I just want to make a point before you guys continue reading this. I know there are some details about the story that don't make sense anymore in terms of the canon story lines of the anime and the manga, but I want you to understand that I started this before a lot of those details were released. Nevertheless, I hope you're still enjoying the ride and stay through till the end.
Next time I promise a chapter, no matter how sure I am of releasing one, punch me in the head. I had so many ups and downs with this frickin' thing, and it ended up being a lot longer than I originally intended. Plus I hate to say I'm going to post one and then not. School keeps me on my toes, but I'm going to finish this story even if it kills me. Have faith in that, at least.
CHARACTERS BELONG TO HAJIME ISAYAMA/ATTACK ON TITAN/SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN
You flew up the stairs of the Scouting Legion's main building, intent on sharing the information you had just discovered. The chance encounter you had with the man at the market had given you something very important; something you didn't think you had the chance of finding unless another family burned to death.
What you found was a lead.
You couldn't feel your legs, and that was not a stretch of the truth. The only thing you could feel were the vibrations of your thumping feet as you wove through the traffic of soldiers coming down the hall. It was meal time, which would explain the sudden rush of people. Each breath was agonizing, as the air did all but relieve your poor, raw throat. It felt like little people were trying to climb up from your stomach using your vocal chords as a rope.
You stopped short of the Lance Corporal's door. You raised your right fist in a panic and began pounding on the wooden surface. Your chest had caught up to your rampant breathing, and the familiar burning sensation you'd been living with for the past week had started to come back.
"Answer the door, Levi!" You said a little too loudly and casually. It was reckless to use his name at all, let alone try to break his door down. It's not as if you were on active duty so you could use that argument to your advantage should he try to reprimand you for it.
You began to sob and clutch at your neck. Not out of emotion, but because the adrenaline had worn off. You were frustrated with how your pain seemed to come and go whenever it wanted.
"For the love of…. Listen! It's (Name), I found a lead! I was at the market today and I-" You wiped a stray bead of sweat from your nose. You were trying to ignore it, but it was starting to tickle. Carefully, you propped your forehead against the door and squinted your eyes shut. With both arms above your head, it gave your lungs room to stretch and make space for fresh air.
"Well, I didn't find it, but it literally hit me in the face. I can't say too much because of the information lock, Sir, but-"
"(Name)?"
"What!" You howled as you turned quickly and slammed your back up against the door. This action would have its repercussions later, because you were pretty sure the door handle had just jabbed you in the spine. Your surprised tone of voice had equally surprised whoever acknowledged your existence, and that person just so happened to be Erd.
"Why do you look like you've just been drowned and brought back to life?"
You used the split second he used to talk as a time to catch your breath. You backed off from the Lance Corporal's door, now certain that he wasn't in his room.
"Look, I don't have time to explain everything, but I need you to find everyone. Tell them to meet us in town." You said as fast as your words could be properly articulated. "I found a lead."
Erd's eyes narrowed as he confirmed the nature of your endeavor. He withdrew in a flash and made his way back down the hall and down the stairs towards an exit. Most of your team mates had used this time to visit their families, and you felt terrible that you had to pry them away from it. If it were any other situation, you would have let it be. All you knew was that you had to find Levi and spill everything while it was still fresh in your mind.
You rounded the familiar corner on the way to the Commander's office, nodding quickly to the stained glass portraits of the goddesses as you sped down the hall. You slowed down just enough to grab the handle and haul it open with the strength you had left. The wheezing sound of your breath was enough to take both occupants of the room away from their business. You couldn't care less about what they thought or how loud your entrance had been, all you cared about was the fact that both people you needed to speak to were in the same place.
You hung your head low as you braced both of your arms with your knees. The strain from the running had subsided, oddly enough, but you knew it was a matter of time before the pain came rushing back. Levi was standing in front of Erwin's desk, file in hand and the deadliest glare he could muster. You had just defied and broken every single military formality with your actions.
"S-S-Sir, I need to… I found… " You took a few breaths in between words so you appeared coherent, at least. Levi's icy stare had been replaced with a look of intrigue, but he was definitely bothered. The initial act of you flying into the room had been jarring, but it wasn't as interesting as figuring out why you had burst in on an otherwise confidential meeting.
"I found a…"
You couldn't handle it anymore, so you did the unthinkable. You sat down. You sat in the middle of the Commander's office, chest ready to explode from your thundering heart and a face gleaming with sweat and indications of pain.
"Catch your breath so we can understand you the first time." Levi growled. He would be angry at you for a very long time after this.
