Chapter Text
“WHAT THE FUCK?!”
Eren almost dropped his phone after that outburst. Steadying himself, he instead clutched the side of the table to keep himself steady. Armin’s voice sounded apologetic from the other line.
“Yeah, I was also surprised. I thought you would be here with Levi, it’s your birthday.”
Eren cleared his throat, feeling the painful lump beginning to form there. "Well, things didn't go well earlier. I had other plans…" he began before Armin cut him off immediately.
“If it involved sulking at home, forget it. It’s your birthday, you should be out here enjoying yourself. With Levi and us.”
“Wait, are you there too?”
“Yes, with Mikasa and the rest of the gang. We actually expected you to be here considering the date today. You really like surprising us, huh?”
Eren contemplated his actions earlier. Levi DID want Eren to come to the Scout’s Tavern with him. But he did not expect his stoic boyfriend to actually get piss drunk in such a short amount of time. Maybe he was really disappointed with how Eren acted like a spoiled brat. And on the day of his 28th birthday nonetheless. So much for proving to Levi that he was not a brat anymore. Eren ran a hand against his still damp, brown locks. He set his jaw in a determined manner.
“Look after him for me, Armin. Never let them out of your sight even for a moment. We do not know what that girl is capable of.” There was a soft chuckle at the other end of the line.
“Don’t worry, Eren. Mikasa is already on the watch. Nothing escapes those hawk-eyes of her.”
“Thanks. I owe you both big time.”
“Just get your spoiled ass here ASAP.” There was another chuckle before the call was disconnected. Eren wondered for a moment what made his blonde friend sound so amused. But he did not take too long before he was pulling out clothes from the dresser. He has to make an impression with his looks alone and the casual black shirt he was planning on wearing along with his skinny jeans did not seem quite the outfit to make a statement. He decided to mirror Levi’s outfit earlier, settling for a dark blue coat jacket over a plain white button-up shirt and black slacks that clung lovingly to his hips and highlighted his firm ass. Then, he grabbed his phone and started booking a ride for the club since Levi took the car with him. His ride arrived two minutes later. Making sure that everything was unplugged and locking the door behind him, Eren strode confidently towards the waiting vehicle while clutching his phone towards his chest and patting his coat jacket to make sure that the house keys are securely settled there with his wallet.
The ride took longer than usual because of the heavy volume of vehicles on the road. Traffic has always been horrible in this part of town and today being a Saturday night did not help at all. But Eren had enough time of silence to sort out his thoughts.
Petra was Levi’s childhood friend. They grew up together and used to go out but things did not work out well for both of them. Still, Petra made it very clear on several occasions that she still wants Levi back and she is just waiting for Eren to make a huge mistake that will send Levi back into her arms. Eren couldn’t blame Petra, she had been friends with Levi for the longest time and had known that Levi’s friends will always have that special place in his heart. To be fair to Petra, she did not seek Levi out when his relationship with Eren became official. She kept her distance while making it clear that if Levi needs a friend, she would still be there for him.
Eren bit his lower lip grudgingly. He has always been jealous of Levi’s closest friends but Levi never had any issues with Eren’s bond with Armin and Mikasa. Maybe it stems from the fact that Eren has always been questioning why Levi stuck with him despite his immaturity and insecurities. Of course, Levi was not without his flaws too but he has always given Eren enough space to be comfortable in his own skin while being the sturdy pillar of their relationship. Levi might appear stoic and snarky but he was never lacking in concern for Eren and his friends. Eren sighed, he should really address his inferiority complex since it is depriving him of the ability to believe that Levi deemed him deserving of all the love and attention from the raven-haired man.
“We are here, sir.”
Eren was pulled out from his reverie by the driver’s gentle voice. He smiled brightly while taking out a couple of bills from his wallet and handing it to the man’s waiting hands. He thanked the man profusely as he slid out from his seat and into the pavement waiting for him.
“Thank you for the smooth ride. Drive safely.” Eren said to the driver before closing the car door after disembarking. He smoothed his palms against the fabric of his pants and after making sure that he still has his phone, wallet, and keys he strode with a purpose towards the club.
