Even Mr Introverted Levi has the urge to go out and meet with people, as rare as it may seem. Tonight: he's with Erwin, Mike and Hanji at a decent pub that's thankfully not too noisy (but still lively, otherwise it'd be boring). This isn't the legendary Survey, no; this time it's a place called "Flagon's".
Much to his disappointment, the bartender isn't called Flagon. It's a cool name; Flagon. Is it pronounced like Dragon? Or is it fley-gin?
Levi leans back into the cushion of the russet armchair he's in, drifting in and out of the conversations his friends are having (if anything, it's hard to get a word in edgewise around these talkative folk. Not that he minds. Well. It's not something he minds all the time, anyway).
He's quite content to lounge with fizzy, dark fruit cider on his tongue and people-watch in his friends' company. Although the karaoke session going on further into the building has him flinching in pain every now and then as some fucker tries to blow out his eardrums with some off-tune Katy Perry shit. He'll never understand people's need to rip-off music that already exists.
Apart from their cosy little corner by the fake fireplace, the polished interior gives plenty of room for cheerful drunkards to wobble to and from the bathroom and bar, and gives space for the less drunk people to walk around them. Whoever designed this bar; Levi wants to congratulate them for considering humanity's natural stupidity while they had the blueprints out.
Glancing back at his group, he notices that everyone's gone quiet. All of them are now glassy eyed and sinking into their chairs -it could be the depressants finally making them drowsy- and it occurs to Levi that maybe he can practice his small talk skills with his friends too. It doesn't just have to be around Eren and his co-workers at Poundsaver (Ideally, it would. But hey what do you know: Levi does in fact have a life and people just so happen to be everywhere).
He opens his mouth to speak, but beside him, Erwin's head tilts. A single lock of golden hair falls out of place over his forehead; his eyes look up from the coffee table in the middle of the group only for his eyelids to lower a smidgen. His eyes don't flicker. It takes a moment for Levi to follow Erwin's line of vision. Is he looking at the ugly waiter or..?
Erwin's gaze is something he recognises. It's a look Levi's shown before. Although it's annoyingly more romantic, what with the fucking fireplace casting an orange tint to his pale cheek, and a tenderness in Erwin's eyes that Levi isn't sure he's capable of himself.
It makes sense why Erwin's decided to wear his best white shirt and black tie tonight.
Erwin's pining over Mike.
In his obliviousness, Mike is sneering out the window over Levi's shoulder. Levi has to bite his bottom lip, and his nose crinkles as he bites down more, because if he doesn't, he'll end up laughing out loud.
"Hey, Erwin." The three of them glance in his direction. Erwin is... Yup he's definitely trying not to get caught staring. Look at how fast he whipped his head round, oh lord, he's fucking blushing, that hulk-ish blonde is actually -dear Christ-
Levi doesn't bother containing his smirk although he's sure they're suspicious now. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he says, unable to keep the teasing tone out his voice.
Erwin's jaw twitches, but even so he follows Levi with heavy feet to the bar, both of them ditching their drinks. Levi can't help but chuckle along the way. The minute he sits down and sees the confused look on Erwin's face he full on splutters with laughter. Poor Erwin frowns; he doesn't know that Levi knows, even though it was so obvious-
How the fuck did Levi not notice fucking... that until now?
Erwin's practically his blood brother, they've known each other for nine whole years, been friends for almost as long, they've bloody lived together. What the hell.
"Is something the matter Levi?" His blue eyed friend mutters and perches on his spinning stool.
Levi raises an eyebrow. Erwin's not getting out of this now that Levi has his suspicions. "Oh, I think you know."
"... No? I don't actually." Erwin rests an elbow on the shiny bar counter and glares at him in worry for what's to come. "The hell are you laughing about anyway?"
With a grin, Levi leans forward, stealing a peek at their friends a few feet behind Erwin. "You like Mike. Don't you?"
Erwin's face falls and Levi realizes he was right.
That's just, it's just- aw!
