Chapter 3: Because I'm Awesome Like That…
"Let's go be psychos together…"-The Perks of a Wallflower
Armin Arlert has never had much of a social life. He is the grandson of a powerful man in the budding country of Amestris. And yes, there are a lot of perks. But then again, what comes with those perks is the gaping realization that he will never have the life of a normal person.
Well, that is until he met the son of a highly esteemed doctor, Eren Jaeger.
Eren has as much hot blood in him as Armin has his pacifist tendencies. The two have been inseparable since youth… with the Jaeger brat hanging in the Grumman estate almost every day.
Then Mikasa came along...
Armin can still remember it clearly.
It was one hot summer when twelve-year old Roy Mustang brought with him a young girl with pretty raven black hair and almost steely gray eyes. That instant, everything seemed to make a 'click'. The three of them became the best of friends and ever since then, they would hang out.
The Xing princess is last puzzle piece they were waiting for- a seemingly sempiternal friendship was forged.
Levi Ackerman is in a horrible dilemma. In his past seventeen years of living, everything seemed to be easy as they passed by in a blur. Perhaps, that is the reason why he couldn't conjure up a solution in his head for such a cumbersome problem.
The Ackerman heir fancies himself an analyst. (Or pessimist in the opinion of that freakish four-eyed senpai) As a child, he was raised and bred to be his uncle's replacement should he die (God forbid he does die an early death even though he's not that fond of him). He had to learn a lot of things to inherit the family business- weapon dealing. The Ackerman Weapons Corporation is the top company that supplies every type of gun and armory imaginable. They've been making a hefty load of treasure even way back then… yes, as far as he can remember (and from the memoires he perused through), they've been selling all those dangerous shits that can make any coward look incredibly bad ass.
His life has been, what you could call, stable. That is, until fate sucker punched him with the 'gift' of a newfound relative… that Mikasa Ackerman.
Well he has to admit, she's… adequate looking. That's a bit anti-climactic, is it not?
"So…"
"No. For the umpteenth time, I will not lend you money shitty glasses," Levi replies in a monotone. "Don't you have your own allowance or something?"
"I do…" Hanji whines. Though a girl of almost 18, and of superior IQ, she has the tendency to act absolutely childish and shitty. Thus, shitty glasses. "But still, I need money if I want to keep my current experiment running."
"I do hope for your sake that this is nothing illegal. Good luck anyway."
"No! Of course not! As a matter of fact, it's something quite basic you know…"
"Whatever."
He turns to go. This is none of his business. The shitty four eyes will have to find another person who she can deceive into giving her money. By the looks of it, even Erwin refused to fund her insanity.
That's her own problem. He has his… namely finding his balls to tell MIkasa Ackerman that apparently, they will have to resort to an incestuous union and that she has to forget her relationship with the Jaeger brat because he will, in no way, consent to an extra-marital affair.
The floor of the academy gives tiny squeaks every time his impeccably polished dress shoes hit them. He can hear the whispers of the people around him… those fools.
"Look, it's Levi Ackerman- the head of the Judiciary discipline committee."
"Fah! He's too arrogant. I reckon he's thinking how better he is than everyone here."
"He's an Ackerman after all… they are all murderers. The lot of them…"
"Damn, I'd like to run my hands through those locks."
"Has he always been this short?"
"Haha! Average height for someone so superior!"
He would like to beat those people up… just like how he does back then. But he should not.
The sun's dainty rays cast unremarkable glows into the building. There's no warmth, only light- cold light. It's glaring into his soul. Very dramatic… he should really stop hanging out with people like Hanji Zoe.
His steps come into a halt.
His eyes train to meet a certain girl's eyes. She has always been too calm and emotionless… still, Levi likes to think that he's the only person who can rile her up.
"Fancy meeting you here, Captain," she tilts her head mockingly. "Now, I must go."
"Wait brat," he heaves. She counters her with a raised eyebrow. "Meet in my office after class. I have to talk to you about something."
And he leaves her speechless… well, as if she's loquacious around him. She's always silent. Silent, but with rage seeping out of her cracks.
Levi couldn't help but wonder how their lives would turn out in the future- if they will work out just fine, if they will still banter like immature kids, if they- wait. How did he come to this anyway? He is not a random lovesick, kiss-deprived, hormonal teenager. He is Levi Ackerman. Being wistful, reflective and emo is so not him.
He sighs… he's becoming too emotional for his liking.
He goes on his way, passing students with bewildered looks.
What did just happen? Did Levi Ackerman just sigh?
Erwin Smith waves his fingers together, "So, how are the preparations for the Welcome Gala? Mustang?"
Roy Mustang narrows his already narrowed eyes. He never liked the fact that the president trusts him so much that he passes him every single new workload. For one, this Welcome Gala they've come up with… well, the proper phrase probably would be… the Welcome Gala the Upper House came up with.
The Oriental holds out his hand and his trusted attendant (and cousin of the president) hands him a file. "Everything's going smoothly… thanks to Hawkeye. The decors are presently doing their job. The ticket sale is also doing great. According to the Department of Finance, almost everyone has already bought their tickets."
"Good. And the food?"
"My team is personally overseeing the grub. As for the program, Hanji's in charge. I think you better put a leash on her… ensure she doesn't do something ridiculous."
Erwin nods.
Tomorrow is the day… the first test of their rapport for this school year. And he thinks this will be pretty interesting.
He reckons he has to take on the part of informing the poor girl of their fate.
Levi shakes his head, bumping his intertwined hands on it. That old man… is he seriously trying to bring back the inbreeding in their clan? The very reason why they're instinct in the first place? Or maybe he just doesn't trust you to get a wife? He groans. That is possible. He is a meddling old man after all.
The carved wooden door creaks open after three knocks, revealing the poor girl with characteristic black hair and steel gray eyes. Her infamous trademark- the red scarf- remains coiled around her graceful neck.
"Tch. You're slow." He unwinds his hands then leans his back on the leather padding of the chair.
"I was in class… in case you don't know shorty." Without any invitation, she seizes a stool. He should shut up. She feels a bit dizzy after sprinting back into the Freedom Building. "So, what do you need?"
Owari
Heya. Twisted here. I am so happy I finally got the time to post this. Can't wait to finish Chapter 4! See yah!