Chapter Text
'Hey, Eren. What did you do this weekend?'
'Oh nothing much. Just hung out with Jean a little bit, nothing major.'
'Oh yeah? What'd you guys do?'
'Same old, same old. Took a drive down to the sex operator and I ran after the guy I kinda have the hots for. You know, the one I've never seen?'
Eren would almost laugh at himself, but his brain is in overdrive as he darts past cubicles and makes a beeline for the door. He doesn't want to think, doesn't want to doubt himself, so he just keeps moving, and in the next moment he's barreling past the now empty desk, and he's in the hallway, and--
His footsteps falter as he sees someone, and Eren almost freezes, well, he does, really; there are a few seconds where he can't even process anything other than the pounding in his ears and the coldness of his limbs, and he forces himself to shout, "Levi!"
He's not sure what to expect, if the guy will even turn around, if it even is Levi, and if it is, if it is, good god if it is then what in the hell is Eren even going to--
And then he is turning, and--
"What is it?"
And Eren feels like melting right into the floor, because he knows, it is, it's Levi, and it's so-- so absolutely strange to be looking at this man, to hear Levi's voice leaving his lips, his rather nice thin lips, and well, everything about him is rather nice, from the darkness of his hair to the arch of his eyebrow to the tilt of his chin and the slant of his cheekbones, and shit, Eren wants to smile, because he can tell Levi's shorter than he is - black hair and not average height - and then there's his eyes, which are starting to narrow, and Eren realizes he needs to say something, but--
But what, what's there to say, and Eren selfishly wishes that Levi had recognized his voice, but that is really selfish, he shouldn't expect Levi to, especially not when it's strangled and strained like it had been, well, not even when it's normal, because why would Levi--
"I--"
He takes a step forward, unsure what he wants to even say, when he suddenly feels a hand wrapped around his upper arm, Jean's voice shouting in his ear, "What are you doing, Eren? What the hell!"
But Eren doesn't turn around to answer, just watches as Levi's eyes drift over to Jean the moment he appears, the way he takes in his appearance, the way his eyes flicker back to Eren, the way they start to widen, and then he sees it, what he's been wanting to see, recognition, interest, and a hell of a lot of surprise, but he's not fleeing, so maybe it's not bad surprise--
"Eren! Come on, what the fuck, man!"
Eren shakes him off, still doesn't turn around, and finally finds his voice.
"I have to... I have to go."
Levi's still staring at him like he doesn't know what to make of him, and Eren feels like he's completely fucked up what could have been some really big defining moment, though that's a self-important thought if he's ever had one.
Eren lets himself be dragged away by Jean, feeling a strange twinge of regret in the pit of his stomach - whether it's for running after Levi in the first place (seriously, what the fuck had he been expecting to happen?), or for doing nothing once he had, Eren's not entirely sure.
--
Eren is currently staring blankly down at his knees as Jean passionately explains his case to the man who's (apparently) in charge. Though he'd introduced himself with a dazzling smile not ten minutes ago, Eren can't recall his name, not that he's particularly interested in it, anyway.
He feels like an ass. Not just because of what he's done to Jean, but because of everything he's done with Levi. Somehow the entire situation had spiraled so out of control, and now he's ended up here, supposedly aiding in a dispute over credit card charges but instead simply wallowing in self pity.
There are so many things he should have done differently - obviously he shouldn't have taken Jean's card, and he shouldn't have come up with this plan, and after that first talk with Levi he should never have called back, and... god, he shouldn't have let himself get so involved, let it get so out of hand, and he most definitely shouldn't have run after Levi like he had, like he'd--
As he sits here thinking about it, he doesn't even know what he'd been hoping to accomplish. He knows he'd wanted to see Levi, desperately, and the image of him is still emblazoned in Eren's mind; though he hadn't looked anything at all like what Eren had thought of (not that he'd had many details at his disposal), it's not ... it definitely isn't a bad thing. If he's a little short and angular and lean, if his hair is dark and his eyes light and his brows thin, if his face is capable of looking both impassive and surprisingly expressive, well, Eren can't find a damn thing wrong with any of it.
