Chapter 4
"Levi! What do you think? Which one looks better?" Eren asks a bit frazzled. In his hands, he is holding up a red, cocktail dress with sparkling sequins worthy of Jessica Rabbit herself, and a red, velvet, halter neck evening gown with a slit all the way down the left-hand side.
"I can assure you I have no idea, sir." Levi answers perfectly poised with both hands held behind his back.
"Come on! Surely one of these gets your blood all boiling in a good way." Eren wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
"They most certainly do not!" Levi sputters incredulously and Eren huffs loudly, before a burly blond man knocks on the door and making his entrance.
"Rogue sweetie, your mic stand is all set up and your microphone has been checked, you're good to go."
"Reiner, you are amazing. I love you, I'd kiss you right now if I hadn't just done my make-up….and you know, you weren't completely repulsive to me." Eren states with a wink.
"Oof! You wound me with your scathing words Rogue, I just don't know if we can ever recover." Reiner clutches his chest dramatically.
"You know I love you really." Eren amends, beginning to step into the cocktail dress in full view of both men. Levi notices that Eren is wearing an incredibly tight looking corset, tan in colour and cinching his waist into a perfect hourglass figure, before pulling the dress over his shoulders and looking into the full-length mirror to his right.
Meanwhile, Reiner acknowledges Levi's presence for the first time.
"Oh hey man! Sorry about that, I'm Reiner…" he holds out his massive, meaty hand and grasps Levi's much smaller, but just as powerful one in a firm shake "I'm Eren's friend and I work here too, I do a few things round here but you'll probably find me tending the bar later on tonight." He says with a friendly smile.
"I'm Levi, I shall be working here as Eren's personal security from now on." Levi introduces himself with an unwavering authority, not allowing Reiner's imposing height and build have an affect on his words, despite being so much smaller. Even so, he still fully expects Reiner to laugh at him, at a mere 5 foot 3 how can he expect this 6-foot-tall plus, hulk of a man to take him seriously?
"Oh shit!" Reiner exclaims, "You're the GUY! Levi Ackerman, right?! It's such an honour to meet you sir, I've heard all about your recommendation from The Recon Corps. I actually took the liberty of looking you up myself when Annie mentioned it, your resume is hella impressive if I may say so myself, sir. The work you have done over the decade is so incredibly admirable." Reiner says, still clutching Levi's hand and now bursting with emotion that Levi can't quite place.
"Reiner! I told you not to go snooping around!" Eren snaps, hands now firmly on his sequin covered hips. Levi looks between then in visible confusion.
Reiner ignores him and continues, "I can't thank you enough for agreeing to come here, sir. No doubt with you around to protect Eren, we'll all feel just that little bit safer." Reiner finally releases Levi and looks sheepishly at Eren, who is regarding Reiner with a raised eyebrow.
"Sorry Eren." Reiner says softly, to which Eren replies, "You promised me."
"I know and I'm sorry, tell you what? I'll make you your favourite drink for a whole week, as soon as you're off stage it'll be in your hand!" Reiner offers hopefully.
Eren keeps his composure for several seconds before sighing, "Fine, but two drinks a night! AND you help me pick my outfit for this evening."
Levi watches the exchange curiously but remains silent throughout.
"It's a deal! Now what have you got work with?" Reiner asks, finally eyeing the dress covering Eren's slim frame, and the one still in his hand.
"It's between these two dresses, I asked Levi but he's refusing to give me his opinion." Eren pouts.
"I'm not refusing my opinion, sir. I simply don't have an opinion on them." Levi assures.
"Oh, don't give me that hot stuff, there's gotta be something here that gets your dick hard." Eren argues.
Levi is about to respond indignantly, when Reiner cuts in first with a mocking laugh.
"Pffft, and that's coming from the kid that's never even had his dick touched by anyone else in his life? Good one."
"Watch it Braun, or you'll be leaving the room with this jammed up your asshole!" Eren says, holding up the heel of his bright red boot, "Actually, scratch that, I'm forgetting you've had much bigger shit up there. You would probably enjoy it far too much for my liking. And anyway, just because I'm a virgin doesn't mean I don't know what I like." He finishes, smirking.
"You know me so well sweetie, and you're right, so while we're at it…" Reiner regards the outfits once more before pointing to the red evening gown, "Put that on instead, it emphasises your legs and the boots will them look killer. But make sure you pad your ass more or it'll get lost completely!"
"That's what I thought, I'll go change in a sec. How much time do I have?"
