reincarnated strings of red.

I want to understand you, if you would let me.

 Levi held up his hands in mock surrender, eyes cold and staring back at Eren with guarded smirk, his stance was cautious and ready to attack when needed to. Oh no- no way in hell was he going to let Levi do this to him, he really had enough of physical abuse from Levi. It was enough to last multiple lifetimes, god damnit. Eren gritted his teeth and pulled on the trigger lightly, making sure that Levi saw him doing it, and raised his eyebrow. He was calm, as he usually felt when he was at war. He never lets it affect his being, but this was Levi. The man that he hadn’t stopped loving, climbing into his room and looking at Eren as if he was the one who was the threat instead.

“Can’t a guy just come in and chat?” Levi sneered, as if he was talking to a baby. Eren kept looking at him, half in love and disgust.

“I will shoot you if you don’t state your purpose, don’t think I won’t.” Eren closed his eyes for a moment, “I’m serious, Levi.”

“You’re just a brat,” Levi begun, “You wouldn’t even shoot a fly if you tried.” His eyes were cruel, what happened to him this time around? Eren felt sorry for a moment, that he couldn’t be there and protect him from whatever that made him this way.

But only for a moment.

Eren rolled his eyes at Levi, leveling the gun against him firmly, there was no shaking or trembling, “Really, how long have you known me to be kind? You started your background check on me today.”

He was riling him up, angering him- seeing where his limits were. Eren thought in annoyance, this Levi was nothing like his corporal. Eren might have been patient all these years, but he tended to stay away from these things because it really does piss him off.

So he shot him down in the leg, and the older man went down with a curse and a cry. Eren laughed a little, because Eren did warn him. He wasn’t worried about his mother downstairs because his room is purposely soundproofed. Carla wouldn’t suspect a thing, which was definitely for the best.

“I’m here to talk to you.” Levi spoke up, his voice was the same as always, save for the fact he was in pain. Nothing was given away from his stoic expression to his whole body, which was stiff and ready to fight- or bolt, whichever more believable. Eren snorted, and went to his wardrobe, looking at the sudden flinch from Levi at the corner of his eye, and took out a small towel, tossing it to him without looking and moving back to bed.

“I’m going to have dinner with Carla, and you will stay here- or get out, whatever is fine,” It hurt him a little when he said this, but Levi shouldn’t had messed with him in the first place, it was his fault- really. Why wouldn’t he just straight up talked to him after classes or something?

“What makes you think that I follow orders?” Levi grounded out, the pain seeping into his tone. Then he hissed when he puts on more pressure into his wounded leg. This Levi was starting to irritate him, not to mention the unresolved sexual tension for the man, in centuries. Eren could be considered as a saint.

“What makes you think,” Eren turned around, his eyes narrowed and deadly, “that I wouldn’t kill you?”

The room was silent when he left.

…

“Hey, Eren! Dinner’s ready, bet you’re hungry!” Carla always had a large smile for her son.

“Thanks, mom.” Carla laughed a bit at the mom part, but the man couldn’t bring himself to care, “I’m gonna need seconds.”

“Dig in!”

…

When Eren got back to his room an hour later, which included dessert and a can of beer- he found Levi still sitting on the floor by the window, resting his head on his palm which was balancing on his lap. He looked up at Eren as he came in with weary eyes. The man wanted to laugh, because the Levi he knew had more honor than this.