TW: attempted assault, intense violence

December, 823

A mother's instincts are almost never wrong.

Over the past few months, she had noticed a change in the demeanour of Amelia when it came to her clients. She'd sulk around and begrudgingly get it over with like the rest of the prostitutes did, but what Kuchel picked out was that every Thursday, she would have a day off. Instead of using it to relax, she'd bring a man into her room. The dark-haired woman could hear it from across the hall as she played with Levi.

Of course, her son didn't notice a thing. He played with his wooden blocks happily and tried to recite the letters carved on each side like his mother was trying to teach him. Levi just thought that his Auntie Lia was busy with another client, but Kuchel could tell that this was different. She could feel it in her gut, along with that stale bread she'd eaten earlier after Levi forgot to finish it the day before.

Unfortunately, she never caught a glimpse of him before he left. As soon as the door to Amelia's room would open, Levi would always need Kuchel's attention. It wasn't like she minded that, but her curiosity was killing her– who was this stranger? Was he a special client that was paying her extra? Was he of interest to her in more than just the realm of money? Kuchel hoped it was only the former.

Levi's birthday was approaching once again as the coldness of December dug its heels into the dusty earth of the Underground City, drafts kicking up and seeping in the cracks of the brothel. She had a lucky encounter with a customer that left his nice woolen jacket behind after their session, and the young woman didn't skip a beat before washing it and using it when Levi was cold. It was far too large for him, yes, but he was thin and it was better than nothing.

It was hard for her to believe that the little boy was about to be four whole years old. How had four years gone by since she'd first cradled him in her arms? Now he was up to her waist in height, and could speak fairly clearly when he felt like doing so. However, it still baffled her that he was almost a metre tall. She knew boys grew taller than girls most of the time, so Kuchel assumed he'd end up being at least five or six centimetres taller than her (hopefully).

Levi had grown sleepy after Kuchel gave him his bath, which consisted of a fresh bucket of water and a sponge, since he was too big now to sit in it like when he was a little baby. He could still dunk his hair in and get it clean, making a point most times to let his jet black locks stick over his eyes and then giggle at how he couldn't see anything. Levi never fussed when it came to getting clean; he was even more adamant about baths than she was, even at his young age. Now he was sitting in her lap by the fire, wrapped in a towel with his cheek on her shoulder as she combed through his hair.

"Mama, m'tired…" He yawned, whining softly when she readjusted him in her lap so she could reach a different part of his head with the comb.

"I know baby bird, I just have to finish brushing. If I don't then you'll get knots. That or your hair will dry funny and stick up all over the place."

"I wanna do that."

"Levi, you'll look silly."

"I like silly. Lemme look silly Mama…"

"I'm already done. Sorry baby, no silly hair tomorrow." Kuchel giggled, wrapping her arms around his torso to pull him close. He didn't seem to mind that he was still only wrapped in a towel, since their seat by the fire was nice and toasty. They both cuddled there for a short while, and soon her hand came up to caress his cheek before pressing a kiss to the opposite one. "Mama loves you, my handsome little angel."

"What are angels, Mama?" He asked, tearing his blue-grey gaze from the lapping flames of the fire to peer up at her. "You call me that, but I don't know what it is."

"Oh, silly me. I guess I never explained. Angels are spirits that watch over good people. They are always kind, and try to guide you in the right direction in your life. Sometimes angels are those we loved who had passed away…"

"But how am I an angel? I'm not dead." He replied.

Kuchel chuckled softly at his matter-of-fact observation, touching his cheek again and watching him lean his face into her palm. "Well honey, you see, some people say that angels can be born into the world again and live life once more. When I had you, I felt like the heavens had given you to me as a gift. You make me happier than anyone ever has– that means you're my little angel."

Levi seemed happy with this answer, a tinge of pink flourishing under the skin of his cheeks. However, the rouge tint soon faded, and he chewed at his lip briefly. There must have been something he wanted to ask.

Kuchel couldn't have prepared for the question, though.

"Do I make you happier than Dad did?"

It felt like she'd been kicked in the chest, the wind getting knocked out of her lungs as she looked at him. It took a moment for her to regain her breath and her nerves, giving him a gentle kiss on the nose. "Like I said sweetie, you make me the happiest."

"Where is Dad? The kids I played with outside all have a mommy and a daddy."

Shit.

"Well honey…" Fuck. How was she supposed to explain this to a four-year-old? Kuchel lived by the idea that if Levi was old enough to ask the question, he was old enough to hear the answer. However, she'd never thought of a proper way to explain this to him. How do you tell a child that you don't know who their father is? It could open up an even worse discussion, which could end in her son believing he was an unwanted baby. That was the furthest thing from the truth.

Kuchel took a deep breath to start her sentence again. Honesty was the best policy, so she'd try to stick to the truth as much as she could.

