Guilded Cage

Deal

"I want to show him. Let me walk in.” I demanded.
“Trust me this isn’t the right time!” Jean tried to stop me. I clutched the cane he had given me. No I want that little runt to see this.
Pulling myself up out of the chair I heard Jean call out my name. The door opened before me. Damnit I wanted to do that! I fumed silently. Levi stood there an eyebrow raised.
“Eren, please come in.” he offered stepping back. I managed to get through the door as he watched every step I took. I walked as tall as I could, which still put my head over his. I had to smirk at that. I got to the table. He was there pulling out a chair for me. I sat a little to heavily. I made it! I beamed.
“Jean leave that there. You're done for the day. I can take Eren back to his room.” Levi stated. Jean bowed slightly.
“Yes sir.” He closed the door as he left. Levi kept his back to me for a moment. When he turned his face was a mask.
“I doubt Hange or Jean approved of that stunt?” he demanded eyeing me.
“Well, no.” I admitted. A muscle in his jaw clenched.
“Do you even want to walk again?” I couldn’t answer before he went on, anger creeping into his tone. “Because doing too much will do more harm than good. If that is what you want I can give you back to Kenny!” his voice rose but only slightly. I hung my head.
“Then he didn’t die in the fire.” I whispered. Levi softened slightly.
“No one knows. We can’t determine if he was there.” He stated as he moved into the kitchen. “There are many bodies to go through. If they find him, they will let me know.” He came back out carrying two plates with steak, baked potatoes and corn on them. A basket of rolls sat on the table already. He poured us drinks before he continued as he took his seat.
“All I know for sure is that he hasn’t been seen since that night.” He looked at me as he placed a napkin on his lap. “Knowing Kenny that isn’t conclusive evidence.” He added.
“Why did you save me?” I asked. He steepled his fingers looking at me. He didn’t say anything for a long time just watched me. I began to cut up my steak.
“I’ve been wondering that myself.” He said softly. “I think it was the light in your eyes. When I first saw what Kenny did to you…” He paused to cut up some of his own meat. “I thought you were dead. Then you opened your eyes. They held a challenge.” He smirked as he put the steak in his mouth. Chewing he swallowed before he went on. “I’ve always loved a challenge, Eren Yeager.”
We ate in silence for a time. The food was really good. I wondered if he made it. More than likely he had someone drop it off here.
“I made everything myself. I don’t get the chance to cook as often as I like. Do you enjoy it?” he asked.
“You, you cook?” I said shocked before realizing I just answered a question with one of my own. He arched that brow at me.
“Oh, uh, is great actually.” I said.
“Brat.” He muttered with a slight curl to his lips. I chuckled.
“What is it that you do here?” I asked just to make conversation.
“You mean other than being a crime boss?” it was like he enjoyed making me wonder about him.
“I don’t know?” I said. “Are you a crime boss? All I see is the lab and my room.” I stated. “Oh, your library is fantastic.” I added a bit smartly. He wiped off his face after finishing his meal.
“Did you even check the books out?” he asked clearing away our plates. I laughed.
“I’m not much of a reader.” I stated.
“Shame, a beautiful face but brain dead. Maybe I should have left you hanging.” He eyed me over the counter that separated the dinning area from the kitchen. He came back out with two bowls of ice cream.
“Here.” He placed the larger one before me.
“Thanks!” I cried digging into it. He snorted as he primly ate his.
“You are going to have a visitor tomorrow.” Levi watched me to gage my reaction I was sure. “He is about your age. A friend of mine went out of town for a bit. His nephew lives with him. I think the boy is getting a bit lonely. I invited him over to spend some time with you.”
“Oh, ok.” I was a little surprised that he would think of something like that. Aside from Jean and Hange I hadn’t really talked to anyone. Hange was busy with her experiments and didn’t have a lot of free time. Jean had other obligations to his boss. Plus he was a bit of a jerk.
“What's his name?” I asked as I finished the ice cream.
“Armin Alert.” Levi stated once more clearing the dishes away. I heard him rinse them before placing them in the dishwasher. When he stood up his hair had fallen into his face. The slight disheveled look suited him he looked better than ever.
My face must have given some of what I was thinking away. His smirk reappeared as he pushed his hair back. Grey eyes watched me with a keen interest. “What are you into, brat?” he asked off hand.
“You mean guys or girls?” I demanded. Even to me my tone was a bit rude. He chuckled.
