Chapter 11

Author's note: Sorry for the delay. I had a little trouble with this chapter please enjoy. On a side note if there are any volunteers to beta read please message me.

The way the Military Policemen treated Levi as they led to the dungeon they knew him. Behind him two of the guards pointed their shotguns to his head. They put the rookie, Bruce, in front of him without a weapon. And the two on either side of him carried weapons on their outside shoulder. Levi sighed. He knew this was going to happen. No matter how Erwin and the others tried to tell him, Levi would always be a thug from the underground. Well, he couldn't claim that anymore. He was just a thug.

Once they reached the dungeon the soldiers untied his hands so he could take off his jacket. In a quick motion he slipped his jacket knife up his shirt sleeve. He shouldn't have been able to get away with that but they had Bruce watch him undress. The rookie was too scared to really pay attention to Levi's movements. Idiot doesn't know he's being sacrificed, Levi thought. If Levi did plan on escaping Bruce would either be his captive or first victim. Levi tossed his jacket to the nervous rookie. Bruce flinched as if Levi hit him. He fumbled with the jacket before hanging it on the hook.

"Put your hands out," Bruce barked sounding like a puppy. Levi extended his wrists.

"Not so tight, bastard," Levi barked back at the rookie. Levi jerked his wrists Bruce put the metal bracelets on Levi's wrists. As Levi expected, the rookie jumped away from him. Once they were on his wrists Levi turned toward the cells. Bruce brought his hand up as if to push Levi to the cells but Levi jerked out of his grasp.

"I know the way," Levi muttered. He ignored the other four policemen pointing shot guns in his direction. Levi walked to the back of the cell. He sat in the filthy ground. It can't be helped, he thought. They won't leave until he settled into the cell.

Levi waited until the policemen left to get to work. It you distract the guards when they put on the cuffs they won't lock as hard. Kenny's voice played in his head. The cuffs were almost large enough to slip his hands through. Levi sighed. He flicked his wrist so that the dagger dropped out. The last time he was in cuffs Erwin put them on. Those weren't regular handcuffs. Those cuffs were so heavy they drug down his wrists. The cuffs the Military Police used were bracelets in comparison. Every time Levi thought about it he wondered just how long Erwin had planned to retrieve the three of them. Little details, such as iron handcuffs and knowing what time they went to work, took a great deal of planning. He shook the thoughts away. Now wasn't the time to think about old shit. He focused on the handcuffs currently around his wrists. The locks were easy to pick if you knew how. It was one of the first things Kenny taught him.

'You can eat as soon as you unlock them', Kenny told him. It took Levi a day to figure out just how to pick the lock. Levi dropped the cuffs in Kenny's lap in exchange for Kenny's breakfast. Levi rubbed his wrists. The cell door will be a little tougher, he thought. It had been a while since he had to do it. He would do it that later tonight. Then he would…Where would he go? Levi looked down at his hands. Footsteps at the top of the dungeon.

"Erwin?" he whispered. The squad captain walked over the bars. Levi presented the handcuffs proudly.

"Levi…" Erwin looked at him wide eyed. Once he spotted the cuffs he shook his head. Apparently he wasn't as proud as Levi was over the little triumph. "You must tell me what you did last night."

"No," said Levi. Levi's eyes darted around the room. What was Erwin thinking? Of course they couldn't speak freely like this. It took a moment for realization to dawn in Captain Erwin's eyes.

"I am going to take care of this," said Erwin. Cerulean fire blazed behind the captain's eyes. The last time Levi saw that blue fire was in the underground. Erwin attacked him like a mad man. Maybe he still was. It had been a long time since someone fought Levi with that kind of passion. Most of the people he came against were trash. Levi knew that they were supposed to capture him alive but the way Erwin fought him it was like they only needed a body. It gave Levi a rush he hadn't felt in a long time. Until that time there was only one other person that frightened him. All the more reason why Levi couldn't be weak in front of Erwin. To rely on someone was weakness; weakness meant being dead weight, and who wanted dead weight.

