Awake My Soul - Ereri

Chapter 12 - Season's Greetings

It was Christmas Eve. Eren always loved Christmas. He loved carollers, and lights, and presents, and the food, and Christmas trees and snow. Even last year when everything turned to shit, Eren still enjoyed his Christmas. But now Eren sat at the kitchen bench staring glumly at the countertop as he ate a piece of gingerbread left over from the gingerbread house Mikasa and their mum had made. He was thinking about Levi, as much as he didn’t want to. He couldn’t help but feel a pit in his stomach when he’d learnt that he would be alone tomorrow, for both Christmas and his eighteenth birthday. His parents were overseas as they had conferences over the holiday period and Levi was left alone. When Petra had told him this, Eren had decided that he should probably go talk to him, or at least get him a gift. Eren was being petty. As much as he was scared of getting hurt, he understood that he had people behind him, friends that cared and would protect him. He needed to get over his fear and he’d come to the conclusion that Levi wasn’t even part of the reason he’d pushed him away and he felt terrible for it.

“What’s wrong sweetheart?” It was Mikasa’s- his mum. She looked at him kindly.

“It’s nothing, I’m fine.” Eren said staring at the countertop still. His mum sighed and sat down next to him.

“Who is it?”

“No one, it doesn’t matter.”

“What did they do?”

“They didn’t do anything.”

“What did you do then?” she smiled at him. He sighed dramatically.

“I may have made a mistake, and now I’m pretty sure he hates me.” His mum nodded her head.

“Why don’t you talk to him?” she asked.

“That’s what I told him to do.” Mikasa said walking up behind him and resting her arms on his head. He groaned.

“This is unfair! It’s two against one.”

“If you like we can get dad involved.”

“Get me involved in what?” His dad said walking into the room. Eren groaned and then sighed dramatically.

“There’s a boy.” Mikasa said.
“A boy?” their dad asked

“A boy” their mum confirmed.

“Fine I’ll talk to him! But I may need to sneak out for a couple of hours tomorrow.” His mum raised her eyebrows at Mikasa and although he couldn’t see her face he was sure she was smiling, this was confirmed when he started to hear her giggle.

“Mikasa!”

“I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at you I promise.” She said trying to stop laughing but continued. Eventually Eren ended up laughing too and so did their parents. And although the joke had come at Eren’s expense, this was the first time he felt like they were a real family.

It was Christmas Eve. Levi always hated Christmas. Maybe it was the idea that he was getting older, or the fact that his parents never did anything special, if they were home at all, completely brushing over both Christmas and his birthday. Something that was supposed to be special for him, but sadly wasn’t. Maybe it was the fact that he really hated carollers and extravagant lights and Christmas trees that either looked incredibly tacky or left pine needles everywhere, the mess constantly unnerving Levi. The only thing Levi liked about this time of the year was the cold. He liked curling up on the couch, or in his bed with a tea and a book. He liked long sleeve shirts, and sweat pants, and socks. Maybe he was just suited to the cold more than the heat. At the moment he was sitting on the couch trying to read a book, but the fact that he’d read the same sentence four times, led Levi to believe that he wasn’t too involved in the novel. He looked at his tea, which he’d left to get cold. Levi usually didn’t mind being alone or having a quiet Christmas and birthday. It meant that he could do whatever he liked without being harassed. But he felt miserable. He couldn’t help but feel that Eren had something to do with it. That little shit of a kid. He just realised that he would be eighteen and Eren would only be fifteen still, even if it were only for a few months. He’d also just realised that it didn’t even fucking matter how much older Levi was than Eren because it was likely they wouldn’t be speaking anytime soon, if ever again. Levi sighed laying his head against the arm of the couch. Why did Levi have to like someone who didn’t like him back? He wasn’t used to it. It’s not that Levi assumed himself to be a sex god or anything really of the like, but he was always used to people liking him more than he liked them, or people not really caring whether they like him or not, only there to hook-up and almost always Levi never liked them. But Levi wasn’t used to this. It hurt. He felt bad for all the people he’d put through this in the past. Including Petra, although she’d handled it well after they’d broken up and now she was one of his closest friends. But Levi couldn’t stand longing for someone who couldn’t care less about you. It wasn’t usually the way he worked, but apparently not with Eren. His phone started ringing. He ignored it, it was Petra but he didn’t much feel like talking at the moment. Even she wouldn’t be around for his birthday and he was used to her popping in for a bit, so he wasn’t alone the whole day. Petra kept calling until Levi groaned and picked up the phone just so it would stop ringing.

