When I awoke, I found myself to be in a bed, covered in blankets, the warm sunlight beating down on my face making me squint and rub my eyes. What had happened? Where was I? Those were the questions repeating in my mind.
My stomach hurt. Pushing the blankets down and lifting up my shirt, I gasped at the blue, purple and yellow patterned skin wondering what on Earth I did to get that. The door creaked open and I looked up to see Sora walk in with a tray of bread, porridge and a steaming cup of coffee.
"Oh, you're awake." she said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. I frowned at her, what was she doing here? I'd sent her and Red to a farm near Trost with the horses. She caught my confused expression and sighed as she set the tray on the table beside the bed.
"You don't remember, do you?" she asked quietly.
"What's going on?" I asked her.
"Eat." she told me, "Then we'll talk." She left before I had a chance to force her to tell me everything now. My stomach grumbled and, whether I wanted to or not, I figured I should probably listen to her and eat something. After practically inhaling the food, I climbed out of the bed, grabbed the coffee and headed into...wherever it was I was currently staying. The bedroom led straight into a modest living area. There was a wicker couch with floral cushions and two rocking chairs sitting on a cowhide. In the middle of the seating was an old wooden table no higher than my knee and about as long as my leg. Ezra and Sora were both sitting on the couch, talking quietly, both dressed in civilian clothes. Something delicious smelling was baking in the fireplace.
Ezra stood as soon as he saw me, his expression shifting from serious to relief, "Oh thank God."
"What's going on?" I repeated, "Where is everyone?"
"Klaus and Red are on lookout." Sora informed me. Okay, great...What about everyone else?
"Boss, you should sit down." Ezra told me gently, "You've been out cold for two days." I practically fell down at his words, having to grip the back of the rocking chair just to stay on my feet.
"I what?" I asked, my eyes wide.
"She doesn't remember what happened." Sora told him quietly. Ezra sighed deeply and gave me a sympathetic look. I took his advice and sat down, the old chair creaked under my weight and rocked backwards slightly.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Ezra asked me. I closed my eyes and tried to think. Fragments of my memory came drifting back - being pissed at Levi, Erwin's orders...
"I remember heading to the place where the Reeves Company and the Brigade were supposed to meet." I told them both, "After that...nothing."
Ezra nodded understandingly, "Well, I guess the first thing I should tell you is that the plan failed. Something happened we couldn't have planned for, and to be honest, it was probably something we should of. The Brigade knew what we were doing. I don't know how, Team B is looking into it from their side. Everything was going right, Eren and Historia were in place, Edward Reeves was playing his role. His son was a little skittish but other than that, things were good. But the Brigade turned up early. There was this guy, I couldn't see much of his face from my position or hear anything but he took Reeves into the forest. After that, his men started killing everyone and took Eren and Historia."
I blinked, slowly digesting the information. Images flashed before my eyes. Images of a tall, lanky man in a long dark coat and wide-brimmed hat. I stood up violently, my mug falling from my hands and shattering all over the wooden floor.
"That fucking asshole!" I cried, "If he's not already dead, I'm gonna kill him myself!"
Ezra frowned as Sora looked concerned about my outburst, "Who?"
"Levi." I growled viciously. Oh, I remembered what he'd done. First ordering me to run away with my tail between my legs and then knocking me out so I couldn't fight him. Obviously, he'd gotten Klaus and Ezra to transport me back here. Ugh!
I let out a long, infuriated breath and sat back down, remembering I had been out for two days and had no idea what had happened during that time, "Never mind about that now." I said more to myself than anyone else, "Fill me in on what's happened since then."
"Well..." Sora said, glancing at Ezra, "It's not good..."
"The guy and his people-"
"Kenny Ackerman." I stated, interrupted Ezra, "The Captain of the Anti-human Suppression Squad is Kenny Ackerman."
Ezra's eyes went as wide as saucers, "Kenny the Ripper, Kenny Ackerman?"
"Yes." I replied, "He's also related to Levi's past. He taught him."
"Oh...shit..." Sora gasped, grasping how serious this had become. I shook my head, "Anyway, go on."
"Well, the MP's found the bodies, laid them out in the street for the public to see, and called Erwin out. The believe it was us, and honestly, if I didn't know the truth, their accusations have some serious merit. They ordered the Corps to cease all activity and undergo a full investigation of its members." Ezra said.
I crossed my legs and frowned, "What about Flegel Reeves? He was there when Kenny murdered his father, what happened to him?"
