Disclaimer: I don't own Shingeki no Kyojin.


Chapter Four

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Underground District~March 2, 839

Levi had learned early in his life that, when living somewhere as abhorrent as the Underground, it was very hard to actually be happy. Years of being abandoned by his parents, fighting to survive, and losing people he cared for had only served to reinforce that idea.

That was why, even as he grew accustomed to life with Farlan, he was never quite able to let his guard down.

He had seen enough suffering to be able to appreciate everything he had gained. Many people didn't have luxuries like having a partner to go out on missions with, or someone to stay behind and watch over their sister when they went out alone. He realized how much better off he was now when he came home, drained after a long day, to a warm, spotless house and could immediately smell cooking food. Even as Levi almost collapsed with exhaustion, Farlan was immediately at his side with a bowl of soup, and Mikasa with a warm hug and cuddles.

Yet even now, over a year later, Levi still couldn't fully convince himself that everything he had wouldn't just fade away. He had to remind himself that he had a home now; he had a way to get food and money; they were safe; and there was no reason to believe otherwise. This morning was no different. But maybe, he thought as he jogged through the streets, tomorrow would be.

For several months, he and Farlan had been striking deals, arranging favors, and doing everything they could to get their hands on some 3D Maneuver Gear. Indeed, their appreciation for and presumed skill with the gear had been one of the things that drove the two together in the first place. They knew that stealing would be much more successful if they could gain access to some of it, so as soon as they conceivably could, Levi and Farlan had begun a plan to secure at least two pairs of the gear. (Levi wanted another pair to teach Mikasa on when she grew old enough, but they couldn't very well be choosy.)

It had been one step forward and two steps back for the longest time, though, due to literally everyone in the Underground's selfishness and lack of willingness to possibly compromise themselves. At several points, Levi hadn't been sure if they would ever succeed (not that he was much of an optimist; that was more Farlan, he had found).

Finally, though, they had broken through. One of the merchants with access to the surface world had managed to secure three pairs of gear for them, and they had already arranged payment. He wasn't well-known to be the most trustworthy of folks, but Levi and Farlan had gained enough of a reputation for them to be sure that he wouldn't try anything. That was one advantage of the merchants, Levi supposed. They were cowards who would do anything to save their own skin.

Levi was breathless with exhilaration as he and Farlan sped through the streets of the Underground as quickly as they could to the rendezvous point. Although he hadn't exactly become perky or overly cheerful, Levi had been feeling hopeful a lot more now than he had when he and Mikasa had been living on their own. As they made their way to get the gear, Levi dared to hope that maybe now, now that he could see visible proof of his and his new comrade's work, he would be able to embrace his new reality instead of constantly fearing that he would lose it.

Farlan did the talking once they reached their destination, due to Levi's less-admirable social skills. The younger teen was tasked with standing back and looking intimidating, which he was able to do without really trying as long as he wasn't around Mikasa. So instead, he let his mind wander to imagining what it might feel like to soar high above the ground. Levi had never seen the sky, but maybe from above even the tallest rooftops, he would be able to feel what it was like.

When Farlan finally parted ways with the merchant, holding three pairs of the gleaming metal contraptions in his arms like a proud father, Levi's excitement swelled up and, no matter what he tried, he couldn't stop a delighted grin from bursting forth.

Quickly, Levi took two pairs from his comrade and the two of them set off for their house in a sprint. Levi's hands itched to try out the gear; to feel what it felt like to fly. He felt like he had been caged for so long and now held the key to freedom in his hands but was denied its usage. Through careful thought, he was able to force himself not to be rash (they had just gotten the gear and had no idea how to use it or even put it on, and even if they did, how would he carry another pair while flying? He was pretty sure using it was a two-handed job), but it was hard.

Luckily, they didn't encounter any trouble on the way back and burst through the doorway of their home several minutes later, breathing heavy but with huge smiles on their faces. Levi's own euphoria grew when, only moments after the door closed, he heard the pattering of little feet coming from the bedrooms. Mikasa, clad in a red long-sleeved shirt, dark pants, and little white socks, came rushing around the corner, letting out a squeal of delight when she saw her brother and Farlan.

The two boys quickly placed the Maneuver Gear on the couch and rushed over to the third member of their family.

"Onii-san! Farlan!" the four-year-old exclaimed as they reached her. They grinned back as Levi swept her up into his arms and placed a kiss on her forehead. She snuggled against his chest, grabbing his shirt in her little fists.

Levi took a moment to look between Mikasa and Farlan, his real family and his surrogate one, and appreciate that this was somehow his life. Him, a nobody from the Underground who was abandoned at a young age and forced to support not one person, but two. He was doing a pretty good job of that, if he did say so himself.

At risk of getting too sentimental, the eighteen-year-old looked to his older companion, then bounced the little girl in his arms to get her attention. When she turned her grey eyes to him, Levi smiled softly and said, "Hey Mikasa, I've got something to show you."

He led her and Farlan over to the couch, where they had placed the 3DMG. Mikasa studied it confused for a few seconds, before turning around. "What's that, Levi?" she asked.

