Key to a Caged Heart

Daylight

A/N: Shout out to Xx_Red_Roses_xX who kindly reminded me that I needed to keep editing/writing so I could post this chapter for you guys before the Earth froze over. Thanks my dear!

Song: Daylight by Ron Pope

FLASHBACK (3 weeks ago - Saturday night after the party on Friday, the night Levi sang "Something Inside" and Eren was still deciding whether to move in permanently or not. Basically takes place in the middle of the "Something Inside" chapter. So yeah. Any confusion about the timeline, feel free to ask for clarification.)

It must have been three in the morning when the sound of small whimpers reached Levi's ears. He had been staring up at his ceiling, unable to fall asleep per usual.

Approaching the futon, Levi found Eren tossing around, clutching the blankets tightly in his white fists. There was sweat on his forehead and a tear slipped from his clenched eyes.

At the sound of another whimper, Levi prepared to shake Eren awake from what was clearly a nightmare, but that proved unnecessary when Eren bolted upright, gasping for air as if he had been running a marathon.

His eyes were wild and teary, heart thumping loud enough for Levi to hear.

"Calm down. You're okay."

Even though he stood a foot away from Eren, the boy didn't seem to hear him. He was still panting, staring unseeingly in front of him, hands trembling in his lap.

"Eren," Levi said softly.

Hearing his name snapped him from his fog. His eyes focused on the older male's silver orbs to ground himself in the present, rather than recall his nightmare. As the seconds ticked by in silence, his heart rate steadily decreased and he laid his head back down.

"Do you need anything? Water?"

The boy shook his head.

Levi stood up, leaving so Eren could try to fall back asleep. They had only known each other for a week and from their first introduction, Eren had made it evident that he did not like opening up to others. He figured Eren didn't want to be seen in this panicked, fragile state, eyes rimmed red from crying, although every fiber of Levi's being urged him to stay by the boy's side and comfort him from whatever terrible nightmare had caused the teen to look utterly desolate.

"Levi," a choked voice called out. "Can you..." His eyes dropped from Levi's, focusing on the loose threads of the blanket he was twisting with his fingers. "Will you sing to me? Until I fall asleep?"

His question was met with silence. He heard Levi's footsteps become quieter as they moved away from him, towards Levi's room.

Eren repressed a sob from leaving his throat but a tear still slipped down his cheek. It shouldn't have surprised him that Levi ignored his request. After all, he only caused the man trouble when Levi had been nothing but good to him.

The older male washed his laundry, cooked him delicious breakfasts and homemade dinners, drove him to school and occasionally helped with his homework, asking nothing in return except to work part-time at a great club with great people. He didn't get upset when Eren rebelled by bringing a stranger into his home or running away to a party and getting trashed. Rather, Levi took care of him when he was hungover. Additionally, other than a single comment on the younger's shoplifting, Levi never made Eren feel like a criminal in need of close supervision, even though the number of crimes he has committed could no longer fit the counting of one hand.

Clearly enough was enough. Why would Levi go out of his way to fill the request of a temperamental felon when he could be sleeping?