AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 27 - ROBBERS by THE 1975

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Eren crashed awake at the sound of fists banging on his door. His heart pounded and his fists curled into balls, as he laid perfectly still, taking stock of his environment.

"Eren!" More pounding.

Eren took a gulp of air and rolled up into a sitting position. He shook his head and stood.

"Ereeeeen!"

He squeezed his eyes and strode to the door. He swung it open just in time to stop Armin from yelling again, his fist stopping in midair.. The boy looked at him and grimaced. "Aww man, I'm sorry."

Eren grabbed his arm and pulled him into the apartment, closing the door behind him quietly. "How many times do I have to tell you how bad it is for me when you do that?"

The boy's mouth puckered into a pout and he batted his eyelashes at him. "I knowwww! I'm sorry, but..."

His eyebrows raised, waiting for Armin's excuse du jour. "You scared me to death." He sat on the couch. "My heart is still pounding."

Armin sat on the coffee table in front of Eren. "You can't blame me when I have to hear from my boyfriend, and not my best friend, that you and Levi, not only fucked last night, but are dating too?!?"

As his friend's explanation unraveled before him, a warmth bled into his chest. Levi. He'd been so tired from being up all night, making breakfast, and then making out at breakfast, he'd almost...almost...forgotten.

Snapping his fingers, Armin's eyes loomed in front of him. "Hello, bitch? What the fuck?"

Eren laughed and pulled the boy off the table and into his lap, tucking him under his arm. "You're right!" He put his chin on the blonde boy's head. "Honestly, I didn't realize how long I've been sleeping."

"So, what? You fucked him so good, he proposed?" Armin cackled. "I've had that problem too, dude. It's rough."

"Shut the fuck up!" Eren poked him in the ribs until he squirmed with giggles. "I don't really know what happened. We had a really nice time."

Armin climbed out of the man's lap and held one of his hands. "I thought he didn't want anything more than that?"

"I know. Me too, but he was different at breakfast." Eren looked down at their hands.

"What's wrong?" Armin tilted his head. "Are you afraid he doesn't mean it?"

Eren looked up. "I don't know. I just feel nervous all around. Nervous that he'll come to his senses by dinner. Nervous that I'll come to my senses before dinner. It just changed so fast." He blew his bangs out of his eyes. "Armin, it was so good."

"Mmmhmm." Armin hummed. "But it really hasn't been all that fast has it? You two have been gunning for one another since our first night at the GuitarBar. It seems to me that he finally just came to terms with how he really feels...that he's been feeling this way all along."

Running his hand through his hair, he held his bottom lip between his teeth. "Do you really think so?"

Armin shrugged his shoulders. "Winnie doesn't talk about Levi very often when it comes to you two. He respects Levi's process, but he did tell me about you guys today. He said, and I quote, 'Levi is crazy about Eren.' I think that's very promising, don't you?"

A smile slowly spread across Eren's face. He felt like his insides were expanding farther than they were supposed to. "Yeah that sounds pretty good."

"Just do me a favor, buddy." Armin waited for his full attention. "Talk to me or Isabel before you let yourself believe any discouraging thoughts circling in your mind. That head of yours is a dangerous neighborhood to be in by yourself, you know?"