Chapter Text
He had met Petra a few weeks ago. Well, no, the reality is that he had seen her last year, when they had both been new to school. He hadn't given it much importance, Levi doesn’t care for people in general. He hadn't even wanted to go to that school, if only his uncle hadn't forgotten to enroll him in the one he did want to go to… But he ended up there, entering a week late.
Petra had also entered a week late, he knew because the secretary had said oh, you both start today? You should become friends.
He wouldn't befriend her, he wouldn't befriend anyone, because everyone who goes to that school is a loser.
Yeah, including him.
He hadn't spoken a word with her again, they had never really talked. When they passed each other in the hallway, they made awkward eye contact, like they recognized each other, but weren’t formally introduced.
When they begin second year, they fall in the same class.
“Can I sit?” She asks the first day, shy and quite ready for Levi to say no. She deserves to be told that, it’s the consequence for being late.
But he pulls his backpack off the empty chair and shrugs.
Surely tomorrow Petra would look for another place to sit.
She doesn’t.
He can't say they are friends because they don't act like that. They don't talk about personal things, they don't walk together. They do their homework silently, perhaps with an occasional question from Petra or Levi’s annoyed voice asking if she has an extra pencil (which is actually not annoying, but rather shy, because he doesn't know her).
The great proof, whether they are deskmates because there is no other place or because they have chosen each other implicitly (he’s overreacting) comes when the teacher gives an assignment in pairs.
Levi won’t say anything, he’d rather be dead than ask her if she wants to be his partner.
But Petra is ahead of him.
"Do you want us to do it together? We can go to McDonald’s after school.”
He thinks. He takes a second to ponder it. Does he want to do the project with her? The reality is that Levi prefers to do it alone, but surely they won’t allow it. If he rejects her, he probably has to ask someone else. That is worse.
"I guess," he finally mutters.
That's the first class of the day. He can't help but think all the time that at the end of the day he will still be spending time with Petra. It's... he feels uncomfortable, an uncomfortable pinch in the pit of his stomach that makes him think he should back down and tell her no, he'll do it alone.
But what happens is that he’s struggling to find something wrong, because what he feels is more like a desire to go. And it’s not the anxiety of when he knows that Kenny did the cleaning and not someone qualified, but a pleasant one.
He wants to go. He wants to go with Petra.
At McDonald's, in an out-of-school setting, Levi discovers that not only does Petra seem likeable, but that she is. And funny. And eloquent. And very ingenious.
And he has to focus on the homework, because he finds it like too many discoveries in one afternoon.
Levi walks her home, because that’s one of the few not bad things that his uncle taught him. Petra thanks him and they chat more along the way.
“See you tomorrow!” She says, entering the apartment building.
Levi has no idea where he is.
It takes him an hour to get to his house. Kenny is in the kitchen and peeks out when he hears the door.
"Where the fuck were you? Why the fuck did I buy you an expensive cell phone, if you are not gonna let me know when you’ll be late?” He asks and puts an unlit cigar in his mouth.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Levi returns, frowning and trying to peer into the kitchen, "Cooking again? Don't you get tired of failing?”
Kenny squints and clenches his jaw, but smiles.
"I'll forbid you from watching television, for being insolent." Levi shrugs, showing that he doesn't care. “I'll lock you in the basement.”
“I'm faster than you.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
"No, you’re–" Kenny growls and turns back to the kitchen, grumbling, "fucking brat, making me fight like a child... Go wash up or whatever, dinner’s almost ready!”
Levi continues past the kitchen threshold, across the living room to the hallway of the bedrooms. He opens his door and hangs his backpack from the hook there, then goes to the bathroom.
“And where were you? You're too not-beat-up to be back from trouble,” Kenny says when they sit down.
"I was doing homework." He's not sure what he's eating, but it's not that bad. “What’s this?”
“Noodles.”
"And why are we using spoons?"
"Extra-extra cooked noodles," Levi makes a face and Kenny sighs, "we can't keep eating delivery, okay? It’s expensive and it’s not healthy.”
"And this is healthy? It hardly seems edible.”
He shrugs, "It's cheap, but don't change the subject, where did you do homework?"
Levi scoops a large spoonful into his mouth and looks into his eyes as he chews slowly. Kenny squints his eyes.
"Levi–" he says when he swallows, but immediately shoves another. “This is quite effective at making you eat, huh?”
He frowns. Levi swallows and before he can get another bite in, Kenny grabs his hand.
"You ate too much, you won't grow up anymore."
"Fuck off," he mutters. He crosses his arms and leans back in the chair. “What the fuck do you want?”
“To know. Where. You. Went.”
“I was studying!”
“Where!?”
