Childish Games

Childish Games - Ten

-Chapter Ten-

Jean could've thought of a million ways that he could be woken up in the morning. Including; an elephant rampaging its way through the room and picking him up to throw him out of bed, a siren or loud bell ringing in both his ears at an impossible volume, and even someone stabbing him in the foot. And he was pretty certain that he'd rather have one of those happen than have the one, the only, Levi Rivaille sassing his way into their room and trying to dust around them, saying

'Time to wake up, the world doesn't stop for your mourning so get a move on.' He knew he shouldn't have been so annoyed by it, but the tone of his voice showed that he really didn't care in the slightest. He sat bolt upright and climbed out of bed, getting ready in silence since he knew that if he opened his mouth, he'd only say things that would most definitely get him in trouble or at the worst: killed.

'I'll be downstairs.' He said, to Marco and certainly not Levi. He did not care how hot Levi was, or how nice his ass happened to look in the standard white trousers, he just wasn't in the mood for any of his shit today. However, there was no way to escape it. There never would be. He sat down at a mostly empty table in the dining hall, the only people sitting at it being Mikasa and one of the older women- Rico, he thought her name was. He just couldn't quite place her whole name. They were both relatively quiet and probably wouldn't try to talk to him, which is exactly why he chose to sit there despite still sitting at the opposite end of the table to them. Marco took longer than he expected to come down, sitting opposite him when he arrived though.

'What took you so long?' Jean asked, more interested than annoyed though. 'Did you wash?' Marco shook his head and rested his chin in his hand.

'No, I spoke to the Captain.' He said, shrugging a little. 'Well, he initiated the conversation and I continued.'

•-•-•

'I don't see why he's still so shook up about it.' Levi had muttered, tutting once to himself as he continued to clean as if everything in the world was fine.

'His mother died yesterday..' Marco scoffed, shaking his head. 'I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but that's got to hurt-'

'It hurts but you get on with it.' Levi snapped. 'I lost my mother too, I can't even remember what she looked like, but I get on with it because mourning will do fuck all.' Marco was lost for words, looking away and out of the window for a moment, only to see the high walls that supposedly kept them safe.

'How did she pass?' Marco asked, curiously. Levi sighed a little and climbed onto the side table to reach above the curtain pole for dusting. 'Do you know?'

'Yeah, I know. It wasn't a Titan like most would expect, it was actually just a person, gone insane from all the commotion, ran around and killed a load of people, Kirschstein's mother just happened to be one o-'

'I meant your mother. But- it wasn't a Titan..?' Levi didn't look pleased that he was interrupted but continued anyway.

'Not a Titan. My mother died when Titans weren't a concern really, the wall hadn't been breached for 70 years, and she just got very unlucky. Caught a disease and died in our home.' He explained, but his expression showed no emotion. It almost showed.. disinterest. 'But I'm over it. It could've been worse for your.. 'friend'. He could've had to watch her die as he had no way to help, so he should consider that.' And then he soon left, hopping down from the counter and glancing around the room in distaste. 'I'm wasting time here, tch.. I'll clean it later.'

•-•-•

'What an arsehole!' Jean growled, gritting his teeth to try and stifle his words. 'Did his mother die when he was young? Doubt it.' Marco looked at him with a soft expression and rather sad eyes, nodding his head.

'He did say it was when the walls hadn't been breached for 70 years.. And it's been over 100 now, despite the situation now, however. So he was probably younger than 10 when it happened.' Jean fell silent then and rested his forehead in his palms, threading his fingers through the front of his hair and sighing.

'He's still an arsehole.' He grumbled, 'And he's short. I'm not short.'

'You're shorter than me.'

'Shut up, he's shorter than everyone.'

'But you're shorter than me.' Jean looked up then only to see Marco smiling at him. 'I'll always be taller than you.'

'But you're the cute one, you're supposed to be shorter.'

'I'm the cute one? How's that?'

'Because I'm the sexy one.' Jean smirked, and Marco kicked him under the table, still smiling that ever sweet smile of his.

'Buuuuuut.....' He took a deep breath. 'I'm the tall one.'