Day 14: Strip Club (sort of)
Eren can imagine his mother turning in her grave after realizing what her only son was about to do. In his defense, he put up a pretty good fight. It was Reiner's idea (obviously), and usually everyone wanted to follow his lead, bar Eren and his best friend, Armin.
The poor blonde was still a stuttering mess since they all piled into Jean's mom's van, (yeah, they parked that thing down the block). The whole ride over, Reiner and Connie were raving about this new club and their dancers that had opened just last month; it took Reiner three weeks of annoying persistence to convince the majority of their friend group to come. Sasha, Mina and Marco stayed behind, while Eren, Reiner, Connie, Armin, Jean, Bertoldt, and the Galliard brothers opted, or were forced, to come along.
Currently, their band of men waited outside the club's front doors, as the line to get inside was monstrous.
"Geez, this place has barely been open a month, how is it this popular already?" Eren demanded, silently snarling at the group of youths standing in line behind them. Since they arrived, they have not shut up or changed the levels of their volumes.
"That's all it takes, man, and you haven't even seen the girls yet," Reiner answered cynically. Eren rolled his eyes in response.
"They're just regular women dressed in skimpy costumes, what's to see?" His friends grew quiet at the comment and stared at him.
"Eren, I've been meaning to ask you, 'what era are you from?'" Jean questioned; sass laced in his voice. Eren's eyes narrowed.
"It just seems a little…undignified."
The other guys started to laugh.
"And what does Mr. Hothead know about dignity?" Porco butted in. "Man, you need this more than we thought."
"You're all animals…" Eren grumbled, coaxing more chuckles from his friends.
It's not that Eren wasn't curious, he was. Boys start discussing these topics at 14-15 years old, so it wasn't a foreign concept to him; he likes to think his mom raised him honorably. However, Eren has never really been interested in that part of life in general. He found women attractive, but never cared enough to act.
If you ask his friends, they will tell you that Eren has been long overdue for a release for too long. It never crossed his mind to go that distance with anyone; it has been a solo performance since the beginning. Even so, they were not taking "no" for an answer. He just wanted to go home and sleep.
"This time I'll do it! Watch me!"
Eren absentmindedly tuned in to Reiner and Jean's conversation and rolled his eyes.
"You've been saying that since we came here for the first time. I'm calling bullshit," Jean retaliated. Reiner scoffed.
"And you haven't dreamt of having the balls to ask out the Midnight Beauty? Don't insult me without consulting your facts, hypocrite."
"You think she'd say yes to me? I didn't think you thought so highly of me."
"Yeah, right!"
Eren sighed heavily and coaxed Armin's attention. He stepped up beside him and said in a low voice, "I'm glad I'm not the only one who doesn't want to be here."
Eren crossed his arms and watched as they slowly inched their way to the velvet rope that separated them from the front door.
"First time they hassled you?" Eren asked.
"No, I've been rejecting the offer for the duration of it's opening, but if I'm being honest, I only agreed because you'd be here."
"Why?"
"You're my best friend, if I did this with anyone it'd be you, and I also know you might not step foot inside again, so I won't be the only one…"
Eren shrugged. "I just don't see the excitement and besides, I don't want to be that guy."
Armin nodded along in agreement.
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It took them another thirty minutes to get to the rope, and after an ID check, they were stepping into madness.
The room was massive and colourful; music pumped out of every orifice. They stood on the bottom floor with a bar and kitchen stretched along the left wall. A DJ took up almost the entirety of the back wall with the stage, switchboards, instruments, speakers, and special effects equipment. Lights flashed, lasers strobed, smoke billowed and speakers vibrated; it was a whole other world.
Above, a railed terrace ran around the ceiling, where tables and seating resided and people drank, ate, and danced. A disco ball the size of a small hot air balloon careened itself around to create magic along the walls.
Even though he didn't want it to, it impressed Eren.
"This doesn't look like a strip club," Armin said over the bass of the music.
"It technically isn't!" Reiner butted in, moving everyone to a corner of the room where they could game-plan. "The girls don't actually take anything off. They have the outfits, but they are mostly performers; some play instruments, some dance, sing, even act; it's very interesting."
"Oh, interesting, is it?" Porco chimed. "So, uh, what does "Majesty" do?" Freezing in place, Reiner hesitated. Porco shook his head. "Should've known…"
"Why are you even here? You just scroll through your phone the entire time!"
"I do watch, but only the girls I like."
"You pig!"
"Pot. Kettle. Black, my friend!"
"Would you two please knock it off?"
"Geez, Bertoldt!" Connie exclaimed, placing a hand on his chest. "Sometimes I forget you're there."
Bertoldt frowned. He didn't necessarily want to be here either, but he seemed to have grown an attachment to one of the performers. The other guys questioned his taste, saying she's not as expressive as some of the others, but Bertoldt begs to differ.