The warm feeling in his chest at his current train of thought melts away rather quickly as Eren suddenly recalls that before arriving here, he'd been tossing and turning in his bed. In the few moments that he had seen Levi, brief as it had been, Eren couldn't help but notice how neat and put together he'd looked. With a poorly concealed grimace, he glances down at himself in mild horror, checking his shirt for wrinkles, and is relieved to find he doesn't look too bad. As discreetly as possible (well, not that it matters, since Jean is leaning forward intently and the other man is also, smile looking far less dazzling), Eren reaches up and combs his fingers through his hair a few times. Not that it matters now.
"I certainly wouldn't wanna have to sue you."
Jean's voice cuts through the haze of Eren's mind all of the sudden, and by the way he puts special emphasis on the word 'sue' Eren realizes he's trying to threaten the guy. Even in his wallowing state, Eren figures there's no way this can end well.
As expected, not to be outdone, the man leans even closer, smile now reduced to an ugly stretch of the lips. "If you want to sue someone, I suggest you look next to you, not at me."
There's a beat, and Eren lets out an annoyed sigh. So this is what it comes down to.
"Just stop," he says calmly as he stands up, and Eren can tell by the look in Jean's eyes that he thinks he's about to bolt again. Can't really blame him, but Eren hadn't been able to explain to Jean why he had in the first place, so. (Can't explain it to Jean if he can't explain it to himself, after all.)
"I'll pay it."
Eren looks straight at Jean as he says it, as he promises it, because he will. Even if it takes a long time, even if his wallet is crying out in his pocket at the prospect, he will do it.
Some of the tension seems to leave Jean's shoulders at the words, and the man jumps up from his seat, excitedly proclaiming that it's a good thing this whole mess is now cleared up. Eren and Jean both watch silently as he makes a beeline for the hallway, disappearing through the door before either one of them can utter another word.
"Hey," Jean mutters quietly, and Eren looks back to see he's now standing as well. "You mean that?"
Eren nods, glancing away.
It's the first step in getting his life back in order, he's sure of it.
And he's definitely in desperate need of that.
--
Jean is still radiating anger, but it's less lethal than before, and Eren feels like he can actually breathe. They walk next to each other now, instead of Jean storming off on his own and leaving Eren to follow after him.
Eren digs his hands in his pockets as they exit the building, and Jean actually turns to him and says something as they walk forward, but Eren has no fucking clue what it is, because there, standing a few feet away with his back turned, is Levi.
As the two of them draw closer, Levi turns slightly, and Eren feels the bottom of his stomach fall out as those eyes land on him. His breath leaves him in a noisy huff, and Jean turns to look at him strangely, but Eren's eyes are still glued to Levi. He notices belatedly that Levi's on the phone, or had been - he's currently putting it back in his pocket, and Eren's hands feel clammy as he's now standing right in front of the other man.
Jean moves to keep walking, then glances back in confusion. "Eren?"
Obviously Eren can't answer, instead staring at Levi, and he'd feel kind of creepy if Levi weren't looking at him with the same amount of interest.
"This guy again?" Jean asks, and Eren glances at him to see his head cocked to the side. "How do you even--"
Eren would laugh at the horrified look of realization that sweeps over Jean's face as his eyes rove between Levi and himself if he weren't currently so tense.
"Uh," Eren starts, unsure what he's even planning to say, but Jean cuts him off with a frantic shake of his head.
He waves his hands in front of him, muttering vehemently, "I can't even fucking deal with this right now." Eren watches him walk away for a few moments (he supposes he'll just have to call a cab or something), then turns back to Levi.
"So the jig is up, I take it."
