Sometimes Kenny would let him go above ground.
Money would be pressed into his rough hands and the tall man before him would fix his battered hat, sparing him a wry glance."Go get some sun,"Kenny would grumble, hands sliding deep into the pockets of his blood smeared trench coat."Maybe you'll get a little taller then."
There were rules— soak up sunlight, stay away from any MPs and return before the sun dipped below the houses. Kenny made sure that he knew them by heart.
Levi would clutch the money tightly in his hands, presenting it to the vigilant eyes of the men guarding the staircase. They would look at him with cold eyes, snatching the money out of his bony hands and throwing a stamped piece of paper his way.
"Be back by sunset,"they would warn and shove him towards the flight of endless stairs.
He hated it when they did that, touching him with their dirty hands. But he never looked back at them, climbing up andupuntil he would be greeted by the busy streets and the burning white sun.
Sunlight would make his eyes burn briefly. Dark spots would color the corners of his vision before he blinked rapidly, adjusting to the light. He pressed a hand to his eyes, walking out into the cobblestone streets where life bustled loudly.
The warmth gradually settled over his pale skin.
Up here, under the wide blue sky, he could almost forget the darkness that laid beneath the ground he stood on.
"Right," Levi muttered, stepping into the crowd. "Get some sun."
How Kenny got the money, Levi didn't know. Didn't even care. As long as Kenny was there with his towering height and swallowing shadow, Levi was willing to live beneath it.
Today the market bustled more than any of his previous visits. The streets were a mess of color and noise. Vendors yelled out prices, their loud voices competing to rise above the din. Children ran through the place, shrieking with laughter as they chased one another. Housewives crowded around stalls, haggling with exasperated merchants.
Levi weaved through the crowd, instinctively searching for the military police.
His gaze sharpened when he spotted their uniforms as they patrolled from the sides.
A few looked at him, alert. He scowled when they touched the straps of their rifles and he quickly held out the piece of stamped paper between his bony fingers. He noted the look of disgust in their eyes as they looked away from him, as if they hadn't seen him in the first place. He stuffed the paper back into his pocket.
Corrupt bastards.
Levi slipped deeper into the market, his small frame easily blending into the throng.
People barely noticed him, mentally labeling him as another street rat in a sea of faces. He slowed down when passing a fruit vendor, plucking out a ripe red apple from the cart as the man continued arguing over prices with a customer.
He sunk his teeth into the apple, leaning against a sun warmed brick wall.
His gaze languidly drifted along the place and something glittered in the corner of his vision.
Levi bit into the apple again, watching with rapt attention as a golden pocket watch gleamed under the midday sun. The smooth gold was clutched between thin fingers as his eyes followed its twisting chain, hanging from a belt looped around a girl's waist. She stood talking to a vendor, inspecting the freshly baked loaves on display. The pocket watch clacked shut in her palm before falling back to her side.
The glittering chain swung momentarily, resting against her hip.
He tossed the apple core aside, casually strolling ahead. He lingered near the cart, his expressions impassive as he reached forward discreetly. His fingers easily slipped into the knots of the chain, silently unhooking it from the loop of the belt.
He stuffed the watch into the pocket of his ragged pants, snatching up a small piece of buttered bread from the cart as well.
His fingers curled around the watch in the confines of his pocket, smooth gold under his palm and Levi bit into the bread, walking further into the crowds.
Someone cursed at him when he stepped on their foot. Levi barely spared them a glance, languidly chewing the soft bread as he searched around for more unguarded marks. At least he could make his day more productive before descending into the Underground again—
A hand shot out, fingers firmly closing around his elbow.
Levi halted immediately.
For a moment, the instinct to bolt rippled through him. He refrained from turning around, expecting a muzzle of a military rifle digging into the back of his skull. A voice spoke instead, sounding unamused.
"Did you just steal my watch?"
He kept his hand in his pocket, fingers curled protectively around the warm gold as he slowly turned his head.
