I don't own SnK or their characters

"When everything goes to hell, the people who stand by you without flinching - they are your family. "

― Jim Butcher

~Chapter Twenty-Six: Family~

Levi hadn't been the greatest teenager—he'd mugged people near the pier, had stolen fruits and other insignificant items from the open market in Lyon and was even held back by one year in high school. He was not the greatest nephew either. But he hoped that he was at least a decent son to his parents before they decided that his present for Christmas was more important than going home safely.

Yeah, he was definitely not the greatest nephew if his uncle was pointing a gun to him right now.

If he could only control his emotions, he would've done that right now. He felt shocked to see Kenny Ackerman standing next to Rod Reiss, the man who had murdered Eren's parents and caged many people under the black market that he was running. However, there was that twinge of pain sent to his heart as he met his uncle's gray eyes, and he couldn't manipulate his own feelings from going on an overdrive. His eyes widened, his mouth parted, and his chest heaved up and down as his body started trembling.

Why?

"Levi…"

He couldn't even hear Eren properly right now, but that faint voice was enough for him to snap out of his trance. He couldn't afford to be paralyzed by his own fear—yes, fear. He feared his uncle because if his presence was there right now, then what else hadn't Levi known this entire time about Kenny? But he really feared for himself and for Kenny; the man behind that gun was his family. And Levi would do anything for Eren.

"Kenny. What does this mean?" he asked, surprising himself at how steady his voice came out even though he was almost visibly shaking. He couldn't even say 'Uncle' without him feeling like his throat had been squeezed hard enough for his windpipe to be crushed.

Why?

"Levi." It was not even an answer. He just called him.

That old man.

He remembered Kenny being there when his parents passed away in the hospital. His shoulders were slumped forward as he waited for the doctors to say something for him, but no one dared to come close to him. He could figure why; there was that hollow inside his chest that was threatening to swallow his entire being with that force of darkness—a hole produced by pain, grief, and guilt. Why was he at the hospital in the first place? Oh. His phone at home had rung when he was almost about to sleep and it felt like the news that were delivered to him weren't for him at all.

No, it couldn't be.

And when he ended up alone, sitting in the hallway like a massive shadow curled into a ball, there was only one person who had approached him. A man who looked like he could pass as someone who would gun anyone potentially dangerous to his physical and/or mental being. He immediately intrigued Levi. He introduced himself as his uncle, an Ackerman, and he took Levi into his care but they would live in that house—that house where his parents used to live.

The ivory house was their treasure, and Levi had heard their story a million times already. His dad was doing some business in Japan and had stayed in a hotel, where a room attendant named Amelia had captured his interest. And thus, they fell in love and got married. They put all their dreams into building a house where a family of five could fit—they weren't set about how many children they wanted but they were happy as long they were together. And Levi was born. The spoiling became a little too long and his parents decided that an only child would also be precious, even if they regretted that he wouldn't have anyone to play with. He suspected that there was something more into that story but Levi didn't pry—he'd learned this over the years when he realized that he had more capacity and faster rate of understanding than the other kids.

But no matter how many times he thought about it, he could only come out with the answer that it was his fault that they died.

The house didn't feel empty when Kenny was there; he ate breakfast on certain mornings, even bathed for an hour in the bathtub and Levi had to knock and ask if he hadn't drowned yet. He would reply, "Not yet, kid. Not yet." Levi thought that he was really a strange adult back then. His absence was never felt until he stopped coming home completely. Levi thought, "Maybe I'm just that hard to be around." It wasn't like he blamed Kenny or something; Levi was just looking for a companion to fill up the empty space. He tried to remember when was the last time Kenny had ate because the cereal that he bought for himself had expired last year. He watched TV but the echo of silence was too much he thought his ears would bleed and he would go insane.

So Levi looked for the noise. He looked for something.

He didn't think that he would find it in an accidental meeting with his two friends back in elementary school.

He didn't think he would find Isabel Magnolia and Farlan Church.

"Levi. Please…" Eren started to plead and Levi turned his eyes towards him. Those bright ocean eyes were watering and Levi's heart clenched at the thought of his bright-eyed lover asking for his help. But it didn't seem like Eren was asking for that.

