AUTHOR'S NOTE
In this story, I will rewrite Attack on Titan, meaning all the arcs, from beginning to end. The early chapters heavily focus on character development, until Erwin mistakenly comes across Kenny, the one ghost of his past, and blackmails him and Levi into joining the Survey Corps. From that point forward, it'll be Kenny and Levi in the regiment (many subplots occur), until the 104th is introduced and all the arcs will be re-written. Kenny is the key in changing everything.
Characters like Mike, Furlan, Isabel and the Warriors won't be wasted, their potentials will be fully exploited. Marley and the Warriors are explored from early on, and Kenny, with his knowledge from serving the Reiss, will find out many things and make many deductions about the origin of the titans, the First King and the world beyond the walls that will in the future aid the Survey Corps. He is the key.
My objective was to give Levi a better life and explore Kenny as a human, develop him, his feelings and the weight of his sins.
The pairings in this fic are subtle Kenny/Uri (in love, but don't act upon their feelings), and in the future, Erwin/Levi. For the first half of the fic, Levi despises Erwin with everything he has. He wishes to kill him. They clash immensely, but somehow, something will change, and after much grief they'll find their way towards each other. When they fall in love, there will be a lot of romance in the fic with them. When the 104th is introduced, we'll have one-sided Eren/Mikasa and Eren/Levi (Eren hero worships Levi). However, romance and smut isn't the main point of this fic. This fic is very story heavy, there are many plots. All original characters in this fic matter and will serve a purpose in the rewritten arcs, like Insurrection and Return to Shiganshina.
Kenny will serve as a father figure to Bertolt and Reiner, which makes their betrayal all the more difficult. During the Marley days, Bertolt's potential is noted and he will be Zeke's protege, which is the determinant factor that turns Bertolt into a more assertive Warrior, instead of cowardly like in canon.
In other words, everything changes. The chapters will get increasingly longer, but I want to think it's worth it. This fic has been posted in AO3 as well, and the reception has been overwhelming. I hope you'll give me a chance. I have invested so much time and love in this fic!
Anyway, thanks for reading this note!
"Get up," the man who called himself Kenny said. His tone was commanding, yet somehow a little soft, too. Like he was hiding something.
Levi's sickly eyes looked at him. In midst of his numbness, of his pain, he managed to recognise the terror those eyes brought him. A flash of a healthy Kuchel flickered in his frail mind. Strangely, they shared the same tint of steel blue, but his eyes were nothing like Kuchel's. Where he found warmth in her, Levi found unforgiving cold in this terror of a man.
He waited for him to extend his hand. He figured he'd help him up. Mom did that whenever she'd take him somewhere, to guide him.
But he never did.
Levi leaned forward, his little legs trembling weakly from weeks of malnourishment and little hydration. His body seemed to weigh too much for him, and he fell forward.
Kenny only looked at him.
Levi remained on the floor, not because he couldn't get up, but because he just couldn't believe his situation.
Mom is dead.
Mom is dead…
He got on all fours, and looked up at Kuchel's corpse.
Someone… anyone… can't someone please help mom…?
Kenny looked down at him impatiently, but allowed him to take his time. The boy, which really seemed to be a breathing, reeking skeleton, weakly crawled towards Kuchel. Perhaps she'd open her eyes. Perhaps if he called for her, if he shook her a bit more roughly, if he tried harder than he already had, then perhaps—
"Hurry it up," he was told. "Or is it that ya wanna stay in this dump? Is that it?"
Wobbling from his lack of strength, Levi complied at last. He stood, and he looked up at the towering man, at the one who introduced himself as Kenny.
He awaited his next order.
Kenny's head shifted to the corpse on the bed. His eyes narrowed slightly in that unspoken emotion, and when he looked back down at Levi, they were firm again.
"You'll be living with me from now on, kid," he said. "If there's anything you'd like to grab from this filth, make it quick."
Levi's dull, sickly eyes looked around the room.
Nothing, really. All that mattered lay on that bed. Cold and dead.
