Metamorphosis

Chapter 10

"No touching, asshole," Jean muttered with a sinister smile on his face. Armin beamed at him, not at all alarmed by the smile that looked like it could kill on contact. I was just grateful to be on the stage now, away from the many prying hands that wanted at me.

"Are you okay?" Eren asked once I was settled, looking me over.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Yes."

"What happened to your shirt?" He eyed my bare torso in a way that made me think he wasn't too concerned about the shirt.

"Armin ripped it," I admitted with a shrug.

"That bastard is aiming to kill me."

Before I could comment on this, Jean boosted said bastard (I didn't really think he was a bastard) onto the stage. Recognizing him right away, the crowd commenced their chanting of his name. Armin went into performer mode at the sound, giving his hips a little shake as he blew everyone a kiss, which elicited whistles and shouts from various people. Content to let him take the spotlight, I stood there watching him. I didn't think I was doing anything wrong until he shot me a glare that could freeze hell over. I gazed at him questioningly—What? What is it?—and he wiggled his hips in a suggestive way.

"He wants you to shake your ass," Jean explained as he lifted himself up onto the stage. It was then that I noticed he was shirtless. I wondered if that was some sort of dress code for the bouncers on karaoke night. "Introduce yourself to the crowd and what not."

I glanced up at Eren and he confirmed this with a nod of his head, but added, "You don't have to. Mikasa will introduce you here in a minute."

I was all too willing to wait for Mikasa to take over, but Armin had plans of his own. In a flash, he was standing in front of me with a wicked glint in his eyes that promised trouble. I was about to explain that I'd let him put me in this absurd cowboy outfit, rip open my shirt, and relieve me of the leather chaps that kept my appearance somewhat modest, so no, I wasn't going to let him convince me to introduce myself, but he grabbed onto my wrist before I could even utter a single protest. With ease, he twirled me around, putting every inch of my body on display for anyone that was looking. Heat flooded my face, but all I could do was go along with it.

Mikasa must've taken that as her cue to speak, because she lifted the microphone to her mouth and said, "Meet our new male dancer for the night: Levi!" I expected no response from the crowd; even going as far as imagining crickets chirping in the awkward silence that would soon follow, no doubt. So I was startled when everyone started to clap and shout in approval. "Who will end up in the cage with him tonight? How about we find out by announcing the winners? Ymir?"

Ymir came strolling onto the stage with a piece of paper clasped in her hand. She was wearing black jeans and a sports bra that matched, but nothing else covered her slender frame. I guess the topless thing really was a dress code for the night, or maybe it was something the bouncers had decided on.

"Can I have all the bouncers line up behind me?" Mikasa asked as she received the paper from Ymir, who took several steps back to join Eren. Jean was next to get in line, and then the two remaining bouncers followed: Thomas and Reiner. I hadn't spoken to Reiner since his fight with Eren, and I didn't plan to any time soon. I went out of my way to avoid him after Armin told me that he worked here. For some reason, he made me uneasy.

Unfolding the piece of paper, Mikasa's eyes skimmed over what was written there. She smirked. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Eren landed a spot, but who earned spot number two?" There were quite a few people who screamed out Jean's name, sounding desperate, but he didn't so much as bat an eyelash in response to their harsh cries. He remained stone-faced. I could practically hear Armin drooling. "Jean is right, so why don't the two winners come on up here?" Both Eren and Jean stepped up when she gestured to them, hands clasped behind their backs. "Now the question is which dancer will end up with who?"