the sweet tale of levi and eren

Chapter 2: shushes and freckles

"I'm cute?"

"Ah um no, that's not what I meant!"

"So I'm not cute?"

"Oh no! You are extremely cute!"

From the front of the library the librarian turns around and gives Levi and Eren a stern shush, making Eren shrivel up in embarrassment. Problem was he couldn't decide if he was shrinking from being shushed or from his conversation with Levi.

In return from being shushed, Levi talked in a whisper, "So which is it? Am I cute or not?"

"Oh um, I mean you are cute, but that's not why I sat on you. I didn't even mean to sit on you or even near you."

"Though I'm glad I did." Eren mumbled

He continues whispering," I mean... I was on edge and distracted from what happened last time I was here."

"Well what happened last time?" Levi asked with sincere curiosity.

"That's a long story, and this isn't really the ideal setting to be having a conversation." They both look over at the librarian who is giving them a death glare.

"Yes, I suppose you're right."

Levi puts his books into his bag, stands up and starts to leave. Eren watches him and his graceful movements and wonders if he did something wrong to make him go. Maybe he should have just talked to him some more and risked being kicked out of the library forever. Now the most beautiful and intriguing man he has ever seen is leaving. As Eren ponders this, Levi is back by his side and waving his hand in front of Eren's zoned out face.

"Oi. Are you coming?"

Eren looks up at Levi with glazed eyes.

"You weren't leaving me?"

"No I was leaving the library, supposedly with you so we could carry on our conversation. Why are your eyes tearing up?"

"Oh nothing, I just thought you were bored of me. I'm kind of emotional, so the thought of you leaving me kinda made me want to cry. I'm sorry, it's stupid, I literally just met you and I have already called you cute and cried over you. I'm so sorry."

"Oh."

Levi looks down at his feet. He's never had these kinds of feelings affect him so much, so why is it that Eren, a stranger he's known for about five minutes, can make him feel so genuinely happy and embarrassed and giddy. In these few seconds, his mind is going a million miles a minute, thinking of how special and hopeful it makes him feel that Eren was so affected by the thought of him leaving. It gives him courage to look up at Eren's beautiful emerald eyes again and take charge over something, or in this case someone, he wants.

"Well," Levi says in a deep and sultry tone. " I think you are cute too."

At these words Eren's pre-tears are replaced by a rush of heat to his cheeks, that Levi notices accentuates a few freckles hidden under his eyes. The only thought that is in Levi's mind just then is, " I want to get close enough to him, so I can count each freckle on his body, and I want to do it all over again and find those extra few that only I can see." Eren was thinking quite similarly, which was adding to the pink painting his cheeks.

"So, what do you say," Levi extended his hand out towards Eren. " Do you want to get out of here with me?"

Eren took Levi's extended hand into his own, noting its warmth, he threw his bag over his shoulder and got out of his chair. Levi gave their connected arms a small yank, which had just enough force to get Eren a few steps closer to him. Their faces a few inches away from each other and their hands still intertwined. Both boys could feel each other's breath on their cheeks, and their hearts were racing out of their skin.

Breathlessly, Levi says," Is that a yes?"

"Only if you call me cute again."