They reached Thomas's house and he thanked them once more before getting out of the car. When he reached the front porch he waved hoping that they wouldn't wait until he got in the house. When he realized they didn't drive away he walked over and unlocked the gate making it look like he was going through the backdoor. He was lucky that his parents at least gave him a key to the gate instead of making him jump over it like they used too, but he had no luck with a key to the house. When the side gate closed they drove away thinking he was safely home.

He waited as he watched through the crack of the gate for them to drive away. When they did he looked at the window on the second story that he left open earlier. He sighed and threw his backpack into it. It took him a few tries to get it into the room but when he finally got it he looked at the tree next to him and back at the window.

He had done this many times before, but it still took him a bit to prepare. He had to learn the hard way that he needed to watch his step or where he grabbed. He always ended up with a few splinters from the old tree. Only once has he ever lost his footing and once was enough to teach him where to put his feet. He was almost to his window the first time he lost his footing he put his foot to close to the end of the branch and slipped. He landed on his arm the wrong way and broke it. He had to walk himself to the hospital and when they called his parents they still didn't show up they just sent back the paid bill in the mail.

Thomas was as far on the branch as he could go. He didn't know whether the last little bit was sturdy enough so he always risked jumping to the window instead of walking on the end of the branch. Jumping scared the crap out of him since a few times he only made it by grabbing onto the window and barely managing to pull himself up. Most of the time he was able to get through the window easier, but he would always think today's the day I'll miss.

He held his breath and jumped concentrating only on where he was going. His foot slipped a little upon jumping, but he still managed to grab the window. He landed with his legs against the house, but his upper body hunched over the window struggling to pull himself up. When he finally climbed through the window he let out a relieved sigh and sat on his bed. He knew his parents weren't home today because the house was quiet. There was no yelling, no fighting, not a noise to be heard. "Alone, like always," he sighed laying back on his bed.

His parents were never home, and when they were all they would do was yell at each other. Thomas had wished when he was younger that they would get divorced, but as he grew older he realized that not even a divorce would fix them. No matter what they would continue to neglect him every chance they got. On the rare days, they actually were home and weren't about to rip each other's heads off. They would sit in silence in the living room with the hum of a radio playing or maybe the television. Those days Thomas used to love, the only days he could talk to them, or tell them what has been going on in school. One of those quiet days he told them about his crush years back. They had yelled at him and told him that guys can not like guys. His sister had fought for him, but ever since that day, Thomas refused to share anything with them.

"How long has it been since I even spoke to one of them?" Thomas thought, "one, two, no three years," he said rolling over in his bed.

"Is it time to head to Hanji's?" Levi asked collapsing on the couch not really wanting to go yet.

"Nah, we still have time before we have to be over there," Eren said setting his jacket on the back of the couch before sitting down next to him and leaning his head on Levi's shoulder. "Levi?" Eren said getting Levi's attention.

"Hmm," Levi hummed

"I need you," Eren said in a loving voice, it wasn't meant as a sexual request but more as a proclamation of love. "I need you in my life," Eren said again but quieter than before.

"Eren, I'm not going anywhere," Levi said taking Eren's hand in his and entangling their fingers together. "Not now, not ever," He said assuring Eren he was staying right where he is.

Eren nodded slightly and leaned his head up to look Levi in the eyes. He gave him a smiled before leaning in and placing a delicate kiss on his lips.

Levi smiled and wrapped his arms around Eren and hugged him, "You're cute," he said before placing a kiss on his lover's lips.

Eren had laid his head on Levi's lap looking up at him. Levi had his arm laid over Eren's chest as his arm held him lightly. His other hand was behind his head holding it as he played with his hair.

Eren couldn't help but love these moments, these moments felt like reality, he felt like the last few days had been nothing more than a continuous nightmare. He could tell Levi was being sincere and actually meant what he said that he would always stay with him. Eren couldn't help but think surely he must be misinterpreting the situation somehow.

He didn't really want to confront Levi on the subject not only because he might lose him, but because what if he was wrong, Levi would think he didn't trust him. If that was the case it would surely put a strain on their relationship.

'I do trust him,' Eren thought he thought trying to remain loyal to his lover, but in the back of his mind doubt still lingered. 'There must be an explanation for the faint lipstick trace that was on his cheek, or that he's not meeting with Erwin,' Eren thought as he laid in his lover's arms that held him so lovingly. One of Levi's hands was in Eren's hair playing with the long beautiful brown hair. 'I'm missing something,' Eren thought closing his eyes before ignoring the rest of the doubtful thoughts started to cloud his mind.

Levi let out a little laugh smiling as he looked down in his arms where Eren laid, asleep. "You must be tired," Levi whispered referencing the week Eren's had. He ran his fingers through his hair in a way he knew helped Eren feel at peace. "Sleep well brat," Levi said smiling as he rested his head on the back of the couch. He knew he would have to wake him in about an hour so they could go to Hanji's, but until them he wanted him to get as much sleep as he could.

When Levi woke him Eren looked so confused, he didn't ever remember falling asleep. 'How tired was I,' he thought scratching his head. He sat there waiting for his brain to wake up and his eyes to adjust. He didn't even realize Levi had left the room until he came back a few moments later with a hairbrush in his hand.

He sat next to Eren and signaled for him to turn his back towards him.

"I can brush my own hair Levi," Eren pouted.

"Your hair is in your eyes, I'm just going to put it up," Levi said talking to a still sleep dazed Eren.

"Oh," Eren said turning his back to Levi. He let Levi do what he wanted and felt him tie his hair up in a bun.

"You do look good with your hair up," Levi said when Eren turned his head around to look at him. He put his hand on Eren's cheek and brought him into a little kiss.