October 10, 2017. I hit 100 views to this story. That's cool, but the lack of feedback is getting depressing.

Starting in flashback. Remember to watch for the switch to present tense after a break.


Eleven: Getting Better

I got sick not long after Christmas. I was trying to muddle through work, but I wasn't doing a good job of faking healthy. Armin kept telling me I should go home. When I got back from a call about a counterfeit bill at a business, Armin sat me down and told me not to move. A minute later, Levi was in front of me.

"You sick?" the captain asked without preamble.

"I think I'm coming down with something," I said, planning to follow it up with "but I'm OK," but he cut me off.

"Go home."

I looked up at him with surprise.

"Don't give me that look. You've been working hard and you look like shit. You need rest and maybe some hot tea. I don't want you back here until you're feeling better. Understand?"

"Yes, sir," I said meekly.

"Arlert, you go, too. I want to make sure he gets home all right. If we need you, I'll call."

"Yes, sir," Armin echoed me.

As he turned away, I felt a little pat on my shoulder and heard Levi say quietly, "Get better."

I must be delirious, I thought.

Mikasa claims that all the time I was sick, I kept pestering Armin to tell me what I'd missed at work, and especially what the captain had done that day, and whether he had mentioned me, and even to ask him what kind of tea would help me get better. I don't remember it that way... but since I was out of work for three whole days, I do remember going a little stir crazy. And I do remember Armin coming home with a box of lemongrass and ginger tea that Levi had recommended.

When I was finally well enough to go back to the station, I didn't get a round of applause like Mike and Petra had when they returned, but of course I hadn't been wounded in the line of duty. Several people did come over to tell me they were glad to see me back, though, including Jean, which surprised me a little. I realized Marco still wasn't back. He had been in the hospital since Christmas.

"Any word on Marco?" I asked Jean.

"They say he's stable," Jean said, looking at his coffee cup instead of at me. "But... they're still keeping him in ICU. So, who knows."

I frowned in sympathy. "Has he woken up at all?"

"Yeah, but not while I was there."

Levi came out of his office then, and I had a mad impulse to go hug him. Fortunately, I maintained my position.

"Good to see you back, Jaeger," he said, holding out his hand to me.

Levi doesn't like shaking people's hands, especially when they are or have been sick. So, I hesitated a moment before taking his hand, not quite sure it was all right. "Thank you, sir... it's good to be back," I said.

"If you're up for it, I want to take you down to Merle street." Levi named the site of the Christmas shootout. Officers had done patrols there ever since, trying to help the community feel safe again, though a couple of families had moved away already.

"Yes, sir," I said immediately before remembering that I should probably let him know that I was still a little weak. "No foot chases for a while, but I'm OK for some walking around."

He nodded. "We'll take a patrol car. Meet me in the parking lot."

I was glad to be going somewhere with Levi again. It had been a while. I said goodbye to Armin and went to retrieve my coat.


"How are you feeling?" I ask Levi as he drives us to work.

He takes his time answering, but he puts his hand on the console for me to take. "I think... it's getting better," he said. "And I feel like it will keep getting better if we're careful."

I squeeze his hand, encouraged.

"We haven't really had a big test yet, though," he goes on. "Like you said, we can't know what will happen until... frankly, until we fight again."

"True, but I think we'll be more ready this time," I say. "Neither of us is the sort to make the same mistake twice."

"Not usually," he agrees.

When we're parked in Levi's reserved spot, I take my time getting out. I want to see if he'll come around and open my door. He does.

I smile up at him. "Thanks."

He nods and waits for me to get out before closing the door again. Then he holds out his hand to me again and I take it, holding his arm with the other hand. I'm half-smothering him, I know, but I've really missed being close with him.

I let go of his arm when we get to the door, and his hand when we reach the bullpen.

"Let's have lunch together," he says in parting.

"OK. Let me know when you're ready," I answer.

I watch him go to his office, and I think he looks better than he did last week—less tense. That makes me less tense, too.

"How's it going?" Armin asks as I get to his desk.

"OK," I tell him. "We saw Erwin this morning, and we're going again tomorrow."

"Good. You look better."

I nod. "Yeah, I'm not feeling sick like I was. Time with Levi and a dose of his cooking did the trick." I try to sound lighthearted.

"You should call Mikasa. She's worried about you."

"I'm sure." I grimace. "Is she still ready to kill Levi?"

"Hearing that you're doing better is sure to soften her up."

"Maybe."

I look up to see Levi returning from his office. He jerks his head toward my desk next to Jean's where the latter is seated.

"Gotta go," I say. I go to my desk.

"I've got a reported break-in," he says, and tells us the area where it took place. "You want to take this one?"

I look at Jean. "I'm game," I say.

Jean nods.

Levi gives us the necessary information and sends us on our way, like it's just another day at work.


The Merle street neighborhood looked very different from the last time I visited it. Windows had plastic over them. Doors had been patched up. The police line tape had been taken away after Hanji's team got done with the scene, but it still seemed like a crime scene in some ways. Kids peeked out of the windows, and parents pulled them away. Anyone outside hurried about their own business, but most of the residents were hidden away inside until we drove up.

Several adults and a few children came outside as we got out of the car. I listened as Levi made small talk with them—something he despised doing, even with people he liked. He asked if anything new had happened lately.

"Couple times, kids spotted some o' them tough guys hangin' around," one man said.

"Jimmy an' me seen 'em!" a kid piped up.

