Behind the Walls
Chapter 13 – Date
Date (n.) - an appointment to meet at a specified time; especially: a social engagement between two persons that often has a romantic character
Levi had never been the gushy romantic type. But when Eren had mentioned wanting a date the other day, there was no way he could simply ignore it. The problem was, what sort of date could he take him on?
Levi knew Eren would be uncomfortable if he was forced to sit in some expensive restaurant and eat food that would cost him a textbook. Not mention having to hold awkward small talk throughout the meal. No, it needed to be something social. If only Hanji could do the talking for him.
Then it hit him. A group date! The question was where. It had to be something that would make sense that they would need more than just the two of and preferably within Eren's interests. Levi happened to look up at the TV to see an ad for a local mystery dinner theatre and then he knew exactly what to do.
Levi dialed the number on the screen and hear after a few rings, "Maria's Murder Mystery. Serving dinner and solving mysteries for twenty-five years, how can I help you?"
"I would like to know the smallest number of people in group for a private party mystery dinner?" Inquired Levi.
"We require at least eleven people for a private event and a twenty percent gratuity will be added for your server," the woman replied.
Levi thought for a moment, then said, "I can a get a party of eleven for Saturday night then?"
"You sure can! Can I get a name for the reservation?" the woman said ecstatically.
"Eren, Eren Jeager," Levi answered.
"Very well then Eren, your party is seven pm on Saturday" the woman began, "Come by the theatre tomorrow and you can pick up the sealed packs and invitations for your guests. Okay?"
"Yes, thank you very much…" Levi trailed off.
"Sasha! And thank you Eren. Byebye now!" Sasha responded.
Levi was unable to reply before he heard the other hang up.
'Now to recruit some guests.'
Levi handed out invites to everyone he knew he could tolerate for an extended period of time. He gave one to Erwin. When he went to give Hanji hers, she ask for another do she could bring Moblit. Seeing as that added another person who wouldn't bother him, he had no objections.
He also gave invites to each of his executives claiming it was a thank you for all their hard work. He figured they all knew it was a load of crap, but they couldn't say he never did anything nice. With nine seats filled, Levi was running out of places to turn. He was sitting at his desk, racking his brain for more options when Krista walked in, "Sir, Mr. Ackerman is on line one."
"Tell him I'm heading to meeting," Levi said.
"Very well, sir," Krista replied closing the door.
"Krista, wait," Levi quickly responded.
She reopened the door and Levi continued, "Are you doing anything Saturday night?"
"Sir?"
"I am having a little dinner party at Maria's Murder Mystery. I was wondering if you would like to come," Levi asked.
Krista smiled, "I would be honored to, sir."
Levi grabbed the envelope with the info, "Here is your character pack. Be sure to read up and be ready."
Krista nodded, "I will do, sir."
"And one more thing," Levi added.
Krista looked back at him.
"No 'yes sir.'" Levi instructed, "On Saturday, I am Levi, okay?"
"Yes, s-Levi," Krista corrected.
"Good. Take my calls, I need to review some statements before my one o'clock meeting," Levi finished.
Krista nodded and walked out.
'Just one more.'
Levi had stooped some lows in his life, but he felt like the current one might be a new level of low. He was standing in front of Eren's old apartment door. He had one place left to fill, and he decided Armin would be the best choice. Eren will likely be uncomfortable being surrounded by all of Levi's friends and co-workers and so a friendly face could help lighten the mood.
The problem was Armin hates him. Armin had made that abundantly clear, even to the point of threating to sick Mikasa on him.
Levi starred at the door for a moment longer, then knocked. He heard movement from inside of the apartment then the door opened with an annoyed Armin, "What do you want? If you hurt Eren, I swear-"
"No." Levi interrupted, "I am here to ask for a favor."
Armin raised a brow, "Why should I do you a favor?"
"The favor isn't for me really. It's for Eren," Levi answered.
Armin remained silent.
"I am having a dinner party at Maria's Murder Mystery on Saturday night. Eren will be going to it, but all the other attendees will be my friends. I am inviting you so Eren will have someone to talk to other than myself," explained Levi.
"Do I have to pay?" Armin asked, bluntly.
"No. All expenses paid," replied Levi, holding the envelope out.
Armin took it, "What time?"
"Seven, don't be late," Levi said, turning to walk away.
"I won't be."
Levi, satisfied, walked away.
"Brat, where are you?" Levi shouted, walking into his apartment.
Eren walked to the top of the stairs a few moments later, "It's polite to say hello before you insult someone."
"Shut it. If you have plans for Saturday night, cancel them. You have new plans," Levi stated.
"I am hanging out with Arm-" Eren started.
"No you are not, I just talked to him," Levi said, "take this and get reading."
Eren opened the envelope and flipped through the contents, "Is this a murder mystery script?"
Levi didn't respond.
Then Eren started to laugh.
"Fucking brat, never grateful for anything," Levi responded starting to walk toward the stairs.
