Levi woke up at two. The clock conveniently rang the hour. It was a miracle a mere hour passed, but the ghost could time travel, rendering this possible.
The second one was due, he thought dimly. Maybe it would not come. He did not want to know. Compulsively, he checked the door. He heard the knock over and over, wondering when the ghost would appear. Instead, a sudden light shone.
Behind the door, there seemed to be daylight. Levi got up wondering what the squad was up to at two in the morning.
He opened the door. As usual it creaked. Unusually, the corridor and blank beige wall was not on the other side. Instead, he found himself entering his room again. There was the solitary desk, the tiny chest of drawers and the simple wooden chair. Instead of an empty mantelpiece and cold fireplace, there was a roaring fire and colourful array of stockings.
On the desk was a hearty meal – turkey, puddings, roasts. Savoury smells wafted, colouring the air with rich spices and warming herbs. The closet was decorated with a wreath and an assortment of candles. In the corner, Levi spied a Christmas tree. It was as ornamented and decorated as it could be, the branches hung low and glistened in the fire.
There was a bare-chested middle-aged giant. He wore a red over coat to cover himself. He was draped on the chair in the most carefree manner.
"May I come in?" Levi found himself saying, surprised by the room and its occupant.
"Oh, do and be jolly!"
"Who are you?"
"I am the Ghost of Christmas Present."
"Conduct me where you will and please do be quick."
"Ho! I'll be as quick as you let me!"
"And I'll try my best to let you finish."
"Pretending to change will not help you."
"Carry on, we'll see."
"Fine, then."
Much like with the previous ghost, there was a wormhole Levi was lead through. Levi emerged outside the barracks. The town was under a layer of snow. Everywhere was a white layer except for the red brick walls. The red and white was complemented by green wreaths at every window and yellow candlelight all over the place. Flakes kept falling, dotting white flakes all over colourful town.
The barracks added to this with the exception of Levi's half. Levi's half was oddly bare, beak and seemed empty. Levi could not help but frown. A decorated door opened. A carriage clattered out. Levi and the ghost entered the carriage. The contents was his squad – Erd and Gunther with their backs to the horses and Auro and (a markedly distant) Petra facing the other way. The men wore black jackets and shirts with black trousers. Petra was in an overcoat and a dress. Levi was surprised to see the squad in this way.
"I can't believe you offered him." Auro said, turning to face his audience.
"Why not?" Petra replied.
"You knew he would say no."
"So? He might have changed."
"Why the amount of hope?"
"I never lose hope."
"You too caring." Erd commented.
"Hey, if it weren't for me we would all have to deal with that Scrooge." Levi smirked at the reference – probably the most unexpected thing from him.
"Thank you." Erd said.
"What was with the gift?" Gunther asked.
"The gift?" Petra paused in thought. "I gave him my copy of 'A Christmas Carol.'"
"What? Why?"
"Hope and faith in change for the better."
"I bet he'll just trash it."
"He'll want to prove me wrong and return it to me, I hope." Levi had yet to do this.
The carriage clattered in companionable quiet. They all smiled every so often, not particularly at one and another, but at the environs, at the town, at living.
Levi saw this and wondered how they pulled it off as the day was wasted. The carriage stopped and Petra alighted. "Aren't you coming?" Asked an anxious Auro.
"I'm going to surprise him. Just don't make me seem dead. He'll let you in."
Petra passed away from their vision. The carriage was quiet. "She's a character." Gunther commented.
"One day, she'll give up on Levi or Levi will give up on her and everything will come crashing down." Erd said.
"Unless she wins." Auro commented.
They reached the house. The trio had agreed on the official excuse: Petra was sick and unfortunately being tended to by Levi.
Mr. Ral was saddened by the news. Yet, as a courteous host, he let the three men in and began to prepare the meal. Levi watched, scarcely able to imagine anybody caring about him as much.
Petra walked up to the door hesitantly, wondering how the men would react. Mr. Ral opened the door and was confused for a second. Then, it clicked. "Petra!" He was overjoyed, energetic beyond his years. "I thought you were sick and couldn't come. What happened?"
"Dad!" Petra hugged the old man. "I was just messing with you!"
They hugged for a while before Petra finally entered. The food was ready and it was an interesting meal. There were the usual suspects: turkey, pudding and the Ral pasta bake. The meal was by no means large. As they sat, Petra called out surprisingly: "Timmy! It's time for food!"
Responding to the call, came the sound of clattering. After a few steps – the five afforded by the meagre house – a door opened. Levi had not realised that the house did not have an upper florr. All the structure was was a living room with a kitchen and two bedrooms on the other side of one wall.
The further door opened and a short figure walked out – Timmy, presumed Levi. The boy was using a crutch, for what reason, Levi could not pinpoint. His face was pure, as pure as his soul, with no blemish or mark of inadequacy. His eyes were blue – bluer than some sapphires and wandered about the table with innocent curiosity.
The seat closest to his door was left vacant for his convenience. "How was the last month, Tim?" Petra asked.
"Alright." Came a childlike voice, quietly enjoying the portion of life it could.
