SPECIAL OPERATIONS SQUAD

/~~~~\

Levi had taken the day, just like Rya told him too. He spent about 10 minutes of it moving into his new lodgings, since all he had in terms of stuff was the clothes given to him by the Scouts. All his things were still in the underground. As well as his money, meaning he couldn't pay for anything. He had yet to get a paycheck for his work at the corps. Due to his criminal status, Erwin explained he had a trial period of 5 months without pay. If he stayed true to the regiment and didn't cause anyone any trouble, then he would be allowed off the campus during his free days like everyone else and he would be given a monthly paycheck like everyone else.

He wasn't that bothered. It's not like he went anywhere anyway. The only concern he had was getting his money from his apartment before someone raided his place and stole it. They worked hard for that money. He wasn't sure what he was going to do with it but he didn't want it to fall into the hands of some lucky criminal.

Maybe he'd buy them a gravestone. They were expensive but worth it in Levi's opinion. Currently they were just buried in the corps cemetery. If he hadn't been there when they were put in the ground, Levi wouldn't even know which pile of dirt was theirs. The graves were given numbers. It was sick.

He wasn't a religious man by any means but Farlan was. And Isabel deserved better.

Sighing, Levi sat up from his bed and looked out the window as the sun rose.

He had to admit he was enjoying his new quarters very much. It was clean, manageable and best of all, away from people. It even had places he could store food, when he was allowed off campus and could buy it himself. Until then, he'd have to continue getting his meals at the mess hall. But this was certainly an improvement. Isolating himself from society had never been easier.

Making his bed, showering and dressing in his uniform, Levi looked at the time and saw he still had 20 minutes before he had to head down to the hall for a quick breakfast and then training. It was a times like this he wished he owned a book. Something to occupy himself. Because if he had nothing to occupy his brain, he was going to no doubt think about her.

Levi looked around the dreary place with tired eyes, his hair falling in front of his face. Even after all that food, he was still hungry. You'd think watching your mother die slowly would quell the appetite, but no. Starvation was stronger than the nausea he felt watching her rot.

Kenny had found him. Taken him and given him a meal.

He told him he would teach him how to survive and Levi wasn't given the option to say no. They walked for a long time until they got to his apartment. It was small, in central city. It was dark too, a single candle flickering on the table. Sitting at that table, sharpening a knife of all things, was a girl.

"Rya." Kenny called and the girls head snapped up, her green eyes glowing in the light. Kenny jutted his head down to Levi and the girl looked at him, their eyes meeting. She frowned slightly, setting the knife down on the table and walking over to them. She was his age, but she looked a lot healthier. Dark chocolate hair clouding her eyes. "This is Levi. Runt, this is Rya. You'll be training together now." He informed, taking off his jacket and coming further into the room.

The children continued to stare at each other. Or rather, the girl continued to stare him down and Levi was simply looking back. He swallowed nervously.

"Hi." He whispered, breaking the silence. It was weird seeing another child up close. He'd never met anyone his age before, but he'd read about the premise of friends in the books his mother would provide him with. Maybe he could be friends with this girl.

She stared at him for a moment longer, narrowing her eyes in distaste.

Then she turned without a word, snatching her knife off the table.

"He won't last." She said to Kenny before stalking off down the small hall into a room, slamming the door behind her. Kenny sighed, scratching the back of his head.

"Such a little brat." He mumbled before looking at Levi who was pretty confused at this point. Kenny pursed his lips at him. "Come on, let's get you settled, runt. I doubt Rya will let you share her room so it's the floor for ya, boy." He informed, grabbing a pillow and a scratchy looking blanket from what looked like a small storage closet and passing them to Levi before gesturing his head to the patch of floor in the corner. Levi stared at the pillow in fascination. He was used to sleeping on the floor, but he hadn't had a pillow for a while.

Kenny sighed, ruffling his hair before disappearing into, what Levi assumed to be his room, at the end of the hall. Levi swallowed at the silence, setting his pillow down on the wood and curling up with his blanket.

Sighing, Levi shook his head off the memories. Thinking about the past was less than productive. He had to find something to do. Something to…

His eyes caught the cabinet and he walked towards it, curious. He assumed the place would be empty but Rya did used to live here, didn't she, if only on rare occasions. And he knew her well enough to know she never went anywhere without-

He opened the cabinet and suppressed a smirk, taking out the box of tea leaves. It had always been their common ground. It was shitty stuff in the underground, but they grew to enjoy it. By the time they were teenagers they had become addicted to the stuff, never being able to afford milk, they drank it without.

This looked expensive though. She really was moving up in the world. In theory, anyway. Levi still wasn't convinced that this was all some kind of massive ploy.

He took out one of two mugs that she also had left in there and filled up the kettle, lighting the hob with a match and setting it on the stove to boil. For a brief second, he wondered if she'd be mad that he was using her tea. Then he rolled his eyes. Like he cared about upsetting her anymore.

His eyes caught a small mirror nailed into the wall next to the bookshelf and he looked at himself for a moment. His hair had grown a bit longer than what it usually was. His friends were dead. Making sure his hair stayed properly trimmed didn't seem like a main concern at the time. Lifting up a hand, he took a strand between his fingers and rolled it slightly like she had.