"Mama doesn't know your Dad, Li-Li. I met him once and then I got you as a parting gift, and you were the best present I could have ever received!" She forced herself to give him a big and confident smile, kissing his forehead. The young boy looked like many things were running through his mind, and Kuchel wished she could read him like a book.

Eventually, he nodded, but not without tears misting his sweet and innocent eyes. "You still love me enough for you both, right Mama?"

It broke her heart to see him so sad, especially since she knew she was somewhat to blame for him not knowing his father. If she weren't a whore, then maybe he would have. He could have had a much better life if she didn't give in to the lowest option…

Kuchel shook herself out of the thought as quickly as she'd fallen into it. If she had not done this, then she never would have gotten pregnant with him in the first place. He truly was her little miracle, and it pained her to even fathom that he might think anything else. With tears in her own eyes, she kissed his forehead and whispered to him, "Of course, baby. Mama will love you forever and ever… there isn't a second that goes by that I don't think about how much I love you."

"I love you too, Mama." Levi wiped his eyes, and hugged her for a long, long time. Kuchel didn't know how long they hugged, but it was long enough for Levi to fall asleep. This made her laugh softly to herself.

"I didn't get to dress you yet, stinker…"

After getting him in his bedclothes, she tucked him into bed and made sure he had his stuffed bunny to hug. He named it Mister Bun-Bun, which Kuchel thought was the cutest thing in the world. It was the same toy she'd given him for his first birthday, and it was still in very good condition. Levi never mistreated his toys, especially Mr. Bun-Bun, Walls forbid. He never set him on the ground, put him near the fireplace, or anything of the sort– the grey stuffed bunny either sat in his lap, on the bed, or on top of a blanket when Levi decided to play on the wood floor.

Kuchel was going to get ready for bed herself when she heard the door across the hall open and close, with footsteps shuffling away and down the steps to the lobby. After pulling her hair out of its usual braid, she opened her own door, glancing each way across the hall before knocking on Amelia's door.

"Hey Chelly, you're still up?" Amy asked quietly, a smile on her face as she opened the door. The ginger took Kuchel's hand to pull her into the room to talk, both of them glancing back to make sure the other door was shut so Levi could sleep peacefully.

"Yes, Levi just got done with his bath and fell asleep." Kuchel murmured, sitting on Amelia's bed and adding, "He also asked me where his dad was."

Her words made Amy pause mid-changing, her corset half-untied and her mouth slightly agape in surprise. "O-Oh no, Chel… what did you say?"

"That I met his dad once, and that I got him as a parting gift. That he is my angel and I love him more than anything in the world."

"I see…" Amy trailed off. "The other day we went outside for a bit when you were with a client, and he asked me why lots of kids we saw had a man with them. I told him they were probably the fathers of the children, and he seemed confused."

Kuchel watched as Amy continued to undress, and the ginger seemed to notice the icy eyes boring into her skin without even looking back at the bed. "What is it?"

"Making sure you're not marked up and hurt from whoever that guy is that you're so keen on seeing every Thursday."

Amelia slipped her nightgown on, and sighed gently. "Ah, so you noticed."

"I've got a young child, I have to notice everything. Who is he? You don't work Thursdays, so either you're taking a special request, or something else is going on."

"Well, if you must know, I met him at the market."

There was a long moment of silence, and Kuchel gestured a bit impatiently. "And?"

"Right, right." The green eyes of the woman looked around the room, anywhere but at her friend sitting on the bed who was eagerly awaiting an explanation. "So, well, you see… I met this guy at the market a month or so ago… he told me I was the most beautiful woman he'd ever met, can you believe it? Anyway, he wanted to go on a date, so I went with him on a nice walk by the common area. He bought me a cup of tea at that mom-and-pop shop, and we talked for hours. He wanted to keep seeing me, but I told him about what I did and how the Boss would get upset if I went out frequently. He's been paying to 'see' me, but he's really just talking with me, showing me-"

"Don't say 'love'." Kuchel cut her off hastily, her dark brows knitted in concern.

Amelia's face puckered like she ate something sour, and she huffed, "Showing me love. What is so bad about that?"

"I don't trust anyone of the opposite sex besides my own son. I don't know how you can, considering what we do for a living. It's not like we work in a brothel or something." She muttered the last part with a bit of sarcasm, rubbing the bridge of her nose. Dismay was evident on Kuchel's face, but it was also present upon Lia's.

"You're just jealous, Chel. You already got to have a baby, you can't lecture me about pregnancy then forbid me from even looking at a man romantically. You're not my mother." She challenged, folding her arms over her chest.

"I never said I was, Amelia!" Kuchel snapped, standing and gently grabbing her friend by the shoulders to look her square in the eye. "I'm not jealous. I know I'm not your mother. I just worry about you. I care about you, understand me? Amelia if something happened to you I would be crushed. And Levi? He'd be devastated. You're his auntie. He loves you, and so do I."

