Eren's feet tapped down lightly, and he stepped aside expectantly for the following CRASH. "F-" the curse started, but Levi's voice inflated higher and higher until nothing but strained rasps were escaping from his gaping jaws.
"Mikasa?" Eren struggled to say between trembling fingers. "Your foot," was all he could get out, pointing with one hand as the other flew from his mouth, releasing booming laughter.
Mikasa's glance went from Levi's dampening eyes down to find her heel digging into his crotch. "Oh," she muttered, and Levi inhaled deeply as she started toward her brother.
"Whaddaya know? He really does have balls!" Eren howled.
"Y…yeah…" Levi grunted as he struggled to prop himself up on a trembling arm. "Despite…the fact I'm a god…"
"That wasn't our main concern," Mikasa replied coldly, and the smirk she passed at Eren made him double over and imitate Levi's wide-eyed silence through laughter.
"Fuck you," Levi finally growled, propping up to a knee. But he froze when a dark figure darted past the corner of his eyes. "Shut up," he repeated, but he was ignored. Another—and another—more shadows started toward them through a swirling fog. Mikasa stopped laughing. She saw them too.
"Eren, Eren," Mikasa whispered harshly, shaking Eren's arm. Only her tone could penetrate his ears. He immediately stopped laughing, only just noticing the menacing figures quickly surrounding them.
And then, the only thing that remained of Levi was an outline within the mist. The next thing Mikasa knew, she heard him call, "Hunter!" She hadn't even seen him move until she saw Eren fly into his outstretched hand. Levi didn't wait for each strap to finish locking into place. He just charged forward, blades raised high.
He flitted between each shape, and it was several moments before Mikasa saw his target. A new, menacing shadow emerged, but Levi didn't balk at the sight of the imposing figure. With one gigantic leap, Levi came soaring down upon his prey.
A seax was thrust up to block the blow, and with a CLANG, Mikasa's hair fluttered back as the fog blasted away. The mist cleared to reveal a towering blue eyed blonde, a warm smile on his face for such a powerful presence. A bolo tie hung around this man's neck, and Levi wore a cravat around his. Did every god wear some sort of neckwear from a different century?
Hearty laughter rang throughout the temple grounds, followed by a dominating voice that greeted, "Levi! You've arrived!"
"Same as ever, Commander Obvious," Levi snorted.
"The same to you, Corporal Sarcasm," he replied without skipping a beat. "Your reflexes are just as sharp as I remember, as well. Are you sure you don't want to come and work for me?"
"Like hell I would," Levi snapped.
"Then I'd like to request that you keep close watch other those children. We don't need another Magnolia and Farlan."
As the men continued to talk, Mikasa scanned the shrine and saw dozens upon dozens of prayer cards. They coated the surrounding posts like paint. All of them asked urgently for good luck on entrance and exit exams.
"You…you must be Tenjin!" Mikasa cried, dropping to the ground instantly in a bow.
Eren copied her, glancing to the side as he whispered, "Who?"
"No, no!" the man laughed. "My name is Erwin. I'm simply the American branch manager." But for a manager, he seemed to fill the entire courtyard with strength and sagacity.
"This must be what a real god is like," Eren gasped.
"So powerful!" Mikasa agreed.
"Please, please stand," he chuckled. A blonde shinki stepped forward.
"It's rude to bow in the presence of your master." The shinki scolded. It looked like a boy but sounded like a girl. Either way, the advice was ridiculous. Eren only burst out laughing.
"Who, that guy?" he howled, jabbing in Levi's direction with his thumb. The shinki sighed and shook its head. Mikasa ignored all of it.
"Wow! You have so many shinkis!" she cried in awe.
The four men beside it stood forward one after the other. "I'm Mike." The blue-eyed blonde had a small moustache and beard, and he was taller than his master.
"I'm Auruo," a lightly gray haired man with a sunken face introduced himself.
"I'm Gunter!" a brunette with his hair swept back into a point chirped.
"I'm Erd, it's nice to meet you," the last presented himself formally, a blonde with his long hair tied in a small twist behind him.
"And I'm Nanaba," the boy/girl added.
