Sixty Degrees (BoyxBoy)

Flinch?

Before Eren would have thought that Levi's horrific expression was due to the punch he had not expected to receive, he did not expect Levi to cower away from him in fear, his hand still holding his quickly bruising cheek. Eren takes a step forward, his hand outstretched towards Levi, he winces realising it's the same hand that he used to hurt him.

"Levi, I'm so -," His voice shakes with guilt.

Levi takes another step away from him, turning his face away so Eren can no longer see the damage he'd done.

"Don't!" He cries out, causing Eren to stop in his tracks. "Don't come near me."

"Levi, I don't even know why I did that. I'm so sorry, I wasn't even thinking, I just reacted. I am so so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you I swear." He wants to move closer to the man, but he remains rooted to the spot as he knows in this moment Levi would never allow it.

Levi doesn't look at him, which only makes him feel worse. How could be have done this? He hadn't even been thinking. He hadn't meant to hurt him, but that's exactly what he's done. And he'd had to do it in the worse possible way.

He lowers his voice, trying to sound as non-threatening as possible. "Levi, please just look at me."

It's a moment before Levi makes any move to show that he heard him. He lifts his head slowly, letting his hand fall away from his face to hang by his side. He lifts his eyes to meet Eren's, the brunette's breath catches in his throat as he stares into Levi's eyes. He'd expected to find pain, confusion even, and though he'd hate himself for it he knew he'd have to do everything in his power to make things right with Levi. What he doesn't know how to handle is the pure hate that stares back at him; it's as if the grey eyes are seeing through him, as if he may have not been standing in the room at all.

He moves again, taking a slow step towards Levi, making sure to keep both his hands down by his sides. When Levi allows him to take the step a flicker of hope alights inside of him, causing him to boldly take another step. Its then that Levi moves back, causing the space between them to widen. Eren stops abruptly, staring at Levi with pleading eyes. He opens his mouth to speak again, only for Levi to harshly cut him off.

"Get out, Eren Yeager."

The fact that Levi has reverted back to calling him by his full name makes his stomach flip. The reason for Levi calling him by his full name again, a name that he hasn't called him by since Levi first mentioned some of his true feelings, makes Eren realise that he had just made the biggest mistake of his life.

He tries to move again, but Levi puts his hand up and it's then that Eren realises that the man is shaking. Did it really affect him that much? A fresh wave of guilt washes over Eren as he turns around, knowing that for now there is nothing he can do to convince Levi that he's sorry. He opens the door quickly and rushes out of the building, knowing there is only one other place he wants to be.

~~.~~

Armin hadn't expected to see Eren tonight. Not after hearing his plans to sort things out with Levi. Yet here he was standing in the common room doorway with tears streaking down his face. He gives Mikasa a quick glance before getting up quickly and rushing over to his best friend's side.

He pushes the hair off of Eren's face and forces him to look up.

"Eren, what happened?"

Eren meets his eyes, but a loud sob stops him from voicing a response.

Armin leads him over to the couch he was just occupying and forces him to sit down, before kneeling himself in front of him.

"Eren please, tell us what happened."