Notes:
Uhm... It's been almost a month! First of all, I'm so sorry that this took so long. There were some stuff that needed to be sorted out first. So, thank you for your patience everyone!
As usual, thank you LunaAzul788 for the wonderful help!
Without further ado, let me present to you chapter 14! This is the longest chapter by far, almost 8.5k words! And I honestly had a lot of fun writing this.
Happy reading!
TW: Mild Violence
P.S to the anon who asked me abt the update on tumblr: I'm really sorry for the late update, I hope you enjoy this!
Pinterest Board: pin()it/5HBk426 (change the parentheses into dot)
DISCLAIMER:
Shingeki no Kyojin / Attack on Titan belongs to Hajime Isayama
CHAPTER 14: THE THREE MUSKETEERS
As the capital of a great kingdom, Mitras lives up to its reputation. Flourishing with commerce, technological advancement and innovation, the city was where many dreams had come true.
A populace of all ages and classes resided on and shared the overpopulated Mitras soil, and such hierarchy was quite pronounced. On the first tier was the variety of upscale Mitras, from the elite nobility and gentry to the posh bourgeoisie; on the second tier were the aspiring middle class and the modest working class; finally, on the lowest tier were the faction of under class people who live under the hollow shadows of the shimmering city.
Truth to be told, Levi did not take pleasure in spending his time in the city, not especially with the pollution from such industrial waste. Even so, that does not mean he could not make a compromise. There is just something nostalgic about Mitras that he really appreciated and could not let go.
"Are you serious?" Mike had asked him years ago when he pitched the idea of opening a tea shop and a tea company in Mitras.
"Such will certainly raise a few brows, Levi," Erwin had added, noting the strangeness of how a wealthy gentry who owned a massive estate—and earned perhaps a large sum from doing nothing—would choose to open a shop. It was something only those from the middle-class would consider. "People will talk."
Levi nonetheless did not provide a single regard to whatever sorts of rumours people would spurt of him, because any hearsay or whatsoever they gossiped about of him did not alter the actuality of having numerous Mistresses from respectable families to force their daughters on him imploring for marriage. That also did not keep those ambitious and excessively-determined business partners and respectable noblemen from conversing or striking deals with him.
Tucked away in an alley near the thoroughfares, stood two rows of three-story brick edifices. The cobblestone street of the alley is narrow and could only fit two small carriages at most as the pavements on the side of the street were meant for the pedestrians. The stretch of the alleyway is overwhelmed with varying shops and restaurants, and one particular shop had a jet-black wall, a large window, and a curious door with bevelled glass. An iron sign shaped as a teapot could be seen hanging near the door. On top of the window and the door was a name written in gold, and it read: Tea & Nutcracker House.
Levi's tea shop is located on the lower floor of the building. Contrary to the stark darkness of the store front, the interior was warm and cosy. Rows of shelves stacked with plentiful antique tea sets and jars of varying tea leaves furnished the interior artistically. Near the cashier is a counter that sells biscuits and pastries. A small area in the back of the room is provided for customers who desire to complement their leisure with tea and pastries within the shop.
The third floor was meant to be his private living space, or at least that was it supposed to be, for he would spend much of his time on the second floor where his office could be located. There, he would preferably manage the paperwork all on his own, seeking little assistance from anyone else.
Yet, today was slightly different. He was drowning himself with work, but the black ink letters on the parchment appeared like blurry splotches and nothing like letters or words. He felt his head begin to throb as if a thousand needles abruptly punctured deep into his brain.
Four days have passed since Sunday, still, the tumult in his mind did not cease. There were too many imaginable scenarios, playing vivid images and toying with him—scenarios of what may occur to those two people.
What if Mikasa still detests him? What of the governess? Did she loathe him, as well? What if they were currently talking shit about him? What if Mikasa was compelled to do something stupid? What if she runs away? No, rather, what if Mikasa and the governess ran away together?
Beyond these burning questions that currently plagued him, it was difficult to displace of what they had regarded him to be. Was he indeed a selfish patronizing bastard with control issues? Was he just truly a pathetic coward who could not let go of his past—who could not let go of his cousin and a certain governess?
What if…
His eyes returned to pair of letters on the corner of his mahogany table. One of the letters were opened—the one from Mr. Weiss. Meanwhile, the other was left fasted—the letter from Moblit.
It was protocol that whenever the Master Ackerman were to travel to and stay in Mitras, Mrs. Weiss and Moblit were to write him one letter respectively in each day of his absence. Mrs. Weiss would write about the humdrum series of events that frequented the household and estate manners, and Moblit would correspond about his niece, and lately as newer addition, about the governess. Normally, Levi would open Moblit's letters first in private fervent interest, alas, given all that has happened since those four days, he could not even bear to glimpse at the penmanship.
Ever so hesitantly, Levi took the unopened letter and studied the white envelope, unknowingly clutching on its edges quite tightly. With closed eyes and a held breath, he could only wish that the letter would suddenly disappear. Of course, such was too much to ask for, and so followed a swift pull of the lower drawer where the currently unopened letter found its place, ensconced with three other sealed letters.
He returned his attention to a stack of papers that needed sorting though it seemed that his disconcertion paid him no mercy. Whenever he would attempt at something else, he would instantaneously be brought back and condemned to the recollections that resembled nightmares.
