Chapter Text
"No."
Levi was stern with his answer. To the point. No explanation. No way to intelligibly argue against it. Responses like that are a part of why Eren's drawn to Levi, so even though his choice was not a favourable one, Eren could accept it.
But, that didn't mean he would.
Eren had been going through this in his head for weeks now. It was not a conversation for Eren to just jump into, he had carefully planned out what to say. Levi was more than twice his age, so in an effort to sound mature, Eren was careful in his wording. "I promise I will be clean and I will assist you in the necessary motions afterward to keep us both that way." Eren reasoned. His obstinacy had always gotten him places and please god let it aid him now.
"That doesn't change that the act itself is disgusting, Jeager." Levi regarded Eren (who was now puppy-eyed and pouting) with little more than the raise of an eyebrow. "Plus, I would have to clean you personally for the act to be anywhere near acceptable. You're probably absolutely filthy even coming straight from the shower."
"I would be more than happy to agree to any terms you wish to create, Corporal. My physical interest in you is just as genuine as my mental and emotional commitment. As much as I care for you, and as much as your germaphobia extends, I have needs." Eren breathed deeply before continuing, "And deny it if you must, but you do too. I'm done with taking care of these feelings by myself and I refuse to put a bag over Armin's head. Quite honestly, I'm offended that you even suggested it."
"Come on Eren, you have to admit that it was kind of funny. I'm not interested in getting my dick covered in your shit. Sorry." Levi had been celibate since joining the Military, and just when he last thought about getting into the fray again, they lost Wall Maria.
Now humanity was actively fighting back and making a difference, and it was all because of the young man before him; the one he had dedicated his heart to. Maybe it was time to... 'become physically active' once again.
Inside Wall Sina, people had access to condoms. A luxury item for the rich to be able to have late night rendezvous without leaving a whore pregnant or coming home to their wifes with sores on their cocks. Out here, far beyond the safety of the inner wall, a thing like that wasn't even an option to the extent that Wall Rose residents probably didn't even know a thing like that existed.
Eren began to speak and interrupted Levi's train of thought. "I'm a virgin still; I'm completely clean in that sense. I'm sure you find it appealing to know my body has never been tainted by the touch of another."
"I should hope so, you're fifteen."
"I'm trying to have a serious conversation here." Eren stepped forward to cup Levi's face in his hand, and strategically placed one leg in-between Levi's. "We can even start things off slow. Clothed if you would prefer. Anything, Sir." He leaned in to whisper into the shorter man's ear. "I spend each night yearning for you, Levi."
Hearing his name whispered so lustfully aroused him. Not only was the idea of a physical relationship with the recruit becoming less foul, but an obsessively clean and untouched Eren was quickly sounding like exactly what he needed. He met the boy's hungry, eager gaze and had half a mind to kiss him, but he knew it had been hours since Eren last brushed his teeth.
"I'll consider it, brat. See me again after dinner and bring an impeccably clean set of clothes and a new, unused, toothbrush and I will consider your request even more so." The hand on his hip gripped tighter as Eren smiled brilliantly. He ran his fingers through Levi's hair gently, almost as if being too rough might make him change his mind.
"I won't let you regret this, Levi." Eren said as he stepped back from his partner, then saluted and swiftly exited the room.
Eren knew this would be a test of how much he really wanted this, and there was no way he would fail it. Dinner was in two hours. He had two hours to become clean and worthy of the man he was so infatuated with. He searched the castle for Hanji, and as he was looking, he recalled one of the events that had inspired the unlabeled romantic... thing between them.
~~~~~~~~~~
The trial had just ended and we were sitting on the couch, Hanji with her hands in my mouth, on the hunt for the empty space where the tooth Levi had kicked loose belonged. The apology that Levi (I had thought of him just as 'the Corporal of the Survey Corps' at the time) had offered me was unnecessary. I completely understood why he had to beat the shit out of me, and by the time we got back to the room, I wasn't even in pain anymore. The gesture didn't go unwelcomed though and it made me feel humanized when everyone else was treating me like a monster.
Hanji discovered the full set of teeth in my mouth and everyone kind of sputtered in surprise. I could have just told her I didn't feel any gaps, but she seemed too enthralled in the situation to consider simply asking me. She rummaged around for a pen an paper, and when she found none, ran out of the room to obtain them. A silence hung in the air. It was not an awkward one like when I was in the jail cell, but a strangely comfortable silence and I welcomed it after the clamor from earlier that day. I glanced sideways at Levi who was completely relaxed next to me on the sofa. I was joining the Survey Corps, which meant I was going to be in the direct care of the stoic man beside me, so now seemed like an opportune time to establish a positive impression on him.
"Thank you, Corporal. For everything."