Levi slumped down in a chair at the back of the stage. They had just finished their first set of songs and is having a short break before continuing with the second set. He drank sparingly from his water bottle, his throat feeling parched and dry from singing. He glanced at his watch then sighed again. Hanji approached him, holding her own water bottle in one hand. She pushed her bangs out of her eyes as he settled into a nearby chair. Levi glanced at the screen of his phone warily.
“Any luck?” Levi shook his head. Hanji lowered her head contemplatively. “He’ll come. I can feel it.”
“I do hope so. I’m nervous as it is. I did not anticipate the brat having tantrums on his own fucking birthday.” Hanji chuckled.
“Well, that’s what you get for choosing a brat.” Levi glared at her but she did not seem affected and just lightly punched his shoulder. “Just kidding. You know I love Eren but he does have his moods sometimes.” Levi let out an exasperated sigh.
“Yeah, I know that. I just hope Armin can convince him to reconsider or all our efforts would be for naught.”
“Ohhh, you sneaky bastard! You know Armin is the most adorably, manipulative blonde on this side of the planet. Well, second to Erwin maybe, but Armin knows Eren and what makes him tick. I’m sure he’ll find a way to bring Eren by hook or by crook.” Hanji stood up and picked up her guitar. “You should be getting ready. We’ll be starting our second set soon.”
“Yeah, after you.” Levi put down his water bottle and adjusted his coat before following Hanji towards the stage.
Eren eyed the peculiar decoration of Scout’s Tavern for that night. Balloons colored like green marbles hung along with the ceiling and the club's usually bland interior was swathed with sheer white curtains and blue and green balloons intertwined with each other. There was a lean crowd that night and Eren saw more than one familiar face among the crowds. He saw Sasha and Connie hamming it up with Reiner and Bertholdt in one table. Annie, Historia, and Ymir were in a separate table along with Jean and Marco. Furrowing his brows, Eren did not notice Armin coming up towards him until he grabbed Eren’s hands.
“Eren, it’s about time. Happy birthday!” Eren let Armin give him a bear hug as he continued to survey the surroundings. There were more familiar faces. Professor Erwin sat in another table with Moblit, Hanji’s husband, and Nanaba, Mike’s wife. The confusion worsened when Eren spotted Levi’s friends in another table; Eid, Gunther, Oluo, and Petra are talking among themselves animatedly. Eren snapped his head towards Armin who just smiled sheepishly.
“Armin, I thought…” Armin held out his palm towards Eren to stop him from talking.
“Shhh…sorry for that. You know, you should trust Levi more.” Eren lowered his head in shame but felt immense relief that things weren't as bad as he imagined. When he lifted his gaze, he saw Mikasa talking to their mother Carla. Beside her was Grisha and Levi’s mother, Kuchel who were both eyeing him intently. Eren looked at Armin who was still holding his hand.
“Why is everybody here, Armin? What’s going on?” Armin rolled his eyes.
“Of course everybody is here! It’s your birthday remember? Levi invited everyone, even our friends from college. And you almost missed it just because of a tantrum.” Armin clicked his tongue and Eren pouted sadly.
“I’m sorry, Armin. Levi has been acting a bit too secretive lately and I was having my suspicions. Turned out he was just planning to celebrate my birthday in a big way. I feel so guilty.” Armin tugged him closer to the table as all eyes turned on him. Carla got up from his seat and gave Eren a tight hug.
“Eren! Why are you so fashionably late for your own celebration?” Eren felt Grisha give him a gentle pat on his shoulder. When Carla released him, Kuchel got up to put her arms around Eren in another warm hug.
“I’m sorry for being late, Maman, Mom, and Dad. I did not know that Levi had planned all of this for me." Eren’s voice shook a little as he felt relief flooding his whole body. All the anxiety and negative thoughts rushing out of him through tears that he quickly blinked away. He would have to make up to Levi later for having very little faith in him. Carla wagged her forefinger at Eren teasingly.