"How about you, shinki?" Erwin asked, looking at Eren.
Levi was still trying to heal his wounded pride. "As a person, Eren Jaeger, and as a shinki, Hunter," he groaned.
Erwin crossed his muscular arms across his chest and eyed Mikasa, his large brows arching up in surprise. "And what's your name, little spirit?"
"This is my sister Mikasa," Eren interrupted immediately. Mikasa agreed with an embarrassed nod.
"Well Mikasa, it would be wrong not to inform you right now that this is a very dangerous world; one I would suggest not entering." That's as far as his warning got.
"Get on with it. What do you want?" Levi moaned.
"I'm sure you've noticed by now. There is an extremely unusual amount of titans in the area. Vents are opening at a rapid rate and death tolls are rising. They will only continue to until we put a stop to it. That's where I need you, Levi. The school year is starting so I-" Levi cut him off.
"I get it, alright? I go kill titans and do exorcisms on the people possessed by those bastards. And all that other shit, while you sit at your desk deciding class ranks."
"Levi, the offering is the equivalent of an order and I know you remember that." Erwin's voice had suddenly grown more intimidating. Mikasa couldn't stop staring. Was this really only a god of knowledge?
Levi stiffened. "Yes sir." Eren passed Mikasa a look. He—Levi—really wasn't going to argue? What had happened between them that Levi didn't even hesitate?
"Now that we have an agreement, I'll have her guide the way," Erwin told them as he held up his knife.
"Are you sure?" Auruo asked warily. "Wouldn't it be better to just send Erd? He's a lot more familiar with the area."
"Don't worry. Levi happens to know her too," Erwin explained, but Mikasa didn't catch the name before the seax in his hand become a light that melded into a human being. It looked up and screamed.
"Petra?!" Levi cried.
"Levi!" she spat at the same time.
"Ex-girlfriend?" Mikasa mused aloud.
"No!" they both bellowed.
"Ex-wife then," Eren snickered.
"Hell no!" Petra snapped in disgust.
"Shut it, Jaeger! She used to be my shinki," Levi snapped.
"Wait…Petra?" Mikasa asked, squinting as she leaned in closer to the redhead.
"Yes?"
"My friend Marco said that when they were attacked, there was a woman named Petra who wanted to save him." She passed a suspicious glance at Levi. "What a coincidence."
"He lived?!" Levi and Petra blurted in unison.
Mikasa averted her gaze. "You saved him and his boyfriend." Suddenly her voice was mounting with hatred. "Two out of three for a god is disgraceful."
Eren looked between them and waved. "Uh, I'm missing something."
Mikasa opened her mouth but Levi rushed passed them and grabbed Eren by the back of the shirt, dragging Eren after him. "Yeah, yeah, you can explain that soap opera later. Let's just get this over with." He glared at Petra. "The less time spent with her, the better."
"I couldn't agree more," Petra hissed. This was going to be fun.
…
Mikasa and Eren with both walking with the same dull, slow-blinking eyes. Mikasa's top lip was twitching with impatience, while Eren's mouth remained slightly open so he could continually sigh. "And another thing!" Petra started.
"Uuuughhhhhhhh," Eren let out a long, overdramatic groan. "You guys have been arguing forever. Please, please, please shut up," he begged.
"Is that it?" Mikasa asked, pointing at a monorail track that ran below them. When Petra nodded, Eren let loose another gigantic sigh.
"Fiiiiiiinally." This time Eren's groan was one of relief. He glanced at the several vases that lined the edge of the bridge they stood upon, overlooking the tracks. "What's up with those?" he asked, pointing at the flowers. People didn't just put those anywhere. Although, he guessed they weren't very expensive in the capitol.
It was Petra's turn to sigh. "Well, those as for the people who have committed suicide here. Jumped right over this railing. Filled with heartache, my master-" Levi snorted and she shot him a look, "-Erwin erected a barrier here. But if the titan is an abnormal, then a possessed person will cross through the boundary." She shook her head sadly. "It needs to be stopped. It's such a waste of precious life." Mikasa wondered how Petra would respond if she found out they had both killed before. She and Eren both remained silent, but Levi didn't.
