Hi, everyone! I know I just updated, but I had the day off of school today so I wrote a lot...
I also wanted to say thank you to all those who've reviewed/favorited/followed. It always brightens my day when I get an email saying that someone did. I can't tell you how much it means to me! Anyways, here's the next chapter of Ashes. I hope you enjoy!
I do not own Attack on Titan.
"What were you thinking?"
Kenny's face contorted, bright red traveling up his body as his palm connected with Levi's face. Levi fell backward into a table, his head hitting a pot. It tipped, then shattered on the floor. As Levi scrambled to get up, his hands brushed the shards, causing crimson to flow onto the floor. He grimaced as his uncle's fist connected with his eye. Kenny began yelling, and his words twisted into an unknown language in Levi's spinning head. His awareness was only of the blinding hot pain he felt in the back of his skull and the image of his uncle removing his belt.
"This will teach you a lesson, boy!" he snarled. The belt buckle came down with a crack, and pain burst, as if from a bomb, down his spine. Levi cried out as the belt came down once more. He could feel a sticky, warm liquid dripping from his back, perhaps from these new wounds, perhaps from the ones he sustained three days before.
"Stop," he moaned. But Kenny was in a demon-like trance, and his rampage continued.
"I told you to watch them, you idiot, not let them tear up the streets!" Kenny cried. The screams echoed through the house. The usual bustle of the household had ceased, the servants had disappeared. Levi didn't blame them.
"I raised you, I cared for you, and yet you disobey me!"
All Levi heard now was the pounding of his heart and the blood rushing through his head. He cried out as the belt tore through his flesh, leaving scars that Levi knew would never leave. Just like the rest of the scars that decorated his body. His vision began to blacken around the edges, and he knew he was about to pass out.
That's how it was with Kenny. He didn't stop until Levi wasn't moving.
As consciousness left Levi, he heard his uncle whisper in his ear, "This is just my cherished opinion, but I think that pain is the most effective means of discipline."
"Sir? Are you awake?"
Levi groaned as he became aware of his pounding head and aching body. He felt something soft under him. His bed? No, he was on top of a carpet. Pain traveled up and down his spine, and he groaned again. He heard something shift. "Who's there?" he whispered.
His vision became clearer, and he realized a small figure was huddled by him.
"Armin?" he murmured.
"Yes, sir?" the blonde answered. Armin's eyes were wide, and he seemed to shrink as Levi's gray eyes bore into him.
"What are you doing?" he spat. Armin shrank even more, wishing he could disappear.
"I- uhm, I heard you screaming, and I-I-uh, I thought I'd try to get you to your bed, because you were hurt, but," the boy stuttered and gulped. "You-you were too heavy, so I settled for the carpet, instead?" He said the last phrase as if it were a question, hoping that he wouldn't get fired for half-dragging his master, whom he knew to be germaphobe, on the floor.
Instead, Levi just nodded.
Silence settled between them before Armin whispered, "That was really brave what you did. Standing up for those girls."
Levi stared at the boy. "And looked where I ended up? Beaten and unconscious." He laughed bitterly. Armin didn't laugh. He looked at Levi, his eyes portraying a look of seriousness Levi hadn't seen before.
"Sometimes people are going to hate you, even hurt you for doing the right thing. But you can't let that stop you."
Levi's mouth dropped open, his blurry mind processing what the servant had just said. There was a pregnant moment of silence.
"You're right, Armin. Go get the carriage ready, and help me up," he sighed.
"Sir?" Armin asked. Levi just narrowed his eyes, and the boy stood up and grabbed Levi's arm. Through gritted teeth and a few groans, Levi managed to stand, though he stooped over as the gashes down his back wouldn't allow him to stand straight.
Armin began to turn away just as another thought entered Levi's mind. "Wait, Armin, how much is the bail for the workers? Where's my uncle?"
Armin glanced over his shoulder, his eyebrows raised. "I think Lord Ackerman's asleep, sir. It's past midnight. And I believe I heard Mr. Ackerman say the bail was twenty-five hundred."
Levi nodded, then shooed the boy away. As Armin darted away into the shadows of the mansion, Levi turned to walk in the opposite direction. He gritted his teeth as his back began to burn, and when he traveled down the stairs, his hands clutched the rail so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His breathing became more ragged as he made his way down two flights of stairs into the cellar.
The cellar was pitch black, and the only reason Levi could find his way around was due to the many nights he sent locked down there. Maneuvering his way by feel, he finally found it. He could feel the smooth, polished wood of a small box. The safe.
He knew the lock code. He remembered watching his uncle do it as he hid in the shadows. 40, 26, 04. He smirked as the door flew open, and he pulled out a bunch of crumpled bills. After counting them and reaching the amount he needed, he rushed up the stairs, or tried to.
