STRONGEST HOPE (ERERI❤RIREN)

CHAPTER 13 - PRIDE & DIGNITY

It was pretty dark outside when Levi carried Eren in his arms to his apartment, which housed his office, a modest sitting area, small kitchen and, of course, his bedroom. Within the hour, Hange and Armin had gotten all of the medicine, bandages and ice packs together and delivered to the Captain's room. Taking one last look at Eren, Hange walked to the door and spontaneously hugged Levi, giggling. Before he could hit them, they bounced out of the way and yelled, "Byeee!"

"Fuck you!"

"I love you too, short stack!"

Levi growled and closed the door. He kept his hand on the door knob and pressed his back to the door. "What the hell just happened?" he mused. "Jesus!"

He took his jacket off and put his shoes on the rack by the door. He pulled a chair up to the bed to get a good look at his patient. Eren still trembled in his fevered state. He panted and was completely flushed. His eyes moved under his eyelids, and every so often, he'd let out a small whimper. It looked like he was in hell.

Levi placed his palm on Eren's forehead. The boy softly moaned and immediately settled under Levi's touch. Levi realized that Eren was still in his uniform except for his jacket and boots. There was dirt and dried blood in every nook and cranny of his body, caked in the hair that crowned his face and thick as a second skin on his hands. Levi recoiled at the thought of all of that in his apartment, let alone his bed.

Eren murmured in his sleep and turned his head to the side. Looking at his face, Levi softened. He uncovered the upper half of Eren's body to remove his straps and gear. He found it easier to sit down and prop Eren up against him so that he could move his body more easily. Eren's shirt was damp and pressed to his form, outlining the muscles in his back, chest and shoulders. Levi paused and traced the lines of Eren's bronze arms. When did this little punk grow up? Levi never paid him any attention. He'd become a man right under his eyes.

After the Captain peeled off Eren's shirt and covered him back up, he uncovered his lower half. He became nervous. Was this really necessary? Tch, he thought. He can't be filthy from the waist down, and this is what nurse's do, right? That's how he would have to think of this if he was going to get through the week with his pride and Eren's dignity intact.

He quickly stripped Eren's pants off and in one fluid motion, pulled his boxers off. He moved to cover Eren with the blanket but was assailed with the vision of Eren's long tan legs joining his buttocks with grace. It was the white, smooth skin of the area between the upper thigh and hip bone that pulled his gaze like a magnet. He sucked in his breath and covered his lower half once more.

There were options. He could give the kid a sponge bath. But, that blood and grime would need to soak. Would he be too cold in the bath? At that moment, a knock came at the door, startling Levi in his thoughts. He crossed the floor quickly and swung the door open.

Same little cadet. Different delivery. He was winded from bringing two huge tubs of ice. Levi stepped to the side to allow the cadet to haul the buckets into his office. Once he finished, he fished an envelope out of his pocket. It was damp and wrinkled when he handed it to the Captain. Levi looked at it with a disgusted grimace. "I'm not fucking touching that, cadet. Read it to me."

The cadet looked embarrassed, but opened the letter. He cleared his throat and read: "Dear Short Stack (causing the cadet to choke and snicker - Levi flicked his forehead to bring him out of it), You'll have to get Eren clean...which means you'll have to get him naked..." the cadet's eyes flew open wide and his cheeks puffed out, threatening to spit.

Levi growled and snatched the letter out of the kid's hands. "Get the fuck out, you shit!" He could hear the cadet giggling loudly down the hall.

Holding the soiled letter with one finger, he read the rest: "...Soak him first in a lukewarm tub, bathe him, then let the water out. Refill the tub halfway with lukewarm water and add the ice around his upper half. Leave him there for 15 minutes, and then fuck him. HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!"