A Lifetime Friendship (ErenxLevi)

Chapter 7: Birthdays and Devastation

Woohoo, chapter update!!! Yay, people are actually beginning to read this, I'm so happy!!! Anyways, new chapter :3
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"Happy birthday to you~!" A multitude of voices sang the familiar song, everyone crowded around the wooden dining table as the raven rolled his eyes and half-heartedly blew out the colored candles atop his cake.

"And Merry Christmas!" Hanji, an eccentric brunette with a messy ponytail and thick-rimmed glasses cheered, a broad grin tattooed onto her face in excitement.

Ah, yes, it was, in fact, Christmas Day, as well as Levi's birthday. Every year, Levi's parents decided to throw a birthday party for Levi instead of a typical traditional holiday party, with opening the gifts underneath the tree, huge Christmas dinner, etc. No, the two grown ups wanted to make their boy feel special, considering that Levi really didn't get a special day to himself, like most everyone else did. With family scattered through town, it was all a silent agreement that Levi would celebrate the two occasions separately, and it always was deemed alright by the birthday boy.

Petra leaned over and planted a chaste kiss upon Levi's lips. "So, what did you wish for?" A sweet smile danced across her facial expressions, as they normally did, showing off her happiness.

Levi huffed. "Well, if I told you, then it won't come true," he teased playfully, a small smile spread across thin lips.

Eren watched the exchange in melancholic silence, a small smile of adoration and softened pride traced over his expression. Ever since the pool incident nearly a month back, Eren had been distancing himself once more from Levi, just the slightest, in order to sort through his thoughts and feelings carefully, before coming to one conclusion:

Eren was in love with his best friend.

All those comments from others saying that the two were practically married swam through his head as of late, and couldn't help but sometimes wish that those statements were true, but what kind of friend would he be if he were to put action to his thoughts, and break up the two love birds? Petra obviously made Levi happy, the happiest Eren had seen him since, like, ever, and he wasn't going to deny his best friend of his happiness.

After cake came gifts, and then everyone began to break apart and head off to other engagements, leaving Levi, Eren, and Petra.

"We need to step out for a while to run some errands," Levi's mother informed, purse slung carelessly over her shoulder as she slipped on some shoes. "Will you three be alright while we're gone?"

Three heads nodded simultaneously.

A smile appeared on the woman's face. "Alright, then, we'll be back in about two hours. Be careful, don't do something I wouldn't do!" With that, she was out the door, leaving the three alone.

All of them were on the couch, Levi, in the middle, snuggled up to Petra, and Eren on his left side, though considerably with more distance between them than the raven and the girl.

Silence overtook them as the TV played in the background, though the noise not comprehending Eren's thoughts. He seemed to be thinking more lately, and the more he thought, the more depressing his thoughts became. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed how 'friendly' Levi and Petra were getting, and inwardly sighed before standing.

"I think I need to go as well," Eren stated, stretching his arms and kept his back to the two, only faking the bright tone; he knew Levi would see through him if he tried to pull an emotional face mask on.

"Wait, I thought you were going to stay over?" Levi inquired, stopping the brunet from his advance towards the door.

"Was that tonight?" Eren feigned innocence, glancing back at Levi, who had taken his attention off of Petra for a moment. Even with just a quick look, he could see the rising annoyance on Petra's face, obviously wanting Levi's undivided attention and to be alone. It was obvious that she planned on giving him a gift similar to the one she received on her birthday, but Levi didn't seem to notice.

"Yeah, I texted you about it last night and made sure that you knew." Eren still pulled a clueless look, hoping that Levi wouldn't see through his mask. "I mean, you even brought over a bag with a change of clothes." Dammit, busted.

"W-well, I just remembered that I left something at home, and I'll run to go get it." He shuffled in place a moment. "I'll be back in about an hour!"

"Eren, wait!" Levi called, shifting out from under Petra and rushing to Eren to stop him, grabbing onto his shoulder. Eren turned to him, shock written over his face. Levi seemed to study him for a minute, before grabbing onto his hand and pulling down the hall to his bedroom. "We need to talk."

As Eren passed by, he shot Petra an apologetic face before disappearing around the corner.

-x-

"What's been up with you lately?" Levi inquired as he shut the door behind the two. He quickly faced Eren with a worried glare. "You've been distancing yourself again from me." He paused. "If this is something stupid about intruding on mine and Petra's relationship, I've already told you-"

"It's not that," Eren cut him off, tone sullen as he awkwardly rubbed the back on his neck with his palm. "No, it's just... I've been dealing with a lot of shit lately, is all."

Levi quirked a thin eyebrow. "So, tell me what's been going on lately. If its anything, you know that I'm more than willing to listen."

Eren shook his head. "It's nothing."

Levi's gaze suddenly hardened. "Eren. You're lying to me."

Eren averted his eyes quickly, feeling shame wash over him.

"Please, just talk to me. You know I won't judge you or anything, you know I'm always here for you." Levi's voice softened, worry taking over his features again. "We tell each other everything, we don't keep secrets."

'Its not that I want to keep things from you, I just can't tell you anything, not for a long while,' Eren thought to himself, opting to stay quiet instead of speaking again.

Levi heaved a sad sigh, slumping over and burying his face in Eren's neck. "Eren, please, I feel like I'm losing the most important thing in the world."

'That's why I can't tell you, because if I do, you'll be gone forever,' Eren thought again, simply wrapping his arms loosely around Levi's slender frame. "Go to Petra in the living room. She needs you more right now more than I do."

Levi's head shot up. "But you're what I need most right now. I know what her intentions are, but I'm not about to let my best friend walk out the door without knowing why." The gleam in his eye was shining dangerously, sensing that Petra had something to do with the whole ordeal.

Eren huffed a heavy sigh. "Levi, she's your girlfriend, go to her."

"You're my best friend, so you're more important."

'Dammit, Levi, you keep saying things like that and I may end up doing things I'll regret,' Eren thought bitterly. "Listen, I'll come back in an hour. I know what she wants and I know you want it to, so just let me go. I promise I'll come back."

The sound of a door closing caught both of their attention, effectively stopping anything that Levi was about to say. The two listened quietly for footsteps or additional voices, but heard none, only the muffled TV. Eren was the first to react, letting his arms on Levi drop back to his sides and walk over to the door and peer down the hall.

"Levi... Petra left."

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Dun Dun DUN! Ooh, plot is actually beginning to happen! What's going to happen next!?!??

Feedback appreciated, and apologies for any missed typos!!