Chapter 02 | Red Lion
All the next day Krista thought about her conversation with Levi the previous night. As she walked along the cobble stones of the narrow street, she pondered what he had said. About some shells having nuts… while some… were empty.
Is that what titans really are? Empty shells? And were they once – are they still… vehicles – of some kind? But then… h- how – why…
She stopped at an old wooden sign that hung off of a wrought iron frame. The image depicted a crimson lion rampant on a golden field.
Also – why would Levi tell me such things? I hardly know him and… yet he seemed to want to share his personal theory about the titans with me?
The sign swung and creaked in the light breeze. She had arrived at the Red Lion. It was a pub that the Survey Corp would often frequent.
So many questions, maybe I should stop in here and take some time to sort it all out.
Krista entered the pub, it was dark and the smoke hung like a fog from the rafters. As she looked around, Krista didn't recognize anyone she knew. The patrons seemed to be exclusively laborers and local towns folk.
Krista was so involved in her internal dialogue that she did not notice the hard stares and the hostile mutterings that floated around the room as she entered. The occupants of the pub noticed her uniform and especially the Survey Corp insignia, and this caused the mood to shift and become hostile as Krista walked up to the bar.
She smiled at the bartender sweetly, as two dangerous looking thugs moved in and took stools on either side of her.
"Pint of cider please."
The bartender just stared at her. Thinking he didn't hear her, she spoke up.
"I'm sorry…" Krista said, "I just asked for a – "
"I know what you asked for…" The bartender interrupted, "…it's just that, you have other things to think about right now."
Then he quickly walked to the far end of the bar as if he was eager to be away from that area.
Krista looked to her left and right and saw the two thugs flanking her. She spun around on her stool and put her back to the bar. To her dismay she saw that three more had filled in the space directly behind her. They all looked tough and dangerous – nothing like the regular patrons she was used to seeing. The semi-circle tightened around Krista and a feral gleam shone their eyes . The one on her left spoke first.
"Survey Corp…"
He spit on the floor at her feet.
"THAT'S what we think of the fucking Survey Corp!"
Then Krista wheeled quickly to her right as the other one spoke. He was big and brawny, unlike his wiry and lean partner.
"Yeah! Uhhh. We HATE the stupid Survey Corp… and we HATE you! Don't we Max?"
The thin wiry one to her right nodded and agreed.
"Yeah, that's right Jasper – we hate the fuckin' Survey Corp."
Krista looked at Jasper, then Max and the others that hemmed her in. She was aware that she was alone and surrounded but didn't understand why they would have a problem with the Survey Corp and tried to reason with them.
"B-But the Survey Corp are your protectors! Why we put ourselves in danger time and again to ensure that you and your families are – "
"Shut up ya candy-assed little bitch!"
It was a hooligan who had moved around the counter behind her that shouted. He was a fierce, heavily muscled brute with thick arms and a thicker skull. He reached over and tore her green cloak off and held it up to the cheering mob. Then throwing it to Max he shouted in triumph as Jasper grabbed Krista roughly from behind, holding her fast.
"Look at this! Yeah! We got us a Survey Corp cloak!"
Then ringleader Max, turned to leer at Krista who was staring wide-eyed back at the growing mob.
"Well now – let's see what else can we tear off of this little bitch…"
As Jasper held her in a brutal chokehold from the rear, large hairy hands reached out at her from all directions. Then, suddenly there was a hard word that asserted itself above the noise of her attackers.
One word that got everyone's attention.
"STOP."
The thugs paused and looked around. Behind them was Levi. He was standing there with his arms crossed, staring at the scene before him. He casually turned away and walked over to a row of coat hooks on the opposite wall. He took his cloak off and hung it carefully, then as the puzzled crowd looked on he took off his 3D maneuver gear and hung that up as well.
His back was to the group as he adjusted his cloak and weapons on the wall, but he spoke with clear, precise words. His voice was dry and calm – matter of fact.
"When I turn around, my expectation is that you will have unhanded Krista, and that her cloak… which was hard earned – I might add – has been returned to her."
