Chapter 19
OMG! How long has it been? Gee whiz! Thank you all soooooo very much for your patience. I really hope you guys enjoy this chapter. Thanks again
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"It sucks that they won't let you fly," said John. He, Mike, and Levi were among the crowd of on lookers waiting for the anticipated races. Levi shrugged. The 3D races were held on the rooftops of Sina's buildings. Trainees stood holding ropes marked off the boundaries of each race.
"At least you get to help out," said John. At Erwin's insistence Levi acted as a pit stop for the participants. He would refill gas tanks, bring the participants water, and more importantly monitor their equipment when not in use. He didn't mind. He also owed Clare and Hange for spending time with him. Levi looked up at the freakishly tall men beside him. He would have to think of a way to repay Mike and John also. Levi sighed. This is what happens when you let so many people into your world. You spent a lot of time paying them back. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but he didn't mind that either. It was worth it. He still had debts to pay back to Isabel and Farlan. Even if he couldn't find a way to pay them back in this life he already offered them his next one. Hange waved at him from the rooftops.
"I have to go," Levi said before launching his cables.
"Aww, cutest pack mule ever!" said Hange once he landed on the rooftop. That was the first time Levi wanted to kill Hange. From his rooftop view Levi could see that a set of obstacles were set up for the various races separated by color coded ropes.
The first few races were pretty straight forward. The three branches sent their lightest members to go the fastest in a set distance. The skill here was remaining level at such a high speed. One of the MPs tried going too fast too quickly and broke his collarbone. After the first race he got the hang of being a one man pit crew. Levi was just happy to have something to do. He sat in that cell for too long.
Levi would beat his teammates to the end of the race line ready to refill their gas tanks or mend broken straps. By the end of the first set of races the Survey Corps and the Garrison were neck and neck with the Military Police already complaining.
Around noon the participants paused for lunch. Filthy children from above and below ground circled the flyers. Levi steered clear of that mess though he finally understood what Erwin meant when he said the games were good for the Survey Corps. Wealthy brats ran back to wealthy parents. In the waves of filthy kinds clamoring for the flyers' attention Levi spotted Jessie's brat in the group of kids around Erwin. Well, he wasn't Jessie's kid anymore.
There were only a handful of ways a kid could survive in the underground. One of the 'easiest' ways was to run errands for an older thug. Kind of how Levi did for Kenny. Though, Levi couldn't remember a time when that old bastard wasn't in his life. For a moment Levi felt bad for the brat. Kenny, for all his bullshit, saved him more than once. I'm definitely getting soft, Levi thought. The boy moved through the crowd of kids with practiced stealth. Probably trying to get a couple of coins from the rich kids stupid enough to carry money on them.
"Hey Levi!" He turned his head to see John standing by the refill station. Levi walked over to him.
"How you holding up?" asked John. Levi shrugged. He unhooked the extra gas tanks placing them before the refill station. John picked up one of the empty containers. Levi raised an eyebrow. He shrugged it off and started filling another container.
"I'm not surrounded by stinky children so it's perfect," he said. John gave a hearty laugh. He placed a large hand on Levi's shoulder.
"You're a funny guy." Levi smirked despite himself. How long had it been since he even thought about smiling? With John's help re quickly filled the gas tanks. He was strapping them back on when the break ended.
"Levi, we are getting ready to start," called Erwin. His commanding officer broke away from the rich kids to launches his cables up on the roof.
"See you later," said John. They secured the gas tanks before He waved as Levi walked away. Levi nodded before launching his own cables.
"Thank you for helping," said Erwin. Levi shrugged. During the lunch break trainees took down the markers of old races replacing them with new ones. Erwin placed his hand on the same shoulder John had at the beginning of lunch break. He brought his thumb up just below Levi's jaw line, making the younger man look up at him. Erwin's eyes darkened but were still a vibrate blue. What is this? Jealousy? Levi thought.
