Chap 2: Meetings and Hidden Plans
10 years later…
The capital city of Sina has been once a prosperous reign, but after the massacre of the Ackerman's royal house; it had fallen to the end of the line.
The city had changed in the following 10 years. It became more industrialized, but also incredibly dirty at the same time.
Criminality, corruption and violence were common on the city; the skies were dark with the factories' smokes and constantly covered in thick dark clouds. Since the revolution, times haven't been any happy as many had thought them to be.
Old man: Sina here is gloomy!
Young woman: Sina here is bleak!
Man: My underwear got frozen standing here all week!
[Group of workers]
Oh, since the revolution
Our lives have been so gray!
Thank goodness for the gossip
that gets us through the day!
(One of the few things that made live possible was pretty much the gossips. let alone the most important of them. The whole city couldn't help but talk of it.)
Hey!
Have you heard
there's a rumor in Sina's reign?
Have you heard
what they're saying on the street?
(A young woman, dressed in large brown coat, with square goggles and brown hair tied up in a messy ponytail walked through the streets, occasionally 'taking' some apple from peoples' baskets. She liked to walk around in search of some idea, and then she came across the newspaper stand.)
[Newspaper man]
Although the King did not survive,
One son may be still alive!
The Prince Rivaille!
(they got interrupted by a man in brown uniform that carried a rifle with him. He glared at the crowd gathered there and everyone walked away silently)
[Frightened man]
But please do not repeat!
(through the gossip was on everyone's mouths and papers, many of the revolutionaries preferred to think that all of the royal family was now dead, so they could continue their regimen without disturb.)
[Group]
It's a rumor,
A legend,
A mystery!
Something whispered in an alleyway
Or through a crack!
(The goggled woman made her way to a tavern. She pressed her hear on the door and whispered something. The door opened to let her in.)
It's a rumour
That's part of our history.
(She walked into the courtyard that worked as a small marketplace, walked toward the stairs that led to the upper floors. She passed a crowded stad where a babushka was using a souvenir snowball as a crystal sphere.)
Babushka: They say his royal grandmama
Will pay a royal sum!
[All]
To someone who can bring the prince back!
(After climbing the stairs, the woman noticed someone standing next to a column. The figure was tall, bulky, arms folded and head tilted slightly forward that made unreadable his features. He was dressed in large black coat and wore dark grey hat.)
- Sup, Erwin! - the woman greeted waving a hand.
The man lifted his gaze toward her, cerulean eyes meeting brown ones. He smiled.
- Hi, Hanji. I can imagine by your smile that you got what we need. - he said.
- Damn right I did! – She grinned proudly - Wasn't easy through. Shall we go? -
(The two partners walked across the inner market, eventually meeting some black markeeters that were trying to sell 'probable' real belongings of the royal family.)
Black marketer: A gold coin for this painting!
It's Ackerman, I swear!
2nd Black Marketer: Count Henning's pajamas!
Comrade, buy the pair!
3rd Marketer: I got this from the palace
It's lined with real fur!
All: It could be worth a fortune
If it belonged to him!
(Erwin and Hanji entered in the backstage, walking and chatting now they were away from unwanted ears)
- Guess what, Mr. Handsome? Got us a theater! Everything it's going according to the plan.- Hanji chirped happily.
- Good. All we need now is the boy.- Erwin said.
- Can you think of it?! - Hanji burst out with a smile - No more forging papers or stolen goods. We'll have three tickets out of here. One for you, one for me and one for…"Rivaille". - She giggled as she remarked the last name by making the sign of quoting marks with her fingers.
Erwin grinned as he packed up some belongings in his bag.
[Erwin]
It's the rumor,
The legend,
The mystery!
It's the Prince Rivaille who will help us fly!
You and I friend
Will go down
In history!
(He then reached for a picture on the wall, moving aside the frame and revealing a hidden hole behind it. He reached inside and took out one of the most important pieces of his plan: A small carillon blue, green and silver. He then tucked it out in his coat's pocket.)
We'll find a boy to play the part and teach him what to say,
Dress him up and take him to Maria's!
Imagine the reward his dear old Grandmama will pay!
Who else could pull it off but you and me?
We'll be rich!
