Million Dollar Model

Chapter 10 - Lemon Meringue Pie

"Levi, you can't put off another meeting. Get out of bed and let's go." Levi groaned, rolling over in his bed before sitting up with a sour look.

"Who the hell says I can't? I'm not going anywhere." Erwin sighed, sitting down at Levi's feet. "You have a career to attend to. You canceled four meetings ever since Eren got admitted into the hospital. You can't sabotage your career for-"

"I fucking get it. And I'm not sabotaging shit, dickbag. How the hell do you know this is because of the brat?"

"You haven't moved an inch ever since you visited him. That was two days ago."

"Big fucking whoop. I can do whatever the fuck I want and if I'm not moving, get the fuck out and leave me alone. I'm not forcing you to watch me, I'm twenty-two, I don't need a grown man watching over me like I'm some child."

"...You sound like Eren."

"Fuck you. Tell Garrison kiss my ass because I'm not going."

"And why is that?"

"Because."

"Because what?"

"People keep pestering me. Where's Eren? Why isn't Eren with you? I want Eren - blah blah blah, shut the fuck up and continue with your lives. It's none of their business where he is."

Erwin sighed as Levi sat up, stretching his arms and legs with an audible snap. "Well pestering or not you signed a contract and you can't break it unless you want to pay a fine," Levi rolled his eyes.

"I'm fucking done with this bullshit. Do me a favor and tell Garrison until I say I want a meeting, leave me the hell alone. Unless they want me to go out my way and personally burn down their company building, I'd suggest they stay the fuck out my way,"

Erwin smirked, standing on his feet with his phone in hands. "When do you plan on showing up?"

Levi glanced over at the man and slid his arms behind his head. "When the brat is out the hospital."

~•~

Levi's stomach growled angrily as he pulled into the super market parking lot. If there was something Levi hated more it was heading out to the grocery store and child his peace while many people snapped photos and squealed over him pick up a can of vegetables or use a coupon.

He took his keys out of the ignition and sighed heavily. "You go,"

Erwin glanced at the man. "Don't I have to make a call. You've canceled a lot of things Levi~"

"I don't give a fu-"

"Hello this is Erwin Smith, head of the Recon Talent Agency~" He said with a teasing smile. Levi opened the door and cursed his employer before storming out his vehicle. He tugged at his jacket as the wind tussles his hair.

He pulled out dark shades from his pocket and put them on quick.

When he got inside the store, he grabbed a cart and walked throughout the store continuously looking at the list Erwin gave him.

Meat - fish, pork, chicken and beef

Rice

Half pound of cheese from the deli - thin sliced

Oil

Pasta

Vegetables

Donuts

Popsicles

Fruits

Growth Fertilizer ;)

Oreos

...

Levi growled, crumpling up the bullshit list and throwing it on the floor. "Real fucking funny..." he muttered. He walked through the store picking up what he needed before making his way around towards the deli. As he neared the assortments of meats and cheeses, how caught notice of a familiar face and an unforgettable voice.

"Captin' Levi!" A short body ran towards him, quickly attaching himself to his legs.

"Colin?" He muttered, he kneeled down and removed his sunglasses. "What are you doing here?" he asked, prying the child from his leg but the kid wrapped his arms around his neck.

"Get off me,"

"I can't! Don't you remember me?!" The kid smiled widely, unwrapping himself from the man.

"I wish I didn't..."

"I'm here with mommy and my brothers and sisters and I went to the bathroom to make a spell!"

Levi made a sour face. He pushed the kid away from him. "Now you can really stay away from me. Even now you're still a filthy kid."

"What does filthy mean?"

"Look kid, I don't have time for this."

"Can I come with you?"

"No,"

"Please?"

"No!"

"I bet mommy and the other's wanna see you!" The man remained silent, staring at the kid with a blank look. He sighed heavily and said, "Fine. Just make this quick, I have someone I have to see."

"Can I hold your hand?"

"No."