Amy looked rather stunned with Kuchel's outburst, so she let go of her friend and swallowed thickly. The unsure look on the redhead's face reminded her of the look Kenny gave her when she was crying to him.

You idiot. You need to learn to fucking control yourself. What if Levi saw you get upset like that? What would he think of his mother? Amelia probably thinks you're just a callous bitch now, too. What's the point?

"J-Just… promise me you'll be careful. I'm sorry if I seem like I'm being harsh. I just don't want anything to happen to you. You're my best friend, you know." The onyx-haired woman whispered, her greyish eyes half-lidded and suddenly reflecting her exhaustion. After seeing the other woman nod in response, Kuchel let go of her, stumbling to the door and opening it to go back to her room.

"K-Kuchel?"

She paused, leaning her shoulder tiredly against the doorframe as she casted a glance back. It creaked against her weight, reminding her that this dusty old whorehouse was more ancient than she probably knew."Yes?"

"I love you too. And Levi, of course."

With an exhale of relief, she stumbled back to Amelia, taking her hand and leading her to the other room. "Then you'd better give Levi his kiss goodnight~"

"Oh I quite agree. I bet he's awake again waiting for it." She giggled, going in and heading for the bed, where Levi was sitting up just like she predicted, with Mr. Bun-Bun held to his chest and a pout on his sleepy face. "Auntie you missed goodnight kiss time…"

"I know, I know, will you ever forgive me mister?" She play-frowned, hopping onto the bed next to him and pulling him close to give his face many darling and loving kisses. "Pretty please forgive your Auntie~"

"Hehe! Auntie, I can't stay mad at you!" Levi insisted, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to embrace her.

Amy purred and rubbed his small shoulders with her careful fingers. "Does Mr. Bun-Bun forgive me, too?"

"I'll talk to him, Auntie. If he doesn't he goes in time out."

Both women laughed at this, and Kuchel sat by them in the bed. "Time out~? Oh I think that's very harsh for Mr. Bun-Bun, don't you think sweetie?"

"Well if he doesn't forgive Auntie then what else can I do, Mama?" He pouted, yawning and snuggling back into the bed. Kuchel pulled the covers up to his chin, caressing his silky black strands of hair with her fingertips and kissing his nose. "Not sure, baby, but I'm sure he forgives her too. Get some rest."

He nodded and let his eyes flutter closed once more, rolling to face the wall as he cuddled the bunny toy again. Both women sat by him, and Kuchel rubbed his back warmly to soothe him to sleep. Only when they heard his faint snores did Amy speak again.

"By the way, we only did something for the first time today. We were careful. That's all I'll say. I promise I won't do anything stupid, but you have to trust me."

She sighed, getting up and running her fingers through her black hair to get some knots out of the ends. "Of course I trust you. Thank you for telling me. If you don't mind though, I'm really tired. It's still okay if I give him to you in the morning so I can go shopping for his present, right?" Kuchel inquired, watching Amelia get up from the bed without jostling the mattress too much. Levi was a cranky kid when he got woken up.

"Mhm. I can't believe he's four already…"

"Don't remind me, he's growing up too fast. Before I know it he'll be running off and getting into trouble." She joked, giving Amy a hug by the open door.

"Nah, he's a good kid. He wouldn't want to do anything to upset you on purpose, you know."

"I know, I know." Kuchel admitted.

"Of course you do. You birthed the perfect son." Amy laughed as she walked across the hall and into her room, looking back at her. "Goodnight, Chelly. I love you."

"G'nite, Lia. I love you too." The young woman smiled at her friend before closing the door with a click. As she got ready for bed, she kept worrying about this strange man.

Is she really being careful with him? What if she gets pregnant but can't tell if it's his baby or another client's?

Then a different thought made her stop mid-brush through her hair.

Is she in love with him?

Kuchel almost scoffed at the idea. No way, after such a short period of time. That seemed like something out of a stupid romance novel and everyone knew that those were nothing but fantasies. Not even the people above ground had lives that lovely, finding soulmates and being whisked away. While it sounded fantastic, it was highly unrealistic– just like Amelia falling in love with a guy she met at the market a month ago.

However, her gut churned as she blew out the candle and got in bed with Levi, pulling him close and kissing the back of his head as he continued to face the other way. She'd made it a habit to keep him closer to the wall, since the rooms had no locks and a man could theoretically burst in at any moment. Kuchel would rather be the one that got hurt first. Hopefully that would never happen, though. She just wanted to take precautions like any sane mother would.

So many things were on her mind as Kuchel let the comfortable weight of sleep wash over her tired body, but the concerns for Amelia were still at the forefront.

Could she ever stop worrying?

...

Late March, 824

Kuchel began the day like any other, and was not thrilled to have to work, as usual. She was glad that she had a separate room to use so Levi wouldn't have to deal with the clients, but it didn't stop her from hating the work all the same. It was a necessary evil in her life so that she could pay for their needs, and it was as simple as that.

