Troubled

One

June 12, 20**

Levi's POV

The sounds of my pencil scraping against paper filled the quiet bedroom. I'm being propped up against a mound of pillows atop my bed. In my lap is my large sketchbook and beside my bed on the nightstand is my third cup of tea. Peace and quiet brings me into my perfect art mood. At the edge of my pencil lies a roaring, monster-like man, one who is ready to devour a pour soul.
After leaning back to examine my work, I give myself a nod of approval before continuing. Demons, monsters, death, gore, nudity. These are the subjects that fill several sketchbooks and also portfolios I leave at the tattoo shop. They're the subjects I'm known for as an artist. Being able to do what I love for a living is quite the blessing. I've been drawing since around the time I started junior high, and since I started I can't stop. Drawing is one of the few pastimes that make me enjoy my time on this shitty planet.

Several hours and two cups of tea later, I finish my work and lie down for bed and dread the fact that work starts so early tomorrow. I look down around the edge of the bed at Titan, my black German shepherd, and he returns my gaze with a tilt of his head.
"Bed time, boy." His deep brown eyes blink in understanding and he gets up and pads off to the dog bed that sits by my bedroom door, his claws clicking on the hardwood flooring. I smile (sort of) to myself. He's a good dog, he has more of my trust than any human does.
Turning back, I rearrange my pillows and settle into the warm, black blanket and turn off my bedside lamp. As I sigh and close my eyes I can't help but dread tomorrow. Friday the 13th, known as the most popular day to get a tattoo. I've been preparing for this day for the past month, making sure I have plenty of flash sheets and drawings with the number 13 hidden in them. Not looking forward to all the brats who want their first 13 themed tattoo, but definitely looking forward to all the profit and tips I'll rack in. Living alone used to be such a struggle for me when I first started in the tattoo business, but now with nearly nine years of tattooing, I'm the most wanted artist in the shop. My unique subjects are what make me valuable. I don't draw shitty traditional styles or even new school ones, my tattoos have their own look, which is something that I was able to accomplish with ease. I know I have appointments booked back to back tomorrow, which is nothing short of normal, but I'm working from 9 to 9 tomorrow. I'm in going to be half dead by the end of the night, I just know it. With those thoughts reiterating around in my brain, I drift into a deep sleep.

Eren's POV

"Eren!! Wake up! Today's the day!"

Just as I begin to open my eyes, a massive amount of weight plunges itself on top of me. What in the world..

"Armin, what time is it?" I ask groggily. "What day is it?"

A chuckle shakes the bed as Armin(my roommate) sits up. "It's 10 am, and it's the 13th. Friday the 13th!" He grins widely at me once I widen my eyes.

"Fucking finally!" I smile and offer a high-five. He slaps my hand and we giggle like idiots. Today is the day I've had planned out for months. The day I finally get my first tattoo. Actually Armin's too, we booked our appointments together.
"Mikasa is making us breakfast so hurry and get ready," the blonde boy said as he made his way out of my room.
I get up and open the curtains, letting the warm sun shine in on my somewhat sloppy abode. Our appointments weren't until noon so I had plenty of time to shower and eat breakfast. With that thought I rummaged through my dresser drawers until I found an outfit for the day. Picking out black skinny jeans and my favorite dark blue Star Wars tshirt, I headed to the bathroom. Locking the door behind me I turn the shower on and decide to brush my teeth as I wait for the water to warm.

After being dressed and clean, I walk through the hallway to get to the glorious smell that was Mikasa's cooking. She's my other roommate, but also my slightly older adopted sister. Mikasa and I have lived on our own in this apartment for almost two years now. Armin has been a close friend of ours since we were all kids, we even graduated high school last year together. He has only lived with us for about five months now, and having an extra roommate who is also your best friend is a lot of fun. Mikasa and Armin are both blessings to me really, they always look out for me.

"Mika is that bacon I smell?" I inquire of the quite girl. She nods a reply and smiles.

"Just thought that this bacon would help your courage today," she snickered.

"What makes you think I'm scared? How rude of you to assume!" I flick her nose and snatch a piece of the heavenly meat.

Armin, who was sitting at the small three-seater dining table chirped in his two cents: "Eren, we all know the both of us are scared shitless!" He chuckled, and I couldn't help but join in.
Mikasa handed me a plate of food with one hand and walked to the table with hers, sitting down.
"Eren have you decided what you're getting?" She looked over at me curiously with a bite of food in her mouth.

"Of course I do! I just don't want to tell anyone, I'd rather show it off once I actually have it," I laughed nervously.

Armin finished chewing and continued to tell me how excited he was and that he wants to take progress pictures the whole time on snapchat. For such a timid boy he sure is open on his social media.

After finishing my meal and putting it in the sink, I look at Armin with a stupid shit-eating grin on my face. "Ready to go?"

With a matching grin, he nods his head rapidly and ties his hair back in a half up style. I grab the keys and slip on my favorite pair of white vans. "Bye Mikasa, the two of us will come back as new tatted men!" And with her laugh cutting off abruptly from the front door shutting, me and the bro
were off.