Levi groaned, burying his hands into his face.
He wanted to scream, to be buried whole underneath the earth, to be vanished into thin air. For a moment, he considered that perhaps it would be better for everyone if he did not exist at all—that perhaps he should leave the country, change his name to Henry, and live as some obscure farmer in Germany. Darn, even the idea of joining the monastery and becoming a pastor such as the one he had seen in the church would fare a better decision.
Maybe —!
KNOCK KNOCK
Two heavy knocks on the door broke his reverie, and before he could even mutter any permission or welcome, the door was pushed opened and from the other side emerged two large men dressed fittingly in their day suits.
"Mike? Erwin?" He raised his brows at them as they padded across the room unceremoniously, appearing as if they live there. "What the fuck are you two doing here?"
Erwin lifted his hands to reveal what could only seem to be three sandwiches wrapped in brown paper. "We brought you lunch," he answered, not in the least aware that their arrival was impudent.
"What?"
"Bought it from the vendor beside your shop," added Mike as he sat down on one of the two seats that were in front of Levi's desk. Erwin followed, sitting on the other.
Levi pinched the bridge of his nose and grunted. "Of course. I know that, you idiot. I'm asking why the hell are you two here?"
"Hey, speaking of—I brought you something." Mike grabbed something from the inside of his coat, put it on the table and slid it towards the frowning man. It was a small brown book with a hardcover, and the title engraved in intricate cursive read: The Three Musketeers.
Levi sighed deeply, staring down Mike with a deadly glint. "Stop giving me weird books, Mike. Especially not this," he grouched.
"Hey, be grateful that you have a friend who owns a bookstore, Levi. You have at least the pleasure of receiving interesting books without as much as a coin. Besides, doesn't this bring back memories?" Mike glanced towards the other blonde man. "Isn't that right, Erwin?"
"Certainly," Erwin nodded as he gave each one of them a sandwich, Mike gladly taking his share. As Erwin and Mike began to eat, Levi could only stare at his share before giving them a look.
"Stop playing around and get to the point," he pronounced with a low and stern voice.
Erwin was halted taking another bite of his sandwich. He peered at Levi and smirked. "Not one to accommodate pleasantries, as always," he remarked.
Levi rolled his eyes and clicked his tongue. "Perhaps I would, if only you lot hadn't decided to arrive so abruptly."
Mike, without seeming the least out of temper, raised both of his hands in a comical jest. "Whoa, there now, no need to be so testy."
Erwin let out a chuckle before settling into a sincere smile. His deep blue eyes staring bore into his Levi's as he said, "we heard that you were on your down days."
Levi furrowed his brows at this remark. "What?! No, I'm not. Who told you such?"
Erwin shrugged with a cunning smile. "Who else?" he answered.
Levi turned over to his side as he attempted a guess at the bores whose bavardage could easily unsettle one's reason. Then, he groaned when he realized that his staff must have been scheming behind his back. He remembered the odd glances that Gunther, Oluo, Eld, and Petra had given him these past few days—not to mention, the peculiarity of Petra's enquiry earlier that morning:
"Will you be expecting someone today, sir?" asked the young woman with locks of light ginger.
"No," he answered, confused with her question. "Why?"
"Nothing, sir! Good day!" Petra chirped before quickly leaving the room.
Erwin withdrew himself to prepare and serve glasses of water. "Try not to be so hard on them, Levi. They were just worried about you. The same goes with Mike and myself. Frankly, I think it says lot about you as a person for having such a close bond with your staff," imparted Erwin as he returned to his seat and gave a glass each to Mike and Levi. As he placed Levi's glass of water in front of him, he took this moment to study the man's features.
"Say, Levi, have you had any decent sleep at all?" enquired Mike. It seemed that he noticed the same as Erwin—his pallid complexion was even more ashen, his gaze was red and hollow, and the dark circles around his eyes were so prominent that it almost consumed his face.
Levi sighed, closing his heavy lids over his burning eyeballs. He leaned back against his leather chair and stared at the ceiling. "I don't know… probably not."
"Would you care to divulge why?" asked Erwin gingerly.
"Perhaps not."
Erwin raised his brows and nodded. "Very well."
No one said anything after that, bringing into room a feel of tension and stillness. Even when he was not looking at them, Levi knew that they were giving him very remorseful, pitiful impressions. While he acknowledged and understood their sympathies, he was not prepared to reveal this vulnerable and raw side of him.
Then, all the sudden, Mike stood from his seat and clasped his hands together loudly. His gesture broke the stillness immediately, and earned him befuddled glances from his two comrades. He responded to their stupefactions with an excited grin. "How's about we go fencing? Just like old times," he exulted.
"Huh? Are you—"
"Yes, that's a splendid idea!" Erwin interrupted as he swiftly stood up from his seat, stopping Levi from finishing his sentence.
"What? No way!" Levi retorted with a frown.
"Yes way. It'll be the return of The Three Musketeers of Shina," said Mike as he initiated a pose re-enacting a heroic swordsman with the tip of his steel blade raised toward the sky.
Levi cringed as a flash of their memories rushed over him. "Shit, Mike! Shut up, I don't want to hear any of it!" he shouted.