It was probably the most affectionate thing she'd ever done to him.

"Your hair… it looks longer." She murmured softly.

Her voice was so gentle. It shook him. Reminded him of a time before.

What was her motive?

The scream of the kettle snapped him out of his musings, and he turned off the heat, pouring the boiled water into the mug through the strained tea leaves, watching the water darken, an enriched smell filling his lungs. This was definitely not the shitty stuff he was used to.

Once he was done, he cleaned up and sat down at the small table and chairs, taking a careful sip. His eyes widened slightly.

It was incredible.

Rya's P.O.V…

Rya opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling with a blank face. Erwin shifted slightly behind her, nuzzling into her shoulder, his warm naked body pressed against her own as he hugged her from behind. Allowing him to be the dominant one in their relationship was an adjustment for sure. She wasn't a very submissive person by nature but the benefits he gave her were certainly worth it. Like becoming Captain.

Now that was definitely a huge benefit. Especially given the amount of power she needed to pursue her goal. She was close… she could feel it.

And besides, the sex wasn't terrible.

Just… tender.

He didn't satisfy her like she needed but there was no way to change that. They had been together for a year now and no matter how many hints she gives him, he refuses to provide her with even a little pain. It was always slow, always respectful.

She was sick of it.

But she had to remind herself she wasn't with him for the sex. She was with him for the mission so she could use his influence as the future Commander. Because she was finally trying to do something good. She had a promise to keep. It was only a matter of time now.

"Is this real? You're really here, engaged, Captain of the corps with no agenda?" Levi asked. Rya could taste the resentment in his tone.

He had every right to be angry. Especially after how she left him. While she didn't necessarily regret ending their 'relationship', she probably could have done it in a less bitchy way. The blowjob was definitely a step too far. But hey, he didn't stop her. In all honestly, she ended it for him. She wasn't normal and if he wanted a real connection then she wasn't going to hold him back. And she had no intentions of faking affection with him.

He didn't deserve that.

She figured he'd move on and find someone who could bear staying in the same bed for more than 10 seconds after the deed was finished. But he didn't look like he'd moved on. He looked angry.

"Levi." She mused quietly to herself, twirling her hair around her finger.

She didn't think she'd ever see him again. She was captured the very week she ended it with him and brought up to the surface to fight titans. She certainly didn't think Erwin would bring him up over dinner one day. Rya chose not to partake in the mission, knowing it would cause unnecessary drama. She'd been at the MP headquarters the past month as a representative for the corps. They had a period of meetings like this every year and she was of a high enough rank to volunteer so she did, figuring whatever business he had with Erwin would be settled by then.

When Erwin told her, his friends had died fighting the titans, she felt something twinge in her. What was it? Guilt? Regret? Empathy? It had been so long since she felt something akin to real emotion that she had forgotten how to interpret them. It was easy to decipher other emotions, easy as reading a book. But her own… now that was a different story. Regardless of what it was specifically, it was an odd feeling and troubled her deeply. So, she pushed it away. She didn't care about him. She didn't care about anyone. She had one task and it required all of her attention.

Which was why her recent behaviour was rather strange. Why did she give him her room? She loved that room. It was the place she hid when Erwin was getting too affectionate and she needed a breather. It was so quiet there. Maybe that was why.

She knew Levi liked quiet.

Was it her way of trying to make it up to him? She wasn't sure herself.

"What about him?" Erwin mumbled tiredly and Rya's eyes widened, turning around in his arms to see he was just waking up. He must have heard her say his name.

"Nothing." She whispered, stroking his cheek. "Just hoping he'll get along with the squad is all." She explained. Erwin hummed in understanding, kissing the palm of her hand and closing his eyes again.

She felt nothing.

In a way it was frustrating. Erwin was kind, powerful, handsome. He treated her right, but she just couldn't bring herself to feel a single fucking thing for him. It was an act, just like Levi expected. But there wasn't really an agenda. Well… not a selfish one anyway. She was dedicated to the corps. Even when her mission was finished, she intended to stay here. It had become her home, a type of purpose and repentance for all the bad she'd done in her lifetime.

That didn't mean she wasn't still a devil.

Erwin was in love with her. He intended to marry her.

And Rya intended on breaking his heart. As soon as she was able to.

She was doing him a favour really. Erwin didn't know who she really was. If he did, he'd be horrified. Perhaps she'll tell him all the shit she's really done to soften the blow. But she'd probably just have to stick with the soul crushing truth. She had no feelings, so she wasn't capable of loving him.

Sighing, she pressed a kiss to his forehead and stood from the bed, slipping a robe over her naked body. Erwin cracked open his eyes slightly.

"Why do you always leave me so early?" He asked, rolling onto his side to look at her. She smiled gently.

"Just because you hate running, doesn't mean I'm going to become a lazy-ass for you." She teased lightly and Erwin laughed, sitting up and reaching for her. Rya lent down and kissed him.

Again, she felt nothing.

Kissing didn't arouse her like it should. It honestly did the opposite. Made her feel cold. Wrong. It's why she never kissed Levi. The times they had sex was the closest Rya had ever gotten to feeling something. She enjoyed how rough he was with her. How he always gave her everything he had. She didn't want to contaminate that feeling with the coldness of a kiss.

