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Levi clasped his arms over his stomach when it rumbled again. Too much noise for the empty alleyway, it felt like a signal to the world of his location. He was starving, having not eaten anything the past three days. He was hurt, the gash in his side constantly teasing the prospect of infection - If he didn’t bleed out first. And he was in no nativity to what happened to boys his age when catching the attention of adults.
He knew the rules of this world, he’d been part of it for fifteen years. The food could wait - The shelter could not. He would have had a place to sleep tonight if not for the raid. It was all that one boys’ fault. They had been safe in numbers - safer, at least. And no one had bothered them as long as they kept to themselves and only stole from other communities. They should have kicked that kid out right away when he started bringing back drugs, it was bad news. But Isabel had insisted it wasn’t his fault. It was true; The boy had been hooked already when he first arrived, it had never been his choice. It was his choice when he chose to steal it from a local thug, though. Where there was one thug, there were many. A gunshot wound to his side and separation from his friends later, here he was. He’d find them tomorrow, it was safer to move around at daylight when the streets were bustling and people were more busy earning today’s cash than catching runaways that wouldn’t be missed.
He came to a halt when he felt the slightest hint of warm air as he passed a window, and took a step back to look closer. Levi could hardly call himself lucky tonight, but he would take what he could get, as he noticed the small creak at the bottom of the window, indicating it had not been closed properly.
Levi slowly pushed the window up and slid the curtains to the side to peek inside what appeared to be a bedroom. It was dark and the bed was empty. Whoever lived here seemed to be away for tonight.
He pushed the window the rest of the way up and slowly started climbing inside, hissing at the pain radiating through his side. He felt his shirt already caked in blood soak through more as the wound tore open again. He hoped there would be something inside that could help stop the bleeding.
The room looked abnormally empty - besides the bed there was a closet and a small night table but nothing more. It smelled lived in though, the faint scent of human presence warning Levi that he’d have to stay alert in case the owner decided to head home early. Hopefully it was one of those people who liked staying at brothels till morning came. It definitely didn’t seem like they made much to come home to. He walked past the bed, towards the door he hoped led to a bathroom, the most likely place he’d find something to patch himself up with. If he was lucky, there’d be a first aid kit. Otherwise, at least there might be some towels that could work as a press until it coagulated enough to keep him alive for a bit longer.
His luck didn’t reach very far when he felt hard metal pressing into his back, a little to the left of his spine.
Levi froze, cold dread forcing itself into his veins, making him forget the pain of the wound for the moment, survival instincts kicking into high gear.
“Stay still,” a voice hissed behind him. “Arms outstretched”
“I can’t do both,” Levi deadpanned. He could feel his heart hammering against the muzzle of the gun. His side stung as if it recognized the promise of more of the violence it had endured.
“Arms outstretched, then still.” The man said. “Don’t fucking test me. It’s loaded.”
Got the memo, Levi thought but stayed quiet as he very slowly raised his arms and held them out.
“Good.” The stranger said. “Now turn around. No sudden moves.”
The gun was removed from his back. Levi breathed in. Breathed out. Then started to turn. It was dark, he couldn’t make out anything about the man, other than the fact he was taller - Much taller, in fact. He’d taken a step back, the gun pointed at Levi’s chest. He saw the silhouette move, arm stretching out to something in the darkness, to the wall.
A click. Blinding light burned Levi’s eyes as he closed them, barely resisting the urge to raise his hand up to cover them. He slowly opened them just a bit, still squinting against the overwhelming brightness. The man slowly drifted into view. He was modestly dressed in a soft-looking button up shirt and trousers. His hair was brown, collected in a bun to keep it out of the way. Levi guessed it must reach around his shoulders. Only one pale green eye met Levi’s, the other hidden behind an eye-patch - If there was anything to hide, that was. The expression was unexpected though; He did not look angry, in fact he just looked puzzled. The gun was slowly lowered.
