~ Whatever it Takes ~ Imagine Dragons
************
Sitting awkwardly in the building the man pulled me into, the lingering stinging sensation burns across my cheek. My fingers tap nervously against my thigh waiting for the raven haired man to come back with the med supplies, while my eyes try to avoid another pair of unfamiliar grey eyes glaring upon me.
"Oi........why did you bring this stranger in?!" he calls out, assuming to his leader.
"Tch, she was injured and trying escape a band of criminals," he replies, walking in with some med supplies in hand. "Besides......she was defenceless....and can't defend herself."
My eyes narrow for a moment, staring at my lap.
The couch dips beside me before feeling him pull me sharply towards him, making me slightly gasp from the sudden skin contact yet again. Swallowing thickly I shuffle a little to adjust the angle, so he was able to treat it.
My breath grew heavy being unfamiliar around someone completely a stranger, and yet.......he is helping me dress my wound.
"Sit still brat," he mutters, while he looks slightly down into my eyes for a moment.
My breath soon shudders discreetly in my throat, feeling him rather close to me. I'm never use to letting a male this close to me, except for that bastard. But this man had a more gentle touch, something I've never experienced in a long time.
"Who are you?" he questions, while cleaning the bloodied wound.
"Um......."
He pauses hiking one eyebrow, "Huh? Your name is 'um'?"
Blinking a few times realising I wasn't supposed to reveal my name, I swallow thickly knowing my name has reached every crevice of the walls and districts.
Glancing away my fingers nimble slightly, playing with the hem of my shirt.
"L-Leah......Leah Wolff,"
His steel eyes remain searching my face, while I still remain my attention away from his gaze. Trying to remain calm and composed, this was my first ever mission in disguising and changing my identity.
"Leah.....huh?"
"Big bro!!!!!" A feminine and cheery voice enters the room, causing my body to slightly flinch in response.
"Godammit," the man hisses, cursing under his breath he turns making me also follow, only to see a girl a little younger than me. Shaggy auburn hair with forestry green eyes, along with a pinkish-redish button shirt.
"What is it? I'm busy," He asks her with a heavy sigh, dropping his hands facing her.
Her eyes widen when she locks eyes with me, her eyes narrow.
"What is this woman doing here?" She questions. "I haven't seen her around in the underground before....Big bro?"
He nods.
"I know......right now she's injured, so let me treat her damn wound!" he snaps, getting slight agitated for a moment.
I feel so awkward, and confused on what's going on.....is this everyone?
Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear, the girl strides over to me and leans closer. Her large eyes stare into my own like she was trying to interrogate me by staring, but it didn't really do anything but make it look weird. Her hands resting on her hips, she clicks her tongue.
"Hmmm......what's your name, huh?"
My eyes slightly taken back with how close her face was to mine, I slowly move back in response.
"Um.......Leah Wolff,"
Her eyes light up, "What a pretty name!" She exclaims, revealing her childish actions before me.
Are these three really the criminals Erwin informed me about? They don't seem as dangerous, by the way I'm seeing my point of perspective on the situation...
Suddenly the man takes me by the shoulders straightening me, before resuming with my wound. What time is it now? It's been at least roughly two hours since I was saved, so about ten 'o' clock I'm assuming.
"Um......I don't have a watch, what's the time? I think I should lea--"
"It's almost midnight," he replies sharply, cutting me off without breaking eye contact with working on my cheek.
Has it really been that long already?
"You rest here, those men are still looking around for you still," He instructs, still being so nonchalant as usual.
Soon I'm able to read his movements, and his normal behaviour just by his repetitive actions and words. The room soon fell silent before seeing the other man yawning tiredly, his light brown hair slightly tousled between his fingers, he stood up.
"I'm gonna hit the sack, keep an eye on this one," He glares upon me, making me lower my gaze.
The man scoffs, clicking against his teeth in response.
"Don't worry, I won't let her out of my sight," he assures him, feeling my stomach churning by being surrounded by these people.
