A Fanboy And A Dollar (Ereri)

Chapter 20

Eren's P.O.V:

His smoke danced and curled into metaphorical ballerinas. I could tell he knew I was staring at his display, and the cigarette lolled loosely between his chapped lips before he pulled it from his mouth.

"Eren, do you think people would be mad at me if I quit singing?" Levi asked before placing the smoldering cig back in its place.

I blinked a couple times before being jumped back into reality; the hazy and smokey dream-like atmosphere freezing. "Eh-what?"

Levi sighed and took another drag. "You heard me." His voice was slightly croaky from the inhalation of smoke. I shook my head and grabbed his hand in a sudden panic at his words.

"B-but isn't singing your life? Isn't that what you love?"

The raven heaved another sigh. "Eren I just... I don't have the inspiration to do it anymore." His hands gently curled around the sides of my head and he placed a soft kiss on my forehead. "Plus I have you, and that's where my love lies."

My heart skipped multiple beats and it felt like the wind was knocked out of me. It was a wonder how words could physically effect you. My response was cut off by my own tongue--for I didn't know what to say.

Levi's eyes fell from my face back down to the street below us when I didn't say anything. There were still people wandering around, completely unaware of the two people watching down at them from above. He flicked away the half-smoked cigarette in disdain and stood up slowly when I still didn't respond. "We can go somewhere better. I'm sorry."

I knew my eyes were glassy, but I blinked it away and held my gaze at Levi's feet even as he held out a hand to help me up. I could only think of his words; his voice; his feelings. Did he really feel that way? I didn't know whether to be flattered or offended that he'd quit singing for me.

As we made our descent, I couldn't help being uncomfortable over the thick silence between us. I could see a sort of regret in his face.

"You know... I saved you once, you saved me once, and I think that we should just continue where we left off in our own lives," I said, my heart writhing with every word. Levi's cloudy demeanor quickly shifted, and so did his eyes. He stopped and grabbed my hand again. His were so soft and warm. His usual calm and irritated expression had turned sour and hurt. The pain in my chest boiled into my stomach.

"Eren... no. Oh please, God, Eren no." His fingers tightened around mine and his empty eyes, with a couple quick blinks, turned wet. "I shouldn't have brought that up. I'm sorry."

"No. It's okay. I'm glad that you said that. I just don't want to ruin all that you've worked for."

The small trickle of passersby that walked past us didn't offer a glance. They were so caught up in their own vivid and emotional lives; their own problems; their own loves and hates... they couldn't care about the two breaking hearts they were passing.

"Eren," Levi used his shoulder to wipe away a tear streaming down his cheek like a wistful ribbon of glittering diamonds reflecting the street lights. "I hope you understand that people can and will change. After I met you I decided it was time for my own. It's what happens. Nobody ever stays the same person they were in the past."

"Maybe I don't want you to change." The insides of my cheeks tasted of rust from the stress-biting.

"That's an absurd thing to expect from someone," Levi pointed out. He inhaled deeply from his mouth and pulled me into a tight hug.

"I'm sorry," I said into his ear as he pressed his nose into my neck. "I'm not used to change. This has been so much different from my old lifestyle. If it's what you want and if it's what will make you happy then I'm okay with it."

I felt a small movement on my skin as Levi kissed my neck before he drew back with a small smile. "As long as I get to have you I'll be happy."