"At fucking McDonald’s!"
“With who!?”
“With a classmate!”
“A-HA!” Kenny exclaims, getting up. Levi raises an eyebrow. “Wait, what? I thought you were fighting again.”
"The fuck you care? Goddammit, leave me alone, Kenny, you're not my fucking mother.”
“I. Was. Worried,” he hisses, as if it hurts him to have to say it.
"Whatever," he barely pushes the plate, "I'm full, I'm going to sleep."
Levi walks into his room and slams it shut. Kenny runs a hand over his face and sighs.
It takes a week to get the homework done, quite a lot for Levi's standards, but that's because Petra spends half the time chatting about anything but homework.
It's not like Levi is avoiding it.
He’s almost sorry they finish, because he no longer has an excuse to spend time with her. For some reason, at school they hardly talk at all. For some reason means Levi being Levi, so serious and sharp, exuding an aura of leave me alone.
Although if he thinks about it a little more, Petra doesn't speak to almost anyone inside the class, much less outside. Levi suspects that she has as many friends as he does.
That is, zero.
But the next day, Petra decides to turn things around and strike up a conversation. She tells him about a movie she saw the night before, one that he doesn't know about, but that doesn't stop him from listening carefully and absorbing every detail she blurts out.
In the afternoon, when he arrives at home (after walking Petra to the bus stop), he meets Kenny's curious gaze.
"Didn't you have homework today?"
“I already finished it.”
"Good, because we're going shopping." He gets up from the sofa and takes the cigarettes from the table.
“Now?”
"Now," he says and then looks at Levi, "or did you have something else to do?"
"I wanted to–" he looks away and Kenny raises an eyebrow at his barely rosy cheeks, "I wanted to see a movie."
"Pornographic?"
“What–?” Levi gasps in annoyance. “No!”
"Then we can watch it over dinner."
It's not a very convincing plan, but he doesn't have much room to refuse. They get out and get into Kenny's vehicle, a small red old car with a handle window. Levi flies it open. It always smells like dust in that car.
"What do you want to eat?" Kenny asks, turning on the radio and starting the car.
Levi shrugs, "anything, but your cooking."
"Would you rather cook yourself, smart boy?" He raises an eyebrow and glances at him sideways. Levi grimaces, "I thought so."
They buy general things. Some vegetables that surely will rot. It's not like they don't eat them, but Kenny doesn't know where to put them on.
Huh. Till now.
"Have you been practicing?" Levi asks, leaning against the threshold of the kitchen watching him cut up some of the vegetables they bought.
"I've been investigating," Kenny replies. “So you stop fucking bothering me.”
"It was just one day," he murmurs annoyed.
"And that was enough, my dear nephew."
He puts all the vegetables in the electric oven and turns to Levi.
“And the movie?”
"I'll see it later."
"Don't be a bitter brat," he scolds and Levi frowns. “Oh, well, do whatever you want, you sure don't want to spend time with your old uncle.”
"No, I don't want–"
"Go put the damn movie!" Kenny exclaims and gets to see Levi's funny little smile.
"I saw the movie," Levi says when Petra says good morning.
"And what did you think?"
Actually, it was like crap for him, but, hey, Kenny liked it.
"My uncle liked it," he shrugs.
"Did you see it with him? That’s fun," she smiles, "my dad never wants to see the movies I pick.”
“Why?”
"He says he doesn’t like them.” Levi has to agree with him.
It’s a boring day, mainly because they’re given a lot of homework and Petra cannot chat with him.
(Maybe he should think a bit about why he wants her to chat with him, but that time won't be now.)
At lunchtime, when Petra is about to ask him if he wants to go to the buffet, other classmates come to them. That's not good. That means that he’s aura of stay away is wavering. He has to do something.
"The fuck are you looking at, four eyes?"
"What are you looking at, Oompa Loompa," Hanji laughs, patting him on the shoulder, clearly joking around. Levi frowns and is about to get up when he hears Petra's laugh. He sits down, taking a deep breath. “Ah! I thought my time had come.”
"It’s close," he mutters.
"Last year, you would have terrified me, but now I have my doubts," they continue to challenge.
"Isn't it hot to wear long pants?" Petra intervenes, trying to change the topic of conversation, plus she was always curious to ask them.
Hanji grimaces. "Death to skirts."
Petra laughs shyly as she smoothes her own skirt.
"But it looks good on you!" Hanji adds, "you're the only person I like to see in a skirt. And Nanaba too!” They say, turning to the other girl, two rows to the left. Nanaba chuckles.
"How lucky, then," Petra jokes and giggles. Levi wants Hanji to leave right now.
