Picking up the Pieces.

Chapter 3.

Since their return from the 57th expedition three weeks ago, Jean and Levi had grown a lot closer, especially since he had been looking after Levi. His ribs were slowly healing and he was able to leave his room now he was no longer bed bound by Hanji. He and Jean were currently sat on his window sill, like they used to before the expedition, talking softly to each other. Jean held Levi close, almost so that the smaller male was on his lap, his arms wrapped around Levi's waist. The ravenette had his head resting against Jean's chest, looking out of the window.
"Thank you, Jean." Levi said softly.
"For what?" Jean asked.
"Everything." Levi didn't need to explain what everything was for Jean to understand him.
The ash brown haired man looked down at Levi and smiled, brushing a strand of hair out of the smaller ones face. Levi looked up into the honey brown eyes that stared down at him and before either soldier knew what was happening their lips met in a soft kiss. They pulled apart and stared at each other for a moment before Jean turned Levi around in his lap and their lips met once again but this time with passion. Levi wrapped his arms around Jean's neck as the other wrapped his arm around Levi's waist, pulling their bodies their together. Jean ran his tongue over Levi's bottom lip, asking for entrance that the grey eyed man happily allowed him. Their tongues clashed as they fought for dominance, trying to win the other over but Jean had managed to dominate Levi. He mapped out the soft, wet cavern eliciting a soft moan from Levi as Jean's fingers drew small patterns on Levi's hips, making the small Corporal shudder in pleasure as his fingers wrapped themselves in Jean's hair. When they broke apart, realisation hit Levi like a Titan fist on what he had just done.
"I- I shouldn't have done that." He covered his mouth with his hands.
"Levi it's-"
"No. I shouldn't have done that." He turned his head away from Jean. Shit, what the fuck was he thinking?!
"Levi, look at me."
He slowly looked up at Jean.
"Levi, there are no rules against soldiers dating." He said softly.
"But you're my subordinate and I-" Jean cut him off.
"I'm 19, soon to be 20. You've not long turned 23. I'm over 18 so there's nothing illegal about it."
Levi fell silent knowing what Jean said was true.
"Levi Ackerman?"
"Yes Jean?"
"Will you go out with me?" Jean placed two fingers under Levi's chin so he could look into his eyes.
Levi answered him with a soft but loving kiss.
"I will." He whispered.
Jean smiled and connected their lips once more, pulling the smaller male closer, happy when he felt Levi wrap his arms back around his neck, pressing his body against Jean's. Their lips moved together almost in sync, as one, fitting together perfectly as the kiss became more passionate, their love for each other silently shown through the simple yet deeply felt kiss. When they pulled apart they were both panting for air, a pink tinge covering their cheeks, their lips moist and swollen. Jean ran his fingers along Levi's cheek, smiling at the small blush forming adding to his beauty. Levi, in Jean's eyes, wasn't handsome. No, he was stunning, beautiful nothing could compare to the beauty that sat before him. The pale skin was like delicate porcelain but softer than Jean could even begin to imagine. His eyes were a silvery grey, changing to either a lighter or darker shade depending on the lighting. His black hair was soft and felt amazing when between Jean's fingers, the raven locks lightly dancing when Levi moved. Everything about Levi was beautiful, from the graceful way he walked to the elegant way he fought. Nothing, in Jean's eyes, could ever compare to Levi.
"What are you thinking about?" Levi asked softly.
"You." Jean told him.
Levi raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Me? What about me?"
"Just you. Your beauty. Your being. Just you." Jean told him.
Levi smiled and nuzzled his face into Jean's neck, blushing a dark hue of pink. Jean wrapped his arms around Levi and held him close. He truly loved him and couldn't be happier to be blessed with such a person to love and cherish, to care for and protect. Then a thought occurred to Jean. How would everyone else react?
"Levi?" He began.
"Yes Jean." Levi turned his head so that his chin rest on Jean's chest so he could see the other.
"I was wondering... what do we plan to tell everyone?" He said slowly, unsure as to how Levi would react.
The ravenette stiffened in Jean's arms as he thought about the question. He hadn't even considered how everyone else would react to their relationship. He hoped they'd take it well.
After a moment of silence he responded. "I would like to tell them.. I'm just not sure how to go about it."
Jean nodded, knowing that Levi was a very private person and only a handful of people knew about his sexual orientation where as everyone knew about Jean's.
"I think I have an idea on how we can tell everyone without telling them." Jean said, a smile appearing on his face.
Levi raised an eyebrow curious as to how they would tell them without actually telling them.
"And just how do you plan on doing that?"
"Come on, let's go get dinner. I'll explain on the way down there." He stood and pulled Levi up, walking out of the office.
~*~
Levi had gone in first, taking his usual seat with Erwin, Mike and his other friends whilst Jean's friends sat not to far from them. Levi was handed a bowl of soup by Hanji as she sat down with her own, giving a polite nod to her in thanks before turning back to Erwin.
"You seem to be doing much better." The blonde commented.
"I am." Levi said and actually allowed a small smile to form.
