Dressed in a light blue, knee-length dress paired with white stockings, Levi slid around the marble tiles of his house while preparing the final touches for his guests that were to arrive at any second. He had even gone through the trouble of purchasing a vinyl record player when remodelling the house and it now sat on a shelf proudly blaring classical music he didn't know the name of.

“Almost here, almost here,” Levi chanted repeatedly. “Everything in order, doors locked so the brat doesn't touch anything, Erwin’s room perfect, all other rooms in good condition, third floor off boundaries, basement door locked.”

He ticked off everything to make sure the castle was to his standards and stood at his front door, examining the entry. He had to admit, the remodelling was grand and the floors shone brightly with any bit of light that touched it, making it much brighter than ever. 

The other floors on the second and third level were still dark but it didn't matter, those areas were used for sleeping anyway and could remain the way they were. Not much light was needed for sleeping anyways.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The firm sound of knuckles colliding against the solid wood door reverberated behind Levi, making him turn and take a breath. Damn was the castle going to have much more people than what he was used to. More than it had in many, many years.

"Now who could possibly be here?" Levi asked, just loud enough so that those on the other side could hear him.

"Your boyfriend, two random people, and your favourite fucking person," a moody voice responded, instantly causing Levi to open the door with a glare, his eyes finding the green ones he wanted to punch.

"What a joy it is to see you."

"Save the pleasantries, I'm starved."

"Good thing I planned on feeding you nothing so continue starving for all I care."

Erwin cleared his throat, laying a hand on Levi's exposed shoulder due to the low hanging sleeves.

"Hello? Nice to see you too?"

Levi looked up, his face softening at the tall male and hesitantly leaning in for a hug that surprised them both. Levi knew he wasn’t supposed to reminisce too heavily on the blond and yet he did, making him crave human interaction. Hell was it going to be complicated if they continued doing things like that.

"You're looking nice," Erwin commented.

"Not bad yourself. Come in everyone, except Jäger."

Levi greeted Mike who sniffed him for some unknown reason and Mikasa who he was excited to see. Unfortunately, he had to let in Eren who made himself comfortable and wandered around the halls as if he had been there hundreds of times before.

"Woah. When did you get all this done?" Erwin asked, referring to the house. "Did someone come here and do it?"

"A lot of time in this place, on my hands, so I remodelled everything."

Low whistles of amazement exited both Erwin and Mike’s mouths, slowly looking around as if trying to notice every single detail. No grand details that would blow a person away but definitely enough to make them stare in awe. He had done a fantastic job.

It hadn't even been five minutes since his guests arrived but Levi already felt internally warm. His fingers, of course, were still cold to the touch but on a spiritual level, he was completely warm.

“Come on, I’ll show you to your rooms,” Levi announced, grabbing onto Erwin’s forearm to pull him along.

Slowly, his hands warmed against the other's skin, the warmth travelling up through his arm and onto his face and in his chest. These were the emotions he didn’t know if he could handle but nevertheless, he didn't let go, testing himself to the limit. He would hold on and see if those emotions really did fuck him up or if it was actual heat radiating off and warming him.

He managed to show the three where their rooms would be, Erwin’s room being the last as his hand still remained clasped on. It was now becoming painfully obvious to himself that what he was feeling was emotions of endearment or attraction. He had thought of it before when he was alone but now, it attacked him and he swore he would collapse.

“This is your room,” Levi pointed, suddenly finding the wall interesting as he refused to look at the blond. “You can settle in and tell the others to come down for food. I tried cooking something so I hope you guys will like it.”

“I'm sure we will.”

Levi nodded at the simple response, letting go and turning to leave. There was no use staying somewhere where he wasn’t even sure if he was allowed to be there. What’d he do anyways? Stare at Erwin as he settled in? Weird.

“Leaving already?” Erwin asked, reaching out quickly and grabbing Levi’s arms before he could exit.

Levi’s heart flipped and his breath stuttered for a second, reminding him that this was real life now and he better not fuck it up. What the hell was he even supposed to do now? Awkwardly chuckle and confess that he was indeed leaving before he suffered a severe case of tachycardia? He was still processing these emotions for fucks sake!

“I have to get the table ready,” Levi lied, using all his will power to stay facing the other direction as he felt the room close in around them and hold him in a suffocating position. “Besides, you probably suffered enough bringing the brat from so far.”

At that, Erwin did, indeed, laugh, slowly loosening his grip as he nodded his head in understanding. Levi, still faced away, slightly turned back to be met with a smiling face that had him smiling back without a second thought as if his expressions had been waiting for that moment to yield its own dazzling smile.

“I’ll leave you to it then. I'll help if you want,” Erwin offered, setting panic within the smaller once more.

“Oh no, no. It’s fine. I’ll manage.”

Waving a hand in dismissal, Levi sauntered out the room, as if trying to show that he was perfectly fine and could manage. His insides, on the other hand, seriously felt as if they were about to lose placement and tumble out of his mouth. 

What the hell was happening to him and why did he have to feel that now?