The Commander sat motionless in his chair. You were expecting him to snarl at you as well, but he didn't. He'd grasped the intent behind the situation almost immediately, and was attentive as you kept sputtering out nonsense. One should never mistake Erwin's calm exterior as an indication of his authority though. He was no pushover, and he would surely scold you once you were done.
Both men waited in silence as you worked up the energy to speak. You closed your eyes and tried to remember the man's face. All of the details were important, with the biggest element being the key to moving forward with this case.
Alright. He was big, that's for damn sure. Impolite and he definitely didn't seem like he had much of a brain. Huge nose, sunken eyes... Musty smelling jacket with one left pocket near his heart... Was he wearing workboots? Ugh. I spent so much time on the ground I should have noticed.
He was holding that ledger, that stupid ledger…
"What I was trying to say was that I f-found a lead, and I'm afraid we'll lose it if we don't act fast." You said in a scratchy voice. Levi narrowed his gaze, and you could hear the wheels turning inside of his head. He was probably wondering what kind of a lead you found, and just how legible the source was.
"There's this man. He's really tall, intimidating, and he smelled awful… U-uh, he uh…"
You stammered as you tapped your forehead. You were beginning to feel a little ridiculous being in a sweaty heap on the floor. It made it so both men were looking down at you and it was uncomfortable. You put both palms on the carpet and pushed yourself up, managing to stand but with great difficulty.
Erwin and Levi's silence demanded further explanation without a verbal prompt. Everything you said so far probably didn't make any sense. Even with their sharp minds, the Commander and the Lance Corporal could only piece together so much out of the nonsense that came spewing from your mouth.
"I was in the market. I thought I'd get some tea before we came back to work." You started out once more, rubbing your throat to soothe it. The information started to come out a lot smoother now that you had calmed down a bit. "I wasn't exactly paying attention to where I was going."
That part was hard to admit, and it did nothing but provoke a "Tch" from the Lance Corporal. He must have been thinking about how scripted it sounded, but that didn't concern you at the moment.
"I ran into someone, and they dropped a business ledger-"
"I don't see what a book full of numbers and a half-assed description has to do with our investigation." He said, with a tone of skepticism. The chances of you happening upon something like this was almost unheard of, and would definitely have an effect on your reputation if you were wrong. However, you were beginning to feel pretty frustrated with the Lance Corporal's sour attitude.
"For the love of- It's not the book itself; it's who it belonged to. The book was signed off by someone named C.J.R Ostermann. Who do you suppose that is? There aren't many people around here with that surname, and I can't think of any other Ostermann with a business in this area and who shares the same initials as our victim."
Your face went solemn as the memories came back again. You were worried that they would start to fade if you didn't bring them up. Any person in their right mind would love to forget an incident like that, but not you.
"The only reason I knew it was a ledger was because the man forced me to pick up the pages that fell and stick them back in the book. I saw it, clear as day. That business ledger belongs to the Ostermanns. My report states that Conrad Ostermann was writing in that very same book on the day of the fire. If we get it back, we can show it to him. Though, it might not be necessary considering the circumstances."
A very serious situation had just been laid out before the two soldiers. Levi waited for Erwin to speak before delivering his verdict. It wouldn't matter in the end, as the Commander always made the best choice for any given dilemma.
"How come it didn't turn up in the initial investigation?" Erwin put lightly, but with a tone of annoyance at the fact that a crucial detail had been overlooked. That's where Levi came in. Having already figured out the problem ahead of everyone else, he would be glad to finish what you started even though he'd initially been apprehensive about it.
"We weren't looking for it. The Ostermanns thought they'd lost everything in the fire, and they'd be right. The fact is that this book was taken before the masked men set the fire."
You could sense that the atmosphere had gotten a little more exciting since arriving. It would have to be something to investigate with urgency. The chances of that man still being at the market were slim, but it was the only hope they had in finally breaking this case.
He's the only thing we have that ties everything together.
Erwin's deep voice cut through the room. You wouldn't say anything about it, but you could definitely feel his eagerness to move forward. It was scary in a way, but you admired him regardless. He was a man that could accomplish any manner of business that came his way.
"I'm going to bet that it's not the only ledger they have either. There should be one for every family so far. Levi, I'm going to need you to gather your squad. They should meet us outside of the city gates, no maneuver gear… We're going to have to do this fast if we have any hopes of catching our target." Erwin stated formally. "Those hopes will be destroyed if he flees before (Name) can identify him."
Levi nodded at the order and began to make his way toward the exit. You caught him on the shoulder before he reached the door. He didn't flinch from the contact, and you had no reason to regret the action either. You felt that there wasn't a point in sending him to perform a task that had already been done.
