Dreaming of You (Ereri)

Ch. 13

Levi's P.O.V. (Monday Morning)
I slowly peeled my eyes open and gathered my senses, struggling to remember the previous night. Looking around, I drew up memories of the park and Erwin, and then recalled what Hanji had told me, which made me lay my head back down with a groan. Erwin poked his head in the room and raised his eyebrows in concern at me. "Hey, Levi. You alright?" he asked. "I made breakfast when you're ready. And I meant to tell you last night, but you can stay as long as you need." I sat up, rubbing my eyes, and shook my head. "No, I think I'll go home today," I grunted. Erwin nodded. "I'll write you a note for school," he said, then left.

I blinked in confusion. School...?

Shit.

I sighed and dragged a hand down my face, pinching the bridge of my nose and furrowing my eyebrows. "Fuck, I forgot about school today," I muttered to myself, standing. After stretching a bit, I found my way to the kitchen, where Erwin was washing a pan in the sink. Two plates were set on the bar, both with bacon, eggs, grits, and a biscuit neatly arranged on them. A piece of bacon was stuck between Erwin's lips as he hummed a tune to himself, one I didn't recognize. "Whatcha singin', Eyebrows?" I joked. Erwin smiled at me as I took a seat on a stool and began eating, surprised to find that it wasn't poisoned. "You wouldn't know it," he said after swallowing the bacon in his mouth. "It's a lullaby my mother came up with that she used to sing to me when I still lived with her."

"It's pretty."

"Yeah..."

The room fell silent, save for the sound of running water coming from the sink as Erwin set the now-clean pan on a towel and began washing a plate instead. After I finished my food, I thanked him for it and told him goodbye, then left for my house.

Just as I was nearing the road that led to the apartment building, I turned on the one before it - the road Eren lived on. It'd been a while since I visited his house, but my intentions for going weren't just to visit. I didn't want him in the dark about us, so I planned to tell him everything that Hanji told me.

Once again, the normality of his street made me feel a bit awkward like it always did as I hopped up the steps of his porch and knocked on the door. To my surprise, it was Eren's mother who answered, rather than Eren himself. "Ah, Levi," she said with a fake grin. I didn't think she liked me too well, probably because I'd made Eren miss his curfew so many times, even if it was an accident."If you're looking for Eren, he left about an hour ago," Mrs. Jaeger explained. "He was going to your house... Wait, so why are you here now? Where's Eren?" I shook my head and cursed. "Sorry, ma'am. I don't know," I apologized. "He's probably at my house, though I don't know why. I'll find out, though."

"Why aren't you there?" she demanded. I winced, remembering Hanji's words. "I was at a friend's house," I muttered, closing my eyes. "I had a rough day and couldn't stand to be at my apartment, so I went to the park to clear my mind, and by the time I felt better, it was almost night." Mrs. Jaeger nodded and sighed. "Well, go home then, and find out if my son's okay," she ordered. "Tell him to call me or text me or whatever you kids do nowadays, and remember his curfew, please." I nodded and turned to leave, jogging home.

Why would Eren go to my house? Was he mad that I didn't go to school? Did something happen? Shit, if something happened and I wasn't there... Dammit. Worry coursed through me, and I quickened my pace. By the time I arrived at the building, I was sprinting, and I panted a barely discernible thank you at the doorman when he pressed the buttons of the elevator for me. The ride up was excruciatingly slow. "Dammit, hurry up!" I hollered to no one, banging my fist on the reflective, metal doors. Just as I did, they slid open, and I sprinted out and towards my apartment, 124C. My eyes widened as I examined the door, seeing that it was unlocked. Worry was replaced with a gut-wrenching fear as a new theory crossed my mind. Please don't let Hanji be in there, too, I thought as I reached for the doorknob. Taking a deep breath, I slammed the door open. Almost immediately upon doing so, I heard Eren yelp, "Levi!?" His voice held a touch of fear, which worried the hell out of me. I scanned him, checking to make sure he was okay, and out of the corner of my eyes, I saw a figure I had hoped I wouldn't see, and my heart dropped. "Please, god, tell me you didn't," I whispered at Hanji, my voice shaking. "Levi," Eren sniffed, his bottom lip quivering. Hanji bowed her head solemnly, closing her eyes. "You should be fucking ashamed of yourself, Hanji!" I screamed. It was rare I called her by her real name, so her head shot up and her eyes filled with terror. "You said you wouldn't tell him unless he asked!" I continued.

"How do you know if he asked or not?" Hanji shot back, standing. "You weren't left with barely an explanation yesterday, you ditched Eren at school today, and you weren't here earlier when he needed you to be there! The poor kid was scared to death when I told him! Don't get angry at me!"

"But, Hanji, I-I didn't ask you t-to tell me anything," Eren stuttered quietly. My eyes narrowed in anger at Hanji, and in that moment I was two Petra x Tree fanfics away from bitch-slapping the fuck out of her. "Get out," I growled, my fingernails digging into the wooden frame with abnormal strength that not even I knew I had. Hanji nodded and quickly scooted past me, leaving me and Eren alone. Without a word, I shut the door gently and stared at it, not a single thought crossing my mind or a single word blessing my lips. "Levi?" Eren choked. It was obvious from the sound of his voice that he was crying, probably on the verge of sobbing. I squeezed my eyes shut and sighed. "You..." I started, but no other words could form except ones that I felt like killing myself over:

"You should leave, Eren."

And so he did.

***

Don't hate me, please!!! щ(ಥДಥщ) It's all part of the plan!!!

Eren: *wipes away tears* W-what plan, Daniel-san?

Me: Shh, my precious Jaegerchili. All shall become clear soon enough.

*awkward coughing*