She is a guitarist and every time she played, he was entranced. He could hear every word between the strums and riffs; every shift representing a scar on her heart. He heard it all…
"Are any of you hungry?" Marcel butted in to change the intense subject.
"I could eat. Should a couple of us grab a table?" Armin suggested.
"Well, Jean and Connie usually get the same things, so if that hasn't changed, I opt they get the table, while the rest of us get food and first round of shots," Reiner said.
Liking the idea, the group split up.
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Of course, everything on the menu was either deep-fried or barbeque, but from what Eren saw leaving the kitchen, he figured it wouldn't be terrible.
He opted for the "House Burger" and he and Armin made their way to the table while Porco, Marcel, Reiner and Bertoldt ordered the shots.
As they made their way up the stairs to the terrace, a PA system cut out the music.
"Alright, you lucky sons-of-bitches," a deadpan voice drawled. "The show will be starting in about five minutes, so take your fucking seats, turn off your damn phones, and clean off your tables on the way out." The PA cut out and Armin and Eren shared a look before making their way over to the table.
Armin sat beside Jean, while Eren sat across from him beside Connie; four more seats sat beside Connie and Jean and the table itself was right along the railing looking down onto the stage.
"Not a front row seat kind of guy, Jeanbo?" Eren questioned.
Tsking at his remark Jean crossed his arms. "Trust me, you don't want to be down there when the women come out. Some nights are so chaotic security has to shut the place down."
Eren blew out a breath. "And the girls feel safe?"
Connie and Jean nodded.
"Not only is the security top-notch, but the owner of the place is super fucking scary. Any crossover with him ends with you practically dead or wishing you were," Connie explained. "Especially because his cousin is one of the performers. Protective and all that." At this, Connie turned to Jean across the table. "But don't worry, Jean, I think you'll get the seal of approval in no time!"
Jean reddened, while Eren snorted.
"Seriously? "Midnight Beauty" is the owner's cousin? Some influence…" Eren placed a cheek in his palm. "What about you, Connie? Do you have a favourite?"
Connie shrugged. "Not really. I just come along to make fun of the guys and see pretty girls."
Armin shook his head.
"Who's ready!?" Reiner interrupted, as he came over with the other three, each carrying a shot in both hands.
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"Quite a crowd tonight," Titania commented as she applied her mascara in the mirror.
"There usually is," Cashmere said.
Titania shrugged. "Just seemed more crowded than usual…"
"Have any of you girls seen my silver liquid liner?" Majesty asked, as she was elbow deep in a bag of, God knows how much eyeliner.
"You can borrow mine," Midnight offered from her place in front of the mirrors; she was being fitted in her outfit.
"You're telling me that in that giant bag of just eyeliner, you have only one silver?" The Maiden sassed.
Majesty whirled to her. "It is not just silver eyeliner! It is the 'Urban Decay' Moondust Liquid Glitter Eyeliner, that adds sparkle and high-impact shimmer to my eye and it looks killer in this halls lighting! My whole look depends on that liner!"
"What. A. Travesty."
"Why are you always-,"
"I can't help it, I'm judgmental."
"At least try and be helpful!"
"Impossible."
"Can we get ready for once without an argument breaking out?" Cashmere snapped from the shoe rack. "And on another note, where are my black flats?"
Before anyone could answer or argue more, the dressing room door opened and the owner himself entered.
"Good evening, ladies."
"Good evening, Mr. Ackerman."
"Just wanted to wish you all luck and that we're planning to have this wrapped up by 10:30; two performances from each of you."
"It's pretty packed, Levi, we're willing to stay and help-," Cashmere was cut off.
"Not your concern. You all leave the second those stage lights are out…at 10:30. Understood?" He got various nods and "yeah"s in reply, before he turned to make his exit. "Oh, and by the way, I saw quite a few new faces in the crowd." The girls exchanged a look. "Give them something that keeps them coming back."
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At around 7:30, the lights around the room dimmed, while the ones on the stage brightened; the smoke machines were activated. The music had stopped, and the DJ stood up with a mic in his hand.
"Alright, people, the show is about to begin, so find your seats. I just need to cover our safety precautions.
"Bathrooms are across from the staircase both up and down the stairs; the exits are on either side of the ground floor; there is security at every exit, as well as circling the room, so any funny business will be found out and any individuals involved are no longer welcome. I would also like to clarify that our girls are trained performers and are not available for any solo acts, nor will you see them after the performance. Other than that, enjoy your evening." The DJ sat back down behind his switchboards and started to fiddle with the stand.
In the meantime, Eren faced Reiner who sat on the other side of Jean.
"Why the strict rules?"
"To avoid anyone finding out about the girls' personal lives, as well as to keep everyone in check. When it first opened, none of those mandates were in place. A couple of the girls got harassed and even almost got followed home. Luckily, the security has been top-notch since it opened, or things would've gotten ugly…"
Eren decided he didn't want to know about that, so, instead was about to change the topic, when a loud banging sound started echoing throughout the hall.