"With all due respect, Sirs, whether that means anything to you now-" You expressed as you took your hand away from the Lance Corporal. It was ironic that you'd put emphasis on courtesy at that moment. "But I've already sent Erd to get everyone. I was sure you'd want to move forward with it immediately."
You straightened up and performed a salute. It felt wrong to do so in your casual ware, but it also felt necessary.
"Also, I'll accept any consequences for my unexpected interruption after the mission. I realize it was unsavory of me to do so, and I hope you'll forgive me."
An apology had never rolled off of your tongue so easily, nor were you ever that comfortable with sounding so formal. The odd thing was that it felt completely second nature to you now. Every once in a while the old you would come shining through, but that was only in the most difficult of circumstances. It had passed you by without so much as a hint or a clue, but you welcomed it.
It's all a part of growing up, as Mom would say. It sounds silly considering I'm an adult now, but it's still true.
Levi had turned just enough so he could see what you were doing as well as to receive new orders from the Commander. Erwin looked amused at the prospect that you would go so far without his permission, but at the same time it would save the precious seconds you'd have wasted otherwise.
"Very well. I'll have you both saddled and ready to go in twenty minutes. I'll see after sending a bird their way with the rest of the information. We'll outfit them with a description once we're all together." He said as he clasped both hands in under his chin. His piercing blue eyes fell on you, and with a slight grin, he thanked you for your efforts. You nodded and smiled at his gratitude, as it warmed your heart to receive praise from the highest ranking officer in the Legion.
Once assured that you were dismissed, you turned only to see that the Lance Corporal had already found himself in front of the exit.
"Levi." The Commander called as your squad leader wrapped his hands around the door handles. His tone was both sharp and had a bit of an edge. Levi seemed a little irritated that he'd been stopped. He turned to face Erwin and his observant glare, making sure to conceal any expression of displeasure.
"Don't hurt him if you can help it. We need him to be as cooperative as possible."
"Sir." The Lance Corporal said, loudly enough so that Erwin could hear him, but quietly enough to suggest that he frustrated with the restraint on his future actions. You felt uneasy at the thought of a previous, possibly failed altercation that would prompt the Commander to establish such a boundary.
No one had ever bothered to ask Levi about his perspective on the matters at hand. He always seemed to put effort in distancing himself from ever being personable, from ever being polite, and from ever investing himself in a situation. Had he always been that way? You'd never noticed it up until now, but he seemed to be making that effort on purpose. In fact, every single thing that he said beforehand sounded calculated, like he wanted to invoke that reaction from others. Perhaps it was the fact that you were now overthinking it, but you gathered the impression that Levi actually seemed to care in his own, miserable way.
That or he's pissed off that we haven't been able to solve this case yet, and the only way to let that frustration go is to kill someone.
You weren't sure which was more frightening. You couldn't see his face clearly enough to make a decision yet, not that you could discern an accurate reading from him anyway.
I guess we'll find out soon...
The City with No Name, 1:02pm
You folded your hands behind your back, trying your best not to look suspicious. You were in familiar territory, so the ambush itself would be a little easier with your knowledge of the market and the layout of the stands. You hadn't found your mark yet, but it had only been a tad longer than an hour since leaving the Scouting Legion headquarters.
This is the fifteenth time I've looped around, I think… The shop owners probably think of me more as a nuisance than a potential customer. It's not my fault, though.
You scowled at how you'd been forced to stay in civilian clothing. Erwin decided the last minute change in plans would allow the squad to comb the streets more discreetly. Nothing was more suspicious than the sudden presence of Recon Corps soldiers in a town whose business remained quiet and legal for the most part.
The others were dressed in civvies as well, and the whole time you'd been making your rounds, they were following you. Of course all of them had been given the description of the man you were looking for in case they ran into him on their own, but they would mostly count on you to pick him out from the crowd. It would be hard to miss a guy that size, you thought to yourself as you picked a stray hair from your shirt. It would be hard to miss that smell, too.
You shifted your focus away from the stands and glanced casually in the directions of your squad members. Erd was making himself look busy as he relentlessly questioned a shop keeper on the different fruits he had to sell. Petra was sitting on a wooden bench and looked as though she was hopelessly invested in a romance novel. Gunther had his back to the wall of a pub, eyeing every shady character that happened to stumble out, and Auruo had joined him at the last minute request of the Lance Corporal. He wouldn't participate in any fights if it came to that, but having the extra set of eyes would definitely be of use in this situation.
