Work Text:
I;
'What do you think of Captain Levi?'
Eren blinks out of his thoughts and turns towards his brother, they're both leaning against the outside wall of the hospital, and he looks surprised by the sudden question.
'Captain Levi? Why do you want to know what I think of him?'
Zeke gives a small shrug, placing his hands into the pockets of his coat casually, 'you spent more time around him, surely you must know him pretty well by now, right? I wanna know what you think of him and if there's anything else I need to be cautious of. Our last meeting was filled with quite a few surprises.'
Eren looks away and shifts the crutch under his arm, his eye flicks towards the ground in thought. Zeke glances over when Eren continues to stay silent as he thinks about Levi and almost does a double take when he sees a hint of a blush on his brothers cheeks, a faint smile on his lips that Zeke almost doesn't want to admit looks like a lovesick smile.
'Uh, Eren…?'
'Captain Levi is amazing,' Eren then sighs, a dreamy look on his expression as he stares off into the distance, 'very strong and hardworking but also, and most people don't realise this, but he's also incredibly thoughtful and tentative.'
Eren hums softly with a dreamy look in his eye as he seems to be recalling a specific memory.
Zeke stares in bewilderment at his brother as Eren continues to sigh and fawn over Levi and he suddenly gets a very bad feeling when he notices the possessiveness in Eren's eye the longer he thinks and talks about Levi.
'I see…' Zeke mutters, staring silently at his brother as the feeling in his stomach grows. Eren is no longer paying attention to him or their surroundings, nor is he still talking. He's grown quiet but Zeke can tell his mind is somewhere else and he doesn't doubt his brother is still thinking about Captain Levi, the possessiveness in his eye growing as he subconsciously bites down on his bottom lip.
Oh no.
II:
Eren's back hits the wall of the airship as a pained gasp leaves his lips from Levi's violent kick and even with his head bowed and hair falling over his face, Zeke doesn't miss the subtle twitch of Eren's lips from Levi's rough treatment with him.
He also doesn't miss the way Eren bites down on his bottom lip and the pleased look in his eyes when Levi grabs at him and manhandles him onto the bench. Zeke gets an uneasy feeling in his stomach when he realises that Eren is enjoyingbeing treated like this by Levi and it's the first time he starts to wonder if this is something he should be worried about, if whatever Eren feels for Levi is something that will come between them and their plan.
Zeke's uneasy feeling grows as he watches with astonishment when after Levi has cuffed Eren to the bench, lifts a hesitant hand and runs it through Eren's hair, pushing it away from his brothers face. Zeke's eyes practically pop out of his head at the sight and he snaps his head towards the others to see if they're seeing the same thing but they're all distracted with discussing something. He hears the hitch in Eren's breath, the hazy look in his eyes as he looks up at Levi and practically leans into the man's touch, his lips parting with a heavy pant.
Zeke could practically see the imaginary tail wagging from behind Eren and that's when he sees a hint of a smirk on Levi's lips as he stares down at his brother with dark eyes, his touch growing possessive.
Ohhh no.
Zeke grows apprehensive when Eren stares longing after Levi when the man removes his hand from his hair and creates distance between them.
He wishes he could say something to Eren, to snap him out of… whatever the hell this is and tell him to remember their plan but a part of him doubts that even that will work and he's forced to witness Levi and Eren stare at each other during the whole fight back and dread fills him when he notices that the look in both of the eyes is filled to the brim with obsession as they stare at one another.
He now wishes he could fling himself off this airship.
III;
'You aren't very popular are you?' Zeke sneers at Levi from where he's sitting across from him and laughs.
The forest is silent and all that can be heard is Zeke's snickering laughs as Levi stares at him with an impassive expression.
'I'm popular with your brother,' Levi then states casually, taking a long and slow sip of his tea, his eyes not leaving Zeke and that shuts Zeke up.
Zeke goes quiet and glares at Levi. He's no longer laughing now.
