Partners in Crime Fighting

5. The Guns

LEVI: The days passed by. I felt no closer to unlocking what happened to my mother when I was five.

Hanji often told me the brats were growing on me. I wouldn't have admitted it aloud, but they were.

Eren was still a little shit, but he was less of a shit when Mikasa was around. Armin was the least problematic, though slower in pace. He was smart though, and he often helped Hanji in the lab.

Hanji had come to think of us as a family, but I dismissed the idea.

One night over a dinner of Hanji's delicious meatloaf and mashed potatoes, Armin said, "Levi, we've already thanked you, but we want to say that if you hadn't taken us in, we might have been separated. For once, the three of us have an inkling of hope."

"You're welcome, Armin. But thank Hanji; Shit Glasses here was begging on the floor to keep you three." I ruffled Hanji's hair.

"Aww, thanks Levi!" Hanji gushed, kissing my cheek.

"Are you two dating? I guess it never really occurred to me before..." Eren said.

"You could say that..." I said. I didn't really consider us boyfriend-and-Hanji-friend, but I supposed we were dating in a way. I really was in love with Hanji, but I never said it aloud. And Hanji knows I'm in love, but I always assumed the kisses Hanji gave me were completely platonic.

"You're really cute together!" Armin said.

"Shut up and eat your meatloaf." I muttered, feeling my cheeks heat up.

"Aww, Neat Freak is getting all blushy-wushy!" Hanji exclaimed, pinching my cheek.

The corner of my mouth tugged my lips into a smirk, dying to be a smile.

"Hey Armin, I bought these cool new slides if you wanna check them out under the microscope with me!" Hanji said.

"Yeah, that'd be great!" Armin agreed.

"Levi, can you help Eren and me improve our combat skills?" Mikasa asked.

"Sure," I replied.

After dinner, I went outside with Mikasa and Eren. The sun was almost ready to set.

"What did you need work with?" I asked.

"We want to learn to shoot guns." Mikasa said.

"You know I said--" I began, but Eren cut me off.

"Please, Levi? We could help so much more if we knew how to shoot!"

I sigh. "I don't have any guns you can use, we'd have to buy guns. Did Armin want to learn, too?"

"Yeah, but he wanted us to ask you," Eren noted. "He's kind of shy, and he's a little afraid of you."

"I understand. Alright, tomorrow morning we'll go get you three guns." I decide.

"Thank you, sir!" Eren beamed.

"Right, now get to bed."

"Yes sir!" They disappeared back into the house.

I shook my head. "Damn brats." I smirked. I looked up at the moon, it's silver light cloaking me and casting a shadow behind me.

I felt a pang in my heart. I could still hear their voices. I'll avenge you.

The next morning, the five of us went down to the gun store.

"Helloooooo Mike!" Hanji sang, prancing into the shop.

"Hey Hanji, Levi, what can I do for you two?" Mike asked.

"We're here to give these three handguns." I announced.

Mike Zacharius, the owner of the shop, was the one who sold me Isabel and Farlan and had sold Hanji Sawney and Bean. He had even engraved our guns with their names. Mike was also one of my good friends.

"These kids?" He raised an eyebrow. "Alright then. Let's get you three fitted."

It took about a half an hour to figure out which guns the kids could use. Armin was the most difficult to find, since his gun had to be lighter than Mikasa's and Eren's.

"Do you kids want to name your guns? I think it makes them easier to use." Mike said.

"Carla," Eren announced. "After my mom."

"I'm naming mine after my mom, too," Mikasa said. She wrote down the name. "I'd like it in Japanese, but if English is easier then it's spelled like this."

Then Armin took the paper and pencil. "This is my grandfather's name." He said.

"Alright I'll get to engraving those." Mike said.

While working, he asked, "How are Isabel and Farlan doing? They were my best work."

"You make all these guns yourself?" Armin inquired.

"Yep, all hand-made. None are exactly alike." Mike replied, not taking his eyes off the engraving.

"They're still the only guns I've used since--since my first guns broke," I said, lying about the last part. Mike knew what had happened to them, but he knew not to bring it up.

"Are Sawney and Bean still good?"

"Yep, work like new!" Hanji agreed.

"Good." He finished the engraving and handed each kid their gun. "Use them wisely."

I bought several packages of blanks before we said goodbye to Mike and left the shop.

When we got home, we started practicing them right away.

Hanji gave Armin his own private lessons while I taught Mikasa and Eren.

"I'm one step closer to killing the Titans!" Eren announced.

"Shut your mouth, brat," I snapped, "someone's gonna hear you. I don't want the neighbors thinking I'm training murderers, because that's not what I do."

"Sorry sir," Eren mumbled.

"But it is true; you are one step closer to avenging her." I nodded.