Tainted (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 21

The Scouts were on the move again by the next day, evading the aggressive search of the Military Police. They eventually captured two among the search party: Hitch Dreyse and Marlo Freundenberg.

You stood lookout not far away on the bank of the stream as Levi paced back and forth behind the two hostages in a cool manner. "As for how we'll dispose of you..." he suddenly halted, sword resting on his shoulder as he scanned a document found on the two.

Hitch gasped, her green eyes wide with terror. "You people... you might think that you're all heroes of justice, but the victims and their families were dropped straight into hell!"

Levi's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, I know."

Hitch clenched her teeth, suddenly turning her attention to Mikasa. "You're from the Southern Cadet Corps, yeah? Just like Annie Leonhart. Were you friends of hers?" The girl blew out a defeated breath. "No... I doubt she had any friends. Being as gloomy and aloof as she was. It's like she was a kid afraid of other people. I never got the chance to know anything about her. And the reason they still haven't found her... is because she was pulverized by a titan into a puddle of jelly!"

You looked over sharply. You knew the truth about Annie. However, a part of you felt for this girl. Having someone just go missing from your life like that, the injustice of it... could kill. Not knowing if they were alive or dead.

"No." Levi gazed down at her stoically. "Because the titan in hiding was Annie Leonhart herself." He looked away into the trees as Marlo and Hitch gasped. "Goddammit, it makes me sick. Nobody knows a damn thing about this world. Not us or anyone else. Except for those bastards at the center of it all." Levi dropped his sword to his side, letting it clink against the rocks. "We'll release you both as soon as we're out of here."

The black haired MP, Marlo, immediately began begging for them to let him join them. You listened with one eyebrow raised. Seriously? Sure, he's got passion that can't be faked, but it's not like the Scouts are in a favorable position. Doesn't this dumbass know that we're literally being hunted down like animals?

Levi looked just as scornful as you felt. "Not a chance. Let's go." He ordered Jean to take care of the MPs, and the rest of you quickly followed him deeper into the forest.

You all made your way to an MP checkpoint with a noticeably sparse amount of guards, watching from the cover of the undergrowth. Levi's shoulder brushed yours as the two of you crouched in wait. You ignored the electricity it sent through you, trying to focus on the mission at hand.

"Let's go!" Levi ordered with a fiery glint in his mesmerizing eyes. "It's our turn to pick a fight!"

It didn't take much to take down the outpost. The MPs clearly weren't expecting nor used to trouble. Levi captured their leader and dragged him to the rest of you for questioning. A scruffy, mustached man with a brown ponytail.

At nightfall, you sat behind a tree nearby, listening to Levi question the man, giving him a powerful punch each time he refused to answer. Your forearm rested on your bent knee as you leaned back against the trunk, eyes gazing up at the patches of stars peeking through the canopy. They shone down with a cold light, illuminating the new scar on your wrist as you softly traced it with a finger.

Levi didn't have to say it for you to know why he had sent you away at the start of the interrogation. He must think you were still fragile after the other night. I wish he hadn't found me when I was trying to get a hold of myself afterward. Truth is, I'm okay now, it only hurt in that moment of weakness. Despite what I said to Levi, it did help that I was doing it to save my comrades. It felt more justified, the opposite of how it was when I was under orders of my father. I don't regret it, and I would do it again if they needed me to.

The man gave a strangled yell as Levi stood and kicked a foot right up into his mouth, bending a little to apply more pressure. "...But what's more atrocious is this mouth of yours. I recommend you start talking while you're still able to use it," the Captain said impassively. "Where are Eren and Krista?"

The man spat up blood as Levi released him. "It's no use! If you don't turn yourselves in, every last Scout we captured will get the noose!" he snarled. "Starting with the one most guilty of all, Erwin Smith!" You heard a gruesome crunch, accompanied by another scream.

"Shut up. That's for not answering my question. Some Scouts' lives are more valuable than others. Only those dumb enough to acknowledge that join us. Tell me where Eren and Krista are at."

"I-I don't know!" The man sobbed. "I'm not allowed to know! Kenny Ackermann is a very cautious man!"

You perked up. Now there's a name you definitely knew. Kenny the Ripper. He never worked with your father, but you had met him on several occasions. Never in combat, thankfully, just run-ins.

"Ackermann? I know Kenny. Is that his last name?" Levi questioned.

"It is, but—"

"True, there's a lot of things he doesn't divulge...especially the important stuff. But you must have a rough idea. Best try to remember." Footsteps over grass. "You still have plenty of bones left to break."

"Stop it! You-you're insane!"

"Maybe I am."

Sasha called an alarm, making you jump up with swords at the ready as you raced to your squad mate's side. Levi threw the hostage to the ground and knelt on his back with a scowl. However, the newcomers turned out to be none other than Hange and Moblit, bringing news of the Scout's liberation. Hange also revealed the result of their own extensive research, a location: the Underground Chapel.

No time was wasted. You all immediately made for the place Hange spoke of. You sat beside Levi in the back of the wagon, listening intently as Hange told the story of the massacre of Rod Reiss' family.

"The same bloodline? Is there some secret to their blood?" Levi mused, arms crossed and a heavy frown weighing on his features.

"I don't know for sure yet," Hange replied. "But what really makes me curious is that parts of the chapel are completely wrecked. The chapel itself is stone. It would take tons of time and effort to destroy it. Bandits would take what they can and make a quick escape. Plus, the only one who saw those bandits was Rod Reiss himself. Soon after, he used his own fortune to rebuild the chapel. But why?" She went on. "Even if I'm jumping to conclusions, something this suspicious deserves us checking it out."

You considered her words carefully. It adds up. I wonder exactly what we'll find at this chapel, though. Dammit, I hate knowing so little. The situation is already dangerous enough. It feels like we're going in blind.

A hand squeezed yours. "Ease up. It'll be okay," Levi murmured to you. You only nodded. Covered by both your cloaks, his hand rested reassuringly on your thigh.

The chapel came into sight. You noted Levi's warning about Kenny's strength as he relayed it to the cadets, glad that they weren't taking it lightly. You all went in, quickly locating the hatch that led underground.

Barrels of gunpowder were readied to send in the room. You all crouched in wait before the door. Levi kept a hand up to signal you all to stand by. He suddenly brought it down, kicking open the door. The barrels were sent down a staircase as white light flooded your vision.