A new life
Chapter 6
Throughout dinner Levi couldn't get his loss out of his head. Was Erwin always so fast? No impossible. He fought him in the underground and would have won if they hadn't taken his friends.
"Levi, we are going to the tavern later," said Clare. "Want to come out with us? I think John and Sam are going too."
"Why would I waste time getting bloated on beer with a bunch of freaks like you?" Levi snapped. Clare mewed and focused on eating. Sometimes he went with them. Honestly, Levi still worried about Jessie and the others looking for him. Kenny wasn't the kind of man who let things (read people) go easily.
"You don't have to be a jerk all the time, Levi," said Sam. "We are the only people who will actually eat with you, you know?"
Levi tsked. He covered his tea cup with his hand and brought it to his lips.
"He'll come next time," Hange patted Clare on the back. "We don't want him to bring us down any way."
"It looks like our fearless leaders are going out on the town too," said Hange. They watched as Mike, Erwin and the other captains passed through the cafeteria. Levi's gaze menacingly followed the group.
"Are you sure you won't change your mind?" Hange asked. "Levi."
He glared at Hange. "You're boring." Levi rose to his feet. "I am going to bed. "
"Good night Levi. "
He had no intention of going to bed. He needed to find something. Anything. He didn't know what he was looking for but he would find it in Erwin's room. Levi wasn't one for planning. That was Farlan's job. The only plans Levi knew he learned from his old boss. None of that shit worked on the surface. Here you had to care if you hurt someone's feeling. Here people had feeling to be hurt. It was expected that you become a snitch or get punished. This was why the little bitches said the shit they did. They knew Levi didn't know how to play by their rules.
This is how he dealt with things. You hurt one of mine; I kill yours. Only pussys snitch over a fist fight. And if someone beats you in a fight you find their weakness. It was easy enough to sneak into the officer housing. There were no guards and the hallways were empty. Levi jiggled the locked door handle to Erwin's rooms. He used Farlan's old lock pick kit to make quick work of the lock. It wasn't as clean a job as Farlan's but it would do.
Levi walked into the main room that served as captain Erwin's office. Officers had such an easy life. Some kind government servant lit a lantern to receive the occupant when he returned. This worked for Levi. He walked over to the neat desk. A worn leather chair was tucked up against the desk. Levi pulled it out so he could go through the drawers. What was am I even looking for? He opened the center drawer. A sense of order even ran through this space; writing implements, clips, and blank pages were neatly stacked in such a way that Levi couldn't have done better himself. He pulled out the drawer a little further to find a small silver key. Several of the drawers had locks but the little key didn't fit.
Levi didn't have time to ponder what to do next. There was stirring down at the end of the hall. He placed the key back into the drawer, closed the drawer and pushed the chair back where he thought it should be.
000
Captain Erwin returned after having dinner with his peers. Mike was a quiet addition to their group. Erwin was happy to see his was acclimating well to his new role. When he reached the door handle something about it appeared…off. He was sure that he locked the door when he left. Erwin walked into his office and looked around. Everything appeared to be in place. He locked the door behind him.
"Come out," Erwin said sternly. From the shadows, near the curtains, a small frame stepped forward. "Levi?" The small man walked in front of the captain's desk with his arms crossed over his chest.
"What is this about?" asked Erwin.
"How did you beat me?" Levi said lowly. Erwin couldn't help but laugh. This only frustrated the smaller man. "Answer me."
"Since you have gone through all the trouble of coming into my chambers I will tell you," Erwin said slowly. "I've been watching you."
"Pervert," said Levi. "That doesn't explain how you beat me." Erwin stepped away from the door.
"Alright, perhaps a demonstration would be best," said Erwin. "Come, attack me like you did earlier. But before we begin get rid of your knives." Levi looked at him wide-eyed. Levi reached toward the inner side of his thigh were he sewed a small sheath for one of his daggers. He presented the dagger for Erwin to see before placing it on the desk.
"And the other one." Erwin placed his fingers toward the interior of his uniform jacket. The smaller man tsked. He folded his arms over his chest. "The other one as well Levi." Levi rolled his eyes. Finally he reached to the slit in his jacket lining where he sewed another pocket and pulled out a dagger. He displayed it before setting it beside the other on the desk. Captain Erwin's posture relaxed. A flash of silver shot past his head. Erwin crouched down out of instinct.
