Blue Pajamas

Chapter 2: Not-So-Lust-Filled Night

The orange sun started to descend from the sky. It was Armin's and Mikasa's sign to go back to their home. Even though the green grass fields with flowers surrounding them were beautiful, they had to leave.

"I can't believe how fast the time goes by," Mikasa said as she petted her horse, "Lady and Brown Beauty sure have done us well today."
"Yeah, I wish Eren would have joined us but we just need to leave him alone for now," Armin said as he looked down.
"Hey, I'm sure he'll come tomorrow. We just need to be patient. Now come on, we need to head back to go eat," she said.
"I hope it's soup with bread. That's my favorite."
"I know, but chicken is better. First one home gets to have their favorite meal."
"Ohhh, it's on," Armin said with a grin.
"Ready? Three, two, o-."
Before Mikasa could say "one," Armin left off.
"Hey! No fair! You cheated!" She yelled out.
"It's called a head start! Now race me you pansy!" He said as he laughed. Mikasa smiled and they both rode with a happy feeling as they went home. But it seemed that the odds were more with Armin this time.

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Eren heard a knock on his bedroom door while he tried to take a nap on his bed. He knew it was Levi, but he was hesitant to let him in after what happened earlier. The knocks continued.
"Can you please let me in?" Levi finally spoke.
Please? He never says something that polite. What is going on?
"Alright, give me a moment," Eren said. He got up from his bed and changed into a blue long sleeve from his wardrobe. "It's open."
Fear flowed through Levi's system since he has never really shown his emotions to anybody. He slowly turned the knob and pushed open the door. The first thing Eren sees is Levi: dressed in sleep wear that was all stained with blood and was wet with tears.
"Sir, you look terrible. What happened?" He asked. Levi stayed silent for a moment and eventually walked up to Eren. Since he was taller than he was, he had to look up. Levi's face was stained with the tears that he had shed and his eyes were still red. "What's wrong Sir?"
"Jaeger, I've been feeling very depressed lately and I don't think I can really trust myself with a weapon of any sort. You understand why right..?" Levi asked as he looked Eren dead-straight in the eyes.
"Yes. I do." Eren started to panic inside. What is this?
"May I..." Levi spoke,"Stay in your room tonight?"
Eren felt his heart stop for a moment. This was very unlike Levi, this wasn't him at all. He took a moment to think.
"Um... Yes. You may." He said quietly. Levi suddenly put his hand on Eren's shoulder.
"Thank you." He said sternly.

Levi went out of the room and didn't close the door. He came back a moment later with his own pillow.
"I hope this is not very strange to you. I just plan to sleep here for one night," Levi said.
"No, not at all. I'm noticing that your sleep wear is dirty. Would you like a clean pair? They might be big, but I'm sure they'll work. They're blue too." Eren offered.
"Yes please, thank you." He put his pillow on Eren's bed and positioned both so that they would be even and put on the blue pajamas that Eren gave him.
"Sir, you can keep them." He said, "They look better on you than they do on me."
"Thank you. Now, let's get in bed. We can't stay up for too long." Levi said.

Eren didn't say anything. He just stayed silent. They both got in bed, Levi on the right and Eren on the left and faced each other, blank expressions.
"Sir, I need explanations from you. I'm not going to let this slip by. Now what is going on? You have to tell me or I will not let you sleep here," Eren said sternly. He frowned and crossed his arms. Levi looked at him and sighed.
He isn't going to let me out of this. I have no choice left. Well, here it goes... "Eren... There is something you should know. I don't know if you've noticed or not but... I..." He stopped.
"You, what?" Eren asked. Levi closed his eyes and slowly grasped his hand. Eren gasped and his eyes widened.
Levi sniffed slightly and whispered, "Eren... I-I care a-about you..." He blushed a deep shade of red and let a single tear escape from his eye.

He was at a loss of words. Never had Levi been this sensitive, nor very emotional. But this was the first time that another individual has said that they cared about him other than Eren, Mikasa and his father.
"Levi... Are you serious?" He asked.
"I am, Eren... For a long time, I've acted as if I am strong to encourage others and give them the discipline they need. But in the end, everyone forgets that I am only human and that I still have feelings. You are the only one who knows it is a lie..." He said shakily. He started to cough into his sleeve and it became violent. Eren held him until he coughed up a huge splatter of blood.
Eren shook in fear. Levi had just told him something very heart tingling and he is giving off the impression of death.
"Levi it's okay, I understand. I accept it. Here, let me hold you." Eren wrapped his arms around him and held him closely. Levi was still crying, but he just hugged Eren as well. "It's okay. I'm here."

The day got darker until the sky eventually turned pitch black. What seemed like millions of stars shone brightly, giving the village some light. After a while, Levi calmed down and slowly transitioned into sleep as Eren stroked his silk-like, black hair. It was as if his hand was made for his hair since it flowed very smoothly.

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"What did I tell you Mikasa?" Armin gloated as he swirled the soup bowl around her face.
"You always win, I always lose. But most importantly, the winner drinks booze." Mikasa laughed at the second part since she made it up to insult him.
"Hey I didn't say that!" Armin exclaimed.
"So what? It's true. Now just finish your meal. I was done ten minutes ago," she said. She stood up from the chair she was sitting on and headed to her room.
"Okay. Before you slide the door and get in, do you think we should leave Eren a note in case he comes back here?" He asked.
"No I'm sure it'll be okay. We'll pick him up tomorrow as we planned." She said as slid her door closed, "Don't forget to clean up!"
Armin looked down at his bowl of soup and stared at his reflection in the liquid. It's just me... What can Eren be thinking? Why did he say no? Was I right about Levi? He didn't say anything since he was lost in his thoughts.

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Levi and Eren were both asleep and comfortable in bed, but at three in the morning, Levi woke up. He stared at Eren intently and finally whispered, "Eren... I'm sick."
He slowly opened his eyes and looked back at Levi.
"What do you think you have Sir? What are your symptoms?"
"My throat is extremely sore and dry, I am coughing up a lot of blood, and I am having major headaches. I am sure that I will be fine. I can live without medicine."
"I still have some medicine that Hanji gave me. It's best that you take it so that you can heal a lot faster."
No, no. Just... Please stay."
Eren sighed and drifted back to sleep. Levi on the other hand, did something he usually wouldn't do. He slowly formed a smile. He looked at Eren one more time and slowly leaned in to kiss his nose. Eren said nothing.