Your Wings Are My Salvation - Chapter 1 - ExpiredAnimeTrash - Shingeki no Kyojin (2024)

Chapter Text

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How the Faerie’s wings look:

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"What is the point of this?" Eren grumbled as Jean nudged his reluctant shoulder forward. They were half a block away from Trost's brothel, Queendom, an interspecies sex club with many dark corners and even darker secrets.

Eren was a man of good fortune, the son of the Republic of Paradis’ greatest doctor who had fought off the plague before it even had the chance to ravage the surrounding population—he had never set foot anywhere near Trost until tonight, nor did he ever think he would.

"To get out of this stupid funk that you've been in since that little maiden left you in the dust," Jean shouted much too loudly for Eren's comfort. He scowled. "Will you shut up about that?" he snapped, shoving Jean's hand off his arm.

Jean snickered and Connie leapt to his side, grinning up at him. "He's right, Eren. No one likes to see you all wound-up. This is your chance to let loose, maybe hit it off with a hot little Pix—I know you secretly have a thing for them." He wiggled his eyebrows, and Eren scoffed. "As if," he grumbled.

Sure, it wasn't an earth-shattering secret that Eren thought the winged-species intriguing, despite the interest being frowned upon by most—being a human himself. But he'd never imagined sleeping with one.

He turned around, eyeing Mikasa, his sister two years his younger. She trailed about a foot behind them with her silver eyes sharp as she looked about. "Why are you here, anyway? I doubt Annie would appreciate it," he accused, and his sister shot her slitted stare to his. "I'm here to make sure you don't get killed. I don't trust this place, Eren." She ran her hands over her black frilly dress as they walked, puffing her pale cheeks at it. They all knew she much preferred men's trousers, but they had to put on a facade for any potential onlookers.

Well, she did, as the doctor's daughter. The public eye had grown to know that Eren didn't care much for presentation or saving face, as much as it granted him his parents' disapproval. The only reason he was so against the mention of the woman he thought he loved was because it still shot a skewer of pain through his chest, despite it having been two months since her leave.

"And what do you three expect to get out of this little 'venture?'" Mikasa eyed Jean, Connie, and Armin. She particularly lingered her suspicious stare on the short blond, whose face flushed a suspiciously startling red. "I'm just here to keep Eren company when the other two run off, we all know he doesn't want to be here," Armin quickly mumbled, though his defensive tone spoke of buried intention that had been snuffed out.

Mikasa shook her head, but drew silent nevertheless.

"Connie and I are here for the same reason as Eren, darling. We may not have broken hearts, but we could sure use a lovely night," Jean said exasperatedly as he stretched his arms above his head. "Oh, because working for the Chancellor is so hard," Eren mocked with a roll of his eyes, pushing his long hair back with a clawed hand.

Jean clicked his tongue. "It sure is. That bastard has a stick up his ass even after a good f*ck," he grumbled. "I just hope Dok is elected this time, maybe then Paradis would have a damn chance," he added. "Keep your voice down!" Mikasa hissed, not keen on seeing her friend lose his job due to his loose tongue. For once, Eren chose not to speak up against his friend's contrasting political views, his mood too low to indulge in a heated debate.

They reached the entrance to Queendom, and even above the musty sidewalk of Trost, they could almost smell the sex and desire wafting from inside the building.

Connie rubbed his hands together while Armin fidgeted anxiously. Jean took initiative and was the one to step forward, opening the door and granting them a dramatic bow as he allowed the others to enter the dimly lit lounge.

Crossing the doorway into the brothel was like entering another world. The clinking of glass and the murmuring of guests blanketed the room, orange and red lanterns and tall pillars that stretched to high domed ceilings greeting them with a warm openness.

But what was truly awe-striking were the fluttering blurs of blue high in the room, the sound of strong wings rapidly batting against the air filling their ears.

"Holy sh*t..." Connie mumbled, lips parted as the group stared wide-eyed at the Faeries above them. Some landed on the upper balcony, intrigued gazes falling on them like a predator's would to prey.

The Faeries weren't the only beings that roamed about the brothel lounge; tall Faun, varying from thin and curvy to broad and burly, their horns adorned with glimmering jewls and patterns, sat alluringly, eyeing newcomers with desirable intent or chatting quietly amongst one another. Some had their legs crossed, dark hooves and furry calves proudly on display. There were even a couple of centaurs in one corner—Eren didn't want to think about that.

Each fae to choose from no matter the gender were barely clothed in thin, revealing attire. Tiny corsets wrapped around the busts and waists of the women who flaunted themselves like prizes, paired by small, laced undergarments. Men were shirtless and clad in skintight trousers or shorts that left little to the imagination. More androgynous-appearing fae were just as scantily clad, albeit leaning away from one conforming gender.

Mikasa hugged her arms to her chest as a Faerie winked at her on their left, shifting closer to the other four, who were still soaking in the sensual atmosphere. A particular redheaded Faun immediately caught Connie's eye.

"What would mother and father think of you mingling about in a place like this?" she whispered, and Eren blinked as he was yanked to reality, looking down at her from over his shoulder. "I didn't ask for this. If it were up to me I would turn around and go home," he bit back.

"Not a chance, mate, look at all of these beautiful Pix to choose from." Jean threw an arm over his shoulder and gestured wondrously to the balcony of Faeries. Some of them giggled, biting their lips as their eyes landed on Eren.

But he only scoffed, disinterested, and bothered that his friend kept referring to them with such a discourteous term. Before he could retort, the hostess of the brothel walked up to them. She was a human, her black locks of hair tied in a careful flower-woven braid that fell over her right shoulder. Her hands folded in front of her as she welcomed them with a kind smile and striking blue eyes.

"How may we help you tonight?" she asked in a calm, smooth tone. "Are you all seeking to be entertained?" Mikasa quickly stepped back, vigorously shaking her head, and the corner of the hostess' lips quirked upward as she glanced at her.

"This guy sure is!" Jean suddenly shoved Eren forward, and the hostess calmly stepped away to avoid getting hit. "sh*t," Eren cursed, stabilizing himself with a glare at Jean over his shoulder before turning to the woman. "Sorry. I'm really not, these idiots just forced me to come," he explained through a frown.

She raised her eyebrow, eyeing him up and down with a hum. She glanced fleetingly at Jean and Connie from behind Eren, who subtly nodded their heads at her with encouraging stares.

She took the hint, looking back at Eren and analyzing his broad build. He wore a simple white button-down, the first two buttons left undone, caring little for formality when not in the presence of his father. The shirt hugged him well, tightening against his rolling muscles when he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I see. And are you lads interested, too, then?" she turned her body to eye Jean, Connie, and Armin. Connie quickly nodded, stepping forward and stealing a glance at the redhead he'd spotted earlier. The hostess followed his gaze, nodding in quick understanding.

"Sasha," she called, and the girl turned her head and took notice of the group. She smiled warmly, walking up to them with a skip in her hooved step, adorned by delicate jewelry that wrapped around her thin, dark auburn horns. At first glance, none would have assumed she worked at a brothel. "This gentleman would like to be shown upstairs," she said suggestively, and Sasha's gaze curled into something sultry as she giggled and hooked her thin arm around Connie's.

Jean whistled, patting his friend on the shoulder before he was led toward the spiral staircase ahead of them. Eren rolled his eyes before glueing them to the floor with a frown. The hostess took notice of his behavior, but didn't comment.

Suddenly, they were met with the heavy clicking of hooves against the polished ground before a tall presence met theirs. The group looked up to see a large, burly Faun, a polar opposite from Sasha. He had blue eyes as bright as diamonds, and his blonde hair was slicked back between two wide horns that curled on either side of his chiseled, ivory-toned face.

"Ah, one of ours has taken an interest first, it seems," the hostess said with a small, knowing smile. The Faun's gaze hadn't even glanced at Eren, Mikasa, or Jean. They had immediately locked onto Armin, whose face had turned beet red upon the presence of the handsome Faun.

The tall blond took Armin's small hand into his large one, lifting it before leaning down and placing a delicate kiss on his knuckles, a gesture starkly contrasting his bulky appearance. Mikasa blinked, purely taken aback, before the three watched in awe as the Faun began leading Armin toward the staircase without a single hint of protest.

"S–Sorry guys," Armin managed to stutter before he was willingly whisked away, a poorly hidden eagerness in his steps.

"What the hell? So much for 'keeping Eren company,'" Jean mumbled, and Mikasa shook her head with a bitten-back smirk.

Eren sighed, eyeing the floor beneath them as the hostess resumed speaking. "And what may interest you, sir?" she asked Jean, and he stepped up beside Eren. He hummed, eyeing the options above and around him.

"I want something that'll give me wet dreams for weeks on end. Would you recommend a Puck or a Pix? Even a four-legged would do, if they're a good one." He shrugged passively. "Jean!" Mikasa hissed, shoving him on the shoulder.

The hostess raised an eyebrow, eyeing him with evident distaste before collecting herself. "Would one of smaller stature do? You seem to suffer from quite the ego," she said calmly, and Eren couldn't help but snicker as Jean's eyes widened with offense.

"Whatever," he waved her off with wounded pride, and she sighed before taking a step back and turning around.

She raised her head to the balcony and whistled a particular tune. One Faerie lifted from the floor, thin blue wings fluttering behind her and carrying her to the ground before them. A sharp breath filled Jean's lungs as his hazel eyes fell on the fae, eyeing her short, thin stature with a stare of awe.

"This is Christa, one of our best," the hostess introduced, and Christa walked forward with dainty steps before sliding a delicate hand over Jean's bicep, sky-blue eyes locking with his.

"Uh, yeah," Jean managed to croak, clearing his throat before swallowing thickly. The hostess smirked before stepping aside to let the two head to the staircase. Snapping himself out of his momentary trance, Jean looked over his shoulder at Eren. "Don't be a puss*!" he whispered harshly before gluing his attention to the fae locked to his arm.

Eren rolled his eyes again and dropped his head to the ground, ashamed that his friends were so easily swooned. He didn't belong here—in an environment so crude and venereal. All he wanted to do was go back home, assure his father he hadn't gotten into trouble, light a lantern at his bedside and read a good book before sleep finally captured him. He would wake up to another day of fighting away the heartbreak that still lingered in the back of his mind, but everything would be as it was in his mundane, normal life.

"Now, let's see here." Eren looked up to see the hostess eyeing him thoughtfully. "Really, I'm not interested," he interjected, though she chose to ignore him as she stepped closer, stopping only inches away from him before brushing a hand over his shoulder.

She moved her hand to his chest, softly feeling over his clothed pecs, and Eren swallowed thickly as she gently shut her eyes. After a few moments, she nodded slowly. "Ahh, yes." She opened her eyes and reached up to delicately brush a lock of his long brown hair out of his face. He could have sworn her eyes had just flashed purple, but as quick as it had come, it was gone, so he assumed it had been a trick of the light.

He shifted uncomfortably while Mikasa eyed her with a raised eyebrow. "You're hurting," the hostess softly claimed, and Eren's expression pinched. "You need a distraction," she carefully added before stepping away. Eren blinked, dumbfounded and feeling as if his heart was just violated.

But she ignored his obvious discomfort. "I think I have just the solution," she said with a small smile before she turned her head to no particular direction and whistled a soft, gentle tune. The sound seemed to reach deeper than Eren's eardrums, echoing into his very consciousness and stirring something dormant, yet primal.

Eren eyed the room suspiciously, though no one approached them yet. The hostess didn't seem disgruntled, she merely stood patiently as she awaited for whomever she had called for.

