"Eren," the voice was commanding like a mother's would be, "I don't want you around him."

"Ok."

And just like a mother's orders, as anyone around his age would most likely do, he agreed but ignored them completely.

"I mean it Eren, I don't like him. I know he did well in protecting you but…"

Cutting her off was the only way he had a hope of leaving the house. Slipping on his shoes and tugging on his light jacket a little rougher than necessary he sighed.

"Yeah, yeah. He rubs you the wrong way. You think he's just an anti-social irate shorty, I get it Mikasa, really. Its fine, I won't hang out with him alright?"

The sentence left unsaid here was that Rivaille wouldn't 'let' him hang out with him just yet. So he wasn't really lying. He just was leaving out the whole walking Rivaille half way to work before they separated so he couldn't finish his route to his own job thing. That wasn't really hanging out. They were just walking to work and they happened to take the same path. Sure Eren deviated from his usual walk just a teensy bit to extend the time he would walk with Rivaille but that still didn't make it a lie.

Actually, it technically wouldn't be a lie either if he were to "happen" upon Rivaille's work place and "happen" to relax there while Rivaille "happened" to be working. He heard from Hanji that he did work at a bar slash club so it wouldn't be all that strange for him to show up one night with friends minus Mikasa of course. Sure, he still wouldn't be lying per se, he still wouldn't be hanging out with Rivaille but he didn't think she would appreciate the gaps of knowledge he was choosing to leave out nor the technicalities.

"I'm off!"

Half past the old pawn shop, a few steps in front of the seven eleven, just as the bus pulled in on time today at the bus stop across the street from the two landmarks and…..

"Hey Rivaille! Wait up!"

Right on fucking time.

He gave up on trying to duck away from the brunette. He never really succeeded in the past and the brat had gotten him horribly addicted to the nice fresh brewed hot coffee. He accepted the offered up with a mumble of a thanks before blowing on the lip and taking his first sip. Now they could both, hopefully with minimal interruption from the kid, quietly finish their way to their respective destinations. In complete, comfortable, relaxing, silence….

"Rivaille."

Fuck!

He hummed over his coffee hoping the attempted conversation would be one he could cut off short.

"You work at a bar right?"

He had to stop himself from sputtering. Seriously, was this kid stalking him now? Or was Hanji being even more of a pest as usual? If she left free his cell number or e-mail so help him god. Rather than waiting for a response Eren knew he wouldn't get and an answer he already knew he continued on.

"I was thinking of going out tonight after work," Eren said in a roundabout manner.

"If you're thinking I'll let you and your friends in you can wipe your ass of that idea."
Eren turned his head sharply with his brow pinched, obviously confused. It took him a minute or two before the frown morphed into a lop-sided grin and laughed. The laugh a little too loud which forced Rivaille to bring his cup to his lips in a rare self-conscious embarrassment.

"No ah," Erin stifled his laughter, "We're not underage if that's what you're thinking."

As an afterthought.

"It's what's up with your obsession with shit? It never ceases to amaze me how you can symbolically or metaphorically use shit in any situation and have it make sense."

Rather than answer his question or even bother touching on the idea of Eren having a night out at his bar he chose instead to dig at the scab.

"You don't owe me anything Eren."

"I know."

Not even a second's hesitation in the immediate response. This kid was difficult.

"What I'm saying is," tactful he could be tactful, "You don't need to keep buying me coffee and walking out of your way or even trying to do whatever the hell your attempting to do by coming to my bar. There's plenty in the area that have better company and cheaper drinks, so there no point on draining your wallet with whatever the fuck nonsense idea you have rolling around in that empty skull of yours."

Yes. He was by definition a 'careful with your words' tactful man. And, apparently, Eren was the oblivious to the stink of shit under your nose kind of guy, if the small smile on his lips had anything to say about it. At the very least he looked like some of his words hit the kid a little. The small curve of his lips not exactly matching the somewhat hurt expression carried in his eyes. And the small tightening of his fingers around his coffee cup gave away that the boy could at least feel some type of aggressive thought. He was wondering how long it would be till he could actually get a rise out of this guy, so far he seemed to have a remarkable amount of patience.

"It's not to repay you," the tone tense and a pause as if Eren had to really consider why he did what he did and perhaps even just coming up with the answer on the spot, as if he never thought to reflect on it beforehand, "I… I just want to."

"Suit yourself," Rivaille grumbled taking another sip, "Just as long as you know I don't expect anything."

True to his words, Eren showed up at his bar later on that evening. He was relieved to see that Mikasa was nowhere to be found. At least the kid knew better than to bring her here. It wasn't like they were sworn enemies or anything. They had went to the same school, graduated the same year. They were both highly ranked academically and they both excelled in sports throughout their school years. Especially in High School. Some classmates even joked about how they would make the ultimate power couple and tried setting them up on a date. Within the first moment their eyes had met something sparked between them. There was an immediate connection. Something Rivaille never thought he could feel for someone at first sight, and Mikasa, he was sure shared the first shared mutual thought.

