Levi sat atop a roof listening to the soldier's conversations.
"They say there's a new quote-on-quote 'rising star' in the Survey Corps," one soldier said. "It must be a rumor. The Survey Corps accomplishes nothing when they go outside the walls,"
"Well, the rumors are true. I was in the same training corps as her. If you're talking about Mira Red that is,"
Levi stopped. He edged closer to the soldiers.
"She's by far stronger than any of us. And she mastered the use of ODM gear as well. She's already a squad leader in the Survey Corps. I've heard they may be ranking her up to Captain soon, even though she would be younger than all of her superiors. They've nicknamed her squad the Red Squad. According to the rumors the Survey Corps expeditions have proved successful because of her,"
"...humanity's strongest soldier, huh? I don't buy it," he replied.
Levi jumped down in front of the two. "Hey, you! Does she have really pretty long brown hair and can she punch really hard?" he asked.
"Yeah... wait who are you?!" the younger soldier asked.
"Wait a second... you're one of those thugs aren't you?!"
Levi began to run away. "Thanks for all the juicy info! I really appreciated it!" Levi couldn't stop smiling. He ducked into a small alleyway and climbed up into one of the abandoned homes. The soldiers ran straight past without even noticing him.
"So, Mira... humanity's strongest soldier... I never thought you'd join those crazies,"
Levi walked into what once was the Viper gang's building. He had now reclaimed it as his own. In the past few years he had gathered his own sort of gang, but Levi didn't call it that. He didn't like to think of himself as their leader either. They were more like a family.
"Levi... what in the world is going on with you?" Farlan asked.
"What do you mean?" Levi asked a little confused.
"You've been smiling this whole time... I was just wondering how many people you killed today,"
"I didn't kill anyone. I was just listening in on a conversation from a few military police officers,"
"Okay..." Farlan looked at him suspiciously. "Well on current matters... we're running out of money to pay everyone enough. We need to get a better way to steal from these merchants. The military police are starting to get smarter,"
"They'll never be able to outsmart us,"
"Yes, but we need a better way of taking these guys down. I'm afraid one of us is going to get caught one day... that would be problematic,"
"Yes," Levi said thoughtfully. His mind was still drifting around Mira.
"Are you in there Levi?" Farlan asked slightly annoyed.
"Hm?"
Farlan sighed heavily. "I don't know what you're thinking about right now, but we need you to get your head out of the clouds. You're our leader remember?"
Levi narrowed his eyes. Leader? he thought.
Levi led his group through their plan to steal some goods from a wealthy merchant the next day.
"They'll be leaving his home at about three p.m. Their path will cut straight through the main road, except for a small section over here," Levi said pointing to an alley on the map. "We can ambush them from the sides and from above,"
Someone knocked on the door.
"Clear out," Levi whispered. The group opened up the walls pushing their weapons and plans into them, then closing them up again. They left through the back door. Levi and Farlan remained. They stood next to the door. Levi hid a small dagger behind his wrist. Levi looked at Farlan. Farlan nodded.
"Come in," Levi said loudly.
The door opened, as Levi dropped his weapon. He was standing face to face with Mira.
"I never thought you'd come back to this place," she said smiling. "I like what you've done with it,"
"Mira..." was all Levi could say.
Farlan sheathed his weapon. "You know this girl?" he asked stepping away from the door.
"Yeah..." he muttered. "er... come in," he said quickly.
Mira sat down on the couch across from Levi. Levi looked at her turquoise eyes. She had become even more beautiful since he last saw her. She Farlan stood nearby watching.
"So I've heard you've joined the Survey Corps," he said. Farlan narrowed his eyes.
"Oh... I didn't know I was that famous..." she said quietly.
"How is it like? I mean, outside the walls,"
"It's terrifying and breathtaking... all at the same time,"
"And the Titans?"
She narrowed her eyes. "Easy enough to kill... though that's not why I joined. You probably think I'm crazy for even wanting to join the military in the first place,"
"Then why did you join?"
"There's freedom out there... a freedom I can't explain until you feel it,"
Levi looked at her eyes.
"What have you been up to?" she asked switching the topic.
Levi glanced at Farlan. "Just trying to survive, like normal down here,"
"You look like you're doing well. How many people have joined your gang?" she asked.
"Gang?" Levi asked. Sweat trickled down his forehead. How did she already figure this out? he thought.
"Don't act like an idiot, Levi," she said bonking him on the head. "I'm not your average military police officer. I hope I'm a bit smarter," she said. "Besides, I have no problem with what you're doing down here. You're helping other people, that's all I'm concerned with,"
"...even though you're with the military," Farlan cut in.
