Tainted (Levi x Reader)

Chapter 42

Another week dragged by as the search for information continued. The little patience that Levi had was wearing thin. To make matters worse, many of the locals were becoming suspicious of them, and refusing to cooperate. Some even went as far as harassing them.

"Government scoundrels!" A middle-aged man spat at them from his booth as Levi and Jean walked down the street between rows of shops. A woman, presumably his wife, was washing some clothes in a bucket just behind him. He grabbed up the bucket of dirty water and angrily sloshed it at them. Levi was able to sidestep and avoid the worst of it, but Jean got soaked. "You destroy everything!"

Jean took a furious step toward him, but Levi grabbed his shoulder to stop him. "That won't help."

"Here." A young boy from a few stalls down quickly brought them a couple of raggedy towels and led them to the shade of his own booth, away from the prying stares of the people. "You can sit there for a moment." He motioned to a wooden bench at the back corner of the stall. The other corner was occupied by an older lady.

"Pay them no mind," she said flatly as her hands maneuvered two knitting needles, working with some pine green yarn on her lap. "Barnes wouldn't know a scoundrel if one knocked him on his ass."

"They really don't like the military, huh?" Jean muttered as he tried to dry himself with the towel.

The woman paused for only a second, her chin raised but her eyes still down as she spoke. "Their son was stationed in the Garrison here. He died back when that big titan decided to have a peek at our district. You remember, don't you?" Her sharp blue eyes suddenly fixed on Levi.

His eyes widened slightly as they locked with hers.

"I remember seeing you among the other soldiers, slicing up those falling chunks of titan. I never forget a face," she explained simply. "My question is, what are you doing back in Orvud, posing as a local?"

"Mom!" The boy half turned toward them as he finished up with a customer. He crossed his arms.

"It's alright," Levi assured him. He then addressed the woman. "You're right, I am a soldier. A captain in the Scouts. We're looking for a comrade who was taken, and believe the man responsible may be here in Orvud. Maybe you could help us?"

She was silent for a moment as her hands still moved fluently with the yarn. "Orvud's been pretty quiet lately."

"That's what worries me," Levi replied darkly, his eyes trailing to the scenery outside of the booth, with people passing as they went about their business. "You seem very familiar with this area and the people. Is there anything you can tell me?"

"I like to observe, so of course I'm familiar. I've lived my whole life in Orvud, so I know everyone's business, every shop, every face."

"Perhaps you'll know one like this?" Jean spoke up, pulling a slightly damp paper out of his front coat pocket and unfolding it. He held it out for her to see.

Her hands stumbled a bit as her eyes fell on the portrait, and Levi didn't miss the flash of recognition in her eyes. She quickly picked back up on her work with a light frown.

"You recognize him," Levi whispered with a hint of surprise, his interest sharpening. The picture was only a rough sketch Jean had done based on (Y/n)'s fairly outdated description, but it had to be at least somewhat accurate.