Hanji: yes we will!
We'll be out!
Hanji: we're getting out!
[BOTH]
And Sina's city will have some more to talk about!
(They packed up just the necessary before leaping out their apartment's window, sliding down the icy roof. Down in the streets, people danced around the plaza)
SSH!
Have you heard
There's a rumor in Sina's Capital?
Have you heard
What they're saying on the street?
Hey!
Hey!
Hey!
Have you heard?
There's a rumor in Sina's Capital!
Have you heard?
Comrade, what do you suppose?
(Erwin and Hanji made their way through the dancing crowd, reaching a departing tram and boarding it just in time)
A fascinating mystery!
[Erwin]
The biggest con in history!
[ALL]
The Prince Rivaille
Alive or dead?
[random WINDOW WASHER]
Who knows?
Shhh.
-!-
In the further outskirts of Sina, far off in the woods, a big old house was rocked by the voices and crying and complaining of many children inside.
- We'll miss you, big bro. - a tiny voice said.
- Levi - a girl called out.
- Can't he stay just some longer? - a boy asked.
- No. he's old enough and I'm tired of his fights. So come on! - a old woman voice, or a 'witch', shouted as she opened the front door and walked out in the snow.
After her, looking bored out of his mind, a young man with short black hair and silver grey eyes walked out carrying a bag on his left shoulder. He wore a long dark green coat and a worn red scarf around his neck.
- I got you a job in the fish factory. You go straight down this path 'till you get to the fork of the road. Then go left…- she stopped once realized the boy walked past her without muttering so much of a farewell.
- Are you listening?! - She barked.
- Yeah, old rag. Bye everybody! - He said, simply raising a hand, not bothering to turn around.
Children were gathered around the windows or front door of the orphanage, bidding byes to their older 'brother' and wishing him good luck.
- Don't ignore me, brat! You've been a pain in my ass since you were brought here, acting as if you owned the place, instead of the nameless no-account you are. - She ranted as she grabbed Levi's scarf and dragged him off. - For the last 10 years, I fed you, clothed you, I kept a roof…-
- Over my head, I already know the story…- Levi dismissed.
- How is it you don't have a clue as to who you were before you came to us but you can remember all that? - The old woman asked as she opened the front gates.
Levi honestly didn't know. He couldn't even remember his real name. When people tried to ask him he would remain clueless.
One day, while reading a book, he came across a name that sparked his interest. 'Levi'. And so it remained to him.
- I do have a clue, shitty witch…- Levi said flatly, neutral expression never changing.
- Ahj! I know. - She spat before grabbing Levi's wings necklace, hidden under his scarf, and reading 'together in Maria'.
- So you want to go to Maria's Kingdom to find your family huh? - She laughed - Little Mr. Levi, it's time to take your place in life… In life and in line! And be grateful too. - She spat before pushing Levi out the orphanage's gates and throwing out his bag on the ground.
The gates slammed shut again, leaving him out.
- Tch. Whatever, you bitch. - Levi spat as he bent over to pick up his bag and dusting off the snow. He swung his luggage on his left shoulder before walking off.
- Levi aniki! - Someone shouted behind him.
He stopped and turned around to see a couple of teens standing at an open window.
One was a girl with teal eyes and red hair, tied up in a couple of short pigtails. The other was a tall boy with short, ash blonde hair and clear blue eyes.
- Remember the promise we made, aniki! - Isabel, the girl, shouted with a smile.
- Good luck, Levi! I'll see ya next year! - Farlan, the other teen, called out with a determinate grin.
Levi stared at his best friends and gave them a small smile. He nodded and waved at them before walking away as flakes of snow fluttered down.
Shortly after, as he walked down the path, he sighed.
- So fucking cold…- he muttered and looked up at the grey sky. It was almost as dark just like the day he woke up without any memory of himself, who he was or where he came from.
He only knew that he found himself lying unconscious and injured in the snow. Policemen noticed him wander around and after a failed series of question about his identity, he was tagged amnesiac and shipped to the orphanage.
His childhood was a lonely life. His permanent glare would either scare away the children more impressionable or he would have beaten up the older kids that dared to pick on him for his short stature.