"Which race is this?" Levi asked.
"The relay," said Erwin.
"Kenny used to bet on this one," Levi said feeling nostalgic. Erwin stiffened. Fuck, I'm becoming too comfortable around this man, thought Levi.
"Who?" asked Erwin. He released Levi to fiddle with his levers as if he hadn't mentioned the killer.
"Just some guy I knew," said Levi. "No one important." Erwin nodded. Not that he questioned it before, but Levi just confirmed that Kenny the ripper was the one who raised him. What surprised Erwin was the fondness in Levi's tone. The man Erwin met didn't appear to have any kindness in him. Especially not any that would draw fondness from his subordinate.
"Wish me luck," Erwin said with a smile.
"Don't suck," said Levi. They launched their cords to one of the tall apartment buildings.
000
"Are you bored already?" Jenna asked from her private chambers within the palace. Her balcony gave a perfect view of the races. "I guess the games are rather boring since Levi isn't competing." She sipped lazily from her glass of wine. Jenna usually spent the royal games with the other commanders watching with the king and whoever else the old bastard invited. Today she gave a lame excuse about feeling ill to spend the day in her chambers. She would make it up to the king at yet another royal ball that evening. Right now Jenna wanted to spend time with her newest acquisition.
The dark haired man stayed close to the shadows. He hadn't even taken off his coat since he arrived at the palace. Nor had he touched the glass of rare wine she poured for him. It was alright. She finally had him again.
"Are you going to kill me, Kenny?" Jenna asked. She heard a snort of laughter behind her. She smiled. To feel your blade once again wouldn't be such a bad death, Jenna thought.
"And give you the satisfaction of dying by my hand?" Kenny said finally. "I hope you live forever bitch." Jenna raised her glass in salute.
Kenny turned his attention back on the people flying through the air. All that brat ever wanted was to do was fly the sky. Every year the boy found a place to hide during this race. It tickled Kenny so much that he would bet on the race just so the two of them would have a reason to watch it together. If he won, Kenny would give the brat a few coins. It wasn't a bad way to spend a day.
Erwin Smith. Kenny watched the blonde man fly across the sky. The man in question flew from building to building. He crossed his arms in thought. I wonder if Stephan did what I told him? Stephan decided that he preferred the underground and refused Kenny's offer to kill for the government. Stephan did agree to complete one final job for his old boss. Kenny wanted this to be the blondes last year at the Royal Game. You know, as pay back for stealing Levi. He considered it a fair trade. It wasn't like Kenny was cutting him up the way he planned to originally.
The strap of Captain Smith's hip harness snapped three buildings shy of the finish line. The blonde tumbled like a rag doll, bouncing along the roofs. A smile came to Kenny's lips. He walked up beside Jenna, picked up the offered glass. He dumped out the contents as he withdrew a flask from his coat pocket and refilled the cup. The Military Police commander looked up at him in awe. She had to admit that the man did good work.
"Salute," she said raising her glass. The king of underground raised his glass.
"Salute."
000
Time stopped when Erwin's body crumpled over the finish line Levi launched his cables beating the medics and Mike. Cuts marred Erwin's chiseled face. His uniform was torn from hitting the building and his arm was twisted in such a way it was obviously out of place.
"Erwin?" Levi dropped to his knees beside him. Levi cradled the man in his arms.
"What do you see? Erwin asked. His bottom lip was busted.
"What?"
"The crowd," said Erwin. "What do you see?" Realization dawned in Levi's eyes. He gently set Erwin back down. Spectators huddled around the building. Levi looked to one of the balconies at the Royal Palace. Captain Marshal stood behind Commander Shardis with a shit eating grin on his face. That meant nothing. His hate for Erwin was well known. He scanned the bystanders his gaze falling on Jessie's kid. They boy made eye contact with Levi and bolted through the crowd. Levi launched his cables over the spectators. The boy was smart, he got off of the street as soon as possible. The underground had the same layout as the surface so Levi followed his gut.