Erwin released her after a moment and she messed up his hair in a cheeky gesture, which made him chuckle before she grabbed her clothes and changed in the bathroom, getting ready for her early morning run.

/~~~~\

2 hours later and Rya reached her checkpoint, sighing in relief and wiping some sweat off of her forehead.

She'd always enjoyed running.

It gave her time to just drift without thinking. The more she pushed herself, the more the pain would force her mind to go blank. It was pure bliss, and she didn't think she'd be able to get through the day without running in the morning. In a way it was a type of release, just like Levi had been. Erwin had made her cum once, but it was only because she convinced him to let her go on top and was able to set the pace. While they both finished, Erwin admitted he preferred how they usually did it. And the Rya he loved wouldn't force something on him that made him uncomfortable.

So, she hadn't had any real satisfying sex since.

Seeing Levi was tempting yesterday, she'll admit. He'd grown in muscle from the looks of things. His features had been thinning out, but they had clearly cemented during her absence. He had a sharp face now. A jawline that could break flesh. She wanted to bite it.

She wanted to own him again.

"Shit." Rya hissed, rubbing her face. She was not allowed to sleep with Levi. No matter how pent up she was. No matter how fucking attractive he looked while he was glaring at her. If he got spiteful and told Erwin she cheated on him, it would ruin her plans.

And more than that… she promised herself she would let him move on.

Thinking about how she left things with him… it made her feel that feeling again. And it grossed her out. She didn't have feelings and she had grown to like it that way. Less complicated for everyone involved.

That didn't mean she wasn't tempted. Holy fuck was she tempted.

She could just imagine how angry he would be if she walked into his room, shoved him onto the bed and grabbed his dick. Oh, he'd be fucking furious. And he'd pound her into the fucking mattress with no restraint. She wanted it to hurt. She wanted to feel that pain pulse between her legs every time she took a step.

Rya could feel herself getting wet at the thought and groaned in annoyance. Shaking her head and picking herself back up, she started walking back to the castle so she could get showered and dressed before heading down to breakfast.

Levi's P.O.V…

A while later, he made it into the mess hall, crowded with people, talking and laughter. Levi suppressed a grimace, his eyes immediately drawn to an individual sitting at the Squad leader's table. Rya was there, talking to Erwin and Commander Shaddis. The bitch was laughing, her face bright and cheerful.

He frowned and teared his eyes away, grabbing a tray from the front. She must have been gone the past month. There's no way he wouldn't have noticed her. Even in a crowded room of hundreds of soldiers, his attention was drawn to her instantly.

And it pissed him off.

Scoffed at his own stupidity, he dropped into a seat at a table in the corner he had claimed as his own from day one. He used to sit here with Isabel and Farlan but since they weren't here anymore, he sat by himself. Or he usually sat by himself anyway.

Simon dropped into the seat opposite him, a shit-eating grin on his face.

"Dude!" He said excitedly, setting his tray of food down. Levi's face dropped. What the hell did this idiot want?

"Fuck off, Simon." He warned but Simon paid absolutely no attention.

"I just heard from the Captain! You joined my squad, man! Congrats!" He smiled like this was the best thing to happen to him all year. If Levi wasn't so pissed off, he might even be impressed with the man's bravery. Either he was too stupid to understand Levi could and would carve his tongue out with the blunt edge of his spoon, or he knew, and he was too stupid to care.

Levi opened his mouth to spit an insult back and get the blonde moron away from him, but a sudden laughter came from the front of the room and he flicked his eyes up just in time to see Erwin laughed with the group, wrapping his arm around Rya's waist, kissing her briefly before standing and preparing to leave the hall. Rya smiled, looking up at him in a loving glance.

His fist clenched around his spoon and his teeth ground together.

He had never been a jealous man.

But fucking hell, this was not fair in the slightest. Two years fucking and the closest Levi had gotten to sharing a kiss with that woman was when she sunk her teeth into his juglar. She just didn't allow affection. Levi wasn't sure what would have happened if he ever tried to take a kiss from her.

At the beginning, about a week after they started sleeping with each other, Levi slipped up and got caught in the moment. Her neck was exposed and sweaty and he couldn't help himself. But the second his lips touched her skin, Rya's blade was against his throat. She spat a warning about how next time that happened her knife would taste his blood, collected her clothes and left him confused and inches away from his climax as a punishment.

The woman he knew was an animal. Who the hell was that?

Losing any and all energy, knowing his questions would never be answered, Levi looked down at his military bowl of shit and sighed.

"Whatever." He replied to Simon, who was still on the edge of his seat.

Simon laughed.

"Whatever?! Dude this is incredible! We can hang out all the time now!" He grinned and Levi glanced up to him with a deadpanned face.

"There is something psychologically wrong with you." He answered flatly and Simon blinked, taking a moment to comprehend the statement.

"Huh?" He didn't get there. Levi sighed, opening his mouth to spell out what an idiot he thought the blonde was before remembering something. If special ops were supposed to get their own quarters… what the hell was this clown doing in the barracks?