"We're going to Karaoke after school," they say, squatting on the floor and resting their head on the table next to Petra, "do you want to go?"
"Well... I already made plans to study with Levi."
It's– it's a lie, because he would remember if they had plans.
"Actually, Gerger insisted that I invite you," Hanji replies and whispers, "he's got me to the bone, Petra, if you don't come, I'll have to kill him."
Petra turns to look at Levi and he looks back at her. Is she asking for permission within her own lie?
Oh, no, she's asking for help.
"I'll go too," he says. “We’ll study there.”
Hanji and Petra laugh.
“I wasn’t joking.”
Hanji laughs louder, but Petra looks at him with a grimace. He raises his eyebrows.
“Great then!” Hanji jumps up and pats Levi again, shaking him completely. "If he gets annoying, you'll help me kill him."
They leave before he can make a sharp comment.
Petra turns to him and the bell rings. She leans in a little and whispers.
“Thanks.”
Levi wants to ask what's the matter with Gerger, if she wants him to beat him up, but maybe she doesn't take that part very well.
So he just nods.
As soon as the end of school bell rings, Hanji is next to them.
"I have good news and bad news for you!" they say, putting an arm around Petra's shoulders. They were about to do it with Levi too, but his gaze makes them hold back, "the good news is that Gerger isn't coming. He’s in detention.”
Levi smiles.
"The bad news is that you have to come anyway!"
Levi stops smiling.
“It’ll be fun!” Hanji exclaims, putting their arm around Levi's shoulders. “Nanaba’s waiting for us outside with her boyfriend and another dude.”
He turns to Hanji, ready to tell them to fuck off, but his gaze meets Petra's. She smiles, he sighs, and Hanji raises an eyebrow.
"Holy fuck..." they giggle and pull at Levi, "let's be besties ."
"Fuck off," he murmurs, not letting go, but turning away.
At the exit they meet Nanaba, Mike and Erwin fucking Smith.
He doesn't want to fucking go to karaoke anymore.
They all wave and Hanji rushes them to the place.
"Let's get out before the other idiot escapes from detention," they laugh without a trace of fun. They seem upset.
They arrive, they sit down. They start singing. Levi realizes a little late that he doesn't like this at all, that it's a shitty plan and that he wants to go home. Worst of all, he was left sitting next to Erwin and he's sure it won't be long before he starts a conversation.
"I don't like karaoke either." Ah, there it is.
"And why the hell did you come?" Levi returns irritably. He sinks deeper into his seat.
“Socializing.”
Levi looks at him with a grimace. "You talk like you're thirty."
"Of course not," Erwin says.
Hanji throws themself on the couch, between the two of them. Levi moves before he gets underneath, but Hanji seems more interested in being on top of Erwin.
"Smith, it's your turn," they say, patting his knee. He smiles.
“No, thanks.”
"It wasn't a question." They smile back and narrow their eyes. Erwin sighs and stands up. Hanji leans over to Levi. “So how long have you liked our dear Ral?”
Levi ignores the question.
"Have you made a move?" He continues to ignore them. “Does she know?”
There he does turn around. Hanji smiles.
"So, yes, yes, no, right?"
"What the fuck do you want, Hanji?" Levi asks quietly.
“To be friends!” They put a big smile, "and since we're friends, I'll help you.”
"We're not friends, I don't want us to be, and I don't need help."
Hanji laughs and leans back, "ah, you're wrong on that last point because you do need my help. What's more, I have information that might interest you.”
Levi squints and looks at Hanji, who just smiles and moves their eyebrows.
Erwin's song ends and he walks over to them to sit down again.
"Go sing another song," Levi says.
"But I didn't like it–"
"Come on, I love listening to you!" Hanji exclaims and slaps him on the butt.
"Auch, okay…" he answers, rubbing the blow.
“What do you know?” Levi whispers, but before getting an answer, his cell phone starts ringing. “Fuck... what do you want?”
"Where the fuck are you?"
"I'm studying," he lies and he can almost hear Kenny raise an eyebrow.
"That doesn't sound like studying."
"Well, it's what I'm doing. Bye.”
"You better be here by dinner or I'll kick–!" Levi hangs up.
"She likes you too," Hanji mutters and pats his shoulder before standing up, causing him to almost drop the phone.
Levi frowns at them as they sing a pop song until they return to sit next to him.
“How do you know that?” Levi mutters. “You’re not that close.”
Hanji makes a face and then laughs.
"Well, okay, she didn't say anything to me, but!" they pat him on the back and makes him bend over with them, "she keeps glancing at you every so often, you know? Look now, she sure is looking at you.”
Hanji gets up again and goes to sit next to Nanaba. Levi looks sideways at Petra and notices that she quickly looks away.
