Hello! Another Friday another update! Just as a heads up guys, I will be going on a 3 week holiday from the 5th of November. So next week's update shouldn't be affected, buuut the following three might be delayed or skipped. Depends how to the holiday time is going. But I'll be back on it properly once we're in December for sure. Just so you know!

Turns out, getting inside the Underground City is fairly easy, especially when you're a couple of Scouts, one of whom is a famous Captain. The MPs queried our intent, but clearly they weren't being paid enough to pay too much attention. They waved us through, content to continue smoking their cigars.

We were only one set of steps down, but already a chill had set into my bones. It made sense; no sunlight, no warmth. But for it to be so immediate was a surprise. I hugged my civilian coat tighter. Levi had grown up in this place, so maybe this trip wouldn't only provide insight into Vincent's work, but also Levi's life.

His hand brushed mine. "It'll be warmer once we're in the city, the fires and torches heat doesn't escape much so it's always quite warm."

I nodded. "Makes sense. Do you think anyone will remember you?"

"Probably." He smirked. "The people of the Underground have long memories. I'm kind of counting on that."

"So… They owe you favours?"

He dipped his head at the second lot of MPs as we passed, then spoke in a hushed whisper. "You could say that."

"I didn't realise you were such an influential gent down here."

He raised a brow. "I've been known to have my moments up top as well you know."

I rolled my eyes, but didn't argue. We were going at a steady pace, but thankfully he was being careful about staying by the bannisters and hand-holds as we continued down the many stairs. His ankle was doing well, but it could easily be set back. My own bruising was almost entirely gone. A couple more days and I would be able to use my gear. To say that I was impatient for that would be a major understatement. It felt odd to not have my gear at my side, that familiar weight at my hips had been so cumbersome initially, a real pain during my training days, but now it was a comfort. It grounded me. Without it, I felt naked.

"Seems strange to be walking around here without gear." Levi murmured as we finally reached the bottom, entering the streets themselves. I blinked at him, wondering if he could actually read my mind. Though he took my confusion for something else. He shrugged. "I wasn't meant to have it down here, but it came in handy. Hardly the open plains to zoom around on, but the gear was useful for getaways."

Mother, I had become involved with such a ruffian.

I grinned. "This is such an interesting side to you, sir."

We had agreed that we would keep things fairly formal in the Underground city. It didn't seem wise to make it clear to anyone here, Kenny especially, that me and Levi were intimate. Someone might use it to their advantage. And so, 'sir', it was. He still found it odd, clearly, the way his brow furrowed for that mere moment. But he adapted soon enough.

For the first hour or so we wandered the streets. He pointed a few places out; places he had drank in, where they got their food from, some places where he had taken down gang leaders, that sort of thing. And gradually word spread of Levi's arrival. The wandering had confused me initially, but the way whispers spread away from us like ripples, quickly made everything clear. He was using the network. Would it bring Kenny to our door? Or someone at least willing to point us in the right direction?

Before long we ended up in quieter streets, further from the centre of the hustle and bustle of the town. I stayed close. I stayed alert. But mainly I just stayed quiet. Eyes were on us from all over the place; shadowed corners, ajar doorways, slightly open shutters and cracked windows. Either these people were starved for gossip, or Levi reappearing meant a lot. Then again, from what little he had told me about his life down here, he had helped his community. In whatever way he could, he and his two companions had lived for themselves as well as others. And in the Underground, the latter was rather odd. Apparently.

"And here we are."

I stopped when Levi did. We stood before a small house tucked away in the corner of a street, it had good sightlines, and from the look of it, was quite well placed by the cavern wall. Good for gaining height on gear. There was even a space round the back where there seemed to be a well.

"And where are we?"

"What used to be my home. I sent word ahead, though can't be sure it made any difference. I did leave it to some friends…" He approached the door and knocked, finding it unlocked as it swung open. In any other situation I would have been nervous, even worried by the open door, but the way Levi's eyes lit up at what he saw inside, immediately calmed my nerves. "Come on."

I followed him up the small stoop and stepped inside. It was a simple space, a quaint home with a small seating area beside a kitchen. No dust was to be found, but also no sign of current inhabitants. Whoever he had gifted it to had left it rather empty it seemed. Then again, maybe they wanted to remain unseen while Levi was around. Perhaps worried about the connection to Kenny? They would have their reasons.

It had been a long time since I was in a domestic setting. Other than base, I hadn't really known a home or been in a home since my childhood one. I had looked in from the street, huddled in people's basements or stables, but never really inside. Petra had suggested I come visit her family with her at the next opportunity – I think she felt bad knowing more about my past, like she wanted to try and make up for it by showing me a happy home life. It was a sweet idea. Perhaps I should still visit her parents anyway. Or would that only hurt them?