"Same here Big Bro, night!" the girls waves, before walking off to the back room. With the click of the doors closing, silence falls upon us once again.
The dust slowly accumulates in the underground, gathering and making it hard for me to breath properly. Soon he finally places a patch across my cheek, gently pressing it so it would stay.
"There......we don't have any more beds, so you might need t--"
I shook my head.
"It's fine.......I can't really sleep," I reply, assuring him I'm okay.
He was slightly taken back.
"I see......." he begins to pack everything up, along with the bloodied gauze and cloths. He walks over to the sink nearby, and places the items down while I sat there twiddling my thumbs.
I need to report back now, while it's late at night.....
"By the way........where are you from exactly?" He questions, back still facing me while washing up.
Shit, did he find out? Did he figure out I'm from above?
"Um...."
"I mean under here, whereabouts?"
A draw a breath of relief past my lips, leaning back slightly against the soft cushioned couch. Running my fingers through my raven locks, I inhale quietly.
"A few streets down, on the other side.......opposite direction from here," I lie, my voice not wavering or hesitating with what little knowledge I knew about the undergrounds.
The knowledge I knew was it was actually built as part of a colony to avoid the titans outside the walls, yet however it turned into the slums......only for criminals and the poor after the project was halted. I didn't like how they halted it, and placed the poor down below.....it wasn't right at all.
In my own opinion, but yet I am from the poor side too just on the outskirts of the entire walls where it's slightly dry and dire.
"Tea?" He offers, knocking me out of my own thoughts.
"Sure......."
"Black tea.....?"
Nodding slowly, he clicks his tongue.
"Cause that's all there is," He bluntly adds, before making the tea.
Lightly touching my patch with a gentle tap with my fingertips, I wince a little seething through my teeth quietly. Soon my attention drifts around the room, finding it unusually clean and tidy. Sinking back into my own thoughts, I found the man clicking his fingers in front of me.
"Oi.....you there?" nodding in response, he passes me my tea gently. He walks beside him and takes his own, "Geeze......you seriously are always with the daisies....."
My eyes drift upon the black tea in hand smelling the bitter aroma of the tea, the hot steam emitting from the hot liquid. Must be some kind of hobby of his, or maybe poison? Shaking my head, knowing he wouldn't do that if he knew something was up.
"What's the matter, afraid I poisoned it?"
Placing a reassuring smile I shook my head, "No, just......just a little too hot,"
He studies me while I lift the hot liquid to my lips, before sipping it lightly adjusting my tastebuds with the hot tea in hand. My eyes widen realising how delicious it tasted upon my tongue, making me pull away.
"Wow......you're really good at making tea....," I comment softly, stunned to say the least.
"Tch, you think when we live under here we don't serve good meals or teas?" He assumes, when I shook my head. "Well.......it's the only thing I can have, just to help with hunger or something to calm myself down..."
Smiling gently I held the tea carefully, "I see......"
"You are tea person yourself?"
This man has been asking so many questions, my nerves were slightly shaking. Yet these questions were only getting to know each other by hobbies, or what you did normally.
Taking a deep breath, I hum softly in response.
"I used to make tea for my mother all the time........tea was something I enjoyed," I admit, which was entirely true.
He falls silent, now I'm assuming he thinks my mother died.....which I won't say...
"So when do you need to go back?" he questions, his eyes lift up from his tea falling upon me.
My hands tighten around, "Roughly about now.......I will be punished if I'm late," I lie, trying to get him to understand the position I'm in.
"But it's too late now," he points out.
I turn to him, "But everyone is awake by now, there's really no sleep schedule here either," I add, before sipping my tea. "So once I'm done with this tea, I must get going....."
"But you will be weak against thos--"
I angle my eyes towards him piercing my eyes into his own steel ones, seeing him taken back.
With not another word I drink my tea quietly, while feeling my vision growing slightly hazy. Rubbing my eyes slowly I place the empty tea cup down, pushing myself up. Turning to him I send him half a smile, "Thank you for your hospitality, but.......I must go....."