He looked at the corpse, not feeling much inside anymore. He simply felt hollow, like there was nothing inside him. He could feel something in his stomach, a cramping pain, but he was certain it was the ravishing hunger he'd had for weeks rather than anything sentimental.
When understanding Levi had nothing he wanted to take, Kenny began pace, and the pitiful child tried to catch up to him. He stopped walking when he felt a small tug. He looked down to find the kid's small, pale hand curled around his sleeve. His dead eyes were set on the floor, and Kenny was gradually growing more and more repulsed by the scent in the room. He was accustomed to the reek of death, so that wasn't the issue. The issue was whom the stench was coming from.
He resumed walking, but was tugged again.
Kenny then realised the kid must be looking for some sort of comfort. It was very unlike him, and it felt highly unnatural; so Kenny did not provide it. He was already saving him from starving to death in this shitty dump, he should be grateful enough for that and expect nothing more of him.
Levi, accepting he wouldn't have his hand held after multiple attempts, settled for leaving his curled hand in the sleeve instead. Would he at least grant him that bit of comfort?
The first thing Kenny did was take the kid to an inn. The doors slammed open, and only a few heads turned to see the newcomers. A mundane reaction that was almost mechanical. But when the trademark boots tapped the floor, everyone felt compelled to look. Some in awe, some in respect, most completely bristled in caution.
But that caution quickly reverted to surprise when seeing the miniature and sickly figure beside the very well-known man.
A child?
Kenny walked past the tables, his imposing steps making everyone grip their mugs more tightly.
"Oi, Geralt," Kenny's voice echoed through the now silent establishment. "Gimme all the loaves of bread you've got and some stew, will ya," he tilted his hat back.
"Sure, Kenny," the bartender spoke nervously. "And the usual?"
Kenny was tempted to order his usual scotch, but he momentarily looked down at Levi, who fidgeted nervously. He opted otherwise, simply to be respectful of the moribund brat.
"Make it wine, will ya?"
The bartender agreed at once, wasting no time to comply with his demands.
"Go sit over there," Kenny pointed to one of the tables in the middle.
Levi squeezed his sleeve, looking up at him with scared eyes. Like he didn't want to be left alone for a second.
Well, could anyone blame him? This was an inn frequented by thugs and important members of gangs. Some even had their guns holstered as per habit, and looked threatening. Any sane person would have called Kenny irresponsible for bringing a young, sickly child to this place. An objective one, however, would agree that there was no need for concern.
In this place, Kenny was king.
"Tch," he scowled, "what're ya staring at me for? Ya deaf or just stupid, too? Go sit over there!"
Levi's eyes widened and he dutifully obeyed, nervous by all the eyes plastered on him.
"The hell are ya'll staring at, shitheads? Do ya want me to gouge your eyes out? Mind your own damn business," he raised his voice, grabbing the tray of bread and stew, and his mug of wine.
Geralt whispered Kenny's name nervously, and the cold steel-blue eyes were now set on his. He knew he had nothing to be afraid of, Kenny was a very good customer of his, and, despite his status, he never started unnecessary fights. He was also kind to him. Well… in his own way. And yet, he still couldn't help feeling completely uneasy around him most of the time. Reputation aside, that's just the kind of feelings Kenny instilled in people.
"Don't you think that child should drink something as well? We don't have any cow's milk right now, but I have some ground up almonds from a puree I was gonna make later."
"Yeah, yeah, just hurry it up. I wanna go home, my ass is tired."
Geralt subtly scanned the traces of blood on his coat. "S-sure," he sneaked back to the kitchen.
Kenny sighed heavily as he sat down, slamming the tray against the table. "There," he pushed it towards Levi. "Eat up."
For a moment, his vision was covered by the large tankard when he took a large sip of his wine. When he brought it down and could see again, he took in that sight.
Levi gnawed down the bread like there was no tomorrow. He held one loaf in each hand, and he alternated gnawing between the two. He left crumbs all over himself and the table, and it was the most unsightly thing Kenny had ever seen. He held the tankard over his lips, and he simply observed the kid.
