Tainted (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 1

The crackling fire cast light dancing around the musty chamber as you knelt on the floor, chained to a wall and restrained by two burly men.

A single figure stood as a silhouette before the flames, using a glove to remove a glowing red branding iron from the fireplace. He held it up and turned to let the light reflect in his eyes as he studied it approvingly, lips curling into a grin.

The man approached you, holding up the iron as his sadistic eyes drank in your fear. "You're a soldier, (Y/n). Stop sniveling and act like one."

"Father, please!" you cried desperately, every nerve in your body screaming in aversion to what you knew would come.

He shook his head and signaled the men to tighten their grip on you. "Don't let her struggle so much this time, I want this one to be clean."

Your right arm was smacked down against the filthy ground, palm up. A heavy boot stamped down on it to keep it there. Without hesitation, the man bares his teeth and shoves the iron against the sensitive skin of your wrist, pressing it in while you screamed and writhed in vain. You passed out from shock before he was finished, mind spiraling away...

~*~

You jolted awake with your heart thundering in your ears and morning light streaming in through a small window high up in the wall. Ripping back the damp covers, you swung your legs over the side of the bed and sat catching your breath.

Shaking away the bad dreams with a sigh, you swiftly stripped off your clothes, showered, and got dressed in a clean uniform, strapping in all the belts on your torso and legs. You quietly exited the room, glancing both directions down the stone hallway and listening for a moment. Then you crept toward the cafeteria for breakfast.

The year is 849 – four years since the fall of Maria, but only two since you joined the Scouts. Only a couple of days ago, you and the rest of the Scouting Regiment had returned from an expedition beyond Wall Rose.

No one else in Squad Levi was going to be up this early, of that you were certain. Your tense breathing was the only sound until a cold voice stopped you in your tracks, with the soft plodding of boots approaching.

Levi's flinty gray gaze settled on you. "You walk around here as if you expect to find enemies behind every corner." He was dressed in his usual uniform and cravat, carrying a half empty cup of black tea in one hand.

Turning to face him, you tried and failed to appear nonchalant. "Isn't that a desirable quality in a soldier?"

He advanced one step, then another. You matched it until the rugged stone of a wall greeted your back. "When it doesn't affect your cooperation with your squad mates, maybe. They aren't going to hurt you, dumbass."

"Aye aye, Captain!" You threw your hands up in a salute, playing off the discomfort of your captain's prying. Please let me go.

Levi only narrowed his eyes at you. They flickered to your slightly out-turned wrist. You cleared your throat and shifted it to face you more, obscuring it from sight. "Tch. Scram, brat."

You nodded, turning on your heel before he could change his mind. You safely made it to the mess hall and sat at an empty table by the door that led to outside.

Levi arrived not long later and sat several tables down the row, facing you so he could stare you down emotionlessly. Honestly, he wasn't so intimidating when he drank his tea in such a weird way. You marveled at the odd grip he used before shaking your head to stare at something more interesting: the wall. Your hand subconsciously traced the uneven skin on your wrist as you recalled the dream-memory from last night with wide, blank (e/c) eyes. Your shoulders eventually relaxed when your hand brushed a bracelet further down your arm.

As the sun rose higher and bathed the room in golden light, more scouts trickled into the large room, some bandaged, some noticeably limping. You notice Gunther, Petra, Eld and Oluo all walk in together. They get their food and to your surprise, come to sit at your table.

Eld, Gunther, and Oluo settled down across from you, while Petra sat on your right and gave you a gentle smile, her amber eyes full of warmth. "Morning, (Y/n)!"

You mumbled a small, "Hey."

"Um, you probably already know this, but today's a free day since so many soldiers are still recovering from the expedition," Petra began, and you tilted your head to show you were listening. "The rest of us were wondering... would you like to go with us to Ehrmich District for the day?"

"We'll probably just do some personal shopping, and we thought we'd get some candles to hold a memorial for those who didn't make it," Gunther added quickly.

You hesitated. These four are good people, but would I be safe so close to the capital? It's been five or six years since I last heard or saw anything of my father and his mercenaries, but it's unlikely that he's given up completely. But... a memorial. An action that says that the fallen were more than just faceless losses. They were people. Each was loved by someone... You were touched, and allowed a small smile directed at your squad mates.

Opening your mouth to accept the invitation, you were suddenly interrupted as something caught your eye and stopped your heart.

Captain Hange Zoë had approached the solitary Levi, holding out a small, tattered brown notebook as they spoke and gestured to it. You couldn't hear their hushed words from this distance, but moments later Captain Levi stood and both briskly exited the room.

You jumped up from your seat, torn that you might miss this opportunity with your squad mates. But you recognized that book Hange held. Or, more importantly, you knew the girl who it belonged to.

"I'm sorry, I'd like to go, but I need to look into something. Don't wait up for me," you excused yourself. Without waiting for a reply, you half-jogged after the two captains.