My Garbage Boy
By: Stupiak Kitty
A/N: Hello. Welcome to my first attempt of writing Riren/Ereri. *shivers bc of feels* This is only short, and was inspired by our town's yearly event for elders.
I wrote this without internet connection, so my playlist/songs are limited. I'm so sorry! I will try to edit this once my net is back.
No beta. Sorry too!
If I made some of the characters OOC, I'm sorry too. Believe it or not, I haven't watched the anime version of SnK yet, although I've read the manga already. I only based their unique mannerism and attitude from reading *too* much SnK fiction. And I've run out of fanfics to read (no connection) so this story was born. XD
I do not own anything, except my account, my life, my decisions, my heart. Okay, I'm getting too deep, let's just proceed as you read my insanity towards the Ereri/Riren couple.
xXx
''Are you fucking kidding me?''
Eren couldn't remember the time when he had felt pure irritation boiling inside his vain, like now. It travelled within his body, throbbed in his temple and brought heat on his face;
he was certain his face looked like an over-cooked tomato, plumpy and red, despite his natural tan complexion.
''Armin can't do this to me,'' He went on, feeling the urge to stomp his foot like a kid with tantrums. ''He knows how hectic my schedule is.''
''He also knows you're kind enough to set aside your 'other' business and accept his favor without any complaint,'' Mikasa said, holding his mug with her outstretched hand, which he accepted despite his mood. ''Eren, he was asking you kindly. You know how important this event is to him,''
''Is writing your favor in a sticky note and discovered it glued on your hair by morning 'kindly' to you?'' He countered, his eyebrows forming an angry V. ''I have a gig later at the bar Maria, Mikasa, you know that! And tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after the next. Do you know what he wrote at the damn piece of paper? I need to be at his bandmate's house before lunch, to practice with them. Right now. Because guess what? The event would be three days from now! Do you know what it means? It means I'm stuck with them for three days, instead of doing my usual gigs,'' Eren knew he was whining, but he couldn't help it when he already had plans for the whole week, only to be ruined by the sticky note on his hair. Plus he's not patient when it's morning. ''I can't just skip it because my best friend 'kindly' asked me to sing for their band instead. Oh and why was that? Because their supposed back up singer broke his neck so he wouldn't be able to sing for them. What? Can't he just sing while wearing his supporter on his neck? He broke his damn neck, not his vocal chords!''
''Don't be stupid, Eren,'' Mikasa chided. Hearing her calm and monotone voice only brought another set of annoyance in him. ''Be reasonable and just accept it. You're not a kid anymore.''
''You should tell Armin that, not to me!'' Eren was close to shouting. ''He stuck a sticky note on my hair. On my fucking hair!''
''He couldn't think of any good place where you could easily see it,'' Mikasa said, sipping at her cup of freshly made instant coffee, unaffected by his display of emotion, as if she was already used with this particular mood of his. ''He knows how inconvenient you are in the morning.''
''Inconvenient?'' Eren scoffed, almost offended.
''Yeah, and irresponsible,'' Mikasa said, ''And grumpy. That too.'' She added the last as an after thought.
''Hey! I'm responsible enough. I have a decent work,''
''In the morning,'' Mikasa pointed out. ''I know how responsible you are, although I don't think working as a singer in a bar every other night suits you. You have a choice to leave the job and continue your study. I could support you, Eren. You know that.''
This again. Eren thought. He was aware of it, of course. He was aware that Mikasa could support him, but he chose not to.
''I love my job, it's the only thing that's keeping me sane,'' He said, before sipping at coffee for the first time after his fits. ''I should kill Armin for doing this to my schedule,''
''You won't, he's important to you,'' Mikasa said. ''So you will go then, Eren?''
He sighed. ''Do I have a choice? Just like you said, this event is important to him. And, well, he's important to me too so I can't let him down.''
''Good,'' Mikasa answered, a small subtle smile touched her lips. She knew Eren wouldn't be able to say no, and she knew Armin was aware by it as well. ''I will tell our boss about your schedule change later, so you don't have to worry about it,''
''Thanks, I should do what I need to do then. I don't want to be late,''
xXx
The three of them, Armin, Mikasa and he, had been friends ever since he could remember. Mikasa is an orphan. His parents adopted her when they were six. Armin lived with his grandfather, for a time, before the three of them decided to act like a responsible adult and experience life's challenges on their own.