He looked up to see Levi still wearing his bored expression but Erwin was sure that he saw slight amusement in the smaller man's eyes. "There are all of my knives," said Levi. Now Erwin knew that was amusement in those bored gray eyes.
"Very noble of you to offer it," said Erwin. He rose to his feet and dusted off his pants.
"How did you know about the others?"
"I told you," said Erwin. "I've been watching you." The amusement faded from Levi's eyes.
"So a captain has so much time that he can whack off to one of his subordinates?" The words past Levi's lips like a curse. "I'm not your experiment."
"I know," said Erwin.
"I'm not some project for you to toy with." The words burned with hot anger.
"I know."
Levi hated how calmly Erwin spoke to him. Levi readied himself. "You won't beat me again."
Erwin readied himself for Levi's charge. Levi on the other hand took a step back so that he touched the desk. "Levi?"
"No," he said. "You come after me."
"I thought you wanted to know how I beat you."
"Yes," Levi said his voice questioning. "But it will be this way." Erwin watched the smaller man for a moment.
"The principle is still the same," Erwin said. Erwin rushed toward the small man. Levi was normally quick but a focused Levi was stealth. He landed two kidney punches before Erwin had time to react. Erwin knew that he had to think fast; to fight Levi directly meant that he already lost. Levi still favored his left so Erwin started there. He was able to sidestep Levi's next few punches. He just couldn't get his hands on him like before. Levi was also more cautious with his footing. Their legs moved in a complicated dance as they stepped around each other.
If Erwin was a betting man he would have guessed Levi was reading his moves as well. Erwin had to switch tactics. Erwin wasn't a fan of such ungraceful assaults but this meaningless fight had to end. Erwin brought his arms before him like and shield and threw his body weight against his opponent. Brute forced knocked the wind out of both of them as they hit the ground. Levi hit the wood with a thump.
Erwin reached for the smaller man's wrists. Levi ripped Erwin's shirt before Erwin could get a firm grip on him. Erwin made the mistake of keeping space between them not wanting to crush Levi with his body weight. Levi used this to his advantage as he kicked at Erwin's thighs.
"Levi, stop," Erwin hissed. He toppled on top of Levi. What happened next surprised Erwin so that he released Levi's wrists.
Levi smashed his lips against Erwin's. Soft firm lips continued the battle started with their fight. When Erwin opened his mouth to speak Levi bit down on Erwin's bottom lip. The shock was enough to bring Erwin back to reality. He forced the smaller man's hands on the floor. Erwin kept his body on top of Levi's. He looked down into the dark gray eyes that looked as if they still wanted to fight.
"Erwin, are you alright in there?" Mike's voice leaked into the room. The two combatants locked eyes. Erwin could feel Levi's pulse quicken beneath him. "Erwin?"
"I'm fine," said Erwin not taking his eyes off of Levi. "I knocked over a bookshelf."
"Do you need some help?" said Mike.
"No, I'm fine. Good night Mike," said Erwin. Heartbeats pasts until Mike finally spoke.
"Alright; good night Erwin." The combatants stayed completely still they heard Mike's footsteps fade away. Erwin rolled onto the floor beside Levi.
"A bookshelf?" Levi asked sarcastically. Erwin laughed softly. The more he thought about it that was a foolish thing to say.
"I had to think of something quickly," said Erwin. "More importantly, what is this all about Levi?" Erwin turned his head to see Levi looking at the ceiling.
"I had to see something," said Levi. He didn't look at the other man. Levi sat up. "I'm better than that oaf with 3D gear so I'll join this stupid competition." Erwin sat up to look at his subordinate. Levi picked up his daggers from off of the desk and placed them back into their sheaths. Erwin rose to his feet. He walked toward the door and pulled the last dagger out of the door.
"We practice at sunrise," said Erwin. Levi still reminded him of the dog he had as a child. Whenever the little dog would play with Erwin he would get nipped a couple of times. That was how they learned each other. Somehow Erwin knew that the animal wasn't trying to hurt him. Erwin's father told him that the dog was trying to figure out if Erwin was strong enough to be its master. Levi was like the strays that roamed the neighborhood. Even if they found a home they never had an owner.