"Levi, come here baby, Mama needs to check your cut." The young woman beckoned him over to the bed, watching him get up from his seat by the fireplace and his blocks to do as she asked. Her hands cradled his forearm, turning it over to look at the healing wound he'd gotten a few days ago from a splinter in the floorboard. After the incident, she'd promptly gotten some supplies to sand it down and smooth the wood again. She had gotten a nasty infection from a splinter in her foot before, so Kuchel didn't find it to be something to fuck around with.

"How does it feel, honey? Does it hurt when I touch the spots around it?" Her blueish eyes locked onto the area as she pressed the pad of her thumb around the injury, testing the waters and occasionally glancing at his face to gauge his expression.

He watched her and chewed the inside of his cheek as she checked it, shaking his head and getting some of the black strands of his hair to fall into his eyes. "Not really, Mama." Levi tottered back and forth on his heels, rocking his weight as he grew impatient with her inspection. "Mamaaa… can you play with me?"

Kuchel got up from her seat on the bed, picking him up and holding him on her hip before giving him a playful spin. "I would love to right now baby, but I have to do some work first. I'll play as soon as I'm done. Promise."

Disappointment painted his soft features, and Kuchel sighed as she brushed his hair out of his eyes. "I'm sorry honey, I'll try to be as quick as I can." She tried to reassure him, brushing her thumb over the apple of his cheek.

He kept his eyes lowered sadly, only glancing up a smidgen to look at her through his long eyelashes. "I wish you didn't have to work, Mommy… the Titan men are mean to you."

Whenever Levi saw clients, he referred to them as 'titan men' for two reasons: the first being that the men were far larger than him, and looked quite scary to someone so small. The second reason was that Amelia had read him a book about the Titans that lived on the surface and outside of the walls– now he associated big scary men with the man-eating and nightmare-inducing Titans. However, his comment made her frown, and she sat on the bed with him in her lap. "Baby, I'm okay. I just fall and bruise sometimes, Mama is clumsy."

"No you're not, Mama. You're smart and careful and they hurt you. I don't like it. Why do they do that?" Levi whimpered, looking into her eyes with tears threatening to spill over and run down his supple cheeks. Kuchel's own eyes became misty seeing him so upset. He was upset because of her. Because of her job. It was just like she'd feared when speaking to Kenny all those years ago before Levi was even born into this world.

"I-I'm sorry Li-Li. Mama doesn't like it either, but we need money to eat. I'll be more careful, okay? Would that make you feel better?" The noirette asked him, trying to dissolve the situation before she caved and burst into tears herself. With every tear that rolled down his face, her heart fractured a bit more in her chest. The little boy cowered into her bosom, sniffling and using the shoulder of her shirt to blot the tears off his skin. Kuchel didn't mind one bit.

"I-If they hurt you I'll make them pay, Mama." He replied, shifting to bury his face in her neck. Kuchel nodded her head in response, rubbing his back and threading her slender fingers through his coal-coloured locks, admiring for a moment how they reflected the light of the candles.

"If they hurt me I'll take care of it, my sweet boy. Don't worry, Mama is strong and she'll be okay."

After a few minutes, she stood with him on her hip again, ignoring the pinch in her shoulders from carrying him. Damn, he was starting to get too big for her to hold. "How about we go see Auntie? Mama has to go talk to the boss for a few minutes before work…"

Levi nodded, his nose buried in her hair and his arms locked around her slender shoulders. Kuchel readjusted a bit to get a better hold on him before going into the hall. However, a note was scribbled on a piece of paper and hanging on the door. Tearing it off the wooden surface, Kuchel's eyes scanned the pages to read the messy handwriting.

K,

Out to meet with my friend to talk to him about something important. I'll be back tonight after I stop at the market for some fruit. I am craving apples like a madwoman… I'll pick you and Levi up a few, too!

Love you,

-A

Sighing, she tucked the paper away after stepping back into their room. Levi pulled his face back to look at her. "Why didn't you knock on the door, Mama?"

"Because Auntie isn't home right now. She needed to go run some errands, munchkin. Can you be a good boy and stay in the room with Mr. Bun-Bun while Mama goes downstairs for a few minutes?"

"Mhm~" He hummed, getting down from her arms to go play with his blocks again. Lately his mission was to stack them as high as he could without them toppling over. That was a bit hard, considering the floorboards were uneven and warped in certain spots. Despite this, he tried his damndest.

"Okay, I'll be back in a few minutes." Kuchel then went into the hall, closing the door behind her and making her way downstairs to talk with the pimp. She owed him a cut from the earnings of the night before, so down to the lobby she went with the coins in hand.

