Part IV

Not his own,

"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming."

— Pablo Neruda.

"Please, take a seat."

I'm lead into a simple looking room. Leather couches, plain coffee table, desks, shelves with books- it all looks so normal.

However, he, is not.

I step lightly, trying to assess the situation further- I look for a crack, a space; something out of place that gives me enough reason to-

"I won't harm you, do not worry." I stop in my tracks momentarily, taking a breath before I roll my eyes. Yes that definitely puts me at ease.

Sitting on the cold leather couch, I give a second of adjustment to make sure that someone isn't trying to kill me.

…

Nothing yet. That's promising.

"…so. What exactly did you want with me?"

I doubt he wanted to discuss the coffee.

"About your coffee…" he starts, and I almost face palm. Of fucking course I was wrong.

"How did it taste?" He takes the seat in front of me, hands placed over each other.

"…It was good."

He smiles with closed eyes, it looks almost genuine.

Pixis was one of the few men I knew who smiled like that, he by no means was an ordinary man.

"And the sugar cubes?"

I knew something was wrong. I clench my fist momentarily, checking to see if my body felt any different. Glaring at the old man, I take note of my heart rate and breathing.

We sit in a short, but heavy silence.

64 beats and 30 breaths in one minute.

I'm fine. As far as obvious signs tell. It couldn't have been poison, but given this fucked up place (ironic, huh?) it wouldn't shock me if death were right next to me.

Well, in front of me.

"…Good."

"…Are you sure?"

Narrowing my eyes, I lean back into my seat. "What about it?"

"There was something rather… special in those cubes."

"Yeah? No shit, I can tell."

He chuckles. "Just like you to say that." So, he knew me too?

Friends with a cannibal, that's a first.

"Get to the point."

"As straightforward as ever; you really haven't changed at all." He smiles wider, his eyes opening a fraction, if only just to look at me.

How reassuring.

"I don't know how else to say this, but… that sugar cube contained human."

Like lightning struck me, I freeze for a second and all muscles tense simultaneously.

I feel something inside me slip.

What the fuck.

I search his face for any form of a lie.

What. The. Fuck.

I find none.

That's a lie.

That's a lie that's a lie don't fuck with me I save humans I save them don't tell me I just fucking ate one you piece of shit don't fuck with-

"I'm sorry for telling you like this."

This can't be true.

"Don't fuck with me that didn't taste like human you shit, that was a normal sugar cube I'm fine-"

"You are a ghoul."

I'm a human.

"Don't lie to me old man, this shit isn't funny-"

"I can assure you every word I say is the truth."

…Don't tell me that I've been like this since-

"I'm human! I am a human, don't try to tell me otherwise-"

He reaches over with a surprisingly warm hand across the table and places it on my shoulder.

…He…

…He is lying, isn't he?

My blood goes cold, and my hands start to shake, I don't believe you no no no no no no I don't eat people I'm not that kind of monster I'm not-

…are you sure about that?

I feel another sharp pain in my head. It feels as if something is stabbing at my mind, clawing at the very skin under my skull saying 'I want out, I want out' repeatedly, like a rhythmic pulse trying to escape.

You've… always been a monster, remember?

DON'T FUCK WITH ME I AM NOT A MONSTER I AM LEVI ACKERMAN-

"Hilarious."

I look up, snapping out of whatever I was in. Clutching my head, I see something odd.

"What a pitiful sight."

What the fuck am I doing behind the old man?

"You honestly think that you're a human?" He says walking around the old man, my eyes following him.

That isn't me. It can't, so, then who could it-

Oh, right. The one I saw in that memory, the one who… 'Died'.

I know I am.

He continues to pace, and it feels like I'm not in the same place anymore, the world looks a little less coloured and the old man doesn't look like he's moving at all.

"Sure, sure. Let's believe that for a second- and if it were the case, then what am I?"

Dead, if I remember correctly. He only chuckles with a shitface grin.

Do I always look like such a bastard?

"Yeah, no shit Sherlock, that's why you're here remember?"

…Who the fuck is Sherlock?

He shakes his head, looking somewhat amused and leaves.

Wait, I'm not done with you-

"Levi, are you alright?" My eyes snap back to the old man. Oh right, I'm still here.

I'm losing my mind here old man, can you fucking not?

"…As good as anyone else would be in this situation, sure."

He gives me a grievous smile.

"You're handling it a lot better actually."

"Is that supposed to comfort me?" He lets go of my shoulder, and I lean back deep into the couch, suddenly finding comfort in its cold texture. Letting all my muscles relax, I feel a little better.

"…I imagine you've had quite the day, wait here and I'll grab you some clean clothes." He goes to leave, unlocking the door. I look down and I realise that I'm still in a half drenched plain shirt and trousers.

Whoop-fucking-doo, clean clothes ruined, didn't finish my fucking coffee and I'm held by a ghoul that doesn't think I'm human. What else can this world throw at me?

I glance at the now unlocked door.

Now, who would stop me from leaving if I wanted to find Erwin and report this nutcase ghoul?

Oh, that's right, the three out front. And I have no doubt that they could kill me if needs be, before I even step out of this coffee house.