Eren grabbed his arm, stopping him, "Sorry. I tell you I want to be a detective and you take me to a murder mystery. I'm not as dumb as you might expect."
Levi shook his arm free from the other's grip, "Whatever. Just read up."
As he walks away to give Eren time to read up, the thinks, 'Saturday should be interesting.'
XxXxXxXxXxX
Levi sat in his office, cursing his fate.
He knew he shouldn't have looked ahead in the book, but he was curious to know just what kind of guy his character was.
Levi was to be Humphrey Caine, a critically acclaimed director. He believed himself to be smarter and better than everyone else. Levi was on board with this character until he realized he was the murder.
"Shitty brat. I am never going to hear the end of it," Levi scorned himself.
He glanced at his clock and saw it was already 6:15 and realized he needed to go. He grabbed his briefcase and hurried out to his car. He threw his stuff in and drove like his life depended on it.
Levi entered his apartment only ten minutes later. Eren was sitting on the couch, absorbed by his script as he had been all week. Eren had gone so far as to try to read Levi's script, aiming to gain as much evidence as possible. After that, Levi left his script at work.
On further examination of the boy before him, Levi realized he had never seen Eren dressed up before. Eren tended to go for the average-guy-off-the-street look as his daily apparel, so he never dressed up. This, from Levi's perspective, was a tragedy. Eren was wearing a simple white dress shirt with a black sweater and slacks. The outfit itself was nothing too extraordinary, but it made Eren look very different. Eren was no longer a shitty, college brat, but a grown man doing something he loved. The situation couldn't be more perfect.
Levi's thoughts were interrupted by Eren saying, "Take a picture, it'll last longer. After dinner, these clothes are coming off."
"No arguments from me," Levi replied, smirking slightly.
Eren frowned, realizing what he said, "Pervert. Let's go, or we are going to be late."
"What's the rush?" Levi asked, moving closer to Eren, "No shame in being fashionably late. I bet I could even get you out of those clothes right now."
"What a joke! You've never been fashionably late to an event in your life, Old Man," Eren said, scooting back on the couch.
Levi closed the distance between them, looming over Eren's still seated body. He tilted Eren's chin up, looking directly into Eren's formally averted eyes, "Brat, you should know by now that I never joke."
Eren gulped and shook under Levi's gaze.
Levi let go, and turned away going towards the door, "But we shouldn't spoil dinner with dessert. Come on or we are going to be late."
Levi looked back at his date to see him in a daze, confused and disappointed? Eren blinked a couple times, shook his head slightly, then rose and walked out of the apartment.
Levi held back a chuckle, 'This night is shaping up to be quite interesting indeed.'
Levi locked his door and made his way after Eren.
Levi and Eren were the last to arrive at Maria's. They were ushered back to a table where the other nine were sitting talking. Two seats, right next to each other, were left open for them. On the left of the open seats sat Armin, who Eren immediately ran over to and sat down by. To the right sat Hanji and Moblit beside her. Levi could tell Hanji had already had at least three glasses of wine and Moblit was doing his best to keep Hanji's voice down.
After Levi sat down, a waiter approached the table, "To our last guests, I am David, your friend who has recently passed and your host for the evening. What can I get you gentlemen to drink?"
Eren answered first, "I'll have a glass of water, no lemon."
Levi followed, "I'll have hot tea, no lemon."
"Levi!" Hanji shouted, "Have some wine! Live a little, you're killing my buzz."
"Hanji please," Moblit pleaded. "There are other guests in the building. We don't be rude."
Levi decided to turn his attention to the other guests seated around the table. Next to Moblit sat Petra and Oluo. Oluo kept leaning and saying something in Petra's ear to which she would either giggle or glare at him. Levi suspected he had been trying to keep up with Hanji for most drunk at the table.
On the other side of Oluo sat Eld and Gunther. Levi could hear them talking business and wanted to tell them to stop, but knew it was pointless. If they weren't talking about Walls they would just start talking about a partner or competitor instead. At least something productive might come out of their talk if he let them be.
Next to Gunther sat Krista. She seemed to be in a conversation with Erwin, who sat next to her, about the state of the city. Levi was surprised to see Erwin sitting next Krista, but even more so to see Armin on his other side. He had expected Erwin to next to himself, not sandwiched between the youngest members of the table.
Of course Eren and Armin were talking up a storm about the evening next him. They were sharing their theories they had gathered from their booklets trying to hammer out just who it was before the festivities began.
Everyone seemed to be so nicely paired off in conversation, but Levi sat silently, reading the room.
'I suppose this is my character,' He thought, 'the murderer among friends trying to determine who to pin my deed on.'
The more Levi thought about it, the more he was glad he was the murderer. The other ten had to work to deduce his identity, but since he knew what happened all he had to do was play along. Levi could instead focus his efforts to making sure this night would be perfect.