Clear blue eyes met his quiet, calculating stare.
Levi faintly realized that it was the same girl from the bread vendor.
She was frowning deeply, eyes narrowed into a heated glare. He glanced back to her hand clutching his elbow, her fingers firm around his skinny arm. His gaze quickly flitted across the crowd again, taking note of the people walking around them smoothly, unaware of the girl holding him.
He briefly considered ripping his elbow out of her grip. She would never be able to catch him. His legs were faster than most and he probably knew the streets better than her as well.
Too many military police were surrounding the area and he wouldn't be able to hold off all of them on his own.
Kenny's shitty rules echoed in his ears like a bitter reminder.
"Tch." He clicked his tongue and took out the pocket watch.
He held it out, palm upturned to her. The girl carefully looked at his thin fingers, her blue eyes flickering back to his face once more.
He frowned back at her.
She plucked the pocket watch out from his grip and stared at his face, particularly at the breadcrumbs sticking to the corners of his mouth. He had a sudden urge to wipe his lips.
"You stole the bread too," she said flatly.
Levi glowered at her, crushing the leftover bread in his fist as he turned to face her fully.
Her blonde hair was neatly twisted into a braid, slinging down one shoulder. Some of the locks stuck out near her face, curling at the tips and her eyes were a clear shade of sky blue. She was dressed far better than anyone else around; clean buckled shoes and a pastel green cotton dress with delicate stitching.
Her clothes alone could feed an entire Underground family for a month.
"Check the toilets," he spat, scowling at her.
She was an inch taller than him so he straightened his spine, trying to even his gaze with hers as the corners of his mouth pulled back into a snarl. "Maybe you'll find the rest of it there."
She merely tipped her head to the side, lifting a brow.
Levi bared his teeth, standing his ground. His muscles tensed, fingers twitching for the knife hidden in his boot when she shifted slightly. Her hand dropped into the basket hanging off the crook of her elbow, rummaging through it. She revealed a fairly huge piece of buttered bread before holding it towards him.
"Here."
He stared at the offered food for a moment and blinked when she shoved it to his chest, snorting loudly.
"Eat up," she examined his rugged attire, noting how his baggy clothes hung loosely on his wiry frame. She pressed the bread harder against his chest until his hands reflexively clasped it in a loose grip. "You need it more than I do anyway."
She turned on her heel and paused midway. He stared at her, loosely holding the warm bread when she glanced over her shoulder, meeting his silent gaze.
"Don't go around stealing here," she advised, stalking forward with a swish of her braid. "There's a lot of military police."
He watched her trudge through the crowd until her head of blonde locks slowly faded from his view.
His scowl deepened. He hated this feeling— a mix of anger, embarrassment and something else he couldn't quite name. Levi glanced down at the bread in his hand.
He aggressively bit into the loaf, crushing it between his teeth.
The rich flavor of mild garlic melted on his tongue, catching him off guard. His eyes swiftly dipped down to the fresh bread in his hands before he stuffed the rest of it into his mouth, scarfing it down in a few seconds.
He ended up following her through the bustling streets of the market.
In the end, he could only label it as boredom as he kept himself a safe distance away from her. She simply walked through the marketplace, stopping by a few stalls sometimes but never bought anything. Her basket hung lightly from her arm as she paused a few times, checking the time in that pocket watch.
The smooth gold casing would glitter brilliantly in the sunlight, and Levi contemplated how much it would be worth in the black market.
His hands slid back into his pockets and he stuck more to the crowds, walking behind more people once she moved again. He caught her turning towards an alleyway. His pace quickened and he leaned near the corner, carefully peeking from behind the wall.
For some reason, she stood at the mouth of the alleyway. Her head turned slowly, blue eyes peeking over her shoulder, meeting his widening gaze and—
Levi pressed back into the cold wall, his heartbeat a quick thrum in his ears. His brows scrunched together.