Whipping their attention back to the stage, the group watched as the DJ started to rise and shift until the platform holding all his equipment rose above the stage, creating an arch over it.
Eren watched gob smacked as the stage itself seemed to shift and settle into the perfect stage for performances.
"Here we fucking go…" Reiner commented as a slow, sultry music started to play.
"Looks like Cashmere is starting us off," Connie said.
Armin raised an eyebrow. "How can you tell?"
Connie shrugged. "They all have their own styles. The music gives them away. Cashmere is a contemporary dancer, so it is easy to guess."
"So, are you going to be telling and introducing each act for us, then?" Armin wondered sarcastically.
"I can if you want me to!"
Armin sighed. "Of course, you took that question literally…"
"Enough chatter! Cashmere is about to start!" Porco growled.
Connie scowled. "At least we're starting with a girl Porco actually likes…" he grumbled.
Indeed, a fair woman with hair of black and eyes of a storm appeared on stage, greeted by whoops and cheers. She wore a simple navy chiffon that reached her thighs over top of a matching two-piece underneath that barely covered anything.
Wolf-whistles and catcalls echoed around the hall, but once "Runaway" by AURORA started to play, the audience went quiet. Cashmere got into her starting form and began to dance.
She had them completely hypnotized. The magical simplicity of the music paired with her water-like movements and river of braided black hair made it seem like she was casting a spell on them and succeeding.
Her body seemed to grow new muscles and joints with the way her body moved so effortlessly and fluidly.
"So good… How can she do that?" Armin wondered to himself. He glanced at the other men down the table. They were all smiling and enjoying the performance, all except for Eren.
Armin couldn't help but notice how…bored he looked. The blonde didn't blame him, as he, too, would choose to leave, given the opportunity; at least Armin was trying to have fun.
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After Cashmere had finished her set, it was met with an uproar of applause; Cashmere reveled and bowed.
As she exited the stage and it started to shift for the next act, Eren turned to his friends.
"So, is she just going to get escorted home now?" he asked, generally curious.
Bertoldt shook his head. "She will wait in the dressing room while the other girls perform until the show is over. They all get chauffeured home in a limo, curtesy of the business," he explained, gesturing around.
"How many women are there?" Armin wondered.
"Tonight? Five. In total? 10," Connie explained. "Each night they rotate, one group gets three nights a week, the other two; they switch the next week and all have weekends off."
"Have you seen the other performers?"
"A couple times, but I'm sure all of us agree these 5 are the favourites."
Armin and Eren couldn't decide if that was considered a compliment or not.
Before they could dwell on it more, another song started to play. Immediately, Connie said, "The Maiden…" in a dramatically emphasized voice.
"What does she do?" Eren asked.
Some of the men chuckled.
"She sings the most sexually charged songs in existence," Reiner answered.
"With a name like 'the Maiden', she isn't the purest," Marcel added.
True to their words, the Maiden wore a whole get up of bright blue lingerie that melded beautifully with her pale forest eyes and leaking blonde locks. Her energy was that of a prowling predator and the men felt violated and vulnerable whenever she glanced their way. She was a succubus in human form…
"I Can't Stay Away", by The Veronicas was her chosen poison; later, when Connie asks them, Eren and Armin admit they have no memory of that specific performance. Connie thinks they liked it too much, while Jean believes they're just irreversibly traumatized. Porco and Marcel had to pin Eren to his seat because he kept trying to walk out…
Regardless, the Maiden is quite popular among the audience.
In all the wrong ways… Eren thinks to himself.
Before the boys could even process what the hell it was that they just witnessed, a more upbeat, pop song started to play, and Reiner's big brother composure broke in record time.
"WHOO! Let's go, MAJESTY!"
For the sakes of their lives, the other men remained quiet.
A gorgeous, petite blonde arrived on stage to a booming round of applause. It was clear Majesty was a fan favourite…
Majesty was a singer also, with some ballet and contemporary dance under her belt, as well as piano; she liked to switch it up.
The blonde did her own rendition of Taylor Swift's "Don't Blame Me". Her voice fit well with the style, and she looked stunning in her sleeveless rose gown, billowing out around her.
Hitting the high note at the end of the bridge had her rising from the stage, where she concluded the song in the air. When the music was cut, she continued to rise until she disappeared from the view above the stage.
Her applause was the loudest yet.
Armin, once again, glanced around the table, ever observant, to gauge his friend's reactions.
Reiner, of course, was the goddamn loudest, as he was practically screaming from the terrace railing, causing a lot of stares from the people below.
Marcel and Porco were applauding as well, but Marcel had eventually gotten up to push Reiner back in his seat while also wrestling off Porco who wanted his phone back so he could use it as blackmail against Reiner.
Armin shook his head, aghast, before turning toward Bertoldt, who looked like he wanted to sink into his seat and was actively trying to. Connie had stopped applauding altogether, started laughing and indeed got it on video.
