"Don't worry. Mama's going to take care of you. She always does this for my brothers." Claire tried to assure Levi as she poked at her mother's things.

She had been sat in the small kitchen beside Levi. Basically pushing him to sit down on the bench when they arrived.

Claire had grabbed the bag her mother always carried around back in Mitras and carefully unrolled her kit on the table before them.

Agnes was currently buzzing around trying to find the bottles of disinfectants. They all were still adjusting to their new home and she has trouble recalling where she had put things.

Alec was knelt on the floor as he wiped the dirt from Claire's face and examined her legs and arms as well. He smiled as he pat his sister's head, "Careful with the needles, Claire."

"Who said I was worried?" Levi murmured flatly with a bored expression as his eyes wandered around the Fords' humble abode.

He glared at Claire as he heard her laughter, watching her while she rolled her eyes at him and shrugged her shoulders.

Bran watched the interaction unfold from the sink as he leaned on the counter, filling a basin with water.

"Leave it to Claire to get lost and come home with a friend in tow." Bran mused lowly to Alec as the latter approached to wash the cloth he was using.

Just then Levi's eyes landed on the siblings and Bran flinched slightly nudging Alec's side as he scrambled to stand straight, clearing his throat as he went.

"By the Walls…"

"Claire is apparently braver than you. You seriously call yourself a cadet yet you can't even hold your ground against a kid?"

"Shut up."

Alec found his brother's actuations unusual and he was never going to let Bran live this down.

On the way back home, Marius instructed them to spread out so as not to attract attention. Being the older ones, the brothers split up to accompany Claire and Levi.

Alec immediately took his sister's hand with conviction, much to Bran's misfortune.

So he was left to Levi. He had initially thought it wasn't a big deal because he was the outgoing twin; fairly likable thanks to his easygoing nature and jovial personality.

Bran always knew his way around people.

Besides how difficult could accompanying a kid be? He's basically an expert on it because he has a little sister.

So he had approached Levi with his hand raised cheerfully for a wave but was rejected before he could even say a word.

The younger boy had given him a look that made him step back, awkwardly dropping his hand before walking towards his siblings seemingly like a dog with his tail between his legs.

As if Levi needed a guide to get to Claire's house or anywhere in the Underground really.

Thankfully, Alec and Claire were too busy chastising and being chastised respectively to notice their brother's embarrassing shut down.

Alec had purposely taken Claire to scold her.

The pair were a fair distance behind their parents and so Marius and Agnes were certain Claire was being given an earful but couldn't exactly make out the hushed words.

"Where have you been? You can't just disappear like that! Are you hurt anywhere? What happened? I thought we talked about this, Claire?" He fired nonstop in a quiet whisper.

"I'm sorry, onii-san. I just saw something and went for it."

"That's not a reason and you know it."

"I know. I'm sorry. I don't have any excuses."

"What were you even doing with that kid? You should know better. It's not safe to get involved with people in this place."

"But he's just a kid. Like me."

"Does he know who you are? Who we really are?"

"No…"

"Does he know you're a girl?"

His question was met by silence.

"Claire." He stated firmly.

"I'm sorry! But… he's my friend… my first and only friend down here, onii-san." Claire replied sadly, her shoulders slumping.

Alec sighed deeply and wound his right arm around his sister. He knew for a fact his sister struggled, always looking out the window, yearning for some normal interaction a child her age should have.

But he didn't know she felt so strongly. Of course he knew she treasured them. It must really be hard to be forced to hide. But she's a girl and it's a must.

She knows that too.

"I know it's hard and having a friend is a good thing but you know we have to be careful, right? This place… it's different. Kids aren't just kids."

"I know. I'm sorry."

He ruffled his sister's hair with a gentle smile before speaking once more, "You're on sink duty tonight."

"But Alec-"

"No buts young lady!" He might feel for her but he was still the eldest child and he had the responsibility to discipline her when need be.

Marius and Agnes decided against another round of lecture for Claire when they got home. Alec's got that covered, no doubt about it.

Sometimes it's like Alec could possibly be stricter than they are.

The boys were a different case however. They were older and they should have been smarter.

"Did you even see the look he gave me on the way here? He just did the same one now. I swear chills went down my spine."

"Well that's a surprise. I didn't know you had one?" Alec teased.

"Oi! Why you-" Bran was so taken aback.

Usually he was the playful one with the jokes and all. He couldn't believe uptight Alec was giving him grief over a kid.

"Bran! What did I say about swearing inside my house?" Their mother bellowed as she came into the kitchen standing behind the bench Claire and Levi shared.

"But-", he tried to argue only to be rendered silent by the look their mother was giving him.

