Dangerous Territory

Outside Nicolo's Restaurant

Levi heard the strong German accent return. Nationalistic pride changed Eren's way of speaking. He gave a wide shrug. "So long as you don't fall in love with her, I don't mind that you two write to one another. It keeps up the appearance." He grumbled to himself, "Of all things, I fall for a married man."

"That's not fair."

"No, but it's funny." Rather flippantly, he asked, "So, have you been fucking prostitutes while you were gone?"

Eren brow pinched, not amused. "You know I'd never."

"Even to keep up appearances? You know, some new little whore for you to marry and save like a fairy tale hero."

Eren's eyes stared hollowly for a few seconds. "I've been fighting this whole time, watching my men die ... hearing the artillery ... Bomben und Granaten..." Bombs and grenades.

That German accent was back as Eren got sucked into the past. Levi lowered his eyes, wishing he knew how to keep Eren out of that hell. He walked over, sat next to Eren, and placed his hand over the rough, scarred fingers.

"I know. I'm just teasing you," he whispered. He saw Eren struggling, like he wanted to scream but knew whatever he was seeing was not real. Levi squeezed his hand. "Are you okay?"

"I will be." Eren took a deep breath and let it out, pushing aside the nightmarish memories. "Sorry about that. I'll make it up to you. We'll go out to eat. We can celebrate some more."

Levi smirked. "I think we did enough celebrating last night."

Eren laughed quietly, and the pain of grief eased away. "I can't agree that it was enough."

Levi leaned in closer. "Does that mean you want more?"

Eren bit his lip as he gazed into those gray-blue eyes and whispered, "Yes."

Their eyes were locked as memories of last night stirred their imagination. Eren fought against licking his lips as he remembered the feel of Levi's cock in his mouth. Levi felt tingles along his skin as he recalled the way Eren explored his whole body, yet he did not get a chance to return the favor. His eyes drifted over Eren's shirtless chest.

Oh, the things he could do to him!

Eren raised his hand, hesitated, then slowly reached forward to touch Levi's cheek, like he was scared to make this whole magical moment disappear. Yet here he was, his cheek so soft, those cheekbones, that sharp jaw, every crease around his eyelids still the same as he remembered.

Wistfully, Eren sighed, "It still feels like a dream."

Levi turned his cheek into the touch. "What do I have to do to convince you it's real?"

A tiny laugh shot up, and Eren's cheeks turned bright red. "I can think of a few things."

"Oh?" Levi leaned in close and challenged him, "Tell me!"

Eren struggled, humiliated to say all the erotic ideas running through his head. He also had no clue how to say them in English. Were there specific words for such actions?

"You ... You could ... be the one to use your mouth."

Levi's eyebrow shot up high. How bold of him!

"Oh! You don't have to," Eren swiftly insisted. He recalled now, Levi had a bad memory that related to oral sex.

"I told you before, I would think about it."

Eren felt a leap of hope. "And?"

Levi slid his hand down to Eren's crotch, and he watched as the young man's throat hitched at the touch. "And ... I've thought about it."