And Eren looked as bored as ever, although he didn't try walking out, so it was progress…
And beside Armin, himself, Jean looked…fidgety.
"Are you okay?" he asked, quietly.
Jean nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine…"
"Isn't there only two acts left? One of them is Midnight Beauty, right? Why does it look like you're going to hurl?"
Jean took a breath before slightly turning to him, so he could talk even quieter. "I just have this sinking dread. It came out of nowhere; started halfway through Majesty's song.
"Have some water and food. It's probably the stimulation. A lot of things are going on, a lot of emotions. Like, geez, Reiner looked possessed for a bit there."
This coaxed a small chuckle from the brunette.
"Yeah, he gets like that; this is a tamer one than some I've seen."
"I'm sure we will re-live it again once Connie sends everyone that video."
"So, see any girls that catch your eye, yet?" Jean asked.
Armin noted the change in subject and played along. He shrugged. "Majesty is stunning, sings like an angel. She's one I'd pay to see perform again."
"Get in line…"
"I'm sure it's a few miles long, but honestly, I'm looking forward to seeing what all your fuss is about with Midnight."
Flushing intensely, Jean scowled. "Yeah, well, I don't really want to talk about it here, it's a little loud, but let's just say she's…otherworldly. A faerie or siren or something…I don't know."
"She sings?"
Jean nodded. "And dances like she's made of air. She's almost…surreal."
Armin shook his head. "Well, I'll say she's got quite the perspective to uphold. Is she next?"
"She usually closes the show."
"Who's up then?"
Jean smirked, before casting a glance at Bertoldt beside him. Armin caught on immediately.
"Titania."
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The DJ took a quick intermission for a bathroom and food break, so the boys had time to eat their meals and do a couple more rounds of shots before the last two acts concluded the night.
Last two acts… Eren thought to himself, as he declined Connie's offer of another shot. He was already pretty buzzed and he had class tomorrow. Then I can go to sleep and forget about this whole experience.
"God, that bastard is annoying," Porco grumbled as he came to steal Connie's chair after losing his to said man.
"Which one?" Eren wondered, tiredly.
"Reiner, mostly. He'll calm down now that Majesty's performed."
"You don't seem as interested," Eren pointed out.
"I like to be part of the group, obviously, and like you, I would be dragged along whether I liked it or not, eventually anyway. I do like some of them though, they're talented women. Cashmere and Midnight are pretty attractive, I guess I'm a fan of darker hair; I mostly just like the concept of dance and technique, they're dancers, so I enjoy them the most," Porco explained.
"Are you drunk? That's the longest dialogue I've ever gotten from you."
Porco smirked and shrugged. "Not exactly, but I honestly just got the impression that you didn't…tolerate me as much as the others."
"I hate to crush this blossoming bromance, but Titania is about to go on, and we aren't going to want to miss this," Reiner interrupted.
"What are the odds that within a year this chick gets recruited into a band?" Connie wondered.
"Likely," a few voices agreed.
"Alright, people!" The DJ, once again, stood on his platform above the stage and the crowd grew silent. "We're about to kick it off with some rocking metal, so, settle in and keep those heads wound because it's gonna be a headbanger!"
The lights dimmed to blood red and the soulful sound of an electric guitar started to rattle everyone's bones. A spotlight hit a woman on stage with a white guitar. She looked like a Valkyrie with all the feathers and straps on her, but she pulled off faerie warrior like it was her birthright.
Titania was a fetching bleach blonde with eyes as icy as winter. A regal face that was enough to freeze people in place, and a stare of solid cold.
She played the prelude to a band's album, "Set Flame to The Night" by Arch Enemy; everyone was entranced. She barely looked at the crowd; she just focused on her finger's movements.
She could've been alone here, and still played like that, Armin thought, seemingly unable to close his mouth. She's glorious…Titania, indeed.
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There was a positive and a negative to coming to these places with his friends. Bertoldt getting to see…her, the plus; the negative, everyone else did, too. Bertoldt usually would have nothing to worry about when it was only the six of them, but now…
Bertoldt subtly glanced toward the end of the table, where Armin and Eren sat, watching silently, while the rest were rocking out to Titania's song; drunk and getting more so by the minute.
Eren seemed to remain nonchalant, as he's been through the entire show. He wonders if anything, or anyone, will ever crack that hard exterior he's put up. He guesses even cold, reliable male instinct won't bring back the carefree, hotheaded youth they knew before his mother passed.
Well, at least he's going to med school and getting on with life. He just doesn't seem to want a social one… Bertholdt thought.
He then turned to the blonde and swallowed a stone.
He knew that look… He saw it on Reiner's face when he saw Majesty, and Jean's when he saw Midnight…and Sasha when she tried 'poutine' for the first time. Absolute infatuation. It caused that stone to drop heavily in his stomach and sink.
Titania's set wasn't as long, but no one complained one bit. Most people waited in line again for a second act by her. Titania's popularity is bound to take her places if in the right place at the right time.
