"You're a good kitty, aren't you, Muffin?"
Karma stroked the gray alleycat under the chin. It purred and lolled its head to her touch. "Here, I saved you some bread." She plucked a chunk of crust from her pockets. The stray sniffed it before nibbling.
A black cat sauntered over, followed by a couple more strays. "Hi, Twilight, Rosey. You guys hungry?" Karma knelt on the stone ground and tore a few more pieces. The cats flocked her, brushing against her legs and purring for attention.
"Uh-uh, you already got a piece, Jean." Karma swatted the fat, taupe-coated cat away from a second helping of scraps. Jean meowed in annoyance. "Too bad, I don't have enough for seconds. You'll have to wait until dinner time," she said to the naughty, aptly-named cat.
Once she'd turned away, Jean swiped a claw at a scraggly cat that shrieked away from a piece of bread. "Hey!" Karma snatched up Jean before he could claim his prize, securing him to her chest for a scolding. "That was mean. Do I need to change your name to Levi?" Jean mewed. "That's what I thought."
A couple strays scurried past her. Karma turned to see where they were running off to when she spotted the lithe cut of Captain Levi at the mouth of the alley.
"Captain." Karma scrambled to stand and salute him.
"God, it reeks out here. At ease," he said with an annoyed swat of his hand. Karma dropped her arm, suddenly worried that he had overheard her threaten to rename Jean.
A cluster of strays curled around Captain Levi. He nudged them away with his foot.
"Sorry, they think you have food," Karma said. She clapped the last of the crumbs off her hands. The strays abandoned Levi to lick up the scraps.
"The food I have would be wasted on strays." He dusted a clump of cat hair from his pants. Karma swallowed a thick wad of anger.
"Can I help you with something, Captain? I wasn't aware that it was a crime to use my rations as I see fit," she said, chin raised. She refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing her intimidated.
"I was just curious how you intend on fattening up for the Titans with so little to eat. I suggest that you join the MPs. They'll be sure to feed you well."
"Why? Did you really follow me out here just to tell me that?" Karma crossed her arms. He crossed his.
"I would rather not have to put up with another hot-headed loudmouth. I have my hands tied with Eren joining as it is."
"You realize that telling me not to join the Scouts has the opposite effect, right?" Karma said, scooping up Jean, who had been head-butting her legs for attention. He nuzzled into her chest, purring.
"How could someone who cares for worthless strays serve in the Scout regiment? Scouts are fierce—a quality you lack. Don't waste your time." He added after a beat, "Cats can take care of themselves. They prefer meat anyway." Hands shoved in his pockets, Captain Levi left.
I'll show him…
"Imagine being named after that jerk," she said to Jean, settling him back on the ground. "I have to go. Be good. I don't want any more trouble." She shot Jean a pointed look. If cats could roll their eyes, he would've—as though he sensed the hypocrisy.
The lunch hall was still boisterous. Half of the commanders were drunk off their asses, hollering and tossing dice. Some of the soldiers even managed to swindle a little wine. The Scouts would be sent out on another mission before the day was over. Perhaps the numbness of alcohol made departing easier.
Karma reclaimed her seat.
"That was fast. Were the cats still full from breakfast?" Jean said, making Eren and Armin snicker.
She ignored the comment. "Sasha, you hungry?"
Sasha perked. "Yeah, always."
"Karma, what's going on?" Mikasa grabbed her arm. "You look pissed. Is everything okay?" Karma yanked free.
"It will be."
She pulled Sasha out of earshot of Mikasa, who looked torn between following and staying out of whatever it was Karma was planning. Finally, she shook her head and returned to her plate.
"So where's the food?" Sasha drummed her fingers. Her eyes scoured nearby tables for potential scraps, spotting untouched bowls of slop and wrinkled potato skins.
"We have to get it—well, steal it," Karma said. "I figured you'd be up for the challenge."
"Oh, I don't know." Sasha swallowed. "I'm not really okay with stealing."
"That's too bad." Karma clicked her tongue. "I hear the officer's pantry is loaded with meat"—Sasha went rigid—"Ham, turkey, chicken, beef. Slices, patties… I guess we'll just have to wait until Wall Maria is reclaimed before we get a taste. Only, who knows when that'll be."
Karma started walking away, counting down from three in her mind. She didn't even reach "two" when Sasha blurted:
"Alright, I'm in!"
"Perfect."
Karma eyed Captain Levi from across the dining hall. Cutting into his ration of steak. Sipping on his bubbling champagne. Lounging in the tales of his victory. So determined to scare her off—to tell her she wasn't cut out to be a ruthless Scout.
Oh, she could be ruthless.
If he was going to steal her dream of being a Scout, then she would steal something from him. And give it to the worthless strays.
