Bittersweet Coffee

Chapter 3

LEVI'S POV

The day was dragging it's feet slower than usual today. It didn't help that I had teach this brat how to use a fucking register. Erwin had asked Eren to stay until closing time so he had more time to 'learn the ropes.' That of course, pissed me off immensely. I decided to take out my anger on the new recruit. Currently I was watching the brat trying and failing to place a simple order into the machine. I could feel the frustration radiating off him which amused me a great deal. I didn't even bother to correct his mistakes. I managed to suppress a smirk as I watched him drop the customer's change onto the floor and then scramble to pick it all up. I rolled my eyes as I listened to his billionth apology that day.

This was how the rest of the day panned out. Eren screwing up. Me swearing at him. Eren apologising. Eren screwing up again. During this time Petra, Hangi, Armin, Mikasa and Jean had all come forward at random times to introduce themselves. Petra and Hangi were in charge of coffee. Jean and Mikasa dealt with any food made in the cafe and Armin who usually ran the front counter orders and the bar after 5pm. Everyone except Jean had seemed to welcome Eren with open arms.

Finally, 10pm rolled it's ass around. Closing time. Luckily there were no drunks to throw out or any vomit to mop up. Erwin usually left me in charge of clean up but I ditched the job onto Armin. It had been a long-ass day and I needed to get some nicotine into my body ASAP.

"Brat. Closing time." I snapped at the brat who happened to be spacing out. He seems to have been staring at a piece of cheese on the counter before jumping at the sound of my voice.

"Uh what did you say Revaille?"

"Closing time. Scram" I said jerking my thumb toward the change rooms. He wasted no time abandoning his post. He shuffled past without ever making eye contact. I was in mid eye-roll when I got a whiff of him.

This brat...he smells...fuckin incredible. Like cleanliness. Fresh clothes from the line. I want to follow him and ask what he uses to wash his clothes. Or what deodorant he wears. Wherever that smell comes from...I want to keep smelling that...wait what the hell am I thinking? This must be what overworking does to you. I may need to speak to Erwin about that...

"Levi? What are you doing still here? I'm not going to pay you for the time you've spent standing here zoning out you know? Go home already" Erwin chuckled. I glanced over to where Erwin was standing with his arm over Hangi's shoulders. They were both watching me with their stupid-ass grins.

"Shut up Eyebrows"

"That's not very nice Levi. Anyway how was Eren today? Worth keeping?" He chuckled again. Hangi elbowed him in the ribs, giggling at Erwin's choice of words.

I rolled my eyes, not even bothering to pull the pin on this grenade. Encouraging them would not be a good idea. Ever since...that incident...they had been trying to set me up with every single person that walked through the goddamn door. I had no interest in anyone that did...well...not until today that is...

EREN'S POV

I felt a huge wave of relief as I slipped on my hoodie. It brushed painfully against my arms but I ignored it. I was just happy to finally be covered again. I gathered the rest of my possessions and snuck out the back door to the cafe that led into a dark alley. I wanted to avoid as many people as I could leaving, especially Revaille. He may be hot but that doesn't stop him from being scary as hell.

The whole day I felt like such a burden to him. What had surprised me was the fact that I just wanted to impress him. An impossible task, obviously. I had not seen the raven smile once the whole day. I figured he must be a hard guy to impress. I had started walking out of the alley, onto the dark, abandoned street, digging in my bag for my phone before realising it wasn't in there...

Shit

Jogging back to the cafe I prayed to whoever was listening that my phone would still be where I left it and that nobody had thought to take it. Phone's were expensive...

I ran back through the back entrance of Maria's, slamming open the door to the men's change room to be greeted by the sight of Levi...

A very shirtless Levi...

Yup. That's definitely an eight pack...