The Humanity's Strongest & The Graceful

Just T

While a happier occasion commenced on the surface, down below had other plans for celebrating. The Underground had filled the brim with people drinking in the local bars or fighting in the streets. Darkness always shrouded the poor city under the splendorous one above until it didn't, but only for a moment. There was a time when a radiant light touched the dark metropolis, but it soon disappeared. After it did, the Underground had become progressively worse over the past fifteen years. It became routine for some people to go on with their lives after the light faded, except for one person with stunning gray eyes.

Levi's POV:

Fifteen years. Fifteen years and I still thought about her. Whether it was from the scars on my body or the scent of strawberries and vanilla from the handkerchief she used to heal my busted lip, I couldn't get Tessa out of my head. On the day of Tessa's birthday, Kenny left without saying a word. After I saw him walk away, I expected him to return with Tessa and Vanessa, but he never did, nor did Vanessa and Tessa show up. A week after Kenny left and still no visit from Tessa, I and the rest of the Underground had learned the awful truth about the Linds. On Tessa's birthday, someone murdered Vanessa, but Tessa disappeared. While most of the people of the Underground wept at the loss of their hope, I screamed in rage because I was alone again. I hoped Kenny would come back and Tessa would be with him. I held onto that faith until I decided to let go because of the pain. After accepting that I had lost everyone, I built walls around myself to not risk attachment. I admitted that I didn't deserve to be happy or loved. The people in my life have died, left, or disappeared, and I remain alone. I accepted that fate until I met Furlan Church.

Like any other day in the Underground, I'm on my way home from a job I was hired for. The same home I lived with Kenny is now mine, and I am alone. I have done a few odd jobs while keeping a low profile to keep myself busy and my skillset in check. Apparently, I didn't do a good enough job of remaining unnoticed because I caught the attention of a few guys in the Underground. Before I turned the corner of my walk, I met the group, but I was already annoyed and tired to face this, "Can I help you?" I ask while crossing my arms. The guy in the middle is tall and has ashen-brown hair and a cocky smirk I want to slap off. The guy opens his arms wide enough, "Yes, my friends and I would like to challenge you in a test of strength!" He boasts, "Are you interested?" He asks as stepping forward, but I look him up and down and raise a brow at the group in front of me, "Why?" I ask in an annoyed tone. The ashen-haired man grins widely at me, which I know is either a good or bad sign, "We heard rumors of someone having immense strength, and all of them point to you." He explained, to which I scoffed because I should've known that this would happen. I poke my cheek with my tongue and raise a brow, "And?" I ask, already knowing where this conversation is going. I am already in a bad mood, so I don't want to deal with anyone, but this guy, who must be the leader, is persistent.

All the men around the ashen-haired share a look before they look back at me. I roll my eyes because they stare at each other silently and look at me like I can read their fucking minds. I watch the ashen one smirk at me, and I know what it means. One by one, the men around him charge at me, and I assume they underestimated their opponent. I may be small in stature due to my poor health when I was a child, but my strength is a whole other story. This challenge wasn't what I had in mind for releasing my anger, but what the hell? As each of them came to land an attack, I dodged it before throwing them to the ground, "Satisfied?" I ask as I toss the last guy to the ground, to see the leader's eyes widen with a massive grin, "Wow, I'm impressed," The ashen-haired responds, "Furlan Church." He greets me while holding out his hand. I click my tongue, "Tch. Levi," I reply, then I look at my hands, "Tch." I scoff as I look at my palms in disgust. I reach into my pocket for the handkerchief with the embroidered blue T hanging in one of the corners of the delicate white linen. No matter how much I cleaned the cloth, the scent of strawberries and vanilla remained. 'Sorry about the mess, Angel.' I whisper to myself. Angel became Tessa's nickname for me after we met. Though, I never told her. I remembered I wasn't alone, and I looked up.