Scars

Chapter 7 - Embarrassment for Both

It was about 11 pm when Levi left. Just like Eren, he had found himself caught up in the lively conversations and soon forgot his own siblings were probably waiting for him.

"Bye, Eren! I got to go... Um... I'll see you tomorrow?" Levi seemed slightly reluctant to leave.

"Yeah, of course. Goodbye, Levi..." Eren replied, not wanting him to leave at all.

As soon as he left, Eren got up to take a bath. Her mind was in a daze, replaying the day. It seemed almost too good to be true. She had gone over to the Levi Ackerman's house! And he had been to her's!

"Carla, Mikasa, Armin, who is this boy? And where is Eren?" asked a man, coming in a few seconds after Eren had left the room. The 'boy' in question was Levi, who was standing behind the man.

"Welcome home! How was work? Oh, and this fine gentlemen is Levi, Eren's friend. I'm pretty sure Eren's taking a bath right now." Carla said to her husband, quickly going over to kiss him.

'So this is Eren's father,' Levi thought.He tried to leave quietly, but was stopped by Mr Yeager. Again. "Levi, where are you going?" he asked.

"I was just about to go home when I ran into you, sir." Levi replied, being as polite as possible.

"Well, seeing how it's already late, why don't you sleep over? I'm sure no one would mind; just make sure to tell your parents."Levi was quiet for a bit. He looked like he was thinking something over, but really he was trying not to seem upset. He didn't want to tell anybody else about his parents. "I don't mind. I'd love to stay over!" Levi enthused.

So Levi stayed and called Farlan, telling him the news. He chose to ignore the cheeky comment his brother snuck in the conversation.

"Nobody at home minds me staying over, so I guess I can stay! Farlan's dropping off some of my clothes later." Levi said aloud once he hung up, even though nobody seemed to be listening. The rest of the Yeager family was watching television.

Eren mulled things over in the warm water, thinking about how she admitted her crush on Levi to Isabel. 'I can't believe I said that! I didn't even really know I liked him like that until I said it out loud! Oh god, what if she tells him?!'

Too many thoughts were crowded in her head until one reassuring one surfaced. She realised she could trust Isabel. She didn't seem to be the type that would tell secrets.

Eren reluctantly drained the bath water, enjoying the last bit of warmth she could get. She got out and reached for her towel. Or where her towel should've been.

"How could I forget to take my towel?!" Eren muttered angrily to herself before figuring that in her daze, the towel must have slipped her mind. 'There's usually a spare towel in here! Except...'

"You've got to be kidding me!" Eren half-shouted. There was usually a spare towel, except on washing days. Eren silently cursed her luck. The one day she forgets to bring it, the spare towel is getting washed.

She took a deep breath and opened the door a crack, half whispering and half shouting, "Mikasa!" She tried to get someone's attention, but from what she could hear, the TV was probably on too loud for anyone to hear her.

Levi didn't really feel like watching anything, so he excused himself to the room he was given for the night. That's when he heard Eren's voice. Curious, he got up from the futon and quickly rushed to where the sound was coming from. "Eren?" He called out.

Eren wanted nothing more than to die when she heard Levi's voice. 'Of all the people...'

"Umm... Levi?" Eren said quietly.

Levi realised the sound was coming from the bathroom. "Eren? Are you okay?" he asked, blushing scarlet.

"Um... Can you get me a towel?" Eren was seriously considering drowning herself.

"Sure..." Levi hurried off to find a towel for Eren.

He knew he was blushing and he desperately tried to hide it as he asked Mrs Yeager where the towels were. She replied absent-mindedly, not taking her eyes off the screen.

He thanked her, rushing off to find the towel. Once he had one in his hand, he hesitantly knocked on the bathroom door. "Erm... Eren, I've got your towel." This was the most embarrassed both of them had ever been.

"Thanks..." Eren opened the door a tiny bit, just enough for her arm to dart out and grab the towel from Levi's hands.

That's when Levi first saw Eren's arm. To his surprise, he saw little scars on her skin, some faded and some that seemed to be from a few days ago. He also saw dark bruises, most likely from Annie and her gang. He was too shocked to say anything, so he quietly left.

The doorbell rang. Levi didn't hear it. He was preoccupied in his thoughts. He was lying in his futon, the light off. He didn't hear the room's door open.

"Levi, Farlan's at the door. He has your clothes." Eren said quietly. No answer. She walked over to Levi and knelt beside him. "Are you asleep?" she asked. When she got no reply, she got up and left, coming back a few seconds later with his clothes. She closed the door quietly and went to bed.

Levi wasn't asleep, but he couldn't bear to look at Eren. He didn't like the feeling of knowing how broken she really was.