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”So Eren have you thought any more about what you are gonna get Levi for your anniversary?”
Eren was shaken out of his thoughts by Armin’s question. “Yeah! Actually, I found this really cool liquor recipe! It’s called the love potion!”
Jean wrinkled his nose. “Gross! I can’t believe you actually want to have sex with him!”
He shoved Jean. “Shut up! We’ve been dating for 2 years next month. I wanna do something special. He is so difficult to buy for!”
Armin patted his shoulder. “That sounds cool and special. How do you make it?”
Eren smiled he had spent days researching the perfect recipe. “It’s brandy, vodka, water, honey, eleuthero root ginger, cardamom seeds, cherries, apricots, cinnamon, and vanilla. You mix it all together and leave it for 3 weeks! It’s supposed to be really good, it's also an aphrodisiac.”
His friends looked uncertain. Connie asked, “What the fuck is eleuthero root?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, it’s supposed to help with cognitive function.”
Mikasa shook her head. “Sounds weird. Why can’t you just buy him something.”
Armin spoke up, “I think it’s sweet. Don’t listen to them, Eren.”
“Here.” Levi passed him an envelope at dinner 4 days before their anniversary.
“Wha?” He opened it and found 2 tickets for Turks and Caicos. “What is this?”
“For our anniversary duh! 2 years is a big milestone! I think we deserve a nice vacation.”
He was speechless. “Levi I can’t..” He suddenly felt super guilty. He made some stupid alcohol and Levi got him a beach getaway.
“Ah, you don’t get it do you?”
“This isn’t fair! I thought we said no expensive gifts!”
Levi looked at him. “This isn’t your gift. It’s your card!”
Eren noticed that the tickets were placed inside a happy anniversary card. He squinted. “What a loophole you’ve created their Mr. Lawyer.”
Levi smiled. “Yeah, your real present is coming in four days! When have I ever given you something early.”
“I see.” He reached over the table and kissed Levi. “Thank you for their anniversary card. It’s beautiful.”
On the day of their anniversary, they sat across from each other on the couch in Levi’s apartment. They switched presents. “You go first my love.”
Eren smiled and opened the neatly wrapped gift. Inside the box were a lanyard and key. The lanyard looked homemade like someone had knitted it. “Oh, Levi did you make this lanyard?”
“Yes, I spent weeks learning how to knit. You’ll be getting knitted socks, scarves, and hats for the next 5 years.”
Eren clutched the lanyard to his chest. “It’s beautiful. But what’s this key? I already have a key to your house.”
Eren noticed Levi had a slight blush dusting his cheeks. “This is my way of asking you to move in with me. We’ve been together long enough and you spend more time here than your own place. I want to live together.”
Eren’s heart soared. “Yes! Of course, I’ll move in with you!”
Levi smiled and looked relieved. “Thank god. It’s been killing me to wait.”
Levi opened his present. Eren was nervous. Levi always got him the best gifts. Maybe he should lie and say that the other part of his gift was in the mail. “Alcohol? Where on earth did you buy Love Potion no. 2? This can’t be legal.”
“I made it.”
“You can make alcohol now? You’ve been holding out on me! Depending on how good this is, you're probably gonna save me a fortune!”
Eren blushed. “I haven’t tried it yet… it’s probably not that good it’s supposed to be an aphrodisiac. You know to spice up the bedroom.”
Levi smirked. “You think our sex life needs spicing up?”
“What? No.no I just… I just wanted to do something special for tonight and I thought it would be fun to try... you don’t even have to drink it… you can just throw it away… it was a stupid idea anyway .”
He heard Levi chuckle. “You panic too much. I love it. Nobody has ever gone through the trouble of making me special alcohol. Thank you.”
He watched Levi stand up and walk into the kitchen. He came back with 2 glasses of ice. “I’m only gonna drink this if you do.”
Eren nodded, Levi opened the bottle and smelt it. “Mmm smells good. I’m excited to try.” He poured them both a shot. “To us. May we have many more years together.”
They toasted and both drowned the drink. Hmm, it wasn’t bad. “What do you think?”
“I think I need another shot to determine if I like it or not.”
He still didn’t feel anything even after the second shot. Levi hummed. “It’s not bad love. Goes down nicely.”
Eren grinned. He didn’t fuck up his present. Levi pulled him into a kiss. Eren could taste his ‘love potion’ on Levi’s tongue. They made out on the couch for a while and whenever they came up for air Levi would pour them another shot. After about 4 shots Eren could feel a light buzz. “Can we go to our bedroom?”
Levi picked him up bridal style. “Of course. I don’t know about you but I think I’m starting to feel a little something.”
