Work Text:
Room 228. Room 228! My eyes scanned every passing number for the corresponding order of digits. With every heavy footstep slammed against the tile, a bit of air escaped my lungs. Normally the aroma of cleaning products brought a wave of calm over me, but not this time. Waking up this morning, I never expected that I would be here, sprinting down the hallway of a hospital. Though, who would expect that? Getting a phone call that there was an accident and the love of your life was hurt. That was something I preferred not to think about.
Considering Eren’s profession, the idea had crossed my mind more often than not. And those intrusive thoughts struck fear to my core. Though they paled in comparison to the dread currently consuming me. Chief Pixis didn’t tell me the extent of his injuries. Rather, I didn’t stay on the phone long enough to hear. Learning that he was involved in an accident and his current whereabouts were enough to run out of my office without notice. Luckily, I can’t get fired as being the CEO has those perks.
Finally reaching the location I was alerted my boyfriend would be in, I braced myself for the possible conditions I might see. Entering the threshold, a wave of relief overtook me. Not only was Eren conscious, but he was in good health, that is if you exclude the cast covering his left leg.
“Hey gorgeous, fancy meeting you here.” He smiled, his eyes looking a bit out of it. I’m guessing he was slightly high from pain meds for his apparent broken leg.
“Eren, what the hell happened?” I said while walking over and taking a seat in the chair beside the bed.
“Oh… I fell.. whoops.” He said while giggling. Yeah, he was high.
“Fell off of what?” I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose in frustration.
“Uh… I don’t remember.”
“He fell from a ladder.” A familiar voice appeared. I looked at the doorway seeing Erwin leaning against it.
“Oh yeah, I fell while getting a cat. He was so feisty… and scratchy… and black. A feisty, scratchy cat with black hair. Oooooh, he was like you.” He started petting my hair.
“I’m not scratchy,” I took his hand off my hair and held it in mine.
“Yes, you are. You always scratch my back when I fuck you. Like my own little kitten.” Eren started making a purring noise in the back of his throat, imitating a cat.
“Ok, that’s enough babe.” I gently patted his cheek to calm him down.
“And that’s more information than I needed to know about my friend's sex life. I'm going to head back to the station. Now that you’re here, Eren doesn’t need me to watch over him.” Erwin said, waving off and getting ready to leave.
“Thanks for staying with him until I got here,” I spoke, not removing my gaze from my drowsy boyfriend.
“It’s no problem, I always look out for Eren during work and he does the same for me. Besides, I wouldn’t want anything to happen to your beloved anyways. It would completely mess up my efforts in getting you two together over a year ago. Then who would you scratch after that?” Erwin said once more while making his departure down the hall.
“Dammit,” I muttered under my breath as I felt my face heating up. I mean he wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t have to say it.
I spent the next hour running my fingers through my lover’s hair and listening to him ramble about nonsense. It was honestly adorable and somehow annoying at the same time. As time passed the drugs took a stronger effect and he was knocked out. I took this moment to reflect on how lucky I was. Not only that he was okay, but I was able to be with someone that understood and accepted all my quirks the way Eren did. I rested my head lightly on his arm and allowed sleep to take over.
I had no idea how much time went by as I was awoken to kisses being planted on top of my head. Shifting my head to look up, the sight made my heart melt. Those illicit blue eyes held so much emotion. Looks like the hazy side effects created by the medicine had thankfully worn off.
“Eren, how are you feeling?”
“I’m in a bit of pain, but I’m okay.” He groaned a bit in discomfort.
“Well, that broken leg can't be too comfortable.”
“And fractured pelvis.”
“Excuse me,” I responded in confusion.
“My pelvis is also slightly fractured on the left side, not enough to need surgery though. But just a bit to not walk for a few weeks, or partake in any bedroom activities. At least that's what the doctor said before she put me on the strong meds.” He seemed more upset about the no-sex part than anything else.
“All this from falling off a ladder Eren?” I crossed my arms in disappointment.
“You know about that huh?” He rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment.
“You’re the one who told me. You were getting a cat down from what I’m assuming was a tree.”
“A telephone poll actually, and that cat was vicious and feisty. It kind of reminded me of you.”
“You told me that as well. You also told our good friend Erwin that I scratch your back like a kitten when having sex.”
He paused for a second, then replied. “Well, you do.”
“Not the point,” I slapped his arm but not hard enough to do any damage, he was already in enough pain. “Do you realize how badly this could’ve ended? You could’ve been so much worse off. I already worry about you running into fires and now I have to add falling off of ladders to my list. I honestly don’t understand why you and Erwin picked this damn job.”
“The hat is pretty cool,” he joked.
“Yeah, and wizards have cool hats too so why not do that?”
“There’s a school for wizardry around here?”
“You think this is funny, huh?” My tone conveyed irritation.
“No babe, I don’t think it's funny. At least not entirely,” he shifted to one side of the bed and patted the now empty spot beside him. “Come here.”
“No, you’re hurt.”
“Levi, come here.” He said once again, and I knew better than to argue with someone so stubborn. I stood from my chair and carefully climbed in bed with him, being sure not to bump his hip. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled my head to his chest. “I’m sorry for joking,” his nose now resting in my hair. “I know you were scared. Hell, I don’t even know what I’d do in your position besides freak out.”
“I just want you to be more careful. God Eren, I’ve never felt so sick in my life as I did when getting the call from your boss that you were hurt.”
“Pixis didn’t tell you it wasn’t serious?”
“I didn’t stay on the line long enough to get any more information. Once he told me where you were and that an accident happened, I hung up and rushed over.” I scratched my cheek awkwardly to hide my bashfulness. “Maybe I should’ve stayed on the line longer.”
“Yeah, maybe you should’ve,” he smirked.
“And maybe you shouldn’t be a firefighter when you’re so damn clumsy,” I shot back.
“I’ll quit if that’s what you want.”
“What?” Did I hear that right?
“If you can’t handle being with a firefighter, I’ll quit and find a safer job. While I love my job, I can live without it, but I can’t say the same about you.” He pecked the top of my forehead while stating.
“Eren, I didn’t mean that. And I could never ask that of you. I know how hard you worked for this and I can’t take that away from you and have you resent me for it.”
“I would never resent you, love.”
“I know, but I don’t want to risk it.” I snuggled closer into his chest and wrapped my arms around his neck. “I’d rather have you and worry about you every day of my life, than not have you at all.”
“I adore you, Levi.” He said fondly.
“And I, you.” We shared a long kiss this time, my worries melting away. Whenever I was with him, I felt this completeness I hadn’t believed was possible before. We pulled apart and locked eyes. “But if you ever fall off a ladder again, I’ll strangle you with my bare hands.”
“And I’d expect nothing less from my kitten.” He teased and my cheeks flushed crimson once more. After over a year together, he still had that effect on me, and I hope that it never fades.