All except them…
There was only a kid that would approach him; and that had been the caution but ingenious Farlan.
The boy had been living in the streets for a good while before he was caught and sent to the orphanage as well. He had the reputation to be a young little delinquent downtown; through he only stole what he needed to survive.
His hardship and determination to befriend him had earned him Levi's respect and the two quickly formed a friendship.
They would sneak out the house to roam the capital's streets in search of an easy 'job' like pickpocket and stealing goods that could be useful not just to them, but for the children in the orphanage too.
Their reputation grew quickly in town. Especially with the Military police; who no matter what they tried, couldn't apprehend the little scoundrels. Not that the military police were this good of soldier anyway. With a system so rotten and corrupt like theirs, it did not advantage their physics or intelligence, which made Levi and Farlan's jobs much easier.
Not so long after, the thug Duo had grown to a Trio after they found and rescued a sick child from the streets.
Her name was Isabel. Good-spirited, jolly Isabel.
The tree had been inseparable since then, growing up like brothers, helping and supporting each other without any doubt.
Then, the mayor change in their lives happened when Levi was at least 12 years old. After a successful day of survival down the streets, they had gathered up on the rooftops of the city on a particularly clear spring night.
They would someday get out of the misery they had grown up in and make their way to a better life. They decided, under the starry sky, to make this promise. They would gather up enough to get out the city and then it would have been just the three of them together, far away, in a better place to live.
He sighed at the memories, feeling slightly melancholic.
Now he was too old to keep living in the orphanage and the infamous Thug Trio was no more.
Levi was slightly older than his friends. Farlan was just one or less of a year younger than him, while Isabel still had some more time before her.
The only thing Levi was glad was that his two best friends would still have some roof on their heads. But as soon as they would hit the legal age like he did, the with-like matron would not hesitate to kick them out as well.
The three of them grew up together since no one wanted to adopt any of them. After the royal family massacre, Sina capital's families could barely afford enough for a decent meal, raising children was enough of hard.
Besides… why would someone take the pain to raise the infamous group of little delinquents after all?
Levi walked and walked until he reached the fork of the road. A sign clearly told that the fisherman village was left, the other pointed to Sina's Capital.
- I won't spend my life handling some stinky fish…- he muttered as he glared at the sign. He reached out for his necklace, frowning.
"Whoever gave me this must have loved me" he thought.
- Tch. This is crazy. Where I could ever find the money to go anyway? Maria's kingdom is too far to walk there. - he growled. In frustration, he rose his eyes to the sky - Oi! Can't you give me a sign? A hint? - he shouted, almost as if wanting some kind of mystic power to help him.
And it came…sort of.
A small, brown and furry dot ran at him before slipping down his legs, knocking him down face flat in the snow.
- What the actual fuck?! - Levi cursed, trying to get up. Weight crashed on his head, forcing him down again.
Slowly, he rose up to meet eye to eye with a couple of big, green eyes.
It was a dog, a pup of German Shepherd with brown and black fur and big green eyes. He had a string around his neck with a simple metal plate. Said pup just stared at him as it waved its tail happily as its mouth was parted slightly in an almost dumb smile.
- What are you looking at, shitty fleabag? - Levi spat angrily. He knelt on the snow, trying to dust himself off.
The pup just stared at him, tilting its head to the left in curiosity.
- You're lucky I haven't got dirty, brat. Or I would make rags out of you. - He threatened. Just as he was about to pick up his scarf and bag, the pup quickly grabbed the scarf and begun to run around with it.
- Oi! I don't want to play. Give it back! - Levi shouted as chased after the dog.
When the pup would seem to stay put, tail waving, and Levi was about to catch his scarf, it would pull away at the last moment and run.
- Give it back, shitty pup! I don't have time for this! - the boy yelled.
The dog quickly ran down the road but soon came to a stop when he noticed the funny short human wasn't following him anymore. He remained still, confused, until a pair of gloved hands grabbed it by the tail and lifted it off the ground.
The upside-down puppy soon came face-to-face with an angry black haired boy. It gulped in fear as it begun to sweat cold.
- Give. It. Back. - Levi hissed as he opened his left hand.