Just as Eren was about to insist that he and Mikasa left, a presence emerged from a shadow to their right.

A chill rolled over his spine before he turned his head to the direction of the soft footsteps. But when he laid eyes on the fae that came to greet them, his eyes widened and his mouth was stripped of all moisture.

Thin, yet toned, pale with porcelain skin, and wrapped delicately in a golden silk cloth that hugged the sacred parts of his body from his shoulder to his curved hips, the Faerie was a sight to behold. His blue wings carefully rested behind him, though as he neared them, he stretched them outward with a flaunting gesture, and Eren couldn't help but become captured by their entrancing beauty.

His eyes locked with Eren's, and the world around him seemed to grow silent. The silver that pierced his emerald reached the depth of Eren’s very being. And though they were lidded, painting a sultry gaze of sinful intention, Eren swore they glowed beneath the warm light of the lounge—icy steel melting into the heat of an orange sun.

His features were thin, sharp, but delicate in comparison to Eren's own. His peach-tinted lips rested monotonously, but his defined cupids bow glimmered beneath the light above them. The same highlight adorned his high cheekbones, his temples framed by midnight-black hair. Styled in an off-center undercut, loose locks meticulously fell over his forehead, the onyx strands a stark contrast to his alabaster skin.

Complimenting his golden wrap was an assortment of jewelry, dangling golden earrings and studs alike trailing a path up both of his ears. Layered necklaces shone beneath the light, reflecting against his skin and casting small beams of gentle yellow over his collarbone.

Eren was at a loss for words, as all he could do was purely soak in his ethereal beauty. The first thought he could conjure was that he had discovered a real, living angel.

"Levi," the hostess greeted calmly, an echo in Eren's head, though her widened, closed-mouthed grin spoke of the pride she had embraced upon Eren's reaction.

Levi's lidded eyes were still locked with Eren's when he stopped in front of them, his gaze whispering promises of enticing danger.

"This is Eren. He will be your first client for the night. Help whisk away the pain that plagues him," the hostess said.

Eren didn’t even have the mind to realize he had never given her his name.

Levi stepped up to Eren, and he could feel the Faeries' breath curl up his neck, rising goosebumps over his tan skin. Levi slid a gentle hand over his clothed arm, delicate fingers climbing to his broad shoulder as he took in Eren's build. "Oh, I intend to," he whispered, and the hostess nodded with satisfaction as Eren swallowed the sudden thickness in his throat.

"Just to inform you, Levi is our most expensive," the hostess told Eren. "That's fine," Eren immediately said, hungry eyes glued to the stormy gaze that caught his own. He couldn't help but notice the tiny smirk that twitched the corner of Levi's lips upon his swiftly spoken agreement.

He forced himself to jerk out of the trance that continuously threatened to reel him in, momentarily turning to Mikasa, "Are you going to be okay?" he asked, and Mikasa scoffed when she realized Eren had given in without so much as putting up the smallest fight upon seeing the fae.

But the hostess stepped up to her before Mikasa could answer, sliding a hand over her shoulder. "Not to worry, I'll keep her company," she said warmly. "Your sister is safe in my hands."

Mikasa fidgeted while Eren nodded, attempting to seek comfort in her words. But then, something startled him. He found it odd that she'd so casually called her his sister despite the two looking nothing alike. He supposed they were a renowned family in the Republic. Not as renowned as the Chancellor's family, of course, but still highly regarded in name. Surely she must have just known who they were despite residing in the heart of Trost, right?

He was only met with the hostess' soft smile as she met his wary stare.

His attention was gripped by the fae who slid a pale hand to his cheek. His palm was unnaturally soft against Eren's skin, and the warmth seeping from his thin fingers soaked into his bones. "Let's take your mind off things," he said quietly, a deep huskiness woven through his voice that whisked away the rest of Eren's dwindling restraint.

Eren felt as if he was floating as Levi took his hand in his and began guiding him to the stairs. The fae around them that eyed his capture blended into the background, everything else joining them in a measly blur as Eren's sole focus became the Faerie in front of him. He watched his blue wings sway like an illusion with each step, analyzed their intricate detail, every vein and scattered color that shimmered throughout them, fluctuating beneath the lanterns.

With a parted breath, he felt as the first simmer of anticipation gripped him. Every second that passed with his gaze locked to the Faerie only heightened his desire and intensified the hunger in his eyes. The idea of becoming encased in a private environment with the enrapturing being became a longing itch in his veins, and he followed the fae up the curled stairs with hurried steps.

They walked down a dark hallway in silence, but the air spoke volumes of the experience to come. The only light granting their sight was the moon that cast through the windows lined along the wall. Eren could hear his own breath escape him, the way it was slightly shaky under the presence of the fae that still gripped his hand, who led him to a door numbered thirteen.

He'd never been the type to swoon beneath the captivating stare of another, especially a fae, but there was something about the pale winged-being, guiding him to a night of pleasure, that dwindled his composure.

The tantalizing silver stare of the Faerie before him was the last thing he laid eyes on before Levi opened the door, tugging him inside the dark room.

Eren eyed the room with a wide stare of awe. It was heavily adorned by traditional Faerish decor, symbols and items he'd only seen in books as a teenager littering the walls, accompanied by various trinkets of different material lining countless dark oak shelves.

Overgrown vines hung from the ceiling, drooping feet below before sweeping back up and crawling over the dark blue walls. It wasn't the only plant life in the room—a large number of saplings, hanging plants such as ferns, string-of-perals, and ivy, joined by flowers and various potted trees, were methodically placed everywhere Eren looked. Flowing gold curtains fluttered from the faint breeze that curled in through the cracked open window, moonlight creeping through it and painting the room a gentle midnight blue.

The queen sized bed in the center of the room, pushed against a long thin table, was blanketed by layers and layers of thick, warm comforters, scattered with feathered and fluffy blankets that lined the foot of it, and an assortment of large, stuffed silk pillows piled at the headboard. A thick roped net hung from the high ceiling above it, wide enough for someone’s entire arm span to fit within it, and Eren wondered what exactly it was used for.

Every inch of the room was decorated, what must have been years of development creating a cozy place to reside. Eren had a fleeting wonder just how long the fae had been doing this for to have established such a foundation, but he was quickly jerked out of such thoughts when his wrist was tugged toward the bed.

He immediately glued his attention to the Faerie, whose wings glimmered beneath the reflective moonlight that shone through them, and Eren's lips parted at the dark stare he was given. He knew he mirrored it; the hunger that curled through the air between them was palpable.

The Faerie lifted his delicate hand and trailed it up Eren's clothed bicep, bringing it to his jaw before stroking his skin with a gentle thumb. Their height difference was stark, Eren towered over him, and the Faerie had to crane his neck to look up into his ocean green stare.

"Let go of whatever troubles you for tonight," Levi whispered, and Eren swallowed before his large hands found the Faerie's thin waist, hands tucked just under his wings. Levi's lips parted on a soft breath, taken aback by the sudden action, but used Eren's desire to guide him to the bed.

While it was a struggle for Eren's movements to not become rushed and desperate as a primal longing overwhelmed him, Levi's remained methodical, gentle. Though Eren knew better. A dark, tantalizing aura existed behind the fae's actions, and it swam within his steel gaze as he looked up at the taller man.

Once Eren laid down, his wide, ocean-green stare shone with anticipation as he watched Levi climb on top of him. He straddled Eren's lap, moving his hands to sensually rub over Eren's torso. He sighed, his wings slightly parting on either side of his lean body. Eren followed their movement, and Levi reveled in the feeling of the man’s slowly hardening co*ck beneath his hips.

He began gently swirling them, and Eren groaned at the pressure against his arousal. His hands found the fae's waist, gripping it tightly as he ground himself on top of him. Levi slid his hands from Eren's clothed chest to the tan hands that held him, bringing them over the golden wrap that concealed the intimate parts of his body.

Eren took the hint with eagerness, bringing his fingers beneath the cloth and lifting it up his body. Levi moved with his hands until the silk fell over his wings and pooled at his hips, leaving his torso bare, and the Faerie could hear Eren's breathing grow ragged.

He continued to swirl his hips, a sigh of pleasure leaving his lips as he fluttered his eyes shut and tilted his head back. Eren eyed his unblemished pale neck, imagining himself mapping it with his mouth, though he managed to clutch to restraint and remained planted to the bed. He allowed himself to enjoy the fae's performance, marveled by his beauty and the gentle sway of his wings as he moved his lithe body.

"You're so good," Eren groaned, sliding his hands over his hips, fingers brushing beneath the loose golden wrap. Levi hummed, biting his lip before leaning down and gliding his hands over Eren's chest. He trailed them up his toned pecs, staring down at him with palpable hunger and a dominant aura that Eren struggled not to challenge.

Levi tantalizingly unbuttoned his white shirt. With each second that purposefully dragged on, more of Eren's tan, toned skin was revealed to the fae. Eren watched something darken in his eyes, the once-bright steel melting into a deep onyx as his pupils dilated with desire.

Eren groaned when the Faerie's tongue breached his lips to lick a wet, hot stripe up his chest. From how he draped above him, Eren could see his large blue wings much more clearly. Levi was lifting them, allowing them to expand for his eyes. The human's lips parted at the extraordinary sight. Though he had seen Faeries walk about the city, with public flight being prohibited and wings unable to stretch, he'd never noticed just how intricately beautiful they were.

The moonlight crept through them, painting each and every vein, color, thread and shape in an effervescent light. They almost glowed a bright, sky blue as they swayed on either side of his body. Now that Eren thought about it, he didn't think he'd ever seen a Faerie with such bright wings before. Maybe it was the lust clouding his vision, heightening his desire. Maybe the moonlight did something to them. But his attention was soon glued to their conjoined hips when Levi grabbed his hands and guided them to the bundled cloth at his thighs.

With a bitten lip, Eren didn't hesitate to grab it and lift it up the Faerie's body. He groaned as Levi's co*ck was exposed to the air, aching at the fact that he had been bare beneath the silk the entire time. The fae lifted it the rest of the way and delicately slid it over his head. It dropped beside them, decorating the bed with a warm, glimmering shine. But all Eren could focus on was the erection between Levi's legs, completely on display.

"f*ck," the man groaned, running his hands over the Faerie's bare hips. Levi sighed, a sultry breath that painted the air with sinful intention. Eren was still mostly clothed, his trousers too tight around his groin and his unbuttoned shirt pooling at his sides. But the latter didn't last long, as the fae soon slid his hands beneath the cotton and brought it over Eren's shoulders.

Everything was slow and meticulous. Not a moment was rushed between the two—despite Eren's constant anticipation. While his patience thinned, especially now that the Faerie was bare on top of him, Levi continuously proved to show restraint. Or maybe it was years of practiced patience, a skill only obtained by experience.

He slowly slid the shirt down Eren's biceps, and the man eagerly followed him by pulling his arms through the sleeves. His shirt lay beneath him, and his torso was on full display for the fae to drink up. Levi didn't appear embarrassed to be sitting completely naked in the slightest. His sole focus remained on Eren and the path of his fingers as he trailed them down his abs to the hem of his jeans.

He unbuttoned them before slowly pulling down the zipper, painfully edging Eren toward the relief of revoking his restrains. All Eren could focus on was how great it was going to feel to no longer have the clothing constricting him, to experience the fae's hands around his throbbing erection.

He lifted his hips and helped Levi tug his jeans down, the Faerie rising on his knees so Eren could push them the rest of the way off and kick them to the end of the bed. He sighed when his dick was granted peace, but it was fleeting, as his underwear quickly became too much as well. Without waiting for the fae to act, he pulled them down himself, his thick co*ck quickly springing into the air.

