OMFG, PLEASE READ THIS RIGHT NOW I forgot to mention last chapter that this thing is really fast-paced and also Levi is pretty freaking OOC! I was going to slow this thing down (Probably adding an extra chapter) after I read all of your comments (Mainly from AO3) but I've been working on this fic for a couple months, and I just want it finished, so I'm sorry if it seems rushed, but I hope you still like it!
~~~KMD~~~
It had been a couple of months since Levi had first started teaching Eren and he found himself falling in love with the boy. Even though he tried his hardest not to, because it just wasn't right, but Eren's smile always warmed Levi's heart and even when Levi was in the shittiest of moods, just seeing the boy walk into his class early with a wave and a silent hello was enough to lift Levi's spirits instantly.
And God damn, that was sappy shit, just then.
His friends and co-workers noticed the change in his mood almost instantly, repeatedly asking why he was so much nicer to be around. They were silenced immediately by a glare that would have killed them, if looks could kill that is.
Levi had yet to hear the boy's voice, though, of course, that was no surprise, considering he was mute. But it was driving Levi insane, he'd had one-sided conversations with the teen and he was so nice and sweet and, dare Levi say it, down right adorable.
Eren would always silently offer to hand out work sheets for Levi, or he would stay behind after class to help Levi tidy up the class room, and Levi would usually have to write a note to explain why Eren was late to his next class. If he had a class after Levi's that is.
About a month ago, Erwin had told Levi that Eren didn't talk because he was afraid he'd say the wrong thing and that people would judge him for it. Levi had tried to reassure the brown haired boy that he shouldn't be afraid of saying the wrong thing, but Eren always shook his head and looked at Levi with a scared, almost terrified, look in his mismatched eyes.
But then the perfect opportunity to hear him speak arose.
"Alright class, next month you are going to have to do a speaking and listening assessment, so all lessons with me up until then will be spent preparing. You can also stay behind after school if you want extra time." The short man announced, "All you have to do is create a PowerPoint presentation, it can be on anything you want, as long as it isn't inappropriate, and talk about it. You won't get marks for the actual presentation, just the way you speak about it, so it doesn't matter how many pictures you use or how pretty you make the slides.
"You'll get more marks if you speak loudly and confidently, and you will also get marks if you listen well to other people, or at least look like you're paying attention, so it's pretty easy." Levi gave the students a moment to let the information sink in before asking, "Any questions?"
"Um..." A tall boy with dark hair slowly raised his hand.
"Yes, Bert?"
"Will we have to do our presentation in front of the class, or just in front of you?" Bertoldt asked quietly.
"Everyone will have to do their presentation in front of the class, and if you're off school on the day, then you'll just do it the next lesson or the next one. There's no way to get out of it because everyone must do it, or else you'll get zero marks and I would like for that not to happen, believe it or not, I do actually care about your grades." Levi explained, looking over at Eren in the corner.
He looked absolutely petrified.
Levi looked at the clock above the door and saw that there was still five minutes before the end of class, "Talk amongst yourselves until the bell goes, but don't be too loud, and Eren, I would like to speak with you after class."
~~~KMD~~~
Levi watched as Eren gathered up his things slowly and waited for everyone to leave before approaching his teacher's desk.
"Take a seat, Eren."
The boy did as told, grabbing a chair from the nearest desk and seating himself opposite Levi.
The man could see Eren trembling slightly, and he wanted to just say that Eren didn't have to do this assessment, but there was no way out, everyone had to do it if they wanted a good grade, well, if they wanted a grade at all. He let out a sigh and smiled at Eren reassuringly. Eren was always able to get a smile out of him without even trying, something that Levi's friends were never able to do.
"I know that you don't want to do this Eren, and I understand that the thought of this terrifies you, I really do, but you have to be brave, OK? You have to do this."
Tears were building in the corners of Eren's eyes, and it made Levi want to hold the boy, to kiss him gently and tell him everything would be alright.
But he couldn't do that.
Well he could, but at the risk of getting caught, and then arrested and thrown in prison.