Unarmed, Levi turned to face the bar. Krista was still being held in a solid headlock by Jasper as Max stood next to them with the cloak still in his possession. The others were milling around between them leering and gesturing at Levi – daring him to come forward. Then Max spoke.
"Levi. We know you – you've got the reputation for being a valiant warrior in the field. But here in town – you ain't nothin' but a skinny runt. You made a big mistake when you hung those weapons up. Without them, you're just a little bitch!"
Levi stared at the group. Krista was trying her best to be brave, but he could see that she was scared. Her frightened eyes were beginning to tear up and he could see she was having trouble breathing as Jasper's huge arms continued to tighten around her neck.
Levi took a small half step forward and slightly to the right, then paused to pick up a bottle from a small, round table. He looked at it languidly as he turned it letting it catch the light. It was long, slender and the reflection of the lamp slid and played along its sparkling dark green surface. He stared deeply into the depths of the glass and spoke… almost to himself.
"So… disappointing."
Everyone jumped as he sharply cracked the bottle on the back of a wooden chair causing it to become a jagged and lethal weapon. Seeing this, the bulk of the trouble makers backed away and scrambled out of the bar.
"Th-they're not paying me enough for this shit – I'm gone!"
Others agreed and followed as Max called after them.
"Fine you cowards! All the more for the rest of us!"
Only the committed ones remained. There were the three blocking Levi's way, plus Max and Jasper who held Krista brutally by the throat. Then she watched as her commander spoke again.
"Disappointing… yes. Yet – strangely – so expected."
The three who stood between him and the bar stepped forward the middle one was a large dock worker. He growled menacingly, then said, "AAAARRRIIIIEEEEEAAAAAAGGGHH!" and crumpled to the ground, clutching the gaping wound, that the razor edged bottle had caused when it was rammed directly into his crotch.
He fell to the ground in a ball writhing in agony – blood spurting through his fingers – as Levi calmly stepped over him and addressed the other two. He pointed the bloody bottle at them as he spoke reasonably.
"This is an easy one – you can leave now… Or you can join your pal on the floor clutching your lacerated testicles… You have one second to choose."
The two henchmen chose, and bolted like mad for the door. Watching them Levi pressed his lips together tightly causing the color to drain out of them. Then turning back to Max and Jasper who was slowly choking the life out of Krista, he spoke.
"LET Krista go. Give her cloak BACK and apologize to her… NOW."
Maintaining his deadly strangle hold on Krista, Jaspeer looked at Max questioningly as he asked, "Max… d'you think we should..?"
"NO – you stupid fuck – this bitch is going to suck – AGHK!"
Max fell forward off of the bar stool onto the beer puddled floor with the broken bottle lodged in his face. The throw had been as perfect as it had been lethal. Jasper stared in shock as his arm tightened further around Krista's neck. The added pressure caused her to struggle and buck against him but he barely noticed. Krista was weakening now and her eyes were beginning to roll up in her head.
Levi knew that this huge thug was close to snapping Krista's neck.
This guy isn't playing with a full deck… I've got to handle this just right or she's dead.
Staying calm, Levi sat down at the small table just in front of them and crossed his legs. He reached over and picked up an unattended pint and sniffed it. It was a beer that was to his liking so he took a sip, then looked up and spoke steadily to Jasper.
"Well… it's just you… and me… and Krista. Poor, sweet Krista. Everyone was so mean to her. Do you know how much she cares about protecting our citizens?"
Levi could hear the gurgling coming from Krista was beginning to turn into a rattle and it tore at him.
"I've seen her risk her life time and again for our city… That includes YOU. What's your name?"
"J-Jasper…"
"Okay Jasper. The girl you are in the process of killing right now has shed her blood, fighting titans to protect you. SO… tell me – as you listen to her dying and struggling for breath – how do you feel about that?"
"I… I…"
Jasper released Krista who slumped to her knees then jumped off of his stool and pulled the cloak from Max's lifeless fingers. He helped her up onto her wobbly legs, and handed it back to her.