The dog let go of the scarf into the teen's free hand. The pup then was dropped down in the snow, half of its body buried to the waist and leaving tail and hind legs to flail aimlessly in the air.
Levi grabbed his bag and walked down the street mumbling curses to himself when he was met again with the same dog, snow covered from the nose to the waist but prancing around happily around the man.
- You again? Don't make me hurt you, brat. - He growled.
The puppy just pouted, glaring. The teen just sighed and crouched down to pet the dog's head.
- You sure are a stubborn brat, aren't you? - he asked. The doggy barked happily as it raised its head.
Levi then noticed something written on the plate.
- "Eren"…- he read - So your name is Eren, uh? -
The dog barked a couple of times. He left the boy's side to run down the road and bark.
- Great…- Levi snorted - A shitty dog wants me to go to Sina…-
Eren sat on the ground, staring insistently at the boy and pouting.
- Fine. You won this round…- the teen said as he walked after the overexcited pup that kept running circles around him. As he walked, he hummed between himself a song.
-!-
Later in the day, he was finally there with Eren still in tow. The landscape of Sina's capital extended as far as he could see with its gloomy sky and columns of smoke and it's tall church that towered over the town.
Levi walked into the streets, searching for the train station. Once he got to the ticket stand, he was promptly rejected for not possessing any passport or exit visa…and sure, he had very little money to try 'convincing' some ticket seller. He would have rather use his classical method (beating them to a pulp) to get what he wanted, but the station was full of soldiers and it wouldn't have been wise for him to harm a ruckus.
- Tch. Just great…- he growled. - I would need a smuggler to get out this place…- he muttered as he pulled out a piece of bread out his bag. He began to eat it when someone tapped his shoulder.
- Ehy. Psst! - someone whispered. Levi turned to meet a young woman with brown eyes, brown hair, tied in a ponytail, and she carried with her a bag full of food, especially potatoes.
- I heard of your problem…- she said, still whispering - If I can suggest... Go see Erwin. He can help you. - the girl said.
- Where can I find him? - he asked.
- I heard he lives in the old palace of the Ackermans. You can find him here. But you didn't hear it from me - she said. - Uh…are you, y' know…gonna finish it? - she asked as she begun to drool, pointing at the piece of bread in the teen's hands.
Levi rolled his eyes and pulled out some more bread from his bag. He gave it to the girl, who thanked him over and over before she frolicked away, giggling happily at her find.
- So…Erwin, uh? - Levi muttered. - I better go find this guy then…-
-!-
- Nice, perfect, superb! - Hanji spewed out compliments.
She turned to see her partner and her smile faded when she noticed that Erwin wasn't convinced. Especially by the fact he had an open palm of his hand stamped his face and sighed.
The man on stage was being over dramatically reciting the role of the prince. He almost looked more like a Shakespeare's actor.
- Ok, thank you. We'll call you later! Next! - Hanji dismissed the actor as she cancelled another name out of the long (very long) list.
A young man with grey hair walked on stage, dressed in fake elegant clothes. He had short hair with the bangs on both sides and wore a cravat around his neck.
- Oh! Grandma, it's me, the lost prince Rivaille. - he spoke up.
Erwin rolled his eyes in exasperation. - Oh, man…-
- After a series of embarrassing attempts later…-
- That's it, Erwin. Game over. Our lasts coins gone for this crappy theater and still no boy to pretend to be Rivaille. - Hanji said as she crossed her arms behind her head and looked up with a sigh.
- We'll find him, Hanji. - Erwin stated - I can feel that he is somewhere under our nose… After all…- he said as he pulled out the carillon and flipped it in his hand. - One look at this music box and the empress will think we've brought the real Rivaille. By the time she catches on, we'll be off spending the gold. -
As they walked through the street, there was a boy and his shepherd pup talking to a man for information.
- I'm looking for the palace, would y-! - he was interrupted when Erwin accidentally bumped on him.
- Oi! Pay attention where you walk, big-ass tree! - the teen hissed.
- Oh, sorry. Haven't seen you there - the blonde apologized.
- Maybe cuz he's short…- Hanji piped in, earning a glare from both men. - What? - She asked raising her shoulders.
- Sorry, we'll get going. - Erwin said as he dragged the woman away with him.
