shadows dance
summary: Because this is a night of forgetting. Set right before Stohess.
Rated for language
Notes: re-uploaded this because I accidentally put it in the wrong place before...whoops. Also, spoilers for that manga spin-off that's about Levi. Although, if you've gotten used to the way things go in SnK, it technically shouldn't be a spoiler, but hey, I warned you.
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Levi watches the shadows dance from the corner of the tavern he'd claimed for himself. The flames from the fireplace cast flickering shadows on the wall that he watched idly, a half-empty bottle of whiskey held loosely between his fingers.
Goddamn Gunther. Goddamn Eldo. Goddamn Oluo. Goddamn Petra Ral.
Goddamn Female Titan bitch. Should've killed her. Should've torn her more to shreds. Should've spilled more of her godforsaken blood.
Should've taken from her what she'd taken from me.
Goddamn Eren. The kid couldn't even properly fight to protect his scrawny ass. And now what was left? Another broken mission, more broken soldiers.
Levi spots the prostitute eyeing him from a nearby table. He's so tempted to take her unsaid offer, because this is a night for forgetting. Levi is not a man who drinks often.
Hell, the last time he'd drunk this much had to have been after the first expedition he went on with the Recon Corps. And he hates to admit it; hates it so much, but it's torn that wound right open again. It's the same pain. It's the same feeling of never seeing them again.
Right, Farlan? Right, Isabel?
As Levi twitches his muscles to inch towards the woman, he can hear her voice in his head.
'Shame on you, heichou, you know better!'
Angrily, Levi takes a swig of the liquor.
"Goddamnit, Petra, I don't need you to look after me," he mutters to the shadows dancing on the wall. The prostitute slinks away to a more doting man.
'Yes you do, sir. If I don't take care of you, who will? You know everybody else in the world would've just let you rot here.'
Damn you, Petra, I don't need you.
No, but I promised I'd always look after you, even if I never got the chance to tell you directly.
Fuck, Petra, did you love me or something?
He can see her teasing grin in the wall-shadows.
Maybe, Levi-heichou. But that's a story for another time. Now shape up; someone's here for you.
The almost-empty bottle hits the table as Mike approaches him.
"Erwin says to wait at the usual place with Jaeger. Says there's some new developments regarding the Female Titan."
Levi releases a long, slow breath out through his teeth. Mike raises an eyebrow.
"You reek," he says mildly, and Levi nods in agreement.
"Yeah. Tell Erwin I'm on my way."
Mike nods and heads out the door. Levi turns back to the shadows dancing on the wall and raises the bottle of whiskey in one final –silent– salute.
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OW MY FEELS. This show is the reason why I will never watch Game of Thrones. Geez. Leave a review if you please.