Chapter Text
“No!” Eren refused to look up at Levi towering over him as he sat sulking on the couch.
“Why the hell not? You have always been excited to watch our group perform. We don’t get to do that a lot nowadays what with all the deadlines in the damn university.” Levi ran a terse hand in his shiny black hair. Eren is being extremely difficult right now, he is going to be late for their gig later in the Scout’s Tavern.
“So this is really about getting together with your old bandmates, huh? Why should I even be there?” Eren continued to sulk as he pulled his legs up and tucked his knees under his chin.
“Because they love you and they would want to see you too.”
Eren was not convinced. How dare Levi forget the very special occasion today. All because of that dumb gig that he did not tell Eren about. Eren has been looking forward to this day for weeks, thinking of the best ways to spend the whole evening with his boyfriend for three years only to have him schedule a gig right at the night when they first met almost four years ago. It took almost a year of dating before they officially became a couple so this date isn’t actually their anniversary date. But for Eren, tonight is as important as their anniversary because it is the night when they first met. It is also his birthday, Eren can’t comprehend how Levi could have forgotten how important that day was to both of them.
Levi threw his hands in exasperation. “Fine. I would just have to go without you.”
Eren looked up, hurt clearly showing in his dazzling green eyes. Levi fought the urge to give in to his sulking boyfriend but he stood his ground. “Is it really that important to you, Levi?”
“Yes, I thought you would understand that. Guess, I thought wrong, huh?” Levi turned on his heels to stride to their bedroom with quick, easy steps. He came out moments later wearing a black suit jacket over a v-necked grey t-shirt. His black skinny jeans hugged his lean frame so well that it further highlighted his nice, round ass. Levi leaned down to kiss Eren who was still curled up in the couch but Eren moved his head away from Levi’s lips. Sighing, Levi ran his hand through Eren’s messy brown locks.
“I’m sorry but you just have to trust me on this, Eren. I still hope that you will change your mind later.” Levi kissed the top of Eren’s head before grabbing the keys to his car as he strode out of the door.
Eren’s chest tightened when he heard the sound of their car driving away, leaving him miserable and alone on the night of his 28th birthday.
“How dare you, Levi! How could you have forgotten?” Eren shouted to no one in particular. Standing up, he decided to fix himself something to eat. Although he does not care for food right now, he did not want to drown his misery by starving himself. Eren figured that after eating, he would just watch anything interesting in Netflix. He will not change his mind and go to that stupid gig of his boyfriend just to please him.
Eren decided to make himself a quick meal of scrambled eggs and some toast even if breakfast is still more than 12 hours away. He wouldn’t be bothered to fix a decent dish right now. He was sure that Levi would be dining out with his bandmates anyway so there is no need to work himself up preparing something special for a birthday that he would be spending alone. Eren felt self-pity clenching his gut and willed himself not to give in to the suffocating sadness engulfing his entire being. Sometimes, he really can’t understand Levi. But he wanted to try and he wanted Levi to understand him, too.
Levi is the lead singer of the band Kyojin along with his friends from the university Hanji and Mike. It was just a hobby for the three of them since they all have decent full-time jobs to pay their bills. Levi currently works as a Literature professor at the Stohess University, the country’s premier university. Hanji is currently working as a Senior Researcher at the Stohess Research and Development Institute while Mike is the owner of Scout’s Tavern; the quaint bar that would be the venue of their band’s reunion gig tonight. It has been a while since Levi got together with his bandmates on a gig but they have kept in constant communication with one another through the years.
Eren met Levi in the University’s annual graduation ball almost four years ago. Since Mikasa, Armin, and Eren all graduated from Stohess University, they are free to attend any of the state-sponsored events. Since it was also Eren’s birthday that night, the three of them decided to check out all the University-based bands performing at the event.
Eren was practically smitten when he first saw Levi, wearing a simple black shirt that clung nicely to his muscled physique and black ripped jeans that clung lovingly to his hips like a jealous lover. He practically straddled the microphone stand while crooning to one of the popular songs at that time. Armin had to practically lift Eren’s chin to close his mouth which Eren did not remember opening in the first place. Blushing furiously, Eren had to endure Armin’s incessant teasing and Mikasa’s infamous eye-rolls all night.
