This is my first fic... So please be gentle. I love this pairing and it is my OTP. I feel like I'm a terrible writer but from my friends encouragment, I have posted this. o.o Enjoy and persue at your own risk.

Levi's Wings of Freedom

Laughter. It was everywhere. Levi's ears were filled with this familiar sense of dread. He despised today and well- Every day. This place was shit. Today was another viewing. How he hated it so much. He wanted them to leave. Click. Another photo.

"Wow, look at those beautiful wings!"

Levi winced slightly. Luckily there was never a crowd, only a handful of people at a time. It was always either the perverted rich who would make vulgar comments or the crazy scientists that have him held up here... Both most of the time. They would stare. Poke him through the bars of his cage. Sometimes throw things at him. Laugh. Irritate Levi to no end.

"Someone should kill this fucking mutant!"

Every fucking one of you bastards should die. Levi's death stare could almost kill on its own. Had Levi not been shackled and trapped in a giant 'birdcage' (almost room sized mind you)... Red would be the new decor. In a way, the 'birdcage' was more like a prison cell- four sides with one side against the cold wall. Levi's so called bed was against the wall.

"Hey shorty give us a show!"

He found himself wondering if he was even sane anymore. This was what his life had become. Between a mix of random visitors, the scientists (poking, prodding, making snide or vulgar comments and injecting things into him) and an occasional punishment, life wasn't all that bad. Or was it? He got fed, clothed (lucky him), had a bed and for the most part, other than when he had visitors he was left alone. Overall, Levi was content with this but he knew it wasn't going to last for much longer. He knew something was changing. Word had spread fast that an auction was coming soon. Levi knew he'd be one of the things being sold. Whole or in parts, he didn't know yet.

"Get him to flex! I want to see them!"

PLUCK! Levi moved away from the bars quickly or at least as far as his chains would let him. It was a constant reminder that he was trapped. He frowned and then glared at the human who dared to pluck one of his feathers. Something like this occurred every once in a while. Levi should have been used to it by now but damn it those were his feathers and it still stung when they got pulled out. It was always in the same spot because that's all the humans could afford to reach. The way Levi usually positioned himself made it very difficult to reach him. He use to have elegant, beautiful wings-one black, the other white. Unfortunately, now, he was starting to get several bald spots on his wings from all of the feathers he was losing.

"Look at the birdie in the cage!"

Levi brought up his wings and surrounded himself with them. Sadly this was the only place he felt safe and comfortable... in his own wings, soft and the same color as his hair. He fell slowly to the ground slightly under his bed and curled up into fetal position. He looked like a fluffy black ball. The floor was cleaner than their filthy hands. Leave me the fuck alone. He was tired of these people. Leave... Just leave! It's too bad hell is an endless cycle.

This was the usual. Levi's earliest memories were plagued with his unfortunate fate. Back when he had enormous energy to rebel. There were days that he wouldn't eat. He'd starve himself to the point that all he did was lay around and stare blankly. He felt so weak back then. They, the scientists, thought Levi was getting sick, but no one had the nerve to go into the cage and give Levi the medicine he needed to recover. The last time someone entered Levi's cage they were nearly killed. So what- more like who, was the solution?

"Alright viewing is over." Finally. There it was, the voice he recognized. He'd remember her voice anywhere. She annoyed him but he come to like her over the years. Hanji was the only one Levi would talk to. He was glad for two reasons. One, she was here to get rid of the on looking visitors. Two, because he hadn't seen her in three days. He was actually almost worried that she'd never be seen again.

Levi peeked out from his wings and sure enough the crazy brunette with glasses was shooing everyone away and out. He found himself unfurling his wings, stretching them. It was just Hanji and him now. The atmosphere was calmer. Hanji approached him in her same attire, messy brown hair in a ponytail, glasses, lab coat and over exaggerated expressions. She unlocked the door to the cage and waltzed right in. Not once was she ever afraid that he'd kill her, he could do it- easy, but for some reason he didn't. Well he couldn't say it was a bad decision or not but he was still alive, so he guessed that she was doing him some kind of good. She close the cage door behind her. This didn't really make sense to Levi considering that he was shackled and everything. She greeted him with a big smile. "Oh, hi Levi! I see everything is going great."