So… is this filth really the only thing you've left for me, Kuchel?
Filthy. He was absolutely filthy.
But he realised Levi hadn't eaten in a long time, and he decided to not judge him much.
It was not his place. He knew what it was like to be hungry, after all.
After some moments, the kid looked up at him. He still chewed, less hectically now. His hunger was slowly satiating, and so there was no need for him to indulge like a pig, Kenny supposed. Those eyes locked into Kenny's, and Kenny's widened almost imperceptibly when, after a few seconds, those cold and sickly eyes changed.
A small light gradually returned to those dead eyes. And with it, so did an emotion that Kenny recognised with ease.
Gratitude.
Kenny looked away and drank his wine, ignoring the child.
He pondered about his predicament, about how all of this came to be. It was then that he felt something annoying tug at his heart. Something that someone like him wouldn't accept.
It was mourning; a sense of loss.
Just how did this happen? They'd grown up together, they had been close. And yet she left him and their grandpa behind to survive on her own terms, but surely the life Kenny provided would've been far better than this. At least he lived above ground with the old man. He took good care of him. Fed him, bathed him, got rid of any snooping MPs. Why didn't she listen to Kenny and instead chose to go through pregnancy in that shithole? His mind couldn't conceptualise it.
Because his little sister was a loving woman. A loving sister, but a good person above all, he wagered.
She was a shitty Ackerman. Worthless, and a disgrace that refused to use the skills Kenny taught her as children. But she was a good person. She, no doubt, must have been a loving mother, as well.
She coddled this child, possibly, and now he must expect the same of Kenny.
He couldn't provide him that.
But he'll teach him how to survive. He'll teach him everything he knows, put him through hell so he can get used to this shitty world. He owes that much to his little sister.
After that, it's goodbye.
X
"So?" Kenny asked the doctor, arms crossed and leaned against the wall, bored out of his mind.
"Well… I've seen worse, but in a kid this age…"
"In a kid this age…?"
"Well…"
"Fuck's sake, Silas, do ya want me to take a shit on your skull? Out with it! Ya always do this shit."
"Sorry!" he whimpered, putting his hands up. "He's um… you're Levi, right?" He knelt, looking at that grim, pale face.
Levi nodded.
"Levi, why don't you go outside and wait?"
He looked up at Kenny, awaiting guidance.
"Well?" Kenny tilted his head forward, "What are ye waiting for?"
Levi quickly went outside.
"And don't touch anything!" he yelled.
Silas stood again, taking his gloves off. "Well, I'll be forthright, the way you like it: the kid's in pretty shit shape. Malnutrition, dehydration, rashes from lack of hygiene, obvious pain when peeing, and a disease which I'm not even sure what could be…"
"Oh?" Kenny perked up.
"Where did you find him?"
"At a brothel. Kid's mom was dead as all hell. Took pity on him, so here we are. The fat fuck at the counter said the mom got sick by one of her clients."
"Mm…" Silas tapped his chin. "It probably isn't anything harmful, per se. It should be, in theory, something that affected the whore herself. But because—"
He noticed the derogatory term irritated Kenny. Even though he hadn't said a word, Silas stopped himself from talking to rearrange his choice of words.
"S-sorry, Kenny," he reflexively took a step back.
"Nah, ya ain't half-wrong. Woman was a whore, yeah. Anyway, what about the disease? Is the kid gonna die or nah? Ya know I don't like carrying dead weight."
"W-well, he won't die with the appropriate care. Thing is, the disease itself isn't the problem. The malnourishment is. His immune system is awful, and you can't just stuff a severely underweight, starved and dehydrated person with food and hope everything's fixed; specially a child as young as that kid."
"A lot of talking and no solutions, doc," Kenny drawled, bored.
"It's a process, Kenny. It's necessary you know this. Well, if you care about the kid living, that is."