That was when they reached eighteen, and it's already been five years since then. Eren could still remember their struggle when they first experienced how to become a real human; financial problem, food deprivation, apartment rentals, finding suitable jobs. All of those struggles, but he was glad they had already passed that stage.
Mikasa work for three jobs; a waiter at Burger King on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, an online English tutor for Japanese people, and a waiter at bar Maria by night. The last job was not necessary, but she insisted that it is. Eren knew she only wanted to keep an eye out of him.
He works at the aforementioned bar, but it was only by call, depending on the owner's mood if he wanted him at his bar or not. It was sheer luck Shadis gave him one week notice to perform at his bar, which is rare, that's why Eren was annoyed he needed to skip three days for Armin's favor.
If he was not at the bar Maria, he spend his night at some local bars, offering his only talent he was certainly proud of - - singing.
He has a wild selection of genre, although he prefer rock or punk rock more than anything. His lifestyle is not easy, especially since he has no permanent work-in place, but he enjoyed it nonetheless. Because that's what important to him.
While he enjoyed singing, Armin enjoyed playing. His best friend has a work at an office by morning, at some prestigious lawsuit company - at least that's what Eren was aware of - all the while playing the trumpet in a band. A real big ass band with conductors, drums, violins, saxophones, piano and all that shit.
As far as Eren was concern, Armin's band do their performance at some parties, events, clubs and bars too, but a different kind of bar. A bar where prestigious people were only allowed. They were also a regular at this certain event, which is dear to his best friend, because every time they play at this event, Armin has a privilege to see his grandfather.
It was an event organized specifically for elders, which happens yearly at their own town.
Eren wasn't sure if this change of plan was a good idea or not.
xXx
His presence is required before lunch, and it's a good thing the house of one of Armin's bandmates, which is the meeting place today, was only an hour from theirs.
It was quarter before six when he finally arrived at the address given by Armin via text. Unfortunately, he fell asleep the moment he finished all necessities he needed to do, like eating and bathing and playing games with his Xbox.
All he remembered was glancing at the clock, waiting for it to strike ten. When he woke up, which he never noticed that he fell asleep, it was already four in the fucking noon.
One and a half hour of blaming himself inside the public transportation and trying to find that damn house later, here he was now, standing outside the large three storey house.
Fidgeting, he contemplated whether pushing the doorbell was a good idea or not. Is it even the right house?
If it is, are they still there? Is Armin still there? It's already six, several hours after the given time. Are they still waiting for him to arrive? Did Armin think he wouldn't be coming? He never received any text from him after he sent the address to him. Eren was also aware how irresponsible and rude it was to arrive late at the meeting.
So he stood there instead, unsure what to do.
Lost in his thoughts, he flinched when the small metal gate next to the large main gate moved, the sudden loud noise starting him. When he looked up, his eyes widen a fraction as he saw the man standing before him.
He stared at Eren, literally stared at him with those piercing eyes and cold glare. This is the epitome of the phrase if looks could kill. He was staring at him as though he had done something terrible in his entire life, as though he was judging him if he could be brought to heaven right then and there. He was lean and tight; Eren could see the contour of muscles beneath his dark blue polo shirt. Different piercings adorned his both ears, making him look like some emo punk guy.
He wore his hair neat, Eren also noticed. He has an undercut, with his bangs flowing along his forehead. He was leaning at the gate, his arms outstretched at the either side of the gate's frame, creating a first impression that this guy was trying to intimidate him.
Which is effective, by the way.
Eren's first thought was to hide. Maybe this guy belonged to Armin's band, - despite the ironic appearance of him being in a prestige instrumental band - maybe he somewhat knew he's the person who was supposed to be their second singer, and was pissed because he's totally late.
But Eren had never been given a good surprise in his life, until now, when that intimidating but gorgeous guy spoke.
''Oi. What the fuck do you want? Need to take all the dump shit out of shitty glasses' house?''
''W-Wha?'' Eren spluttered, confused. ''E-excuse me?''
The guy's already narrow eyes narrowed at him, unimpressed. ''Aren't you the regular junk collector the shitty owner of this house talks about a lot? Apparently you amuse them for some stupid reason. Huh, didn't know shitty glasses has good taste. Not bad for a garbage boy.''
Eren was speechless.
Regular junk collector? Garbage boy?
