I'm really, really, really sorry that I haven't updated this story in such a long time. I've been incredibly busy with school, plus taking care of dogs before and after surgery that I haven't had a whole lot of time to write. I finally got a break and was able to work on this story and Skills to Pay the Bills, so I'm happy! I really hope you guys like this chapter, I worked really hard on it. I promise I won't abandon either of my stories, so don't give up on me! Thanks to all my subscribers and reviewers, you guys motivate me to write!
Please read and enjoy!
Evening settled in much too quickly for the weary soldiers marching home from a long, grueling day of uncertainties and close calls. Luckily Levi, Eren and the others had managed to make it to the outer edges of the forest before the darkness of the early night grew so thick that it was difficult to see more than a few feet ahead. Perhaps even more fortunate for them was the absence of the mysterious hooded figures that had been plaguing them mercilessly for days now. An uneasy calm set in between the members of the squad, everyone thankful to be alive but much too exhausted for extended conversation.
Levi, never one to get too complacent, remained ever vigilant despite the apparent tranquility of the forest, falling back and keeping an eye on the treetops above them and the path they'd left behind.
Every so often his eyes would drift back directly ahead of him and he would count his squad members carefully to be sure that everyone was accounted for. It was an old habit of his to constantly keep an eye on his comrades, more to ease his own fears than anything else. As much as he'd tried to distance himself from his squad and avoid any kind of bonding, in the end he always ended up growing closer and caring for them. He hated that it always seemed to burn him in the end; his comrades would either die or flee with their tail between their legs, disgracing him and humanity as a whole with their cowardice. Perhaps he was growing softer as he grew older, but he finally realized that it was foolish to try and convince himself that he didn't care what happened to them; they were his family, and that was that.
They were loyal to a fault; he'd put them all in mortal danger numerous times, and yet they did not hesitate to follow his orders without question; well, all except for Eren Jaeger, that is. As Levi's steel grey eyes focused on the back of Eren's form he found himself growing more and more agitated by the second. Never before had any of his squad members had the audacity to question his orders or speak to him as an equal; the brunette definitely broke the mold there. He was brash, rude, impatient, ill-tempered and downright foolish; he'd gotten himself into trouble more times than anyone could count, and refused to listen to orders if he didn't like them. So why on earth had Levi decided to keep him around?
He tried to convince himself that it was solely because of the boy's titan shifting powers; after all, he was the only one strong enough to stop Eren should he go berserk. Plus, if he hadn't taken the brat under his wing the Military Police would have undoubtedly cut him open and put his guts in a jar by now. It was his duty to aid the brunette in harnessing and controlling that power to use it for the good of humanity. Yes, that was the sole reason that he'd agreed to this in the first place; Eren's power could be the one thing that could give mankind the trump card it needed to finally win this seemingly endless war.
From the beginning he'd planned to take the boy into the Scouting Legion per Erwin's request; however, he'd never been ordered to take Eren into in his personal squad. In fact, he'd never been ordered to do anything other than keep him alive and prevent him from wreaking havoc across the land. Somehow, despite the boy's misgivings, he couldn't bring himself to keep the boy caged like a rabid animal for the remainder of his life, and besides, he was of much more use to them out in the field. Yes, that must have been why Levi tolerated the brat; he was useful, a tool, a means to an end, nothing more.
That was what Levi would keep telling himself, anyway. He would not allow those eyes the color of the fairest seas to trick him into thinking otherwise. He simply couldn't let that beaming smile and hardened body try to lull him into a false sense of complacency; Eren was as much a danger as he was a savior. As much as one might try to tame a wild animal, there was always a chance that instinct would override logic and the dog would turn on the master. Levi knew it well, and therefore it would be foolish to let his guard down around the boy.
The brunette in question was fighting to stay awake astride Phoenix's back, and every so often his head would hang low as he nodded off, only to be jolted awake when the horse snapped a fallen twig under her hooves. He wanted to be awake and alert, he really did, but his body had other plans after such an exhausting day. Luckily they reached the edge of the forest before he got to the point of passing out and falling off of his horse. Once they crossed over into an open field and the castle was in sight Levi trotted to the front and halted them, reigning Onyx in despite the horse's desire to continue riding.
"You all did exceptionally well out there today and I thank you for it. You deserve a restful night's sleep, and so from this point on you are dismissed from duty and free to spend the rest of the evening as you see fit. As you all know tonight is the night of the ceremony to welcome any new recruits into the Legion; therefore, Commander Erwin is away, leaving me in charge. When he returns tomorrow morning with the new recruits I expect you all to be present and accounted for. Tonight, however, you can do whatever the hell you want and I will not stop you. Take a long dump, smoke, drink, fuck, whatever, just remember that you will report for duty at 9 a.m. sharp tomorrow or you will regret it," Levi finished up his speech, weariness beginning to show through in his voice.
After saluting Levi and exchanging mischievous glances the squad disbanded and urged their mounts in the direction of the castle. It was common knowledge that a shipment of beer had just arrived that morning as a gift from Commander Erwin for a job well done and they intended to take advantage of it. As Eren made to do the same he was stopped in his tracks when Levi pulled up beside him, face impassive as always.
"Sorry brat, you won't be joining the rest of the squad in their post mission festivities; you're coming with me," Levi ordered, urging Onyx forward and expecting Eren to follow without question. How foolish of him.
"Umm Corporal, may I ask why I'm not dismissed like the others?" Eren asked, trying to hide the irritation in his voice with curiosity and failing. Levi did not stop to answer his question, seemingly ignoring him as they drew closer to their destination. Eren heaved a sigh in defeat and followed, hoping that Levi was just being Levi and that he wasn't actually angry with him. As the evening wore on the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees, a sign that summer was coming to an end and the autumn months would be upon them soon. Levi rather liked the cold, especially since it justified his wearing multiple layers under his standard uniform. He hated the heat because warmth meant sweating, and sweating meant being sticky, and for those who didn't freshen up properly, it also meant stench. Unfortunately for him most of his squad failed to apply powder to their armpits before heading out, therefore assaulting him with body odor halfway through a mission.
The brunette was too weary to notice that Levi was leading him in a specific direction towards the infirmary until they arrived. It took him a minute to blink the sleepiness out of his eyes long enough to notice where they had ended up as Levi pulled Onyx to a stop and dismounted. The brunette tried not to think about the sheer distance Levi would fall should he tumble from his horse. Onyx was a large horse, and Eren couldn't fathom why someone as…height challenged as Levi would desire such an enormous mount.
