It's snowing?
My eyes drifted up, fluttering as I focused on keeping them open. White dots landed in my lashes. I wanted to raise my hand, to feel the flakes before they tarnished on the ground. But I was so tired.
The white powder landed on the tip of my nose.
Oh.
Ash.
That's when I noticed the searing pain in my shoulder. I turned my head to the left, trailing my eyes down to the pool of red surrounding what was left of my arm. I tried to move my toes, only to be met with a sudden jolt to my lower back, causing me to cry out.
My ears ringing,Itried to move my remaining arm to feel for the injury, but found it trapped in something. I wanted to cry out of sheer frustration.
How did I get here?
I turned to free my hand, only to be met with the blank, grey eyes of its captor. A small sound choked its way from my throat.
His eyes were never so empty.
Levi...
Year 842
"Oi! Bastards! Let GO of ME!" I kicked up into the air, throwing myself backwards in hopes I'd knock myself from their grip. Instead, I only managed to whack my forehead into one of those stupid metal boxes they carried on their belts. One of the guys stopped yelling at me long enough to knock on the simple oak door in front of us. I wasn't paying enough attention to him to hear the response, too busy trying to wave away the little birdies circling my pupils, but the men restraining me wasted no time in ripping open the door and tossing me inside.
I landed in an undignified heap on the floor, taking a small second to wallow in self pity before dragging myself up into a sitting position. I scanned over the room I'd been thrown in. It looked to be an office of some sorts. Every inch of wall was hidden by bookshelves, all surrounding the single desk I was laying in front of. A towering window replaced the only wall free from stacks of novels. Taking a closer look outside told me I was somewhere surrounded by forests and...soldiers?
Shit.
"Hello, Ms. Bently,"
"AHHH!"
I jumped up in surprise, slamming my head into the desk above me, and falling back onto my butt. I glared up at the owner of the voice, calming the second bump currently forming on my head. He stared at me from his desk chair, his features schooled into seriousness but amusement glinting in his eye. My eyes immediately shot to the gleaming silver badge on his chest, my fingers itching. He wore the official Survey Corps uniform, making me tense, and his blonde locks were combed back to reveal brilliant blue eyes. And some hella bushy eyebrows.
I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest defiantly. "It wasn't me." I snarked.
A titan-sized eyebrow quirked up in intrigue. "Oh? And tell me, Ms. Bently, what exact events you are referring to?"
I froze. Was he trying to get me to admit to something more? How was I even supposed to know what they brought me in for? Honestly, I've done so much shit to Military Police troops I couldn't even pick out the most recent. I stood, taking care to watch my head, and clenched my fists. Besides, this wasn't just about me. I couldn't go to jail. I'm the only thing stopping my little brother from ending up as a servant for some rich pig somewhere. Or worse. Being sent to the Underground.
"Why am I here?" I asked, deadly serious.
His eyes dulled once again, his entire being screaming business. He stood, marching to the bookshelf closest to his right. His fingers brushed over several books before he found the one he needed, removing it from its home. He opened the book right to the correct page, I suppose, because he instantly began reading.
"'Mission Report, November 13, Year 836. On the 24th expedition beyond the walls, the formation was taken by surprise by a herd of Aberrants on the right flank. Do to a seeming inability to follow direct orders, Captain Hentrow Peynt instructed his squad to lead the titans back away from the formation through way of baiting," My eyes narrowed dangerously at him as he continued, rage building up inside my chest. "Do to this unfortunate order, the entirety of Squads Peynt, Leyroy, and Mantilda were wiped out, leaving a path to the center of the formation wide open and without defense," My body began to tremble, my nails close to drawing blood from my palms in an attempt to keep calm. "Squads King and Lorance were able to defeat the remaining Aberrants, but not without heavy losses. Among those losses were the mission itself and our Eleventh Commander," Blue eyes met flaming bronze. "Jonah Bently."