You couldn't see Levi anywhere, but that was a good thing. He was most likely skulking in the shadows, waiting for the opportunity to jump in once your target had been identified. It reminded you of the amount of times he'd scared you, with his silent steps and controlled breathing. A host of military police, in their usual positions at their usual times, had been instructed to step into the fray should your squad's strength not be enough. An authoritative figure in uniform was enough to scare away a few heathens, and was definitely sufficient to intimidate any would-be troublemakers back into hiding.
With no other option than to keep circling the market like an idiot, you thought it best to retrace your steps that morning seeing as that was how you'd carelessly happened upon your suspect in the first place. If all went well, perhaps you could finally snag yourself some delicious herbal brews and snag yourself a bad guy at the same time.
As if, you thought as you began counting the stones. Every few steps you could pick out a few rocks that were different colors than the rest. From far away, most of the path looked bland and grey. Up close however, you could distinctly pick which of the stones held different hues. You liked to think that they came from faraway places, and were just as valuable as some of the supposed rarities that came through the market every day.
Leave it to me to find the value in a few thousand rocks. They probably just pick them out of the riverbeds and-
Your thoughts were cut short as you made the last minute move to dodge a child that had been running wild and rampant through the streets. You watched him round a corner and taunt his mother as she tried her hardest to catch up. She called after him and swore to pinch his ears if he did not stop. The threat held no power over him though, that part was clear.
Brat…
"…see that's what I'm talking about! It's twice today that the gal's been starin' off into nothing. She knocked my books down, got em' real dirty too. She's a hazard! We better call them drunkards over in the Garrison quick. They'll take good care of her!"
You froze. You could tell that the son of a bitch had been talking loud on purpose, and you would make him regret getting your attention at all. You clenched your fists tightly at your sides once you heard the laughs and the wheezing coming from his throat and those of his scrawny companions. You weren't entirely sure where the sudden rage had come from, but perhaps it was because he was trying to make a fool out of you. A soldier learned to control his or her emotions so they wouldn't get in the way, but this time you could not suppress the old instinct to fight back with every drop of rage you had in your body.
"I could have fed those papers to my horse and have her shit come out smelling better than you."
You were facing him completely now, hands at the ready just in case. There was no telling what he could do under these circumstances, and whether or not he'd attack a seemingly air-headed person was something you didn't want to take a chance on. His background remained a mystery to you, and despite his overall appearance, he could very well be a skilled fighter. That and the fact that he had about fifty pounds of weight on you meant that he could probably over power you if weren't careful.
The man had stopped laughing almost immediately. The expression on his face turned poisonous as he registered your remark. His friends had dispersed quickly, leaving you to assume that they weren't a part of whatever rebellion he was in.
"Eh? I'm sorry, girl. I don't suppose you just insulted me? Not when I was bein' so nice to you."
You wouldn't indulge him in a slur of pathetic apologies this time around. By now your squad members would have noticed your strange behaviour. You could see them advancing in your peripherals, trying their best to hold onto the element of surprise just in case it wasn't the designated target. It was him though, and you'd be damned if you let him get away this time around.
Not while I have everyone at my back.
"I was only telling you the truth. I don't see any reason why you would be offended by it." You said bitterly. You tilted your head up towards the sun and shielded your eyes against the light, which was the signal that indicated your subject had been found. All of your squad members reciprocated your gesture with different ones of their own, meaning that they were ready to move in and make the arrest on your command.
"I'm not here to debate what smells worse though. I'm here about your interesting choice in reading material. If you come with me now, I won't have to sick my dogs on you."
"Dogs?" The man's face went dark with realization. It seems he already had you figured out. "Don't lie to me about dogs, girl. I know a military show when I see one, and there's no way yer' gonna catch me. Not when yer' still using them shit words for code. The whole damn underground's got em' figured out and they're laughin' at you."
Underground? You thought as you expressed your ignorance with a quirked brow and a steely-eyed glare. He had his fists clenched near his sides, and his legs were spread apart in a stance that meant he would either run or stand his ground. For him to do so quickly without your reaction meant that he did have some knowledge of fighting.
"I know yer' there, you bastards!" He yelled loudly and ferociously. You were supposed to use numbers as a form of intimidation, but a man of his size and attitude would not be easy to stop. Everyone on the street had cleared out once they felt the tension in the air. All of them with the exception of your team mates, of course. You took a second to register their positions and calculate a plan.