"All you need to know is that I didn't do this," said Levi. The two locked eyes. Levi wouldn't back down this time. Erwin clenched his jaw. This was Levi's territory. It was true that they couldn't speak freely, he thought. Erwin knew better. Within the wall Sina the crooks weren't just underground. Nile knew Levi left base but didn't think to tell Erwin. He looked around the cement cell hidden in the shadows were strategically placed metal grates. He had no doubt there were listening ears behind those grates.

"I'll be back later," said Erwin. His fingertips trailed along the metal bars as he turned away. Levi was happy Erwin turned away as quickly as he did. He had to bite his tongue not to call him back.

000

Levi hated being locked in the little box. Normal cells had a dirt floor and the bars were wide enough to pass meals through. The cells in the dungeon were cement boxes. There was barely enough space to put a hand between the bars. The only way space between them was a rectangular space at the bottom to slide a plate through. Levi never saw them use it. He hated being idle in the cell. It was worse now that he knew what it was like to live on the surface. When he got caught in the past, the one saving grace was that he could feel sunlight on his skin and breathe clean air. Now, he was just an animal locked in a cage.

He tugged off his cravat. The cement floor meant there were less rats but he refused to lie directly on the ground. He picked up the cuffs and walked toward the tiny window high in the cell. Levi sat on the ground so that he could look to the sky. If he was lucky he would be able to see the racers soar by. He spread the cloth behind him before stretching out of the ground. At least he could do this.

The chains rattled on his wrists in case one of the military pigs came down to check on him. If they knew he was out of his cuffs they would make it more difficult. Why am I still here? I can break out if I want to…where would I go? The thoughts ran through Levi's mind. The only places he knew were the Survey Corps base and the underground. If he ran he couldn't go back to the Survey Corps. If he went underground Kenny would kill him. The dark haired man released a sigh. It looks like he's going to have to trust him; at least for now.

Levi was dozing off when he heard footsteps. The noise was from someone stumbling down in a hurry. He opened his eyes to look at the out the small barred window. I guess I missed the races, he thought.

"Hey criminal!"

Levi sighed. He closed his eyes for a moment before rolling over to his side. Standing dangerously close to the cell bars was Bruce. In his hands he held a fist full of papers. Levi rose to his feet, making sure that the cuffs were still draped over his wrists.

"I knew I recognized you," said Bruce. Such an ugly face, Levi thought. The rookie grinned from ear to ear. He displayed an old wanted poster. "You're on the most wanted list!" Bruce rattled off the first page of Levi's rap sheet. Hearing his crimes on paper was like hearing his life story read by an idiot. Levi walked toward the bars. "Who knew the Survey Corps harbored criminals?"

Before Bruce could take his next breath Levi's hands took hold of his jacket. He slammed the rookie so hard against bars that red marks marred his face. The papers in his hands spilt to the ground. The rookie soon followed. When his eyes focused Levi looked down at him behind bars with his hands still locked in handcuffs.

"Get the fuck away from me," Levi said lowly. Bruce clumsily gathered the documents. He fell twice going upstairs. Levi looked toward the small window. Soon he would be in total darkness. The Military Police weren't known for their hospitality when it came to the people of the underground. Especially after what just happened. He was day dreaming again when he heard more feet on the steps.

"Good evening Levi!" Hange bounced down the steps followed by a shy Clare. Hange lit one of the lanterns that hung on the wall.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"It's time to eat," said Hange. Levi looked down at the plates in their hands. Clare had a skin of wine slung over her shoulder. "Are you hungry?" Hange asked. Levi's rumbling stomach gave him away. Hange laughed. Hange and Clare took a seat on the floor before the cell.

"Why are you doing this?" Levi asked. The two soldiers look up at him.

"We eat as a unit," Clare said firmly. "No matter what!" Levi looked down at her wide eyed. Maybe Clare wasn't so bad either.