You could kill them you know, you are a ghoul after all-

Yeah, shut the fuck up, so what if I liked his coffee and sugar cubes? He has no proof, and I'll be damned if I believe his shit so much without some kind of evidence.

Your funeral.

I hear the door click in the midst of my rant (I'm losing my mind by the fucking second here) and in steps… a young girl.

"L…Levi-san? Is that you?" A little girl? Is she some kind of hostage here?

"It is you, isn't it? They told me that you were hurt, and they wouldn't let us visit you in case those doves tried to hurt us, but you're back!"

She makes a light weird squealing sound out of happiness, at least I think so, even though she seems like a soft spoken girl. Immediately she runs towards me, arms outstretched like a small child, and they soon wrap around me in a tight grip.

…What the fuck do I do here?

This is fucking weird, but it's not like I can say no to a happy kid. I sit there awkwardly for a bit, trying to get used to her suffocating me, I can't help but feel a little warm. I must've been something important to this little girl.

A few seconds later, she snaps out of her excitement, shyly pulling away.

"O-oh, I'm sorry, you're probably still hurt." She stands, going red and moving away, her hands nervously playing with her skirt. "I-I'll go and get Yoshimura-san- I'm so sorry!" She apologises nervously, before turning tail and running away.

…Nice kid.

Now where the fuck is that old man-

"I see you've met Hinami-chan." Speak of the devil, and he shall appear.

"Is that her name?" I ask as he hands me a change of clothes, also placing a cup and saucer on the table.

"Yes, she came here a month or so ago with her mother." He motions towards the cup, and I happily oblige.

…Is she a ghoul too?

"What happened to her?" I take a sip. Black coffee. Very nice.

"…Her parents were killed, by the investigator you were supposed to replace."

I almost choke on my coffee, quickly swallowing it before I did. So she is.

"What did they do?" That girl is sweet, innocent if I ever saw it. I can't imagine her parents to be bloodthirsty monsters.

"They were born ghouls."

I stop for a brief second.

"Surprised?" I nod, but in reality I shouldn't.

He continues. "It's tragic, but sadly, not uncommon." I nod again, this time in understanding.

"…It is."

He turns to me again, this time looking directly at me.

"You may not believe me, but it is what it is. You are a ghoul."

Yeah, right.

"And when you come to accept that fact, please do not hesitate to come here, we will help you."

Not likely old man- wait, help me?

I throw him a confused look. Why would he help me?

He seems to predict what I'm thinking as he starts again. "You were a great patron and close friend of ours here at Anteiku, we owe you that much."

He smiles this time, glancing at the now closed door. "Besides, I'm sure there are many who will miss you if you leave again. We don't want her to cry anymore."

…I see.

"Manager!" A voice calls from across the doorway, knocking. This time it whispers; "CCG, I believe he has come for Levi-san."

"Thank you, Nishiki-kun, we'll be out shortly."

The footsteps fade away, and the old man looks at me.

"It was good speaking to you again Levi-san. Please, come back soon."

"I have a feeling I'll come back even if I don't want to." I groan, realising I never got to change out of these sticky clothes.

He chuckles lightly. "No, I suppose not."

I go to leave, remembering the way I came. But I look back momentarily.

"…I still don't believe you." He frowns.

"You will eventually." He turns away from me, looking out of the window.

I leave without another word, closing the door as I head back to the main shop.

I stop before the door out, looking back, hoping it was all just a misunderstanding.

I chuckle to myself. How stupid. A misunderstanding? Yeah, Eren isn't a whiny shit, and I'm a shining member of society.

I sigh.

I… didn't even say it right. 'I still don't believe you'? More like, 'I really don't want to believe you.'

If I did, then it would prove it.

That, I really am from here.

That the world of titans… didn't even exist.

…And if that's the case, then…

I open the door.

…I really do belong here.

-x-

"Ah! Ackerman-san! There you are!" A tall, broad man in a sharp suit and an odd shaven haircut exclaims.

Does everyone have crazy as fuck hair here or is it just me?

"It's me! Shinohara! You probably don't remember me though."

"Yeah? Like I haven't heard something like that all day. Let's hurry up, I need to change out of these shitty clothes, fucking- you couldn't wait?" I pick at my shirt, that's starting to stick to my chest. Ugh. Disgusting.

"Ah, sorry, we're in a bit of a rush, you can change in the car?"

You have better luck trying to get Erwin to get his eyebrows done.

"How about you take a long hard shit and come back to me on that?"

"…I never thought I'd miss your bad jokes, sir!"

"You what?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing! Let's go!"

Before I know it, I'm lead out of the coffee shop, spotting a purple headed man walk in as we leave.

Fucking great, do the colours of the rainbow unite in there?

As we approach the vehicle, I hear an odd voice yell out something in… French? I turn back, looking at the purple headed (and apparently batshit crazy) man.

Shaking my head, I question this world one more time before I take a seat.

WHEW I'm done. Thank god, I didn't think I'd finish it in time.

Anyway, thanks to you, my gracious readers for reading and I hoped you enjoyed it!

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