"Who told you?" Erwin checks around them, as though Mike's going to pop up over his shoulder and confront him. And Levi rolls his eyes, even though he understands. Levi's so nice like that.
"No-one. I figured it out myself."
"When?"
"Hmm. Now. Just now."
"Wait, you mean you only know because I-"
"No, I figured it out a few minutes ago. When we were sitting down. Was it- No. I don't think I've properly paid attention, you know, when we've all hung out." Levi shrugs, running his hands over navy jeans. "It's the kind of look I give Eren, I think." It surprises him a little when Erwin nods. Does he look at Eren that fondly? Then again, Mikasa and Armin did say he was obvious.
Erwin bows his head, mouth twitching as he speaks again."Right, yeah, I'm just... I didn't expect anyone to figure it out?" he explains and combs fingers through his hair. "I-I mean, I told Hanji a few months ago. Even then it took a while for me to tell him because... Well. It's not like Mike and I'll... Y'know."
Erwin flushes, avoiding Levi's eyes. His chair squeaks as he fidgets. "I don't even think he's gay." Erwin whispers with a tremor, one which brings forth a previously prominent Glasweign accent. Seems Erwin has adapted better to the dialect here, huh. "Eren said he had a girlfriend, and it's not like I've ever seen him flirt with guys."
"I had a girlfriend once." Levi announces. "Remember Spit-Roast Sophie from that party...? Yeah, that's the one. Don't give me that look, shit-head. It went terribly because I didn't realize we were even going out until she tried sticking- um, when she kissed me. Does that make me any less gay?"
Levi hisses inwardly at the cringe-worthy memory. "Who knows! Maybe I'm actually bi. I doubt it though. Tits are disgusting. But see? Bisexuality is a thing. You'll never know unless you ask him. Or observe. Yes, observing may actually be your best option. Pay closer attention and perhaps-"
"Levi," Erwin interrupts, both of his hands smoothing over his face. "It's not like I'm in love with him." Levi peers at him, and sure enough Erwin's bushy eyebrows are twitching and he's still not making eye contact (he's lying. That dick-head). "I'm not going to do anything about it, so just leave it-"
"Would you believe me if I said that to you about Eren?" he asks pointedly. "'Oh no Erwin, turns out it was just a wee crush I had on him. It's not like I wanted to marry him or anything! Might as well stop checking him out now.' Like really? C'mon man, Mike'd be mad not to like you back. If he doesn't... Well." he shrugs again. "Then I'll make him pay. Even though it wasn't his fault." Mike shudders unknowingly when Levi shoots daggers at him.
"Do you have a plan then?"
"A plan?" Levi stares back at Erwin, eyebrows furrowing when his mind goes blank. "Uuuh, chat up line?" he offers.
The blonde grimaces and shakes his head. "No, I don't think that's-"
"Have you tried using one before?"
"...No. Because-"
"Then go and get your constipated ass over there." he points to Mike. "C'mon." Levi grabs Erwin by the shoulder and drags him back to the group. "Do it."
With a flump they both land in their seats. When Erwin stays silent, Levi raises his eyebrows and nods towards Mike. Get the fuck over there! Do something! He groans when Erwin busies his mouth with more alcohol, downing it like it's water. Erwin's sure going to have a fun date with the toilet seat later on... Thought he wanted to date Mike! COME ON MAN.
"Hey Mike," Erwin blurts, close to dropping his glass on the table but it makes the journey to the surface with fail. "If you were a burger you'd be gorgeous." His face reddens, his hand lifting to cover his mouth.
"Uh... N-no, wait I meant Mc-Gorgeous." Mike and Hanji simply stare at him as he sinks into the seat along with his dignity.
"B-because," he breathes. "Like, McDonald's burgers..." He suddenly giggles - as in full on heeheehee! girlish tittering and the longer it lasts the more his body collapses on itself. Then he gives Levi the please help me look.
And because he dragged Erwin into this, he decides to do the honourable thing and help him out. "Nah man, you must be an astronaut, because your ass is out of this world." Even if helping him out means taking one for the team.