"Why don't you get a room?" Levi asked, curiously. Simon blinked again and Levi was growing in frustration by the second. "The special ops get a room. Why don't you sleep in yours?" Levi spelt out slowly in a patronising tone. Simon shook his head.

"I heard what you said man but you aint making any sense. Special ops aren't that special. Rooms are for squad leaders and higher management. We have to sleep in the barracks until we get promoted." He shrugged and Levi furrowed his brows. He had only been a month, so he still hadn't really picked up on how the military runs its command but thinking about it now, it made sense. Having to bunk with a bunch of strangers blows. Working harder to get that promotion and the room is a type of motivation to ensure everyone's performing the best they can.

So why did Rya give him a room?

"Levi? Dude did O'Jackson give you some of his pills? They aren't legit, you shouldn't trust him-" He started but Levi cut him off with a glare.

"I aint on drugs." He gritted and Simon bit into an apple carelessly, juices spitting onto the table, making Levi grimace at the mess. Those splodges were sure to leave sticky stains.

"Maybe you aren't. Don't trust O'Jackson anyway though." He offered through a full mouthful and Levi was done.

His appetite and patience completely ruined.

"I'm out." He stood up, collecting the tray of food he hadn't even begun to eat. Seeing it made a twinge of guilt pull on his insides. He didn't like throwing away food. And he didn't like seeing how wasteful everyone was around here after seeing how people starved in the underground. After how he himself starved in the underground.

But he hadn't had much of an appetite lately anyway. Every time he tried to eat; he saw it. He saw them die.

"Where are you going?" Simon asked. Levi pursed his lips as he tipped his tray into the bin and glanced back at the idiotic man.

"Out."

"Wait! You should come sit with the squad for a bit, I'll introduce you to everyone." He offered, jutting his head towards a table in the distance. They were looking straight at them, observing their encounter with suspicion. There were 2 guys, 1 girl. One of them was carving an apple with a sharp knife, staring straight into his soul. Levi hesitated before looking back at Simon's bright face.

"No thanks." He answered, pushing his hands into his pockets before walking away.

"Told you he wouldn't come, dumbass." A girl spat and Simon mumbled something back that Levi didn't hear as the doors slammed behind him, separating him from the rest of the hall. He sighed in relief.

Just how he liked it.

"You never did enjoy people, did you?" That voice spoke and Levi stiffened, any inkling of relaxation he had a second ago, gone. He turned and saw her, leaning on a wall, some sort of foreign fruit in her hand. Her hair was down today, sitting in waves around her shoulders. She was all geared up, 3DMG boxes at her hips.

Green eyes flicked up to his and there was silence for a moment.

A thick silence.

Levi choked out a cry of pain as her boot slammed into his ribs. Rya's blows were sharp, painful and without remorse. She held nothing back.

"Please stop-" Levi asked, hands over his head as his body soaked in a dirty puddle he'd fallen into. It had been a week since Kenny took him in. Training had started the next day and the bruises started forming the minute it ended. Rya glared down at him, scoffing and pushing him onto his back with the heel of her boot.

"Please? Really? Do you think the thug whose mugging you is going to stop if you ask him politely? You think the pedo groping you isn't going to shove his dick in your child ass if you remember your manners like mommy told you?!" She growled, kicking him again.

"Leave me alone!" Levi snapped angrily, his chest heavy with pain as he spat out some blood and dirty water. Rya stared at him with an emotionless expression.

"Make me." She replied simply.

A door shut in the distance and Kenny turned the corner into the alleyway he had left them in for a second. His face dropped when he saw them.

"Damnit, Rya!" He scolded, rushing over to help Levi up, roughly turning his head to inspect the spewing gash on the side of his head. "Easy. I said to go easy, did I not?" He reminded and Rya shrugged, unapologetic.

"He's not going to last." She reminded back. It was a retort she was fond of and used often in the week he had stayed with them. Like when she took half his dinner or stole his pillow and blankets. Like a type of defence mechanism. Like it didn't matter how she treated him because he wasn't going to last anyway.

Levi had learnt pretty damn quickly that this girl was not going to be his friend.

"No, he's not if you treat him like a ragdoll." Kenny grumbled, pulling the beaten Levi towards the main road, puddles of water splashing under their boots. Or what he hoped was water. It was most likely alcohol. Piss. Maybe even some watered-down blood.

Rya followed, hair hanging over her eyes.

"I was just defending myself, Ken. I'm a little girl. I'm supposed to be weaker." She spoke as they turned the corner and Kenny hoisted Levi over his shoulder as they climbed the narrow stairs. Levi's looked down at Rya as she walked after them, his eyes hooded with exhaustion. The girl watched him but said nothing.

"Funny, Ry. The boys a twig, he's been starved for weeks in the least. You've had full meals since I took you 4 years ago so don't go preaching that you're the weaker of the two." Kenny scolded, setting Levi down in the middle of the room before going towards the kitchen. Levi blinked, his head ringing. He started to sway when Rya tugged on his arm, keeping him upright before leading him to the kitchen table and shoving him into a seat.

He sniffed, watching her curiously. Why would she stop him from falling over after all that?