The meal went on in great conversation. The diners enjoyed the meal though it struggled to fill any one of them. They talked of the year, of Trost, of the Corps, of the winter and of life. Everybody seemed to feel better just by sharing inconsequential details of daily doings.
Soon enough, it was time for pudding. The pudding was testimony to the smaller meal that the group had turned into a feast. Everybody's even share was a crumb or two over three nibbles.
After this the group settled for a few drinks and on the special occasion, Tim got a little to drink as well. Tom took his small cup and four sips of mulled wine with great care, revering the taste he earned. Levi was moved by the boy's innocence and joy in the smallest of matters. So moved, Levi asked the ghost: "What becomes of Tim? I hope he stays alright."
"I see an empty chair and a lonely crutch." The spirit said solemnly. "At least he would not be wasteful."
Levi opened his mouth to respond only to realize that anything he could say would bounce back at him. "I…" was all that he pronounced.
The conversation wore on. Everybody got seconds, though Tim had to get something non-alcoholic.
They began to toast to random things: good health, success, dead titans, happiness and warmth. Then Petra raised her cup. From her previous toasting, Levi realized that the eighteen year old was surprisingly mature. It began to occur to him that Petra earned for the family. Her dad did work, it seemed, but he did not earn more than Petra's military salary. Was that why she joined in the first place? Levi could not help but pity and admire her in that moment. "I propose a toast to Levi."
Everybody was shocked. "Petra… you know he's…"
"Yeah, I toast to his improvement, to his understanding and his better nature."
"Good luck with that." Grunted Auro. Petra seemed to be the only one to believe in her toast. Everybody toasted it, but only grudgingly. The room was silent for a minute as everybody frowned about Levi. Levi realized the type of figure he was: the monster, the villain of this household and his squad. He could not accept that: he, as a leader, should be respected, not feared. Petra's belief in him was oddly endearing – it felt nice that she trusted him to improve.
The conversation resumed after the moment of silence taken to hate Levi. The spirit directed Levi away and teleported to the next venue.
It was a ballroom. There was a formal feel to the place, a dignified air to the attire of each attendee. The grand hall led off into smaller rooms where people danced more privately. Conversations were milling all around the corners. The music was barely audible over the humming chatter. Levi found Hange, Mike, Erwin and Nanaba. They were all in dresses or suits as their gender demanded. They all were smiling and talking in a huge circle. Around them, people were admiring the progress of the Survey Corps or discussing the future. All four left to dance with one of the possible pairs from the circle. They ate and drank in the circle, talking all the time. Levi felt a pang of neglect at not being invited to the ball. He would have rejected the invite, but he still preferred that opportunity of rejection.
"Are these all the squad leaders?" Somebody from the circle asked.
"There's one more, but he's some weird asocial type." Said Hange.
"I see. Is he good?"
"He is great alone." Erwin answered.
"But not in a team?" The other man completed.
"Unfortunately."
"How does his squad get on?"
"Beats me." Erwin replied.
"They seem to stay quiet, let him do as he pleases." Hange said. "It's not really good for any trust or respect – they seem to purely fear him."
"Sad, really."
"I feel sorry for Petra." Said Hange.
"Petra? Isn't she doing just fine – the youngest and all that?" Asked Nanaba.
"Yeah, but she's the most caring and gets the worst of Levi."
"He doesn't like people who care?" The man asked.
"No, he thinks it's a waste of time." Said Hange.
"Odd."
"You tell me."
Levi could feel the spirit's eyes boring into him. When Levi turned to see the spirit, he merely chuckled. Levi began to feel inadequate – all these people he thought were unimportant felt the same way about him. He realized what their lack of care for him made him feel like. He could only cling to Petra's minute shows of caring for him. Maybe he should not let her down and actually change.
After this, Levi's journey was chaotic. They flew to a mine near wall Maria. There were destitute men, blackened by their job, wearied by their hours and overjoyed by this day. They were as merry as millionaires. The celebrated as if they wanted nothing, because with the day and each other, they did not want.
As quickly as they came, the scenery changed once more. They found themselves in the underground district where starving citizens ate trash as if it were turkey. Where penniless people proudly toasted to their miserable state. There was enjoyment and happiness where there was trash and rubble.
Next, Levi found himself back in his room. The spirit moved his robe, revealing two children. Both were hideous, miserable, ugly and hard to look at – even after seeing titans. "Look here." The spirit said.
Levi stared. The children were yellow, ruddy, jaundiced and twisted. They looked old – veins and wrinkles showed under their youthful façade. Levi intended to be nice and compliment the spirit on his offspring. Yet, he was too disgusted to lie. "Are they yours?" He managed.
"No. They are Man's." The spirit looked down at the clinging demons. "The boy is ignorance. The girl is want. Beware of both in all their degree!"
"Spirit!" As Levi was about to ask how to avoid the two demons, the ghost vanished. The clock was ringing. It struck once. The room grew cold. The second strike! The room grew dark. The final toll! A breeze was blowing.
The doorway was the opening to a void. The night seemed brighter than the door. A mist crawled from the door into the room, spreading the darker dark.