Eren chuckles awkwardly, attempting to run a hand through his hair but aborting the move halfway through. (Smooth as hell, as always.) "I'd say the jig is down, actually. Six feet under, roundabouts."
It's so odd to have Levi standing before him, still. Eren watches the way he shifts, the way his eyes flicker across Eren's face, the tiniest of smiles that appears at Eren's words.
And then one of Levi's hands is rising, and Eren tries not to choke as careful fingers rest lightly on his chest. Levi regards him for a moment before commenting idly, "You didn't tell me you were attractive."
Eren freezes, struggling to fight down the flush that's trying to spread in his neck. His heart flutters pathetically at the statement, and with a nervous smile he replies, "Neither did you."
At that, Levi's eyes widen just a bit, and a small smile curls his lips as he looks off to the side. The tip of his nail catches on one of the buttons on Eren's shirt, and his pulse pounds heavily in his ears at the playful tug.
The touch is gone in the next instant, and Levi turns away even more, folding his arms. "I'm just waiting for my cab."
"Oh?" Eren asks, shuffling closer. "I should call one, too..." He pauses, glancing over, but Levi's eyes are still trained forward. "Do you not drive, or...?"
"Lent my car to a friend for the weekend," Levi replies easily, scratching at his arm for a brief moment.
Eren is currently struggling not to have an internal meltdown, and he wonders how Levi can act so casual. Didn't Levi just say he found him attractive? The silence is almost physically painful for Eren, and he's about to blurt out the first thing that comes to mind when a thought strikes him suddenly, and it's too much to assume, really - that Levi might have been waiting out here to see him, but there's a chance, a small one, maybe, and it makes Eren feel brave.
"Levi."
Levi turns his head to look at him, finally, and Eren lets out a breath, eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Are you just..." He runs a hand through his hair, noticing that Levi watches the motion, which somehow gives him the courage to continue. "Are you just gonna stand there like I'm not here?"
Unexpectedly, Levi turns the rest of the way to face him, and Eren can't read the expression on his face. It seems to be something like annoyance, which makes his stomach twist into a knot; Levi then replies, gaze still averted, "I really don't know what the hell to do right now, Eren."
The knot seems to grow tighter, and Levi goes on, still looking off to the side. "I didn't expect to see you, here, now, or... ever. I don't know." Eren feels his breath catch as Levi's eyes find his again, and Levi mutters, "What do you want from me?"
Eren doesn't know what to say, really doesn't know at all, but he knows he wants it to be something more than stupid babbling that only serves as a precursor to Levi speeding off into the night.
"I just-- I want you to look at me," Eren breathes, palms pressing anxiously against the sides of his legs. "I want you to talk to me. I want..."
The annoyance seems to be slipping away, which Eren is thankful for, but he's not certain what emotion is going to replace it.
"I didn't expect for this to happen either," he continues quietly. "But I'm..." God, he's so fucking nervous, it's stupid. "I'm glad it did."
Levi doesn't speak for some time, and Eren can't think of anything else to say. He considers slinking away in mortification, but then Levi's voice is spreading warmth all through him with just a few simple words.
"I didn't say I was unhappy about it."
Eren lets out a small laugh, more a release of tension than anything else, and Levi smiles hesitantly back at him. He still has no idea what to do or say, but it's now or never, he knows that much.
"I can't, uh," he stutters, "I mean, I won't be able to um... call anymore." He bites his lip, finding it hard to look at Levi's face. "But I..."
He can feel his heart thumping in his chest, and there's so much more he wants to say, but everything's garbled in a tangled knot inside his mind. The silence between them is no less nerve-wracking in person; even if he can see Levi now, he still can't fully interpret each nuance in his expressions.
He's not sure if he's just imagining it, he probably is, since he kinda feels a little dizzy, but it seems like Levi might've stepped a bit closer, voice coming out softly as he asks, "But what?"
But what, indeed.
"I don't know how you feel," Eren begins, the words a little stilted, and he clears his throat before continuing, "But I still..."