Levi's lips parted on a faint gasp at the unexpected move. The darkening desire in his eyes heightened when his eyes landed on Eren's arousal. Red tip throbbing, it was aching for attention, and the Faerie granted it just that with a pale hand wrapped around the base. Eren clenched his teeth, groaning. Levi leaned forward as he began slowly stroking the large co*ck in his grasp, stopping just as his soft lips brushed Eren's.

"There's no need to rush this; focus on the feeling," Levi whispered, and Eren's ragged breath clashed with the fae's sultry tone as he tried to listen to his advice. Their lips slid against each other, not quite kissing, yet wet and crudely intimate, and Eren's veins surged with lust. He moaned in the back of his throat as Levi continued his slow, tantalizing pace. There was something about it that only made Eren more desperate, more primal. He wasn't used to slow, he didn't think it was the way to fulfill one's utmost satisfaction. But it was the way the fae gradually unraveled him that truly succumbed him to a sense of delirious pleasure.

He let out a heady breath when Levi parted from his lips, their eyes locking with a burning flame ignited between them, before the Faerie proceeded to inch further down his body like a snake feeling out its helpless prey. His tongue parted his mouth to trail a hot path up his neck and to the shell of his ear, and Eren released an airy groan as his delicate lips paved a way further south.

Eren's anticipation surged to cloud nine when he realized where Levi's path was headed, breath picking up with a potent thickness as Levi's lips slid over his chest and down his toned abdomen.

His hands joined his venture, sliding warmly over Eren's skin. The cool breeze from the cracked-open window gently caressed it, contrasting the bodily heat that radiated from the fae atop him. He kept shifting himself backward until his mouth skimmed over the skin of his pelvis, the coarse brown hair that trailed to the base of his throbbing erection tickling the fae's highlighted nose.

"sh*t," Eren whispered, his fingers growing taut around the comforter beside him. Levi slid his lips to the length of Eren's co*ck, keeping his moonlit eyes devilishly locked with his as he allowed his tongue to lick a hot, wet trail to his tip. Eren clenched his teeth, groaning as he willed his hips not to move with every fiber of his being.

Levi seemed to revel in his desperation, his back arched and his wings on full display as he flattened his tongue against his tip, gently stretching his lips around it until it was enveloped by his warm mouth. "Mmh," Eren moaned, his eyes fluttering shut as he laid his head back against the pillows. He basked in the sensation, as teasing as it was, of Levi's mouth slowly sinking down his co*ck. The texture of his tongue rubbed against the underside of his length, swirling along its path down to his base.

"Fuuck," he groaned, a slur of a sound that only spurred Levi to increase his ministrations. Eren gasped when his lips met the very base of his co*ck where his nose nestled in the tickling hair on his pelvis, feeling the tip of his length meet the back of the fae’s throat. "Jesus," Eren breathed with surprise. Levi didn't make a single sound of reluctance or struggle as he deep-throated him with ease.

In fact, a smooth moan rumbled from him as he let the entirety of Eren's co*ck weigh heavily in his mouth. The man let out soft sighs of pleasure as Levi constricted his mouth's muscles around his length, sucking at it with consecutive pulses of his tongue like it was his lifeline. The throbbing sensation that tore through Eren was impeccable.

He clenched the comforter tighter as the fae lifted his head to bring his lips to his tip, hollowing his cheeks and sinking back down to the base of his co*ck. He began sucking him off at a leisurely pace, bobbing his head repetitively and allowing his building saliva and Eren's own precum to coat his lips. Just as each action prior, it wasn't rushed nor even desperate. However, it wasn't painstakingly slow, either. It was meticulous and effortless, perfected consecutive motions ascending Eren to a level of bliss he had never experienced before.

"Oh my god," he moaned, cracking his eyes open to look down at the Faerie. The sight he witnessed truly was one to behold. His pale, lean, and naked body bowed over him, back curved in to flaunt his ass, which was on full display between his two large blue wings that slightly bobbed along with his head. The moonlight that crept through them cast a faint shimmer on the comforter beneath them, speckles of blue light gently moving with his body.

One of Eren's hands that was tightly wound around the blanket itched to touch the being before him, and the compulsion quickly won and guided his fingers to find refuge in the Levi's onyx-black hair. His soft bangs draped over his forehead, casting his skin in a darker shadow than what the night already provided. When he looked up to meet Eren's gaze upon feeling his fingers entwine with his scalp, it was as if darkness wouldn't dare diminish the shine within his irises. The moonlight lit the steel around his pupils into a glowing silver, one that pierced Eren's very soul as the fae continued to sink his mouth down on his co*ck.

He didn't guide Levi with his hand, he didn't push his head down any faster than it needed to go—as much as his pulse thrummed with the idea—Levi's flawless ability, his expert movement, allowed no room for encouragement. He knew exactly what he was doing, and Eren was only unraveling more by the second. He simply kept his hand tangled with his hair, basking in the sight of Levi's flushed face beneath his tousled dark locks, his wet lips beautifully wrapped around him.

Eren softly gasped as he felt his nerves surge, toes curling as his sensitivity skyrocketed with Levi's smooth pace. Between the tantalizing, careful speed, the perfect suction of his hot mouth, the wetness of his saliva, and the texture of his expertly curling tongue, he was quickly losing his composure. He momentarily held his breath before letting it out with a ragged groan, clenching his eyes shut as his abdomen grew tight.

He'd never grown this close so quickly before. Something about the fae's mouth was nearly magical, his hollowed cheeks hurriedly ascending him to an indecipherable sense of ecstasy.

As if Levi could expertly sense Eren growing near his org*sm with each passing second, his pace torturously slowed, taking moments to simply slide his lips from the base of his co*ck to the tip, which he performed one final suck to before removing his mouth and sitting up.

His wings jostled as if a tremble had wracked through them. They glimmered beneath the light, entrancing Eren with their beauteous detail. He had to ground himself back in reality after the sensational experience of nearly cumming down the back of the Faerie's throat.

Eren kicked his underwear off as Levi climbed over his legs with gentle sways of his body, knees dipping into the comforter with each shift forward. The Faerie raised a hand and slowly brought it to Eren's face, where his delicate thumb gently stroked his bottom lip. Eren's lips parted as he let out an aroused sigh, pupils dilated magnificently until only a sliver of green remained. "You're so amazing," Eren whispered breathlessly. Entirely entranced, he was at the whim of Levi's will, who leaned forward until their lips slid together.

The man clutched Levi's hips as their mouths molded, feeling their erections press together with a lewd hotness. Levi's saliva and the precum that desperately oozed from Eren's tip created a slick wetness that made friction easy. The fae began grinding his hips back and forth, one hand reaching down to grip both of their lengths and stroking them simultaneously. His hand couldn't fully wrap around the two hard co*cks, one larger, a heady blend of caramel and red, throbbing with arousal, but the sensation of skin against skin sent Eren spiraling.

He let out a deep moan, jerking his hips to match Levi's pace. He was rougher, more desperate than the Faerie was, but Levi watched him with a dark, primordial hunger in his eyes, something that nearly encouraged Eren to lose control as his tongue swiped over his lip.

Suddenly, Levi pulled back, and Eren blinked away the haze that clouded him, watching the Faerie reach past him to the long table at the head of the bed. He returned to his position on Eren's lap with a bottle of oil in his hand. He uncapped it and a sweet fragrance drifted from it, something resembling a warm blend of lilac, vanilla, and cinnamon.

He poured a drizzle of the oil on his own fingers and kept his dark gaze connected with Eren's, setting the oil back down before he reached behind himself. Eren's eyes glimmered with anticipation when he realized what the Faerie was going to do, and bathed in witnessing his lips part beautifully as he intruded himself with his own oiled fingers.

He held Levi's bare hips as he worked himself open, taking the opportunity to drink in his flawless beauty. The night's blue light cast a cool glow on his skin, and painted the ridges of his neck with a defined shadow as he tilted his head back. Soft sighs of pleasure left his lips, and Eren felt dirty in the best way imaginable as he watched the fae finger himself on his lap.

He slid his hands to Levi's thin waist, stroking his warm skin. A small shiver wracked through the Faerie, his pleasure-laced gaze flicking down to meet green. Eren met his eyes for a moment, biting his bottom lip, before they trailed to the blue appendages protruding from his back. They stretched on either side of him, gently swaying in the air with the soft grind of his hips against his fingers. Eren found his hand venturing further up his body until they met where the blue wings sprouted from his back.

A soft, breathy sound met the back of Levi's throat as Eren skimmed his fingers over the bridge of Levi's left wing, feeling how powerful they were beneath his fingers. Such thin and beautiful attachments, carrying the strength to lift his body as if he weighed nothing at all.

"Curious thing," he swore he heard Levi whisper, so quiet it barely carried over the air, but he looked up at him and saw he appeared lost in his own sense of pleasure, eyes fallen shut and lips parted.

The edge of the wing was smooth and soft beneath his fingertips, the slightest bit of texture painting them unique, but as he slid his hand across its vast pattern that created it, he felt every meticulous ridge and vein that crossed through it. They resembled perfectly woven webs filled with drops of vibrant blue, a particular glimmer of green or gold splashed in various places.

The more he touched and felt, the more Levi himself appeared to unravel. The pace of his fingers was meticulous and effortless, but a flush had gathered on his ivory features. His lips parted to let out gentle moans, and they sounded as if they echoed sweetly over the serene air. To Eren, it seemed like he was enjoying the ministrations he performed on his wing, albeit how personal they were.

As Eren watched him and caressed the blue appendage, he remembered why he had always been so interested in Faeries growing up, even into his adulthood. They truly were magnificent creatures, careful, mesmerizing, passionate, unlike any other in the world and with the ability to carry themselves off to another land.

That is, if they lived in a land that allowed them to.

Eren returned his eyes to Levi's expression of delectation when he felt him shift on his lap. He leaned forward and grabbed the sweet smelling oil once more, and Eren gasped when he felt thin fingers wrap around the base of his co*ck. The liquid quickly slicked his length, permitting the air with the scent of a flowery dessert as a wet thumb stroked over the pre-cum gathered at his tip. Eren watched with lips parted in aroused-awe as Levi brought his thumb up to his lips and darted out his tongue to lick it off, moaning quietly at the thought of the fae tasting him.

Levi leaned forward again, setting the oil down. When he sat back he braced himself on Eren's shoulders, shifting forward until their lips were merely inches apart.

Their eyes locked, Levi's fingers climbing into the back of Eren's long hair, and they shared the air between them as unspoken desire pulsed beneath their connected skin.

Eren didn't think it was possible to feel as good as he did when Levi finally sunk down on him. The oil made it easy, surrounding him with a hot, slippery tightness. He gripped the Faerie's hips with clawed hands, fingers digging into his pale, unblemished skin, his jaw falling slack as he was enveloped by his heat.

"Oh, f*ck," he moaned, lidded eyes dazed by lust as he looked up at the fae, whose head had tilted back on a parted breath upon being filled. His wings shook, outstretched and trembling with a brief sense of ecstasy before he settled, the entirety of Eren's co*ck inside of him.

He slowly began rocking his hips, his movements a gentle swirl that ground the ridges of his core against Eren's entire length. Eren let out a ragged moan, his large hands hovering in the air above the fae's hips with disbelief before he dropped them to a tight clutch around Levi's moonlit skin. “Yes,” he moaned with delight. His fingers dug into the soft flesh, pupils blown wide. Only a ring of emerald green surrounding glimmering coal-black shone beneath the Faerie's swaying form.