Contempt.

There really was no rationalizing it. There were just an immediate dislike for one another, and while at first it seemed childish, it was quickly affirmed between them. They were completely incompatible. They didn't like each other's mannerisms. They hated how they carried themselves, walked, talked, and joked, their approaches to problems, hell he was sure that sharing the same air caused a bristling effect.

The brunette was dressed quite nicely. A button up with the long sleeves pushed up and folded back just slightly below the elbow. A tight pair of black slacks, and a double layered vest to top it all off. Everything was form fitted, it made him look older more mature. Rivaille would be lying if he didn't say the kid looked rather attractive. Ah were those black and gray converse? Well, at least that showed a bit more of his age. Not one for dress shoes right yet.

Rivaille couldn't help but watch him mingle in the crowd. He was a bit worried. Considering the last fiasco at Hanji's house. It wasn't really any of his business, it was really just bad timing for him to get roped into all of it. He supposed he just kept a firm eye on the kid in repayment for the ungodly amount of cash the kid probably spent on his coffee every afternoon. He couldn't help the small smirk that reached his lips. He never really paid that much attention before but Eren had a really nice smile. Clean white teeth, lips not too thin. His eyes always had a glimmer of emotion in them that accented his smile. He'd make sure to pick on him for that goofy excuse of a dance routine he had going on with his friends out on the dance floor. One friend in particular, must have had a few drinks before even entering the bar, if that horrible excuse of a dip that looked more akin to a horse squatting for a dump was anything to go by. Or maybe he was just that unnatural a dancer.

He didn't realize he was staring until the horse shitter pointed in his direction and Eren's eyes followed the pointed finger to him. Rivaille schooled his expression back to neutral as the brunette waved the other off and started to the counter. Surprisingly, Eren and friends had arrived an hour ago and not once had he came over to become a nuisance. Maybe the kid was more considerate than he thought.

Reaching the counter Eren slipped his card on the bar and smiled a little too brightly, "I'm going to open a tab."

Rivaille raised his brow, "ID."

Eren laughed saying something along the lines of not believing him earlier but the music drowned it out.

"Twenty one, huh," he mused, "so you are still a fledging. What do you want."

"Service with a smile."

"Don't push your luck kid."

Eren only laughed it off, "Dare I leave it up to you?"

Rivaille couldn't help his smirk, "Only if you want to end up on the floor."

Eren grinned mischievously and Rivaille swore he made some smart ass comment along with it but it was again spoken to low against the loud speakers, "I like a strong one, but not too bitter. I want something tasty that goes down easy."

Rivaille wouldn't even deem that one with a response, though in all honesty he had to bite a few off the tip of his tongue. Busying himself he grabbed the card and opened a tab then went about making a Tokyo Tea. Setting the glass in front of the hazel eyed male he lingered long enough to see Eren take a large sip. His nose curled only slight but his smile remained none the less.

"Perfect! This is really good."

"Obviously," Rivaille thought better against it but leaned against the bar a hairs breath away from Eren anyway.

Eren flushed, his eyes widened in surprise. The kid had an imagination apparently.

"Don't set your drink down, and don't take your eyes off it till you're done with it and put it back on this counter," he tapped the wooden surface to annunciate his point, "Understand?"

Eren's flustered expression changed quickly between a warm smile and finally a goofy grin, "Yes sir," he mock saluted. His fingers brushed Rivaille's bangs, just now alerting him as to how close they were. Straightening back up from the bar he scoffed at the behavior and was about to turn away when a hand on his wrist stopped him. Even with Eren's taller build the kid had to set his stomach on the counter to reach him.

Once he had his attention Eren pulled back, as his did his fingers trailed along his wrist and the back of his hand. He wasn't quite sure how to feel about the tingling brought on from it.

"When is your shift over?"

He could lie and say he was on counter till close but Eren knew he worked late afternoon to early evenings. Which is the only reason why he didn't bluff his way out of it, or so he told himself.

"Ten."

He looked like he handed the kid a candy bar with the enthusiastic nod, "Ten it is then."

Before he asked what the hell he meant by that Eren was already weaving his way back over to his friends drink in hand. True to his word, he didn't let the beverage leave his sight. Off and On Rivaille found himself glancing his way just to make sure, even after coming to grab a couple more drinks he kept true to his sorry excuse of a salute.

"Ah, so that's him," his co-worker snaked his way next to him.

"Don't start."

"He's cute. It's a good thing you're keeping an eye on him."

"Yeah I kno….," he tried to stop himself but it was too late. Son of a bitch.

His co-worker only laughed and made a piss poor attempt at ruffling his hair before returning back to work.

Well this was probably going to turn out to be a long night.