“What!” he almost yelled into the phone. She made a noise and he couldn’t tell whether it was a laugh or a cry. After some consideration he decided she was laughing at him.

“I called to say happy birthday! I know it’s early but I’m on the plane for a lot of tomorrow and overseas phone calls are expensive. I’m at the airport at the moment and I didn’t want to miss saying happy birthday. I’m sorry I’m not going to be there tomorrow. I feel terrible but I talked to Hanji and Erwin and I think they’re coming over for a bit like usual, even though I won’t be there. “
“Petra” Levi groaned, “It’s not a big deal. I’m fine.”

“Not a big deal?” she sighed. “It’s your eighteenth of course it’s important. Chill and let people do stuff for you for once.” Levi sighed again.
“Don’t take that tone with me mister! Anyway I’m hoping to send your present through the post so you get it before I get back, but you might just have to wait sorry.”

“Don’t go to any trouble. “ Levi said bored.

“I’ll go to as much trouble as I like!” she huffed. “Anyway grumpy pants I’ve got to board but have a good day. Love you loads.”

“Yeah see you, have fun.”

“Okay, bye, I’ll miss you!”

“Miss you too, bye.” And Levi wasn’t lying. He would miss Petra tomorrow. He was so used to her being an emotional buffer on that day of the year. Someone to make sure he didn’t go crazy. At least he could count on Hanji and Erwin to turn up sometime, he assumed early evening, and drink cheap beer with him. But he couldn’t help that wish that maybe this year his birthday would be different.

“If you don’t get in the car within the next minute I will drag your ass out there.” Mikasa said to a very nervous Eren. He had decided that maybe he shouldn’t go see Levi; mostly for the fact that Eren was scared that Levi would just laugh in his face. Mikasa groaned and grabbed Eren by the hood of his jacket pulling him to the car. When they were finally both seated in the car Eren bounced his knees nervously.

“Stop worrying Eren!” Mikasa said exasperated.

“I can’t, what if he hates me?”

“I’m sure he doesn’t.”

“What if he does?” Mikasa sighed.

“Stop thinking about every reason you shouldn’t do it and think about why you should.” Eren tried to control his breathing, which was slowly increasing in speed.

“We’re here.” Mikasa said looking over to Eren. He looked at Mikasa panicked.

“Chill and go talk to him. I need to go visit Annie because I made plans with her but if you get into any trouble just call me and I’ll come pick you up.” Eren nodded his head slowly.

“Go!” Mikasa laughed. Eren got out of the car and shot her a sheepish smile.

“You’ll be fine, calm down. I’ll see you later.”

“Okay, bye.” Eren said giving her a wave before turning and walking to the door. Eren didn’t know how his legs managed to walk up to the front door he was that nervous. He also didn’t know how long he was standing on Levi’s front porch like an idiot. Eren, feeling very foolish, lifted his fist up to the door and knocked. He waited there a few moments but he couldn’t hear any movement behind the door and questioned whether Levi was even home. He decided he should probably knock again.

“Yeah I get it I’m coming!” he heard Levi yell from the other side. All of a sudden Eren’s heart began to beat a lot faster than it had been a few moments ago. The door opened swiftly.

“You took your time.” Levi said digging through his wallet. When he looked up his eyes widened. “Eren.”

A/N: Oops this is a bit later than i usually post it, i almost forgot sorry it's been a stressful day with exams etc. Anyway Happy Belated B'day to Eren for the 30th, also really coincidental that i'm writing a chapter on Eren's b'day right now! Okay sorry for my rambling, Thanks for reading guys it means a lot!!!!! xoxo