Crack of Sunlight (Ereri/Riren)

*~Chapter Fifteen~*

Not long after Alex's departure, Levi's cough picked back up even worse than earlier that night. Eren took a deep breath. He wanted to talk to Levi, even promised Alex he would, but he hadn't the faintest idea what to say. After all, he was the one who talked him into telling her about his addiction, and it didn't end on good terms as the teen had hoped. The last thing he needed was for Levi to hate him, too, and end up completely on his own to wither away.

Because that was exactly what he was doing - withering away to nothing. He needed help, and from the looks of it, the help he required was more than Eren had to offer. Eren had no idea what his plan was from then on, how he would help this man he was almost positive he loved, but he would have to figure something out.

His thoughts stopped short as he reached the door Levi had disappeared behind. His hand had just lifted to knock when it opened and there stood Levi. His beanie had been removed and his hair was a mess. He held a pack of cigarettes in one hand and a lighter in the other.

"So you're still here, huh?" he mumbled.

"Of course I am," responded the brunet. "I told you I'm gonna help you."

"Don't you think I'm beyond help?" As he spoke, he snaked his way around Eren and headed down the hall for the front door.

"No," responded Eren firmly, "I don't."

"Tch..." He yanked the door open with more effort than should be necessary. Before it could shut again behind him, Eren was there pulling it back open and following him outside. He watched for a minute as Levi slid a cigarette from the pack, pocketed the rest of them, and placed the stick between his thin lips. He then proceeded to light it and took a long drag, holding it in for several long seconds before releasing it through a tiny part between his lips and his nose.

"What is it, brat? Are you just gonna stare at me all night?"

"No," mumbled Eren a little too quickly. "I'm just...I'm sorry about your sister."

"Hn. Wasn't your fault."

"But...I'm the one who made you tell her."

"You didn't make me do anything, Eren. I just decided to take your word for it and chance it. But I'm used to fucking things up. I'm surprised this didn't happen a long time ago."

Eren's heart squeezed painfully in his chest at those words. Levi didn't meet his eyes for the majority of the time they stood out there. Rather, his eyes remained closed as his cigarette shortened between his attenuated fingers.

"You didn't fuck up your relationship with her," countered the teen. "It's just that you won't let her help you."

Levi's thumb flicked the butt of his cigarette, sending glowing ashes dancing toward the ground. "She hardly cared about ever helping me before. It's bullshit that after I've already gotten this fucked up that she suddenly wants to help." He took another drag off of his cigarette. His eyes finally opened to meet Eren's, shining dimly the only light they had being the pitifully dull bulb hanging on the ceiling. In that dim light, however, Eren could see the brokenness of Levi's features and it caused every bone in his body to ache for the man.

"So what about you, then, brat? You gonna stick around?"

Eren nodded certainly once. "As long as you let me, I still do want to help you."

The raven shrugged nonchalantly. "It's up to you."

"No it isn't." Levi cocked a brow. "I can't help you if you don't want to be helped," Eren went on. "From the impression I'm getting-"

"Yeah, I need help," Levi cut in, looking down. "Or maybe I just don't want you to leave. I'm not sure of the difference. But if you're here, you're going to help, right? Then I don't have a choice."