She curled her finger to beckon him with her other hand at her waist and he sighed as he pushed himself off the counter to bring the basin to the table.

Today definitely was not his day.

The older shook his head at the younger brother.

"Well to be fair, the kid does look tough. Bet he can easily hand your ass to you." Alec whispered in Bran's ear as he caught up.

Bran stealthily elbowed his older brother and earned a did you just dare look but he couldn't care less. "Shut up." He hissed

"Sure, Bran." Alec then turned to Claire, "Come on. You should clean up before we eat." Offering his hand as he bent down to meet her eye level.

"You should, Claire. You stink." Bran teased.

"Hey!" Claire exclaimed hands flying to her face which was only a few shades shy of a ripe tomato. "I do not!"

Alec laughed lightheartedly while Bran practically rolled over as Claire tilted her head and raised her arms to smell her armpits.

Bran was about to say more but he felt eyes on him. He gulped as he met Levi's and his mouth shut automatically.

Agnes then reached to pull her daughter's arms down, deciding to step in to save her from further embarrassment, "Claire that's not very ladylike is it? Would you like to accompany Levi while I treat him?"

Nodding enthusiastically, Claire propped her right elbow on the table and angled her body to the left to directly face Levi, pulling her legs up on the bench and tucking them under her.

Turning to the brothers Agnes said, "Leave your sister alone." Nodding her head on the opposite side of the table to direct them to sit across the kids.

Alec sat across Claire just to see what his brother would do. A moment of hesitation later, Bran apprehensively sat across Levi and Alec suppressed a chuckle.

"Now, what do we have here. Mind if I take a look, son?" Agnes asked cautiously as she stood on Levi's left. "I'm Agnes by the way."

He was silent and had an unreadable expression. Agnes knew the boy was observing them. It made her nervous. He is from the Underground after all.

But to her, he is still just a child and Claire's friend.

Son.

It was a long time since Levi heard it last and it made him feel weird. Nonetheless he found himself placing his left arm on the table for inspection.

He watched as the woman carefully unraveled the makeshift bandage Claire had made and smiled. "You did well, Claire, sweetheart."

Levi was once more flooded of memories of his mother during his earlier years. It comforted him. As he grew, images of her began to fade but for some reason he was having no trouble remembering now.

It was as if the way Claire's mother talked or her manner triggered something in him. He noticed the woman liked using terms of endearment.

Levi decided it didn't bother him.

"Tell me if it hurts, alright? I'm just going to turn it so I can get a better look." She bent to get a better look at his arm.

Her voice was gentle. Almost soothing.

It was hard to be rude to her like he normally is to everyone. Never really the type to surrender to authority, superiors, and older people.

Levi just nodded his head and listened to the siblings talk.

"Looks like you got over your fear of blood." Bran said proudly nodding his head at the soiled handkerchief.

"W-what? When was I ever?" Claire stuttered her eyes refusing to meet anyone's at the table.

"A girl is bound to be unafraid of blood if her brothers keep coming home sporting new injuries everytime." Agnes spoke in Claire's rescue as she began cleaning the wound again.

"Uh-huh," gathering the courage, Bran tried to connect with Levi again, "You know Levi, Claire seldom cries. But she sure does at the sight of blood. I once came home with a huge gash on my knee when she was younger and she wailed," he said unrelenting, calling out his sister's bluff.

Levi would have either glared or stared back with disinterest just like he did with basically everyone but raised his eyebrows at that, sneaking a quick side glance at Claire who was looking so mortified.

"Don't listen to him, Levi. I seem to recall you were the one wailing after you fell from the tree, Bran." Alec interjected.

"O-of course! I sprained my ankle."

"No you didn't and I'm pretty sure you were crying about the knee. You didn't stop until we were close. In fact you kept whining about it I had to carry you on my back to get us home."

Alec raised his hand for a high five with Claire as he took her side to gang up on Bran. Laughter filled the table - except for Levi and Bran of course - as the latter grumbled in annoyance.

"You'd have to excuse my children, Levi. They love to bicker. What about you? Do you have any siblings?" Agnes asked as she wrung out the cloth she was currently using to clean his wound again.

"I don't." His answer was short immediately putting a halt to the conversation.

Deep down he felt guilty once more. He could see Claire's mother was just being kind. But it's not like strangers have always treated him so well.

Levi simply didn't know how to react. Thankfully Agnes could see that.

"I see." She smiled gently, patting his hand gently. "This is pretty deep, dear. You are very lucky it didn't scrape the bone."

"You really should be careful. What have you both been up to?" Alec asked eyeing the two children, older brother instincts kicking in as he grew suspicious of Levi.

