Vivid

Eren stood in front of a grand window payne overlooking the city. His slender fingers ran over the markings across his shoulders. He stood there tugging on his shirt to expose them. He stared at his reflection longly wondering when and if Levi would return soon. Having this love felt so sudden, but he wouldn't have traded it for anything more. Eren closed his eyes picturing levi caressing his neck. He remembered his soft lips, the warmth of his tongue and cool sensation right after they parted. It sent a shiver down his spine remembering it. After having his fill of the city, Eren roamed Levis apartment. The place smelled of sweet vanilla bean. It was orderly, nothing felt out of place unlike his home. Taking the steps downstairs, He noticed Levi wasnt much of the rich man he thought he was. Levi didn't have some lavish art or million dollar items. It felt as if he were trying to recreate a home. He adored it simply because it was Levis home. When entering the kitchen. A small box from a little cafe down the street sat there with a note.
"Go ahead and eat this. Pain killers are in the medicine cabinet. Clean up when you're done. Did you sleep well? I don't exactly like leaving you how I did. You looked peaceful. I didn't want to wake you to say goodbye. If it were up to me. Well, i'd stay. Work is annoying that way. ill come back to you. stay safe.
-Levi "
A smile spread across erens lips.
"He'll come back to me." He said excitedly. Young and in love eren, went home and laid on his bed feeling satisfied. The taste of sweet cream lingering on his tongue. Meanwhile, Levi stood near erwins right side. A potential business partner wanted erwin attention. Levis menacing glare was enough muscle to keep them in line. A warehouse on the outskirts of town led them to the promise of cash. However pesky police in the area made the job difficult. They began to assume there was someone among them that was untrustworthy. The thought didn't suprise either Levi or Erwin. But it did sicken the men that knew of this rumor. In fact, they didn't seem to trust this new organization at all. To Levi, the new face felt all too familiar. Though he couldn't quite put peg her name. He studied her features wondering if she was someone whom he had spoken to. She wore contacts, had on what levi assumed was a brunette wig. Her skin was pale, but rippled in some areas like a burn victim. Her presence unsettled Levi.
"Why erwin, i didnt know you going to be this cautious," the Woman commented.
"If you want something, there are times to be reckless and times to be safe. I expect you to have some patience if you want something."
"My patience does seem to be something everyone talks about." She mused.
"Lets not look on our short comings and proceed with the place I have set." Erwin replied.
"If I didn't know any better id have assumed there was something you wanted to protect."
"With this job men are bound to be casualties. However, we dont have the man power to just throw their lives away needlessly."
"You sound as if you have a lover. Erwin, having someone know you're involved with someone else... well, you know how it goes. They can never really stay now can they?" She said with a smirk. After that she took her purse and left.
Erwin was disturbed by her last comment. Especially after hearing about the potential idea of armin being infatuated with someone else. After the door closed, Levi fixed his cufflinks and headed for the door.
"Levi, a word?" Erwin said, as he folded his fingers together.
"What do you want?" Levi replied, after he straightened himself out.
"You don't think Armin is in love with someone else?" He asked seemingly hesitant.
"In love?" Levi replied, thinking back on the incident that went under erwins nose. He thought of Armins confession and felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
"If he was, you would tell me right?" Erwin asked, searching for an answer from Levi.
"What would you do with the new information?" Levi asked in response to Erwins original question.
"I'm not sure, I don't think I want to know. Id probably kill the person honestly. If i could i'd want to make him love me."
Levi stared at Erwin for what seemed like an eternity. He had such an earnest smile. He fell hard for a boy who was in love with his best friend. What a sad small tragedy to live with. Levi stood there silently debating on whether to say it or not. He wasn't afraid for his life. Erwin was a strong man to begin with. He could have anyone he wanted. But Armins love was something that was unattainable in this moment. However Levi would make sure armins love would soon be Erwins. At least that is what Levi had hoped. He was in love, and so was Armin. But both were longing for someone that would never look at them. The harsh reality was hard for anyone to stomach. It was a burden that came with love. If eren no longer saw him the way he used to. It would be yet another dwelling thought before hed go to sleep. The womans last sentence also nestled itself comfortably in Levis mind. Would eren look at him the same if he knew what he had done? Would eren be fine with man whose hands are caked in blood and misfortune? Levi couldn't afford to dwell on his own thoughts. He had to care for others troubles in this moment. At times Levi felt the need to shield people in his own way. So, Levi did what he felt was best in that moment.
"No, Armin isn't in love with anyone else. He can't be anyway even if he were," Levi answered quietly.
"Really? Thats a relief to hear." He replied, visibly relaxed by Levis words. Erwin covered his face and sighed.
"Im sorry to keep you here with my issues. I can't seem to trust anyone else."
"Im your right hand, I do what I can to make things go smoothly." Levi replied truthfully, he turned toward the door once more. While cracking it open, Erwin notice Levi had a glow about him.
"You seem different some how. Have you fallen in love too? Hanji told me you've been talking to someone."
Levi silently cursed the four eyed bitch for speaking to erwin about his business. Time had passed too long for him to stay any longer. Levis phone rang breaking the silence.
