❅ Christmas Eve ❅
"On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me: a partridge in a pear tree!
On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me: two turtle doves-"
"AnD A PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR trEE," Eren screeched.
Naturally, Jean took this opportunity to make fun of the boy. "Holy fuck, Eren, you sound like shit."
"At least I'm not shit," Eren rebutted.
"OHHHHH!" Sasha and Connie shouted as they scooted over to Jean who was trying not to commit murder.
"Someone call the waiter because you just got served!" Sasha shouted.
"On a silver platter," Connie added.
"With a side of mash potatoes," Sasha continued.
"Guys!" Marco called out. "Get it together! We need to sound good for tomorrow."
"Why are we even caroling?" Ymir whined. "I have so much stuff that is better that I could be doing."
"Ymir is right," Annie spoke up. "This is pointless."
Reiner interjected. "Like a broken pencil-"
"No, like you," Annie replied.
"OHHHHHHH!" Sasha and Connie shouted again.
"Shots FIRED!" Connie bellowed.
"He's on the ground!" Sasha said.
"Someone call the ambulance!" Connie followed up. "Wee-woo wee-woo!" He shouted while walking around and moving her finger in a circle, indicating a siren.
"You two better stop it because it is really getting on my nerves," Jean rubbed his forehead.
"I say we get out of here and get hot cocoa, what do you say?" Ymir glanced over at Christa.
"Whatever," she said as she was typing away on her phone.
"Hey, wanna have a party again this year?" Armin asked.
"I call hosting!" Jean shouted.
"Ha! You just don't want to seem like a loser," Eren stated.
"You know what, Eren, I hope your dick falls off," Jean spat.
"Boooo!" Sasha and Connie said at the same time.
"That comeback made me undeniably sad," Annie stated.
"Hey, wanna invite those juniors we sometimes hang out on accident with?" Armin suggested.
"Why?" Ymir asked. "They are all losers."
"But some of us know them quite well," Armin brought up. "Mikasa, you know Petra, don't you?"
"Yeah," Mikasa stated.
"And Eren knows Levi, doesn't he?" Armin brought up.
"Well, I guess," Eren replied.
"So let's invite them all," Armin concluded. "The more the merrier."
"Said the guy that didn't want a rave for his birthday party," Eren brought up.
"I said I never wanted a rave for my birthday party, but I never said I didn't want to rave at one point in my life," Armin corrected him.
"So you want to rave on Christmas?" Reiner asked.
"A Jesus Rave?" Jean added.
"Please never use "Jesus" and "Rave" in the same sentence," Marco sighed. "It can offend people."
"But you just did," Jean stated.
"I used it as an example of what not to do," Marco sighed.
"Speaking of Jesus wasn't someone born on Christmas Day?" Connie asked.
Everyone stared at Connie for they could not believe the words that had come from his mouth.
"Connie, you stupid bean burrito!" Jean facepalmed.
"No! I mean wasn't there someone that we knew who was born on the 25th?" Connie asked. "Remember last year, we joked about someone because that person's birthday was on the 25th."
"Oh yeah," Bertolt spoke up. "I remember that."
"Hey, so Connie isn't a complete idiot after all," Ymir stated while Connie stood there with a stupid grin on his face.
"It's none of our birthdays, is it?" Armin asked.
Everyone shook their heads.
"So it's one of the juniors," Christa scratched her head. "But which one?"
❅ Meanwhile ❅
"What do you want for your birthday, Levi?" Hanji asked.
"For you to disappear," Levi stated.
"Leviiii," Hanji whined.
"Seriously, Levi, what do you want?" Erwin asked.
Levi simply shrugged as an answer. To tell the truth, Levi didn't want anything in particular. He didn't want anything at all. He just wanted to have a normal Christmas without someone fussing over his birthday as if it was the most important thing in the world - because it wasn't. At least, it wasn't important for him. He hated so much attention.
"So do you think those sophomores are going to invite us again?" Gunther asked.
Erd scoffed. "That's highly unlikely. They wouldn't want to invite us. We aren't that close of friends."
