AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 26 - WHAT ARE YOU SO SCARED OF by TONIGHT ALIVE

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When Levi closed his door behind him, he saw Eren's door sitting open. Before he could knock, he heard Eren's voice call, "Come in!" He took a deep breath and spread his palm flat against the door, pushing through and into Eren's apartment.

His senses were assailed by the smell of eggs, bacon and...salsa? He stood in the man's living room. "Eren?"

"I'm in the kitchen."

Levi walked into the bright, warm room. It was painted a sunny yellow with red trim, and he noticed for the first time that there were plants hanging above the window. It certainly looked more "lived in" than before.

Eren washed dishes in the sink, his back to Levi. His eyes moved from the boy's bare ankles, up his long legs to the plump ass, barely covered in short, cutoff jeans. He heard a throat clear, and his gaze jumped to the boy's grinning face. He was looking over his shoulder with his eyebrow up. "Um, my eyes are up here, handsome."

Levi's lips twitched. Eren's smile let all of the nervous energy seep from him. He felt much more comfortable. "I didn't know you cooked." He sat at the kitchenette table.

Turning to the table with a bowl of salsa in his hand, he sucked some of the remains from his finger. "I only cook for special occasions." He turned with a wink back to the counter.

The man felt his heart plummet and start to pound in his stomach. He immediately felt nervous again.

Eren turned and placed a platter with eggs, bacon, tomatoes and avocado down in front of Levi, followed by warm tortillas, 2 plates and forks. Eren glanced at Levi's distressed face and barked a laugh. "Oh my god, old man! Don't have a heart attack on me." He slid into his chair. "I'm not going to propose to you."

Levi huffed a laugh, trying to hide his nerves. "I know that." He took a plate from Eren. "What's the special occasion?"

He stopped and looked thoughtfully at Levi. "You." He smiled warmly. "You are the special occasion."

Levi frowned and stared at his plate. His voice had no bite. "The fuck are you talking about?"

Sighing, Eren grabbed a tortilla and placed it on the man's plate. He heaped it with all of the ingredients and spooned some salsa on. Levi watched him quietly. "Eat first. Then we'll talk."

He picked up the burrito and crammed it into his mouth. As soon as the flavor of the salsa hit his mouth, he involuntarily groaned. With his mouth full, he mumbled, "Jesus, this is amazing."

Eren laughed and patted his arm. "Good. I'm glad you like it." He set up his plate and dug in. A tea kettle rang, and his eyebrows went up. "Oh, I have tea!" He got up and pulled 2 cups out and put them on the table.

Levi watched him with wonder as he moved around the kitchen. It was obvious that a lot of these things were new and hadn't yet been used. The teacups still had stickers on the bottom. He resisted his OCD urge to pick off the stickers, but Eren approached with a very hot tea kettle. He had two tea bags. Eren looked at him with concern. "Do the bags go first or the water?"

Levi smiled. "The water first. Can I help you?" He took the bags and the kettle from Eren and nodded towards his chair. He could smell the mint in his hand. Eren watched him with rapt attention as the man poured water into each cup, and got up to put the kettle back. He returned with the bags and dropped them into the scalding water, his eyes raising to meet Eren's eyes. The boy seemed hopeful, but worried, and it made Levi's heart swell to see his effort. He smirked at Eren and said, "You remembered that I like mint?"