First, I know. It's a leap. I got it covered though.
I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin.
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Clouds wandered the sky, providing the sun with a form of shelter as they moved past it. Only peeking through every once in a while as if it were watching over all below it. The wind was picking up. You could hear the rustling of the trees surrounding the would be clearing. Patches of overgrown weeds and wild flowers swaying to a song only they could hear. The scent of morning dew riding the breeze and filling the air. It was a beautiful morning. Almost beautiful enough to cancel out the bulk of black figures that waited just ahead.
Almost, he thought.
The feeling of being misplaced had always been with him, over the years he grew accustomed to it. Now he didn't even spare a moment to acknowledge it. He'd left behind any of those insecurities long ago. An advantage that allowed him to go wherever he pleased and accomplish whatever it is he wanted.
Attending social events was never a problem for him, though he rarely did attend any. He had no interest in them. However, he was willing to make certain exceptions. Of course a damn good reason was needed for him to agree to attend, no matter how personal the situation. For him to make the decision to go anywhere like this (willingly) could have been considered an impossibility.
He was mere steps away from the crowd now but there was still no sounds other than the wind and all it swept with it. Not that he'd prefer otherwise, there was no need for dramatics. Maneuvering through the group of strange people he didn't care to meet, he found an empty seat on the edge of an almost empty row of white fold out chairs. He inspected it's surface carefully not wanting to sit on any filth. Once seated, he crossed his legs and looked around.
There were about forty people there, all unknown to him except for two. Standing ahead on a small platform, was a small woman with warm auburn hair holding a bouquet of blue delphiniums, white lilies and larkspur. Beside her a tall, well built blonde man speaking to a couple he didn't recognize. The couple wearing forced grief ridden expressions, just as society dictates they should.
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Five weeks earlier
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It had been a good hour since the staff had locked all the teenagers into the day room. Not one nurse had walked in to check up on them. They were completely unsupervised-well as unsupervised as you can be while under surveillance anyway. It only took about fifteen minutes for the teens to catch on and disperse into smaller bunches.
Of course, everyone wanted to know about the events of the day before but no one wanted to be the first to initiate anything, so the issue just hung in the air. Being locked up together wasn't helping to lighten the mood either. Eren felt as if he were put on display in his birthday suit even though most of the others weren't even looking at him.
Eren sat to the side on one of the couches lining the walls along with Armin, Marco, Sasha, Connie and Ymir. While the bald boy and his companion kept gesturing to each other, Armin and Marco exchanged sympathetic glances. Still, no one said a word about it. The atmosphere was starting to get to Eren making his anxiety act up. It was getting to the point where he wished someone just got it over with and asked. He knew no one would, which in itself surprised him. He had thought that at least Jean would start something but, even he hadn't said a word. Maybe if he just burst out and said something some of his pent up angst would be done with.
Taking in a long breathe, Eren made to put an end to the buried curiosity, except he didn't get a chance to speak.
"Dr. Smith says I'll be released soon...he said I might be out in a day or two," Marco spoke in a hushed tone. The other four in the group instantly set their eyes on him.
"Really," Sasha asked. Marco simply nodded in response. At that, the girl's eyes grew wide as she stood to face the rest of the room, "Guys, Marco's bustin' out!" Everyone looked from Sasha to Marco with an almost robotic synchronization.
Jean, who was just making his way back from messing with the TV stopped, "Are you serious?"
With a light blush highlighting his freckles Marco nodded once more, "Y-yeah, tomorrow or the next day."
Jean's expression contradicted itself, he tried to show his support for his only friend in the ward but he couldn't. Marco easily read his features and his shy smile faded as the boys just stared at one another.
"That's great, Marco! What do you think you'll do once you get out?" Armin asked.
"Um, well, I don't know. I guess I'll go back home and start school and...well the usual routine, I guess."
After that Marco excused himself to the communal bathroom. He hurried, trying not to let his emotions show.
"That's nice, Marco's getting out. It's good to know this place does help, huh, Eren?"
Looking back to his cards, Eren simply nodded in response to Armin. The game continued with four players as everyone eased back into their separate groups. All except Jean who decided to sneak into the bathroom as well.
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Another three hours passed and only Gunther had walked in to bring the teens their lunches. After taking the first and only head count of the day he walked back out without so much as a word.
"What the hell do you think they're doing?" Reiner asked no one in particular.
"Don't tell me you're all this dense-obviously they're talking about Jaeger and his incestuous family," Annie said dryly, "they're probably going to keep you locked in here all fucking year at this rate, Eren."
"You don't know that, Annie! They're probably reviewing treatment plans and-"
"And what, Armin? They're celebrating all the progress we're making? You're a smart kid, you know none of us have gotten any better. Only reason they're letting Marco out is because he's been here long enough to say he went through 'a thorough treatment.' He hardly ever speaks up, and he takes his pills like a good little guinea pig."
"Annie," Jean said through clenched teeth, "shut the fuck up."
The blonde merely flicked her eyes towards Jean, responding in her usual bored tone, "Clear it up for me, Jean. Are you pissed about me talking about your boyfriend or is it that he's leaving you? Or maybe you're pissed because he's getting out before you got in his pants?"
