Chapter Text
"No, absolutely not!" You screamed with all your strength, throwing the vase violently towards their direction. The vase slammed against the wall instead as it slowly shattered to pieces like your hopes and dreams did, creating a mess on the floor. You finally took a look at their face.
Enmity and disgust. That was what your eyes held.
Looking at them, your eyes held nothing but enmity and disgust. If you could, you'd gouge their eyes out within a minute. '
'Family' isn't the right word to describe them. Sure, you guys share the same blood, but not beliefs. Their outlook on life was too vile, yours wasn't.
To earn money and to survive in this cruel world, you must abide by three rules: get an education, work hard, and secure a stable job. But to even begin your life, you need money for education. That money must be provided by your parents. However, for those without parents, it must come from a legal guardian. Be it their uncle, aunt, grandmother, or cousin. A responsible, selfless adult who would help you deal with the real world.
That was all you believed because within your family, kindness was as rare as finding a four-leaf clover in a field. You find it once, and you never find it again in your life. Had it not been for that one person, you would've gone insane as of now.
You were grateful for everything.
☆☆☆
You exchanged smiles with the last customer as they left for the night. “Have a good night!” you yelled out before they walked out the door. Sighing, you closed the cash register and made sure to lock it before going to the backrooms to finally change out of the uniform you were wearing for the past 6 hours.
Opening your locker, you took a good look at yourself on the mini mirror that was hung up. Lips pale, eyes droopy, hair being all over the place, you looked.. exhausted. Why wouldn't you be though? Working full time shifts during winter vacation wasn't very ideal, but what other choice did you have? It was either suffering for hours or being broke and not being able to buy boba for a week.
*🎵 'Emo Boy' by Ayesha Erotica starts playing out of nowhere 🎵*
Hearing your ringtone, you quickly took your phone out of your bag. "Must be Maki.." you thought to yourself, answering the phone call hurriedly.
"Hello bestie!" you exclaimed excitedly. You were finally interacting with a real person and not with someone who doesn't know how to do 40+90 at the cash register. But also mainly because you knew that Maki was here to pick you up and you were happy to go back home with your best friend+roommate.
"I’m outside. Come out in 5 minutes. I'll leave if you're not fast enough.” You heard her say from the other side before hanging up. Squealing, you packed all your belongings and skipped outside after greeting goodbye to all the staff members. Your work for today was finally done!
Running outside, you spot the brown coloured Ford Fiesta right in front of you. Maki is here! You squealed even louder as you got in, slamming the door shut enthusiastically like you won the lottery. "Finally!," you cheered joyfully, "finally! Freedom!"
"Next time you slam the door like that forget about me coming to pick you up, ever." Maki threatened, but she obviously wasn't serious. This was a common occurrence and you never listened to her nor took her seriously.
"Sorry about that, too excited to see you!" You said with a huge smile on your face. You were excited to go home (but you did miss your roomie).
"Yeah, I can see that," she shook her head before beginning the car and driving off.
"So, how was the interview?" you questioned about Maki's schedule for today, wanting to make small talk. Maki in general wasn't a very talkative person, the only reason you guys are even friends is because you are both in the same class and shared the same dorm.
It first started off as having awkward interactions inside the dorm room, making agreements on who will do the dishes and who will vacuum the floors. Then once you both were assigned to a project together, you guys eventually got closer. Now, you were best friends!
"Alright, I suppose. Though I don't get why I need to be interviewed to work at an ice cream shop." She shrugged, talking as if it were another normal day.
"Probably to ask whether or not you have experience in scooping ice cream!" You chuckled at your own joke. Of course you would find your own joke very funny. (It wasn't even a joke Ash is just mentally ill)
"Haha so funny." Maki said with a deadpan expression. At this point she wasn't even fazed by you. But slowly a smile formed on her face, she was happy to relax with you after a long, hectic day.
"I am so glad that you have this car. Seriously, it's a life saver considering the fact that I don't have a car and Nobara would just crash into a tree." The car that Maki was driving was second hand which she managed to buy from a guy off of FaceBook marketplace. It was ugly, that's for sure, but as long as it works it really doesn't matter. Being a college student and affording a car is definitely something and Maki worked hard to manage this.
"It's definitely useful, but I definitely regret it as well." Ever since Maki bought the car, she has been the designated driver for the friend group. Taking you guys to the nearby fast-food restaurant at midnight for ice cream, going on small trips. Yeah, she was annoyed to say the least, well pretended to be. She was fun even though her demeanor said otherwise.
You snickered as you took out your phone, checking for notifications. "Also, is Nobara home?" You received a text message from Presley.
Pres 💕: You home yet? I need to talk to you urgently.
"She's at home making dinner for us." Maki responded to your question, turning on the radio to play some music.