Rya simply rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, turning back to Kenny as he came out with the medical box.

"I don't get why you brought him here! He's useless and a waste of food! Aren't I enough?" She yelled, a bit of emotion breaking through on her face. The most Levi had seen, even if it was anger.

Kenny sighed and crouched down in front of her.

"Rya, you aren't my kid. I aint your dad. You aren't here because I need you to be. You're here because you needed a place, and I gave it to you. Same as Levi. Understand?" He said seriously and Rya looked down slightly.

"Yes." She whispered. Kenny ruffled her hair.

"Good. You two have a lot more in common than you think. Give him a chance, maybe you'll be friends?" Kenny suggested before grabbing a rag and Levi winced as the man started scraping off the blood knotted in his hair.

Rya looked at him for a second before frowning and walking away.

"Like I'd ever be friends with him." She muttered under her breath. It was the last words Levi heard before he passed out.

She never did go easy on him. And perhaps Levi should be grateful. Her abuse pushed him into fighting back. He had no other choice because she was right. People who rely on others and expect things to fall into their lap won't last in this world.

She forced him into survival.

"Here." She threw the fruit towards him, and he caught it instinctively. It was purple, plump and juicy looking. Like a weird coloured apple but softer, slightly smaller than the palm of his hand. "It's for eating." She added. Levi looked back up at her, his resentment twisting, he threw the fruit back towards her and she caught it effortlessly.

"I don't want anything from you." He mumbled, walking off. Rya followed him.

"You took the room." She pointed out, a smugness in her tone and Levi clenched his jaw.

"Because you told me everyone on the squad had them. Another lie." He spat back. Rya scoffed.

"When have I ever lied to you?" She asked and Levi was suddenly pissed as hell, twisting around to stomp back towards her.

"When have you ever told me the truth!?" He shot back, breathing heavily with frustration. Rya observed him for a second, biting the side of her lip in thought. It was incredibly attractive, and Levi hated her even more for it.

"Exactly." She replied finally after a long time. Levi faltered.

"What?" He frowned. Her lips tweaked for a second in what almost looked like the beginnings of a smirk before it was gone again.

"You're right, I don't tell you the truth. But I don't lie to you either. Never have." She shrugged and Levi glared before turning around and walking again.

"What so you think you're some sort of saint?" He spat, exasperated.

"I didn't say that." Levi ignored her and kept walking. "Levi." She called seriously and Levi paused. He hesitated and decided to turn around before he got another slice in his ear.

"What?" He asked. Rya threw the fruit back to him and turned towards the mess hall again.

"Don't starve yourself. It's stupid as fuck." She muttered, pushing the door open and disappearing behind it. Levi blinked.

Was she watching him earlier? When did she…?

Levi sighed and shook his head, knowing he would never know, turning back towards the outside. He hesitated but took a bite of the fruit. It wasn't for her, he told himself.

He just couldn't stand anymore fucking waste.

/~~~~\

After finishing the fruit, that was annoyingly good, Levi roamed about the campus. It looked empty and abandoned with everyone eating in the mess hall. After wasting enough time, he followed Erwin's directions, dragging his feet slightly as he walked towards the Special Operations should be starting to gather north east of the main building. He reached the tree line and looked around.

Seems he was the first one here. Even though it was his intention to turn up late so he could size up his opponents. Of course, they weren't meant to be his opponents. They were supposed to be his new squad. He was supposed to trust them. Levi didn't see that happening any time soon.

He glanced around the area and noticed deeper into the woods there was a clearing. The trees thinned out a little, with the woods still looming over the area. There was a patch of flattened land that looked about 9x9 metres and covered with sand or some other substance to keep the weeds from poking up. Ideal to fight on. A little away from the training platform was a few punching bags attached to thick branches and a creaky old shed. This was probably what Erwin meant by own training area. More secluded.

Not exactly flashy though.

Levi sighed and leant back on the trunk of a tree, watching the horizon for any sign of Rya or the others. A breeze ran through the forest and Levi's muscles tensed, suddenly feeling on edge. A snap of a twig made him stand up straight, alert. He snapped his head around, but he was still alone.

There were a few seconds of silence before a slight nose made his ears prick and he just managed to jump back in time to watch as a dagger imbedded into the earth where he was standing. His eyes widened as he heard a laugh.

Rya? No, that wasn't her laugh. This wasn't her.

"Good reflexes…" A woman's voice drawled.

Another whip of wind and Levi reacted, leaning away as another dagger was thrown to his right but winced as a blade cut a slice in his left arm. Two at once. He jumped up and used his gear to hook into a tree as a blade was thrown towards his feet, hoping to catch a glimpse of his enemy but there was a rustle in the trees, and she seemed to have moved. Levi looked at his arm as blood dripped down, soaking his fingers.

"Oh dear… did that hurt?" She asked, her voice dripping with poison. She was somewhere close. Levi's eyes darted around, looking for her. There were too many places she could be hiding. He needed to hear her again.

"I've had worse injuries." He replied flatly, sneaking one hand down to the dagger that he kept in his boot.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you!" She warned and Levi whipped his blade in her voice's direction, watching it clag with her dagger and they fell to the floor. he launched towards her direction before she could move, using a spurt of gas to fly upwards and knock her out of the tree. She tried to stab him, but Levi disarmed her as they hit the ground and he pinned her to the floor effortlessly.