The oil that permeated the air made the friction between his co*ck and hole slick and wet. Soft, sinful sounds echoed where their skin connected each time Levi sank down on his throbbing co*ck.

A thin layer of sweat threatened to gather on Eren's skin, and he could tell it was the same for the fae as a faint shimmer began to appear on his porcelain surface, though the breeze from the airy night that curled through the opened window fought off any hint of exertion. Each time Eren felt it cool his muscles, he sighed with a breath of subtle elation. The sensation of the wind contrasted the heat of their embrace, and the human basked in its gentle caresses.

Levi gradually increased his pace, his body lifting and sinking with a certain rhythm that was both languid and carried an air of want. All Eren could do was bask in his beauty, enraptured by the wings that only seemed to extend further outward with each passing moment, expanding their width to their greatest potential. His blown eyes impulsively flicked down to where their bodies connected, and he let out a deep groan at the alluring sight of the fae sucking in his co*ck like it was his right to do so.

"Holy... sh*t," Eren breathed, leaning his head back against the plush pillows and clenching his eyes shut, allowing himself to truly embrace the pleasure his body was succumbing to. He soon cracked them open to see Levi looking down at him with a dark expression of hunger. The Faerie parted his lips on a heavy sigh, a pleasure-woven breath that carried over the air they shared.

He wasn't extremely vocal, but that was part of what made the experience so magical, so ethereal. He was a pure being of experience and pleasure, one who gave and took, one who enveloped them in a quiet world of deep desire and primordial instincts allowed to surge to the surface.

His purpose wasn't to rush their single night together or evoke a sense of hurried desperation. It was to invite a lost soul into his environment where they could slowly ascend to a world untouched, untethered from the grounds of their reality. The breeze outside that met them in gentle touches whispered the truth of their whereabouts, though the city outside slept soundly, unaware of their physical entanglement.

From the confinement of room thirteen, it was only the two of them, a human and fae, acting on a lust entirely unwound.

Eren wasn't sure what to expect when he noticed that Levi's wings began to flutter quicker, firmer, watching them beat at a pace he'd never seen up-close before. They gradually increased in pace until they began to slice through the air in blurs of blue, and Eren quickly realized his lower body was beginning to raise with the fae's. His co*ck was suddenly clenched by the tight muscles of Levi's core, and his grip on the fae's hips grew even tighter as his eyes blew wide with surprise.

"Holy f*ck," he moaned with fluttering eyelids as his head lulled back, his body being lifted from the covers beneath him as Levi began to fly. The Faerie let out a breathy moan, his back hunched over as he firmly dug his fingers into Eren's muscular sides, keeping them together. He continued to swirl his hips and ride Eren as he carried them into the air of the room, his eyebrows drawing together as his mouth hung open on an expression of raw pleasure.

Eren's eyes were one of dazed rapturousness as blood rushed to his head, his moans carrying over the room as he experienced the thrill of being carried by the being's shockingly strong ability to fly. A power he secretly dreamt of laying eyes on, of even having, yet forbidden within the city by the mouths of the ignorant and fearful.

Levi leaned down until his hands could wrap around Eren's broad back, pressing their stomachs together and his fingers barely brushing over the scars that resided on Eren's shoulder blades. Eren didn't think twice about it as he desperately gripped the fae's sides, both the fear and thrill of falling surging through his pulsing veins.

"Oh my god," Eren groaned, eyes rolling back in ecstasy as he felt his org*sm grow near with a crashing sense of euphoria. The Faerie appeared to have begun approaching his end, too, as his moans grew in pitch and volume as he continued to bat his wings through the air. It cast a gentle flow of wind against Eren's skin that beat away the sweat of his exertion from tightening his muscles to stay connected to the other, even though somewhere within his muddled mind he trusted that Levi's strength would keep them afloat.

He focused his attention on the Faerie with blown pupils, basking in the heated flush across his fair skin. The being gently began to sink them back down, the fluttering of his wings slowing in vigor until they could gently sink onto the mattress again. That's when their ends surged to the surface, Eren letting out a deep moan with one more grind of Levi's hips before he unraveled. He felt the burst of intense pleasure that wracked through him release in spurts of gushing heat, pulsing deep inside of Levi. The fae cried out, a breathy sound curling through the air as his thighs tensed.

Everything afterward seemed to have happened in slow motion. The sight Eren laid witness to next seared into his very being, branding him with a memory unforgettable. As he watched Levi reach his end, his org*sm crashing through him with a trembling wave, his blue wings began to shimmer with a bright, effervescent glow.

Eren watched with his eyes blown wide. Each and every inch between the dark threads brightened with a vibrant, pale blue light, one that casted a rich and brilliant shine across their bodies and the surrounding sheets. They seemed to glow brighter with each wave of ecstasy that cast through the fae, shimmers of sparkling white pulsing through them like a heartbeat. Eren was in awe, struck with a sense of euphoric shock as he rode out his org*sm with an expression of elated wonder.

Ethereal was the only word that engraved itself into his mind in that very moment.

He was grounded back to a strange sense of reality when they dimmed to their normal color as the Faerie sagged, heavy, exerted breaths escaping both of their heaving bodies.

"Holy sh*t," Eren breathed, his head falling back as he attempted to find his grip on the world around him. His bones were light, veins and nerves stroked with a sense of weightlessness.

Though a feeling of tranquility invoked him when the room seemed to still, the fae's eyes gently fluttering shut as his wings slowly fell behind him.

However, the tranquil atmosphere seemed to cry out with a meek feeling of confusion when Levi lifted himself off of him, his legs weakly trembling as he rolled off the bed. Eren's brain was beginning to rationalize that their precious time had come to an end, though his thumping heart sparked a vulnerable desire for body heat it still longed.

A soft cotton towel was tossed over his body next before the Faerie sat back down on the edge of the bed, though Eren could only glance at it as his limbs refused to move.

Levi's voice cut through the air not a moment later. "Are you paying tonight, or staying until morning?" Eren wasn't sure where his alluring tone that seemed to echo into his very being had gone—replaced with a sense of acrimony that sliced through him like a knife.

He seemed to blink with realization, groaning quietly and lifting his head as his hand grasped the rag that covered his softening co*ck.

He watched the Faerie stand again, his bare alabaster form illuminated by the moonlight that somehow appeared dimmer now. He walked to a large brown lounge chair beside the cracked-open window as he wiped himself clean with another cloth.

Levi sat down after discarding the cloth in a small basket and reached into the drawer of the chair's adorning table, pulling out a small black pipe. He examined it for a moment before grabbing a lighter from the same drawer and illuminating his impassive features with a soft orange glow.

He took a drag from the pipe, and relaxed as he crossed one bare leg over the other. Eren watched him with a sense of confusion, still not fully grasping the sudden coldness that struggled between them.

"I dont... think I can get up right now," he rasped, weighed down with an abrasive exhaustion that rooted him to the plush mattress.

Levi didn't look at him as he allowed a billow of smoke to curl from his mouth. "Then I expect you to pay in the morning before leaving," he said simply, keeping his gaze rooted to the city below as his wings rested gently behind him. Their glow had long ceased, replaced with a vacant sense of normalcy as he left Eren lying on the bed with a quizzical expression.

But despite his evident wonder, nothing else could exist in the forefront of Eren's mind but the pleasure he'd just experienced, and the longing for sleep that gradually captured him in its unrelenting grip.

———

The next day, Eren woke up in muddled confusion, his entire body in a state of relaxation as he tiredly blinked away the creeping daylight with eyebrows pinched between his eyes.

It didn't take him long to remember where he was.

"f*ck!" he gasped, sitting up with a lurch. His hair whipped forward on his head, casting his expression of shock in a shadow. He took a deep, calming breath as his heart raced, clawing his hair back to look at the flourishing room illuminated by the light that crept through the window. It looked so different not shadowed by the darkness of night, when the only source of light was the moonlight in the sky and the faint, pathetic lanterns from Trost down below. The large array of various plants appeared to bathe in the sun that blanketed them now, making the room appear like a miniature forest.

He also realized he was under the plush, warm comforter. He hadn't remembered finding refuge in it before he passed out. But he wouldn't have been surprised if his body sought warmth throughout the night.

"Finally awake." He jerked his head to the left with wide eyes, but immediately relaxed when they landed on the familiar Faerie. He wore a dark blue silky gown, one that covered more of his fair-skinned body than the golden cloth from the night before. The same golden jewelry still adorned him, glimmering under the light casting in from the window.

"You... yeah." Eren wasn't sure what attempt he was making at spewing out words, but the fae didn't seem to care as he turned back to the window. "You slept like a rock," he said trivially, his tone monotonous and to-the-point.

Eren huffed a small laugh. "I'm not really surprised," he mumbled. Levi didn't react. Eren's eyebrows pinched together as he watched him, analyzing his impassive exterior. Then, he realized something. Clearly Levi had gotten up since he was now dressed in different clothing, but that didn't answer a particular itch that nagged him. "Did you sleep at all?" He wasn't sure why he felt a need to voice the question, but it groggily slipped out of him before he could retract the urge.

Regrettably, Levi turned to him with a quirked eyebrow. A small frown curled his thin lips, and Eren could see the faintest dark crescents under his eyes from where he lay. Without words, the sight had answered his question.

"Are you going to pay?" The Faerie asked frigidly. Eren was mildly taken aback, but swallowed as he shook his head and lifted his heavy bones to the edge of the bed. "Yeah," he mumbled, nearly stumbling to the floor and dragging the sheets with him as he searched for his trousers.

When he found them, he plunged his hand into the pockets and rummaged for his wallet. Pulling it out, he looked up at the fae, who only watched him with a quiet and expectant demeanor. "How much?" Eren asked, and Levi turned back to the window. "Fifty Guilders," he said flatly. Eren blinked in surprise for a moment, but remembered that the host had said Levi was their most expensive worker. He shook his head—recalling his experience last night reminded him that it was more than worth it.

Plus, he had more where that came from. He grabbed the coins from his wallet and set it on the table beside the bed. Then, sensing the rigid atmosphere between them, he began tugging his trousers back on, completely forgetting his underwear.

It was when he plucked his shirt from the end of the bed that a certain memory flooded through him.

"Your wings..." he said with a familiar sense of awe, and after the words were spoken did he notice his heartbeat had lept at the memory. Levi jerked his head to him with pinched eyebrows. "What about them?" he snapped.

Eren wasn't expecting such an abrasive reaction, and he took a moment to collect himself before clearing his throat. "They... glowed. Didn't they?" he questioned as if he was admitting to have been so lost in the pleasure that he very well could have imagined it.

"So?" Levi quickly bit back. Eren's veins surged when his memory was confirmed. He took a step closer to the fae, looking at the appendages that sprouted from his back with eyes of confused wonder. "I read somewhere that they only glow when... when they have an org*sm with someone they've fallen in love with." Stating the fact he'd secretly read in a book on uncommonly known Faerie biology caused heat to curl through his cheeks, dusting them a coral hue.

Levi sat up straighter, his expression pinching into one of aggravation as he glared into Eren's emerald eyes. "Mine are different. They glow no matter what—who I'm with, where I am, it doesn't matter. It just happens. It's one of the reasons why I charge more." His tone was biting, cold, and his intense gaze bored a molten warning that encouraged Eren not to push the matter any further.