"It's not much, but it–"

"I think it's wonderful." I smiled, squeezing his hand and letting him go explore what used to be his life, while I perched at the table.

Sitting in that small room, watching Levi go from corner to corner, murmuring things, and fussing over where the broom had been hidden, a wave of something swelled within my chest. It was like nostalgia, but somehow more bitter. Like a promise of something that could never be. And I suppose really I didn't want it to be. The underground wasn't something to romanticise – hell it seemed like something Levi considered not worth thinking of at all. But there I was, wondering what it might be like if we had a place of our own, to find somewhere for the broom, to store the food away, to place our muddied boots. Wondering, but not wishing. I was happy with my life, of living on base and spending my days actively striving towards a better tomorrow for myself, as well as others. Domestic lives had their purpose, of course. But it didn't feel like something I would want, even after years of service.

"You all right?" He came over and put his hand on my shoulder, eyes searching mine. I suppose I had been sat there looking pensive, silently thinking myself in circles.

"I'm good. Just thoughtful."

"Anything I can help with?"

I smiled and leaned my head against his hand for a moment. "All good."

"Alright. Would you like a tour? It's not exactly a big place but…"

I stood. "Show me your home, Levi."

He explained that the current residents had likely made themselves so scarce as an opportunity to get rid of junk, perhaps sell the things they were no longer using, but also that it might be connected to Kenny. The place was probably clean before, but as the whispers of Levi's snooping reached the homestead they will have taken it to a new level. It seemed Kenny was an intimidating figure for many people. The bottom floor was a living space, with the kitchen area, table for eating and a small space for sitting and being with the family on the other side. Up the creaky stairs were three bedrooms. He only touched the door of two of them, explaining that neither Farlan or Isabel had been keen on him entering their room without permission. He blushed. But it made sense to me, so I just nodded to the third door and asked to see the room that had been his.

Obviously there were no personal affects. It was just four walls, a double bed and a built-in wardrobe in the corner. A single window looked out over the town, the dim orange glow from torches and such fluttering in the ever present breeze no doubt caused by the stairwells and what he had called "sun wells". This was where he began. My Captain. I looked around the simple space, finding it rather easy to imagine him traipsing in here after a long day, laying out his clothes on a small chair that would have likely been at the end of the bed. He'd maintain his gear too – though probably downstairs in the kitchen area, or out back rather than in this space.

"This might be a stupid question." I said, turning to him, finding him watching me already. He raised a brow in question. "Were you happy here?"

He blinked. "In a way, yes. Happiness is relative though, so compared with the version I know is possible now… Not much beyond the moments I spent with Isabel and Farlan. Here it's mainly about survival."

"Makes sense. Still, you made a home." I smiled softly and a strange look entered his eyes, almost like sadness or regret. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. It seemed a good idea not to linger on it. "So, do you think we need to go out to find Kenny?"

"He'll come here. At least, that's my best guess." Levi came over and placed his hands on my hips. "Things could get ugly fast, I want you prepared for that. Not only is he dangerous in a combat situation, but he's damn vicious normally too."

"I wasn't exactly expecting a kindly old man." I chuckled, but Levi's stony expression sombered my tone. "Sorry, I know you're serious. I'll keep it in mind."

"Please do." He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and then backed away. "With any luck, he doesn't know about our involvement. But I rarely count on luck these days."

"Sure way to be disappointed." I smirked and he nodded, leading the way back down to the kitchen area. "How long do you think it'll be before he–"

A knock sounded at the door.

Not a normal knock though, an already impatient one, like someone had been stood outside for ages waiting. But they can't have been. We would have heard them, surely?

Levi paused on the stairs and looked back over his shoulder to me. "Didn't take long at all. Probably best you sit at the far end of the table, and talk as little as possible. We want information from him, not to give it to him."

"Yes, sir." I took up my place.

Show time.

Another knock, louder this time.

Levi subtly checked his small knife in its holster and his knuckles cracked as he clenched his fists. He was nervous. The figure silhouetted against the draped window by the door, tipped back their hat and gave a third knock. I stayed back, like I was told. Levi clasped the doorhandle and drew a deep breath, before opening it and stepping into the threshold, face impassive and uninterested. Had it been from Kenny that he learned these masks?

The two men stared at each other for a long moment, before Kenny blew a plume of smoke at Levi and then chucked the spent cigar onto the street. "So, you're back."

