"Eren Yeager," his grip on Kadaj's hand tightened.
"Why should we trust you?" Levi's steel glare didn't seem to faze this flamboyant man.
"I'm not really asking you to trust me; but Hunny, I don't think you have a whole lot of options. You don't know where you are… remember?" Kadaj smiled back at them. He didn't mean them any harm and he was hoping that would show trough. When people are new to The Void, they usually reacted one of three ways: total shock, complete acceptance, or instant rage.
Kadaj pulled his hand away from Eren and turned his attention to Levi. "I'm not gonna hurt ya, Sugar. I got a business to run. Hurting people doesn't really say, 'hey! Come drink with me!'. Know what I'm saying?"
". . . no." Levi answered honestly. All of this confused him, but he tried not to let it show. For once, he was not in control and he felt a bit lost. Kadaj gave a friendly smile and waved it off.
"Don't worry about it. You boys want something for breakfast?" Kadaj asks, turning back toward the marble countertop and the other two unknown men. One stood much taller than the other two, wore mostly red flowing cloth and had long black hair. His eyes were like fire embers and were locked on Eren. The other man looked much kinder. He had spikey blond hair and eyes like sapphires. He was keeping his protective gaze on Kadaj.
"Breakfast?" Eren asks, searching the bar for a clock. "It's like… noon, right?"
"Not here, Hun. It's like… nine in the morning," Kadaj responded playfully. He walked back over to the blond and took hold of his arm, leaning against his chest. The blond responded by kissing the top of his head and running his fingers through his silver hair.
Levi took hold of Eren's arm; a signal to decline the offer. "No, thanks. We just wanna know what's going on." Eren kept the focus on the issue at hand, hoping it would help to ease Levi's worries. "A-and maybe how to get home."
"Well… What's going on is that door you walked through is a brand-new portal. That would be why you've never found it before. How you get home is to just go back through the door you came in… Honestly, if you want a better experience, you could come back during business hours," Kadaj explained. "Portals can open anywhere at any time… and they can be tricky. Doors that form without a physical door to attach to can seem invisible unless you're looking right at them."
"Business hours?" With more pieces to the puzzle filled in, Levi felt a bit more like himself again.
"It's a strip club, Hun," Kadaj answered flatly, then smirked at the shorter man, "And, if you ask me, I'd bet you're a dancer." Levi took a step back. There was no possible way this stranger could have known about something he'd only ever done for Eren in the privacy of their bedrooms. "Uh-huh. I thought so. If you wanna show me what you got, I'm always looking for new talent. Yeager can even be your bouncer." Kadaj frowned a bit, still staring at Levi. "You know… I never caught your name."
"I didn't give it," Levi answered, turning to leave, but Eren grabbed him by the wrist, grinning from ear to ear.
"His name is Levi! He's really good at dancing! He can sing too!"
"Eren!"
"Oh? I don't believe you," Kadaj smirks, letting go of the blond's arm. "I don't think he can dance here… and I bet he's too nervous to try." His platinum hair swayed with his hips, back and forth, with every step he took closer to Eren and Levi.
"Kadaj…" the blond finally spoke, noting the look in Levi's eyes had changed. He'd gone from being upset at Eren for revealing so much to angry at Kadaj for challenging his pride.
"I'm sorry, Cloud. I must have been wrong this time. I was sure he was the type… but I didn't count on him being a total chicken." This was a gamble; as it was in most situations. Kadaj had played this game many times, but only a few had resulted in injury. One guest, now an employee, was a half demon called Vergil and had stabbed Kadaj for talking that way. He had no way to be sure that Levi wasn't armed but had already decided the risk was worth it. "Tell ya what… If you can dance and impress me, I'll give you two hours in one of the back rooms and a job, if you want it."
Curse that Ackerman pride. "Pick a song, Eren," Levi spoke through clenched teeth. He was going to put that snarky little tart in his place. Levi stepped in front of Eren, hands shaking from rage. This punk didn't even know them! He had no right to pull this stunt. Even though he knew he was being played, Levi could not back down.
"Ooooh! Fun time! Um… Wait… What's the deal with the back rooms?" Eren asked, cocking his head in curiosity.
"You'll see… unless you want me to spoil the surprise."
"Nah. I'll wait. That sounds like more fun anyway," Eren smirked, turning to Levi. "I dunno what song to pick!"
The man with long black hair stood slowly and made his way to the DJ booth at the other end of the bar. "I've got an idea," he spoke softly. His voice was deep and sensual. Now that he wasn't hidden behind the counter, Levi could see his left hand was a golden metal fixture from the elbow down, ending in a claw. "Try this one."
The song began to play through the sound system, filling the bar – and Levi- with a strange energy. Levi liked the beat, and that was all he needed. After one listen through, he agreed and Kadaj bowed, stepping out of his way. Eren helped Levi onto the stage and the clawed man (they'd later discover his name was Vincent) played the song again.
Having to fly through the trees and over rooftops made Levi quick, flexible and confident. His dance was erotic, shameless, and flawless. He hadn't taken off his clothing, deciding to go with a burlesque style dance but Eren, Kadaj, and the other two men watched as if they couldn't look away and Levi knew he'd won. More than that, he knew he wanted to do it again. When the song ended, Levi hopped off the stage, chest out, still buzzing from the thrill. "That song… What's it called?"
"It's 'Dem Beats' by Todrick Hall. You were amazing, Kid!" Kadaj smiled brightly, obviously just as thrilled as he could be. "You wanna get up there again, don't you? You got the stuff! The job pays well!"
". . . I do want to do it again… But I have other obligations that take priority." Levi crossed his arms. If he and Eren took off whenever they felt like it and the titans attacked, they'd never forgive themselves. The Survey Corps came first. ". . .and I'm not a kid."
"Sorry," Kadaj giggles. "I shouldn't have assumed. As for your other job, you don't have to worry. Time stops when you're here. No one will even notice you're gone. Best part is, you don't have to hide here." Eren gave Levi a look. "I mean, you don't have to hide the fact that you're a couple," Kadaj explained, going back to hang off Cloud's arm.
"H-how did you know that?" Eren asked, dumbfounded that they'd been caught so easily. He didn't think they'd been that obvious.
"Hunny, my husband and I have been running this place for a very long time… I can usually pick up on things like that rather quickly. No matter what world you're from, what gender or species you are… love is love; and when you have to hide it all the time, it can suffocate you." Seeing the looks on their faces, Kadaj sighed heavily and detached from his man again. "You can use that trip to the back rooms whenever you like, and I'm willing to let you take the stage tonight. If you like it, we can fill out paperwork. If not, I won't press it." He offered a hand to Levi.
"Deal." Levi gave a firm nod and shook Kadaj's hand. "We should get back… just in case." Eren nodded and took Levi's hand again as they walked out the door.
Kadaj giggled and waved after them. "Take care! I hope you come back!" He grinned at Cloud. "They seem like fun, right Babe?" Cloud smiled and gave a silent nod.
Eren swallowed hard as they walked back in the direction they'd come from. He couldn't see the door at first and was starting to worry. Levi seemed preoccupied with other thoughts and Eren figured he didn't notice the door was gone. Eren's eyes scanned the flat land and he paused once he caught sight of the door again. He dipped, bowed, wiggled, and walked in every direction with his eyes trained on the same spot. Levi smirked softly and slapped Eren's shoulder. "Remember what he said? Without a physical door to attach to, the portal is invisible unless you look directly at it."
"Oh! Yeah. I forgot." Eren gave a sheepish laugh and scratched the back of his neck.
Levi scoffed and tried to hide the fact that his smile had widened. "Brat. Let's just go home."