Ereri Secret Santa for Aieika
Title: Crash Course Recipient: aieika Contents: Canonverse swimming lessons taught by Levi! I think you all know where this is headed, hurr hurr. Awkward, conflicted Levi. UNDERAGE, nothing creepy though, I swears. Making out in a pool, cos obviously. Eren who thinks he’s the shit and kinda is, haha. Summary: As if avoiding his growing attraction for his underage trainee, Eren, was enough, Levi unwillingly now has to test his patience in training the brat how to swim. Words: 4k+
Erwin had suggested it, after an exhibition outside the walls had led the Training Corps to cross a long river, where it was discovered that more than half of the trainees didn’t know how to swim.
Hanji had eagerly agreed, stating even she was rusty on her swimming, after that a resounding positive had accumulated throughout the barracks: teach us to swim. Levi was only irritated because by default he would have to help out; he was one of the few who were still positive in their abilities to swim in open water.
Training began as soon as the Survey Corps met with the Military and Garrison officials to request access to an indoor pool within Wall Sina (the only one known to exist inside the barrier) for educational and survival skills. The idea was sold quickly, for basic swimming know-how really was a necessity, they argued, in preparation to fight outside the walls. Members of the 104th squad were split into groups of three, led by squad leaders and members who knew already how to swim: Erwin Smith, Petra Ral, and Levi.
Trying his best to hold down the irritated tick he felt behind his eyes, Levi, in just his undergarments, stood in the shallow water of the pool and instructed his group, Eren, Armin, Jean, and Annie, the basics.
“How does Mikasa already know how to swim?” Armin whispered in wonder to Eren, crossing his arms over his bare chest, shivering.
Eren shuffled a little closer to Armin, so their shoulders touched, causing a small splash. The water was damn cold for being indoors.
“Who knows. She also knows how to knit and cook, too. Don’t ask me how she learned that either,” Eren mumbled bitterly, irritated how Mikasa seemed to always be ahead of him… not that he’d ever admit that.
“Alright listen up,” Levi started loudly, standing in front of the line of squad 104 members, hands on his hips, which were submerged underwater. He had a bored look on his face, eyebrows furled as always. He looked at the four teens up and down, one at a time. “I know it’s cold, my balls probably look like raisins right about now so the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can be out of here.”
Eren, Armin and Jean nodded in agreement, understanding. Annie gave a silent sigh, rolling her eyes along with her head to the side. Levi paid her no mind.
“Lets get used to being underwater first so, go on, dunk your heads under the water for about three seconds. And,” he held a finger up as everyone fidgeted to get ready. “No holding your nose. It won’t be necessary, all humans have an innate reflex to not breath as soon as our faces get wet.”
“How do you know that?” Annie spoke up suddenly. Four sets of eyes turned to look.
Levi blinked slowly. “Because I read it.” He looked forward once more. “Besides, you’ll have to learn eventually; you can’t swim with one arm.”
Eren shrugged and the motion caught Levi’s gaze.
The older man sighed. “Ready?” A collective of nods. “Well, go on then.”
He waved his arm and everyone took a deep breath, submerging themselves. Levi stood and watched, taking his hand out of the water and pushing his hair out of his face, which relaxed now that all eyes had been taken off him. He watched the top of Eren’s head, noticing how his hair floated up, stretching out in every direction, as if he had been electrocuted. Levi allowed a small smile to take over his face at that, but it fell as the teens popped back up for air. Levi exhaled loudly out of his nose, this was going to be a long day.
Five hours later and everyone had learned how to tread water and doggy paddle… except Eren, who could barely float. Levi tried to not think of Eren’s wet skin, which he had to touch, grasp, and lead during the practice. Eren’s hair, wet and sticking to his face, becoming naturally curly from the moisture and scrunching up in the most adorable way. His breathing, incorrect for swimming, ragged and puffy. His eyes, shining with frustration and determination, a look Levi was very familiar with.
Levi stared at the ceiling that night, unable to sleep, wondering how this simple swimming exercise had turned into a test of his patience… his attraction for Eren that had been slowly building up without conscious understanding. Levi realized too late that he had developed… some kind of thing for the young soldier, a thing he was mortified of accepting. It happened when he had caught Eren sleep walking one night, something all the teens went through at one point due to physical and mental exhaustion. Eren had knocked on the door to Levi’s quarters, waking him. When Levi, half asleep, opened the door ready to murder who ever had disturbed him, was greeted with a clouded over Eren, clad only in socks.
