𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙰𝙻𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝙴𝙲𝚁𝙴𝚃𝚂

16

Y/N was almost certain that she had made her plans to steal more books from the church library without letting any of the others know. Especially not Levi. He would have wanted her to wait a little longer, so it wouldn't be as noticeable if books went missing, but Y/N couldn't wait that long. She had no guarantee that she would even be alive long enough to finally learn all the secrets of the world.

So she had planned this out carefully, making sure that her plan was absolutely failsafe and that there was very little room for anything going terribly wrong. That's what she thought at least. She also knew that there was most likely something she was overlooking, but she could deal with that when the time came. Y/N was pretty sure that she was absolutely well prepared.

Still, now that she was sneaking into the church building, her heart was pounding loudly and she felt like she was going to faint. Her legs were getting weaker and weaker and her mind was yelling at her to just turn back around and wait for Levi to help her out with this. But she had made this decision now and she didn't want to turn back, either. Plus, she knew that she wasn't stupid. She could pull this off somehow, she was just nervous, because Levi wasn't here right now.

But she had already gotten this far, she might as well try and get herself some books. If things started getting somewhat risky, she could always pull out and escape back into her home in the underground city. She had made sure that she would have a variety of escape routes, if things got a little too risky. So she was fine. She should be fine. Still, she had a weird feeling about this.

It wasn't just a weird feeling, however. It was more than that. Everything had been more or less fine for the longest time and then she suddenly heard noises. Noises she hadn't been expecting and now she was hiding between the church pews, trying to think what to make of those unfamiliar noises. They were coming from up above her and Y/N wondered if anyone else had found the way into the church to steal supplies. She was almost certain that Levi was the only one who had ODM gear, but maybe someone was trying to climb down the church tower.

Which obviously wouldn't end well. First of all, because Y/N was sure that it was near impossible to climb down the church tower without ODM gear. Hell, it was impossible to even get up onto the church tower without it, so that didn't make any sense. Secondly, if there was someone else that meant they might see her and then she was in trouble, because she wasn't going to trust that those guys were going to share. Thirdly, there was no way they didn't go through the stairs, which meant that the military police would soon piece everything together and that meant there would be an increased MP presence in the underground, which would definitely get her or Isabel or Farlan or Levi arrested at some point. Whatever that noise was, Y/N hoped that she was wrong about it.

The noise was coming closer now. Y/N pressed her body closer against the wooden benches, almost crawling underneath them. Her ODM gear made a sudden clank against the stone floor and she stopped every movement immediately. The church was dead silent at that moment. Everyone had heard that. At the same time she could hear the far away echo of the MP guards' footsteps steadily coming closer and closer. It was absolutely terrifying.

Y/N was barely breathing, as she heard the footsteps coming closer and closer. The guards didn't seem to be in any hurry, they were just doing their rounds as usual. Which was good, as it meant they didn't suspect anything. At least Y/N had that fact on her side. And then she heard the noise again, more quickly and more urgently this time and it was starting to sound more familiar, as well. That... that was the noise ODM gear was making! And that meant... that meant that whoever was there was most likely Levi. Y/N wanted to laugh with relief as she realized it.

She just about managed to stay quiet, reminded by the guards' footsteps of just how much danger she was in at the moment. And how much danger she would get Levi, Isabel and Farlan in, if she got caught. None of them would survive it. A citizen of Wall Sheena - maybe they would get a fair trial. But no one cared about the people living in the underground city. No one would notice if they went missing and never returned. And even if they noticed, no one would do anything about it. They had to look out for each other, because no one else would do it.

And then before she even realized it, the footsteps of the guards were incredibly close. Y/N held her breath, watching the light from their lantern coming closer and closer and closer. She tried pressing herself against the pew again, as if she wanted to melt into the hard and cold wood. The footsteps were coming closer as well and she could see weird shadows and finally the guards' boots. If they found her now, it was over. There was nowhere she could run to.

Y/N held her breath, as she watched them walk by the pew she was hiding in and she kept holding her breath a little longer, listening to their idle talk, until her lungs were hurting and she couldn't keep it in for much longer. Only then she took a small breath, too small to ease her aching lungs, but small enough to not be heard. It felt like an eternity of small breaths until she heard the echoes of the footsteps in the distance, turning around a corner. She took a deep breath and slowly moved away from the pew.

She could also hear the sound of the ODM gear again, silently but quickly. Y/N got up, stretching her legs. Now that she was about 95% sure that it was Levi, she didn't need to hide anymore. She looked up and saw them making their way down. Y/N couldn't help but grin at them. She was glad to see them and she was honestly relieved that it was someone she knew.

"Fancy seeing you here." she said quietly once Levi had reached the floor. He did not look impressed with her. Quite the opposite, actually. He looked like he was mad at her. Not that that was anything new, Levi was usually mad about something or the other. But Y/N knew that he was mad at her this time.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" he wanted to know. Y/N shrugged. She knew that Levi was only this mad, because he was worried about her. It was the same thing every time he was worried.

"Could ask you the same thing. But I'm here to steal some more books." she answered. Levi rolled his eyes.

"I told you it's too early! It's dangerous, Y/N, you should know that best." he replied. Y/N sighed. Of course he would tell her that everything was dangerous again. She barely ever got a break from that. She appreciated how much he wanted to protect her, but so far everything was fine.

"I'm not going to wait any longer. Either way, I came here on my own. Seems we both had the same idea, huh?" she asked.

"We did. Now stop being such a worrywart, Levi. We have stuff to do and Y/N has stuff to do, before the guards come back in here." Isabel replied with a roll of her eyes. Levi didn't seem happy with that at all.

"Well, it is what it is now. Don't get in our way, Y/N, alright? And for heaven's sake, stay out of trouble! I know it's not easy for you, but if you get in trouble, the military police won't be your biggest problem." Levi hissed at her. Y/N couldn't help but grin at that.

"What, are you saying you'll be my biggest problem?" she teased him. She wasn't sure why she was in such good spirits now - maybe it was all the relief she felt from earlier. That's most likely what it was.

"Shut. Up." Levi growled.

"Hey, come on, everyone. We really have to get going. Everyone on their way and we can meet back at Y/N's and discuss things there, alright?" Farlan suggested. Y/N nodded and Isabel seemed even more enthusiastic about the plan. She kept listening for footsteps and she seemed more and more nervous.

"Fine, whatever. Don't blame me if we all get killed." Levi muttered.