"It was fun, don’t you think?" Petra comments when Levi’s walking her home.
If he ignores the fact that Hanji bothered him the whole afternoon, Erwin talking about fucking politics, or the fact that she had hardly spoken to him...
“I suppose.”
"I would have liked to hear you sing," she says shyly, giving him a gentle push with her shoulder. It's already like the fifth since they'd left the karaoke.
"Maybe next time," he says just to say, but she smiles.
"I'll look forward to it, then," Petra replies and gives him another shove. They arrive at her door. “See you tomorrow.”
She looks into his eyes, still shy, and she stays like that for a few seconds.
"See ya," Levi says. Petra is still standing and he doesn’t know if she has something else to say or not.
They stare at each other for a few more seconds, until it gets awkward. Levi takes a step back and scratches the back of his neck. He gives her one last look and goes back in his footsteps to go to his house.
That last look hadn't been normal. Upset?
Ah.
Disappointed.
"And you study at a fucking club or what?" Kenny asks as soon as he walks through the door.
"I was at the karaoke," he answers barely, still thinking about Petra.
“By yourself?” Kenny wrinkles his nose. “That's sad.”
Levi looks at him with a grimace, "I was with some classmates."
He goes to his room and leaves his backpack hanging on the door hook. When he goes back to the living room, he meets Kenny’s amazed look.
“You have friends?”
“They're not my–”
The other's laugh interrupts him, "Way to go!"
Kenny walks to the kitchen, still laughing.
He keeps thinking of Petra when she wakes up the next morning, even when she gets to school.
"Levi, you fucking idiot," Hanji says, putting their hands hard on the table. Petra still hasn't arrived.
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Petra told me," they say, as if that answers everything, "I thought you liked her."
"I–" He breaks off but looks Hanji in the eye, frowning, "I like her."
"And why the hell didn't you kiss her?"
"Why the fuck–?"
Shit.
Shit.
“Shit!” Levi turns to Hanji. “What did she say?”
"That she thought you would, but you didn't," Nanaba answers, sitting behind him, "and she told me, not Hanj."
"Oh, come on, y'all know?" He complains.
"Nah, just Mike, Nanaba, you and me," Hanji replies, "I give you the pleasure of telling Petra yourself."
"Fuck off," he murmurs, crossing his arms.
"Oh? I'll come back later,” Petra jokes, “morning.”
The three greet her.
Hanji sits next to Nanaba without taking their eyes off him. Levi turns to the front.
“Something’s wrong?” Petra asks.
"Oh, no, just Hanji being Hanji," Nanaba chuckles.
Class starts. Hanji doesn't shut the fuck up. They talk and talk relentlessly, so much that they start giving Levi a headache. The recess bell rings and Levi rests his head on the table, covering his ears, wanting to die.
“Are you okay?” Petra whispers, imitating his pose. Levi turns and grimaces.
"Hanji's going to explode my head."
"She talks too much, right?" She whispers again and giggles, then straightens up, grabbing his arm. “We’ll go to the buffet, do you want something?”
“Chips!” Hanji exclaims and Nanaba denies.
Oh, no, he has to thank Hanji later (that’s a lie, he never would), because Petra holds his wrist and doesn’t let go. Ah, is it too late to kiss her now?
By the time he makes up his mind, it is, because she Petra lets go of him to grab the stair rail.
"The buffet isn't that way," he says, something obvious.
"But the terrace is," Petra smiles and she continues up, fast. Levi hurries behind her, because unfortunately the skirt she wears is a bit short and stairs are her natural enemy.
"Not gonna lie to you," she says when they reach the door, laughing shyly, "rumor has it that you have the key to the terrace on your keychain."
Levi frowns, puzzled that that is a rumor.
"Uh, I don't have the key."
"Oh.”
"But I know they keep it here," he walks over to the fire hose by the door and pulls a key from the side, "ta-da," he says in a monotonous voice. Petra laughs.
They go out to the terrace. It’s close to fall, but it’s not a cold day. It’s not windy.
He locks the door behind her and leaves it in the lock. Levi turns to Petra, she's already standing on the railing, looking down and toward the horizon. She is so beautiful and she is even more so when she turns to him, smiling and reaches out to call out to him.
Levi walks over to her, feels his knees shake with each step, but he pretends they don’t. Why is he nervous, anyway? He's just going to stand next to her friend.
Friend?
Most likely, his nerves came from the fact that he was thinking about kissing Petra, and now he knows that she wanted to kiss him too and, in general, the frustrated kiss never left his head and causes him to think and analyze every so often, is this the moment? Is this the moment?