"Just visiting." Levi stepped aside and gestured Kenny in. "Looking for some answers on–"

"And ya brought a girl home too, eh?" Kenny laughed loudly, stepping in, dipping his hat and producing a fresh cigar as he approached me.

Tall, lean, probably in his sixties or so if the lines against his eyes were any indication, and every part of him looked unforgiving. It would be a safe assumption that anywhere a weapon could be concealed, there would be. Ready to pounce. To attack.

He grinned. "Well ain't you a pretty little thing?"

I pursed my lips against the want to bare my teeth – hopefully he didn't ask me to smile.

Kenny snorted. "Oh I see, far too serious a lady to be takin' my compliments, eh? Fair enough, fair enough. So he been tellin' you all about his hard-done-by-childhood, honey?"

I raised a brow.

Kenny chuckled. "Short and a bit sassy, seems perfect for you, Midget!" Kenny guffawed and drew on his cigar, the orange glow catching on the deep lines of his face. Eyes like bullets. I wasn't sure he had blinked yet. As he let the smoke billow back out, he eyed me closely. As if I was the threat somehow.

Whatever he was searching for, it wouldn't be good, but I didn't look away for a second. Sure, he intimidated the crap out of me. Anyone that unnerved my Captain was immediately on the 'dangerous as hell' list. But beyond that, I couldn't let Kenny know he unnerved me; that let him win. It let him feel superior, and the last thing this shithead was, was superior. If Vincent had taught me anything in his vile time, it was how to stare down a snake.

Kenny tilted his head. "Sanshi, right?"

I blinked, how had he known that?

He smirked. "Thought you were dead, sweetheart. Very interesting that you ain't."

I stopped leaning back, the hairs on the back of my neck twinging as his familiarity with me became clear. Other than that vague recollection of an argument with my father though, I didn't know this man. At least, I didn't think I did.

"Y'don't remember me, huh? Your Daddy sure knew me."

"Evidently." I glared. "Seems like we have an answer anyway, Captain. This guy was involved with Vincent's work. Didn't even need to ask."

"Well shit, ain't she a catty one." Kenny snorted, looking back to Levi before swaggering over to a chair and sitting himself down, one foot on the tabletop. "Yeah I knew the old bastard, knew his fucked up tendencies as well. How did you survive?"

"How's that your business?" I snarled and he grinned.

Levi stepped closer. "What were your dealings with Vincent, Kenny?"

"Why?" Kenny scoffed. "Why the heck should I be tellin' you a damn thing you ungrateful little shit? You swan in here after all this time and make demands of me? Not fuckin' likely to work now, is it?"

"Ungrateful?" Levi's nose wrinkled. "You abandoned me. I'm down here to get answers, nothing else. So provide them, or I'll dig elsewhere."

"Where do you suppose ya could dig that I ain't holding the shovel over?"

Levi rolled his eyes. "Somehow I think I'd find the means."

"Lost em' didn't ya?"

Silence. Levi frowned, folding his arms as if impatient, but I had to wonder if it was also a kind of attempt at a defence. The air grew thick. What was Kenny about to drag up from the past, presumably only in an attempt to cause Levi pain? I hated this. Mainly because I couldn't do a damn thing to stop it.

Kenny sneered. "Your little pals from down here. The cocky little blonde boy with too much to say, and the scrawny ginger with her big ol' heart."

Immediately I saw the two Scouts patches in the frame.

My heart clenched.

Kenny snorted. "Lost them both up there while playin' Hero. Foolish little, Midget."

Had I not started to be able to read my Captain lately, I'd have likely missed it, but as it was I could see the fire in his eyes, the pain. A red hot knife had been driven into his heart, and it was being twisted. Slowly. Kenny really was a bastard. No doubt Levi wanted to take the small knife from its holster and drive it straight through that shit-eating grin plastered across the old man's face. But he didn't. He stayed very still. The silence dragged on. I wondered if I was the only one holding my breath.

Then Levi smirked and looked to the side. "So you've been keeping tabs on me, how sentimental."

"Nah, just it gets around when some two-bit punk from the Underground is dragged up to the Scouts, bringing along his pets, only to let them die on their first fuckin' outing. I hang out with the right people to hear this kinda thing, that's all."

The smirk persisted. "Retained the info though didn't you, I'm touched, truly."

Kenny gritted his teeth, the cigar twitched. "Fine, fine, be an awkward little shit like always. But look, ya ain't getting any answers outta me, not when it comes to Vincent fuckin' Sanshi's tangled mess of vipers. Sure, I knew, Sanshi. Even tussled with him a couple times when it came to harsh words, but that was a long time ago."

