Even the Strong Cry

Chapter 21

"Levi? Can I come in?" Eren was knocking at the door of Levi's office. He had been training hard all day and was taking a break due to an injury. It wasn't anything major, just a head wound that was bleeding. If only he hadn't walked into the canteen at the moment that Sasha and Connie were fighting over the last potato. Then maybe he wouldn't have got hit in the head by a plate. 
"If this is Erwin, my decision is final. The answer will still be no." Levi's monotone came through the door. At least the rumours weren't all true, Eren had heard that Levi had passed out a work, other people said he had died and others said he had just mysteriously vanished.
"It's me, Eren," Eren called out.
"Come in then, you don't need to ask."
Eren walked in and closed the door behind him, locking it.
"Are you okay? I heard some rumours about you passing out. How much of it is true?" As he spoke Eren ran his eyes over Levi. It was true that he looked terrible. Worse than Eren had ever seen him.
His uniform was crumpled and he was so pale that it made his grey eyes seem bright and colourful.  The dark rings under his eyes were more noticeable than ever, and there were red blotchy patches on his cheeks that made Eren think that the captain had been crying.
"I'm fine Eren.." Levi's voice was hoarse and made Eren even more certain that Levi was not fine.
A flash of colour caught Eren's eyes, a bright red stain on the cream carpet beside Levi's chair. It looked suspiciously like~
"Levi! You didnt...cut? Did you?" Eren ran to Levi's side and looked at his arm.
"My poor little captain..." Eren saw the deep cuts on Levi's arm, still dripping blood onto the floor. He hugged the small captain close and sat down on the desk, pulling Levi onto his knee.
"I'm sorry for scaring you Eren~" Levi whispered, burying his head in Eren's shirt.
"I was so worried about you." Eren felt like crying himself, seeing Levi so weak and vulnerable. He wanted the old Levi back. He wanted the stony eyed captain that always had a rude comeback or a sarcastic comment. The cancer had really changed him, and it wasn't a good change.
"I'm scared Eren~" Levi started to sob and Eren wrapped his arms around him, desperate to offer him some comfort. 
For a few moments they sat in silence, the only sound being Levi's sobs, and eventually they too stopped.
"Who made you do this Levi?" Eren asked quietly.
"Erwin." Levi answered shortly.
"What did he do?" Eren didn't know if he should ask but he wanted to know. He hated the thought of anyone hurting Levi, especially since he had got sick. 
"He...he kissed me." Levi spat the words out, as if they filled him with disgust.
"He wanted more than that, I could tell." Levi was starting to get angry, and Eren was relieved. At least not all of the old fire was gone .
"Filthy gay brute," Levi muttered and Eren recoiled, looking hurt.
"Levi," he whispered, his eyes filling with tears, "I'm gay, Levi,"
"I know Eren," Levi spoke gently. "So am I. But I don't go and try to make people do things they don't want to do just because I know they're helpless."
"You're not helpless Levi. And you never will be~"
"Eren, I passed out. He was trying to resuscitate me, but he got carried away. I wasn't breathing."
"W-what?" Eren was shocked. He didn't know that the rumours were true.
"It's fine Eren, don't worry. I feel fine now," Levi lied, looking away from Eren's gaze.
"I know you're not." Eren cupped Levi's face in his hands and stared into the steely grey eyes. "And I promise to do anything to make you feel better."
"Tch. You little brat. What makes you think I want your help?"
"I don't think that you want my help. But I know that you're going to get it whether you want it or not." Eren answered seriously.
"Little brat. I don't need you~" Levi tried to get to his feet, but promptly fell off the table, which resulted in him banging his arm off the corner, opening the cuts and causing them to bleed again.
Eren jumped down and kneeled beside the captain. He took off his Survey Corps Jacket and placed it on the floor, he then took off his white shirt and wrapped it tightly around Levi's arm. He then used his jacket to make a make-shift sling and shuffled back to get a better look at his work.
"Not bad..." he muttered.
"Eren..." Levi sighed. He was remembering Erwin's kiss, how gentle it had been and how much he had wanted more; and then how suddenly it had ended when he had assumed that it was Eren kissing him. He wondered why he had jumped to that conclusion. It wasn't like he had feelings for the little brat or anything. Oh stop it. Part of his brain said; stop denying yourself. You just told him; you're gay. And he's really quite nice, you know you have feelings so why are you hiding it?
"Yes Levi?" Eren was still keeping his distance, but he looked at Levi in a way that made Levi just want to hug the younger boy and never let him go.
"I want you to kiss me~" Levi said quietly.
"With pleasure." Eren took Levi in his arms and willingly obliged to the captain's wish.

A/N Hey guys sorry for not updating so much but I've been busy. As always all your comments are appreciated- read, vote, comment please!