This guy thought he was a fucking garbage man?! Is he not clean enough, that this rude - gorgeous - but rude man assumed that he was some random garbage junk collector?
Way to ruin his ego.
''Excuse me, sir,'' He said as he crossed his arms. He was offended. ''Do I look like I'm a garbage boy to you?''
The guy gave him a scrutinizing stare, before saying, ''Close enough. Sorry, did I offend you?''
Eren clenched his fist. He doesn't sound like sorry at all. ''Well, excuse me-''
''You're excused,''
He gaped at the supposed gorgeous guy, he couldn't believe it.
''What in the actual fuck is your problem?!'' He yelled, closing the gap between them to snatch his collar. His temper's now reaching its boiling point. They have the same level of height, even when the rude guy stood at a higher platform inside the beautiful big house. He growled, ''Don't you annoy me further, you punk. I'm at my limit now. I'm already annoyed, and I'm fucking late with my appoinment, then some weird punk guy here called me a garbage boy. Do you think I'll be happy with that, huh?''
The guy with flawless and almost porcelain face - Eren noticed because their faces are now close to each other - only looked at him with a bored expression.
Although, was that amusement he saw in this stranger's steel grey eyes?
''Eren?!''
Eren looked behind him when he heard that familiar voice, and then he blinked when he saw Armin, with some other people, holding a plastic bag filled with...wait, why is Armin buying booze?
''Armin!'' He said, turning around to face his friend. ''You're here! Sorry, I'm late, I overslept.''
''I thought you'd never come,'' Armin said, ''You never texted me!''
''You never texted me either,'' He answered, relief flooding his system. ''I was almost convinced you went home already, wait - why do you have booze…?''
''Oi, Arlert,'' The rude guy behind him called. He almost forget about him. ''Bodt, Springer, hurry up and bring those good shit inside. It's about fucking time,''
The two people complied while Eren frowned, looking at Armin who was stuck between wanting to comply with the guy's order and stay close to him. Eren took a long glance at the rude guy behind, before looking back at his best friend again. ''Armin, you know that rude guy over there?''
''Eren!'' Armin said almost frantically. ''Stop, he might hear you! He's my bandmate, and my boss as well.''
''Boss?!'' Eren was surprised to hear this.
''Yes! At the office, where I work!'' Armin said, his voice held that panic tone.
Eren's brow shot up with that. ''Isn't that rude guy too young to be your boss?''
''Eren!''
''Too young, huh,'' Eren looked at his shoulder when he heard that. The guy was now smirking - or not, because he still had that impassive look on his face, but Eren was sure he was and he had no idea why. But he had a guess or two, and he didn't like it. The guy looked past him and stared straight at Armin. ''Arlert,''
''Yes, sir!'' Armin stood straight.
He pointed his thumb at Eren and asked, ''Is that shitty brat over there the same friend you were talking about? The one who we've been waiting for 7 fucking hours until Shitty Glasses excused herself to take a shit?''
Armin bristled. ''Y-Yes, sir. This...this is Eren I'm talking about. Eren Jaeger, sir. The one who sings,''
Eren was now beginning to understand his position at the moment. And he couldn't help but feel the embarrasment coloring his face.
''Eren Jaeger…'' The guy, who turned out to be a superior, said as if he was testing his name on his lips. ''Not a bad name for a shitty brat like you.''
Eren almost yelp when Armin nudged him on the rib. He gestured for him to introduce himself properly.
Not knowing what to react, he said awkwardly instead, ''I...I'm - I'm Eren Jaeger…?''
''What? Not sure if that's you?''
''Wha-no!'' He exclaimed. Armin looked at him pointedly. He cleared his throat and tried again. ''I'm Eren Jaeger, sir… The...the one who sings, yeah,'' He saw how his friend shook his head, like he was embarrassing him, and himself. ''Uh...Er...Look, sir, sorry for my rudeness awhile ago. I didn't mean it, I was just...just…''
Eren couldn't believe he was saying sorry, when he remembered the guy being the first one to be rude to him. But what can he do? He didn't know this guy was Armin's boss in the first place! And he actually snapped and yelled at his face, more reason why he was embarrassed now.
''That's fine, don't shit yourself explaining things that you can't,'' The guy waved his hands, before offering it to him. ''It was an interesting first meet, brat. I'm Levi Ackerman. Call me Ackerman or I'll skin you and make it my living room's carpet.''
