Author's Note: Here's chapter 2 for you! Sorry if it's crummy. I had a bad bought of writer's block in the middle of this. I finally got over it toward the end, but Idk if it was too late to save it or not... I'm too impatient to do a lot of revising. All I do is a basic proofreading, but overall... I'm 70% satisfied with this chapter.

Also, thank you soooo so much to Xrose96 for leaving reviews on both 'Prelude to Rebellion', and the first chapter of this! Reviews really inspire me to continue writing. Thank you for your kind words. You're incredibly awesome. :3

Avoiding the Military Police wasn't too much of a hassle, even though the two boys were now wanted criminals for killing not one, not two, but three members of the MP. They used the alley ways to their advantage, and took turns staying watch during the night while the other slept. Being able to eat was the hardest part. The first couple of days they scrounged through trash cans for scraps of food or coins to buy food with, but had little luck. When that didn't work, they taught each other how to pick pockets. When they could successfully steal a coin from the other without them noticing, they decided to try it out for real.

Lucius' heart pounded as he snuck up behind the man in the crowded town square. Despite the depression, things still had to continue on as normal in the city, and the market place was still bustling every day. But, because of the depression, the square was more and more susceptible to thieves, of which Levi and Lucius were now included.

The man who was their current target was in the middle of haggling a deal with a merchant at a grocer stall, a bag of coins hanging, very temptingly, off of his belt. The two boys had drooled upon seeing it, imagining the food they could purchase with those coins. It could feed them for nearly two weeks. The man was apparently well-off. Surely he wouldn't miss a little bag of coins, would he?

In his trepidation, Lucius trembled as he reached out to grab the coin pouch, keeping his eyes glued to the back of the man's head to make sure he didn't turn to find him. Due to this, he didn't notice as a stray cat ran in front of his feet, and he tripped over it. His hand instinctively clutched the closest thing to him to try and break his fall, that closest thing just so happening to be the coin pouch. This alerted the man to his presence, and soon he was being stared down and having a knife drawn on him.

Luckily, Levi had been keeping watch on his brother, and as soon as he noticed Lucius was in trouble, he'd run out, grabbed the other boy by the shirt, and dragged him away before the man could attack. They hadn't succeeded in stealing the pouch, so the man didn't take chase.

The alley they hid out in most of the time was well away from the town square and they were pretty sure no one even knew it existed. It was literally the only place they felt safe. Even when they'd been spotted by Military Police on a few occasions, they'd been able to lose them in the winding streets between the buildings and make their way back to their alley safely. They'd found a couple old mattresses in another alley and dragged them to theirs to sleep on. They were stained and they smelled bad, but it was better than nothing. The alley also had something no other one had: A drainage pipe in one corner would occasionally give them water that was clean enough to drink.

Most of the time, though, Lucius would find his brother at the pipe, using the water to scrub at his hands, splashing it on his face, and rinsing his clothes. Living on the streets was not clean in the least. Levi had never seemed to be bothered by filth in the past. Their room back home was always messy, and neither of them ever made their beds. Their mom had tried to keep a clean home, but they never helped and usually only made it worse. The only difference was, like most young boys, Lucius would regularly skip menial hygiene tasks like brushing his teeth or washing his hair, but Levi never did.

But ever since the incident with the Military Police, where Levi had been covered in the man's blood, he'd been almost obsessive in keeping himself cleaner than usual. It had gotten to the point where he hurt himself. He'd found a rough piece of rock to scrub himself with and had done so until his hands and forearms were raw and bleeding.

Lucius awoke one night to the sound of splashing water. He didn't even bother getting up from his mattress to see what it was. He already knew. The pipe had started releasing water again and Levi had taken it upon himself during his night watch to perform his washing rituals. But, unlike other times his brother had obsessively scrubbed at his hands, he heard Levi mumbling to himself now. Likely because he thought Lucius was still asleep.

He couldn't make out everything his brother was saying, but the world 'blood' made it through the jumble quite a bit.