Petra is daring or maybe brave is the word, because when Levi stands next to her, she takes his hand swiftly and openly, not at all like they do in the movies.
"Your hand’s cold," she says, chuckling and still shy, but not letting go.
He wants to say that the other is also cold, so she holds it too, but Levi doesn't know if he can bear to look into her eyes now. The only thing he manages to do is intertwine their fingers, because he feels like that means more than holding hands like elementary school kids.
He caresses the back of Petra’s hand with his thumb and she moves closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder.
Levi rests his head on hers and has to admit that, for now, this is enough.
They didn't have that much time left anyway, because the bell of the end of the break rings. He sighs, defeated and disappointed, because he feels that this is a one-time thing, that won’t be repeated.
"We should go back, right?" Petra asks, as she slides her other hand onto his arm and hugs him.
"That's right," Levi replies, without moving.
Finally, she is the first to take a step. She pulls away from him slowly and turns toward the door, all without letting go of his hand, taking it with her.
Hanji complains that they didn't buy them the chips, but Nanaba barely elbows them, because they are already in class.
That afternoon, Levi walks Petra home holding her hand.
"You owe me a karaoke outing," Gerger says one day. He says it while looking at Hanji, but Levi is sure that it is more directed at Petra. He has no proof, but he also has no doubts . “You said they wouldn't go without me.”
"No," Hanji says, laughing, "I said 'oh, yeah, of course we'll go without you’."
"Sounds like sarcasm," Nanaba points out.
"I know," they chuckle and turn to Gerger, "karaoke sucks, nobody wants to go."
Levi watches them and looks at Petra as well, who appears to ignore the conversation, but listens carefully.
"What about the movies?" Gerger knows that’s Hanji’s, the person apparently assigned to plan the outings of all of them, "there’s a scary one–”
"S– shit," Hanji mutters, because they already fell into the trap. They sigh, "I'll see what I can organize."
Gerger seems eager to add something else, but he walks away with a frown, as if he was told to come back later with an appointment.
"We could go without him," Hanji whispers, leaning forward, "what do you think?"
Petra makes a guilty face. "It's not right, we already ditched him once."
"She's right," Nanaba nods and turns to Hanji. “What's up with you? Why don't you like him?”
"He's an idiot," Levi says and Hanji smiles.
“Exactly! Besides” they roll their eyes, jaded, "last year he told me I should wear a skirt.”
A chill shakes their body and then they let out a laugh.
“Anyway! Saturday, what do you think?” They ask looking at Levi and Petra. She nods and he shrugs.
Kenny says nothing when he asks for money, he just asks where he will go.
“To the movies.”
“Alone?” Levi squints at him, "okay, okay, I want your ass here by dinner time."
He doesn't answer, partly to annoy him, partly because he doesn't know if he’ll be back at that time.
"And you better answer the phone the first time I call!" Kenny adds when Levi is closing the apartment door.
Before going to the movies, he stops by Petra's house. He hopes they can go hand in hand.
“Yes?” Ah, but the one who answers the intercom is not her, but her father, from the male voice, "who is it?”
"Levi," he answers without hesitation.
"And what do I nee–?"
“Dad!” Levi hears Petra on the other side, then movement. “I'm sorry, Levi, I'll be there in a sec.”
"Sure," he barely answers, but she's already hung up the intercom. He looks at the time on his phone and not only discovers a text message from Kenny ("You better be back on time"), but he finds one from Hanji ("Hi, it’s Hanji!!!"), even though he never gave them his number.
Levi raises his head and Petra comes out, accompanied by her father.
“Dad, Levi; Levi, Dad," she quickly and nervously introduces, "can we go now?”
He’s not sure if she asks him or her dad.
The man looks him up and down, scrutinizing and even judging him, but he says nothing.
"Have fun, honey," he says and starts walking, luckily to the opposite way.
Petra turns to start walking toward the movie theater, but Levi is still in his place, staring at her father's back. She turns back, grabs him by the wrist and drags him with her.
Two steps later, he catches up with her and intertwines their fingers.
“Sorry, I told my dad a little about you and–”
“You talked about me with him?”
That sounds like something important. Or not? She says it like it's no big deal. Maybe he should ask Hanj–
No. Before dead.
"Oh, no, nothing important," Petra chuckles. “It's just that he saw me arrive with you the other day and asked who you were.”
Levi nods and doesn't say much more. The cinema is a few streets away and in a few minutes they arrive. They don't see anyone at the door and Levi wonders if he should let go of Petra's hand, to avoid staring and awkward questions.
He doesn't have time to make up his mind because Hanji appears out of nowhere (it's their default way of appearing) and jumps on them, one arm around each neck.