"Hmpf. If people want to die, let 'em die," he said casually. He might as well have brought up the weather.
"How could you say that?!" Eren was the first one to snarl.
"If they want to die, they've already been possessed. Can't even become a shinki," Levi answered, picking at his nails.
"Why would titans even do that?" Mikasa murmured.
"To kill them, obviously," Levi snorted. "So that those ugly sons of bitches can eat the remains." Petra's hand flew to her mouth. Mikasa became pale. Eren took several steps back, shaking his head back and forth as he stared at Levi in horror.
"How could you say stuff like that so easily?" Eren rasped, fury slowly mounting.
"I'm not a fan of unnecessary death, but it's what they wanted to do. They let themselves get possessed," Levi said with a shrug.
"You're sick!" Eren shouted, hands balling into fists.
"Big talk for a killer," Levi said with a smirk. Eren let out a frustrated roar as he whirled around and sprinted off.
"Eren!" Mikasa cried, chasing after him.
"Damn, that kid has a temper," Levi muttered, watching them both disappear from sight.
"Just a reminder: Erwin paid you in advance," Petra mentioned. Levi let out a jumbled noise of frustration as his face sunk into his hands.
…
"Eren, slow down!" Mikasa called, bounding after him.
"How could he be so heartless?! What did he even mean, calling me a killer?" Eren asked, his voice wavering. He slowed to a stop on a rooftop, quivering with rage and confusion.
Mikasa placed a soft hand on his shoulder. "I knew I would have to tell you eventually." His head tilted slightly, and she dug her fingers into her scarf unknowingly. "The truth is, I was adopted," she confessed, and Eren's brow furrowed.
"Really?" he asked incredulously. He really couldn't tell?
"Yes. When we were nine, I…we…you saved my life, Eren," Mikasa admitted with a small, sad smile. "Three men broke into my house," she started, and Eren stared wide-eyed. "They…they killed my mom and dad. Your dad was going to make a house call, and he brought you along. When he saw what happened, he went to get the police and told you to wait." A tiny bitter laugh slipped from her throat. "But you didn't. You looked for me, and you found me, and you taught me how to fight." Eren caught her up in a tight hug, understanding why he felt so protective every time he saw her for the first time. "We attacked with knives, and that's probably why you turn into blades," she continued into his shoulder. "If it wasn't for you, I would be dead. You risked your life for a little girl you had just met, and I can never repay you for that. You wrapped me in this scarf and gave me hope when I had nothing left." She had never stopped clutching the wool around her neck. "And then your family took me in. You became my brother and you always will be." She was assuring him as much as herself.
That's when she heard him sniffling.
"Oh, Eren," she sighed, looking through eyes laced with tears. He wiped his away furiously, and then wiped away hers.
"I swear I'll never let anything like that ever happen again," Eren declared, and he looked toward the train platform. "You didn't deserve that, and those damn demons are to blame." He blasted forward, faster than ever before. "Come on Mikasa!" he bellowed. "Let's go kick their asses!" Mikasa's eyes lit up and she followed after him. He was hot-headed, impulsive, aggressive and had the attention span of a goldfish—and she was so lucky to have him by her side again.
A buzz hung over the crowd as they chattered; but a second layer of voices could be heard, the voices of temptation, the coercing of giving in to one's darkest thoughts, to end it all before the pain could get any worse. Ugly, naked beasts, the titans had to bend on all fours to fit under the station awning. Their jaws would easily fit over every person's head, their teeth mashing human bones to powder. But all they could do was release low growls in people's ears, which translated into disturbing thoughts tormenting visions.
"Leave him alone!" Eren roared, soaring through the air and landing a kick to a titan's head, snapping its lower jaw straight off. The rest of its body bounced and curled until it hit an opposite post, twisted in unnatural positions.
People continued to talk away on their ear pieces, playing with tablets, blissfully unaware.
Mikasa landed on the platform on all fours, and pounced onto a titan like a tiger. She dug her hands viciously into the creature's eyes and twisted the head in a complete circle, a continuous sickening crack filling the air.