"They invited us to a rave," Auruo pointed out.
"And they're inviting us," Petra stated. All attention averted to her. "Mikasa texted me that we are invited to their Christmas party this year again."
"Ah! Time to get our party on, then!" Hanji cheered. "We need to make Levi's birthday extra special!"
"Can we go just one year without acknowledging that my birthday is on Christmas?" Levi asked, but all of his friends shook their heads. Levi groaned and walked off, wishing that he was born on another day.
As he walked off, Petra got another text. "Someone should tell Levi that there are terms and conditions to this," Petra stated. "It turns out that we have to carol for a couple hours."
"Noooooooooo!" Erd, Gunther, and Auruo shouted into the skies.
"I don't mind caroling..." Isabel spoke up.
"That makes you the only one, then," Farlan teased.
"Says the only guy who is still into Bejeweled," Isabel snapped back.
Erwin whistled. "That app is older than my house. And my house is haunted."
"How do you know it's haunted?" Isabel asked.
"Long story," Erwin sighed as he recalled his suppressed memories.
❅❅
That night, Levi tossed and turned in his bed. For some reason, he couldn't sleep. Levi tried to count sheep, but he lost count somewhere around the 1000's.
Next, he tried listening to the wind outside. It definitely didn't work. He then tried to find any other noise that could soothe him to sleep. Eventually, he found another noise. Levi focused on it. It was a soft thumping sound that was rhythmic. Levi's eyes began to flutter to a close as the thumping sound grew louder, and louder, and-
"What the shit?" Levi uttered as he sat up from his bed. It sounded as if heavy footsteps were progressing closer to his room.
"Kenny?" Levi whispered. "Is that you?"
The footsteps grew even louder until it all stopped, and whoever was there was in front of his closed bedroom door.
Levi, feeling rather agitated, decided he wasn't going to take Kenny's crap tonight. He marched over to the door. "Kenny," he spat bitterly while he turned the doorknob, "I'm not in the mood for-"
Let's just say it wasn't Kenny.
Whatever it was screamed, and at the same time, Levi screamed. Levi stumbled backwards, which was when he was able to get a good look at who - or what it was.
He looked up at the ghastly, misty figure who was glowing an erie green. This scene brought him déjà vu, for the phantom, or whatever, who was standing in front of him was...
Nile Dawk.
"Why are you here?" Levi asked as he stood up. "I'm not bitter this year, and I'm nicer to everyone! I didn't beat up that kid again or whatever I did wrong last time that made you and the other three losers show me my fate! Why are you even here? Do you have no life? Let me take that back, actually, you're a ghost so technically you do not have a life. But still! Why are you here?"
"You wished for your birthday to be on a different day, right?" Nile clarified, appearing a little hurt by the previous comment.
"So what?" Levi stated. "I only wished that for about ten seconds."
"But it was a strong desire," Nile pointed out. "In those ten seconds, you really meant it, and you know it. You wish your birthday was on a different day so you could have a normal Christmas like everyone else."
"Tch," Levi spat as he walked back to bed. "It's stupid. And it's not like I can change my birthday."
"You actually can," Nile said.
"How?" Levi asked, tone dripping with skepticism.
"The three ghosts of Christmas, past, present, and future will visit you again," Nile prophesied. "But this time, they will give you three tasks. You have to change three things in the past which will affect the past, present, and future. And only then will you be able to change your birthday."
Levi was confused. His train of thought, however, was disrupted when Nile snapped, making the room spin around them. When it finally stopped, Levi clung onto his headboard for support, dizzy from the movement. "The hell...?" He murmured.
"You're birthday has been changed to December 10th," Nile stated. "Remember, you have to complete three tasks in order to keep this change."
"Alright, loser," Levi yawned as he went back to his bed. "Just send Petra and shit."
"No need to be rude," Nile uttered under his breath as he floated through the walls.
❅ Some time later ❅
Levi felt something poke his feet. He immediately sat up.
"Surprise motherfluffer!" Petra cheered happily.
"Oh, not this again," Levi suddenly recalled what happens next.
