Tainted (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 39

"Levi." Hange entered the room with Armin, Mikasa, and Eren in tow, closing the door behind them. "We got here as fast as we could."

Levi only nodded, motioning them toward the table with the open box. The five of them were in a barely-used lab in the military barracks of Orvud, granted access by the commanding officer stationed there.

Hange put on some gloves before delicately lifting the heart from the box. They turned it over in their hands as they studied it, before placing it on a small metal dissection tray.

"Definitely human, most likely female. You can tell by the smaller size, but I'd have to cut it open to confirm-"

"Absolutely not," Levi growled, cutting them off.

Startled, Hange's eyes snapped up, but they softened as they noted the tension in his stance and the deep-seated fear lurking in his silver eyes.

Levi spoke again before Hange could say anything. "Do you think it's hers?" His voice broke a bit, betraying the emotions he was usually so masterful at hiding.

"There's no way of knowing for sure. But no matter if it is or not, the culprit will be held responsible," Hange said with a soothing conviction.

Levi nodded, reaching into his jacket pocket and producing the note he'd found in the box. "It was (L/n). He left this with it. (Y/n) was captured by him over a week ago, and her informant disappeared. I'm organizing a solo raid on the orphanage."

"Levi, if this really is (Y/n)'s, then such a mission would be pointless endangerment," Hange reasoned, beginning to remove their gloves.

"If she's alive, I'll get her back. And if she isn't," he paused. "I'll burn that place to the ground."

"Captain," Armin timidly spoke up. "Assuming she's alive, he wouldn't keep her or anyone with information at the orphanage. I believe that is a dead end."

Hange nodded in agreement. "That's right. My best guess is that he's back in Stohess. He seems well-established there, and it's quick access to the Underground."

"The Underground," Levi murmured, his brow furrowing. If there's a place to gather information, it's there. It's been years, but maybe some of my old contacts are still around?

Levi slipped the note back into his pocket and made his way to the door. "I'm going to investigate in the Underground. See what I can dig up on any other hideouts (L/n) could be using, or maybe find one down there."

"Wait!" Hange called, making Levi stop and look back at them expectantly. His eyes avoided the heart on the tray in front of them.

Hange grabbed Armin by the shoulders and dragged him to stand in front of them. "May I interest you in an Armin?" They reached out a hand. "Or perhaps a Mikasa?"

Mikasa glared at them. "Don't touch me."

Levi shook his head. "No. I'd much rather you have them search this city or Stohess. The Underground is no place for children, and I don't have the time to babysit." With that, he took his leave.

_______________

As Levi exited the darkness of the stairwell, he paused on the broken-down landing to look out over the yellow lights of the hidden city before him. He took a deep breath, trying not to let old memories overwhelm him. It'd been years since Erwin had dragged him out of here with Isabel and Farlan.

Moving on, Levi's feet took him almost instinctively toward his old home, navigating back alleys and side streets until he stopped in front of a tunnel. He walked through it and there it was, maybe a little more worn down, but much the same considering that it had never been in great condition. Home.

As Levi stood there dumbstruck, the door at the top of the stairs was suddenly kicked open, and a scrawny man wearing a dirty white tank-top ambled out, plopping down on the steps and spitting onto the ground at the bottom. He turned a hostile glare on Levi. "The fuck you looking at?"

Heaving a sigh, Levi shook his head and turned away. I need to focus.

He swiftly made his way toward a wide, muddy street that cut right through the middle of the Underground. The sides were lined with rundown shops and businesses. Walking almost to the end of the path, Levi stopped and looked up at a building that should have been familiar.

That's not right... didn't this used to be just a bar? He found himself looking up at a sign above the entrance: Hearne's Bar and Brothel. Pushing aside his aversion, Levi entered the building.

The interior was dimly lit, a fairly large space with a bar on one side. Where Levi remembered there being tables and benches, there were now many couches. Several men were scattered throughout the room, sitting on the couches with women fawning over them. Others clustered around a stage in one corner where a barely clothed woman danced suggestively under a makeshift spotlight.

Levi made his way up to the bar and sat down, staring at the back of the bartender, who was mixing a drink from bottles on the wall. He was tall and had trimmed gray hair, wearing a white shirt with a brown apron tied around him.

"So you're back," the man said in a quiet voice, closing a half-empty bottle and shelving it.

Levi was surprised, but he didn't show it. "I need your help, Ray. I'm looking for someone."

Ray emitted a small, wry laugh. "I'm afraid I can't be of use to you there, kid." He turned around, passing the finished drink to a man further down the bar. He then faced Levi, making Levi's eyes widen at the sight of him.

His once stern but warm brown eyes were now clouded, the skin around them deformed by some sort of trauma.

"What happened to you? What happened to this place?" Levi asked, clenching his fist.

The old man blew out a defeated sigh. "About a year after you disappeared, Caldwell and his son died, and their boss forced me to merge what was left of their brothel with my bar. He took my grandson and blinded me," Ray lowered his face.

The man sitting close by chuckled. "How cruel! Giving him all these pretty girls but taking away his ability to see 'em."

Ray ignored the taunt. "If it's Kenny you're hunting, boy, he stopped coming around a couple years back."

Levi shook his head. "Kenny's dead."

Ray gaped at him. "Dead?"

Levi nodded, but realizing that Ray couldn't see him, he replied, "It's a long story."

Ray lowered his head. "I'd always wondered when he'd kick it. At least he never has to see what's become of this place..."

Levi simply studied him for a moment, deep in thought. That was when the sound of the door opening put him back on alert, pulling up the hood of his cloak and lowering his head.

A noticeable hush fell over the room as the person approached the bar and leaned on the counter next to him, paying no mind to Levi and focusing on Ray.

"Business looks good, Raymond. How are the girls?"

Ray's face had drained of emotion as his eyes settled on the woman. "Julia had her arm broken by a client, and Yedda suffered head trauma," he said flatly.

A pause. "Take me to them. I can help them."

"You can help by liberating them. Now if your inspection is quite finished, I'd like for you to leave."

"Very well." They did exactly that, and Levi glanced over to see the cloaked figure disappearing out the door.

"Who was that?" he asked Ray with a frown.

"One of my new boss's enforcers, Joan."

Levi stood up abruptly, immediately sprinting for the door. He hurried out and looked around. The same cloak was walking away further down the street. Trying to not call attention to himself, he briskly made his way after her.