Chapter Text
My class has a simple rule related to seating arrangement; we have to change our seat once every month. I’m not that close to anyone in this class, but luckily, till now I always got to sit next to my close friends. So I don’t really have a problem with this seating arrangement. Like I said, until now… I have to share a desk with Levi.
And like I said once again, I’m not that close to everyone in this class, that includes Levi and his friends. He looks like a quiet type since I rarely see him talking even when he’s with his friends. There’s a rumor saying that he can send a bunch of people straight to hospital for messing with him. Other says that he’s a drug dealer. A lot of bad things follow other rumors. With that I can conclude that, it’ll be sucks to share a desk with Levi.
But I do know Erwin, one of his friends that always hang around with him. Erwin is our class president by the way. Even though we’ve been in the same class for three years, I can’t seem to get close to Levi’s gang.
There’s no other option, I can’t ask anyone to change seat with me. I guess I need to just accept it…
“Hey,” I tried to greet him.
He throws a glance at me before return his attention to the book he’s holding.
“Hi”
“So, it’s going to be the first time we sit together.”
“Yea” he shrugs.
“Uh… please take care of me.” I slip to my own seat.
“Sure”
Oh God, it’s going to be a very awkward month. I mean, he didn’t even look at me while I’m talking! Imagine what’s going to happen in this month, but I doubt anything will happen though… I can pretty much assume what this month would be, it’ll be suck.
“You look pretty gloom Eren, what’s wrong?” Armin asks worriedly.
I’ve left my seat as soon as the break time start and move to gather on my friends’ desk. I really can’t stand being alone with him and being ignored as well.
“You lucky you got to sit with Mikasa…” I sigh, “Guess who sit next to me?”
“Jean?”
“Hell no, but I have to admit it’s better sitting with the horse face than with the person sitting next to me this time.”
“I don’t want sitting with you again Jaeger.”
The horse face we were talking about joining our conversation.
“Not even in your dream I want to sit with you.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“You’re the one getting us into trouble!” I hiss at him.
“Hey, I’m not the one yelling during the lesson.”
“I won’t yell and punch you in the face if you stop bothering me.”
“I’m not bothering you!”
“Yea? Say Armin, if this (I gesture my hand toward the horse face) person sitting next to you won’t stop telling a very bad sex jokes every god damn minutes, does that count as bothering?”
“Umm… I would find it bothering as well…” he replies softly.
“That’s not fair! Armin is you close friend, of course he would agree with you.” He defends while crossing his arms.
“Actually, I would feel bothered too…” a freckled guy appears behind Jean, his name is Marco. “You should listen to the lesson seriously, Jean.”
“Not you too, Marco?” he ask in shock.
Well yea, we all know that the two of them are dating even though they didn’t say anything.
“See? You’re the one at fault.” I said smugly.
“Shut up! And, who sit next to you?”
I sigh once again, “Its Levi…”
Jean burst into laugh and patting my back over and over again a little too hard.
“Ahaha, congratulation man! That’s sucks!”
“Tell me about it…” I roll my eyes and slap his hand away.
“Eren… can you stand it for the whole month?” Armin asks.
“Well, I don’t really have a choice, do I?” I shrug.
“It’s alright Eren, you can just come here and hang around with us anytime you want.” Mikasa smiles briefly.
“Thanks Mikasa.” I return her smile.
I do feel bad for leaving Levi alone, but at least I tried not to be a douche bag, I even try to be friendly with him which he just brush off casually.
“Eren, tell me if that midget trying to do anything to you.” She says seriously, her motherly instinct coming out.
“I doubt he’ll do a single thing, Mikasa.” I assure her.
“Guys, don’t you want to go to the canteen? I’m hungry…” say a girl with brown hair while clutching her stomach. And true enough, we can hear her rumbling stomach which makes us laugh.
“I’m hungry too. Let’s go then.” I suggest.
“Finally~” she cheers in joy.
“The break time is almost over, so we better hurry.” Add Armin.
After that, we go to the canteen. Same gang, same table as usual.
We had physic for the last lesson which something I really hate. I don’t even understand what I don’t understand, what the teacher talking about, what even we learn from this lesson.
I’m bored… the teacher suddenly deciding to drag me out of my day dream.
“Jaeger, would you try the question number 4?” she smiles at me, a fucking mocking smile.
“Sure” I reply shortly.
Shit, shit, shit! I’m so doom! I don’t even understand the question and what am I suppose to do with it! I heard snicker from behind, I don’t need to turn around to see who it was, it’s probably horse-face.