Mike and Hanji gawk at him while his glare is trained on Erwin, who's still hiding in his hands, his giggles dissolving into hiccups, and, wait, is he crying?! Erwin's "heehee-ing" again as he drapes a clothed arm over his eyes and reclines in the chair. He tries speaking again, opening his mouth, only to shut it again and blush even more if that's even possible. He's fair skinned so it's painfully obvious and not exactly attractive. Unless, of course, people happen to be attracted to vegetables. Tomatoes in particular.
Hanji pipes up, swinging his bottle of Carlings wildly. "Yeh know, there's no reason for the alphabet to be in the order it's in." His eyes dart from side to side, lips pursed in glee. "If I could rearrange it, I'd make it so "U" and "I" are together!" Either Hanji is trying to save Erwin from embarrassment or he's an idiot.
Yes. The latter. Definitely the latter.
Mike chuckles, a grin glinting beneath the caterpillar of a moustache which Erwin is apparently horny for. "If you were a door," Mike begins. "I'd bang you all night long!"
Hanji cackles and both of them compete -with increasing volume- to see who can come up with the worst pick up line. Levi and Erwin are sitting beside each other and all Levi can do is apologise to Erwin in his head.
The fact that Erwin's still hiding probably means it's going to be a while before Erwin seeks revenge on him, but when he does, it'll be horrific. And due to the amount of shit Erwin knows about him, Levi's not looking forward to it. On the plus side he doesn't know where Levi lives. On the negative side... Well. This is Erwin Smith. Clearly his all too common surname confirms he's a foreign murderer with an alias.
His internal will-making is interrupted by the karaoke people screeching "I'm a Barbie Girl! In a Barbie wooooorld~" and as he turns to glower at them, he notices Eren standing in front of a projector alongside a short guy with a buzz cut. Both are holding a microphone. Eren's the one belting out shitty songs. Great. At least he looks like he's having fun. Eren must feel Levi's stare because he turns around, missing his part in the duet as he waves with a huge grin and tries to come over, only to trip on the wire.
He's had a few drinks, but not enough so that he can't pick himself off the floor, stumble over to Levi and lean over the back of his seat. Levi has to peer at Eren upside down. He starts with a jolt when Eren pats his cheek with a wide grin.
"Hi Levi! How you doin'?" He kneels beside Levi's chair, resting his face on the armrest like a puppy would. "I was ju-just singin', did you hear?" he slurs, his eyes widen and his lips clamp together in interest of Levi's answer. His regret over not staying over for dinner last time makes itself known. Again.
"I think all of Trost heard you, mate. It was hard not to."
"That's how I like it! Say, you guys should sing too!" Hanji and Mike smile at him, not seeming to mind his drunken state. "It's so much fun, isn't it Connie? Connie?" He turns round in an attempt to track down his friend. "Dude, where'd you go?"
Levi has to resist the urge to pat Eren's head. "You abandoned him on the stage, he's singing that shitty song by himself."
"What?! Oh. Ah, he'll manage." Eren slouches more onto the arm rest, squishing his cheek into the material. "Such a capable guy, y'know? Did you know he worked three part time jobs in high school so he could look after his family? What a guy eh? Love 'im so much. His- He's a janitor like me, actually?" Levi nods.
"Yeah he's a lot of fun to be arn- arno- around. Don't get to see him much since he's payin' off a loan his- Wait." Eren frowns. "I don't think I should tell you that. It's his life. Levi, you want to know more about Connie?" Eren glares at him for a moment. "Then you go ask Connie. Simple way of life innit?"
"Should tell that to Erwin." he mumbles, yet both Erwin and Eren hear him.
Eren's attention is deflected to the other man. "Hi Erwin! Should come sing. Levi, you too: come, come. I will harvest you all. My children! No wait, hang on, I will gather you. Like a mother hen with her chicks. Harvest would mean I eat you. Hannibal may be hot but I am not him."
