A/N, omg guys, heeeyyy. Sorry I haven't updated! School has been getting quite hectic lately and I haven't really felt like writing, and I don't want to spur out total crap and call it a new chapter, so I really hope you understand and forgive me for my misdeed OTL (that's a person kneeling, btw)
Anyways...oooh~ where will the story go from here? :o
"Alright, Hiriko-kun, watch very carefully." Levi announced as he sketched out a picture with careful curves. "We have a new issue due every four weeks, so I hope you can understand the pressure the manga department works under, first of all. Now," Levi held up his finished sketch of a boy and a girl smiling at each other. "Do you see how delicate the curves are? Every single mark you place on paper will give of a certain meaning or feeling, so give your work your all and make it meticulous."
I feel sorry for the poor guy, being assigned into a temporary internship with Levi as your boss will definitely make him regret pursuing this career; Why couldn't it have been some other department somewhere? Some other department without Levi. Maybe Levi could have been a decent friggin human being and not be in this manga department so that I may actually have a life without a sadistic fiend torturing me every second! Well, I mean, if I had to be placed in the manga department...it's not like I actually want to be here or anything.
"Like this?", The intern's voice brought me out of my thoughts. He was now holding what I assume to be his version of Levi's sketch; it wasn't actually that bad.
"Not bad, noobie." Levi praised; Oh, yeah, praise this intern, but verbally and sexually abuse me when I was in the same situation, asshole.
"Thanks, boss! I'm making sure to be extra 'meticulous' like you said." He smiled. Was this mockery? Kid, watch out, Levi will suck out your soul, I swear, you have no idea what you're getting yourself into.
"Yes, well, keep that in mind." Levi replied, deadpan as usual.
Okay, what the hell? Where was the whole Satan-complex that he always upholds?
"Now, since your drawing techniques seem to be adequate, there is one more important factor; Draw a couple kissing."
"A couple? So ambiguous, malexmale, male x fe-", The intern began to list off.
"Sorry, I'm not quite sure what department you think you signed up for, but we deal with contemporary shoujo romance, so your average malexfemale." Levi cut Hiriko off.
"DID SOMEONE SAY MALExMALE?", Hanji suddenly swiveled her chair over to Levi's desk where we were standing. "Hiriko-kun, are you into that kind of stuff?" Hanji winked suggestively and grinned.
"Well, I don't really know, I mean, I've never tried it before but.." Hiriko placed his index finger on his lip and turned his head upward to mimic a typical "pensive" look.
Hanji flipped out and covered her nose; wait, was that..? "Hanji, is your nose bleeding?" I asked, slightly worried.
"Ugh, piss off, you repulsing fujoshi." Levi scowled and kicked her chair away. "Don't you dare get your shitty fujoshi nose blood on my damn floor, shitty glasses!" he exclaimed as Hanji's chair rolled away with her in it, almost smacking her into her work desk as she struggled to oblige to his orders and keep her nose cupped with her hands.
"Sorry, did I do something wrong?" Hiriko asked, wide-eyed and confused.
Levi sighed. "No, I'm sorry, she's just like that. Hopefully if you ever decide to fully transfer into a department, they'll spare you from this one."
Away from the crazy spectacle which just occurred, Hiriko began drawing the scene which Levi demanded he draw.
"Like this?" He asked, holding his sketch up. Levi examined it.
"Wow, not quite bad. You've got the angle and chin tilt quite well, and you followed my advice on the curves" Levi began to explain.
"And don't forget the 'meticulous detail'." Hiriko winked with a smile.
Wow what is this, are these two bonding? But they're complete opposites, one's a complete asshole and the other is a nescient kid.
"Have you been drawing for long, this is actually quite a good sketch." Levi asked, still examining probably every single line.
"Hmm, I used to draw a lot in Junior High, we had this one class that I was really bored in, so I just spend the whole 90 minutes drawing; so, yes, you may assume that I've been drawing for quite a while now." He explained.
For some reason I feel like him saying that reminds me of something, or maybe someone?
"Well, anyways, good job, but we must begin the actual sketching and planning of our next issue, as I've mentioned, time is on the stretch here." Levi changed the subject. "Here's the story board, get yourself familiarized with our content and-"
"Oh, I know all of your current manga, I've been following it ever since I came across it about a month ago; I read all of it all within an hour, and then I read it two more times" he laughed nervously and rubbed the back of his head, as if he were ashamed. "It's really good!" He exclaimed.
Wow, he must have a lot of time on his hands, or maybe he's just lying and being a kiss up and has no idea what the story's even about. I would have caught up with the story too if I knew I'd be transferred into Department 666; yet I only joined a month ago anyways, so the story didn't even technically exist yet.
