New story! I'm sorry! I couldn't help myself! I caved in! Don't worry. I'm still working on Break In. I just really wanted to start on this one. I wasn't entirely sure which character should do ballet, but I think Levi is the more graceful of the two so I'm sorry if it's not really your thing. I used to take a little dance so the set up of the studio building is more how mine was set up and also I have no disrespect for any dance forms, I think they are all wonderful. Anywho... Enough chit chat. I hope you guys like the story:)
Gray eyes met green from across the front lobby. 'Why do I have to look at this shitty brat's face every day?' Levi thought as he and the brat named Eren glared at each as they sat on opposing couches. He had only spoken to Eren only once before. He couldn't really remember the conversation as it had been years ago when they were still prepubescent and Eren's mother was first enrolling him in the dance studio. All he could recall was the fact that they hated each other's dance styles. Levi had grown up learning both classical ballet and lyrical dance while Eren had fallen in love with hip hop. Levi barely understood hip hop. What was so appealing about jerking your body around like you were having a seizure? It held no beauty like ballet did and no expression that came from lyrical. From the first time he had seen The Nutcracker performed when he was six, he had fallen in love with the tight and precise movements that made ballet elegant and he had grown to love the storytelling through dance through lyrical.
"Are you two having another, glare off?" Hanji plopped on the couch beside him. Levi didn't even flinch. There was no way he was going admit defeat to the stupid brown haired brat across the way. "This gets really old you know. Do you two even remember why you hate each other?"
Keeping his death glare on Eren, Levi replied, "Yes. He's a disrespectful brat that has no class." He could feel Hanji roll her eyes. He felt another shift on the couch as someone else sat on the other side of him.
"You haven't spoken to him since that first day, Levi. He's matured quite a bit. He's not a bad guy. I've spoken to him a few times. He's cheerful and very pleasant to be around. Not to mention he's apparently a great motivator to the little ones," Petra spoke up.
"Tch. I doubt that. Just look at those hateful eyes." Levi scoffed.
"Levi...I bet he's only doing that because you are," Petra said. "Look at me, Levi."
Levi sighed. He'd have to forfeit today. He schooled his face back into his usual bored expression and looked over at his friend. Petra was wearing nude tights, a black leotard, and a black wrap skirt around her waist. She always wore the same clothes only in different colors. Levi had multiple of the same clothes in the same color. Gray fitted tank tops and black leggings.
"Good. Now. I want you to look over again as he talks to his friends." Petra gave him a pointed look. Levi rolled his eyes and looked back and the distracted boy. Eren was smiling and laughing with Armin and his other goons at some joke the blond had said as Mikasa sat looking confused as if she didn't get the joke. All of the hate had gone from Eren's eyes and had been replaced with a youthful playfulness that Levi was sure had never reached his own eyes.
"See how much happier he looks?" Petra nudged him
"Tch. That's because he surrounded by those other damn hip hop brats. Have you ever seen him hang around dancers outside of his own style?" Levi looked back to Petra so he didn't have to keep looking at the annoying brunet.
Hanji shoved her way into the conversation. "OH! I've seen him with Christa and Ymir and Marco from the tap class! And... Let's see...There's Annie and her two goons from across the street at the dojo."
"Karate isn't dance, four eyes!"
"Eh. Sort of. You learn moves and practice, practice, practice. It's not that different. One has physical fighting and the other has drama." Levi rolled his eyes. He had taken a few years of karate himself until he had to pick which one to dedicate his life to. Obviously, dance one out. Hanji wasn't wrong. They were similar in some aspects.
"You guys ready?" Levi heard the deep voice of their instructor Erwin at the same time he heard Eld, the hip hop instructor, on the other side of the room. Levi stood up, grabbed his bag, and immediately headed for the hall where the studios were located. In his rush, he bounced off another person who had been too distracted talking to pay attention to where he was going.
"Oh, I'm s-" The voice above him stopped mid-apology. Levi looked up. Well, fuck. There stood Eren fucking Jaeger looking down at him haughtily.
"Tch, watch where you're going, you shitty brat." Levi backed up a step to glare at him comfortably. He noticed the whole room went quiet and were staring at them. Everyone was holding their breaths, fearful that this interaction may transform into a full on fist fight.
"What the fuck did you call me?!" Eren quick temperament reared its ugly head.
"What are you, deaf? That's unfortunate. No wonder you have to sense of beat. Let me tell you again slowly so you can read my lips. I said you were a shitty brat." Levi slowed the last two words down, dragging out the insult. Eren grabbed Levi by the front of his shirt and pulled his arm back to punch him. However, Levi was quicker and easily twisted Eren's hand painfully until Eren was on the his knees facing away from Levi with his arm twisted behind his back.
Levi leaned down to speak menacingly into Eren's ear. "You try that again, and next time I will break your fucking arm." Levi gave one more painful twist before shoving Eren to the ground with a satisfying grunt of pain from the brunet. Levi simply stepped over him towards the ballet studio.
"Mikasa! Stop!" Levi turned his head slightly to see Mikasa being held back by Armin and the rest of the hip hop brats surrounding their fallen comrade. If looks could kill, then Levi would have died a thousand deaths that day. But they couldn't so Levi smirked at her before disappearing into the studio where the automatic lights flicked on. Levi set his bag near the sound system then stretched his hands above his head as he closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. The others filed in shortly after Levi began to warm up his body. He noticed all the cautious stares that were shot his way. But he ignored them. They would get over it eventually.
"Levi." Erwin called his name and motioned him over. "I don't know what sort of beef you and that other kid have against one another, but fighting is not permitted in this studio. Is that clear?" Erwin looked down on him like a parent scolding a child. Tch. Erwin was one of Levi's close friends, but here he was lecturing Levi when Levi had gone easy one the kid.
"He obviously tried to hit me first, eyebrows." Levi crossed his arms in aggravation.
"Levi.." Erwin warned. Levi knew he was testing Erwin's patience.
"Fine. I won't start anything else with the stupid brat. Happy?" Levi barely waited for the dismissing nod before he turned on the ball of his foot and went back to warming up with the others.
The class began their warm up and stretches before they got to the piece the Erwin was choreographing for the upcoming competition. They were doing a lyrical piece using the song "Take Me to Church" by Hozier. Levi had been helping Erwin with this piece every night after he dismissed everyone. Actually. Quite a few of the moves were ones that Levi had suggested. Levi was utterly proud of this piece.
The class went on for two hours until Erwin dismissed everyone. Levi, like usual, stayed behind.
"You can go home, Levi. I've got the last of it prepared." Erwin waved a dismissive hand.
"Let me see it. You should always get a second opinion on things." Levi didn't really want to leave yet. He loved being here.
Erwin thought for a second before nodding and starting up the song. Levi watched the emotional movements with a critiquing eye. About half an hour of making suggestions and altering a few things, the dance was finished and Levi walked out of the studio and to the rust bucket he called his car. He sat in the dark silence for a moment before starting up his car and heading to hell.
Quick note. If you haven't seen it already, there was a video a year ago that I fell in love with and the reason I used "Take Me to Church." I recommend watching it. The video is called "Sergei Polunin, "Take Me to Church" by Hozier, Directed by David LaChapelle"