Eren furrowed his brows in displeasure as he watched Levi hitch Onyx to a post, patting the horse between the ears and on the neck before pulling out a sugar cube and rewarding his noble steed. Once the horse had eagerly taken the treat from his hand he turned to face Eren, folding his arms expectantly and giving the brunette an impatient look. Eren dismounted and hitched Phoenix next to Onyx, looking rather disgruntled.
"Why are we here exactly, sir?"
Levi cut his eyes towards the brunette, frowning.
"Because you are going to interrogate our mutual friend inside and make him tell you everything he knows, with or without physical force, preferably using words instead of fists. As much as I'd like to kick the living shit out of him he still isn't fully healed and the trauma may kill him, costing us one valuable source of information. However, I will not risk putting my squad in another situation where we know little to nothing of what to expect. That's why you will force him to share how he knew about the attack and what we should expect to happen next."
Eren looked visibly upset at the command, shifting uncomfortably on the spot from one foot to the other.
"Why me? I think you're a bit more intimidating than I am, sir. No offense," Eren added quickly, careful not to cross any lines that might make Levi consider taking his anger out on him instead. Levi exhaled through his nose, cocked his hip and shot Eren a dirty look that would make most people head for the hills.
"You think I haven't tried, shitty brat? I've done all I can to try and get that psychopath to talk, save beating him within an inch of his life. For some reason you're the only one who can get him to say more than the gibberish he usually spouts. He has some kind of morbid fascination with you, and you are going to use that to our advantage, understood?"
Eren looked away and bit his lip, fighting back the urge to protest or come up with a snarky retort. If he was going to get any closer to achieving his goal of killing all the titans, he was going to have to learn to bite his tongue and obediently follow orders that he may not agree with. As much as he wanted to take on the world alone, he knew that it was likely to end in failure with his current skill level. If he wanted the Corporal to help hone his abilities then he was going to have to suck it up and play the part of obedient lackey.
"Alright, I'll talk to him, but please tell me that you'll be close by just in case something goes horribly wrong," Eren hoped against hope that he wouldn't just be left hanging. Levi contemplated this for a moment before nodding slightly and leaning against the side of the building.
"I'll be here, and I'll listen in, so don't say anything incriminating that you don't want to be public knowledge." If Eren didn't know any better, he'd think Levi was joking, but judging by the fine line the older male's mouth was in, and the unreadable look in his eyes, he couldn't be sure. He inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with fresh outside air in preparation for the mind games that he would be forced to participate in. With a stomach full of butterflies Eren approached the front door of the infirmary, looking back to Levi (who gave him a slightly encouraging head nod) and tentatively knocked on the door, knuckles rapping lightly against the heavy oak.
The brunette heard a faint rusting inside before the door was yanked open violently, revealing a rather excited looking Hanji.
"Oh Eren! You're back! Any news from the front lines? Where's Levi?" Hanji asked enthusiastically, peeking around Eren curiously and scouting the area for the older male. The brunette looked at Levi for direction, but all he got in response was a shake of the head and a glare. From where he was standing he wasn't visible to the redheaded woman, and so Eren decided to play it off like he was alone.
"Ah, he was really tired so he went straight to bed," Eren tried to keep a straight face while telling the white lie, unable to keep himself from rubbing the back of his neck nervously out of habit. Hanji pouted a bit, visibly upset that she couldn't bombard the older male with questions about the kind of titans they had seen. She was beginning to regret volunteering to stay behind and guard Rook.
"That's too bad," Hanji perked up with a smile as she focused her attention back on Eren, "so what brings you all the way out here, Eren?" The redhead was inching nearer to the brunette until she was uncomfortably close, seemingly examining the specimen before her. Eren took a step backwards, not wanting to be rude but not wanting to be studied like some kind of lab rat.
"Uh, the Corporal wanted me to question the prisoner; he seems to think that I'll have a better chance of getting him to talk than anyone else."
Hanji clapped her hands excitedly at the statement, further confusing the brunette.
"Oh Rook's been talking about you nonstop since you left, Eren! I know he'll be happy to see you," Hanji exclaimed, practically dancing on the spot. The brunette raised an eyebrow in question, not entirely sure why Rook being happy would be a good thing. Then again, this was Hanji, and she saw the world differently than most people, making her both brilliant and eccentric. Eren decided that it would save him a lot of time and headaches to just play along.
"Ah…right. Is it alright if I talk to him then?"
Hanji's eyes lit up like fireworks at the question, and before he knew it he was being pulled inside by the arm, the door slamming behind him. The redhead dragged him in the direction of solitary confinement, and soon he was face to face with the one person he would have been happy never to speak to again for the rest of his life.
Rook was currently lying on his side facing the doorway, chains extended to their maximum length to allow him to relax a bit. Upon seeing Eren, he immediately rose to sit up, golden eyes full of excitement despite his haggard appearance. His imprisonment had taken a toll on him in the short few days he'd been confined; both eyes had dark circles beneath them from lack of sleep, his crimson locks were bedraggled and greasy and whereas he was lean and lithe before, now ribs were beginning to show beneath taut pale skin. His wrists were bloody and chafed from his shackles, and yet when the brunette approached him he did not hesitate to break out into his characteristic Cheshire grin.
Eren slowly approached him, Hanji following close behind and pulling up a rickety wooden chair, gesturing for the brunette to have a seat, which he hesitantly took.
"Look who came to visit you, Rook! Aren't you happy to see that he's back in one piece, hmm?" Hanji asked in a sing song voice, grabbing Eren by the shoulders and squeezing to emphasize her point that the brunette was indeed alive and there in the flesh. Rook's unsettling gaze fell upon him and Eren squirmed a little in his seat, wishing that he was just about anywhere else at the moment.
"Indeed, this one is overjoyed that Eren Jaeger has returned alive and well. Tell this one, were our predictions correct? Were there titans beyond the forest?" Rook inquired, getting straight to the point. Eren swallowed hard and nodded, and Rook's grin grew even wider, as if he had just received the best news of his life. Hanji had made herself at home on another chair next to Eren, remaining uncharacteristically silent with her head in her hands as she listened intently, waiting for news of anything pertaining to titans.
"This one is delighted that he could be of use to you, Eren Jaeger. As promised, this one will agree to answer any questions he can, provided it is nothing too self-incriminating." The redhead stretched his aching arms as best he could while chained, awaiting the inevitable questions from the brunette. Eren honestly didn't know where to start, there were so many mysteries and holes in the story so far that it was impossible to ask everything that moment. He knew what Levi wanted him to ask, but he felt that if he started small the redhead would eventually come to trust him and therefore open up to him.
