An Unexpected Turn in Fate

Chapter 24 -- The Aftermath

That night, Levi and I are alone. The rest of the squad goes their own ways after they're given time for themselves before we have to meet up for dinner. I sit on a wooden box, trying to avoid eye contact with Levi. I place my clenched fists on my lap, feeling Levi's intense stare.

"Abby," states Levi, who finally decides to break the silence. "What the hell were you thinking? I gave you an order, and you completely disregarded it." I lower my head before he gently says, "You could've gotten hurt. Kenny is a serious opponent. Killing people is like second nature to him."

I sigh heavily, meeting his piercing, steel grey orbs. "To answer your question, Captain Levi, I didn't want anything bad to happen to you," I admit. "Even so, I won't apologize for disobeying you."

"Tsk."

"Besides, it seems like you two have history," I add. I run a hand through my hair before scratching the back of my head nervously. Levi's eyes flash dangerously as he crosses his legs. "I lived with him for awhile when I was a kid," he says.

"That makes sense," I respond, furrowing my eyebrows in concentration. "He's known as Kenny the ripper, who is a fabled serial killer from the underworld that was responsible for the deaths of over 100 Military Police soldiers."

"Abby."

My eyes widen in surprise. "Y-Yes, sir...?"

"Thank you for coming back for me."

"Captain, what...?"

"Don't make me repeat myself," says Levi, who has a twinkle of amusement in his steel eyes. My cheeks turn bright red as I bury my face in my palms, wishing that he didn't have such an effect on me.

Later on that night, Sasha guards the warehouse, while the rest of us sit around the lamp eating our food rations. Levi, who sits next to me, notices that Armin hasn't taken a bite out of his food. "What's wrong?" He asks. "Did all this filth kill your appetite?"

"No..." He meekly replies before turning to the boy on his left. "Jean, there's something I don't understand." The said boy turns to stare at the blonde, having a serious expression on his face. I purse my lips before taking a bite out of my bread.

"What's that?"

"When I turned around to try to see you, that woman already had her gun to your head," Armin notes, furrowing his eyebrows in concentration. "It's... funny. How could I have shot before she did?"

Jean closes his eyes. "I don't know..."

"You shot first because she hesitated," Levi states, capturing his attention. "It's simple." I exhale sharply, thinking about earlier. I killed four people without hesitation! Tears form in my eyes as I struggle to maintain my composure.

"I'm sorry, Armin," Jean says shamefully, staring at the ground in dismay. "You wouldn't have had to save me if I done my job." Armin's face falls, placing his head against his hand. I exchange a look with Mikasa as she subconsciously touches her scarf.

"I know what it is..." Armin mutters with tears in his eyes. "The woman that was shot back there... I bet she was a really kind person... She must've been much more human that I am. I pulled that trigger so easily... Without a thought... I'm..."

"A killer," the captain finishes. "And now that your hands have been soaked in blood, the person you once were is gone for good." I glance at Mikasa through the corners of my eyes as she eyes Levi carefully.

"Why would you say that?"

He completely ignores her. "And, you shouldn't regret it for one second," Levi continues. "Because if you chosen to keep your hands clean, Jean would be a corpse on a cart right now. I'll tell you why you pulled the trigger. It was because your comrade was about to die. Armin, everyone in our squad survived today because you got blood on your hands. Thank you."

"Captain Levi, I, uhhh..." Jean begins. "I thought it was wrong for us to fight other humans, sir. I thought it was wrong that you ordered us to do it. I mean, we became soldiers to protect people, but now, I see that I was in the wrong, sir. Next time, I swear I'll shoot."

"I never said anything about what was right or wrong," the captain corrects, causing Jean to look at him in surprise. "My moral high ground is shot to hell. I have no idea whose in the right at this point." After that, Levi gets to his feet. "Now then. I think it's time that we heard what our guest has to say." He walks towards the restrained man in the corner and removes the cloth around his mouth.

"Mercy! Please!" He pleads, staring at us in pure desperation. "I'm just an old man that used to move cargo! I didn't want to, but..." I stand up and take a few steps towards him, noticing his terrified expression.

"I've met this once before," states Mikasa, who stands next to Levi. "He seemed to be a prominent merchant." He shifts nervously, trying to remain perfectly still as the two Ackermans hover over him.

"Yeah, I know him," Levi says. "Dimo Reeves, right?" The said man was short and overweight. He has brown eyes, and his head was balding with dark hair on the sides and a thin dark mustache and beard. He wears a brown leather jacket, grey shirt, red-brown dress pants, and brown dress shoes. I intently stare at him, knowing that he's the one who led the amateur kidnappers that captured Jean and Armin, who were disguised as Eren and Historia. While the others were going to save them, they captured him in the process.

Dimo clicks his tongue and glares at the side. "This damned job was forced on us by the Military Police, and now that we've completely screwed up, they'll wreck the Reeves company for everything its worth," he utters. "First, they'll kill me, and then they'll set up accidents for all my employees. My dumb son too."

"You just gonna lay down and take it?" Levi asks, capturing his attention. "There's a reason Trost recovered from that titan attack. It's largely because of jobs and money brought in by the Reeves company. Tell me, if your company were to disappear, how many would survive the coming winter?"

Dimo eyes him suspiciously. "So what? You want me to join you?"

"We just want to know where Eren and Historia are," clarifies the captain. "If you're in contact with the MPs, I think I have a plan." A satisfied smirk appears on my lips as I arch a brow. I like where this is going.

"Then, can you give me your word that the people of Trost won't end up starving to death?" He challenges, staring intently at the captain. I tuck a strand of hair behind my ear as Levi narrows his eyes at him.

"I can't guarantee it," Levi answers, kneeling in front of him. "That said, I believe you'll have a better chance with us than without." After that, we start to formulate our plan and discuss the details. Once everything is set, we pack our stuff and mount our horses before leaving the district of Trost.