A/N: To clam your nerves, please, do not worry! Farlan shall be in this story! Both him and Isabel, as well as Petra are getting some extra time in. :3 I know you all worried~ But who could forget that sexy mother fucker- Er, what? I said nothing! You have no proof!
-Misty
Song of the day: Dancing Alone
By: Billion (I really don't know why I listen to this music at the most inopportune times. e-e')
A Forged Wedding
Modern AU, based off of the Japanese game:
"I... Don't think I heard you right. What did you just ask me, Rivaille?"
"I'm asking you to marry me for a month. How did you not hear me right?"
Rated M for sexual content, adult language, violence, mentions of child abuse
Couple: Riren (Rivaille and Eren)
Anime: Shingeki No Kyojin (Attack On Titan)
Chapter: 10
Party
I can't say that running out of the apartment with my tail between my legs is one of the proudest moments in my life, especially after the fuss I made about protecting Levi's great grandmother from some creepy old people rapist.
I can't say it, because it would be a lie.
The only thing that stopped me from calling the police was the sound of my sister's voice behind me calling me back with a playful tone to it.
"No, Eren, wait! Come back!" She cried out. I stopped at the doorway, peeking back in to see her standing by Levi and his grandmother. She was smiling and a little giggly, and, to my surprise, so was Levi. Levi's grandmother was a laughing mess, leaving me completely confused.
"What the hell was that for?" I yipped at them, finally gaining the courage to move my legs. No threat, no reason to hide behind the door like a scardy cat.
"You idiot," Levi chastised.
"Eren, come back here and enjoy your party." Mikasa made a lit jog over to me and grabbed at my hand, her smile widening.
"Party...? W-What party?" I asked, being dragged into the living room where Levi's grandfather waited.
"Your birthday party, duh!" She teased. The words were utterly foreign to me.
"Birthday...?"
"Eren, today is your birthday." His grandfather announced as he pointed to the birthday banner hanging on the wall and the, what must be, one hundred balloons floating on the ceiling.
"You forgot about your birthday, didn't you, Eren?" Levi asked while coming to my side and touching my back. I looked down at myself for some ungodly reason.
What, did I have an external calendar on my body where I thought I could check the date?
"Yeah..." Was my pathetic answer. His family and mine laughed, more happy than teasing, as Mikasa and Levi pulled and pushed me over to the cake on the coffee table. I sat down with both of them on either side of me, looking at the colorful frosting and decorative prop balloons on the cake. I looked up to everyone, all of them smiles and happy, and the whole situation was finally catching up to me. "So... You got me out of here so they could set up a party?"
"Yes I did." Levi's grandmother answered, rather proud of herself too. I looked to Mikasa, and it now dawned on me that I haven't seen her in a week.
"Ah, Mikasa," I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and hugged her with everything I had. "I missed you so much!"
"I missed you too, Eren." She said, but it was slightly muffled by my shoulder and the fact that I was choking her.
"Don't I get any love?" Levi suddenly asked behind me. "I'm your husband, after all." I laughed as I stopped hugging Mikasa and turned to hug him instead. Without thinking about it, I kissed Levi's temple, momentarily forgetting that Mikasa was behind me. When I remembered it with a strike of fear, all I heard was Mikasa scoff behind me.
"Gross lovey dovey crap." She mumbled behind me. I laughed at her, but I knew that she would have killed Levi if we weren't trying to put an act together. "Get out of the honeymoon phase already!"
"Why should I when every night is nothing but hot and steamy sex?" Levi asked. My mouth dropped in utter astonishment; had he really just said that out loud in front of his grandparents? In front of my sister?
Mikasa immediately jumped over me to get to Levi, but Levi was quick to leave the couch, careful not to spill any of the wine in his wine glass. He chuckled and smirked at her behavior, but I knew better. I knew she would have really killed him if it weren't for Levi's grandparents in the room.
"Oh my, how rude of me." Levi's grandmother suddenly announced and shuffled closer to us. "Mikasa, it's so lovely to finally meet you." She greeted and held out her hand. Mikasa smiled to her and shook her hand with a firm, but gentle grasp.
"It's wonderful to meet you too. Eren has told me so much about you two." She said.
Levi thinks I'm the actor? It's a fucking miracle he got her to smile the way she was now.
