AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 56 - BAD by U2

Author's note: How long has it been my loves? It's taken four years to write this story, and it's coming to an end. There will be a total of 60 chapters and an Epilogue. I'll publish a couple of chapters a week, so if you're still with me (and bless your sweet hearts, if you are) keep a close eye out. I write for you and you first. My soul skips along behind you. Thank you for coming back. Always, Mags

Levi sipped his tea while he and Javvy chatted.

"The military is always a good option, Javvy. It's a steady income and an opportunity to meet a lot of different people."

"Yeah, but what about it being so strict. It's not like I haven't had issues with authority figures my whole life."

"That's different," said Levi. "You're making a choice to put yourself through that. You're not being forced by some dickhead with a superiority complex, right? This would be a means to an end and I think that if you look at it that way, you'll feel differently."

"That's true. Plus don't I get to go to college afterwards for free?"

"Yes. And that makes all the difference in the world." Levi grew quiet for a moment and watched Eren slip through the door into the dimly lit office. "Hello sweetheart."

Javvy cringed and said, "Oh god, you two...screw this we're not together bullshit."

Eren chuckled. "All right, you got us." He smiled at Levi. "I didn't mean to interrupt. What were you talking about?"

Levi put out his hand and Eren quickly stepped forward and took it, sitting on the desk next to the hair. "We were talking about the military paying for your education. Javvy is considering it. I was telling him that I worked three jobs on top of going to school full time and taking care of Farlan. It was impossible, and I still don't know how I did it. Maybe if someone had considered a different way, I might have thought about it, but I just put my head down and pushed on through."

Javvy watched him with eyes wide open. "I've never heard anyone go through something like that. It would have been so easy to just quit because it's so hard."

Levi nodded. "I wanted to quit, trust me, but Farlan needed me and I wasn't going to let him down the way our mother did. I wanted him to have different options that I didn't have. Turns out he didn't go to college like I thought he would."

Eren spoke up. "I don't think I know that story. What did he do?"

"He got as far away from me as he could. He backpacked through Europe...France, Spain and Italy. He got music gigs singing and playing. He'd stay for a while and then move on. I'd get a postcard about once a month or so, or he'd call when he felt lonely, but he did something I never would have thought of doing."

"You didn't have the choice to do that. You had to work and take care of him and have a place you both were comfortable in," said Eren.

Levi wrapped his arm around the leg closest to him and patted his thigh. "My biggest fan, this man." He bumped Eren's leg and smiled at Javvy.

Javvy gave a small smile. "Who knows, maybe someday you'll get a chance to do what Farlan did...just toss everything to the side and follow your own compass."

Levi raised his eyebrows. "Well there's another reason to join the military: you get to travel to exotic places. Well, maybe Germany."

Eren covered Levi's hand. "Javvy, the bottom line is no matter what, you have family here that will support you in whatever you choose. We're here for you. You're going to do great whatever you decide.

Javvy put his head down and waited until he was composed. "I've never heard anyone say that before. I don't even know what to do with it. I can't believe getting busted and ending up in the boys home would land me in the best circumstances, with the best people for me. Thank you."