My Garbage Boy
By: Stupiak Kitty
I don't own anything. Thank you.
xXx
"You shitty brat. You're not trying to eat all of my chocolates, are you.''
Eren bristled as he heard that, feeling like a child who had caught stealing a cookie on a fucking cookie jar.
"Er, because they looked tasty...?'' He said, unsure, as he put the cholocate with silver wrapper back on its bowl. It was embarassing to think that Levi had caught him in the act. He scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly. "so I tried them. Sorry if there's only one chocolate left. I didn't mean to, I swear! The taste is just addicting.''
"I don't mind, you can eat the remaining one,'' Levi said, waving his hands. He was now wearing black shirt and grey sweatpants. There was a towel resting on both his shoulders, and Eren could see the little droplets at the tip of his fringe.
Eren was tempted to do what Levi just told him, but he controlled himself.
"I know how addicting it is, so go on,'' Levi went on, noticing his problem. So despite the warmth spreading on his face, he plucked the chocolate out the bowl and unwrapped it. "Just to remind you though, that chocolate isn't a normal one.''
"Why so?'' Eren asked in between his munching.
Levi grimaced, obviously disgusted with his manners. But never said anything as he moved near Eren, tossing a number of papers at his face, which he caught in a rather clumsy way, before taking a seat next to him.
"Those chocolates are infused with brandy,'' Levi answered as he used the other end of the towel to rub it on his hair. ''It's a miracle you're not drunk yet.''
"I have a high tolerance in alcohol, thank you very much,'' Eren said. ''I won't lie though, I feel like I'm floating right now. I'm kinda dizzy.''
Levi only rolled his eyes.
"But, I'm fine,'' Eren said, looking down to scan the papers on his lap. "Wow, gosh, is this Greek?''
Levi scoffed, as if he couldn't believe his words. Then Eren laughed when he glared at him like he was a kid needed to reprimand. "Don't fucking tell me you're drunk, you brat,''
"Ha ha, chill, I'm just messing with you," Eren grinned, enjoying how wonderful the effects of the chocolates did to his body. Sure, he was dizzy, but eating several pieces of brandy-infused chocolates was not enough to make him smashed. He works in a bar, for one, so he was exposed to different kind of alcoholic drinks. This certain of effect made him loose the nervousness and awkwardness he had felt around Levi. He stared at the papers again, before looking back at the man. "We're focusing on… La...vie...en...? Rose tonight. Uh, did I even pronounced it right?''
"La Vie en Rose,'' Levi said as smooth as silk, Eren was amazed for a second. "this song is the easiest. It's the most popular one.''
The man leaned to reach the remote of the TV to turn it off. Then he manipulated another remote placed on the side table by the couch, pressing several buttons before a distinct melodies of violin and clarinet surrounded the whole room. Then a female voice began to sing; Eren could tell the song was indeed old. There was a distinct romantic feel emitting from the song, even when he couldn't understand a thing.
"This song is kind of familiar,'' Eren commented.
"Hm,'' was only Levi's reply.
It felt like something he would mostly hear in a high class French restaurant.
But what amazed Eren the most was when he noticed the little speaker scattered around the living room. The sound was excellent, he could hear every instruments that were used in the song. He remembered imagining owning something close to this ― a surrounding speaker with high quality sound. It would be extra nice if the song playing right now was his usual genre; he'd be having an eargasmic if it was. But that's only a wishful thinking in his part.
It was annoying to think that another person could easily afford something like this, while he could only experience this by imagining it. Either way, Eren was still happy he had already seen it by hand.
Eren looked at his right when he heard Levi's soft humming, his fingers tapping on the sofa's arm rest at the same tempo of the song.
"You really like this kind of song, do you,'' Eren said, enjoying how relaxed Levi was now.
"Not everyone wants to listen to noisy instrumentals with suicidal lyrics.''
"They're not suicidal,'' Eren frowned. ''They are only filled with deep genuine emotions.''
''With suicidal touch,'' He added.
