Author's Note: This was initially intended to be a single chaptered fic, then a 2 chapter fic, but will now have 3. This time I'll actually upload the last chapter tomorrow.
Thank you so much for everyone that has read, faved and alerted until now! Yay I'm happy.
Like I said, the whole purpose of this fic is to show the opportunities Kenny had with Levi, opportunities he never even imagined possible before, and wasted them. I wrote him as a neglecting and irresponsable father, yet if he could just change a bit, everything would be different. Alas.
.
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What I can give someone is some protection and surviving skills.
That's all I know. And you don't need much else.
9 years old
A woman entered Martha's pub. She was young, slightly dirty and otherwise completely average, thin hair falling down to her shoulders. But as soon as she stepped inside, all the gazes turned to her and an uncomfortably itching rumbling spread throughout the place.
Kenny ignored her and lit his cigaratte, but he was about the only one. The men shared remarks that were anything but whispers, and a couple of whistles echoed coming from unclear origins. The woman remained by the counter and talked only to Martha, who behaved in the exact same manner as she did with any other client.
Two of the men sitting by the counter turned to the woman, chuckling and flirting, one of them standing up and approaching in an undeceiving direction.
"Ah, we have new sights arou-"
Kenny watched as the man wasn't the only one to stand up, smiling to himself as Levi managed to glide effortlessly through the pub and jumped casually to the stool right next to the woman, as if it just coincidentally happened to be the only free seat available. The man's reflexes weren't as sharp as Levi's, so he more or less bumped into the kid.
"Hey. Move aside, brat."
"You're the one moving to the wrong side. Don't get near me or you'll get me dirty. Turn around and piss off."
The man blinked, fingers curling around the beer mug.
"Ya're outta ya league, brat. Ya think-"
The slashing hiss worked just as effectively for the gazes to turn that direction. Levi pulled out the knife, leaving a purposefully shallow wound on the man's forearm and sending him back with a jolt and a startled howl.
From his end, Kenny chuckled between a cloud of smoke. That's how you do it, kid. He amusingly watched the other men suddenly return to their previous topics of conversation, while the one by the counter was cursing under his breath. He tried to face Levi, whom unflinchingly glared back in silence, a threat not really needed to be hinted now. There was a thin dark glint on the blade on his hand. If it weren't for that, he was his usual expression-blank self, perpetual dark circles under his eyes but an almost cute long haired kid, his feet dangling way above the floor on the high bench.
Cross the line and the cute long haired kid will slice you up.
Attaboy, Levi.
"Well, that's that, right fellas?" Martha commented, dissing the man. "You still have your beer, right? There's lots of room on the other end. You, Levi, want a beer too?"
"I want a rag or something, there's blood on your counter."
The newcomer woman looked at Levi, unable to hide the surprised expression from her face as Martha handled him a wet cloth and a beer and the boy immediately started to scrub the stains before they dried. He was still clenching the knife on his hand, and didn't even try to look at the woman boasting over his intervention or anything of the sort. He effectively ignored her, and the woman remained silent too.
Some comments were now whispered as Levi attended to the blood on the blade and put the knife away again. Kenny was pleased to hear the whispers grow even lower as he stood up as well and approached, joining Levi's side, cigarette stuck between his teeth.
"Martha sweet, that's for our beers and the lady's there," he dropped the coins on the counter and casually nodded to the woman, her brown big eyes barely looking his way. "Cheers."
Being who he was, Kenny soon started to talk cheerfully with the guys, easing the environment by sharing awkward ridiculous stories. Levi didn't leave his place until the woman left, three beers in front of him. He was entertaining himself with a notebook Martha borrowed him, sketching some numbers and doing math and swinging his feet beneath him like a little kid.
Well, he kinda was a little kid anyway.
Martha the bartender approached Kenny's table with a bowl of dried appetizers, her large face slightly more serious than usual. Kenny didn't mind her. The bartender was no fool, obviously, to own such an establishment, so Kenny was aware that, for one, she knew his real identity, but had never made any sort of comment about it. The folks of the Underground didn't really care if MPs got killed, after all.
"You're raising that kid well, Kenny."
Whatever he might have expected from her look, it wasn't that. Kenny squinted at her and snorted loudly, shoving a hand on the bowl before she laid it on the table and throwing an appetizer to his mouth. It hit his cheek instead and he laughed at himself, feeling the salt sprayed on his skin.
"Ah, shut up, Martha. Yar clutching doesn't work on trash like me."
"Just something to hold to mind, when you both need it," she added.
Kenny grinned, a bit too drunk, and dismissed her.
...
"Go to sleep, kid,"
Levi was sitting on his mattress, an unnervingly silent dark shape fixed on him against the humid wall. Kenny was half asleep in front of him, sprawled on the couch with his hat fallen over his face. Levi had put out the candles a while ago, so they'd be immersed with dim light coming from the window for long enough to let it cradle them to sleep. Cradle Kenny to sleep, anyway.