"What if there's an emergency?" Levi picked the young boy up, placing him in the cart and pushing him through the store. Levi noticed he was wearing the same coat he wore on Halloween.

"What emergency?"

"What if there so a fire?"

"...Then we'll burn?"

"No, I can't burn! Maybe you can but not me! I'm a wizard and guess what!"

"No."

"I can poof out of here and you'll burn Mr! How do you like that?!"

"You're a weird kid, you know that? Where's Maya and your siblings?"

"Over there," Levi turned on his heels and looked down an aisle to see the woman with the kids running around and picking stuff up. Levi pushed the cart towards the woman who paid no attention to him; instead she was trying her best to get the kids to settle down.

"Ms...Maya..." The man muttered, he lifted Colin from the cart and out him down.

The woman couldn't turn around before the children all shouted "Levi!" and ran up to him, almost making him fall over from all the sudden added weight. Maya smiled and walked over to him, wrapping her arms around him and kissing his forehead before saying, "It's a surprise seeing you here!"

Levi stumbles backwards. "Well, I have to eat too. And this is the closest shopping center to my house so..."

The woman laughed. "Alright kids, let the poor guy go I'm sure he doesn't like handling all of you at once."

"Levi, how's Rosy?"

"Rosy?"

"Her name's Rocket!"

"Noooo, Rocket's not pretty enough. It's not a girl name, Ethan!"

Levi blinked utterly confused by their continued rants over a girl name.

"Are you sure Rocket is a girl?" The boy called Ethan asked, pulling at the girl's pigtails.

"Stop it!" She cried, yanking her head from Ethan. "And Levi said she's a girl, so he name is Rosy?"

"What are you guys talking about?" Levi finally asked. The kids silenced and turned to the older male. Soon, a girl with unevenly cut hair stepped forward.

"Our puppy! You got us a puppy! You and that other...girl? Boy?'' Levi felt like laughing but choked it back and kept his blank façade.

He forgot all about him and Eren's shenanigans on Halloween and how he forced Eren to be his dog and enjoyed the children's company. To think he actually had fun. that night...

How smirked lightly. "Eren's definitely a girl, no question about that. And Brat is doing... fine..." he swallowed thickly and continued. "And she's right, Brat's a girl."

"Where's Eren?" Colin asked. Levi glanced down and said, "He's not... feeling too well."

"Does he have a cold?"

"Not... not exactly..." What the hell was Levi supposed to tell them? He highly doubted the kids would understand Eren's current predicament, consider the fact that the Harry Potter otherwise known as Colin- wannabe made a "spell" in the bathroom. But even if they did understand and sympathized, he didn't want them going home with Eren on their mind.

"Is he okay?"

"Where is he?"

"Did he die?" Levi's breath hitched in his throat. He wrinkled his nose as if he smelled something bitter and it was making his stomach turn. The kids all stared at him wanting an answer. And they wanted the right answer. "No. H-he's not... I'm actually planning on visiting him after I finished shopping."

"Oh well then we should get going. Sorry for bothering you." Maya said.

"I came to you, so you shouldn't be apologizing for anything."

Levi looked down to see frog girl tugging at his jacket. "Levi, can we see Eren?"

He shook his head with slight hesitation. "He's really sick a-and I don't want any of you guys catching something." Did his voice actually crack? He was holding back so many emotions. Was he... breaking?

"We won't catch anything, I promise!"

"You can't promise anything. You can't go. Stay with Maya and your siblings."

"They can come too!"

Levi groaned, running his hands through his hair in defeat. He was sick of saying no. Honestly, he was. But he couldn't tell them the truth. Why have children worrying about him? Everyone acquainted with the brat was worrying their asses off over him.

"Maya, can I talk to you for a second?"

The woman nodded, and followed Levi a few inches away from the kids. "About Eren, he's not in the best mind state right now and he's a lot more aggressive than his usual nerdy ass."

"You mean he might hurt the kids?"

