Silence

I navigate my way through the densely packed bar to reach the table in the back that my friends are waiting at. Everyone greets me as Eren pats the seat next to him.

“Take a load off, Ash!”

Let me at least get a drink first..

I gesture behind me towards the bar as if I was holding a cup. He waves me off.

“Yeah, yeah. Go get a drink bud, but hurry up!”

I roll my eyes at him and turn around towards the bar. Jean, the bartender seems busy tending to a few regular customers but manages to wave. I lean over the bar and reach for a glass.

“Hey! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

A guy I haven’t seem before grabs my arm from behind the bar. On reflex I drop the glass. The sound of it shattering draws Jean’s attention to us.

“Levi, no! Let him go!”

Confused, the guy releases my arm. Jean closes the distance between us as I try to remain calm.

“Are you okay?”

I nod, slightly unsettled.

“What the hell are you asking him if he’s okay for? He reached over the bar. All I did was stop him.”

I glare at the stranger behind Erwin’s bar.

Who the fuck is this guy?

Jean sighs as he cleans up the broken glass.

What the fuck is his problem?

“Is he even old enough to be in here?”

Look who’s talking. Security, my ass. Are you even old enough to have a job?

“Or you could ignore that I said he works here.. Ash is 23, plenty old enough.”

“Is he dumb or something? Why doesn’t he talk?”

My glare intensifies.

Jean clears his throat.

“Well..”

He looks at me for approval before continuing. I nod.

Might as well since we’re apparently coworkers.

“Ash is mute. He also doesn’t like being touched. Which is why he reacted like that when you grabbed him.”

I wait for him to respond. Instead, he just picks up a new glass and sets it down in front of me.

“This is my fault. I forgot Levi was behind the bar. Sorry, Ash.”

“Why the hell are you apologizing to him?!”

I wave off Jean’s apology and continue glaring.

“Levi, this is Ash Fischer. Ash this is Levi Ackerman. Levi is our new security guard. He’s known Erwin and the rest of us for years. Ash works here too. He does Erwin’s books and manages the finances for the bar. Did Erwin say anything to you about Ash?”

Levi remains silent, staring back at me.

“I’ll make you a drink as an apology then.”

I shrug before catching Jean’s attention. I point to Levi then bring my index finger and thumb close together.

He’s a little small to be here, right? Kids can’t work in bars.

Jean fails at holding in his laughter.

“What the fuck does that mean?! What is he saying?!”

Jean and I ignore him.

“No, I know why you’d assume but he’s a lot older than you think.”

No fucking way is he older than me.

I point at my chest.

“Ha, believe it or not, he’s older than Dilan.”

WHAT?! BUT HE’S SO SMALL!

I point at Levi again and make the same gesture, practically shoving my hand in Jean’s face.

“I promise you, what he lacks in height he makes up for in attitude.”

I crack a smile but my laugh is cut short when Levi slams my drink in front of me and kicks Jean in the shin. Before I can panic, a familiar arm comes over my shoulders, distracting me from the two behind the bar. I lean into the warmth and look up at my best friend. I point towards the bars clock.

Late as usual. How do you even still have a job here.

“I know, I know. Don’t turn into Erwin on me babyboy. I see you met our new friend.”

I flick his forehead before we turn our attention back to behind the bar where Jean and Levi are still fighting.

“What the fuck Ackerman?!”

“You saying I have an attitude problem, Kirstein?!”

“Yes!”

Ugh, they’re giving me a headache..

Dilan looks down at me plugging my ears and his aura darkens. He reaches over and slams his hand down on the bar top, drawing the attention of both Jean and Levi.

“Levi, for future reference don’t do this shit around Ash. Jean, dude, you know better.”

Jean rubs the back of his neck.

“Right. I’m sorry Ash.”

Levi glares at Dilan.

Here we go.

“Do what shit?”

I look up at Dilan and he’s glaring right back at Levi.

Ah fuck.

I put his arm back over my shoulder and feel him relax a bit.

“Fighting. I don’t want Ash to have a panic attack. Do you?”

“Jesus, what the hell is wrong with this kid?! Maybe he should go home and take a nap like the baby he is.”

He stomps out from behind the bar to the back before anyone can say anything. I hold Dilan to stop him from following Levi and doing stupid. I can’t help but hate myself a little.

Stupid anxiety. Stupid trauma. Now it’ll be hard for us all to get along because of me. All because I can’t handle a little play fighting between friends. I’m so pathetic.

Dilan peppering the top of my head with kisses, snaps me out of my pity party. Jean gives me a sympathetic smile as I down the drink Levi made for me.

“Hey Ash, don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to him okay? Go ahead and clock in Dilan. I’ll only be gone for a couple minutes.”

Jean goes into the back. Dilan hugs me tightly to him.

“Go sit down with everyone babyboy. Try to cheer up. When Jean comes back out I’ll ask him to bring you some snacks.”

I nod and stand. Dilan kisses my forehead and ruffles my hair. I walk back over to the table and sit next to Eren.

“You okay bud? What took so long?”

Your friend is kind of a dick.

I point towards the bar and bring my finger and thumb close together.

“Oh..”

“Huh? I don’t get it.”

Idiot.

“Connie, you idiot.”

Well-spoken.

“What?”

“I think he just met Levi.”

I nod.

“OH!”

“So, what’d mister grumpy pants do?”

Nothing serious. Just make me hate myself more.

I grab Eren’s hand off the table and wrap it around my arm.

“HE GRABBED YOU?!”

I nod and hold up one of the empty glasses.

“Don’t tell me you reached behind the bar while he was there. You didn’t see him?”

Are you crazy he’s like 3 feet tall.. Why would I expect a child to be behind the bar?

I frown and bring my thumb and index finger together. They all laugh. I pout and lay my head down on the table as Eren pats my back.