Levi huffed irritated as he turned again to the man - Is anyone in the palace? -
- No, no. There's no one living there. Go on.-
-!-
Levi walked through the hallway to the main door of the abandoned big palace. The entrance was closed by heavy wooden planks that were slowly rotting away.
Eren sniffed the ground before he adventured inside trough a hole in the planks.
- Eren. - Levi called out. - Come back here. - The dog seemed to fail to hear him.
- Eren where are you? - the teen asked again. Realizing that wouldn't do, he grabbed the wooden planks and after a few pulls, he tugged a chunk off. The sound was quite loud, alerting two familiar faces that were busy eating.
- Did you hear something? - Erwin asked, turning his gaze to the direction the sound came from.
Hanji was busy gulping down some vine when she put down the bottle - What sound? -
Erwin settled down his glass and walked out to check on it. He was shortly followed by Hanji who had the bottle of vine in her hand.
Levi walked in the large rooms, taking a look around him. The place was huge, dark and cold.
-Hello? Anybody home? - he called out. His voice bounced on the walls creating an echo. He continued to climb the stairs, eventually peeking inside a few rooms. He wrinkled his nose in disgust at the amount of dust, dirt and cobwebs all around him.
- Tch. This place is filthy… - he muttered, sliding a finger on a table and glaring at the layer of dirt on his glove.
Eren trotted around the room, hiding under the tables, but never going too far from Levi.
The teen blew off the dust on a plate and collected it. The plain object maintained some of its shine despite the dust and Levi watched his reflection in it.
Then something happened. His reflection shifted to show a tall, dark haired man dressed in elegant uniform that was lifting a little boy in his arms as they laughed joyfully.
Just like it appeared, it dissipated to show the teen's face again. Levi blinked his eyes in confusion and settled the plate down again.
Eren whined as the boy walked away, analyzing his surroundings as he frowned.
- This place…- Levi said as he approached a dusty mirror where a vase of painted swans and bears rested on the counter. He ran a hand on the vase as he viewed it interestingly.
- It's…like a memory from a dream - he said as he dusted off the top of the vase with the bear decorations.
Levi then felt an urge. As if he wanted to express his most recurrent dream. It felt sort of unfamiliar.
Singing was not something special to him, or something he prided himself for. He rarely sung, except when he was young and Isabel and other children couldn't just get to sleep. He made clear that it was nothing he would do. In fact, it was very (VEEERY) rare of him to express in this way.
But now, almost unconsciously, he began to sing.
Dancing bears,
Painted wings
Things I almost remember.
(He made his way the enormous and empty main hall of the palace. Chandeliers attacked to the rooftop and many windows on both sides of the ballroom. A royal portrait of the Ackermans stood tall on top of a staircase.)
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December.
(He began to swing side to side in rhythm with his singing, eventually wrapping his arms around himself as he continued)
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
(Levi walked to the center of the large red carpet and removed his worn black gloves, letting them fall to the floor, imagination begun to take over him)
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory...
(Paintings exploded in dust clouds as ethereal dancing figures in elegant dresses of many colors waltzed their way through the air, slowly landing on the floor of the hall and danced.
Levi began to ascend the stairs, occasionally meeting two couples of noble looking people. He bowed politely at them as they did the same to greet him.
Eren just sat on a corner of the top of the stair as he watched the scene.
The glowing colored figures on the dance floor didn't seem to notice the teen as he reached the end of the staircase and begun to dance as well.)
Someone holds me safe and warm.
Horses prance through a silver storm.
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory...
(From the royal portrait on the top of the staircase emerged three figures, dresses in majestic garments. The king and queen held hands, their daughter walked at the woman's side and the three begun to ascend the stairs)
(Three young ladies greeted the boy gleefully as he continued to sing. One of them handed him a long, dark green cape that fell nicely behind his back.
Levi spun around, covered in a bright light, and then he was dressed in a white and golden uniform, a navy blue sash across his chest, the green cape on his back, red and gold pants and black elegant shoes.)
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember
Things my heart
Used to know
Things it yearns to remember...
