Author's Note: Okay so this chapter is basically to set up the story. Based off of the anime series, and the limited knowledge we know about Levi's family I've decided to create my own take on his life. I want to tell the story of why Levi became who he was, and what made him into that strong, unbreakable beast. I hope you like it!^^

Chapter One: Ace of Hearts

There was a large number of thieves within the confines of wall Maria, every wall held a selected number of fast, cunning and bright males and females capable of acquiring anything they were asked to steal. The underworld of mankind connected to the black market, a source of trade for the wicked, who delved in the battering of everything, from jewels and treasure, liberating such things from those that had more than others. There were some who sought to steal for personal gain, and even when they did they were forced to give a select amount to those high-up the chain. It was part of a deal, they offered you protection, in a sort of minimal way, hardly useful, but it was protection nonetheless and in a sticky situation even a little bit is better than nothing. Besides handing over a a few bits here and there was good insurance, it kept the higher-ups off a thieves back, it was almost a way of paying them for certain privileges and areas for hunting. It was like any normal place, the richer suburbs were more popular, give the higher-ups a few more dollars and they threatened others, keeping them away from your area.

Levi Heichou was the brightest, fastest and smartest thief out there. Of course that was his own personal opinion of himself, he was a boy that preferred to believe in his own skills and abilities rather than having others believe in him. It made it all easier, and that way he could trust himself to do the jobs he was given. This self-afflicted opinion was a rather obnoxious one, and yet whenever anyone else tried to compliment him he would shut them down, or tell them rather viciously to shut the hell up. But then manners had never been one of his strong points, his life as a thug imbedding itself within his language and actions. It was hardly a trivial manner to claim that he was less then he said he was, Levi, in fact never once spoke such words out loud; instead he kept the thoughts to himself, allowing others around him to circulate the rumours. He had a reputation, morphed form the hundreds, if not thousands of successful adventures he had participated in. It was a reputation he carried in his silent, almost bored way.

It was becoming a competition between Levi and his younger sister, Meelo, to outdo one another. The siblings had practically been raised as thieves there more often than not absent parents training them to compete and survive in the merciless world they lived in. Both of them, as expected, thrived in this lifestyle, Levi being just over a year older than his sister had been gifted with natural talent that so many people envied. Meelo, although lacking that same natural ability, was almost just as good, what she lacked in natural skill she made up with admirable determination and perseverance. By the time Levi was fifteen there wasn't much between them, although Levi was better than her in the way of moving and fighting, she held over him a greater skill to think things through, more often than not getting them out of some sticky situations.

The two preferred to work together rather than alone, Meelo was perhaps the only person capable of withstanding the continuous stream of snappy commands, stinging back-handed compliments and snarky, crude attitude of her brother. She was the only person able to reply in kind without meeting his fist on her face.

"Levi, mum and dad haven't been home for almost a month." Meelo poked her head into the lounge room, eyes round with barely suppressed worry. She was always worrying about something, and although it could be handy in a horrible situation it was annoying a lot more than it was helpful. But Levi never tried to snap at her, or tell her to calm down, just like she never criticised him for seemingly having oen emotion: boredom. Levi sighed heavily; one pale leg was draped over the couches arm, the rest of his body spread evenly between the floor and the cushions that lined the couch. Even with his short height he could reach from one end of the couch to the next, but then it had only been created to seat two people.

"I don't know, Meelo. They always disappear and reappear." He replied, voice patient, stretching out into a bored drawl.

"Yeah, but they are never gone this long," biting her lip she slipped further into the room to sit in front of her brother. Their parents disappeared all too frequently. It was hardly unsurprising that they had not received a single word of their parents whereabouts, or even if they were still alive. Their parents were pretty deep into the thieving business and sometimes after a dangerous job they had to disappear for a few days. Their parents hardly stuck to the conventional ways, and had, in fact, dealt with a number of corrupt garrison members, some of the deals they made on the black market had ended with bloodshed. And Levi was almost certain that he didn't even want to know about some of the things they had sold. He was sure that it would disgust him, not like most things didn't disgust him. But then, saying that, they had never been gone for longer than a week or two, but it had almost been a month.