Eventually, Levi gets dragged along with Erwin to the karaoke area. He manages to escape long enough to get a glass of water for Eren and himself, while Erwin's brooding on the table behind them. Finding Eren chilling out in one of the couch-like booths, Levi hands him the drink.
"Oh, water." Eren's eyes widen like he's seen salvation and he sits upright. "Thank you dear friend."
"No problem." Levi sips on the cold liquid, a smile on his lips as he watches Eren drink and bob along to the music without a care in the world. "How long have you been here? We were in that front bit for ages."
"Connie works here too, I came to see 'im. And, well. Pre-drinking got a bit out of hand." Eren chuckles, fanning his heated face by tugging his neon green, t-shirt collar in and out. "But seriously, thanks for the water. I think the excitement of the karaoke had me feeling a bit more drunk than I actually am." Eren gestures mindlessly with his hand and smiles even more so, peering around the room in search of something.
"Must be nice to get drunk easily." Levi muses aloud.
Eren hums and inflates his cheeks with air. "Kinda, I'm usually a heavyweight anyway." He tilts his head in Erwin's direction. "Why's Erwin looking down? He has a pink house and a cat, what more could he want?"
Levi turns to look at Erwin at the table behind himself and sure enough Erwin's head is on the table, hands caging it like he wants to buried there. It's probably not far off how he's feeling, actually. Levi's familiar with humiliation. Sadly. "He wants... He's trying to ask out Mike. Or rather I told him he should and uh, it failed. Miserably."
"How'd he try and do it?"
"Pick up line."
"Levi!" Eren looks horrified, frowning and shoulders slacking. Apparently what he's done is terrible enough to make Eren hide his face in his hand. "Shit like that is cheesy, that stuff might've worked in primary school or in the 90's. Romance is key!" The water sloshes as Eren slams the glass down in preparation for what seems to be a lecture.
"Karaoke. Now." he points to the DJ booth beside the bar. "Get him up on the stage. Have him sing a love song! Make 'im serenade Mike!" Eren tilts his head in thought. "Is Mike gay? Might make sense why I felt closer to him than the other sosho- social workers."
"We're not sure, and it might be why Erwin's sulking."
"Oh well I don't blame him for bein' all upset. Gay people are surprisingly hard to come across if you don't know where to look."
"Yeah, Erwin's parents weren't very encouraging of his sexuality, so I think I might be the only person he knows that's open. Except for you I suppose."
"That's a shame. I never had trouble with that wi' my family since Andrea's a lesbian. And I'm usually direct about everything. I'm like, 'You gay? No? Fine then, I shall be on my merry way!' I don't cry about that sorta shit man."
"I'm also a bit worried that if Mike does go out with him, he'll dump him since Erwin's waiting until marriage to have sex." Levi admits, pursing his lips as he glances at Erwin over his shoulder.
"...Why? It's not like sex is that amazing." Levi hums in mild agreement. "But then again, I'm not all too interested in sex like most people. Makes me a bit biased."
Levi shrugs. "Not really, I think everybody feels that way about it at one point in their life."
"Nah not you!" Eren grins at him and his eyes gleam. "I bet you're a real horn dog. You love sex don't ya?" His smile widens when Levi raises an eyebrow, unable to help the flush on his face despite his poker face. Eren guffaws and rocks in his chair. "I'm just kiddin'. Say, why don't we go help Erwin out? He's looking all sad. Let's go help your sad friend, Levi. Karaoke'll be a winner, I'm telling ya!"
Levi turns around in his seat, leaning on his calves and peering over into the next booth, arms resting on the divider. "Hey Erwin, Eren says you should go sing. Isn't that right Eren?"
"Yus!" Eren bounces onto Levi's seat, mimicking his stance as they hover over Erwin, who's still hiding in his hand cage. "Wait, what song, d'you think would work? What would make your heart soar if it was sung to you?" Eren mimes his heart flying away from his chest.
"Oh, I don't know." Levi inhales, daring a glance at Eren before he sighs. "Um. If I Fell. By The Beatles? I don't think I'd want a serenade in public to be honest. I'd jump him on the spot if y- he sang th-that. What about you, Eren?"
