"Oh wow." I was nearly speechless as my carrier traveled out of the open forest fields and near the edge of civilization. Well, it was not exactly booming with people however, it was the first time in a long while I had seen a city. I had lived out in the wilderness for god knows how long, and seeing buildings almost had become an eyesore. The geometric shapes, industrial metals, and paved roads had been forgotten in my memory. I had to abandoned society, our culture, long ago to survive. I had basically become an animal. It was rather scary when I thought about it.

"What? Never seen civilization before, jungle brat?" The man below me said, with a sarcastic voice. I had long ago given up on trying to out "smart-ass" him because no one could win against an individual who had such practice. I huffed.

"No. Its-Its just been awhile is all." I found myself half smiling. It had been a while.

My carrier took a few more steps out of the scattered forest. The cold breeze caught my loose ragged ponytail and also caused a blush color to spread over my cheeks. Goosebumps made there way down my limbs. I wanted to huddle to the warmer body next to me, however I knew that was socially inappropriate, I was not a complete animal yet, and managed to control myself. Before long we came to a slight clearing where a chain link fence stood in our way. Its dirty metal stood nearly six feet tall, which for a 5'6" individual is daunting. I mentally was exhausting myself trying to figure out how to climb that wire blockage when my thoughts were cut short. In a split second my butt was thrown to the ground.

"Ow! Ah jeez, ow! Why did you do that?" I rubbed my sore lower back.

"You being immobile so long caused you to gain fifty pounds and quite honestly I'm not putting up with that. " My insulter walked up to the fence.

"I didn't think anyone could be so pissy during a crisis situation, but I was mistaken. I have a prime example in front of me."

"Oi, brat-"

"There it is everyone! Take a look the worlds first and only-!"

"Would you shut up? You have an invisible target painted on your ass? Every 'Skinner' out there is going to hear you in a hundred mile radius." The man let out an annoyed sigh and continued to fiddle with the chains.

"Skinner? What are you talking about?"

"You coming brat?" The devious man held open a slit in the fence. His emotionless gaze never left my face. I sat there with now sealed lips of embarrassment. I had not realized how stupid I had sounded by screaming everything out. And not to mention I was still sitting in a pile of dirt staring up at the man who had carried me for nearly two miles. He still was working and I…was broken and a burden.

"Its Cadence." I got to my feet, "thanks." I staggered past the opening and onto the pavement street.

"Tch, whatever."

As we made our way down the road our light, the sun, was disappearing before our eyes. The visibility was becoming poor and I was beginning to find myself not being able to see even an inch in front of my face. No electricity had been jolting through cables since the epidemic broke out. The city looked more like natural architect than man made. The personality, the soul of the town was gone. The days and nights were replaced with eerie death traps of uncertainty.

"Umm, well this is unfortunate." I felt myself slowing down as I tried to put my hands out in front of me to feel for…what I'm not entirely sure.

"Quit being dramatic." The man next to me unlatched a case from his belt and pulled out a thick flashlight. He switched it on and the vibrate light flooded the dingy road ahead.

"Won't that draw them in? Aren't you worried that-"

"Don't you think if I was concerned I wouldn't have turned it on to begin with? Use your head." The guy next to me scoffed off. I frowned.

"Well, every time my group turned on any source of light it was like a signal and the Titans came like swarms of flies. And it always ended with someone dead. That's why we never have lights on anymore and-"

"First, be quiet. Maybe it wasn't the lights that drew them in." I saw him raise a thin brow at me, "second, I didn't say it didn't call to them I just said I wasn't concerned."

Our footsteps thudded the pavement as we strolled down the road. My joints ached and I had to control myself not to complain about my tired eyes. This journey was never going to end. I felt like a mindless Titan, I was simply following the light. I stumbled with every step.

I looked up from my two left feet, "Then-then that means we are going to get attacked! What are we-"

"Stop worrying. If that happens-" He hesitated.

"Yeah?"

"Run fast."

A rustle in the nearby roadside bushes filled our ears. A heavy groaned followed but I convinced myself it was just the wind.

The winding trail never seemed to end. Twenty minutes my butt we had been walking again for at least another half hour. And sadly, I earned myself a spot next to my anal retentive traveling buddy. Apparently In his words, I had pissed him off with my immaturity and lazy fat ass. So as punishment I had to carry myself home.
Finally after another several moments in silence and a few more shooting pains in my feet we reached our destination. I had not realized the route or the landmarks since our light was so limited. I could just make out shadows of the run down buildings that lined the deserved streets.

"Whoa, where the hell are you going?" I spun around with pursed lips.