He timed it just right to cut the gas and descend into the alley that he suspected the brat to be. The kid was at the mouth of the alley looking around the corner he didn't see Levi until he was right behind.
"What the fuck old man," the pickpocket barked. "You some kind of pervert!" Levi grabbed the boy by the collar and pressed him against the wall.
"You're going to answer my questions," Levi said deathly calm. The boy visibly shook.
"And if I don't?" his voice wavered.
"You don't even want to know brat," he replied. The boy freaked out and started hitting Levi's hand only to be slammed against the wall. Levi tsked. He really didn't want to rough the kid up.
"I'll answer your questions." A man wearing a black trench coat and matching fedora walked into the alley. Levi frowned. The guy was young, about Levi's age, with white blonde hair and grey eyes.
"Who the hell are you?" Levi asked the white haired man.
"Call me a concerned older brother," said Stephan. Without warning he charged Levi, his knife slashing Levi's shirt. Levi jumped back before the blade made contact. The blond haired thug smiled.
"Answer my questions then," said Levi. "Who was Jessie's client?" The thug tilted his head so his bangs fell in his face. He stood straight as if in thought.
"I think I will tell you. It's not like you're going to live to repeat it anyway. He was wearing a uniform like yours," he nodded to Levi's Survey Corp uniform. "He had more pins on it though."
"No name?" said Levi.
"Since when do we ask for names?" said the white haired guy. "Surface life has made you lazy Levi," the thug said with a smile. With his 3D gear and extra supplies Levi was almost too bulky in the tight space. He unclasped the extra equipment.
"Brat," Levi said. "If my shit goes missing they won't find your body." He heard the boy gasp.
"I've wanted to test you for a while," said the thug.
"What stopped you?"
"Kenny."
"What changed your mind?" Levi drew one of his daggers holding it so the blade touched his forearm.
"The king of the underground is gone," said Stephan. "If I kill Levi the Invincible then I'll be the next king of the underground. So Kenny was dead, Levi thought. The least he could do was take out the punk who probably did it.
Levi tsked. "Who are you?"
"Stephan, the angel of death," he said proudly. Levi snorted.
"Is that what he named you?"
Stephan frowned.
"I earned that name," said Stephan.
"Keep telling yourself that," said Levi. He wanted to laugh. This guy was way too sensitive to be a thug. He didn't know how he survived this long if a little name calling wounded him. Even Isabel was tougher.
"What does that say about you, Invincible Levi?" spat Stephan.
"Kenny didn't give me a pretty nickname," Levi replied.
"Fuck you!" Stephan yelled. "This is all your fault anyway. They wouldn't have found him if you weren't such a fuck up." Those words stung. With Farlan and Isabel gone the only other person Levi could possibly consider family was Kenny.
"You can't put that shit on me," said Levi.
"Then who should I blame?" The combatants circled each other swiping at the other any time they saw an opening. "You go to the surface and all hell breaks loose!"
Levi would take a lot of shit. He fully accepted the deaths of his friends but not Kenny's. Not from the mouth of some asshole who believed his own hype. Levi was tired of dancing. He lunged at Stephan.
There were some skills to back that fancy name. The smiling man was quick. He even managed to nick him through his uniform shirt. That alone was enough to piss Levi off; what really set him off was that the Stephan continued smiling as they fought. That cockiness would be his undoing. Stephan's movements became with more grandiose with each swipe as if Levi was just any other mark on the street. His final swipe left Stephan's chest open for the taking. Levi attacked like a viper sinking his blade in Stephan's heart. The smiling thug coughed up blood onto Levi's jacket.
The Invincible Levi wrapped his free hand around Stephan's throat and slammed him against the building wall. Stephan dropped his knife to lay weak strikes against his blank faced killer. Levi finished the job with a flick of his wrist, quieting Stephan's heart forever. He gave a silent prayer that he avenged Kenny's death before releasing the body. Levi stepped back, drawing his handkerchief to clean his knife.