He supposed he should just start with the basics.
"Just who the hell are you?" Eren figured it was good a place as any to begin, especially since it had been bugging him since the moment they'd taken him prisoner. He not only acted, but looked quite different from the rest of the general population. Rook's smile faded slightly, and for the first time since Eren had laid eyes on him, he swore he caught a glimpse of sadness behind those eyes of molten gold.
"This one was expecting you to ask that. The truth is, not even this one knows for sure who we are. This one deeply apologizes, but he can only offer speculation instead of definitive answers," Rook explained calmly, appearing saner than he ever had up until that point.
"That's alright Rook, just tell us what you can," Hanji reassured him, her voice soft and encouraging as if she were speaking to a hesitant child. Rook nodded and exhaled through his nose before looking straight into Eren's eyes and recalling what he could of his past.
"It all started when this one was very young. There are many things we cannot remember, such as the day we were born or our original name, but we do know that our parents were killed by titans during the attack on Shingashina. This one was lucky enough to survive because we had been tending to the garden when it happened. We grew food for the locals to purchase to earn a living. We were poor, but we were happy. This one's mother was a seamstress, beautiful with nimble fingers that could create clothing more gorgeous than even those within Wall Sina, had she the materials to do so. This one remembers that she was kind and gentle, with a soft voice and hair the color of straw. She would often sing while she worked."
As Rook reminisced, Eren couldn't help but become a bit perturbed. Although he was a little surprised to find out that they shared a similar background, he hadn't asked for a life story. Many people had lost family and loved ones during the attacks. Hanji, on the other hand, was listening as intently as a child during a bedtime story, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, eyes sparkling with curiousity.
"What about your father? Do you remember him at all?" Hanji asked, eagerness apparent in her voice. Rook's face contorted into a look of uncertainty at the question, brows furrowed and lips curved into a frown. He looked deep in thought, and Eren wondered if there was some kind of bad history there. He couldn't claim to have a perfect relationship with his own father, in fact he had no idea where the hell he was or if the man was even still alive.
"Not much. This one only knows that he looks just like him, or so we have been told. The only detail that we can recall is that his job required him to be gone all evening and that he would sleep during the day. Mother often got lonely because Father was either sleeping or working. Her bright smile would fade when this one asked about him, and so this one decided that he was not important," Rook said with a grimace as he fisted the sheets beneath him. Clearly it was a touchy subject.
"When the titans came Mother was in the market square, buying materials to sew a dress for some wealthy aristocrat. Father was absent that day, and this one was tending to the gardens to harvest the vegetables. This one will never forget the moment when he saw the Colossal Titan peek over the walls, looking down upon humanity as if we were naught but sheep before a lion. After his appearance, this one's memories become hazy, as if he is in a fog. We are unsure of the exact order of events, but this one does remember the aftermath of the attack. We remember the rubble of the buildings that had stood untouched for so long, including our own house. We remember the bodies strewn across the remains of the city, bloodied and broken, many missing limbs or simply torn asunder. This one distinctly recalls the looks upon their faces, the sheer terror they experienced in their final moments…"
Eren hadn't realized that he had been gripping the sides of his chair so tightly that his knuckles were turning white until Hanji gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. He'd been lost in his thoughts, Rook's words conjuring up unpleasant memories of his mother's final seconds on the earth, terrified and helpless as her broken body was devoured by the grinning titan. Rook gazed at him knowingly, expression softening as he noticed just how effected Eren was by his words. He was much more perceptive than the brunette had first assumed.
"Ah, this one apologizes. We had forgotten that Eren Jaeger has suffered just as we have suffered. This one recalls your mother's face well; our mother would often visit with her in the market square. She spoke of you often, but this one never saw your face."
Eren shifted uncomfortably in his seat, frowning. "Yeah…I never liked going with her to that place. It was full of ignorant adults who refused to see the truth," the brunette recalled bitterly, his brows furrowed as his thoughts drifted back to how unfair it was that those who knew nothing and refused to listen to the truth were the ones who were most often in charge.
Rook nodded in agreement. "Yes, we know now how foolish those adults were. However, no matter how much we try to stop them, there will always be those who are blind to the truth."
Eren wasn't entirely sure that the truth he spoke of and the one Rook referenced were one in the same.
"Ah, but this one apologizes for getting lost in memories. Anyway, after the attack this one's mind draws a blank until a few days later, when we were starved and lonely, wandering along the ruined city streets in search of another living soul, or simply something to eat. Just when all hope was lost, she found us. She, in her kindness and selflessness, took us in and gave us shelter, food and perhaps most importantly, knowledge."
There was a spark behind those golden eyes, yet Eren couldn't quite place what it was. As forlorn as Rook had appeared when recalling his tragic past, now he looked almost elated as he spoke of the person who saved him. Hanji scooted her chair even closer this time, turning it around backwards and resting her arms on the back.
"And who is this mysterious savior, hmm?" she asked, eyes alight with curiosity as usual. Rook smiled, although this time it was a fond smile, the kind you'd find on a doting parent speaking of their child.
"She is Our Lady; that is what we call her, what we all call her. She took mercy upon the children displaced by the attacks, those who were too poor or too unlucky to have escaped on the ships to Wall Maria. She took us in, provided us with everything we needed, and most importantly, she gave us hope. We finally had a place to call home, and all she asked for in exchange was our undying loyalty. This one gladly offered up his life to her, to do with as she sees fit."
Eren, who had been listening quietly up until that moment, interrupted the redhead with a snort, crossing his arms and looking at Rook with fury burning in his emerald eyes.
"Oh yeah? And is this wonderful Lady of yours the one who convinced you to become a murderer?" he snarled, digging his nails into his arm to distract himself from the urge to strangle the man in front of him. He felt a bit sorry for him, knowing that he was one of the many children left behind due to lack of space on the ships, however he couldn't bring himself to sympathize too much when he spoke such nonsense all the time. Rook looked unaffected by the outburst, lips curving into a devilish grin and a glint of something dangerous behind his golden eyes.
"She did indeed teach this one to take a life, but not for money or revenge. Greed and wrath are deadly sins, Eren Jaeger, and we do not kill indiscriminately. When our blade pierces the flesh of our prey it is always with purpose, for the good of humanity. Many of my brothers and sisters have fallen prey to the temptations of coin offered for their service, and have since fallen from grace. We assure you, however, that this one will remain loyal to Our Lady and her ideals as long as we draw breath," Rook practically shook with elation as he spoke fervently of his mentor, eyes wide with wonder.