"You’re on time, that's weird!" Hanji exclaims, rather looking at Petra and she laughs without shame.
"I'm always on time," Levi defends.
"Then we know whose fault it is.”.
“And the rest?” Petra asks, but Hanji shrugs.
"I just got here, I guess the others will be inside," they say, "Mike and Nanaba were coming together, Erwin must be there and I hope Gerger got hit by a car."
"Hanji!" Petra exclaims, but Levi can't help but snort.
They enter the cinema and just as Hanji says, Erwin’s already there. Levi makes a face.
"Smith!" Hanji calls as they walk up to him. Erwin raises his hand in a general greet and Hanji gives him a high five. He chuckles and wraps his arm around Hanji's shoulders as they lean against him.
“And the others?” He asks.
"Do you think I have them in my pocket or what?" Levi asks irritably, but the rest take it as a joke.
They chat for a while, waiting for the others to arrive. The first to do so, unfortunately for all (except Erwin), is Gerger.
"Good afternoon, dear friends."
"I'm not your friend," Hanji and Levi say at the same time, in totally different tones. Gerger makes a face.
“And the others?” He asks after. Levi wants to answer him the same as Erwin, but he doesn't want to be repetitive. Ah, but he wants to say it.
Petra sighs and when Levi looks at her, she winces.
"Nanaba won't come, she says something came up," Petra says, keeping her phone.
"Probably not Mike either," Erwin adds, putting his free hand in his pocket.
"Oh, too bad, I guess we'll all have to go home," Hanji sighs, feigning disappointment, then looks at Erwin, "your house or my house, Smith?"
Levi suspects there’s something there, not so much from Hanji's unabashed question, but from Erwin's embarrassed expression.
"I've already booked the tickets," Gerger intervenes, looking at his phone, "and the movie actually starts at fifteen. We should buy the drinks.”
He starts walking towards the box office. Hanji sighs and follows him, with Erwin walking nearby. Levi considers running away, maybe he could take Petra with him.
"Come on," she says, catching him first and leading him by the hand. Oh, well.
They took out the tickets, bought food, drinks and entered the room. He tries to sit in the farthest spot from Gerger and Hanji too, while we’re at it. He sits at the side, Petra next to him, Gerger next to her (ugh), Erwin next and Hanji last.
He takes out his phone to cut off the sound, because Kenny is always lucky enough to have the worst timing. He sees that he has two messages from him, but ignores them.
The movie doesn't turn out to be that boring, actually, it's entertaining, but he can't admit it. Maybe Kenny would like it.
After the cinema they go to the shopping center, which is one street away. They sit in the food court.
"Hey," he doesn't know what disturbs him more, that Erwin is talking to him or that he has leaned and whispered, "aren't those…?"
Levi glances at where he's pointing and then swings around. Oh, yes they are.
"We have to go," Levi says quickly. Erwin nods. They return to their table and he takes Petra by the wrist. “We have to go,” he repeats.
“Something happened?” Hanji asks with a hint of concern as they watch Erwin put their things in their backpack, "Smith."
"Nothing to worry about," he lies, smiling. He slings Hanji's backpack over his shoulder and grabs their elbow, then looks at Gerger, "very funny, it has to be repeated, bye.”
"Hey, what's up?" Gerger asks in a slightly loud voice. Levi wants to kill him.
"Those are Smith and Ackerman," they hear the others say from behind.
"Levi?" Petra whispers, worried.
He doesn't answer, ignores everyone and leaves the mall, dragging her with him. He looks over his shoulder and sees the rest, but further behind them are the others as well.
"Levi," Petra repeats, her voice normal and firmer, "what's wrong?"
"They are–" he breaks off because he's not sure if he wants to tell her that, but then he denies, because it's not a secret either, "they're from another school. Erwin and I had a fight with them last year and, well…”
"God…" Petra mumbles, "I thought something serious had happened, or–"
"Doesn't this seem serious to you?" He's stunned.
"I'm surprised something like this took this long to happen." He turns to look at her and she looks back at him. “What? Everyone knows your reputation, Ackerman.”
He lets out a laugh, and he doesn't know if it's because of the stress, because Petra is still next to him or because of how she said his name. A combination of all, he supposes.
They turn into a street and then into an alley, where he finally stops.
"What the fuck is going on?" Hanji says when everyones gathers. “Levi?”
He ignores them.
"Erwin?" They turns to him. Erwin has a hard time not answering.
“They are–”
"It's a gang fight!" Petra exclaims. Everyone turns to her.
“Are you okay?” Levi asks, puzzled.
"Sure, it’s just like a movie," she laughs, "Nanaba would have loved this."
"Gangs?" Gerger scoffs and crosses his arms. "Come on, that's ridiculous, right?"
