Death: I edited chapters 6 to 10, and I hope I made them better. Please read over those chapters if you wish to see the slight changes I made. It would be preferable for chapter 10, that one underwent the most small changes.
Warning: this chapter gets a little gory.
Chapter Eleven Old Scars
=3=
Early in the morning, before the sun peeked over the horizon, Levi lead three members of his squad into the city. Under his discretion, they all left behind anything that resembled the Survey Corp. Levi even left behind his trademark ascot, for everyone knew of his style of clothes by now.
Levi was back in his black pants he had in his secret mission. He didn't have his black shirt, and settled for the white one he traded with Krysta. The girl was going to attempt to clean his shirt while he borrowed hers.
He doubted the stains will ever come out. Even so, she was going to try. And he was grateful for it.
As soon as the four entered the city limits, they snuck around grabbing dark cloaks. Levi managed to persuade someone to borrow two horses and an empty carriage. In truth, he attempted to buy the whole set with a large sum of money he had. However, the bastard decided to try and raise the price to a ridiculous range that he did not have.
Needless to say, the man got a knife to his throat. The pathetic seller settled to hand the horses and carriage for free. Levi handed him the money so he wouldn't tell anyone of the transaction. When it was done, he had Jean and Armin stay with the carriage, instructing them to appear as if they were going on a long journey.
He was honestly surprised Jean came along at all. After what he had said last night, Levi felt sure that Horse Face would have stayed behind. But this morning he found Jean sitting at a table, ready to set out for the day as if nothing happened.
He left with Sasha to stealthily scout the buildings. Levi had her keep an eye on the building where the Military Police had Erwin captive. Meanwhile, he studied the ins and outs of the records building he had been into before. He happened to be lucky he didn't need binoculars. With the knowledge he had the best eyes around, he focused in on the building.
After my break in last time, it might be a little harder to get in there at night. These unicorns have been taking their jobs way too seriously as of late.
Even though it was riskier to go inside during the day, he felt that it would be far better than at night. In the day, the guards were more relaxed, and less prone to suspect a break in. After studying the building for half an hour, he chose his targeted window.
Levi was silent as he made his way over the rooftops. He stopped every now and then scan the area around him. He couldn't shake off the feeling Kenny wouldn't remain silent much longer on the sidelines. And this time, he knew that the man wouldn't be alone on going after the squad that escaped.
Come to think of it, this is something I would stage. Keep an eye out for the enemy to move close to a destination, and then corner them while they're scattered.
Levi hesitated from his leap of faith onto the records building. His instincts proved to be right to hold back a few more minutes when a shot rang through the air. It missed his head by a mere few inches. Quickly he leaped off the building, twirling in the air as he used his gear to get away as fast as possible.
Shots fired after him, and they all missed. Levi had too much training with Kenny on how to maneuver out of the line of fire. He peeked back to see the only person who could give Kenny a runner up on crazy of the group.
"I've been looking forward to this day, Levi! The best of the best, could possibly even take out the very best! Let's see if I can finally kill the little runt today!" She laughed as he managed to keep up with him.
"No, thanks." He responded as he increased his speed and started his best trick to rid his pursuer.
Even at his best, she managed to stick with him. She was even gaining on him. This disturbed him, for she had improved greatly since the last time he saw her three years prior.
Am I getting rusty? Or is my age finally catching up to me?
"HAHAHAHAHA! Is that the best you got, you little shrimp? Because if it is, you're pathetic! I thought you were the fastest, the strongest, the best out of all of us! Even better than Kenny!" Liucretsia laughed.
He ignored her tactics to rile him up. Levi focused on pushing his limits, something he hadn't done in a long time. He rounded a building, almost colliding with Sasha. He expertly moved out of her way, drawing out his swords as he passed, noting she already had hers out.
Sasha quickly recovered from the near collision and swung her blades at his pursuer.
"I'M SORRY!" She screamed as she missed, only managing to cut a rooftop open and colliding inside the building.
Levi in the meantime made quick ease to slice her pursuer in half. Together, the two followed after the carriage that was on the run. The moment the four were reunited, more of the Anti-Personnel Control Squad made their move. They were suddenly surrounded, as they were attempting to cut them off from escaping. Levi caught sight of stolen rifles in the carriage, and Armin was shaking as he held one up.