“Shit, you’re a kid,” the man said, the commanding force of his voice receding to a soft note.
“Didn’t stop the last guy.” Levi said. “Besides, I’m 15.”
“Yeah, did I stutter?” The man said, his eye settling on the dark patch of blood soaking Levi’s shirt “You were shot.”
“No shit.” Levi quickly wrapped his arm around his side. “It’s nothing. I’ll just get going.”
“Like hell it’s nothing, you’ll bleed on my floor.” The man still held the gun, waving it in the direction of the door Levi had been on his way to. “Open it. I’ve got medical supplies.”
The door opened into a small bathroom. It was messy. Not disgusting - or yes, it was, but Levi also knew he had abnormal standards, especially for this neighborhood - but certainly messy, the walls yellowing, soap bottles shewn about. Rust and calcium buildup decorated most of the fixtures. At least it didn’t smell, which was the only reason did what the man said when he told Levi to sit down on the closed toilet lid.
“What happened, kid?” he asked, stepping over to the kitchen cabinet. Levi noticed a limp in his walk.
“I’m not a kid.” He repeated.
“Yeah, of course not.” The man said unbothered. “Would be easier if I knew what to call you. I’m Eren.”
“That’s a stupid name.” Levi said, considering it for a moment. It’s not like the man- Eren, could use the information for much. “It’s Levi.”
“I was planning to say that you’re one to talk, but that’s actually a pretty nice name.” He turned back to Levi with a small tin box in his hands. It was red with a white cross on it, but the painting had started flaking off. “Take your shirt off.”
Levi scowled at him, trying to mask his unease with anger, but Eren saw right through it, clearly. Fucking annoying.
“I’m just going to look at the wound, nothing else.” Eren said. “You still haven’t told me what the hell happened to you. Did someone hurt you?”
Levi slipped his jacket off, hanging it over the edge of the bathtub - At least that was better than the ground. He slowly slipped the shirt over his head, hissing when the fabric pulled at the wound. He threw the shirt into the tub. It was pretty much useless by now, he’d have to find somewhere to steal more clothes.
“It was a shootout,” he said, not sure why the hell he was entertaining this man. Maybe the fact he had, in fact, not shot him after all. “Our home was attacked. But it only grazed me.”
Eren frowned at the words as he opened up the box and took out a piece of cloth along with a small, brown bottle. The label had faded with age, but Levi could smell the strong alcohol when Eren screwed off the cap and soaked the cloth with it.
“Did your parents get out?” he asked, putting the bottle and box away, then stepped closer. “Do you have any other family?”
Levi scoffed. “I’m on my own.”
“Fifteen is too young to run around like that.” The man said. “This is going to sting.”
“I’ve done it since I was nine. I don’t ne-“ his voice broke off with a wail when Eren pressed the cloth against the wound, the searing pain filling every ounce of Levi’s consciousness and he slumped forward until he met a warm body, an arm wrapping around his shoulders to keep him steady.
“Easy,” Eren consoled him, way too close for comfort but Levi did not protest, not even when calloused fingers ran through his hair, brushing it away from his forehead. “Hey, you still with me?”
“Fuck off,” Levi whimpered, though he didn’t have energy enough to make his voice firm.
“Maybe after I’ve finished taking care of this,” Eren retorted and wiped the wound down a bit more before he threw the cloth into the trash can under the sink. “You’re lucky. I’ve seen lots of wounds like this one, it looks much worse than it is, though it might scar without proper medical attention.”
“I don’t care,” Levi said truthfully. Eren gave him a curd nod and took out some gaze. He asked Levi to raise his arms, and Levi did without complaint as the older man wrapped the wound tight to help ward off any dirt and grime.
“Wait here,” Eren said after he washed his hands. “I’ll get you a shirt.”
Levi leaned back against the cistern, but he didn’t have to wait long, Eren soon returning with a shirt that Levi could already tell would be way too big on him.