She can't know, he deduced mentally. A dumbass topsider can't tell I'm tailing her—
"I know you're there."
He stiffened.
A sigh followed, and she spoke loudly, unimpressed. "I know you've been following me around the place."
There was a noise of her feet shuffling, facing his way now. "Come out now, will you?"
Shit.His fingers flexed at his sides, itching to retrieve the dagger from his boot. But he was still too close to the main street and there was a high risk of being caught. He clicked his tongue distastefully before he walked into the open, stopping at the start of the alleyway.
She was staring at him, brows raised. He scowled at her, his eyes narrowing into a challenging glare. Silence gradually descended between them, the market behind him fading into background noise with its loud townsfolk and the yell of merchants.
"My brother's in the Corps."
Levi arched a brow. "Hah?"
"My brother," she repeated carefully, clutching the side of her skirt in a laxed fist. "He's in the Survey Corps."
Ah. Levi snorted, jamming his hands back into his pockets. So maybe she wasn't as dumb as he had thought. She glanced at him warily, walking past him this time as she nodded her head.
"Letting you know in case you're up to some funny business."
He scoffed. As if he was some Titan her brother could slice up in one clean sweep. His gaze drifted to her waist again, where the pocket watch hung loosely from its chain. His fingers reached forward deftly. If he snatched it away now, he would be down the other end of the alleyway before she even screamed for help.
She turned halfway, facing him now.
His hand paused midway, fingers curling into a loose fist as he regarded her with a cool look.
"If you carry my stuff," she abruptly held the empty basket up, rattling it in the air. "I'll pay you for it."
His brows knitted together on the proposal. He stared at her, a scowl marring his face.
"I'm not your shitty servant—"
"I never said you were," she responded smoothly. Her head tipped to the side, an amiable smile curling her lips. "I'm just suggesting that if you're gonna follow me around, you might as well make something out of it."
Levi stared at her, contemplating whether she was serious or was she simply insane. He tensed, steeling himself to the ground when she moved swiftly and tossed the basket his way.
His hand caught it on reflex, clutching the sturdy handle. Levi blinked down at it, perplexed.
"Well?"
Silver eyes snapped back up to her. Her feet shifted slightly, the hem of her skirt swaying around her ankles as she smirked, raising a brow.
"You in or what?"
.
.
.
.
.
They passed by a group of military police, half of them drunk as their boisterous laughter echoed in the air.
Levi glanced at them from the corner of his eyes. Fingers brushed along his elbow, pinching the fabric of his ragged shirt. His gaze snapped to his side and the girl gently tugged at his sleeve again as she murmured. "Stay close."
He bit back a snarl and ripped his arm away from her.
She remained unfazed, casually walking beside him with her gaze set forward. He tightened his grip on the basket handle, slowing his pace down slightly so she could match his faster strides.
With her, he faintly pictured himself looking like a normal teenager. A young boy out to run errands for his family; not a teen thug working for Kenny the Ripper.
"Let's go in there."
He halted the moment she turned, veering towards a building. She neared the door of the place, looking back at him expectantly. She lifted a hand and beckoned him to follow. He shot her a dull glare but eventually traipsed ahead as well.
A bell jingled noisily above their heads once they stepped inside. His gaze swept across the place immediately. It looked like a restaurant, the amiable chatter of patrons filling the air.
Levi warily settled down on one of the wooden benches, setting the empty basket beside him.
The girl took a seat across from him, her elbows propped on the table as she waved at the busy waiters.
"Excuse me!"
Levi's eyes strayed towards the window at his left.
Outside people bustled about, a few military uniforms flashing by every now and then. He faintly wondered what Kenny would say if he were to find Levi here, among these topsiders, in a restaurant where children were chortling happily as they stuffed their faces with food he had rarely ever seen than tasted.
His stomach churned.
"What can I get ya?"
A waiter stood by the table, hands clasped together.