"But what did you know him for?" I pressed, hoping to cut through the nostalgia fuelled pissing contest. Bullet-eyes landed on me again and dug deep. I held firm. "Vincent was working for the nobles, is that somehow connected to you?"

"You'd be surprised how often everything is connected." He snorted, drawing on the cigar again and blowing that acrid smoke into my eyes. "Very interesting that you survived little girl, but not interesting enough to buy you my intel."

"Then what would?"

He laughed. "Outta your price range, beautiful. Well then, bye-bye you two, enjoy your romantic getaway in the asshole of the world."

"Cut the crass insinuations." Levi rolled his eyes, keeping the facade going as long as he could.

But I had the strange feeling Kenny knew everything, like he had actually been keeping real tabs on Levi for all this time. For some reason. Be that paternal concern on some level, or simply a want to have something to use for control later. Then again, presumably if he had known about Levi being romantically involved with someone, no one had mentioned my name. Unless he had already known and just pretended to be surprised. My head hurt.

Kenny angled his hat over his eyes as he headed for the door. "Mhm, ain't no insinuation boy, you're dallying with this one and it ain't gonna end well, that's all I'll say."

"Beyond it being nonsense, the hell do you mean by that?" Levi glared.

"I mean, boy, Sanshi's ain't built for anything but burning shit down. She'll ruin you, and anythin' else you're working towards."

I may as well have had a bucket of cold water thrown over me. It wasn't that I particularly cared what people thought of me; but it was one thing to be disliked by someone's family, but to be so wholeheartedly discouraged by Levi's Uncle, regardless of how much of a bastard he was, hurt. In fact, I think the bastard aspect might make it worse. If he's that awful, how the hell am I so damned bad?

Levi's lip curled into a grimace. "Why would you care–"

"Sanshi." Kenny ignored Levi, lingered in the doorway and dipped his hat to me. "If you care about this runt at all, you'll stay the hell away. Y'know your lot don't do anything but cause mayhem. Ya want that for him?"

And despite the fact I knew Kenny was a known crook, a bastard coated bastard with bastard filling, those words rang with such unavoidable sincerity, I found myself wanting to nod. Of course I wanted to avoid Levi being hurt. If I ever thought that would be because of me I'd run in the opposite direction as fast as I could. But beyond my own paranoia, I hadn't had reason to do that. Or was that statement missing a 'yet' at the end?

Levi clicked his tongue. "Done with the dramatics?"

Kenny clicked his tongue. "Sure come a long way, ain't ya? Scrawny little shit sitting there next to his dead mother, starving to death. Then a two-bit whore hanging out at corners, using anything and everything he's got to earn some coin. And now… Heh… Now a big ol' Captain of the Scouts. What's next? King of the world?"

Levi was completely rigid. The pain that I had noticed in his face before had changed, a kind of shame entering the situation now. Kenny was just looking for buttons to press. It was clear enough to me that the Underground was the kind of place that you had to fight to survive in, I didn't need anything more than that to understand Levi's past. I didn't care what he'd done then. It meant he was alive now.

"I think we're done here." I said, tilting my head and giving a little wave to Kenny.

"Mm." He tipped his hat, seemingly unpleased by my lack of outrage. "I'll be takin' my leave now."

Levi followed him to the door. "Can we expect any other visits from your cronies?"

"You'll be left alone, Midget. I ain't interested in tangling with the Scouts until it's entirely necessary. Rest easy in your hovel here for all I care. Nighty night lovebirds."

"Get out."

Kenny chuckled. "I'm gone, boy."

And then he left. Leaving only the bitter after-smell of his cigar behind.

It was a good thing I had that chair beside me, as I wavered and clung to the back of it to stay standing. My knees had suddenly filled with water. The room filled with quiet. Rage still simmered under Levi's skin, I could feel that, but what else had brewed? Sure he was likely a little nervous about details of his past being thrown around, but what about Kenny's warnings of me? If Levi wanted to listen to Kenny, I couldn't blame him. Run. Run away from me and my mess. It tended to indicate Kenny might have known something about this Titan-esq power I had, but he wasn't going to share specifics anytime soon. And not without one hell of an incentive. It also tended to indicate that even the likes of Kenny were wary of it, and he didn't seem like a man who would be easily rattled. Then again, had he ever even seen a Titan? Being an inner-city thug, he might not have. Either those options or he was just being a shit-stirring bastard. The unvoiced rage from Levi would also be because of Kenny referencing the two Levi had lost on the field. This place. The Underground, the house, the streets, it likely brought back a lot for my Captain that I couldn't even begin to understand. I had Keza, so I had an idea, but it was still hard to wrap my head around the idea of ever properly losing her. Levi's pain… I wanted to help, but wasn't sure how.