"Oh, Eren, you never mentioned how beautiful she was. Look at you and your pretty face." His grandmother cooed over her. Mikasa looked away with her cheeks a little flushed at the comment.
Yeah, a definite fucking miracle.
"Thank you," Mikasa said.
"Is that it for introductions?" Levi suddenly asked.
"So pushy," Mikasa mumbled.
"Uhm... I think so, why?" I asked.
"We don't want the cake to spoil." Levi's grandmother said.
"Well that, and we have presents to get to." Levi added.
"You got me presents?" I lit up with surprise.
"Of course we did. Did you think we wouldn't?" His grandfather asked.
"I didn't even remember my own birthday! Of course I didn't!" I practically bounced on the couch out of impatience. I was acting like a child, but I didn't care. I hadn't had a birthday party in years, maybe since I was twelve.
"What do you want to do first, Eren?" His grandfather asked. "Do you want to have some cake, or open presents?"
"Presents," I didn't even need to think twice about it.
"Good answer," Mikasa patted my back and stood.
"Presents are in the dining room." Levi announced and walked to said room. I followed with a practical skip in my step, pulling Mikasa along with me. In the room, on the dining table, was only one present, but, like I said, I hadn't had a birthday party in years. This whole party was a gift in its own.
"You have to open ours first, Eren!" His grandmother said excitedly.
"I'm assuming it's that one." I pointed to the only present on the table. The response was just more excitement on her part as she nodded her head eagerly. I rolled my eyes while taking a seat in one of the chairs. I pulled the present into my lap and inspected it.
It was just shining, blue wrapping paper with a white bow on the corner, but the whole thing itself was a rectangular shape.
"What is it?" I asked while shaking it. No sounds on the inside.
"Open it and find out." His grandfather answered with a toothy grin, his arm wrapping around his wife's shoulder. I did as told, pulling at the wrapping paper with lightning speed to reveal a leather suit case on the inside.
"Wow," I awed at it.
"We thought you could use a really nice one when you become a lawyer." His grandmother explained while holding her husband's hand.
"It's incredible!" I exclaimed.
"It's also expensive, so please be careful with it." She added.
"I will. I can't wait to become a lawyer just so I can walk into the court room with this and feel all badass." While I spoke, I examined the insides of the suitcase: Three pockets for papers and folders, and big enough to carry my laptop if I wanted to bring it along. It was perfect. I hadn't even thought of needing one of these, so I was glad that they thought about it before I did.
"Levi, give Eren your present next." His grandmother instructed with a clap of her hands.
"No," He said.
"Why?" She asked with a pout. I can't lie and say that I didn't pout a little either.
"He can have his later tonight." He said with a smirk. I blushed profusely while pressing my hand into my forehead.
"Just how many glasses of wine have you had already?" I asked.
"This is the second one." He said, motioning to the glass of wine which was already nearly empty.
"Stop there."
"No," He sighed. I scoffed in his direction before looking back to my suitcase and gawking over it.
"I guess that means it's time for my present." Mikasa said and stood up. I nodded and closed my suitcase, excited for my next present, whatever it was. I waited, watching her simply stand there, but after a few seconds, that was it. She just stood there.
"... Yes, you're a wonderful present, Mikasa- Ah!" The suddenness of fingers grabbing at my sides and tickling me had me jumping out of my seat with a loud (and another girly) scream. I was about to shout at Mikasa for doing it, but then I realized that she hadn't moved. Come to think of it, everyone was standing in front of me, smiling and giddy, and they hadn't moved. If they hadn't done it, then who...?
"Oh gee, Eren, you're still ticklish in that spot?" The voice had my heart jump within my chest. It couldn't have been. There was no way. It was impossible.
I turned slowly, and it was true. I was met with that blond hair and those big blue eyes I had grown up with.
"Armin!" I didn't give him the opportunity to even breathe let alone hug me back. I picked him up from under his arms and tossed him around as I myself jumped up and down. I cheered, and I was near tears to think that my childhood friend was actually here on my twenty-first birthday. He really was here.
Last I had talked to him, he said he wasn't going to make it, because he had a huge test on Sunday, today, and then one tomorrow. Back to back tests that were important to him, and yet here he was, in my arms, cheering along with me as I tossed him back and forth. I finally let him go, but I continued to hug him, just to make sure he was really there. When we pulled away, I had to take the opportunity to look him over. I may have talked to him on the phone, and every now again we would chat on the computer, but I hadn't seen him in person since Spring break of last year. He had to save his money to live on his own, so traveling by plane or car was impossible.