"You have just over two hours to go." Reiner answers, and Levi checks his watch. 8.45pm, literal hours have passed in what feels like a flash since he met Eren, "Maria goes on at 10 o'clock and she wants you dressed and ready to go by then so you're not running around last minute, AGAIN. It's Friday night, so the crowd are bound to get a little bit rowdy if their headliner decides on a full outfit change."
"That was only once or twice!" Eren protests.
"Three times actually."
"Okay, maybe it was three, but I promised Maria it wouldn't happen again and I'm sticking to it, sexy boy scouts honour." Eren assures with a salute.
Reiner rolls his eyes, "As fun as this is, I need to get back to work. Break a leg kid, or both, give someone else a chance up there." Eren sticks his tongue out at him, ever the grown up.
"And Levi, once again, it's been an absolute pleasure to meet to you. Come by the bar for a drink if you have the time." Levi thinks he's going to try and shake his hand again, but Reiner simply pats him on the shoulder and leaves the room with a simple "See ya!".
"You should probably head out as well Levi, I'll just be getting changed and cussing at my wig for the next 30 minutes most likely. You should try meeting people, gaining intel or whatever it is you do." Eren waves his hand in a vague gesture.
"I will, but first, excuse me for speaking out of turn sir, but what was all that about with Reiner? Him looking me up and his whole…attitude towards me? You seem to have a good idea as to why and I'd like to know for myself." Levi queries, professional as ever.
Eren groans and slumps ever so slightly before answering, "I'm sorry about that, I made him promise he wouldn't. You see the thing is, Reiner is a drag performer also, one of my drag sisters in fact, but he's taking an extended break from the stage for now. You know that queen that was killed in Trost recently? Collosus?" Levi nods and Eren continues, "That was Reiner's boyfriend, they weren't officially together for too long, but they'd been dancing around each other for years. As long as I've known them actually, they were Annie's best friends back in middle school." Levi remembers Annie referring to Bertholdt as one of her best friends in the car and that she'd dated Eren's sister, so that makes sense for them all to have met back then.
"Reiner was heartbroken when it happened, and he still is, but he's a toughie and likes to just throw himself back into work. We've all taken it hard, but he and Annie have definitely suffered the most. So, when Annie mentioned that I was looking to hire someone for my security and protection, he got a bit overly excited. He's been a bit fixated with the idea that you'll unmask the Titans and bring justice for Bertl and those boys that were injured that night."
Levi lets that information sink in, since when was it decided he'd be some sort of vigilante saviour for the gays of Shinganshina? Sure, he was now employed as a personal bodyguard for a soon to be famous drag queen, but that situation is strange enough without adding the whole fucking rainbow community to the mix while they're at it.
"Look kid, I don't know what he, or even you, think this is, but I'm no hero or whatever. I'm simply here as I'm being paid to keep you safe and secure. You have the money to burn with your new contract or whatever, and I have the skills needed to ensure nobody harms even a hair on your big pile of wigs. That's it, no more, no less. And if it means I do manage to take down some of those murdering Titan bastards in the process, then so be it. But it'll be because I'm contractually bound to do so, not as a favour to you, or your people." Levi finishes, face scrunched in a grimace at the thought.
"MY people?" Eren frowns before understanding registers in his eyes, "Ahh, I get it now, you're just like THEM. You don't see us as actual people." It's a statement, not a question, "You don't look at me and see a person, you see a circus clown. You look at men holding hands in the street and sneer in disgust at the sight of their love. You see women kiss their girlfriends in shopping malls, envious and offended that they aren't willing to take anything you'll offer either of them." Levi says nothing, as while Eren's words were not completely true (Levi usually kept his disgust to himself or at least quiet and didn't care enough to want a partner anyway to feel jealous of anyone) the conclusion remained correct.
"I recognise your type, and you'll be happy to know that I couldn't give a flying fuck what you think anyway, I've fried much bigger homophobic fish than you in my time. Annie will be picking up my sister Mikasa, so why don't you head back out there, and start mingling with some of MY people for now? Okay, bye bye." Eren disappears once again behind his curtain and Levi knows he's been dismissed for now.
As Levi walks around the distance of the lounge for the first time tonight, surveying all of the security systems and fire exits on his way, he can't help but feel very out of place in his three-piece suit and cravat.
The lounge itself, in contrast to Levi's original impression of old Hollywood, gives off the vibe of a night club. The music is pounding and there are smoke machines releasing blasts of fresh smoky air every so often without warning.