Sighing and finally deciding to confront the other boy about this, he sat up, pulling his knees to his chest and peering through the darkness to where the water pipe was, as well as his brother.

"You realize the blood is long gone…. Right?"

He could tell Levi hadn't realized he'd awoke, as his small form jolted in surprise at Lucius' voice. Turning to face him, Lucius could see, even in the darkness, the madness that had appeared in those gray eyes. It was fairly disturbing.

"Are you fucking stupid?" The other boy snarled, and Lucius' brow rose, having no idea what Levi could be getting at. "It's not gone… it's stained everything… it's everywhere! I have to get it off… it's disgusting…"

"Levi…" Lucius stood and made his way over to the other boy, kneeling beside him. Levi had gone back to scrubbing at, well, everything. Placing his hand on his brother's shoulder, he sat silently while Levi started mumbling to himself again, which he could now make out due to the closer proximity.

"Everywhere… the blood is everywhere… it's filthy…. Have to clean it…"

It was official. His brother had lost it. Completely. He waited for several more minutes until Levi was finished before leading him back to where their mattresses where pushed together.

"You go to sleep, Levi. You're obviously deprived of it if you're seeing stuff… I'll take over night watch early."

"I'm not seeing things, idiot!" Levi growled, refusing to lay down.

"Yes you are. There's no blood. It's all gone. It's been all gone. And don't call me an idiot!" Lucius growled back, pushing Levi back onto the mattress. The younger boy sprang back up, grabbing Lucius by the front of his shirt. It was nothing new to them. Being brothers, they would squabble all the time and had even gotten into a few fist fights before. Nothing serious, or at least it couldn't get serious before their father would break it up. But… their father wasn't here now, obviously. Lucius feared how far it would go.

"Levi… let me go. Calm down. You need to sleep."

"Fuck sleeping!"

"Stop yelling, and watch your mouth."

"You're not my mom. Besides, Dad swore all the time. And he didn't care if we did!"

"Levi, stop yelling!"

Lucius, in a fit of rage, shoved his brother against one of the walls of the alley, clamping a hand over the other boy's mouth. It was for more reason than to just shut him up, however. Throughout their argument, Lucius could have sworn he'd heard something coming down the alleyways in their direction. Now that Levi was quiet, and he listened more closely, his fears were assured.

There were footsteps, and voices that were muffled by the distance still between them.

Now Levi could hear it too, and he seemed to immediately return to his calm, composed self. He shoved Lucius away from him, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"Your hands are dirty…"

"Shut up, Levi. We don't have time for this anymore. What should we do?"

The wheels were turning in the other boy's head, but Lucius could tell he was drawing nothing but blanks, which was unusual. For the past month while they'd been living on the streets, Levi had pretty much been in charge. He figured out how to teach themselves to steal, did most of the stealing himself while Lucius played the role of 'distraction' more often than not. But what had just occurred, which Lucius knew was, in some form or another, his brain being fried and his sanity slipping away, must have been messing with his thought process, so he couldn't come up with anything in time.

"Hey! I see someone over there!"

Lucius started, and, in panic, grabbed Levi and ran. He didn't know where to run, and he didn't know who was even chasing them, but his feet carried him further and further into the maze of the alleyways.

Taking a chance to glance behind them as they ran, Levi alerted his brother to the true nature of their pursuers.

"Lucius! It's the Military Police! We have to lose them!"

Lucius also spared a glance over his shoulder, nearly stumbling over a box someone had deserted in the alley in the process. The police were gaining ground on them. There were four of them in all, and were all too stupid, it seemed, to run one behind the other in the narrow passages. They all tried running side by side and therefore stumbled among each other's feet and over the garbage. Despite this, they continued to gain ground on the brothers.

Lucius and Levi turned a corner, and took a quick turn around another corner, hoping to lose the Police. However, the plan backfired and they soon found themselves at a dead end.