He hesitated too long to take the shot.
Levi swung in, slicing the man that was about to kill Armin. He stopped when he felt he vertebrae against his blade and pulled out. Blood and guts spilled everywhere, mainly his shoulder and side. He glared at the shivering blond.
"Get your pathetic ass to work, Arlett! Do you want to die today!?"
He had been too preoccupied glaring darkly at Armin to notice someone coming his way. The boy raised a pointed finger. Levi didn't have enough time to turn when he was suddenly collided in the air. The air was knocked out of him as the pair collided through a tavern window. They rolled on the floor, broken glass scattered, and some of it pierced them from their entrance.
"Excuse me! I'm here to take care of the bad guys!"
Levi felt his heart stop at the sound of the voice. He scrambled through the now open window, launching into the air. Levi turned to follow the carriage, but was stopped when she caught him in midair again, this time pinning him against a building. Liucretsia was the only reason why he wasn't falling to his death below.
"Oh, no, you're not going anywhere, runt. I have a present for you."
Levi stared at her. No, this wasn't his childhood friend. Right now this woman was something worse.
Liucretsia the Bloodthirsty was staring him down with a dangerous glint in her eyes.
"I don't want any presents from you." He choked out, as the tight grip on him was squeezing the breath out of him.
"Oh? You sure about that? You don't want to see your precious commander, then? I was gonna let you live, but as my prisoner. You get to be in a cell across from Erwin, and if you tell us everything you know about these runaways, then you get to spend precious time together." Liucretsia grinned at the offer, watching him squirm as he thought over his options.
They figured out Erwin and I are closer than normal. Shit.
Levi gulped. He opened his mouth, gathering as much courage as he could.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that. You see... I'm already their prisoner for killing nine people a few nights ago. And should you take me away, they'll kill Eren for your actions."
This was a huge bluff, and if he pulled it off, then she might leave them alone for a short period of time. He could see the gears turning inside Liucretsia, as she mulled over the new information. But then he saw the uncertainty in those eyes. Liucretsia growled, reaching for her knife.
Damn it! She figured me out!
"Don't ever lie to me again, got it runt!"
Before Levi could pull out Talon, as his blades were broken, his exposed neck was cut open. The stinging pain caused him to gasp, and gratefully, the cut wasn't too deep. But it was a long, straight line, almost over the veins. As Liucretsia admired the blood flow, Levi took his chance. He pushed her away, and as he fell a few feet he used his gear to get away.
He now wished he had the ascot more than ever. It could have prevented the cut from being nothing more than a scratch. Or if it had been in his pocket, he would be using it to slow the bleeding down. However, he had more important matters to worry about as he followed the sounds of gunshots.
He drew out two fresh blades, as the previous ones broke from his landing earlier. He dashed his way back to the carriage, and landed inside. Armin was reloading a gun, and so was Sasha. Levi saw someone standing with either foot on the back of each horse. Jean was in a panic as a gun was pointed at him.
No one is dying under my watch.
Levi skillfully jumped over the carriage seat, sending his blades through the man's middle. When the gurgling died, he withdrew his blades, quickly putting them away and allowed the dead man to fall. Just before they ran into the small tunnel for their escape, Levi quickly sat down on one of the horses and held onto the short mane tightly.
It was then that he realized something was off. The group that attacked them were too easily given up at the tight tunnel that barely fit the carriage. And something else made his heart stop.
Kenny the Ripper hadn't been among the group chasing them.
Shit. They were to keep us from returning in time to get to the others. He's after Eren!
He tturned to peer over his shoulder despite the pain. His frantic eyes met Horse Face, and he seemed to have caught on that something was off by judging the captain's expression. Jean frowned, wondering what had the captain so worked up.
"Don't slow this carriage! That group was a decoy! Kenny is after Eren back at base!" Levi yelled over the hooves of the horses.
Everyone in the carriage felt their hearts sink.
=3=
Meanwhile, some twenty minutes before the showdown, Hange and two members of their squad were on their way to visit Erwin in the dungeon. They have been granted a short visit, and to be frank, Hange was amazed they were being allowed to visit.