"Who?" Levi asked, eyes narrowing.

"Some o' them gang people," a woman supplied. "We don't know which one."

"We told your boys about it when they came by here," the man went on, "but they just drove by the place and went on."

"Where were they seen?" Levi asked. "And, was it more than once?"

"Half a dozen times, now," The woman said indignantly, "but there's always no sign of 'em when the po-po come."

I'm not used to the Merle street way of talking, so it was hard for me to follow, but I got the gist of what they were saying, and I could tell that Levi was taking them seriously.

"'Round the ol' mill building, mostly," the man said. "I'd show you... but I ain't goin' down there. Got so we don't let the kids go, even during the day."

"They've been seen in the daytime?"

"Couple times."

Levi nodded. "Jaeger and I will give it a closer look before we leave," he said.

I liked how he called me by my last name when we were out on police business, just as I liked it when he used my first name in his office. Out there, I felt like I was his soldier, and in private I felt like a friend.

I looked around while they went on talking. I noticed something else that hadn't been there the last time I came: a tarp covered what was probably some cardboard boxes, and on top of it were grouped some framed pictures, candles and flowers. The most prominent picture was of a young boy, and I knew this must be the child that had been killed in the shootout. It brought home how badly these people must want us to end the fighting, and to get some justice for the innocent people who were thrust into harm's way.

I came back to the conversation and heard the locals bidding us goodbye and wishing us safety.

"You come sometime when you're not on duty," the woman said, smiling at both of us.

"That's right," said the man. "You're welcome here anytime, Captain Levi."

Levi remained reserved yet gracious as ever, and led me back to the car.

It struck me suddenly that like these people, Yan's parents at the restaurant had also called Levi by his first name, just like we did at the station. I had rarely heard his last name come up since the interest in the weird coincidence that it was the same as Mikasa's last name. I thought it must mean that these people really trusted him, and thought of him as more than a policeman. It was ironic because so many people who didn't take the time to get to know him thought that he was heartless and snobby. But communities like this one—families of hard-working people—knew that Levi was a friend they could depend on.

I realized I'd been daydreaming about Levi a lot today. It might be time to admit I had a crush. But... it wasn't a real crush, I led myself to believe—whatever that was. It was just a hero-worship phase, and it would pass. Of course, I'd been a fan of Levi's since before I got into the academy, but I chose not to dwell on that.

"You doing OK?" Levi asked as he parked near the old mill building that had stood empty and changed hands several times in the last few years.

I looked up. "Yeah," I said.

"Usually, I can't shut you up," he muttered. "Now you're quiet."

I blushed. "I've just got a lot on my mind." It was true enough.

We got out and looked around. On this end of the community, there were quite a few abandoned buildings with "for rent" signs out front, and lots of narrow alleys between them. Levi led the way through them confidently, as if he had walked the pattern before.

"Do you want to split up?" I asked. "It'll be quicker."

He shook his head. "If there are gang bangers hanging around here, we're safer together."

I somehow felt he was worried only for me, not himself, but I didn't allow myself to be offended.

We went on in silence until a sound stopped us both in our tracks. It sounded hollow, like something wooden hitting a thin layer of metal. It wasn't a particularly threatening sound, but it made me a little uneasy.

Levi leaned closer to me and whispered, "Take three steps, then stop."

I nodded to show I understood. We walked on and I counted in my head. One, two, three. We stopped at the same moment, and both heard another sound: footsteps on gravel, just one, two. Someone was nearby, and didn't want us to know. With all the buildings crowded around, and all the little lanes between them, I was very unsure about which direction the sound came from, but Levi seemed confident that it was ahead of us, not behind.


"Armin won't tell me what's up with you and Levi," Jean says on the way to the break-in scene. "I asked Mikasa, and she said she wasn't at liberty to say. So... you wanna tell me, or do I have to investigate you?"

I know he's exaggerating, but I also know he's not going to let it go easily. "Levi and I are good," I say, not lying, but having no desire to spill the truth.

"Come on. You've been acting weird since you came in with a split lip—when was that, two weeks ago? That's a long time to act weird, even for you."

I half smile. "Establishing a time frame... that's a good start to your investigation."

"Shut up. I'm serious."

"I know you are, and I appreciate that you're being a good friend."

"Damn straight, I am. I think the fact that I waited this long to ask proves that much, but the time to wait has passed. Frankly, I'm worried that you guys might be talking quits, and that wouldn't be good."

"No?"

"No. Not for any of us. In your own nutso way, you two are good for each other, and therefore good for the rest of us. Or, you were until two weeks ago."

I feel a little guilty at that, even though I know it's not my fault. I feel bad that the rest of our colleagues have probably noticed the tension and been worried for us. "Neither of us wants to split up," I say firmly. "So, you can stop worrying about that."

"OK..." He does look a little relieved, but still curious. "Can I just ask you..."

I shake my head, afraid he's going to ask directly if Levi hurt me. I won't be able to lie to him, and he'll start the string of questions all over again. "Please, drop it, Jean. I really appreciate you trying to look out for me, and I'm sorry I can't explain. But we're OK. Things have gotten a lot better already."

He sighs a sigh that says he's still frustrated, but that he's going to let me win, at least for now. "All right. But you can tell me if you need help, OK?"

Jean has rarely gone so far as to offer me help on such a personal level, and I'm touched. "OK. Thank you."


Cliffhanger in the flashback... I'll pick that up next time. Please follow/favorite/comment.