Chapter Seven
"Good morning Levi," Hange said the following morning. Hange and Clare were in the supply warehouse. Levi grunted. "You change your mind?" He glared at Hange. Hange turned away and started chatting with Clare. Levi picked up his gear and walked away from the chatty soldiers. What was he doing? He asked himself. Was he really going to compete in their military mockery?
When Levi was a brat he would get borderline excited about the games. The 3D races were his favorite part. He would look to the sky and marvel at how high the soldiers soared. Levi knew better than to look for too long before one of the other thugs smacked him around. To think that he would actually be a part of the games was terrifying. He used the leather straps attach the equipment. It was heavier than the ones he used in the underground. These had heavy metal spears used for titan killing.
Captain Erwin arrived a few moments later. He looked around for the smaller man. Erwin still worried that Levi wouldn't keep his word. Clare and Hange rushed over to the captain and saluted.
"Levi is over there putting on his gear," said Hange. Erwin nodded.
"Thank you. " He walked to the supply warehouse and attached his own 3D gear. Part of him knew that Levi would be part of the games. Erwin had no intention of telling John. He couldn't put his finger on it but he knew he needed Levi to stay. Even when Mike cornered him that morning when he left the officer housing and demanded to know what happened Erwin couldn't explain it. There was something special about Levi.
"Levi, we are about to begin," Erwin called. Levi walked from behind the bushes with a frown on his face. He stood in line beside his peers with his hands by his sides. Captain Erwin knew from experience that that was the closest thing to a salute he was going to get from the young man. "Did everyone have a chance to review the drills?" The three nodded. "Good, go ahead and warm up a bit then we will get started." All four of them launched their cords to the trees.
Though he would never admit it, Levi probably would have joined the Survey Corps just to soar across the sky. But until Erwin pulled them out of the underground he didn't even see it as an option. Not that he cared about their lofty ideals or glory or anything stupid like that. Underground, there was a limit on how high he could fly. His only limit on the surface was how much gas in his tank. When he, Isabel, and Farlan practiced with the other rookies he got his first taste of clean air but couldn't enjoy it. He only focused on killing the blonde. Even his breathes outside the wall were tainted with worry for his friends.
Levi sent his cable to one of the trees. He added some gas to go higher. Levi took a deep breath. This was better air. He closed his eyes as he hit the gas again. This air was clean. This air was free from the stink of people.
"Levi!"
Levi sighed. He leaned forward so he was parallel to the ground to slow his speed. To his left there was a tree branch. He pushed the gas to send him closer Levi grabbed hold of the branch, using the momentum to spin him around it like an acrobat. He released the tree branch to launch his cord. He landed in front of Captain Erwin and his squad members.
"Whoa…" said Clare in awe as Levi landed. Levi turned away and started adjusting his straps.
Seeing the drills on papers confused the hell out of Levi. When they put it into practice it all made sense. He still didn't understand the lines and squiggles but when Levi was in the air he felt free. The air was so clean, so pure he almost didn't want to come down. An obstacle course was built on the grounds for them to practice. The practice titans from the training grounds where brought to the base. Erwin also had various obstacles built that were far too advanced for students. Make shift buildings the height of the buildings in the capital was set up for them to navigate. If Levi didn't know better he would think that the turns and dives were the same ones he flew through in the underground.
They practiced through the rest of the day only stopping for meals. Captain Erwin would only take perfection. It annoyed Levi at first. He didn't understand why they had to keep going over the course. It was Hange who explained it to him.
"Captain Erwin wants us to be able to do this course without thinking," Hange said. They sat in the grass refilling their gas tanks. Their leader stood to the side scribbling on a piece of paper. "If we don't have to think about it we can react faster"
"Like I would believe something like that," said Levi.
"You don't have to believe it," said Hange. "You asked me a question. I gave you the answer. Hand me his gas tank please." Levi picked up slender gas canister. He noted that even though the captain hadn't flown as much as the others it was nearly empty. Levi wondered if this was because of the amount it took to move someone of his size. Finally, he handed the canisters to Hange to fill.
"What is he doing over there?" Levi nodded in Erwin's direction. Captain Erwin appeared to be deep in thought looking back and forth between the obstacle course to the papers in his hands. Hange shrugged.