Crystal was smoking in the hall as she passed her by, and Kuchel didn't see the irate gaze on the blonde woman's features. Her dull green eyes pierced into the back of the other prostitute as she walked past to go downstairs. The blonde coughed and let smoke billow from her parted lips, stewing in her disdain for Olympia. That dumb bitch thought she was hot shit now that she had a kid. The kid wasn't even all that great; he just got in the way and was one more thing to worry about. He was just going to turn into another sleazy man with issues when he was older, so why did Olympia treat him like a saint?

Crystal mulled over her bitter thoughts about the child as she stood there. Stupid fucking kid, getting special treatment because he was currently the only child in the brothel, and a boy at that. Brenda had lost her child soon after they were born, and had taken a liking to visiting Levi when he was being babysat by Amelia. They both fawned over him, pinched his cheeks, braided his hair into many tiny plaits and taught him how to do the same. She couldn't stand the sight of the ratty little thing. She wished he were gone.

As she leaned against the wall, a man stumbled up the stairs with the stench of alcohol reeking from his clothing and his breath. After making it to the top of the steps, he belched and looked at the blonde prostitute with his eyes struggling to focus. "Looking for someone?" She asked, taking another drag and blowing the smoke out of her nose.

"'Lympya…" He grumbled back to her. "Pimp said she was startin' her day and would be ready for me."

A dangerous smile crept over her thin pink lips, and Crystal gestured to the door to Olympia's personal room. She knew damn well that her working room was one further down, but Crys decided that now was the time to teach that haughty slut a lesson about boundaries in the Underground City, especially in the brothel. "All your pleasure awaits in that room, sweetheart. Go wild~"

The prostitute's green eyes followed the man as he opened the door, and she couldn't help the low and devilish chuckle that rumbled in her throat as she stamped out the cigarette on the floor, retreating to her room before things got too messy.

Levi felt impatient as he sat and awaited the return of his mother. He was quite attached to her, of course, and hated time away from her. Without any kids around to play with, his mother was his best friend. Most would call him clingy, but his mama said he just had a big heart with lots of love to share.

When the door opened, he didn't look back right away, since his block tower was nearing completion and taking hold of his attention. "Mama, mama look I'm almost there." He directed her attention to the tower of blocks, a smile gracing his face. When he didn't get an answer, he glanced back to repeat himself.

"Mamaaa, I said look—"

His breath hitched as he looked back to the door, which was now closed behind the looming figure that was standing and leering at Levi like he was fresh meat. The little boy trembled at the sight of the big and unfamiliar man that was now alone in the room with him, and he whimpered as he tried to figure out what to do. Mama never told him what to do if a stranger was in the room.

The black-haired boy swallowed thickly, his knees knocking together as he rose to his feet. Walls, he was so small compared to this strange man. "Y-You're not supposed to be in here."

"The fuck I am." The man sneered, sauntering over to Levi and snatching him by the collar of his shirt. The frail child yelped and grabbed at the man's wrist, kicking his feet forward as he got lifted off the ground. "I paid to be here, boy. Where's yer Ma'? She owes me a good fucking, ya hear?"

"Let me go! Get off me!" He yelled, his breath heaving as the adrenaline began to build in his small body. His blue eyes were as wide as saucers as he looked at the intruder's face, with his hazel eyes and unkempt beard that had greys in many places. He sneered at the tone Levi gave him, and raised a hand to quickly smack the young one across his delicate face.

The impact made Levi's ears ring, and tears welled in his eyes as he squeezed them shut to recuperate from the blow. His insides lurched at the dank stench of his breath, booze and unbrushed teeth at their worst. What a gross guy. "M-Mommy…" He mewled, feeling his heart wrenching with fear as the man growled in his face.

"I asked where yer Ma' was, runt. Fucking answer me or yer gonna get worse than a smack."

After Levi refused to answer, he was abruptly dropped onto the floor and given a harsh kick to the belly. The searing pain in his ribs made bile rise in his throat, quite sure that his petite breakfast of bread and butter was about to end up on the floor too.

"Ready to fuckin' answer me you scraggly thing?" The guy spat down at Levi, looming over him and pressing his boot heel against his small hip. The pallid boy's breaths trembled in his throat, and he looked up with half-lidded eyes and disgust brewing within them.

"Go fuck yourself, pig."

The client was not pleased with Levi's attitude, and gave him a quick kick to the leg, since Levi was guarding his belly and ribs with his slender arms. Before the boy could react, the stranger grabbed him again by his shirt and tossed him onto the bed.

Levi didn't understand. Everything was happening so fast and before he knew it, he was pinned onto his back on the bed, the scent of his mother swirling in his senses but doing nothing to help the terror shooting through his veins. Tears filled his light-coloured eyes once again, his throat as dry as stale crackers and dust when he heard a metallic clank and the sound of fabric shuffling near his calves. His body felt like it was frozen in place, even when the room was hot with the roaring flames in the fireplace.