They were both breathing heavy and gave each other approving nods and shining smiles. But all the titans had fallen silent. They had all turned and were staring at Eren and Mikasa hungrily; savagely. The two were quickly surrounded. Eren felt a trickle of sweat roll down his cheek. He hadn't realized how many there were until now. He looked over at Mikasa. He couldn't let them get to her, especially now that he knew, or, relearned, what she gone through.
Propelled off bent knees, Mikasa planted a powerful side kick with a flawless follow-through that had Eren staring in awe. And that was where he made a mistake.
With an, "Umph!" Eren was knocked to the ground, several gaping mouths already closing in. He was already dead; he was free game.
"Eren!" Mikasa screamed, but she was quickly surrounded too. She was struggling to defend herself—she wouldn't reach him in time.
"Hunter!"
Eren vanished from beneath the monsters and spiraled into Levi's grasp. "You brats better be armed before running off like that," Levi grunted, darting from titan to titan. "Rend!" With one slice each freak of nature was struck to the ground, a steaming pile of rotten flesh. In seconds the entire platform had been eradicated of every devil. Levi hadn't even broken a sweat. Eren could feel Levi's heartbeat pumping away regularly…maybe…maybe this guy was a god.
"Thanks," Mikasa acknowledged, averting her eyes.
"Whatever." Levi tightened his grip on the handles. "Come on you piece of shit, now your real job begins."
"Bring it on!" Eren cheered eagerly, and Levi rolled his eyes.
"Train to Madison station now departing," the peppy robotic voice chirped.
"Let's go." Levi leapt onto the train, swords bared like fangs, and the monorail shot forward. Mikasa landed behind him, and only now could she see the girl standing before the railing above. Was that…was that Sasha?! Mikasa knew she had had an argument with her dad about joining the military police but…she didn't know it had gotten to her that much.
"You have to save her!" Mikasa cried frantically, and Levi nodded. "Hurry or else you won't make it!"
"We will!" Levi's voice didn't waver. He braced himself, and then ran forward, each footstep clanging as he stomped against the train top. Finally came the faithful leap, and he knocked Sasha back onto the bridge way, both blades skewering her heart. "Rend!"
There was an eardrum-shattering screech, and the final titan burst from the girl's body, shaking and shrieking as it made a desperate swipe at Levi. But the stab had done it. The thing dropped just like the others, the revolting odor seeping into everything. "Hah! We did it!" Eren crowed, and the remnants of a smile pulled at the corners of Levi's lips.
"Thank you so much," Mikasa murmured with a bow.
"Friend of yours?" Levi asked, and Mikasa nodded. "Alright, we'll call nine-one-one and they'll take her to the hospital." He looked around and saw Petra—was she smiling at him?! She also gave him a grateful bow, and then slowly walked away. What the fuck was going on today?
"Okay Eren, come back out. Hunter." The glow receded and Eren was by their side.
"I thought people who want to die should just die," Eren mimicked in a high voice with a smug look.
"I do. It's just, I try not to let 'em die in front of guys like him," Levi explained, nodding to Eren. "They should appreciate what it means to be alive at all."
Guys like him? Mikasa wondered. Then it hit her. People who committed suicide couldn't become shinkis. So these weapons were spirits who still wanted to live. She thought back to the small arsenal of shinkis Erwin had. They were all so young. She glanced at Eren, and then down at her hands. Maybe they weren't all so innocent, but life had been so cruel to them. And they couldn't even remember who they were. And what was Levi? A god? Was he actually a good person? She had met a lot of pricks, but Levi was a cactus. Yet he saved someone's life just so Eren and Petra wouldn't have to watch.
Little droplets began to hit the cement. "Huh? Mikasa, are you okay?!" Eren asked urgently, obviously panicking.
"Control yourself Eren, your nerves are starting to sting me," Levi hissed.
"No, no, I'm okay…I just got some leftover fragments in my eyes," Mikasa evaded.
"What?! That's not okay at all!" Levi cried.
"Just-just breathe, okay Mikasa? It's going to be okay!" Eren squawked. Mikasa only laughed. Levi really did care. He was just a cactus with a soft spot.