"Possibly. But I was thinking, since they won't stop begging me I would take them over while he's asleep."

"I'm not too confident in that. Eren's a sweet boy but if he might hurt one of them-"

"I understand. But my sister has taught me something and I believe she's right. Eren does mean something to a lot of people and I haven't been the best to him. And I admit I'm afraid of what's going to happen in the future. And I know if there's one thing Eren wants to see or at least know is there, its the kids. When I dropped him home that night, he couldn't stop rambling about them and saying they're like a miniature version of me, and he loves them... and even if they weren't like me, he'd still love them. And after that, I felt something. But point is, Eren loves these kids and I think it'd be nice for them to visit him."

"If they're going, I'd like to come along."

"Of course. I wasn't going to forget you." Maya smiled and said, "Then we should finish shopping so we can go."

~•~

"Levi, I'm squished!"

"Colin, stop biting me!"

"I'm not biting you, Elisa! And you're a frog, you can't talk!"

"Ribbit! Yeah, I can. Ow! Leeeviiiii!" The man scowled as the back of his chair was kicked. It was a good thing he dropped Erwin and the groceries at his home or else they're complaining would be no end. Bad enough his seat was getting kicked and children were yelling at him then proceed to yell at each other to move over. But having Erwin in the car would be hell and the kids would be pressed up against windows from the tall could barely fit in Levi's car as it is.

He turned into the hospital lot and parked in the closet spot near the hospital entrance. Maya opened the door and helped the children out the car. When they were all out, Levi lead them inside the hospital and walked towards the front desk.

He fixed his glasses on his face and tugged his scarf closer to his lips. "I'm here to see Jaeger Eren." The woman's eyes crept around and took in each child. She then looked back at the man. "Are they all with you?"

"Yes. And also, it's around two so the brat- I mean Eren.. should be asleep by now."

The woman nodded gently. "He is. But I'd suggest you keep a close eye on him and if the kids are going in keep them at a distance. Your name?"

"Just Ackerman." The woman wrote his surname on the visitors tag and did the same for Maya. "Take the elevator to the fifth floor."

They did as told and when they reached the fifth floor, they were surprised and pleased with the silence. Levi lead them around back and to room 358; he then opened the door and said, "Stay right here for a moment,"

"Wait, I wanna go!" Colin cried, clinging himself onto Levi's leg. He rolled his eyes and picked him up.

"Me too!"

"No,"

Elisa caught hold of Levi's hand and smiled widely. He groaned and walked inside, shutting the door gently with his foot. The TV was on low volume and mixed in with the steady rhythm of the heart monitor.

The door creaked and in walked Maya and the others.

"Be quiet, alright?" Levi whispered. He set Colin down and instructed then to stay behind him as he walked to Eren's bedside.

He watched Eren's chest rise and fall softly as air came and left through his slightly parted lips. Strange. He was breathing out his mouth when he usually breathes through his nose...

Colin stood on his toes and looked at Eren then Levi. "I see why you like her, she's pretty!"

"Aha! She's like sleeping beauty!"

"Shhh!" Levi scolded. "Quiet."

A small silence lurked through the air before Elisa broke it. "Can I kiss her?"

"No."

"...Can I kiss her?" Colin asked.

"Absolutely not! Neither of you guys are doing anything intimate with her."

"Levi, what does intimate mean?"

"Levi, I think she's waking up." Levi looked to Eren and saw him shifting uncomfortably in his bed. "Get out," he told the two softly. The children ran out, some held Maya's hand as they left the room leaving the two boys together.

He watched Eren toss and turn and mumble small rants as if trying to escape his dream. Levi felt a small sense of pity for the boy. He looked absolutely devastated in his sleep. In his spew of mumbles, he constantly heard "Grisha," and "Please don't leave me," and the most common one, "I'm sorry."

Levi took a step closer, taking a seat next to Eren and placing his cold hands on top of Eren's. He wanted to say something to the frantic teen but his words got caught and jumbled in his throat. This was the moment. This was his only chance to finally straighten in things out with his mind and emotions concerning Eren.