Mike began to chortle, and whenever he did, his mirth could be felt across the vicinity, spreading swiftly like some unstoppable and infectious disease. Mere moments later, Erwin was laughing alongside him, recalling the very same happenstance. Then, it only took a few more seconds before Levi had cracked a smile.
It took some time for their merriment to die down, and when it did, Erwin attempted once more at his gentle persuasion. "Levi, come on. It'll be fun," he convinced.
Levi let out an exasperated sigh and stared at the two blonds. It was really the physical activity which he looked forward to and which made him succumb to Erwin and Mike's request. Soon, Levi found himself being dragged out of the office, out of his shop, and into the open fencing arena not too far. Somehow, as he was pacing leisurely alongside his peers with hands tucked inside his pockets, the reminiscence of his early days thirteen years ago played dramatically in his mind.
Fourth week of September 1858.
"Do you see that new kid? I heard he's the heir of a great estate in Trost…"
"He doesn't look like a wealthy person to me…"
"I've heard his uncle is close with the royal family…"
"My father said that his family is a bunch of criminals…"
"Apparently, his uncle bribed the school to let him in…"
Levi frowned deeply as he caught the snippets of conversation drift his way. He could not walk down the school hallway without the bombardment of vile words and abasement from the other pupils. He tried his best to ignore them, walking with eyes directed forward and pretending that their words never got to him.
Even if it did hurt.
Levi was twelve years young when he went to Shina College. This was not something he had wanted or had chosen to do. Kenny had forced him to, and he even threatened to kick him out if he would not enrol into the school.
Not even a month had passed when he had developed the immense desired to leave. Being kicked out from the manor seemed far more pleasant and promising than spending any more time inside this prison they euphemised as an academic institution. He was forced to read so many books and comply strictly with a set of schedules. The worst of all, he was mandated to sleep with other students in a massive and dirty communal chamber in which he struggled to find sleep given that five seniors never once consider to cease their maniacal laughter in the middle of the night.
Then, there was the issue with his studies. For one, he already knew the fundamentals of reading—his lovely mother had taught him, and so had good old Mrs. Weiss. And yet, amidst the scholars whose chambers had composed nothing short of intellectual and excessively complicated texts, he suddenly felt as if he had lost any perception or memory of what it was like to read. Words he never knew existed in languages he never accustomed himself with overwhelmed him to a degree that his own value for the self had diminished.
Once, out of mere child's innocence and of the customs he shared with the foul-mouthed Kenny, he had pronounced something which his instructor had described to be "a heinous word." Because of this, he was then asked by the instructor to open his hands in front of the class, and when he had quietly complied, he was caned five times on his palms. He had wondered what burned more intensely into him—the stinging sensation of five lashes on his hands, or the great shame that came with having been called out in front of his condemnatory classmates. Regardless, since that day, he had found it more difficult to hold his pen.
Adding to his dismay was the uniform. While Levi, even at a young age, was one who did not shy away from donning customary formal attire, Kenny's pure lack of regard—particularly when it came to his proper measurements—made him detest showing up in his classes. His tailcoat was almost as long as his legs, thus he had to mind the way he walk so he would not trip over his uniform.
There was not a passing day or night in which he awakened without the feelings of dread and exhaustion. Every hour of his day was spent inside this horrid building; every painful second was akin to living inside a never-ending nightmare that he could not wake up from. Through his eyes, everything was massive, and it made his head spin. The sensation left him feeling nauseous.
In spite of his abhorrence towards the scholarly life of an elite, Levi would go to the gymnasium and fence, an activity he both excelled in and found pleasure in genuinely, and had him a series of praise from the fencing instructor, Mr. Bridges. He was a natural talent in many sports—something which even he had never recognised until the first time he held on a rapier.
Nonetheless, Shina College is all about academic achievement. No matter how exceptional he was in physical activities, he would always be renowned as the dunce midget. One way or another people would find a reason to hate him, to condemn him, and proclaim terrible things about him. What was more was how his seemingly small and fragile twelve-year-old body had become an open invitation for the much larger kids to trample on him.
Ever since he had stepped foot within those grand halls, Levi had always attempted at his best to intentionally disregard everyone—and he chose to do so by avoiding anyone with great perseverance. which was not difficult because, in the first place, most had found him disagreeable, and no one had wanted to be near him. He always sat by himself during lunches with no one bothering to involve him in their group or conversation as no one had wanted to associate themselves with him. He only had himself, and sometimes the kindly old custodian, to talk to.
While it was truth that Levi was not sociable, it did not mean necessarily that he liked being alone and isolated all the time. If he were outspoken of his honesty, the solitude of being in such an avenue meant for socialisation was unbearable. Each night, as he would pace through the winding hallways, he would stare at the dark ceilings and would fantasise playing in the open fields with his true friends, and not be locked up in this old nasty castle surrounded by snobbish supercilious strangers.
Unfortunately…
Thud.
Levi fell onto the hard stone floor with his face hitting the ground first, and he felt an swift aching cascade over his nose and forehead. When he tried to push himself up, he saw someone standing in front of his view. There was this boy, slightly taller than him and with straight and bright copper hair, leering and grinning at him mockingly as three others stood on his sides and blocked Levi from escaping.