"Fuck!" Levi stomped his foot and turned back to the entrance of the alley they'd gone down. But they had no chance of escaping, because the group of men where just coming around the corner as well.

"Well well…. We were just following you kids because we thought you might be lost, but now that I get a closer look at you, I recognize those faces…."

Levi and Lucius took a step back as the group took another step forward into the alley. A second Police spoke up, his words more stupid than his face, in Levi's mind.

"Well… face, seeing as they look the same. Right, boss? Hehe."

The 'boss' of the group, the one who had spoken up first, rolled his eyes and told the other to shut up. At least the brothers could agree with him on that notion.

"Alright men… these brats are the ones that killed Isaac and his squad. Our orders are to take them alive, but there's nothing that says we can't rough them up a little bit first. Have fun."

With those words, two of the group of four stepped further into the alley, looks of sheer evil bliss on their faces. Lucius backed up until he hit the back wall, but Levi remained where he was. The sword they'd stolen from the Military Police over a month ago had long ago grown dull and broken, but they'd stolen a few daggers to take its place, and Levi drew two of them out of his boots now.

Lucius' heart froze. "Levi, you're not thinking of fighting them, are you!?"

"We don't really have any other choice, do we? Either we fight or we get captured…"

He knew his brother was right. With a trembling hand, he reached down to his own boot to withdraw his own dagger. He hated to admit it, but he was petrified. They'd managed to avoid confrontations all this time, but now they were cornered by a group of Police that wished to do them harm. And he'd never killed anyone. He'd never even cut someone with a knife before. He didn't know if he'd be of much use to his brother during a fight.

"Lucius… just stay back. Let me take care of it."

"But Levi-,"

The younger boy turned to his brother, steeled determination in his gray eyes. "I've already killed someone, Lucius… I have blood on my hands. You're still clean. Try to stay that way as long as possible…"

Before Lucius could protest again, Levi was charging at the two Military Police that were approaching them. Though Levi had always been better than Lucius when they sparred with their wooden swords, and he'd already experienced real combat through his first kill of the Military Police from before, it was obvious right from the start that he wouldn't be able to take two Police on at once. They were adults who had gone through official military training and had graduated top of their trainee classes. Levi was a nine year old kid who'd only practiced what his father had taught him on the rare occasion he was home. The difference in skills was great.

Yet, Levi had something the older soldiers didn't, however, and that was determination. The Police lived only for themselves and their own desires, while enjoying a comfortable life and good pay. Now that the twin boys were on their own, they lived for each other. Levi was determined to not let anything happen to his brother. The Police had stolen his mother and father from him. He would die before he let them take his brother, too.

And it was because of this that he was able to hold his own against the other two. He even managed to sink his knife into the gut of one of them.

The familiar feeling of blood on his hands returned, and he grit his teeth to prevent himself from throwing up. It really was the most disgusting thing he'd ever felt. It was warm and thick, and reminded him that it was someone's life that was covering him… staining him forever.

The man didn't die, though- not right away at least. He grabbed his stomach in pain and stumbled away to slump down against the wall. Now facing only one Police, Levi's odds looked much greater. He ducked underneath the soldier's sword and jumped to the side to avoid another swing in a downward-motion. It wasn't too hard to dodge the man's attacks. He appeared to be somewhere in his fifties or even early sixties, and was a bit on the heavier side. He was slow.

And Levi was quick. Much quicker than his opponent, and he landed several cuts on the man's arms and body without even breaking a sweat.

"You little brat! I'll kill you!" The old man huffed, clearly out of breath and sweating. Despite his threat, he didn't make a move to make good on the words. He stumbled lightly from a loss of blood, looking as if he were about to pass out. Levi took this opportunity to strike.

As the old soldier fell to his knees, one of Levi's daggers embedded in his large stomach, he looked up at the boy with a look of pure self-pity that made Levi sick. He didn't want to see it anymore, and so he sank a third concealed knife between the man's eyes.

