiny and clean as always) before crawling into Eren’s bed and cuddling up to him.
As always Levi rested his head in the crook of Eren’s neck and allowed his right hand to rest on top of Eren’s chest and it was only natural to him to slowly start caressing Levi’s back who appreciatingly sighed; his breath fanning over Eren’s sensitive skin which sent a shiver down his spine. His heart started beating faster as a result of having Levi so close to him once again and he felt himself blush out of embarrassment. There was no way the man didn’t notice his racing heartbeat.
“I missed this…,” Eren heard himself say and he would have liked to slap himself hard right then and there. Levi wasn’t supposed to know that and yet he had said it aloud. Such a bad case of an lovesick idiot with pretty much zero braincells! At this point he could just confess his feelings since there was no fucking way Levi hadn’t connected the dots yet and realized it himself. But that brought up another question. If Levi was aware of his feelings – which he surely was – then why did he still allow this all to happen? His treacherous mind immediately whispered, “Because he likes you back.”, but Eren had to shake those thoughts away. He shouldn’t get his hopes up even more than he already had. It would only lead to heartbreak. Something he definitely wasn’t ready to feel just yet.
Slight movement, that was caused by Levi as he shifted again, forced him back into reality and a light surprised gasp escaped him when he felt something run along the exposed skin of his neck. Eren quickly realized that Levi had moved his face closer to his ear – feeling his breath fan over the shell of his ear - and that it had been Levi’s nose that he had felt brush along his sensitive skin. He had no idea if that had been intentional or not.
Levi leaned even closer to his ear – his lips now almost touching it – and whispered, “Hmm you did? I did too, you know…quite a lot actually…” Something – Eren couldn’t quite tell what it was but he was too distracted by Levi’s closeness to really care – in the atmosphere changed and Eren had to bite back a soft moan. What the hell was going on!? It almost seemed like the captain had decided that playing around with him (and his poor heart) was a good idea; almost as if he wanted to embarrass him as much as possible as a way to punish him for having feelings for him. God that would really be fucking awful considering the fact that he had almost moaned already and it wouldn’t take much for him to really embarrass himself. His heart was beating so fast that he feared that it would jump out of his chest and an unpleasant shiver ran down his spine; this really was messing with him.
Eren could feel himself tense up and he wasn’t the only that noticed that as Levi suddenly moved away from him. His eyes – he hadn’t even noticed that he had closed them until now – opened at the loss of contact and he looked up to figure out where Levi had gone to. He almost feared that the man had left but he immediately relaxed a little when he saw him sit right next to him. Levi was looking at him with an indecipherable glint in his eyes and Eren felt the urge to look away though he couldn’t bring himself to move his gaze away from the beautiful man. God he really fucked up this time as it seems.
In an desperate attempt to save this whole awkward situation he quietly asked, “Why did you move away? Is something wrong?”, though it did nothing but make him even more tense and nervous. Levi sighed. “Because you are too nervous and I don’t want to overwhelm you.,” was all he said as an answer and Eren wasn’t quite sure what to make of it.
“I’m fine though.,” Eren mumbled; trying to defend himself although he wasn’t even sure if what Levi had said was even supposed to be offending. Probably not but he didn’t want to seem weak in front of the man he liked so he decided to try anyway.
“Hmm really? I’m not the one who was laying there as stiff as a board and shaking as if I was trying to murder you in your own bed though.,” was Levi’s response to that and it sounded terribly sarcastic and maybe even slightly bitter. “Well, you were so close and-…,” he tried to say but was interrupted by Levi, “Yeah and? Don’t act as if you didn’t have to bite back a moan when I whispered into your ear! You’re not exactly subtle you know? So what’s the problem with me being close!? I know you like it, don’t even try to deny it!”
All Eren could do was stare at the man. He felt anger bubble up inside of him and although he tried his best to contain his rage he couldn’t help but hiss, “What the problem is!? Yes I like to have you close! God I would like to have you even closer then that but the problem is that you’re playing with my feelings and it hurts me! I like you so fucking much and then you pull some shitty stunt like that on me and all I can think about is that you don’t even mean it like that!”
He was panting heavily – rage now slowly subsiding at the realization that he had just confessed his god damn feelings to Levi and that the man now surely wouldn’t want to come close to him ever again – and the urge to cry was threatening to take over. Levi sighed once again.
“Has it ever come to your mind that I might like you too?,” he asked him then and Eren wasn’t sure if the fact that his voice was so calm and collected even after what Eren had just said should worry him.
“No but why should someone as great as you like someone like me?,” Eren replied to that; still unable to grasp what was really going on. He felt stupid (he is).
Another sigh. This time it almost sounded sad.
“Well, why else would I come here so often?”
“Because you’re the only one that can kill me if I ever lose control?”
“Hmm, that might be partly true but do you really think that I would come down here to join you in your fucking bed and let you hold me close if I didn’t like you? Or that I would let you touch me?”
“I-“
“God don’t act fucking stupid Eren! I like you, how often do you want me to repeat it!?”
There was a weird tension between them and Eren wasn’t sure if he should really believe that his feelings were reciprocated just yet. It seemed to good to be true; more like a wonderful dream that would end as soon as he reached out to pull Levi closer again.
