A/N: Hello, all! Sorry for the delayed story, I've been feeling writer's block, and exams, and my 16th birthday party planning has been taking up most of my time xD
I hope you all can forgive me, and thank you so much for the reviews and PM's!
"Ugh, I can't believe that idiot!" I grumbled as I threw my bag onto the couch, frustrated. "If anyone's a child, it's definitely him!" I stomped all the way to my room. "Him and his stupid childish games." I threw myself at my bed and groaned into my pillow.
"OHAYOOO~!" Hanji greeted as I walked into the office; what better way to start a day than to have a crazy maniac yell and attack you?
"Heey there, Hanj, how are ya?" I casually greeted.
"Oh, totally great! The storyboard is gaining progress; the near-end deadline might not totally kill us this time!" she exclaimed.
"DON'T SAY THAT AND JINX US, HANJI." Connie yelled from across the room.
"Why, hellooo~! Everybody!" suddenly, Hiriko swung his arm around Hanji and I, and smiled his usual, annoying, smile. Ugh, how dare he be so casual after his little spectacle yesterday? I clicked my tongue and brushed him off. Hanji looked at me quizzically, yet I just turned and walked to my desk; I am not dealing with that guy for more than I have to.
As I was setting my belongings down, the jerk had the nerve to follow and attempt to engage in conversation with me.
"Hey, so, are you still upset about yesterday?" He asked, still a tinge of smile remains upon his lips.
I wanted to punch this guy.
"Oh, no, not at all!" I turned to face him and feigned a smile.
"Oh, well, that's great! I was really worried that you'd be upset with me." He explained. I simply nodded, wishing he would just leave already.
"Oh, and, what about you and Levi?" he stepped closer to me, standing next to me and lowered his voice so that only I may hear him in my ear. I paused for a moment, adjusting to the sudden change, and indecisive of how to answer.
"Oh, nothing, we're fine as well." I replied, reluctantly.
"Hmm? Well, I'm glad. It would be a shame if something were to happen to the relationship between you two." He said, voice with a tinge of mordancy.
The way he articulated that really bothered me, it wasn't sympathetic, it actually seemed quite threatening in a way.
"Nope, everything's fine, thanks . . ." I answered, wavering.
"I sure do hope so, like I said, I would hate to see you two break apart." He snickered and sauntered away.
I just stood there, thinking, what exactly is all that supposed to mean? Is this the same person, because his whole jolly attitude was just replaced by something that seemed like coldness and hatred…
I shivered and shook my head, I'm overthinking this. I'm just letting thoughts of Levi penetrate and tamper with my mind, just like he wants.
"Good morning, all." Levi walked in, carrying his briefcase as usual. Everyone greeted him, yet I simply sat at my desk and took my work out.
"As you all know, we are about half a week ahead of schedule, so I congratulate you all, yet don't get too carried away because all of this extra time may be used to perfect the next issue." Some groans were issued as a response, yet Levi simply ignored them and moved on.
"Since I believe the storyboard has been finished, we may begin rough drafting." Levi gathered papers, which I presumed to be parts of the storyboard, and split them up for each of us to work on.
"This issue will have around 180 pages, so expect a bit more work from last time, but not much more than usual."
Levi began passing the papers out, and I guessed right, it was the storyboard plans. When he came to me, uneasiness settled in. I attempted to avoid eye contact, but reaching for the papers required me to look in his direction, and somehow, one in a million, it managed to be just the right moment for our eyes to meet. We only kept eye contact for a split second or so, yet his eyes seemed different from usual. I don't know why, but they seemed duller ; it feels uncomfortable.
Nevertheless, I had a job to do, a job to prove to Levi that I don't need him, nor his guidance. I picked up my pencil and began working. . . but, the line on the paper didn't match the idea I had envisioned according to the storyboard. . .
So I tried again.Yet, the line was too curved…
And yet again. Now, the line didn't have enough shape.
Erase.
And now it didn't have the usual smoothness…
Erase.
And that kind of continued for half an hour or so.
What the heck is going on, why can't I do this? Drawing finally got so easy for me, like, I felt every line I drew, and now it's like I've lost the feeling; it's like I've gone numb.
"Does some sort of issue reside here, Mr. Jaeger?" Levi suddenly appeared behind my shoulder.
"U-um, no." I replied, wavering.
"Then, may I see the parts you have done?" He asked.
