Dangerous Territory

Stumbling Lieutenant

A few minutes later, apple tarts came out with a side of ice cream. Levi truly could not believe he was eating like this. It felt like a dream! Reality was never this nice.

He spooned some of the cold sweetness into his mouth, felt it melt in hints of vanilla and cinnamon from the apple tart, and his eyes closed in bliss.

It felt real. It tasted real.

Across the table, lit warmly by candlelight, Eren smiled as he watched Levi enjoying the food.

"Is it good?" he asked, giddy with happiness.

Levi swallowed down the ice cream, and a tiny, heartfelt smile rose to his lips. "It's good. Thank you," he whispered.

Eren squeezed his hand. "When I come to New York, it'll be your turn to treat me."

When he came to New York! Not if ... when!

"I look forward to it," he muttered, already imagining how nice it would be to go out again.

The tart, the ice cream, the wine: all of it was too good to be true, and yet Levi only had to stretch his foot out and feel Eren there. More than once, he reached over, purely to touch him and remind himself, this was no dream.

Suddenly, Eren flinched and rubbed his head.

"Are you okay?" Levi asked immediately, setting down his ice cream spoon with a clatter.

"A little dizzy," he said, waving it off.

"Don't fall asleep at the dinner table."

Eren laughed awkwardly. "I think I'll hold off on the wine. You can have the rest." He picked up the bottle and poured another glass for Levi.

"Don't tell me you're getting drunk."

Eren smiled privately and shook his head. "Too emotional. I'm trying to hold it all in." His lips trembled again as his eyelids began to turn pink from tears he held back.

Levi reached his hand out, the pearl ring gleaming, and Eren reached forward, placing his warm hand over Levi's. They squeezed each other's hands, full of fears, hopes, and unspoken promises.

"I love you," Eren whispered under his breath.

Levi ached to hear those words again. He began to open his mouth, but just then a waiter brought another couple past them. He slammed his mouth closed and turned his face away to avoid the new diners from seeing him. Instead, he crushed Eren's hand. He should not speak too much in this restaurant, but hopefully he could get his feelings across without words.

Eren rubbed his head again and went back to his dessert. They finished the ice cream, and Levi brought his napkin up. He wiped his mouth while discreetly wiping a tear from his eye. Damn him, but he really was going to miss this crazy German brat!

Levi slowly finished off the last of the wine, not really wanting this night to end. He also sneaked the last miniature loaf of bread into his purse out of habit. Especially if he was leaving soon, he needed to squirrel away as much food as he could. Meals like this would not happen on the road.

He did not want to think about that too much. Not when Eren was playing with his feet under the table again, blushing so adorably. Levi wondered what he was thinking about, what made his cheeks flush brighter than usual, and his eyes staring like he was lost, glassy, swimming in a comfortably warm haze. Levi felt slightly embarrassed by how Eren gazed at him so lustfully, right here in public.

"Are you ready to go back?" Eren whispered.

Although a simple question, the carnal fire burning in his eyes made Levi shiver. He nodded, mentally preparing himself for what was to come. He still had so many uncertainties about being intimate with a man, yet gazing into those eyes, doubts turned to desires.