DILAN'S P.O.V.
Dark. Pain. Those were a constant in her life now. She wasn't sure how long she had been like this but the days were starting to merge. She had one chance to escape today and she blew it. She blew it and what she did to allowed herself that chance... well now that was all for nothing. Her body ached, as did her soul. She wasn't sure what was real anymore and she was pretty sure she had gone slightly insane. The injuries and the drugs had fucked her up to the point where it was easy for them to hunt her down and catch her. Perhaps she shouldn't have been so obvious. Perhaps she should have hid instead of running but again, she was thoroughly messed up. Dilan didn't even have the instinct to kill herself before they took her back. It was a stupid mistake, she'll admit. A really fucking stupid mistake.
There was a slight glimmer of hope. She had left that message for Levi but then again, who says it will even get to him. Who says if it does, he'll even care? The guy hated her with a passion for fucking up his life. What does it matter if she saved him? He had just got some peace and quiet from her, why would he drag himself back into that? She was just a waste of a human being. Oh, yes. The episodes are hard down here. Worse than the surface. She thought with a snicker. Slightly insane indeed. It's not like she thought the man owed her a debt for what she did. She didn't demand for his help. She was simply hoping he could spare the time. As much as she hated to admit it. If anyone was going to find a hell as deep as this, it was that miserable bastard.
LEVI'S P.O.V.
Levi galloped back the rest of the way, intending on getting to work straight away. Who knew how long she would last? She might have been killed already as a punishment for escaping. Levi grit his teeth at the thought. Not yet, you annoying bitch. Just wait a little longer.
He shoved his horse in the stable and was formulating a plan, about to get the higher ups when he stopped in his tracks with a jolt. What if... they say no? What if they don't think spending time and money on Dilan's rescue is worth it. What if... Erwin ordered him to let it go? Levi clenched his fists. He couldn't let it go. Dilan saved his life, he needed to repay her for that. But... he couldn't disobey direct orders from the commander without repercussions. Levi was already on thin ice as it is. He had no doubt Erwin would want his new toy back, but it had been a month. Dilan was likely tortured and in Erwin's opinion, made useless. No... he couldn't go to Erwin about this. The risk was too great. The squad would help but would feel obligated to tell the commander. Mike would never go behind Erwin's back.
That left one option and he groaned at the thought, suddenly wishing he had more friends just so he wouldn't have to deal with this crazy shit right now.
Sighing, Levi jogged off, into the castle. He stopped outside Hanji's room, taking a breath. No going back from this. Levi lifted his knuckle and knocked quietly, not waiting to wake anyone else up. There was a tired groan and a thud. Levi expected the idiot had ended up rolling off her bed and shook his head at the thought. Sure, enough the door opened a few moments later to frame a pissed off hanji in a nightgown and dressing down, rubbing her head.
"What the actual fuck, Levi?" She snapped. Understandable. It was nearing 3 AM. Levi supposed he better cut right to the chase.
"Dilan's alive." He said seriously. Hanji blinked at him, dropping her scowl. He watched as a crazy smile made its way onto her face and, oddly, she hadn't looked more like herself since he snapped at her in the infirmary a week ago. Still he knew that face. She was about to shout out something ridiculous so Levi clamped a hand over her mouth before she could get the words out. "It's the middle of the night. You have to be quiet." He reminded. Hanji was practically buzzing with excitement, still she nodded that she would be good, and he removed the hand. Hanji grabbed him and pulled him inside, shutting the door. Levi's eyes widened. "Four eyes, if someone saw that they are going to get the wrong idea." He hissed quietly, annoyed and slightly embarrassed but unwilling to show it. Hanji snorted and sat down on her bed.
"No offense shorty but your too... well... short." She snickered. Levi glared at her, kicking her in the shin before sitting down in her desk chair. Hanji bit her hand to muffle her pained noises, taking a few deep breaths to calm down. Levi crossed his arms, unapologetic.
"You deserved that." He pointed out, monotoned. Hanji smiled, rubbing her leg.