Levi had been struck silent, the first thought flashing through his mind obviously that Eren was sleep walking. The second thought was, Eren looked damn good under his clothes.
Then Eren gave the most sultry grin that made Levi wake right up as the youth stepped into the room and pulled Levi into a bear hug. Levi froze. Eren had hummed and nuzzled his nose clumsily into the hair on top of Levi’s head down to his ear, resting finally on the crook of Levi’s neck. A bolt of electricity had struck through Levi’s body, from the roots on his head, to his cock, to the tips of his toes. Eren’s breath was hot and moist, lips pressing in a drag, not kissing.
It was awkward, to say the least, but Levi counts his blessings every day that Eren doesn’t seem to remember. Because Levi thinks of that hug every day, thinks of why he loved feeling Eren’s skin pressing against his, why his body immediately reacted the way it did: warm and excited.
Levi scrunched his eyes shut, running a hand down his face and groaned. These swimming lessons were going to be hell on earth, or maybe the death of him.
“Today we’ll be traveling, or swimming from one end of the pool to the other. This means getting into the deep end,” Levi announced the next day, standing again in front of his four students. They looked a little more confident in the water today, already having jumped in and getting their heads underwater. Eren was the only one wearing a frown, popping his knuckles under the surface.
Levi turned to the edge he was standing at, taking down squares of styrofoam. “If any of you want, I have floating devices that will help you stay above water. But note these aren’t to be relied on…” Levi trailed off, looking over at Eren.
He brought these mainly for Eren, since he was the only one struggling to stay above water, but he knew Eren wouldn’t accept the handicap, especially since no one else seemed interested in the help.
Well, at least Levi can say he tried.
While Armin, Jean and Annie swam laps, Levi continued where he left off the day before with Eren. He stood in front of him, holding Eren’s hands, stepping backwards slowly as he kicked his legs.
“I’m gonna let go now, okay?” Levi spoke, keenly aware of how Eren currently had a death grip on his hands.
“Um, okay…” Eren’s eyes shot up quickly to meet Levi’s before looking forward again, determined.
Levi let his hands slip out of Eren’s and stepped out of the way. Eren’s movements became frantic, his arms moving underwater and his body sinking belly first.
Levi huffed, watching what the problem could be, when Eren stood sharply out of the water, making a huge splash and crying out in frustration.
“Fuck! Why can’t I do this?” He slammed his fists into the water.
Levi took Eren by the arms, turning him around.
“Eren listen, calm down,” he held the teen in place, waiting for Eren to stop moving.
Eren was breathing hard again, causing his chest to expand and deflate dramatically. Levi caught himself staring, averting his eyes awkwardly down to Eren’s crotch (no, shit! Stop looking at his junk) before snapping back up to meet Eren’s eyes, which had visually calmed down, no longer bright with anger, but softened with curiosity.
Levi resisted the urge to glare at the others who he could feel staring at them. “Okay, first of all, stop breathing from your chest,” Levi gathered up his courage and tapped Eren’s chest, squashing down an image that popped into his brain of splaying his fingers over the firm muscles there, letting his palm feel the slight definition down Eren’s abs and stomach, flat and firm.
“Breathe here,” now he poked Eren’s stomach, noticing him flinch back with a small smile. Levi quirked an eyebrow at that. Ticklish, cute.
Levi brought his hand back to rest against his own stomach, breathing in deeply, letting it expand his tummy, before exhaling through his mouth.
“You gather more air breathing from your stomach, its natural and allows your lungs to be filled to capacity with air, which will help you float. Try it.” Levi only now noticed how close he was standing to Eren as he brought his hand up out of the water to rest against his stomach as well. If Levi were to extend a single finger out, he’d be touching Eren’s knuckles.
Levi breathed in slowly through his nose, demonstrating for Eren to copy him, which he did, feeling his tummy expand.
Their eyes were locked while they breathed, Levi realized a little crazily. Because he’d never kept his gaze this long with Eren, it was exhilarating. These past two years training and executing missions with Eren and the squad could be summed up in a sequence of stares, met or unrequited, hesitant touches (maybe accidental), and back-talk that was, at times, borderline flirtatious.
“Eren, come in my room tonight. There’s a new cobweb I can’t reach that needs to be taken down.”
“Well sir, if I havta, I’ll come tonight,” followed by a snicker.
Or touches,
“I can take care of the rest, Sir,” Eren insisted, taking the broom out of Levi’s hands by wrapping his own fingers around Levi’s, forcing the older man to dislodge the stick.
Or the stares… during missions, at dinner, during meetings. Unexplained stares, met and quickly broken.