Eren took the warning for what it was, and quickly stepped back with his hands raised beside him in surrender. "Alright, alright... makes sense," he mumbled warily. The Faerie seemed to relax, reeling himself in as if he'd caught himself overextending.

Then, he turned away, gazing back through the window. His reflection painted a stare of faint regret and a mild irritation that still fluttered in his heart.

When Eren finished buttoning up his shirt, his eyes lingered on Levi. "I'll be going now. Thank you..." he tried, but the Faerie didn't acknowledge him.

The man's eyebrows curled together, wondering if he should say more. But something warned him overstepping would dig him in a deeper hole than he'd already found himself in. So he sighed, turning around and heading for the door.

He took one last lingering glance at the fae before stepping out of the room and closing it off behind him, finding himself in the dimly lit hallway that faced the rising sun.

He increased his pace at the same time as his heart once his particular circ*mstance dawned on him—the son of a reknown doctor experiencing the after-morning at a brothel. The wearabouts of his sister and friends proceeded him. He knew Mikasa could handle herself. Jean, Connie, and Armin however, were a different story. Had they stayed the night, too? Or had they each dispersed from the building one by one? For all Eren knew, one of them could have been dead on the street. It was Trost, after all.

He descended the staircase with hesitant steps. The brothel was a surprisingly quaint place during the early hours of the morning. Only a few fae mingled about, but instead of cloaking themselves in an alluring persona, they friendly chatted with one-another. Eren noticed a Faerie animatedly speaking with a human maid as if they were the best of friends, and quirked an eyebrow quizzically.

A unique place indeed...

When he met the bottom of the stairs, he was approached by the hostess from the night before. She looked just as put-together, dark braid still neatly draped over her shoulders with just as many flowers as before. Do any of these people sleep? Eren found himself wondering.

"I trust you found your night satisfactory," she said with a small, knowing smile. "Yeah... thanks," Eren mumbled, but he found that his mind was lingering on the morning's earlier events.

Instead of dwelling over the distraction, he looked up into the woman's bright blue eyes. "Where are my friends? My sister? Did they go home last night?" he asked. While he presented himself as this carefree man who couldn't give a sh*t about responsibilities, he truthfully cared for his loved ones.

The woman's smile deepened and she gently nodded her head. She stepped to the side, and as if unveiling a curtain, Eren's eyes focused on a familiar group of people in the corner of the room.

Connie noticed him, first. "Oi, Eren!" he called. The others jerked her head toward him, and they met each other halfway through the lounge of the brothel.

Connie was grinning from ear-to-ear, as giddy as a child on Christmas morning despite the early hour. Jean had a distant, fond, though tired look in his hazel eyes, and Eren couldn't help but wonder if he'd had a similar experience to his own.

Somewhere within him, he hoped that his had been unique.

Armin was pursing his lips, appearing small and flushed but eerily elated as his eyes remained glued to the floor. "I take it we all had a good night?" Jean said with a smirk. "Jesus, mate, this place is like a fountain of youth," Connie breathed, glancing up at the Faeries atop the balcony who winked at him.

Mikasa scoffed. It was then that Eren finally turned to her, tucking his hands into his trouser's pockets. "Were you okay last night?" he asked with concern, a hint of guilt muddled with it.

Mikasa glared at him, though Eren was surprised to see a faint blush painting her pale cheeks. "I was fine," she mumbled. Eren raised an eyebrow, but didn't push the matter any further.

"We better get home—if mother finds out we've been gone all night, I fear she might officially keel over," she added with a taller, more confident posture. Eren nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, I have work in an hour, too," Jean said before letting out a drawn out, dramatic groan. "Oh, piss off," Connie said with a snicker before punching Jean's shoulder. Jean playfully hit him back before they each began treading to the front door. The air was light, each of their moods greatly lifted and skipping over the air of the room. Not only had the brothel been a bonding experience for the group, but it allowed them the chance to let go of their worldly dwellings, even if for one measly night.

Eren, however, couldn't help but fear he'd been left with more to dwell on than he initially arrived with.

When they had divided into their respective carriages, Mikasa and Eren's chauffeur quietly taking them to their manor, it seemed as if Eren's internal conflict had begun seeping into his thoughtful expression.

"You look like you might combust at any moment. Are you alright?" Mikasa asked warily. Eren glanced at her from his plush seat to the right of the carriage, lifting his head from where it was resting on his palm. "Yeah, no, I'm fine..." he mumbled, shifting in his seat. It then dawned on him that he had forgotten his underwear and was currently nude beneath his trousers, and he groaned to himself.

"You certainly don't sound chipper. Did something happen last night? With the Faerie?" Eren had always been grateful for Mikasa's thoughtfulness, despite how protective and overbearing she could be at times. Her use of the correct name instead of the derogatory Pix slur they had grown used to their entire lives secretly warmed his heart.

And yet, Eren hesitated. While he knew he could trust his sister with anything, something held him back from opening up about his experience. It was ethereal and unique, a night special to him and only him, and the events that had unwound left him oddly curious. And curiosity was often frowned upon in this city, even to his sister's respectable mind. His instincts encouraged him to fold the chapter of that night into his memory, and memory alone.

"No, nothing happened. I'm just tired," he lied, and conveniently enough his body decided that was a good time to yawn. Mikasa took his word for it, despite her curious gaze lingering on him for a moment longer.

When they arrived at home, they thanked their chauffeur. He tipped his hat before ordering the horse to carry him and the carriage off, and they faced the front door side-by-side.

"Think they're awake?" Mikasa asked. Just then, the city clock chimed, echoing through the sky and marking the next hour. "Only one way to find out," Eren replied, and he took initiative by unlocking the front door and stepping through. Mikasa tentatively followed him inside. She was much more concerned for their parents' reaction to their whereabouts than he was. He could partially understand, though he tried to remain sensitive.

The house was relatively quiet and still, giving them the impression that their parents were still asleep. Their Faun housekeeper hadn't even greeted them yet, most likely completing early morning chores or preparing breakfast. The siblings stepped further into the home and crossed the entryway, meeting the lounge room that was well-lit by the sun filtering in through the large bay windows that took up most of one wall.

"So far, so good," Eren mumbled, and Mikasa sighed with relief.

However, just as they had deemed the coast clear, the clicking of heels hurrying toward them echoed through the house. Mikasa tensed while Eren sighed, and only a moment later, a thin woman turned the corner and came striding into the room.

Her bob of blonde hair swayed with her step, the feathers of her blue-laced top hat ruffling with the air she angrily pushed against. They were met with a stare of blatant disapproval and frustration.

Their mother, Dina, who was trailed by their housekeeper, Hanji, huffed a furious breath.

"And just where have you two been?" she snapped exasperatedly. She appeared tired and lethargic, a common symptom she currently struggled with, though that didn't prevent her from dressing up in her usual daily attire. To match her hat, a deep blue dress with a sweetheart top and laced sleeves hugged her chest, tailored perfectly to hug around her swollen stomach that one of her ring-adorned hands was tucked under, where the dress puffed out to drape magnificently around her legs and heel-clad feet. Despite her swollen ankles—something she insisted wasn't happening—she was determined to keep wearing them. Eren and Mikasa insisted she had to have been in daily pain, but she didn't appear to bat an eye. Anything to keep up appearances, even while bearing the next family line.

Eren glanced at their housekeeper, who wore her usual black and white maid dress, and the Faun raised a warning eyebrow at him. A small smirk curled her lips behind their mother's back, and Eren had to prevent himself from smiling back in the face of the woman who glared at them expectantly.

"We were just out, mother. The guys wanted to have a night together before we wouldn't get a chance to with the next election, and we all just crashed at one place," Eren explained. It wasn't a total lie, as truthfully, they had been out to make an escape from their average sense of reality, and they had crashed at one place. How and where they had done so, however, would willfully remain kept from her.

Dina huffed again, but turned her glare to Mikasa. "And you, young lady? By 'the guys,' I'm sure your brother didn't mean to include his younger sister," she emphasized the word with a quick glower aimed at Eren, and he pursed his lips to the side.

"I'm sorry, mother; I was out to make sure they didn't get into too much trouble. They need a voice of reason—you and I both know that." Mikasa stole an angry glance at Eren, and he raised his hands in meek surrender.

Dina sighed, shutting her eyes for a moment and letting her thumb gently caress her pregnant stomach. Just as she opened her blue eyes and was about to speak again, a tall man stepped into the room, placing a large tan hand on Dina's narrow shoulder.

Their father, Grisha, leaned down to give her a light kiss on the forehead. "Go to the table, dear. You need to relax. I think even the baby knows it's too early to be this troubled," he said quietly. She sighed, turning her pinched expression to her husband. "But the children, dear—" she began, and he nodded. "I know. I'll talk to them," he assured, and she held her breath for a moment before letting it out with a sag of her shoulders, turning and leaving the room with Hanji quickly following.

When the two were left alone with their father, the air seemed to grow thicker than it had been before. Eren could hear an audible swallow from Mikasa, but he confidently stood his ground before the taller man.

"I know at your age curiosity is only natural, and the two of you are old enough to make your own decisions. But with your mother entering her third trimester, it's time to shape up. She does not need this kind of stress,” he began.

“Eren, you're our eldest child. You need to start setting a better example for the family. Mikasa, I know you mean well, but you don't need to let your brother drag you down with him. Eren, if you cared for her even the slightest bit, you would stop allowing Mikasa to join you on these nightly outings to God only knows where." He squinted his eyes at them knowingly.

"As long as you live under my roof, this needs to come to an end," he finished firmly. Mikasa bowed her head, nodding dejectedly. Eren's lips were curled into a deep frown, the feeling of appearing like a scolded child igniting flames of irritation within him.

Upon the childrens' following silence, Grisha raised his voice. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," both Eren and Mikasa said at once. Grisha nodded firmly before gesturing to the hallway that led to their kitchen. "Now, let's go have breakfast," he said much more calmly, and Mikasa followed without hesitation, her hands folded behind her. Eren lingered momentarily, fists clenched by his sides, before he regretfully sighed and dragged his feet behind them.

That night, Eren lay in bed, the book he had attempted to read for the last hour cast aside atop his comforter.

His gas lantern on his bedside table partially lit the room with a warm, orange glow, an otherwise calming sight when settling into his nightly reading. But now it did little to soothe his internal conflict.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about Levi. He'd already attempted to bury his thoughts and allow sleep to overtake his senses, but that was little use as he had been tossing and turning for nearly thirty minutes. Picking up a book usually did him well when he struggled to find sleep, the constant of reading calming his mind and lulling him to a gradual slumber. But when he found himself rereading the same paragraph time and time again, only to have processed none of the words, he realized his attempt was in vain.

The Faerie plagued his mind like a vine gradually creeping up the side of an unkempt home. He sighed, letting his head fall to the side, his hands resting behind it as he glanced at the wall.

When his eyes landed on a familiar drawing he hadn't looked at today until now, his heart sank. With a twisting sense of realization, it dawned on him that he hadn't thought about his ex-girlfriend once since last night.

He couldn't have been over her, right? Not much time had passed since Nifa left him for the inspector's son. He was inclined to still be affected by what happened. Well, if he asked Jean, he'd say otherwise. But a relationship in his friend's eyes was a few fleeting nights of fun, so his opinion held little value.

Eren's eyebrows pinched together. You need a distraction, the hostess had told him. And a distraction was certainly what he had received—that and more. Now he lay in bed, torn by the concept that one measly night with a fae had allowed him to forget the heartbreak that once plagued him nearly every hour of the day.