With the hand that wasn't holding his sister, Levi picked up a trigger from one of the sets, studying it. "This, Mikasa, is called 3D Maneuver Gear. We can use it to fly through the air, like birds."

The little girl's eyes went wide and she gasped, turning to the other two with an excited smile. "Really! Can I try?"

Farlan smiled regretfully. "Not yet, Mikasa. You're still too young, and I know Levi would kill me if you hurt yourself. Even if it wasn't my fault." He paused to shoot an amused glance at Levi before continuing. "But we'll teach you when you're older. We even bought a third set for you to have."

Mikasa deflated a little when Farlan said no, but when he mentioned later, she began squirming with excitement and turned to Levi with wide, hopeful eyes. "Will you teach me, Levi?" she asked. "Please please please?"

Levi could help but smile and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Of course, Kasa. I'll teach you once you're old enough." She squealed in delight and wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight hug.

The trio stood there for several minutes, basking in their milestone accomplishment (well, Levi was, and he assumed that Farlan was too. Mikasa, though, was probably just enjoying having other people around, since she had been left alone all day). He wasn't sure about Farlan, but as Levi stood there, absentmindedly rubbing a hand up and down his sister's back, he was finally able to begin to come to terms with everything that had happened in the past year.

Back before he met Farlan, Levi was sure that he would be doomed to die in the Underground, living his whole life without even a glimpse of the sun. He was only slightly more optimistic about Mikasa's future, knowing that although he could and would work hard to get her passage to the surface, she wouldn't necessarily be out of danger if she got there. There were the same nasty people
aboveground as there were below it, and if she was young and unable to care for herself when they parted ways, she would be more likely than not to die.

Now though, everything was different. With the 3DMG, they could eventually afford passage to the surface for all three of them- and it might not even take so long, depending on how hard Levi and Farlan worked and how good they turned out to be with the gear. They would be able to live above together, as a family.

Levi had spent so much of his life trying to not imagine what a good life would feel like that, now that he held the opportunity within his fingertips, he wasn't quite sure how to react.

Still slightly awestruck, Levi turned to Farlan, and was somehow relieved to see that his expression probably mirrored Levi's own. When the blond boy caught his gaze, he smiled softly and bent down to pick up one set of the Maneuver Gear from the couch.

"I've been dreaming for years about using this," Farlan confessed. "I want to know what it feels like to fly."

"Me, too," Levi agreed breathlessly, eyes locked on the metal contraption.

"Go try it!" Mikasa exclaimed from Levi's arms, causing both boys to jump. "I wanna see you fly!"

Levi smiled at her huge grin, and his excitement mounted when he saw the exhilaration in Farlan's eyes. No more words were needed. They each grabbed a pair of the gear and sprinted out the door, heading for the rooftops around an abandoned alleyway that they already agreed would be the place they would learn.

Possessing the 3DMG hadn't changed how Levi felt about his life in the way he assumed it would. But maybe, he thought, as Mikasa laughed at his and Farlan's struggles to put on the many harnesses correctly, that wasn't a bad thing.


Levi turned out to be right, in the end.

Once he and Farlan had managed to attach all of the harnesses properly and the gear to them (with no small amount of cursing, which Levi really hoped Mikasa hadn't heard), they took flight.

As their first, with gear they had no idea how to use, Levi hadn't really expected for it to be anything short of terrifying. He just hoped that they would be able to launch, fly, and land without getting themselves hurt (or dirty).

When he was airborne, looking down on the city that had been his home for the past eighteen years, though, Levi felt a sense of freedom akin to what he imagined finally leaving behind the darkness for the light of the surface would feel like.

Together, he and Farlan shot their anchors into an opposing wall and jumped off the roof they had started on, Mikasa cheering behind them. The breathless exhilaration Levi had been feeling all day finally overflowed and he let out a carefree laugh that was quite possibly unlike anything he had ever felt in his life. A huge smile on his face, Levi spread his arms wide, the cold wind rushing through his hair and between his fingertips.

As they arced lower, approaching the next building, Levi suddenly had an idea. In a burst of agilely he hadn't even known he had, the black-haired teen quickly shot his anchors into one building, released them, and back flipped in the air between two houses. Maybe he was imagining it, but he could've sworn that he caught Farlan's bewildered yet amazed look from behind him, and his little sister's smile of delight further on.

These sights, real or not, combined with the glee from the rush of the wind and adrenaline, and Levi did something that he knew he'd never done before: he cheered.

It was a loud and carefree sound, characteristic of someone who had just discovered something that would be life-changing, and knew it.

Maybe if Levi, Farlan, and later Mikasa could use this gear every day, it would bring meaning to the dim and harsh conditions of life in the Underground.


A/N: Hi! I'm back with Chapter 4! This one didn't take too long for me to write, but unfortunately, tomorrow is the first day of school (senior year!) so don't expect another for awhile. :( But anyway, I hope you liked it! Please review and tell me what you think!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed Chapter 3!

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