IV;
This is it, the moment they've been waiting for. Zeke's heart races with anticipation as he watches Eren sprint towards him and holds his hand out towards his brother. They're so close to completing their plan, so close to coming in touch. Zeke is relived that there is no Levi around to distract Eren, that his brother's focus is fully on their objective.
Zeke stretches his hand out further, barely breathing as he watches his brother grow closer. In just a moment they'll come in contact and they'll fully activate the Founding Titan, just a little closer and—
'Eren!'
Eren skids to an abrupt stop and snaps his head up towards the top of the wall and his eyes widen when he sees Hange with an injured looking Levi cradled under their arm and pressed to their side.
'Eren!' Hange calls again and descends down from the wall with Levi in their grasp and they both land carefully on the ground and in between Eren and Zeke. Levi weakly flicks his visible eye not wrapped in bandages up and looks towards Eren before he notices something out of the corner of his eye. Even in his weakened state, he's still sharp as ever.
'Hange quick, go stop that kid,' Levi instructs, his voice muffled from behind the bandages as he nudges Hange towards where Gabi is setting up her gun in quick movements, aiming it towards Eren.
'But—'
'This whole plan would be for nothing if you don't stop her from shooting Eren,' Levi interrupts, 'go now, I'll be okay.'
Hange hesitates for a second, glancing at Levi's weakened state with worry before they curse under their breath and leave Levi's side, rushing off towards the kid. Zeke was filled with dread the moment he laid eyes on Levi, especially with the way Eren immediately locked onto Levi, even going as far as taking an alarmed step forward when Levi immediately collapses to the ground the second Hange leaves his side, no longer having anyone to support him on his feet.
What is he doing here? With injuries like that, it should be physically impossible for Levi to be conscious right now, that's what Zeke was counting on and now—!
Zeke grits his teeth in frustration and flicks his eyes towards Eren, but of course, his brother isn't even looking at him, he's looking right at Levi. He hasn't moved yet and Zeke suspects he's still in shock at suddenly seeing Levi, especially with how injured and weak he looks right now.
But what Zeke also notices is how Levi seems to be struggling to get up, even to lift his head and he can faintly hear Levi try to call Eren's name but he's too fragile right now, panting heavily with exertion and Zeke immediately ceases this opportunity to try and bring Eren back on track with their plan.
'Eren!' he calls out but Eren doesn't glance at him, it's like he doesn't even hear him and with the way he's staring at Levi like he's the only one here right now, Zeke doesn't doubt that he didn't hear him.
'Eren listen to me!' he calls again, flicking his eyes nervously towards Levi. He doesn't have much time, if Levi managed to make it this far with his injuries, it's only a matter of time before he manages to gather enough strength to grab Eren's full attention and the plan will be ruined.
Eren's focus is completely on Levi and he even starts to take a step forward, looking like he's close to snapping out of his daze and rush towards Levi any second. Zeke needs to do something now and quickly.
Panic rises in Zeke and he glances over to see Hange has already disarmed Gabi and looks back at Eren and tries one more time to get his brothers attention while Levi continues to struggle. 'Eren! Remember the plan, focus on the plan! Eren!'
Eren finally snaps out back into reality and Zeke feels relived when emerald eyes snap towards him, recognition flashing through his brothers eyes when he looks towards him. But that relief only lasts for a second when Zeke sees Levi pick his head up.
'Er… Eren!' Levi shouts shakily, his voice muffled by his bandages but it's still loud enough to reach Eren and Zeke almost starts crying with frustration when Eren's eyes immediately snap back towards Levi.
Levi is panting heavily with exertion as he looks back at Eren and he struggles to get up, he doesn't even have enough energy left to call Eren's name again and just stares back with a pleading eye.
Eren flicks his eyes between Levi and Zeke, it's up to him on what decision he needs to make right now. Both Zeke and Levi stare at him with pleading eyes, both pleading for Eren to chose between them, Zeke's hand still stretched out towards him.
Eren takes a step forward and breaks back into a sprint and Zeke hopes that by some miracle, Eren will completely bypass Levi and head towards him but alas, the universe just doesn't seem to be in his favour as he watches with a sinking feeling in his stomach when his brother stops and kneels in front of Levi.
