After witnessing her parent's brutal murder by the military cops, Katniss Burnedead is taken in by the Scouts, where Erwin sees the potential within her. He assigns her to train under Captain Levi, gradually earning the nickname "Levi's Kid." (stude...
The courtroom was silent, the tension palpable as the final words were spoken.
"All evidence against Kenny has been proven valid," the head councilman announced, his voice echoing across the large chamber. "Effective immediately, Kenny will be imprisoned until further notice, pending further investigation. Nigel Burnedead and Katniss Burnedead are officially exonerated of all accusations, with the court acknowledging its failure to conduct a proper investigation resulting in their names, previously tarnished by being labeled as traitors, are now cleared of all charges, and their honor is to be restored with immediate effect."
Kat let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. It was over. The evidence had come through. Her father's name had finally be cleared, and justice would be served. She glanced at Levi, who stood by her side with his usual calm, but there was a subtle glint of satisfaction in his eyes.
As the room began to empty, Erwin approached, clapping Levi on the shoulder and giving Kat a teasing grin. "Levi, you should have seen your little kid earlier," Erwin began with a chuckle, swinging Kat playfully. "She looked like a lost puppy, worried sick about you. Now look at her, jumping around like nothing happened."
A blush crept up Kat's face, her cheeks burning as she avoided Levi's eyes. Erwin's teasing tone only made it worse. She stole a quick glance at Levi, whose lips twitched into a smirk. That smirk—he was clearly enjoying this. His eyes held a glint of amusement, but there was something more, something warmer.
As they exited the courtroom, Erwin gave Levi a knowing look, leaving the two of them alone in the corridor. Levi walked ahead, his usual stride confident and composed, while Kat trailed slightly behind, her mind still swirling with everything that had happened.
Without turning back, Levi asked, his tone casual but curious, "Why were you so tense back then?" He kept his eyes forward as if the answer didn't really matter. "I told ya... I'd win."
Kat's heart skipped a beat at his question. Her hands gripped the papers she still carried. "I-I heard a gunshot," she stammered, her voice softer now, hesitant. "It felt different... almost like someone had been shot..."
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Levi's steps faltered slightly, and for the first time, he stopped and turned to look at her, his expression puzzled. "What exactly did you hear?" he asked, his brow furrowed.
Kat met his gaze, and as she did, he told her exactly what happened after she left.
Flashback
The moment she left the bar, Levi had stood his ground, face-to-face with Kenny. The fight had been brutal, each blow more violent than the last, as though they were both fighting with years of pent-up anger. Levi moved like a shadow, fast and precise, but Kenny was ruthless, always finding a way to strike back.
"Come on, Levi! Is this all you got?" Kenny taunted, his grin wide, gun in hand as he circled Levi.
Levi's eyes narrowed. He was done with words. With a quick flick of his wrist, Levi aimed the rifle he had grabbed at Kenny. But before he could pull the trigger, Kenny lunged at him, sending the two of them crashing into the side of the bar. Wood splintered, and glasses shattered as they fought for control.
With a sharp move, Levi managed to break free, kicking Kenny back and pulling the gun up once more. His breathing was labored, but his eyes burned with fury.
"Kennnyyyy!!" Levi roared, pulling the trigger.
The gunshot echoed in the night.
End of Flashback
Kat's eyes widened as the realization dawned on her—the gunshot she had heard hadn't been from Kenny. It was from Levi, and it had been directed at Kenny.
Her face flushed a deeper red as the realization set in. She stared at the ground, feeling a wave of embarrassment and relief all at once.
Levi, noticing the shift in her demeanor, raised an eyebrow. His usual smirk was back, his arms crossing casually. "Told ya I'd win," he said, his tone smug, his eyes closed as if he was basking in his own victory. "You should've seen it. Kenny didn't stand a chance. I—"
Before he could finish his sentence, he felt something soft against his lips, and the world seemed to stop.
Kat had leaned in, cupping his cheeks with her hands, her lips brushing against his in a kiss so soft, so unexpected, that Levi stood stunned, his mind blank. His heart skipped a beat, and for a split second, everything—Kenny, the court, the fight—faded away.
The air in the corridor seemed to still, a gentle breeze from the nearby window sending both of their hair flying as the moment lingered.
Kat pulled back, her face burning red with embarrassment, but there was a shy smile on her lips. She glanced up at Levi, eyes wide with a mixture of joy and nerves. Without another word, she turned on her heel and sprinted down the corridor, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
Levi blinked, still processing what had just happened. His cheeks warmed slightly, the barest hint of a blush creeping up his face as he watched her run off. A quiet chuckle escaped him, and he shook his head, smiling down at the floor.
His gaze slowly lifted to the window, where the setting sun cast a golden glow over the horizon. His eyes softened, and a rare thought slipped into his mind—a thought that felt foreign but comforting all the same.
"I have it," he murmured quietly to himself, his voice barely a whisper. "I finally have a home."
His eyes flickered back to where Kat had disappeared, and for the first time in a long while, Levi allowed himself to feel something more than just duty.
"Someone to look after... someone to come back to."
The End.
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone who took the time to read this story. I welcome constructive criticism, so feel free to share your thoughts. Keep an eye out for more of my upcoming works. Thank you!