Petra raised both her arms, somehow lifting him up and tossing him aside with her "magical Christmas ghost powers." Levi fell to the ground with a thud and rubbed his head.
"You don't have to do that!" Levi shouted. "That is completely unnecessary-"
"Ready for the first task?" Petra asked.
"Might as well," Levi yawned. "What is it?"
"You have to go back in time," a portal opened beside Petra as she said that. "And make your parents conceive you earlier!"
Levi found this very sketchy. "Why do I feel like this will change everything?"
"Silly goose," Petra teased. "It will only change your birthday." She then turned to the side and whispered to herself. "Along with some other things that will show up down the road."
"What was that?" Levi asked.
"Nothing!" Petra smiled. "So here we go!" Petra stepped through the portal and pulled Levi through.
"The date is March the 6th," Petra stated. "This lovely couple have been married for a year now and let's just say they're still thinking about whether or not to have a child. Although, it's leaning to more of a yes for them."
"To much information, Petra," Levi stated.
"Relevant, though," Petra pointed out as she gestured to a young couple sitting near the window of a house. They were having a cute little dinner date in their home.
It was weird for Levi to see his parents. He had almost completely forgotten what his mother looked like, and he hadn't seen his father this happy since.. Well... Forever...
"So what are we supposed to do?" Levi asked.
"You see," Petra began, "we are ghosts. So technically we can screw up anything we want."
"Oh boy," Levi facepalmed. Petra took Levi by his arm and dragged him through the wall of the house until they were next to his parents. Petra began by lowering the lights and lighting a candle.
"Your turn," Petra stated while pushing Levi towards them.
If there was one thing he remembered about his mother, it was that she loved a particular song. She would always hum it when he was little and look at his father saying it was "their song."
Levi saw a stereo and looked at what was inside. Of course, the song was already in there. He pressed play and listened to it begin.
Immediately after, his mother's face lit up while his father was quite confused on how it happened by itself, but nonetheless, seeing his mother smile like that was heartwarming.
"Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can't help falling in love with you," Elvis Presley's voice rang clear through the stereo.
His mother stood up and walked over to his father, pulling him out of the chair. They began to sway and dance to the slow tune that surrounded them. Levi's mother even began to sing along.
Levi's heart nearly melted while Petra was squealing uncontrollably. It wasn't long until things became heated. And Levi was the first one to realize that.
"Um, Petra... Let's get out of here," Levi tugged at her sleeve.
"Why?" Petra said, slow to catch on.
"I'm serious, Petra," Levi stated. "We have to leave. Right now!"
"This is adorable- oh. Oh! Okay! Let's go!" She said as soon as she realized what was happening. In a blink of eye, they were back to Levi's room.
"That was easy," Levi stated as he headed to bed. "Erwin, bring it on!"
"What?" Petra asked. "No goodnight?"
Levi sighed. "Goodnight, Petra."
"Goodnight, Levi," Petra said before she faded away.
❅ It's like... 1 AM maybe❅
Levi felt something jab at his side. He immediately sat up and rubbed eyes before processing who it was. It took him less then a second to realize that who dared disturb him from his peaceful slumber.
"Suuuurrrrpprriiiisseeee motherfuckerrrr!" Erwin shouted as he lifted Levi from the bed and threw him against the floor with the ghostly powers that he somehow gained.
"I don't understand why this is necessary," Levi stated. "Because it isn't!"
"No need to get bitter, Levi," Erwin said. "It is time to do the second task. And that is to change the planned date of your third birthday."
"And that is important because..." Levi said.
"Your birthday was planned to be on Christmas so it would be easier for your parents to handle. However, because of this, your birthday will forever be celebrated on Christmas Day even if you were set to be born on the tenth," Erwin explained.
"I'm cool with that," Levi shrugged.
"One more thing," Erwin pulled out a cake identical to the one he saw last year. The candle was even in the same place as last time.
"Oh hell no," Levi spat.
"It ain't gonna blow itself," Erwin said in a deep voice.
Levi rolled his eyes and blew out the candle. His surrounding grew dark before all light began to register in his eyes.