"Captain Erwin is always thinking," said Clare. She finished refilling her gas tanks. She leaned over to Hange and Levi. "Sometimes he talks to himself." They watched the tall blonde for a few more moments and sure enough he started pointing to the obstacles, say something they couldn't hear, and then wrote it down. When he noticed that they were watching him he looked down shyly. In long confident strides he walked over to his squad.
"Let's break for dinner," said Captain Erwin. "We start tomorrow morning." The three collected their gear. Captain Erwin turned back to the papers in his hands. Levi picked up his equipment, still watching Erwin. He wanted to know what Erwin was writing.
000
"Levi, you have to tell me how you move like that," Clare demanded during dinner. Erwin's squad typically took their meals together. Loyalty to their captain and their outlandish ways created a bond amongst the unit. "Weren't you scared going so high?" The question threw Levi off. He never thought about it. It only made sense that he should be able to move so free with the gear.
"I guess not," said Levi. "I just wanted to breathe clean air."
John gave a hearty laugh. "Sounds like something our Levi would say."
"What do you mean?" asked Clare.
"The king could hold high tea on this guy's bunk," said John. "The barracks haven't been that clean since they were built."
"Everything has its place," Levi replied. He took a drink of his tea. This gave John another laugh.
"Yea, you are in the right squad," said John.
"What do you mean by that?" Levi glared at John.
"Didn't you know? Captain Erwin gets all the crazies?" said Sonia.
"I thought it was because you were titan killers?" said Levi.
"Don't get me wrong," Sonia said. "When it comes to kills our squad has the highest numbers. It's just that some people think we're a little nuts."
Levi scoffed.
"Well they think that Captain Erwin is mad anyway," said Sam. "So of course we have to be crazy."
"You should have seen it Levi," said Clare. "When he proposed his plan for us to not fight the titans but run away from them."
"I thought we were going to have to fight our comrades defending him," said John.
"His plan was a good one," said Clare. "It would have worked too if not for the rain." A silence fell over the table.
"Even the smartest people can't predict everything," said Hange. "Especially outside the wall."
"Levi," Sonia said softly. "I'm sorry about your friends."
"Me too," a few of the others said. Levi looked up from his tea. His squad members looked back at him sincere. Their concern frightened him.
"Other people died as well," said Levi. There wasn't a day that passed where Levi didn't think of his friends. He woke up sometimes in a cold sweat thinking about that day but he could not let these people know that.
"True, but," Clare paused. "You three didn't sign up for this like the rest of us." Levi set down his tea cup. He sat up in his chair to look at the members of Erwin's squad.
"What is this? Feel guilty for chasing down Farlan and Isabel while Mike and that bastard beat me up?" Levi looked to Clare then John. He remembered their faces just as he remembered Mike's face from that day. Neither could look him in the eye.
"Levi…" Hange reached out to him. He pulled away.
"You both made your choices that day and we made ours," said Levi. "There's no going back so there is no reason to regret the past." They looked up at him. "Get over it already." Levi picked up his tea cup and finished it off. His squad mates looked at him. Surface pigs were too delicate with their emotions. Didn't they know that if he really wanted to hurt them they would be dead by now? The only reason Erwin was alive was because he no longer wanted to kill him.
"Is that bastard really crazy?" Levi asked.
"Captain Erwin?" said Clare. "I would trust him with my life. He's not like the other captains. He spends hours going over his plans before he even shows us. The others just tell us not to be titan food. "
"I see," said Levi. He gathered his dishes.
"Where are you going?" asked Hange.
"I have to take care of something," he said.
000
Levi rummaged through Farlan's possessions. Where is it, he thought. He was sure he hid Farlan's lock pick kit before he went to sleep last night. He was going through his bin for the fifth time when it hit him. That bastard stole my pick. Levi quickly put away the shuffled items before storming over to the officer housing. How dare that son of a bitch touch my things? He expected that kind of thing underground but not here on the surface. The surface people where pigs who had more than they needed, right? They didn't have to steal, he thought.
Levi walked up to Erwin's door and touched it with the tips of his fingers. It was an old habit. Never leave a trace. The knob turned easily in his hand. He pushed open the door to reveal a startled Mike and composed Erwin. Levi walked into the room slamming the door behind him.
"Good evening Levi," said Captain Erwin from behind his desk. "It is customary to knock before entering a room." His hands were folded neatly on top of a stack of papers. Captain Mike, who had been sitting in the chair in front of Captain Erwin's desk, rose to his feet.