"Perhaps. Although I was just stating a fact. But back to what's important. Sweet little Dil-"
"The mass murderer." He interjected. Hanji glared at him.
"How do you know? Why'd you change your mind?!" She asked, grinning. Levi sighed and raked a hand through his hair, leaning back in the chair slightly.
"I was down in the underground today- let me finish!" He snapped, seeing her open her mouth to interrupt. Hanji frowned but closed it and Levi nodded in approval. "The pawn shop owner, Dilan's friend. She was at the gate when I was leaving, trying to send a message."
"To who?"
"To me. Apparently, someone had written 'Get Levi' in blood on the door of her shop before they were dragged away. She has strong reason to believe due to the handwriting component of the message that it was Dilan. Something to do with the way she signs her 'L's'. That and how her body was just gone... I think she's alive." Levi explained. Hanji nodded.
"I believe so too. Why did you come to me though? This is important, we should have all been called down for a meeting." Hanji said seriously, standing up. Levi shook his head.
"Hanji. I want to save her. Do you really think Erwin will spend time and resources on her? On one person? Even if she is an amazing soldier, Erwin does things logically. Being imprisoned a month and the fact that she was injuried enough not to evade capture again after escaping suggests she's been through a mental and physical trauma. Erwin won't see her value against the money and time we would be using tracking her down. Yet alone the causalities the corps might endure, breaking her out of whatever hell she's trapped in." Levi stated logically and Hanji's face fell slightly as she sat down on the bed, getting the picture.
"He'll order us to drop it." She continued, seeing his thought process.
"And Dilan will die." Levi finished. Hanji looked up at him.
"Erwin can't know, no one can. Not until we are sure of where Dilan is. Until then, we must search for her on our own." Hanji said firmly. Levi nodded in agreement.
"The only problem is I have no fucking free time. If I use my free day once every week it could be months before I track her down. If I use my nights, I'll burn myself out from exhaustion and won't be fit to find her anyway. Plus, someone will notice me sneaking out at night eventually and tell Erwin. This regiment is so fucking snitchy." He grimaced thinking back to the doctor who practically ran to tell Erwin about the cuts on Dilan's legs like it deserved to be public knowledge. Hanji sighed and nodded in agreement, falling backwards on the bed.
There was quiet for a long time while each of them tried to think of a solution. Hanji was section commander. She had even less time than him.
"Got it!" She squealed, springing up so quickly Levi had to force down a flinch.
"Fucking hell you crazy shit. Are you trying to give me a heart attack!" Levi hissed. Hanji grinned at him before starting to pace the room.
"Realistically, I can't abandon my duties here, no matter how much I want to help. You'll understand that when your captain. But I can aid you from the inside. We need you get you put on temporal leave." She explained. Levi raised an eyebrow.
"And how do we do that?" He asked, hoping it wasn't anything too crazy. The manic smile she was giving him told Levi otherwise. He swallowed. What the fuck had he gotten himself into?
ERWIN'S P.O.V.
It had been a long day of paperwork and planning. The formations needed work. There had been many casualties during the last expedition. Not enough to concern the nobles in the capital but enough to warrant a drop-in membership. Irritating how swayable people are. Didn't he tell them death was a high possibility from the start? Supposed most of them thought they had a hero complex, that death didn't apply to them. Wouldn't that be nice? To evade death.
Erwin looked up as the doors to his office were thrown open and frowned at the interruption. No one was so disrespectful, apart from Levi and on an occasion Hanji, meaning something was wrong.
"Commander Erwin! There was an accident... in the courtyard!" The cadet gasped, severely out of breath as he probably sprinted here. He flinched, remembering to do a salute. Erwin stood.
"What kind of accident, any casualties?" He asked, that's the last thing he needed right now. The cadet sucked in some air before shaking his head.
"There was some sort of explosion, sir! And then the fountain was falling! It was about to crush Section Commander Hanji, but Team Leader Levi pushed her out of the way at the last moment. He's not doing well sir." The cadet explained and Erwin's eyes widened. Levi? Surely not. He would not lose his best soldier today because of a fucking fountain. How could Hanji be so careless?