"Move," Levi said with as much civility as he could. He straightened himself and tried to stand upright in front of the boy but struggled because of the throbbing in his head.
"Excuse me? What did you say?" spat the copper head boy, his voice a pitchy and irksome sort. "Just because Mr. Bridges favours you in fencing doesn't mean you can tell me what to do!"
Levi furrowed his brows at the boy, "I did not imply such thing."
"Oh, but yes you did!" the boy shouted, attracting several pairs of curious gazes that wanted to see what the growing commotion was all about. "I saw the way you grimace at me during fencing! You think you are the king of the world."
"I don't—and I don't even know you," Levi answered, trying to sound indifferent despite the beads of sweat starting to form around his temple when he noticed that the other students started to gather around them.
"Huh?" interceded one of the boy's friends. "Don't know him? He is the son of a generation of nobles! His father is a Baron."
"Sorry, if that had been mentioned before, I hadn't quite caught that. Now that I do, quite frankly, I don't care." Levi's impassive countenance veiled any traces of nervousness he felt . Truthfully, he did not mean to say that last part.
Loud gasps were heard across the hallway but the silence that came after was worse. The tension was suffocating and no one dared to move, speak, or even breathe. Levi looked at the boy and witnessed how the pallor on his face had transitioned into one of a deep red colour.
"Who do you think you are?!" the boy roared at him.
"Honestly, even I myself don't even know," Levi answered with a masterfully masked expression albeit deep inside, he could feel his heart beating loudly against his chest. His vision had started to blur as he stood there, vulnerable under the piercing gazes. All he wanted was to get away as fast as possible.
"Ha! Oh, but I do," the boy said with a menacing glint as he looked around, emboldened by the interested crowd. "I know who you are. You are the bastard son belonging to a hereditary class of clandestine lunatic. You do not have a father, correct? Hm… I would bet at the premise that he had left you and your mother because he simply could not fathom how we could live with his sanity in your presence."
Another series of gasps were heard. Louder and more shameless this time. Levi tightened his fist and huffed, warning the boy to stop with his eyes.
Don't make a scene, Levi …
"Have I mentioned how your Acker—I meant, your excrement family comprise of detestable ill-made urchins, and you are one of them too. That is why your family should have no affiliate of sorts to the gentry. You are an embarrassment to all of us nobles."
Don't. Make. A. Scene.
"Especially as your mother is nothing but a shameless hussy—"
The next thing he knew the boy was no longer standing in front of him, instead, was lying pathetically on his side against the floor like a foetus. A trail of thick blood was gushing out of his nose and the boy shrieked and cried and shrieked some more. As he brought himself back, Levi had only just noticed the slight throbbing on the knuckles of his right hand, and realised immediately what had just happened.
Chaos ensued in the hallways, although Levi remembered little of it.
When he was brought back to his senses with his consciousness fully awakened, young Levi was forced to kneel on a wooden stool formed identically to a two-step stair. He knew by then that he was no longer in the hallway—because said hallway was now replaced by a large room designed and depicted with towering bookshelves.
He was in the school library.
The person who demanded that he kneel was a senior—a sixth year, probably. He wore the standard uniform, but with a slight difference; instead of black, he wore white and black trousers in the pattern of a hound's-tooth. He also donned a white bowtie and a red waistcoat. On his right hand, he held a birch rod, and Levi knew right away of what was to happen with him. He remembered from the opening ceremony that not only did the prefects have the privilege of personally styling their uniform, they also were entitled with disciplinary power over the other students.
In other terms, Levi is done for. He had little to none of the energy that could rescue him of such trouble. So, he thought, he might as well prepare himself for the worse.
Levi took in an exhausted breath as he knelt on the lower step and placed his elbows on the second step. It was this kind of ridiculous rituals wherein the accused, humiliated and damnified, would be faced against a sea of students who had long abandoned their books and papers to watch him. Once more, the familiar sense of nausea struck the back of his mouth, and his head started to spin. The sickening feeling only worsened when he heard the sturdy footsteps behind him, followed by the declarations of his offence and punishment.
"Fifteen hits for demonstrating violence in school," exclaimed the senior with a stern voice.
All the sudden, without any warning, the birch landed on the frame of his back. The sting of the strike was fleeting yet the burning sensation left with it lingered on his skin like a fire of ache. Levi clammed his eyes closed and bit his tongue as the pain travelled up to his head. He winced, however, remained still and stoic, appearing unaffected. He will never allow these people such amusement. When he forced his eyes open and lifted his head to look straight at the spectators, he saw a variety of human expressions. Some mocked hostilely at him, laughing derisively and calling him names; there were others who gave him their pities; for the others, they cared not and simply went about their scholarly obligations.
For the first time in his life, Levi felt imprisoned in a situation which he could not escape from. To live alone and humiliated did not suffice as the cruel affairs for his life within this school; he needed to learn what it meant to be disciplined through methods intended to leave deep scars within and on his body.
Levi began to sweat and tremble from the pain, but his resoluteness demanded that he stifle his cries, even as the birch continued to hit. At some point, he wanted to ask the God his mother used to pray to each day if he had done something so horrid in his past life to deserve this. Because everything—from the birch to the people, to the school, and even to Kenny—seemed as if were tailored to torment him.