"Who knows.." levi said, before leaving the office. Love was in the air, wasn't it supposed to be beautiful? Levi wasnt sure of it. One thing he knew for sure, he wanted to give eren everything and more. The world felt lighter with him, lights dimmed in the background in comparision to his smile. How Levi could adore someone else was new. Every chance they'd talk on the phone was precious to eren. The love birds spent most of their time bare in each others arms. Tearing their clothes off piece by piece. Or they'd spent the other half of their time by each others side. Hanji and Armin had caught onto Levis rendezvous with his lover. Hanji would tease Levi about his need to check on him. But in the end Armin couldn't help but feel a little bitter. While Armin was treated like a colleague of his. Eren had hours, and Armin had seconds. Eren felt his warmth, while Armin could only smell his cologne. Eren, Eren, Eren, Armin knew he had told Levi he would fall out of love. But it proved to be too difficult of a task. He had to watch as his best friend had all the perks of Levis attention and more. Depression had the best of him and Eren didn't know it. He couldn't know about it. So he'd go to a small space within the club to express his feelings. He'd cry in the spot where he had confessed to Levi. Wondering why he didn't catch his eye before eren. Why couldn't he be the reason why Levi smiled? He wanted so desperately to have a love like his. He sometimes plotted Erens murder.
"What kind of a friend am I?" Armin would stutter between heavy breaths. His tears softened the corners of his eyes and cut his skin. Crying could only do so much but that was all the action he could take. He wanted to be the one to crawl into a dark corner with Levi. He wanted to share kisses and bask under the moonlight. Armins lips trembled as he tried to hold back his emotions. His back pressed against the wall as he took a drag from his cigarette. The smoke bled from his nose calming him in that moment.
"For such an innocent face. You really can surprise someone when you tell them you smoke." He heard a deep familiar voice tell him. As soon as Armin realized it was erwin. He looked away and hid his eyes.
"Hello sir," armin said pitifully, being formal was all he could revert back to.
"You can drop the sir, unless you're into that sort of thing. Erwin is just fine, i came out for a smoke. Mind if i join you?" Erwin asked politely.
"Yeah, im just about to leave after this last one anyway," armin said, as he took out his lighter to burn another cigarette.
"Mind if I..."
Armin shook his head and lit up Erwins cigarette with the small flame.
"Thanks." Erwin sighed after blowing out a large cloud of smoke. The comfortable silence was nice in the moment. Until Erwin tried to strike up a conversation with Armin.
"Its a nice night isnt it?"
"I guess..."
"Sadly it doesn't let you see much."
"Im thankful for that honestly.." Armin said with such angst. Erwin could tell the boy was off from his usual high. He wondered if this was because of a drug or someone else. Again the silence fell between the two. This time killing them both slowly. When it came to business, Erwin excelled in speaking. However, he wanted to know Armin on a personal level. To him, in that moment, it felt impossible. Armin felt completely blocked off. So, instead of topics, Erwin brought up people they both knew.
"Hows working with hanji?"
"Shes all well and good. A little much for me but shes nice," Armin replied truthfully.
"And moblit?"
"Can't think much of him."
"I see, what about mike?"
"His sense of smell is useful. You have a nice crew." Armin told Erwin.
"Does that include Levi? Erwin snickered.
"Of course! Hes very strong and reliable. Who wouldn't want to be under his command!" Armin exclaimed. After realizing he raised his voice he settled down. Surprised by Armin opening up over Levi. Erwin took another drag and finally felt a break through.
"Then, do you want to accompany Levi and I on our trip to new york?" Erwin asked.
"I-I couldn't. It really wouldn't be my place to come."
"Nonsense, you'll get to know more clients that way. Besides, im sure Levi would appreciate the work ethic."
"I think I might have to turn it down sir, uh I mean erwin. I haven't exactly been feeling well lately anyway."
"Did you eat something?"
"More like something ate my heart." Armin replied with a sigh.
"I see..." Erwin replied silently, confirming Armins feelings. He felt guilty for not noticing sooner. But how could he have noticed? The dim light, the hair that draped over his eyes and his calm attitude. They all mislead the idea of Armin being sad.
"Sorry, i made you uncomfortable. Didn't I?"Armin replied.
"No, it's the opposite actually. I know what you mean. Being in love hurts, but its the sweetest drug that money can't buy."
"I know, i wanted to try, but the man I love says he won't love me. He could at least acknowledge me instead of being so heartless. But, i guess being nice wouldn't help either." Armin sighed.
"Its hard being in love with someone who might never look at you. It can only take a second or a few years. But love is funny and torturous that way." Erwin replied solemnly. Armin felt as if Erwin knew where he was coming from. He felt better knowing that Erwin was around to listen.
"You seem like a great guy. Im sure anyone would be lucky to have you." Armin said, before puffing more smoke.
"Anyone... you mean like you?" Erwin asked in a serious tone. The ash from Armins cigarette fell to the floor as he froze. He wondered if he had heard erwin correctly.
"What?"
"Thats what i would say if the person i was in love with stood in front of me."
"O-Oh.. I see," armin replied dully. If it had been Levi saying that he would have died right there. Armins cigarette had finished, and the reality of the world came down.
"With all due respect, I didnt find that funny. That wasn't a very nice joke to pull erwin. Its fine though, my cig is done and I have work. I'll see you around. Have a good night sir." Armin said flatly. He was annoyed with being toyed by the men around him. Erwin sighed knowing Armin was upset with him.
"I never thought of Love as a game. If it is one to you. Would I be considered to play too?" Erwin thought as he stood outside.