Levi was pissed.

Beyond pissed. Well, a part of him was grateful. Granted, Kenny brought him from the Underground City. However he brought him to some town and then just left.

Safe to say the gratitude was drowned out by the fury he felt within his chest. He began to wander around to gather his bearings. Fortunate his clothes were decent so he blended in perfectly as some wandering child in the streets.

It took the majority of the day to gather enough hiding spots and what food stalls to steal from. He was extra cautious with the guards. They seemed to actually take their job seriously up here.

So he sought numerous hiding spots. Could be paranoia, but one can't be too careful. And so he hatched a plan to begin with the necessities.

Things went smoothly. Levi snuck away with his prize. Some random fruit that he wasn't quite sure on what it was. And he didn't even need to run as he walked away from the stall.

"Excuse me." A boy's voice made him bolt.

And to his horror the boy ran after him. Levi began to use all of his tricks in the book to lose him. Rushed through an alleyway, make a turn here, climb over this barrel, and Levi lost him.

He glanced behind to make sure as he caught his breath. There was no sign of whoever caught him red handed. Levi turned and bumped into a taller boy.

He glared up at him with a scowl. Blond hair, blue eyes, the poster child of people having their whole life planned out for them without struggles. The kind of life Levi despised more than the filth in the Underground City.

"What the hell do you want?" Levi glared.

"I saw you take that fruit. You know stealing is wrong right?"

Seriously? How did this boy find him?

"So? It's either I take this to eat, or I starve to death." Levi reached for his pocket knife. He grasped it, but didn't pull it out just yet.

"Do you not have a family?" Those eyes softened.

Damn it, Levi will not accept pity!

"Does it look like I got anyone?" Levi snarled, and the other boy didn't answer.

They stared at each other. If one passed by, it looked more like one of them was angry, the other sad.

"There are other means to survive, you know." The blond boy stated.

"Go fuck yourself." Levi snapped.

"You shouldn't use that sort of language, either."

"You're not my father." The smaller boy huffed. He wondered why he was even bothering to talk to this know it all?

"No, but I can be your brother."

The words caught Levi off guard. He didn't have anything to reply. No snark remark, no attitude, no fowl language. His mind was blank.

"Come on, I can't house you. But my father wouldn't mind feeding you." The boy grasped a tiny wrist and together they went.

The pomegranate fell, forgotten in the street. It split open to reveal the small prizes inside. And there it remained where the two boys met.

Levi was in a daze. He nearly forgot to check his surroundings, landmarks to better understand where he was. He spotted a fountain. Grand and elegant, perfect for this rich part of town.

Before long he was pulled into a house on the street. The kitchen smelled of dinner and Levi's stomach growled hungrily. He stared up at the man, who the boy was spinning image of.

"Just in time, Erwin. Dinner should be done soon. Who is this?" The man didn't bat an eye at the sight of a scrawny, clearly didn't belong this part of town sort of boy.

"This is my new friend." The boy nudged him gently.

"Got a name young friend?" The father inquired gently.

"...Levi." He was still in awe of this whole act of kindness.

This had to be a trap. Right?

"Strong name. Someone put a lot of thought into naming you." The man smiled warmly.

Levi couldn't think of what to say to that observation. He thought of his mother. And he quickly shoved those thoughts and images away.

"Can Levi stay for dinner? Would we have enough to feed him?" Erwin wondered.

"Of course he can. And I believe we do have enough. We always have more than enough to go around."

And so they sat waiting patiently. Levi was tense. He felt that he didn't belong. It was evident from his clothes, down to the state he was in. He began to judge himself for wearing clothes that could almost slip off of him.

While this saved him from constantly changing clothes as he grew, it didn't seem like he would have a lot of growing. And if he did then the process was slow.

The bowls were handed out. And Levi was still in awe that one was made for him. He couldn't help but stare.

Everything about this screamed at him to run. Kenny taught him how to survive. No one will look out for him so he had to learn how to fend for himself. That no one will take pity and hand him anything. If Levi wanted something then he had to get it himself somehow.

And damn anyone who stood in his way.

"You're safe to eat, Levi. I don't poison my guests." The jab was meant to be humorous.

Levi didn't find it funny in the slightest. Still, he grasped a spoon and took a bite. He blinked at the amount of flavors. His mouth watered at the richness of it.

And despite his earlier concerns Levi dug in. With him, the boy and his father began to eat, too. For a long while they sat in silence as they enjoyed their meal.

When they all finished Levi felt sleepy.

"I think it's time for someone to go home. I thank you for joining us, Levi. By the way, I'm just curious, will you be attending the school here? I teach there. I was wondering if a new family moved in." The father inquired.

"...No. I won't be going. My mother is sick a lot. She can't work enough to pay for my schooling." It was the best lie he could come up with.

"I see. I'm sorry to hear that. If you'd like, Erwin can teach you after school while he's doing homework. Or perhaps weekends would be best."

"But wouldn't you be the better teacher, father?" Erwin tilted his head.