Everything about him was still the same though. His eyes held that same hope and happiness, albeit being a little puffy from, what I assumed was, a lack of sleep. His smile was wide, showing off his perfectly straight and white teeth. His hair was still that same, neck length and blond hair I remembered. His skin was a little paler than I remembered, but he always said he never left him room, because he was studying too hard, so I could see how that happened. His height hadn't changed a bit, leaving him a few inches shorter, which I just had to grin at.
The only thing that was different was what he was wearing. His shirt and pants weren't big and puffy hand-me-downs from either I or his grandfather, but new clothes. His white and black shirt was covered by an thin hoodie with short sleeves, open to reveal the shirt. His pants were dark green khakis, and on his feet were white socks and a pair of sneakers that I hadn't given him so he wouldn't have to buy any and save money.
Besides his update in fashion (which was desperately needed for him), he was still the same, old Armin that I remembered an loved.
"I can't believe you're here!" I exclaimed and ruffled his hair. He laughed and patted his hair back into place. That laugh was like music to my ears.
"I can't believe I'm here either." He said. "Mikasa has been on the phone with me for a full week making plans for this."
"Well this is the best present ever. Thank you, Mikasa," I wrapped my arms around Armin and hugged him, and he hugged me back, a small giggle leaving him.
"I thought it would be a great surprise for you, but you've got to thank Levi too. He's the one who got Armin's plane ticket." Mikasa explained. I smiled widely and made my way over to Levi. I pulled him in for a hug, my hands gripping tightly around him.
I couldn't have been happier.
"Yeah, yeah, I love you too, Eren. Now let go of me, brat." Levi said, but he was smiling and happy. I did, but not without one more kiss to his forehead.
One real kiss wasn't bad, was it?
"Forever alone..." I heard Armin mumble from behind me. I broke out laughing. I really had missed him and his sense of humor.
"You aren't the only one, Armin." Mikasa sighed.
"Yeah, but Eren…? I always thought it'd be you to get married first, Mikasa. I-I mean, you have guys and girls drooling at your feet." I rolled my eyes at Armin, not even bothering to retort to his comment as I plopped back down into my chair. I was overwhelmed by so many wonderful emotions. I tried remembering when it was I felt this happy, but I seriously couldn't come up with anything.
I don't think I've ever been this happy.
"Did I not say she was beautiful?" Levi's grandmother insisted.
"Yes you did, and she is." His grandfather commented.
"Okay, I get it." Mikasa said with another blush.
"Mikasa hates gushing," I informed.
"Meanwhile she deserves it. She's too pretty not to hear it." More commenting from Levi's grandmother had Mikasa hiding her face in her hands, and Armin smiled behind her and patted her back.
"Well, now that that's been agreed on, my turn for presents!" Armin clapped his hands in excitement and said. I bounced in my chair in response. "I was a-actually going to mail this to you since I couldn't be here, but I don't have to do that now, do I?" He asked, and I shook my head, but did he think I really didn't catch that?
"What was that?" I asked.
"What was what?" He tilted his head to the side.
"Your voice cracked."
"No it didn't."
"Yes it did."
"No-"
"Armin has finally hit puberty!" I raised my arms above my head and announced as loud as I could. Armin flushed deeply, nearly dropping an envelope he had pulled from his back pocket.
"Oh God, Eren..." He whined.
"Alright, alright, I'm sorry." I apologized with a grin. "Can I have my present now?" I asked and held out my hands.
After rolling his eyes, Armin held up the envelope to me, his smile widening in excitement. Was this a good thing or a bad thing? I took it cautiously, my eyes following him more than the envelope. What was he planning?
"Open it!" He commanded.
"Alright, don't rush me!" I forced a fake yell, which did its job at getting him to laugh. I opened it, pulling out the papers within it, opening them up to read them. There wasn't much to make out of it, because the words themselves were foreign, but two things did stick out.
"Caladesi Island State Park," and "Airline Ticket."
"Armin, what is this?" I asked.
"Airplane tickets to a beach in Florida." He announced, his grin practically taking over his face. "My spring break is in April, and that's when we're going."
"... What?" I'm utterly speechless (which has been happening quite frequently), simply staring at him and the tickets in my hands like what was happening was a dream.
