Chapter Text
Pubs
Levi’s worst enemy; Well, one of many.
He avoided them like the plague. The stench of drunken sweaty men who haven’t bathed for days making him want to hurl. A musty tobacco smell in the air bringing back all too familiar memories of his time in the Brothel underground. The wooden furnishings stained, scratched and unclean, reminding him of his dark, dank room that wasn’t big enough to fit a horse in. Visions of his mother lying pale, gaunt and lifeless on the bed still haunts his dreams and entering a pub only brings those visions to the forefront of his mind.
As much as he protested to Erwin, the man was having no excuses. He seemed to want to discuss the plans for the next expedition out in the open rather than in the quiet of his office. Levi wasn’t stupid, it was clear the blonde was up to something, but like everyone else who knew Erwin, he was kept in the dark until the very last moment, but he trusted the man with his life.
“This’ll be a nice change.” Erwin killed the silence as they headed through the door to the pub in the dead of the cold night.
“A change for who? It’s fucking filthy in here.” Levi protested dryly, looking around the room with a disgusted frown, the rancid stink filling his nostrils.
“Language Levi.”
The raven haired man grunted in reply as Erwin took them over to a small wooden, circular table in the corner of the room. Both men seated themselves on the hardened chairs and Erwin put his hand up to the barman.
“Drink?” He asked Levi who was keeping his hands placed firmly in his lap where it was the cleanest.
“I would rather die of thirst.”
“So be it.”
Erwin made his order and pulled out a sheet of paper from his back pocket. Levi took another look around the room as the barman set Erwin’s drink on the table. It was fairly empty. A few men sat playing cards together and a couple of loners.
One person caught his attention though. He noticed a bloody rag set on the bar, some pincers and tidbits of shrapnel next to it. A woman was doing her best to cover the wound that rested on her left upper arm with one hand; completely failing, but trying all the same.
That woman was you .
“Bobby, help a girl out would you?” You asked the barman and he rolled his eyes.
You held your arm out as he carefully tied the clean rag around it and winced slightly as it tightened “Who’d you piss off this time girl?”
“Ah you know, just a few Military pigs, same old, same old.” You waved your hand like it was nothing and downed your eighth glass of whisky.
“Same old? They shot you.”
“Not very well apparently, cause this bitch is still alive!” You called out merrily in a drunken slur, lifting your arms in the air and suddenly flinching at a searing pain where the wound rested.
“Shit, you’re a mess. And so is my bar.” He screwed his face up and began wiping the droplets of blood from it.
Levi’s curiosity was peaked and Erwin couldn’t help but smile at the way he watched you closely.
“She’s an interesting character isn’t she?” Erwin chuckled.
“She’s drunk. Nothing interesting about it.” Levi shifted his line of sight to the Commander “So, why are we really here?” He changed the subject quickly, quirking a brow.
“You’ll see.”
Levi’s patience was wearing incredibly thin at Erwin’s lack of information. He really didn’t want to be there and the quicker he got to the point the better.
“Okay, no more alcohol for you.” The man took away your glass and you pouted in response “Don’t give me that look. You ain’t careful girl you’ll end up in a cell, or worse. Dead.”
“‘Appreciate the vote of confidence Bobby.”
“I’m serious! Those MP’s are out to get you and if Zackley gets his hands on ya, there’s no telling what he would do. The man has a crazy obsession with you. You've got to be more careful.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. I’ll be more careful.” For a moment you looked sober, but it didn’t last long before you began swaying from side to side again.
“Those bastards could walk in here at any moment and –”
His sentence was cut short and his eyes widened. You had heard the door open behind you whilst he spoke. You could tell by the way Bobby’s body had frozen and how he swallowed hard, it was bad news. Were you phased? Not a damn bit.
“You spoke too soon didn’t you?” You smiled and he all but nodded.
You giggled and turned in your seat to see three MP’s stood staring at you. All had grins on their faces like they had hit the jackpot. This clearly wasn’t a social call. Somehow, they found you. Probably by some street rat looking to make a few extra pennies.
You were well known on the streets of Trost, more so because of the wanted posters that were plastered across the city with your face on them. You were worth a mint to the Military Police. Catching you was like catching gold. The best damn thief on the streets some proclaimed.
