Chapter Text
“Lee-bi!” A soft knock on his door cut him off from his drifting thoughts. It could only be one person because Levi wasn’t very open to guests coming without notifying him beforehand. A soft sigh left his lips as he removed his feet from the table and planted them on the ground to stand up. The knocks continued tapping on his front door, followed by whines calling ‘Lee-bi’. Levi knew he could say his name properly, he just thought it annoyed him when he said it wrong, but honestly Levi thought it was really adorable.
He unlocked the front door and slowly pulled it open, the chain lock still hooked in as he peeked down at the little boy who practically shot his hand inside once there was enough space for his small arm to squeeze through.
“Lee-bi! Lee! Let me in!” He whined as his fingertips lightly hooked to the hem of Levi’s shirt. Levi couldn’t help it as the corners of his lips curved and he let out a gentle breath.
“If you want me to open, you have to pull your arm out, it’ll come off if I try to remove the chain and your arm is there. Come on now Eren, step back”, he instructed to the five-year-old who reluctantly obeyed, slipping his hand out the crack and bringing it to his chest as he expectantly waited for Levi to open the door. Levi never thought he was good with children. He disliked kids, they were messy, loud and too much of a hassle, besides, he was too young for parenting regardless, being only twenty-one. However, this particular kid didn’t seem to fit in the category of children that he disliked. He wasn’t a brat, he was fairly polite, and he wasn’t out of control.
Eren’s parents owned the apartment complex Levi lived in and the child seemed to be very fond of him. He was often asked to babysit the kid by his parents due to Eren taking such an interest in him. Levi had no idea why the kid was so set on spending time with him, but he didn’t mind. It seemed Eren spent more time with Levi than he did with his own parents, Levi did get some benefits for the time he spends taking care of their son. His rent was certainly much cheaper, and he was paid per hour, when they ask him to babysit at least. Sometimes Eren just turns up at Levi’s door without notice. Levi didn’t mind that.
Levi closed the door to slide out the chain lock before he started to pull it open again but the process was sped up when Eren burst in and hugged Levi’s legs cheerfully. “Someone’s excited, I just saw you last night and here you are acting like it’s been years”, Levi smiled fondly as he pushed the child off his legs so he could crouch down to be closer to Eren’s height.
“I’m always happy to see Lee-bi!” Eren reached forward to pinch Levi’s cheeks gently and pulled them up slightly as if trying to get Levi to smile. “You always look so glum! Never happy to see me!”
“I’m always happy to see you”, Levi insisted but Eren gave out an unconvinced huff as he turned away and crossed his arms high above his chest. Levi breathed out a bit before he managed a smile of adoration, reaching to pinch Eren’s cheek playfully. “See? I’m smiling, I only smile for you after all. It’s not often people get me to smile you know”, Levi stated, because it was true. He only managed to smile for Eren because he seemed like the only person worth smiling for.
Eren giggled and leaned forward to wrap his arms around Levi’s shoulders, hugging him tightly. Levi let out a small chuckle as he secured his arms around Eren’s lower back and stood up straight, Eren settling comfortably on Levi’s hip like a mother holding her child.
“What do you want to do today?” Levi asked as he carried Eren into the living room but Eren pointed towards the kitchen to which he obliged.
“It’s raining outside today so we can’t play in the garden”, Eren pouted cutely and Levi mirrored the pout as if it saddened him likewise. It really didn’t, he didn’t like playing outside because Eren would always end up getting dirty.
“Yes, because rain means mud”, Levi said and Eren rolled his eyes a bit, allowing Levi to sit him on the kitchen counter.
“And mud makes everything dirty. We don’t like mud”.
“No, we certainly do not!” Levi poked Eren’s nose as he looked around in his cupboards to make Eren something to eat, because obviously he was a bit hungry if he immediately gestured for Levi to take him to the kitchen. Levi has only lived here for two years and he knew Eren like he was his own child, since he was three and Levi was nineteen, close to turning twenty.
“Ugh shit”, Levi had to place his hand over his mouth at his own profanity, glancing at Eren and muttering an apology to him. “I haven’t gone shopping in a while, so I can only give you pretzels for now. Sorry brat, no cooking today”, Levi tossed him some pretzels, Eren extending his arms and narrowly catching the packet. He seemed to enjoy Levi’s cooking, which was nice because it gave Levi the chance to improve on his skills since Eren was basically the only person who ate with him on a regular basis. It forced him to make healthy meals rather than bow out and buy tv dinners and take out and all that crap.
“Can’t we go shopping today then?” Eren asked as he kicked his legs back and forth while tearing the packet open at the top and fishing out some of the pretzels, practically shovelling them into his small mouth.
“I dunno maybe- Eren, please slow it down, you’re not an animal!” Levi placed his hand over Eren’s to stop him from over-ingesting and possibly choking on his food. It has happened way too many times.
“Bghk umn ungree!”
“Don’t talk with your mouth full Eren, chew slowly and close your mouth when you do!” Levi scolded and Eren glared at him slightly, but did as Levi said, before he swallowed the food and sighed out, repeating that he was hungry but now Levi could actually understand him.
“Doesn’t mean you can forget your manners”.
“Sorry Lee”, Eren pouted at Levi who sighed and leaned closer to Eren, flicking his nose playfully.
“Does your mother know you’re here?” Levi asked as he leaned back on the counter, watching Eren enjoy his pretzels at a more reasonable pace at least. Eren may as well just live with Levi from how often he’s here actually, most days he’d end up spending the night at Levi’s and he got Levi to take him to kindergarten and occasionally pick him up when he could.
“She told me to come here. She’s going out tonight”, he said as he ate the last pretzel, shimmying off the counter and hopping onto the floor to throw the empty packet into the bin.
“Ah, I’m guessing you want to stay here tonight?” Levi tilted his head and a cheery grin extended over Eren’s face which was confirmation enough for Levi. He let out a small chuckle and approached the boy, carding his fingers though the brunettes soft head of hair.
“Lee-bi!” Eren jumped up with his arms extended towards the adult.
“What Eren? Are you still hungry?”
“Yes! But that’s not what I wanted to say!” Eren pouted before he waved Levi down, looking around suspiciously as if he were going to tell Levi a very serious secret. He gave the little boy a smile and humoured him, kneeling down to his level and waiting for Eren to get to the point. The child said no words, but he did grasp the collar of Levi’s shirt and pull him closer, pressing his small lips against Levi’s for the briefest of moments before he stepped away, a giant smile stretching over his features.
Levi was a bit surprised, but he managed to give Eren a confused smile, raising his fingers to his mouth. “Hey, what was that for brat?” He asked and Eren shrugged his shoulders dramatically, taking Levi’s big hand in his small one and tugging on it, walking alongside him as he went towards the door.
“Can we go to the store now?”
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