Long arms mean a long reach, which means I have to get in really close or stay back so his swings lose power. If I come up from behind maybe I can-
Your eyes went wide as he flew towards you, moving incredibly fast and proficient for such a large human being. You swerved to the right and caught yourself before whipping your head in his direction, only then realizing that he'd made a break for a narrow alley that connected all of the bigger streets together.
"Shit!" You called out as you began to pursue. You lifted your fingers to your mouth and let out a sharp whistle that meant your subject was trying to flee. You watched him disappear around a corner. Soldiers in uniforms came from multiple directions, looking to you for information.
"Close the gates, no one gets in or out! No one goes in the alleyway either. The last thing we need is to get jammed up!"
That was the last thing you said right before you disappeared into the slim passages. It hadn't even occurred to you to wait for your squad members, but every second counted if you we're going to put an end to this investigation. It was risky, but you convinced yourself that you had no other choice. You were pretty confident now that the odds had been somewhat evened.
It's too narrow which means less people can follow, but it also means he doesn't have as much room to move around. Thankfully I'm a lot smaller.
A sudden wave of heat washed over your face, but for once it wasn't because of pain or anguish. This time around, as odd is it would seem to anyone else, it was because you enjoyed the thrill of a hunt. For once your target seemed attainable because he wasn't fifteen meters tall with a hunger for human flesh. He was a human being, he made mistakes, he could be predictable and-
Man, could he ever punch hard. He had been waiting for you around the next corner, and because of your close proximity you could not evade his attack in time. The best you could manage was to raise your arms and shield your upper body. Even then, the blow was enough to knock you backwards and on to your ass.
Not again!
"Look at where yer' going!" He shouted as he hovered above you. His rancid breath made you curl your nose, and you closed your eyes in order to protect them from the rainfall of spit and sweat that fell as he jerked about. His step was unbalanced, so you used that momentum to grab his left foot and spin it along with the rest of his body. He came crashing down onto some wooden pallets, causing some of them to splinter under his weight. You rolled off to the right, avoiding the debris and using the wall to hoist yourself up. Your tactic had only provided you with a few seconds of respite which allowed you to put some distance between you and the man. The effort was wasted though, because he came soaring up with the intent to knock you out cold. You felt a rush of air as his right fist barely missed your cheek, causing you to bridge backwards and pivot on your hands.
Thank god my skirt goes down to my ankles, you thought as you settled back into a fighting stance. The man whipped himself around, but chose to speak instead of lunge. His movements were beginning to lag, and his breathing was heavy.
It takes a lot more effort to swing those meaty arms around.
"Y-y-you…You think you can s-stop us here? You think this will end if you k-kill me?" He howled as he spat in your general direction. "There are a lot more smelly bastards like me out there, waitin' for their chance to take what should be free to us in the first place!"
You raised your hands up in front of your face, convinced that he would pounce because of how loud his voice had become. You felt paranoid that he would use this chance to distract you and take you down. In fact, every single shred of reason you possessed suggested that he would do exactly that. It wouldn't be the first or the last time that you would encounter this exact ploy, but he didn't attack, and it almost sounded like he was fed up with running.
"What do you mean, free?" You called back after an instant of hesitation. The vague statement had given you an unwary feeling, and you didn't quite know what to make of it.
The man's face became dark and sinister, like you'd just said something completely and utterly taboo. In all honesty, you were curious, and if you could understand his plea than perhaps you'd finally figure out the motivation behind the slaughter of so many innocent people. Perhaps you could catch him off guard with some talking, too.
"Necessities, my dear. You ever wonder why the situation is so bad out here? Near the farthest wall and away from the rich? Well here's your fuckin' answer!" He screamed. Globs of foam started to form at the corners of his mouth. He wiped all of it away with the dingy sleeves of his shirt and pointed toward the center of town. He became very quiet then, only letting small hints of his rage and reason escape as he tried his hardest to explain the situation.
"Why should I have to work day and night, hard as I can, only to spend all my money on a basic, human necessity? I've seen more people die in here from starvation than your buddies going on their dumb little adventures outside the wall! Hell, if we got enough food to keep feedin' titans, at the expense of our tax money for all your fuckin' equipment and supplies, then we should damn well have enough to feed people here!"
You were tense during the whole fight, but now you were afraid. Not of him, not of the titans, not for your life, but for the world. What he was saying to you still made no sense in terms of your investigation, but in terms of the state of things, the state of the people and how they lived… Was he telling the truth? Whether or not you agreed with his statements had no bearing on the disasters he'd contributed to and the lives that he ruined. If caught, he would be executed and you would proudly do it yourself if given the chance, but did that make what he was saying any less true? You'd lost a lot of good people and a lot of good friends beyond the stony barriers, so why weren't you angry? Why weren't you furious at him?
