Key to a Caged Heart

Elastic Heart

A/N: Hello! Thank you to everyone who is reading this and voting. It makes me so happy to see that people are enjoying this story.

The song for this chapter is Elastic Heart by SIA. The way I interpret it is from Eren's viewpoint. His heart has been damaged by his parents leaving him (which will be explained in a future chapter) but he does what he can to protect himself.

The smell of pancakes taunted his nostrils and gradually awakened his consciousness. Sitting up on the surprisingly comfy futon, it took Eren a moment to get his bearings. Not until he saw a shirtless Levi in the kitchen flipping pancakes did the last twelve hours resurface to his memory.

His mind was still waking up so he wasn't aware that he had been staring, until Levi mimicked, "See something you like?"

Eren hadn't been paying attention, but the sound of Levi's husky morning voice brought his mind into full focus, and he realized he was staring at a nicely toned chest. Was that an 8-pack of abs? Eren tried counting.

"Go wash up and then come sit down for breakfast."

Eren didn't like Levi telling him what to do, but since the man did make breakfast, Eren figured he could leave the arguing till later. After washing his hands and face, Eren spotted a new toothbrush that Levi left out for him. Levi had also folded his newly washed clothes and left them on the bathroom shelf for him to change into.

When he returned to the kitchen, a glass of milk and three large, fluffy pancakes waited for him on the kitchen table. Taking a bite, Eren was pleasantly surprised by the apples and cinnamon dancing on his tongue. He was used to buttermilk Bisquick pancakes, which could not hold a candle to Levi's cooking.

"After breakfast we'll pick up your stuff." Levi spoke in a monotone voice, not once looking at Eren for confirmation as he picked up his tea and took a sip.

"You were serious about me moving in?" Eren still couldn't fathom why this man he had met two nights ago wanted him to live with him. "No one at the police station will know if you lied about being my guardian. And if you think I'm a free source of manual labor or that I'll suck your cock out of gratitude, you've got another think coming."

Levi choked on his tea before setting it down and staring directly into Eren's eyes. Normally, he would be angry if someone dared speak to him like that, but for some reason he found Eren to be entertaining. It probably had something to do with the fire in those bright emerald eyes and their owner's tenacious spirit.

"If I didn't take guardianship over you, you would still be sitting in that cell. I said I would take responsibility for you so I will. Since I can't trust you to stay out of trouble on your own, I have to keep an eye on you. Now, house rules."

He narrowed his eyes and Eren flinched at the intense gaze. "Don't do anything stupid, stay out of jail, and clean up any mess you make. I know the first rule will be really challenging for you, but try your best."

Levi ignored the glare directed at him. "That's about it. Do you have a job?"

He received a shake of the head as a response. "Fine, I'll see if I can find any employment for you. If you are living here, you are going to help pay for groceries."

Eren scowled but didn't say anything. He was already planning to be as big of a nuisance as he could so Levi would be begging him to leave. Maybe this guy thought he was helping Eren as a favor to Annie, but whatever Annie thought, Eren could take care of himself. He had been doing just fine on his own for the past three years.

***

"If you don't have a job and live alone, how in the hell is your electricity still running?"