Chapter Text
Arrogant. That was the first word that came to mind when Levi Ackerman thought of young CEO Eren Jaeger. The man had fallen into the position after his father's sudden death at the ripe age of twenty, not having to lift a finger, in Levi's opinion, to earn his title.
Three years had passed and Levi would still see pictures of the ambitious, bachelor heartthrob decorating magazines and newspapers every morning when he picked up his usual tea from an obscure shop down the street from his building. An annoyed huff would always find its way passed Levi's iced rose lips as his cool, grey eyes glared holes at the sparkling teal eyes that tore their way through life and business like an amateur. That cocky grin Eren wore when he knew he was being photographed had a way of getting under Levi's skin, making the hairs on his neck raise in a way he'd never experienced. His tanned skin, probably a product of spray tan and money, looked too good to be true, too warm to belong to that of a cold beast that was Eren Jaeger.
And there he sat, across from Levi in his buildings conference room. His feet were on the table and he leaned back in his chair, papers in hand, pen twirling in his long, elegant fingers. Levi bit back whatever he wanted to yell at the potential business partner, opting to eye him and hope he'd get the message. Once Eren's eyes did end up wandering to Levi's, he did not relent in his antics.
Instead, Eren stared at Levi. Levi knew his own steel eyes were pointed into a glare at the shitty brat on the other side of the glass, and he knew it was not very friendly, but the way Eren was staring at Levi made him feel as though Levi shouldn't have started this staring contest in the first place. Eren's fingers had stopped twirling the pen, his focus directed at the short man that caught his attention.
Painfully vibrant, cerulean eyes met Levi's cold, grey ones with the same amount of contempt and disinterest that Levi had put forth, if not more. Eren's honey skinned jaw clenched noticeably as the side of his cheek ticked. The usual light Levi saw flickering in the iris' of the man's eyes was no longer there, replaced by something one could only describe as darkness, or maybe even hate for the world around him. It was as if Levi could hear the words ebbing forth from Eren's mind: "I dare you."
"Tch." Levi took a deep breath, breaking eye contact, when he realized he had been holding it in. Eren's intensity had caught him off guard, but it wouldn't happen again. He rounded the corner and entered the conference room, only to find that Eren's gaze had never left him, and had never altered. Levi shot him a warning glare, to which he did not flinch. His look did not soften, his eyes did not lighten. Levi was confused.
He was so used to everyone being intimidated by him, that this being before him had actually made him feel... Off. Eren made him feel as though he were in a losing battle for control, as if Levi never had it in the first place and it was all just an illusion.
"Are we going to get started?" Silky and suggestive, the total opposite to what Levi would have assumed Eren Jaeger's voice to be. Eren was still young, twenty-three, so Levi had assumed his voice would sound as such. Yet the voice that met him was deep and luscious, like that of a fully matured man that knew how to use his words to get exactly what he wanted, whenever he wanted it. Levi shivered at the sound, praying Eren didn't notice. One glance at the looming figure to his right told him otherwise.
"Yes." Levi replied curtly. Eren let an amused smile spread over his red lips. Levi gave the glimmering mischief within the brat's eyes no mind as he proceeded on with the meeting.
"Good. I don't like what you've proposed. Erwin gave me a far better idea of what I could do." Eren said flippantly. Levi restrained himself from snapping at him, but it hurt internally as he watched the glow of Eren's eyes grow.
"And what, Mr. Jaeger, did Mr. Smith offer you?" Levi felt the seething hate in his tone, and he couldn't care less.
"He pointed out that my company is, how do I put this nicely? Doing far, far better than the one you are in charge of." Eren wiped at invisible dust on the table and scrunched his nose.
"Did he, now?" Levi asked, sounding more amused than he really was. What the fuck was eyebrows thinking, inflating this little shits attitude to more than anyone ever needed it to be!?
"He did." Eren let a wicked grin over take his face, making him look sinister in the most innocent of ways. "He also gave me this." Eren revealed a folded paper from his inner jacket lining, and handed it to Levi.
The raven man took it hesitantly, eyeing Eren with severe caution the entire time. Once in his grasp, he opened it and stared. His eyes grew wide with the words he read.
"What the fuck is this?" Levi hissed, setting the paper down. He shut his eyes and allowed the anger within him to flow over his body.
"It's exactly what it seems. Effective as of today, I am your CEO, and this business is also mine. What a lovely change of events, yes? Oh, but of course you'll still be vice. Erwin didn't want you having his head, so he made sure you still had what little control of your pride and joy he could offer, or rather, I could." Eren leaned back again, hands behind his head as he stared at the blank ceiling as if it were the most enthralling.