They were checked for any hidden weapons. When given the clear, they were brought to Erwin's cell. Hange hated seeing Erwin like this. He was their commander, he shouldn't be in the dungeons. Hange felt their stomach lurch at the sight of him.
Last time he was seen, he had stubble on his face. Now it was an almost beard, and it made him seem older. His strong figure was hunched over as he sat on the bed, as if he was defeated.
"Erwin Smith." Hange cleared their throat.
The man gazed up in surprise. He made his way over to the bars, and despite how depressed he was, he flashed a grin at the sight of a familiar face. There was a hint of worry in his eyes, too.
"Good to see you, Hange. How's Levi?"
Hange bit their lip nervouly at the question.
"You don't know what's happened, do you?"
"What do you mean? Please tell me he's all right."
"The Special Forces Squad has escaped. But in the process, they have killed nine people. Five of them were Military Police, and then four were Survey Corp."
Hange hated being the bearer of bad news.
Silence filled the dungeon.
"I see." Was all Erwin could manage.
Hange waved the other two away. They hesitated, but left. As soon as they were gone to distract the two guards down the way, Hange leaned closer to whisper.
"He warned me the night before they escaped that he was about to something very stupid and dangerous. I honestly can't hate him for what he did, but several members are furious at the Special Forces Squad."
Erwin stared at Hange, taking all of this in. He understood what was being suggested.
"He did it for the good of the Survey Corp, so they won't be suspected that they helped the squad to escape."
"And I'm not sure if everyone will see that."
"We'll come to that bridge at a later time. I thank you for the news. Did he say anything else?"
There was hope in those eyes.
"There was one thing. He said something I didn't think I would hear from him." Hange smiled as the commander became curious.
"What did he say, Hange?"
"He said he loves you. And that he's sorry for what he has done, and that when this is all over he hopes you will stay with him." Hange added the last part because they knew that's what Levi wanted the most.
It was his motive for why he had gone to such drastic measures to ensure everyone's safety in the first place. Even at the cost of four people's lives, Levi made it seem his squad went rogue and turned on everyone else. And knowing the captain, when it came to trial over the matter, he would step up and take full responsibility so his squad remained untouched by the government.
That was what bothered Hange the most. At the end of all of this, someone had to answer for the deaths of nine people. The government would never forgive and forget the loss of five MP's.
"Of course I will stay with him. Wait, he said he loved me?" Erwin perked up at the idea.
"Yes. He professed his love for you loud and clear. I wish you heard it yourself, but I'm afraid to say I have to pass it along." Hange cracked a smile.
"He actually said it." Erwin could hardly believe it.
We never exchanged our feelings for each other, but we both felt it.
Hange was about to go into the test results when suddenly a group of Military Police came marching towards them. By the looks on their faces, they meant business.
"I'm sorry we have to cut this short, but the city us under attack by rebels. The Anti-Personnel Control Squad are taking care of them as we speak. However, we still need to escort you back to your base under precaution."
"All right, then." Hange didn't fight it. As they were leaving, Hange went over the name of the squad they never heard of.
I wonder if they are assassins under the guise of a squad so the MP's don't question their presence.
=3=
Just as Levi had figured out, Kenny and a few others have made their attack at the cottages. As soon as they drew near and heard the commotion, Levi launched into the air. He caught sight of two assassins carrying two people and fled. The captain sped after them, catching sight of Eren and Krysta.
Fuck! They knew who she really was? Shit shit shit shit SHIT!
He couldn't rescue both of them at once. There was only so much weight he and the gear could handle. As he raced after them, he heard someone join him, matching his speed. He caught sight of a red scarf.
"You rescue Eren! I'll focus on Krysta!" Levi instructed, and together he and Mikasa increased speed tenfold.
They were almost upon the two assassins when they were intercepted. Levi nearly collided with none other than Kenny the Ripper. The man had actual blades in his gear for once, and the two were blade to blade. Levi scowled, gritting his teeth at Kenny's grin.
"If you want to rescue them, then you have to go through me!" Kenny bellowed, and Liucretsia laughed with him.
How in the world did she get here so fast...?