"Ooh nice choice, Levi. Classics are always good 'uns. I thiiiink..." His face softens and he looks at Levi with glowing cheeks. "Ah~ I knooow. I Only Have Eyes For You. Can't remember who it's by. Is it The Flamingoes?"
Levi shrugs in response, taking a mental note because that's far too good an opportunity to pass up or forget. But he's not singing now. No way. He'd fucking die if he had to serenade Eren. Poor Erwin... Seeing him hiding even more from them tweaks his sympathy a little, but Eren seems to have no mercy. He pokes the taller man with a single finger, trying to encourage him.
"Go up there! You've got your balls, don't you? And think about it, alright, just think: even if Michael doesn't like ya after this, you'll have other guys who'll fawn over you. Singing takes guts y'know? Confidence is attractive."
Levi can't help but scoff. "I bet it took a lot of guts for you to sing Barbie Girl, eh Eren?"
"Ha," Eren bows his head then points at Levi with what's trying to be a firm expression. "You may laugh, you may mock me... But... It actually did, yeah. Surprising with how much I've drunk. Usually all my fear goes away when I drink. Should drink some more, Erwin. Chug down somma that courage juice." Erwin groans in reply, and Eren pauses for a minute before he prods Levi with the same finger he used to assault Erwin.
"What was that for? You ganging up on me too Eren?"
Eren bites his lip, turning away as his mouth gives way to a grin that he tries to hide with a hand. "That. Why do you keep saying my name? It-it's weird. Stop it. It's my name, not yours. It's my birth-right."
Suddenly Levi remembers Jean's advice: "Make sure you say his name a lot when you're talking to him. Gets his attention, makes him flustered as hell." Levi hadn't even realised he was doing it, but now that he's seen the effects...
"Why can't I say your name, Eren? Should I give you a new name, Eren..?" he teases. Eren shoves Levi hard enough for him to topple against the wooden lining on the wall. But he doesn't miss the way Eren keeps clenching and unclenching his fingers, running his fingers through the hair beside his ear.
It's times like these when he's with Eren that his chest fills with warmth, makes Levi feel like he's buzzing all over. And it's not like he can help it either. In moments like these he's a percolator, and Eren's presence, and everything he is, is the boiling hot water that's forced into his system, igniting all the tubes that make up his nerves and emotions. The more water he consumes, the dizzier he gets from all the heat that swirls around inside.
Eren snuggles into his own arms under the pretence of overlooking Erwin, but Levi reckons he's just hiding his face.
"Erwin," Levi says, not taking his eyes off Eren. "You going up?"
The blonde man groans in defeat. "Fine." Erwin slams a hand down on the table, and trudges to the stage. Eren and Levi are behind him the entire way.
Erwin ends up singing "Just The Way You Are" by Bruno Mars. Levi can't help but cringe at the song choice, but at least Erwin can pull it off nicely. Eren shrieks when he realizes Erwin's changing the gender in the lyrics.
"Is he- Oh my god, Levi, Levi, Levi! Mike's looking, Mike's looking!" Eren clutches onto Levi's shoulders, bouncing so forcefully he practically takes Levi with him on each jump.
"I know," Levi chuckles at Eren's giddiness. "But we need more than that. Everyone's looking at Erwin. We're kind of aiming for him to fall for Erwin at this point."
Eren insists, going as far so as to physically turn Levi around. "No, but look at Mike."
Mike's beside Hanji -the latter who's cheering wildly for Erwin, hanging off of Mike's arm in an attempt to be taller- and Levi notices how Mike and Erwin keep making eye contact, how they both flush and act fidgety when they catch each other out. Oh Jesus, just find a room to fuck in already, you two!
What Levi can't get over is the fact that Eren actually noticed the gooey stares passed between the duo, considering each and every one of his friends has supposedly been in love with Eren. Has he gone out with any of them? Have any of them confessed? Does Eren even know how his friends feel for him?