"You stole from me," said Levi. He took three steps forward. Mike moved as if to protect Erwin. "Out of my way you fucking mutt," Levi said to him. Levi clenched his fists. Erwin reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a piece of folded cloth.
"Oi!" Levi called. Erwin unfolded the cloth to reveal the slender metal tools. "Give it back to me." Levi took another step forward but Mike pushed him back.
"This doesn't concern you dog," said Levi through gritted teeth.
"You need to respect your superiors Levi," said Mike. "This isn't the underground you can't just do whatever you want. There are rules here." He pushed the smaller man back to prove his point.
"Fuck your rules," Levi growled. He punched Mike in the stomach.
"Both of you stop now," Erwin commanded. His booming voice made the men stop and look at him. Erwin stood behind his desk.
"Give that back to me," Levi turned his attention back to Erwin. If he cared to tell them he could make another kit easily but this one belonged to Farlan. They wouldn't get this piece of Farlan too. He pushed past Mike to stand across from Erwin. He reached for the tools. Erwin grabbed his wrist. Levi hated that he had to look up at this man.
"So high and mighty and in the end you are nothing but a thief." The words had their desired effect when he saw Erwin flinch. Erwin used his free hand to put the lock pick kit into his pants pocket. He opened his mouth so speak but a knock on the door interrupted him. Mike walked away to answer it. Levi could care less about whoever it was. He defiantly locked eyes with Erwin.
"Captain Mike," said a female voice. "Sebastian is in the infirmary. He cut himself on his equipment."
Without breaking eye contact with Levi, Erwin nodded and said, "I'm fine here Mike." Levi heard the door close behind them. Levi snatched his wrist away. "I am not stealing from you Levi."
"I'm not an idiot," said Levi. Captain Erwin released a frustrated sigh.
"I have no intention on keeping Farlan's things," said Erwin. "That is why it is important to you. Am I correct?" Levi looked at him wide eyed. Erwin sighed. He sat down in his chair and gestured for Levi to do the same. As he expected the smaller man stood with his arms folded over his chest. Erwin reached into his desk drawer.
"I will speak plainly Levi," said Captain Erwin. "I want you to trust me." Levi scoffed but said nothing. "If someone knows about what I am about to show you it could be troublesome for me." Captain Erwin rose to his feet. He walked over to his bookcase to pull out an ornate wooden box. Levi watched with interest as Erwin set the box on the desk, slid the key in and flipped up the lid. Levi walked around the desk to look into the box.
"Some dusty book?" scoffed Levi. "This is your big secret?"
"It is not about the book, but what is inside," said Captain Erwin. He pulled the lock pick kit from his pants pocket. "In exchange for this, you will not tell anyone about this book?" Levi took the wrapped cloth. It disappeared in the folds of his jacket.
"What makes you think I won't turn you in since I have what I want? I am from the underground." Levi's tone was low but teasing. Erwin shrugged.
"Nothing that I have learned has shown you to be a man who breaks his word," said Erwin. "Being from the underground is irrelevant." Levi took a step back. Who was this guy? Perhaps he was as mad as everyone said.
"Do you want to see what is inside?" asked Erwin.
"That's why you brought it out, didn't you?" said Levi.
"Perhaps," said Erwin. He fingered the spine of the book before placing it back inside the box.
"You're not going to show it to me now?" Levi accused. "Change your mind?" Erwin looked down at him.
"It's getting late," said Erwin. "Another time perhaps." Levi tsked. He turned to leave.
"Oh Levi," Erwin called out to him while he put the book away. "I have been meaning to give you something. " Erwin returned to his desk. He reached beneath it to pull up a bundle wrapped in cloth. Levi's eyes grew wide. Isabel. The pink fabric was faded from dust and use. He could just make out the little white flowers Levi had spent a small fortune on to have sewn into it. It was the first present he bought her.
"How…how…." Levi walked over to the desk. He assumed that they had thrown her possessions away. When he snuck into the women's barracks he searched everywhere but couldn't find anything. It was as if Isabel never existed there.
"It was discovered while fixing the floorboards in the women's barracks," said Erwin.
"Give it to me," growled Levi. Erwin held onto the bundle showing no sign of handing it over. Levi took a deep breath. "Please." The word forced its way past his lips. Erwin extended the bundle to Levi who took it greedily. "Thank you…" Levi mumbled. He turned to leave.
"We have practice at sunrise tomorrow," said Erwin.
"Understood."