"It's December 8th and your parents are buying things for your Christmas and birthday parties," Erwin stated as he pointed to a child in the seat of a grocery cart. His mother, still young and beautiful, was leaning on the cart, looking at her phone. His father was carrying bottles of sparkling cider to the cart.
"What do I need to do now?" Levi asked.
"You need to possess yourself," Erwin replied.
It took a couple of seconds for Levi to fully understand what that meant. "Wait, what-"
Before he could say another word, Erwin whisked him off into younger Levi's body. He looked at his little chubby hands and legs. To his horror, he was even shorter than he was before. He held his tiny fists up to his cheek and screamed in horror.
His mother immediately turned her attention to him. "Levi! Why are you suddenly screaming?" She asked.
"I'm trapped in my younger self's bo-" Levi was about to rant, but he stopped when he saw Erwin float behind his mother, giving him the "cut it out" signal. "I mean... goo," Levi corrected himself. While sticking his filthy thumb in his face.
"What are you doing?" Erwin shouted. "You're three! Not a infant!"
Levi wanted to roll his eyes, but that wouldn't be something that a child would do. He mentally sighed and went to work. "When is my birfday?" He asked trying to sound as high-pitched as possible.
"On the tenth," his mother smiled.
"Waf abou' the partee?" He asked.
"That's on Christmas!" His mother smiled.
"But I don't wanna," Levi pouted. He could tell that ghost Erwin was enjoying this. He was going to deal with him later.
"Why not?" His mother asked.
He was about to say that he was going to grow tired of everyone giving him more attention on Christmas than actually being in the Christmas spirit, but he realized that he was still a toddler. And now thinking it to himself, he realized why he didn't like Christmas that much up until last year. Levi cursed his existence for ruining everything.
"Becwause I wan my own partee," Levi said, taking the selfish route. "Pleeeeaaassseee."
His dad put more things in the cart behind him. "We've already planned your birthday on Christmas-"
"Pleeeaaaassssseeee!" Levi whined louder.
"But honey, we'd have to-"
"PLEEEAASSEEEE!" Levi whined as loudly as possible.
Levi's mother laughed which instantly made Levi stop being a brat. "Okay, we'll have your birthday party on your actual birthday on now on, okay?" She asked.
Levi gave a triumphant nod, which made his mother laugh again.
"Good work, Levi," Erwin smiled. "Now let's head back-"
"Not yet," Levi mouthed at him.
Erwin was slightly baffled by this for he thought Levi would want to head back immediately.
"Momma," Levi spoke up, still mimicking a child.
His mother looked down at him with all the tender care that he longed to see for ages. Levi smiled. "You're weally pwetty."
Levi's mother appeared shocked by this, and so was Erwin. His mother laughed. "Why are you telling me this? Do you want something?" She asked jokingly.
"No, I just think you should know," Levi replied. He was happy, but at the same time he could almost feel his heart break into tiny pieces. He only wanted to tell her this because he never did get to tell her how pretty she was. And it was no lie, his mother was truly beautiful.
Levi smiled even brighter and reached up at his mother, making grabby-hands. She laughed and took little Levi into her arms. Levi swung his tiny arms around her neck as she embraced him. And in that moment, it was just him and her. Mother and son. Something that Levi had forgotten he used to have. Something that Levi wished he still had.
Levi looked up at Erwin. "Let's go," he said quietly.
"O-okay..." Erwin said weakly as he sniffed. He was standing in a puddle of his own ghost tears and tissues. Erwin then made the weirdest sound when blowing his nose and throwing he tissue beside him. He proceeded to sob in a gross manner before getting out his magic candle and a lighter. Talk about ruining the moment.
When the candle was lit, he attempted to blow it out, but he couldn't because his sobbing was getting in the way. So, he put out the candle with his tears. The next thing they knew, they were back where they were before.
"I'm just going to go to bed and wait for Hanji," Levi rubbed his eyes as he climbed into his bed.
"Okay," Erwin said as he blew his nose one last time and threw the tissue aside. "I'll go now..."
