Dangerous Territory

Bath Salts and Liquid Shampoo

The next morning, Eren peeked his head up through the attic door and saw Levi with the book, reading by the pale light slanting in through the tiny window. A storm had moved in, clouds bubbled over Metz, and rain streaked the windows, thundering in heavy pattering on the roof.

"Good morning."

Levi's gaze remained on the book. "You didn't knock," he whispered.

"Sorry." Eren had an eager face. "It's raining hard today. The light is no good. How about you bring the book down?"

"It's not safe for me to keep coming down there."

"It is today. I knocked around on all the doors in the whole floor. Everyone is out." Eren grinned with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We're all alone."

Levi closed the book and looked over. All alone! Just him and Eren and a hotel to themselves. The mere idea made his heart speed up.

"What's your plan?" he asked, curious about this German's scheme.

"First, breakfast. Then, you can get a real bath."

"I bathed yesterday."

"You were just washing off dust. I mean soaking, wash your hair, maybe a little bit of wine. I got another bottle."

"I don't drink in the bathtub," Levi said coldly, but he paused. "Although, it does sound nice."

"Ja, right? I got some Epsom salt, that's always really nice for baths. I found out this hotel can give us good shampoo, instead of a bar of soap. It smells really nice." Eren felt himself shivering inside, just thinking about the intense joy it would give him to thoroughly spoil Levi. "I just ... I really want to spoil you a little, while I still can. You have to stay in this attic, when I wish you could stay—"

With me, he thought, but he dared not say the words.

Levi understood, though. "Knowing you, you'd probably pull me down and force me into that bathtub."

"How mean! You know I never do anything you don't want."

Yes, he knew. From kissing to mere hugging, Eren always asked if it was okay. It was an endearing bit of concern: thoughtful, chivalrous, loving...

Loving...

Levi set the book aside and turned toward the attic hatch.

"Oh! Bring the book, so you can read down here after the bath."

Eren's sunny smile warmed him up, and Levi gave in to his whims. He picked the book back up and carried it with him. Eren moved aside so Levi could slip the ladder out and climb down. He landed in the bright room, so much warmer than the attic and quieter with only the tapping of rain on the glass window. To be safe, Eren tossed the ladder back up, stood on a chair, and pulled the attic hatch down. Just in case anyone knocked, at least they would not see evidence.

Levi glanced Eren over. "You're in uniform today."

"Huh? Oh," he said, glancing down at the feldgrau uniform. "When I checked on the other officers, I wanted to wear the uniform, just in case. It would look really bad to be roaming around the hotel in my undershirt. Plus it's warmer."

Levi shrugged it off. He did not particularly like to see Eren in uniform, but as a former soldier, he knew that it was just clothes one had to wear.

Eren eagerly waved to a breakfast cart with silver trays of food. "I got you Eier und Pfannkuchen."

"The hell is that?"

Eren looked at the plates. "I ... I'm not good at English food words. I always forget."