He wanted to sort out these unwelcome and certinally unwanted emotions and it was about time he let his heart control his body rather than his mind.

He tried it once and vowed never to do it again.

But this time, it felt right and he felt like he'd get the reaction he wanted.

Levi moved closer and took a deep breath. He hands roamed over his chest and gave him a soft shake. "Wake up, Eren."

Eren's head lolled to the side and he gritted his teeth. "Wake up before you hurt yourself," he said gently. "Your monitor is gonna skyrocket if you don't wake up soon."

"Griisha..I'm so sorry..." He curled his hands. Levi felt a small smile grace his lips as he brushed Eren's hair from his eyes. He shook Eren a few times before the teen finally opened them, tears brimming his eyes. He gripped Levi's hand, digging his nails into the tender flesh.

"Why are you here?" Eren asked grimly. He shook his hand free of Levi's hold.

"I wanted to visit out of respect, brat."

"Well you're respect's been paid so get the hell out."

"I see you're not trying to mutilate me, I guess you're fine." Eren's hand clenched to fist and he swung his arm back to strike but instead, the script was flipped and Levi caught his slender wrist and pushed it down, doing the same to the other hand.

"Let me go!"

"Shut up, you shit," he muttered. He placed his body weight on Eren's to hold him in place from his continuous struggle. "Who's Grisha?"

"Fuck you! Go fuck yourself," Levi's gripped tightened out of anger and his cold eyes pierces Eren's rage infused ones. "I'll ask again, who's Grisha?"

Eren chewed his bottom lip angrily and he toward his head to the side, avoiding Levi's glare.

"Listen Eren, I wanna know who this fucker is because he's causing you some serious angst and it's pissing me off. I know you're not yourself and that drug's fucking with your mind but the Eren I know is in there. This aggressive, violent "alter ego" of yours isn't you. It isn't apart of you and it isn't who you are,"

He heard a small sniffle followed by a low growl. He whipped his head to face Levi. His eyes furrowed and his voice was laced with venom. "Why the hell do you care about me all of a sudden? What's with this "I want to make sure you're alright," and "I wanna care for you." bullshit? You don't fucking give a shit. If you did you wouldn't be such a fucking dick all the time."

"I know I don't have a degree in expressing affection but I do care for your well being."

Eren rolled his eyes. "Yeah right. You're just like dad, a fucking prick who has no idea how to appreciate what he has and instead treats it like garbage,"

Alright, that stung a little...

"...I don't know shit about your dad but I do know he's a low life douchebag who can't take care of responsibility. And let me tell you something, Jeager, I'm nothing like that fuckface you're forced to call a father. I may be a stoic dickhole but don't ever compare to me scum like that again."

"Why? Because you can't stand the truth?!"

"No, because you're fucking wrong. You wanna know the difference between you and your father?" Levi inhaled deeply, calming the anxious feeling in his stomach before smashing their lips together sloppily. The sudden theater made Eren squeak and curl his hands into balls, attempting to grip Levi's hand and pry him off with little success.

Levi was too caught up in the moment and his head spun like a broken record from the dizzy rush. Too many things swarmed his head at once as he stared into Eren's softening eyes. He was making a mistake. Levi knew this awful feeling too well.

Suddenly, Eren's mouth opened enough to bite Levi's bottom lip. The man retracted from the late teen, licking his lip and tasting the metallic taste of blood and... Eren...

"Y-you're fucking insane!" Eren cried. Levi scoffed, a small ghosting his lips as he tended to the small wound. "You're one to talk about insane,"

"You kissed me!" Eren used his arm to rub his lips to rid himself of Levi's taste. "Yeah, so? I like you, brat. Don't you get it?"

Eren crawled back against the wall. "Of course I don't get it! Why did you do that?!"