Titania got a roar from the crowd and the adrenaline coursing through the room was unfathomable.
Reiner, Connie, Marcel, Porco, and Jean were cheering loudly, while Bertoldt, Armin, and Eren clapped silently while still processing the sheer intimidation and talent Titania gives off.
Turning to the group still sitting at the table, Reiner grinned.
"Not all singing and dancing," he commented.
Eren and Armin couldn't help but notice that Reiner didn't seem keen to tease Bertoldt about Titania; unlike the other guys, Bert was spared… At least, from Reiner…
"Still never gets old, hey, Berty!?" Connie chirped. "I'm genuinely curious, have you finally grown a pair big enough to confront the owner about meeting her?"
Glaring, Bertoldt reddened, but stayed quiet.
Connie caught on and cackled. "Either way, it might not be you who gets there first, don't you think, Armin?"
Said blonde was hardly paying attention. He seemed to be in limbo with a glazed, faraway look in his eyes. It made Bertoldt sick.
"Yo! Earth to the Brainiac!" Connie attempted, to snap the blonde back.
Eren noticed this from his conversation with Marcel and turned to his best friend, who hadn't budged. He placed a hand on the blonde's shoulder, officially dragging him back down to Earth.
"Armin, look alive, buddy. You look like you lost your soul," Eren said.
"Because he just sold it to the she-demon that was just on stage!" Connie jested, which turned into cursing once he had to dodge a fist from both Eren and Bertoldt.
He caught his stolen breath, but lost it again from a punch to the ribs.
"Shit! What the hell is happening!?"
From behind him, retracting his fist from Connie's side, Porco shrugged.
"Eren and Bert got to, and I've been waiting to hit something all night, seemed to be the perfect opportunity."
"Yeah, to be a jackass!"
"Have been, and always will be, called much worse…"
"Alright, alright, boys, we got one act left and then we can get some breathing room." Marcel came into the group and started to push them back toward the table.
Armin glanced at Jean, who looked -finally- excited about the next performance.
Now that I think about it, Armin thought, as he observed his friends. Each man wore a look of anticipation and fidgeted in their seats, even Bertoldt and Porco. I guess Midnight has quite the reputation…
The DJ stood up and the hall grew silent.
"Just wanted to say, thank you everybody for coming out tonight and we hope to see you next week. I'll ask that everyone leave by section when the show is over and if you wish to come in and see our girls for their 2nd show tonight, it's back of the line out the front doors. And I always forget to mention this, but there are tabs for our girls if anyone would like to treat our performers to a drink after their shift. Other than that, enjoy the last performance, if you can comprehend it…"
"Do people actually do that?" Eren asked, shocked.
Porco nodded. "People kept wanting to, so they made it legit. It's a way for people to express their admiration for them, since they can't physically meet them," he explained.
"Those girls party after every shift," Reiner commented.
"Those drinks rack up, too!" Connie added.
"One tab from one night is enough to get them plastered for three," Bertoldt said.
"I'm guessing you know this from when you all added to these tabs?" Eren wondered.
"Every visit…" Marcel muttered.
"That explains your financial problems, Reiner, do you buy Majesty one of everything?"
"He only did that once…" Porco chimed.
"Why am I not surprised?"
"Well, you can count me out. As much as I appreciate dinner and a good night out, I don't see myself returning in this lifetime…" Eren said, coaxing eyerolls from the rest.
"Now, that doesn't surprise me," Reiner said.
"It was worth a shot," Connie agreed.
"I think we've all come to accept Eren as a broody, lame-o hermit, that will spend the rest of his days alone," Porco chimed.
"Grow up…" Eren grumbled.
Porco opened his mouth to retaliate, but the lights dimming and crowd murmurs quieting had him closing it again.
"No one fucking speak or move…you know what? Can you all just stop breathing for the next three minutes?" Porco demanded.
"Even if we did, it would get knocked right out again…" Marcel commented.
Interest officially piqued, Eren observed the men surrounding him.
The energy has shifted… he thought. There's a nervous aura in here now. What the hell just happened?
He was about to voice his question out loud, but the booming bass of Rezz's "Taste of You" with Dove Cameron started to shake the Earth.
The lyrics kicked in with a sultry soprano voice and a silhouette of a woman appeared on stage.
"Oh, my God, there she is…" Eren heard the mutter come from Jean.
It was then the dam broke.
The pre-chorus started and the crowd seemed to rise with excitement.
The beat dropped and Midnight broke into a beautifully choreographed Hip-Hop routine. Lights snapped and slashed, illuminating the woman behind the shadow.
What a celebrity! Armin thought as he watched, slack-jawed from his seat.
She's a goddess, Porco thought
My future wife…
Armin could tell everyone at the table was enjoying the performance, even Reiner, who seemed completely and utterly smitten with loyalty to Majesty. Bertoldt, too, watched intently as Midnight flew across the stage, her voice captivating.