''No,'' Eren scoffed, gaping at Levi as if he offended him directly. ''They are most certainly not. They are hardly suicidal. Have you tried listening to one? I have various songs on my phone. Here, I can let you listen…''
''No, thank you. I'm not interested,'' Levi said, his fingers still drumming along the mellow music that was on repeat. ''I don't plan to ruin my ears at any moment.''
Eren stuffed his phone back at his pocket and made a face at Levi. Then he looked thoughtful for a moment, before grinning - as if he remembered something amusing.
''Know what, Levi,'' Eren continued grinning even when Levi glared at him. He didn't feel awkward and nervous right now. In fact, he enjoyed Levi's company; even his glare. The effect of the chocolates was awesome, in his opinion. ''when I first saw you, I thought you were the typical punk who enjoys listening to 'noisy instrumentals with suicidal lyrics','' He air-quoted the way how Levi descibed his choice of music. ''Heck, I even thought we're almost the same age.''
''Huh,'' Levi cocked a brow, looking at him with amused and annoyed eyes. ''Typical punk, you say. When I first saw you, I noticed how filthy and haggard you are.''
''Oh, thank you for reminding me,'' Eren reacted, sarcasm coating his voice. ''I appreciate you calling me a garbage boy at our first meeting.''
Levi smirked, and Eren tried blinking twice to see if it was real. And it was. He had never seen the man with obvious expression on his face, except for the subtle quirk on the corner of his mouth and how he narrowed his eyes at Hanji to express his annoyance. Oh, and the usual bored and impassive look.
''And I never would have guessed you could sing,'' He said.''Maybe that's why the 'don't judge the book' shit was invented.''
Eren laughed. ''Never imagined a typical-punk looking guy like you was fond of classical French songs and plays a saxophone in a prestigious instrumental band.''
"Whatever,'' Levi rubbed the towel on his hair for the last time, before standing up, gesturing at the papers he was holding, "Enough with the small chat. Read that along with the song. When I come back you are to sing it right then and there. I will correct your accent together with the first French song you just learned. Then we'll move on with a new song until you were familiar with them tonight.''
"Whoa ― we're doing it all tonight?!'' Eren exclaimed ''I can't do that, I'm not a miracle worker!''
''Yes, you can, and you will,'' Levi said and walked in the direction of his kitchen. ''Familiarize yourself with the fucking song.'' He added before he disappeared from the kitchen walls.
''Levi!''
''Shut up and listen to the song, you shitty little brat!'' The voice boomed coming from the kitchen, which made Eren scowl.
He looked at the pages, reading the song's title that was too hard to pronounce in his opinion. All of them were chords with lyrics, and as far as Eren could tell, the complicated notes written on the staff were personally made for Levi's instrument. Eren could somehow read it, even when he had no official training in reading notes. He self-studied how to read a piano's chord, after all.
He lifted the first paper to study the next song, and the next, and the next, before placing the first paper back on top of the others. The next songs were so much harder than the first, Eren felt like his brain would be having a hard time processing the words.
The song playing in the background sounded advanced and hard to Eren already, and he doesn't want to imagine the other remaining songs.
He looked at the clock, and it said ten. There are two more hours left before tomorrow, meaning he needed to beg his brain to remember the fucking lyrics of the song.
''Brat, get ready when the song ended. You're going to sing it to me once it repeated again.''
Eren flinched as he heard the voice behind him. He looked up from the paper he was trying hard to understand, scowling at Levi.
''Are you serious? It's been what? Only five minutes before you left,'' he observed the man as he put the small wooden basket he was holding on the coffe table, and then he sat next to him. "Be rational, sir Levi.''
''I am a very rational man,'' He answered, hooking a foot under the coffee table before pulling it near them. Then he leaned to pluck the lone wine glass out of the basket, the two distinct clinks of ice cubes against glass sounded along with the soft relaxing music. "and drop the fucking sir.''
Eren only shrugged. Levi then pulled out the bottle, which he guessed was champagne, and poured.
''What are you waiting for?'' Levi said to Eren when he saw him only gawking. ''Are you only going to watch me, or you're going to fucking do your thing?''
