The CEO

Fragile

"What the hell is he talking about?" I turned back to Levi. With a start, I saw that he'd turned paler than he already was. His jaw was clenched tightly,  his hands balled into trembling fists. Worst of all, he wasn't looking me in the eyes.

I called his name. And again. However, his burning gaze was settled on that man only. 

So I stepped forward and grabbed his arm, ignoring my own pain. Right as I touched him, he violently wrenched his arm away, turning his attention to me like he was seeing me for the first time. I stepped back, confused and slightly hurt.

"Eren..." He breathed, his eyes slightly widened in childish surprise. I could feel his ragged breath on my lips as leaned towards me. He grabbed my arms, his vice-like grip making pain shoot up my elbows. "Eren, I didn't...I want to..." 

I took in a breath to say something, then jumped as the man started laughing loudly. I saw a few people turn to look at us, and only then remembered where I was.

"This is lovely! Levi, I've never seen you like this! If your precious bank could see you this flustered, I don't think you would've come this far! Lucky you, huh?"
Levi growled, a sound that scared me to my core, as he bared his teeth at the man. His neck and cheeks were redder than I'd ever seen them, and his forehead shone with sweat. "I swear I'll kill you, Kenny..."

"I'd certainly love to see you try, Tiny!" Kenny roared with laughter again. "Oh, boy... Eren, you made a terrible mistake the day you went to bed with him."

"Shut the fuck up." Levi shakily whispered, trembling with anger. He finally let go of me, turning to Kenny. "Shut the fuck up, you son a bitch." He opened his mouth and started panting.

"Eren, I gotta tell you, I really didn't think he'd date a man, no matter how much I blackmailed him. It's a good thing that he made himself desirable for you. Fulfilled my wishes perfectly."

A void had opened beneath me, and no matter how much I fell, I was still static. Still standing in the middle of a party hall, surrounded by people talking, laughing and eating like they didn't have a care in the world.

"Levi?" My own voice seemed muffled to me, like I was underwater. "What in heaven's name-"

My voice cracked right there, and suddenly I couldn't breathe anymore. Hot tears gathering in my eyes, I let out ragged breaths as I stood in front of him. 

"Eren, calm down, I-" He finally looked at me, the pain wallowing in his eyes nearly making my knees buckle.

"Calm down?" I said tightly. "Just like that, after what I just heard?  Levi, what in goddamn hell is talking about?"

No response.

I shook my head. "Whatever nonsense he just said, it must be true, right? Because I don't see you going out of your way to deny it or anything."

"....."

"Levi!"

He flinched, closing his eyes. His furrowed brows increased my heartrate, annoyingly, even during a time like this. 

"So you never liked me?" I whispered.

His eyes snapped open at that, the silver widening. "Eren, I swear to god, I do! I l-...I really like you. Ugh!" He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "There's just some thing I need to tell you, quite a few things actually..

"How do I believe you?" I wasn't angry anymore. My hands were limp at my sides as I looked at him like he was the cause of all my pain.

"Eren, you.." He let out a low gasp. "Why is your neck bruised?!"

"Thanks for noticing." I spat as a tear fell from my left eye. 

"They..." Levi came towards me till we could feel each others' heavy breathing, tracing a finger over my face, which was probably red from the slaps. "They hurt you." He said in a broken whisper, shaking. 

His teeth pushed together and something went off in his eyes. A red hot light that terrified me like nothing else. It disappeared quickly, but not before giving me a minute glimpse of what he could do in his true rage.

 He bent his head and put it on my shoulder, taking my hands in his. I could feel the heat of his forehead as I stood there unable to move, unable to process anything. It all felt so ridiculous I almost let out a laugh. Almost.

"Well, I'll leave you to it." Kenny yawned, yawned, as if he hadn't potentially destroyed something very important between us. I felt several pairs of eyes on us as he walked away, including Oluo and Petra's, who were staring at us with stricken faces off in the distance. 

"I admit..." Levi muttered under his breath, still leaning on me. "I can't speak, Eren. I want to tell you so bad, it's killing me."
"So let me get this straight." I interrupted him as he took in a breath to say something more. "You went out with me because...?"

"Because he told me to."

A bland response.

"Why?"

"I-I can't tell you. Please-"
"And that is because..."

He sighed deeply. "I need to protect you."

When I didn't say anything for a long time, he lifted his head to look at me in worried confusion. "Ere-?"

I gently pushed him away, tilting my head downwards so he couldn't see the expression in my eyes.

"Eren, I had no choice-" He began but I just smiled at him. 

"That's the worst answer you could've given me, Levi."

He frowned. "What are you saying?! It's the truth!"

"That's exactly it!" I shouted, not caring about anyone else in the world anymore. "You're not being honest with me! God, this is driving me crazy! I don't even know who you are anymore!"

"Eren, stop it. I'm so sorry, I'm sorry. I..." He looked at me warily. "You're- shit- Eren, you...

...you're overdoing it. This sounds unfair as hell, I know, but please just trust me when I say I really do want to be with you. I am so very attracted to you, Eren.." He bit his lip in agony. "This is the first time I've ever had feelings for someone. Such strong feelings too. Don't listen to him, please. It's- it's true that I had to make you interested in me and date you, but I also did it because I wanted to. Eren, I'm really sorry, I deserve whatever hell you want to give me. Just please don't-"

I stopped any further words from him by pushing my lips against his. 

"Uh....!" He gasped into the kiss like it was the last thing he'd expected from me.

The kiss was nothing but bittersweet- a vague goodbye.

Pulling away, I exhaled and prepared for myself for what I was going to say next.

"Levi, I think....I need a break."

He stared wide-eyed at me as his breath hitched.

I almost didn't finish the sentence, and it took every bit of strength in me to say it.

"....from us."