Birdie (Levi x OC)

twenty-two

A couple of days had passed, and the plan to tail Eren and Historia's captors was finally set in motion. We'd entrusted them to the Reeves Company, a calculated move that allowed us to follow their transport as they handed the two over to the Military Police.

Perched on a rooftop overlooking Stohess District, I sat alongside Nifa and Levi. Nifa peered through a spyglass, tracking the carriage carrying Eren and Historia as it wound its way through the city streets.

I stifled a yawn, my gaze drifting between my two companions before scanning the adjacent rooftops where I knew Keiji and Abel were positioned. Captain Levi's squad was also operating covertly, following the carriage on foot in carefully constructed disguises, ensuring they wouldn't attract unwanted attention.

My eyes briefly met Levi's, and I quickly looked away, my heart pounding with the weight of Historia's situation. I hadn't spoken much to him since his harsh words. A wave of regret washed over me; I shouldn't have questioned his methods. Yet, the sting of his assessment lingered.

Naive.

And why wouldn't he think that? My upbringing had been one of relative safety, shielded from the harsh realities others faced daily. I'd never even taken down a titan. My family name had been an invisible barrier, protecting me in ways others could only dream of. For the first twenty-two years of my life, I'd existed in a fragile peace, a comfort built on walls my grandfather had fought to maintain. Levi, being older and a hell of a lot more knowledgeable, carried the weight of years and a profound understanding of the true, chaotic nature of our world.

A sigh escaped my lips.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Nifa murmured, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Oh, it's nothing important," I replied, a soft laugh escaping me. "Just trying to swallow my own pride."

Nifa smirked knowingly. "This about yesterday?"

I nodded, giving her a light, playful shove.

I risked a quick glance at Levi, but his gaze remained fixed on the carriage carrying Eren and Historia.

"We can talk about it later," Nifa offered with a warm smile. "We can have a pity party, just the two of us."

"I'd like that," I grinned back, a touch of mischief in my eyes.

"Nifa. Birdie. Have either of you heard of Kenny the Ripper?" Levi's sudden question cut through our conversation.

I turned to him, curiosity etched on my face. What was he talking about?

"The mass murderer in the capital? The one who slit the throats of over a hundred military police? That's just an old urban legend, right?" Nifa replied, a hint of disbelief in her voice.

I'd grown up hearing the same chilling tales. The idea of such brutal violence terrified me, but like Nifa, I'd always dismissed Kenny the Ripper as nothing more than a scary story.

"He is real, and the stories are true," Levi stated flatly.

Nifa and I exchanged shocked glances. It wasn't like the Captain to joke or fabricate stories, so why bring this up now?

Levi continued, his gaze distant. "I lived with him for a while when I was a kid."

"What? Why would you even say that?" Nifa said, clearly unconvinced.

Nifa might not believe him, but something in Levi's tone made me think otherwise. He wouldn't bring up something so dark and seemingly random unless it had some relevance to our current mission. What was going through his mind?