"You piece of shit. You think that just because Daddy left you his company, you're the best thing since sliced bread. Alright, brat. Let me explain something to you. Things like... Like this," he held up the paper, "do not normally happen without hard work. You must be the most pretentious asshole, arrogant, lazy. You have probably never worked an honest day in your life." Levi glared daggers at the man, who was still staring at the ceiling. Levi was waiting, but nothing happened. Eren then stood, and stared out the window, back to Levi.
"Are you a religious man, Mr. Ackerman?" He asked aloud. Levi's glare was replaced by a look of bewilderment.
"What?" He scoffed.
"Are you a religious man?" Eren repeated.
"Mr. Jaeger I have no ide-"
"Just answer the question." His voice shook the room with such authority it made Levi gulp nervously.
"No. I am not." He replied, venom in his tone.
"Hmm... I thought not." He sat on the table, hands supporting him as he leaned back and gazed out the window, sunlight splashing his tanned face, making his blue-green eyes bright, but only from the light outside. "I believe in a god, Mr. Ackerman. I may not be in favor of said god, but I believe he is there. And you may ask why? Why would someone such as yourself believe so if you know you aren't in this god's favor? Well..." His face turned, light no longer hiding what malice was in his eyes. "I may not have done an honest day of work, but I can tell you that I have done many days of dishonest work. The type that would make your nightmares seem like dreams, Mr. Ackerman. My sins, too many to be counted by now. So I dare you, Mr. Ackerman, if you feel that you can fight me over this and win, take me to church. Let me face the judgement I so rightfully deserve under those steeples and I will tell you this, Hell will unfold before you."
His expression remained unfazed as he spoke. The emptiness of his teal eyes spoke numbers of truth to the words that rolled so effortlessly off his tongue. Levi felt his blood go cold under the malevolent hold of his eyes.
"That's what I thought. Now, if you'd excuse me. I have a press conference to organize as well as a- oh, wait, two businesses to run. I'll be seeing you around, buddy boy." Eren tapped his shoulder, and Levi grabbed his hand forcefully.
"Don't touch me." He hissed. "You may be taking over, but that doesn't mean you have the right to lay your disgusting fingers on me." Levi glared, spiteful and deadly. Eren's face went dark, and Levi knew he messed up.
"Don't get too used to using that tone with me, Mr. Ackerman." His voice was low and threatening, making Levi's heart race with anxiety. "This is my company, now. Sure, Erwin may have a fine hold of it, but once he retires, I will still be here, and your barricade from my wrath will no longer be standing in my way."
His words rang true in Levi's ears. How much longer was the old man Smith going to be here? Surely not as long as Levi was planning on staying, that was if Eren didn't change his life plans.
"Hmm." Eren hummed in schadenfreude. "Did I get the untouchable Levi Ackerman in a tight spot?" The young man's lips curled into a rancorous grin, disdain fueling the ignited flame in his eyes. Levi felt his own lips twist in animosity, only adding fuel to Eren's virulence.
A low, blood chilling chuckle escaped Eren's lips, and Levi stared at him. Eren's face went back to the same icy, callousness that Levi himself was known for.
"It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Ackerman. We'll be speaking soon." His voice was even and level, throwing Levi off. He stared at the young CEO before him with caution and doubt. He offered a slight nod of the head and a tight lipped smile. Eren's hand jutted out before him. Levi eyed it, and reached his own hand forward.
The second the raven haired man's hand met the golden skin of the brat in front of him, an electric shock of excitement and something unknown to him shot through his body, making his head spin. He knew the younger felt the same thing by the softened expression on his face that hardened once more when he regained his senses. Their hands dropped, and that was that. Eren brushed passed Levi, the scent of vanilla and light citrus following him out, leaving the shorter in thought.
Levi had always assumed he hated Eren Jaeger, but now he knew he really hated Eren Jaeger. He hated his prideful grin and fiery eyes that burned with the hunger to get ahead of the rest. He hated his hellish attitude. He hated that he could never get a read on the little shit; one moment he was talking business the next he was throwing Levi for a loop asking him random questions that made his head spin. He hated the way he explained things, as if he had all the knowledge of the world at his fingertips. He hated the way he made Levi feel insecure of who he is and how he should act. He hated the young CEO, and his new boss.
He despised him. Despised those gorgeous eyes that should only be allowed on fairy tale princesses, that slicked back, chocolate brown hair that graced and framed his face. He despised his strong jawline that would tick when he was frustrated. He despised that honey tanned, sun kissed skin and how natural it was. He despised how delicious the asshole looked. God knew that Levi was ridiculously turned on slightly by Eren's in charge attitude, no matter how much of a dickwad he was being.
Levi sighed and shook his head. He didn't have time to think about his new boss; it was time to get Erwin's head on a fucking platter.