Eren blinked as he took the hand, bristling when Levi shook and squeezed his hands with so much force he felt the subtle shift of his bones.
''Nice meeting you too, sir Levi.'' He said as he tried to pry his hands away from the death grip.
''Levi is fine. You don't work for me anyway,'' Levi said once he let go of his hand, his brows arching as he watched the guy produced a small bottle of hand sanitizer out of his pants and squeezed it.
"Okay, Le...vi,'' He drawled. It felt strange. He couldn't believe he was now on first basis with the stranger who called him a garbage boy earlier. He was still annoyed by it, but he kept it out of his mind for the mean time.
''Good. Now, Eren,'' Levi looked at him, his gaze long and cold. "Since you didn't make it to practice today, which was supposed to focus with the singing part, I'll give you an assignment for you to do tonight.''
"Umm...'' Eren looked at Armin, before snapping his eyes back to Levi guy, unsure of this assignment he's talking about. "What kind?''
"Open your phone's bluetooth,'' Levi only said.
"Huh?'' Eren was lost. He wanted to comment and ask about it, but he kept his mouth shut and complied.
And bluetooth, really?
Eren watched as the rude stranger, who was now Levi, manipulated his smart phone, his thumb gliding and sliding until he stopped and looked at them, most particulary him.
"Are you the 'I'm a fab gay'?''
Eren spluttered when Levi asked that. He heard Armin spluttering too, before he could hear a faint snicker. He stared hard at his best friend, silently telling him to shut up.
Confused, he looked at his bluetooth's name with fingers, only to grimace when he confirmed that it was really his.
Why hadn't he noticed it earlier?!
There's only one person who could do this thing to his phone.
That fucking horseface!
"Yes, it's me,'' He said, trying to keep his voice from stuterring. How many times does he need to be embarrassed in front of this gorgeous, unusual stranger. "Don't mind the name, though. Some stupid people manipulated my damn phone again.''
"I don't mind,'' Levi said, looking at him with that strange spark in his steely grey eyes. Like he was amused, but the sharpness of his eyes made him looked like he was pissed. "Accept.''
Eren looked down and did as he was told. It only took them seconds before the file was transfered into his phone. He was about to click it when Levi spoke again.
"Check that once you're home. For now, let's go inside and party with us,''
"Party?'' Eren asked. "I thought we were supposed to practice."
"We have finished practicing the required songs for the event, Eren,'' Armin said. "The practice today was supposed to focus on Hanji and you, also to welcome you in the band too.''
"Oh,'' He could feel his cheeks warmed as he remembered how late he is today. "I'm sorry if I was late,''
"Brat,'' Levi said. "You still have two days to practice the songs with us, so don't be sorry. Do that later,''
This Levi guy isn't so bad after all.
xXx
Eren wanted to take back what he just said yesterday. Who said this Levi guy was good? He's fucking not.
Totally not.
"Armin, why didn't you tell me about the songs?!'' He asked, or more like shouted, later that early morning.
The party ended at eleven, and they came back home together at 12:15 in the morning. The whole night was spent with Eren knowing Armin's whole bandmates better. They were all nice to him, they treated him as though he was an original member of the band and not a substitute ― especially the woman called Petra, who was their conductor and a college friend of the pianist Erwin Smith, the other singer Hanji and the owner of the house, and Levi, who was in charge of the saxophone. That fact surprised Eren, he wasn't sure why, perhaps he never expected Levi to play something like a sax. Or sexyphone. Whatever.
To be honest, he looked more like he was into screamo, or songs filled with deep emotional lyrics and hysterical drums. Maybe just like him? Eren even thought he was at the same age as him at first. Who would have thought that guy was already thirty?
Eren also remembered meeting Connie and Marco, the guys who were with Armin last night, and some of the members. The band was large, almost fifteen of them at most. Apparently, almost half of the members worked under Levi's supervision. Except for Hanji and Erwin, since they handle different department as Levi, and Petra, because she works as a music teacher.
He also discovered that Levi's brash attitude was already innate, noticing how harsh he was to Hanji that night. He also noticed the look Levi gave to him when they coerced him to sing - more like an audition to see how good his voice was for them.
Also not to mention the secret hot little gazes they seemed to give to each other.