The others around him were curious as to what had Levi so... happy, it seemed.
"Any particular reason?" Petra asked.
Levi's smile only grew and he shook his head, going back to his soup.
"There is a reason!" Hanji squealed, exchanging looks with Petra and Isabel, the women smiling in excitement.
"Well, come on spit it out. Why are you so happy?" Gunter asked.
Whilst Levi was being interrogated by his friends, Jean had just entered the hall, a large smile on his face as he walked up and got his dinner. He sat with his friends, waving a hello.
"Somebody's in a noticeably good mood, aren't they?" Marco said, smiling at him.
He gave a small chuckle. "Yeah, I am."
"Any reason?" Eren asked, curious.
"Many reasons, Eren. There could be many but there is only one." He answered happily.
"I think he's ill. He even sounds happy." Connie said.
The others laughed.
"So why are you so happy?" Armin asked, smiling.
Back at Levi's table, the Corporal decided now might be a good time.
"Shit! I'll be right back, I forgot that shitty liquid Hanji calls medicine." Levi muttered. He stood up and began walking to go back to his office. As he passed Jean's table, the other stood up and grasped Levi's wrist and pulled him close, pressing a soft kiss to the smaller ones lips, the gesture happily returned. Jean pulled away and smiled.
"It's rude not to say goodbye." He said as Levi smiled up at him.
The Corporal smiled and turned, walking out of the doors and standing outside, listening. Jean walked up to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of water and when he turned round, everyone within the room was staring at him, eyes wide, mouths hanging open and shock evident on their features.
"Did he.. kiss you back?" Erwin was the first to speak.
Jean smiled. "Yes, he did."
"What?!" Eren said.
"Why?" Petra asked.
"I asked him out, he said yes." Jean shrugged, walking back and sitting down.
"What?!" Petra stood and ran over to Jean, sitting beside him as more of the soldiers gathered around him, wanting to know more.
"You two are dating?" Eren asked.
Jean nodded and took a sip of water.
"You and Corporal Levi! No way." Connie said, eyes wide as he leaned towards Jean.
"Yes. Corporal Levi and I are dating." He told them.
"Since when?" Armin asked sincerely.
"Since this afternoon." He answered.
"Who asked who out?" Hanji asked, excitement clear in her voice.
"I asked him out."
"Really? That's so cute!" Isabel squealed.
"What's cute?" Everyone turned as Levi walked back in, a small bottle of a liquid in his hand.
Hanji, Petra and Isabel ran over to the small Corporal and grabbed him, pulling him outside out of the mess hall. He turned his head and looked at Jean.
"What did you do? What did you say?" He struggled in their hold to get away from them before Hanji picked him up and threw him over her shoulder and ran out of the room with the other two women.
"He's going to kill me." Jean jumped up and ran after the women. Bursting outside the mess hall he spotted Hanji, Petra and Isabel surrounding Levi.
"Whatever Jean has said is all that has happened." He said.
Jean ran over and grabbed Levi's hand, pulling him away.
"Ladies, he shall answer your questions in the morning but right now he's going to bed." Jean said, nudging Levi forward.
"Okay but we'll be waiting tomorrow." Petra said as they moved to let him go.
The three women walked away and stood at the entrance to the mess hall with their friends.
"Now that's a sight you'd never think to see, would you." Erwin smiled, pointing over to where Jean had his hand entwined with Levi as they walked, Jean twirling Levi as the smaller man laughed happily, twirling against Jean, the brunette wrapping his arm around Levi's waist.
"Well, it's obvious Jean makes him happy." Farlan said, leaning against a beam.
"Yeah. Maybe Levi won't be so uptight but more relaxed." Mike said, stretching as Jean and Levi disappeared from sight.
"Yeah. Maybe." Erwin smiled.
~*~
Jean walked Levi back to his quarters, keeping his arm around Levi's waist the whole time.
"Stay with me." Levi said, looking up at Jean.
"Stay with you?" Jean questioned.
"Tonight." Levi said.
"Let me go grab my clothes for tomorrow and my nightclothes." He said, kissing Levi softly before releasing him and walking to his dorm.
Levi smiled and walked into his room, changing into his nightclothes and brushing his teeth. He smiled when he heard a knock and walked over, opening the door to reveal Jean with his clothes. He let him in and told him where everything was before walking to his bedroom and settling down in bed. Jean joined him a moment later, Levi moving over and patting the spot for him. Jean slid in beside him, blowing the candle out and pulling Levi between his legs, wrapping his arms around his waist.
"That actually wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be." Levi said, leaning back against Jean's chest.
"It wasn't." Jean agreed, pressing a small kiss to Levi's neck. The smaller male let out a quiet gasp, closing his eyes as Jean pressed butterfly kisses to his neck and shoulder.
"That tickles." Levi said softly.
Jean chuckled and carefully pulled Levi close. "It's meant to. Go to sleep."
"Goodnight Jean." Levi said, curling up close to him.
"Goodnight Levi." Jean held Levi as he drifted off to sleep, a smile on his lips.