"Major Hange got to him before the MP's could." Sora told me, "He's scared but I'm pretty sure he's still on our side."
"Knowing the Major, Hange will have some kind of plan in place that could rival Erwin's strategic brilliance." I said quietly, "And Levi?"
Ezra and Sora were silent, each glancing at each other, unsure on what to say. Finally, Ezra spoke, "We, uh...We haven't heard of his whereabouts..."
"Good." I said, "They're keeping a low profile."
"Actually..." Sora said making me look up again, "He and the remaining members of his squad have been posted as wanted criminals for the murder of Edward Reeves and co. But the only sketch they have is of Levi himself. We're sure they're still in Stohess though."
I tapped my finger on the arm of the rocking chair, thinking of a plan. I had a feeling that Levi would be blamed for this disaster, his reputation would make sure of it. But what would he do next? That's what I wanted to know. If I knew him half as well as I thought I did, I could figure out his plan.
Gathering information about Eren and Historia would probably be his first move, that would be why they were still in Stohess. If the public only had a picture of him, it would mean the others would be able to walk around and find things out easier. Surely, he would plan to get Eren and Historia back and it would probably be a hell fight.
I stood, "Prepare the horses and get your gear." I told Ezra and Sora.
"Boss?" Ezra asked me curiously. I put a hand on my hip and sighed, "We're going to Stohess. That idiot will need back up if he plans on taking on the MP's."
-Meanwhile, Stohess-
Levi sat on the roof top with Nifa, observing the group down below they believed were harboring Eren and Historia. From the surveillance they'd done over the past few hours, they'd discovered that Historia and Eren were most likely being held in a funeral home. At the moment, Levi and Nifa would doing recon to make sure their hypothesis was correct.
Levi had been quiet most of the day and no one had really questioned the reason for his sullen mood; he guessed they just figured he was naturally like that. As the sun beamed down on them, the silence finally got to Nifa.
"Captain, do you mind if I ask you a personal question?" she asked curiously from her position next to him, lying on the roof. He didn't turn his gaze from the people down below,
"Depends what it is." he replied.
"Well... I've noticed the Captain's mood isn't what it usually is, so I was wondering what was wrong..." she said, "And why you sent Lieutenant Valentin away? Surely, we'd need the extra man power, and she and her squad certainly have that ability."
Levi sighed, "The honest answer? I sent her away because if she were here, I'd be worried about her. If possible, I would like to keep her as far away from danger as possible."
"But she faces titans with us and you don't order her to stay behind the wall." Nifa said softly.
"That's different." Levi told her, "Ares can hold her own against titans, sure she can be a reckless idiot sometimes, but the only thing I have to worry about is her making a mistake and getting eaten. Even then, I'm fairly certain she's too stubborn to die. But here? If she made a mistake here, charge in without thinking like she does sometimes, they wouldn't just kill her. They'd capture her, torture her for all the information she has, break her down to a shell of herself and then kill her in the most brutal way imaginable to send a message to the rest of us."
Nifa was silent as she digested his words. He'd probably said too much but right now, he just didn't care.
"You care about her a lot, don't you?" Nifa asked him in a small voice. He scoffed, "For some stupid reason that's way beyond my own comprehension, yeah, I love that fucking idiot."
Levi caught Nifa's tiny smile out of the corner of his eye, "What's that for?"
"I'm just happy for you, sir." she said and then her face became serious, "There's movement."
Down below, a black carriage stopped in front of the funeral home. Several men climbed out and started pulling out two coffins.
"As long as this isn't a group of necrophiliacs, they must be the MP's First Brigade." Levi said, leaning against the chimney behind him, "Eren and Historia must be in the coffins."
"We almost lost track of them before..." Nifa agreed as she looked through the scope, "It's a good thing you were a step ahead in finding this place, Captain."
Levi wasn't entirely convinced, "But it's somewhat strange..." he said, "This seems very different from what the Brigade usually does. They knew immediately that Reeves would conspire with us. This enemy's train of thought is very similar to mine...You could even say it's identical. Could it be him?" Levi hadn't been there when Reeves had been killed, but Ares had and she'd said something that could have alluded to where his thought process was taking him. He shook his head, if only he hadn't been so preoccupied with getting her out of there as fast as possible...He should have listened to what she had to say.
"Him?" Nifa asked. Levi hadn't realized he'd begun voicing his thoughts aloud.
"Do you know of Kenny the Ripper?" he asked her, seeing as though he'd already been talking about it.