"We're going to the beach!" He yipped in excitement, and I smiled at the way he jumped in place.
"Armin... How did you afford this?" I'm still too dazed to even process the information correctly.
"I've been saving ever since I got into college! Fifty dollars every two weeks into my savings account so we could go." Armin stood tall and proud, and I wouldn't blame him for it. I had tried doing that once, but there was always something happening: Cars needed to be fixed, hospital bills needed to be paid, groceries. I could never do it.
"Armin... Th-This is incredible." I finally get enough processed through my head to get up and hug him.
"I knew you'd like it." He mumbled into my ear. "I know I did. I cried when I bought the tickets." I laughed at him, because I knew he wasn't kidding. This had been a dream of ours since our childhood. He gave me the idea, and I promised him we'd go together.
And now it was finally going to happen.
"This all feels so unreal." I pull away, and I just feel the tears building up in my eyes. Don't cry, Eren, not now at least.
"Why is that, honey?" Levi's grandmother asked with a frown.
"Because... I haven't felt this happy in such a long time." I have to keep it together.
"Eren," Armin's hand fell to my shoulder and I looked down at him. "Don't you think it's about time for something to go right in our lives?" He asked, tilting his head to the side. Mikasa grabbed my hand and gave a light tug on it, reassuring and comforting at the same time. Levi did the same, but with my free hand.
Now they're just trying to get me to cry.
"Yeah... Yeah, you're right." I release a heavy sigh, trying to pull myself together.
"Of course I'm right!" Armin said. "Come on, stop being such a downer! I'm here, your grandparents are here, you're happily married, I am alone, but that does not matter; let's eat some cake and party!"
"Yes, let's have some cake!" His grandfather joined in on the cheering.
"Right!" Party now, cry later. "Bring me my cake, I want some cake!" Mikasa rolled her eyes and left the room, but not without a pat to my shoulder. When she came back, she had already lit the candles, illuminating the cake and the area around it.
And then everyone began to sing. I sat in my chair as the cake was placed in front of me, listening to everyone sing. Distantly I recognized a bright flash; either Armin or Mikasa just took a picture, but I don't care. When they finished singing, Levi told me to make a wish, and I did. I blew them out, and everyone clapped.
"What did you wish for, Eren?" Armin asked.
"I'll never tell."
Finally alone and on the balcony, I breathed out a sigh of relief. Mikasa and Armin did the same, but I was the only one who fell onto my knees by the railing.
"Tired, Eren?" Armin asked with a chuckle. I nodded, my eyes half lidded and lazy. I was tired.
"Yeah, pretty tired. Today has been so overwhelming."
"Overwhelming for you? I'm gone for a year and you're twenty nine and married to your boss!" Armin exclaimed. "How was today overwhelming for you?" I broke out laughing, which was broken when Mikasa mumbled.
"What a beautiful night." She mused quietly. Armin and I looked out at the city, and this was why I liked the city. At night, it was beautiful. The only setback was that you couldn't see the stars.
"I forgot how busy this city was." Armin mumbled as he leaned against the railing.
"College life isn't as bad as this?" Mikasa asked and joined him.
"I don't know. I spend my time studying, and I don't go out to parties. Like I said, forever alone." He sighed, resting his cheek in his palm. "You two are my only real friends."
"Awe, come on, Armin. What about your room mate?" I asked and stood up.
"Got expelled." Too quick of an answer. The quiet that followed was a little odd, but after a moment of silence, Mikasa spoke up.
"... How awkward." The two of us laughed at her. Mikasa may have been quiet, but there were times, though rare, where she could say the wildest or funniest of things and get a whole room laughing. It must have been funnier, because she was so quiet.
More silence followed after that, but there were no complaints. It was content silence, silence we were used to. It was a time to reflect on things, good or bad, and, right now, what bad was there to focus on?
"Gosh..." Armin sighed. "When was the last time it was just us?" I looked over to him, a small, weak smile on my lips. I really didn't remember. "Just the three of us, by ourselves and all on our own...?"
"It's been a while." Mikasa mumbled softly.
"A few years..." I added.
"A few years..." Armin mused. "We're getting old..." I chuckled, because it was true.
"We are indeed." Mikasa said again in her usual soft tone. Armin leaned over and dropped his head on me, his bangs falling slightly into his face.
"I missed this... I missed my family..." I wrapped my arm around his shoulder and nudged him closer, getting him to smile.