This is it, he has to do this right.
"I still want to talk to you." He feels a surge of relief as the words leave his mouth, and after a moment he adds, "I mean, I don't want this to be it." Levi's gaze bores into him, and Eren wonders if he's saying the right things.
At Levi's continued silence, Eren sighs, louder than he'd meant to, and barrels on, "Levi, I know this entire thing is like, really fucking weird, and if I look back on it I can't exactly figure out the series of events that led us to be standing here right now, but you know what? I don't give a shit, maybe it's fucking crazy but I think I really like you."
The back of his neck tingles strangely after he says that final bit, and he waits with his heart lodged in his throat for Levi's response. If it doesn't come soon, he might actually have to flee the parking lot in shame.
Eren feels his jaw tighten as Levi's gaze drops, away from him, and he watches, detached, as Levi starts digging around in his back pocket. He supposes he'd honestly anticipated this rejection, but to have Levi not even grace him with a verbal response and start rustling through his pockets is even worse than what he'd imagined.
Probably looking for cab fare, Eren reasons. He grits his teeth, tries to pretend he doesn't feel like he just got punched in the gut, but it's not really working.
He almost jumps at the way Levi suddenly grabs his hand, but it appears it's not a tender gesture of hand-holding or some such, as he's twisting his wrist around so his palm is facing upwards. Eren's question dies on his lips as he sees the pen in Levi's other hand, mostly likely unearthed from his pocket, Eren reckons, but what--
Whatever Levi's scrawling on his hand isn't at the forefront of his mind at this moment; Eren is instead fighting a wince at every swipe of the nub against his skin, none of the motions anything that could remotely be considered gentle.
The painful grimace is wiped from his face instantly as Levi tilts his face upwards, hair falling in his eyes and a small smile on his lips. "No charge."
Eren continues staring dumbly, acutely aware of the fact that his palm is still cradled in Levi's hand, and when he finally regains enough sense to look down, he feels his lips split into a smile, his cheeks filled pleasantly with warmth as his heart hammers away contentedly.
A series of digits that can't be anything other than Levi's phone number line the middle of his palm, and Eren can't bring himself to look away, like it'll vanish if he doesn't keep careful watch over it. Levi releases his hand suddenly, which does make him look up, and he's startled to see the serious expression on Levi's face.
"This is what it is," he states cryptically, and Eren raises an eyebrow as he waits for some sort of elaboration. "I'm still gonna have my job, and you can't call while I'm there." Eren really doesn't want to think about Levi's job right now, but he lets Levi go on. "I was serious when I said it sucks trying to have a relationship with a job like this. I'm not really any good at it to begin with, so there's that too."
Eren can't help but feel like Levi's trying to dissuade him, but with his palm still tingling and his heart still thumping, he can't even entertain the thought.
"Levi," he interrupts as he sees Levi's mouth open again. "Shut up."
A thin eyebrow quirks in both annoyance and confusion, and Eren explains, "You're ruining the moment."
Levi's breath leaves him abruptly in something that's not quite a laugh, seemingly caught off guard, and Eren tries not to tremble as Levi delicately places both of his hands on him, fingers gently splayed across his ribs. He wants to touch Levi, badly, but he's still afraid that somehow, somehow he's gonna screw this up, and he really doesn't want that.
Eren watches Levi's eyes flicker across his face for a few moments, and Eren lets out a small sigh, lets his gaze shift everywhere from Levi's glittering eyes to his pale lips, and he feels his head start spinning again as Levi presses his hands firmer against him.
"This is probably a really bad idea," Levi murmurs, even as his head tilts to the side in a move that Eren can only interpret as an invitation to kiss him. He considers that he might be wrong in this assumption, however, as Levi keeps talking. "It'll be hard, you know. We won't see each other much, since I work most nights."