How Eren’s eyes currently gazed into his, unashamed, not looking away. Levi could have been on a mission and he wouldnt’ve been able to break contact, like he was under a spell.
He could feel Eren’s breath hitting his forehead, cool against wet skin. Levi’s lips parted, feeling his breathing becoming shallow as his heart rate increased. Staring into Eren’s eyes was dizzying, logical thought was seeping out like the air he exhaled from his mouth. Then Eren smiled.
“It is easier to breathe this way,” his voice was soft, deep. Levi wondered what the fuck was happening to him.
Another day of training done. He told the class afterwards that they had mightily improved, and that they’d revisit the pool again next week for more laps. The kids seemed excited, well, Jean and Armin did. Annie looked bored, seemingly unimpressed in her progress. Eren stayed back while everyone exited, following him into the changing rooms. Levi figured he would. Eren finally got floating down, but was an awkward mess of limps in the water.
“Hey, Corporal,” Eren approached Levi, scratching his neck. Levi was pulling a shirt over his body.
“What?” Levi had a feeling what Eren was confronting him about. And he really wished Eren would put his clothes back on.
“So, I know you’re a busy person, but I was wondering… if you could teach me some more before we meet up again next week.”
Levi pulled his pants on over his wet underwear, usually he’d take them off after swim practice, but usually he was alone. He’d deal with the uncomfortable sensation until they got back to headquarters.
He swallowed, only imagining the strain his resistance would go through being alone with Eren, half naked in a neglected pool.
“I don’t know, Yeager. The other groups already have a schedule this week for the pool, and I am busy this week as well… still need to draw up drafts for the next outing with Erwin, and I have plans with Hanji…” mostly lies, Levi wasn’t extraordinarily busy, but he couldn’t afford to test his will power on Eren, not until he grew out of this attraction he’d developed. It was obviously just a phase, a moment of weakness for Levi… he’d been lonely recently, the comfort of friends around him unable to sate a sense of confinement in his chest. Levi had moments like these, ever since he’d joined the Survey Corps years ago, but always was able to hold it together, swallow down distracting emotions, wants and needs. Bringing your personal problems onto the battle field only got you killed. And that wasn’t a theory, it was a fact. It was the reason Levi was the best.
Eren though… he was all emotion. Rage, passion, anger, sadness. It caught Levi’s attention, holding on to his heart, striking a longing in Levi he wasn’t aware he had.
“But…” Eren took a step closer, fists clenched at his sides. “I’m just afraid what I’ve learned these past two days will fade away as the week goes by without practice. I need to stay constant, it’s the only way I learn.”
Yeah, and blind willpower, Levi smirked to himself. He liked Eren’s energy, it was encouraging, contagious, and sometimes at night, gave Levi bad ideas…
Levi straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest, still not meeting Eren’s gaze.
“I’m available tonight if you are,” Levi spat out quickly before he regretted it. One solo lesson wasn’t going to kill him, and he knew if he didn’t train with Eren now, he’d be sneaking into the pool without permission. Levi was young and stubborn once too, Eren reflected a little bit of his youth, which was probably partly why Levi decided to offer a private lesson. There was another part, obviously. A part who’s intentions weren’t so pure… but Levi knew he could (hopefully) get over that hurdle.
Eren smiled so wide Levi must’ve heard it cos he had to look up and watch.
That still didn’t prepare him for Eren running up and throwing his arms around him. Levi’s eyes almost popped out of his skull from the combined impact and shock.
“Thank you so much Corporal! I swear I’ll make it worth your while!”
Well, Levi thought, feeling heat crawl up his neck, lets hope not.
Coming back at night was a mistake. Candles weren’t allowed in the pool room, so the only light breaking the darkness was the shine of the moon through the windows.
“Wow,” Eren’s voice echoed in the empty room. “You can’t even see the bottom…” he was crouched down at the pool’s edge, staring down into the water, which sparkled dark blue in the moon light.
This… was wrong. So wrong. What had Levi been thinking. He could barely even see Eren in the limited light, let alone where the fuck his mind had gone.
“I think we should head back,” Levi started, he saw a figure move, probably Eren’s head turning toward him. “It’s way too dark to swim, maybe another day…”
“No!” Eren stood up. Levi blinked wordlessly.
“I mean,” Eren stretched his arms behind his head. “We’re already here, let’s at least get an hours worth in?”
Levi stood his ground wordlessly. The darkness helped to hide his conflicted face. Eren’s eyes vaguely sparkled when they caught the moon’s rays. It was beyond beautiful, and Levi was disgusted that he thought so. Maybe he could trick Eren into leaving, make it his idea.