Eren laughed. When they made it to the bedroom Levi dropped him on the bed and started taking off his shirt and pants. Eren got the hint and removed his clothes. Once they were both in their boxers Levi jumped on top of him. “Mmm, I’m gonna show you how much your little potion affected me.”
He pulled Levi down to his lips and wrapped his legs around Levi’s hips. “You're lucky I love you because that line was unforgivable.”
Levi chuckled against his lips and kissed him. When they pulled apart Eren looked up at Levi expecting to see him looking down with that ‘I’m gonna fuck you into next week's eyes’ but instead Levi looked nauseous.
Eren couldn’t help teasing him. “What’s wrong? Can’t hold your liquor?”
Levi shook his head and ran to the bathroom. He could hear Levi vomiting. What the fuck? In two years he never ever saw Levi throw up. Levi had his head in the toilet vomiting. “Oh, Levi.”
He went and wet a rag and sat down next to his boyfriend. He rubbed his back and when Levi rested his head on the lip of the toilet he wiped his face and forehead with the rag. “You don’t have to stay.”
“Shhh. You always take care of me. Let me take care of you.”
“What the fuck was in that drink?”
Eren felt terrible. He felt fine. Maybe a little tipsy but he didn’t feel like vomiting. “Uh brandy, vodka, water, honey, eleuthero root ginger, cardamom seeds..”
“Cardamom?” Levi groaned. “Eren I’m allergic to cardamom!”
“What you never told me that! How allergic? Do I need to take you to the hospital?”
Levi shook his head. “No, I'll just have to vomit it out of my system and maybe get a rash.”
Guilt flooded through him. “I’m so sorry!” He started crying he couldn’t help himself he ruined their anniversary. “Levi if you don’t want me to move in with you or even break up with me I’ll totally understand.”
Levi looked at him. “Stop crying you’re not going to spend tonight with your head in the toilet.” Levi sighed. “I didn’t mean to snap. I’m not breaking up with you. I still love you even though you kind of poisoned me.”
Eren tried to wipe his tears “I swear if I would have known you were allergic I never would have let you… I ruined our night! You got me amazing gifts and I poisoned you.”
Levi slumped down next to him and rested his sweaty head on his shoulder. “I’m not mad. I know you didn’t mean it. It’s really ok. This is gonna be a hilarious story in a few months.”
Eren sniffled. “It’s not funny! I tried so hard to get you something special.”
Levi flicked his nose. “It’s kind of funny. You know you don’t have to try so hard. I would have loved anything you got me. Hell, I didn't even need a gift. Just being with you is enough.”
Eren kissed Levi’s forehead. “I know but you always spoil me… I just feel bad, nobody spoils you.”
“Don’t. You spoil me plenty. You make my favorite dinners when I have a shitty day, you clean to my standards which is very high, you laugh at all my shitty jokes and you are even gonna stay here all night even though I’m gonna vomit my stomach out.”
Eren wiped down Levi’s face again with a cool towel. “I guess. I really do love you. I should have listened to my friends when they told me making the alcohol was a bad idea.”
“I love you too. Your friends are idiots. I think it was a great idea. Besides, this might be the best anniversary present ever! I’m gonna milk this night for the rest of my life. Whenever we fight I can just remind you that you poisoned me.”
Eren groaned. “You are never gonna let me live this down.”
Levi intertwined their hands. “Never baby. I’m gonna tell everyone every chance I get.”
“Hey I would be careful I know you're allergic to cardamom now. next time I might give you a full dose. See what happens.”
“Please have mercy.”
Eren chuckled. “Happy anniversary. Sorry, I ruined it.”
“You didn’t ruin it. I’m spending it exactly how I wanted.”
Eren scoffed, “Vomiting your stomach out?”
“That I did not plan. No, I’m spending it with you. That’s all I ever wanted. Happy anniversary. Next year you can vomit your guts out.”
Eren was lucky to be in love with this man. “Deal.”
Here's the recipe if anyone wants to try it! If you do let me know if it's any good!
Ingredients: ½ cup 80-proof brandy, ½ cup 80-proof vodka, ½ cup water, ¼ cup raw honey, 2 tablespoons chopped dried eleuthero root, 1 tablespoon candied ginger, ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds, 10 dried and pitted tart cherries, 6 small dried and diced apricots, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 vanilla bean sliced lengthwise and cut into half-inch pieces
To Make: Combine brandy, vodka, water, honey, eleuthero, ginger, cardamom, cherries, apricots, cinnamon stick, and vanilla bean in a pint-size canning jar with a tight-fitting lid. Cover the jar with a piece of plastic wrap and screw on the lid. Shake the mixture vigorously for 15 seconds to blend. Store the jar in a cool, dark place for four weeks, shaking the contents daily as the flavors mingle and mellow. Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer. Bottle and store in the refrigerator, where the liqueur will keep for three months.