Can't Sleep? Ch 7: Wildflowers
One moment, heat was pumping through his veins, and the next—nothing. Eren sat up straight and rubbed at his eyes. The world was distinctly clearer. He turned his hands over, the motion no longer blurring.
"It always is the first time," Levi said, propping himself up on an elbow as he lazed in Eren's bed.
With an annoyed groan, Eren slumped into the fluffed-up bedding. "This means I have to go to work tomorrow."
"Have I made you too soft?"
By then, it was well past dusk, candles providing the only light, their flickering audible among the quiet. It would have been peaceful if not for the sheer amount of energy flooding Eren's brain. He had been cooped up for a week straight. He felt like a cagey dog who hadn't gotten its daily walks.
Eren's hand found Levi's, fingers trailing upward, walking up his arm. "Do you want to get out of here?"
"Thought you'd never ask."
Outside was much cooler—brisk—but Eren didn't mind. The moon was bright, so big in the sky that there was no need for a lantern. It was perfect. The fresh air danced across his skin as he ran ahead of Levi.
Eren beamed as he led Levi to the outskirts of the yard, towards the vast gardens that bordered the property. "It's my favorite place to be."
While he preferred the endless sprawl beyond the walls, here at least, he could have a small slice of heaven. All the flowers that grew here were from the reaches of Paradis, ones that he could only find on expeditions; they'd been carefully gathered over the years and planted here in conservation. Now, the garden was huge. Everything was thriving this time of year.
Eren stooped down, bringing the fragrant flowers to his nose. He could feel Levi's gaze on him as he plucked a few flowers that had grown in excess.
He placed one behind Levi's ear, grinning.
Subtle heat grew over Levi's cheeks. "Thanks, brat."
They took a seat on the old wooden bench at the center of the gardens, Eren fiddling with the bouquet he'd picked, fashioning it into an arrangement, a bow of long grass tying it together. "For you." He presented it to Levi with a dorky expression.
Levi twiddled the flowers between his fingertips and tucked them into his breast pocket. "I'll keep it till it turns to dust."
Sighing, Eren leaned his head on Levi's shoulder. There was so much to worry about now. "Can I ask you something?"
A pang of anxiety traveled through him. "What's going to happen now?" He asked softly. His eyes traveled to his stomach; he couldn't fathom that life could be forming in there. It was far too soon to tell now. He'd have to wait another week till his hormones changed, or didn't. In the forefront of his mind, he hoped they wouldn't. He was so young. Waiting to start a family sounded like the most ideal plan, but when he thought about a small version of himself and Levi, his heart went soft.
They would have to grow a lot, deal with a lot—constant crying, feedings, and dirty diapers. They would have to sacrifice.
He'd read somewhere that mating during a shared heat/rut cycle almost always resulted in pregnancy, so did he even have the opportunity to be unsure anymore?
Levi rested his head against Eren's and looked up into the night sky. "What do you want to do, Eren?"
"I don't know." A crinkle formed in his eyebrows. Was he even cut out to be a parent? He didn't know the first thing about babies—let alone raising one. What if he messed it up?
Eren wished his mom were here; she would know what to do.
A reassuring hand clamped on his knee. "We'll take it step by step."
He nodded, reminding himself that even if his parents couldn't be here, he still had Levi. He wasn't alone. He wouldn't be abandoned like Mikasa said he would be. His eyes welled with tears, but he refused to let any fall. "Will you sleep beside me again tonight?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Levi placed a kiss on the top of his head.
A tear slid down his cheek as he blustered. "Shut up," He wiped it away frantically, sniffling. "Don't say anything."
"It's okay." Levi rocked him as Eren silently glowered. "You're allowed to miss me. I'm going to miss you, too, you know. We'll figure this all out; you and me. We're a team now."
Sinking into Levi's arms, Eren exhaled some of the tightness in his chest; he'd always been so independent, mostly because he had to be. Eren practically raised himself when his parents died. He could imagine Levi knew what that was like.
"I'm sorry that I'm a mess."
"We both are messes, kid. That's what relationships are—one big mess."
"I've never even dated someone…" Eren said with a pout.
It was clear how much younger he was; a toddler in comparison to Levi, a fully actualized adult. How much more experience did he have on him?
A toad leaped by Eren's feet, the moonlight highlighting its bumpy skin as it croaked.
"How is this going to work if I am pregnant?"
Levi pursed his lips, thinking. "We'll find a house, I suppose. Somewhere we can raise a brat or two. You'll take some time off from risking your life. And I'll entertain you so you're not too bored. It sounds nice, if you ask me."
"If you leave out the whole giving birth…thing."
"Kind of early to be worried about that."
"You'd be worried too if you were an omega." Eren shifted in Levi's arms, glowering before his expression simmered. His eyes grazed over Levi's, the sheer intensity of their bond smiting the breath in his lungs before he quickly turned away.
Levi gave him a tight squeeze. "Will you promise me something? Be careful while you're training those runts. I know you're more than capable, but don't get yourself hurt."
"That means you better be careful, too, captain."
"I'll try not to get any papercuts. It's not like I'm needed much beyond a signature anymore. You're the one getting sacked with Hange's wims."
His head began to loll, drowsiness replacing his previous bout of energy. The light strokes from Levi's fingertips through his hair weren't helping. "Carry me back?" He joked.
Levi scooped him up effortlessly. "Don't say so unless you want me to."
They shared a sweet kiss, Eren already dozing off by the time they reached his bedroom. Levi tucked him in and settled beside him; Eren rolled over, resting his head on his chest.
"Goodnight, Levi." He whispered, his voice low and drowsy.
Levi drifted to slow, measured breaths and wondered how he'd ever sleep again without Eren's snores echoing in his ears.
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