Yes, everyone was leaving tonight, happy.
Well, thought Armin, except for-
Armin's thoughts about Eren's boredom and lack of enthusiasm were thrown out the window once he turned to his best friend.
In order to capture the moment, and to ensure that he wasn't hallucinating, Armin nudged Jean.
"Not now, Blondie," Jean hissed, not taking his eyes off the woman on stage, who just broke out into another verse.
"Fine," Armin said, crossing his arms. "I just wanted to see if you noticed anything different about Eren."
"I couldn't give any more fucks about Eren right now."
Glaring, Armin shook his head. "Not even if he's suffering from a broken jaw?"
This had Jean whipping toward the blonde so fast, Armin's bangs were blown out of his face.
"What did you-"
Armin simply nodded his head to the brunette's direction in reply.
Immediately, Jean felt his blood begin to boil.
"Why the hell…" Jean gritted out, "does he look so goddamn smitten?"
Indeed, Eren's features had taken a complete turn. His emerald eyes were wide and glazed with wonder; completely infatuated.
Not even realizing, -by this point-, Jean's question had drawn the attention of the other guys, Eren got up from his chair and walked to the railing right as the pre-chorus started again. His face was illuminated by the sporadic display of lights; his friends swear, he hadn't blinked once since Midnight came on stage…
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Eren had no idea what came over him.
He wasn't interested in the melodramatics of women, and men's tendencies to objectify them. He couldn't care less about the concept of love or desire.
He was someone who was more comfortable with being alone; "more so than most", his friends like to say. But Eren never understood the problem with that. If they wanted to talk about that kind of shit so bad, talk to each other, or, damnit, get laid already!
His mother used to joke how she'd be too weak to even hold a baby by the time she got her first grandchild…
Weird, Eren thought, usually, whenever I think of her, I get…sad.
Midnight started another dance break and the whole performance seemed to evolve into a full-blown rave.
I feel…strange. His eyes seemed to devour her.
Midnight glowed. Her waist length black hair was pulled up into a high pony. A simple black, lace corset covered her breasts but exposed her midriff. Shorts (if you could bloody call them that) covered her ass, leaving long, glorious legs to kiss the air. She wore black Blundstone boots, that seemed welded to her feet with how graceful she was.
Her eyes popped from her smokey shadow, half-lidded from being bewitched by the music herself, no doubt; silver as moonlight.
Her smile was small, but it lit a fire in Eren that he thought would remain dank and cold.
He felt it burn everywhere… His heart, his brain, his groin; his toes were curled, fists were clenched against the railing as he watched her complete the final dance break. He felt a wave of possession wash over him. He wanted her. He wanted her to seduce him with those eyes, kiss him with those lips. He wanted to see her behind closed doors; see her skin. He wanted to know her name, know the sound of his coming out of her mouth, gasping and pleading.
He wants her…
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"I'm…too scared to go near him…" Porco admitted begrudgingly.
Reiner scoffed. "You were all high and mighty a minute ago."
"Um, was I the only one that saw the demon rise out of his soul?"
"No, but the next group needs to come through. We need to leave before that chaos ensues," Bertoldt explained.
"Then you do it!"
Armin sighed heavily for what seemed like the hundredth time that night.
Since Midnight's song ended, Eren had yet to come away from the terrace railing, gazing off into space, seemingly unaware of the crowd dispersing below him.
As the idiots he called friends argued over who would snap Eren back to reality, Armin decided to do so himself -in order to save any broken noses that would come, curtesy of said brunette.
The blonde walked over to stand beside him, and placed a hand on his shoulder lightly.
"Hey, Eren, ready to go?" Armin asked.
The shine returned to his eyes and he tilted his head to look at him. Armin felt his heart knock against his ribs when he saw the look his best friend gave him. He looked…petrified.
Eren opened his mouth, closed it again, and turned back down toward the crowd clearing.
"Who was that, Armin?"
"Uh," Armin drawled. "I think that that's the point. We can't, no, shouldn't, know their names," he replied.
Eren said nothing and rubbed his hands down his face in exasperation. The blonde was unnerved, to say the least.
"You seem…rattled."
"Great detective work there, pal. I'm fucking shook! I was fine with every other dancer, except for the second one -Jesus fucking Christ-, the rest, piece of cake! But Midnight…" he gave a small chuckle, "she just fucked me up. I already can't get her out of my head. I just stood here for 10 minutes, attempting to replay every second of that performance; memorizing her face, her figure, her voice, her smile…" Eren seemed to pale. "I'm sorry, I'll meet you guys out front. I need a second."
Eren started to make his way to the bathroom on the bottom floor as Armin said, "I'll let security know. They won't let anyone in until Group 1 has left, plus, waitresses need to clear the tables."
Eren waved his hand that he understood and started to descend the staircase.
.
.
.
He felt a little better now that his bladder was empty and he'd rinsed his face with cold water, but he still had this inferno blazing in his core.