Nifa turned to look at him, her eyes wide, "The serial killer from within the capital? I heard that at least 100 members of the MP's had their throats slit trying to capture him...But that was only a legend passed around for a few decades." she said.
"There is such a person." Levi said stoically, "I lived with him when I was younger."
"Captain, you're really something." Nifa said dismissively, "Joking around at a time like this..." Levi ignored her comment, he was too immersed in his own thoughts, remembering the lessons Kenny had taught him...
Levi turned but it was too late. Kenny was already on the rooftop behind them.
"Nifa!" he called, shit! He should have anticipated this! Levi ducked as the bullet came whizzing towards his head. The brick chimney behind him exploded, burning part of the hood of his cloak with it. Not wanting to take his eyes of the enemy in front of him, he saw Nifa fall out of the corner of his eye. Jumping over the other side of the roof top and taking brief shelter behind the chimney, Levi watched as the other two members of his squad were killed, both shot in the head, just like Nifa had been.
"Yo, Levi." Kenny said as something metallic clanked onto the roof, "You grew up."
Levi gritted his teeth and did the only thing he could possibly do in that situation. He prepared to fight.
Kenny flipped over the roof using gear similar to the Corps' 3DMG, but Levi was prepared. He drew his blades.
"Oh? This part of you hasn't changed much!" Kenny said, guns drawn and pointed at Levi as he turned upside down.
"Kenny!" Levi roared in absolute fury and shot a blade free towards Kenny still falling. Hit him, fuck you! He commanded it silently. Kenny fired his guns before Levi had a chance to see if his gamble had paid off. Pulling his cloak free in a matter 0.2 of a second, he dodged using his cloak as a distraction. This movement caused him to face Nifa's body and he saw the full extent of the damage done to her. Half her face was gone.
Knowing he literally had no other option available to him now, Levi clenched his jaw and ran, flying from roof top to roof top. At that time, the carriage carrying Eren and Historia in the coffins also started to move. Levi followed with Kenny hot on his heels.
Of all people...Why is he with the Military Police? Levi thought to himself as he changed direction to follow the carriage. Suddenly, right in his path appeared three members of the MP's carrying guns and gear like Kenny's. They shot before he could think. Levi was thankful his body was a well-trained fighting machine as he kicked off a nearby wall and managed to, yet again, avoid the barrage of bullets raining down on him. That bastard had set an ambush for him, knowing he would follow the damn carriage.
Levi fell towards the ground, and the bullets followed, grazing the sides of his face. It burned just like how he remembered; the only difference was, the pain didn't last nearly as long as a bullet in the shoulder.
With his face, side and legs bleeding, Levi turned towards his final hope of escaping with his life. A tavern. He shot an anchor into the front of the building and crashed through the swinging doors, landing on the bar top like a cat.
Blood had blinded his left eye, so he wiped it away as fast as he could.
"It's...It's Levi! From the Survey Corps!" one of the few patrons gasped in fear and shock. Levi didn't have time for their shit, Kenny would find him soon. He needed a plan. He jumped down behind the bar and hid behind it just as Kenny burst in.
"Found you!" he cried with an insane enthusiasm to rival Hange's, "The great military policeman has come to kill the evil villain! Bang! Bang!"
If Levi hadn't been in his current position, he would have thought Kenny's line was ridiculous and called him out on it. However...
"What?" Kenny said, obviously looking around and not seeing Levi, "He's not here?"
"I'm here, Kenny." Levi said, keeping his voice level, Kenny did not need to know his emotions right now, "It's been a long time."
"Oh...How nostalgic." Kenny said sarcastically, "Show me your face."
"Stop fucking with me." Levi warned him coldly, "You've been spraying bullets at my face this whole time, haven't you?"
"Eh, well." Levi had him there, "I came to look at the color of your brains today."
Levi played another tactic, "I didn't think you were still alive, Kenny. You, who massacred the Military Police, are now a military policeman yourself. Ha... This is really the first time I've laughed at one of your jokes." It worked. Kenny became serious.
"Brats can't understand adult matters." Kenny said, his voice mirroring Levi's in its coldness, "Oh, my bad. You're a runt, but you've gained some years, huh. I've been enjoying your activities, but to think the strategies I taught you would be put to use like this...But... I wouldn't have hid out in a bar like this."
While Kenny was busy talking, Levi motioned for the barkeeper to stay quiet while he loaded the rifle he'd swiped from underneath the bar.
