TRUST

IT'S NEW YEAR, SO HERE'S ANOTHER CHAPTER.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! THANK YOU FOR READING :)

-Levi POV-

"This is the card key of my house, of course." He said that and looked at me. I was surprised by what he said just now. Why would he give me his house key?

"Yeah, I know. But why are you giving this to me?" I asked him out of the blue, and he looked down, avoiding eye contact. I bet he's looking for the right answer to give me.

"Well, it's... It's just you've been very good with the cats, and maybe you would like to play with them often, right? And you can help me in managing them too. It's my first time, and I don't know much about cats, just like you. Well, what I'm trying to say is, you can just come anytime you want, that's why I'm giving you the key. So, just come whenever you feel like it." He said that quickly, eyes still looking down at his two feet. I touched his cheek softly, and he was startled a bit, and then he looked at me.

"Are you sure you wanted to give me this? What would happen if I did something bad to you?" I tried to scare him.

"After what we've been through together, I trust you enough. Does that answer convince you?" Unlike before, he's looking straight into my eyes now.

"Wow. I didn't see that coming. Well then, I'll take this, and you should go to bed now, Haru-chan. I'll see you tomorrow." I took the card key, closed the door after saying goodbye, and then left.

-The Next Day-

It's Monday again, and I just arrived at the office with a cup of hot chocolate in my hand. For Haruka, of course. I entered the office, and Haruka was seated at his desk, shuffling papers nervously, clearly trying to focus on work but failing miserably. A faint smile formed on my lips. I walked towards him slowly.

"Good morning, Haru-chan!" I said that with a happy voice.

"Ah! Go...good morning Mr. Ackerman, and wait, you shouldn't call me that at work." He's clearly startled, but he tried to keep calm.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Two days hanging out with you, it just slipped out of my mouth. So, how are the babies? Are they doing fine?" I asked, placing the cup on his desk.

"The babies? Ah, yes, they're doing fine. Everything's fine, of course." He answered, still trying to act calm.

"Are you sure? Because you look like you didn't get enough sleep last night. Lev, keeping you up?" I said that while raising an eyebrow.

"No, no! I slept fine. Totally fine. Just a busy morning, you know. Lots of reports and stuff." He said that while pretending to organise the papers. He tried to act casual but failed. I have never seen him act like this before.

"Right. And I'm sure that has nothing to do with what you said last night." I said that while smirking, and he looked at me in surprise.

"What! Wh..What are you talking about?" Still trying to act calm, but he ended up startling.

"Well, you know, something about how I've been 'very good with the cats' and how you trust me so much that you gave me the key to your place. Ring any bells?" I said, trying to tease him.

"T-That was just… Look, I was tired, okay? And I didn't know how else to…" He stopped mid-sentence, as he was at a loss for words to say.

"Relax, Mr. Auclair. I think it's sweet that you trust me. But if you keep acting like this, people might think you've got a crush on me." I said that while grinning and his face clearly turning red right now. 

"I believe I told you to stop talking nonsense, and why would you even say that?" He looks at me with a glare. Now, he's back to how he usually is.

""Easy, easy! I'm just kidding. Here, a hot chocolate for you. Oh, by the way, I'll swing by tonight to check on the cats. Don't worry, I'll knock first." With that, I left Haruka's table and entered my office.

//SKIP TO AFTER WORK//

I was in front of Haru's place and just rang the bell. I didn't use the card key he gave me.

"I gave you the card key, why didn't you use it?" Haruka said while glaring at me. His hair is still wet. Guess he's just finished taking a shower.

"I told you I'd knock first, right? Here, I brought some treats for the cats and dessert for you. I figured you'd still be sulking about this morning." I said that while raising the plastic bags.

"I wasn't sulking! It's your fault for keeping teasing about last night." He's trying to act cool, but he's slightly blushing.

"Can you blame me? You were adorable. Besides, I'm here now. Let's see what those chaos babies have been up to." I said that while grinning and then stepped inside.

"Chaos babies were right… You're too comfortable with this." He muttered while closing the door behind us.

"They like me, what can I say? So, what's the plan? Want me to show you how to keep them entertained or just give you moral support?" I said that, setting down plastic bags on the table, and went to greet the babies.