The man was practically drooling over himself, and tossed his belt onto the floor. The sound of the buckle hitting the ground was deafening.

"I guess you'll just have to do, kiddo. Be a good boy for me, will ya?"

Kuchel was walking back up the stairs to return to the room, none the wiser to the situation until a screech made her blood turn to ice.

"MAMA! MAMA!"

She threw the door open to find a man far bigger than her pinning her precious Levi to the bed, her eyes catching a glimpse of the belt on the ground and the man's pants sagging around his ass.

Kuchel didn't even realise she'd grabbed the knife she kept on the stovetop.

"Get your filthy hands off my fucking son."

Her tone dripped with malice and venom, a quality Levi had never heard before. Her voice did not falter with any tinge of nerves or uncertainty. She was quite sure that this man was about to meet his demise by her hand. Kuchel knew just what needed to be done.

He took a second too long to respond, and that was when something burst inside her chest. A spark ignited; the rage in her soul had only taken a split second to bubble and boil over. In the blink of an eye, her wrist snapped forward and plunged the knife into his back, ripping a scream from his liquor-soaked throat.

"Fucking BITCH!"

"I SAID TO GET AWAY FROM HIM!" She screeched, pulling the knife out and driving it into his side between his ribs. She wanted him to hurt. Kuchel wanted him to beg for his fucking life for laying his disgusting hands on her baby. No one touched her baby boy and got away with it.

Kuchel's whole body felt like it was burning with power, like she could do anything and would do anything to keep Levi safe. In a flash, she had the bastard thrown full force into the hallway, his clunky and sluggish body slamming against Amelia's door across the way. Not wanting Levi to see her actions, she flicked the door shut behind her before driving the knife into the man's chest, watching him writhe on the floor as his blood painted the wooden boards and seeped into the divots left behind from long-gone nails.

The heel of her shoe connected with his jaw, then his nose, ending right on his groin and grinding in to afflict extra damage. She'd make sure he never touched anyone like that again. A loud groan drew from his chest, and Kuchel leaned in to look him in the eyes, burning hatred still flickering in hers. Placing her hand on the hilt of the blade she'd left buried in him, Kuchel began to twist it excruciatingly slowly. "Tell me why the fuck you were in my room, touching my fucking son. Who the hell said you could go in my room uninvited? And you dared to put your revolting, repulsive hands on my beautiful, perfect child. You're going to pay for that."

With each word that she emphasised, her grip tightened and the blade was burrowed deeper into his body.

"F-Fuck! Fuck! Th-There was a prostitute in the hall who s-said I-AH! I could go in and do what I wanted! Some blonde! Please stop!"

Kuchel stared at him while the gears turned in her head, a dark aura still hanging around her. A blonde prostitute. The scent of tobacco was still heavy in the air of the corridor, and her mind replayed the last fifteen or so minutes before she'd found her baby about to be assaulted by this sick freak.

Crystal was in the hall. Kuchel had passed her by while she smoked a cigarette.

Ideas were buzzing in her brain of how to handle that wretch, and she let go of the knife's hilt. "Never come here again, or I'll kill you. That is, if you don't die tonight from your wounds." She hissed, turning on her heel and leaving the man to rot in the hall.

Kuchel quickly cleaned the blood off her hands before hurrying over to Levi, who was lying on his back with his eyes squeezed shut and his chest heaving as he tried to regain control over his breathing. She could tell he was panicking, his gulps of air erratic but slowing down gradually. "Levi, baby, oh my baby, Mama's here." The young woman whimpered, carefully helping him sit up. The sight of the supple skin on his cheek split from a smack tore her to shreds, but not as much as the terrified look pooled in his big blue eyes when he opened them to look at her.

"M-Mommy, I tried to get him to stop, I did. I d-didn't know what to do. I'm sorry Mommy, I'm sorry…"

"Baby boy don't apologise, it wasn't your fault. Mama's sorry she wasn't here to protect you." Kuchel sniffled, hugging him and cradling the back of his head for a moment. "I'm so sorry baby. No one's gonna hurt you again."

Wetness dampened the shoulder of her dress as Levi's tears dripped off his chin. "It wasn't your fault Mama… he was a bad man. I'm okay."

Desperately trying not to cry more, his mother wiped her eyes and pulled away to look at his cut again. She then asked in a solemn tone, "Did he hurt you anywhere else baby?"

"He kicked me." Levi replied, lowering his eyes as if he were ashamed. That was heartbreaking on its own– her baby thinking that he was the one who did something wrong.

"Don't feel bad honey, it wasn't your fault." She reminded him, gingerly touching the unwounded cheek to help ground him in reality. Experiences like this could bring you out of your own body, make you feel like you were helpless. Kuchel knew it all too well. "Can Mama take off your shirt and look?"