So instead he reached a hand across his desk, gently wiped away the boy's tears with his thumb and watched Eren look at him as his face flushed red. When his eyes met Levi's, he immediately dropped his head, the floor suddenly becoming very interesting. Did the carpet always have such an intricate design?
"Don't worry about it Eren, I'll try to help you in anyway that I can. If you want you can write a list of things I can help you with?" Levi suggested, letting his outstretched hand fall to the desk.
Eren just nodded. Yes, please.
"Do you know what you want to do your presentation on?"
Eren shook his head. Not a clue.
"Maybe a favourite TV show? Or movie?" Levi suggested again, "Something like that, it can be on anything you want."
The boy lifted his head suddenly, and held up his index finger. i Hold on a second. /i
His bag, that had previously been placed on the floor near his feet, was hauled up onto his lap so that he could rifle through it, and after a moment or two, he pulled out a thick book. A quick glance at the cover proved it was the one Eren was looking for, so he handed it over to his teacher.
Levi stared at the book, something seemed familiar about it.
And after a moment of thought, it hit him.
He almost laughed.
This book, Attack on Titan, was written by one of his best friends, Hanji Zoe.
He looked at Eren with a small grin on his face, "Do you like this book?"
Eren offered Levi a soft smile. The teacher didn't even have to ask, the pages were worn and the spine looked as if it could barely hold the pages together any longer, despite the care Eren must have handled it with. It was obvious that Eren enjoyed this book and had read it over and over again.
"I know the author." Levi said, as if he were just commenting on the weather.
Eren's eyes widened and he shook his head in disbelief.
"It's true, I can get her to sign this for you if you want?" Levi pointed to the book and noticed how Eren looked a little hesitant at letting it out of his sight. Levi let out a chuckle, "I can get her to come in some time, that way you can meet her too."
Eren still seemed unsure of whether or not Levi was telling the truth, but he still grinned and nodded his head rapidly.
"But if I do that, you have to work up the courage to do this presentation, and if you do it on this book, she could probably help as well." Levi explained, handing the book back to Eren.
Eren nodded again and jumped up from his seat, he rushed around the desk and almost knocked Levi off of his chair when he hugged him tightly, practically vibrating with excitement and gratefulness.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, oh my God, thank you!
~~~KMD~~~
"I never thought I'd live to see the day when Levi freaking Ackerman asked someone for a favour."
"Just shut the fuck up four-eyes and listen to what I have to say for two God damned seconds." Levi growled into the phone.
"Alright, alright, what can I do for you, Levi?" Hanji asked with a laugh.
"A brat that I teach is a huge fan of your book 'Attack on Titan', so I was wondering if you had time to come into school and talk with him a bit, and maybe sign his copy of the book." The short man explained before quickly pulling the phone away from his ear to avoid Hanji's deafening screech of excitement.
"Ah, I would love to! I rarely get to meet fans one on one!" The woman squealed before adding, "And it's not everyday that you do something for someone out of the kindness of your cold, bitter heart." Which earned an annoyed growl from Levi, making Hanji laugh, "I'm mostly free for the rest of the week, so I could come in on... Thursday, I think, anytime between one and four."
Levi furrowed his brows in thought, he had Eren in his last class on Thursday, and the day finished at three, so Eren could stay behind for a little while and meet Hanji after class. Yep, that would do. "Could you come in at three?"
"Of course, Levi! I'll see you then!" Hanji was just about to hang up, but Levi quickly cut her off.
"Before you go, Eren doesn't talk because he's afraid he'll say the wrong thing, so to put it simply, he's mute, but he still communicates somewhat with hand gestures and facial expressions and all that."
And then he hung up, leaving Hanji slightly confused at the last minute comment, but still mostly excited that she was going to meet a fan, which was always a wonderful experience.
~~~KMD~~~
"Eren, if you stay behind on Thursday then you can meet Hanji."
Levi was practically tackled to the floor by his favourite (though he wouldn't actually admit it) student for the second time that week. And even though it was inappropriate, and there was a slight risk of getting caught, Levi still returned the hug with a sigh and a laugh.
~~~KMD~~~
I hope you liked this chapter and that it didn't stop you from reading the rest of this or anything, next chapter Eren speaks! Maybe...