Experimenting With Miracles // ERERI

Chapter 11

The sound of a snapping branch was what woke him. His senses had always been sharp, so even that little noise--which had arisen from a squirrel jumping tree to tree--had Levi jolting up from his impromptu nap.

It took his hazy mind a moment to get his surroundings, but when he finally did, he scolded himself. Sleeping outside? What kind of heathen was he? A scowl slipped onto his face.

And all that was not to mention it was never a safe idea to sleep in the middle of nowhere with no guard. The Captain should’ve known better than to fall asleep so nonchalantly when he was travelling with such precious cargo.

The third reason he was angry was that the air seemed to have cooled in the time he was sleeping--leaving his brat without the necessary layers, and letting him to bare the chill in the air. The kid was shivering for fuck’s sake!

“Eren,” the man called softly, carding his fingers through his lover’s fringed locks.

The chestnut strands were tapered with a bit of sweat, Levi noticed with a bit of dismay. He lifted a hand to caress Eren’s flush cheeks, finding with rising concern that he was in fact warm -- something his light shivering had not betrayed initially. He had a fever.

“ Eren? ” Levi called again with a bit of urgence.

“Mnnnh…N-no…”

“Eren, wake up. We need to go in.”

The older shook the teen but to no avail. The man just seemed to tremble more at the touch.

“No...m-my baby...I...I.mmnhhhf…”

“Fuck it.”

Eren was getting a bit delusional, reminding Levi of other times when his young lover had gotten sick and hallucinated. He grit his teeth at the prospect of his lover having to go through such trials. He wrapped his arms carefully around his husband and lifted him easily into his strong arms.

The teen grumbled again in his sleep, but otherwise was limp with sleep. Levi grunted again in displeasure before trekking back toward headquarters with gusto. He wanted this problem fixed now so they could spend the rest of their day off in restful bliss.

“How is he?”

The glasses- wearing scientist looked up momentarily before poking around on her patient a bit more.

“Seems fine,” she prognosed with a shrug, “Honestly I think his body is just getting overworked easily. Even that simple walk may have been enough to overheat and exhaust him.”

“Fucking great,” Levi grumbled in distaste, to which Hanji offered another shrug and toothy smirk.

“Just make him rest the rest of the day and he’ll be fine.”

“And how am I supposed to do that? You know how he is,” Levi snarled, though his tone was fond. “Plus I still haven’t told him...about the expedition.”

The scientist frowned.

“Well, I suppose you’ll just have to sweeten him up first.” She winked.

“Oi, shut your damn mouth, shitty glasses.”

About thirty minutes after Hanji had left, the titan shifter began to stir. Levi was quickly at his side, eyes scanning his brat’s form as he stuttered his way into consciousness.

Those lids skimmed open to reveal bleary teal orbs.

“L-Levi?”

“Yeah.”

Eren smiled gently at the voice. His hand reached out briefly, and Levi immediately took it up in his own, giving the smooth skin a gentle squeeze.