The microphone is returned to the DJ once Erwin is finished since he got the last slot of the night, and he heads straight towards Mike and Levi is so fucking proud of him when he whispers into Mike's ear, something that shocks Mike so much you can actually see his eyes beneath the stupid mop of blonde hair (he needs a trim, seriously) and he follows Erwin out the door, leaving behind a very confused Hanji.
Eren pesters him from over his shoulder. "What did he say?! Levi what did Erwin say to Mike? I gotta knooooow...!" Hanji peers at levi as well, just as curious as to what is going on.
"He said 'The song was for you.'"
They all sneak out to find Erwin and Mike around the corner beside a lamppost. Other than the amber light, everything is dim and the traffic is too far away to be intrusive.
"Couldn't have done it better myself." Eren whispers and sighs. "Mike's so lucky, damn." They watch as Erwin and Mike mumble, Erwin scuffing his feet in an odd show of shyness and Mike with the biggest smile on his face that Levi's ever seen. "I think I'm gonna cry." Eren whimpers.
Levi's brain only registers the word "cry" and his eyes begin to swell up with tears- No, no, fuck that, Levi is not crying, it's just, his best friend, his baby boy, this guy who's mum picked Levi up off the streets, who tried to adopt him and was like the overprotective parent he never had-
The three of them almost squeal when Mike picks up Erwin in an elaborate hug, pecking him on the lips. They sprint back around the corner; Eren covering his wide open mouth and Hanji giggling from the excitement, and Levi's throat hurts and his eyes are stinging-
And it's been such a long time since Levi's been this happy for someone, for his friends. The last time, the last time was when Farlan and Isabel, the two of them-
"Why the fuck didn't he tell me he was going to confess tonight?!" Hanji screams, probably alerting Erwin and Mike of their presence. "Oh that dick, what was- Was that- Oh shit, the pick up lines!" Hanji glares accusingly at Levi. "What the hell man?! Why did no-one tell me?! Oh never mind, good going with the singing idea!"
"Eren was the one... He was the mastermind behind that idea."
Eren's still grinning, and trying to peer around the corner. "Yup! Told ya it would work- Oh, I left Connie inside!" he quickly grabs both of them in a one-arm hug and Levi's stomach drops. "He's my lift back, we're getting a taxi. Are you guys coming back in?"
He sighs contentedly in Levi's ear, still holding them in a lazy, swaying hug, while Hanji tells him they're waiting on Mike for their lift back. He's a lot colder when Eren lets them go. "I'll see you at club, Levi! We wear pink on Wednesdays, mind!"
"Oh, er, bye-" Eren disappears into the bar, and all Levi can do is watch him go.
Another voice brings him back to the present. "Since when are you in a club?" Hanji smirks at him, raising an eyebrow.
"Film club, I'm an actor now. Apparently... It's this indie film competition we're doing. You know, a couple of days ago..."
While they're waiting for Mike and Erwin to quit making out around the corner (he's kidding; it'll probably take them at least six months just to get to first base) Levi tells Hanji about the skits they'd been performing and how Levi needs to come up with a script.
"Okay, who in the living hell are you?"
"They call me Stacy, they call me Jane-"
"Levi-"
"That's not my name."
"Oh very funny, now Levi-"
"That's not my name."
Hanji glares at him and he stares back, equally unamused. "...That's not my, name."
Despite his annoyance at Levi's joke, Hanji's eyebrows crinkle upwards and his mouth wobbles. "Aaaw, I miss having you in our flat! There's no-one to eat my curry anymore." Levi's suddenly crushed into a hug. He pats Hanji's back, unsure of when he's supposed to let go. "I miss your stoic face and sarcasm. Your temper gave me life!" Levi begins to squirm, but Hanji refuses to budge.
"Are you guys getting together too?"
Mike and Erwin appear around the corner -hand in hand, oh yeah!- and gesture towards his and Hanji's hug. Oh, and did Mike say too, as in, as well...? Aah, mission accomplished.
"Ew, no. This thing just won't get off me though. Save me."
"He reminds me that I love my friends, and that I can love him as a friend too."