Levi felt a little disturbed how she was there with them. He glanced over to see Mikasa holding her own against Liucretsia the Bloodthirsty. He returned his focus on his uncle, swinging his other blade at him. Kenny met him blow for blow, and when Levi resorted to his tricks, the elder knew how to deflect them. He knew every move his nephew ever used.
Levi felt doubt fill his head.
How can he match my speed? I'm the faster out of the two of us...
He could hear Mikasa having trouble with Liucretsia as well. But she had full blown determination, and her mind was focused on the task. How was Levi not faring at his best? Was this even his best, be wondered. He felt that he was lacking something to be able to take care of Kenny.
"I see the doubt in your eyes, runt." Kenny sneered.
Levi ignored Liucretsia's laughter echoing in the forest, and Mikasa's glare.
"Do you wanna know why you're lacking, Levi? I'm sure you noticed you're not as fast as before."
"Quit your babbling and get out of my way, old man. Your prime days are over." Levi responded coldly, aiming at his uncle's ribs.
Kenny barely dodged in time, his vest, however, suffered a cut. Miraculously his shirt escaped without a scratch.
"Oho! There's my nephew! For a minute, I thought you went weak from working with a bunch of pussies of the Survey Corp!" Kenny laughed, seemingly not even bothered he escaped a close call.
Levi could hear more of his squad closing in. He didn't have to glance around to see that they were also intercepted by more assassins coming out of nowhere and everywhere at once. He was too busy keeping his eyes on Kenny, not willing to fall victim of his uncle's tricks of his own.
"Everyone here knows me as Kenny Ackerman. Let me tell ya my nickname. Kenny the Ripper! My lieutenant there is Liucretsia the Bloodthirsty! Anyone wanna know this runt's nickname among us?"
Levi felt the blood leave his face, and his skin became paler than it already was.
"Oi! Keep your eyes on me at all times, old man!" Levi swerved around to his uncle's side, and attempted to slash him again. Kenny back flipped out of line of the sword, barely able to keep his hat on his head.
"Ladies and gentleman! I present to you Levi the Blood Storm!" Kenny laughed as he blocked a blade that was aimed for his neck with his own blade.
"He is the storm that kills everyone who gets too close. Anyone who dares to challenge him, end up dead, swifter than the winds of a storm. And just like a storms temper, he slays anyone else in his way. Just like the nine people he killed a few nights ago! Including four of your own Scouts!"
The captain felt the air shift around him. Levi felt the uncomfortable stares at his back, and he heard Liucretsia's high pitched laughter echo in the air. He ignored all of it, his focus was only Kenny.
"Leave them out of this. This is between you, and me. Now are you going to fight me, or shall I kill you now and get this over with?" Levi hissed darkly, his eyes wild, and his demons were fighting to take over.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Having enough of his uncle's foolishness, he began a a barrage of swift attacks. Kenny struggled to deflect and block, but as this only served to piss his nephew off even more, Levi found the speed he had been searching for. At some point, he had enough messing with Kenny, and sliced open his shoulder. Kenny had reacted too late, but the cut wasn't too deep, but he was losing blood.
With his uncle out of the way, Levi sped after the assassin who had Krysta. She reached a small hand out to him, as she tried to escape. But the assassin had a good grip on her, and Levi felt his gear struggling with so little gas left to keep up. He used a blade as an extended arm, piecing through the man's heart. The pair began to fall, and he dived down to catch her.
"Captain! Look out!" Krysta warned him, her eyes drawn above him.
He didn't have time to turn his attention behind him when a shot fired through his shoulder. The same one Kenny had shot him a few months back. This time the bullet went through, taking the older bullet with it. The exit wound was far bigger than the entry wound, and he felt dizzy immediately after his own blood sprayed his face, sticking to his hair and clothes.
And then his gear ran out of gas.
The last he heard were screams all around from his squad. But he heard Kenny's words loud and clear.
"If you truly want to beat us, you have to embrace the dark side of your heart. Become Levi the Blood Storm again, and you just might have a chance. As you are now, you're a pussy, just like the silly Scouts."
One of his wires caught in some branches, and he hung there, upside down. Levi lost consciousness when he couldn't fight the dizziness anymore.
He awoke to a strange sight. It took him a moment to realize he was upside down. The words Kenny had spoken rang in his head. Levi peered down to see his squad trying to figure out how to get him down safely. It was dark, his head hurt, and he was pretty sure he lost a bit of blood.