Eren could stand it no longer, and he abruptly rose from his chair, rage coursing through his veins and unfurling within the very depths of his soul.
"Bullshit, all of it is bullshit! You're trying to tell me killing Armin would somehow benefit humanity? You're a fucking twisted, insane piece of trash and I don't want to hear any more of your bullshit!" the brunette was shouting now, and despite Hanji's attempts to stop him, he pushed her aside and grabbed rook by the throat, squeezing just enough to make a point but not to choke him.
"Listen, I don't care about your sob story, or what you think is the truth or whatever, you are going to pay for what you've done, whether I have to kill you myself or let the Legion do it, I don't care, but I won't let you hurt anyone ever again," he spat the words that practically dripped with venom, enraged by the fact that no matter how hard he squeezed, even when his very life was being threatened, Rook continued to smile.
Although Hanji knew that she would need to intervene soon, she also knew that she had been ordered to get information out of Rook with any means necessary. Perhaps this encounter would prove fruitful after all.
"This one knows for certain now, yes," he spoke, voice hoarse and straining around Eren's vice like grip, completely changing the subject at hand, "we couldn't be sure before, but we see it now. You have the same eyes as us, the eyes of a killer!"
Eren faltered, grip loosening as the words spilled from Rook's mouth. He knew he shouldn't be listening to anything this psychopath had to say, but he couldn't deny the curiosity that was welling inside of him at the other's statement. Not willing to reveal any childhood secrets, the brunette decided to play ignorant.
"Of course I've killed before, I've taken down dozens of titans. What the fuck is your point?"
Rook let out a breathless chuckle as he struggled to free himself from Eren's grip, arms tugging at his chains until the cuts on his wrists weeped crimson once more. "You are clever, Eren Jaeger, but you know exactly what we speak of; you have taken a human life. Tell us, when did you claim your first victim? For what reason? How did it feel to see the light leave their eyes as the life drained from their body because of your actions? Isn't it wonderful, that feeling you get when you see their blood spill upon the ground? It's such a gorgeous shade of red, don't you think? Ah yes, if only the entire world could be stained such a beautiful color."
Eren hadn't realized that he'd been trembling until Hanji forced him to release his grip around Rook's throat by prying his hands away (no easy feat for someone with titan strength to grip with). The redhead proceeded to cough and sputter as he rubbed the angry red marks left behind on his neck. He began backing up slowly, eyes wide with shock at the apparent revelation. Hanji attempted to comfort him, but he quickly pushed her away and made for the door, breaking into a run and throwing open the front door, ignoring the scientist calling out behind him to wait.
He didn't know where he was running to, just that he had to get away from that maniac, the one who seemed to have fucking psychic powers and somehow knew every little detail about his life, down to secrets that were never supposed to resurface.
He doesn't know. He can't know. Dad told the others that he'd happened upon a murder scene…no one was supposed to know…
He hadn't bothered to look back and see that he had left a very confused Levi behind. The older male had stayed outside the door just as he'd agreed, but despite his warnings about Eren not saying anything he didn't want everyone to hear, the truth was that he hadn't been able to hear a damn thing through the thick stone walls of the infirmary. When Hanji appeared in the doorway looking very concerned, Levi immediately began questioning her. Slightly surprised to see him, Hanji forced a smile and waved despite the circumstances.
"What the fuck? Why did the little shit just run past me like a bat out of hell? What happened?" Levi drilled her with questions, anger beginning to build within him as he struggled to make sense what had just transpired.
Hanji shook her head, frowning. "Rook started talking about things Eren didn't want to hear…" she trailed off, not wanting to violate Eren's trust and deciding that if the brunette wanted to tell Levi what had transpired within he would do so in his own time.
"Tch, figures. I guess I should have thought about it a little more before sending the shitty brat in there. I suppose I'll have to find him and…apologize," Levi made a face when he said the last word. Apologies always left a bad taste in his mouth because usually it wasn't entirely his fault when someone had a problem. As he began to unhitch Onyx and ride in the direction Eren had gone, Levi felt a gentle tug on his arm.
"I think you should let him have some time to think. I know I shouldn't say anything, but Eren's pretty upset, so I'll just be vague and leave out the details. Come on, I'll pour some tea and we can discuss it inside," Hanji tugged on his arm again, and as much as Levi wanted to kick her ass for touching him so casually, he heaved a sigh and relented, following her into the entrance of the infirmary.
By the time Eren made it back to the castle his lungs were on fire and his muscles were screaming from exertion. He leaned against the outer wall for support, taking a much needed rest to catch his breath. The exercise had taken the edge off of his anger, and now he just wished that someone, anyone would reassure him that he was not a murderer, although he knew that was impossible. Although he'd saved Mikasa's life from those less than dog shit thieves, the fact was that he had willingly taken human lives. He didn't regret it, however, not for a second, and he was sure he'd repeat his actions if he had to.
I'm not like him, killing in the name of some religious ideal. I did what I had to do to save Mikasa. I'm no criminal.
Deep in thought, Eren jumped when he heard the front doors of the castle burst open, followed by what looked to be a very intoxicated Auruo stumbling outside. He proceeded to throw up violently, heaving up every last bit of that evening's meal along with whatever copious amounts of alcohol he'd ingested to reach such a state. Eren crinkled his nose in distaste, feeling his stomach churn at Auruo's loud retching. After a minute of dry heaves, Auruo finally finished being sick, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The blonde finally registered that he wasn't alone and shot Eren a goofy grin, supporting himself on the door frame.
"Oh itsh you, Eren, what are you doing out here? Wheresh the Corporal? *hic*" his speech was slurred and he was seeing double of most everything, explaining why he was looking to Eren's left instead of directly at him. Eren could smell the booze from where he stood, and he could hear raucous laughter coming from inside the dining hall. Apparently the rest of the squad had taken Levi's suggestion to spend the night how they wanted very seriously.
"Ah…he's at the infirmary…with the prisoner," Eren added, noting the worried look on Auruo's face at the prospect of the Corporal being hospitalized. The blonde struggled to remain standing, and eventually slid down onto the ground, looking up at the brunette with a frown.
"Thatsh too bad. Say, why don't you have a drink with us, Eren? Theresh a fresh barrel of beer inside, better get to it before itsh gone."