Tense silence followed his account.
My mouth seemed to have gone dry during his reading.
"What do you want from me," I croaked.
He frowned, studying my expression. "You have quite the reputation in Wall Sina."
I pulled my gaze from his to glance down at the badge I currently held in my palm. He looked slightly alarmed, his eyes shooting between my hand and the empty spot on his jacket. I heard him mutter something along the lines of "When did she...?"
"What's your point? I don't have all day," I snapped, uncharacteristically angry.
Something like recognition flashed in his eyes at my hostility. He cleared his throat. "Well, Ms. Bently, I have what you may call a hunch," He paused, causing me to roll my eyes. What a drama queen. "About a year ago, I encountered a sixteen year old boy and his band of misfits in the Underground City. They were criminals, used to doing the dirty work and desperate for an escape from their way of life. I saw something. So I recruited them. And now," He stepped in front of me. "That boy has become one of our top soldiers." I raised an eyebrow and cocked a hip, trying my best to show him exactly how many fucks I was willing to give. He smirked at my cheek. "All of that, because I saw potential. Potential that I now see in you."
His monologue left me unimpressed. I snorted. "Yeah, right. I'm a Bently; I can smell bullshit from a mile away." He twitched in irritation at my vulgar language but didn't comment. "You want me here as a project."
He hummed in thought, looking out the giant window by his desk. Finally, he chuckled. "Maybe. That doesn't change anything, though, does it?"
"Meaning?"
"You still need an opportunity."
My eyes widened.
He smirked at my reaction, continuing. "Your brother. Asikah? He's, what? Five years old? Far too young to help with any substantially paid jobs. And even if he found one, would you really be willing to let him off on his own while you went and picked pockets?" He pointed out. I grit my teeth, dropping my gaze. "Completely ignoring the example that sets for him, where are you two living right now? A barn? Some old basement? Do you even have blankets?"
Rage flared up inside me as I shouted back, "Leave Asikah out of this! This isn't about him!" I failed to hide the tremor in my voice as I spoke my brother's name.
He didn't let up, his voice growing harsher as my resolve grew weaker. "On the contrary, this is entirely about him. What happens in the winter, when the floorboards crack and his toes turn blue? What happens in autumn, when food prices raise and he goes to bed hungry? What happens when you pick the wrong person's basement?"
"Stop!!"
"How will you look him in the eye? How will you explain why he doesn't get a birthday cake? Why his tummy hurts? Why the roof creaks at night? Why he can't feel his legs?" My eyes searched frantically on the floor for some sort of answer to be written. I had thought of these things before. Of course I had. I just thought we'd get by. We always had...
Flashes of a cold winter overtake my mind. Snuggling Asikah close to me, trying to give over all of my body heat to keep his three year old body breathing. Burning what was left of his baby toys to make even the smallest amount of heat. Telling him to close his eyes while I fought with another kid over his baby blanket so we wouldn't freeze to death on Christmas Eve.
I was supposed to be his sister. I was supposed to take care of him. At the rate we were going, he wouldn't make it to see his sixth year.
Eyebrows had stopped talking and was looking down at me with a stern expression. I winced. That was the only look I'd ever gotten from my father.
"Alright," I muttered. He smiled a smug grin and held out a hand.
"Commander Erwin Smith," He said strongly. I swallowed my pride, accepting his hand. "Welcome to the Survey Corps, Onyx Bently."
/AN/
This story begins a few years before the fall of Shiganshina. At this point in my story, Nyx is about to turn fifteen and Levi is seventeen (They'll be into their twenties by the time I catch up to the anime). I decided to change around ages to better fit my story, if you don't like it you can feel free to ignore that detail.
Oc's of mine will be scattered throughout the story, but none of them will cause the plot to diverge from the original once I catch up to the anime.
This is one of my first stories, and I am incredibly out of practice, so I would highly appreciate any feedback you're willing to give! :D