INSTANT CRUSH: AOT One-shots

Levi, Kenny » December 25

canon-verse

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"Sickened by the holiday season, Kenny finds a new reason to celebrate this time of the year."

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The lack of sunlight bathed the streets of the Underground in perpetual cold, but even more so during winter when even the air became freezing. And as Kenny loitered in a back alley with his nephew, awaiting the appearance of a patron who owed him, he was glad he'd remembered to wrap a scarf around the brat's neck. The last thing he wanted was for him to catch a cold on him.

Kuchel would've definitely made him wear layers upon layers of clothes, Kenny thought as he glanced down at him.

Letting his guard down and allowing his mind to venture back to his sister instantly proved to be a mistake, for it made him waver, slight doubt about the decision he'd set on from the moment he'd taken her son arising, and he looked away to redirect his thoughts elsewhere.

The season's decorations were starting to become more prominent around the city, dangling from every corner his eyes skimmed over.

Tch, as if these filthy rats have the luxury to celebrate anything.

It sickened him. What were they even celebrating?

He could bet that none of them even knew; this was merely a stupid tradition passed down the generations with no one ever stopping to question its ridiculousness.

But whatever keeps these nitwits ignorant and silent, right?

With a click of his tongue, Kenny brought his attention back to the back door of the bar. He usually wouldn't have been so pressed to settle these accounts, but the spirit of these holidays had always shortened his patience. And self-control wasn't exactly his forte. It was also an unmissable opportunity to teach Levi how to communicate with those who didn't return owed money in time.

But seriously, why does it always feel criminal to ask for your money back?

Well, the way Kenny would go about it surely had a criminal dash to it. But it would never come to this had people learned how to keep their words.

"Yo, brat. Wisest thing is to keep your coins in your pocket," advised Kenny as he flipped his knife between his fingers, watching his glaring reflection dance across it. "But that'd make life boring," he added with a cackle, turning to Levi with a frown when he received no answer.

With his chin buried in the fabric of his scarf and his hands shoved inside his pockets, Levi had his attention elsewhere. Kenny shook his head; he surely picked up insolence real quick. Instead of a smack to the back of his head to snap him out of it, Kenny followed his line of vision till his gaze landed on the windows of a house on the opposite side of the road.

The warm, familial scenes unraveled behind the windowpane were ones Kenny never thought would attract Levi—not after the amount and nature of time he'd spent with him, at least. They surely never rattled anything inside Kenny, but Levi was only a kid, after all.

A call of his name was enough to startle Levi back into reality, his harsh reality, and he was promptly focused on his uncle again.

Kenny was never one to dwell on sentimentalities; his last name and environment had never allowed him to. And he certainly wasn't cut out to indulge anyone in such feelings. But even so, in his nephew's eyes swirled something not even he could ignore. He didn't get the chance to discern it, however, as Levi sneezed at that moment, closing his eyes, and when his lids fluttered open again, his irises were as empty and bleak as when Kenny had first beheld them.

"You're starting to catch a cold. Let's go," Kenny said as he led the journey back to their neighborhood.

Levi scurried to fall into step beside him, one of Kenny's long strides requiring four of his small steps to keep up.

"What about your money?"

"I'll take care of it later."

Nothing more was said, and they walked the rest of the way in silence, both deep in thought.

The time Kenny was to wait on that unfortunate man again was a couple of days later, and he went on his own.

Levi's cold had worsened, and after scolding him for being so sickly, Kenny had left him tucked in bed and threatened him not to leave the warmth of his blankets.

Levi obliged, staring at the ceiling for the entire morning as he surrendered to intermittent intervals of sleep.

As he awoke again sometime later in the afternoon, he knew by the stillness of the house that Kenny had yet to return. He wondered what could have taken him so long but soon surmised that he was probably just taking his time with it, making an excessive display of his power as usual. After all, Kenny found great joy in violence, especially when employed to remind people of what would ensue should they try to take advantage of him.

Levi's sore throat made it hard for him to eat the apple Kenny had left on his bedside table, but he needed some warm fusion. With his red nose scrunched and a blanket around his shoulders, he waddled to the kitchen and dragged a stool to sift through the cupboards for any remaining tea leaves.

His search was impeded when the front door opened and slammed, Kenny's booming voice calling out his name.

Levi hopped off just as Kenny's looming figure entered the kitchen and instead of the glare he was anticipating for having disobeyed him, was met with a crooked, triumphant grin—the exact one Kenny would wear after successfully carving someone's face with his knife.

"Sit down, brat," he ordered, and Levi obeyed.

The edge of the table reached his neck, his head barely poking over the wooden surface on which Kenny placed a single cupcake. It looked dry and unappealing, the crumbs spilling off its sides triggering Levi.

Kenny dug a small candle out of his pocket and planted it in the middle of the cake before lighting a match and igniting it. He lit another and brought it to the cigar between his lips before slumping on a chair across from Levi.

"Make a wish. It's your birthday."

"How do you know?" asked Levi with a quirked brow. "You weren't around when I was born."

Kenny took a long drag, smoke soaring around his face and fading slowly to reveal his eerie smirk. "It is from now on."

Levi was smart enough not to press any further. No good ever came from unnecessarily angering the man who'd so willingly taken him under his wing. He stole a glance at the calendar hung to his left.

December 25.

The ghost of a smile pulled at Levi's lips before he closed his eyes, taking a few moments before blowing out the flame.

Clasping his hands behind his head, Kenny reclined in his seat, unconsciously mirroring his nephew's expression. He hadn't gotten his money back and wasted an entire day roaming the streets for an open bakery, but at least Kuchel would be proud, wherever she was.

And from now on, they would have a reason to celebrate this day, though apart.