"It's the damn businesses that mucked everythin' up…" He muttered as he looked at his shoes. You thought this would be a good time to finally make your move, but your curiosity to hear what he had to say had gotten the better of you.
"How could you walk down the street every day of your life, concernin' yourself with how yer' gonna pay for your next golden ring and spittin' at some homeless guy's feet? You see hungry children and think to yourself, 'gee, I wonder how much they'd pay for this apple so I can buy my wife a sparkly new dress?' instead of offerin' it to them for free. How low do you hafta be to even think about linin' your pockets instead of solvin' the more important problem right in front of you? Fuckin' low, I say. Dresses and shiny metal shit won't feed anyone."
"Yeah, well killing won't solve hunger either, so don't try to justify your cause with murder." You stated, shakily at that. Your confidence was waning. This man was testing your resolve. The fact of the matter was that you could not help yourself from thinking about the problem he'd laid out before you.
"Believe what you want, girl. We aren't tryin' to justify anything. We just want people to see the truth."
"The truth…" A voice cut in. It was cold and relentless, and it held absolutely no patience for what the man said. "It seems a lot of people are trying to find that out these days."
The quiet tapping of his footsteps, unheard unless he wanted them to be, came closer. He came out from the shadows, and it became very apparent that he'd been present for the entire conversation from the judgmental expression he wore on his face. His black jacket had been cloaked over his shoulders, and both hands were concealed within the pockets of his matching slacks. The stark whiteness of his shirt and neck tie really seemed to stand out against everything else.
"Lance Corporal." You acknowledged as he walked past you, playing little into your presence. He was a lot more interested in what the man had to say, but not in a good way.
"Yeah, and who the hell are you?" The man asked, completely undaunted at the sudden appearance of another threat.
It's the height, I get it. You'll be sorry if you think that helps you, pal. You thought as you saw the man loosen up. The Lance Corporal didn't answer the question right away, but when the man became annoyed, he simply answered "The Truth."
"That's some real bullshit, Sir. If you had any idea about what really goes on out here, then maybe-"
Without so much as a warning, Levi was on him. The first punch he threw landed squarely on the man's nose, causing him to tilt backward in shock and pain. He couldn't react properly before the Lance Corporal's knee came rushing up and made contact with the man's gut. He gasped for air, but could not find any. The awful, choking and wheezing sounds that escaped from his throat reminded you of the sound someone made when their throat had been slashed. Of course, it never happened to any human you knew, but you'd heard on several occasions with a titan.
Not as severe, but eerily close.
You looked on as Levi weaseled his way behind the target, using his heels to swiftly and violently jab the back of the man's legs to bring him to his knees. He grabbed a fistful of hair hand and bent the man's head back, looking him full on in his broken and bloodied face. The target had been successfully beaten into submission, and perhaps now he could answer some questions for the Lance Corporal.
"The truth is, no matter what you say, you're going to die. No matter what you do, you're going to die. No matter how you much you squirm and how right you think you were to kill those people, you're going to die. So tell me, you piece of shit, how does it feel knowing you're going to die for a cause that hasn't been realized yet?"
With that comment, it seemed like Levi had finally unraveled the mystery behind everything. You would be all too eager to hear about it afterward.
"That's a lot of dyin', Sir." The man choked and smiled gruesomely. Levi's punch seemed to have hit his lip as well, successfully busting it open and turning it purple. "The thing you don't know yet is how far we've gotten. Like I said, this won't end here just because-"
Levi was calm and collected; at least that's how he appeared to be. You knew better than to assume that, because underneath that shady exterior, his impatience and contempt had grown into something scary and malicious. The man would not answer Levi's question honestly, so he cut him off by twisting his fist full of hair. The man started to laugh, which seemed to be the very last straw where the Lance Corporal was concerned. He stepped to the side and within an instant, the man's head was forcibly pushed toward the stony ground. You watched, slightly disturbed at the unrelenting hate that seemed to accompany every single action.
"Do you have anything you want to say to him before we bring him in?" Levi said coldly.
The question, as cynical as it was in its' nature, sent chills rolling down your spine. You were at a loss for words, but despite that fact you had so many things to ask. Though, it seemed that the man was finished giving straight answers for now based on how his maniacal laughter would not cease. In fact, you weren't entirely sure how much more information you would be able to pull from him that would be different from anything he said so far. The best thing would be to take him to headquarters, where the more experienced and less violent interrogators could take over.
Our only job was to bring him in, not beat him to a pulp and expect coherent answers.