“Well if you want to start there sure. I just meant in general. What are some things you like. Other than that awful anime crap.” I laughed.
“Have you even watched any of it?” I demanded. “How about this for a challenge...” I watched as those eyes turned cold calculating. “You give me one night. Watch whatever anime I tell you, then you can pick out a book for me to read. Deal?” I held out my hand. Walking around the counter he came up to shake it.
“Deal, you're still a brat.” He added that fucking smirk on his face again. “You also didn’t answer the other question?” he added as he turned his back to me to get the wheel chair.
“I’m into guys.” I stated with a little sigh.
“Interesting.” He said. He held the wheelchair as I pulled myself up out of the kitchen chair. Sliding over I sat down in the wheelchair. My legs wobbled but not nearly as bad as they had earlier. Levi began to push me out of his apartment.
“Where do you sleep?” I asked as he opened the door.
“I have a bedroom and office down the hall.” He pointed down past the living room.
“So you have a full apartment inside your huge home? And I’m strange.” I muttered the last.
“Brat.” He said with a bit of a laugh in his voice. I was beginning to think that was his favorite word. He pushed me past my room, which surprisingly was the next room down the hall from his. As we neared the library I tensed up.
“Oh, I left the cane…” I gestured back toward his apartment.
“We don’t need it." He said. Opening the door he locked my brakes as he stepped around me.
“You won’t mind me picking you up, will you?” Wordlessly I shook my head. Bending down he slipped his arms under my legs and behind my back. I had no choice but to wrap mine around his neck. He lifted me easily. Turning he walked through the library.
Entering the TV room, he sat me on the couch. “I'll be right back.” He disappeared after handing me the remote. He wasn’t even winded from carrying me.
When he came back a few minutes later he had my chair. He left it folded up placing it in the corner. Coming up to me he sank down on the couch beside me.
“OK, let’s see, I bet you like action?” his arms were spread out on the back of the couch, legs crossed before him he arched that eyebrow again.
“I do.” He said. Hmm. What should I have him watch? My Hero academia maybe too many young kids in it for him. He would definitely identify with easerhead. Dgrayman might not be enough action.  What would get his attention, and hold it? I tapped the remote thinking.
“No superhero’s, maybe…” I paused. Would he like that? Possible. “OK you have a choice. God eater or Dancing with dragons?” I offered. His eyes squinted.
“I like dragons.” He stated.
“Of course you would. Chaos and  destruction it is…” But then there is Seraph of the end… oh so many to chose from. I shook my head flipping the TV on to find the show. I had to download an app to play it, but as soon as it started Levi's domineer changed. His hands fell down beside him. He was watching it quiet intensely.
“I like Gigina's sword.” He commented. When the first episode ended.
“There's only twelve episodes, you up for a marathon?” It was my turn to arch my eyebrows at him.
“Bring it on, brat.” He said. Laughing I started the next episode.  Levi didn’t talk much but watched the show as if he was studying battle strategy. I put my back against the arm to get more comfortable. He placed my legs over his own, gently massaging the calves as we watched. It grew darker. The last episode I recalled watching was seven.
The next thing I knew I was being picked up. I couldn’t wake up enough to say anything. The hard shoulder pillowed my head. “Easy, brat I’m not going to drop you.” He carried me out of the room.
When I woke the next morning my chair was beside my bed. In the seat was a thick book. Leaning over I picked it up. “The lord of the rings by JJR Tolkien.” I read. It was all three books into one. That was so unfair. Besides I watched the movies! Flipping it open I read the note that was inside.
“It counts as one book, brat.” I chuckled. He definitely was an ass. Jean came in a few minutes later to do my morning exercises. He got me showered and dressed for the day.
“The bosses friend's nephew will be here at one.” He told me as he pushed me up to the table so I could eat my breakfast. “Hange wants you in the lab once you're done eating in order to get your strengthening done.”
“Alright.” I huffed. “Jean?” he paused in wiping down the wheelchair to look up at me. “Who put me to bed last night?” I had realized I woke in pajamas, not what I was wearing last.
“I don’t know. I thought you did it yourself, or the boss helped?” he shrugged. Levi. Did he redress me? What a lunatic! I glowered as I shoveled the eggs, bacon and toast I had for breakfast, in my mouth without really paying attention. My mind was focused on mercury eyes that ebbed and flowed in a face as glorious as a gods.
Damnit he had me thinking in poetry! I hate you Levi Ackerman! I snarled.