Levi could hear Erwin's gross sobbing fade as he floated away. Levi was drifting off to sleep once again when he felt something wet land on him. It was not only wet, but it was slimy as well... And glowing green. It didn't take long for Levi to realize that Erwin's ghost tissue with his ghost snot had landed on his face.
Levi immediately shot out of bed and ran down the hallway into the bathroom where he washed his face throughly.
He returned to his bed and pulled the blanket over his head. He tried to sleep, knowing that if he fell asleep, Hanji would come, wake him up (violently), they would do the last thing, and then the night will be over. As much as he liked seeing his parent happy and alive again, he really hated the "Christmas Carol" aspect of things. Levi turned in bed to face something unsuspected. In his face, he saw a glowing green ghost version of Hanji who was staring intently at him. In his bed.
"Surprise motherfucker," she said in his face. She didn't even need to throw him out, Levi fell out of the bed himself. "Ready for the last part?!" She sat up.
"What the ever-loving fuck, Hanji!" Levi shouted.
"It's time to travel again!" Hanji smiled. "Take my hand! I can show you the wooorrrrlllllddd," she sang. "Shining, shimmering, spleeeenndddiiddd-"
"Yeah, yeah," Levi stood up and brushed off the dust. "Let's get it over with."
Hanji pouted. "Party pooper." She snapped her fingers and immediately they were warped to another place.
"The date is December 25th, sixth grade," Hanji stated.
Levi glanced over at a smaller version of Levi who was sitting all by himself on the swings. Suddenly, he remember what happened on this date. Sixth grade. That was the year when he had moved. He had no friends at this time. And since it was Christmas, it meant that it had been three years exactly since his mother had passed from cancer. But if he remembered correctly, today was also the day when...
"Hey kid!" A high pitched and irritating voice spoke up. Little Levi was looking at the ground, so this certain kid bent sideways to meet Levi's eyes. She had spectacles which were too big for her face. "What's with the sad face, huh?"
"Hanji, maybe he doesn't want to be bothered," spoke a taller, blonde boy. Levi almost wanted to laugh at how freakishly adorable little Hanji and Erwin were.
"I'd say that he needs some cheering up," Hanji said as she put her hands on her hips.
"I don't think so," Levi looked away.
"So what do I do here?" Levi asked.
"You see," Hanji began, "because it was your birthday, we forced you to hang out with us so you wouldn't be lonely."
"You guys landed me in the hospital that year," Levi recalled.
"Welllllll..." Hanji went on. "All you need to do is possess that little boy and not tell them that it's your birthday today as an excuse for them not to bother you."
"I used the birthday excuse before you?" Levi asked. "Man, I was a brat." Levi sighed. "Alright let's do th-"
Levi was about to complete the sentence when he realized something. "Wait, since I wanted you to go away, I used my birthday, which was the 25th as an excuse for you guys to leave."
"Right," Hanji nodded.
"And you guys refused to leave me alone on my birthday," Levi continued.
"Also correct," Hanji said.
"And this was the first time we met," Levi recalled.
"That is also correcto," Hanji stated.
"Meaning that if I keep myself from saying one statement," Levi went on. "We wouldn't know each other now."
"Well," Hanji winced. "There are trade-offs. But what do you say? Ready to change your birthday?" Hanji held out her hand.
Levi glanced back over at the little children. Hanji was still trying to convince Levi to play with them. Erwin joined in as well and spoke up every now and then, trying to bribe Levi with a promise of hot cocoa.
Sure, these people really irritated Levi so many times. And sure, Hanji and Erwin may have almost killed Levi and vice versa, but they have had good times together. Like... Well... Levi was sure he had good times with them. And if he did this, that meant giving them up. And for what? Some selfish motive?
"I think I'm good here, thank you," Levi stated.
"Wait," Hanji's hand dropped by her side. "But your birthday-"
"I'd rather keep everything I have now," Levi said while glancing over at the small children.
Suddenly Hanji shouted. "THANK FUCK!" She tackled Levi with a hug despite him trying to struggle out of it. "I'm so glad that you chose us over a stupid birthday!" She cried out loud.