“You do?,” Eren asked then as the awkward silence between them was starting to get too much for him. Though after closely watching the expressions on Levi’s face – that were definitely not screaming “Why is he so god damn stupid!?” – he regretted saying anything at all. Levi seriously might slap him at this point though Eren must admit that he couldn’t really judge the man for it. He was realizing himself that he was just acting dense right now.
Eren wasn’t sure what exactly made him act this way. Maybe he was just scared that Levi was just playing around with him; this whole situation seemed to good to be true after all.
Levi stayed silent for a while but with another sigh he then finally answered, “Yes Eren, I do have feelings for you.” Eren’s heart was beating like crazy – as if he had fled from the thundering footsteps of a titan that was just waiting to eat him up – and all he could do was stare at the man who was still sitting beside him and obviously waiting for his reaction to what he just said. All the annoyance he had seen on the captain’s face was now replaced with something soft; a tender fondness for him of all people. But that wasn’t the only thing Eren could see; that Levi let him see. There was a certain longing in the man’s eyes and he realized that he wanted him to pull him close again. As it seems his urge from before to do exactly that again hadn’t been such a stupid thought after all. What had been stupid though was his fear of Levi playing with his feelings when the man was one of the most honest people – although extremely blunt – he ever got to know.
So Eren decides to finally get a grip on himself and not make Levi wait any longer. He slowly sits up – muscles protesting after a day full of chores – and turns slightly to fluff up his pillow. When he was finally satisfied with it, he leans against it and then carefully turns back to Levi who had been watching his every move; longing still present in his eyes. With another deep breath – this was making him so nervous although he already knew that the man would let him – he carefully reached out and pulled the small form close. Levi settled against him with a soft sigh – no hesitation at all and not a single trace of tenseness in his body – and it made Eren’s heart beat even faster.
That of course didn’t go unnoticed by the small man in his arms who said with an amused chuckle, “If your heart keeps beating like that I might need to fear that you’ll get a heart attack.” “I’m glad that my nervousness amuses you like that.,” was all Eren replied to that with a snort. He was almost shitting his own pants out of nervousness and then there’s this little devil (don’t tell Levi that) making fun of him for it.
“You know that there’s no need to be nervous right? I’m all yours now…,” Levi mumble into his chest and Eren’s heart skipped a beat at that. *He is mine. He just said he is mine. I can’t believe that this is really happening…,* he thought to himself and had to will down the tears of happiness that were threatening to spill.
“I…,” he started but then decided to just man up and ask what he really wanted to ask, “Can I kiss you Levi?” It was silent for a few moments and Eren almost regretted asking but then Levi quietly mumbled, “I would like that…”, and he had to really hold himself back or otherwise he would start squealing out of excitement like a little girl and he definitely didn’t need that kind of embarrassment in front of Levi who he could now consider his lover. Seriously not. Though he was sure that Levi probably wouldn’t give a damn about it anyway.
Eren carefully shifted to his side so that Levi’s front was now pressed against his – he would seriously need to be careful to not get hard during a simple kiss – and he could easily access said man’s lips who was looking at him expectantly; waiting for the kiss Eren had just asked permission for.
He slowly – eyes never leaving Levi’s storm cloud ones – started leaning in – still giving Levi time to back out though the man didn’t even flinch when Eren’s breath fanned over his face – and when Levi’s lips finally met his (the man had moved upwards to meet his lips as things were apparently going a little too slow for his liking) he felt like he would melt right then and there. They stayed still for a few seconds but then their lips started brushing against each other – Levi again initiating the movement but Eren gladly let him take the lead – and he felt all fuzzy and warm inside. He carefully let his one hand wander over Levi’s back down to his hip to gently grip him there and pull him even closer. His other hand wandered into Levi’s soft hair and he slightly pulled on the silky strands as their lips continued to gently move against each other. There was no heat in their kiss; only tenderness. It was absolutely perfect and Eren would have liked this moment shared between only the two of them to never end.
He wasn’t sure for how long they just laid there and gently kissed but when they had to part due to the lack of air Eren couldn’t help but whine at the loss of contact. Slowly he opened his eyes to meet Levi’s fond gaze and a happy smile made it’s way on Eren’s lips. He probably looked like a complete utter fool right now but he was way to happy to really care (the way Levi looked at him as if he was the most precious thing he had ever seen definitely didn’t help with that at all).
Slowly Eren leaned forward to place another gentle kiss on the man’s lips – he just couldn’t resist - and as he pulled back he shifted slightly so that Levi could rest his head comfortably on his chest. His hand that had rested on Levi’s hip during their first kiss was now slung around the man’s body to keep him close while the fingers of his other hand carefully carded through the soft strands of Levi’s dark hair. He felt Levi hum appreciatingly against his chest and another happy smile made it’s way on his lips.
“I could stay like this forever…,” he mumbled into the comfortable silence that had settled between them and Levi was quick to reply with a softly whispered, “Me too..”, and a happy sigh.
“Hmm, are you staying for the night? I don’t want to let you go…”
“There’s no way I’m leaving when I’ve waited so long for this to finally happen…”
Content with his reply Eren allowed himself to relax further into his pillow and continued to lazily stroke through Levi’s hair. He was starting to get sleepy – one gaze down confirmed that Levi was as well – and he slowly let Levi’s familiar scent lull him to sleep; the man whom he loved still in his arms and now finally his.