Glory For Mankind | AOT [book 1]

Ch.5:Empty Promises

It's been a year since Ruvik practically sold his life away to do the MP's dirty work. Sure, the jobs paid him more than well, he just wasn't so sure if it was worth his salt.

But then, the thought of his little brother and his mother would appear. They would always be worth it, every. Last. Grain.

Ruvik received his orders from the files that Roy "Fancy Pants"  Harrisburg sent him whenever a client wanted someone to...disappear. Unfortunately, his target happened to be living by the edge of the Wall Maria. In the same exact District as him, Shiganshina.

Out of all the shitty places, it had to be the one he tries to avoid the most...

When he was walking through the familiar streets of his hometown, he heard someone call out his name from behind.

"Ruvik!"

Ruvik was on official business, he wasn't planning on seeing his younger brother, Tobias. But then again, Ruvik did always tend to have the worst luck.

The sixteen year old turned around and found his younger brother. The boy ran up to Ruvik and wrapped his arms around his torso, grinning up at his role model from ear to ear. "You're here! You're really here!"

"Hey Tobi..." Ruvik trailed off, slowly returning the embrace with his own. "Why...um...why are you outside?"

"Mum said that I'm strong enough to go play with the other kids now!" Tobias stepped back to show off his seven year old muscles. "I'm not sick anymore because mum gave me the medicine she bought with the money you sent us."

Ruvik managed to give him a soft smile, happy that his brother's illness wasn't making the frail boy waste away inside the house, and that his blood money was being used for good. "I'm glad you're feeling better Tobi, but you should still be careful, we don't want you to over exert yourself. You should go home and get some rest."

"What?" Tobias whined. "But I want to be with you!"

"I'm sorry, buddy. But I have work to do."

"Can't you at least have lunch with me and mum? She misses you..." Tobias frowned. "She always tells me about how you slay the titans to set us free!"

Ruvik chuckled. "Is that so..."

"Yeah!" Tobias snatched Ruvik's hand, tugging him to follow. "Come on!"

"Tobi wait!"

But his little bother didn't listen. He continued to drag Ruvik in the direction of the house, their house. The same house that Ruvik works his ass off for. Not having the will to move any closer to that place of broken memories, Ruvik yanked his hand out of Tobias' grasp. "I can't buddy. I have to get back to work."

Tobias frowned. "But I...I never get to see you anymore. You're always busy, Ruvik."

His little brother's words made Ruvik feel cornered, he sighed and crouched down to Tobias' eye level. " Okay, I'll tell you what. After work, I promise, I'll come home and eat dinner with you two. I'll even stay the night if mother asks."

"...Promise?" Tobias asked, sticking his pinky finger up in between them.

He chuckled, locking the digit with his brother's. "I promise."

With that, Tobias ran off to tell mother the great news. Ruvik watched him go, waiting for his brother to turn around the corner of the street and out of sight. Ruvik wasted no time to take off, wanting to get the job done before his younger brother had any ideas about following him. The last thing he wants is for Tobias to see what he does to his targets.