Eren gulped, narrowing his eyes at the foreign words on the paper that made his head spin ― the smooth female voice starting to sing once again.
Levi was now beside him, and in the corner of his eyes, he could see him swirling the sparkling liquid in the glass, sitting there as if he was feeling the mood created by the background song.
On the other hand, Eren felt like his head was about to explode.
''So?'' Levi's demanding voice sounded near him, making him flinch.
''...'' Eren opened his mouth to pronounce the words written on the paper, along with the song, but then he closed it again. ''I can't do this.''
''You brat,'' Levi almost growled. ''If you're thinking of backing out, then sorry to say It's too late for that.''
''I fucking know that!'' Eren snapped. ''The words―'' he smacked the paper for emphasis. "it's too complicated for me to sing these words, heck, I can't even pronounce it properly! How am I supposed to focus on singing if I need to be careful with how I pronounce the words? Even listening to the song makes me want to cry. This is really impossible for me. I'm so sorry, Levi.''
Eren watched Levi placed the wine glass on the side table in a very gentle motion, that he didn't even predict his next movement until he blinked and saw Levi's hand clenching on the collar of his shirt, almost coughing as his hold was too tight for Eren's comfort.
What he noticed right after was the apparent annoyance painted on Levi's face, the faint growling and how close their faces are right now.
"Listen, brat,'' He said with a surprising calm voice. But his face said otherwise. To Eren, it looked deadly. "and if I say listen, you fucking listen. Use your two goddamn ears because it was there for a reason,''
Eren gulped, bristling as the man moved his head even closer to him. It was so close he could already feel Levi's warm breath fanning his face, which brought delicious shivers in his damn spine, for some weird reason.
"If I say you can do it, it means you can. I am not saying this to fucking cheer you. I do this because I see your potential,'' Levi said. "but if you continue to whine and belittle yourself, you're not going anywhere. As far as I remember, Arlert told me about his friend with sheer determination to succeed and doesn't know how to give up, not someone who whines and too fucking chicken to accept a little challenge.''
Eren felt like he had been stabbed with a dagger, but instead of the sharp blade tormenting his insides, it was Levi's words that stoked his ego - bulls eye. It hurts so bad, he almost trembled. He may not hurt him in physical aspect, but to him emotional damage was far worst.
Eren may look like a stupid boy who knows nothing but singing, but if there's one thing he was proud of himself it was his determination and his ability to excel in something he was so passionate about. Although sometimes, he wondered if one of his talents include self-doubt.
Cos if it was, then he's good at it.
However, tonight is an exception. Sure, he's doubting himself again, but there's a reason why he was doing it. He was certain there is no good results even if he tried.
Memorizing five French songs for only tonight, was too much for him. So, no, he's not belittling himself. He just knew there's no way he could do it.
Even when Levi said otherwise.
"What's with the face, Eren?'' Levi asked, startling him. His hand was still on his collar, holding him close. "You looked like I kicked your pet dog.''
Eren ignored the urge to retort back, instead he looked at Levi, his eyes held the curiosity and interest he had been neglecting ever since he had first met the man.
"Tell me, Levi,'' He said. "why are you so sure I can pull it off, even when I told you ever since from the start that I can't?''
Levi stared back at him. "I told you already, didn't I? I just know that you can.''
"How do you even know? You hardly know me,'' Eren scoffed. "It's strange to have a person I hardly know seeing me in such a good light. Hah. Even hearing from Hanji about what you think of me when Armin mentioned me was surreal,''
And it is. Even him revealing his inner complexes to someone like Levi, the same person who insulted him at their first meeting, was surreal.
Levi let go of his collar, but he never moved an inch. He was still staring at him, unblinking. "What did Hanji tell you?''
"Hanji told me you were intrigued, and impressed by me,'' He said, looking somewhere but Levi's eyes. He was embarassed with how their supposed 'private' practice had turned into this type of conversation. "even when you haven't even seen me in person.''