"I wasn't going anywhere. I-I just was scouting the area is all. Can never be too careful." I put my hands behind my back as if I was a general observing my troop. Thank god it was dark so no one could see my flushed face of embarrassment. Playing cool around this guy was harder than acting for a role in the Oscars.

"Tch, being bait would be your job. " The jerk leaned into the door and twisted the metal knob. He stepped in as the door creaked open. This is sketchy…

"Um where's your group? I thought you said we were heading to base?" I asked.

"This is base."

"For one person?"

"Well, what the hell else should it be called?"

"I don't know, like a house, uh apartment, uh location one? Base is used more for like a group. You know like in those action war movies. That's when you can use a badass name like, 'base'. But you're lacking in people… at the moment."

"You're dense."

"Hey wait a minute! That means you lied about being with a group!"

"Congrats on coming back down to Earth. Now hurry your ass up." I crossed my arms and turned my head to the side in a rejection manor.

"No. I refuse to be associated with an untrustworthy individual."

I felt proud for standing up for myself until my non-amused partner lifted off the side of the doorframe and shut the opening in my face. Click. His body completely disappeared from my sight. Now I was standing out on the sidewalk with no light or protection. Great.

"Oh yeah, now look whose being the mature one! You know, you need to look into some hero stories where the savior is not self centered! I yelled.

Silence.

"Alright, fine. I'll just bleed to death its all good."

Silence.

"Common! You can't be that angry." I flinched as more moans and groans were weeping through the still air. "You know, I may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure this boarders on the crime of kidnapping and abuse. " I lightly banged my fists on the metal door. When no response came I decided to rest my forehead on it for support. I was not playing on surrender I just needed to come up with a better plan that was all. Maybe I could fake being eaten…

And as if on cue that support system, I had swung out from underneath me. I fell forward expecting to crash on the ground however instead I landed into a pair of firm arms. I did not even bother to look up. I sighed in defeat.

"Your abuser had to save you again." He said with monotone voice.

"This doesn't count. " I tried to free myself from his grasp but it was a wasted attempt. I was too tired to even care anymore.

"No?" He said with a mocking pout.

"No, it . does. not. I can-" I winced. The pains from my wounds were intensely growing. I had to bite my tongue just to keep from crying out loud. I was at my physical limit.

"Lets go we need to flush out those cuts. Can only imagine the bacteria in them. Disgusting." I felt one arm brace my waist and another hand take my left arm and place it around his neck. I could feel the shave stubble from his clipped hair scratch my bare skin. Though his heated body was so inviting to my frozen self. "We will take it one step at a time."

"Huh?" I questioned half awake.

Then I got a glimpse at the never-ending staircase.

My life.

"If I had wanted to die a slow agonizing death I would have let myself get eaten! Did your room have to be on the fiftieth floor?" I flopped on the nearest furniture.

"Get your dirty infected self off my couch. And we only climbed until the third floor before I couldn't take your pathetic whining anymore." The snob was busy pulling out a sheet from the dresser.

"By the way, now that I'm thinking about it I never asked you your name."

"Doesn't matter." His back was facing me as he continued to pull supplies from different compartments in the dresser.

"It does too matter. I mean you know my name so its only fair I know yours." I said as I tenderly sat up. I swung my legs over the edge of the cushions. Only two lanterns were lit in the room. From the looks of it we were in a modest apartment complex. I eyed the TV wishing so much that those tangled wires would light up the screen.
"According to you, you have referred to me as self centered egocentric jerk, emotionless stone face weirdo, kidnapper, and the latest abuser. Sounds like you have plenty of names to pick from." He turned around with his arms full of what he needed. The orange light bounced off his serious chiseled features as he walked towards me. I made the 'o' shape in my mouth.

"Those are nicknames. "

"Tch."

I saw him spread a crème colored sheet onto the mattress, which rested in the center of the room. He smoothed out the wrinkles and even went as far as to tuck the sides of edges underneath the bed. He laid out the medical supplies by the side and looked at me with stern eyes. Nothing new.

"Well? You going to tell me?" I asked a little excited to finally hear his name.

"No. Now get off the couch you're blood is staining it."

I frowned.

"I'm not moving till you tell. " His eyes narrowed until they looked like daggers. It did not take much to make him annoyed. Any conversation topic was grief. And arguing only made it worse, as my butt was escorted roughly off the furniture and planted on the mattress.

"God you're fucking difficult." He shook his head as he grabbed some cotton wads and drenched it in alcohol.