It seemed like Eren was afraid of something else. Levi just didn't know if he was ready to find out what it was.

"Levi, leave," Kenny's voice suddenly boomed, breaking the stillness that was stretching over them. The tension in the air was so thick that Levi had to think if they were still breathing or they were just simply drowning in this wretched feeling. He didn't really want to continue that thought, and he composed his face in order to avoid the people across from him in figuring him out. He was sure that his uncle could see the underlying hatred, confusion, and disappointment in his own silver eyes but he couldn't deny that he'd actually wanted that.

He wanted him to see how much betrayed and lost he was feeling right now.

"You don't get to tell me what to do, you bastard!" He bit back, standing in front of Eren who was kneeling on the red carpeted ground, guarding Historia behind his back like what Levi was doing for him. The blonde seemed like she was a fragile little thing but the way she was trying to push Eren back, as if to say that she was refusing his protection, Levi could tell that she was determined as all of them were. Ymir, the one that Historia cared about, was probably alerting all of the guards right now and Levi still thought that the plan was utterly outrageous, but he knew that the rest of the team would pull through. Otherwise, Armin would be blasting their eardrums, barking orders to get the hell out. So far, there was not a single noise from the blonde mushroom. Levi could only hope that that was a good sign. Armin could be busy trying to get everyone out of the other side of this plan, which was mainly Mike and his associates.

"Historia, come here, dear," Rod Reiss suddenly spoke, startling everyone in the room. He stepped forward, despite the gun that Kenny was holding next to him, and Levi heard the gentleness from the father but he knew better—Reiss wasn't the man Historia thought he was.

The girl suddenly stood up, a fierce expression plastered on her face, and Levi could almost say "not bad" because this girl was just as strong as he thought she was. By her poise, the way her clenched fists were resting on her sides with control, and how her eyes seemed to glint brightly with courage and determination, Levi knew that the girl was neither weak nor a pushover. She's a fighter. He mused at how Eren seemed to attract the best of friends one could have; it made him appreciate that Hanji and Erwin were there for them, too.

"Dad, is it true?" Historia asked calmly, and Levi saw Eren restrain himself from shielding his friend away from their enemies' sight. Enemies, right. They're our enemies. He's my enemy, too.

Rod Reiss feigned to be hurt, face was contorting in pain and head was shaking as if he couldn't believe that Historia was accusing him of an unthinkable thing. The situation reminded him of what happened couple of days back.

"This is my fight. Please, step back."

"I don't know what are you talking about, my daughter. Just come here to my side, Historia," her father cooed. He then lifted his hand—Levi was alert and was aware that he didn't have any weapons but his fists and legs would do—and outstretched his arm to his child's direction. The raven could see that Eren was twitching to get in between them but the young man seemed to be in more control of his emotions; he could still remember Eren being a hotheaded fool but he changed. And he could see that it was for the better.

Historia put intensity on her gaze towards her father and yelled out, "Is it true that you were the one who killed Eren's parents?!"

Rod Reiss smiled, like there was something funny about what his daughter had just said. Levi's blood was curling at the thought that the bastard might be playing games with them—a sick game that he wanted Eren nothing to do with. But it was too late. To begin with it was actually Eren who was at the center of all these things and Levi had just started to understand his situation, but then again, he was the one who eagerly volunteered to directly save Eren from this hellhole.

Rod was still had an amused expression on his damn face and Levi was hyperaware that his sweat was rolling on his back now. The goddamned vest wasn't doing him any good. Because the attention was switched to the father-and-daughter, Levi had almost forgotten his initial shock after tumbling forward in the room. He had almost forgotten that Kenny was guarding Rod.

"It's not me. It's not true, my child," Rod answered with that creep-ass smile and Levi wanted to punch him in the face. He wished that he could rush to that murderer right now for lying to his daughter's face. He wished that Kenny was not there with a gun in his hand, because he wasn't sure anymore if Kenny was willing to pull the trigger even if he was his nephew, his only family.

"Please, don't lie to me, Dad. Just tell me," Historia sounded like she was almost begging and Rod didn't seem to be affected by it. It was like he was…certain of the things that came out from his mouth, and it made Levi almost wavered of what he believed was true.

"I'm not lying," Rod said.