"I have a plan," she said.
Karma strutted toward the commanders' table. On her way, she swiped a half-eaten roll from a cadet lovingly nicknamed "Hitch the Bitch," who was too busy flirting with a black-haired boy to notice.
"Hello, gentlemen," Karma said. Sasha lingered behind her shoulder.
The commanders and officers forgot their dice and cards, eying her like a glazed ham at a king's feast. Captain Levi's cheeks flushed, but his eyes were too sharp to be intoxicated—unlike the majority of his company.
"Ah, finally. A pretty thing to help me forget the stress of the job," MP Commander Nile Dawk drawled, eyes unfocused. Karma could smell the stingy alcohol on his breath from the other end of the table.
"Actually, I was wondering if there's room for two more? We'll supply our own buy-ins, of course. I'm not so bad at craps, if I do say so myself," she said. Commander-in-Chief Dhalis Zachary scooted to open a spot for her. She took it and plopped Hitch's roll on the table.
"Sure thing. But we've moved on to poker." He swished a stack of cards between his hands. Karma didn't know the first thing about poker, but she knew enough to keep her expression unreadable.
Her original plan was to drain the Commanders dry until the only thing they'd have left to gamble with was the keys to their pantry. But the odds were stacked against her now. She tried to convey this in a pointed look to Sasha, who'd taken a seat next to Commander Erwin and supplied a potato from her pocket as a buy-in.
Hopefully between the two of them they'd stand a chance.
Zachary laid three cards face down and dealt each player two. Karma peeked at hers. Two fours. She glanced at Sasha who returned a small nod. What did that mean? That Sasha had a good hand? She wished they would've strategized better.
"Sasha?" Zachary raised a wiry, white brow.
"I raise." She pulled another potato from her pocket and added it to the pot of miscellaneous food and coin. Commander Erwin was next. He pushed his measly stack of coins and half-empty mead mug into the pot.
Captain Levi folded. He didn't seem the least bit invested in the game. His gaze was fixed straight ahead, fingers steepled. Zachary tossed in half of a potato and a heel of bread from his pile—by far the largest. He downed another mug of mead.
"Karma?"
"I can't match the bet," she said, turning out her empty pockets.
"I'll cover you this round, doll face," Zachary said. At this, Levi shifted his glare to the commander, who'd slung a handful of coins that skittered everywhere but the pot. Levi strangled his mug. Karma didn't understand the sudden mood shift.
After everyone had a chance to bet, Zachary flipped the three communal cards. Using those and the ones in her hand, the best Karma could do was Three of a Kind. Not great. It was Sasha's turn again.
"I raise." She pulled another potato from her pocket. It wobbled when she laid it down.
"I can't match." Erwin, cheek in palm, gestured to the empty space in front of him.
"You sure? Nothing in your pockets?" Karma said a tad too eagerly.
Erwin fished around. "Uh, just some keys."
"Those will work," Sasha said, nodding. She and Karma exchanged suppressed grins. He flung his key ring to the pot.
Zachary matched the bet. "Would you like me to cover you again?" he asked Karma.
"Um, sure."
Zachary laid another communal card and each player called. When he laid the final card, Karma's heart sank. Still only Three of a Kind. A guaranteed loss.
It came time for everyone to lay their hand. Sasha had a Full House. No one could top it. Karma almost dared to hope that their ridiculous plan had worked. Then Commander Zachary plopped down a ten and a jack.
"Straight Flush. Looks like I win." He hugged the pot with both arms and lugged it over, spilling coins and a pack of cigarettes on the way. Karma followed Erwin's keys as they raked across the table.
The commander drained another mug and patted his mountain of winnings. "This is a lot of stuff. But still not everything." He looked down at Karma.
Levi was grinding his teeth.
"Sorry, Commander, I can't pay you back yet. Maybe we could play another round?"
His unfocused eyes glinted behind his spectacles. "I accept many forms of payment, doll face." Suddenly, her hips were yanked and she found herself on Zachary's lap.
"No—"
A sloppy, wet mouth cut her off. Karma struggled to free herself from Zachary, thrashing around in his hold. Rancid rum cloyed her senses. His thick beard was scratchy, flecked with meat. She fought the fingers tugging the buttons of her blouse—
The ping of shattering glass yanked Zachary's face from hers. With a thud, he slumped into his winnings, out cold.
Karma scrambled away, crunching the remnants of a mug under her shoes. Captain Levi was huffing and clenching his fists like he'd just been in a brawl.
The racket of the dining hall raged on as though assault and shattering glass were an everyday occurrence.
"What the hell were you thinking?!" Levi was furious. Karma wasn't sure where that fury was directed to.
"I—"
"Karma!" Sasha motioned to her.