Eren should have declined; after all he didn't much care for the taste of alcohol. Then again, the soldiers in the garrison often complained about how their beer tasted like piss water, but that didn't stop them from downing gallons of the stuff every evening. Eren supposed that was due with the ability of alcohol to drown a person's sorrows, letting them experience a false euphoria and allowing them to forget their troubles if only for a night. Whether it was out of boredom or stress, most of the members of the garrison and military police were more often than not drunk off their asses. Eren supposed everyone had their own way of coping, and although he frowned upon people who used drugs and alcohol to escape their troubles instead of actually facing them, right now he sympathized with them completely.
Perhaps that was why instead of politely declining the offer, Eren entered the dining hall and scoped out the place, not entirely surprised to find the rest of the squad, along with a few others, gathered around the long tables, mugs full of the frothy amber liquid, all in various states of mirth. Even the normally quiet, reserved Petra had decided to join in, and currently she was trying to refill her mug from the barrel spout, failing to align it directly underneath the stream of booze due to her loss of basic motor skills and spilling most of it onto the floor. Eren took pity on the girl and grabbed the mug, directing her hand underneath the flow and holding it still for her and watching foam rise on the surface.
Petra gasped as she watched the mug seem to magically fill itself, amazed until she noticed that Eren was standing next to her. The brunette sighed when he saw that his friend was just as intoxicated as the rest of the squad.
"Eren! I wondered where you were! Have some beer! There's plenty!" she exclaimed, swinging her mug around and sloshing the amber liquid onto the front of Eren's shirt on accident. Eren just sighed again and looked down at the stain, hoping that maybe Levi had a magical way to get beer stains out of white clothes. A sudden pang of guilt hit him upon thinking of the raven haired Corporal.
Levi…I kind of just left him there…hope he isn't too mad.
"Thanks Petra, I'll be sure to drink some," Eren said with a forced smile, grabbing a clean mug of his own and filling it to the top. Petra wobbled off into the crowd, leaving Eren alone once again as took a whiff of the alcoholic beverage. It didn't smell too bad, mostly like hops, which Eren recognized from watching his father and a few of his friends brew their own batch of beer once. He slowly brought the edge of the mug to his lips, careful not to spill any, and closed his eyes before taking a tiny sip.
He immediately grimaced, forcing himself to swallow the odd liquid. It was bitter and earthy with bubbles that tickled the fine hairs around his lips. He was undecided as to whether it was worth it to just down the entire thing to speed up the process of getting drunk, or to just leave now and go to bed and get some well-deserved rest. Although he knew he was sure to pay for it in the morning much as Armin had, Eren couldn't resist the temptation to forget all about the sexual tension between him and Levi, all of his unresolved feelings, all of his painful memories stirred up by Rook's story, the torment of feeling like a murder and a monster on a daily basis.
It was much too tempting to resist, and Eren decided that he would take the pain of a hangover if it meant that he could be worry free for just one fleeting moment.
Well, here goes nothing.
Clenching his eyes shut tight, Eren tipped the mug of beer up and chugged the entire amount down in one go before slamming the mug down on a table and wiping the foam off of his mouth with the back of his hand. He felt a sudden surge of warmth spread throughout his body as the alcohol went down and he suppressed a hiccup from drinking too fast.
He hadn't expected a round of applause and cheers after he'd finished, however, and when he looked around he noticed that all eyes were on him.
"Way to go Eren, I didn't think ya had it in ya!" Gunter exclaimed, raising his own mug in respect. Erd, who looked to be in a much more advanced stage of drunkenness, simply nodded and grinned. Auruo had managed to make it a few feet inside the door before collapsing and falling asleep where he lay, and Petra, whose cheeks were rosy and eyes were bleary, was currently clapping her hands and cheering as if Eren had accomplished some praise worthy feat.
"Do it again, it'll be great! Ya gotta get hammered like the rest of us!" Mike enthusiastically slurred from a table in the corner, far too inebriated to rise from his spot on the bench without ending up like Auruo, passed out on the floor. With so many people in favor of him getting wasted, Eren relented and marched back up to the keg to refill his mug, an unsure smile gracing his lips.
"I think the brat has had enough alone time. I don't care if his feelings are hurt or whatever; I'm going after him before he does something stupid," Levi stated firmly as he strode out the front door of the infirmary, more than a little miffed that Hanji had not divulged the details of why Eren had run off, telling him only that Rook had said some things that didn't sit well with the brunette.
Yeah, that really fucking narrows it down. What, did the freak insult the brat's hairdo or something?
Levi inwardly grumbled to himself as he untied Onyx, who was pawing at the ground, eager to ride. Phoenix, who had been seemingly forgotten by her master, looked at them and nicked pitifully, pulling against her lead rope in an attempt to free herself. Levi patted her neck in an attempt to soothe her, making a mental note to berate Eren later for leaving her tied there.
"It's all right girl, I'll take you back to the stables and then find your irresponsible owner," Levi spoke in a low voice, stroking Phoenix's silky chestnut mane and untying her from the hitching post. He'd been vaguely aware of Hanji watching him from the doorway and decided to put the scientist to good use.
"Hanji, since you have nothing better to do than stalk me, take Phoenix and Onyx back to the stables; I'll head towards the castle on foot," Levi ordered, leading the horses over to where the redhead stood and shoving the lead ropes into her hands. Hanji heaved a tired sigh, the dark circles under her eyes testament to the many sleepless nights attempting to make a breakthrough with Rook. Not that she didn't enjoy their late night conversations, it was just that none of them were in any way relevant to the investigation, mostly ending up in them playing a game of chess or discussing scientific theories.
"Alright, but are you sure it's a good idea for you to be alone with Eren right now?" the redhead asked hesitantly, concerned for Levi's safety but not wanting to end up running laps for questioning the Corporal. The raven haired male folded his arms and gave her an incredulous look, hesitant to waste any more time standing there chatting.
"And why the hell wouldn't it be? You think Eren is going to turn on me?" Levi asked bluntly, tapping his foot in impatience while waiting for an explanation. Hanji frowned, a rare sight from the bespectacled researcher, and nodded.
"It isn't that Eren wants to turn on you per se, but he is in a fragile state and his emotions are tumultuous at best. He's always been a little unstable, and I'm afraid he might lash out at you to unwittingly redirect some of his anger," Hanji calmly explained while pushing her glasses farther up the bridge of her nose, looking quite scientific. Levi snorted in response, unmoved by her speculations.
"Even if he did, I can handle it. If the brat feels like taking his anger out on the wrong person then I'll just beat him into submission like always. So I'm going to leave now, and you're going to take the horses to the stables, and you will not try to hinder me any further tonight, understood?"