I glance timidly to my side, seeing Levi staring impassively at his notebook and spinning around the pencil in his hand.
“Um…” I start and nudge him softly, trying to get his attention, when he finally look at me, I continue “Do you understand the question?” I whisper.
“Yea”
“Think you can teach me?” I plead him.
“Tch, how troublesome.” He murmurs to himself, though I can hear it. But still, he teaches me how to solve that damn question anyway.
A few minutes later, the teacher comes back near my desk.
“How is it Jaeger, can you solve the question?”
I give her a simple nod and move forward to write down the answer on the white board. I return to my seat as soon as I finish and let her examine my work.
“Correct” there’s a little bit of annoyed tone there, but I just ignore it.
She moves closer to my desk once again, “Not bad Jaeger, it’ll be better if you listen to the lesson more seriously next time.”
“Yes, ma’am”
When she walks away, I release a sigh of relief.
“Thank you so much for that, I’ll treat you something sometime soon.” I whisper to Levi.
“It’s nothing; you don’t have to treat me anything.”
“I just want to thank you.”
“You just did.”
“Show you my gratitude.”
“Whatever”
I grin on my little victory.
“Tomorrow then?”
He grunts in response.
“Is there something you want? Oh please don’t ask for something so expensive since I don’t have that much money. Or should I just treat you a lunch in canteen?”
“Ugh no way, I’m not gonna eat in that filthy place. Do you know how many people using those cutleries? How do you know if those things are cleaned properly? What if it’s still unsanitary? I don’t understand how you able to eat in that filthy place using those unclean equipments. Being in the same room with-”
“Whoa, whoa, easy there.” I pat him on the shoulder to make him stop his rumble. “It’s fine if you don’t want to eat in the canteen, we can always eat on the outside anyway.”
I don’t know he’s such a clean-freak, to the point it’s almost creepy.
“Why do you insist on treating me anyway?”
“Hm, maybe because I’m glad I can finally get rid of that teacher.”
He looks at me in confusion. I sigh; throw a glance around to see that the teacher is far enough from us. After confirming that it’s safe, I lean closer to Levi.
“You see, I hate this lesson and I’m sucks on it, you must be knows that by now. And what a beautiful coincidence, the teacher is hates me also. She had been picking on me for God knows how long for not listening to her teaching. I just don’t know when she’s going to call up on me, but it just happens now. She probably decided to embarrass me in front of the class for not being able to solve a question and probably succeeded if you didn’t help me to solve it.”
I end my story and shift back to my own normal position.
“So that’s why I want to… I don’t know, celebrate it I guess?” I shrug.
“If you want to celebrate, just go invite your friends. Those kids, Ackerman and… Arlert?”
“You’re the one helping me though?” I tilt my head to the side.
“Whatever”
I grin once again.
“If it’s outside, then do you want to go today after school?”
“I can’t, I need to attend student council meeting.”
“You’re a member of student council?”
“Blame that stupid eyebrow. Just because he can’t become a member since he’s the class president, he casually orders me to join. That selfish bastard.” He crosses his arms in annoyance.
“Stupid eyebrow? The class president? You mean Erwin?”
“Who else?”
I try to stifle my laugh. I always think there’s something off about Erwin and can’t really pin-point it. Now that Levi brings it up, I realize that Erwin indeed has such a thick eyebrow.
“But we’re already on the third year, why are you still a member?”
“Sadly, they decided to make me a member of elite, or so they like to call it.”
“Must be pretty busy then”
“Naturally” he said in matter of fact tone.
“Oh well, it’s alright. I just remember that I’ve spent all my money on the canteen today.”
He grunts again in response.
That was unexpected. I don’t expect Levi to be so talkative. Looks like I can get along with him just fine after all. He’s not that bad, and now I already learn a few things about him. He’s a member of student council and surprisingly a clean freak.
The next day after school, Levi stops me from leaving. I turn around and stare at him in confusion.
“You said you’d treat me today.” He said with his usual impassive looks.
I stare blankly at him, trying to recall what kind of promise I’ve made, and when I did “Ohh…” I reply shortly.
“Did you forget?” a disappointed looks flash for a sec on his face before return to his poker face expression.
“Um yea, something like that…”
I laugh nervously and scratch my head.
“You want to go now then?”
“Actually, I need to submit a report first, I hope you don’t mind waiting for a bit.”
