If Only For A Little While

Intruder

Levi

"I'm going outside to eat my lunch today." I announced while rummaging in the teacher's lounge'a fridge.

Hanji looked up from her paperwork at the sound of my voice. "Would you like any company?" She asked.

I shook my head, "No it's alright, I'd hate to pull you from your work. Besides I'd rather be alone."

"Suit yourself," she shrugged, turning her attention back to her work.

I collected my lunch along with some lesson plans I'd planned to work in while I ate and left the lounge. The hallways were silent and my footsteps echoed loudly throughout them. The dirty linoleum floors grimed up the toes of my shoes. Tch I scoffed to myself, I'd have to have a talk with the janitors later.

Finally I reached the school's back entrance. When I stepped out I was greeted by a cool gust of autumn air on my face. The entrance led directly to the abandoned auditorium where I often went to be alone. It was disconnected from the rest of the school so you couldn't get to it unless you went outside first. These days it was only used for storage.

The auditorium doors groaned with age as I heaved them open. The auditorium was dark, small windows however created enough illumination to see. Rows of dusty, scarlet, plushy seats filled the house surrounding the creaky wooden stage. It's thick red curtains draped across the stage hiding it from the seats bellow. I chose a random isle seat and pulled my knees up, propping them against the chair in front of me to use my legs as a table. Before I'd even started eating I heard a shout followed by a loud crash from behind the curtain on the stage.

I jumped to my feet, rushing to find the source of the sound. I didn't bother running all the way to the stage's steps, choosing to vault up the side of the stage in order to save as much time as possible in case someone was hurt.

Frantically I yanked the dusty curtains aside and looked around. It was darker back here than it was in the house. I could only make out the outlines of old stage props and other abnormalities. I saw one of the shapes move. I could hear heavy breathing and I could've sworn it sounded like... crying?

"Whose back here?" I demanded making my way towards the figure but then stopping midway. They jumped in surprise at the sound of my voice. "Get the hell out from behind this curtain so I can see your face."

The figure hesitated but then complied, shuffling slowly behind me off the stage. When we were in the light I turned around to face the intruder. His sea green eyes were puffy and covered with drying tears, but he didn't look very sad. He just looked angry.

"Well well Eren, what a suprise, I should have known you'd be the one I'd catch snooping around where they shouldn't," I deadpanned, "What the hell were you doing back there?"

Eren rubbed his eye with the heel of his hand, "Nothing sir, I um- I just wanted to be alone."

I crossed my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him, "Alone to do what? Jack off? What kinda kid wants to spend their lunch break in a dusty auditorium? I know you have friends since I had to bust you for talking to that dandelion kid."

"Armin," Eren corrected, "And I could ask you the same thing." He smiled lightly.

I glared at him, "That's none of your business brat, I needed a quiet place to work and eat."

Eren laughed at that, it was a nice sound. It reminded me of the wind chimes that hung above the doorway of my old home, just as his eyes reminded me of hers-

I shook the thought away. I shouldn't be thinking of that now. He shouldn't even be thinking of a student at all, for any reason. Much less how much he reminded Levi of home.

"So what was that loud noise I heard? And why were you crying?" I inquired.

He looked down at his feet, his eyes averting from my own, "I wasn't crying." He muttered.

"Tch," I scoffed, "your eyes say differently. You're lucky I'm not going to write you up for being back here brat, the least you can do is explain yourself."

He glanced up at me before looking back down, "My friend Conny pissed me off that's all," he gritted, "nothing to worry about.

"That's it?" I raised an eyebrow at him, "You sure it's not something deeper?"

"Like what?"

I scratched my chin thoughtfully, "Say you had something else on your mind, something that had been eating you away for a long time. Then say someone does something to piss you off, in this case Conny. Something tells me Conny only triggered you anger, but I don't think he caused it."

His face twisted into a look between pained and enraged, "What the hell do you know! I'm just your stupid student, why the hell do you care?! Who made you my therapist?!" He shouted, shoving past me.

"Eren!" I growled grabbing his forearm, opening my mouth to say something more, to do something to help this obviously troubled kid.

"What?!" He screamed at me. I was taken back by his blatant disrespect, so different than the way he treated me earlier. His tone suggested something that couldn't be talked about in just one class period.

"Don't forget, you still have detention with me after school." I smirked, him and I could always talk then.

Eren's facial expression shifted from anger to annoyance just as the bell rang. "Get to class," I ordered collecting my abandoned things from my seat, "I'd hate for you to be late to another teacher's class."

Eren nodded a quick "Yes sir" before trotting away. As I watched him leave I rubbed the bridge of my nose, thinking about what he'd said. His voice echoed in my ears.

"I'm just your stupid student, why the hell do you care?!"

I wish I knew...

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-KarinParker