"And I still am,'' Levi answered, moving away from him to lean from the couch's back rest. Eren could now breathe properly. "Your determination can get you somewhere. But belittling yourself can be your downfall.''
"I'm not 'belittling myself', in fact, I already know myself so much that I know my effort would only go to waste,'' Eren said. "I know it's impossible for me to pull this off.''
"How do you know that, if you're not even trying?'' Levi looked at him, his intense gaze piercing Eren's dizzy mind. "You're not doing anything, only bitching about how impossible this is to you. Is this your true self, Eren? Bitching and giving up when life decided to give you a little challenge?''
Eren's fist clenched as Levi stoked another layer of his ego. "I'm fucking trying, can't you see? I already finished one fucking French song!''
"And that's what 'trying' is to you?''
"I hate French, do not forget about that!''
"Oh,'' Levi stared at the empty bowl on the table, blinking, as if he had discovered the main source of Eren's problem. "So that's the main issue here.''
"There are more issues here than me hating French,'' Eren retorted. ''For one, this wasn't supposed to be my problem. I should be at the bar Maria by now, singing songs that I'm familiar with, not giving myself a damn headache just by thinking that I need to memorize songs in a language I'm not really fond of. But what can I do? I can't let Armin down, because I know this event is important to him. Two, I'm supposed to work with someone who insulted me right in my face,'' Eren frowned at Levi when he made an amused noise. He looked as if he wanted to laugh, but preferred not to. "―wait, what the hell? Don't you dare say you're laughing at my own damn misery, coz I swear to all spiders and clowns Levi...''
"Do you see me laughing?'' Levi's tone was serious, but it held something like amusement.
Eren rolled his eyes. "Sure, you're not."
"Don't get me wrong, I know where you're coming from,'' Levi said. "It was the fact that you were still affected by my first impression to you, I just can't believe how sensitive you are.''
"Not everyone would appreciate it if a stranger called you a fucking garbage boy!''
"Calm down,'' Levi said. "I won't call you that anymore, if only it would make you fucking happy.''
"Gee, thanks for caring,'' Eren said in an obvious sarcastic tone. "It didn't change my fate, though. I'm still doomed.''
"You're a shitty little brat, you know that?''
"I'm not a brat, how many times do I need to tell you that.''
"Okay then, Eren,'' Levi picked up his glass to play with the liquid again. His name sounds pretty whenever Levi says it. "If you really insist that you're not a damn brat, can I expect you to approach this problem of yours with less bitching, and not in a bratty way?''
Eren's brows formed a confused V, slowly getting Levi's words. "You have a plan, don't you.''
He blinked in surprise when he saw Levi smile, even if it was just a quick tilt of the corner of his lips, it was still an emotion.
"I see you're not as stupid as I thought,'' Levi said, making Eren gape. Before he could react, he spoke again, "I may or may not have an idea. Or two. Depends on you.''
"What is this idea you're talking about?'' Eren was skeptical about this idea of his.
"An easier way for you to memorize the songs.''
"And that is...?''
Levi only continued twirling the clear liquid, the two ice had already dissolved.
Eren waited for one, ten seconds, until he decided that he's been waiting long.
"What's your damn plan?'' Eren asked, if there's one thing he hated about himself, it was him being impatient. "and it better be a good one, or I will fucking force myself to eat these lyrics because there's no other way for me to keep it in my mind other than that.''
"Don't be stupid,'' Levi scoffed. "My plan is much more realistic than yours.''
"What is it then?'' Eren couldn't help but be curious, and the little patience left inside him was now already fading.
Why was Levi only playing with his wine glass anyway?
"Before I tell you my plan...'' Levi said. "you must keep in mind that this will only happen because I want to fucking help you,'' Eren gulped, his heart racing as different explicit scenarios ran inside his mind, concerning Levi's plan. Levi must have noticed it, because he stared at Eren with a very serious stare. "You don't want me to call you brat, so I expect you to approach this in a very manly and mature way. Do you understand?''
Still confused, Eren slowly nodded, as if he was saying 'I dont know what you're up to, but fine I'll humor you'. He waited, but Levi continued twirling his glass, his posture relaxed and has no hint of moving or anything. He remained silent as well.