"Yeah whatever," Levi pushed her aside. "I just want to rewatch this.
"Come on, kid," little Hanji whined. "Play with us!"
"I don't want to be bothered," Levi stated.
"Give us a reason!" Hanji demanded.
"It's my birthday," Levi snapped back. "So all I want is for you to disappear."
"Harsh," Hanji winced.
"But that gives us more of a reason not to leave you alone," Erwin spoke up.
"Yeah!" Hanji jumped. "Come on! We'll have fun and stuff!" She grabbed one of Levi's arms and yanked him off the swings.
"Okay! I'll go!" Levi gave in. "Jeez." And thus, present Levi concluded, began the era of him constantly getting dragged into things he didn't want to do.
❅ Much later ❅
Levi woke up with a crick in his neck. He sat up and stretched in bed. As he glanced outside and was disappointed by the lack of snow he looked forward again and yawned.
"Why does this shit always happen to me?" He asked himself.
❅ That night ❅
"Welcome!" Jean said as he opened the door to Levi and all of his friends. "To Casa de Jean. Where Mikasa es su casa."
"I really hate that," Mikasa uttered as she walked past Jean.
"Not to mention you pronounced it wrong," Armin spoke up.
"It's for the sake of the joke, guys!" Jean groaned. "Just come in!"
Levi and friends walked into the house and immediately began to disperse.
"I'm playing Mario Kart!" Gunther announced as he ran over to the couch.
"Well try to beat me," Eren gloated. "I am the king of Mario Kart!"
"You're on!" Gunther laughed as he grabbed a controller.
"You're going to suck, dude!" Erd joked as he walked over to the TV.
"Shut up!" Gunther shouted.
"Hey, Mikasa," Petra greeted. "So how are you doing on your math packet she assigned over break?"
"I want to burn it, but I care about my grades," Mikasa stated as she poured some punch into her cup.
"I'm already done," Armin smiled.
"Armin shouldn't count as a human being," Mikasa stated as Armin walked away, slightly hurt by that statement.
"Hey, you were in the JV football team this season," Erwin gestured to Reiner who had Bertolt trailing close behind him.
"And you're in Varsity, aren't you?" Reiner asked.
"Yep," Erwin answered. "So how well do you think this season was for the both of us?"
"We sucked," Reiner stated with a smile.
"Yeah!" Erwin smiled back as they high fives each other.
Levi walked into the circle of conversation, paused, and looked up at each of them. "So what's your secret?" Levi asked. "Milk?"
"Okay everyone!" Eren said. "We are gathered here today-"
"In my house!" Jean shouted.
"In Jean's house," Eren added reluctantly. "To have a wicked Christmas party."
"And we are going to Carol now!" Marco cheered.
Levi's eyes shot wide opened. "Why the fuck did no one tell me about this?"
"Happy birthday, Levi!" Hanji cheered.
"I knew it was someone's birthday!" Connie shouted. "Hah! Not stupid!"
"Happy birthday!" Everyone cheered at once. Then, someone initiated singing the song to him during which, he had no idea what to do.
When it was finished, Levi sighed. "Thanks, I guess."
"This is the most appreciative I've ever seen Levi," Erwin stated. "What a rare occurrence."
"What's gotten into you?" Farlan asked.
"Long story," Levi stated. "Let's just go carol."
And with that, everyone cheered and ran out the door, ready to attack the neighbors with their angelic voices.
❅ A few minutes later ❅
"On tHe fIrsT dAy oF cHrisTmaS mY tRuE lOve GavE tO Me: A pArtRiDgE iN a pEaR tReE.
ON thE seCoNd dAy oF cHrisTmaS mY tRuE lOve GavE tO Me: tWo tUrtLe dOvEs, aNd A pArtRiDgE iN a pEaR tReE."
"Holy fuck, we sound atrocious," Levi commented.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AN: HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALLLLLLLLL AND A MERRY NEW YEARRRRRR WHEREVER AND WHENEVER YOU ARE BECAUSE TIME ZONES AND SUCH.
~ Avalon-chan