Shit. What. The. Fuck. Do. I. DOOOO?! [?! intensifies]
"Well…" I paused.
"Well, what?" He grimaced. "Don't tell me that in this half hour that's been wasted away, all you've got is this torn up sheet of nothing." Levi derided.
"No, it's not that…"
"Well, then what's the issue? Show me your work." His voice grew irritated.
"Levi, it's just that-" I began to reply but got interrupted.
"Once again, Mr. Jaeger, I am your superior, do not address me so casually."
I clenched my fists.
"My apologies, Mr. Heichou, sir."
"Whoaaa, is everything alright here?" Hiriko suddenly showed up, as usual.
"It will be once Mr. Jaeger here stops fooling around." Levi furrowed his eyebrows and crossed his arms.
"I'm not fooling around!" I retorted.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's not fooling around, Levi-san, that would be quite a childish act, don't'cha think?" Hiriko said with the usual slight amusement in his tone.
"Childish indeed." Levi rubbed his temples in disdain.
Okay, hold up. First of all, when did Hiriko gain the right to address Levi by his first name, when he's barely even been here a week?!
Second, why the hell is he backhandingly attacking me and getting Levi to agree with him? What's his deal?!
"I'm just having some artist's block, that's it." I explained, trying to calm myself down.
"Well, we don't have time for your so-called 'artist's block'; even though we may have some extra time on this project, we can't just waste it. I also assigned you one of the most important parts, so no excuses!" Levi was almost shouting now, causing everyone else in the room to go quiet and stare.
"Whoa, don't worry Levi, just give him some time and he'll be right back at it in no time! If you need, I'll work on his part as well; you did say I was getting pretty good at my lines and skills!" Hiriko offered.
Levi looked around the room and saw everyone staring and deeply sighed. "Very well; Until Mr. Jaeger here decides to collect himself, you'll be in charge of this part as well."
"No, I can do it, Levi! Just give me some time!" I stood up from my chair and slammed my fists on the desk.
Why does it seem like Hiriko's trying to replace me? And why is Levi just letting him? Why is everything happening like this?!
"Mr. Jaeger, I've just about had it with you. For the third, and last, time, you shall address me solely as Mr. Heichou, not 'Levi'. And secondly, since you can't seem to get yourself together, and considering we have a deadline, I have no choice but to give Mr. Hiriko your part, it's only reasonable. Any adult would understand that this is a more rational decision than one you're offering me to make."
"That's it!" I yelled, I was seething. "Why is it fair that he may address you as 'Levi', and I can't? Why is it that you think of me as nothing more than a fucking child?! Why are you just letting him take over everything when he's barely even been here a week?"
"Because that's just the way it is." Levi interjected, deadpan. "I have no idea what you mean by me allowing him to 'just let him take over everything', because I'm simply just making the most reasonable decisions based on our standards and our work, and I'm sorry that you fail to understand that due to your nescience. Now, you shall either comply to my rules and standards, or you can just leave." Levi elucidated.
I froze. I can't believe he said that, willingfully, and in front of everyone in the office.
Silence and awkwardness just hung over us like an inescapable, suffocating gas.
"Eren…" Hanji called out, softly, softly as if that if she were to speak any louder I would just crack and fall apart into pieces; well, she would be right.
"Fine." I said. "Since I'm neither wanted nor needed here, I won't waste your time anymore."
I grabbed my shoulder bag up from the ground and faced Hiriko. "Seems like you no longer need to be an intern, you can go ahead and take my place."
I looked at Levi, who had that same, dull, look in his eyes, yet now they just seemed more empty; they seemed like they wanted to say something, pleading to, yet Levi was using all his willpower to refrain from letting them win.
I turned to walk away and stopped next to Hiriko, close to his ear. "You got what you wanted." I said.
"Hmph" he gave a light chuckle, "I guess I did, didn't I? But, it couldn't have been accomplished without you, so I give you my biggest thanks." He whispered back, grinning.
So I was right. I wasn't overthinking. Hiriko's jolly-good personality was just a front, and he was trying to replace me and get to Levi. But the only question is, why? What did I do? I was nothing but kind to him the whole time he was here, and I don't believe I've ever met him elsewhere; so why?
I clenched my bag. "Yeah." I said, and walked out.
I never knew this building could feel so foreign and unwelcoming to me.
