If a pin where to drop at that moment, the sound would have been deafening in the silence following Erwin's statement. Levi knew he had taken in a sharp breath when Erwin announced it, and he knew he had yet to let it out. Levi wanted to let it out in a yell. He wanted to scream at Erwin, demand to know what the hell the man was thinking, but all that came out was a quiet, tense whisper.

"What?"

Hanji was looking expectantly at Levi and Erwin was looking at Levi as if the answer was obvious.

"Levi, you've been missing from the fashion scene for four years. You haven't made appearances at anywhere: no galas, no events, no premieres. It's time you re-enter the scene, but you can't do it quietly. We will discuss all the details later, but for now you will get your clothing fitted with Eren and Mikasa. Any adjustments needed to be made will be marked down by Petra."

Levi had forgotten that those two and Petra were even there in the midst of his stomach becoming a butterfly garden. Swallowing any more of his protests he looked between Hanji and Erwin, meeting the eyes of both and making sure they knew he wasn't happy about this.

"Fine. Just know that I don't like it." Levi's voice was low, a growl running in the undertones.

"Great!" Hanji as usual didn't let Levi's harsh words or manner bother her. Instead she made her way towards Petra's table, grabbing three white garment bags out of a box at Petra's station. Hanji handed a white garment bag to each of the three models, before turning to look at Petra and giving her a nod.

Petra stood up at her station, looking even smaller than she was as she was surrounded by supplies, and cleared her throat. "All clothing should fit relatively well, considering I have each or your measurements, but if something doesn't the fix should be small."

Levi silently thanked whatever higher power was out there for Petra. He wouldn't be going through the embarrassment of too big clothing on his small frame. If she wasn't already married, he would probably have asked her to be his wife then and there. After all, small people have to look out for one another.

"Levi, you and Eren can change in the room down the hall," Erwin's even tone commanded. "Mikasa, you will be changing to the room directly to the left of this one."

Levi rolled his eyes at Erwin's instruction, Eren looked to Mikasa, and Mikasa gave Erwin a small nod.


Levi wasn't sure what he expected from Eren when they entered the room for changing, but he didn't expect to see him blushing. As soon as he closed the door, and locked it mind Hanji and her habit of barging in. It was one of Erwin's guest rooms meaning it had the normal dresser, bed, and two chairs for lounging.

Levi laid his garment bag on the dresser as it was closest to him and when he began to unbutton his shirt he heard Eren clearing his throat. Looking up sharply, Levi saw a pink blush spreading across Eren's high cheekbones and was unable to catch his eyes and the kid had them cast downwards.

"Listen kid, you're a model you should be used to being naked with other people in the room at this point in your career."

Eren's blush only increased after Levi spoke, and, after briefly meeting Levi's eyes, he managed to get out, "Y-Yeah, but I'm not used to changing with the designer in the room."

After Eren's statement, the boy put his garment bag down on one of the chairs and began to undress. At this point, Levi already had his shirt completely unbuttoned and was letting it slide off his shoulders in favor of putting on the shirt he ended up designing for himself.

After quickly sliding the crisp white shirt over his shoulders, he turned his head slightly, so he could see the part of the collar he was trying to fix and made the mistake of looking at Eren. The model was taking off his original sweater, pulling it over his head in an coordinated movement and allowing Levi to eye his torso without being caught. He knows he should have expected it, Eren being a model an all, but the kid was built perfectly. He had definition, but he wasn't bulky and a thin trail of dark brown hair graced Eren's natural tan skin, running straight from his navel into his pants. Levi quickly looked away before Eren finally disentangled himself from his sweater and could notice Levi's staring.

Quickly untying his shoes and donning on his white slacks, Levi preens himself and looks over the outfit carefully. Petra has done a very nice job making sure that the outfit fits his smaller frame, and he makes a mental note to thank her later.