"Do you need me to spell it out for you? I. Like. You. That's what makes him and I different," he held Eren's hands and hauled him onto his lap, cautious of the medical tubes. "I like you. I want to help you instead of running away from you,"

"You're such a fucking liar!" Eren's voice cracked and Levi snuggled Eren close. He wasn't used to this affectionate bullshit but it felt kinda nice. Eren was warm through he reeked of hospital stretch.

The door opened and in walked a nurse who looked similar to Hanji. Same hair except worn back neatly, same bullshit glasses though she lacked height and had a thicker build. "Eren it's- Ah..Oh... I'm sorry for intruding."

"No, I was just leaving," He set Eren down, watching and trying to predicate if he'll try to hurt him again but instead Eren was calm highly flustered. The nurse watched as Levi cast a glance at him before walking out along side the woman. "I have to give Eren his meal. The head doctor of the floor would like to speak to you in private,"

"About what, exactly?"

The woman shrugged before turning on her heel. "I'm not sure but it's concerning your friend."

Friend? Who said Eren was his friend?

Levi nodded without a word. He walked towards the simple door, knocked, and walked inside. Levi noted it was the man who asked for Mikasa's information. Levi closed the door and said, "Someone said you wanted to speak to me... in private..."

The man nodded. "Take a seat,"

"I'd rather stand,"

"Alright. My name is Joshua Aquino, I head of this floor,"

Levi removed his name tag. "You can call me Levi. You don't need to know my last name for personal reasons."

"I...see... well, about Eren's health. He's fine. His fever has gone down, he's still a little pale but he hasn't been vomiting lately so that's a good thing. His mental health

is still unstable but he has improved. Eren hasn't been violent towards others and he's not making death threats towards visitors and employees. But he has an aggressive, sharp tongue. He still has hallucinations and talks in his sleep-"

"Why does he do that? It's like he dreams the same thing or the same people at least."

"Those may be repressed memories."

Levi's eyes narrowed questiongily."Repressed memories?"

Joshua reached into his desk and pulled out a manilla folder containing Eren's medical information. "You shouldn't look at this but here,"

Levi walked forward and took the envelope. He took a seat and read over the documents carefully.

Birth Certificate

Shiganshina Medical Center

This is to certify the birth of Eren Jeager

Date of Birth: 3/30/1994

Sex: M

Height: 16 inches

Weight: 7 lbs, 6 oz

Parents of Child: Carla and Grisha Jeager

Registration Number: 33094-104

The next page was dated April 15, 2001. A report filed from Shiganshina Elementary school concerning bruising on Eren.

May 6, 2001. Another report from the school this time about a black eye and bruised face Eren came to school with.

July 21, 2001. Water filled in lungs after a near death experience at the beach. Eren's only response was "He loves me."

February 19, 2002. A report from his third grade teacher about a large black marking on his inner thigh.

December 13, 2004. Broke his arm in a fight against a sixth grader.

January 6, 2006. Admitted into hospital with Saint-fleur, Carina. Large purple bruises and deep wounds covered abdominal area. Possibly suicidal.

Levi looked up. "Who's Carina?"

Joshua shrugged. "His girlfriend, I guess. She seemed to have quite an influence on him."

Levi raised an amused brow. "Tell me, do you have a file on her?"

"I'm not a liberty to give you such information. I shouldn't have given you Eren's file since you're not his family-"

"I'm his boyfriend." Levi deadpanned.

"That doesn't mean you're family."

"I don't give a fuck," He shuffled the papers neatly and slid them back in Eren's folder. "What does this have to do with repressed memories?"

"He was abused as a child and decided to put it behind him and continue with his life. PCP can mess with your mental state and the drug must have triggered an old memory. The drug and the memories might be the reason why he was violent towards others, making him think what happened back then will happen now."

"But he's not trying to hurt anybody. It seems he's gained some self-control."

"You're right, he has. The drug is wearing off but it'll take a few more days for him to stabilize and take control of his psychological state. But we'll keep him an extra day to run a few more test to make sure he's safe to go home. But he'll need to be kept under intense watch by family and close friends."