After receiving his signal of approval, Kuchel peeled the dark brown shirt off him and inspected his body, testing where it hurt by giving his torso gentle prods in various places. After making sure none of his bones were broken, she went to work on patching up his cheek. Unfortunately, the woman had to rush downstairs to grab some clean rags and alcohol. Now the thought of leaving him alone made her stomach churn even more than it had before, the sight of seeing him aggressively held down against the mattress making her skin crawl.

I wish I could have had Amelia watch him– then he wouldn't have been hurt. Where the fuck is she?

It didn't take long for the black-haired woman to patch him up, holding his chin delicately to keep him still while she dabbed an alcohol-soaked cotton ball over the raw wound that marred his innocent face. He didn't deserve this. It pained her that he was taking it all so well, not even making a sound when the liquor stung the injured flesh. The only way Kuchel could tell that Levi was pained from the sensation was when his eyes fluttered quickly, and his jaw tightened like he was biting his tongue. "I'm sorry, sweetpea, I have to disinfect it. I don't want it getting dirty and making you sick, okay? You're doing such a good job being strong, my angel." She finished as quickly as she could, putting a bandage patch over his cheek before kissing his face. "There we go. How do you feel baby, what do you need? Mama will get you whatever you want…"

"C-Can you just cuddle me please, mommy?" His blue eyes scanned her face, guilt swirling within them. "I know you gotta work, I don't want to be alone…"

"Of course, baby. Mama's not working after that. I'm right here." Kuchel pledged to him, adjusting them in the bed so that they could lie together under the blankets and relish in each other's comforting presence. Levi was closer to the wall, and had his little leg hooked over Kuchel's hip while his untouched cheek was pressed firmly to her chest. Her graceful fingers curled into his jet-black locks, letting the strands slip over her boney knuckles and the backs of her pale hands.

"Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum…" Levi hummed in a whisper, causing Kuchel to shift and kiss the crown of his head.

"What's that, baby?" Her nose was tickled by the shadowy strands, and she couldn't help but remark how nice his natural scent was– every whiff of it made her heart swell with pure love.

"It's the sound of your heart, Mama. Ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum~"

Even after such a traumatising experience, her little angel still found the inspiration to make adorable comments and say them with a tone to match. She pressed many kisses to the top of his head, rubbing his back and tracing her nails across his shoulders to scratch them for him like he always liked. Levi always swore he couldn't reach to itch his shoulders so she had to do it for him. Not that she minded, of course.

"I love you, angel. You know that? You are my greatest gift. I would do anything to protect you and keep you safe from harm. No one hurts you and gets away with it. That bad man got a taste of Mama's fists."

"Don't you mean your knife?" Levi corrected her.

He earned a modest chortle from his mother, and she kissed his nose. "Yes, yes, he got a really good taste of that."

Levi ended up dozing off after a while, leaving Kuchel to think about all that had happened. The event played in her mind over and over, and then she remembered the words of her brother once again, words that couldn't seem to leave her be.

"But I know that if anyone tried to hurt yer kid, you'd finally awaken those Ackerman genes of yours and rip 'em to shreds for it."

It finally clicked. That was the sheer power she'd felt rip through her like a tidal wave, the blinding rage and the unbridled potency and brawn that burned at the tips of every nerve in her body. It was her Ackerman instincts, wasn't it? That situation, seeing the person she loved the most in this cruel world in imminent danger– that was what had unlocked it for her.

Another thought popped into Kuchel's head that made her smile for a brief moment.

If Kenny had used his Ackerman instincts for the first time when protecting her all those years ago, then maybe he didn't hate her like he seemed to. She knew deep in her heart that he didn't actually hate her, but sometimes big brothers had a way of making you feel like you were small and not worth their time.

Kuchel soon got out of bed, glancing back at Levi to make sure he hadn't woken up yet. Mama had unfinished business to attend to.

The noirette silently closed the door behind her, making sure to step over the blood-stained floor in front of her door. The man must have made it out without dying in the spot where she had left him. One less thing for her to worry about later, right?

For now she was focused on making her way to a familiar prostitute's room, and when she arrived in front of the door, she rapped her knuckles against the surface impatiently. When Crystal opened the door, she leaned against the frame and sneered a bit at Kuchel. "What do you want, Olympia? I'm trying to get some rest here."

Kuchel's lips turned up into a sickeningly sweet smile. "Oh, I just wanted to see my good friend is all. Mind if I come in for a moment?"

The blonde scoffed and nodded, turning her back to the younger prostitute and walking back into the room. Kuchel closed the door behind her after entering the dark space, the cheerful façade dropping as soon as Crystal had turned away from her. Now there was only a look of unadulterated abhorrence and disgust present in her blue-grey orbs that burned a glare into the back of the older woman's head.

"So what did you need-"

Crystal was cut off when Kuchel snatched the back of the woman's head by her hair, tossing her face-first into the stovetop to their right and snarling. "You are a heartless, raging cunt."