Levi realized he was the one being asked since the girl was staring at him too, quietly prompting him to say something. The corner of his mouth twitched downwards.
"Tea," he said tersely.
Faint amusement flickered across the girl's face. He shot her a dull glare as she turned to the waiter.
"Can we have a fresh pie too?" She asked, smiling politely. "And a glass of honeyed milk, please."
The waiter dipped his head and left.
The two of them were finally left alone for once. Levi stared at her, meeting her intrigued gaze and refused to look away even for a second. He folded his arms across his chest, glaring as she leaned forward on her elbows, her blue eyes shining in curiosity.
"What's your name?" She asked.
For a moment, he considered not answering her.
"Kenny," Levi said evenly.
"…Kenny?" She echoed back, brows furrowing. The corners of her eyes crinkled in amusement. "Like the Ripper?"
Levi's expressions remained stoic, a mild look of boredom on his face. She snorted, shaking her head as she rested her elbows on the table. He waited for her to say something in return, probably share her name too. But they fell back into silence once more, the chatter of the other patrons loud around them.
The waiter appeared beside their table. He placed down a tray of food, arranging the cups and plates. Steam curled from the spout of a small teapot, and Levi dragged it closer to himself. He poured the tea, the amber liquid slowly filling his porcelain cup.
A small plate was set before him.
He glanced down at the freshly cut piece of pie resting on top of it before looking up again. The girl smiled, taking up a spoon as she dug into her own serving.
"I'm paying for it," she said calmly, as if reading his thoughts. She closed her lips around the spoonful and hummed. "So try to relax a little, alright?"
He didn't bother to answer, dropping a sugar cube into his tea.
"Hey, Kenny." He kept his focus on the teacup, not bothering to look up as she reached for the tall glass of honeyed milk. "You're not from here, are you?"
"What's it to you?" He snapped back.
She watched curiously as he clutched the teacup from the top and lifted it to his mouth.
The hot liquid sloshed down his throat, easing his mind momentarily. Fuck, this was some good shit. The tea leaves were probably freshly picked and brewed to perfection. Nothing like that bitter, over steeped shit Kenny brought home.
"You could burn your fingers that way," she commented.
He ignored her fully, taking another huge gulp. His mouth burned from the heat as warmth settled deep in his stomach.
"Everyone's pretty excited about the summer festival," she sighed, sipping the glass of milk as she glanced outside the window. "That's why they've got so many military police patrolling the area too."
Levi placed the cup back into its saucer, reaching for the teapot again. The metal spoon scraped slightly as he stirred in a little more sugar. He softly blew at the curling steam before he was raising it to his lips once more.
"It's pretty usual for pickpockets to be around at this time," the girl continued, her voice drifting in the background.
His eyelids fell shut in a brief moment of bliss as he took another sip, reveling in the aroma and taste of the hot beverage. Her voice reached his ears again.
"Is that why you have a knife in your boot?"
His eyes flew open and Levi slammed the teacup back onto the table with a loudclack. He stared at her, eyes unblinking and she smiled over the rim of her glass, looking faintly amused.
Levi clenched his jaw. "How the fuck do you know—"
"It rattles when you walk," she answered honestly.
His flat stare remained fixed on her as she shrugged, placing the glass back on the table.
"You should be careful," she advised, reaching for her spoon again. "If it's not cased well, you'll end up cutting yourself—"
Rough fingers clasped her wrist. Blue eyes snapped upwards, meeting his steely cold gaze, and Levi stared at her silently. His fingers tightened and she visibly winced when he grinded together the bones in her wrist.
"Ow, ow, ow! I'm not telling anyone, alright?" She grumbled, tugging at her hand. His fingers remained clasped around her wrist in a vice grip as she sighed in annoyance. "Calm down a little, will you?"