Levi stood and sighed. "I'm heading back to Eren. Thanks for the details on him." The man walked to the door quickly and before he walked out Joshua's voice sounded.

"Have you found out who did this?"

"I... no. It'll take some time to figure this bullshit out so until the don't bother asking."

~•~

The ride to Shiganshina was somewhat relief to Levi. Though the kids were loud as hell, at least they were having fun instead of complaining about being squished in the back seat. He put the roof down so their hyperactive voices weren't as obnoxious as it would be in a closed car. They seemed to be enjoying it too.

He rested back in his seat, letting the wins blow through his hair and calm his anger.

He came to a light and his phone rang. It was Eren's number...? He had his phone with him? Levi was sure Eren would've smashed his phone to pieces if he saw the caller ID Levi. Or whatever Eren had him saved under in his contacts.

Prepared for an expected rant from the teen, he answered his phone. "Eren?"

"Haha, well not exactly,"

"Carla?" The model took his foot off the brake and eased on the gas.

"Mhm," the woman hummed. He heard sounds of dishes clanking and water running in the background. "How's Eren doing? I couldn't visit because the shop was busier than usual and I couldn't catch a break."

"He's doing better actually. He just needs a few more days before he's released," Levi turned into the orphanage and parked near the building. He said his good byes, gave his hugs and pulled off headed towards Sina.

"That's good to hear," Carla said. He could hear the sudden calmness in her voice. It sounded she was holding her breath prepared for better or worse. "Is he still upset about what happened?"

"..." That sounded off... what if she's the one who drugged Eren? but then again Carla went nowhere near the kitchen... when they were downstairs.

"What do you mean by that?"

"We got into a slight argument at dinner. Is he still mad about that?"

"...I can't say. I haven't asked Eren about it."

"...Alright..."

"Say, I have a question,"

"Go ahead."

"I have a friend who's studying in psychology. Currently, she's studying in drugs and how they affect the nervous system and such. Do you know anything on PCP?"

"I know it's a bad drug and it's highly addictive."

"Do you know where she could get some to test it out?"

"On herself?! Tell her don't do something as foolish as that!"

"No no, not on herself. But I'm just asking, so you know where she could buy some?"

There was a small silence on the phone and the sounds of water turned off. "You can get it from the Sina district but they're illegal. You'll have to know somebody really high up to your hands on that. Why doesn't she study something less dangerous?"

"Because you just sold yourself out."

"Excuse me?"

"Remember the dinner party? Did you go anywhere near the kitchen?"

"Yes. Mikasa called me in to help her with the sweet potato salad and wash the dishes."

"And that same day you and Eren got into a disagreement and not too soon later he ended up passing out upstairs."

"Are you suggesting I drugged my own son?!"

"There's a saying that goes: if the shoe fits, wear it."

"How dare you! Eren and I may have our ups and downs but I would never go to extremes lengths like that. It makes me sick to my stomach knowing the same person my son is forced to be with will think this!"

"And it makes me sick to my stomach knowing the likes of you would harm Eren like that."

"Boy if I could see your face..."

"You'd try to kill me off too, huh?'

A long dreaded silence loomed over from the other line. Levi turned into his house driveway and turned off his car waiting for Carla's next response.

"Erwin and Auruo were also in the kitchen at some point. They didn't necessarily help us but they were also in there while you were with Eren upstairs before dinner started."

"..."

"Also there is no way I'd be able to face Eren after I've done something as terrible as that."

"I-"

"Now, I'm heading upstairs to bed so I can see my son tomorrow, whether you like it or not."

"Good-" The phone hung up followed by a long tone. "Night..." he sighed, closing his phone and resting his head against the wheel.

Tomorrow was going to be a long day...

*^^*^^*^^*^^*^^*

By the way, does you guys like this story? It seems to be losing popularity D:

NOTE: THIS STORY DOES NOT BELONG TO ME.