"We missed you too."
"Just hang in there, Armin. Spring break is almost here, and then you and Eren are off to Florida to spend time at the beach." Mikasa assured.
"I still think you should come, Mikasa." Mikasa shook her head and raised her arms up.
"No, while I would enjoy it, that's your dream. I'll leave you two to enjoy it." She assured. The patio door behind us opened, Levi's grandfather behind it with a glass of wine in his hand.
"Oh Mikasa, grandma wanted to ask you something." He said. Mikasa nodded her head, giving a small wave to us before walking back inside. The door shut, and, while I looked away, I noticed Armin's eyes still lingering on the doorway. I smirked at him.
"Don't trip over your drool, Armin." I scoffed.
"I-I'm not drooling!" He yipped in embarrassment, his voice cracking again and his cheeks flushing.
"Oh come on, you were so checking her out."
"Eren...!" He whined and dipped his head into my shoulder to hide his red face. I laughed, but it wasn't at all at him. He was just too adorable to not laugh at.
"When are you going to tell her?" I asked. Armin lifted his head, his hand wiping at his cheeks in a failed attempt to get rid of the redness. Obviously it didn't help.
"Never."
"You can't go through life pining after someone without at least trying."
"You do remember what happened the first time I told someone I had a crush on them, don't you?" Armin asked while wiggling his eyebrows.
"Yeah, I do... Wait, you got over me?" I asked and was rewarded with a playful shove to my shoulder.
"Come on, Eren, stop teasing me."
"Sorry," I rubbed at my shoulder. "But I really do think you should tell her."
"It isn't enough for you that I'm socially awkward, is it?" He grumbled. "I'm not going to tell her. It's a crush, so it'll go away."
"You've been in love with Mikasa since we were fourteen. Fourteen, Armin. That's six years. It's not a crush; you're in love with her."
"Fine, I love her, but that doesn't mean I'll jump on the roof and shout it from the roof tops-" The door behind us opened again, but this time, it was Levi behind us. He shut the door behind him and joined us by the railing.
"You aren't stealing my wife, are you, Arlert?" Levi asked with a smirk.
"Haha, so funny, Levi." I said, annoyed by him. Armin giggled by my side, and I was reminded of him and his separate ideas on things. "Armin, tell me, if we were really together, who'd be the wife in the relationship?" I asked.
"Oh my God, Eren!" Armin broke out into a fit of laughter. Levi simply tutted and rolled his eyes.
"I'm being serious! Everyone thinks I'm the wife, but I know you always look at things from every angle, so what do you think?" I asked. Armin was still in a fit of giggles, but when he looked at the both of us, I realized that he was actually thinking about it. Good. Let's get some actual answers going.
"Well…" He drawled out. "… I can see Levi being the wife easy."
"What...?" Levi was actually surprised while I felt the rush of victory on my side.
"Well, you're older, Levi, and Eren is a young, innocent virgin-" Fuck, Armin, why? "So, it makes sense that you wouldn't want to take advantage of him. At the same time, you are older, and Eren said you've been married once before. So you have experience under your belt and... That was a really bad pun..." Armin dropped his head down onto the railing with a groan.
"Smart kid," Levi said and I laughed. Armin rolled his head by me, and that cute face he pulled had me feel guilty for getting angry at him. I wasn't even aware if he did it on purpose, or if he was even aware he did it, but it sure did its job. "Keep up the studying. It'll get you places."
"Oh, that reminds me," What Levi had said made me think of something I didn't even care for at first. "Armin, how long are you here for? I mean, is it only for today?" Unfortunately he nodded his head.
"Yeah, my plane leaves at ten forty-five. I still have that test tomorrow." He grumbled and dropped his head back on the railing.
"That sucks..." I sighed.
"It's really does. I wish I could stay longer." His voice cracked again, as if he was hitting one of those odd puberty moments, but I knew better. His voice cracked, because he was trying not to cry.
"Hey, it doesn't matter. The fact that you're here now is more to me than anything." I squeezed his shoulder, and Armin looked up at me with one of those smiles that was just Armin.
"Yeah, you're right."
"Did I walk in on a fucking therapy session?" Levi's sudden outburst made me remember that he was still out here with us in the first place, and it had me blushing. People easily mistook Armin and I as more than friends; we were really close and we did things most friends didn't, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. We were childhood friends, brothers really, and that was all. I knew Armin had a crush on me when we were kids, but I understood why.