"Uh, hello?" Eren lifted a brow when Levi only twirled his glass some more, sniff the contents in a very graceful way, took a sip and hummed a faint satisfied hum. He can't help but scoff. "What now? Is this the plan you were talking about? Hoping I'd memorise every fucking lyrics I need to memorise as I watch you sip your damn wine? What a fucking fantastic plan!"
"Patience, brat," Levi's voice is calm, but even a non-perceptive person can detect the danger behind the simple words. "and just to let your naive mind know, this is not wine, but a gout de diamants.''
Eren's face scrunched in confusion. "Whatever it is, it's still wine,''
"This is not just wine, but a Champagne.''
"What's the difference? They're considered wine! They're called sparkling wine for a reason.''
"I don't give two fucks if it's called sparkling wine.''
"I don't even give thirty fucks if you don't give a fuck," If Eren just snapped at Levi, Armin's boss, and one of the big people in a renowned company, he didn't mean to. His certain temperament did it. Levi doesnt look as if he was offended, but he wasn't sure if that's a good thing or not. Maybe not. "should I remind you; the time is running and I don't have any much left 'til the damn event. Doing that thing you do―'' Eren gestures Levi's twirling of his glass. "is not helping me. So if you please,'' He sighed, ''sir?'' He added in an exasperated voice.
Instead of retorting, Levi tapped his fingers on the couch in sync with the music playing on the background. The music is slowly ending, but he only continued to do the twirling.
It was making Eren's temper boil, just to be honest.
In an unexpected change of pace, the moment the last drop of beat of the song was heard, Eren's breath hitched. It came in a very slow motion, like in a clichê movie Mikasa used to watch; the second Eren heard the distinct click of the glass on the coffee table as Levi set it down, from the way Levi rolled his neck and adjusted the collar of his shirt, 'til the way how the man leaned to get a cube of ice and how Eren bristled as the first touch of something icy came in contact on his neck. It was all abrupt and random Eren forgot to breathe and react for a second.
Then it came.
"What the fuck?'' Eren exclaimed, looking back and forth at the serious face of Levi, and the hand of the said man holding the ice cube on his neck. He shivered as he felt the slow drop of the water from the melting ice trailed down his neck to his collar bone. He rubbed the ice as if it was an important thing in the world. He looked down at the hand for the last time before looking at Levi's still serious face. "L-Levi? What are you―''
Levi then pulled the ice, licked it, and leaned onto Eren to lick his neck instead. He did that the same time as the clarinet came, and Eren was left speechless and frozen. He wasn't sure what was happening. The contrast of the cold touch of ice and Levi's hot tongue made him loose his mind for a second. He tried to comprehend what the fuck Levi is doing, but the touch of the ice on his upper arm made him squeak like a dying rabbit.
Then it came again.
"Des yeux qui font baisser les miens,'' Levi sang. It was only half whisper, half singing, but Eren could hear it clearly despite the background music and the loud drumming of his heart.
He wasn't sure what he was actually doing.
All Eren knew is this disturbing fact; Levi's tongue gave wonders to his southern region, and his scent is intoxicating.
The same way as that brandy infused chocolates of his had affected him.
His breath hitched again when Levi pecked dozens of butterfly kisses on his neck while he sang along with the background music. "Il me dit des mots d'amour,''
Levi paused to rub the ice cube on his neck before attacking it again. He did that while singing the song, the accent so perfect and rough Eren can't help but see it as sexy. His eyes closed when Levi kissed the side of his jaw, his hands automatically went to grab Levi's raven hair.
"Focus, kid,'' Levi called, which made him open his eyes. The man's eyes were serious, but Eren could see the amusement hinting on it. "you don't want to look stupid mispronouncing the song, do you?''
Eren blinked. "What?''
xXx
Open for editing. Sorry for cutting it here. Thank you for the kudos, favorite, commenting, reviews. Thank you for lending time to read this. Just to see you reading this is more than enough. I appreciate it all.