Levi set the knife on the table. He locked the door. He put his head against the frame and released a long sigh, like he had been holding a breath the entire time Kenny was present.

The chair creaked under my grip and I let my gaze fall to my hands when Levi shifted to look over his shoulder at me. Why did I look away? I'm not sure. Maybe I felt like I was intruding. As if somehow I was suddenly unwelcome in this house he had shared with his friends. That wouldn't be the case, but my nerves still wondered.

Then there was the fact I wished I had been able to say those three little words the day before, when we were still in the sunshine, still able to simply be thankful for making it to the other side of things. Or a new side anyway. But now? It would seem like manipulation. Hey, I know your shithead of an Uncle just warned you off me, but I love you, so stay? There was no way I could say it now.

Levi moved away from the door. "It'll be dark up-top by now, we might as well stay here for the night and regroup in the morning."

I nodded. It made sense, even if I did doubt the validity of what Kenny had said about us being left alone. But presumably Levi trusted those words. Somehow. I knew how to take care of myself on the streets up-top, but this wasn't my world, so I would follow his lead.

He moved across the room and plucked the iron kettle from the back of a cupboard. "I'll get some water for tea from the well."

Time alone, time to process. Whatever it was that ran rampant around his mind, clearly he needed some space to breathe and figure it all out. I could give him that. If I could, I'd give him anything.

Again, I nodded, lips pursed tight against the fact I had no idea what to say. No condolences would help the loss of what he had likely considered his family, and being right in the thick of it, his guilt would be at its peak. Beyond that, not only did Kenny recall working with Vincent, but clearly it had been worthy of note. Even in his prolific life. That had to mean it was pretty bad, right? Perhaps not important, but worthy of remembrance. Then again, a man losing his mind so much that he butchered his entire family and burnt down his family home, was quite the story. My mind ran at a gallop and I had nothing to offer but my dumb nods.

Levi went to get the water, and as the back door clicked, my knees gave another wobble. Just breathe. Collect yourself. It might just be that Kenny had a knack for recalling bastards of a certain calibre. It didn't have to mean there was some menacing bigger picture going on. Perhaps Vincent had simply gotten lucky and happened upon some wayward science to do this to my body, not fully appreciating what he was even doing. It didn't mean he knew anything about Titans, or shifters. Which also meant this was another dead-end, and I was still of average use to the regiment. Typical.

I forced myself to let go of the chair and make for the stairs, my eyes stinging with disappointment. At what? I'm not sure. Maybe I had somehow foolishly gotten my hopes up that we would discover key information. Maybe I had fooled myself into thinking we might make a big step forward. Regardless, we hadn't. All we knew was one bastard had known another.

Every step creaked in its own way, making my ascent sound like some mournful melody as I hauled myself up there, clinging to the bannister despite the threat of splinters. I think I just wanted it all to have meant something. The pain, the suffering, the loss of my family; if it could have actually meant Humanity finally had an advantage of some kind, maybe the pain would be easier to endure. Maybe. Or maybe I'm just a naive idiot who needs to get her head out of her arse. In my wandering I ended up in Levi's bedroom again. The dust sheet had been removed from the bed and the window open. Presumably Levi had done that earlier, preparing for the eventuality of us staying. I smiled softly and went to the window, wondering a little bit why homes down here had been given windows at all. But then again I suppose the glow of the city lights allowed an attempt at false daylight. Or maybe it was just habit.

The back door closed and I could hear Levi trying to work the stove for the kettle to start warming. Clearly he had done good by these people. It wasn't known as a kind place, the Underground. And yet, when he sent word ahead of his stay neighbours had cleaned the place up, put fresh firewood in for the stove, even given him a kettle. I cast my gaze along the skyline of the city, the buildings all differing heights, reaching towards the ceiling of cavern teeth. I could imagine my Captain flying through these streets, using his stolen gear to make as good a go of it as he could. Him and his two friends. . I hoped they had known how beloved they were to him before the end. Or now. Looking down on us, laughing at the ridiculousness of the living. I smirked and closed the window, hoping our squad had managed to find their families to watch over.

So in whatever way I could, I'd do my best to watch over Levi.

It seemed the least I could do.

Because I loved him.

Aaand there we have it! Kenny! Underground! Gosh I loved writing this chapter tbh, it's such a rich part of the AOT world. Anyway, thanks for reading, faving, following and reviewing when you can ^-^ cya next week!