The Toxic Wasters

6. Deep Water

- Present Day -

Levi sat at a small, reflective table fiddling with his thumbs. Eren had requested a visit after the other day's mishap. He was nervous. Eren could be mad, he could storm in and berate Levi for lying to him.

The buzzing indicated the opening door. It took all of Levi's strength to even look up at Eren. A few officers stood behind him, removing his cuffs. And Levi's heart rate accelerated from love and from fear.

Eren stepped in and the door shut behind him, a million bolts clicking after. The couple gazed at each other before Eren sat across from his husband. Silence fell between them as Eren took Levi's hands and laid his head down.

The room began to feel small. It's walls began to collapse in until it was a small box, only big enough to hold Levi and Eren. It made Levi's anxiety crawl up his skin like a spider.

"Do you not trust me?"

With Eren's inquiry, the room became tighter somehow, wrapping around the couple like a second layer of skin and trapping them in.

"Wh.....what makes you...you say that?" Levi choked out. Eren's head rose, his multicolored eyes gazing up at Levi.

"You told me you were okay. Do you not trust me?" he asked worrying his lip.

"Of course...I trust you," Levi said, his voice breaking off into a whisper at the end. "Then why...why did you tell me you were alright? You told me you were no longer seeing anything. Why didn't you tell me Levi?"

Eren's voice was soft and loving, but it didn't stop Levi's mind from playing tricks on him. In his head, Eren's irises were fiery like the shadow he always saw lurking in the corner and his brows knitted together angrily.

"Levi?"

His hands shook in Eren's grasp. He looked away from his husband's eyes, unable to stare at the shadow's eyes. But the reflective table didn't help any further. Eren's appearance was normal, until his skin began to melt like wax dripping down a burning candle. Levi jumped up, his chair rattling and spinning behind him. Eren bolted up as well, rounding the table and embracing his shaking husband.

"Close your eyes....," Eren hummed in a hushed tone against Levi's hair. The raven did so, darkness enveloping his vision. But Eren's warmth and kisses remained as he continued humming a soft rendition of The Beatles. Levi's shaking persisted, but it declined in intensity.

"I didn't want you worrying," Levi answered.

Eren didn't pull back; instead, continuing his soft humming. "I got us into this mess, there's no need for you to worry about me," he explained with his words choked out.

The brunet stopped and a heavy sigh left his lungs. And the silence was deafening. Levi proceeded to keep his eyes shut in fear of another shadow.

"I'm going to request we share a cell," Eren explained calmly. The brunet's fingers danced against Levi's heaving back, dancing that turned into a series of taps. Levi recognised the taps. Three years back, Eren had taught the raven the tap code, so they could communicate through simple taps on the skin or tables to escape awkward situations. He smiled to himself, quickly deciphering the message.

I have a plan of escape.

Levi grazed his fingers over Eren's stomach before tapping his abdomen.

What do I need to do?

Just stay on your best behavior.

I will.