He looks at the rest. Erwin averts his eyes chuckling and Levi rolls his eyes.
"Here they are," says a boy at the entrance to the alley. “It’s been a long time since I saw your faces.”
"Yes, nice to say hello," says Erwin. He looks everywhere looking for a way out and finds it at the end of the alley, but sees that no one moves. “I hope we'll see each other again soon.”
Everyone was still not moving.
"Let's go," he insists, tugging at Hanji and glaring at Levi.
The others are four boys, around their age, and although they are five, Levi doesn’t trust the abilities of the rest.
Gerger gives a nervous, confident laugh and says, "Oh, aren't you introducing your friends?"
Levi punches him in the ribs and looks at him with a frown.
"Shut your mouth," he hisses.
"What are you saying, idiot?" They get closer, the speaker stands in front of Gerger, "who do you call friend? I’m not friends with any of you.”
"Uh, do you want to be?" Hanji asks doubtfully, but smiling.
"Are you fucking kidding with me?" Levi asks. He runs a hand over his face and moves closer to the other, pushing Gerger away. “Hey, we're not looking for a fight, okay? What do you want?”
"Fuck off you, I'm talking to the loser." He shoves Levi, causing him to bump into Gerger and takes a step toward Hanji. “Who the fuck would want to be your friend?”
“Excuse me?” They laugh barely. Erwin leans closer to Hanji and grabs their arm, sensing their anger.
"Ah, besides of ugly, deaf. You're a failure as a girl,” the boy laughs, closing his eyes and throwing his head back in a gesture of pride.
“Fuck off!” They say and punch him in the face.
"Fucking bitch!"
"I'm not a girl!" They yell and want to hit him again but Erwin holds their arms.
"Hey, hey, calm down," he whispers as Hanji breathes heavily.
The rest of the boy's friends come running up. Levi pushes Gerger to them, causing the four of them to fall to the ground. He walks over to the trash and finds a chipped broomstick.
"All of you, fuck off." He doesn't raise his voice, but his eyes speak for him. He glares at them, from high up because they are still on the ground. Levi glances at the other, who is still, holding his mouth.
"Fine," says one from the ground. He raises his hands and Levi takes a step back. Erwin walks over to help Gerger up and they both stand behind him, "Fine, we're leaving, okay?"
Levi doesn’t answer, but continues to stare at them without blinking, and continues like that until the four return the way they came.
They spend a minute without moving or breathing until Levi throws the stick aside, making all four jump.
"Can we leave for once?" He asks done, walking between them and taking Petra's hand.
"Wow," she whispers and gives him a squeeze.
"Holy fuck," Hanji says and laughs. “I punched him! And I got away with it!”
"Yeah, yeah, please don't do it again, love," Erwin murmurs, stroking Hanji's arm when they hook it with his.
“You do it.”
"But I'm willing to take a hit."
"Ah– you caught me there," they laugh, then turn to Levi. “What's up with you? Are you the son of Freddy Kruger or what?”
He looks at her with a frown.
"Because you will be in their nightmares."
“You’re–”
"That was awesome," Gerger interrupts, putting his arm around Levi's shoulder. “Shit, I had heard the rumors, but I thought they were a lie.”
"You want another hit to the ribs?" Levi asks him. Gerger laughs and Levi gives him a shove to shake him off. “You don’t have survival instinct, what’s more–”
He stops and turns to look at everyone.
"None of you have it. How are you going to hit someone when we are at a disadvantage?” He scolds Hanji.
“But there are five of us–”
“You fight?” He asks Petra and she denies, "You just said you don't want to take a hit and Smith asks their permission before hitting them."
"It's courtesy," says Erwin.
“You're an idiot/that's not very smart” Levi and Petra say.
"You didn't name me," says Gerger.
"Surely you are the first to pass out or run away."
“Hey!”
Everyone falls silent and Levi hopes that’s enough for them to reconsider and have a little more common sense.
But Petra laughs. And then Hanji and then Erwin and Gerger.
“The fuck. You’re. Laughing.”
“You are worried!” Says Petra laughing. She hugs his arm and rests her forehead on his shoulder, still laughing.
Levi sighs annoyed, but he would be lying if he said that a small smile is not about to escape.
Levi returns shortly after dinner time, but only because public transportation was delayed. He didn't tell Kenny because he forgot, but mostly because he believed he would be there on time.
When he walks through the door, Kenny's sitting on the couch in front of the TV, drinking a beer can.
“I’m home.”
"I see that," he answers without looking at Levi.
"Transportation was delayed," he says. Kenny squints at him over his shoulder and Levi raises an eyebrow. “Sorry?”