"Alright, just be careful," Hanji gave in reluctantly, watching the Corporal turn and take his leave, waving her off like a worried mother hen. She couldn't help but smile at Levi, who despite being a rather stoic and hard to read person, was shit at hiding his concern for Eren Jaeger. It was completely obvious to just about anyone with eyes that the Corporal acted differently around the boy and treated him like something precious to be protected at all times. Try as he might to pass it off as doing his duty, Hanji could see the Corporal concerned for his soldiers act for what it really was; infatuation.
By the time Levi made it to the entrance of the castle it was near midnight, judging from the position of the moon in the sky. He'd taught himself not to rely on watches and compasses many years ago, and to read the stars and the world around him while he was out in the wilderness to gather information. Granted it only worked on cloudless nights, but it was a useful skill to learn nonetheless.
A sleepy guard leaned against the cool stone of the castle near the front entrance, suppressing a yawn and quickly moving to salute Levi as he approached. The Corporal nodded and signaled for him to be at ease, convinced by his sloppy salute that this guard couldn't protect the castle against a band of squirrels let alone an attacker.
"Did Eren Jaeger pass by here recently?" Levi asked, not really expecting a reliable answer but trying anyway. The guard looked thoughtful for a moment, as if it were a question that really required much more than a yes or no answer.
"Hmm, yes, I think I did see him enter earlier this evening, although I can't recall exactly when, apologies sir," the guard bowed slightly, genuinely sorry that he did not have a helpful answer. Levi simply nodded and decided to investigate for himself as he pushed open the heavy front doors to the dining hall. Immediately upon stepping foot into the dimly lit hall the strong smell of booze and stale vomit assaulted his senses, and he covered his mouth and nose with his arm to block the stench. As if the foul odor hadn't been enough to put him off, what he saw was even worse.
There, in the dim orange glow of several dying oil lamps, he spotted his entire squad, all in various states of drunkenness: Auruo was passed out in a puddle of his own drool a short ways from the door, and Levi had to step over him to proceed. Mike had somehow managed to climb on top of the beer keg and was currently fast asleep, his loud snoring reverberating inside of the nearly empty wooden barrel.
Levi wasn't entirely surprised; his squad was notorious for celebrating a bit too enthusiastically after a mission, and most of them would be hung over the next morning, despite being warned that they were expected to be awake and alert by 9 a.m. He couldn't say he approved, but he wasn't about to deny his soldiers a chance at relieving some stress when they were all uncertain how much longer they would continue on living. What he saw next, however, he certainly hadn't been expecting; Gunter, Erd and Petra were all laughing and sloshing the amber liquid in their mugs about as they gestured with their hands, never letting go of their mugs.
That wasn't the strange part, however.
Standing on top of the wooden table where the three were carrying on was Eren, who was currently gesturing wildly as he told them a story, dramatically reenacting every scene with gusto.
"And then, this BIG ASS TITAN" he spread his arms apart as wide as they would go to emphasize, "peered over the wall and we were all like WHAAT THE FUUUCCKK? And then he was like I'm gonna be a dick and destroy this town!" his voice grew steadily louder and gruff as he imitated what he thought a titan would sound like and pretending to kick down the walls, and each time he would mention how big the Colossal Titan was Petra would clap her hand over her mouth in awe and Gunter would urge him to continue talking.
Levi supposed he would have been amused if he wasn't so exhausted and utterly disgusted by his surroundings. Those two things combined put him in a rather unamused state, and he decided that his squad had certainly had their fun and now it was time to put an end to their little party.
"Yeah, it really sucked, but I'm gonna kill all the titans, just you wait! Commander Erwin will have to step down and make me the leader of the Scouting Legion pretty soon," the brunette boasted, hands on his hips as he posed heroically. Petra clapped her hands in approval, whistling.
"You're so cool, Eren! Almost as cool as Corporal Levi!" Petra exclaimed, eyes glazed over yet still sparkling with admiration. Eren smiled and wobbled a bit, trying not to fall off the table. His mirth was soon interrupted, however, when a strong hand roughly gripped his arm and pulled him down off of the table to land square on his ass on the cold stone floor. Confused, the brunette rubbed his backside and looked around for who had so rudely interrupted him, heading swimming when he moved it too fast.
After a moment he was able to finally focus on a pair of legs that stood before him, clad in military grade boots and pants. He followed them upwards with his glazed over eyes to see who they belonged to, squinting in the light of the oil lamp. There, looking down at him with contempt, was Levi, but since Eren was beyond pleasantly drunk he did not register the fact that the Corporal looked like he was about to strangle him and waved in greeting.
"Corporal, there you are! Did you come to have a drink? There's still some beer left!" the brunette grinned stupidly and pointed in the general direction of the keg. Levi narrowed his eyes and bent down to grab Eren's arm once again, this time yanking him upwards into a standing position (although standing was a rather generous term, it was more like swaying ). The brunette was slow to feel the pain of the sudden jerking motion, and when Levi released his arm he nearly fell over.
"You idiot, I tell you to do one simple thing, one task, and you abandon it to go get drunk off your ass? How dense can you be?" Levi snapped, and when the other three members of his squad began to stare at the scene he shot them a pissed off look, effectively intimidating them into minding their own business. Although Eren had been feeling uncharacteristically cheerful due to the booze the insult did not escape him and he frowned and furrowed his brows.
"I didn't come here to get drunk it just kind of…happened," Eren tried in vain to explain, although judging by the look on Levi's face the older male was having none of it.
"Save it. You are to head back to your quarters immediately and stay there until I say you can leave," Levi snarled, and somehow he found it easier to be stern with a drunk Eren than with a sober one, partially due to the fact that the brunette was unlikely to remember much of their conversation the next day. Eren was about to protest but was quickly silenced with a searing glare from Levi and he clamped his mouth shut instead, turning and staggering off in a random direction in an effort to follow the Corporal's orders.
Levi heaved an exasperated sigh.
"Where the hell are you going, Eren?" he asked, watching the brunette struggle to stay upright.
"To my quarters, like you said, sir" he slurred, and Levi pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration at the brunette's apparent inability to navigate while drunk.
"That's the way to the kitchen, idiot," Levi informed him, not moving to help the brunette out of principal.
Eren scrunched his face in consternation, cursing under his breath and turning around to head in the opposite direction, which unsurprisingly was also incorrect.
"That's the way to the courtyard, dumbass."