But Levi wasn't the dreamy escape Eren had initially deemed him to be. The reality of his exterior was flawed—cold and distant, as he'd discovered after their physical time together had come to an end. The Faerie was able to drape himself in a mask so different from his usual personality, one that tricked Eren into thinking he had discovered a truly otherworldly being.

However, perhaps otherworldly wasn't too far off the mark. Flawed or not, Levi's wings had glowed so magnificently it was as if Eren had been taken to a reality entirely separate from his own. Eren had read about the concept of their wings glowing while in love, but he'd never imagined he'd lay sight on it happening with his very eyes. He had once struggled to believe it was even true until an eye-witness had written about it.

The fae was clearly not in love with him. Eren may have been a hopeless romantic, but he was sane enough to understand that much. He was inclined to take Levi's word for it—that it just happened with everyone. It would explain his price and the mystery that revolved around him at the brothel.

Nevertheless, the sight was truly one to behold, and Eren found himself almost itching to lay sight on it again.

No, I shouldn't, he told himself sternly. The last thing he needed was to get wrapped up in another bad habit, especially after his father's reprimand. He was right, in only a matter of weeks he was going to become the eldest sibling of another child—Zeke. When the pregnancy was announced, everyone had been shocked, to say the least. Dina had given birth to Eren when she was twenty-one, and she was now in her early forties. They had trouble conceiving ever since, hence Mikasa's adoption, but after over two decades, his parents had finally succeeded.

It was well into being a geriatric pregnancy—yet nevertheless, their family would grow once more. And despite the twenty-one year age difference him and his youngest sibling would have, Eren was expected to behave as an appropriate role model.

He was repulsed by the idea. If Eren was defined by anything, it was his independence. He gained nothing by upholding a role for a mere last name. It wasn't that he didn't care about his unborn brother, though truthfully, he felt a much greater attachment to his younger sister than he did the baby or even his parents. Eren knew the child would be fine no matter what he decided to do. In an ideal world, he would travel, uprooting himself from the withholdings of societal expectations.

But a future like that was distant from his reach, and he willed himself to remain grounded to his circ*mstance.

For now, at least.

Still, that didn't prevent the Faerie who'd allowed him a brief escape from infiltrating his mind, and it didn't take long for his desire to sweep away the faint rationale that kept him planted to the bed.

He acted on it before he could allow his overthinking to sway him again.

He turned his lantern off first, feigning a reality of him falling asleep, and he tiptoed through his vast bedroom to change out of his nightwear and into proper clothing. He cracked open his window and stuck his hand out to feel the air outside, and upon noticing the faint chill, he grabbed a tail coat. His heart pounded with the idea of what he was about to do, of blatantly disrespecting his father by going behind his back; but that had never prevented him from acting on his wishes before.

The only thing that changed this time was he didn't bother waking Mikasa. His choice to leave the confinement of their safe manor and enter the dangerous streets of Trost was his own, and he didn't need to wrap his sister into any more of his troublesome decisions. That, at most, he could agree with his parents on.

He quietly swept through the hall, thankful that his parents' master bedroom was tucked away upstairs, and took extra precaution to walk on socked weightless feet when he passed Mikasa's bedroom door, avoiding any potential creaks in the polished wooden floor of their generational manor.

He decided he would walk to Trost instead of calling a chauffeur to help clear his head. When he made it to the marble entryway and slipped on his shoes, his inconspicuousness deemed to only take him so far. Soon enough, he heard the light tapping of hooves behind him, and quickly jerked his head to see their housekeeper, Hanji, standing at the doorway to the lounge room.

She raised both eyebrows with an otherwise deadpan expression, her hands on her hips and her head tilted in an expression that reeked 'seriously?'

Eren groaned quietly as she walked up to him, sagging his shoulders as he turned to her. "Please don't tell my parents, Hanji," he whispered in a desperate plea. He sounded pathetic, but he felt bad enough as it was for acting on impulse so quickly. It hadn't even been more than a day, after all.

Hanji let out a disappointed sigh, shaking her head. "You know my horns aren't ones to blabber, Eren. But do you really think this is a good idea?" She knew where he was off to. She had kept her mouth shut when a chauffeur was called for them the first night.

"I'm not ready to tie myself down here. You and I are different that way," he said. Though his voice was calm, a strike of guilt met him upon Hanji's squinted hazel eyes. She'd been happily working for the Jaeger family since Eren was born, and had been as loyal as a housekeeper could possibly be. She even wore the clinic's symbol as a charm wrapped around one of her horns. It was why such an informality existed between them—despite Hanji being a Faun, Eren didn't care to be addressed professionally by her, having grown up with her always there.

"I am happy living a life of servitude. Clearly, that is not the case for yourself. But while I won't say anything... please keep in mind the reputation of your family," she quietly pleaded. Her eyes were sympathetic, a clear understanding of his circ*mstance despite her warning, and Eren sighed.

"I will, Hanji," he said softly. "I apologize, I didn't mean to make you feel bad," he quietly added. She shook her head, shooing him toward the door with her outstretched hands. "Nevermind that. Now, go have fun, before I accidentally yell out your name," she teased, and Eren grinned. "Alright, alright. Thank you," he whispered before opening the door and stepping out into the night.

He and his family lived in the heart of the capital of the Republic, Maria, and his surroundings as soon as he stepped out of the house were a stark contrast to Trost. The garden in front of their manor was large and well-kept, the stretch of pavement for carriages to arrive and depart smooth and bright. The air was clean, a faint mist curling a few feet above the ground from the overhanging clouds that shadowed the moon and threatened rain, but it was fresh and crisp.

When he arrived at Trost, the stench, glum dreariness, and worn-down environment was like a knife dragged through the city's core. He ignored the stares from strangers lingering on dark, trash-littered street corners, his pressed tail coat a strike of gold to the passerby who wore worn-down clothes patterned with stains from a day's hard work or the fight with a common trashcan.

The few who he laid eyes on were mostly fae of different kind. The Faeries' wings lay flat and still as they swayed behind them with each step, and the Fauns' horns bowed with their heads as they hurried to their destination with the fear of being mugged at any moment looming above them. Some walked alone, taking a higher risk during travel, but many walked in pairs, the power of grouping allowing further protection.

Being alone as he walked along the cracked road, he quickly became conscious of his knife in his back pocket, and hurried his pace to the brothel just up ahead.

He looked from side-to-side at the vacant sidewalk, those across the street too occupied with their own concerns to spare him a glance, before he opened the doors and stepped into the warm lounge.

Fae turned their heads to him and smiled. The fluttering of wings met his ears, and he glanced up to see the familiar faces of the Faerie's from the night before looking down at him. A couple were women he hadn't seen last night, as well as a tall blonde man who seemed to eye him with a particular hunger.

He ignored them and turned to search for the host, finding her already glancing at him from across the lounge. She paused for a moment, looking him up and down, before excusing herself from a Faun she was speaking to and making her way over to where he stood.

"Welcome back. How can we help you tonight?" she asked softly, her aura calm. However, there was a particular look to her piercing blue gaze, paired with the way her lips had curled into a subtle frown, that whispered an air of concern to Eren.

He chose to ignore it, clawing his hair back anxiously. "I'm here to see Levi again," he confessed. The hostess squinted his eyes at him, and just as Eren had expected, an atmosphere of caution enveloped her.

However, Eren wasn't expecting what came out of her mouth next. "Why?" He blinked at her, taken aback by the odd question and the almost biting tone it was said with, before he glanced away as a pinched expression of confusion overcame him. "Uh..." he began, brushing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Do I... have to give you a reason...?" he mumbled. It was a genuine question, as he would have guessed the reason for his return was obvious considering where they were.

The hostess, however, didn't seem pleased by his answer. "Is this about his wings?" she assumed, and Eren's eyes grew slightly wide as he jerked his head back in faint surprise.

"I... no? Not really, why?" he asked. Though Levi's wings and their particular ability to glow with anyone whether in love or not had greatly intrigued Eren, something unsurprising to him considering his interest in Faeries, that wasn't the sole reason for his return.

The hostess sighed, seemingly to relax before she reeled herself in. She focused her stern gaze on Eren again, folding her hands in front of her. "Just to inform you, we don't allow regulars who raise suspicion of delusion to return to see Levi. He is a special creature, one of rare sight. That doesn't give one the reason to kid themselves on unrealistic ideals. Obsession isn't tolerated in Queendom," she informed. Though her voice was calm, the warning laced within her tone couldn't be ignored.

Eren squinted his eyes, growing starkly offended. "Obsession? Pardon me, but I've only visited once before. He already explained the reason why his wings glow—I'm aware of the circ*mstance, and I can assure you I'm not delusional." He wasn't sure why he was defending himself to such an extent in the midst of this woman. If he had any respect for himself, he would have turned around and returned home.

But the idea of his venture coming to a failed end brought an odd sense of bitterness to his heart.

The hostess eyebrows pinched together. "He explained it?" she asked quizzically, and Eren slightly shook his head. "He just told me they glow with anybody. I had asked about them," he clarified. Though somewhere in the back of his mind, he wondered if there was more behind the phenomenon to explain.

She grew calmer upon his words, nodding her head before taking a small step back. "If you guarantee no delusional pursuit on our most treasured Faerie, I'll allow you to see him again," she said, and Eren perked up as his chest seemed to inflate. He almost, embarrassingly enough, felt like a child that had been gifted special privileges.

"I assure you, I just want another night with him," Eren said, and the hostess nodded firmly.

She glanced to the side for a moment before whistling the same tune as the night before that seemed to vibrate Eren's very soul. He wasn't sure what it was about the sound, but it strangely felt like it existed beyond surface level.

It didn't take long for Levi to arrive again. This time, he flew from the top of the staircase. Eren hadn't noticed if he had been there the whole time, but he watched in awe as the Faerie gently landed on the floor before them, wearing the same blue gown from this morning.

When they locked eyes, Eren noticed the slight furrow between Levi's before they quickly relaxed and settled into impassiveness.

"Levi, your second customer for the night," the hostess said simply. Eren's heart dropped. Second. The idea ignited a spark of repulsion within him, but he quickly beat it down with a sense of rationale.

Levi didn't say anything this time, he only turned and began heading back to the stairs on foot. Eren hurried to follow him, feeling a growing anticipation all over again. However, this time he was mildly hindered by the warning the hostess had given him only moments prior.

Obsession. Delusion. Unrealistic ideals.

The terminologies floated in the back of his mind like dark phantoms, and he attempted to shake them off with a roll of his shoulders as he followed the Faerie up the staircase. He watched his wings sway behind him just as he had the night before, and he found himself growing anxious to lay sight on their magnificent glow once more.

———

"f*ck," Eren moaned as Levi sunk down on him, his eyelids fluttering at the sensation of the Faerie's tight heat. The oil he used tonight smelled of pine and lavender, and it allowed for their bodies to smoothly slide together once more. Levi was leaned back as he faced him, propping himself up with his hands planted against the bed on either side of Eren's calves. Their bodies were at an obtuse angle as Eren dug his fingers into his pale hips, groaning as Levi bottomed out on his thick shaft.

"God," Eren breathed as Levi began swirling his hips, his entire body stretched and on display for the man as he gently rose and sunk. His hole tugged on the skin of Eren's throbbing co*ck with each swivel of his body, leaving Eren breathless.

"You're... so good, Jesus f*ck," Eren mumbled, Levi basking in his praise as he moaned breathlessly. Eren glued his eyes to the being before him, his lithe body on display and bathing in the moonlight. It cast a dim glow over his body even behind the layer of clouds that painted the sky. Eren suddenly felt the urge to let his hands wander, to sit up from the plush comforter and run his fingers along his sides, touch his warm skin with his wet lips and claim his neck for himself.