Strange. Levi noted that Eren seemed to be much more quiet now; he heard the brunet screaming earlier, full of emotionally fueled vigor and the conviction to protect the people he cared about. But he wasn't saying anything. Is he enduring it? Is he just waiting for his chance until the bastard finally shuts up? Is he going to prove him wrong now? Is he going to expose his lies with Historia here? He could only think of these questions in his head because he knew that time was the answer. Eren would definitely make a move when it was the right time for him to bring down his number one opponent.

But there was a line between his forehead, and Levi knew that Eren was frightened.

Was there something that he was missing?

He could only stand there and listen as the exchange between Rod and Historia took place. His eyes were still trained to see if Kenny would make a move to any of them. He wasn't stupid; he knew that his uncle was on Rod's side, judging by how the nose of the gun was pointing at their direction—to his nephew's direction.

"But…" Historia faltered, as if she was torn between believing his father and disregarding the utter sincerity of his answer. Levi knew that she was struggling with her resolve right now, because he knew how much it sucked to have your family be your enemy. He was also wishing that his uncle wasn't there on the other side as much as she did.

"I was the one who did it."

He knew that voice—that familiar voice that had asked him if he would like to stay with him. They ended up staying in that house. Yes, that house where Levi and Kenny had spent their small amount of time together as a family. He wasn't very good at it, heck, he really sucked at being Levi's legal guardian. But he was happy. Levi was glad that he wasn't actually alone—without his parents, without anyone he could lean into. He knew that somewhere outside of that ivory house, there was his father's brother who gave him some attention as Levi grew up.

But that same voice was saying that he killed the parents of the man that Levi loved.

His blood ran cold as his eyes went unfocused for one trembling moment. He didn't hear the gasp that Historia emitted near him, but he was awfully aware of that heated gaze—worried and scared for his sake—bearing on his back.

Eren had known all along.

This was the reason why Eren hadn't told him everything.

Just how much pain did this brat have gone through?

His silver eyes searched for any hesitation, regret or pain on Kenny's face. But there was only indifference, like he didn't care if everyone knew—if Levi knew—that he killed people. That he murdered the parents of Eren Jaeger.

"What…did you just say?" Levi's voice cracked but he couldn't grasp all of his thoughts together. His mind was reeling and he was afraid that he would collapse right there. He couldn't bring himself to look at Eren's face. He was the constant reminder to Eren of who killed his parents—his Dad who had sacrificed everything to make things right again and his Mom who had only been caught in the situation because she wanted to protect her loved ones. How could Levi find the ability to look at those green eyes that might have only been seeing the eyes of his parents' murderer?

"I was the one who killed Grisha and Carla," Kenny confirmed without a moment of reluctance. Levi didn't want to hear it—those words were like knives piercing his lungs, making him let out shaking breaths. But his uncle continued but this time, his eyes were on Eren's, "The day Grisha went to retrieve evidence from the lab, I took him out. Lit the entire place on fire until the night was blazing bright. Then, we searched for your mother and I let her die. I let her bleed to death and—"

"SHUT UP! SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

Out of all people who could have snapped, it was Levi who did. He couldn't believe that his body was wracked with convulsion and that his eyes were moist. He didn't want to hear it, he didn't want those silver-blue eyes to snap to his direction again but they did. He heard the truth—the harsh truth that ended what he had believed in this entire time.

"WHY DID YOU DO IT?!"

"Levi…" Eren's voice seemed far away but it kept him on his ground. Levi controlled his breathing and threw a pointed glare at his uncle, heated with hatred.

"Because he was trying to protect you," Rod Reiss said as if he was saying silly, silly boy. Levi's heart stopped and he heard Eren suck in his breath.

"…What?"

"Rod…" Kenny's tone was of a warning and Levi shifted his eyes on the pudgy, villainous man.

"What do you mean?"

"Simple, boy—"

"Rod! You shut the fuck up or—" Kenny threatened but he was cut off, as if the man wasn't the least bit afraid that the taller man could point the nuzzle of the gun to his head instead.

"—Kenny Ackerman joined my company as a payment of his debt and in exchange of keeping you safe," Rod finished with a dark glint in his eye.