It was the most horrifying thing he thought he'd ever do. The knife didn't go in clean. As soon as the Military Police saw the blade coming for his face, he'd tried to avoid it, but wasn't quite fast enough. The stab was crooked. The flesh tore and the skull made a cracking noise that all in attendance could hear as the dagger pierced through it and acted as a wedge, splitting the bone as the heavy weight of the man's body fell to the side.

Levi released his grip on his weapon and let the man fall to the ground, dead. Very dead. Hands trembling and stomach knotting, the boy keeled over and lost his dinner on the cement.

The two remaining Police stared in stunned silence for a second before one drew his swords.

"You little bastard! You'll pay for that!"

The last remaining Police, the 'Boss', stopped his subordinate before he could strike the kid down. "Remember, Aston…we're to take them in alive…"

"But sir, that kid just killed Tobias and Regal!"

"Even so…" The Military Police team leader ordered the other to withdraw his blades, while fishing through a pouch on his belt for something. "Don't worry, though…. We'll avenge our comrades.."

Lucius, having run to his brother's side to inspect him for any serious injuries, looked up in time to see the man slip a pair of brass knuckles over his fingers. He jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked back to see Levi trying to stand up.

"Why… don't you assholes just… leave us alone!"

"Are you fucking stupid, kid? You're murderers now. Before Isaac and his group, we were just going to put you in an orphanage, but now that you've killed at least four members of the Police, the only thing awaiting you is execution."

Levi grit his teeth, reaching for another concealed dagger (They both kept no less than three on themselves at any given time). "My brother isn't a murderer! And besides, it's not like you bastards haven't killed innocent people, too!"

"Ha!" The younger MP barked a laugh. "Anyone we've killed have been far from innocent… they likely deserved it for plotting against the king."

Lucius had had enough. He gripped the hilt of his knife tighter. Pure, unadulterated rage was building up inside him, and he realized this must have been what Levi had felt before he'd killed his first Military Police. Now, it was his turn. "Our mother and father weren't plotting against the king! They were innocent and you bastards killed them!"

He charged the two remaining Military Police, ignoring Levi's cries of protest from behind him.

'You've done enough, Levi… just let me take it from here…'

He didn't know what to expect. All he'd ever experienced as far as combat went was sparring with Levi, and that was the furthest thing from a fight for his life, and they'd been using wooden swords. This involved real weapons, and he knew if he lost, both he and his brother would end up in prison, and then would face public execution. Everything was resting on his shoulders.

There was one major difference between his and Levi's fighting skills, however, and this he learned through their sparring matches. While Levi was faster, stronger, and more fluent with his movements, the younger Ackerman would usually rush blindly into the fight without creating a plan of action. Lucius was much more tactful, and prided himself in always being one step ahead. It was because of this that he'd managed to keep a 50/50 record against his brother in their matches.

Stopping short a few meters away from the Police, Lucius crouched and swiped another hidden knife from his boot, skillfully throwing it at the man named Aston's legs. It hit direct in his shin, and caught him by surprise. He fell to the ground, crying out in pain and Lucius wasted no time, not even a second thought, in slitting his throat.

There was a spray of warm red life, and the boy shuddered, now familiar with the disgusting metallic stench and the feeling of being soaked in it. He'd be affected by his first kill later, however. There was one more problem standing between him and his brother, and freedom.

Turning to the last Police, the man seemed almost… frightened. It would seem comical, if Lucius weren't so hyped up on his own fear, determination, and adrenaline. His mind raced at a million miles an hour, trying to figure out how he could kill the man without getting himself hurt in the process.

"You know what?!" The man shouted, discarding his knuckles and clipping two blades into his sword hilts. "I don't give a fuck anymore, you kids are gonna die here and now!"