"Where is he now?" he demanded.
"The section commander brought a stretcher sir; they're carrying him into the infirmary now." The cadet informed and Erwin nodded, jogging towards the infirmary. He heard it before he saw it.
"LEVI! STAY WITH ME! DON'T GO TOWARDS THE LIGHT!" Hanji yelled and wailing frantically.
"Fucking hell, shut up." Levi hissed; his voice irritable as usual but sounded strained. Erwin ran forward and his eyes widened at the sight of him. He was pale or paler than usual. There was a lot of blood staining the front of his shirt and deep crimson liquid dripping from his mouth, down his neck.
"Shit! Hanji what happened?" Erwin demanded as he followed Hanji and the men carrying Levi's stretcher.
"I'm fine." Levi grumbled and Erwin gave him an exasperated look before Levi coughed loudly, more blood dripping down his neck. Erwin couldn't deny his heart was jumping. Of course, Levi was a friend, but he was so much more than that. The walls couldn't lose humanities strongest soldier. He was about to make him Captain. This was going to ruin all of that!
"Fuck! He's crashing, get him into the OR, now!" Hanji yelled, her hands shaking as she tried to keep pressure on the rather large wound.
"Hanji!" Erwin yelled as he followed them through.
"A piece of the fountain cut deep into his side. This is all my fault, if I had just-" She cried but Erwin was more focused on the man currently dying.
"Sure... finish your apology... I can wait." Levi whispered sarcastically, his eyelids growing heavy.
"HANJI! FIX HIM! FIX HIM NOW!" Erwin yelled and the woman snapped back into action.
"Yes! Alright! Put him down on the table." Hanji ordered and the men did so as gentle as they could although it didn't go without a annoyed groan from Levi. "Everyone out. I need full concentration." The woman said seriously, gathering supplies and filling a syringe with liquid. Erwin stared at the man with wide eyes as he passed out from the morphine dose. He had never seen Levi so... human. "OUT ERWIN! NOW!" Hanji ordered sternly. Erwin hesitated before following the other cadets out of the infirmary and closing the door behind him. Erwin raked a hand through his hair in distress. First Dilan, now Levi? Did the world fucking hate him? Why was it hell bent on trying to kill his best soldiers?
Erwin sighed and shook his head. He would have to trust Hanji to save him. He couldn't do much else.
LEVI'S P.O.V.
Levi sat up as he heard the door to the infirmary close and gave Hanji a deadpan look.
"That was a bit over the top don't you think?" He said, monotoned, grimacing at the blood he was covered in. Hanji took a moment but burst out laughing. She laughed so hard she fell to the ground in hysterics. "Shut up, idiot or someone will hear you! I did not get smothered in animal blood for nothing!" he hissed, supressing a gag. His skin was practically itching with the ache to have a shower. Hanji had even shoved some blood in his mouth, whispering 'for choking out' before he could protest and by god, did he want to protest.
Now that they were alone Levi didn't hesitate to rush to the sink, swash some water around his mouth before spitting it out, doing this process over and over. He still felt like he was going to be sick. Hanji composed herself and walked over to him.
"I am sorry about the mouth blood. It was slightly unnecessary and now that I think about it, really gross." She apologised, running a finger down the side of his face and collecting the chalk power she had coated him with to make him look closer to death. Levi slapped her hand away and turned to glare at him.
"The only reason you are not dead right now is because I still need you to help me pull this off. But know that as soon as I get the chance, I will enact my revenge." He hissed a menacing whisper and Hanji stumbled back a bit.
The plan had gone perfect, even though it disgusted him and he had spent a large amount of time last night protesting against it but Hanji won the argument that there was no way Erwin was going to put his best soldier on leave if he wasn't severely injuried and Erwin didn't see him get severely injuried. Levi had cursed like a fucking sailor but agreed. Hanji rigged some explosives next to the fountain, which will come up in her report as faulty gas canisters when Erwin will later most likely ask her to do an investigation on the incident.