Levi scowled, still holding onto her pliant wrist. She turned her head to the side, a friendly smile tugging her lips and he followed her gaze. The waiter's confused face entered his line of sight as he watched them from across the room and he heard her sigh once more as she wiggled her fingers in his iron-like grip.
"Can I just have some pie, please?"
With a grimace, he released her. She picked up the spoon first, placing it on her plate before she caressed her wrist. From his seat, Levi could easily make out the deep imprints his hard fingers had left on her skin.
"It's alright," she hummed, picking up the spoon once more. "Let's just have a good lunch for now."
He spared her a cautious glance as she dug into the piece of pie and closed her lips around the spoonful.
He had never been to a library before.
The moment they stepped inside, a faint memory flickered in the back of his mind— his mother sitting at the small, rickety table in their old home, a glassy look in her eyes as she cradled a cup of lukewarm tea between her small hands. She'd spoken softly, telling him about libraries with tall racks full of colorful bookshelves that stretched endlessly.
"You could read as much as you wanted," she had murmured dazedly, her palms curled around a chipped teacup."And you'd never ever get bored, Levi."
He shook off the distant memory, his expression schooled into coolness as his eyes wandered further into the building. The air smelled faintly of old paper and polished wood. There were barely any people there with the person at the front desk hidden behind a massive newspaper, completely unaware of their presence.
The girl glanced over her shoulder, peering back at him.
"Let's go to the last aisle."
Levi trailed after her as his gaze roamed the tall shelves, quietly comparing the reality to his mother's wistful descriptions. The towering shelves were lined with rows of books, their spines varying in color and size. Some of them were worn and faded, a few glistening with waxed backs.
Tall windows lined the walls, their panes slanting to let in shafts of golden sunlight. Dust motes floated lazily in the warm beams. He could see the crowds of people outside, but the loud racket of the bustling market barely reached within the thick stone walls of the building.
His fingers idly brushed the round edge of a bookshelf when they entered the last aisle.
The girl started again, unbridled excitement lacing her voice this time.
"This is the best time to come here."
Silver eyes focused on the back of her head, boredly noting the sway of her blonde braid as she babbled on carelessly. "There's barely anyone here so we can get whatever book we want."
She waved her hand in the air, motioning towards an aisle and Levi halted a few steps behind her. He craned his neck back, looking up at the towering shelf before them.
"Wait right here, Kenny!"
She chirped, disappearing down the aisle.
He stood silently, glancing over to see her retrieving a ladder from somewhere. The wheels at its end squeaked as she rolled the ladder to the side and grasped onto the bars. It wobbled slightly under her weight.
Within seconds, she was halfway up.
"I'll throw the books down," she said, continuing to climb higher. "You catch them, alright?"
He momentarily considered kicking the ladder aside. She would fall and break a bone or two and he would be off with her watch and belongings, leaving her there groaning on the floor.
"Catch!"
A book plummeted from above, its pages flapping noisily in the air. His hand shot out, catching it with relative ease. His fingers dug into the worn cover and he glared up at the girl perched on the top steps of the ladder. She smiled down sheepishly, clearly unfazed by his cold stare.
"Sorry," she apologized meekly. "I'll give you a better warning next time."
Levi clicked his tongue, lowering his gaze as he examined the book. He held it with both hands, the weight of it heavier than he'd expected. He watched her strum her fingers along the spines of the books before she tugged out another. She seemingly read the cover once and dropped it down.
"Put them in the basket."
He snatched it in midair, lumbering over to the basket she had set on the floor and dumped the book inside with a dull thud.Wordlessly, he returned to the base of the ladder and glanced up at her again. Another book was yanked free and tossed over her shoulder.
Levi caught it with one hand, miffed.
"Seriously," he muttered, dropping the book into the basket. "You plan on emptying the whole damn shelf?"
She paid him no mind, solely focused on the rows of books before her.
The wooden bars creaked loudly under her weight as she shifted her footing and Levi's hand instinctively hovered near the ladder before dropping back to his side, his fingers clenching into a loose fist.
