The Lab Rat (Ereri)

Chapter 7

Alright, so that last chapter isn't really what happened... Here's the real story. (Also its been 10 months. whatever I had been planning back then has been long forgotten.)

Eren's pov:

Its dark. why are even the lights lining the streets flickering on and off? I felt myself stiffen as we walked. "Hey, are you alright?" Levi asked. All I could do is shake my head slowly and walk faster past the ally ways.

Thankfully, Levi matched my pace and the walk back to my apartment only took fifteen minutes. I fumbled to get my key into the door when Levi grabbed my hand and looked me in the eyes. "Its okay. Just take a deep breath."

I did as he instructed and he took the key from my hand and unlocked the door, never breaking eye contact with me. Somehow, looking into his eyes calmed me a bit. Not much, but a bit. "Thank you." I said quietly, walking through the doorway. I flipped the light switch. Nothing happened. I tried it again. And again. Still nothing.

My breathing came faster and faster until I was shaking uncontrollably. My knees buckled beneath me and I felt myself fall. But instead of hitting the ground, I felt a pair of strong arms catch me. "Th-the lights..." I shakily made out.

"Shh..." Levi whispered, his mouth so close to my ear, that his breath tickled. "Eren, you need to calm down." I nodded in response. "Where do you and Hanji keep your flashlights?" I tried to calm my breathing enough to answer but failed. "It's alright. Just take deep breaths." Finally after a few minutes I calmed myself down enough to reply.

"I-in the k-kitchen.." I felt him set me down on the floor gently. No... Don't leave me alone... "D-don't go!" I said grabbing his arm.

"Eren, its going to be alright. Nothing is going to hurt you. I'm going to be right back with a flash light." reluctantly, I let go of his arm and just sat there alone. In the dark. It was silent for a while. But then I heard faint footsteps approaching me.

"L-Levi? Is that you?" I said into the void. The footsteps continued to quietly get closer and closer. "T-This isn't funny, Levi..."

Finally, the footsteps stopped. "Hello... Eren." A menacing voice rumbled to my left. I know this voice all too well. I've been running from it since long before I had moved in with Hanji. I froze completely, my eyes staring strait ahead, every single hair on my body standing on edge. He moved into the moonlight slightly, the eerie light illuminating his ghastly grin. A grin that sent more than just shivers down my spine.

"H-how..." He moved closer to me, moving in front of me.

"You killed them, Eren." I shook my head slowly, refusing to make eye contact. "It's your fault they're dead." This. this isn't real. It can't be real. He was in prison... Life sentence...

His footsteps stopped and he knelt down in front of me, moving my chin upwards to make eye contact with me. His glasses gleamed maliciously in the moonlight. "No..."

"Welcome home," I stared at him, petrified with fear. "Son."

*   *   *

Levi's pov:

The amount of fear that was rolling off of Eren was enough to tell me that there must be something in the dark that he has a reason to fear. His fear almost even got me scared as well.

I found my way through the dark to the kitchen and fumbled through the drawers blindly until I found a flashlight. I flipped the switch to find that there were glass beakers and test tubes everywhere. Some might think that they were running a meth lab if they saw this...

I continued to look around a little bit until I remembered that I had left Eren in the doorway, only seconds away from a panic attack. I walked out of the kitchen and into the hallway that lead to the living room, when I heard a quiet rumble of voices. I turned off the light and listened closer to the mysterious voice.

"You killed them, Eren. Its your fault they're dead." The voice said. How long has someone else been in the house? I heard a couple of footsteps then they stopped. Once again, the voice spoke. "Welcome home... Son." I froze. I thought Eren and Hanji lived alone. What was his dad doing here? Wait. Now that I think about it... Why exactly did Eren and Hanji start living together in the first place? What was it that happened in Eren's past that would give him a need to live on his own?

I began walking towards them. "Eren? What's going on?" I asked him, making my presence known at last. Judging by Eren's expression -The utter fear in his eyes, the obvious tremble- this man, Eren's supposed father, was a man who had earned his right to be feared.

The man stood up, still looking at Eren. "Well, son," He spit venomously. "It seems like I have to leave for tonight. I'll be back soon. I promise." And with that, he walked around Eren and out of the house, leaving me and a trembling Eren in the dark.

I walked to Eren. He looked up at me with those beautiful eyes, now full of terror and silent tears. "L-levi..." He said softly, even his voice trembling. A tear fell, and I knelt down in front of him where his father once was, and I wrapped my arms around him, holding him tight.

I held Eren as he cried softly. Sometime in the middle of that, the power had returned. As much as I wished to know what was going on, I decided that a question like that would be best saved for tomorrow after we've both had some sleep.

When the power had turned on, I had noticed that Eren had fallen asleep in my arms. I stood up carefully, trying not to wake him up, and I closed the front door, locking it behind me, and I picked Eren up bridal style and carried him to his room. Almost the very second that I set him down on the bed, he pulled me into his arms and held me close. I let it happen and wrapped my own arms around him, holding him close to my chest. I don't know his past. I barely even know his present. But I do know one thing, I can't let him go. No matter what, I will hold on to him tight, and I will Never let him out of my sight.