Levi couldn't just have the fountain fall on him, Erwin knew his reflexes were too quick for that and it wasn't probable, however, if he saved Hanji, him getting hurt was justifiable. To onlookers, Levi sheltered Hanji from the blow as the fountain dropped on them and dust formed in a cloud. Hanji had used this to get Levi looking like he was on death door. From there it was just a lot of yelling from Hanji and Levi making partly annoyed, partly pained faces and cursing Hanji out for being so loud, so it was realistic. The plan had gone down well, especially Erwin's reaction. Levi knew he was just worried over losing another soldier. There was nothing humane about his reaction and Levi wasn't offended. The man was a robot. He couldn't help the way he acts. Still, now that the plan was over Levi was edgy and irritable, his OCD was insane, and he felt like his heart was beating a million miles a minute. Yes, even humanities strongest had issues.
"Fair warning." She gulped. Levi nodded and started scrubbing his face and neck of the blood. He had never felt more disgusting, even in the underground. "Hey." Hanji said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder for comfort, sensing how uneasy he was feeling. "You did well, Levi. This is for Dilan remember?" She reassured. Levi took a breath and calmed down, suppressing his OCD for the moment. "Come on, there's a shower round the back. You can wash all this crap off, I'll get you new clothes." She said gently and Levi nodded, suppressing a shiver as he felt a bit of blood drip down his neck and spine. He was sure his pale face wasn't because of the chalk anymore. He was at his absolute limit. You better be alive damn brat. I did not go through that for nothing.
A day later and Hanji announced to the people awaiting word of his condition that he was stable. The squad had rushed in to see him and the looks of worry on their faces made a bit of guilt pang in his stomach. Even Tabitha looked scared, perhaps she was regretting being a bitch to him as the truth is, they could all die at any time. Even if it was a fountain. Levi answered their never-ending list of questions, mostly about his condition. He hated that he had to stay in the bed for the 'effect'. Even if it wasn't real, he couldn't deny it damaged his pride.
Thankfully after giving Hanji a glare she ushered them all out, telling them he needed to rest. The pair waited patiently for the moment they had been waiting for. They had to play this right, or it could all be for nothing.
An hour later and there it was. A sharp knock on the door before it was opened revealing the Commander. He walked over to Levi and sat in the armchair next to the bed.
"Glad to see you alive, Levi." He said genuinely, even if it was for the wrong reasons. Levi nodded, crossing his arms and gritting through a wince. Erwin looked at him with concern before turning to Hanji. "How bad is it?" He asked. Hanji sighed, rubbing her forehead, her eyes sparkling with fake concern.
"Bad. If not given the proper rest and time to heal it could prove a fatal-" Hanji started but Levi cut her off, being his usual dicky self. If he was actually injuried, his personality wouldn't have changed. In fact, he probably would have been more of an asshole.
"I'm fucking fine, four eyes!" Levi snapped. Hanji glared at him, walking over and poking his side. Levi clenched his jaw and forced a grunt of pain, closing his eyes and leaning his head back against the wall, as the 'pain' calmed down. "Bitch." He muttered weakly.
"Enough Levi. I will not have you kill yourself over your ego. Your taking time off to heal. I'm putting you on leave." Erwin said strongly, like he hadn't been manipulated at all. FUCK, YES! Levi had to push back a smug smile, finally getting revenge for the time Erwin had manipulated him and his friends all those years ago. Levi opened his eyes to glare at Erwin. It's not like he wouldn't fight him on this if it were real.
"I'm not going on leave." He snarled. Erwin glared back.
"This is a direct order from your superior." He said sternly. Levi scrunched up his nose in irritation.
"I said I'm fine!" Levi hissed.
"Are you trying to be insubordinate?! I thought you were aware of your delicate situation in the corps right now, Levi. Do you want the Captains position or not?" He snapped, completely done with Levi's constant bullshit. Levi grit his teeth and looked away.
"Yes." He ground out. Erwin stood, glaring down at him.
"Then you will take time off, get away from the fucking grounds and heal. I catch you training, I catch you with even a shred of paperwork and I will suspend you for insubordination, are we clear soldier?" He said seriously. Inside Levi was smirking but on the outside, it probably looked like Levi wanted to rip out Erwin's jugular with his teeth.