I was his only friend for years, and I stepped in on many situations where bullies had him pinned into a corner. I got beat up for him, and I still would, honestly. So it made sense for him to have a crush on me, but, like he said, it went away, which led to him seeing Mikasa in a whole new light. After that, that brief crush was gone, and I was fine with that.
"Yes, you did. We have hidden cameras everywhere." Armin retorted.
"What are you doing out here anyway?" I asked Levi. "Is Mikasa bothering you?"
"No, it's my grandparents." He grumbled. "There's only so much of them I can handle before I slit my throat."
"You married that?" Armin asked and pointed his thumb to Levi. Levi rolled his eyes in ignorance, but I laughed. I really had missed him.
"Relax, brat, it's not real."
"It'd be funny if it were though." Armin playfully shoved at my shoulder. "I'm gone for college, and the next thing I know, Eren is nine years older and married! What next, a couple of kids?"
"Haha, you're so funny!" I grabbed at Armin's head and pulled it against my chest, effectively muffling his screams as I gave him the worst noogie I could make. Childhood all over again.
"You act like a bunch of kids." Levi mumbled, but we still heard it, even over Armin's screams.
"We are kids!" He hollered against my shoulder.
"We can't help it," I argued, feeling a little guilt. "Sorry."
"Don't apologize. I never said there was anything wrong with it." Levi shrugged his shoulders and sipped on his wine.
"Nothing is wrong with it!" Armin yanked his head from my grip and gasped, but not without a playful shove. "But, I gotta ask; your great grandmother had been looking at me all night. Did I do or say something wrong?" He asked while putting his hair back into place.
"No, she's just trying to figure out why you look like a girl." Levi's bored and flat statement had me laughing, because he said it like an everyday comment, and, per the usual, Armin groaned and dropped his head on my shoulder.
"I know, I know! It's the story of my life!"
"What's even worse is that you look like Christa." I stated teasingly, trying to get out the last of my laughter.
"I know..." The knowledge was just killing him. The door opened behind us again, and Mikasa stood behind us with a glass of water in her hands.
"Armin, grandma has a question for you." She said with a smile, handing the glass to him.
"Thanks," He said. With a quick wave to me, he went back inside, and Mikasa followed, closing the door behind her. This left just Levi and I alone, but I was okay with that. After tonight, I honestly didn't think I could ever have negative feelings towards Levi again.
I looked back to my friends and family inside. Mikasa and Levi's grandfather were laughing, his grandmother had a smile filled with curiosity on her face, and Armin seemed downtrodden. She hadn't really asked him, had she?
... She probably did.
"Here," I felt a tap of something cold on my shoulder, followed by Levi's voice. I looked back to him to see him holding up a can of beer, motioning for me to take it.
"Levi, I can't drink that. I'm underage," I said, pushing the can away.
"You're twenty one today, aren't you?" He asked. I looked down for a moment, remembering that, yes, today was indeed my twenty-first birthday. "You're allowed to drink until your heart is content. I thought you might be curious, and I'd rather have you drink in front of me where I can monitor you than at a bar." I took the cold can from him skeptically, my eyes reading the label on it.
"Thanks..." I mumbled.
"You don't have to drink it, brat. I'm just offering. If you don't want it, say so and I'll get rid of it."
"No, that's okay." I assured and popped the can open. I was indeed curious, and Levi had a point, a very good point. He watched me with eyes that simply dared me to, as if knowing I wouldn't like it or would chicken out at the last second. I lifted it and smelled the liquid, and I have to say, it didn't smell all that good.
"Well...?" He urged. I clicked my tongue before taking a big gulp.
Really dumb idea on my part. It tasted terrible, and Levi could tell by the look on my face that it did. I tried to swallow it, but when that proved fruitless, I simply choked and spat it out over the railing, simultaneously sounding like a gagged cat.
"I'm sorry to whoever I spit on..." I grumbled with a hoarse tone.
"I didn't think that would happen." Levi said.
"Neither did I. Why did you give that to me?"
"I thought young people liked the harder things. I guess I was wrong."
"Very..." I rolled my head around in my hands as I spoke. The beer tasted terrible, but it left an odd buzz in my head, something very foreign and unpleasant.