“I know you, Eren. You should really work on that stubbornness of yours, you are already nearing your 30’s and you are still having tantrums.” Eren’s cheeks flared into a nice shade of red as Grisha and Kuchel chuckled.
“Mom! I’m just 28! Two years is still a long time.” Kuchel smiled brightly at Eren, holding his hand fondly as she sat down, pulling Eren to an empty seat beside her.
“My dear, time flies when you are having fun. Are you happy with Levi? Has he been good to you?”Eren sat beside Kuchel as Armin remained standing beside him.
“Very happy, Maman. So much.” Eren choked back a sob as he was filled with emotion. Then he noticed that Armin was still standing. “Why don’t you sit down, Armin?”
“You’re in my seat.” Mikasa tilted her head towards the stage as Levi and his bandmates emerged from backstage.
“Your seat is there, Eren. Near the stage. A special seat for the birthday boy.” Eren blushed as he glanced towards the stage and met Levi’s eyes. Levi let out a small smile before grabbing the microphone. Hanji and Mike are eyeing each other knowingly, smiling as they took their places with their instruments. Then Levi’s smooth voice filled the room.
“Good evening to all our friends and family. I would like to acknowledge the presence of our beloved birthday boy, Eren Jaeger.”A thunderous round of applause ensued along with some cheers as Eren stood up in wobbly knees to acknowledge the crowd. The spotlight turned to him and he felt embarrassed with all the attention. “May we request the celebrant to proceed to his special place near the stage?” Eren felt Armin pushing him gently towards the stage but his knees felt like jelly, everything is happening so fast that it was overwhelming. Armin grabbed his arm and firmly led him towards his seat as Eren almost stumbled when he tried to walk.
“Gather yourself together, Eren. The surprise is just beginning.”Armin whispered to Eren as he escorted him towards his special table by the stage. Eren nodded weakly, feeling his heart beating loudly against his chest. It was a good thing that he managed to reach his chair before his knees finally gave way and he awkwardly slumped in his seat which earned a few chuckles from the audience. As Armin returned to his seat, the band started playing the opening strings to a song. Then Eren heard Levi’s voice again as he lifted his head to look at his boyfriend’s silver-blue eyes, his own emerald green orbs glistening with unshed tears.
“Tonight is a special birthday for Eren as he will be spending this with his friends and family. I really appreciate all of your efforts to be here tonight. The song that we will be playing is Kyojin and Scout Tavern’s birthday gift for Eren. Hope you enjoy this, brat.” Levi stepped back to give instructions to his bandmates, all of them nodding knowingly to each other. Then, the familiar opening strains to an old love song floated into the air. Levi fixed his gaze into Eren’s eyes, singing every letter as fervently as if he was actually speaking to Eren in the privacy of their bedroom.
Take me as I am
Put your hand in mine now and forever
Darling here I stand, stand before you now
Deep inside I always knew
Eren choked back another sob as he felt those words burn into his soul. It was not an original song by Kyojin but the lyrics resonated with words that expressed what Levi would have said if he were actually standing before Eren alone. The whole world seemed to fade away.
It was you, you and me
Two hearts drawn together bound by destiny
It was you and you for me
Every road leads to your door
Every step I take forevermore
Levi felt every word slip out of his mouth naturally, the lyrics perfectly matching the words that he has been carefully arranging in his head for the past few weeks. He was never good at expressing his emotions through words that he usually writes letters or relied on song lyrics to get his message across. When he came across this old song by the band Chicago, he found the perfect expression for all of his overwhelming emotions for Eren.
Just say you'll love me for the rest of your life
I gotta lot of love and I don't want to let go
Will you still love me for the rest of my life?
Cause I can't go on
No, I can't go on
I can't go on
If I'm on my own
Levi has always been the loner type. Sure, he had his own circle of friends but he preferred the tranquillity that solitude brings. But being with Eren gave him a preview of what he really wanted in life. They have their silent moments as they both go about their separate work and the comfortable banter that breaks the monotony of everyday routine. But there were also those heart-to-heart talks that Levi did not know he craved being so used to loneliness and being alone. In a way, Eren breathed life into his mundane existence and the brat’s unpredictable moods just added to the spontaneity of their relationship.