"Didn't I teach you the term rat in a bag? You know that however you try to escape from here, you'll just be shot down from above, right? Eh, Levi?!" Suddenly a chair shattered apart on the back wall holding all the liquor bottles. Broken glass, wood and alcohol rained down in front of Levi, but Kenny kept on talking.
"Why did you become a Survey Corpsman? I think I have some idea..." Kenny said, "All we did was live amidst garbage, it took everything just to survive! And the day we learned just how big the world was, it hurt deeply." Levi heard Kenny's boot steps on the wooden floor grow closer. Leaning forward, he turned a wine bottle around to catch Kenny's reflection.
"Our shitty lives and our shitty selves had no meaning at all." Kenny continued as he walked forward, "However, there was salvation. We found things we wanted to do. Simple, right? It's simple, but what really gives life meaning are hobbies."
"Hobbies, huh?" Levi asked, "Blowing away the heads of my subordinates, is that your hobby as well?" In the glass of the wine bottle, Levi saw Kenny aiming his gun right above where Levi was crouched.
"Ah...I'll kill as many as it takes, all for the sake of the bigger goal. Innocent people, your subordinates, that pretty piece of ass of yours..." Kenny said. Levi's eyes narrowed at the mention of Ares, "You're killing for your own sake too, aren't you?"
"Yeah..." Levi muttered right before tossing the barrel of the rifle over the top of the bar and firing without hesitation. The force of it made Kenny fly back out of the doors - or where there used to be doors - and into the street. Levi jumped back up onto the bar top and tossed the gun back to its owner,
"You saved me, old man." he told the bar keep who was sweaty and crying. Levi grabbed the chair Kenny had been dragging over and threw it out a side window as a distraction. The chair took the bullets first and then he was following it, taking the MPs by surprise. He shot an anchor through one's neck and another to the building on the opposite side, where he landed and clung to the guttering.
"Duran got killed?!" one of the remaining two MP's cried out.
"He's coming! Don't shoot yet!" the second one yelled, "Wait until he's in range!"
Levi retracted the wire attached to the dead man and grabbed him securely by the throat, before flipping up onto the roof and running at the two MPs. They shot and he used the body he was carrying as a meat shield. When they stopped, and he was close enough, he tossed the body with all his strength at the two men. They were so concerned with the body, they didn't have time to pay attention to him until he was whizzing past them and they were dead.
He landed against the side of another building and looked to his right, "More than 10 people huh..." he said to no one, "Shit..."
I could hear the gun fire from the other side of the wall. It was too perfect not to be Levi and the others, which meant they had been found out and were now in deep shit.
"Forget the subtle approach!" I told my team, "Over the wall! Now!" As a unit, the five of us ascended into the air and over the wall. From my height, I could see people fighting with 3DMG some distance away and made for them.
"Orders?" Red asked me as we headed to the fight.
"Kill everyone who isn't one of us!" I snapped, "I don't care what you have to do, take those fuckers down!"
"Best news I've heard all day!" Red laughed. Up ahead I saw Levi burst through some houses, MP's on his ass, twisting in the air, he shot an anchor through one of the guy's and almost cut him clean in half. Still in the air, he flicked his blade to the left, obviously signalling the other who were in the street. We changed course in order to flank those still in pursuit. I saw Levi drop down and not come back up. I landed on a roof and ran over to the other side, down below was the kids on horse back and a cart where Levi was in the back. He was giving orders and hadn't seen us yet, which was fine by me.
"Boss, ahead." Ezra said getting my attention. I looked forward again just as several more MP's dove over a bell tower towards Levi and the kids.
Levi and Mikasa were in the air a fraction of a second later and the fight began anew. Something shiny caught my eye from the one of the buildings on the other side of the street to where we were. I looked, "Men, engage the enemy!" I ordered them as I pushed off the roof and headed straight for the rifleman aiming for Levi.
He was young, this was probably his first ever battle as his hands were just that bit too far over the point of the roof top. I flipped and landed in front of him. He stared down, wondering why the gun and his hands were now sliding away from him and hurtling towards the ground. He looked up at me and screamed. Planting my foot squarely in his face, I kicked him off of the roof and turned around. His screams grew distant and more high pitched, ending with a solid splat. I didn't look.
"Delilah!" Levi growled as he landed briefly beside me. God, he looked terrible. Blood stained half of his face and hair, and well...everywhere. I didn't know if he was pissed or relieved. I opened my mouth to start telling him why he was stupid for sending me away when his next words caught me totally off guard.
"Marry me?" he asked.