"Here, try this instead." Levi offered his wine glass to me instead of the beer. I made a face at it, refusing it instantly. "It's wine, Eren, not beer. It's softer," After his explanation, I took it, but not without hesitating. I looked it over, twirling the glass to make the wine spin and examining what it did. "It's not poison."
"Sorry," I finally got over my fear (the fear of getting smacked by Levi worse) and sipped on it just as he had. To my surprise, it tasted just as he said; softer. "Oh..."
"Better...?" Levi asked.
"Yeah, much. It isn't as harsh as the beer. It tastes sweeter too, like..." What was it, it tasted like?
"Grapes?" He asked.
"Yeah, that's it." I sipped on it one more time before handing the glass over to him. Levi took it back without another word.
The wine settled in my stomach a lot better than the beer. It was definitely better, but that buzz was still there from the previous drink. Maybe I had a really low tolerance for alcohol and I was drunk? That would make for a fun night.
"He seems like a good kid." Levi suddenly said out of the blue. I knew Levi wasn't much of a talker, so when he spoke up, it honestly surprised.
"Armin...? Yeah, he really is." I said.
"Smart too."
"You're just happy he thinks I'm the wife." Levi rolled his eyes at me.
"You are, so suck it up and embrace it."
"Right, I'll do that tonight for my present." I said with a chuckle and looked over the city.
"That would be difficult for sure." Levi's voice was quiet, but it still reached my ears. I looked over to him, watching for any changes in his expression. None. Why was that a surprise? It definitely shouldn't have been.
"Wait... Y-You weren't being serious, were you?" I blushed from ear to ear as I asked.
"Of course not!" Levi deadpanned. "You really thought I'd take your fucking virginity?"
"Yes. I-I mean no! I mean, I didn't at first, but then you-"
"Shut up, Eren."
"Thank you." I dropped my head back into my hands to hide my face. That couldn't have been any more embarrassing unless I actually asked him to take my virginity from me.
"Eren," Levi sighed. "When I said you'd get a present later tonight, I meant a real, tangible present, not sex." He explained and set his empty cup down on the glass table beside him.
"So... You actually got me something?" I lifted my head, a little surprised by this new information.
"Of course I did. Come on," Levi motioned for me to follow him and I did, walking back into the apartment. The conversation from my family went as followed:
"No, it just grows fast." Grumbled Armin.
"So then why don't you cut it?" Levi's grandmother interrogated.
"I do," Armin whined while fingering his hair.
"I mean cut it shorter."
"I-I don't know. I don't look good with hair as short as Eren's."
"You look more like a girl the shorter your hair is." Mikasa said calmly.
"M-Mikasa! That's not true!"
I smiled over to them as I followed Levi down the hallway and to his room. He shut the door behind us, and silence fell over us quickly. I wasn't aware of how thick these walls were until the sound of Armin's whining and Mikasa's laughing disappeared. I watched as Levi walked over to his closet, opened it, and pulled out a thin, rectangular shaped package.
"I thought you were kidding." I mumbled. Levi handed me the present, his face completely void if any emotion as he did so.
"I wouldn't kid about something like this." He said. I looked at the package, trying to figure out what it was by the shape, but I couldn't figure it out. "Before you open it-" Levi's hand stopped me just as my nails dug into the wrapping paper. "Just know that the reason I chose to give it to you now was because you'd either kill me or cry."
"Is it something that would upset me?" I asked.
"Concerning you...? Yeah, most likely." His answer made me more afraid to open it. I did, but it was slow, unlike when I opened his grandparents present to me. I pulled slowly, carefully revealing a picture frame underneath it. The picture framed was a picture of my father and I.
I remembered when we got this picture. We had successfully completed the task of building a tree house, a tree house my mother called a death trap (I would completely agree with her). The tree house was in the background, leaving me and my father the subject of the picture. It was one of those pictures that depicted the rare moments when my father actually treated me like his son. In the photo, I was sitting on his knee (at the time, I was eight), my arms around his neck and his arms hugging me in the cold weather. We were both smiling and happy, and that tree house was like the best gift I had ever gotten with him. It wasn't the tree house itself, but the time we put into it. Of course it was both a special moment and a special photo.
But there was something bothering me. I never saw the picture when we went through my attic. I thought I'd gotten rid of it, thinking the situation false and ignorant. How did he get a hold of it?
