Crack of Sunlight (Ereri/Riren)

*~Chapter Twenty Three~*

This chapter is kind of ouch. Trigger warning for self harm. And...yeah.

---

The next week passed in a flurry of events Eren could hardly keep straight in his head. One thing he knew for sure was the case of cabin fever settling in as the day went on in that tiny apartment. Of course, he kept it to himself. Levi already had more than enough to deal with.

Tuesday, he decided it would be in his best interest to call Reiner and tell him the situation, though he was almost certain Alex had already shared with him what she knew. As Eren explained the situation, he found he'd been right to assume the raven's sister had told him of Levi's condition. Strangely, Reiner seemed sad. It didn't seem Reiner's style to feel bad for anyone; the teen brushed it off as it being concern for his future brother in law, or even as simple as it being his fiancée's brother.

In the end, he let both of them keep their position at the shop for the time being so they could return when possible, but again Eren knew it only had to do with Alex. He knew he wouldn't keep two flaky people employed under him if he were in Reiner's place.

They both spoke to Alex, as well, much to Levi's reluctance. She tried to talk him into rehab, gave him a list of pros and cons with the pros greatly outweighing the cons; both of them knew she made it sound that way intentionally. When Eren spoke to her, he moved to another part of the apartment and told her there was no way to talk him into it, for he'd already tried a few times.

"He'll have to make the decision on his own, Alex, whether we like it or not."

"And if he never does?"

"I think he will. He's...in too much pain not to eventually."

"Then call me as soon as he does. I don't care if it's at the asscrack of dawn or even earlier, or if I'm at work. Call me."

"I will."

"I'm holding you to your word, Eren."

She proceeded to tell him she could add him to her insurance policy through her employment since he was blood-related family. Eren promised again to contact her when he made the decision.

Wednesday rolled around in a drag, and with it came Levi's second relapse since Eren's presence. He'd been asleep, stretched out comfortably on the couch dreaming about something he no longer remembered. He woke up that morning to find Levi locked in the bathroom again, though it took little coaxing to get him to open the door. He'd stood there with his arms crossed and eyes downcast, guilt distorting his features clearly. The teen merely shook his head and told him to eat while he was able to keep food down for a while, and then get some rest as well. He'd been soundly asleep on his own couch as the sun was setting when the high died and immediately woke up to puke right into the bucket Eren left on the floor next to his head.

Thursday seemed better but worse at the same time. Worse because Levi's body rejected any kind of nourishment, including water and tea. Worse because his emotions got the better of him more so than normal. But better because music seemed to help greatly in a way neither of them could explain. Levi had pulled his laptop from beneath the couch and told Eren to continue playing the CD, insisting he start it on track six. It was the song he'd pulled that quote from, about the crack of sunlight. Listening to the lyrics once more, Eren had an epiphany. That drawing had, indeed been some sort of metaphor...and he realized that he himself was what was represented by the crack of sunlight in the ceiling. It was something he was unable to get out of his head for days. Unfortunately, they only made it through track 11 before a coughing fit took over and nearly had him passing out. As he laid curled up against the arm of the couch that night, he said in his raspy voice, "All of those songs hold some stupid metaphor for this disastrous situation. Clever, brat. Real clever." He let out a half-hearted "tch" before he drifted under.