Levi, compared to his sister, was almost completely unaffected by their continuous absence. He'd essentially raised himself, growing up. If his parents never returned he'd probably not even bat an eyelid. However, he hoped they'd return soon for his sister's sake, Levi couldn't fathom why she loved and cared for them so much, he had been more of a parent to his sister then they had. Just like he'd raised himself he had also basically raised her, a heavy weight on his shoulders. It was in all sense an odd thing, the impatient, short-tempered, independent boy shook off anyone who tried to help him. And yet he had been almost eager to help his sister as she had struggled during childhood.

"Look, Meelo, I've told you every day for two weeks now that I don't know when they will be coming home. They don't tell me that kind of stuff, they just disappear." Pushing himself upwards he turned and faced her, his feet sat in front of him, planted on the ground. He looked her in the eye, his dark ones meeting her round green ones. "They'll come home, okay? They always do." He said, trying his best to give her a comforting smile. Even the attempt seemed to calm Meelo down; she leaned back on her heels, her eyes shutting tightly for a brief moment. Levi's tensed shoulders relaxed as her breathing evened out. Her eyes flickered open and she once more leaned forwards, alarm racing across her face, before Levi could react she had grabbed one of his hands tightly in her own.

"But what-"

"They will come home." He cut her off, eyes hardening, tone taking on an annoyed edge. Meelo flinched and released his hand, Levi sighed, regretting the tone he had used, he was accustomed to speaking rashly and rudely to everyone he met, he rarely turned his sour, bitter moods onto his sister. Even when he slipped up and snapped at her she would ignore it, or she'd hit him back with a few harsh words of her own, and seeing her falter under his piercing gaze was enough to make him feel guilty. Racing a hand through his dark hair he grabbed her hand, forcing her to look at him.

"I know you're worried, but just remember that they know what they are doing." She nodded, once more biting her lip apprehensively; she looked as though she was going to argue, but bit back any forthcoming reply, instead nodding her head slightly. Unwilling to cause another fight Levi stood up, eyes glancing quickly around the room. Satisfied with its clean state he headed into the kitchen. On entering his eyes darkened, a scowl tugging its way onto his face. Dirty dishes littered the sink.

"Meelo! What have I told you, why are your-"

The sound of knocking cut him off, raising an eyebrow he turned momentarily away from the dirty sink. But he hesitated, as the sound of soft voices reached his ears, Meelo must have answered the door, shrugging he turned back to the sink. Rolling his sleeves up he tugged the plug into the sink, they had only a little bit of water left from the well, but enough to give the dishes a decent wash. At the sound of the door closing he waited patiently as his sister walked into the kitchen, her face lighting up with a broad grin. Frowningshe gave her a questioning look that was answered by a bigger grin.

"Who was that?" He asked.

"Oh, that was just someone," she replied. "They tipped me off about a special shipment that had just arrived." She stepped forwards, her excitement radiating off of her.

Levi gave her a cynical glance and waited for her to continue, when nothing was forthcoming he sighed, "alright, and what information did they give you?"

She almost squealed in delight, stepping forwards and closer to him. Levi dried his hands on a towel, before folding it and placing it back on the bench, before leaning against the kitchen table. "A new job, and one that will get us a lot." She exclaimed.

Levi frowned; unsure of how to respond to that, normally they didn't do any jobs whilst their parents were away. Besides, some random stranger he did not know had given them the tipoff. But the notion of money to be made had him intrigued, they were running low, and he didn't want Meelo stuck with nothing to eat in the coming days. Stealing food was a lot more risky then stealing things like jewels, it was trickier and the garrison tended to hover around shops when the food was all out, the numerous amount of homeless people bringing with it too many thievies. Levi held no doubt that he could do it, he could steal anything, but if there was something easier he'd rather take that, unwilling to risk being arrested and leaving his little sister all by herself.

"Alright, tell me more."