“Uh sure…”
I sit back on my seat while Levi leaving the class, holding a stack of papers in his hand.
It’s been only fifteen minutes since he left, but I already bored out of my mind. I can’t play around with my phone because it’s low battery. Damn, if only I charge it properly last night.
He can’t be forget about me right? Nah, his bag is still here, he’ll definitely be back soon or later. Maybe I can just doze off for a while…
My nap ended after… I don’t know, half an hour later perhaps, when someone shakes my shoulder. I blink to erase the sleepiness and stare at the person who wakes me up.
“You’re done?” I ask sleepily.
“Yea, sorry it took forever.”
I stretch around a bit before standing up and sling my backpack.
“It’s fine, let’s go then?” I said while stifling another yawn.
He grunts in response, looks like he already gather up his things before he wake me.
The walk to the restaurant was a bit awkward. No I take it back, it was awkward. Since the two of us refuse to say anything since we left the school’s gate. Even after we arrive there and waiting for our orders.
“I thought you left.” Levi said suddenly while drink his water.
“Well… you told me to wait, so I stay.” I shrug.
“Is that so…”
“It is”
No reply from him, its silence once again.
“What were you doing anyway? I thought you only went to submit a report?”
“I was, before those little shits decided to come up on me and won’t stop bugging me.”
“Those little…?”
“First years”
I hum in response and we start chatting about his activities in the student council, it mostly consist of complaint this and that, a lot of cursing here and there. I’m getting used to his harsh speech by now.
“Hey Jaeger! Let’s go to the canteen!” Jean yells as soon as the teacher left.
“Yea, I’m starving.” I reply while tidying up my things.
Blame Levi, he always so scold me when I leave my things messy.
“How are you Eren?” Armin asks.
“I’m fine” I state in obvious manner.
“Um yea, how you doing… I mean, sitting with Levi?”
“Hm, not that bad I guess.”
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Jaeger.” Jean say while casually put his arm on my shoulder.
“Shut up horse face, I’m not.” I slap his hand away. “Why are you sitting next to me anyway?”
“Because there’s no space left, duh.” He mocks.
What’s worse is Mikasa didn’t come with us today, she had some other business.
“Go stand while eat, you’re a horse face after all.” I push him away a little.
“My name is Jean Kirstein, asshole.” He wraps his arm once again around my neck this time and chokes me.
“Let go Jean!” I try to peel his arm away, but his hold only gets tighter around my neck.
“Not until you say my name properly.”
He pulls my head down and it gives him a better angle to strangle my neck with his arm.
“I said let go horse face!” I elbow him in the stomach hard and he lets go instantly.
“Ow, what the fuck Jaeger!?” he shot me a glare and clutch his stomach.
“You’re the one looking for trouble!” I shot back a glare.
“But you don’t have to elbow me so hard!” he moves forward a bit.
“I won’t if only you stop strangling me!” I too move forward a little.
“Don’t you know how to take a joke!?”
“I don’t if it comes from you!”
We keep yelling and throwing insults at each, we keep moving forward until our foreheads were pressed together. We attract some attention from others, but they only say things like it’s them again, it’s another fight, the two of them are at it again, things like that. Yea, the whole school already knows our hate against each other. But somehow I can manage to keep being friends with him till now.
“Guys please! We’re in the canteen!”
Armin who sits next to me trying to pull me back but he’s not strong enough.
“Come on Jean, do you have to pick a fight with Eren everytime you guys are together?”
Marco had move from his seat to behind Jean and pull him back.
Soon we heard a loud banging from outside, silencing the whole canteen, including both of us.
“W-what was that?” Armin tugging lightly at the end of my shirt.
“Who knows” I shrug.
After awhile, the whole canteen start to chatter, wondering what that loud banging was. But no one really dare to go outside and check it out.
“Who care? I’m hungry.” Sasha breaks the silence in our table and continues to eat her food quickly.
“Right, let’s just find out later.” I mumble to myself.
We eat our food in much silence than before, we still talking to each other but yea like I said, more softly than before. And I avoid talking to the horse face next to me.
As soon as we step outside the canteen, we can see a crowd surrounding a certain locker. I pat a random guy and ask him what’s going on.
“Some dude tried to make a whole in the locker with one punch!”
Oh well, that explain what that loud banging was.
I try to make my way closer to see it myself and the locker indeed almost having a hole in the middle of its door, the door itself almost detach from where it’s suppose to attached. Hell, who’s strong enough to do that severe damage in one hit?
