AOT Strutter

Connections

The next few days went by pretty routinely. Eren found that, although him and Jean didn't always see eye to eye, they didn't come to blows. Yelling, arguing, calling each other names was pretty common though. Erwin even joked that he may have to sound proof the kitchen. All in all it was an interesting learning experience. Yet, Eren hardly saw Levi during this time.

He would see him at night from the stage, that was about it. He had the feeling that while he was working in the kitchen, Levi was hiding in the stock room. Eren sighed. Yes, he had said that Marco was good looking but that was only to get under Jean's skin. Eren had seen how tenderly the bartender took care of the cook. In all honesty, no one was better looking than Levi.

Thursday night came. Eren was setting up his water, while tuning his guitar when a familiar blond head poked up under the instrument. Eren screamed tossing the guitar down into it's case as gently as he could. He was sure all the tuning he had done was just for naught.

"Armin!" He cried wrapping the boy up in a tight hug.

"Hey!" Armin giggled.

"What are you doing here?" Eren cried.

"Keeping my promise to you, once a week." Erwin offered as he carried some boxes to the bar.

Gramps was seated at a table just left of the stage. Eren went to sit with them. He ate his dinner while talking to the only family he had left. They told him about their week, how they had two rude customers. Eren laughed at how they handled it. Then Eren showed them his room.

"It isn't much, but it's not the street. The silence gets me sometimes." He muttered.

"Buy a radio, or a phone!" Armin giggled bouncing on the bed.

Eren smiled. "I don't get paid until tomorrow. But look!" He closed the door.

Moving to a place where he found a lose brick in the wall, he pulled out all his tips for the week. He was getting about a hundred dollars a night give or take a few. So far he had about four hundred dollars, having used some to buy his food.

"That's great. Actually gramps and I brought you a few things." Armin smiled.

He led Eren out tot heir truck. They had a small dorm size fridge, a hot plate and a microwave. They were all second hand but Eren was grateful. Erwin had met them outside. He frowned at the stuff.

"You know you can use the kitchen to cook anything you want, right? The tall man asked.

"Uh, no, you never told me that." Eren stated. Erwin sighed. He pinched his nose.

"Levi was suppose to!" he growled.

With that he took them inside. There was one other room near Eren's bedroom. This wasn't being used. A small built in table sat, cleaned, against a window but that was all. The space was smaller than Eren's room.

"I won't charge you rent for this space, but Levi used it as an office when he lived here. Why don't you use it as your kitchen?" Erwin offered.

He helped them set up the supplies inside. He even found another small fridge that Eren could use as well.

"Levi did tell you about the washer and dryer, didn't he?" Erwin asked.

Eren shook his head. "My clothes disappear every day. They are returned folded on my bad that night." Eren offered.

Erwin sighed. "He is just trying not to talk to you! What a.... I'll fix this." He turned to leave them alone.

Eren stopped him. "Do you have to? I don't know how to use a washing machine." Eren offered. Erwin laughed.