"You're a dictator. "

I felt the chilling sting from the disinfectant hit my shoulder wound. I let out a yelp. He was not too gentle either since he was determined to scrub the dry blood, dirt, and half my 'diseased' skin off. Every few seconds he was tossing out contaminated cotton and retrieving fresh ones. This procedure had to go on for ten minutes. And at that point I was fully convinced it was cleaned down to the bone. It was pure misery. But I kept my mouth shut. I heard him snap his gloves off.

"Don't move."

I did what I was told until I felt the sticking of a needle into my raw flesh. I clenched my teeth and about jumped into the air. I looked to see black threads and a glisten of the needlepoint. I wanted to faint.

"Stop, twitching. You're going to look like Feinstein. I said hold still."

Another jab and a slithering agony of the stitch pulled through.

"Sorry. Hey are you licensed to do this anyway? Seems kind of dangerous to have an amateur pulling me back together. " I did my best to distract my mind.

"If you find a more suitable doctor than be my guest. Stitching you is a pain. Stop moving."

My skin was cinched tighter.

"Ouch! Ow. Ow, Ow."

I heard a sigh, "It's Levi."

"Levi?"

Another poke.

"Mhhhm."

"That's a nice name." I said with a hidden smile. I had not felt the hesitation in Levi's actions. For I was too busy thinking about my friends, about tomorrow. Until I was awakened by more intense rubbing on the other injuries I had sustained. His OCD was about to kill me.

"Shower is ready. Try to be quick I don't want the noise from the generator to bring any unwanted visitors." Levi handed me a few towels. Wow he was prepared for the end of the world.

"Uh thanks. But is this really necessary? I mean its been a long day and I'm rather beat from everything. So-" I was cut off.

"No. You're filthy and I already have to clean the couch. "

"Uh-"

"Don't make me have to join you." His dark words hung in the air.

I half laughed, "Ha, yeah ok point made." I placed my towels on the bathroom counter. "You going to stand there?" I cocked my head. Apparently I caught him by surprise because jerked his head and rolled his eyes at my comment.

"Tch, just don't rip those stiches out."

And with that he turned on his heels and shut the door. A small grin tugged at my lips. I could not help but find his authoritative remarks somewhat funny. He was so uptight it was humorous. Though that was the only think that was humorous because even in the dim light I could see how horrible I looked. I had not seen my reflection for months maybe longer. I removed my black cap and dared to take a gander at myself. And ouch, was it a terrible sight. I had a faded tan from the summer sun that made my skin look grungy (although in all fairness that could be dirt). My brunette hair was no longer lush and long instead it was ratty at the ends and slick at the top from my hat trapping sweat. My bangs had out grown their proper length and were slowly catching up to the rest of my layers (what little was left). I lips were cracked and their once rosy complexion was gone. Scraps, scars, burns, and bruises covered me everywhere. I lightly touched my sore collarbone injury. The stitching job was not bad at all. And even better was seeing I did not have a single zit anywhere. Guess it was from limited food in take.

I took off my torn grimy taupe short sleeve shirt. There was no savaging it, my blood had soaked it for far too long. Could have been an art piece from all the different colors that were smeared on it. Not surprising since I had worn that clothing for eons.

My ribcage was starting to really be noticeable. Good news, found a reliable dieting system. Bad news, takes the entire world to be going to hell for it to be effective. I spun around and again was greeted with a stuck out spine. I was not bone thin but I would be there soon. I decided that picking myself apart was a waste since most of society had been eaten-no one was left to judge. I went to the shower, turned the handle, and let the water heat up. I removed the rest of my clothes before letting the wonderful warm droplets of water moisten my skin. Though my cuts ached the rest of me was in a blissful moment. A shower never felt so reliving, so familiar, so..

"So like home." I whispered to myself as I let the steam engulf me.

Levi POV

"What a brat." I muttered to myself.

Seriously, who did she think she was? I was lost in thought when a banging noise pounded at my ears. I jerked my head up.

It thudded again.

I narrowed my eyes back at the bathroom door. I could still hear the shower's faucet running.

Again, another couple of bangs.

"Oi, Brat." I called to my visitor. Nothing in response. I pinched my brows together.
That was strange.

I was about to shrug off the uneasy feeling when the sound echoed through the room. I faced not the bathroom door but the entrance we came though. Raspy breathing and grunts leaked from behind that wall. My eyes grew fearful.

Oh shit.

/

Sorry not the most exciting chapter. But wanted to show more character connections between Levi and Reader. I mean realistically Levi is not a warm-fuzzy guy right away. You have to peal him back one layer at a time ;)