Still, the unusual feeling that Levi was justified in his actions would not leave you. You could not believe that you actually let the man test you the way that he did, and felt that he deserved every single blow he was dealt.
"No." You said finally as you narrowed your gaze onto the man's beaten form. He calmed down after hearing your answer. You would not ask after the book, or the Ostermanns, the other families or the masks. Anything you had to say would be more effective in a controlled environment.
A rush of footsteps made it clear that your team mates had finally managed to find you in the maze of narrow alleyways. All they would have to do was follow the cackling of your suspect, who you were now more than certain was involved in the arson that plagued the eastern half of land between wall Rose and wall Maria.
Levi had successfully bound the target with some rope that he'd found nearby.
Strange, you thought as the man slumped himself against a wall. He hasn't even tried to escape… He was so intent on doing so before.
The possible argument against that would be that he had now been surrounded and outnumbered. Any fool would realize that it was the right time to give up, but something was bothering you.
"Geeze, looks like we missed everything." Gunther remarked after placing himself next to you. He wasn't trying to be comical, but it certainly came off that way. You could not help but feel at ease though. Every time your friends were around, you felt comfortable.
"I take it he struggled?" Petra said as she initiated herself into the conversation. "Must have been pretty bad for him to get beaten as much as he did."
You smirked at her, but you were ridden with uncertainty as to whether the man tried to fight back or if it was just a one-sided beating. It was clear to you what the answer was after glancing at his puffy face.
It was one-sided, but not when he was fighting me.
You looked over at the Lance Corporal, who was staring intently at the slumped figure of your suspect. His arms were crossed, and he watched quietly as the man struggled to breathe. The tension in the air had subsided when your team mates showed up, and Levi himself seemed a lot more rational. He could have been of sound mind the whole time, with the brutality of his actions only being for show and intimidation, but that was just being hopeful.
Something did change. I saw it.
"Erd, Gunther."
"Sir." Both men replied in unison. For now, the Lance Corporal seemed to be back to his regular self.
"He goes to the carriage we have at the gates. Erwin's waiting for him."
Your squad members made their way over to the man, using the rope as a means to lift him up. It had been wound tightly around his entire body, so they weren't worried about it slipping off. As soon as he could face the light again, the man started to laugh.
"Shut up." You put venomously as he got progressively louder. You couldn't get the sound out of your head, and before long everyone else seemed just as annoyed as you.
"Oh, don't you worry, little miss. I'm just laughin' because you think you got me."
He hung his head back and looked toward the sky. He seemed to be playing with something in his mouth. It was entirely possible that a few teeth had come loose after being punched in the face, so you paid no attention to it.
"You, short man." He said as he looked toward Levi. He had a look of triumph plastered all over his face. "How do you feel now that your cause won't be realized?"
A glimmer of something shiny could be seen through his teeth while he smiled. Levi's eyes widened as he soon realized what it was.
"Don't let him bite down!" He shouted. Erd's hand flew up to the man's mouth, but before he could get a firm hold, the man jerked himself away from both of your companions and slammed his back up against the wall. You heard him crunch down on something, and just like that he began to twitch violently.
You stepped toward the body, horrified and full of rage. The Lance Corporal's arm came up and blocked you from going any further. All you could do was look hopelessly as the man eased out of his convulsions and became very still. Tiny bits of glass and a chalky white substance came out from his mouth and proceeded to mix with the fluids that had already seeped onto the ground. You knew the signs all too well, and were embarrassed to admit that you hadn't even considered this as an outcome.
Suicide.
Somehow, during your pursuit of the man, he'd managed to slip a suicide pill into his mouth. The question that remained was when. He could have easily done so as soon as he escaped into the alleyways, but that possibility seemed unlikely considering that he still had a chance to get away. The only other time you could think of was the instance where he wiped the spit away from his mouth, during your fight.
"He must have had it in his mouth the whole time." Gunther said as he directed his attention to the squad of military police that came into view. They were further down the alleyway, towards the exit that led into the open area of the market. They must have been concerned about how long it was taking your team to reappear.
Shit.
You were in a daze, and without asking for permission to leave or even an acknowledgement, you quietly and swiftly pushed your way passed the Lance Corporal, numb and completely unfazed by your surroundings. You wandered out and away from the maze, leaving the concept of time in the intersecting passages and back alleys. People started to call after you, but you paid them no mind. By the time you were back in sunlight, you could not feel the warmth for which you hoped. All you felt were the cold, unyielding feelings of despair.