"Eh…" Kenny scrunch his nose in annoyance, pressing his hat. "I guess I brought this upon myself. Fineeeee, go ahead, I'm listening."
"Listen carefully, Kenny," Silas turned serious. "You did a good thing by saving him, but you shouldn't have stuffed him with so much food all at once. You should have come to me directly," he said sternly.
"Oi, what's with that face? Don't talk to me like that, I might just start crying."
"Kenny, this child has more chances of dying than surviving," he reiterated, hoping to get through his thick skull. He needed Kenny to get serious, but he also was scared to push his buttons.
"Fineeeee, fine…"
"When you feed a starved person too much food at once, their body might not be able to take it. Their heart and lungs could fail. Re-feeding is a gradual process," he sighed heavily. "For starters, feeding him with sugar mixed water would be optimal, but down here I don't know how well your odds of finding good sugar are. So, fruit juice is another good option. Small sips in intervals. Then gradually build him up to food. He may be starving and may even contemplate eating you, but don't give in. For the first four days—"
He paused because of Kenny's bored expression.
"… Let me write this down."
"Now we're talking!" Kenny cheered.
Silas took his time writing, as eligibly and simply as he could, everything Kenny needed to do.
"Here," he handed him the three pages.
Kenny accepted them, turning them over.
"Sorry I can't be much help, Kenny. I hardly have enough equipment to take care of a case like this."
"Ya kiddin' me?" Kenny grinned, waving the papers. He wrapped a strong arm around Silas' neck, pressing their cheeks together and painfully ruffling his hair with his fist. "Yer the closest thing we have to a decent hospital in this shithole!"
He let go when Silas turned cherry red from the lack of oxygen.
"Alright then, imma go before the kid drops dead out there. See ya!"
"Kenny, wait!"
"?"
"I, uh… I've actually been having a problem lately," he whispered, just so the other patients outside didn't hear. Not that they would anyway, but he was paranoid someone may eavesdrop.
"Got it," Kenny understood immediately. "Tell me who."
"There's this man… an MP. Leif something. I don't know his last name. He's tall, has mid-length brown hair and is well-built. He's been with the MPs for a year or two. He keeps coming down here, accusing me of possessing illicit… herbs."
"Ha! The man ain't wrong."
"Shhh!" Silas' eyes widened, panicking someone may hear. "You know I need those… herbs. They're the only thing that help my back pain. He came down here without a warrant and turned the place upside down. I tried to explain the situation and even offered a bribe, I was completely honest about the usage! But he said he'll shut me down. I bet the pig wants to fill his pockets by selling them."
"Say no more, pig's as good as dead."
"Y-you don't have to kill him, just…"
"Come on, I already have a brat to take care of! Stop making things harder for me."
"Oh god, Kenny," Silas shook his head, lips curved down in complete panic. "D-do what you have to do, j-just p-please don't—"
"Hey! When have I ever let ya down? I'm as elusive as I am handsome," he pointed at himself. "Ya know that!"
"I know, but—"
"Come on," he placed his large hand on Silas' head. Innocent gesture, but to Silas it felt threatening, like everything Kenny did. "Say it. Tell me I'm handsome."
Silas snorted, shaking his head. "You're handsome, Kenny. Now please get out of here!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
He walked out of the office, squinting as he ogled the papers. He already felt a headache coming. What did he just get himself into?
He saw Levi standing in the middle of the waiting room, doing nothing. He clutched the hem of his dirty shirt, not knowing what to do. Kenny supposed he took his comment of not touching anything quite literally.
He noticed a man and a woman, who sat diagonally behind Levi. The woman ogled him with disdain. A man and a woman with such scornful expressions could only mean few things in an Underground clinic, and Kenny approved of their presence, should it be for the reason that came to mind. The less life they bring into this shit world, the better.
"Let's go," the man said sternly, getting up as it was now their turn. She complied, and scrunch her nose in disgust at how filthy Levi looked and smelled.