The patrons of Maria's look very comfortable however, walking around with their brightly coloured ensembles with fruity and alcoholic drinks in their hands, many of whom are covered from head to toe in glitter, or have little rainbows painted on their faces. Levi also sees there are a few people who look to have come in drag, but Levi doesn't want to assume they're not Transgender or otherwise transitioning. Not to avoid causing offence, but rather to simply keep his sanity intact for the night.
The pulsing of the ongoing beat stops as the DJ, a man with a headset and a shaved head, announces its time for everyone to pay attention to the stage and welcomes Maria. The crowd go wild with applause and cheers, as a young looking woman in an sleevleess, elegant, silver evening gown and matching high heels appears from behind the purple curtain on stage.
She wears her hair in a dark brown, wavy, up-do and her eyelids are covered in smoky black and grey, her cheeks contoured to look as if they could cut glass, and a light pink sheen paints her smiling lips. There are freckles splattered all over her relatively pretty face and Levi notices her tell-tale Adam's apple hidden behind a thick, jewelled choker.
With a short, welcoming greeting to her adoring audience, a familiar jazz instrumental begins to play and Maria, starts to sing. Her voice is like molten gold, smooth and exquisite. Like a breeze on a summer's day. The crowd's cheers and whooping dissipate, until there is nothing left but a few wolf whistles and singing along to the song that Levi can't quite name. Levi decides to continue his journey around the lounge, as Maria starts singing to individual members of the audience.
On probably his fourth time circling the entire lounge, Levi is beckoned over with a pointer finger by a man sitting on his own at a table near the bar area.
Levi looks the man up and down, and notes that he is dressed in a dark navy suit with a silver tie. His two-tone hair is worn in an undercut style, with his short brown hair topped with perfectly coiffed blond curls. He has a slightly longer shaped face and looks just as out of place as Levi himself.
"Can I help you with something?" Levi asks, not really in the mood to be hit on or challenged by some gay, horse-faced looking bastard.
"Well, I couldn't help but notice you've been pacing around the club for the last 45 minutes." The man replies, with a hint of derision in his voice.
"And? What's it to you?" Levi folds his arms in defence, feeling like he is bound to be challenged tonight.
"I assumed you required some form of help, seeing as you definitely don't look like the average customer and have been eyeing all of the security cameras each time you pass them. So, if you're planning some sort of disruption tonight, I would suggest you leave as I am trying to watch the show and an evacuation is the last thing I need right now." The man says before taking a long swig of his beer.
"I don't look like the average customer? And what about you dip-shit? Have you seen how you're dressed? You don't look like you belong in some back alley backdoor club. How do I know you aren't the one planning the disruption and this isn't all a big ruse to distract me?" Levi questions haughtily.
"Because my name is Jean Kirstein, I co-own this back alley backdoor club as you put it, I know all the security staff and that you are definitely not one of them, and that…" he points to the main stage, "...happens to be my queen up there." Levi looks up to see Maria belting out a high note of a ballad he doesn't know. "So, if anybody is here to cause trouble, it's definitely not me." Jean smirks smugly at Levi's gaping expression.
"My apologies Mr Kirstein, I didn't mean to cause offence, it's been a long day is all." Levi bows his head, and Jean raises an eyebrow, "My name is Levi Ackerman, I'm working as private security for Mr Jaeger."
"Ahh" Jean exclaims suddenly "That's right, he mentioned he was hiring someone externally, which means you'll have spent the day with the kid already? No wonder you're in a pissy mood, my Marco has been friends with him for about 3 years now and I still wanna wring his neck more often than I'd like to admit. No harm done." He says with an understanding nod.
With a final address to the crowd, Maria announces that her set for the evening is over and that Rogue shall be ready to grace the stage within the next 15 minutes. Jean is standing and applauding before yelling "We love you Maria!". The audience cheers even louder than before and Maria laughs shouting "I love you too!" into her mic, looking only at the grinning man in front of Levi. And with that, she makes her final bow and disappears off stage. The music begins to pulse loudly once more.
"Sorry about that…" Jean begins, "…where were we? You said you're working for Eren now then?"
"Yes sir, that's correct." Levi answers, before being told to address the man as "Jean" as "Sir" makes him feel far too old.
"So, you'll have been informed of what's been happening with these so-called "Titans" then I imagine?" Jean inquires, playing around with his now empty Beer bottle.
