Sometimes in life we either get bitter or we get better. And in certain circumstances, it's a realistic mixture of both.
In Levi's case, he was still learning. Making friends, pushing boundaries, living his life in new ways. Maybe not terribly exciting ways like jumping into known failed marriages like Erwin who was excitedly awaiting the divorce like a business deal about to go through, or losing a significant amount of blood and almost biting off his tongue like Oluo who should have a frequent visitor's card for the hospital, or getting incredibly drunk like Gunther who went streaking down his street at two o'clock in the morning with Eld recording the whole thing and uploading it onto the internet. And then Gunther having a bitch fit not because it was uploaded, but because he didn't receive as many hits as he thought he would. Apparently, he felt his penis was "God's gift to humanity" and the public didn't appreciate him. He then proceeded to buy a Brazilian Butt Lift DVD from eBay because Mike suggested it would help him bring all the boys to the yard.
But still…pushing boundaries.
He stood in the crammed parking lot, surrounded by cars and the noise of the busy street behind him floated in the air. Everything felt like it was on fast-forward and yet incredibly slow at the same time. Levi could have sworn if a hummingbird was in front of him at this exact moment, he could make out every twitch of its wings, its heartbeat, even feel the lively colors the bird's petite body would possess.
Levi ran a hand through his raven hair. What was in that drink Mike gave him when he said pre-gaming was essential? Something… something with a green fairy?
He felt his mind jumble with useless words and he stumbled a bit in place. He stared ahead at the pink neon sign which seemed to howl in the night sky, Horn of Plenty. Levi groaned inwardly at the name, feeling a strong sense of Déjà vu wash over him.
Moaning loudly in the parking lot and ignoring the startled scowls thrown his way by random strangers, he fished his phone from his back pocket. The device let out an annoying chime after chime, alerting him of the onslaught of incoming messages. Narrowing his eyes, he flicked his finger and turned the sound off and shoved it back into his pocket. Fixing the building with a determined gaze he flared his nostrils and squared his shoulders and stood tall. Proud.
He was fucking Levi. LEVI!
With a sound nod he stepped forward. Ready to meet his mate. Ready to take on the world. Ready for whatever was in store for him. Ready to take on the horizon. Ready to make his reality come to life. Ready to –
"What's the fucking hold up, Princess?!"
"Shut your filthy pie-hole, Erwin! I'm inner monologuing here!"
Erwin blinked and looked incredulously over at Levi. "You are fucking kidding me."
Levi puffed out a breath to hide the irritation at his embarrassment. His knee jerk response to Erwin caught him off guard, and Levi bit the inside of his cheek. Erwin wasn't the type of person he was comfortable confiding personal matters in unless you wanted to be told how much you were a moron and get out of your fucking head. Erwin would always go for the jugular, never one to shy away from mortifying situations, always facing things head on.
Levi envied that confidence at times. Shoving his hands into his pockets he shrank within himself as he passed Erwin. "Shut up."
Erwin cocked his head and as he followed after Levi, a smirk formed on his face. "Do you 'inner monologue' often?"
Walking through the threshold of the club, Levi felt like he was gaining his sea legs. He felt his chest puff out as he surveyed the hectic entrance; the place was packed with bodies running around, groups streaming in and crying out in drunken joy and pleasure. The energy was alive and electric, and he was secretly glad the group forced him to came later in the night then freakishly early as he had originally wanted.
Erwin moved around the crowded area and bypassed the VIP stand with the infamous Officer Hange, however she donned a teal Playboy bunny outfit, complete with ears and cotton tail. She blew a kiss after Erwin who nodded her way before pulling his phone out, and she turned to lock eyes with Levi. Her eyes gleamed wickedly and a chill ran down his spine. Did she know something he didn't? His stomach turned and he swallowed quickly, willing his inner intuition to calm. He was just being paranoid, silly really.
Out of the corner of his eye he noticed Erwin waving and disappeared into the belly of the beast. He had already breached this area before, but now he was ready to dive in.
Walking passed the podium Hange slipped out and draped her arm over Levi's waste slowing his steps. "LEVI! Different vibe! Loving it! You went from a scared guinea pig to a confident sexy lamb!"
Keeping his eyes trained ahead, he snuck a peek at her and arched his thin brow. She blinked and wiggled her eyebrows at him suggestively. "Sacrificial lamb? Unless…" she removed her bunny ears and plopped them on his head and clasped her hands on his cheeks happily, trapping him in place. "You're ready to embrace some dick!"
He chuckled quietly and flicked his new ears playfully. "But my dear, this is not Wonderland and I am not Alice."
She turned and stuck her ass out and gave him a dramatic wiggle as she removed her cotton tail. Turning back, she coly replied, "I'm not crazy. My reality is just different than yours." And promptly slapped his ass.
Levi jerked forward in surprise and shot daggers at her. "What is with you and my ass?!"
She cackled loudly and nearly tackled him over in a death grip masked as a hug. "Just completing your look, shortstack! Trust me, you look delicious enough to eat! Yum!" She held him at arm's length and took on a motherly look. "Sweetie, life is all about how you handle plan B." Placing a quick kiss on his forehead she pushed him forward calling after him, "Tonight, is the night of love!"
Weaving through the masses Levi was suddenly grabbed and flushed against a woman's body. She giggled and released Levi and twirled to show off her I dream of Jeanie costume.