Eren doesn't like what Levi's saying, but he can't argue with the truth of it, either. His breath stutters through his lips when Levi slides his palms further up his chest, voice low as he continues, "We'll have fights and get jealous. You'll hate my job and I'll hate your friends for being able to be with you when I can't. We'll get tired of fighting, so we'll keep it inside." Levi's fingers hover over him for a moment before he presses them against the line of his shoulders, and though there isn't much pressure to the touch, Eren thinks he can feel it down in his bones.
"We'll grow apart."
The words make Eren's stomach twist, and the frown he's been fighting to suppress finally forms on his face. Levi's hands remain where they are, head still tilted to the side, and Eren wonders what he's waiting for. Does he want Eren to deny it all? He can't; he doesn't know the future, can't predict what will happen, and if he does deny it, Levi will probably call him childish. He can admit to himself that denying it would be, so why wouldn't Levi also say it? But then, what does he want?
Eren sighs softly, allowing his eyes to flutter closed briefly before training his gaze on Levi's face once more. "Nobody knows what's gonna happen in the future," he says quietly. "I'm not gonna tell you that you're being stupid, 'cause you're not." Eren lets his eyes drift down to where his fingers are idly fidgeting with the hem of his shirt. Levi doesn't say anything, so Eren looks back up and continues, "I worry about the same things, but that doesn't change what I... what I want."
Here he finds a sudden boldness, encouraged by the look on Levi's face, and he wraps his hands gently around the other man's waist. "What you want, huh?" Levi repeats, and Eren lets his thumbs brush against the sharp hipbones beneath them as he nods, lets himself watch as Levi seems to lean infinitesimally closer. "I guess maybe..." Levi trails off, and Eren feels his heart thump against his chest as Levi's gaze changes, eyes mildly hooded as the corner of his mouth ticks upward.
"Maybe it'll be enough. We'll look forward to seeing each other, and it'll be worth it when we do." His fingers dig in firmer against Eren's shoulders, and Eren feels his eyelids droop a bit in response. "Maybe you won't be embarrassed to introduce me to your friends, and maybe they'll even be happy for you."
Eren isn't sure who's leaning forward, or if they both are, but Levi's nose is currently brushing against his and it's so distracting he almost misses the quiet murmur that leaves Levi's lips.
"Maybe we'll be happy."
This time, Eren's certain that they're both leaning forward, and his stomach erupts in butterflies (as embarrassing as it is to call it that; he's not a kid anymore) as their lips finally meet. His hands slip around to Levi's back, holding him closer, their chests pressed together and it's pretty fucking great, solid and warm and close, here, Levi's here in his arms, as goddamn crazy as that thought may have seemed just earlier today.
Eren might make the tiniest of sounds against Levi's mouth as Levi's fingers suddenly begin running along the back of his neck, and Eren might be embarrassed if not for the way he can feel Levi's lips twitch into a smile. He almost regains his composure, at least until Levi flicks the pads of his thumbs against his ears, proceeds to mumble against him, "Cute" as Eren's breath leaves him sharply through his nose.
"Sexy," Eren corrects, not quite detaching himself from Levi's mouth, and then there's the sound of his laugh, soft and real, and though he's heard it before he's never seen it, never felt the warmth of it heat his skin. Every part of his body feels alight suddenly, and he wraps his arms tighter around Levi, lets the fabric of Levi's shirt bunch together in his grip as he brings him near, as he kisses him with more fervor; Levi responds immediately to the insistent press of his lips by winding his fingers through Eren's hair, using his hold to tilt Eren's face downward even more.
Eren's mind is currently swirling with thoughts of Levi and nothing else, how good he feels, how good he smells (god is that creepy? Eren doesn't even care), how intoxicating the press of Levi's body against him is, and as he lets his fingers trace the curve of Levi's spine, he could almost die at the sound Levi makes, low and breathy, not cute at all, sexy, definitely sexy, enough for Eren to make a needy sound of his own, and with a final rush of frenzied touches and desperate, breathless kisses that send lightning through his veins and sparks along his skin, the two of them finally break apart - at the mouth, that is; they're still wonderfully tangled together, and Levi's droopy gaze nearly makes Eren kiss him again, despite his severe need for air.