This time Kenny didn't hesitate to drill his weapon on the man's temple. Historia screamed but she restrained herself from going forward—despite of what she had heard, Rod was still her father and Levi could still think of the same with Kenny, he was still his uncle. Eren moved and Levi had almost forgotten how fast and strong the young man was, maybe much better than him, before he put his friend behind his back again.

"Krista, please, don't move," he pleaded and the girl didn't fight him.

"I was the one who ordered him to do it. The Jaegers turned out to be…an inconvenience. I just gave Kenny his options, to protect his only nephew or to kill the people he barely knew."

Levi couldn't feel his feet. Everything was tumbling down. He realized that he barely knew anything—he was a lawyer, a friend, and a lover and yet, he didn't know anything. How could all this be happening when his eyes were opened the entire time? Or were they really closed all this time and he just didn't bother to see what was really in front of him? Yeah, he was definitely not a good nephew. How could Fate be so cruel that she decided that it was goddamned okay to interlace his life with Eren's this way? This was just fucking messed up. How come all these people had protected him all along and he didn't even know it? How couldn't he just protect them instead? Was he really this weak?

It wasn't after a warm hand had found its way to Levi's, lacing their fingers together and bonding them as one that Levi then realized.

Eren was strong because his loved ones were right next to him. He believed that he could protect them with his own strength, and that was how he remained to be himself this entire time despite bearing a horrible past on his shoulders.

But Levi was the one who believed that he was all alone, and that wasn't true.

The ice on his veins thawed and he was thankful that Eren was there beside him to provide him what he needed the most—warmth and a home to come back to. Yes, they would go home after resolving all this craziness. They would go back to bed and cuddle for hours, drinking in the feelings and love that they harbored for each other. They would be together, just like before.

But…

All of a sudden, all hells broke loose.

Alarms went off and shuffles of heavy boots clattered from outside of the study room. Ymir had successfully lit up the flare.

Levi saw how Kenny was caught off-guard and the cunning man whose life was on his uncle's hand just a moment ago had managed to knock off the gun that was pointed at him. Kenny stumbled backwards; processing the fact that Rod was even more skilled than he thought he was for he merely use the sleight of his hand in disarming him. Levi followed their movements, there were two people behind his back now, his hand was still wrapped around Eren, and he knew that he had to protect them. Even if it would cost him his life.

Kenny regained his ground but it was all too late. Levi's eyes widened as Rod pulled out his own gun and pointed it at him. He squeezed the hand that he was holding because Eren was trying to press forward but Levi wouldn't allow that. He had already let Eren turn away from him in his hopes of protecting Levi, but the raven would never let him do that again.

We'll be together. I'll protect you.

"Levi!"

"Eren, stay behind me."

"NO!"

"Eren—"

His voice turned pleading, "Don't do this. I don't want to see anyone die in front of me again."

Levi held his tears at bay. He wouldn't show his weakness now, but he knew that Rod had already realized how much he meant to Eren.

"Eren Jaeger," Rod Reiss called out with a sneer on his face. "How do you think it would feel like to lose someone important to you again? Just come out and surrender yourself to me." Rod swung the gun around them, as if he was playing a meenie-meenie-minie-mo and it made Levi's stomach lurch in disgust.

There was a blur from Levi's side and before he knew what he was going on, Historia Reiss had her arms spread out as if she was creating her own shield for the two of them. He cursed himself for not expecting the girl to do that—he'd been too preoccupied at toning his brat down that he couldn't stop the other from rushing forward.

"You'll have to shoot me before you get to them," Historia stated with fear in her voice, and Levi immediately admired the girl even though he didn't wish for her to do that.

Levi immediately saw Rod freeze and there was another figure that was fast at his movements that tackled the man to the ground with a grunt. Kenny took advantage of Rod's moment of hesitation and Levi knew that this was their chance.

"Go!" Levi shouted to Historia whose feet seemed to be glued on the ground. Even after all the things that her father revealed to her and had attempted to do to them, Levi could see that she still cared for him. Because he's her family, just like how Kenny is for me. But Levi had to see her get out of this alive because there was that one person outside who had put her trust on him in seeing this through. "Ymir is waiting for you!" That seemed to get her going and she ran to the door, glancing back at them because Levi was having a hard time of convincing Eren to fucking move.