He is about to leave, and another group of people are going to watch the same performance he just did, feel what he just did… it sickened him.
Rinsing his face again to control the raging monster he can feel starting to stir, Eren attempted to talk himself down.
You're just drunk. These feelings will be gone by morning, then I'll be back to my usual routine. The thought of it churned his insides. His usual routine? God, that seemed like a different life to him now. He can't imagine living the way he has been now that he knows, in this cruel world, she exists. I need to see her again. I might lose my sanity if I don't. This thought made him grit his teeth.
He never liked the idea of dependents, or people who thought they were nothing without another person. Having someone corrupt your mind, your soul, your perspective-
That's what she did; changed my perspective. I feel…lighter for some reason.
Deciding to rinse his face again for good measure, Eren gathered himself and exited the bathroom.
The club was empty, aside from the waitresses' piling dishes onto trays and cooks washing them in the kitchen to his right.
Without the crowd of people, Eren could appreciate how exceptional the interior of the club was. Simple, modern, but slightly flashy; he could tell a lot of thought and effort went into it.
His eyes caught the front door, and he could vaguely hear the sound of many voices talking and laughing on the other side.
My friends are out there in madness probably cursing my name, he thought.
He started to slowly make his way over.
He had concluded that he would definitely be coming back and didn't necessarily want to experience his friends' reactions when he told them.
Well, they can shove it. It's not like I'm visiting every day, unlike some of these idiots…
"Please, the doors are opening in five minutes!"
"Eld, I'm not about to get assassinated! I want a drink before the next show and some curly fries, damnit!"
Eren froze in his tracks at the voices that echoed from the staircase.
"I can bring them to you."
"Not you, too, Gunther. My cousin didn't hire you to be my bulletproof vests!"
"Please, Mik-,"
At this point, Eren had turned around, only to be grabbed by two pairs of strong hands and shoved forward and down.
"Who are you!?"
Eren sputtered, completely in shock to find himself restrained and practically on his knees. "Wha- I-, get off! I was only getting out of the washroom! I was on my way out!" Eren defended.
"Likely story!" a cocky voice chimed. "I can only imagine a pretty boy like you probably thought he could get away with meeting the Angels of Club Paradis without repercussions! Well, I'm here to crush that dream, friend! There is no way in hell you are rich or influential enough to even know the identities of our girls, much less the boss's own family! So, how about you take yourself- ah! MMFPH!" The voice was abruptly cut off by the sound of a wound being struck.
Not being able to look up from the two people holding him, Eren chuckled at the man's legs.
"Did you just…bite your tongue?"
A harsh display of groaning and muffled yelling followed his statement, coaxing a sigh from somewhere beside him.
"That's what you get, Oluo. Now, do us all a favour and bleed out." This voice was feminine and kind; it made Eren calm. "Gunther, Eld, let go of the poor boy and get Midnight her curly fries with a Long Island Iced Tea…"
Eren turned rigid.
"Make it a large, Eld, Titania steals my food."
The two pairs of hands lifted off him and he stood up to come face to face with the woman he just spent the last 20 minutes fantasizing about.
She stared at him with a slight look of amusement, while Eren knows he probably looks like she just told him the Tooth Fairy wasn't real.
"Hey, did you enjoy the show?" she asked.
The brunette felt all the blood rush to his head. He didn't trust his voice to work properly, so he nodded his head slowly, eyes roving over her features.
Noticing this, Midnight smiled; Eren went weak.
"I don't think I've seen you around here before; I definitely would've noticed you…"
Eren felt like he was going to combust; his blood grew hot, his hands clammy, his mouth dry.
What the hell is wrong with me? I can't…collect myself. I'm acting like a fool. Also, what did she mean about 'noticing me'? I can hardly hear her over my blood roaring and heart pounding.
He could see she was waiting for a response, and it took more effort than he cared to admit to get his voice working.
"I-I've never been before. My friends dragged me along."
"So, you didn't like it?" Midnight was confused.
"Not at first…" Eren murmured. "I guess I never saw the appeal of places like this. It is a lot better than I originally thought; you girls are talented…" Gaining some of his confidence again, Eren wasn't as shaky.
"Come on, Midnight, we've gotta get you back to the dressing room," the woman from before butted in. "Eld's coming over with your snack."
Midnight began to pout. "But I haven't asked him who his favourite act was yet."
"You know the rules-," Eld began, fries and drink in hand, but was cut off.
"You."
They turned to Eren.
"You're just saying that," Midnight said, crossing her arms.
Eren shook his head. "I'm not. I have seven friends who can attest to it. You are…breathtaking, Midnight. I never wanted to come back here, until I saw you…" Eren sensed Midnight's bodyguards shift, clearly more alert.
Midnight felt her heart leap; she felt a seductive river of arousal pool in her core.
Well, this is a new feeling, Midnight thought. This isn't the first time I've encountered an attendant of Paradis, but this is the first time I've wanted it to continue. I want to…know him.