He tries not to pant, voice coming out slightly winded anyway. "That was... that was good." Shit, that's inadequate. Eren needs to elaborate. "Not good, that's not what I meant." Fuck, that's even worse, he can't even believe that now of all times he has to--
But then Levi's chuckling, raising an eyebrow as he questions, "No good, huh?" His fingers massage Eren's scalp in an extremely distracting way, making his eyes flutter shut, and he forgets what he'd been trying to say.
"We'll just have to practice," Levi murmurs, tone playful, the slant of his mouth and the look in his eyes enough to make Eren's heartbeat pound in his ears. He's just about to lean into Levi again when he sees Levi's gaze slide away from him, and as he looks to the side he realizes there's a cab slowly pulling into the parking lot.
Eren hates the way his stomach drops; presumably his face drops just the same, because Levi rolls his eyes, tugs on a few strands of his hair even as he presses a quick kiss to his lips. Soft and fleeting as it is, Eren's knees feel weak as they pull apart, and he runs a hand through his thoroughly mussed hair as Levi straightens out his shirt.
"I guess I... should call that cab," Eren mutters, unable to tear his eyes away from Levi, the way his hands move, the way his hair falls over his face, the slight bit of color still in his cheeks. He absentmindedly runs his fingers along his own palm where Levi'd scrawled his number, heart squeezing just a little.
Levi steps close to him again, smirking, and in the next moment his breath is fanning over Eren's ear, making his skin tingle pleasantly and his cheeks flush.
"No need for that. But you're going to have a lot of explaining to do to your friend."
Eren's brows knit in confusion as Levi pulls away and turns toward the cab. Suddenly he feels a cold dread settle in the pit of his stomach, and he slowly cranes his neck around.
There, sitting innocently in the same spot it'd been parked when they'd first arrived, is Jean's car.
...With Jean in it.
Eren grimaces, turning back around just in time to see Levi settling into his seat, looking amused. Eren wanders over and places his hand along the top of the still opened door, leaning down slightly.
"You know, you could've told me he was there like, way before now."
Levi crosses his legs, and Eren had never realized such a simple action could attract his attention so much, yet his eyes follow the movement intently before finding Levi's face again. His lips are turned up in a half-smile, and he asks, "Would you have done anything differently?"
The question brings a smile to his own lips as he admits, "Not really." He's entertaining the idea of leaning into the car to steal another kiss when he hears the driver sigh as he shuffles around in his seat, and Eren's suddenly aware of his surroundings again.
Before he can move away, Levi's hand darts out and wraps loosely around his wrist. His fingers trail lightly over Eren's palm, and he murmurs, "Good night, Eren."
Eren's knees feel weak again for some reason, and he lets out a breath as Levi pulls back, still a small smile on his face. "Night, Levi," Eren replies, and with an awkward half-wave, he steps back and slams the door shut. Levi's eyes linger on him for another moment before he faces forward, and then the cab is pulling away, leaving Eren alone in the middle of the parking lot.
Alone... except for Jean, of course.
Eren groans, not ready to think about that conversation yet. He wants to let this giddy feeling invade his senses for a few moments longer, and he bites his lip to stifle the shit-eating grin that's threatening to split his face.
It would be uncouth to yell or dance in place, so Eren refrains. He settles for shoving his face into his hands and taking a deep breath, then another, until he thinks he can handle walking. And talking.
Maybe he'll be lucky and Jean will be passed out cold in the driver's seat. Eren can shuffle him over to the other side and, since he's such a nice guy, he'll even drop Jean off at his place.
He sighs, the sound slightly muffled. He's not that lucky.
