The Struggles of Kenny Ackerman

Cat Ears

"Uncle, why are we leaving so soon?" Levi looked up at his uncle, pulling the tails of his shirt. "Can we please go back?"

"Levi," Kenny sighed and squatted down on his nephew's level. "I know how much you loved staying in the ice cream shop but we can't stay there for an hour or more."

"But why?" Levi whined.

Kenny sighed again and glanced at the shop's window. The ice cream shop was packed today, they had to share a table with the other customers and eat quickly so other people can sit. "Because a lot of people liked ice cream too, we have to leave so that other people can sit."

"But I want to spend more time with Eren," Levi whined louder. Kenny knew that tone, he knew a tantrum when it was coming up.

Levi rarely threw a tantrum but once he does, it's not going to be good. Kenny recalled the time when they visited the mall. Levi noticed a group of Omegas walk passed them, they all wore high heels. It gave the child an idea of how to be taller. He begged to Kenny to buy him those "tall pointy shoes" and reasoned that he badly needed it. At first, Levi listened when Kenny said no, nodding like an obedient boy. But every time they passed a store that displayed those types of shoes, the frown on the boy's face deepen gradually until he exploded when they reached their car and about to go home.

"Uncle let's go back! I need those shoes!" Levi screamed.

Kenny cringed while putting the child's seat belt on. "Levi, you don't need them and I don't think we can find those shoes in your size."

"That's unfair!"

The drive from home was torture. Levi kept screaming to go back to the mall, and it took Kenny's everything to ignore his shrieks as he concentrated on driving them safely. And that didn't stop until they reached home. It was then Kenny put his foot down.

"Levi, that's enough!"

"But-"

"Enough! Go to your room!"

Kenny almost regretted it when Levi cried silently and ran to his room. But all the guilt the old Alpha felt was thrown at the window when Levi slammed his door shut and it was followed by a piercing scream.

Kenny cringed. "What a brat."

It's when the house got quiet that made Kenny worry and decided to check on his tiny nephew with a chocolate cupcake as a peace offering. Upon opening the door, he saw Levi glaring at his dresser.

"Hey," Kenny called out. Levi turned to him with a tear-stained face. "I brought you a cupcake." He offered.

Then Levi shed another round of tears as he pointed at the dresser. "My dresser is much taller than me! Everything is taller than me! Why am I so short?!"

It was hilarious but Kenny can't find himself laughing as he watched Levi silently weep. It cost Kenny three cupcakes and almost an hour of explaining and reassuring to stop the little raven from crying and to understand that height never mattered.

Blinking back to reality, Kenny needed to think of something to distract his nephew before he threw a tantrum. "Come, Le, we still have to drop by the store to buy you some new socks, remember?"

"Oh, right. I want the softest socks! The one that had rabbits in it." Levi noted.

"Of course," he agreed as they approached their car in the parking lot.

"Uncle! Look! It's Eren!" Levi pointed at the side of the shop where the staff goes in and out. There he saw the said brunette, squatting down as he pet each cat that surrounded him.

"It looks like he likes cats." Kenny commented.

"Really?" Levi stared at the young Alpha with fascination.

Eren started giving out cat food and putting water, immediately the cats dug in. When the brunette stood, he saw his favorite customer and wave at them with a smile before he returned inside the shop.

Levi waved back with enthusiasm. Then turning to his uncle with the biggest smile on his face.

Kenny can't help but smile as well.

****

The Ackermans walked down the shop's aisles. Kenny held Levi's hand securely, ever since the flower incident happened, the old Alpha refused to let Levi walk around the shop. Thinking that the raven will get out and picked flowers again.

They passed the hair accessory aisle and Levi frowned at the revolting amount of pink in the shelves. He was about to declare that he hated that aisle forever until his eyes landed on a pink headband. It was not just an ordinary headband, it had ears. Cat ears.

"Uncle!" Levi stopped walking, making his uncle stop as well.

"What is it now?"

"Please buy me that," He pointed at the headband with cat ears.

Kenny stared at the accessory then back to his nephew. "You want that?" He asked, full of doubt. He knew that Levi doesn't like the color pink. It was quite a shock that Levi wanted the pink item.

"Yes! Umm," Levi looked back at the pink accessory. "It's pink but I think it's okay..." he pouted, wanting the headband to be any other color other than pink.

Kenny took the headband from the rack and checked for the price. It was cheap, the Alpha can afford a little DIY and buy some paint or something to make it black. But he still had no idea why his nephew wanted it, then again, he reminded himself that Levi is an Omega. It was natural for him to like those stuff. "Alright. We can paint it black if you want."

"Yes! Please!" Levi beamed as Kenny handed him the accessory.

They bought the little raven's new socks and some materials to turn the pink headband to black.

When they reached home, Kenny got to work while Levi ate pizza in the living room. The raven wanted to help but Kenny shooed him away because the old Alpha was worried about the smell of paint that can be harmful to his beloved nephew.

Levi was finishing his last pizza when Kenny came in and presented him with a black headband with cat ears.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Levi cheered, hugging Kenny's leg.

"Don't mention it, Le. Now go and wash your hands first."

"Alright!"

Coming back with clean hands, Kenny gave him the head. Levi inspected the accessory, eyes shine with delight. He placed it on his head and look up at Kenny. "How do I look?"

Kenny fished his phone and snapped a picture of Levi with cat ears looking up at him with big expectant eyes. That's a keeper for the albums.

*****

Friday came and thankfully the ice cream shop was not that busy unlike before. Upon opening the door, Levi, with cat ears dashed to the counter to where a very familiar brunette was posted. Eren seemed busy writing down things in his notepad that he didn't notice the tiny raven.

Kenny stood and observed his nephew. Now he knew why Levi wanted the cat ears so badly.

"Eren!" Levi called out, successfully grabbing the young Alpha's attention.

"Oh! Why it's my favorite customer-" Eren was taken aback with the sight in front of him.

"Meow!" Levi curled his hand and moved his wrist as if it was a paw.

"Omg! You are so cute!" Eren was struggling to lean over and pinch Levi's cheeks.

Of course, the mothers in the shop started cooing and saying how cute the tiny raven was. Kenny sighed, resting both hands on his hips.

Wondering what else that Levi can think about that will woe his chosen mate. As long as Levi won't get in trouble or hurt, he'll support his nephew.