But once more, he held himself back. He was beginning to wonder just how long his restraint would last.

Previously tucked away behind his back, the fae's wings began to stretch beside him, and just as he'd always been, Eren was marveled by their intricate beauty. They swayed with the sensual grinding of his hips, and not before long, Levi sat up and leaned forward, bowing over him in a familiar position.

"Hold onto me," he whispered breathlessly, and Eren didn't think twice before he clutched onto his soft, unblemished back above his wings. Feeling the warmth of his skin against his surged something deep within Eren's heart, but he didn't have much time to think about it before Levi's wings began fluttering behind him.

Just as the night before, Eren felt his body begin lifting off the comforter. He gasped, once again feeling the tight clench of Levi's hole around the base of his co*ck, the fae wrapping his porcelain legs around him and keeping their hips locked together. Eren opened his eyes to watch their bodies rise into the air, his toes curling and muscles tensing as Levi lifted them. He felt Levi's back muscles grow taut and defined beneath his fingers, marveled by his ability to lift them both, and wondered how often he did this each night.

Levi didn't grant him a chance to dwell on it, as soon enough the air was knocked out of his lungs when Eren was spun around just beneath the ceiling, now on top of the fae in a missionary position as his tousled hair fell around his face. Levi's wings bat relentlessly as he wrapped his legs around Eren's midsection, clinging to him as he ground down onto his co*ck—all the while flying to keep them airborne. Eren was in awe, moaning at the sensation and the thrill of not only being in the air again, but being above the flying Faerie.

Soon enough, Eren found his feet brushing against a particular fabric he had felt before. He craned his head to see they had risen to the roped net he had seen hanging from the ceiling the previous night, resembling a wide, square hammock. Realization dawned on him, and he sighed hotly as Levi carried them until they were flying over the net. He slowed the flapping of his wings until they fell into the woven rope, which bowed with their weight, tucking the blue appendages beneath him. Eren groaned as he leaned over him, staring down at the fae with a blown gaze.

His calves clung to Eren's back, his expression one of a sultry plea as he gazed darkly into the man's eyes. "f*ck, you're something else," Eren said with a rough, ragged voice, and Levi bit his lip before he encouraged him to move his hips with his ankles. "Show me and f*ck me," he breathed.

Eren, who surged with lust at the breathy plea, didn't hesitate, beginning to thrust into the fae at an incredulous pace. They both moaned hotly, their breaths curling into the air they shared. Eren's long hair swayed on either side of his face, silky strands tickling Levi's cheeks. Between the dark brown locks and the net that surrounded them, they were encased in an airborne shadow that rocked with his thrusts, creating a heavenly thrill that rushed through Eren's veins.

Now that he seemed to have been granted control of their pace, he found his desperation and lust taking the reins of his restraint. He moaned as he rutted into the fae with a compelling eagerness, his fingers clutching the rope of the net and bundling the fabric in his fists. One of Levi's hands tangled in Eren's hair, the other finding refuge around Eren's wrist as his eyelids fluttered with breathless pleasure. The net swayed harder with the increase of Eren's pace, rocking back and forth and allowing the air of the room to brush against their skin with cooling caresses.

Eren couldn't remember a time he felt more alive—a primordial satisfaction overtaking his senses and the exertion of his hips swelling the desire within him. Levi met his thrusts halfway with wanton pushes of his hips—though despite his desperation appearing higher than it had been the night before, he still had an ethereal sense of patience and a beautiful air of restraint revolving around him, something that encouraged Eren to reel himself in just the slightest bit.

"f*ck, I'm close," Eren breathed, leaning down and bracing his arms on the net, encasing Levi's head as he tucked his face into his neck. The Faerie's thick breaths of pleasure were heady and laced with desire as they curled through Eren's ear, the small of his back arching and pressing his toned abdomen against Eren's defined muscles.

Little did Eren know, Levi was pushing himself up. His wings unsheathed, stretching on either side of him as Eren perched himself up on the net. The fae pushed him back and climbed on top of him, reversing their positions. Eren found his head falling back and hanging off the net, letting out a ragged breath as his hands found purpose on Levi's hips.

Blood rushed to his head once more as his eyes found the vine-blanketed ceiling, his mouth hung open on deep moans as the fae began to lift his hips and sink down on his co*ck at a quick, heavenly pace. Eren's hair swayed beneath him with the net, dropping his eyes to see Levi bowing over him with his hands gripping the woven rope. It rose to the hooks screwed into the ceiling on either side of him—hooks that no doubt were straining beneath their combined weight.

Eren felt himself surge to cloud nine, his release building at a rapid pace. His moans rose in pitch along with the fae's, straining to lift his head against gravity and lay eyes on the exemplary sight of Levi reaching his end. His wings were stretched on either side of him, lifted as far as they could go without hitting the net, and Eren watched once more with emerald eyes of awe as the blue wings began to shimmer before him.

The pulsing around Eren's co*ck as Levi came through Eren over the edge, his own mind-blowing org*sm shooting a burning heat through his core like an arrow lit aflame. He tightened his grip on the Faerie's hips, moaning while watching with a dazed expression of awe as Levi's wings pulsed a coruscating glow with each wave of ecstacy that coursed through him.

They both sagged as satisfaction overcame them, Eren's head giving in against gravity and falling back as the airborne net gently rocked from the ceiling.

Levi heaved above him, his eyes having fluttered shut and his wings now dimmed to their normal, albeit beautiful, appearance. He didn't seem to have any intention on allowing them to catch their breath any further, however, as he began to climb off of Eren's lap.

"Wait," he breathed, suddenly overcome with a wave of resolve. When he felt Levi still, he lifted his upper body until he could sit upright in the net, still allowing his nerves to settle.

The Faerie quirked an eyebrow at him, silent and unmoving. Eren wasn't sure what he wanted to say. All he knew was he wanted to remain in his presence for a little while longer—continue to feel the heat of his being at their proximity before it was ripped away once more.

"Let's stay in here for a little while," he settled on, his voice low and carrying a faint rasp. The moon was high in the sky, trickling a faint glow into the dim room. It was late, no doubt past midnight; but despite the fatigue that threatened Eren, he didn't intend on allowing sleep to put him under a spell as quickly as it had before.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting the Faerie's reaction to be—he certainly wouldn't have been surprised if it was one of disdain or rejection.

However, after a moment of Levi analyzing his expression of subtle, almost embarrassing need, the Faerie sighed, sagging back into the net and lifting his knees to his chest.

Eren did the same before crossing his arms over his shins. It was a bit awkward for him—both of them nude in a dark, airborne hammock. But the Faerie didn't seem affected by it in the slightest, simply glancing at Eren with an impassive, though slightly expectant expression.

"How long have you been doing this for?" Eren forced out. Anything to fill the suffocating silence that had begun to exist between them. Levi scoffed, one of his eyebrows raising as his left wing twitched behind him. "Really? That's what you want to know?" he responded in a snippy, amused tone.

A small frown curled his lips, and he shrugged his shoulders. "I'd be learning something about you. I guess that's my goal," he admitted honestly.

Something flashed through the fae's expression, something Eren desperately hoped didn't look like suspicion. He realized he may have been overstepping, and sighed as he rested his head back on the net.

Levi was silent for a moment as he looked away, and Eren was honestly expecting for him to fly down to the floor and leave Eren up in the net to fend for himself.

But he was pleasantly surprised to hear the Faerie's soft, deep voice cut through the air a few moments later. "Six years," he said quietly. Eren's eyebrows shot up on his head, and he looked down at the fae to see a distant, contemplative look in his moonlit eyes.

"Six years?" he clarified for no apparent reason—but his shock was evident in his tone. "After the war ended..." he added with humbled realization, and the Faerie slowly nodded, turning to him again.

Many refugees had flooded into the state throughout the war against Marley. Many being Faeries who fled from their home island after a brutal onslaught had been unleashed on their population. Winning the war was a pinnacle point in Paradis’ history, though Eren could regretfully say he had watched many of it unfold as a teenager through the safe confinements of his wealth and father's prestige.

He couldn't help but wonder if Levi's experience had been much worse off.

But that was a conversation for another time, if ever.

"How old are you, then?" Eren decided to ask, and Levi tsked with disapproval. "You either weren't taught manners or you lack the decency to use them. But if you must know, I'm twenty-five."

Eren blinked, ignoring his snippy comment on his manners. He couldn't believe the Faerie was nineteen when he began selling his body. That was how old his litter sister was—he couldn’t bear to imagine. Guilt began to smother his heart, but he cleared his throat as if it had been a physical thing threatening to choke him.

"Sorry. I'm twenty-one," he said casually as if he hadn't been having internal war in his head, and Levi raised an eyebrow. "It's past your bedtime," he said, and it took Eren a moment of combing through his flat tone to realize he had just teased him. He dropped his eyes to the net between them and huffed a laugh through his nose. "Ha, ha," he said sarcastically.

Silence struggled between them for a moment, and worried Levi would take that as a sign to retreat, Eren decided to change the subject. "Do you like working here?" he asked. Levi's eyebrows pinched together. Not painting an expression of judgment or anger; merely a sense of genuine curiosity.

Eren couldn't make sense of the expression, and wondered if he should have continued asking anything at all. "I mean, would you?" Levi asked with a raised eyebrow, and Eren pursed his lips together, taking a moment to consider it before he truthfully shook his head no.

Levi gave him a 'well there you go' gesture. "That's not to say all of us hate it—you'd be surprised at how many come alive after they start working here. Like they've finally found their home," he added. Eren tilted his head, nodding gently at the shift in perspective. "But you haven't?" he quietly asked, adjusting so he propped his right arm on one knee, the other perching himself on the net.

Levi shook his head, his left wing twitching again. "Can't quite say I have," he mumbled.

Eren hummed, but then looked down between the holes of the woven rope beneath him, seeing the ruffled bed down below, and the gap that gave line of sight to the many arrays of plant life and decor that littered the large room. "You've certainly made it look like one," Eren mused, and he quickly turned his head back to the fae when he heard a small, light breath. He was greatly surprised to see a tiny smile barely curling one edge of Levi's lips. It was such a slight shift in his expression, nearly unnoticeable, but yet it painted his entire being in a new, brighter light, as if his wings had begun to glow once more.

"I guess I have," he said quietly, looking down at the net between them and fiddling with his own fingers.

Silence met them once more. However, it wasn't as heavy as before. There was a lighter air around them, only the sound of their own breaths and a faint breeze curling through the window joining their moment of peace.

A memory struck Eren upon given the opportunity to think, and his eyebrows pinched together. "Your wings..." he mumbled. He quickly noticed the perturbed stare the fae threw at him. "This again?" he bit back, animosity brewing at an intense rate. Eren quickly shook his head, acting to diffuse the situation. "No, no, it's about the hostess... the woman who directs the brothel," he clarified.

Levi relaxed, curling his lips on a small frown. "What about her?" he asked curiously, an air of caution still around his tone.

Eren sighed, recalling her nearly foreboding warning from earlier in the night. "Have you had problems in the past with customers looking too deeply into your wings? She tried to accuse me of being delusional and obsessed for coming back to see you specifically, so I figured I'd ask," he said with a raised eyebrow. He knew the woman hadn't blatantly accused him, but it had certainly felt that way while experiencing her dramatics. She had clearly been expecting him to end up down the same path, after all.