You: Just got into the car with Maki like 2 mins ago. What's wrong?
Pres 💕: Eh, Levi called. He called you many times but you didn't pick up so he called me. Asked me where you were and told him you were at work.
You: Shit, am I cooked?
Pres 💕: Probably, who knows?
You: What did he say?
Pres 💕: Said if I got a hang of you then to tell you to call him back. Seems like something happened back home, who knows?
You: Alright, thanks for letting me know. I'll call you once I get home.
Pres 💕: Okiee byee !!
You: Byeee !!! ❤️
Presley was your childhood friend. You moved into her neighbourhood when you were around 4 years old. From then on, your life has changed.
Growing up with her as family and becoming friends with her is one of the best decisions you have ever made in your entire life, and you never make good decisions. You both also discovered that you both were born in the same hospital. What a fucking coincidence.
And Levi? He was your older brother by 10 years. Quite the age gap, but nobody could blame your mother.
"Maki, you do realize one thing, right..?" You looked at her with your eyes wide open as you realised one thing..
"What is it?"
"Nobara can't cook to save her life."
☆☆☆
"Can't believe you burned the fucking kitchen!" Maki was yelling in panic, trying to fan the smoke away with a cloth. The whole kitchen was filled with black smoke and it doesn't help with the fact that the dorm room was small as well.
Nobara was the third roommate, someone who couldn’t cook even if it meant saving someone from falling off a cliff. She attempted to make a simple pasta recipe she found online since she knew that both you and Maki loved pasta. But one thing she didn't know was that you shouldn't leave a hot, flaming stove unattended for an hour straight, especially since it's pasta.
Luckily, you both arrived just in time for Maki to grab the fire extinguisher and spray the entire kitchen, including your guys' faces. The entire kitchen was covered in black air and you guys were worried that the air might be filled with carbon monoxide, which could maybe get you all killed at any moment (carbon monoxide is literally colourless and odorless you guys were just panicking too much).
"I'm sorry okay?! I just wanted to try and make something for you guys since you guys were out working late! And you said I could!" Nobara was running around frantically, opening all the windows there were.
"Quit talking! Maki why would you even let her cook? If this dorm burned down along with the building we're going to jail!" You yelled, as dramatic as you could. The smoke was slowly fading away anyways so you three had no chances of dying, yet.
"First of all, we are not going to jail! Second of all I was too tired to even comprehend what Nobara was saying!" Maki yelled back at you. She was pissed to say the least.
After some time, the smoke was finally gone. No carbon monoxide left to kill you all. Though the kitchen was very messy.
You noticed all the ingredients that Nobara had laid down on the table. Chicken, onions, peppers, chillies, mushrooms, and tomato sauce. You genuinely appreciated her efforts trying to make a decent meal for you all, but she should probably stick to cleaning the toilet instead.
"Nobara you are never allowed to even step foot into this kitchen ever again." Maki declared, huffing as she took a look at the mess. This was going to take a while to clean up.
☆☆☆
After cleaning that hurricane of a mess, you finally freshened up. You showered, did your skin care, and now hopped into bed as you grabbed your phone from the nightstand. Turning on the screen, you looked for the contact name 'Pres 💕' . After finding so, you clicked on the call button and put the phone on speaker mode.
*Ring Ring*
"Hello?" Presley answered almost immediately. She was fast. Seemed like it was urgent enough.
"Hi, you said to call?" you were wondering what happened. Did anything bad happened to Presley or Levi?
"Ah yes. Did you call Levi though?" She asked to confirm.
"Nope, not yet. I'm scared. What if he starts yelling the moment I call him?"
"He doesn't sound pissed, more like something he needs to tell you immediately." Presley's voice sounded sincere, so she definitely wasn't fooling around with you.
"Either way I'll get cooked." You sighed, thinking about the scolding you'll be receiving from him.
"I don't get why you don't want his help he literally told you that he'd help with your fees and other shit."
"No, I want to be independent." You really were adamant on being independent. Nothing is going to change your mind.
"Yet you always run to him every time you have a minor issue."
"I do not!" You whined a bit, not wanting to admit the truth.
"Well anyways, I'm afraid Caven is back with her tantrums"
"What do you mean?" You asked worriedly. Caven and her tantrums were the worst.
"Not too sure. Levi didn't tell me much."
"Oh no, must be something serious then."
"Probably. Call him and see what he needs to talk to you about."
"If I get cooked I'll scratch you."
"Yeah yeah, whatever. Bye!"
"Alright, bye then!" You hung up before taking a moment and searching for the name 'Rivaille👴🍵' in your contacts. After doing so you called him.
*Ring Ring*
The phone answered and you heard a loud, expected sigh from him. "Where were you brat?" He totally doesn't sound pissed.