Armin's voice suddenly echoed in his ears, "Levi! You have to leave the floor! You can take the elevators! Just go!"

"Are you leaving him here?" Eren suddenly asked before he could respond to the blonde shouting orders to him in his earpiece. Those green eyes were trained on the men wrestling on the floor.

Levi couldn't believe him. How could this person be concerned about the man who had murdered his family? He realized then that this was just how Eren was. He was a reckless individual with anger management issues but that was just scratching the surface of his character. He was also forgiving and he cared—he cared for Levi more than he allowed himself to feel the hatred that he should possess towards his enemy.

"Don't worry about me, you brat! You should be glad that I'd be here to burn down with the rest of your enemies. GO! Levi, take him!" Kenny barked at them, pinning Rod's wrists above his head and using his knee to press down on his chest that was winding the man's breath away.

Levi tugged Eren, his blood was rushing to his ears and his head hurt, but he knew that he needed to be stronger than this. He made the brunet stumble on his step but he kept pulling—the exit was only a yard away. Outside of this room, they might face enemies or allies but they would be together. Eren would be alive and so would Levi.

"JAEGER!" Rod bellowed and when Levi looked back, he instinctively stepped forward in front of Eren when his eyes saw what happened. Kenny was pushed on his side and Rod got a hold of the gun, which was aiming at Eren's head before Levi jumped in. "I WON'T LET YOU ESCAPE, EREN JAEGER!"

Then, he pulled the trigger.

The sound rang in his ears and suddenly, the sight of Kenny's back filled his vision

Blood.

Tiny specks of it had splattered on his cheek.

Another gunshot. And another.

He was close.

So close.

When his uncle went down, collapsing on his knees, Rod's hand was still on the trigger and Levi didn't think. He just went to grab the other weapon lying on his uncle's feet. And fired.

He knew where to fire the gun that would end the man's life but he didn't. His purpose wasn't to kill. He didn't want to be scum like the man Rod Reiss was. And Eren was behind him. Kenny was on the ground, blood pooling around him.

Levi felt sick. He managed to immobilize Rod, who was now lying on his back, probably unconscious but he didn't care. He only saw red. Just red. Levi didn't know that it was the same thing that Eren had seen when his mother died.

"Levi…" It was Eren who rushed to Kenny's side. He was checking for his pulse and Levi almost laughed—he was an art major, wasn't he? But he couldn't even feel himself breathing as he watched his uncle bleed his life away.

His knees gave out and he could feel his black slacks soaking in that warm liquid. Eren was right next to him right now but it felt like his usual heat was far away. Because Levi felt cold. It was like his body didn't have enough warmth to get going, and he could faintly hear Historia screaming for something—help, maybe.

Kenny's eyes were half-closed, staring at the ceiling without any hint of emotion. But when Levi's face came into view, it was as if something funny had come to life and he started wheezing a chuckle. He just managed to splatter blood all over himself, but there was that manic grin that remained on his face. Levi's eyes didn't travel farther down, afraid that if he were to see what state his uncle was in, he would break.

"Levi, Levi. You sure learned how to handle a gun yourself. I should've taught you how to aim at the heart," he said. Eren was silent next to him, his hands were on his lap and he was not looking at Kenny. This man was the one who killed the most important people in his life after all, but Levi had a feeling that Eren didn't want to see this scene for another reason.

Levi didn't respond to his uncle and Kenny went on, "I can't believe you—cough—resorted to being a hero. To a Jaeger brat at that." He laughed again as if it was an inside joke and he murmured, chest going up and down rapidly, "What a terrible fate it is."

When he found his voice again, the first thing that left his mouth was, "Why did you leave me?"

Kenny didn't answer for a while. He looked at the ceiling again and smiled wistfully. Levi thought he detected some sadness in that smile.

"Because I couldn't be a parent."

He then gave out one last shuddering breath and went still.

That night, Levi had lost his last family. And Eren was the one who shed tears for him.

A/N: ...That chapter of SnK hit me hard and this is kinda a tribute to Kenny. Well, it is part of the whole plot, but my desire to erase the way I demonized Kenny at the beginning had grown LOL How many more chapters? That's right. Four more to go. Oh my.
-CrimsonHazelEyes