Jean was next to Annie before anyone had the chance to react. He grabbed a fistful of her shirt, "You're one bitter bitch, but that doesn't give you the right to run your mouth about other people. Especially when you know nothing about them!" His grip tightened around the fabric, "You don't know a thing about Marco..."
"No, I don't...but I do know some very interesting things about you," she said in hushed voice so only Jean could hear.
Before he could respond Reiner had his hand wrapped around Jean's wrist, "A man should never lay a hand on a woman," he said without making eye-contact. Jean kept his enraged glare on Annie, she did the same with her unfazed expression. A heavy silence claimed the room as the three involved stood there ground. The day room burst open taking away from the tension, Eld and Mike running through it. "Jean," Eld said, "let her go." They both walked over, both cautious to not anger any of the teens. "Jean just let her go and everything can get straightened out, alright," added Mike.
After a moment of weighing his options, Jean let the fabric fall out of his hand. Annie brushed herself off before turning to sit at the table. Once she was seated, Reiner freed the other's wrist and went to sit beside Bertholdt across from the blonde girl.
"Right then," Mike cleared his throat, "who wants to explain what happened?"
Seeing as the three involved refused to speak, the staff turned to the others for an explanation, one that Ymir provided them with. After which, both Annie and Jean were escorted back to their rooms. The rest of the group continued with their time-killing activities for another hour and a half. All but Marco who just hugged his knees to his chest and waited.
Walking into the room with her clipboard positioned against her hip, Petra scanned the room while writing, "How about I get you kids some fresh air?" There was a collective groan as the teens began to stretch their unused limbs and headed out. Eren and Armin were almost out when they heard Marco speaking, "Hey Petra, what about Jean and Annie?"
A soft expression and a reassuring smile graced her face, "Don't worry, they're going to get some gym time later on. Okay?"
Marco nodded before scampering away.
Armin blinked taking in the situation, "Wow, after all that Annie said, he still worries about her like that, I mean I expected him to ask about Jean but Annie? Marco is by far the kindest person I've ever met," he spoke softly.
Eren looked ahead at the boy in question, "Yeah, I know. He really is a saint, isn't he?"
Marco was released the next day, his absence was more noticeable than most had expected. Though they'd only spoken some seven times, Eren was sad to see him go. His parents had shown up two hours late, so he was released while everyone was in their rooms, the only person he got to say goodbye to was his roommate, Sonny. The other's found he had left when they were called out for dinner. Conversations were short-lived thanks to the odd feeling of Marco being gone.
Jean never left his room.
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Another half hour flew by before the black covered crowd found their seats leaving only a few chairs empty. All kept their eyes ahead as an elderly man took his place aside the long wooden casket. Silence arose as the man began to speak. Levi braced himself. This was usually the time when the waterworks-fake or not-began. He'd usually try to at least look attentive, but today his mind escaped him as he began to lose himself in thought.
"We are gathered here today to mourn such a tragic loss," the speaker took a moment to glance at the closed lid before continuing, "but, most importantly, we are here today to celebrate a life..."
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"Before I begin...a moment to thank you all...showing your support...and his son...time of mourning..."
Cold. It was the only way Levi could describe it. This place, with it's high stone-carved ceilings, marble floors and stain glass windows, was cold. These people-most of whom Levi had only spoken to once or twice-with their solemn expressions and eyes filled with pity and disgust were cold. His father, with darkened eyes and sickly pale skin was cold. Even himself. He had lost any warmth that ever ran through him. There was only the cold. An icy pain that latched itself to the child's being.
They sat just before the alter where the cream colored casket was positioned. The lid open so all could see the radiance of his mother's beauty even after all life had vanished. Her fine black hair rested beside her head on a satin pillow surrounded by yellow roses. Her body wrapped in her favorite sundress, was delicately rested to give the impression of sleeping. She was an angel in endless slumber. Wasn't she?
Levi had not said a word since her death. His face that once bared a brightened smile was now cold and expressionless. His disenchanted gaze on the floor, the windows, the paintings-anything but the corpse ahead.
"Now, if anyone would like to offer some words in Amaléah's memory, the podium is at your disposal."
No one moved. Murmuring could be heard as the crowd scanned around, searching for anyone to rise. No one did.
Though he was young, Levi understood far more than most adults. He knew those people weren't here to offer any kind of comfort to him or his father. No, they were there to see the freak show. It was expected, really. News of his mother's death spread like the plague and with the reputation his small family was given, the whole neighborhood was guaranteed to show. Rumors about the event had also circulated. They varied from "I heard she hung herself in the parlor because her husband was going to leave her", "She was having an affair with FIVE MEN, FIVE! I heard it was her husband that offed her-that or one of the scumbag's she was fucking" to "I heard she killed herself as a way of proving her loyalty to Satan."