"I was at work, Pres told you already!"
"Didn't I tell you to keep your phone close to you?" And there he goes, beginning with his lectures.
"I forgot, okay?!" You gave your excuse, your excuse that you use every time you purposely don't bring your phone close to you. If you did, you'd get distracted and start watching edits of hot, Russian men instead of actually working.
"Stupid goldfish memory." His disappointment was evident.
"No need for insults! Pres said you needed to talk to me about something." You brought Presley in hopes of changing the topic.
"Right. It's about Kenny and Caven." It worked, but not for a good cause.
"Oh no." You got up as you started pacing around the room. A habit you've adapted whenever you felt anxious.
"Yeah, oh no. Kenny will be released soon. " He said flatly, but his voice did betray a hint of concern.
"How many years did he even receive?"
"9 years. He'll be released soon around March. That time your college starts."
"Oh no."
"Tch, quit saying that." He tched annoyedly.
"He'll come to kill us!" You screamed, dramatically of course.
"Idiot, he won't! This is why I've been calling you. I'm going to buy a house somewhere near your college. I want you to start living with me now instead of that dorm you're currently staying in."
"What?" You stopped walking, standing in disbelief for a moment.
"What? Are you deaf?"
"Are you being for real with me?" You asked to confirm.
"Why would I joke about this? I'm talking about your safety here."
"But I don't want to leave Maki nor Nobara!" And your whining session began from here. But to be fair, who would want to leave their friends? They were great roommates.
"Well would you rather die with them? You do realise that Kenny will find you one way or another, especially what you did to him." He reminds you of the past. It was something neither of you wanted to remember, but it was ncessary at times.
"But I don't want to leave my friends just like that! Can't you figure out another solution!" You argued.
"You'll be meeting them every single day at college. No reason to be dramatic about this. I want you to live with me so I can take care of you." He argued back.
"No, I refuse!" You started pacing around again. You can hear Levi let out another big sigh on the other side of the phone. He sounds tired. Probably stressed from work.
"Ash, I'm not trying to take you away from your friends. Besides, I'll be looking for a place near your college. You'll be meeting them either way." He says calmly, trying to reason with you. He didn't want you to be hyper about this and stay up all night thinking about this.
"Can't I just-"
"Don't you dare. We're not repeating history again." Levi knows you too well.
"There's still a lot of time! Can't you please look for another solution?!" You pleaded with him. There was no way you were moving out.
"It's literally almost the same thing Ash. What's so different about staying with them?" Levi sounded irritated, trying to see what the fuck was wrong with you.
"Because you promised that I'd get to do whatever I want and that I'd get to experience a normal college life! Plus, what about our home in Trost?!"
"I know I promised you that, but I don't want to risk your safety. I'll probably sell the house in Trost or hand the property to uncle."
"Please Rivaille, look for another solution!" You knew you were sounding like a brat, but you made a promise with Levi that he swore he would never break. If you tried to convince him even more, he would give in soon.
"Kenny will be out soon-"
"You can't break your promise like that!"
"Don't gaslight me-"
"You'd be a horrible older brother if you break your promise like that! You said you'd keep it!" Your gaslighting for sure will work on him. He's too soft, especially towards you.
There was silence for a moment. Was he really considering it?
"Can't we just call the police again?" You asked once you received no response.
You heard some shuffling before Levi spoke again.
"Are you stupid?"
"No, I'm Ash."
"Meet me tomorrow at that cafe you and Pres go to always." You could hear some more shuffling as he was telling you plans for tomorrow. He's probably working late, poor man. You sometimes felt bad for him, but decided not to mention it otherwise he would kick your ass.
"I have work tomorrow from 6," you said, checking your schedule, "never mind at 9 not 6, whoops!"
"What time does it end?" He asks to make sure.
"Around 2. Today was a night shift so tomorrow will be a morning shift!"
"I'll pick you up afterwards, don't forget." He reminds you of course.
"Okay!" You were excited. You'll be meeting Levi after ages, you missed him dearly! (its been 2 days only)
"Go to sleep now. It's late." You checked the time as he mentioned it. It was 11:30.
"I'm not a kid anymore." You declared proudly. You remembered the days where Levi would force you to bed by 8 pm, and when you would ask him why you had to sleep so early, he would simply reply with, "Because you're a kid."
"I'm hanging up." He suggests, he needed to continue working even if he wanted to talk to you more.
"Don't you want to talk to your baby sister for a bit longer?"
"Don't forget tomorrow." He reminds once more so that it would get through your amnesia.
"Fine fine, I'll see you tomorrow then. Love you, goodnight!"
You heard a low mumble that sounded like a 'love you too' before Levi cut the call. That man seriously needs to work more on his emotions.