Running out of time to think, Lucius settled on luck. His small size and his speed would have to be his saviors here. As the Military Policeman ran at him, he did the same. He ran, full-speed, straight at the man who was coming at him with two swords that were almost as long as he was tall. He felt like an idiot. He wanted to say 'fuck it', turn and run the other way as fast as he could. But there was no chance of that. If he stalled now, he'd be dead. Besides, the 'other way' consisted of a brick wall.

The man swung at his head, and Lucius ducked underneath it, sliding on his knees 'until he was behind his attacker, and slicing at the back of the soldier's legs. He hit his target, which was the back of the man's knees, and from the way the other immediately lost the ability to hold his weight up, Lucius could only figure he succeeded in cutting the tendons. He then jumped on the man's back, plunging the blade directly where his heart lay beneath the skin and muscle. It was only seconds until he was dead as well.

Lucius took a moment to collect himself. He'd done it… he was now a murderer as well… he'd just killed two people. His hands were stained with blood, just like his brother's…

"Levi!"

He turned to where he'd left the other boy, no time to worry about what had just happened any more,and their eyes met for just a second. Levi looked on the brink of tears, and Lucius ran to his side.

"Levi… are you okay? You're not hurt, right…?"

Levi shook his head. "No… but, Lucius…. You…."

"There's no time for that… we'll talk later. But now we need to find someplace to stay…" He sighed, making sure he still had his last blade on him before standing and helping the other boy to his feet. "We can't really go back to our alley… the Police found it once, they could probably find it again."

"But…."

"Shut up for a second, will you?" Lucius frowned, looking down at the four still bodies that lay at the entrance to the alley. It was a bit hard to believe… four fully-trained Militia being taken down by two nine year olds… they'd surely gain some infamy. It didn't matter, though. They'd find some place to hide where no one would ever find them… then maybe they could live in peace again.

As he and Levi maneuvered around the bodies and started down the other twisting alleyways of the inner city, he thought his own ideals were absurd. Living in peace… such a thing could not be accomplished by anyone while the king and the Military Police were allowed to rampage and rule as they were… he wished he could do something about it. But for now, the most important thing was finding a new home for him and his brother, whether it be temporary or permanent, as long as they were together and safe, that's all that mattered.

"You know, Lucius…."

The older boy started from the interruption of his thoughts. "What is it?"

"I remember dad telling me a story once…"

"Oh boy…" Lucius rolled his eyes. Whenever their father had a 'story' to tell, it was usually something crude and inappropriate.

"No, it's not like that." Levi continued. He stumbled a bit, and Lucius wrapped an arm around him, pulling Levi's arm over his own shoulder to help support his weight. "He told me that… a long time ago, there was an attempt at making an underground city."

"Underground… city…?"

"Yeah…" They paused and Levi looked up, meeting his gaze once more. "He said it was built as a precaution… you know, in case the Titans were able to break the walls, the rich people would have some place to go to hide and survive." He frowned at this. Lucius knew his brother hated the inequality that had once existed within the walls. Those who lived within Sina were wealthy and lived comfortable lives as far away from the threat of Titans as possible, and those in the outer walls were basically sacrifices for those with more money. At least now, due to the depression, everyone save the king and Military Police where on the same level. "But… because the walls are pretty much impenetrable, the project was deemed a waste and abandoned… Dad said the is still there though… and people actually live down there."

Lucius let a small smile grace his lips. It was no doubt one of their dad's fairytales, made up off the top of his head to get the twins to go to sleep. But, he had to admit, the thought of an underground city sounded pretty nice at the moment. They'd be more safe there, at least…

That was when they passed over what appeared to be an average sewage grate, and Lucius spared a glance down through the cracks.

A/N: Dun dun! Semi cliff-hanger thingy! Be sure to tell me what you think. Did this chapter feel too rushed? Am I getting a little too... graphic with the deaths? The only way to let me know so I can make this fanfiction better for YOU all to read, is to REVIEW! Thanks!~

PS: Chapter 3 will be up within a week or two. I'm trying to update as much as possible, but it's tough. Especially since these chapters always turn out so long...