And so a silence fell between the men, Levi struggling to keep his composure and a sneaky grin spreading across Eren’s face. Levi lowered his eyebrows, trying to stay in character, that is: grumpy superior who took his role very seriously.
That’s when Eren pulled his shirt off, striking Levi into dumb stiffness. He then swiftly kicked his shoes off along with his pants. Levi opened his mouth to stop him, but all that came out was a croak that sounded something like,
“Uhn…”
And then Eren flung himself into the pool, the ker-splash snapping Levi out of his stupor.
Well, that was new…
Eren emerged laughing, the rich sound reverberating off the tiled walls. Levi was still staring into space, focusing on calming his body down.
Eren stripped in front of me… and you liked it. You dirty old man.
“C'mon, Corporal! The water is.. fuck, freezing.” More laughter.
Levi had to smile at that, finally turning toward the pool. He hunched forward, looking at the dark shape in the water. Levi wondered if Eren knew what he was doing… the 17-year old had a maturity beyond his years that sometimes took Levi by surprise. It was comforting, but also a little scary.
Because Levi was giving in; he had it bad for Eren Yeager.
“What do you do to me…” Levi murmured, low enough so his voice wouldn’t carry, kicking his own boots off and fiddling with his belt buckle, pushing his pants down, carefully taking them a distance away from the pool to fold and set them down neatly, along with his shirt.
When he came back Eren’s arms were folded over the edge, half of his body in the water. Levi grinned as he sat down, carefully easing himself into the cold water… this didn’t feel like a swimming lesson anymore, this felt like a couple of kids sneaking into a closed pool after hours. Levi never let himself deviate from his orders, his role in the Survey Corps, but right now he felt young and stupid. Maybe because Eren was next to him, smiling a crazy, teeth chattering smile.
“Ready to teach your worst student?”
Levi hummed, taking in Eren’s figure. His hair, his eyes, nose, jaw and chin, slightly pointed, slightly squared from age. His shoulders, wide and thick, collar bones dipping in and out, reaching out and down his biceps, thick and curvy, down to his forearms, corded and lean. Over to his stomach, flat with set-in lines from exercise, up to a broad chest that was pure muscle. Eren wasn’t the scrawny 15-year old Levi met back then. Use of the 3-Dimensional gear had done wonders on his body, not to mention the natural growth spurt that Levi got to witness first hand in sparring matches and titan experiments with Hanji.
“What are you doing?” Levi spoke, tilting his chin as he lifted his head to meet Eren’s eyes.
Eren blinked, smile faltering. “What?”
“You know how to swim,” Levi guessed. This was an act… it had to be. Eren was just far too giddy to be alone in the pool with Levi… and it wasn’t his old hero worship either. And from studying Eren earlier, Levi’s only assumption he could draw from Eren’s awkward, forced-looking flops was that he was faking it.
There was something between them, Levi could feel it. It wasn’t normal to stare down your superior during cleaning nights, or to offer to blow on his tea, brush his hand “accidentally” whenever they passed each other in the hallways. Levi just couldn’t believe a kid Eren’s age would act so boldly toward a superior.
And Levi refused to delude himself into thinking he’d ever have a chance with Eren, for professional reasons and personal.
Because Eren was young, very young. He was fresh into the fray, he had emotional compromises that influenced everything he did, on and off the battle field. Nothing Eren did held merit, because of his past horrors and the innocence that came with inexperience and age. Levi would be taking advantage of him in some way, it was wrong to come up with excuses otherwise.
Until now… because Eren was leading him on. Levi had held off acknowledging Eren’s pursuits, thinking it was just a phase… but it never let up. And now Levi was trying to convince himself that his sudden attraction to Eren was a phase.
But that was just silly. Even if it was, who cared? If Eren was willing to finally cough up the truth, who was Levi to deny him?
Levi continued to stare at Eren, confident now in his assumption.
Eren licked his lips, looking off to the side.
“Okay, don’t get mad at me…”
I fucking knew it.
Eren fidgeted where he stood, his playful confidence all dried up. Levi felt a swell of giddy satisfaction inside, reflecting nothing on the outside.
“So, um… I didn’t mean to take up your time its just…” Eren brought his hands out of the water, covering his face. Levi’s jaw fell at that.
“Shit, this is really embarrassing,” Eren laughed nervously, voice muffled behind his hands.
Levi snickered. “No it’s not,” he reached up, taking Eren’s wrists away from his face. “Come on, where’s that spit fire I’m so used to?”