Time flies really slow that day, and he did not even bother to count the seconds or the beatings. He just wanted this to be over with. His desire to leave everything behind had grown more intensely, and if such could not come sooner, he wanted to disappear. For sure, no souls in this school had care for him enough to even miss him.
"Halt!"
Came a deep voice that asserted authority, and almost instantaneously, the whole library fell into silence.
Levi raised his head groggily to the entrance of the library and saw a youth with shining blond hair parted neatly to the left. Like a proud lion, this youth brought with him an air of dignity and unbending principle, displayed by the astonished yet meek expressions of the students around and the steadfast steps he made as he approached him.
He wore the same uniform as the senior who stopped beating him, but with the observable difference of a dark brown waistcoat with silver buttons. Levi remembered this student was the one who speak in the opening ceremony. He recognised him to be the head prefect—commissioner of an elite group of senior students—and a notable member of the Sixth Form Select—the group of academically gifted students.
Everyone knew who Erwin Smith was.
To the freshmen, he was idolised and glorified, placed on their fantastical pedestals. To the seasoned students and his peers, he was characterised as the most charismatic and genial individual in their group. To the faculty, he was nothing short of a perfect student—eloquent, academic, and highly perceptive.
But the first time he saw Smith, Levi felt an instinctive dislike for the prefect. He was too polished, too uptight, too perfect in a most inhuman and alien way. Levi vowed that he would never affiliate himself with Smith or allow Smith to ever affiliate himself with him.
Hence, for him, nothing within his arsenal could mask his astonishment and incredulity when this too perfect blond prefect approached him and asked kindly, "are you alright?"
Levi slowly nodded.
"Good," uttered Smith, adding a smile before he turned to face other senior. "Have I not stated it clearly enough that one's attendance to the hearing occurs before the punishment?"
The senior, who had taken a pitiful step backwards and was gripping the twigs tightly, stuttered as he tried to form a coherent answer.
"Uh… I was… I was told that Ackerman was brought here while… while Rollo was freed from any punishment." Smith furrowed his brows, but allowed him to continue, "R-Rollo was injured, so that… that is why I was unable ask him… about the events behind the circumstance."
"Of which explicitly dictates that you have to wait until Rollo's recovery before you do apply any appropriate actions against Ackerman. Furthermore, there are plenty of witnesses who you could have asked. But until then, Ackerman shall be deemed innocent."
To his relief, Levi's punishment was to be delayed and altered until further notice. While he was grateful for Smith unexpected intervention, he did hope that Sir Bushy Brows would have come sooner to avert him of a most sore back. Tch. Now relieving himself in the bathroom would be such an agonising ordeal.
The week following these events, the prefects held a thorough examination of the case, and it was decided altogether that Levi and Rollo, as well as Rollo's friends, were to be punished. Levi was guilty of punching Rollo, but his punishment was given less severity as Rollo was the one who had started the fight and had provoked him. Levi already had his punishment, which comprised of a total ten birches, so he was freed. Rollo, on the other hand, was punished with eleven birches while his friends each got five. They walked along the hallway like a group of gangling louts with traces of down on their cheeks on the next day.
Since that day, Levi's schedule continued as usual. Although he struggled still with his academics and social skills, he noticed that many students began to assiduously avoid him and that the only logical guess he could connect with such is that people began to fear him. All because he had punched one irritating brat. Other guesses that linked to his gossamer web of thoughts followed, and he considered that having someone as infamous and vile for an uncle such as Kenny Ackerman played a part in it. In spite of the troublesome manner many perceive him to be, he was simply grateful that people stopped deriding him.
When Levi would choose to study in the library, he would make it certain that he claims a spot in either an empty corner or a cubicle. However, there were those days when it seemed that many of the other students had also taken a liking to his space, thus, despite his annoyance and reluctance, he sat on the large table in the centre of the library where he could see everyone else and everyone else could see him.
Yet the sacrifice of sitting uncomfortably on a large table paled in comparison to the consequences if he were to fail another class. Once again, he found himself clawing at his mind as he tried to concentrate. It seemed that no matter how hard he tried, he could not comprehend the vocabulary even with the aid of a Latin dictionary permanently attached to his left hand. Levi was lost in his thoughts and struggles when a voice addressed him.
"Are these occupied?"
He looked up from his books and saw the very same shimmering blond head that he had had the dishonour of meeting the week before, pointing at the two chairs in front of him. Unlike the previous time, Erwin Smith was not alone—there was another student with him, one with mop of sandy blond hair and a subtle moustache, who was standing next to him. Levi noted that this student was exceptionally tall—even taller than Kenny—and judging from the uniform, he knew this student was also a prefect.
"No," answered Levi, curtly averting his gaze back to his books.
After he had heard a couth "thank you" and the sound of two chairs being moved against the waxed floor, the shiny blond prefect spoke up again.
"So, I believe we have met. Ackerman, right?"
Levi eschewed raising his head and looking at them, and answered with only a nod and a small hum.
"How is your back? Does it still hurt?" he asked again.
"No." Levi still did not take his gaze away from his books, and he hoped sincerely that Smith would notice that he was not interested in engagements of small talk nor was he enthused with answering any more of his humdrum questions.