Take me as I am
Put your heart in mine, stay with me forever
Cause I am just a man who never understood
I never had a thing to prove
Till there was you
You and me
Then it all came clear so suddenly
How close to you that I want to be
Eren watched as Levi poured out his soul into every word, the lyrics bringing into life every emotion that is now visible in those steel-blue eyes. Each word is like a caress, a lingering heat, and a delicious sensuality enveloping his entire being. Levi couldn’t have picked a better song for his birthday. Eren took a mental note to include this song in his playlist.
Just say you'll love me for the rest of your life
I gotta lot of love and I don't want to let go
Will you still love me for the rest of my life?
Cause I can't go on
No, I can't go on
I can't go on
If I'm on my own
Do you believe a love could run so stong?
Do you believe a love could pass you by?
There was no special one for me
I was the lonely one, you see
But then my heart lost all control
Now you're all that I know
As the instrumental part of the song, Levi handed the microphone to Hanji as he slowly descended the stage towards Eren. His back-up singers; Farlan and Isabel went into center stage and picked up the singing when the instrumental ended. Eren stood as Levi went nearer, his steps steady but his eyes betraying his nervousness. Eren stood up to meet his lover halfway through the floor. Levi placed his hands on Eren’s waist as Eren placed both his hands on Levi’s shoulders. Following a rhythm of their own, the two softly swayed to the gentle strains of the song, oblivious to everyone else around them as the room fell into a hushed murmur.
Just say you'll love me for the rest of your life
I gotta lot of love and I don't want to let go
Will you still love me for the rest of my life?
Cause I can't go on
No, I can't go on
I can't go on
If I'm on my own
We’ll never be alone.
The song ended and there was anticipation humming in the air. Eren finally opened his eyes which he did not remember closing and was met with Levi’s gentle gaze. Then Levi slowly released Eren’s waist and stepped back. Confused, Eren let both his hands gently fall down to his sides, eyeing Levi who suddenly looked away from his gaze. And then Levi went down on his knees and the audience erupted in cheers. Eren put a hand over his mouth as his emerald green orbs widened in surprise. Levi reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, black, velvet box. When he opened it, Eren gasped at the sight that greeted him. A silver band with the symbol of infinity intricately inlaid with blue and green gems nestled into each loop beamed at him against the dark velvet bed. But the softness of velvet paled in comparison to the smooth voice that reached Eren’s ears.
“Eren Jaeger, are you willing to let me love you for the rest of our lives?” Levi said in a clear voice that did not give any hint of hesitation. Eren choked a sob that threatened to come out of his mouth as he looked at Levi, down on one knee as he held that exquisite ring for Eren’s eyes. Unable to speak, Eren nodded his head several times.
“Say it, Eren!” Armin shouted from his seat as some of their friends also joined in.
"Come on, Jaeger, we know you can do better than that," Jean added as Marco elbowed him secretly and Jean held his side wincing.
Eren took a deep breath before speaking, his voice finally finding its way out of his lips.
“Yes, Levi. I will love you for the rest of our lives.” Levi’s right hand found the back of Eren’s head and pulled him down for a kiss as the crowd erupted in thunderous applause with some cheers and energetic hoots. When the kiss ended, Levi took the ring out of the box and Eren held out his left hand so that Levi can slip the ring into his finger. The ring looked perfect in Eren’s tanned fingers and Levi gently kissed Eren’s knuckles, brushing his lips against the ring that symbolizes their promise of commitment to each other.
“Happy birthday, brat. I love you.” Levi said as tears glistened in his steel-blue orbs. Eren looked intently at him, realizing the meaning behind the club’s peculiar arrangement that night, with the blue and green balloons intertwined with each other across the room.
“Thank you, grumpy old man. I love you too.” And with that, their lips met again.