"Wha-" Before I could get the full word out, Levi was gone, already engaged in another fight with a military policeman. I stood there, totally dazed until Klaus cried out my name. I shook my head and dove off the building, following the kids down below. I flipped over the head of an MP trying to get close to the cart down below, and took her head with me.
"We're closed in!" Mikasa called out. I glanced back behind me and saw an MP member fly straight towards Armin and the cart.
"Levi!" I cried out, knowing I was too far away to stop it but Mikasa had already moved. She slammed the heel of her boot into the woman's head and sent her crashing into the cart. Jean aimed his rifle at her and warned her not to move.
Something hard crashed into my side and I slammed hard into a house. Something popped and I was sure it wasn't a brick. My shoulder screamed but I ignored it and swung my body around. The Military Policeman tried to rejoin the fight but I grabbed onto him and dropped, sending us both crashing to the ground in a tangle of legs and arms.
"Delilah!" I heard Levi's voice ring out over the commotion. Rolling onto the MP, I pinned his arms down with my knees and looked up, "Just go! I'll be fine!"
"It's too soon for you to say that." the MP growled and forced his body into the air, causing me to flip over him onto my back. I rolled again and got to my feet. His gun and my blades had been tossed away in the fall. Hand to hand combat had never been my strong suit, and now that my shoulder was injured, he definitely had the advantage. The MP's only took the best of the best, so it was safe to say this guy had been in the top ten of his trainee class. I blinked the sweat and blood out of my eyes and readied myself for his attack. We circled each other slowly, each looking for an opening. Finally, he charged at me. I ducked under his arm and planted my foot between his, bracing his back with both my hands and pushed him over. Spinning on my heel, I kicked him in the side of the head as he fell. He hit the ground and rolled out of my reach. He stood shakily, blood dripping from the graze on his face.
"You're good, I'll give you that." he said as he spat.
"Thank you." I replied. He ran at me again, punching me in my wounded shoulder. I gritted my teeth against the pain and brought my knee up to his stomach. Hooking my other leg around his, I dropped, my weight causing him to fall forward. I managed to get my leg around his neck, holding onto the arm he'd punched me with and squeezed. He squirmed and wriggled in my hold and then finally went still. I waited a few more seconds just for good measure and then I was back on my feet and chasing after the others.
Somehow, we managed to make it through the rest of our followers and out of Stohess. I dropped into the cart where Jean was and caught sight of the dead body.
"What happened?" I asked him. He just stared and then looked to the back of Armin's head in silence. He was in shock, so I turned and directed my question to Armin, but his face was pale and he looked like he was going to be sick.
"Jean, take over." Levi ordered as he landed in the back of the cart as well. Jean moved robotically and took the reins from Armin.
"While you were on the ground," Levi said, "That woman managed to knock Jean's gun away. Armin killed her before she had a chance to kill Jean."
"Oh..." I said and knelt beside the body, "It's slowing us down."
"Agreed." Levi said following my lead. Together we lifted the corpse up and out of the cart. I winced and sat down, gripping my shoulder.
"You're hurt." Levi said but I shook my head,
"I'm fine. It's nothing."
"Don't give me that bullshit." he argued. I met his gaze and raised an eyebrow, "You can talk."
He touched the side of his face, "This? It's just a scratch. I'll get patched up later, as for you..." He leaned forward and gripped my shoulder, squeezing it. I hissed out my pain but didn't pull away from him.
"It's dislocated." he told me, "I'm going to have to pop it back into place when we stop. It's going to hurt."
"I don't doubt that." I told him, "We're also going to have a discussion too."
Levi turned away from me and didn't say anything. He should have realized by now that I never listened to him, I was never just going to sit and wait for this mess to blow over. It wasn't in my nature. He should have expected this. Besides, I wanted to know why he'd sent me away in the first place when it was obvious we all needed to stick together now.
The new hide out was an old, run down barn in the middle of dense forest. It was nightfall by the time we reached it. Levi ordered Mikasa, Klaus and Sora on look out while Connie and Red saw to the horses and the rest of us got patched up.
"Captain," Sasha said, "We really need to see to your injuries." Levi raised a hand to the girl, "I can wait for the moment. Hand me that cloth."
Sasha did as she was told and handed him a cloth in the medical bag, "Ezra, I'm going to need you. You too, Sasha."
"Levi...What?" I asked as he walked towards me.
"Sit and put this in your mouth, you're gonna need it." he told me, "Ezra, stand behind her and hold her down, be careful with her left shoulder though, don't put too much weight on it. Sasha, do the same with her legs."