Her aim was good, and the cover of the trees helped her attack. But it was nothing he couldn't handle. He had faced worse threats in the underground. Not to mention all the crap Kenny put him through.

He looked at the girl as she looked back. She was quite small, petite pale features. Her hair was pastel pink, tied up in pigtails and with the massive blue eyes and pouty look she was pulling, Levi had no fucking clue what age she was. The last thing he noticed was that she was wearing a survey corps uniform.

He pursed his lips and let go of her arms, standing up.

"Why were you trying to attack me?" Levi asked seriously. Her childish looks turned dark and she smirked evilly.

"I wasn't trying to attack you. I was trying to kill you." She answered in an unhinged voice. Levi heard a slight scuff behind him as her eyes flicked to his left and he managed to dodge in time for an axe to slam down where he had been. Levi unsheathed his blades and backed off to watch as his next attacker freed his axe and threw it back on his shoulder, looking towards him, licking his lips.

This man was tall and muscular. He had thick arms and a large neck, wide crazy brown eyes and thin lips. His head was shaved in a buzzcut and he also had the survey corps uniform on. It barely fit him, but it was definitely on.

"Levi." He greeted, walking towards him slowly. Levi clenched his jaw, taking a step back, eyes flicking towards the girl's position. Thankfully she was still on the floor. Having to defend against her and this brute at the same time would be a pain.

"You know me?" He asked, wary of his surroundings. The man grinned, lifting his axe over his head.

"What kind of question is that!?" He yelled as he swung down and Levi dodged to the left, the axe embedding deep into the trunk of a tree. The man laughed, arms straining as he freed his weapon again. "He's fast." He commented to the girl. Levi flicked looked back down to the clearing where he had left her, and his eyes widened.

She was gone.

"Shit." He muttered, looking back towards the brute who had gone as well. Levi realised a second too late that he was behind him, feeling a few seams in his jacket rip as he hooked his gears forward and the axe just slightly scraped him as it slammed into the dirt.

They were smart. That guy was trying to make him loose his focus. He knew his attack relied on surprise or Levi could keep dodging.

"Damnit! So close!" The guy whined.

"My turn!" The girls voice and Levi swung his body left as three more daggers embedded into the trunk, starting to get really pissed off now. Who gives a fuck if they were survey corps members? If they were trying to kill him, it was only fair.

He dropped back on the ground, with his back purposefully turned, keeping his eye on the trees so entice the ace man. He waited three seconds and leant his body backwards, watching the axe brush over his head. He caught eyes with the weapon wielder as his eyes widened, realising it was a trap, unsheathing his blade and pressing it against his neck.

The axe hit the ground.

"Throw another dagger and I'll slice his throat." Levi warned in a low voice. The guy gulped as he saw the willingness in Levi's eyes, a bead of sweat rolling down his brow.

"Wait!" The girl cried, dropping down to the floor and running over. "Don't hurt him!" She asked, the innocent look back. "I'll stop just- put it down. Please?" She asked. Levi wasn't buying it.

"Take off your jacket." Levi said seriously and the girls blush was immediate.

"W-what!?" She cried, crossing her arms around herself.

"Hey! Don't tell Kimmy to undress! What are you, a pervert?!" The guy strained, trying not to cut himself on the blade.

Levi's eye twitched in irritation.

"Your daggers. You keep them in your jacket. You clearly modified the insides with secret pockets." He spelt it out slowly, very done with today already. The girl's eyes widened as her blush dampened a little.

"How did you know that?" She asked quietly. Levi rolled his eyes.

"I used to know someone who did the same thing. Throw your jacket over there and I'll put down my knife. No one else attacks me or I'll fucking kill you both. Deal?" He warned, knowing he should avoid killing them if possible. Erwin had already given him that conversation a month ago.

The pair shared a look before nodding.

"Deal." They agreed. The girl took of her jacket with another small blush before throwing it. There was a heavy clunk of metal as it hit a tree. Levi wondered just how many daggers she had in there.

"Your turn." The girl, who was apparently called Kimmy, said seriously. Levi glanced at the brute of the man, pursing his lips before kicking the axe further away and removing the blade from his throat, taking a few steps back so they were all standing an equal distance away from each other. The large man sighed in relief, rubbing his throat.

Silence.

"You've got some moves. For a shorty anyway." He commented. Levi glared at him for the height comment.

"Whatever." He mumbled, turning around to leave and find Erwin to ask him what the hell was going on. He got three steps before he felt steel press against his neck and stilled, his blood freezing.

It wasn't the girl or that brute. He would have heard them. Which meant there was a fourth person among them.

"Such a pretty neck." She whispered next to his ear, pressing against his back tight to prevent him the chance to pull a defensive move. Where the fuck did this woman come from? "I bet your blood is even prettier." She taunted, nicking him slightly with the blade and Levi clenched his jaw.

"Damnit, Minerva. I wanted to kill him." Kimmy pouted.

"Snooze ya loose, kid." The woman responded, digging the blade in a little deeper and Levi felt the blood spilling down his throat.