"Hi, hi! Levi, right?" her honey eyes sparkled and she stuck out her hand which Levi promptly accepted. She pumped it wildly and smiled genuinely at him. "Sasha. Love your ears! Let me know if you want to take it a step further and wear the actual outfit. You look like you could pull off drag!"
Levi straightened and took a cautious step back, maybe this was a bad idea.
Sensing the change, she waved away the discomfort carelessly and grabbed his arm and started to tug him through the stripper area toward the club scene. "It's ok, he doesn't do drag either. The other day we were trying to decide our superhero costume theme, and of course he picked Iron Man!" She laughed brightly and accidently snorted. Stopping abruptly, she turned and poked Levi hard in the chest. "You didn't hear that."
A waiter walked by in a neon yellow thong and she grabbed two shot glasses from the passing tray. Handing one to Levi, they cheered and threw them back.
Coughing into his hand from the burning liquid he rasped, "Your snort, or Iron Man?"
"HA! Is Iron Man your kink? I'll tell him" She winked and popped her hip as she threw her thumb over her shoulder. "Little rabbit, go through there and find your way to the bar. Order the trix!" she threw her hands up and started to shimmy away, "Trust me!"
The club was alive and Levi could make out the source of the energy coming from the DJ as he had the crowd jumping to the beat of the music. Feeling the giddy atmosphere soaking into him, Levi pulled out his phone to see his group chat was actively wondering where he was but the last message caught his eye. Unlocking the screen, he squinted into the device to see a picture of Gunther throwing finger guns in the direction of the infamous bartender. Eren wore a smile as he was caught with a cocktail shaker in his hands, completely oblivious to the recipient of the picture. Photobombing the picture were two other guys; one was Jean boy giving a thumbs up while on the other side of Eren was another individual sporting a buzzcut with a cheeky grin.
Levi felt his mouth dry as he stared at the brunet in the photo. Levi was thirsty tonight, and he wasn't leaving until Eren was in his system. Double checking the picture to make sure it saved onto his phone, Levi began the search for his squad.
Making his way over to the packed bar after being dragged around for a dance or two by greedy hands, he found his companions rather swiftly finishing a round of shots. Gunther was the first to spot Levi and pulled him close with a knowing smile. Draping his arm across the short man's shoulders, he gave him a reassuring squeeze. With a grand flourish of his hand, Gunther revealed their current bartender, and Levi felt his heart stop -
"LEVI! This handsome man in the Reno 911 hot ass shorts is Connie! AKA Lieutenant Dangle!"
And then it started pumping again, disappointment etching into this brain as the patrons starting whooping and laughing with a slight chat of "Lieutenant Dangle!"
Connie laughed good heartedly and shook his head at the drunken giddyness. "Guys, I'm a fucking cop! Now I can never wear this outfit again without thinking of a dick standing at attention!" he gave a salute to prove his point and nodded a greeting at Levi who started to look past him at the other bartenders.
"Lieutenant Dangle, do you swing that way?" Gunther slyly inquired as he ordered fresh drinks for his friends.
Connie took it in stride and looked amused as Levi internally groaned at the lack of seeing Eren. Just where the fuck was he?
Eld motioned toward the preoccupied Levi whose current gaze was lost amongst the crowded bar when realization crossed Connie's features and he winked in return. "I personally don't but Eren does and is on the market. We were making him a Tinder account before we opened today and swiped right on a couple of dudes."
Levi felt a surge of annoyance replace all other emotions within him and glared menacing at Connie who shot him a sheepish look before retreating to another section of the bar. Oluo took advantage of a freshly abandoned seat and slid himself in next to Levi who was moving the dark liquid around his glass with a dejected air.
"Tinder" Oluo sneered as if the mere word defiled his personnel space. "A cesspool of individuals who are just probably into BDSM and eating Nutella off your dick while ants crawl up your -"
"What the fuckitty fuck, Oluo?!" Gunther yelled pulling Oluo off the chair and threw him into the arms of Mike and Erwin who promptly rammed him onto the dance floor. He shot another disapproving glance toward the retreating backs. Levi had come so far, and Gunther was beginning to see Levi as a brother from another mother. Breathing out a sigh, he ran an anxious hand through his hair. The little gremlin had come too far, he would be damned if their crew would scare the penis desire out of Levi now.
"Nutella is delicious!" Eld cried animatedly, waving drunkenly after the trio.
"So is BDSM!" Gunther yelled and several observers turned to stare at him suspiciously. He felt the tension leave his shoulders as he remembered what they came here for; Levi. He simply beamed back in the direction of the mixture of questionable and tickled stares. Straightening suddenly, he donned a serious expression and swiftly added, "but safety first and use a word you'll actual remember to use!"
"For fucks sake, Gunther!" Levi grumbled, facepalming as he felt his cheeks burn. This was definitely not his night. He scrunched himself lower in his seat hoping lightning would somehow find its way inside this building and strike him dead.
Gunther looked over at him, eyes becoming soft before a small smile graced his lips. It was going to be ok. Coming back to the bar for his drink, he squeezed Levi's shoulder.
Eld chuckled and pulled out his phone, taking a quick picture of a distraught Levi. He cast a glance back at Gunther who nodded in return.