(The royal family walked through the hall and the guests bowed respectfully at their sight. Levi found himself facing a woman with long black hair and grey eyes, pretty similar to his. The woman was older than him, slightly shorter, dressed in a long, elegant blue silk dress and with a shining golden tiara on her head. Levi politely bowed to her, before the both held hands begun to slow-dance)
And a song…
Someone sings…
(The dance didn't last long. In the end, the woman placed a soft, motherly caress on the teen's cheek. Levi closed his eyes for a moment, relishing in the soft touch, before they both let go. They both bowed to each other gracefully and the figures around him vanished, last being the queen)
Once upon a December…
- HEY! - someone shouted from behind him, startling the boy - What are you doing here? -
Levi bolted up on his feet and scowled at the two people standing on the stairs by the other side of the ballroom. One was a tall blonde man and the other was a woman with brown hair. The teen rushed back to the staircase he was standing before and the two strangers rushed down to chase him.
- Hey. Stop. - the man called out. - Hold on a minute. - the blonde reached the end of the staircase, but Levi was already on top.
- What? - he spat. Eren barked at the man, baring his teeth and narrowing his eyes.
- Now, how did you get in…- the blonde stopped as something caught his interest.
Levi was standing in front of the large royal portrait, the picture of Prince Rivaille just on his right. He didn't seem to notice the detail as he frowned at the fazed blonde.
- Hello? Earth-to-big ass tree…anyone copy? - Levi spat.
Eren approached the man, sniffing him slightly before sitting, still frowning.
The woman shortly reached them, panting tiredly. - Sorry, kid, we…Erwin, do you see what I see? - she asked, fixing her glasses and smiling wide.
- Yes I do.- the blonde replied as he made his way up the staircase.
- Uh, a dog! - the woman squealed as she bent down to pick Eren up.
- Are you Erwin? - the boy asked arching an eyebrow, staring down at the two.
- Perhaps. Depends on who's looking for him. - Erwin said while the woman begun to pet and swoon over the pup in her arms.
- I'm Levi. I need travel papers. - the teen stated, crossing his arms over his chest. - A little bird told me you're the right man for the job.-
Erwin said noting. He just began to circle the much smaller man, viewing him with interest. Levi, by his hand, never stopped to glare at the man and scowled.
- Stop circling me with that shit-eating grin, you creep. What are you, a vulture? -
The blonde stopped - I'm so-sorry Lenny -
- Levi -
- Levi, right. Sorry. It's just that you look a lot like…- Erwin begun but he dropped the subject. - Never mind.-
Levi scoffed.
- To begin with… Yes. I'm Erwin Smith. - he blonde said. He pointed to the woman that just had joined them, with Eren still in her arms - She's my partner, Hanji Zoe. -
- Nice to meet ya! - the woman smiled. Eren seemed to try crawl away from Hanji's iron hug on him.
- Now…you said something about travel papers. - Erwin continued.
- Yeah. I'd like to go to Maria's kingdom. -
- Maria Kingdom? - Hanji piped in - Why? -
- Heard the place was perfect to take a shit… It's to get out this hell, glasses, what else? - Levi spat.
- What can I say? Just curious - the woman raised her shoulders, unfazed at all by the boy's insults and begun to pet the pup in her arms.
- Now let me ask you something, Levi. - Erwin said - There's a last name that goes with that? -
- Well, actually…I don't have a last name. I was found wandering around the streets when I was eight. Don't remember anything before that. - The boy explained.
- I see. - Erwin said, a plan slowly formulating in his mind.
- I do have one clue through. And that's Maria's reing. -
- Really? -
- So, can you two help me or not? - Levi asked.
Erwin and Hanji exchanged looks and she nodded. She settled down the now almost asphyxiated Eren and searched for something in her jacket. Eren wobbled a little before collapsing with a sigh.
- We'd like to help you. In fact, oddly enough, we're going to Maria's Kingdom ourselves. - he said.
-Voilá! - Hanji said, pulling out three tickets from a pocket and handing them to Erwin - Three tickets for Maria's Kingdom! -
Levi reached out for one when the tall blonde retracted his hand.
- Unfortunately, the third one is for him, Rivaille. - he said, pointing to the figure on the portrait.
- We are going to reunite the Grand Duke Rivaille with his grandmother. - Erwin said.