"Mikasa had it." I hadn't realized that I gave Levi a questioning gaze until he spoke up. "I said I'd have it blown up and framed."
"... Levi..." I didn't give him the chance to push me away. I pulled him into my chest for a hug, picture frame carefully placed on the bed so I could properly squeeze the ever living hell out of him.
And he hugged me back. With his nose pressed into my collar bone, his arms around my shoulders, my hands on the small of his back, and my mouth against his ear, we stayed that way.
Silence, but it wasn't at all uncomfortable or awkward. At least it wasn't to me.
"Is it okay then?" Levi asked in a small, weak whisper by my ear.
"Yes, it's more than okay…" I nodded my head. I felt tears slipping past my eyelids again, and I felt guilty for crying, but Levi pulled back and wiped my cheeks from the tears. "You were right." I joked. He nodded, not seeming like he was in a joking mood.
"Do you hate me, Eren?" He suddenly asked. The question caught me off guard in more ways than one. I hadn't expected a question, let alone one like that.
"What...?" How could he be so stupid? "Levi... Everything... Everything tonight, it's all added up to be the best birthday I've ever had. I've never had such a wonderful party let alone be this happy, so I could never hate you."
There was a glint of something in his eyes, dare I say, relief. Was he happy to know that I didn't, and never could hate him?
"That's good then," He sighed.
"Levi," I cupped his cheeks in my hands, making sure he had his eyes on me. "Thank you..."
And I moved forward…
"Oh Eren darling!" Levi's grandmother suddenly burst though the bedroom door, a camera in her hand, though she wasn't taking pictures. I pushed Levi away in fear of being caught, but the devilish gleam in her eyes and the smirk on her lips (another thing Levi obviously inherited) proved that she had, and I wasn't fast enough.
"Grand-mère!" Levi shouted at her, but she wasn't at all deterred by his yelling. "laissez-nous tranquilles s'il vous plaît!"
"Pictures, we must take pictures!" She waved the camera around in her hands before turning away and waddling out of the room. The quiet this time was awkward, and instead of simply saying an apology or thanking him again for my present, I paced myself out of the room.
I had a hand against my lips, as if trying to shake off what just happened, but it happened.
Fuck, what was I thinking? Not just in general, but about my boss? About Levi? No, no. None of it was right.
I was drunk. I had to be, because I nearly acted out the sinful thoughts in my head.
I almost kissed him.
"Eren, come on now!" Levi's grandmother shook me out of my thoughts, making me jump in place. I looked over to the others, finding them already trying to pose. Mikasa had an arm around Armin's body, her hand resting on his waist, and he couldn't have blushed anymore unless you pumped more blood into him. Despite the embarrassment, he had his arm around her too, his hand shaking on her hips, which I was positive was going to make him faint any minute now. Levi's grandfather was behind them, hands on both of their shoulders and smiling widely, showing off his crooked teeth. His grandmother was setting the up camera, her excitement making her more jumpy than usual.
Levi walked past me and over to them, a fake smile on his lips as he joined them. Levi's grandfather ruffled his hair, making him whine and try to fix it. Mikasa was quite happy with this, her smirk just saying so, and Armin was just laughing at the two of them. I smiled, the sight both funny and relaxing. It was a sight like this you'd see on TV, a sight you'd think would be fake and a false accusation about the real world and how cruel it really was, but it was here in front of me. It was tangible, a few feet away, and it was for me.
"Eren, come on." Mikasa urged and held out her hand. I nodded, my smile widening as I stepped in front of the camera. Levi pulled me against him and I wrapped my arm around his shoulder, pretending that what just happened and the thoughts I experienced never happened. Our fingers linked together, and I couldn't help but look at him and everyone else.
I knew it was fake...
This family wasn't real...
But was it really so bad to want it for once?
IMPORTANT PLEASE READ!
Ahhh~ All of those reviews! And I loved how some of you said I deserved them, those comments made my day! :D I love it, and I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to do it one more time. WHY YOU ASKED?! Well, the next chapter is very... "Important," let's say, and there are two ways it could go. First, I could make it just one, long chapter, OR, I could cut it in half. Not only will it be suspenseful, but it'll flow better if I cut it in half. SO! For these reviews, just tell me, should I cut it in half? Or should I leave it one long chapter? I'm really leaning to cutting it in half, but let me hear from you first. :3
Edit 4/7: Okay, reproofread this. XD