He then ran outside, the chill in the air catching the breath in his throat. He noticed the carriage in the courtyard and a flash of blonde beside it. He rushed to it, ignoring the hot pain and his fuzzy vision.
"Take me to the prison," he stated.
The door slammed open, jerking Petra out of her trance. Hanji gasped, shooting up, and Mikasa just opened her eyes, aware of the sudden light that filled the cell.
"You've been bailed out," the guard growled. Hanji's eyes widened as a small figure limped from behind the guard.
"Ackerman…" she murmured. The figure stood there, watching as the guard began unshackling them. The sound of their chains crashing onto the floor sounded like harps from heaven.
"Take them," the guard bellowed. The girls followed the small man out of the prison, silence following them like a ghost. Once they were outside the prison walls, most of the girls had left, ready to escape their cage. All that remained were Petra, Mikasa and Hanji.
"Why did you bail us out?" Petra stopped abruptly, watching the raven haired man. He stopped walking, or rather limping, as well, once he realized that the others had left. He turned to face Petra, and she realized that his eyes were gray, and looking into them was like looking at a swirling, cloudy sky about to let a storm loose.
"A gut feeling," was all he said. They followed him until he stopped near a carriage. The girls turned, ready to walk home, when he called, "Don't you want a ride?"
Petra glanced at Hanji, and Mikasa just glared. Hanji offered a nod of approval. "Yes, thank you," Petra answered.
The man offered his hand to each of the girls, helping them into the carriage. Petra shivered when she slid her hand into his. For a man with such cold eyes, his hands were surprisingly warm. She stood there for a moment until he raised an eyebrow. She felt warmth creep up her cheeks. He followed her, slamming the door shut once they were all inside.
"Where do you live?" the man asked, dusting off his hands. Mikasa glared, her eyes boiling.
"Why should we tell you? We don't even know your name," she growled.
The man nodded, his face calm and straight. He seems to be made of stone, Petra thought.
"Good point. My name is Levi Ackerman," he answered coolly. "And I would like to know where you live so that I may tell my driver where to go."
"The Lower East Side," Petra whispered. She twisted her hands in her lap as she sustained glares from Mikasa. The carriage jerked, and began to move, causing Mikasa to break her stare.
"So, Mr. Ackerman, where did you get the money for the bail?" Petra asked, her eyes still on the ground.
"I'm sure you're well aware that my uncle is your boss, Kenny Ackerman. I got it from him," Levi replied. His cool eyes were fixed on Petra, and she could feel heat rising in her cheeks again.
"He just gave it to you?" Hanji interrupted, her hazel eyes studying their savior. Her glasses slipped down her nose.
"No," Levi snapped, causing the girls to go quiet. He cleared his throat, and Petra thought she saw him grimace.
"You didn't tell me your names." Levi shifted in his seat and looked out the window, avoiding their gazes.
"I'm Petra Ral, that's Hanji, and that's Mikasa," Petra murmured, gesturing to each of her companions. Levi just nodded.
Hanji looked out the window and muttered, "We're almost there." Petra barley heard her. Her eyes were locked on Levi. His lips were pressed together and she could see droplets of sweat rolling down his face.
He shifted, just as a street lamp illuminated the inside of the carriage. Petra's eyes widened as she noticed the dark stain that was seeping through Levi's shirt.
"You're bleeding…" she whispered. His head turned sharply, his eyes locked with hers.
She sat beside him, looking at his back. "Lift your shirt off," she mumbled. He didn't move. "Now," she directed, her voise rising. He hesitated before lifting his arms, but ended up squeezing his eyes shut and groaning as his shoulders moved. She lifted off his shirt herself, her lips parting and forming a small o as the fabric was removed, revealing the full extent of his injuries. His back was bloody and red; old gashes that looked a few days old were swelling and ejecting white puss. New gashes zig-zagged up and down his back. She noticed the scars that formed a maze down his spine. She heard him gulp.
"Did your uncle do this?" she said softly. He didn't reply, so she took it as a yes. "When we reach Hanji's place, you're coming inside. I'm going to fix you up."
Levi just moaned in reply, and the carriage stopped.
"We're here, Petra," Hanji murmured. "Come on."
Mikasa climbed out, holding the door open as Levi stumbled outside. Slinging his arm around her shoulders, Petra guided him out, realizing how hot he felt. "He has a fever. The wounds are infected," she called. She stumbled as he leaned more heavily on her.
His body dropped as his legs gave out from under him. Petra gasped as he collapsed in her arms.
I think I'll have the next chapter up soon, probably before Friday. On a side note, please go and check out my other Rivetra fics, When It's Over and Death's Cloak. If you like my writing that is. Both are on my profile page.
Please leave a review, I love to hear your feedback and critiques!
Love,
Ivy