I return to my seat and found Levi already reading a book as usual.
“Hey, did you know the commotion outside the canteen just now?” I ask him casually.
“No” come his curt reply.
“Someone punch a locker and almost make a hole on it.”
“Is that so.”
“You’re not surprised?” I turn to face him.
“It’s just a punch on some random locker, it could be anyone.” He reply, truly not interested. Deciding not to bother him any further, I drop the conversation.
“Hm, that’s true…”
I was going to return to my normal position when I notice his right hand. The skin around the knuckles is split and it’s swollen a bit, I’m pretty sure it was bleeding too, it’s like… he had punched something.
“What happen to your hand?”
“What?”
“Your right hand, why is it swollen like that? I’m pretty sure it wasn’t like that before.”
“Really, I have no idea.”
“What do you mean you have no idea?”
“I don’t remember how I got it.” He examines his own hand.
“You don’t remember?”
“I don’t even notice it until you mention it.” He shrugs.
I let out a brief laugh at his answer.
“You’re weird.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” He returns to his book.
“Anytime” I chuckle.
I get a text around midnight; I’m still up because I was doing the shitty physic homework.
From: Unknown
Good evening.
Honestly? It’s midnight dude. There’s no name, so I just ignore it, thinking it was a prank text or something.
The next day I go to school very early, since I can’t really solve the entire work, I figure I’ll ask Levi. It’s not surprising to see that Levi already on his seat.
“Morning…” I greet while suppressing a yawn.
“Morning, it’s rare for you to come not before the bell almost right.”
“Yea, thanks for the compliment… I want to ask for some help on the physic task, is that alright?”
“Sure”
After he explains it to me, I try to do some by myself. Honestly, Levi can teach better than the shitty teacher does.
“Did you receive a text yesterday?”
“Huh, yea… how do you know?” I glance up at him.
He just gives me his impassive stare and it took me a very long time to realize something, and when I did…
“Oh…” I stop my writing and point my pencil at him “Don’t tell me it was you?”
Instead of answering he just looks away from me and return to his book. I guess, that’s enough answer?
“Oh wow, how did you get my number?”
“It doesn’t really matter, does it?” he shrugs.
“You should’ve added your name on the text so I know it was from you instead of ignoring it.” I chuckles and return to my work.
He grunts in response.
-Time skip, I don’t really know what to write-
It’s been more than two weeks since I start sharing desk with Levi. Sure we got along just fine, but I’m starting to feel a bit uncomfortable around him lately. He keep asking me to spend more time with him, be it after school or even on the weekend. We usually hang around in family restaurant or maybe a coffee shop and his apartment. Apparently, Levi lives by himself.
My friends are starting to worry because I rarely ever join them and hang out together again, I can only meet them around lunch.
“Eren, why are you not hanging around with us anymore?” Armin plays around with his food.
“Yes, you spend more time with Levi lately…” add Marco.
“Did that midget force you? Or maybe threat you? Did he hurt you? Eren, if he did something to you, you have to tell me.” Mikasa said seriously.
“I don’t want to admit it but, this crowd is quiet without you Jaeger.” Jean try to act coolly while drink his soda.
“Yea, it’s weird not to see you and Jean bickering at each other.” Sasha continues to shove more food to her mouth.
“Guys, slow down…” I laugh nervously. “I can’t even reply if you don’t give me a chance to.”
And then they went silence, except for Sasha, she keeps eating loudly.
I sigh “I’m sorry guys, for not being able to spend more time with all of you because… yea, I hang around with Levi more. But he’s not forcing me or anything Mikasa, I’m fine.”
The silences continue…
“Come on guys, I’m here now, aren’t I?” I try to cheer them but they keep their silence act on.
“Fine, if you don’t want me here, I’ll just go.” I said while standing up.
“Sorry Eren.” Armin clings to my arm and pulls me back down.
“We just try to… take it in I guess.” He shrugs “We’ve been together since junior high, some even went into the same elementary school. It’s just feels weird that one of us is slowly missing.”
The other only hums in agreement.
“Slowly missing? That’s rude. What’s with you guys? It’s not like I’m going to go anywhere and disappear just like that.”
“Eren is right, can we just forget about this whole mourn things and just continue to eat?” Sasha yell from the edge of the table. We all laughs briefly.
“You’ve been eating from the beginning, Sasha.” Marco points it out.
“Of course, I’m hungry.” She said proudly.
After that we act as usual, at least we try to.