"Come on guys, we can't actually kill him. The Cap wouldn't be happy about that." The brute commented.

"You think I give a fuck? His blood is so red…" she drawled, starting to slice. Levi's eyes widened. Was she really going to kill him? He had no room. Any sudden movement and the blade would rip his throat in half. He was at these freaks' mercy.

"Holy shit! Minerva, stop!" Levi's eyes flicked towards the front of the entrance where he saw Simon and a few of the other people from breakfast. No Rya though.

At least that's what I thought until he heard the hiss of 3DMG, a choking sound behind him before the pressure was gone from this throat and there was a slam, oomph and a thump.

He turned around to see Rya had appeared from nowhere. She'd thrown the woman on her back and pressed a boot to her throat, murder in her eyes.

Levi observed the woman on the floor. She was tall and lanky. Narrow eyes, deathly pale skin which was only enhanced by her inky black hair that was cut messily around her shoulders. Her lips were blood red, and her eyes were an alarming shade of yellow, half hidden by her messy fringe. She had a thick looking scar that ran along the middle of her throat. She looked like the type of criminal Levi would face in the underground.

An unhinged psycho.

"You alright?" Rya asked seriously, eyes still glaring at the woman on the floor who was silently choking, trying to pry Rya's boot that was putting harsh pressure at the base of her neck. "Levi." She repeated and Levi looked to see Rya's narrowed eyes were on him now, observing his state.

She looked pissed.

"Fine." he replied dismissively, grimacing at the blood on his clothes.

"Levi!" Simon called as he finally closed the distance, panting slightly as he slapped his hand on Levi's shoulder. "Fucking hell man, are you okay?" He asked, worried. Levi frowned, pushing his hand off his shoulder.

"I'm fine." He repeated, annoyed. He wasn't some damsel in distress. The bitch had just caught him off guard. No one had ever sunk up on him like that before.

It pissed him off.

"Captain." The axe guy spoke and Rya barely acknowledged him, still glaring at the woman on the floor, whose face was starting to turn red as she clawed at Rya's leg. "Captain, you need to stop-"

"Whose squad is this, Kaizo?" she asked in a low voice.

There was hesitation.

"Your squad, Captain." He replied apologetically.

"Who gives the orders?" She repeated, putting more pressure on Minerva's neck and the woman gasped painfully but no one else stopped her.

"You." Kaizo muttered.

Rya looked up to glare at her other subordinates who had shrunk in on themselves. She watched them panic for a few seconds.

Then lifted her boot.

A strangled gasp escaped the psycho as she pressed her hand to her throat and choked on the air, coughing and gagging as she rolled onto her side.

"Interesting answers, Kai. You agree with him, Kimmy?" She asked and Kimmy flinched but nodded quickly. "Okay then. So, my next question is this. Who the fuck told you to come out here and attack him? Because it certainly wasn't me." Rya asked and the cadets took a weary step back.

She looked fucking murderous.

Levi wondered whether he was mad at them for hurting him or because they acted without her permission. Probably the latter. Rya used to beat him within an inch of his life when they were kids. She didn't give a shit if she got hurt.

At least she normally didn't.

"W-we're sorry Captain, we just wanted to see how good he was!" Kimmy tried to explain, tearfully.

"Yeah, he's been here for a month and he didn't even pass the exam. You just let him in the squad? It seemed like bullshit. We were just testing him out." Kaizo agreed.

"I see." Rya replied coldly. "Not only acting without orders, injuring a teammate, but you're questioning my leadership as well?" She raised an eyebrow and Kaizo paled.

"T-that's not what I meant-"

"You know what? I can't even look at you right now. 100 laps around the forest." She ordered and their eyes widened.

"B-but that'll take all night-"

"I don't give a fuck if it takes the next year. Get it done. Unless you want a more personal punishment from me?" She growled, kicking the half passed out Minerva in the stomach for emphasis and she grunted in pain.

The two gulped and shook their heads.

"Good. Piss off." She ordered, raking a hand through her hair. The two saluted and Kimmy paused to grab her jacket before they both ran off to start their punishment. Rya sighed, rubbing her face before looking up at him. Her gaze lingered before she looked at the group of people that had accumulated behind him and Simon. "Any of you shits know they were pulling this?" She asked seriously.

Levi wondered who would openly admit to that after what they just saw. Too his surprise…

"Yes Captain." They all replied, apart from Simon who snapped his head back, balking.

"You guys! What the hell?!" He snapped. They ignored him.

"We knew they were going after him. Warned them not to, but we didn't stop them. I apologise Captain. It was the wrong call. We should have informed you of their plan." One of them answered and the others nodded their agreement.

Rya sighed in annoyance.

"1 lap around the forest. Be back within 20 minutes or I'll make you run another." She ordered and they nodded, saluting.

"Yes Captain." They agreed, taking off the same way as the others.

Then there was just four of them.

"S-such a pretty n-neck… I wanna cut it m-more. " The woman on the floor strained to say. Levi made a face as he looked down at her. She was smiling at him.

The fuck is this girl's problem?

"Simon." Rya spoke.

"Yes Cap?" Simon asked.