"I thought this was supposed to be one of the better clinics," Kenny heard her whisper to the man as they walked towards the examination room. "Is there really no escaping these filths around here?"
The man just shrugged.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart, what was that?" Kenny called out.
"Sorry?" they turned back to look at him.
"There's no escaping what here and what now?"
They looked at him, confused.
"Come on, say it again! But just a lil' bit louder! I'm a bit deaf on my right ear, ya see!"
"I didn't say anything," she turned to keep walking, but Kenny stopped her again.
"No, no. I'm sure I picked up something. You said something about filth?"
"Pal, keep moving, alright?" the man's eyes sunk, clearly irritated and even more impatient than before.
"I sure will, my man! But I wanna hear what yer lady said first!"
Levi's head darted between the couple and Kenny, not knowing what to do.
"See, this is a pretty good clinic, you're darn right about that! But clinics are for sick people, right? And this kid happens to be sick. So what's so strange about that, that ya felt the need to look at us like we're trash?"
"I wasn't—"
"Listen, buddy, I'm running low on time and patience here. Just keep the fuck on moving. I couldn't give less of a fucking shit about your or that rat's feelings—"
Before he could continue, Kenny had already sent him flying against the wall.
One good hit is all it took to do that, plus break his nose.
"Now you," he pointed at the woman. "Aintcha lucky you're a gal? If that weren't the case you'd be laying there just like mister fuckface here! Do something aside from putting those tits to good use and—"
The door slammed open.
"What the hell!?" Silas yelled.
"Good news, doc!" Kenny opened his arms with a winning smile. "You were only gonna have one client, but now you have two! That's twice the amount of money. Now, aintcha just lucky to have me?"
"Good god, Kenny…" Silas frowned.
"Hey! Tits here started it. Yer a brilliant man, while you're in there make sure to teach 'em about manners. See ya!" he winked at him and bid him goodbye with a two finger salute.
Kenny noticed Levi was frozen in place. "Are ya deaf? We're leaving, runt."
Levi obeyed again, his bare feet tapping the floor as he ran to Kenny.
"Haha!" Kenny laughed, punching the air. "Did ya see that hit!?" he looked down at Levi. "That's how ya throw a punch! If ya don't mean to hurt the scumbag receiving it, that is. That's how ya may have to greet people here at times, so use that slow brain of yours and remember that. Got it?"
He noticed Levi wasn't paying attention, and was actually holding the top of his shirt against his nose, smelling it.
Kenny understood why. His smile vanished.
"Well, tits over there had a point. Ya do reek. Let's getcha bathed now. Ya do know what bathing is, right?"
Levi nodded.
As he followed, Kenny noticed that the kid began shivering. He tightly held the hem of the shirt that was too big for him, then let go of it as his expression changed slightly. As though the reality of the situation sank in.
Kenny sighed quietly.
Moments later, warmth spread across Levi's small and cold, pale hand as something much larger came in contact with it.
Levi's mouth opened as he looked, and Kenny's large hand intertwined with his.
His eyes narrowed in overcome emotion. When he looked up at Kenny, Kenny was already looking down at him.
He wasn't smiling or looked comforting, but there was something particular about those steel-blue eyes. They almost seemed inviting, they almost seemed compassionate. Like he was telling Levi that it was okay, that for now, he wasn't alone.
Levi's eyes glistened at those steel-blue eyes as they welled with tears.
The truth was that Kenny felt tempted to snatch his hand away, even though it was his own decision to hold it. He wanted to give the kid the subtle message that no, he shouldn't get used to this. The Underground was a cold, merciless place, and he couldn't allow this child to get used to being comforted. Grief is something he'd have to deal with by himself.
But perhaps that could wait. Now, if only just now, he'd allow it. He'd provide him that small comfort.
Kenny squeezed his hand, and Levi walked more confidently with him.
To his new home.
X
"Fuck me," Kenny cursed, squeezing his right eye shut. The shampoo burned him. "The shit did I get myself into, argh!" he rubbed his eye with his arm.
