AIN'T TALKIN' 'BOUT LOVE

CHAPTER 57 - COWBOYS AND ANGELS by GEORGE MICHAEL

Eren waited in the center of the gallery where all of the adjacent rooms met. He stood in a monochrome dark suit, navy with black dress shoes. His hair was in a neat bun with a simple hair stick holding it all together. He beamed at his friends that stood around him, all smiling right back.

"Eren, it's driving me crazy," whined Hange. "When do we get to see them?"

Eren grinned. The very one that flipped Levi's stomach over. "These pictures represent all of the hard work and passion you all put into GuitarBar, but also the joy and energy that we feel watching you work your craft. Thank you for letting me be a part of your world and your music. I love you," he said as his voice cracked. "Okay, you're free to walk around."

Everyone was dressed in their finest. Levi wore a delectable, dark gray suit with a black bow tie, perched smartly on his upper chest. He held back from the main group, scurrying from room to room. He preferred to be on the arm of this darkly dressed, unflappable man who couldn't stop staring at him.

"Levi, you look so beautiful tonight, it's not fair. All of these pictures dim in comparison to you."

Levi reached up to touch his lips to Eren's tan skin. "Stop being silly, brat," he said. "You're the bright diamond in the sky tonight."

Eren huffed a laugh. "You better be glad this isn't someone else's show, or I'd find a broom closet to shove you into."

"Mmmm," he hummed. "That's the hottest thing you've ever said. But let's refocus. This is an incredibly important evening and I want you to show me every picture. Kenny said he was in here somewhere."

"I'm sure he'll be happy to show you, himself."

"He's here?"

"Yeah, he's walking around with Far and Isabel, why?"

"Well," Levi said, "He usually hates coming to these things, I'm surprised."

"It's because he likes me."

Levi stared at him. "Yes, he does. He always has."

"I'm glad. I like him a lot too, although he did low-key threaten me if I hurt you this time around."

"You're kidding?" He snorted. "What a geezer."

"It was very effective. I'm not sure you realize how much he loves you."

Levi put his head down for a second then looked up again at Eren. "I think part of my problem is that I don't realize how many people care about me, or love me, or whatever," he muttered. "It's hard for me because I don't feel like I really deserve it, you know?"

Eren nodded. "The thing is that you can't force people to love you, or like you, or whatever," he joked. "But seriously, you can't. People love you because you make them feel good about themselves. You see them in ways no one has ever seen them. That's part of why I love you. You looked past all the promiscuity and flash and saw this kid who just wanted to be loved. And you did. I'll never walk away from that again."

In the low light of the gallery, Levi's eyes brimmed with tears. He took Eren's hand and led him towards the first small room. Each room had three life-sized pictures on opposing walls with a light in the floor shining up onto the painting. It gave the impression of movement, Erwin with his big guitar, leaning forward from the stage, over the crowd, with his hair falling into his eyes and a satisfied grin on his face, looked as if he was almost ready to tumble over the edge.

After Erwin, Mike reigned supreme as the "Even Flow" god, with his arms outstretched to either side, nailed in place, by the holy meditation of his eyes closed and his head tilted back. The electricity coming off of him was indelible.