"Take Minerva back to the campus. She has a concussion." Rya informed as Minerva started to sit up, rubbing her throat and making a face.

"What? I aint got a concussion-"

Rya cut her off by slamming her knee into the side of her head and she was knocked out instantly, flopping back onto the floor. Levi blinked in surprise.

Was she allowed to do that?

"Concussion." She shrugged, sliding her hands into her pockets. Simon's jaw was on the floor. Rya gave him a warning look and he snapped it shut.

"S-sure thing Captain!" Simon replied nervously, picking Minerva up over his shoulder before awkwardly saluting and almost dropping the girl. He steadied himself and walked towards the clearing.

Silence…

"Fucking kids." She muttered, looking at the cut on his arm and the blood that had started to dry on his throat. Levi opened his mouth to ask what the fuck kind of psychos she had on her squad, but she had already grabbed his arm and started pulling him towards the shed.

"Rya-"

"I'm sorry. That was my fault." She said sincerely and Levi felt his jaw drop this time.

An outright apology? What was today turning into? He straightened himself out quickly before she saw how shocked he looked, tugging his arm back, trying not to wince at the pain in his shoulder.

"I don't need an apology from you. Doesn't make a difference what happened." He replied. Rya glanced at him and hesitated before shrugging. She kept walking, expecting him to follow her. Not wanting to start another argument, Levi did.

"What's in here?" He asked as they reached the door. it looked a lot bigger from up-close. Like a small house.

"A lot of random shit." Rya mumbled, sliding the door open and stepping inside. She wasn't wrong.

The place was packed full of weapons, 3DGM parts, old punching bags, sandbags, tools. In short, a lot of random shit. Rya stepped through the threshold, lighting an oil lamp and picking it up, stepping further in. There were a few windows, but it was still pretty dim in here. When she walked over to the corner Levi realised there was a small kitchen in the corner. She pulled out a stool from under the sink and jerked her head towards it.

"Sit." She said simply, crouching down to open a cabinet. Levi hesitated.

"Why-"

"Just do it. I'm already pissed off." She warned and Levi frowned but sat down. She pulled out a medical box and unclipped the latch, setting it on the counter and sorting through. She found a cloth and turned on the tap, waiting until it steamed before running the cloth under the water. Levi was about to tell her that he could do this himself when she walked back over and settled herself down on his lap, a leg either side, straddling his thighs.

Levi gulped.

"W-what are you doing?" He asked quietly, cursing himself for stuttering. A flicker of amusment ran through her green eyes as she ran her fingers through the hair on the back of his neck, gripping it and gently tilting his head back a little to expose his neck.

"Only one stool." She whispered, like it made perfect sense. Levi swallowed again, feeling her so pressed up against him.

Rya noticed.

"A little flustered there, Levi?" She smirked a little as she carefully removed the bloodsoaked hand he had pressed against his neck to slow the bleeding, getting a good look at his wound.

"No. Just wondering if you have any sense of personal boundaries." He muttered, annoyed. She huffed out a small laugh, pressing the cloth to his neck and the warm water stung his broken skin. He flinched discreetly, gripping her hips for stability. At this angle he was going to end up falling off the stool and taking her down with him.

For a split second Rya almost looked a little flustered herself but Levi was 80% sure he had imagined it. She didn't comment about his hands on her body, continuing to clean his wound. She was gentler than he expected, and his face softened as he watched her clean him up, her eyes focused on his neck.

Thankfully the slice wasn't deep. It just broke the skin enough to cause a burst of blood flow. By the time Rya had finished cleaning the actual wound, it wasn't bleeding much at all.

She grabbed a small medical strip and ripped the plastic off with her teeth, pressing it over the slice, the sticky edges clinging to his skin. She smoothed her finger over the bandage to straighten out the creases before smoothing her thumbs either side of the plaster, running down his neck.

Levi felt his mouth go a little dry.

What was with her today?

"Minerva's right." Rya murmured, dragging her hands down slowly, over his collarbone as she looked into his wide eyes. "You do have a pretty neck." She smirked evilly, starting to unbutton his shirt and Levi practically lurched backwards in shock but Rya grabbed handfuls of his jacket and tugged him back up before they both stacked it.

"Fuck off. I'm not interested in being your fuck toy again." He growled, eyes fierce. Their faces were close due to their small tumble. Rya raised an eyebrow.

"Levi, I'm engaged." She reminded. Levi made a face. "You have blood on your chest." She explained with a look, and Levi looked down to see he did indeed have blood on his chest. So, she was undoing his shirt to wipe the blood off…

Levi muttered a curse and looked away.

She rolled her eyes and plucked open another button to expose enough skin to wipe the dried blood off his collar bone. Levi did his best to ignore her.

"Do you really feel that way?" Rya asked after a while. She had started working on the slice on his arm. Levi glanced at her in question. "Do you think I used you for sex?" She clarified, her eyes flicking up to his.

Levi looked back evenly.

"Yeah. I do." He replied without hesitation.


A.N. Hey! Thanks for taking the time to read my story! Levi will have a real introduction to the squad next time but he got to meet a few of the psychopathic characters this chapter. Drop a like or a review if you want me to keep going! X