Experimenting With Miracles // ERERI

Chapter 20

Levi’s eyes snapped open when there came a light knock on the door. He blinked heavily and rose from the bed. He cracked open the door and peered out with distaste. “What?”

Hanji offered him a small smile, hands raised in surrender. “Erwin is having me make sure everyone is awake and preparing, that’s all.”

He ran a hand through his hair, “Fine. Get out of here, shitty glasses.”

“Okay, okay, see you later.”

The Corporal grunted in confirmation before shutting the door quietly. A quick glance out the window let him know that it was an hour or so before dawn. “Fuck you and your crazy ass schedule, Erwin,” he grumbled.

He began suiting himself up after a quick shower. At one point he happened to look at Eren and could only see the dark bags underneath his eyes. He frowned and ventured closer. “You stayed up all night again, didn’t you shitface?” The accompanying tear tracts only further convinced him of such.

Levi shook his head and planted a gentle kiss on the other’s brow.

Seeing as his younger lover seemed to finally be sleeping, he decided against waking him to say goodbye. He would leave a note or something instead, though he would undoubtedly be berated for it later.

He was fully dressed shortly, uniform pristine and fresh. The raven wandered back to his spouse and kissed him softly. Then, he kissed the protruding stomach that was their child’s home. “I’ll be back soon,” he murmured, “I love you both.”

With that, he was gone.

It was the soft light of morning, filtering through the drawn curtains that pulled Eren from his distressing dreams. He woke with a start, reaching out across the bed for the small, yet strong body of his love. When he found nothing more than empty sheets, his heart turned stone cold. He lifted his head, struggling to sit up around his veryswollen belly - a few weeks more and it'd be time. Hopefully Levi would be back by then... No I can't think that way. He's strong, he'll be fine this time.The constant kicking in his stomach didn't make that fact any more believable.

It took him a few tries to finally sit up, and he was almost knocked back onto the bed in surprise when the door swung open suddenly.

"Gahhh!" Eren couldn't help but shout at the sudden intrusion - the damn hormones had him so jumpy.

He breathed in relief as Hanji sauntered into the room, a wild grin plastered - as always - to her face.

"Sorry my little titan," she soothed. His shoulders shrunk at the overly kind voice she used. He wasn't a child, he could handle Levi being gone...

"Hi."

Eren's voice was hoarser than he thought it should've been. The scientist approached his bedside and sat down in the chair by the side; it was usually where Levi sat but he supposed Hanji could use it for now. The thought made Eren frown.

"You thinking about your baby daddy?" she tried lightening the mood.

The frown deepened. The room got a few degrees cooler.

"Has he left yet?" he asked, voice small.

Hanji smiled sympathetically, "Not yet. How are you feeling?"

"When are they leaving?"

"Thirty minutes. But how are you feeling, Eren?"

Eren's teal eyes snapped to her's in frustration. Why was it always about him? Was he not allowed to be worried about his husband?

"I'm fine. Where is Levi?" he asked with growing impatience.

Hanji knit her brows and looked to the shaded window. She clasped her hands in front of her.

"He's down with the troops preparing for the march through town," she said quietly.

Eren looked down at the massive bulge that was to be his and Levi's baby. He laid a gentle hand on his belly.

"When do you think they'll be back?"

"Hopefully a week at most."

Aqua eyes filled with water. A week. "Hopefully," Eren repeated.

"Is your stomach feeling better now? Do you think you could eat something?" Hanji was trying desperately to get Eren's attention off of Levi and the expedition.

But Levi was all Eren could ever think about anymore. He could feel himself descending into madness in his absence. What if Levi didn't get back in a week? What if it took two weeks, or even a month? It wasn't unheard of; Eren had been on plenty of missions like that. And even then...

"Do you think he'll be back in time? S-safely back in time?" his voice was beginning to waver.

"Of course! When has he ever not come back...safely..." the words were out before Hanji could stop them.

Eren choked on a gasp, tears already streaming down his full cheeks.

"He's gonna die isn't he...!" he was wailing and sobbing already.

Hanji sprung from her seat to comfort the blubbering mess Eren had become.

"Woahhh there! We don't know that! Levi's strong, Eren, remember? He's Humanity's Strongest! He'll be fine, just calm down, okay?" she spewed, patting Eren's back and rubbing his shoulders.

But now that he had started, there was no stopping him.

"He's going to die and leave me alone with-! This, stupid baby!" he sobbed, gulping down air in between ragged breaths. "I don't want it! I can't do this alone!"

"Eren, breathe! Levi's going to be fine! You need to just calm down, or you might hurt the baby, okay? You don't want to do that, right?" the scientist soothed.

"I-I want L-Levi!" the shifter screamed.

"Eren you need to breathe!!"

And just like that, Eren's wails of woe were wrenched into something more harsh. The young man screamed in pain, hunching over and clutching his pregnant stomach.

"Eren?!" Hanji jumped again. "What's wrong?"

He groaned in horrific pain. It was the most awful feeling he could've ever imagined--nothing like the pain any one of the midwives had described to him. No, it was worse .

"Shit!" Hanji realized the situation in a flurry of fear. Her eyes widened to unimaginable levels as she jumped from the bed. "Eren..!? Is it the...?!"

Eren gasped in agony, tears now drenching his face from the pain, "T-The baby's c-coming!! Aurrrghuuhhh!!"

To Be Continued...