"Well, u-uhm… I… w-we…" Claire stuttered that even Levi wanted to cringe at her struggle.

"I found her handing out bread to a couple of kids and saw thugs approaching." Levi tried and a gasp came from Agnes as she shot a look at Claire.

"T-that's right! He dragged me away from there before I-I could get myself in deeper trouble. We were chased and I kept tripping. He got caught on a… a… a sharp beam!"

It was obvious they didn't buy it but they can always interrogate her more thoroughly later.

Although it wasn't why he got wounded, what Levi said did happen.

As they emerged from the sewers and back into the streets of the Underground, Levi had been bewildered as Claire bent down to a sleeping homeless slumped to a wall.

What she did next surprised him even more.

Producing a piece of bread and four apples from the pocket of her clothes. How she fit those there, Levi didn't know.

She was about to lay it with his belongings when she turned her head and saw another one in the distance.

So she divided the bread. Left half of it and two apples to the one in front of her before she bound to the other to do the same.

Levi held back as he watched. Food was a luxury down here and she was just giving it away.

He couldn't decide if she was too kind or simply stupid.

Just then he saw someone, maybe the same age as him, approach her with a dangerous glint in his eyes. He unconsciously took a step towards Claire.

"Oi! What have you got there, boy?" Pushing Claire by the shoulder just as she was rising sending her wobbling a few steps.

"W-what-" she spoke panic clearly written in her features as she scrambled to reach within her pockets.

"I-I don't have any left. B-but here," holding out her hands with a few silver coins.

"Well well," the boy said before shouting, "Oi!"

"Shit." Levi cursed under his breath as a few older thugs rounded from a corner.

He quickly planted himself in front of Claire and a few of them hesitated as they recognized him. Those that didn't well… they're about to, now.

"Move you little fuck." The first boy tried to shove Levi but he was no match for him.

Quickly twisting the arm that had touched him, Levi flipped the boy unto the ground before kicking him in the gut then to his jaw when he tried to get up, knocking him out.

Another one tried to approach and Levi brandished a knife. Hands a blur as he swiftly slashed at arms and whatever part he could catch, blood splashing.

"It's that fucking kid, Levi! Let's go." A thug he recognized as one he had also beaten up a couple weeks ago spoke, calling his gang back.

He turned to Claire as soon as they dispersed, running at that. She stared wide-eyed and frozen. A few drops of blood tainting her face.

His feet carried him closer and he noticed she was shaking.

He didn't even realize what he was doing until he did. Why did he save her? Still no answer to that.

"I… I had to." Levi blurted out, suddenly feeling self-conscious. As though he needed to explain himself. It was as if he was begging to be heard and believed.

Luckily, Claire did. She snapped back at his tone but her eyes were still wild. Trembling hands reached for his arm which was bleeding yet again.

"T-thank you…"

Quickly tearing yet another portion of her clothing, she folded it until it was thick enough to absorb the blood as she miserably failed to apply pressure.

"Are you stupid? Why did you do that?" He questioned.

Levi found himself reaching out to steady her hands, unsure why he did that too, he stopped. At the same time a gasp was heard and he realized he was still holding the knife.

Turning, he wiped the blade on the clothes of the unconscious boy on the ground.

"I'm sorry… I didn't mean for that to happen."

He grabbed the piece of cloth from her and began walking again. "Get moving and quit doing shit that'll get us in trouble."

Claire followed after a beat, wiping the blood that wasn't hers off her face.

"Bran, honey, can you dump this out for me?" Agnes ordered referring to the contaminated basin. Cleansing the dried blood off hadn't take too long.

"Alec, dear, can you get me another basin? This might sting or burn, Levi. But it's only so we can prevent any infection in the long run."

She gently held up his arm by the wrist and elbow as Alec slid a new basin underneath. Uncapping a bottle of alcohol, she met Levi's eyes in silent heads up.

She gradually poured the solution on his wound so as to control the amount. Too much could render more damage to tissue and impede healing.

Hisses filled the small kitchen but none were from Levi.

It didn't bother him as much as it did the siblings who were cringing. To be honest, he appreciated it. Never had he been treated so gently.

Even though Claire had outbursts back in the sewers, he noted her touch was featherlight and her open face was serious in concentration.

Just like her mother's right now. He could easily see who Claire takes after.

When Kenny was still around, he'd either unceremoniously pour booze on Levi's wounds or simply ignore it; telling him to man up or rub some dirt on it.

Levi couldn't decide which was better.

The siblings on the other hand were babies when they come face to face with the offending solution. They weren't particularly fond of the stingy burning sensation.

And they had a lot of memories with it.

