The Toxic Wasters

23. Not While I'm Around

Reiner had returned first, turning Levi's fears into a reality.

As soon as the cell door opened, Reiner waltzed in with a smirk reaching his ears. It felt like Levi's world had shattered when his eyes met the blond's. His hand instinctively went to the razor stashed beneath his pillow, ready to threaten his cellmate with it.

Reiner leaned against the bunk he resided in, staring at the raven sitting on his own. "So," he started his smirk becoming impossibly wider, "no boy toy to protect you now."

Levi's heart seized up at the comment, grip tightening on the blade as he thrusted it towards the blond. "I can take care of myself." He barely believed the words coming from his mouth, but he would stand his ground.

"Oh? Shorty has some bite now, huh?"

Levi kept his blade steady and remained in place, even if the comment did make his blood boil. "Stay the fuck away," he growled out.

"Suddenly so defensive without your boy toy here," Reiner approached the cot Levi sat on, leaning his weight against the bed above him, "Where does this venom go when he's around?"

Eren was Levi's guardian angel, ever since they became serious, he knew Levi would be there to protect them. There was no need to worry about much with Eren by his side.

"Stay the fuck away," Levi repeated, his knuckles tightening around his razor.

"You won't do anything," he smirked before leaning forward, "everyone here knows Eren finished every job, you were just his little accomplice."

Levi wanted to prove him wrong, wanted to prove he could take care of himself without Eren. But Eren's words rang through his head, they needed to be on their best behavior in order to make their escape. Eren had already drawn attention to himself when Reiner attacked him, Levi didn't need to add onto that burden.

His grip was loosening around the blade as he considered his options. But the decision was made for him when Bertholdt appeared behind the blond.

"They're opening the cells, let's leave him alone." he suggested.

Reiner seemed ready to argue with him, but as if on cue, the cell door creaked open. Levi scurried to put his blade back under his pillow before the cop noticed.

"Yards open," he said before walking away to open other cells.

"Come on Reiner," Bertholdt said, patting the blond's shoulder. And thankfully, the blond listened to his suggestion, leaving Levi to finally sigh out a breath of relief.

The next week continued as usual, most nights Levi couldn't sleep, now accompanied with the protesting springs of his cell mates' beds. Levi barely left his cot, only finding the energy to move if his stomach was caving in with hunger and to empty his bladder.

He felt empty without his husband beside him, without him there to keep his mind from deteriorating. His hallucinations seemed to worsen, his mind taking advantage of his need for his husband.

He'd see his husband in the corner of the cell, disappearing the moment Levi whipped his gaze towards the figure. Eventually, he decided to only stare at the wall as he laid in bed, blocking most of the room from his vision.

Reiner and Bertholdt always went to the yard, but Levi stayed in bed every time, not finding the energy to leave. He wasn't sure how long they usually stayed out, never able to keep track of the time ticking away.

One day, they had returned earlier than usual. At least he thought they had come back, he didn't find the energy to turn and check for himself.

"Levi?"