The young woman lifted Crys's head to glance at her face, seeing marks already forming on the bridge of the woman's bleeding nose. Green eyes connected pleadingly with blue ones, but that didn't stop Kuchel from ramming the bitch's face into the stove again, harder this time. "You told a grimy, digusting client who was drunk off his ass to go into my room with my son, when I wasn't in the room and you fucking knew it, you conniving little mongrel."

The violent actions were not from her Ackerman instincts this time– instead, they came from an instinct rooted deeply in her heart to avenge the sweet boy that was sleeping peacefully in their room. Kuchel couldn't let this go unpunished. She wouldn't.

With her fist still full of golden hair, she jostled Crystal back and propelled her to the floor with a sickening thud that was followed by a pathetic cry for help. The call for aid made her blood curdle. "Shut the fuck up, you whiny little clod! You don't get to beg for help when you forced my four-year-old child to scream for his mother when a grown-ass man was about to use him." Saying those words out loud made her shudder, a chill running down her spine. Kuchel thrusted her heel into Crystal's gut, then swung her foot to strike her in the spot right where her kidney was. Every sob from the older prostitute from the pain fuelled Kuchel to hurt her more.

Hurt her like her baby had been hurt. Hurt her worse than that– make her regret being alive.

When the raven-haired woman was done with Crystal, she was still conscious, but barely so. Kuchel watched the blonde woman's chest heave laboriously with every breath, and she squatted down to put her face near the other woman's.

"You listen to me, and you listen well, because I will not tell you again. I went easy on you just now; I went easy on you after doing such an unspeakable thing to my child. We're not even going to mention a few months ago when you tricked him into walking in on Brenda getting tied up and fucked by a client for his sick kicks. It's not fucking easy explaining that to a four-year-old!" Kuchel grabbed the woman's jaw roughly, earning a feeble whimper from her– a sound of dread mixed with pain.

The angry mother continued, her knuckles turning white from gripping Crystal's face so harshly. "Unfortunately, you're never going to look quite the same, so I guess the clients will have to put a bag over your fugly face so they don't have to get off to your hideously broken nose and busted up skin. It's not like it matters, because everyone in this brothel can tell you're on your last legs, being as sickly as you are. Must've caught a disease, poor thing." Kuchel feigned a sincere pout, pulling her hand away and listening as Crystal sighed in relief from being released from her iron-grip. Kuchel began resting her elbow on her bent knee, placing her cheek upon her closed fist while she peered down at the pathetically beaten prostitute. "I will relish in the day that someone tells me you finally bit the fucking dust. You are a sad, bitter, unredeemable, cruel woman. I feel sorry for you, really, because you're going straight to hell."

With those parting words, Kuchel exited the room and shut the door behind her. All of what she had said about the disease was true– even Amelia had noticed that Crystal had gotten a yellow tinge to her skin and had dropped weight rapidly. The spiteful and vindictive woman would meet her maker before long, and they all knew it.

Before going back into the room, Kuchel lightly knocked on Amelia's door to see if she was back yet. She hoped she would be, because Kuchel desperately needed someone to talk to about what had happened that day. She needed her best friend to give her some sort of comfort, make her smile with her quirky jokes, anything.

Silence.

Kuchel chewed the inside of her cheek, sighing and backing away to return to Levi's side. Where could she be, so late in the day? She remembered that the note said something about going out to meet her friend and then stopping by the market to grab some fruit that she had been craving, but that didn't take hours, did it?

Curling back up with her son, she laid awake for quite some time. It was hard to rest after such an eventful day, with her friend being missing to top it all off. Wherever Amelia was, Kuchel just prayed she was safe and sound. That was all she could ask for.

Bonjour mes petits, c'est moi. I hope this chapter was okay! It was very fun to write Kuchel turning on a dime and snapping at people who tried to hurt her baby boy. Her little raven-haired angel, heh. Also, I hope that the transition between perspectives went okay. I was nervous about it because this story had only been from Kuchel's perspective thus far, but I realised I had never stated it was explicitly 3rd person limited perspective. It will be rare that we get perspectives from those other than Kuchel and Levi (or maybe Kenny later), but Levi has been too young for the focus to be on him thus far. Now that he's getting a bit older it'll be easier to put some of the weight on his tiny shoulders.

Also, I've seen a lot of memes about how the Ackermans have a thing for grabbing hair, and Kuchel is channeling that meme here with Crystal lol. Levi has to learn it from somewhere, right?

I think I might start an ongoing mini-thread at the end of chapters and say what song or songs I had playing while writing a specific chapter. This chapter's Song Award goes to Enemy by Tommee Profitt, Beacon Light, and Sam Tinnesz. This song reminds me more of Levi vs Zeke in the later arcs, and if you listen to it you'll see what I mean. In this chapter it spoke to me more as a Kuchel vs Anyone who hurts Levi.