Turning on my heel I reach for the door knob, when....
"Wait...."
His voice was deep and stern, causing myself to halt in my steps.
The sound of the couch creaking beneath him, his shoes drift across the floor before feeling his presence right behind me. Turning slowly he looks at me at eye-level, "May I help you? I don't want to extend my stay as I said an--"
"Who are you really?"
Blinking a few times I furrowed my eyebrows together. The tension in the room soon grew thicker and heavy, my breath hitches in the back of my throat. My fingertips only gracefully touching the cold door knob, before dropping to my side.
Turning around, I give him a smile.
"I'm Leah Wolff as I said before," I gave him direct eye contact, not letting my voice waver the moment I addressed my false name.
He studied me once more lingering for a moment, before shaking his head.
"Alright, well stay safe out there brat,"
Nodding I send him another thankful smile before heading out slowly, but fast enough to look less desperate. The cold soon nips my skin the moment I head outside, realising the temperature changes from down below.
"Shit, should've gotten something warm," I mutter, rubbing my arms I head down stairs quietly and discreetly knowing full well it's early in the morning by now. I let my boots touch the ground but not enough to make a sound, my eyes scanning around searching for anyone that could be a threat. With all the intel I've gathered, I located the thugs that has been taking the ODM gear and using them illegally.
Time to report.....
*
AT HEADQUARTERS
"Good work Yamasaki, in a few minutes we will going back to take them out again," Erwin turns to me. "also.......my job for you, is to take down their leader," The tall blonde adds, making my eyes widen.
"What for?"
His eyes narrow.
"I've heard he's quite indeed fast, and we need your skills to take him down," he replies. "Besides the military can't catch them..."
My jaw clenches not wanting that man to see me, not with how things are now.
"Right, I'll do it,"
Miche's eyes narrow my way and then Erwin's, giving me a look of concern quietly.
Sending him half of a reassuring smile I walk over to adjust my ODM gear on, even though I'm part of this mission, I didn't want to continue this. For some reason meeting those people underground gave me a better perspective, what their lives were like underneath the filth. What they had to endure, what they had to suffer for most of their lives......and here I am...following orders like a dog.
"Akira....?" Miche comes up to me, while Erwin left the room to prepare for our next move.
Finally clipping my buckle across my breasts, my eyes remain against the wall in front.
"I'm alright Miche," I assure him, knowing full well what he was gonna say. "I just......."
I pause not realising what was running through my head, these conflicted feelings that were stirring in my own head and heart. My chest felt heavier than before, a burden slamming down upon me.
A gentle hand grips my shoulder, making me lift my head up to see him looking down with a warm smile which was so rare of him to do so.
"Judging by your behaviour since you begun your mission down below, you're starting to have second thoughts,"
My eyes slightly widen parting my lips for a moment, before faltering looking away from his gaze.
"Despite the circumstances, we must follow protocol," I remind him. "These orders are directly from Captain Erwin and Commander Shadis....so I must follow this through."
He grunts in agreement.
"Yeah,"
Soon after swiftly placing on my green cloak, I turn to the tall male and nodded.
"Let's go,"
*
WALL ROSE - UNDERGROUND
Pulling my cloak over my head the sound of my gear creaks slightly, while we follow the military police. We couldn't give ourselves away just now, especially if we need to ambush them. Walking down the alleyways discreetly, I notice a small familiar little girl still resting up against the building but in the alleyway instead. Her frail body slumped back, her body looking awfully skinny.
"Klara," I whisper beneath my breath.
"Yamasaki, focus," Erwin scolds quietly, nodding we continue on.
Once we finally reach up on higher buildings, we nestled up in different building around the centre where the next attack will happen. My heart was beating terribly, awaiting to see the same man yet again. Kneeling down Miche stood beside me, while Erwin was with a few other scouts on the other side of the street.
"Take a few deep breaths Akira," Miche whispers.