"Yes, and I've already been acquainted with Annie and Reiner, so I know all about what happened with Bertholdt…uhh Collusus…Mr Jaeger told me all about what everyone is hoping for me to do." Levi remarks.
"And what would that be Mr Ackerman?" Jean asks, looking Levi right in the eye.
"For me to babysit Eren Jaeger, make sure he's safe. And try to gloriously take down these Titans in a shower of bullets so there can be love, rainbows and justice for all?" Levi scoffs, and Jean chuckles.
"That's what you've been told, or at least that's what's been hinted by Annie and Reiner. But that's not the whole story Mr Ackerman, this isn't a simple protect and serve kind of mission you're facing now."
"What do you mean by that?" Levi asks genuinely confused by the turn in conversation.
"Am I correct in saying you met Eren for the first time today?" Jean questions, face impassive.
"Yes that's correct, I flew in to Shiganshina this morning and met Eren here this afternoon." Jean nods at this answer and responds.
"I'm going to try and be as clear as possible here, just stop me if you have any questions. But Mr Ackerman, I can assure you that you have not yet met Eren Jaeger. From the moment Eren stepped foot into his dressing room this afternoon, he'll have been in Rogue mode. Rogue and Eren are very different individuals, you following so far?"
Levi agrees affirmatively, "I believe Annie said something similar earlier today."
"Rogue is Eren's alter ego, she's a cutting bitch that knows how to make people laugh, and he wears her like armour, like a battlesuit. Rogue gives him stability, an outlet for his passion…and his aggression. Eren has always been the type to punch first, think later and a couple months ago we had a group of protestors break their way in to the lounge. They were the ones that wrote those horrible messages on the walls."
Levi remembers seeing the white painted slurs decorating the outside of the building.
"Most of them were reasonably calm, handing out flyers and reciting passages of the bible to couples trying to enjoy themselves. They caused a lot upset that night, but there was one guy in particular, a muscly guy with tattoos and a skin head. He went too far and tried attacking two young men for showing affection to each other, said it was deviant and god would forgive him for making them repent for their sins. Eren was furious, and despite Mikasa trying to stop him, he leapt right off stage and started punching the guy black and blue, high heels and all. By the time he was done there wasn't one bit of unmarked skin left on the man.
There were bruises, puncture wounds and even bite marks covering his body. And when Eren was asked about it, he said he didn't even remember doing it. We almost had a lawsuit on our hands, but with Eren's denial that he could have beaten a man to an inch of his life, and the regulars that were here refusing to give evidence, he got away with it."
Levi is left with sheer disbelief, and has a hard time picturing the smirking, flirty boy from the dressing room he'd been in a mere hour or two ago, beating a fully built man to a pulp in front of a full crowd of people. But Levi couldn't deny there was an undoubtable fire in the boy's eyes when he was lecturing Levi on his unwanted opinions.
"He's always been a suicidal bastard, getting into fights for no reason, throwing his fists around when somebody looked at him the wrong way or because it was Tuesday, or whatever his dumbass reason was each time." Jean spits out, handing his empty beer bottle to a passing waitress.
"Are you trying to tell me that Eren should be considered dangerous?" Levi asks rolling his eyes, "That I should be watching my back? I'm a grown ass man. I think I can take care of myself just fine with a hot-headed brat with shit for brains."
"No Levi, I'm merely informing you of an incident occurred not too long ago, one that could have ruined his life completely except he got lucky and the people involved weren't even in anyway close with him. Now, there's a fully-fledged hate crime out looking for blood, they've already claimed the life of one his sisters, and Eren is about to be thrust into the eye of the public. This time, if he finds himself facing a Titan, and he loses control, there will nowhere for him to hide."
"You mean to tell me then Jean, that you're not convinced I'm here to protect Eren solely from the Titans?" Levi supplies, "You think I'm also here to protect Eren from himself."
"Precisely…" Jean answers with a rueful smile "Despite what you may believe, I'm not telling you any of this so you'll want to quit. As much as the kid can really grate on my nerves, I'm still very fond of him and couldn't bear to see anything happen to him. So, think of this as a head start in a way, so you're not thrown in blindly at the deep end. Eren has a funny way of doing that."
Before Levi can say anything further, the pulsing cuts out and the buzz cut DJ takes the mic once more and introduces the act they've all been waiting for. Levi can barely hear the music begin to play over the deafening applause and whoops from the audience.
And as Levi looks up, and the curtain is drawn, he knows that he is without a doubt truly in the presence of Rogue.