Did they think I was dead? Why is it taking them so long?
He searched for his blades, only to find they had somehow unattached themselves and were down on the forest floor. He checked his back up blades to find they, too, had fallen. Levi reached for Talon, and felt relieved that his knife had stayed in his pocket.
Someone noticed he was moving.
Mikasa pulled herself up a branch close to him with her gear. She watched him carefully.
"They don't know what to think of you, now."
After last night's progress? Great. Is that why they left me up here for so long?
"What are your plans?"
"Did you guys rescue Eren and Krysta?"
"No. And we couldn't keep up with them to see where they took them."
"Then rescuing them is my top priority. How did it go with the merchants?"
"Not well. The man I told you about was going to think about it, but when we left for a few minutes, we came back to him dead. His son is going to meet with us tomorrow. Apparently he witnessed the murder of his father by the hands of Kenny and his group."
Somehow, that didn't surprise him.
"Why was I left up here? I'm positive I lost a fair amount of blood from hanging here."
"We just found you. It took us a while to double back and search for every tree in the dark to find you."
Levi wasn't sure if she was telling the truth. He stared at her for a moment.
"Catch me."
"What?"
"I'm cutting myself out of the gear. I'm too far up to survive a fall. So, catch me." He didn't wait for a response when he started working on the straps with Talon. When one leg was free, it was a strain to free the other as gravity took its toll. Still he managed to free himself from his gear and fell.
He enjoyed the few seconds of free fall before Mikasa swooped in and caught him. With little trouble they landed on the ground next to the others. Levi struggled with his equilibrium now that he was upright again, and blood loss didn't help any.
"You look like hell." Jean was the first to speak, as everyone shared the same thought.
How was their captain not yet dead?
He could read it in their eyes.
"Guess there was enough of that gene in me that I didn't die. I still feel like shit, though."
"So your name was Levi the Blood Storm?" Sasha inquisitively asked.
The entire squad stared at her with horror to even question the origin. Some even stepped away from her out of fear of being in the crossfire of the captain's wrath.
He stared at her with guarded narrow eyes.
"Yes. Ironically, Erwin saw the storm in me. He said I was the storm the Survey Corp needed to aspire everyone to get back on their feet and keep fighting. And yet here I am, with the blood of so many lives on my hands. I honestly don't know if I am still the storm Erwin saw."
"So what do we do now?" Armin bit his lip.
"We meet up with the merchant's son tomorrow. I bet he has connections on where the Reiss family live. And if he's on our side, then he can have the people riot as he spreads words that the Survey Corp is innocent, and we were set up. With everyone distracted, that's when we make our move on the Reiss family."
"What makes you so sure Eren and Krysta are with the Reiss family?" Connie inquired.
"Why else would she be kidnapped? Eren is one thing. Krysta, or Hystoria, in this case, is a different matter entirely. I remember a rumor going around some years ago that the head of the Reiss family lost all heirs. I didn't put two and two together until now that Erwin was seeking the only remaining heir of the Reiss family, for the rumors also said something about a lost bastard child on the miss."
"But why kidnap Eren?" Mikasa eyed him, her expression dark.
"That, I can't answer." Levi shrugged.
"Perhaps he's seen too dangerous to be running around? Or they might try and use him. The Reiss family is among the richest families in the Inner City. What better way to ensure the only heir to the family doesn't die, and hence forth the family line dies? If you wanted your family to continue, then wouldn't you want the best protection there is?" Armin speculated.
Sounds plausible, but I get the feeling it's more than that.
Levi kept his thoughts to himself. He felt another wave of dizziness hit him, and he almost swerved.
"Let's find a different place to camp. But first, I'm going to need a fire and some bandages."
Half an hour later, they were back at the cottages. Armin started a small fire, and Sasha gathered thr bandages and a large bowl of clean water. Levi, with some help from Connie and Jean, carefully removed his shirt to reveal the bullet wound. Everyone gasped at the sight.
Even though the bleeding stopped, it was grisly. Levi gently pressed both sides with a wet cloth to clean it. Sasha was figuring out what he was doing, and grabbed a stick that was only burning at the tip.