“Here, put this on,” he said and handed it to Levi. He slowly dragged it over his head then thought one arm through the sleeves, then another till he could pull it down over his torso. He felt better, now that he wasn’t soiled in blood anymore.
“Thanks,” he said and slowly pushed himself to stand up, grabbing his jacket in the process. It had kept him alive through more winters than he’d like to admit. “I’ll be going now. Sorry for breaking in, or whatever.”
He took a few steps forward but was quickly stopped by the arm blocking his exit. He scowled up at the man, about to open his mouth when the man cut him off.
“Stay and have food.” Eren said.
Levi scoffed. “Why the hell would you make me food?”
“Same reason I just cleaned your wound up,” Eren said. “You’re a kid,” he quickly held his hand up to silence Levi when he was about to protest again. “A hungry one, I’d bet. Besides, I was actually preparing food when I heard you shuffling around.”
“Dinner?” Levi asked, disbelieving. “At 1 AM? In the dark?”
Eren gave him a lopsided smile. “My sleep schedule is pretty non existent,” he said. “And I prefer to keep the place dark.”
“Why?” Levi asked. There had been no lamps on when Levi entered, otherwise he wouldn’t have run the risk.
“Less overwhelming.” Eren said and finally lowered his arm. “Come.” He turned and started walking away, through the bedroom and towards a small adjoined room at the other end. Levi hadn’t even noticed that door opening upon his initial entrance. He’d gotten rusty.
He followed Eren towards the room that turned out to be a kitchen, not missing the way the man continued to limp, barely bending his left leg as he walked unevenly.
“Oi, what’s up with you old man?” he asked. He could play two games if Eren was so determined on calling him a kid. It didn’t work, as it just drew a chuckle out of Eren.
“Oh this? It’s nothing, just an old work injury.”
Eren hadn’t been lying. On a small cutting board were two pieces of well seasoned meat ready to be thrown on the pan - Apparently Levi had interrupted him before he got the chance. The light coming from the bedroom lamp illuminated their surroundings, casting the kitchen area into a soft, dim glow. He hadn’t been lying about that either, apparently. The light cast in through the window from the street outside was the only other thing lighting up the place.
Eren took out a pan and put it on the stove, turning it on. When he noticed Levi’s questioning gaze he looked away a bit. “I was in the military,” he explained. “Took a bullet to my knee during a storm. I was lucky, really. Many died that day. Turns out I’d never get the chance to avenge them, I’d only slow people down with the way my leg is now. I was unable to walk at all for the first eighteen months.”
Levi frowned. “That’s why you’ve seen wounds like mine.” He concluded.
Eren shrugged. “Yeah,” he said “You see a bit of everything out there.” The butter on the pan started sizzling and he put the meat over to fry. “Can you grab the vegetables on the bottom shelf?” he pointed at the fridge. “It’s hard for me to lean down.”
Levi stepped forward and opened up the fridge. It was mostly empty, only containing one other piece of meat, a milk that seemed to have passed expiration date - disgusting -, a carton of eggs that were also past their prime - less disgusting, those date stamps were liars - and the aforementioned vegetables. He took them out and put them on the table. Eren adjusted the heat of the pan.
“What do you do now?” Levi asked as the older man put the cutting board away and took a new, clean one to start chopping up the carrots, red onions and mushrooms.
“I get a small check for my services to the army, but as you can see,” he gestured towards the barren bedroom “It’s not much. Only enough to just get by.”
Levi hummed in understanding, watching Eren turn the meat and then pour the vegetables on to fry together with it.
“What about you?” he asked. “Most don’t hire fifteen year olds, at least not legally.”
Levi shrugged. “We do odd jobs around the place,” when Eren raised an eyebrow, he quickly explained “Me and my friends. Met them two years ago. They make it easier to get by. It’s safer in groups.”
Eren hummed in understanding. “Where are they now?”