Midnight felt Eld and Gunther flank her a few paces behind and sighed.
"I've got to go, but first, what is your name?" she asked.
Shuffling in place, Eren rubbed his nape. "Eren. Eren Jaeger."
She gave him a beautiful smile. "Nice to meet you, Eren."
The breath was knocked out of him. Oh, it was so much better than he imagined. He's going to replay that memory.
"You, too, Midnight."
Eren saw her wince, slightly, before she reached her hand towards him. "Got a phone?"
Nodding, Eren clumsily pulled it out of his pocket in a rush to give it to her.
God, I'd hand this woman my life if I could…
He typed the password for her, and she took it.
For about 30 seconds, she typed on his phone until he heard a muffled ping come from her back pocket; he realized what it was she just did.
She handed him his phone back. "Call me when you're a little more alert. Preferably outside this place, and I want you to call me Mikasa."
.
.
.
When Eren, finally, exited the club and met up with his friends in a café down the block, he got the razzing he deserved.
"Was that whole 'kill me now' attitude a ploy or something?!" Connie fumed.
"So, you were a creep all along…" Porco tsked.
"More like 'an animal', to use your own words against you," Jean snapped.
"I can't believe we fell for it!" Reiner laughed.
"Would you all be quiet?!" Eren growled.
"Seriously, though," Armin said, handing him a hot apple cider, (he knew what Eren liked), "what the hell took you so long?"
Eren took a sip; perfect temperature. "I went to the bathroom."
"For 25 minutes?" Bertoldt asked.
"Spill it, Eren!" Connie snapped.
"I…" Will they even believe me? "I met her…"
Silence settled.
"Who?" Jean growled.
Eren looked at him, eyes narrowed. "Midnight."
It was almost comical to see their eyes all widen at once.
"No. You. Fucking. Didn't," Porco gritted.
Taking out his phone, Eren turned it to the new contact added to his list.
"Mikasa?" Marcel said.
"Her real name, obviously," Eren replied.
More influenced by the alcohol than he was initially letting on, Jean snatched Eren's phone and stepped back quickly, pressing a button on the phone.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing!?" Eren roared, kicking up from his seat and drawing the attention of the entire café.
"FaceTimeing her because I'm calling bull- fucking-shit! No one has ever got to meet her, much less have her fucking number! If you think for a second that you can convince us you actually met Midnight, you're gonna have to-,"
"Um, hello?"
A pin dropped somewhere outside as Jean slowly looked at the phone screen, where he saw low-and-behold, Midnight staring right back at him. He tilted the phone so the rest of the guys could see.
"Whoa, okay, there's a lot of you. Eren? What's going on?"
Simultaneously, each of his friends' heads snapped to look at him.
"My apologies, Mikasa. My friends here were curious of my whereabouts and the rest is history," Eren replied.
Midnight blinked back at him through the screen, before laughing lightly.
"I can guess the rest." Her gaze flitted around the screen. "Hey, you guys are at the café down the street. If you don't mind waiting, you can come back here after closing. It's Friday and I recognize some of you. A couple of you have caught my girl's eyes. It'll be fun! On the house, of course." Mikasa took a sip from her drink, before it was almost knocked out of her hand by an arm swinging over her shoulder; the Maiden's face came into view.
"Oh, it'll be fun, alright. I'd be willing to give any of you a private performance," she drawled.
"Ugh, Hitch, get your estrogen away from me," Midnight snapped, pushing the cackling blonde away.
"Not to mention it can get boring with just the five of us!" Majesty's voice came from somewhere nearby. "I'll be nice to know some faces in the crowd!" Her glorious face came into view beside Mikasa. "I'm Historia, by the way."
"GAH!" A sudden shout from Porco had them turning, only to have to look down. Reiner had fainted and collapsed right on to Porco. "Get this oaf off me!" he snapped.
Bertoldt and Marcel had to keep from laughing as they tugged on Reiner's arms to drag him up.
"Uh, is he okay?" Historia wondered.
"He is now," Bertoldt replied.
"What a fool…"
Marcel was suddenly dragged back down as all of Reiner's weight crashed on him. "Gah! Bert, what the hell!?"
Another new voice had their attention back on the screen and Titania was in view.
"That's not nice, Annie," Historia pouted. "I've seen this reaction before."
"Because you're damn cute!" Cashmere appeared on the screen, officially claiming that Eren, indeed, had Midnight's number.
"Awe, thanks Pieck."
"So," Midnight turned her camera, so it was just her. "What do you say? Think you're up for it?"
The men exchanged glances.
Eren knew about his class tomorrow, but he couldn't find a single fuck to give.
He watched the screen as Midnight smiled. She truly was surreal. Eren could feel something expand in his chest whenever he thought of her.
Mikasa…
"You fucking bet."
This just suddenly came to me and I had to get it down. I will still be continuing "Haunted" but I like to switch it up. Hope you enjoyed! ~RavenJaeger