Eren’s eyes widened, noticeable even in the darkness. Levi let his thumb trace patterns over Eren’s hand, slipping under the water.
Eren licked his lips, leaning down slightly. “Okay,” he nodded once, reassuring himself, then he closed the gap between his and Levi’s lips.
Well, that was a pleasant surprise.
Eren pressed harder and Levi’s eyes slipped shut, allowing Eren to lead the kiss, as his mind was too busy floating away and rendering him incapable of much else.
A spark shot through Levi’s body as Eren’s lips moved slightly, causing Levi to tilt his jaw up further to keep the connection.
Eren leaned back then, disconnecting from the kiss slowly, agonizingly. Levi opened his eyes to Eren’s, glinting something fiery in the moonlight, and Levi’s lips parted. Beauty like this shouldn’t exist in a bubbling, over confident teenager.
“Wow…” Eren mumbled, cracking a shit-eating grin. Levi scoffed at that.
Levi made a face of complete amusement. “'Wow’?” he repeated, slightly sarcastic, before bringing his hand out of the water, gripping the back of Eren’s neck and pulling him back down roughly, crashing their lips together with renewed vigor.
Eren stumbled forward, splashing the water noisily around them. His hands, flailing slightly, found purchase on Levi’s shoulders, keeping him upright.
Levi snuck his free hand around the other side of Eren’s shoulders, bringing his body closer, mouth dropping open in a sharp gasp as he felt Eren’s bare chest slide along his. The slick contact caused Levi to groan, pressing himself flush against Eren’s body as he closed his lips again around Eren’s, fighting with himself to take this as slow as possible.
But only because he thought that’s what Eren would want.
When Eren nibbled on Levi’s bottom lip, giving it a forgiving lick before shoving his tongue past, it was Levi’s turn to momentarily stumble, his feet slipping out from under and causing him to float backwards.
“Eren- ah,” Levi gasped, his back hitting the pool wall suddenly as his mouth was taken again with renewed vigor. This time with the support from the wall, Levi reciprocated.
Levi’s arms around Eren’s neck tightened, a hand getting a fistful of that stupid fluffy-when-wet brown hair and utilizing it to help point Eren in the right direction, so to speak. Levi could also have been gripping it because he just needed something to hold on to. Eren was kissing him like they only had this moment; tongue sliding along Levi’s in a back a forth motion, almost completely slipping out at some points before plunging back in. Levi held in a moan he so wanted to let out in favor of meeting Eren’s movements, deepening them. He pressed harder, tilting slightly, and caressed Eren’s lips before sucking his tongue back in.
Eren’s hands moved down from Levi’s shoulders to his chest, grazing nipples along the way, and to his hips, fingers pressing hard. It made Levi’s back arch off the wall; the trail made with Eren’s fingers left a burning sensation despite the water… actually Levi wasn’t even thinking about the cold water anymore. If anything the light waves they created between them added to the hot sensation of Eren touching him, feeling his skin and working his mouth like nothing Levi had experienced in a long time.
Then Eren’s fingers extended, grabbing Levi’s hips and pulling him forward, their crotches grinding together underneath thin layers of cloth.
This time they both had to disconnect to moan loudly. The erection Levi wasn’t even aware was growing had been brought to attention… as well as Eren’s. Their eyes met, Levi had time for one long, ragged inhale – tense with wondering what would happen next, because God damn he never knew Eren had it in him.
Said teen was currently caressing Levi’s skin, underneath the band of his underwear. What a fucking tease.
Levi got his breathing halfway under control before speaking, “Getting a little forward, brat.”
Eren grinned naughtily.
“My bad… sir,” he nudged his nose against Levi’s, with a soft smile. “Shall I slow down?”
Before Levi could answer that, the softest moist touch met his lips. Levi caught his breath, the satin-smooth and delicate contact created a delicious contrast between what they had just done. Tiny little movements, barely-perceptible sensations as Eren pressed a little closer, only to slip away again, almost breaking contact… Levi didn’t even realize how he was automatically following when Eren retreated, until he felt his chest bump Eren’s again. Levi’s eyes fluttered open, greeted with deep cyan eyes that reflected the moon’s shine off the water.
“Shit…” Levi breathed. Eren cracked a grin at that.
Levi looked down, at Eren’s wet chest, at their position and sighed, moving his head up to touch his nose to Eren’s chin, humming as the younger soldier tilted his head down at the same time, lips brushing past sensuously, barely touching.
Levi kind of laughed without humor. “I’m in so much trouble.”