"I…UH – I'm… sorry Krista. Here's your cloak back."
Krista took it back from him as she rubbed her sore throat. Then looking at Jasper in the eyes, she replied in a horse little whisper.
"Th-Thank you Jasper, I know that you were being forced to do it by that mean friend of yours."
They both looked at Max who was lying there with the broken bottle sticking out of his face. Jasper quietly answered.
"Yeah, Max always told me what to do… I just always did what max said. And now… I… I don't…"
He looked at Krista and saw the compassion in her shining eyes. It made him feel safe, but more than that, it made him feel sorry. Sorry for what he had done and most of all – ashamed.
"K-Krista?"
"Yes Jasper?"
He hugged her and laid his head on her shoulder.
"I'm sorry I tried to hurt you!"
Krista, to her credit, hugged Jasper back warmly and spoke gently and lovingly as the pain in her throat began to recede.
"It is okay. I forgive you… I forgive you Jasper."
Levi walked over to the tender scene playing out on the bar and tapped Jasper on the shoulder.
"Real sweet… Okay Jasper time for you to leave."
Jasper jumped off of the stool and bowing respectfully to Levi and then to Krista, he turned and ran out the door.
Levi shook his head then turned to Krista and was stunned to see her shaking and tears were streaming down her face.
She was just accepting Jasper's apology and was calm as could be – how is it that she's now so distraught?!
Levi stepped over to her and asked , "Krista – are – what's wrong?"
"I'm sorry Levi – I… It was just too much… I was so scared – I'm sorry I know I shouldn't –"
"Krista – Stop it."
Levi put his hand firmly on her shoulder to get her attention. Then, realizing he was being a little harsh, patted her shoulder and tried to sound caring.
"Uh, It's... okay – that was a scary situation. You were very brave."
That got Krista's attention. "I… I was?"
"Yes… And furthermore – I was proud – proud of how you forgave that thug Jasper."
"R-Really?"
Levi looked down at the bar as he sat next to Krista and ran his finger through a puddle of beer he saw there.
He made a little curlicue.
"Yes. You had compassion for someone who was going to kill you. I have come to realize that it's that very compassion that separates humans from animals – from titans."
Krista was shaking, she had nearly died and the realization was starting to eclipse her awareness to the point where it was becoming difficult to function. Levi seemed like the only stable – the only solid place she could anchor herself and so – she reached out for him. Levi's eyes widened in surprise as Krista threw her arms around his neck and placed her head trustingly on his chest.
"Oh…Levi – th-thank you… Thank you for saving me. I was so scared – I thought they were going to…to…."
Levi was unaccustomed to this role and tried his best to ease Krista's worries. He put his arms stiffly around her shoulders and patted her back.
Come on Levi… try to be compassionate.
"I… Uh… there – there… It'll be… Um – okay?"
As he held and comforted Krista a strange, protective feeling came over Levi. His arms didn't feel so awkward, and something in his chest, like a door opening, made him feel warm. That was when he knew – deep down – that he would put himself in harm's way to protect this person. That any who would threaten Krista would be in great danger… from his hand. Levi spoke again, this time with more confidence.
"Krista – I… uh – listen… We're a team. You, me – the Survey Corp – we look out for each other."
As she continued to rest her head on his chest, Levi held her close, trying to give her comfort. He could feel her heart beat as he stroked her hair and thought to himself.
Poor kid – doesn't have any family… the Survey Corp is all she's got.
"You – like the rest of my team are family. We stand up for our family – look out for them… Krista – I love you."
Levi felt Krista's arms tighten around him, and her body moved gently in time with her silent sobs. He wrapped his arms around her protectively as he looked down the length of the bar to where the bartender was still cringing at the far end.
"Hey – I believe my friend here wanted a pint of cider… Make that two."
The bartender scurried to get the drinks as Levi gently placed Krista's cloak around her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"It's nice to see this cloak back where it belongs. Krista, we're going to have our drinks now. Then – there's something I want to show you… It's related to our talk last night."