"Ahhh!"
Levi turned around as the brat rushed at him with a brick. He easily knocked the boy down. "What the fuck kid?" he barked. "Do you want to die?"
"I might as well," the brat huffed as he rose on shaky feet. "You keep killing my big brothers." The boy was clearly shaken with fear and determination. "I'm not going back to that brothel!" Levi was taken aback. It was true that anything could be purchased underground. Because of his size many people thought Levi was one of those things. He spent most of his youth proving them wrong. Another reason for Levi to thank that crazy old bastard. The boy fell to his knees sobbing.
"Oi." Levi nudged him with his boot. "Hey, get up." The boy slowly rose to his feet still wiping his eyes. Levi sighed. This kid was too soft to join his old gang. He was still a bit too tender. Jessie did the kid a disservice by leaving him so soft. If Levi were still underground he'd take the kid under his wing. Just like Kenny did for me. Just like I did for Isabel.
"There's a guy on the east side named Bernard," Levi started. He crossed his arms over the bloody remnants of his uniform. "He's an asshole but he's decent enough…" The little boy looked up at him surprised. "Tell him Chibi sent you."
"Chibi?" The boy made an awkward face.
"Do you want help or not?" Levi barked.
"No, no, I'm sorry," said the brat. Levi walked over to his gear and started strapping up. The boy stood beside Levi in awe.
"You have good hands," Levi continued not looking at the younger thief, "but you hesitate too long before reaching for their pockets."
"Thank you big brother," said the boy.
"Call the MPs for that guy." Levi nodded to where Stephan was slumped against the wall. "If you play your cards right they might give you a meal or a couple coins."
"Thank you big brother!" The boy said as cheerful as a kid from the underground could be.
"Get out of here." Levi watched the brat run away before launching his cables skyward.
000
Mike sat by Erwin's bedside in the hospital. Erwin rubbed his bandaged arm. He was a very lucky man. That fall could have shattered his whole right side if not for some quick thinking. Mike insisted on staying by Erwin's side from the time they took him off the roof top and remained long after the doctor left. The two old friends sat in amicable silence. Mike was one of the few people Erwin could completely relax around. Even when they were trainees he saw past Erwin's stories and still remained by his side.
A tap at the window disturbed the peaceful silence. Mike rose to his feet alarmed. He walked over to the window and gasped once he spotted the intruder.
"How did you?" Mike asked. He stepped aside so Levi to enter the hospital room. "We're on the third floor." The shorter man walked past him toward Erwin's bedside.
"It took longer than I thought because I had to drop off my gear and the other shit," said Levi.
"Did anyone see you?" asked Erwin. " In return Levi gave him a scowl that said his commanding officer just asked the stupidest question he could think of so Erwin changed the subject. "What happened to your clothes?" Levi's uniform was covered in cuts and blood splatters but it appeared that the man himself was unharmed.
"I got into a fight," Levi stated. If history told Erwin anything he would get nothing more from the younger man.
"Did you find out what I needed?" asked Erwin. Levi nodded. He walked to Erwin's bedside and whispered into his ear.
"I had my suspicions," Erwin replied with a nod. Levi stepped back away from the bed.
"I need to change my uniform," he said.
"Wait, Levi." Erwin called to him. "There is one more think I need you to do before you change." Levi tsked.
"What?"
"I want you to go with Mike to the Garrison barracks."
"Can't it wait until I change?" Levi displayed his bloody uniform. Erwin glanced over that now rags before speaking.
"What you have on now is fine," he said. "This is an order. You should follow it."
"Fine. Fuck it," Levi sighed as he turned toward the window.
"Mike will meet you downstairs with more information," Erwin called to the retreating shadow. Mike watched the display wide eyed.
"That went better than expected," said Mike.