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Skies painted with splashes of mauve hues ranging from pink, orange, and lavender to grey, the sun slowly bid its farewell by gracefully moving down the canopy as darkness crawled across the horizon. The azure sky was being consumed by the darkness of the night.
Noises across the busy streets slowly faded with people returning to their houses; once-busy buzzing roads became empty, with street lamps across the pavement adorning the empty streets and illuminating their path. Levi walked along with his friends, even though their shadows were longer in comparison to his. He huffed in affront at the insignificant and grumbled as much to Hange as she cackled and hit him on the shoulder playfully, her glasses sparkling with the bright street light bouncing off the single glass of her spectacles. Levi rolled his eyes and clutched his lamp in his hand tighter as they neared their tents.
The sight that met them all was bizarre, annoying, and blithe. His squad and the rest of the corps were giggling, some of them asleep with their clothes in disarray. He scrunched his nose with disdain, pouring out each deep exhale he took.
His eyes scanning for the boy he had once vowed to kill and protect, he found him in the corner, his reedy hand holding what appeared to be a can of liquor. Beside him on either side were Mikasa and Armin, their cheeks flushed from the alcohol, giggling and listening to the unscrupulous brat.
Even with the distance between them, his keen senses, which he developed while living on the streets, kept him safe from stray animals and people when he snooped around for food. Later in his life, when he rode the mares with blades tucked on either side for hunting the titans, his ears picked up the slurry words from Eren’s supple, wet, glistening mouth.
“Do you think he would like it?” Eren was muttering under his breath as he quaffed the rest of the drink from his mug. Wiping the small droplets of beer from his chin, Levi loosened his tie. The temperature was suddenly starting to rise, and he was unable to swallow past the large lump lodged in his throat.
“W-who?” Armin asked and hiccupped, falling into another peel of laughter.
Levi didn’t find it funny; he glared at the trio.
“Captain.” Eren hissed lowly, “I told you, I got him a gift!”
“Yeah. That little grumpy man is going to kick your ass for giving him something nice.” This time it was Mikasa, she wasn’t giggling, but she took another chug of her beer, her short hair falling across her face, hiding her countenance, Levi was sure that brat was smirking as she mocked him.
Levi turned to glare at Hange. To his utter disbelief and at the same time familiar mundane life with his friend. Hange was barely containing her laughter, hiding her face in Onyankopon’s broad chest. Which was shaking with laughter as well.
Stupid tall idiots.
“You handle, Mikasa,” he told Hange.
“I’ll help the cute blond.” Onyankopon supplied with a polite smile now. Levi nodded in gratitude.
“Erwin didn’t sacrifice his life for this,” Levi said, striding towards them.
“He would’ve been supplying them more beer if anything and joining them.” Hange laughed and followed the angry man.
“Eren.” Levi rumbled, grabbing the sleepy boy by the jacket of his coat. Eren went obediently, but due to the insane amount of alcohol inhabiting his senses, he wobbled and leaned on Levi, hot breath hitting the raven's neck. He must have drunk his weight, Levi thought to himself.
“I’m going to kill you in the morning if your hangover doesn’t do the job that is and not before getting that present you got for me.” Levi was talking on the way to their building, dragging and almost carrying the drunk boy.
“P-present?” Eren stuttered smiling lazily.
Levi hummed.
“Present!”
Levi’s lips twitched.
“PRESENTS!!!”
“Enough Eren.” Levi susurrated softly, holding the boy closer. Their warm bodies rubbed between layers of raiment on the consumingly cold night, and a bellowing wind swept past them, causing Eren to grab onto Levi and snuggle closer. Levi shivered and started at the intimate, albeit vulnerable gesture.
When they arrived at their accommodation, in lieu of taking the boy to his lodging, Levi brought him to his room because it was larger and he wouldn’t have to worry about the brat sleeping in his vomit.
He laid the boy on his bed, removing his shoes and jacket, and covered his lithe frame with the thick duvet. Eren was slumbering with a serene countenance. Levi’s heart choked up and seized; he took a staggering step back, inhaling sharp and deeply; the loud rush of blood pumping in his ears almost deafened the soft words spilling out Eren’s ample petal lips.
Levi leaned closer, their faces inches apart, and he listened to Eren’s sleepy number of words.
I g-got you a new cravat, got them your n-name sewed on it, colour- of your eyes- pretty very pretty…
And then, the brat, insufferable, adorable, beautiful brat!
He was sound asleep, the only noise for the next couple of minutes was Eren’s snores and Levi’s loudly hammering heart.
Levi placed a small, gentle, swift, feathery kiss on Eren’s forehead, pulling the duvet close to his neck. He stepped back and grabbed two pillows and an extra blanket from the closet to sleep on the floor. He might have had a small smile on his lips as he dreamed of oceanic green eyes, a brilliant, radiant smile, and a translucent countenance.
He would never admit that to the stuttering, apologetic Eren the next morning or the loudly howling Hange, who had no sense of personal space or privacy and almost broke their door open to squeal in delight at the duo.