Eren stomped his foot in frustration and moved in yet another direction, and Levi rolled his eyes when the brunette ended up right back where he'd started a few feet away from the older male.
"You're completely fucking hopeless, brat. Since you are too drunk to find your way out of a wet paper bag I'll take you back," Levi stated firmly, grabbing Eren by the wrist and leading him in the right direction hurriedly. He couldn't be sure that he wouldn't kill the brat should he vomit on him. The brunette allowed himself to be pulled along, and they made it to the stairs leading down to the basement unhindered before Eren finally fell to his knees, unable to stand on his own now that the alcohol was taking its full effect. Levi willed himself to calm down instead of kicking the brat down the stairs and after a few times of exhaling and inhaling through his nose he felt his blood pressure lower and his temper subside. He closed his eyes and willed himself not to sound too pissed off.
"Eren, can you make it down the stairs?"
The brunette looked down the seemingly endless flight of stairs before him and frowned, wishing that the world would stop spinning long enough for him to stand on his own.
"I…I don't think so," he admitted, fearful of the repercussions but deciding to remain honest nonetheless. Levi couldn't say that he was surprised, and although he had every mind to leave the brunette sitting there until morning, he decided to help Eren get to his room, if only to prevent others from tripping over his unconscious body later that morning. He sighed and knelt down beside the brunette, ignoring Eren's questioning gaze as he threw one of the boy's arms over his shoulder and used his other arm to steady the inebriated youth by supporting his back.
Without a word he rose, pulling Eren up with him into a standing position and allowing the teen to steady himself while leaning on his shoulder. When he felt like Eren was as steady as he would be while drunk, Levi began to descend the stairs one by one, moving slowly so that the brunette wouldn't trip over his own feet. Neither of them spoke as they continued down, and Levi was thankful that Eren kept his mouth shut, because he could practically smell the beer on his breath already without his mouth even being open. After what seemed like an eternity of taking one step at a time they finally reached the bottom, and Levi had never been happier to be in a basement in his entire life. Although it was pitch black, the older male could faintly make out the silhouette of Eren's bed awaiting them just a few feet beyond.
Levi's shoulder was screaming in pain from having to support someone both taller and heavier than himself, and the teen was practically dead weight. Despite his discomfort he continued on until they arrived at the foot of the full size bed. Levi released his grip on Eren and removed the brunette's arm from his shoulder, depositing the youth on his bed before stepping back and rubbing his sore muscles. The brunette seemed to recognize the feel of his soft down mattress, and bounced up and down on it a few times and laughing before falling back and gazing up at the familiar ceiling. As he felt his eyelids grow heavy with drowsiness he was rudely jolted back to waking when Levi lightly kicked him in the shins.
"You need to lay on your side or you might drown in your own vomit and that would be disgusting," Levi instructed, hands on his hips at the foot of the bed and staring down at the brunette. Eren was far too tired to question the order and he moved to lay on his side as instructed, world still hazy from the alcohol. The older male walked over to the nightstand and lit a half full oil lamp which flooded the room with a pale orange glow. The brunette winced at the sudden brightness but remained rather cheerful despite the circumstances.
"This is my first time being drunk, you know. Everything seems so…far away," Eren mused, looking at his own hand as if it were a foreign object. Levi folded his arms and sighed at the pathetic state the supposed savior of humanity was in.
"That's how you're supposed to feel. Now shut up and go to sleep. I'll come check on you in a few hours to make sure you're not dead since everyone else is in no better shape than you," Levi added irritably, turning to head back up the stairs. Eren sat up on his elbows when he realized Levi was departing and frowned in disappointment.
"Don't go…I hate being alone…" it was soft but audible, and Levi stopped in his tracks at the request, looking back at Eren, who was looking rather pitiful, eyes wide and full sadness like a lost puppy. Levi rolled his eyes and sighed. He should just ignore the brat, after all it was his own fault that he ended up in such a state, so why should he have to babysit him?
Yet despite his inner protests Levi found himself returning to Eren's side, pulling up a rickety wooden chair and plopping down onto it before crossing his legs and leaning back.
"I'll stay here for a while if it'll get you to shut up. But if you even think of trying anything stupid I'll leave without a second thought."
Eren relaxed once he realized that he would not be left alone and laid back down on his side facing Levi, a puzzled expression on his face. He studied the bite marks on his hand and frowned, unsure whether Levi was talking about his titan powers or something else.
"What exactly do you think I'm going to try? I don't think I could turn into a titan right now even if I wanted to."
Levi looked at him, mouth a thin line and eyes shining in the dim light of the room.
"Well, you have a bad habit of losing your temper, and you've become rather skilled at disappearing lately. There's also the fact that you tried seducing me last time we were alone for an extended period of time. I'm going to let you know right now that I will not touch someone whose not fully aware of their actions. Who knows what kind of shit you might try to pull when you're this wasted."
Eren frowned and focused his sea green eyes on Levi, whose pale skin was practically luminescent in the glow of the lamp. His cheeks were already rosy from the warmth of the alcohol, and Levi's comment about their last meeting only fueled the flames.
"I'm not going to try anything, I promise, I just wanted someone to talk to" he said sadly, sounding rather hurt at Levi's accusations. The older male folded his arms and studied the brunette, finally convinced that Eren was certainly in no state to pose a threat and visibly relaxing, although he remained on guard just in case. An awkward silence settled between them for a few moments, and Levi fidgeted a bit in his seat, beginning to regret staying with the brat. He was no good at this sort of thing. Being social, that is. Especially with a drunk person.
It was Eren who finally broke the ice.
"Hey Corporal, can I ask you something?" the brunette inquired timidly, eyes still focused on Levi as he struggled to stay on one train of thought. Levi raised a thin brow in question.
"What is it?" he asked, voice clipped as he uncrossed his legs when he felt one of them begin to fall asleep. Eren hesitated a moment before continuing.
"Am I…am I useful to you?"
Levi rolled his eyes at the seemingly random question. He hated talking to drunk people, because either they told him their life story and all of their problems, or they vomited on him. Both were annoying, although one was a bit less messy than the other.
"What the hell kind of question is that? If you're going to start being all philosophical and shit then just shut up," Levi replied bluntly, sounding a bit harsher than he'd intended. Eren didn't seem too perturbed, however, as he sat up and waited for the room to stop spinning before continuing.