When Levi is completely satisfied with how his clothing fits him, he turns to ask Eren if he is ready to head back out to the room, when he notices Eren fidgeting with a necklace. The younger male is fully dressed in his shirt and slacks, brown boots coming up to mid calf, jacket folded and laying in the crook of his elbow. Petra did an excellent job making sure the clothes fit him in all the right ways. Even with the furrowed brows, and eyes focused on the necklace he is holding in his hand, Eren looks every inch of the model Hitch described.

"Eren, I don't believe I created a necklace with your outfit."

It's not said as a question, but rather a firm statement. Eren visibly started, Levi didn't know if it was because of him or if Eren was just being startled out of a daydream.

"Ah, sorry, no, sir. I'm taking it off now, I was just thinking is all and didn't get to it yet."

Eren was still gripping his necklace and the red blush that was previously fading began to spread across the model's cheekbones again. Levi had yet to see whatever charm was on it that Eren was holding, but the gold chain seemed like it would go with the outfit.

"Let go of it, let me see how it lays with the outfit."

Looking a little shocked, but choosing to not question Levi, Eren let's go of the necklace and lets it lay on his chest. It has a gold key, simple in design, and lays rather nicely on Eren's chest.

"You can keep it on."

"Ah, thank you sir."

Eren says it quietly, but Levi can hear the relief in his voice of not having to remove the necklace and wonders if Eren normally wears it under his clothes at other shoots or shows. He knows he's going to have to do some more research on the kid.
"One more thing, kid."

Eren meets his eyes curiously and a little apprehensively. Levi can't help but noticed the red blush has faded once more, now nothing but a dusting of pink across Eren's beautiful cheekbones. What would Eren look like if that blush was from something else, Levi wonders.

"Yes, sir?"

Levi pulls himself from things he probably shouldn't be thinking about to answer Eren.

"Drop the sir. It makes me feel old."

"Oh, okay si - Mr. Ackerman."

Eren stutters over his correction, and Levi barely resists a deep sigh. Hanji and Erwin would want him to be nice. Eren is one of the most sought after models and he doesn't want to scare him off with his bad attitude.

"Please just call me Levi, Mr. Ackerman is no better than sir."

"Okay… Levi."

Even though Eren has called him by his first name, Levi still feels like the model is saying it with more respect than he deserves.


Levi knows Mikasa is already back in the room based on the noise he hears from Hanji while walking back to the runway room with Eren. He also knows Hanji will only get louder when he and Eren enter the room.

As he mentally prepares himself he makes sure to warn Eren of the impending noise and, more than likely, touching.

"Hey, kid."

He waits for Eren to flick his eyes over to meet Levi's. Levi could still pick out

"Just a warning, Hanji's going to freak the fuck out as soon as we go back in. If she gets too handsy don't be afraid to tell her to back the fuck off. Be prepared for your ears to bleed though."

The swallow Eren took after that was audible and Levi couldn't help but notice the bob of his Adam's apple and briefly ponder what Eren would look like swallowing something else.

Taking a deep breath before opening the door leading them back into the runway room, Levi tries really hard to prepare himself for the amount of noise and touching he is going to experience. As he hears the intake of breath from Hanji, he can't help but close his eyes and tense as if it will protect his ear drums.

"LEVI! EREN! YOU BOTH LOOK SO NICE! WOW LEVI THE CLOTHES AREN'T EVEN BAGGY ON YOUR LITTLE PETITE FRAME!"

"Watch it four eyes, you've already pushed a little past your boundaries this morning." Levi forced himself to take a few more deep breaths while Hanji walked around him inspecting how the outfit look. Despite how much she pissed him off, she really had an eye for seeing what would see and get the best feedback from the fashion world.

Once she was done inspecting Levi she turned to Eren with a devilish glint in her eyes.

"My, my Eren, aren't you just the best thing since sliced bread! It really is so nice that you and your sister-assistant are so good looking!"

The blush that Levi had thought he would have seen the last of by now was claiming territory on Eren's cheekbones again and one of Eren's hands came up to scratch at the back of his neck. Levi wondered how red Eren's face could get as Hanji walked around him.

After clearing her throat and making eye contact with Eren, Mikasa, and Levi she spoke.