"Damnit." You began as you looked up into the sky. You could not ignore the tingling in your spine and the uncontrollable shaking of your hands. You opened and closed your palms, trying your hardest to make them stop but you could not do anything to regulate it. Next came the tickling of the tears that gathered at the corners of your eyes. Before long, a substantial amount of water had collected at your chin, only to fall when you moved your hand to wipe it away. You watched as the liquid darkened the surface of the cobblestones below. The rock it landed on lacked any real color at all.
For the fourth time that day you let yourself fall on your backside, tired and frustrated at the lack of information regarding the investigation.
Why does it have to be this way? Why do I have to struggle with this shit? I know I should never expect anything from you, but seriously? Can't you cut me some slack? Will someone up there at least help me out?
A shadow passed over you and remained in place. You raised your hand to your forehead, only to see that the Lance Corporal had blocked out the majority of the sun by standing a mere foot away. He had his back to you, but you could see that he'd also raised his hand to shield his eyes from the light. His sudden appearance hadn't scared you this time, but you were a little daunted at the fact that you didn't hear him until he was right next to you.
"You left without being excused." He said in a calm, yet testy tone of voice.
"Sir..." You sighed, not willing to argue his point because you had no reason to.
"Good work."
…
"W-what?" You choked, though not on your own spit or your own words, but on his words. In fact, they seemed so completely unreal that you assumed you were hearing things.
"I'm not repeating myself." Levi said callously as he continued to stare into the distance.
Moments passed between you and the Lance Corporal, either side refusing to speak. It's not that you didn't want to talk to him, it's just that most injured dogs preferred to lick their wounds in private as opposed to tend to them in front of an audience.
"Right." You said while bringing your arms down to your side. You felt stupid for crying, knowing full well that tears wouldn't change anything. "It's dumb, I know. I just can't stop myself from thinking that I could have-"
"Could have what? Done something differently?" He challenged, tilting his head just enough to show you that he was listening. "Then the same is true for all of us. There were things that we could have done differently, but we didn't, and it's useless to think of what could have happened otherwise."
It amazed you that Levi could keep such a controlled tone of voice. It was neither harsh nor gentle, but somewhere in between.
"I'll pin my hopes on what we find on his body once Hanji is through with it." Levi said, stepping in front of you before completely resigning himself from the situation. He gazed down at you, but for once it wasn't a look of degradation or superiority. "Don't bother with it for the time being. As long as we're all alive, we have a chance."
"S-sir." You muttered, turning away just in time to hide the redness on your cheeks. For him, it was just like issuing another order, but for you, he was acting a lot nicer than usual. Needless to say it had your mind racing and trying to figure out why. The only thing you could think of was that he was trying to keep the morale up for you and your squad, but even then, Levi was never one to deliver encouraging speeches before or after a fight. You savored the words of praise knowing that this could very well be the first and only time you'd hear them.
"Oi, Brat." Levi called out once last time before leaving. You turned your attention to him, lifting your hands just in time to catch whatever he'd thrown at you. You were surprised, to say the least, because what landed in your clasped hands happened to be tiny, drawstring pouch. Upon further inspection, the contents of the bag looked a lot like tea leaves, only there were small, ragged chunks of lemon peel mixed in.
"Tea." You said calmly as you lifted the open bag up to your nose. The clear, refreshing scent of herbs and fruit filled the inside of your nose. You exhaled completely and relaxed your shoulders. You were still sitting on the ground, but for as long as the people stayed indoors, you weren't going to move an inch until the scent of your newly acquired herbs was burned into your nostrils for eternity.
You know, today wasn't so bad.
Heichou really knows the way to a girl's heart, haha! I hope that wasn't too brutal. I don't usually like to write long chapters because they drag on. Hopefully I chopped it up enough so the parts made sense!
Levi's dialogue was really hard to write in this chapter. How do you make a cranky character like that seem nice without coming off as a sap? Yep, that was my challenge for this chapter. Also, a lot of people write him off as the silent type, but like it states in the show, he actually does talk a lot more than we notice (at least for me, anyway). That brings me to my next point, which is inspiration! Don't feel bad for going back to see how a character interacts with other people/things. I like to think of it as studying! That's why, before finishing this monster of a chapter, I watched a couple of episodes that had a lot of Levi screen time. It helps guys, take my word for it!
WELL that's enough for tonight. I don't want to sound preachy, but studying up on things on your own can reeeeeally help. The mind isn't always accurate, so it's good to have reference. As always, R&R appreciated, and if you see any typos/grammar/spelling issues, lemme know ASAP so I can fix them. AUTHOR-SAN OUT! Sweet dreams, homies! - Evasive