Armin cautiously glances up from his chocolate milkshake. It isn't unusual for Eren to eat a lot after practice, but his excessive gorging today is worrisome. He's already eaten two and a half double cheeseburgers and three large orders of fries, plus he's finished his own milkshake and tried to steal the remainder of Armin's, and they've only been here for thirty minutes.
"Um... Why are you angry, Eren?"
The fiery look Eren has in his eyes when his head snaps up sends a chill down Armin's spine.
"Why am I angry? Why am I angry? I'm angry because, for some reason, the hottest person in the world is dating a douchebag who has no problem making fun of his bedroom behaviors - in front of other people, no less! I seriously don't understand what Levi sees in him!"
Seeing as they're not actually an item, Erwin probably had no issue saying something like that. Armin is curious as to why Levi reacted the way he did, though; it was obvious Erwin wasn't being honest.
That being said, Armin has no idea how to respond. Erwin's comment was entirely unexpected on his part, too. Out of all the things he could have said...
Armin's very glad Eren didn't break out of his shock until Levi and Erwin left. He's horrified to think what could have happened otherwise. His ability to calm Eren down is only effective to a certain extent. Thank goodness they've yet to meet his boiling point.
At school the next morning, Armin is greeted by an arm getting thrown around his shoulders.
"Morning, Armin!" Unlike yesterday evening, Eren has a wide smile on his face and looks full of sunny energy.
"Good morning, Eren. You're in a really good mood this morning."
"Of course I am! My mom made cinnamon buns for breakfast. You know how heavenly those things are."
It's true. Eren's mom does make really good cinnamon buns. Armin looked forward to them every time he'd stay the night. Come to think of it, it's been a while since they've done that. Maybe they should have a sleepover sometime soon.
A gentle yet clearly happy voice brings Armin's attention back to the present. "Eren, Armin. Good morning." Mikasa greets them with a soft smile.
The person to her right, however, does not look very happy to see them. Levi's glare radiates so much anger that it verges on bloodlust and grabs the terrified attention of a few other students. To make it even worse, his sight's set directly on Armin.
"Hey, you two," his voice is low and a little rumbly, "Tell anyone about what you heard yesterday and you're both dead, got it?"
"O-okay." Armin and Eren answer in unison.
Eren tightens his hold on Armin's shoulders; he's not sure if it's out of fear or protection.
Whatever the reason, it only seems to annoy Levi even more. His already hardened gaze somehow manages to intensify further. "Half of the words that leave that guy's mouth are complete bullshit."
"Wait, so it was a lie? Then why are you so pissed off about it?" Eren asks. He sounds a little relieved.
Levi's jaw squares and he speaks through grit teeth, "I don't want any rumors going around."
That's.. vague.
"You know we'd never do anything like that to you, Levi."
Armin nods in agreement.
It only seems to calm Levi down a little. He leaves them without another word or glance.
Mikasa arches a brow at his receding back. "What was that about?"
Armin doesn't bother trying to explain to her.
He doesn't think he'd know how to.
There are several times throughout the day Armin needs to calm Eren down.
His temper is especially bad at lunchtime, where he glares at Erwin's back and grumbles under his breath about "that bastard" who he "can't believe would lie about Levi like that, he doesn't deserve that shit" until he realizes Connie is stealing his fries and takes his anger out on him. He's not as loud as he could be, but he still causes enough a racket to draw several surrounding gazes towards him.
Marco apologizes to them as Armin does his best to calm Eren down.
"Dude," Connie both sounds and looks more curious than angry. That's good, it'd be awful if they got into a fight. "What's your deal?"
Eren sighs. "Sorry, man. I just..," he groans and runs his hands down his face, "fucking.. Erwin Smith."
"You... you want to fuck Erwin Smith..?"
"What? No! He's an asshole who treats Levi like crap!"
"Treats Levi like crap? How? They act just like you and Armin do."
"Armin and I may tease each other sometimes, but their relationship is way different than ours. They're not just friends. They're dating, yet Erwin goes around talking down to Levi and embarrassing him in front of other people."
Marco holds up a hand. "Hang on a second, I'm gonna need you to backtrack for a bit. You said Erwin and Levi are dating?"
Eren nods, his brows furrowed together in a combination of frustration and sadness.
Connie's jaw drops. "What? Since when?" Both he and Marco turn their heads to look at Levi and Erwin at their table across the cafeteria.
Hange notices them staring and waves enthusiastically with a large, almost crazy-looking grin on her face. She says something to someone across from her.
To Armin's horror, Levi snaps around immediately. He's glaring, of course, because he's very likely misunderstanding why Connie and Marco are gawking at him, and it's really terrifying to think of what the bad outcome of this situation could be.
Seemingly also afraid of the daggers their upperclassman's eyes are shooting at them, Connie and Marco quickly turn their heads back.
Armin wishes he couldn't still see Levi in his peripheral vision.
"Since when?" Connie asks.
Eren shrugs. "Don't know. But Levi can do way better."
As if Armin weren't scared enough right now, Levi stands and starts making his way over.
"You'd say that if he were dating anyone else since it's not you he's dating, wouldn't you?" Marco teases.
"Guys-" Armin's warning is ignored.
"No. All that matters is that he's not dating that douchebag Erwin."
"Really? 'Cause I don't remember you hating Erwin until recently."
"Guys-"
Eren narrows his eyes. "What the hell do you know?"
Everyone freezes as they feel the enraged aura that is now standing right next to them. They all look up at him with widened eyes.
"Hey," Levi's greeting is even less warm than it was this morning. Armin is not sure how that's possible. "What you guys talking about?"
"Eren's cru-" Connie is interrupted by Eren's hand slapping over his mouth.
"Nothing important. You don't need to worry."
Marco tilts his head at Eren. "Huh? What would he have to worry about?"
The negative aura surrounding Levi disappears; Armin's soul leaves his body alongside it.
Thank you for unknowingly relieving Levi's worries, Marco.
"I see," is all Levi says before turning on his heel and going back to his table.
Eren drops his hand. "Holy shit that was scary."
They all nod. A few seconds longer and their blood could have very well could have been scattered across the lunchroom.
Armin's not sure how much longer he can keep this up.