"You already know so much. While Levi knows little. Besides, it would be good practice to help you study."

"That's only if Levi wants to." Erwin turned to the other boy.

He didn't want to. Kenny warned him about attachments. But his instincts weren't going off. Perhaps it was the food? But so far these people were kind.

"Why are you going out of your way to help me? I'm a nobody." Levi asked.

"No one is a nobody. Everyone has a destiny. It's whether one answers the calling is the true test. One can meet their destiny then fall and give up. Or, can push through and prevail. Either way, I like to believe everyone deserves education."

The words moved both boys. Erwin's eyes lit up. And Levi felt his heart yearning.

"...Yeah." He agreed.

"Then it's settled. After school is over you can come visit and Erwin will teach you."

And this became Levi's routine. No one asked him personal questions. And he didn't ask about their personal lives in return. He noticed there was no mother, and with the loss of his own still fresh he understood some things were better off not asking.

Erwin taught him how to read and write. How to do simple math. And with problem solving they discovered Levi was actually really intelligent. He could do measurements with ease and solve problems in his head.

When it came to history, Levi was one sided. He didn't believe any of it. So Erwin dropped those lessons. He continued with everything else, though.

And after each lesson they were well fed with dinner. Levi felt that he was growing reliant on them. So while Erwin was at school, Levi made sure not to allow his skills go to waste or rust.

This lasted for maybe a year. And in that time Levi allowed Erwin to get close. Close enough to know some of his past. He didn't reveal where exactly he came from. But Erwin knew of the fate of Levi losing his mother, then some random stranger taking him and practically raised him for a few years then left.

"Why would someone leave like that?" Erwin wondered.

"I don't know. Maybe I should ask him. If I ever meet him again. But he's not someone I can spot in a crowd. If he doesn't want to be seen then no one can find him." Levi knew he was against a master.

Kenny was a wolf in sheep's clothing.

And he was just some kid. No one special. He didn't even know everything that Kenny was or did. He only understood that he was ruthless. Levi knew it in the man's eyes from the moment they met.

"Maybe one day." Erwin stated with such conviction Levi glanced at him curiously.

"Why do you say that?" He asked.

"As my dad likes to say, fate has a strange way of resolving things. Somehow, some way, it will happen."

Levi wasn't so sure. Maybe he was right. But he couldn't see how. He reminded himself that he wasn't special.

One evening a breach of the bubble they created to pretend that nothing was wrong with their differences was done. Levi was so caught off guard he glanced up, confused. When he remained silent the father asked again.

"You're not from this town originally, were you?"

Levi glared. And the amount of fury held within them surprised both the boy and his father. Erwin tensed, growing nervous. And yet his father stared head on. Unflinching and unafraid of the danger.

In a flash Levi sprung. Erwin tried to intercept, but he was easy to push back. Levi sent him flying with a kick. Then he leaped over the fallen boy to cross the distance to the father.

He didn't even fight as Levi tackled with all his might. Which, compared his tiny body against the taller adult, wasn't much. But the teacher allowed himself to fall backwards so as no injuries came to his attacker.

The knife glinted in the candle light.

"The fuck you know?" Levi snarled.

"Nothing. I'm just concerned over the company my son keeps."

The knife pressed against his throat. The man didn't flinch at all. For a teacher, he had nerves of steel.

"Levi, stop!" Erwin begged.

"Give me one good reason why!" Levi dared not tear his gaze away from the adult.

"They'll execute you! I can't lose both of you!" Erwin reasoned.

"Tch. I'd like to see them catch me!" Levi laughed. It was wild, and it was the first time they ever heard him laugh.

"I have a theory about you, Levi. Your features are different than the majority of us. I only worry what sort of attention it will draw."

"As if! I can blend in just fine!" But he knew in his heart that there was truth in those words.

Of course he noticed too.

And he couldn't explain properly. But after Kenny taught him how to survive, something awoken in Levi. Something primal. A strength that he was slightly afraid of. But he knew he can harness it. Wield it and control it. He just had to learn how.

"I was simply wondering if you knew your family history. If someone in your family came from outside of the walls."

That was it?

"...No. I don't know shit." Levi was honest.

"I believe you." Was the response.

Levi shook. How can this man be so calm despite the situation at hand? Shouldn't he be scared? Begging for his life? For his son's life to be spared? Apologize?

The sight of those eyes simply staring made Levi want to run away. And so he did. He started with careful steps towards the door. Soon as he grasped the handle he flung it open and bolted with all of his speed.

He didn't return.

A few days later Erwin hunted Levi down crying.

"What the hell you want?" He snapped.

"My father! They took my father! He's never come back!" The boy clung onto him.

Levi didn't know what to say. So instead he awkwardly held Erwin and allowed the other boy to cry onto his tiny shoulder.

"What will you do?" Levi asked once the sobbing stopped.

"I'm going to join the Survey Corp." Erwin spoke with such confidence, such conviction, that Levi felt the urge to follow.

"Will you join me?" The fair haired boy asked.

"Yes, Erwin." Levi didn't even have to think about it.