"I am sorry you had to experience that," continued Smith and, this time, Levi caught a hint of empathy in his voice.
Levi made a discreet peek at them before returning to his books. "Yeah," he uttered.
"Ah, perhaps introductions are in order," Smith said, looking at the giant that sat next to him and flashing Levi a smile. "My name is Erwin. Erwin Smith. I'm fifth year."
"I'm Mike Zacharias, sixth year, pleasure to make your acquaintances," chimed in the tall student whose voice was octaves deeper than Smith's.
Levi finally raised his head, put away his backs, and paid them a generosity of his attention. In normal circumstances, he would have packed away his belongings and left abruptly; although, this time, his conscience dictated that he owed Smith a favour, and if there was anything about the Ackerman clan, it was that all debts were to paid. At this, he introduced himself albeit begrudgingly, "Levi Ackerman, first year."
The sharp silence that followed made Levi believe that the conversation had ended. That was until Smith had nodded his head and resumed with a grin so wide it was obnoxious.
"So, how are you faring so far with your studies?" he asked.
Levi clicked his tongue, wanting to murderously pull those ridiculous eyebrows off his face. "Fine," he enunciated with the utmost courtesy he could feign.
"Is there anything in particular that you don't understand?"
Everything, he wanted to say if not for his abominable pride. "Nothing."
And yet after Levi caught Smith and Zacharias observation of his heap of elementary textbooks lying on top of another, his pallor suddenly coloured, and he attempted to hide away the massive books in a most ungainly manner. For him, fortunately, the awkwardness of his gestures was more sheer than his internal panic.
"Are you sure?" asked Zacharias.
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely?"
"Yes."
"Positively?"
Levi let out a huff as he leaned back on the chair. "What do you want?"
"What do you mean?" enquired Smith archly.
"Skip the bullshit and get to the point."
Both widened their eyes at his usage of such language, obviously astonished. At the reactions, Levi was reminded that he was speaking two prefects, both of whom could easily subject him to another sanction, and he cringed hard at such. However, on the contrary, the astonishment was superseded by exuberant chortles, and he was, at the least, confused.
"Well, we do have a proposal," declared Smith.
As soon as he mentioned such, Levi raised a brow and began to speculate what oddities these prefects had in mind for him. They were no older than seventeen, and he presumed that he was far younger than them; what would they want now with someone such as he, whose very voice had yet to drop in pitch.
Before entering school, Kenny had once warned him the activity of fagging. Kenny had told him that seniors at school would often choose an unfortunate junior to be their "fag" who shall be responsible for tidying up after the senior as well as run errands for them. In exchange for such forced services, they grant the junior some sense of protection. Levi thought the idea idiotic, and he would rather drop out than lick the boots of any seniors.
"If I am to become your fag then you could have the privilege of walking over my dead body first," retorted Levi.
Smith furrowed his eyebrows. "What? No, that's not it at all," he said, turning to Zacharias and nudging him lightly with an elbow. "Go on, Mike. You tell him."
Zacharias cleared his throat. "Listen, what we are trying to say is that we want you to teach us fencing."
Now it was Levi who had furrowed his eyebrows. "What?"
"Mr. Bridges has been talking about a first-year student he deems prodigy. Then, when we saw you once at the gymnasium, we were quite impressed. To say that you are a prodigy is an understatement—your posture and technique are flawless, professional if I might say so," praised Zacharias, whose earnestness had caught Levi off guard.
"That is true. Have you, by any chance, taken special classes back home?" Smith asked.
"No."
"Well, are you not the natural talent they say you are," exclaimed Smith with an agreeable nod. "Here's the thing: Mike and I have a competition next February, and given that how college handsomely superintends us prefects, we intend to win. That is why we want you to coach us and share with us some of your techniques."
"Are you two serious?" said Levi, incredulous. "Can't you see? I'm only… I'm twelve." Levi almost threw up; he couldn't believe he just said that.
"And I'm sixteen," chuckled Smith before adding, "unlike others, I do not comprehend the discrimination against age and skill, nor the correlation between such. Raw talent such as yours speaks for itself. Right, Mike?"
The giant moustached adolescent nodded proudly in agreement of Smith's remark.
Levi gave this some thought and thereafter, applying what his cunning uncle had taught him, enquired at the two with a scoff. "What did I get in return?"
"I don't intend to seem condescending but from some particulars that we have related to your instructors, we suspect that you are struggling with your studies. As your seniors, we can help you with that." Smith looked him straight in the eyes, "it's a win for both of us, is it not?"
His finger tapped repeatedly against the surface as he carefully considered their offer. He had no intentions of befriending anyone and even more so of pretending to be anyone's friend, but such display of filial relationships would not count, would it? It is purely professional and such affable attachment could not possibly stem from this agreement, right?
"Alright," he answered finally.
"Really? That's great! Thank you." The smile on Smith's face grew, and so did the one on Zacharias.
Levi nodded and, without another word, returned his attention to his books. The exchange was made, and the relative terms and offers were accepted, and Levi thought that as nothing more followed, they were subject to finally leave him be. However, such was not the case when he suddenly heard the chairs on both his sides move and two towering persons looming over him.