"My legs?" I asked, "Why?"
"In case you rock backwards." he stated, "Alright, this is going to hurt more than anything you've felt before. You can punch me afterwards if you feel like it. Cloth in mouth, now." I did as I was told while Levi gently lifted my left arm. Ezra held me down securely while Sasha grabbed my legs. I closed my eyes and focused on keeping my breathing steady.
"Do you want me to count down?" Levi asked me, I nodded. I wanted to know when the pain was coming.
He stretched my arm out, my shoulder screamed in protest, "Try and stay as relaxed as possible." Levi told me, his hand gliding down my arm to my shoulder, "Alright, I'm going to pull as gently as I can and push your shoulder back into place. Ezra, Sasha, keep holding her down."
"Yes, sir." Sasha said and put more of her weight onto my legs.
"Breathe, Ares." Levi told me, "Ready...3...2..."
I screamed into the cloth, biting down on it as hard as I could. Tears rolled down my face and I tensed by body without thinking. Levi pulled and pushed at the same time until there was another pop and I felt my shoulder move back into place. Carefully, he folded my arm so it lay flush against my body.
"Hand me those bandages." he said to Sasha. She did as she was told. Levi pulled out a knife from somewhere and cut away my sleeve, "Jeez..." I turned to look at what was making him pull that face. My shoulder was blue, purple and yellow. Slowly, Levi bandaged my arm all the way up to my shoulder, leaving enough space so I could still bend my arm, and then made a sling out of the second bandage.
"You're not going to be able to fight for at least a week." he told me, "Hopefully, we won't be needing to..."
I stood up from the chair, "Your turn." He rolled his eyes but unbuttoned his shirt. For the amount of action he had been in, he wasn't too badly injured. He had a few cuts on his face, arms and side but only a few would need stitching up.
Mikasa entered for watch change while Levi was still being tended to, "Look out. It's your turn." she said to Jean who was sitting against some crates.
"Yeah...How's Armin?" he asked her.
"He's still outside." she replied, lowering her gaze. It had been the first time Armin had every killed anything. No doubt it was making him sick, considering it wasn't even a titan he'd killed but a human.
"Ezra, you're cooking." I told him, handing him a small pot with my good hand. Ezra moaned but went about setting up a fire and everything else. Sasha was packing away the medical supplies when I walked back over.
"I suppose you want to have that little talk now, huh?" Levi said, grabbing a clean shirt. It was the simple, long-sleeved white one with the v-neck I loved.
"You betcha." I replied and headed outside, Levi following. I walked around to the other side of the barn, nodded to Klaus who was watching that direction and leaned against the wall.
"What the hell were you thinking?" I asked Levi, trying to keep my voice low and level, "Why did you send me away?"
He turned his back to me and stared out at the darkness, "I didn't want you involved."
"I'm already involved. Being part of the Corps has made me involved." I retorted, earning a sigh from him.
"I know that." he said, "Look, you were right. I didn't think everything through before we started this plan, I really didn't think that Kenny would be involved with the Brigade."
"I did tell you..."
"I know," he interrupted, "Honestly, I was too preoccupied trying to get you to safety that I didn't listen to you. I should have, and I'm sorry. I knew what was going to happen once Eren and Historia were taken from us and I wanted you as far away from it as possible. If you'd have been captured...Kenny would make what we did for your training look like child's play."
I shuddered at the memory of being tortured by Hange and Levi, even if it was for my own good - per say - it was still a horrible time for me.
"So you sent me away to protect me, is that it?" I asked him.
"Yeah...It was stupid of me, really. You never listen to me so I should have expected you to stay consistent." he faced me again, "You did end up saving my life after all, so I guess it was a good thing you're so stubborn."
I poked my tongue out at him and pushed off the wall, "I learned from the best." I said taking his hand with my good one, "Oh yeah, I didn't get a chance to say this earlier, but yes."
"Yes?" he asked, a frown appearing on his forehead. I rolled my eyes and kissed his cheek, "Yes, you idiot."
So this chapter is a little shorter since the last one was longer than I had anticipated.
Levi's little surprise may have caught Ares off guard, but he's not totally forgiven yet. She'll get him back for it soon.
Also, I'm aware that my description of popping a dislocated shoulder back into place isn't the safest or the best option to take, but remember, Levi grew up in the underground city, he's not medically trained, he only knows how to deal with injuries the way Kenny taught him and learning for himself.