Redemption Song | Levi & Eren

Chapter 11: How Deep Is Your Love

      Levi already disliked sharing a home with Eren, the freeloading smartarse git he had to hide from the world. He was far from clean or respectful. He showered for up to an hour when Levi was at work and lacked the decency to put the bathmat over the side of the bath when he was finished.

He sometimes spoke his thoughts aloud and forgot to wipe the seat after missing the bowl.

He stirred his tea, the small spoon clanking against the porcelain cup's interior. The clothes he'd bought Eren before returning home were spread around his living room floor where Eren had taken up residence.

The aforementioned brat snored obnoxiously loud on Levi's cheap sofa. Eren's shift had only lasted a few hours, shorter than Levi's regular shifts.

Levi checked his oven for the clock above. He had to make a move shortly, as did Eren. The bothersome leach had a shift starting at seven giving him an hour to set things up with Onyankopon until the shop officially opened at eight.

Levi set his remaining tea down on the counter. He stood over Eren. The brat slept like a half-naked animal clad in boxers and socks. He scratched his chest in his sleep. The bruise around his ribs had started its healing process but still retained its yellowish purple colouring. The bags under his eyes required more than sleep to fade.

The officer stuffed his hands in his pocket, standing beside Eren with his front facing the boy's side. Effortlessly, he lifted his leg, kicking his roommate in the head. The initial kick proved to be little more than a nuisance.

Levi struck him again with added force. Eren started to stir but awoke startled by the third attack. He shot up from his makeshift bed gasping for air. His eyes were wide like dinner plates and his fingernails dug into his pale palms.

He located Levi standing uninterested above him. "What's your problem!?"

"Where to start..." Levi trailed off in speech whilst strolling away. "For starters, you've got to shower for five minutes-I mean that. You've got to get dressed, then go to work, then explain why you only own one set of actual clothes and do then a seven hour shift."

"Those sound like my problems. Why'd you kick me?" inquired Eren.

"I had a feeling you weren't going to wake up," Levi addressed. "My problems include waiting for you to pay me rent, get out of my place, stop being a menace to society that I have to deal with and the overall stupidity that the Great British public has. And I've got to get to work so don't fall asleep."

"I could just set an alarm on your other phone if you'd let me use it properly." Eren returned.

"I don't want you breaking it. Besides, you'll thank me when your body's natural alarm clock kicks in." he finished his cup of tea.

Eren rolled his eyes when Levi began to wash the cup in the sink instead of leaving it to deal with later like any normal person.

"You sure you don't have OCD or something?"

"If I did I wouldn't let a stranger sleep in my place, especially one that sleeps like you." Levi had his back to the new job employee.

"What's wrong with the way I sleep?" he asked, confused by Levi's insult.

He received a sigh. "Clean up after yourself before you leave. Don't make a mess."

"Why? You want to make it with me?" Eren joked but Levi didn't respond. The officer flipped a jacket over his shoulders after he dried then stored his mug. "You were kidding about that rent stuff? Right?"

Levi shut the door behind him expecting Eren to lock it with the spare key he'd given him days ago. Eren huffed, flopping down on the sofa. He groaned when his head collided with the furniture's hard square arm.