"Anyone with a weak stomach, leave. This is going to be gruesome." Levi warned, nodding to Potato Girl.
No one moved away. Sasha gulped, then put the small flame against the exit wound. Levi hissed, but otherwise didn't make a sound. The smell of burnt flesh and blood overtook the air, making Jean and Connie go green. Armin paled as if he had seen a ghost. Sasha pulled the now kindling flame away, checking if the wound needed more burning.
The exit wound was now covered with burnt skin, all pulled tighter to close the wound. Pressing her lips in a thin line, Sasha put the kindling back into the fire ad chose a different stick to match the circumference of the entry wound on his back shoulder. She found one and then did the same procedure on the wound.
Levi was more prepared, or perhaps he couldn't see it being done, and he was completely silent.
"What about your neck? It's not that deep, but it's way too close to your veins." Sasha pointed out the thin line on his neck.
"I'll keep it clean and change the bandages everyday. Anyone seen my ascot? I can use it to cover the bandages."
Armin remembered where he had seen it last, and went to fetch it. Meanwhile, the others couldn't help but stare at the captain's upper torso, now that they had the chance to. There were scars all over his front and back, and a few along his arms. And to their horror, there were even a few scars on his neck they had never seen before.
"Are these...all from your training?" Mikasa was the first person in the squad to inquire about them.
Levi stared at her with indifference in his eyes.
"Yes and no. My uncle is responsible for the ones on my back. Liucretsia has this obsession of slicing my neck open. I don't quite remember his name, but someone kidnapped me and caused these scars on my front and my arms."
Levi shuddered from the memories.
"You don't remember your kidnappers name?" Mikasa blinked, finding a similarity between them other than appearance and talent with the gear.
"No. And I would rather not. He's dead anyway, so it doesn't matter." Levi was growing increasingly uncomfortable being exposed like this. He would hate to see their horror if they saw the scars on his legs.
Levi solved the solution by putting his shirt back on. He didn't care about the damages. Just as he was done buttoning the shirt up Armin returned with the ascot.
"Let's get going. We have a long night ahead of us. And let's take all the gear and gas we can carry in the carriage. We're going to need them if we come across the assassins again."
The move to a different location took most of the night. Upon finding the abandoned storage building near the village they had to appear in the morning, everyone was exhausted. Levi wanted to take first watch, but Mikasa wouldn't allow him. She put her foot down, on the fact he needed sleep more than anyone else at this point.
"I can't sleep."
"You're still not going to have first watch." Mikasa blatantly ignored his wishes.
"What makes you override my decision again?" Levi narrowed his eyes at her.
"The fact I'm second in command in this squad. It is my duty to take over command when you're injured to the point you need rest. If I remember correctly, you named me as second in command the moment you named us as your new squad." Mikasa stood her ground against him.
"Besides, captain, you need to rest. You have serious wounds, and we all know you haven't been sleeping well." Sasha pointed out.
"It's called insomnia. I'm not tired." Levi was being stubborn.
"I would rather you take it easy tonight than overwork yourself. None of us want to see you pass out from exhaustion." His cousin warned.
"I've never passed out from exhaustion in my life." Levi felt outnumbered now.
"Would you disagree with Erwin if he was the one ordering you to sleep?" Armin piped up.
The air went cold from the question. Levi stared at the blond boy, his eyes unyielding on what he was thinking in his head. Finally, after an intense moment, he gave up. Armin hit a soft spot with him.
"Fine. I'll try and sleep. Make sure we don't get attacked and get killed out here." Levi went inside the small building, which only contained containers of gas for the gear.
And strangely enough, sleeping bags, enough for the squad. Levi unrolled one, patting out the dust, and crawled inside it, making sure he was on the uninjured shoulder.
Levi as asleep in minutes.
=3=
Death: Aha! What do you think? I felt in the manga Kenny was underestimated, and could have been become a better character if you saw more of him. That's how I feel anyway.
Liucretsia isn't in the same league of friends to Levi compared to Isabel, Petra, or his old love Farlan. Just wanted to make that clear.
Levi the Blood Storm. What do you think of it? I thought of what Erwin said Levi was a storm, so I wanted to go more into that and make it a little darker for his days as an assassin.
Anyway please review~