- And you do kind of resemble him.- Hanji added.
- Uh? - Levi said, frowning.
- Why not? Got the same grey eye, same hair color, same age and both of you seem to have a pole shoved up your asses.-
- Wait, hold your horses.- Levi cut short. - Are you two shitheads thinking that I am Rivaille? -
- What we are trying to say is that we've seen thousands of boys all over the country and no one of them looks as much like the grand duke as you. Just look at the portrait. - Erwin stated.
- Tch. I knew you were crazy from the start, but now I think you got way too much vine. -
Hanji, who was behind them, was busy gulping some more vine from her bottle before she noticed Levi pointing at her with his thumb. She let go of the drink with a slight *hic*.
- Why? You don't remember what happened to you. - Erwin said, calm as ever.
- No one knows what happened to him *hic* - Hanji continued.
- You're looking for something, maybe family, in Maria's kingdom -
- And his only family is right there -
Erwin put a hand on Levi's shoulder, guiding him toward the portrait again. - You ever thought about the possibility? -
-Riiight…- Levi rolled his eyes. - Me? Royalty?! Look, don't you have any idea how royal people is? I see hard to think of yourself as a duke when you sleep in a dirty room on a damp floor…Royalty is not patient with strangers and I would like to keep my head on my shoulders; you know? -
And then, how could he keep his promise to Isabel and Farlan if he got executed?
- The answer is 'forget it'- he said as he got his gloves back and walked off.
- Very well…- Erwin said - but I hardly believe someone would offer an opportunity like this to the Thug Trio's leader. -
Levi froze - What?! -
- I heard about you, through I never heard of your name before. You are smart, agile and deadly, but neither can you do everything alone. No ne in town would actually offer any help if they'd knew who you are. - Erwin said, stepping up to the small teen.
- I am offering you the chance to get to Maria's kingdom like you want and find the family I suppose you never had. After all, as a prince, you could get anything you want, am I wrong? -
"That bastard" Levi hissed angrily.
Eren, next to him, growled threatening, sensing his master's thinking.
- All I ask of you is your cooperation and your complete trust.- the blonde stated.
- Ah! As if I could. I don't even know you. - the boy scoffed. Trust was earned, not given. This guy was playing dangerously with fire, let alone when said fire was Levi.
- Maybe…but if I was you, I would think about it carefully. -
Heavy minutes of silence fell on the room and tension was thin enough it could be cut with a knife.
- Seems like you're not interested. Oh, well. It was worth a try. - Erwin said before walking away with Hanji. - Good luck, Levi. -
Eren approached his owner with a worried face, not sure how he could help his friend. The boy said nothing, eyes shadowed by the bangs and fists clenched tight. He didn't move or turned, when…
- Wait…-
Erwin smiled.
"Right in our hands".
He turned his gaze around slightly to see the young teen in the same place, trembling slightly in anger and with shadowed eyes.
- Fine. I'm in. - the boy hissed through gritted teeth as he stormed his way up to the tall blonde and glared up to him, stormy grey versus cerulean blue eyes. - But as soon as this shit is over, I'm out, got it? -
- Got it. Welcome to the team, Levi. - the older man said, extending his arm. - Or I should say: "Gran Duke Rivaille"? -
Levi growled and swatted his hand away before storming his way past the two, muttering curses under his breath.
-Y' know… - Hanji begun - Sometimes you can be a real bastard. - she said with a knowing smile.
Erwin just chuckled at his friend's antics.
- Why didn't you tell him about our plan? - she asked.
- He just wants to get to Maria's Kingdom. - Erwin said - I don't see any need to give away a third of the reward. -
- Ooh, right. - Hanji giggled before she hiccupped again.
This time, Erwin grabbed the vine bottle from her hand.
- I think you've got enough of this for today. -
-C'moon, Erwiiin~ - Hanji whined as she clung to the taller man's waist, begging for some more.
As the three moved out, a small white bat was perched on the rooftop, spying on the group.
Author's notes: End of one of the longer chapters. The others will also have Custom Lyrics based on the movie.
There's a game of 'Find Waldo'. You'll get a cookie for each AoT character you can find in the story.
Also, Alive! Isabel and Farlan. See you in the next chapter.