"Whatever you do, don't move," the voice was low and grating. "Move and you're dead."

W-what?! Eren Jaeger didn't know what he had ever done to deserve this. All he'd done was gotten a little lost downtown. He was really beginning to feel the bite of winter tonight. The white flurry was visible underneath street lights. The chill was beginning to sting. It was nipping at his nose, ears, and fingers. He was sure that his toes were frozen over. He knew it was going to be cold the moment he stepped outside. What he didn't know was that stepping outside at that time on this day was probably going to be the worst decision he'd ever made.

The man pinning him against the wall was hard to see under the dark green hood. Though his enemy was short in stature, he had enough strength to hold Eren in place. The knife at his throat did not waver or tremble in doubt. This guy…he meant business. Surely, he'd killed people before. Oh god, what would Eren's father do if he died now? And Mikasa…if she ever found out, then even this guy before him would be dead meat. Armin would probably blame himself in one way or another. Jean might host a party over Eren's grave…Uh, no. I'm not letting that horse face win. Besides, Eren wasn't through with living just yet. He was too young, had too many goals. He needed to see the world. There was no way he was going to die here, not at the hands of a guy whose head reached his chest.

"What do you want from me? I don't have much money," Eren demanded. The alley was dark, an obvious spot for a robbery. There weren't many people passing through this street at 10pm. There were a door to the building he was pushed against but it was sealed with chains. Who needed that kind of security anyways? Damn it…Further down was a building that looked no more promising. It had wood nailed over its windows and Eren couldn't spot a door from here. The cops. Where were the police? But Eren's phone was in his pocket and he feared that his perpetrator could slice a neck faster than Eren could dial for help.

"Sssh," the man said. He had managed to remove his hoodie while still pinning Eren, and then forcefully put it on Eren. What the heck? The hoods draw strings were yanked and all that stuck out of the sweater were part of his nose and mouth. Even in the muffled darkness, he could tell the knife had returned to his neck.

More voices came from an end of the alleyway. As they came closer, Eren could hear that it was a man and woman. He was about to tell them to escape but they began talking coolly.

"Oi, is that you, Levi?" came a snide, male voice.

"What of it?" Eren's attacker shot back. Were these guys comrades? Was this a gang? Was he in trouble for passing through their territory? How was he supposed to know?!

"Calm down. What do you have there?"

"A trespasser. I will deal with him."

"Ah. Is that a kid?"

"Oooh a kid. I can't see his face. Remove the hood will ya, Levi?" whined the female.

"I will deal with him. There's no reason to kill him. I'm just warning him."

Did everyone here warn people with knives? Gah! This Levi had kneed him straight in the groin. Hard. Eren doubled over, coughing and gasping. What was air again? Agh, shit, that hurt.

"Hm…You're soft on kids, huh? I didn't know that," the man mocked.

I'm not a kid! I bet you're around the same age as me!

"Soft?" Eren heard disgust in Levi's growl. He couldn't see Levi, but there was sure to be death in his eyes. "Just who do you think gave you that scar?"

"Don't test me, Levi. I'll kill you and the kid. What are you even doing over here? We're supposed to be planning our attack."

"Scouting."

"Right right. Well, whatever. When you're finished with him, come back 'kay? And clean up your mess."

"Someone as repulsive as you shouldn't be saying that to me," Levi's hiss was paralyzing.

The man and woman gigged amongst each other. Their footsteps were fading. Did they leave?

After a minute of tense silence, Levi spoke. "I'm taking this back." He removed his hoodie from Eren and pulled it back onto himself. "I can't believe you were stupid enough to come here. Are you full of shit or something? Your mom isn't here."

"What? No I—I didn't mean to come here. I just got lost is all, okay? No need to attack me. I'll report you to the police."

"If you do, I really will kill you," the man's flat stare was enough to convince Eren.

"Where do you live? Go to school?"

"That's not any of your business."

"Next time you get lost here, don't think that others will treat you so nicely," Levi warned.

Oh, was he trying to help me get out of here? Or is this a trap?

"It's not a trap."

Does he read minds too?!

"Just get the fuck out of here. Take Maple right over there and head east till you hit 76th. There you'll turn left and you should be out when you reach the Wal-Mart."

"I'm not thanking you," Eren brushed himself off stubbornly and glared at Levi. The stranger returned the glare in kind. Eren couldn't even feel the cold anymore. It was a summer breeze in comparison to those steely grey eyes. The man looked young but that was probably just a trick of the eye. No way was this guy Eren's age. Those eyes were experienced and wounded. Who knew what this guy had gone through. Whatever it was, it was no excuse to attack strangers. I bet I could've take him on if I hadn't been caught off guard.

"Forget it," Levi commented and sheathed the knife into the back of his pants.

Another mind reading?!

"Eren?! Eren!" Mikasa's voice! Eren was saved!

"Mikasa!"

"I was looking all over for you. How did you get so lost? You were spacing out again, weren't you?" His sister's face was stern but Eren knew she was just worried. He bet that she would be a real match for the Levi guy.

"Who's that?" Mikasa's eyes indicated Eren's attacker, who had already reached the end of the alleyway, hood pulled over his head. "Was he giving you trouble? This area is notorious for gangsters," she frowned.

"Ah—no," Eren lied without being able to meet Mikasa's eyes. It's not that he forgave Levi but it would be way too troublesome to try and extract any sort of justice on the situation. Now that he thought about it, Levi's partners, or whoever, wanted to kill him but Levi let him go. Maybe….Levi had saved him from his own comrades? No, that couldn't be. What a strange man.

"Let's get home now. Dad's going to be worried." Mikasa grabbed Eren by the sleeve of his jacket and tugged him out of the dark alley and into the lamp lights. "I parked the car back at the parking garage."

"Okay."

"Dad's preparing for tomorrow's dinner with Mr. Smith. Tonight will just be left overs. You haven't eaten since school, right?"

"Yeah. Smith? Who's that again?"

"Dad likes calling him a no-good man who sold his soul for a company, but I guess they're striking up a deal or something. He's bringing his right-hand man too. The car's this way…"

"Right hand man? Secretary or something?"

"I don't know."

The two siblings reached the garage within ten minutes. Eren was weary the entire way, browsing the spaces between buildings and the muggy windows of buildings. The whole gang ordeal, or whatever that was, had shaken him but he wouldn't take this place so lightly again. As Mikasa took the wheel and drove them home, Eren couldn't help but wonder about Levi. The attack hadn't been by some child looking for lunch money. The jump on him was flawless, the quick footwork almost graceful. The knife had been normal, as far as Eren could tell. It wasn't a pocket knife but it wasn't a butcher's knife either.

He didn't know it now, but there had been an engraving on the blade. Etched in the sharpened silver was a miniature shield-like crest with wings on its front. Eren's mind was subconsciously swarming with thoughts of Levi even as he headed to bed after a good scolding. Mikasa bid him good night and he returned to a safe, warm bed.

It was a blessing, to be out of the cold. Did Levi have a home and a bed? Would the man starve? The image of those eyes was sealed in Eren's mind. Reality sunk into dreams, where Eren witnessed the wings of freedom without even realizing it.