Nodding, I swallow back my nervous self.
"Right sorry,"
I've been killing titan for almost five years of my life, but dealing with people was something I'm not too fond of. Even meeting a person who was nice enough to tend your wounds, and give you tea was also something that made me feel guilty even.
"Is there something you're telling us?" He whispers, which in response I shook my head.
"Nothing, just.......a bit out of it," I reply, my eyes remain to the centre of the area.
He remains quiet after, as we stand still and begin to wait.
Just after a few minutes distant yelling and shouting caught my attention before seeing them, flying away from the crime. Soon as they fly right by us, Erwin reflects some light signalling us to start chasing them now. Adjusting my cape, Miche and I jump off the building, along with Erwin and few more squad leaders and began chasing the three down.
The Mp's went straight ahead first, when soon the three add burst of gas to quicken their escape once they caught on us chasing them.
Our blades drawn in hand, I angle my body leaner down a little flying a little faster than the rest. The raven haired male speeds it up, being first time seeing how fast he really is on his ODM gear.
Let's see if he surpass's me....
I turn to Erwin seeing him give me the nod silently, before he turns to the others turning in different directions on either side from me. Soon the moment they do so, I hear the sound of metal clanging against rock seeing the male bouncing back with the grappling hooks heading straight towards me.
Just within that swift moment when I skin touches again, a spark ignites within my chest.
"Shit," I hear him mutter, before I sharply twist my body activating my grappling hooks and aimed towards him, doing a somersault mid air.
The three flying ahead rather quickly, but my attention focus' on their next following move. The still wind blows against my face, with my hood still remaining over my face. The two following behind looked back towards me, before turning back not being able to hear their conversation clearly due to the wind pounding against my ears.
Leaning my body in angling to where I'm going to, my body moves a lot quicker my eyes remain on them. Just with one swift motion the three disband in three seperate directions, but remembering Erwin's request.......I ignore the two and continued head on.
"Alright, if you wanna play it that way," I mutter beneath my breath, adjusting my grip around my blades.
A smirks lies across my lips.
"So be it,"
Hearing the sounds of my squad they followed the two, while I continue flying towards the leader. Soon I notice the movement when he unleashes the grappling hooks for a moment, before activating them again from a further distance near another building. He swoops down lowly before bringing up the momentum, before spiralling into the building window.
I hoist myself up bringing speed up before landing on the roof hearing the sounds of his boots beneath me, as I swiftly jump through broken and ruined walls before flipping over a large wall. Soon jumping high up while running along I finally reach the edge of the building, my eyes seeing Erwin take his shot in cornering him there.
Flicker my hair my cloaks hood remains over, I jump down before activating my grappling hooks I managed to catch up to him. He disappears for a moment beneath an old arch, as I push myself through breaking it down and sending him down. Elbowing him down with all the strength, I had clashing into a pile of heavy crates on a cart.
The timber splinters everywhere, hearing the man grunt in the process from my sudden attack.
He growls in anger hitting the ground only to swiftly and smoothly on his book, do a backflip hoisting himself. I skid across the dirt, blocking the splintering timber around. The intensity of the battle was making my adrenaline rush, hearing the sound of a blade being drawn out. The man steps forward sharply in defense he swings at me, knocking one blade from my hand.
I use the other in self defense as our weapons clash together, my hood slowly falls from my face exposing myself. His eyes slowly widen in response, but soon falters glaring heavily towards me. He swipes towards me yet again, but I kick the blade from his grasp stabbing the stone wall beside us.
He swings sharp punches my way, as I twist my body flicking my raven hair to the side before taking his wrist and twisting it tightly around to his back.
He thrashes against my hold before I knock him beneath his knees, making him stumble forward on one knee. Small pants leave my lips, while trying to hold him down with all my strength in my body.
Dammit, he's stronger than I anticipated.....
"Stop......"
The man pauses in his movements, his head angles up to see Erwin standing before him. His piercing blue eyes glare down upon the young male, feeling the mans thrashing to loosen within my hold.