Levi blinked at him for a moment, as if processing the words, before he sighed, regretfully nodding his head. "Yeah. Lady Reiss is very protective of all of the fae here. Particularly myself. We've had incidences of customers who had also found out that Faerishyn wings glow while in love, so they built this disillusioned notion that I was in love with them. I don't have many regulars anymore for that very reason—I believe that's where her distaste arose from. To be honest, I was shocked she even allowed you to see me again," he carefully explained.

Eren processed the information, repulsed by the idea that people could behave so unhinged, even toward fae. Some people even felt they had a right to hold power and ownership of them. While it was true that the phenomenon of Levi's wings was a beautiful rarity to lay eyes on as a human, as most fae didn't romantically integrate with species other than their own—especially the prideful beings the Faeries were—it wasn't impossible to believe that some things just happened without pure explanation. Common sense brought one far in this world, and Eren was thankful enough to have it.

"That would explain it... you did seem surprised to see me," Eren said through a light chuckle. Levi shrugged. "I guess Lady Reiss saw something in you she could trust," he said quietly, looking away.

Eren hung on the words for a moment, feeling the sincerity and rawness behind them. He was flattered, to say the least, yet also relieved. He wasn't quite sure why the latter was the case—he didn't need to prove himself to anyone, never-mind a couple of parties at a brothel, yet hearing the admission from the gorgeous Faerie before him stirred something in his gut.

"Thanks..." was all he could mumble, and the fae glanced through the gap of the net beside them. Eren did the same, and his heart thrummed with realization. "I should get going. I can't really stay the night this time," he confessed, sighing in frustration at the memory of his father's reprimand and his mother's worried tone.

Levi didn't look at him as he responded. "Have a lady to return to?" he asked. His tone wasn't bitter, nor even accusatory. Rather, it was almost... casual. Expectant. It caused Eren's eyebrows to draw together. "No. Not at all, actually," he said softly, and Levi simply hummed.

The man wasn't sure where the assumption had come from, but he sighed when he realized that must have been something the many workers at the brothel were used to. Loyalty to one's spouse or partner was unfortunately hard to come by in the world they lived in.

Eren could have drawled on about the fact that he was a loyal man who would never dream of doing something like that to someone he loved, but the ghostly words on his tongue only proved to remind him of a minute bitterness that still continued to reap its way into his heart.

Instead, he and Levi began to shift, and the Faerie climbed out of the net first on outstretched wings. Eren watched them whip into the air and beat rapidly into a blur of blue, green eyes trailing over them with admiration, before he met him at the foot of the net and swung his long legs over the edge, dwelling over how to awkwardly cling to him as Levi turned to face him.

The Faerie huffed a small, amused breath. "Come on, I'm not that scary," he teased with outstretched arms. Hearing him speak so casually while effortlessly carrying himself in the air was oddly striking to Eren, and he bit his lip before deciding to lean forward and wrap his arms around his neck.

He didn't wish to speak on how particularly intimate it felt to be carried down to the bed by the Faerie, who wrapped his arms around his midsection with a comfortable and secure hold until they landed safely. He knew he hadn't been the only customer to have been taken into that net, and he wouldn't be the last. Making it personal was the last thing he needed to do.

So he sank into the mattress with an uncomfortably heavier heart, nodding gratefully at Levi after he tossed him another clean rag. Eren briefly wondered if there were any substances left dripping from the net since they hadn't cleaned themselves sooner, but quickly shook the thought away.

They respectively wiped themselves off before the Faerie returned to his lounge chair beside the window, grabbing his black pipe just as he had the night before. Though this time, Eren didn't feel a sense of bitter distance as he gazed at Levi lighting it, less of a furrow between his brows, and it made him wonder just how much it would take for the fae to unveil himself before the man.

———

The cacophony of polished silverware against porcelain plates was nearly defeaning at the dining table of the Jaeger household the following morning.

Eren kept his head down as often as he could, shoving mouthfuls of Hanji's heavenly quiche past his lips whenever he spared the chance to. But every moment he happened to lift his head to glance at the rest of the table, a piercing glare of silver was boring right into his tired green eyes. The grueling stare belonged to none other than his sister.

"So, how was everyone's night?" Dina asked, a hand over her round stomach as she calmly sipped on her warm green tea before forking at her honey-drizzled berries.

"Oh, mine was fine, I got a lot of reading done," Mikasa said, though the biting tone in her raised voice didn't go unnoticed by the others in the room as she brutally stabbed her quiche. Eren subtly met Hanji's hazel eyes, and her raised, knowing eyebrows almost disappeared into the start of her textured horns.

Dina ignored Mikasa's apparent frustration. "That's nice, dear. How about you, Eren? Did you resume that new novel you've been meaning to catch up on?" she asked softly, her lethargic smile warm. She was doing her best to keep the air light after the animosity that had gathered the previous day.

Eren could appreciate that, but he wasn't appreciating Mikasa knowing something she shouldn't have, and treading on dangerously thin ice as far as blatant obviousness went.

"Yeah, I managed to read some last night, but it was difficult to get into," he said, refusing to make eye contact with his younger sister. He wasn't lying, but he could almost feel the palpable rage emitting from the girl across the table. "That's surprising. You look tired, Eren, like you were awake for a while," Mikasa cut in with a frigid tone. Eren looked up at her, their intense gazes boring into each other with unspoken words. "I was having trouble sleeping. There's been a lot on my mind," he said bitterly. Dina gave him a sympathetic look.

Grisha, cleared his throat, apparently sensing the tension between his children. "Good news regarding work today. Canidate Dok has agreed to sponsor the clinic as apart of the Republic's wellness program," he began. Eren jerked his head to meet his father's mirrored eyes. "Dok? But wouldn't that decrease the health-care opportunities for fae across the Republic?" It was no secret that canidate Dok's party ruled in favor of fae oppression. The current Chancellor allowed many opportunities for fae to find health coverage and obtain sustaining jobs beneath higher parties. If Dok won, much of that progress would be maliciously erased.

Grisha sighed. "Well, it's a bit more complicated than that, son. If he won the election, Paradis may see some drawback on fae wellness, yes. Chancellor Shadis' has done a lot of work to put the government's earnings into health-care opportunities for them since the war. But the truth is, Eren—that money is what's taxed out of our hard-earned pay. Dok would make sure we knew our work was being put toward progression for the Republic itself," Grisha explained.

Eren scoffed. "And allowing the fae that work under us and actually help the Paradis progress have access to health care is not?" he bit back. The table grew tense, the women in the room eyeing the two with wary stares.

Eren didn't care that his avocation for fae was often looked oddly upon by his family. He'd learned early on to speak his mind on important matters no matter who held the upper hand. In the corner of his eye, he could see Hanji smiling softly.

Grisha sighed, rubbing the side of his cheek before he set his hand on the table. "Nevermind that, Eren. Canidate Dok has a lot riding against him—just today there was a protest disassembled by the police. Canidate Pixis has the city's current favor, and he stands by Chancellor Shadis movement," he said in a calm tone. Eren sat back in his chair, glancing at his plate with a gloomy exterior. "I wouldn't be surprised if it all turned around last minute—people claim they have fae's best interest at heart, but the truth is they're all just as selfish as the rest of them," he mumbled.

Mikasa lingered his gaze on Eren, her once fiery gaze of anger curling into something softer, sympathetic. But Eren sighed, shoveling his food into his mouth once more as the air of the room struggled to settle.

"Well, anyway, love, I think it's wonderful that he wants to sponsor you." Dina sliced through the silence, her voice gentle as she rubbed her hand over Grisha's broad shoulder. The man sighed. "Thank you, dear," he replied.

The rest of the dinner was finished in silence, only the clinking of silverware and Hanj's occasional faint humming joining the room. By the time Eren was finished, he excused himself and began to flee to his room. But he was stopped in the hallway shortly after, a soft hand on his shoulder.

"Eren, wait," Mikasa said firmly. He let out an irritated breath, turning around as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers to look down at his sister. "What is it, Mikasa?"

"Where were you last night?" she whispered harshly. Eren knew that's what this was about—if her performance at the table did anything to give it away. He sagged his shoulders, momentarily shutting his eyes before he pushed his hair back on his head. "How did you know I was gone?" he asked first, avoiding the answer.

Mikasa's expression pinched, her lips pursed on a tight frown. "I came to your room during the night. I needed to ask you a question," she said quietly. An oddly subdued demeanor had enveloped her, and Eren raised an eyebrow. "A question? What would you need to ask me that late?" he asked quizzically.

Mikasa scowled. "Oh please, it wasn't even past midnight. And nevermind that, you weren't even there. Where were you?" she asked again.

Eren hesitated, glancing to the wall on his right where he laid eyes on a family portrait within an intricate golden frame. Mikasa's warm stare looked back at him from the painting, and he sighed before turning back to her. "I went to Queendom again," he mumbled.

Mikasa's expression grew shocked. She glanced behind them to make sure she could still hear their parents deeply engaged in conversation at the table from around the corner. "Why on earth did you leave without telling me?" she asked harshly, though she kept her voice quiet despite her demanding tone.

Eren jerked his head back, shocked. "I don't need to tell you everything, Mikasa. Father was right—I shouldn't let you get involved in my own decisions. My choices are my own, and you don't need to worry about what I do with my time and where I use it," he bit back.

He wasn't expecting the surprised and hurt look that cast over Mikasa's face, as if she had been physically slapped by the words. Eren's expression pinched, and he reached out as he opened his mouth to soothe her, but she spoke up first. "Is this about Nifa? Are you rebounding—trying to force yourself to get over her because you feel like you have to?" she boldly assumed. Eren’s eyes greew wide with offense.

"What? No, it's nothing like that. Sure, I still think about her, but it has nothing to do with why I returned. Why does it even matter, Mikasa? I don't need to give you a reason. As a matter of fact, I'd rather not discuss this matter with my little sister at all," he defended.

Mikasa's frown deepened, glancing behind them again before facing him. "Because you're sleeping with a fae, Eren," she whispered harshly. "What if mother and father found out? Or even the public? Gosh, you're being so selfish! Especially after how worried mother was!" Her fists clenched at her sides, cheeks growing flushed as she pleaded for Eren to see reason.

He took a step back, crossing his arms over his chest. "No one is going to find out. Nobody of noble standing visits Trost and everybody knows the brothel upholds a level of customer confidentiality," he said.

Mikasa groaned. "But it's about the principle, Eren! How are you not seeing that?" she quietly bit back. Eren scoffed. "Because while you're stuck in this fantasy of pleasing mother and father, I'm trying to live my life."

Mikasa fell quiet, her lips parting and eyes squinting upon Eren's harshly spoken words. Instant regret flooded Eren as his eyebrows softened.

"I don't think I'm the one stuck in a fantasy here," was all she bit back, before she rushed forward, shoving past him and fleeing from the hallway.

Eren's shoulders sagged, his heart sinking with the heavy weight of dejection. He never wanted to hurt Mikasa's feelings, but he felt she had overstepped. He didn't need to give reason nor insight to what he chose to use his personal time doing, let alone regarding who he slept with.

He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as he momentarily shut his eyes. He opened them again when the soft clicking of heels came from the kitchen.

"What's going on? Are you okay?" Dina asked, her hand cupping her large stomach and her expression painted with concern. Eren shook his head, dropping his hand to his side. "Nothing, mother. I'm fine," he said quietly, and she pursed her lips with saddened doubt before Eren turned away from her scrutiny and treaded toward the vast staircase.

It felt as if nobody was capable of understanding the longing that constantly tugged at his wounded heart.