Dangerous Territory

Brothel Comfort

"I'm not going to kick you in the head. At least, not while you're drunk."

"I'm not drunk. Well, not anymore. Carly gave me some medication, and it's clearing up my head."

"You took some of her drugs?" Levi cried out. "Merde."

"She said it wasn't Pervitin."

"No, her stuff is worse." Levi went from annoyed to pruriently amused. "Although, that might be fun."

Eren looked up with bright eyes. "Then, do you forgive me?"

"That depends. Do you still think I'm a terrorist?"

"No!"

"I'm now the leader of that French Resistance cell. We've carried out three missions since I last saw you. I've killed nine Wehrmacht soldiers, and my men have killed at least twenty more." Levi stared at him, challenging him to change his mind.

Eren flinched, horrified to hear this. Leader? Nine soldiers in just four days? Part of him was furious. He closed his eyes, and he could see it again: Yelena's gun against Greiz's head, the spray of blood and brains. That was only one death. If Levi had killed nine Germans since that day, then no wonder he seemed unperturbed by Yelena's actions.

Softly, Eren muttered, "I know you're fighting for your country, same as me. I don't like it, but it's part of war."

"What if I kill one of your men?"

"I know you wouldn't."

Levi's eyes narrowed. "What if I have to?"

Eren's heart stung. On one hand, he was determined to protect those men. They were like brothers! But what if one of them threatened Levi?

What if Floch, Connie, or Jarnach directly got in Levi's way?

What if he had to choose between his men and his boyfriend?

He thought back to that dungeon, with Kitz forcing him to shoot Abel or else both Abel and Levi would die. Levi forgave him. After all, what other choice did he have? It was part of war, and sometimes you had to kill people you didn't want to.

Would he be able to forgive Levi just as easily?

"I don't know," he admitted softly. "But if I want you to love me for who I am..." He turned his gaze back up. "...then I'm determined to love you for who you are."

Levi stared hard, trying to read that expressive face. After a moment, his hand reached out, palm up. Eren took it, and Levi yanked him back onto his feet. Slowly, a smile returned to his lips.

"It seems my takhshet is back."

Eren blushed at the pet name. "Are you not going to hit me?"

"I already slapped you when you called me a terrorist. That's enough."

Eren cringed. "I'm so sorry."

"I know that wasn't you. I'm just glad you came back to me. For a moment, I feared I may have lost you to the Nazis for good."

"And I feared, the last thing I'd say to you was something so awful. I went to the wine shop to apologize, but you were gone. I was scared that maybe you were captured."

"You know I'm better than that."

Eren laughed. Yes, of course, this was Levi after all.

Holding Eren's hand, Levi pulled him over to the table. He picked up the wine, read the make and year, and by the expression on his face Eren guessed it was particularly good. Levi uncorked it and poured out a glass for both of them out of habit. Then he paused and looked at Eren.