Eren smiled to himself as he remembered how he bumped to Levi while trying to evade Armin’s teasing by saying that he needed to get a drink. He did not immediately see who he bumped into because his head was still turned, motioning Armin to stay put and not follow him. When his emerald green orbs met with silver-blue ones, Eren felt his heart leap up to his throat. The raven-haired stunner arched a perfect brow in surprise as Eren blushed all the way to the roots of his messy brown hair.
“Going somewhere, brat?”
Eren was stung with the unwelcome remark and furrowed his brow to glare down at the offending guy who didn’t budge an inch as he practically stood in Eren’s way. The guy was quite short, coming up just at the level of Eren’s nose but practically oozed with sex appeal. Unflinching in Eren’s glare, the guy studied the taller male openly. Eren finally found his voice and coughed awkwardly, drawing the man’s gaze upward so he can look into his eyes again.
“I am not a brat. But I’m sorry for crashing into you.”
“Are you in a hurry to go somewhere?”
“Uhm, not really. Just trying to get away from my invasive companions.” Eren tilted his head towards Armin and Mikasa seating at the table.
“Well, I’m trying to do the same.” The guy nodded to his bandmates who were eyeing the both of them closely. “Would you like to dance?”
Eren did not see that coming. He was busy studying the man’s delicate features; the jet-black hair styled in an undercut framed an impressive jawline and delicate cheekbones. The man’s sharp eyes had that haunting and smoky air to them that they seem to suck Eren deeper into those silver blue-orbs. Eren was startled when the man coughed awkwardly to get his attention. “Wait, what did you say?”
“I asked you if you would like to dance?”
“Uhm, okay. Sure.” He let the man hold his arm and lead him to the dancefloor littered with all kinds and shapes of couples swaying to the slow beat of the music blaring overhead. It was an old song but still very relatable as Eren felt his heart thumping loudly against his chest. He gingerly put his hands into the shorter man’s shoulders as the man gently placed his hands in Eren’s waist. The lyrics of the song pounding through the awkward silence.
In my life, there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
Eren was the one to speak first.
“I’m Eren. “
“Levi.”
“So you are from Stohess too?”
“Yeah, the three of us actually.”
“I haven’t seen you perform before.”
“We only do it for fun, just to release all the tension from mundane everyday existence. I take it you are not a fresh graduate yourself?”
“Uh, no. I graduated a couple of years ago. Just wanted to spend my birthday differently for once.”
“Happy birthday! So, are you legal now?”
Eren let out a nervous chuckle. “ Do I look that young? I’m twenty-four.”
“Glad to hear that, brat. I don’t want to have problems with the law.” Levi’s eyes were eyeing Eren intently. Gosh, he does not bother with ambiguities at all! Eren thought nervously.
I'm gonna take a little time
Gotta take a little time
A little time to look around me
I've got nowhere left to hide
It looks like love has finally found me
“Uhm, so what do you do now outside of singing?”
“Well, I’m a literature professor at Stohess U right now. Been there for the past 5 years.”
“How come you did not become my professor? My major was Comparative Literature.”
“You should be glad I did not become your professor. You would have been terrorized like everybody else.”
“Why? Are you that terrible to students?”
“Only to entitled sonofabitches and slackers. They are wasting the people’s money on irrelevant pursuits.” Eren gulped audibly. That did not escape Levi. “How about you, brat? Any irrelevant pursuits nowadays?”
“Uhm, none so far. Been busy with work. The marketing agency I’m working for handles big companies' ads and promotions. Not exactly what I had in mind but it puts food on the table and pays the rent."
“So, what did you actually have in mind?”
I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
I wanna feel what love is
I know you can show me
“Not much. I wanted to write and publish my own book. Sometimes I dabble on fiction but I really like writing studies and analysis on popular culture.”
“Interesting.”
There was another awkward pause as the song’s last refrain faded and it was replaced by a more upbeat tempo. Eren felt the bass throbbing in his temples and unconsciously rubbed his forehead.
“Are you okay?”
“Uh-huh. Maybe got too much to drink.”
“We should sit down.” Levi held Eren’s elbow and lead the younger man out of the dance floor and back to the table where Armin and Mikasa are still sitting. The two looked at us with knowing looks but said nothing. Levi turned to leave.
“I should be going back now.”
“Guess I’ll see you around then.” There was a pregnant pause as both of us seemed unwilling to leave each other’s company. Eren was the one who broke the silence by getting his phone, unlocking it, and handing it to Levi.
“Can I have your number? I might need a consultant for my book.” Eren beamed at Levi and was rewarded with a smirk as Levi typed his numbers in Eren's phone.