"I think the clothing looks great on everyone, now I just have to see how it looks on the mock runway. I also think we should all offer our thanks to Petra for altering the clothing perfectly before hand, such an uncanny ability. Also wonderful job with Levi, Petra, I know he can be very hard to dress."

Levi could hear the teasing in her voice. Hanji always had to play the height card.

"I swear to god Hanji if you make fun of my height one more fucking time, I will leave," Levi growled out.

"Not if you still want to debut this line, Levi."

Fucking Erwin, choosing such a shit time to speak up. Breathe in. Breathe out.

Now that Hanji has done her inspections and approved the clothing and how it fit each person, Erwin was taking control.

"Let's line up to walk to runways then. I want the order to be Mikasa then Eren, then Levi. I would have Eren going last except Levi is finally returning to the scene and I want to be a finale of sorts to the show."

Walking to the back of the room, Levi couldn't help but feel the butterflies that had quieted for a small time take flight again. It's not that Levi didn't know how to walk a runway, he just really didn't feel comfortable doing so. Stepping up onto the stage area of the runway, Levi couldn't help but notice as Eren stood straighter and seemed to get a different aura about himself. He felt a pang of jealousy at the level of comfort Eren showed at being on the catwalk.

Hanji then turned off the overhead lights in favor of the stage lighting to illuminate the runway for the best effect. She also put on some sort of electronic jazz music. Levi closed his eyes and focused on the beat of the music.

Levi opened his eyes as Erwin's voice commanded, "Okay, you may begin."

Mikasa stepped onto the lit walk of the runway and Levi couldn't help but admit that she was good. While Mikasa may have not been a regular model, and had very limited runway experience, her walk was flawless as was her runway presence. The way she held her body and the movement of arms and legs as she paused to best show the clothing at the end of the runway were precise and exact. Her facial expression was also cool: no smile, lidded eyes, lifted chin. Levi knew he shouldn't have been surprised, and he wasn't really, it's more like he didn't expect some girl who usually assisted a model to look so good on a runway. It also helped that she wore the clothing Levi designed perfectly.

When Mikasa only had a quarter of the walk left, Eren began his, stepping into the light with a completely different aura. Eren transform into something altogether on the runway, and even though this is just a mock-up, a practice run, Eren is nothing but professional. Gone is the blushing boy with soft, shy movements who could barely change clothing in the same room as the man who designed the clothes he is wearing. Eren walks with power, but not the overwhelming kind; he walks with the type of power that is wild and uncorrupted. It is both graceful and aggressive, and a thought floats through Levi's head that, yes, Hitch really was right, Eren is truly a noble savage. He is completely refined, but going for the kill. He is modern society, but also the Adam that never took a bite of the fated apple.

Eren stops at the end of the runway, and instead of the smooth transitions between poses that Mikasa had, Eren hooks his thumbs into the belt loops of his pants, leaning back slightly and tilting his head to the side. His pose is simple, straightforward, and shows how Eren's body would look with and without clothing. It is like he is calling upon the audience to desire him just by a simple stance.

Then it is over, Eren turns away from the end of the runway and begins walking back. This is the first time Levi has gotten to see Eren's face while walking, and is a bit shocked, though again, he really shouldn't be. Eren's eyes don't hold a nervous gleam, they are cold, but a type of coldness similar to disdain, but not so cruel. It is more primitive, something more powerful and controlling and Levi can't help but where Eren learned how to completely change himself on the catwalk. It can't possibly be natural, be so easy to become something so different from yourself even for a few moments under bright lights and clothing that could probably pay for someone's tuition.

Then it is Levi's turn, and he can't help but feel the butterflies make their way into his throat for the first few steps. Once he is under the lights though, it all comes back. How to close off his face from the audience, how to hold himself with his chin up and hips forward. He's only ever walked as a stand in for some older shows, and this will be the first time he is walking to sell clothing, but it is still like riding a bike, like putting on an old skin. He is able to walk to the end, hold a few poses, and walk back. The butterflies don't get to make an appearance under the bright lights of the runway.