"Okay! That's over now." Agnes said more likely addressing her children who visibly looked more than relieved at her words.

"But I'm afraid the worst isn't over yet, dear." This time looking at him, she put down the bottle and held up a vial and a syringe.

"This is just a local anesthetic so you won't feel it while I stitch you up. Is that alright with you?

Levi thought about it. He's never really had his wounds properly closed before. But he could only imagine attaining the wound was worse than being stuck by a small needle.

"I don't need it."

Claire was at his face, secretly startling him more because of how pale she looked than her sudden action. "Are you sure? Will you be okay?"

He only nodded. He heard Claire swallow loudly and saw her brothers elbow each other in the corner of his eyes, finding her reaction hilarious.

She surprised him when she grabbed his free one with both of hers, squeezing tightly. She twisted her body away from him with her eyes shut all while holding his hand still.

"Claire?" Her mother asked.

"Levi might get scared." She squeaked.

Her brothers erupted in laughter and even her mother held back a smile. "It seems you need the comfort more than he does, sweetie. Why don't you go up and bathe now, hm?"

"No! I'll stay with Levi."

"Okay. That's very brave of you." Bending slightly to whisper in his ear, "You'd have to humor her, Levi. She's not very fond of needles."

Her brothers stood up halfway through the process, finding better things to do than be amused in their sister's stubbornness and terrible display of toughness.

Levi felt his body tremble. Specifically his right. But it wasn't him. Claire was practically vibrating as she held his hand in hers.

He almost laughed and found it adorable. Which made him cringe internally.

"Adorable? What's wrong with me?"

Soon enough, he could hear Alec order Bran around to fetch him pots and a ladle as he quickly chopped some vegetables.

Agnes finished suturing and bandaging Levi up by the time Alec had started to boil some kind of soup. "Done. Did it hurt?"

Levi only shook his head and moved to stand.

"Feels better, right?" Claire asked still holding his hand. "But where are you going?"

"Home." As if the pitiful excuse for a lodge he lived in could ever be considered a home. But it was all he had.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down. "Why don't you stay for lunch, hm? Bran, can you take you sister up?"

This time, Claire obediently followed her brother as she bid a temporary farewell to Levi by squeezing his hand twice.

Agnes methodically cleared the table and came back with another basin with fresh water, clean cloth, and a bar of soap. She soaked the cloth before wiping Levi's face.

He sat there, tense with shock. Not exactly expecting to be cared for this way. He was a stranger and he didn't understand why they were being so warm.

"I would offer you our bathroom but you'd have to refrain from getting your arm wet. This should do for now."

She pat his head as she finished cleaning him, walking away for a few minutes before returning to offer him fresh clothes.

Levi took it hesitantly but it was quite understandable why he was being wary.

"You can change in the room to the left of the kitchen, dear."

Agnes was waiting as Levi exited the room, her hands quickly prying the neatly folded dirty clothes in his hands, giving him no chance to protest.

"You can have this back tomorrow when you come back. I'd like to keep an eye on that arm of yours. Now come, sweetie, the food is almost ready."

She offered her hand and this time Levi willingly took it.

As he sat alone at the table, he watched mother and son interact while cooking. Alec towered over Agnes slightly, she had to go on tip toes to lightly smack his head after a joke Levi didn't quite hear.

He noted that smiles come easy to the family and they are generally soft-spoken save for the noisy bickering between the siblings.

A few minutes later, he heard Claire's voice as she giggled while bounding down the stairs with Bran. "Nooo stop!"

They came into view and he watched Bran playfully ruffling her hair with a towel. Levi could smell a hint of some floral scent that took him back to his childhood.

Claire run to Agnes hugging her by the waist before kissing the top of her head before turning to sit beside him again.

For a second Levi froze, remembering how his mother used to do that as he ran to her everytime her customer left the room.

Alec's voice pulled him to the present, "Hey, I'm making your favorite and you won't even help me?"

Claire simply stuck her tongue out and Bran laughed.

"My brothers' clothes look better on you than they do on me." She quipped as she gestured to another set of boys' clothes on her.

"Because I'm a boy."

"I didn't say otherwise."

"Why don't you both help Alec and Bran set the table while I call your father, hm?"

Claire grabbed Levi's hand again to pull him towards the sink, handing him cups while she took charge of the utensils.

He listened quite patiently as she chattered about their usual sitting arrangements when they returned to the sink, this time for bowls and a pitcher.

Bran usually sits at the place Levi occupies with Alec across him and their father at the head of the table between them.

Claire alternates between the seats beside her brothers depending on her mood; their mother occupies the other end across their father.