"Ah, magic words, only for that you’re not punished grounded," he sighs and turns to the TV. “There are warm leftovers in the kitchen.”
Levi serves himself veggies with rice or whatever Kenny has made. It doesn't look that bad.
He returns to the living with the plate and sits next to him.
"How was the cinema?" Kenny asks and takes a swig of beer. Levi shrugs. “What did you see?”
“A movie.”
"Ah, you're funny, I don't remember putting clowns on the food,” he grunts and sets the can aside. “Did you go with your friends?”
Levi nods mouth full, watching TV. When he feels Kenny's gaze, he turns around.
"Wha?" He asks without swallowing.
"So, you went with your friends." Levi frowns and turns to the TV. The other lets out a laugh. “Who'd say! You are popular despite your shitty attitude.”
"I don't have–" Kenny raises an eyebrow, "I don't always have a shitty attitude."
"And when are you going to invite your friends over?"
Levi wrinkles his nose, because besides the fact that he hadn't thought about it, he doesn't want to either. The department is small for so many, maybe he could invite only Petra. He glances at Kenny, taking a drink from his can and burping afterward, watching TV.
He dismisses the idea immediately.
On Monday, everyone at school already knows what happened at the movies. Levi walks through the hallways with his head held high, ignoring the stares of the others. It reminds him of last year, but the looks give him a different feeling. It must be his imagination.
He gets to the classroom and sits where he always does. Petra is already sitting up, turned to Hanji and Nanaba, the latter whimpering.
"And I missed it!? Nooo…” She throws her head on the table.
Petra turns to Levi.
"Did you hear the rumors?"
“Should I?”
"Gerger told everyone we beat them up!" Hanji says proudly. “Huh, he doesn't seem like such an idiot to me anymore…”
Levi makes a face.
Classes begin. It seems like it’ll be a normal day, except when it hits the first break, the teacher calls Levi and Hanji.
"The director wants to talk to you," he says.
Petra is next to Levi and makes a face.
"What did you do now?" she asks, sighing.
Levi raises an eyebrow, she says it like they always get in trouble.
Hanji shrugs and starts walking, Levi following them.
They get to the office door, which is open. The director sees them and gestures for them to enter.
“Close the door please.”
Levi sighs, because it looks like it's going to be long.
"Some rumors have reached my ears," he says. He has his elbows on the desk and his hands are linked. He looks at them seriously. “Do you want to explain what happened over the weekend?”
"Nothing happened," Hanji says quickly, maybe too much.
"It's not school business, we weren't around," Levi adds.
"The reputation of the school depends on the reputation of the students, Ackerman, I think that became clear last year."
Levi crosses his arms and leans back in the seat, frowning.
"I don't know what those rumors are about," Hanji speaks again. “The truth is that they tried to mug us and we defended ourselves.”
The director looks at Levi, who is still frowning.
"It's the truth," he mutters.
"In that case, I'm glad you're safe and sound." He doesn't believe them, but there's not much he can do either.
“Can we go now?” Hanji asks.
"Yeah– ah, Zoe," they are both getting up, but Hanji turns around, "the skirt is the girls' uniform."
Levi can clearly see the vein on Hanji's forehead throbbing.
"That's right," they chuckle and hurry away. Levi follows them. “Fucker,” he hears them muttering, out of the office.
“Are you okay?” It's more curiosity than concern.
“What do you think?” Hanji asks ironically.
"That you're about to punch the wall." Levi stops in the hallway and crosses his arms. “Come on, spit what the fuck is wrong with you.”
Hanji stops too. They look at him over their shoulder and Levi looks back at them without being intimidated.
"I don't like wearing fucking skirts," they say, turning to the front.
It sounds like too little for so much anger.
"Fuck the headmaster and his uniform," Levi says, walking back and passing Hanji.
They follow him with their eyes and smiles slightly.
"Fuck him!" They exclaim and put an arm around his shoulders, Levi smiles, but he walks faster, because they are still close to the director's office.
They return to the classroom shortly before the bell rings. Erwin is standing in the doorway, probably waiting for them.
"What did the director want?" He asks looking at Hanji.
Waiting for Hanji, actually.
Levi shrugs and walks past. Nanaba isn't there and Gerger is sitting on her desk, chatting with Petra.
"You're a bigmouth," Levi says as he sits down.
"Was it the rumor?" Petra asks and Levi nods.
"Oh, shit, I'm sorry," he sounds sorry, "but it was so cool the other day, the whole school had to hear it. You're popular now, Ackerman.”
"Oh, popular," Petra teases him, "I hope you don't forget about your friends now."
He barely denies and turns to the front, ending the conversation.