Levi nodded. I hadn't expected him to monologue, but he did. "I liked your guts. The Corps needs fresh blood, and yours is more valuable than ten soldiers, and more eager for battle. I could see your blood thirst for the titans that night in your cell." Levi faced me. "However, genuine hatred for the enemy can cloud your judgment. It is my duty as your Corporal to teach you to control and focus your emotions so that you are an irreplaceable asset. You're from Shiganshina? I read it in your file. The things you saw make you hardened to fear. I respect your survival and wanting to join the Military, because of your past much more than your rank in training, graduating as high as you did was a major factor in us taking you in."
I bobbed my head, taking in his words carefully, but stopped when I realized he didn't have his facts quite right and shook my head.
"Corporal, Shiganshina was only the final straw, not my reason for wanting to join the Survey Corps. It's been my dream since childhood to have the honour of wearing the wings of freedom."
I tried my best to word my next sentences more gingerly. "These walls-" I stopped and hardened my gaze, which resulted into a kind of staredown with Levi. I restarted, but it came out more like preachy word-vomit. "Humanity was not meant to be confided within these walls. Before the titans, Humans lived with freedom to roam an expanse much larger than the territory of the Walls. Out there somewhere, there are bodies of salt water so big you can't see the other side, and sand for hundreds of kilometers, and mountains that erupt fire.
"Corporal, I have known since the day I learned what a titan was that it was my duty to truly live, and not simply exist. A feat that cannot be executed until humanity is free from the fear of titans."
When I stopped I focused on Levi's reaction. When I was graced for the first time with the most subtle upturn of lips, a grin from the stone-faced Corporal, my heart skipped a beat.
It was then that I suddenly noticed just how attractive he was.
The moment was interrupted by the return of Squad Leader Hanji, who spent the next thirty minutes determining whether the new tooth was identical to the one she picked up off the courtroom floor.
~~~~~~~~~~
Think of the devil and [s]he shall appear. Just as the memory faded from Eren's mind, Hanji rounded the corner.
"Squad Leader! Are you busy? I need a favor."
Hanji looked at him inquisitively. "A favor?"
Eren nodded.
"I suppose a turn of the tables is not out of the question considering you're always the first to volunteer to help me, so depending on the favor, sure. What can I do for you, Eren?"
"Teach me to wash clothes up to Corporal Levi's standards."
Hanji blinked at him. "That's it?"
"That's it. You've known him long enough that I'm sure you've observed him doing his laundry once or twice."
"I have." Hanji confirmed. "But why-- You know what? You can tell me another time. Sure. Gather your laundry and meet me outside, near the second water well in ten minutes. I'll bring everything else."
He thanked her, and made his way to the basement to gather his clothes. He made a quick stop at Sacha, Christa, and Ymir's room (who they shared with another girl that he didn't know.)
He knocked on the door, and shortly afterward Mikasa answered. "Eren, I'm surprised to see you here. Are you looking for me?"
Eren blinked at her. "I'm surprised to see you, but no, I'm looking for Sacha. Is she here?" Mikasa nodded and stepped aside to let Eren in and shut the door behind him. The three other girls weren't in the room and Sacha was sitting at a small table in the back of the room melting something white in a spoon over the flame of a candle.
"Sacha I need a fav- what are you doing?"
Sacha turned to him looking a bit bug-eyed and a little too excited.
"I'm making caramel, Eren." She turned back to her task and whatever was in there started to turn brown. She shuddered and her eyes rolled into the back of her head as she sniffed the air. "It smells better than sex."
Though it did smell pretty damn good, Eren didn't have time for this. "Okaayy... well speaking of sex, I need a favor."
Mikasa and Sacha looked at each other, a little thrown off by that.
"I need you to steal something for me and in return I promise you a cut of pig of your choosing."
Sacha put down the spoon and walked towards Eren. "Don't promise something you can't deliver. I've been trying to get bacon from the kitchen since I got here, but they keep the icebox locked."
Eren looked at Mikasa pleadingly and she put a hand on Sacha's shoulder encouragingly. "Eren will make good on his end of the bargain. If he doesn't, I will."
"Okay, but what do you want me to steal? You definitely used 'speaking of sex' as a segue and that scares me a little."
"This is going to sound random, but I need a new toothbrush."
"Eren if you need a toothbush you can just use mine." Mikasa offered.
"No, I still have a toothbrush. I need a brand new, never used, one. Thanks though."
Sacha looked at Eren skeptically. "Eren why-- never mind. I can't fathom why you would need a new toothbrush specifically, I mean you're not a germaphobe like Corpor-- oh. Oh. I think I understand. Wow, Eren. Just wow. Okay. Yeah, I think that makes getting bacon plausible. I'll get you a toothbrush. What's my time window?"
"By dinner, please. I'm meeting someone in about three minutes, so I must take my leave now. Thanks Sacha, I'll get you bacon tomorrow for breakfast. See you!" He left them and closed the door behind him. Eren jogged down to his room on the basement floor, collected his sleep clothes and spare day clothes, and went to meet Hanji.