David returned with the tea and water, "I will take your dinner orders now, but when you give me your order, please introduce yourself to everyone at the table. We will do this in backwards order of arrival, so my good sir with the tea, who are you and what would you like?"
Levi sat up slightly, "My name is Humphrey Caine. I am critically acclaimed director and directed David in some of his early and best works. David and I have never gotten along too well, but I respect him as an actor. Give me the steak, well done."
One by one they went around introducing their characters.
Eren was a British man named Nigel, David's former security guard. Besides being a security guard, Eren would also DJ at local clubs. He used to do Cabarets in England at men's clubs in England before moving to Hollywood. He and David would argue, but he would never kill him.
Hanji was Hilda, David's cleaning lady for the past five years. She was a motherly figure in David's life who he confided in. Hanji saw many thing in that house and was offered two million dollars to tell it all, but she was too nice to do that.
Moblit was Zane, a medium for all the celebrities of Hollywood. David was a regular customer and we would be willing to do a reading for anyone at the party for five hundred dollars. He says he can't contact David because it takes months to settle on the other side.
Krista was Ivy, an actress. She worked with David on her big soap "Titans" as her dead husband's ghost. They once had a passionate love affair, but it didn't last long.
Eld was Donald, David's estranged father. He hadn't seen David in six years since beginning his scandalous life in Hollywood. His wife died eight years ago, but had the help of his sisters to help with his business.
Petra was Elizabeth, David's former girlfriend. She didn't like Hollywood so, she and David would have never worked out. She moved away from Hollywood but has returned to pay her respects to David.
Olou was Scott, international model. He was good friends with David and both were aiming for big film projects. The press made them labels as best friends, but only had a "professional" relationship.
Armin was John, and former member of the Big Brother House. He was evicted for cheating and is hated all over America. He hopes to change his image in the future. He made friends with David after leaving the House.
Erwin was Tom, a DJ on a Hollywood radio station. His show was from 7:00pm to 10:00pm every week night. He is a feminist who would accuse David of being a chauvinist on air. Erwin and David were always civil.
Gunther was Andrew, a talk show host. He would spill all the dirty secrets of today's hottest stars and the public loved him. David was once a friend, but Gunther had bad mouth him one week on his show and the rest was history.
Levi found that the most comical persona had to be Eren's. He was so dedicated to his character he was speaking in an awful British accent that made Levi want to laugh.
Instead of focusing on what everyone was saying, Levi decided to only pay attention when he needed.
Throughout the night, Levi interacted with everyone, except Eren. Their characters had no connection and thus no reason to speak. But that didn't stop Levi from watching the boy. Eren was a glow. A smile never left his face as he gathered fact from those around him.
The story itself was a little crazy. Between actors trying to get roles in Levi's work, to David apparently wanting in Levi's pants, to some crazy back door DJ-ing deals, Levi wasn't even sure if this story was even cohesive. He doubted he would be able to sort through all the shit of this story to find the truth, assuming he didn't already know it.
Finally it came time for voting. Having accused Zane, Levi voted for Moblit, lacking a better answer since he couldn't vote for himself. Everyone seemed to blame Krista, Ivy, his former lover and costar. Armin and Eren, however accused Humphrey.
Levi took a deep breath, know what was coming next. David turned to the group and said, "If the killer could please confess to his or her crime."
Levi stood and began, "David was in love with me, or so he said. I have nothing against gay men, many of the actors I cast are gay. However, He took it too far."
Levi stepped away from the table and began to pace the room, "He left sex toys on my doorstep. He called me up drunk in the middle of the night to have sex. He wanted to ruin my life. I couldn't take it anymore. I went over to David's for a romantic dinner and made sure David had Nigel leave for the night. When I arrived, I shot him in the head. I was finally free."
There was a hush that broke out over the room, but was broken by Hanji, "HA! Eren you better watch out. If you cross Levi, he'll shoot you."
David cleared his throat, "Yes, well, now you know what happened. I invite you to finish your desserts at your leisure and I will leave the check here."
Levi pulled out his platinum card and handed it to David before he could place the bill on the table, "It all on me."
"Very good sir, I will be back in a moment," David replied.
Moblit pulled Hanji's arm over his shoulder, "We are going to go. If he we don't leave soon, I fear there will be no nursing her hangover tomorrow."
Levi nodded, "Once I sign the check, Eren and I will be leaving as well. Feel free to stay as long as you like."
David walked back in not a minute later, "Here you are Mr. Ackerman. You all have a wonderful evening."
Levi wrote in a generous tip and quickly signed, "Come, Eren."
Eren hugged Armin and quickly followed behind Levi.
A/N: So...I lied. I was going do Levi Week and then life happened, and then second semester happened. It wasn't pretty. Scrapped by with my GPA in tact so I suppose I can't complain too much. I am making a valiant effort, while I am free from school, to get as much written as possible. The next two are written, but since I moved a few chapters around, I am going to wait until I am back on track to make sure everything is right in the world! But here's an update of...good faith?