Beginning

The year 850 came silently and without a remarkable entrance. At least as far as his kitchen was concerned. He sat at the table with his head resting on his folded arms, staring bleakly at a single, lit candle and a cup of tea gone cold. The rim was chipped and the saucer didn't match, but he excused this on account it was a gift from a friend. A fallen friend, actually.

Levi blinked slowly. Well, lethargically. He'd been up all night, unable to sleep and sleeping only an hour or so when he did. As to the origin of his wakefulness, he had a few guesses, each one making less sense than the previous one. This had happened once or twice before, and he hoped it wasn't about to become a problem. As if the thought of expeditions and titans wasn't enough he had to throw insomnia into the mix. He'd spent the evening staring at his ceiling, walking around the house, scrubbing the floor, and now trying a bland herbal tea Hange had recommended to him a week ago.

The others in his squad had gone their separate ways for the new year, making up for lost time with their families. As they left one by one, they had invited him to come along, but he declined. He was loathe to intrude on their private lives, not to mention Gunther's parents disliked him on account of his manner and upbringing and after spending one Christmas in the Bozard home, he'd decided that year he'd rather put a bullet through his head than endure that madness again. When Eld asked if he wanted to stay with him for New Year's, he almost agreed, then changed his mind, lying that he felt sick and didn't want to spread it to his family. Of every member of the Levi Squad, Eld's home was, beyond doubt, the most stable and welcoming. It almost felt wrong intruding on that, however welcome he was. As for Petra, she'd lingered at his house longer than the others, delaying her journey to Karanes as much as she could. In the days before she left, she danced around a particularly topic when they spoke, then dismissed it whenever he called her out. Of course, it was only after she'd left he realized she was uncomfortable about facing her parents and had wanted him to go home with her.

Moron. He berated himself, opening and closing his eyes again. Well, he hoped it worked out for her. None of them had ever met her parents, and any suggestion of doing so were always deflected by their sole female comrade.

Sighing, he reached for the cup and took a sip of the cold tea. In retrospect, maybe it had been a bad idea to spend New Year's alone, especially in his empty house. The old framework creaked as the wind blew outside and beneath his feet was the black abyss of the Underground District. It wasn't as though he had business here in Stohess. No one had business at this time of night. What had he been thinking? Moron. He repeated.

Levi stood, dumped out the old tea in the sink, and washed the cup. There was no point brooding. He glanced at the clock. It was late, but he left now, it was possible he could make it to Karanes by tomorrow afternoon. Or should I try to get some sleep and wait until morning? No, if he waited, he would probably meet Oruo, Petra, and Gunther on the road if they hadn't stopped to spend New Year's Day with Eld's family. Although, traveling all night would be dangerous, even if he took the main road. And even if he made it safely to Karanes, he'd probably crash on Eld's sofa and not move for another twelve hours.

He sighed, narrowing his eyes in indecision. Oh, to hell with it. It's not as if I have anything better to do. He grabbed his cloak and blew out the candle. For all he knew, this would be the last New Year he spent with them. Locking up the house took less than a minute, saddling Cendre took another five, and he expected the trouble with the MPs at the city gate would take half an hour.

But as he led the black horse through the empty streets, he glanced up at the stars. Nothing had changed. He looked back at the house. It was the same as it had been the night before. Cendre snorted and licked his hand, just as she always did. Aside from the faint sound of celebration in individual homes, it was just another night.

Levi almost smiled.

The year 850 came silently and without a remarkable entrance.

-0-0-0-

Author's Notes: Don't worry, Levi, it's about to turn really crazy.

Happy 2015, ya'll.

Standard disclaimers apply.