Then he's fucking grinning again because well, he is lucky. Shit. He feels like an idiot.
Eren lets his arms fall, rolls out his shoulders and takes another deep breath. It's time. He can't put it off any longer.
The walk toward the car feels like a death march. Eren avoids looking at Jean and makes his way over to the passenger side, opening the door and getting in. He closes the door as quietly as he can, then finally chances a glance at Jean. His gaze is fixed on his knees, a crease between his brows.
Without realizing he's doing it, Eren mimics the pose.
He should say something.
"So."
The silence stretches on.
It's going to be a long drive home, that much is for certain.
--
When he finally reenters his apartment, Eren can't help but feel like he's been gone for days. Glaring evilly at Jean while Armin had poked him in the arm actually feels like a lifetime and a half ago. He slumps onto his couch with a sigh, stretching out his legs.
God, the first time he'd talked to Levi seems like eons ago, too.
Eren turns his hand over in his lap so he can look at his palm. The ink is a little faded, which makes his heart lurch strangely in his chest. In the next moment, he's pulling out his phone, bringing up the 'new contact' screen. His fingers tremble slightly as he types in Levi's name, and he has to backspace a few times to get the numbers in correctly. Once it's saved, Eren can't help but stare at it, that little icon that says 'Levi' with his phone number neatly beneath it.
He carefully places the phone down next to him, sliding it a bit away (otherwise, he won't be able to stop staring). Eren suddenly feels like all the events of the past few days are catching up with him, and he feels a mixture of confused, nervous, wary, and... kinda jittery.
With another sigh, Eren rests his chin in his hands, tapping his foot slowly. He's aware that he's most likely way in over his head here; he's basically rushed into some sort of relationship with a guy he'd only just met for the first time tonight, and though Levi might know some of the more embarrassing aspects of his life and yet he doesn't judge him for it, that doesn't mean things are going to magically work out between them.
Eren mouth twists into a frown. All of the things Levi had said are very likely to come true; even now, he feels a ball of tension in his stomach at the thought of the next time Levi goes to work. He can't deny that there's definitely some jealousy and bitterness at the idea that Levi is going to keep doing his job, but Eren also knows he has no right to demand anything from him. He's just some guy that Levi barely knows, but is willing to take a shot on, for some reason. The frown fades slowly, and Eren leans back against the cushions again, this time directing his gaze at the ceiling.
It might not work out, but Eren wants to take a shot on Levi, too. The memory of Levi in his arms makes his face feel suddenly hot, and he shifts his legs around aimlessly. It's not just the physical things, though; clearly not, since he hadn't laid eyes on Levi until tonight, and it's not just his voice, incredibly sexy when he wants it to be. It's more than that, and Eren is currently feeling weirdly thankful to Jean for wrecking his car and pissing him off so bad, or else he wouldn't have met Levi.
This thought lingers in his mind, making his heart do a strange thump. It seems so strange to picture not knowing Levi at all, having no idea that he even exists. Eren rather likes knowing him, hearing his laugh and his sarcasm and his concern and his teasing, likes seeing his smile and his exasperation and his hesitation, and most certainly likes feeling his warmth and his curves and his lips.
Eren smiles softly, reaching to the side to fiddle with his phone. He's contemplating - should he, shouldn't he, but, it feels wrong not to - after all, it wouldn't be right not to call Levi this evening, after doing so the past few nights.
A bundle of nerves bubbles within as he presses the button to call Levi, and it's even worse than before, when he'd known that Levi had to take his call, because it's his job--
"Hello?"
Eren's anxiety eases instantly at the sound of Levi's voice - even-toned, not ramped up with oozing sexuality, and maybe just the slightest bit curious. There are no lustful introductions or flirty requests for his name, and it makes Eren smile.
Instead of what he usually replies with, Eren closes his eyes and says, "It's me."
There's a pause, and then Eren's chest swells at the warm response of "Eren" that reaches his ears.