"I'm with the Survey Corps. The Military Police is corrupt. In the underground and on the surface. They are not my masters,"
Farlan scowled. "Why should we trust you?"
"Farlan," Levi said.
"You don't have to. But I didn't come down here for nothing," she said. "I've come to help,"
"But... you're with the military!" Levi said.
"As long as no one recognizes my face it'll be alright," she said.
"You need to find a new way to do things, correct?" Mira asked.
"Yeah. It's been a bit rough lately... the military police are starting to see through our plans,"
"3D Maneuver Gear. That's your solution,"
"Maneuver gear? Don't you use that to kill titans,"
"That's what they're supposed to be used for... but some military police officers hog them because they're such a valuable good. They barely know how to use them though,"
"Where do they keep them?"
"In the merchant's home right next to the stairs,"
Farlan smiled. "So we just waltz in there and take them huh?"
"Pretty much. I'll distract them... you forget I am a military officer,"
"Uh-huh..." Farlan said unconvinced.
"I can handle myself," she said defiantly.
"Fine... I just don't want to get caught,"
"Don't go. I just need Levi, that's all. It'll be less suspicious if it's just one person,"
"She's right," Levi said. "Mira will go ahead of me,"
"I'd better leave out of the back," she said, grabbing her military uniform.
"You're doing this now?" Farlan asked.
"Might as well," Levi replied.
Mira chatted away with the soldiers standing guard at the stairs. They drank the beer she brought with her as she told them stories about the Survey Corps expeditions.
"You Survey Corps people are definitely crazy. Or brave. I have no idea,"
"I mean... at least we know how to fight," she replied. "Please, have some more," she said pouring more beer into their mugs.
"You see... we may not know how to fight, but at least we know... we know how to... I don't even remember what I was about to say but..." the younger soldier said as he fell over.
The older soldier laughed, his face reddened. "What a weak..." he said as his face hit the table.
"That," Levi said entering. "Was a lot easier than what I expected,"
"There were only two, unfortunately," Mira said.
"So you mean we went through all that just to get two 3DMG?" Farlan complained.
"Don't whine about it," she said hitting him on the head. "It's plenty for all of you,"
Levi leaned in his chair.
"What do you think Levi? Want to give it a go?" Mira asked.
"...sure," Levi replied.
It took a while for Levi to get all the straps and belts adjusted, and there was plenty of laughing done by Mira and Farlan. Mira had her ODM gear on as she pulled a cloak over herself, then covered her face with a dark-colored scarf. They walked outside where the rest of Levi's group watched.
"Alright, now all you have to do is-"
Levi shot into the air after shooting his wires. He was flying. The guys on the ground cheered as he soared through the buildings. Levi's heart raced. This was breathtaking. Mira followed Levi.
"Levi! You're a natural!" she said. "But I didn't even tell you what to do yet!"
"I can learn it myself," he said.
"Is that so..." she said playfully. "Then try to keep up!"
She flew past Levi as she swooped near the ground, knocking over crates full of food.
"Hey!" the merchant yelled angrily. The people in the street grabbed the goods. Levi watched their overjoyed faces. "Get the military police!" he yelled.
"Looks like we're going to have company," she muttered. "Levi! We're going to make a run through that building's window up there,"
"Got it," he replied. Levi had a hard time keeping up with Mira. He looked behind him. A couple military police officers were swinging through the buildings straight towards them.
"Levi!" Mira yelled. Levi looked forward just as he ran headfirst into an archway. The ODM wires released as he fell to the ground. He blacked out just for a second. When he regained consciousness he dodged a blade that about to plunge straight through his heart. He jumped up and pulled out a dagger. He stumbled and blocked one soldier, as the other slashed his stomach. Levi cursed as his dagger flew out of his hand and the officer went in for the kill. The cloaked Mira flew in just in time, as she tackled him to the ground.
"Get on," she ordered Levi. He climbed on her back as she shot into the air.
Levi winced as she sewed up his wound. "You were lucky this time. It could have ended up a whole lot worse," she said.
"Pathetic..." Levi mumbled.
"Stop being such a crybaby," Mira said. "You're far more skilled than I was when I started to learn how to use maneuver gear. If it's anyone's fault, it's mine for knocking over those crates and getting the military police involved,"
Levi looked down. "...Mira... I don't think... I ever told you..." Levi paused.
"Yes?"
"It's nothing," he said quietly.
Mira's eyes narrowed. "Levi... I have to go tomorrow. I'm leaving for a Survey Corps expedition,"
"I see," he said.
"But I will come back. That's a promise. I will always come back. And maybe one day you can come to the surface with me,"
Levi closed his eyes. "Thank you," he said quietly. "That's what I wanted to say,"
Mira smiled.