Karma smoothed her blouse and backed away from the table. Levi's cold eyes followed her to the back of the dining hall.
"I stole the keys!" Sasha bounced on her toes.
They raced through the adjoining corridor, feet pattering against stone, adrenaline spiked.
Karma couldn't believe what just happened—how embarrassing! To be taken advantage of and need to be rescued? She wished she could scrub the whole thing from her memory the way she scrubbed her mouth with the inside of her shirt.
Luckily, anyone who witnessed was likely too drunk to comprehend—let alone remember—what had happened. But, unfortunately, Levi had been sober.
And, of course, he had to be the one to rescue her.
Karma shook the thought off, focusing on finding the officer's pantry. Soon enough, someone would realize the keys were missing, but the scene should buy them a couple minutes.
"Here it is! I can already taste the meat!" Sasha was drooling, but Karma was queasy—the hot stench of meaty breath was stapled to her brain. Still, she was determined to steal from Levi's pantry. As though doing so could redeem her pride.
Sasha unlocked the door. A savory waft caressed them. Shelves of dried and pinkened patties and links. Flavorful wines and cheeses. Pickled vegetables. Canned sausages, turkey legs, and greasy bacon strips.
"It's beautiful…" Sasha sounded on the verge of tears.
"Don't go too crazy. They won't notice a couple of sausage links here and there, but any more than that and we'll find ourselves locked up for life."
"Worth it…" Sasha floated into the pantry. Karma smacked her on the arm.
"Get it together. One meat apiece, and nothing too rare."
Sasha settled on a loaf of salami. Karma debated between a sausage patty the size of her hand and a can of fish. Which would the strays prefer?
"I'll sneak the keys back. You should hurry up though," Sasha said, anxious to scurry away with her spoils.
"You're gonna share that meat with the other cadets right?" Karma raised a brow.
"I'll think about it." That was probably the best promise Karma could hope for. "Now hurry!" Sasha tucked the salami under her jacket and rushed from the pantry, leaving the door ajar for Karma to follow.
A little ways down the hall, she heard, "Oh, Captain Levi. I was just returning to the dining hall."
Karma's stomach sunk to her feet. She couldn't escape without him seeing her actively fleeing the scene of the crime. She snatched the sausage patty and frisked for a place to hide.
Footsteps stomped towards her.
Under a shelf behind a barrel, Karma held her breath, for once grateful for her small stature. She squeezed her eyes shut and clenched the patty to her chest. If only Sasha had closed the door behind her—
"Karma." Captain Levi's voice came from the doorway. From his tone, she imagined him standing with folded arms. "I can see your feet."
Karma sighed and crawled out of the cramped spot. She kept her eyes trained on Levi's shoes as he closed the pantry door, sealing them in the small room for her inevitable lecture.
"Swindling officers? A public disturbance? Stealing meat? Give me one reason I shouldn't put you on probation permanently," he said.
Karma continued to study the floor. "Go ahead. Life behind the walls is probation enough." He blinked at her response, but gathered himself when he saw the patty in her hand.
"Don't tell me you planned on feeding those damn cats with the officer's meat."
"Of course I did. They've gone without it as long as the rest of us. And they're not worthless."
Levi stepped closer. She watched his feet but didn't move.
"Look at me." His voice was suddenly gentle. She looked up. His eyes were the warmest she'd ever seen them. "This compassion of yours…it's being wasted. You can't help everyone. It's important that you understand that."
She offered a feeble shrug. "I understand it goes against your ferocious Scout ideology, but why wouldn't I try? Even strays deserve help." When Levi was silent, she continued, "That's why I want to join the Scouts. If my efforts help humanity escape this probation in any small way, then it'd be worth it."
His eyes narrowed. "You really think your life is worth sacrificing? You wouldn't rather leave the dirty work to me and the regiment?"
"No, I wouldn't," she said, realizing at that moment that she'd solidified her decision. She could never be content as an MP, a cushy job of petty theft and poker chips. She belonged with the Scouts, and she was determined to prove it. "I would be honored to serve beneath you, Captain."
He studied her. She studied him. The narrow point of his chin. The shadow of his cheekbones. The proximity of his body. Finally having his attention. His respect.
The edge of his mouth perked.
"I'll consider keeping this incident to myself." He draped a hand on her shoulder. "Just…stay out of trouble, Karma."
"Trouble has a way of finding me."
Levi smirked.
Then something sunk into her pocket.
"They'll prefer the fish," he said, then glanced at his pocket watch. "No rest for the wicked—regiment's waiting for me. We have another mission, assuming the Scouts aren't too hungover."
He opened the pantry door. As she left, slightly dazed by his touch, their interaction, and the corridor's bright light, she heard from behind her, "Tell Jean I say hi."