He was almost convinced Levi was a cool, hot guy. Almost willing to forget Levi's crude first impression of him and almost accepted the fact that he had developed certain attraction to the guy, despite the age gap and the awkward first meeting.
The important word here is almost, and he was thankful to that because he was sure Levi isn't as good as he thought he would be.
"Armin, talk to me!'' He slammed the door like he was trying to destroy it. "Armin! Don't make me break this fucking door and go in there, Armin―''
"God, Eren!'' His tantrums were cut when the door opened, revealing a semi nude Armin with a scandalized face. "Are you insane? I'm in the shower, can't you just wait until I'm done?''
In normal situation, Eren would feel embarassed seeing Armin's naked torso, but this is not a normal situation and his temper's already close to boiling point because it's morning. Anger clouded his vision, and some of the steam coming inside the bathroom.
"I don't have the patience to wait for this!'' Eren said, putting his arm between the door to prevent Armin from closing it. "He's doing this on purpose, isn't he? He hates my guts so he was trying to get back to me by doing this!''
"Eren, let me finish my shower first,'' Armin almost pleaded, his cheeks were turning red. ''Please?''
"No, Armin, you knew about this. I thought you were my best friend.''
"You're being irrational!''
"Answer me first!''
"Eren, I'm naked!''
"I don't care,'' Eren snapped, but then he stared at Armin when he realized what he just said. And what effects it had brought to Armin's face. "Fine. But you won't get away with this,''
"Oh, thank goodness,'' Armin muttered before closing the door shut.
Eren walked in the direction of their kitchen, wondering why he had to disturb Armin from showering early in the morning.
xXx
"Spill,'' Eren said the moment Armin sat across him. He glared at him with his arm crossed. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner?''
"Goodness, Eren! I need to eat my breakfast first,'' Armin shook his head as he reached for a bread and the blue berry jam. "I'm already running late because of you,''
"It's still early,'' He answered. "Don't change the topic and answer the damn question,''
"I go to work early,'' Armin almost rolled his eyes. "Geez, that's why I don't want to talk to you if it's morning.''
"Armin… Don't make me remember that sticky note you put on my hair.''
"The point was you saw it!'' Armin countered, and then he sighed. "You never asked me. I thought you won't mind,''
"I'm not a fucking French!'' Eren slammed his phone on the table and pointed at it. "Do you think I could memorize all those five french songs in two fucking days? Armin, that's way too impossible! And why French, of all languages, why the language I hate the most,''
"Eren, be thankful Mikasa's still at work.''
"I know, that's why I woke up early to talk to you.''
"More like trying to creep me out.''
"I'm sorry, okay?'' Eren said. He knew Armin was pertaining that shower incident earlier. "I panicked.''
Armin looked at Eren's phone again, studying the file displayed on the screen. "Is this sir Levi's assignment? The one he passed to you?''
"Yea,'' He slumped on his seat, his right hand scratching the back of his head roughly. "It feels like I'm required to finish a ridiculous thesis at school, that's why I chose not to go to college. Then this shit happened. Five french songs I haven't even heard of my entire life? And I need to sing them in two days? This isn't funny anymore."
"Oh, Eren,'' Armin looked at him as if he understood his problem. "I'm sorry I didn't say this to you sooner. To be honest, we only needed to sing one French song, but sir Levi decided it would be a good idea if half of our set of songs are French, so he changed it yesterday. We are already familiar with the piece since the songs were all classic French songs, and we have played it all at some point. Hanji too, so it's not a problem to us.''
Eren could only scowl by hearing this.
"If you weren't late yesterday, you should have known about this.''
"Even if I weren't late, it's still impossible to memorize five unfamiliar songs in three days!'' Eren fumed ''This was doomed even from the start. That Levi probably changed it for me to back out.''
"He wouldn't do that, Eren,'' Armin told him. "We are in need of a second singer, so the changes wasn't meant for you to back out. He also cares for the band, so please Eren, I know you can do it.''
Eren sighed, almost in defeat. "Why French, of all Languages?''
"Sir Levi is French,'' Armin said. Eren looked at him, intrigued by this new information. "and his friends and he are fond of classic French songs, plus he hought it would be perfect for the elders. I think that was a great idea too. Don't worry, Eren, we'll help you.''
Eren sighed again, before rubbing his hands on his face.
There's no other way to escape this funny fate of his, is there.
xXx