The man was still warmingly drunk from the afternoon at Martha's, so it was really the time to rest and really not the time for Levi to have one of his occasional weird moods. Levi hadn't talked about the episode with the woman at the pub, and his weird moods got him thinking about all sorts of things and have nightmares or something. If only the kid could get drunk too, they'd both rest.
Instead he was just there, fighting off sleep like he always did. He'd never get rid of the dark bags on his eyes, clearly.
"Lay down, it's late and we gotta work tomorrow."
"How did you know my mother, Kenny?"
Kenny peeked an eye open, blurred vision turning to Levi. The cackle he gave made his chest shake and he kind of felt alcohol waggle in his stomach.
"Ah, I knew it."
"Knew what?"
"You're too basic, kid."
"What the hell does that mean?"
He chuckled again, readjusting his hat. This couch was just the perfection of comfort right now, the dim light so welcoming. Sometimes life wasn't all that bad when you were drunk and sleepy, huh.
"Kenny."
Exclude kids from the perfect scenario.
Kenny breathed out silently, yawning.
"Ya shouldn't ask stuff ya don't wanna know, brat."
"I'm not a kid anymore. Don't patronize me."
"What if I was one of Kuchel's clients, huh?"
"You're full of shit."
Kenny was so tired all he could do was laugh and let Levi think whatever he wanted.
"Besides, you don't hit women."
It took him some long seconds to process the words, heavy breathing feeling so calming and carrying him to sleep. He moved to his hat again, covering his eyes.
"Don't generalize. I kill women too."
"How did you know her? Can't imagine my mother putting up with you."
"Maybe that's why she died alone, huh kid."
Kenny didn't think much else before falling asleep, mouth gapping and body heavy from tiredness, leaving Levi to stare at him, pale and gaunt. The dim light allowed for little more than dark outlines of each other. He didn't see how Levi's body quivered however slightly and the boy turned his back to him in a fierce and startled movement, a smothered whimper as he curled beneath the blanket, not all nightmares needing sleep to claw at him.
...
I can't be someone's parent.
I've always known that, never questioned or doubted it.
10 years old
His girly length bangs were gone. Levi now looked like the impudent pre-teenager brat he was. His decision, not Kenny's. Only time he had made a comment about Levi's hair had gotten him a sharp kick on the shin and for some minutes his leg actually limped. Kenny wasn't stupid to just go around and wait to be kicked by the midget; besides, he didn't really care with whatever Levi prefered either. Let him do whatever he wanted.
"My neck's cold."
Kenny turned his eyes to Levi, mouth currently full with beer and mug pouring down some more. He waited patiently until all of it was safely stored in his belly before burping, much to Levi's frowned annoyance.
"Charming."
"Stop whinning."
"Stop acting like a fucking horse."
"I mean stop whinning about the hair. Don't like it, don't cut it."
"I'm not whinning, just not used to it yet." His hand went up to his nape, now undercut. "It's more practical. Besides, this way people get off my back."
Kenny burped out again, this time normally with less showoff.
"Are ya really worried about what other people think?"
"No."
"'Cause you ain't supposed to. You ain't doing that, Levi, 'cause that's stupid. Who cares what people think. See the stupid retard nicknames they give me? Do I look like I care?"
"You do."
"A- Well, that's not what I mean! I don't care care, it's just annoying. What if someone calls you short, huh?"
"If I like the person, can't really say they're lying. Even if they piss me off or something, depends if I actually care for them or not. I may just tell them to shut up."
"Don't get lost on track here, brat! We're talking about not caring if people are fucking retards towards you!"
"You care about what I call you?"
"Ah! Why should I?"
"You're a stupid useless old man, but you do some good stuff from time to time. Not much."
"Bah, shut up."
"See."
Kenny looked at Levi, expecting to find him pointing at something, but instead, he was just looking ahead. Kenny actually followed his eyeline, feeling stupid as he did so.
"I told you, you're not as smart as you think you are." Levi turned to him, same usual glare on his eyes, but damn smug kid was triumphant in a mental cheer, Kenny could just tell.
And he realized just how much Levi really looked like Kuchel. Same face features, same eyes, similar expressions when Levi allowed expression to show. It was slightly bewildering, specially now he had changed his hairstyle so much. It might not be the best or safer looks for a young boy in the Underground, but hey, Kenny himself was dashy enough and survived, right? It actually made him look older. Kuchel would have liked to see the resemblance between herself and her kid.
Kenny had to admit defeat and grinned at himself. He then threw his hand on Levi's hair, still quite enough to tousle around and shoved him to the ground.
"Hey! Stop that!"
"Ah you little bastard. Who you're calling old, huh?"
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to be continued
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Author's Note: I actually feel this is strangely heart warming and fluffy. In a messed up way but still. Most fluffy interactions between these two.
A small chapter because otherwise this would be nearly 7000 words long. Tomorrow, or after that maximum, the final chapter will be posted and I'll fall headfirst and hurting into my life again after nearly 1 month writing Levi and Kenny family fics.
Thanks for reading feedback is appreciated and please point out mistakes.
Other stories that 'happen' during the events of this chapter:
- 'Reminders and remains' happens between the end of this chapter and beginning of the next
- so does 'The Talk'