“Well hello boys,” You jested in a drunken manner “Missing me already?”
Levi could see you fully now. If you weren’t sloshed, bloody and bruised, he would say you were very pretty. You wore a black charcoal vest top and ripped ashen trousers that matched your muddy jet black boots. Your hair looked like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards and you wore a very expensive looking moonstone bracelet on your left wrist with two charms on it. Your cheeks were a light shade of pink and the smile you wore could melt a man's heart.
“Careful Warner, she’s dangerous.” One of the men fretted as he moved forward.
“She’s pissed out of her head, she ain’t gonna have the strength to do anything.” He said as he skulked towards you.
Levi was halfway between standing and sitting, unsure himself of what to do. God knows he despised the Military Police just as much as the next person. However, Erwin’s hand gripped his arm gently, instantly catching his attention.
“Just sit, wait and watch.” He ordered in a quiet whisper.
Levi listened and sat himself back down, although he was far from relaxed about it.
Wait and watch for what? For the MP’s to slap cuffs on her and drag her away?
With his jaw clenched, he followed the Commanders orders. It didn’t matter if he agreed with him or not, Erwin was in charge and the man always seemed to know what he was doing. He turned his body and looked on curiously.
“Now listen up sweetheart, you’re gonna put your hands above your head and you’re gonna sit perfectly still.”
He edged a little bit closer as you slowly raised your hands with a daring look on your dirty features. The man's heart was pounding and sweat beaded from his forehead the closer he got. You may have been drunk but all he could think of was the damage you were more than capable of doing when sober. Breaking arms, legs, noses. Causing men to piss their pants where they stood with just a look alone. All the times you had fought to keep alive, yet you never killed, not once. Maybe now was that time.
Maybe he was going to be your first .
You leaned back against the hickory bar keeping your hands raised but only so far as your wounded arm was refusing you to go any further.
“Please Sir, don’t hurt me. I’m only fragile.” You fibbed with dripping sarcasm and a giggle.
The man relaxed a little as he figured you’d barely be able to stand, let alone throw a punch; oh how wrong he was. Pulling the cuffs from his back pocket, he stepped forward and reached for your right hand.
Bam!
His face went beetroot red as he doubled up in pain when your foot kicked him right in the nuts. He didn’t even have time to squeal before you leapt out of the chair, grabbed the back of his jacket with both your hands and rammed his head straight in to the side of the bar. He was unconscious in seconds.
Grabbing the cuffs from him, you turned your attention to the two remaining MP’s. Giving them a wicked smile, you then bolted straight towards the one closest to the door. His eyes nearly popped out of his head in terror when he had literally no time to react as you jump kicked him straight back out the door and landed back on your feet, rather elegantly considering the state you were in.
The final MP had just about got his gun out of his holster before you picked up a wooden chair whilst ignoring the pain in your arm, you swung it with velocity and cracked it around the poor blokes head. He went crashing to the floor and splinters of wood flew all over the place as the chair practically disintegrated in your hands.
Levi sat with his arm across the back of the chair, completely dumbfounded as you sauntered outside and dragged the MP you had kicked out back in. He was groaning and only mildly conscious. You slid him up against the bar and cuffed his hand to the golden metal pole that ran along the side of it. You began to fumble around in his pockets, pulling out any loose change and placing it on the mahogany bar.
“That’ll pay for the drinks Bobby.” You winked and turned, making your way for the door.
“Yeah!? And what about the damages?!”
“I’ll pay for that when I get rich!” You called back, stepping over the MP who was splayed out on the floor before stumbling out of the pub.
Levi’s stoic features looked at Erwin who had a determined smile on his face. The paper that he had pulled from his pocket was open on the wooden table and it appeared to be a wanted poster with your face sketched on it. Although, a rather poor sketch as it didn’t look much like you. The raven pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed heavily.
“We’re here for her aren’t we?” He questioned, already aware that it was a fact.
“Yes,” Erwin stood and took one last swig of his drink “Come on. We can’t lose her.”
With an eye roll, Levi stood and followed him out, taking one last look at the men you had taken down in a matter of seconds. He was impressed but he had a gut feeling that convincing you to join the Survey Corps was going to be no easy feat.
“Tch”