Smith glanced over Levi's shoulder, keen on the text Levi was reading through which he read through now as well. "Well, seems like this marks the beginning of our deal."
"Yeah, we can't have you drop out before the competition now, could we?" quipped Zacharias.
Levi was hesitant as he was trapped in between them, but he did not do anything when they began helping him with how this dead language works. They were so patient with him and taught him in a way that was easy to digest.
Astonishingly, for the first time since he had started school, he finally passed his exams.
Since then, Levi would spend his afternoons in the library under the tutelage of the seniors. This made him believe that for once he had made a right decision; accepting their offer was the dawn of his academic improvements, and he started to understand and comprehend all the subjects in a clearer detail as clear as the reflection on his swiftly recovering grades.
At the same time, Levi would spend his weekends in the gymnasium. Most of the time, people will not take advice from someone who is younger than them. That is why Levi was having a second doubt on their arrangement. However, it turned out that both Smith and Zacharias really valued his input. Almost like they saw him as an equal, and it was such a foreign feeling for Levi to experience.
Eventually, their study session that were once initiated with World History, now usually ended up with Mike's intricate narration of horror stories. Their weekend that had started with rigorous fencing rounds, now ended up with them playing around the school ground.
Eventually, "Smith" became "Erwin", "Zacharias" became "Mike", and "Ackerman" became "Levi".
They were inseparable, and as a result, everyone who happened upon their growing friendship began to call them The Three Musketeers. While Levi abhorred wholly the nickname, Erwin felt amused by it, and Mike simply loved it. He adored it so much that he would quote the book every time they trained.
"And now gentlemen, all for one, one for all—that is our motto, is it not?" Mike would always say that after their session, in the most theatrical and melodramatic tone he could muster, peeving Levi to no end.
Moreover, Erwin's popularity and reputation in the school had benefited Levi in such a manner that no sane person would dare to lay a finger or an insult on him. Nonetheless, as the months passed, Levi himself had grown into a prominent public figure. His extraordinary skills in sports was unfathomably indomitable, and the people's malevolent jealousy of him had changed into that of genuine admiration. Though some were still frightened of him, Levi paid them no attention as long as they did the same.
Suddenly, it was February. Levi was not surprised of Mike triumph at the fencing competition, granting Erwin the second place. Yet, as Levi watched the superintendent award his friends on stage, tiptoeing to reach the gargantuan Mike Zacharias and place the shimmering golden medal over his head, he felt a fleeting bitterness rest in his mouth and stomach. He realised that now that exams were over and that the competition was concluded, there was no reason for them to see one another again. Levi was astonished at himself for the slight regard that he was deeply saddened at the eventual termination of their agreement.
Just then, imagine Levi's surprise when Mike, who had found his person seated at the audience, send him a brimming grin before shouting for the entire room to hear with utmost clarity, "THIS VICTORY IS FOR THE THREE MUSKETEERS OF SHINA. FOR ERWIN, MIKE, AND LEVI. FOREVER AND EVER."
Up to this day, Levi would awaken in cold sweat whenever he was to remember such a mortifying moment. He felt everyone's eyes on him, and maybe even the ghosts or the insects hiding in the grass were all looking at him: the scrawny little thirteen- year-old who tried his best to appear as unbothered as possible when in truth he wanted the soft earth beneath him to open and engulf him completely.
Nevertheless, Levi never thought he would be pleased to have been proven wrong. Even after the days since competition, Mike and Erwin occasioned the library to assist him in his studies. They also continued to spend their weekends fencing, but this time their activities entailed more of playfully trying to beat one another other than learning new techniques.
Levi had thought that his first year in this school would be a ceaseless nightmare, yet these two idiots had proven him otherwise. He was not even sure if he would have survived or stayed longer if not for their guidance and ultimately, friendship.
Time continued by its quiet ways. Mike was the first one to graduate. Then, following on the next year Erwin. By his third year, Levi had learned how to endure on his own. During this time, he found a new interest in cricket.
Fortunately, thanks to Erwin and Mike, Levi did not have a difficult time with his studies. He was not exceptional but he passed all his classes. The absence of Erwin and Mike made him all the more realise that he did not enjoy his stay in school. He found studying tolerable if not pleasing but he did not like being surrounded by so many snobs who brought with them their judgmental stares. As much he tried to ignore it, being placed in the centre of a crowd always left him feeling asphyxiated.
Fuck this bigoted people. He wanted nothing with them.
Then, a particular series of events occurred, and he had lost all motivation to finish his school. By spring of 1861, the fifteen- year- old Levi decided to drop out of school. He had written to Erwin and Mike about it, intending for them to be informed of his decision, and was met with the expected confusion. And although Kenny did not mind him dropping out from school, he specifically declared that he would not welcome Levi back to the estate. Not until Levi inherited it.
The school was courteous enough to arrange for him to join a cricket team. Hence, Levi trained to become a professional cricket player. Next to befriending Erwin and Mike, it was another one of the best decisions he has ever made. Levi travelled around for competition, Erwin and Mike continued to send him their regards and support, and all seemed well for him.
Yet it only lasted for five years. He had to step back from his career in order to learn about the management of an estate. It was abrupt and he was not prepared at all for it as he did not think he would inherit the estate quite so soon.