.
.
.
.
.
There weren't any pictures.
Levi stared down at the pale pages. Numbers were mixed in with words, multiple diagrams of different shapes drawn across some of the pages in dark charcoal and ink. His brows scrunched together in sheer confusion. He barely looked up when another set of books was dropped onto the tabletop with a thump.
The girl peered at him curiously, standing across the table.
"Do you understand any of it?" She inquired, pulling out a chair and settling down before him. "The numbers and everything?"
I don't understand shit. He hated admitting that he didn't know something, it was like giving his opponent the impression that he was weaker than them. He kept his gaze on the page, ignoring her completely as he narrowed his eyes at the numerous small 𝑥's written alongside the numbers. What the actual fuck is this anyway?
In the end, he leaned back in his chair. His arms crossed across his chest as he set his ankle over his knee, looking around the place in sheer boredom.
Before him, the girl sat reading intensely. Her brows were furrowed, her face pinched in absolute concentration as she focused on whatever shit was written on the open book clasped in her hands.
A hushed giggle filled the air.
Silver eyes drifted sideways, pausing on the couple sitting far from them. They were seated far in the corner, the girl occasionally giggling whenever the boy muttered something to her. Levi watched boredly as she inched closer in her chair, nearing the boy seated beside her. Their shoulders touched and he heard the boy mutter something again, not audible enough to hear before they both fell silent.
From his seat, he could clearly see the tips of the boy's ears flushing red.
"It's rude to stare at people."
Steely eyes snapped forward. She was watching him closely, searching his face with those clear blue eyes.
He narrowed his eyes dangerously.
She inclined her head, a slow smirk curling her lips before the book clamped shut between her hands.
Levi sat vigilant in his seat, watching her slowly rise from her chair. She pushed the closed book aside and placed both of her palms on the table, hands flattening against the polished wood as she leaned forward on them.
His hand swiftly shifted over his boot, fingers finding the familiar edge of the blade strapped to his shin.
"Hey, Kenny."
The blonde braid slipped past her shoulder, the curled end touching the tabletop as she teetered closer, the wood creaking under her weight. Her eyes flickered brilliantly.
"Can I ask you something?"
The sun hung low in the sky once they walked out the library. Warm hues of orange and golden bathed the cobblestones, stretching long shadows across the streets. He carried the basket heavy with books, trailing after her.
She hummed softly, a song thrumming in her throat as she walked before him. There was a playful skip in her step as she trudged ahead with her arms folded behind her back.
Levi stared at her back as they threaded through the marketplace, his hands clenched around the basket handle in a white-knuckled grip. He was careful not to break the thin wood. Lanterns flickered to life as night gradually crept in, and he stopped in his tracks, his throat awfully dry as he called.
"Oi."
The girl halted.
She turned to face him, hanging her head sideways. "Yes, Kenny?"
Levi pursed his lips, clutching the basket with all its heavy books. His heart stirred within his chest and he swallowed thickly, frowning at her. They stood under the glowing lanterns of a tavern, loud drunk laughter echoing out from within its wooden walls.
People were scattered across the lit up streets, too engaged in their own world to notice the scene unfold before them.
"What's—" he hesitated momentarily. The girl's eyes sharpened and she stood straighter, standing on her tiptoes to peek over his head. His teeth clenched in frustration. "What's your na—"
Her firm voice interrupted him.
"There's a man following us."
Levi paused. He quickly shifted on his feet, looking behind himself. Amongst the crowds of strangers, he could make out the silhouette of a tall man in a hat.
Ice seeped into his veins.
Shit. The hair on the back of his neck rose in alarm, his muscles tensing as his grip tightened on the basket handle. The man seemingly noticed him as well, moving forward and Levi pivoted swiftly, almost yelling.