"Very well, then I assume you may get straight to sketching then?"Levi raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, sir!" Hiriko smiled. That smile was starting to get on my nerve, does he ever stop smiling?
"Very well. Now, everyone listen up!" Levi exclaimed. He began assigning us our portions.
Done, yes! Now I can go home and get away from-
"Eren, are you going to give me your drawings or not?" Levi interrupted my exuberance. Damn this sadist. It was currently 8:15 and everyone but Levi and I have left the office.
"Well, why of course, 'boss'." I replied sarcastically as I stood up from my desk and shuffled the papers to evenness. I walked over and handed him the papers.
Our eyes caught glances and we gave each other a cold stare.
"Tch" I scowled and turned and walked away.
"Eren." Levi called out.
"What?" I answered, annoyed, cleaning my desk and preparing my things to leave.
"Come here for a minute."
"Excuse me, but I'm off the clock, legally, you can't keep me here, and I'm free to deny any orders you give me." I replied as I picked up my shoulder bag of belongings.
"Maybe so, but it's not the best decision if you wish to keep your job." Levi replied, with a slight tinge of annoyance.
"Well maybe I don't, I wasn't meant to be in this department anyways, you know." I eyed him, coldly.
"Maybe so, but you seem to actually like it here." Levi replied and stood up from his desk.
"Well, maybe you've got the wrong interpretation." I retorted.
"Well, maybe you've got to quit being so in denial towards your feelings and stop acting like a pathetic little child."
"I don't need you constantly referring to me as a child!" I exclaimed, dropping my shoulder bag onto the ground.
"Well, then I don't need you acting like one!"
"Well, then that's okay! You've got yourself that new stupid intern anyways!" I found myself shouting.
I didn't even recognize the words spilling out of my mouth.
"Eren...?"Levi began to question. "Are you crying?" he asked softly.
What...? I reached a hand over to one of my eyes and found myself wiping a teardrop. Why am I crying? There's no reason to.
"Eren, I-" Levi began to speak but I cut him off.
"No! I never wanted to be in this stupid department anyways! So go ahead and fire and replace me with Hiriko., once you do I can finally be happy and stop being tormented by you every single hour of the day!" I found myself shouting once again, with more tears streaming hastily down my face.
My chest hurt and my throat felt tight. I was tired and I didn't know what I was saying nor why. I was crying, but I shouldn't be, here's my chance to finally quit and escape this hell-hole, my chance to finally get my life back on track and move over to the English department like I've always aspired, that is what I've always wanted, right?
My thoughts were interrupted by a pair of arms clenching me tight, and I found myself being pulled into someone.
"Let me go!", I screeched in between sobs.
"Eren, why are you doing this to yourself?" Levi calmly asked, pulling my head down to his shoulder and tousling my hair.
"I'm not doing anything to myself! You're the one who's constantly torturing me!" I exclaimed. "I'm already the lowest in your sights and here someone else comes and steps me up, making me even lower than low. I can't do anything to please you and I'm never good enough and I never will be! So why don't you just get rid of me like you keep on trying to do, and replace me with that intern, you seem a hell of a lot more pleased with him and his capabilities over me. Once you get rid of me, we can both be happy, so just do it already and let me go!"
Again, I was saying these words, these words which I couldn't comprehend their origin. I'm saying these words without even thinking, I don't even understand what I'm saying, I'm just blabbering, why?
"If you really want to leave, then why don't you do it?" Levi said as he released me.
What?
"I'm not going to say that I got rid of you, but I'm giving you full chance to leave, right now." He said as I just stood there, staring at him.
"I- I'm..." I croaked as I was searching for words to say.
"If you're so serious, then why are you hesitating? You seem to have stated your decision quite clearly, now either adhere to it or don't. Since you're not a child, make a decision like any adult would." Levi's tone was harsh.
"Levi, I-"
"That's not an answer. And I am your superior, so don not address me as so casually." Levi interjected, he was giving me a cold glare.
Why is he acting like this?
I clenched my fists. "Tch", I won't let him have his way, this is exactly what he wants; another act for his sadistic game. He wants to see me crumble and succumb to him; Like hell I will. "Well, 'boss', I have you know that I'll stay in this department, but not for you. I've been sucked into this mess and I'm going to make it out and finish what I've started because that is what we 'adults' do. And unlike 'children', we do not toy around with people because we've outgrown our phase of 'playing with toys'." I explained audaciously, infuriated by him. "So, now if you excuse me, I'll be making my way home, respectively." I picked up my bag from the floor and strode out of the room.
The nerve of that man. He wants to keep playing his stupid little games? Well, fine. We'll see who'll emerge victorious.