His mother came from a family of gypsies. A culture that has been misunderstood for generations in itself. While his father was a foreigner who was rumored to be exiled from his home country. They were never unkind people. His mother was possibly the most gentle person on the planet and his father was a strong, caring man. They had settled in a town that was lovely and sugarcoated on the surface, but was run by hypocritical religious nuts. Levi's parents weren't exactly devout so he grew up learning about the world. That was considered one of the highest taboos in his hometown, where the public was filled with close-minded people from other close-minded generations before them. They didn't take well to outsiders. Naturally, they hated Levi's family far before even speaking to them and they wouldn't exactly try to hide it. Despite the odd looks he received walking to and from school, Levi never gave the stares-or any actions of the sort-much importance. They could think whatever it is they wanted to, he was more than happy.
He was happy.
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Levi blinked. His head tilting backward as he focused in on the current happenings. The elderly man had left the casket; a younger man (probably in his early twenties) now took his place. "...but that was never an issue for him...I remember-back when we were kids we'd give'em a hard time 'cause he was always so quiet. We would mess with him but he never got mad or anything. He would just wait for us to get bored or tired and than he'd smile and run off like it hadn't happened. As we got older, we became very close friends...," the young man stopped, he rubbed his wrists together, "I can't," his voice was cracking, "I can't remember a time when Marco wasn't helping someone. He-he'd help anyone with anything, the airhead would probably give a complete stranger a body organ if they'd ask him too," he looked down trying to hide his watering eyes, "...I jus' wish he'd said something. Why didn't he say anything?! Marco! Why?! Marco why didn't you tell me!?"
A tall, tanned tearful woman stood and directed the young man back to his seat before he collapsed onto the casket. Others stood to speak of the freckled boy. They spoke about his immensely kind heart. Of his courage. Of his gentle nature and caring ways. They spoke of all the times when he went out of his way to lend a hand. They spoke of him as if he were an angel sent from heaven, which he was. He was kindhearted, courageous, gentle and caring and honest and sweet and charismatic and open minded. He was all of those, Levi thought. Then his parents stood to speak. They spoke of their little boy, the youngest of the litter. The quiet, well-behaved, well-mannered boy. A son all parents hope for. A son that was a blessing from above. A son that was happy.
Levi narrowed his eyes on them. They knew nothing of their son. They didn't want to know. Why would they after years of using the boy as their personal punching bag? Marco hadn't been one of Levi's patients but he knew enough from staff meetings. He knew that those 'oh-so loving parents' had treated their little boy like less than trash his whole life, now they wanted act as if they loved him? It was as shameful as it was pathetic. Levi saw through those half-assed words and crocodile tears. Looking over to Erwin and Petra, their faces composed and bodies perfectly seated. Levi could see they saw through the facade as well; Petra's tightening grip on the bouquet and Erwin's tensed jawline told him so. No one-not even his own siblings-knew of the horrors that Marco Bott had buried within himself. No one had the slightest idea that the kindhearted, gentle boy they all knew and loved was lying in that coffin because his parents put him there.
The funeral went on for just over two hours before Marco Bott was finally put to rest eight feet under. By then most of the attendees had taken their leave. The only few to remain were a small group of teenagers, the members of Bott family, his two coworkers and himself.
Erwin had made his way to the kid's parents. Levi had a pretty good idea of what was being said in that conversation. The blonde behemoth was a very dedicated, very intelligent man. No doubt he was indirectly threatening the Mr. and Mrs.
Then there was Petra. The sweet, gentle but equally ferocious Petra. She took a place with the sobbing teens offering words of comfort and compassion, all the while extracting information from their grieving minds before moving on to Marco's siblings.
It was more than clear that those two hadn't given up on helping the unfortunate soul of Marco Bott. They were going to make sure the guilty would be punished.
Levi smirked just thinking about it. It was amusing to think those two would go to such lengths. Amusing, yet honorable and well deserved on all ends of the spectrum. Marco was a good kid who deserved so much more than he had had. He deserved to live an actual life. As for his parents, they deserved to rot in the darkest, coldest, filthiest cell available while they waited for their slot in hell.
That kid had done nothing but good. Giving all he could and never once expecting anything in return. He cared deeply for others and he would do anything to protect those he loved. No matter the cost.
He would do anything to protect those he loved. No matter the cost.
Anything to protect those he loved.
He would do anything...
He. Something inside Levi snapped. His eyes grew wide. "Jaeger," he whispered.
Petra reached over to offer a warm embrace to Marco's youngest sister when she saw Levi take off running. Confusion clear on her face she looked over to Erwin who met her gaze. She motioned towards the man running towards the parked vehicles. Another glance was exchanged before Erwin broke out in a jog stopping beside Petra, "Why is he-"
"I have no idea he was just standing there and then he bolted," she spoke softly so she wouldn't disturb the crying girl she was still holding.
After a few minutes, Erwin somehow managed to detach the young girl's iron grip on his colleague. They excused themselves and rushed over to their respective cars to pursue Levi.
By the time they had their engines running Levi was already speeding down the freeway. His judgement had been shoved out the window; only one thought remained. He needed to get the hospital.
Levi tightened his grip on the steering wheel, "You and I have a lot to talk about, Jaeger."
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I'm back from literally the middle of nowhere. A place where only two computers and the wi-fi status is nonexistent. It was terrible. But I got some writing done. So there's that.