"Tch." If this is what you call great, then yes I'm fantastic. "Hello, Hanji." He looked up from his spot on the ground. "What are you doing in here?" And more importantly, "Where were you this whole time?"

Hanji hunched down to Levi's level and sits on the floor with him. She adjusts her glasses, "What? I can't 'Hi' to my favorite person?" Person. One of the reasons Levi tolerated her. Hanji never once told or thought of him as a mutant. She spoke to him as though he was normal.

Levi shrugged. "Well I have some news for you. You may have already heard-" Levi had a feeling of what she was going to say, "There's an auction coming up... Tomorrow." That fucking early? He hadn't expected it to be so soon. Levi nodded slowly waiting for her to continue. Levi was slightly anxious to know, even though he was getting a bad feeling. "And I'm sure you know that you're the main attraction." She then said a little more quietly with sadness in her voice, "You'll be sold to the highest bidder..." She didn't have to express how wrong this was, Levi already understood.

That's it. The moment he was waiting, living for. He was doomed. Levi gazed at the ground with a lifeless expression. But wait. This was also a golden opportunity. He felt something rise inside him and glancing back up at Hanji, it seemed she knew as well. She smiled excitedly and clasped her hands, "I knew you'd catch on." then in a low enthusiastic whisper, "This is probably the only chance you're going to get Levi. I'm going to help you."

Levi couldn't believe this day was coming. Finally. Finally, he would be free of this shit hole. He would be able to leave. Fly away and be free, free in terms of being sold to someone, but more free than now. Hanji may be a crazy scientist but she is a smart crazy scientist. Speaking of Hanji, she was getting into his personal space. "Levi... I have a plan." She paused, "You'll be free... and when I say free, I don't mean just leaving here." Is she actually going to-? "You won't be sold... I'm going to break you out and set you free Levi, just like you should be... But first," She stood straight up, "Let's get you ready."

"Get ready?" It was a simple question. Levi found himself standing up. He had so many more questions. Ready for what? What did she have planned? Will it work? Will he actually be free? Is she messing with me? In the end it really wouldn't matter because his questions would soon be answered.

Hanji pulled out a small key, "I gotta make you look good for tomorrow. So you gotta clean up. What did you think I was doing the whole time I was gone?" She unlocked the lock that kept Levi inside the cage, now he had his shackles. "You got something new to wear, isn't that great?"

Levi couldn't help but to feel relieved. They've been talking about his escape for several years now. Ever since that day Hanji mentioned that they didn't really need him anymore, he was looking forward to leaving. Hanji was a genius, she somehow manage to persuade them to sell Levi in an auction. The greedy bastards. Knowing that they'd probably would fetch a pretty penny for Levi. Though Levi clearly remembered being told, more like threatened, that they would like to sell him in pieces, Hanji then proposed that it be better to keep Levi whole and alive claiming that some pervert would be more likely to buy him (besides the fact that if he was sold separately, he'd rot a lot faster. No one wanted rotting flesh, even if it did belong to a mutant). He was grateful that he wouldn't be cut into little bits, thank you Hanji.

His wings gave a little flap, "Anything that has to do with being clean, I'm okay with." Anything to do with escaping, that's okay too. He was processing the information. Today wasn't a cleaning day, normally cleaning days were three times a week. Life was getting better by the moment. Not only did he get to escape and be free... but clean also? How fantastic. All Levi had to look forward in life was to be free (and clean), his dreams were coming true, or so he thought.