Levi waved his hands around the water, eyes solemnly looking at the waves it produced. His body seemed impossibly small in the wooden tub meant for Kenny's large, well-built frame. Kenny felt that if he took his eyes off him for a second, he'd drown.
"Ya should consider yerself one lucky bastard, ya hear me? My tub's all filthy because of you! And I'm using my shampoo on you! This is about two rinses missed for my luscious mane. Brat," he begrudgingly continued massaging his scalp.
Levi's lips nearly curved in the faintest smile.
After they were done, Kenny struggled trying to dry him. Kid was too frail and small, and Kenny was too large and strong. He bumped him and made Levi fall several times. He felt frustrated, not knowing how to measure his strength for a creature this small.
He, however, managed.
He squinted as he read the paper, then put it down. Levi rose his arms, looking at the huge shirt on him. It was so large he had to raise it as a dress to not trip over it as he walked.
"Ya don't like it?" Kenny scowled when Levi's eyes sullenly shifted to the dirty shirt he'd been wearing. "Then ya can sleep naked outside. Ya ain't wearing that piece of shit in here."
For the first time, Levi genuinely frowned in distress.
Kenny understood the item belonged to Kuchel and that saying something so defensive was utterly unnecessary, not to mention hurtful, but it was a bad habit. He knew he needed to learn to bite back his tongue.
"I meeaaan, ya can't deny it is a piece of shit right now, but it can be washed. For now you'll have to settle with my shirt. Tough luck, kid."
He walked past him, eyeing the paper again. "Alright, go sit on the couch. It's uh, water with uh… sugar time?"
Kenny scoured through his small but cosy house. No sugar. He was the proud owner of a large scotch collection, as well as high quality knives, but no sugar. He didn't even eat at home, this home. Not since he'd moved above ground.
He re-read the paper, seeking an alternative.
"Well, I ain't got juice either, kid. But I've got some black tea. That'll have to do. If ya don't like it, feel free to starve."
Kenny talked. A lot.
And Levi didn't. At all.
Kenny brewed some tea, and served Levi a cup. He was about to pour himself a well-deserved shot of scotch, but hesitated.
"Aw, for fuck's sake," he mumbled, feeling compelled to drink tea as well.
He wondered why as he poured himself some. He deserved a good glass of scotch, right? But then why did he opt for tea instead? Somehow, he felt sharing tea with the brat would be more intimate. The kid would feel less alone, he wagered. He sipped, not disappointed in life, but also not delighted.
Levi, however, froze. He seemed to absolutely love the taste. He sipped. Then some more, and more, until Kenny intervened.
"Oi, oi!" he took the cup away. "What did I say, ya idiot? Slow sips! I ain't having a corpse in this house. Sip like Silas said ya should!" he said, even though Levi wasn't there when Silas said that.
Levi dutifully obeyed.
After half an hour of slow sipping, Levi was done. Kenny put away the cups, cursing to himself. He shouldn't be playing nanny, he should be drinking himself stupid right now, even though he wasn't physically capable of getting drunk. Neither did his grandpa, now that he thought about it. He supposed it ran in the family.
"Fuck, alright," he brought the paper up to sight. "Alright, so now—" he put it down, and stopped talking when seeing Levi had already fallen asleep on the couch.
The shirt truly was too big for him. Kenny could barely see Levi's black mop of hair and pale face. He shrugged, heading to his bedroom to go sleep himself.
But he hesitated.
Damn, he cursed, turning back. Why was he doing all this? He already saved the runt, he didn't need to go the extra mile.
But, for some reason, he felt obliged to.
He scowled because of his shit situation as he gently lifted Levi off the couch and went to place him on his bed instead. He brought a chair and placed it next to the bed. He sat, arms and one leg crossed. He put his hat over his head, waiting for sleep to claim him, too.
For the first time in a long time, Levi had fallen asleep well-fed, hydrated, clean and warm. Not with a rotting corpse by his side, but the warm body of the only stranger to have shown kindness to him in his life.