"Oi," his voice grew hoarse, "you need to run—"
He stopped when she gathered the side of her long skirt in a fist, sleek metal peeking out from atop her shin. His eyes widened in realization as she fiddled with the thin strap.
How the fuck had he not noticed—
A familiar hand fell atop his shoulder. His breath hitched as the man near him leaned closer, tipping his hat up to observe the basket in his arms.
"The hell is this?" Kenny grumbled, arching a brow at the books. "Where'd you even get this from, Le—"
"Get away from him."
The quiet click of metal followed. Levi's intense gaze locked onto the pistol aimed at the man standing beside him. Kenny whistled, standing up straight to his full, towering height this time. The hand on Levi's shoulder felt like a crushing weight all of a sudden.
"Huh," Kenny smirked, low and faint. Levi stiffened as the man raised his brows. "Now who the hell is she supposed to be?"
She stood with her arms steady, her face impassive and eyes locked on him. A deep frown etched her lips, and her firm posture alone told him that she clearly knew what she was doing. Her grip never wavered and she stood firm in her spot, eyes narrowed.
Guns were rare, too rare even in the black market. There were rumors that people in the military were supplying it to their families and friends, offering them protection in case of their absence. Maybe her brother being in the Corps wasn't a bluff after all.
"I said," she said warningly, "get away from him."
Hard fingers dug into Levi's shoulder. He held onto the basket loosely as Kenny remained absolutely calm, regarding the girl with a look of sheer amusement. Levi stiffened when he felt Kenny shift slightly, a dangerous smirk curling the man's lips and Levi gritted his teeth, fully aware of the blood that would be splattered across the tavern walls—
"Stop."
Surprised blue eyes shifted his way, but Levi wasn't talking to her. He was looking up at the man beside him, his spine rigid. Levi glared furiously, jaw clenched.
"Don't hurt her." He frowned.
The girl appeared perplexed, her brows drawing close. Kenny clicked his tongue in distaste, glancing back at him in boredom.
"Tch, you're no fun." He grumbled reluctantly, letting his arm drop to the side.
Levi glanced back at the girl, the pistol still in the air with her grip tight around it. He stooped down and set the basket on the ground between them. Kenny watched him for a moment longer before he yawned, turning around with a lazy wave of his hand.
"I'll be at the stair entrance, brat. Don't make me wait."
Levi glared at his retreating back. He tore his gaze away, looking back at the girl. She had lowered the gun, blinking at him with wide eyes. He shifted his weight onto his other foot, the back of Kenny's bloodied trench coat entering his line of sight and Levi cursed under his breath, refraining to look back at her again as he took a step forward, stalking ahead further and further.
Until he was walking away from her and following after the bastard that had brought him out of that disgusting brothel.
His hands curled into fists by his sides, eyes sharpening into cold steel.
"Hey!"
He halted instinctively, glancing over his shoulder.
Something was thrown his way, an abrupt glimmer under the bright lantern lights. He caught it with one hand, clutching the smooth round object tightly into his curved palm. Levi stared down at the golden pocket watch, his fingers taut around it. Perhaps if he squeezed it any harder, it would crack and crumble in his grip.
He promptly looked up again and saw her hoisting the basket with a grimace. Her gaze met his flat stare and she smiled brightly, holding the heavy basket against her hip.
"Your payment!"
Levi watched silently as she turned around, her back facing him as she trudged off into the busy crowds of the night. He stood there, unmoving, until he could no longer see the swish of that golden braid anymore.
"Got yourself a girlfriend, eh?"
"Piss off." He fired back, slamming the door shut behind him.
Kenny plopped down on the worn couch, stretching his long arms along the headrest. Levi could feel the man's eyes on him, hot on his back as he made his way to the small basin in the side of the room.
He splashed cold water on his face.
"If you had stayed there any longer, those military pricks would've got ya," Kenny frowned. "Y'know how this works, right, Levi? The contract's clear that you can only be topside till sunset. After that, those assholes can do whatever the hell they want to y—"
"I know," he muttered loud enough for the man to hear.