"Take a look around you," He continues, warning him.
The man grits his teeth in anger from our sudden capture and invaded his life practically, but I must finish my duty.
Soon hearing the sounds of yelling, resisting and complaining my head turns to see the other two captured as well. My chest clenches the moment my face was revealed to the two as well, seen their suspicions were true.
"Levi!!!!" The man exclaims, alarmed to see the man in my grasp.
Soon I felt him go limp in my hold, realising he has finally surrendered. Soon I release him slowly while Erwin smirks, "You're quick at reading the situation," He comments, while the raven haired male sends a glare towards the Captain.
Soon the man remains on both knees before Captain Erwin, hands were placed behind his back handcuffing him just in case. While doing so his eyes never left me, while I ignore it.
Stepping away Miche stood behind him, exchanging me a quick look of concern gesturing to my cheek. Lightly brushing the side where it was patched, I noticed it was no longer there with fresh blood rolling down. Biting back the slight pain, I remain focused on the task at hand.
"I'll ask a few questions," Erwin announces, before he lifting up the grappling hook guns in hand while getting straight to the point. "Where did you get these?"
"........"
"You're quite skilled with 3D maneuver gear," Erwin adds, eyes focused on the three handcuffed with their knees to the ground. "Who taught you all that?"
"........"
Their silence was growing more disconcert, making me more on edge.
Erwin soon steps towards the one I caught, "You're their leader, right?" He assumes. "We're you trained in the military?"
The male's eyes were casted by a dark shadow over his face, no words were uttered for a moment. He soon lifts his eyes with an intense dark glare, when Miche suddenly tangles his fingers through his ravel locks gripping tight, and slammed his face into the dirty puddle of water before him.
The male struggles beneath Miche's strong grip craning his head to the side for air, with dirty water dripping from his face. Both the male's comrades growl angrily gasping in horror, when I flash them a harsh look.
"I'll ask again: Where did you learn to use ODM gear?" Erwin repeats himself, his tone firm and deep.
"Not from anyone! We learnt it by ourselves!" the brown haired male exclaims, trying to defend his leader.
Erwin scoffs lightly.
"Self taught, you say? I don't buy it...."
"It's just so we're able to rise even a bit in this dirty garbage place!" The male continues abruptly, anger rising in his voice. "People who're used to the sunlight like you guys won't understand!!!!"
"That's enough, let bro go!!!!" The female adds, anger bubbling in her tone. "Don't be cocky just because you're soldiers!"
Miche swiftly pulls the male's head up from the wet puddle, forcefully.
Droplets fall from the strands of his locks, which also coated his face. The pissed off expression was more than enough to know how he felt there and then, the anger and frustration.
Erwin walks up to him and knelt down in the dirty puddle of water.
"My name is Erwin Smith, what's yours?"
"Levi."
"Levi.....will you make a deal with me?" Erwin offers.
"A deal?" Levi questions, when his eyes slightly angle towards my own before returning back to Erwin's gaze.
"I will let your crimes go unpunished, in return, lend me your strength," Erwin negotiates. "Join the survey corps."
Levi's eyes slightly widen from the sudden suggestion, surprising it was it was an easy offer. "And if I refuse?"
Erwin angles his eyes, "We hand you over to the Military Police, and considering your past crimes, You and your friends, won't be treated very nicely. Choose whichever you prefer."
He remains quiet for a moment before, "Fine," he spat. "We'll join the damn scouts."
Erwin nods, "Wise decision, now....Yamasaki and Miche you're in charge with him for the time being,"
Nodding I walk over before all three of them turn to me, as the girl's eyes widen.
"Y-You're the--"
I lower my eyes, "I'm sorry,"
"Sorry my ass," I hear Levi mutter, as I grab his wrists and began to pulling all three along with Miche and I.
Why did I even do this for? Realising the current state their lives they were in, all they wanted was better lives for each other.
What's wrong with me?
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