"Yes sir." He forced his reply. Erwin nodded in approval before turning to Hanji.
"Make sure he rests, sedate him if necessary. You know how he is." Erwin said like Levi wasn't even there. Levi rolled his eyes as Hanji nodded and the blonde left the room, anger evident in his body language that he just had to put his best soldier on leave.
Levi and Hanji gave each other a look and shared a victorious smirk. They fucking pulled it off.
The next few days were the most boring and tension fuelled days of his life. The brat was somewhere being tortured and Levi was here fake resting from a non existent injury. He had tried to leave the moment Erwin allowed but Hanji told him it was unrealistic. With an 'injury' his severe he would have needed to say in the infirmary for a few days at least before getting on his feet. Levi was irked but agreed that if someone checked and he wasn't there it would be a little suspicious. So, he used the time to formulate a plan. Where he was going to start, who he was going to see. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure if he was going to pull this off without visiting Kenny at some point. Didn't mean he was looking forward to it though.
The days passed slowly, with another visit from Erwin and daily visits from the squad. It was nice that they cared but he was finding it hard not to be an asshole. He wanted out of this bed. Now.
Finally, the moment came. Hanji discharged him from the infirmary. Erwin had the squad were present and Levi knew they were all curious whether he would actually end up on leave. Levi had changed into his casual clothes before they got here. He would put on the 3DMG later.
"So, where are you going to go on leave?" Brand asked. Levi sighed.
"Nowhere, I'll stay here." He grumbled, standing up and forcing a small hiss of pain. Erwin's eyes hardened.
"Unacceptable. You can't relax here, go to Sina or Trost. Rest." Erwin ordered. Levi glared at him and the tension in the room rose, exponentially.
"Is that an order, sir?" He gritted out; eyes narrowed dangerously. Everyone apart from Erwin and himself shifted nervously.
"Yes." Erwin replied sternly. Levi glared at him for a bit longer before sighing in defeat.
"Fine. I have a friend in Sina that I was going to visit soon anyway." Levi mumbled the last bit. Erwin looked slightly shocked that he won but pushed it away.
"Good. I shall call you a carriage, you won't be riding a horse in that condition. Pack and be outside in an hour." Erwin informed before turning on his heel and leaving. Levi sighed in annoyance. He'd have to rent a horse now. How exhausting.
"Sina then, that should be fun?" Toby said kindly, trying to lighten the mood.
"Sure, kid." Levi replied lazily.
"So, who is this friend, huh Levi? Got yourself a girl?" Hanji grinned cheekily. The others eye's widened in fear for Hanji's life. Levi glared dangerously. The death threat was partly real. Why the hell would she bring that up? The only person who knew the truth was trying to make it harder for him.
"Watch yourself, crazy shit." Levi hissed. Hanji smiled and waved off the threat.
"Didn't answer my question. I bet the girl you're going to find is hot." She smirked and the others gasped, really fearing Hanji's life now. Levi clenched his jaw when he realised Hanji was talking about Dilan. Did the brunet still think she was hot? Levi couldn't deny that she was attractive but that is so not the point right now.
"Fuck off." Levi decided finally and walked out of the room with a slight limp. Once he was out of the squad's view, he walked normally, picking up the speed a bit.
He got to his room, packed a duffle. He grabbed his money, cloak a pair change of clothes and his 3DMG straps, assuming Hanji would take care of the actual gear and the gas and put it in the carriage for him. He sat on his bed and watched the clock patiently until the hour was up and it was time to leave. He threw the duffle over his shoulder and walked back down, making sure to limp slightly whenever he passed someone in case they had heard of the accident. He got outside without many problems and passed Hanji who mouthed 'good luck' and gave him a wink. Levi rolled his eyes at her but was grateful for the help as he climbed inside the carriage, gave the address and noticed the 3DGM under the seats.
Levi looked behind him as the headquarters grew in the distance. This was it. From this point, he was on his own.