He didn't need a reminder, the rules etched into his mind scars. He lived by them.
Levi grabbed a fresh towel, wiping at his face. Kenny regarded him with a pointed look and he gripped the towel tighter.
"What?" He snapped.
"It's not like you to make mistakes," Kenny commented, dissecting him with those familiar eyes. Levi hated it when he did that. It made him feel small again, a child clinging to a bedside that reeked of rotting flesh and death. "You've always been pretty careful out there."
"It was nothing," he grumbled, neatly hanging the towel back on the drying line. "She said she'd pay me if I carried her shit. That's why I lost track of time."
"She had a gun, Levi." Kenny said flatly.
Levi's brow twitched, his lips pressing into a straight line but he remained quiet. Kenny continued, looking up at him with a calculating stare. "The brat must have connections in the military."
He could say that her brother was in the Corps, but he had known that beforehand. The fact she had the thing strapped to her shin and he didn't know—
Levi grimaced, calmly looking down at the sprawled man on the couch.
Kenny's eyes seemed to bore into him, trying to pick him apart with that blank stare alone.
Levi inhaled quietly.
His resolve would crumble soon enough if Kenny kept staring at him like that, like he was fully aware that Levi had more to share than he was actually letting on and that was the truth. He hated being this loyal, to be this answerable. But Kenny had been the one to give him a home and taught him how to survive in this shithole. But there were also Kenny's eyes, the shape of them and the color, that reminded him faintly of his mother. Except that his mother's eyes were more forlorn and hollow, always looking at the cracked door of their cramped little room as if waiting for someone—
"Go to bed." Kenny said finally.
Levi stared at him, breath quietly tugging past his lips. Kenny produced a cigarette from the inside of his pocket, his other hand searchingly patting down his coat for a match.
Levi scrunched his nose in disgust, holding back from ripping the cigarette out the man's mouth and tossing it into the garbage. Instead he went for the door, his hand reaching for the handle when Kenny's grim voice called from behind.
"And sell that damn thing in the mornin'."
His fingers halted over the doorknob immediately. The golden watch sat heavy in his pocket, and Levi grunted in acknowledgment, opening the door and closing it behind him.
.
.
.
.
.
He stood in his bedroom, back pressed against the door.
His hand slipped into his pocket, fingers clutching the watch as he tugged it out. The chain fell noisily to the side, hanging down his wrist. Levi turned the watch in his hand, observing it closely in the light of the candles in the room.
His thumb glided over its smooth surface before his nail caught on a subtle groove running along it. He raised the watch higher, silver eyes squinting in the dark.
A carved S stood out in the dimly lit bedroom.
He traced the engraving with his thumb again before flipping the top open. Inside, the clock hands turned with an audible tick tick tick,resonating in the silence of the room around him.
His mind reeled back to the towering book racks in the library, the splay of thin fingers over the polished wood and the dip of a golden braid as curious blue eyes looked down at him.
"Hey, Kenny." There had been a flicker of an emotion in her eyes, one that he couldn't quite recognize as her lips curled into a knowing smirk. "Can I ask you something?"
The pocket watch clamped shut with an audible clack in his hand.
Someone tried attacking Kenny the next day.
Within seconds, Levi had pounced on him. Kenny stood back in the crowd, watching silently as Levi continued thrashing the man, kicking him over and over again until blood was hurling out of the idiot's mouth. Levi grabbed him by the collars, snarling in his face.
The man's eyes rolled back into his head and he slumped, unconscious.
Levi wiped the blood dripping down his broken nose, his gaze flitting searchingly through the jeering crowd.
Something heavy settled ponderously in the pit of his stomach when he watched Kenny's receding figure, the ripple of that bloodied trench coat in the air as the man moved further and further into a distant, dirty alleyway until—
Levi could no longer see him anymore.