Eren carefully grabs Levi's arms and helps the man sit up, flicking his eyes over Levi in concern, his eyes lingering on the bandages.
'Levi…' he whispers, his voice hoarse as he tries not to squeeze Levi's arms too tightly in fear of hurting him more.
Levi flicks his eye up towards him, eyelid heavy as his breaths come out in audible puffs through the bandages.
'Eren… what are you doing, huh?' Levi murmurs shakily, weakly lifting a hand and shakily brushes a few strands of Eren's hair from his face and tucking it behind the younger man's ear.
Eren's hands tremble at the soft touch, his expression falling into a crestfallen one and he looks down towards the ground between them, swallowing thickly.
'I want you all to be free, free from the endless cycle of hatred you all experience,' he mutters thickly, tightening his fingers on Levi's arms.
Levi gently tips his head back up and meets Eren's eyes, shaking his head softly, 'this isn't the way,' he says gently, 'don't do this… just come back with him, okay?'
Eren's breath hitches as he stares back at Levi, his eyes pricking with tears and he suddenly moves forward and brushes his lips over Levi's that are still covered by his bandages, hearing Levi suck in a sharp startled breath. He keeps his lips pressed firmly over Levi's for a few more seconds before he pulls back and carefully wraps his arms around Levi, burying his head into the crook of his neck and mumbling apologies into his skin. Apologies for what he's done, for what he wasgoing to do, not for his sudden kiss.
Levi closes his eye with a soft sigh, feeling exhausted from his weakened state and he leans his weight on Eren, using him as a way to keep himself upright as he gently runs his fingers through Eren's hair.
Zeke watches all of this with a defeated expression. He lost. There's no way Eren is going to go through with the plan now and it's all that damn shortys fault.
Eren pulls back from the hug and glances down at Levi, flicking his eyes back over his bandages and a hand slowly itches it's way up Levi's back, his eyes growing dark.
'Captain, you're injured,' he states obviously, his fingers making contact with the bandages on the back of Levi's head and Eren leans closer, hearing Levi's muffled hitch of his breath.
'But don't worry Captain, I'll heal you with my tongue,' Eren mumbles breathlessly, removing Levi's bandages before his tongue is licking over Levi's fresh stitches.
Levi grunts at the feeling of Eren's hot wet tongue sliding over his stitches, 'o-oi, you'll just infect them, you idiot!' he scolds but he makes no move to push Eren off. Even if it's because he might be too weak to do so, Levi doesn't even looklike he would even push Eren away even if he wasn't heavily injured right now, he even leans into Eren's touch.
Eren hums against his skin, feeling the rough bumps of Levi's stitches under his tongue and he pulls back slightly, 'I'm cleaning them, Captain,' he states as matter of factly, his breath brushing hot against Levi's skin and he lifts Levi's hand to his lips and runs his tongue over his two missing fingers.
'I'll get them nice and clean, Captain,' Eren pants, his eyes dark with possession as he stares back Levi and he hears Levi let out a low moan. Eren answers it with his own hungry moan before he leans back in to running his tongue over Levi's stitches.
Levi closes his eyes and tilts his head back to give Eren free will to do as he pleases. Eren trails his tongue along Levi's longest scar until he reaches the top of his lip when he shifts and licks into Levi's mouth, sealing them into a kiss.
Meanwhile, Zeke watches all of this with a horrified expression and seriously starts questioning the state of his brother mental state and thinks that Eren is not quite right in the head…
They're both not quite right in the head, Zeke thinks sullenly as he saw how Levi didn't even seem to mind that his brother was practically giving his injuries a tongue bath, he even seemed to be enjoying it.
Zeke glances back at the two and let's out a groan when he sees they're still locked in a deep kiss that's filled with passion and obsessiveness and let's his head drop to the ground. He wishes he was dead right now, wishes he had died a few minutes earlier before he could witness and hear whatever the fuck that shit was between his bother Levi.
He repeatedly curses out Levi in his head as he lays flat on the ground, tuning out the obscene sounds coming from his bother and Levi.