Same, but Different

•Chapter VI•

"Sounds like a plan, Eren. I'll be waiting." Farlan hummed.

I smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now I gotta go make coffee for Izzy. Hear from and see you later!"

I did shit for about half an hour, making breakfast for the kids and cleaning up a bit. Levi wasn't home, so I assumed he was doing work somewhere seeing as Aki said he usually worked early on my first day. When I heard the door open, I smiled with some newfound confidence I got from God-knows-where.

"Levi!" I popped my head around the corner, "Welcome back."

Levi smiled. "Thanks. You seem excited that I'm back. Anything happen?"

"Uh, well, kinda..." I trailed off, "I have something to tell you, and I need you to be calm and listen and not talk until I'm done."

Levi brought his eyebrows together, but gave me his undivided attention nonetheless. "Okay. What's up?"

"So, this is totally weird and I know it's out of the blue and stuff, and I also know that you went on a date with Chelsea yesterday, but I need to tell you before you go further with her, like sleep together, or love her or something, because then I'll never have a chance. I like you, Levi Ackerman. And it's not dependence on your money, or on you, and it's not because I want Titan and Aki to be siblings, though I kinda do want that. It's because you're kind, and sweet, and funny, and one of the most amazing people I've met in so long I'm partially starstruck. To be honest, I might even love you and I have no idea if that's plausible to you but it's true. Knowing you're back makes me tingle with nerves and excitement, and seeing your face makes my heart swell. When you joke about us being a couple, I blush because I imagine just that and can barely contain a smile at the thought. I don't know when, or how it happened, but I do. I want to be with you, Levi. You said you felt more comfortable with me, safer with me, that it wasn't hard and it just kinda flowed. So pick me, not her." I pleaded, "Please, pick me."

Levi's eyes flashed with confusion and another expression that I couldn't quite place as he massaged the back of his neck, his shirt collar moving down and revealing countless love bites and hickeys. "Eren—" He reached out for me, but came short when I backed away, his eyes dazed, confused, and depressingly somber. He let his hand just hover where it was, his blue and gray eyes staring into mine as he brought his bottom lip between his teeth, afraid to say something wrong.

"O-Oh... So, you... did it. I guess it got comfortable then, haha..." I bit my lip. "No big deal, that was t-totally a joke. I got you, right? I'll... uh, I wanted to let you know about a work party I have. I wanted it to be a surprise, but I got a job at the local store. Cool, isn't it? It means I can probably start paying you back, work towards getting out of your hair and moving out. Anyway, I, um, I work with Chelsea and I wanted to tell you that... I don't really... trust her. And I know I'm biased and stuff, so you don't have to believe me or anything, but I don't. I wish you luck anyway, with her. You deserve to be happy. I'll, uh, I'll go now. There's food to heat up for dinner in the fridge so... yeah."

"Wait, Eren!" Levi called as I ran off and shut myself in my room and locked the door. I heard Levi on the other side of the door and him slide down against it. I followed his actions from my end, my head in my hands. "Goddamnit," Levi cursed quietly.

I faintly heard the sound of Aki and Titan making their way upstairs before a small voice started talking outside my door.

"Mr. Levi, are you okay?"

"Hey, Toby," Levi said quietly. "I'm... fine..."

Aki was silent.

"What happened, Mr. Levi? Is Daddy okay too?"