"Alright," Levi said as he took a seat on the ground opposite them. Hange slide a plate of food beneath the bars. Clare pulled out three cups and proceeded to fill them from the wine skin. She slid one of the cups over to him.

"Oh, they are delaying the races until the court case is over," said Hange. "We were all lined up and everything before they decided to cancel. Captain Erwin stepped in to fill your spot. He doesn't brag about it but he is really good with 3D gear." Levi briefly remembered seeing the blonde flying after him.

"Yea, we're lucky he brought it with him…" Clare's voice trailed off toward the end. She looked at Levi.

"I didn't do it," he said calmly. "If I want to kill someone I'd just kill them. I wouldn't risk getting caught tampering with someone's gear." The blunt words gave Clare a start.

"So that part is true then," said Clare. She looked away. "You used to murder people."

"In order to survive in this world you have to do anything to live," said Levi. He looked up from his food to glare at her.

Clare nodded.

"Oh course Levi didn't tamper with their equipment," said Hange. "He didn't want to come here in the first place, right?" Levi nodded.

"Who do you think did it?" asked Clare.

"I don't know," said Levi. For a few moments the three ate in silence.

"Someone set you up," Hange said softly. "Do you have any enemies?" Levi continued eating.

"The only people who knew Levi was competing were the higher ups," said Clare. They looked at her. "I helped Captain Erwin with the arrangements," she said quickly.

"Where is he anyway?" Levi asked.

"At a reception with the commander," said Clare.

"That sounds boring as shit," Levi mumbled.

"Probably," Hange laughed.

The rest of their meal was spent chatting about the capital and what was happening at the reception. If they weren't sitting in a dungeon eating on a filthy floor it was almost like a normal night. Levi also missed having tea. When he came down here he knew what he was getting into; a dark room with no food or water until the Military Police either released him or he found a way to escape. His squad mates coming down to this filthy place to sit with him both humbled and confused him.

"See you in the morning," said Hange as they packed up the dishes.

"For what?"

"For breakfast." Clare and Hange walked up the stairs. He watched them walk away before making his way back to the wall. A small smile tugged at his lips before he realized it. Who were these people? Why did they treat someone like me with such kindness? Levi sat against the cell wall. The Survey Corps was filled with maniacs right? I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

000

Erwin sat across from Commander Shardis waiting for the other shoe to fall. When he told the commander about Levi's situation he only nodded. During the reception Erwin focused on mingling with the nobles. He also acted as a social barrier when the commander made a social faux pas. Now that they were alone there was nothing to distract from the elephant in the carriage.

"Pixus will preside over the trial," said Commander Shardis.

"Yes sir."

"Erwin, how confident are you of Levi's innocence?"

"Very confident, sir,"

"Even though he went underground?"

"He was delivering the notices, sir," said Erwin.

"Without your permission," said the commander. Commander Shardis could never figure this one out. There was no question that Erwin Smith was capable even if his methods were confusing. It would just be nice to think that he was still in command. "Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if Levi is worth the trouble."

"Understandable, sir," said Erwin. "I take full responsibility for his actions but I know Levi didn't do this."

"Then you won't mind arguing his defense?"

"No, sir; please leave it to me."

Erwin was greeted by two guests waiting for him outside his chambers. Clare and Hange saluted as he approached.

"Have you two been waiting all night?"

"We heard the carriage pull up," said Clare. "And we want to help prove Levi's innocence."

"Come inside," said Erwin. He ushered them into the suite.

"The underground is his home right?" said Hange. "Maybe he wanted to see his family." Erwin shut the door.

"You don't have to go with me," said Captain Erwin as he tied on his cloak. "I am going into the belly of the beast." Hange laughed.

"I wouldn't miss an opportunity like this? You couldn't keep me away. Besides," Hange continued. "If I was worried about survival I would have joined the Military Police."

"We take care of our own," said Clare. "And if captain says that they set Levi up then we have to find the out who." Erwin smiled. He couldn't be more proud of his squad.