"We should probably sit across each other so we can keep the usual. Would like to sit beside Alec or Bran?"

Levi couldn't be any less bothered by it but he's aware that Bran is slightly jumpy around him. He feigned consideration regarding the arrangements, sadistically enjoying as Bran fidgeted.

Bran let out a nervous laugh, "That won't be necessary, Claire. He can have my spot."

Alec stifled a laugh as he watched his brother try to usher the kids back to their places, taking the bowls from Levi and the pitcher from Claire.

"I hope you like squash soup, Levi. It's a staple for us on Saturdays." Alec said as he laid a huge bowl in the center of the table.

He still wasn't sure how he felt about Levi, a stranger from the Underground but he couldn't get his sister's words out of his mind.

"You'll love it. Onii-san does it best."

"Probably better than Mama but don't tell her we think that." Bran quipped as he quickly planted himself across Claire this time.

"Tell who what?" Their mother asked as she returned.

"Nothing!" The siblings answered in unison.

"Hmm. Well your father is not feeling quite well. The stunt you all pulled had him a little too worried. I'll just bring him food later. Go on, kids."

"I'm sorry Mama." Claire spoke softly.

"It's alright, sweetie. I'm sure your father would feel better later. Now eat up."

There were three pieces of bread beside the soup and Agnes handed one each to Claire and Bran. They both divided it and passed the half to their benchmates.

Agnes took half a piece herself, the other half presumably for Marius.

Alec stood up and started disseminating the soup, filling Levi's bowl first then Claire's and their mother's. Bran poured water for all of them.

For the first time in Levi's life, he sat in his silent corner of the table and peacefully listened to happy banter and tales being exchanged over hot home-cooked food he shared with other people.

After they finished, he watched as Alec ordered Claire on the sink. She obliged but not without a sulky pout.

Agnes pulled him aside, handing him a bag. "Levi, I know you probably figured out we are new here. So to say, I am thankful for what you did for Claire. For helping her get back to us safely."

He only stood a little below her chest and she bent down to look him directly in the eyes.

"I do have a favor to ask. We may not know each other that well yet but you're Claire's friend now. As a mother, I'd like her to be safe but she can't stay inside forever. I would appreciate it if you could keep the fact that she's a girl just between you and our family. Specially outside this home. Is that alright?"

Levi nodded understanding the unspoken reason behind the request.

She straightened up and smiled kindly at him. "Well, you better be going then, son. Your parents must be worried for you."

"I… don't have… any," he said lowly, eyes to the floor.

"Oh." Agnes faltered. "I'm sorry, Levi." Hands immediately grasping his shoulders as she inhaled to recover, "Would you like me to ask the boys to accompany you home?"

"I'm fine." Levi said before slipping from her hold and walking out on his own with not so much as a nod of goodbye to Claire.

As he walked in the streets leading him deeper into the Underground, Levi felt a spark of something within him.

He felt at ease.

Thinking of Claire's home, he found that he felt comforted.

Although Levi didn't really plan on going back tomorrow. He could handle his arm on his own as he swiped a few bandages from their supplies.

He always had to tend for himself and he's good at that.

But for the first time in a very long while, he got a taste of family once more.

And it was nice.

Deep down, although he would never admit it, Levi craved it.

And maybe, just maybe, he could get used to it.

Needless to say, the Fords could expect him at their doorstep tomorrow.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

So hey guys.

I would like to apologize for my absence and inactivity or lack of responses (to those who were messaging me) lately.

I am going through such a tough time. I lost my dog, Justine, of almost 14 years last June 13 and I just feel so lost.

In my 22 years of life, I have spent the majority of every single day with him and to say that I am devastated is such an understatement.

The week leading to his death was beyond agonizing but the week following it is just… brutal.

I have been writing on and off because I just feel so dysfunctional.

I feel like I have to explain my writing process. So here it goes, see my process is kind of weird. I jump from writing one chapter to another. Cutting scenes and inserting it into another that I think it suits better.

This story already has its climax and ending. In fact I have even written parts of the sequels. But I am taking my sweet time building up Claire and Levi's story so please be patient with me.

As I said, I FEEL SO DYSFUNCTIONAL. Sorry about that. Just felt like making it bold. I'm sorry I just. I don't know.

I have been trying all means to cope. But then every little thing is a reminder.

It takes so much of me just to get up in the morning and accept the silence I awake to because Justine is no longer there to bark or to even be able to walk the same path we usually take.

While I know other people might be having things way worse that I do, the loss I'm feeling is just overwhelming me.

Oftentimes I feel like slipping.

Because he's not just a dog. He was family.

Please bear with me.

I promise to be better.

I'm trying.