The moment he had stepped inside manor, his footstep echoing against the marbled floors, he felt the sharp sting of cold air greets him.
Such thoughts of having to go through all this alone was indescribable unpleasant in that the emotions and thoughts were difficult to put into words.
But it did not take long when Erwin and Mike had returned into his life and, once again, they had guided and accompanied him through his turmoil. They taught him proper social decorum in business affairs, they taught him about the importance of building connections, they taught him on how to become an efficient estate owner, and more than he had expected, they even assisted him on the trials of becoming a novice guardian to a recently orphaned child.
They have always been there for him, especially in moments he did not expect him to be. They gave him strength, making his adversities far endurable. They had not at all belittle him nor trivialise any circumstances he had lived through. On the contrary, they never hesitated to provide their unsolicited concern and assistance, something that still perplexed him to this day.
"—Levi."
A sudden voice was heard on his ear, and Levi raised his head with a jolt as a response.
"Levi, are you alright?" Levi realised that the owner of the voice was no doubt, Erwin himself. Levi noticed that the three of them were standing in front of a restaurant. Levi deduced immediately that he was zoning out on the whole walk to the fencing arena, because he could not fathom any explanation for the change of destination.
"Huh? Yeah." Levi answered in his usual tone, trying not to sound like he just had a whole out of body experience in the middle of the day.
However, from their visage and bearing, Levi knew that they were not convinced in the slightest. Levi should have known that he could not fool them, no matter how veteran he is in the art of feigning emotions.
Levi let out a breath as he stared at them right in the eyes. "I was in my own head."
"Really?" Mike remarked before adding, "I thought you were silent because you were irritated by us."
Levi shrugged, "I will not deny it."
"Hey—!"
"Alright gentlemen, that is enough." Erwin intervened, chuckling in the process of doing so. He then glanced at Levi and said, "we were thinking of having a second lunch because Mike insisted that a sandwich is not sufficient enough for his body."
Mike nodded unabashedly. "Yeah, besides, you haven't had your lunch, right? The last thing we need is for you to collapse in the arena."
Levi was reminded to his forgotten sandwich that was left unattended in his office. However, ever so surprisingly, that was the last thing he was concerned about. He did not care if the forgotten sandwich will be an open invitation for bugs to feast into on his office. If anything, he was grateful that they brought him said sandwich. It was unnecessary, they did not have to buy him sandwich, but they did. They always did.
"So, how about it—"
"Why do you two always help me?" Levi abruptly cut Erwin's question with his own query.
It did not take Levi long to figure out that his question was unusual and out of place, because Erwin and Mike were observing him with the most bewildered expression that they had probably ever made throughout their lifetime.
Erwin was the first one to break away from his bewilderment. He chuckled as he answered, "that's a weird question, Levi."
"Yeah. Isn't that obvious?" Mike responded.
"No."
"Well, it's because we are your friends, Lev. All for one and one for all, remember?" Mike said with a smile.
Erwin nodded. "That is why if you have any problem, don't hesitate at all to tell us. All right?"
Levi was stunned, perplexed, and dumbfounded. Of course, they would say that. Why did he even bother to mutter that question? After all, they are Erwin Smith and Mike Zacharias, the two most troublesome and nosy people he had ever encountered. Of course, they would never leave him be. Why did he even bother to doubt them?
Then, Levi felt one corner of his mouth started to twitch into a sneer. It seemed that he was indeed a dunce midget all along. He then walked into the direction of the door. He opened the door ever so slightly and spare his companions a glance before saying, "all right, let's eat."
-Chapter 14 End-
Replies:
CristalyKuronuma: THANK YOU! One of my favorite thing in a romance genre is actually when they profess their love without explicitly saying it! I do agree, I can't wait to explore Hange's reaction regarding the event in chapter 13 :D
Guest: THANK YOU! I also love Victorian era!
Maisis11:LMAO! Levi is hopeless, poor guy! I do hope Hange will understand him :') WHAT? LEMON SCENE? I haven't heard that term in ages! HAHA! Sadly, no, I can't write lemon :'D ANYWAY, Thank you Mai for loving this story!
NeonArt1: AAFFFFSFSDA, THANK YOU!
Notes:
HEYA! THANK YOU FOR READING!
I love writing Levi's perspective! I hope through this chapter, you guys are able to understand his character in this story a little bit more!
Speaking of, in canon we didn't really know much about the interactions between Levi and Mike or Erwin and Mike. Hence, I wrote this chapter to study and to capture the potential dynamic between these three amazing amigos. I love their bromancessss!
That's all folks! See you on the next update!
A lil bit rant regarding this chapter (feel free to skip):
This chapter by far the most laborious in term of research. I read quite a lot of papers and articles about boarding school in Victorian era. I was so sad to know that corporal punishment was so common during that era. Even Jane Eyre character herself experienced such hardship during her time in Lowood School. For this story, I used Eton College as a reference for Shina College.
On another note, TBH , I've never read Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers. However, I did watch the Barbie one though, HAHA. So, in order to write it into this chapter, I had to read a quick summary abt it. Apparently, the main character of the story IS NOT PART OF THE THREE MUSKETEERS?! My whole life is a lie.