“I don’t know. We got separated during the attack. I’ll find them when the light comes.”
“Stay the night.”
Levi blinked, not sure if he’d heard him correctly. “What?”
“That's why you came here, wasn’t it? To get that wound fixed and for shelter.”
Levi set his jaw, none too pleased having everything figured out by some stranger.
“I take that as a yes,” Eren continued as he turned off the heat and took out two plates, shoveling food onto them. “So stay tonight. I don’t mind, I just wished you’d have knocked on the front door instead.”
Levi scoffed. “Whatever” he said, which, judging by the self-content nod, Eren took as another yes. The plate was pushed into his hands together with a fork.
“Eat.” Eren said.
That was the exact moment Levi’s stomach decided to let itself be known again, the traitorous thing, and he reluctantly started shoveling the food down. It wasn’t anything special, but at this point even stale bread would have felt like a second coming.
“So where are your parents?” Eren asked as he took the first bite of his own piece of meat.
“My mom died when I was seven.” Levi said, between bites of food, barely chewing before swallowing. “Never knew my father.”
“But you said you’d been on your own since nine. What about those two years?”
“The hell do you care,” Levi hissed, watching Eren’s eyebrow shoot up at the reaction. “It’s nothing.”
“Sure thing, Kid.” He said, and put the plate down on the counter next to Levi. The plate was still half full. “I’m done, you can just take the rest, I’ll get some more blankets for the bed.” He turned and left before Levi could protest.
When Eren returned into view and got started on changing the sheets on the bed, Levi had finished his own plate - and Eren’s.
“You don’t have a couch or anything?” he asked, putting the plates to the sink before he went back to the bedroom. He walked over and grabbed the edge of the sheet, helping the man getting it settled on the mattress as he seemed to struggle with keeping his balance with only one well working leg.
“Afraid not.” Eren said. “It’s okay, it’s a big bed. We won’t touch.”
He handed Levi a handful of blankets when they’d finished with the sheets. “I’m going to sleep now.”
“You’re not afraid I’ll murder you in your sleep?” Levi asked and Eren chuckled as he shook his head.
“If you wanted to, you already would.” He nodded towards the bed stand next to Levi. He looked down to see the gun there. “You haven’t grabbed it. You still aren’t grabbing for it.”
“I don’t like guns,” Levi explained.
“Me neither kid. Lay down, you must be tired as hell.”
Eren sat down on the edge of the bed and slipped the sock off his right foot, before he laid down, grabbing his bad leg to pull it up onto the mattress instead of lifting it normally. He grabbed the blanket and pulled it over himself quickly. “Please turn off the light when you’re settled.”
Levi just stared at him for a moment longer before he slowly lowered himself to sit at the other side of the bed and reached down to untie his boots, kicking them off. His feet ached with the effort of the earlier run and exhaustion was creeping into every bone in his body. He didn’t like it, he didn’t trust this man. But truth be told, he didn’t have the privilege of choice in denying what offer he was given - Even with the risk.
He slid under his own blankets, laying down facing the other man. Eren’s breathing was already evened out with sleep.
Levi reached to flick off the light.
It was bright outside when Eren blinked awake, quickly squeezing his eye shut again. He hated it, the light assaulting his senses, making his anxiety spike up. But it was a good morning, much better than most. His dreams had been kind to him tonight, dreaming of his training days together with Armin and Mikasa - The days before he had lost everything, a working knee the least of it. It had felt like their presence had been with him, keeping him safe through the night.
His eye quickly shot open and he turned over. The other side of the bed was empty, not a grease in place on the sheets. The blankets were neatly folded at the foot of the bed.
He groaned as he pushed himself up, hissing when the shift in position made his leg act up. He looked over at the window. The curtains were drawn away, which explained the light. The window was slightly ajar, without doubt from having been closed from the outside.
He didn’t know what exactly he had hoped for. He just hopes the kid remembers the address in case he ever runs into trouble again.