"Well, maybe both? They've been climbing everything, and I have no idea how to stop them." Haruka said that awkwardly while scratching the back of his neck.

"Come, I'll show you." I said that, pulling out one of the cat's toys.

"Rule number one, if they're climbing, that means they're bored, and rule number two, when it comes to this, the toys are your best friend." I said that while showing Haruka how to play with the toys with the babies, Ha-chan immediately pounced on the toy.

"Wow. You make it look so easy. It's like you're some kind of cat whisperer." Haruka said while rolling his eyes, crossing his arms, and looking at me.

"Maybe I am. Come, Haru-chan. Try to play with them." I said, patting the seat beside me, and he just followed what I said.

"Here, take this and try to play with them." I gave him the cat toy and started to imitate what I did earlier.

"I guess it's not that bad. I tried to play with them earlier, but they didn't respond to me like this." He said that in a sulking tone.

"Or maybe you're just overthinking it. Relax, Haru-chan. Cats can sense when you're stressed." I said that to him softly.

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one they're keeping up all night." He said that while sighing, sitting down on the couch but kept playing with the cats. 

"Maybe not, but I'm the one you called in for backup. That counts for something, right?" I said that, joining Haruka on the couch while still playing with Ha-chan.

"Yeah… Thanks for that. And for not making this even more awkward than it already is." Haruka said that with a faint smile on his lips. I'm glad that he's been more comfortable with me.

"Don't worry about that. But seriously, Haru-chan, you're doing fine. The cats are happy, and you'll get the hang of it." I said that with a smile, and he just smiled back.

"Well, I hope I'm going to get better and better at raising them." He sounds a bit like a mother, haha.

"You will, and I'll be helping you. But I think I should get going now." I said that, standing up from the couch.

"Why are you leaving already?" Haruka stood up abruptly.

"Why? Do you want to spend time with me a bit longer? Or do you want me to tease you again tomorrow?" I said that with a smirk.

"It's not like that. You just came, and it's not like you to just come for a short time only." He tried to act cool.

"Well, I would love to stay the night here if I can, but I still have work to do by tonight." Seriously, I don't want to leave right now, but I have to.

"You did finish your work earlier before going back, right?" Haruka said, doubting my answer.

"I did. Well, I believe you know my father very well. He wants me to meet him tonight, so that's the reason." I told him the truth.

"Hah. Again. But why did you come here when you still have work to do?" Another question.

"I just wanted to make it up with you. Well, for teasing you this morning and of course to meet the babies also." I answered him with a smile and I could see him slightly blushing.

"Well, thank you. And please let me know if you need any help." He said, walking together with me towards the door.

"Sure. Rest well Haruka and see you tomorrow. Also, bye babies." With that, I left Haruka's house. Tch. This is all my father's fault.

//SKIP//

Finally, it's time to go back home and tomorrow's Friday already. I can't wait for the weekend to come.

"Haru-chan, let's go back together." I said that while leaning against Haruka's table.

"You can go back first. I'm going to meet Hanabi for a while. She wants me to accompany her somewhere." Haruka said that while looking at his phone. Guess, it's Hanabi.

"Alright, I'll see you at your place then." I said that with a sad face.

"Sure. Please look after the kittens." He said that and left the room. 

Tch. I wanted to get back home together. Hmm, maybe I should go look for desserts first to kill some time before going back to Haruka's place.

-Haruka's House-

"Ha-chan, Lev, I'm here." I called for the kids as soon as I entered the house and they came running to me.

"Good babies. It's just me, right now. Your mom goes to meet her sister for a while. Now, let's give both some treats for behaving so well, shall we?" I kept talking with them and they just replied to me with meowing. They're so cute!

I put the dessert in the fridge first before making my steps towards their room and took some of their treats, then went back to the living room.

"Here, be good and wait your turn okay, babies?" I said that while tearing the treats open and like always, they just answer me with their cute meows.

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

I heard someone entering the passcode. Is it Haruka? Well, it's been 45 minutes since then, so maybe it's him.

CLACK!

The doors opened, but that person didn't say anything. I was about to stand up before a voice startled me.

"Haru-chan, surprise!" It's not Haruka. What should I do now? Should I hide? Or is it too late to hide now?

"Levi Ackerman, what are you doing here?"

TO BE CONTINUED!!!