Hanji gave Levi the key and then lead him to the showering room. They passed twelve guards along the way. The same twelve that watched Levi like a hawk to prey. Ironic because he's the one with wings, they were not. The ones that helped keep him imprisoned here. Had there been no guards Levi would have made his escape a long time ago. Curse their weapons. Levi could take on three guards. He was strong enough, sure. If they fought fair...but we all know that when you have a weapon, you use it. But certainly not twelve. He learned that lesson in his youth.

Besides his wings, the only other place he got to be alone in was the showering room. Technically Hanji was supposed to be watching him but she knew he wasn't going to do anything. The deal was that if he behaved, she wouldn't have any reason to stay. Thus gaining his own privacy. It was nice being able to wash and clean himself without being watched by pondering, sometimes hateful or perverted eyes. It was disgusting really. People were disgusting. He despised all people with exception of Hanji. Sadly she was literally the only one he talked to. Talk about small world. Really small...

Today- Tomorrow was going to be different. He was finally getting out. Free. His mind was lost in these thoughts, it was what kept him alive most of the time (besides Hanji). The hope to get the fuck out of the cage he called home and break out of the shackles that became his friends was ferociously strong. With Hanji's key in hand, he was able to unshackle himself from the shackles that were on his ankles, wrists, and neck. Not having shackles was a blessing, maybe soon he'd know the feeling of them gone all the time instead of just when he took a shower. Levi proceeded to strip off his clothes, (his torn and dirty clothing, how could Levi live with this condition? Filthy.) he tucked his wings in and stepped into the shower.

Levi could pull off the 'normal' look when he tucked his wings. It was like they melted into his back, disappearing from view. It must have been some mutant power that allowed him to do this. His back was smooth. The only signs of disturbance was the scars that replaced where his wings had been. They looked like upward cuts, much like wings that were open and overlapping each other. Tucking them made him uncomfortable, yet comfortable. Uncomfortable because he wasn't use to the feeling anymore. All this time he had been forced to keep them out, that or punishment. After all, he was for show. He felt comfortable because he got sore from his wings being out too long.

By now Levi had also learned that there were never hot showers nor long showers. You get in, and get out. That's it. So like any other day, he did as such. A quick shower. He stepped out and found that his old clothes were taken, new ones in their place. Must be the new ones Hanji got me. Levi took a moment to sort through it. Everything was made out of nice fabric... but it wasn't going to cover much. Everything was black. Thigh high socks- stockings? What the-? Garter belts too? Everything was different from his usual attire. Very strange. Everything seemed fit tight and move right with him. Seeing how he had nothing else to wear, he had to put everything on. He felt so exposed. The socks were long, the shorts were shorter, not to mention tighter, than Levi would have liked, and the top wasn't much different. There was a hole in the back, right where his wings went. He unfurled his wing. Perfect. They fit perfect. No awkwardness at all. Sick. He cringed. Levi had a hunch, he could feel it in his gut that something was off... Or was this all a part of Hanji's plan? He sighed and put on his shackles. Guess he'd have to wait and see.

Levi had just walked out of the showering room when Hanji grabbed his arm, "Just on time Levi. Like always." Levi was confused and somewhat irritated that she was touching him. Her hands better be clean.

"Hanji. Wait. Why the fuck did you give me this ugly outfit? What's going on and why are you-?"

"There's no time to explain Levi." She led him back to his cage, for the last night there, "Do you trust me?" It was all happening so fast.

Levi shrugged, "I'm not sure, but you're all I got right now so I'll put my trust in you." What was going to happen? Levi was getting nervous by the way Hanji was acting. It wasn't like her to be this way.

Hanji nodded, "Alright Levi." That being said she pulled out a syringe from her lab coat, "I'll see you tomorrow..." She poked Levi's arm before he could stop her. Immediately Levi's vision blurred.

"Hanji..." Levi faltered losing his balance, everything including Hanji was fading into black.

"Please forgive me..." Was the last thing he heard before he hit the ground, unconscious.