"I just…I want to know if I'm worth all the trouble you guys are going through to protect me…I mean, without my titan powers I'm just an ordinary human being. I'm just average at 3D maneuvering and hand to hand combat, and I usually have to have Mikasa finish off my kills for me. Not to mention that I couldn't do a damn thing to help Armin when Rook put a knife to his throat. I just stood there, useless. I wonder everyday why everyone risks their lives to protect me when I give them nothing in return. I can't even control my titan yet, so what good am I really? I'm completely unpredictable."
Eren felt warm tears flow unbidden from the corner of his eyes; he wasn't sure when he'd started crying, but there was nothing he could do to stop them, not when his inhibitions were practically absent, allowing for his emotions to be raw and genuine instead of bottled up inside, festering until he could stand it no longer. Try as he might to stop them, the words continued to spill unhindered from his mouth, all of the feelings he'd been keeping locked up deep inside of his conscious finally surfacing.
"Rook was right all along, I am a monster…I killed them…I had no choice…they were going to hurt Mikasa…I stabbed one of them over and over again, I watched his blood pool across the floor, and it felt good! It felt good to see that bastard pay for what he'd done…they killed her parents in cold blood…they deserved it…they needed to die…"
"Eren…" Levi began, not exactly sure what to say but feeling the need to say something. He recalled hearing about the massacre involving two children and three wanted criminals in Shingashina long ago…however he'd never heard the details until now. He couldn't say he blamed the boy, in fact if it had been him in that situation there would have been far less of the criminals bodies left behind for the police to find.
"They said it was justified, that I shouldn't feel guilty, and you know what? I don't! I killed them, and if given the choice I'd do it again. Does that make me a monster?" Eren's breath hitched as he fought back a sob, and Levi decided that he rather liked the pissed off version of Eren better than the guilt ridden, self-loathing one.
"Stop with the self-deprecating bullshit, Eren. You did what you had to, and no one blames you for it. You're not fucking useless, and I already told you I would train you like the dog you are, remember? You'll learn to control your titan, and you'll do something idiotic that ends in you killing all the titans or what the fuck ever, and you'll be everyone's hero just like you always wanted. I don't know what that assassin said to set you off or why you even listen to the shit that comes spewing from his mouth, but just fucking drop it already and go to sleep," Levi snapped, not bothering to sugarcoat things when he was running on empty and becoming more frustrated by the minute.
Eren sniffed and wiped away the tears collecting on his cheeks, cursing himself for crying like a fucking baby in front of his commanding officer and swearing never to touch another drop of alcohol if it meant that he turned into some pitiful sniveling mess. Once he regained most of his composure he took a deep breath and looked back to Levi, feeling the last shred of his dignity fly out of the window as he felt steel grey eyes staring back at him.
"Why…why do you keep going out of your way to save me? You're always looking out for me and yet you get nothing in return, so why do it?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper as he continued to sniffle and curl into the soft down blankets of his bed, feeling a bit safer when he was wrapped up like a caterpillar in its cocoon. The honestly curious look in his bleary eyes that were now red and puffy from crying forced Levi to answer despite his better judgment.
"I wish I fucking knew," he said with a sigh, closing his eyes and leaving back into the uncomfortable wooden chair and fighting the urge to comfort the brunette. He was a Corporal, not a fucking shoulder to cry on, and he was not going to start giving advice now. Somehow the evasive answer was enough to satisfy Eren, and soon he felt his eyelids grow heavy once more as the warm, comfortable confines of his bed soothed him into a relaxed state.
"Thank you…" were the last words he managed to utter as he drifted off into an uneasy sleep. Levi stayed even after he began to snore lightly, watching his sleeping face with interest.
This is the first time I've ever seen him look peaceful.
Levi stayed, even after an hour had passed and the oil in the lamp began to run low. He could try to convince himself that he was simply keeping an eye on the brat to make sure he didn't aspirate his own vomit, although he knew that it was highly unlikely if it hadn't happened by now. Finally, almost two hours after Eren had fallen asleep without stirring, Levi's back screamed in pain from sitting in such an uncomfortable chair for an extended period of time, and he decided that it was time that he attempt to get some rest as well.
He stood slowly, wincing from his sore back and reluctantly stretched his tired muscles. Although he was rather young to be getting stiff joints, years of combat had battered and bruised his body so much that he was experiencing the pains of aging all too soon. When he was ready to try and conquer those damnable stairs once more he decided to check on Eren one last time. The brunette remained curled into the fetal position, looking rather helpless wrapped up in his blankets like a child. Although Levi knew that helpless was the last word he'd use to describe Eren Jaeger, he couldn't help but find the sight somewhat endearing.
You're stronger than you think, Eren. You've been dealt a shitty hand in life that would have broken most ordinary people long ago.
Levi thought back to the confession Eren had made at the beginning of the night as he watched the blankets move from the rising and falling of the brunette's chest.
Don't go…I hate being alone…
The words, despite having been spoken by a drunk person, were so incredibly full of feeling that they had to have been nothing but genuine. It was sometimes said that drunken words were sober thoughts, after all.
Hands moving of their own accord, Levi reached down to move a lock of brown hair out of Eren's face that had been tickling his nose and causing him to swipe at it unsuccessfully. It was soft, much softer that Levi had expected from someone who was so unkempt all the time. His fingertips lightly brushed Eren's cheek on their journey to push the strand of hair behind his ear, and Levi was thankful that they were warm and full of life, as he hoped they always would be.
"Shitty brat, you'll never be alone, I'll make sure of it," he spoke in a low, hushed tone, and although he was certain that Eren couldn't hear him it felt right to say the words that the brunette would most likely want to hear had he been awake. Had anyone bore witness to the Corporal's actions, they would have thought he'd gone insane, or that he was simply another person impersonating the man called Levi. Perhaps he had gone insane after all these years. He would have to be crazy to fall for such a defiant, headstrong, brash idiot right?
With one last lingering look Levi finally walked away from the sleeping brunette, switching off the oil lamp and making his way back towards the stairs to begin the long, arduous journey to his own comfortable bed.
Had Levi and his squad lingered for a few moments more on the ragged battlefield of the forest floor perhaps they would have noticed the human corpse amid the smoldering remains of the six armed titan they had defeated. The crimson cloaked assailant that had severed Levi's lines grappled down from the treetops, landing gracefully next to the steaming corpse. He knelt down beside the pile of bones that remained behind while the rest of the titan dissipated, letting out a disappointed sigh.
"Another abomination, huh? Oh well, your sacrifice was well worth it, my brother. With every life lost we grow closer to the answer that will bring salvation to all of humanity."
Collecting the remains in a rucksack, the cloaked figured heaved the bag of bones over his shoulder and grappled into the trees, disappearing into the darkness.