Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 25: The Deal

The morning sun barely filters through the thick clouds hanging over Trost as you and the squad walk down its rugged streets, your cloaks and backpacks a stark contrast to the civilians around you. The city still shows deep scars from the Titan attack not too long ago: crumbling walls, broken windows, and debris everywhere. Civilians are trickling back, faces worn and bodies thin, already struggling to rebuild. It reminds you of the underground—hungry, grimy, and hopeless faces.

You walk close to Levi while the rest of the group follows just behind. As you move through the streets, a murmur begins to grow from the crowd of civilians, and soon enough, people start to gather around you. Whispers and mutters turn into louder comments. They’re gawking at Levi, recognizing him immediately. But it’s not admiration in their eyes—there’s a hint of resentment, anger, even bitterness.

“Is that Captain Levi? Humanity’s Strongest Soldier?” one man sneers, glancing Levi up and down. “Never realized how short he is.’”

You tense, a surge of irritation prickling beneath your skin at the mocking tone. You steal a glance at Levi, but he’s as calm as ever, eyes narrowed and mouth set, betraying nothing.

"Move aside," Levi says in a low, commanding voice, gaze steady but distant, as though he’s already moving on. However, the people don't step aside. Instead, their grumbles grow louder.

"Move? You think we’re just gonna listen to some glorified brat who couldn’t even fully save us?" A man in the crowd snaps. “You all just disappeared when things got rough here.”

“We’ve lost our homes," another man adds, his voice shaky with anger. "The evacuation scared everyone off. What are we supposed to come back to?”

More voices pile on, recounting their struggles: lost jobs, empty stomachs, a city overrun by thieves in the absence of the Garrison. You can feel the frustration building like a palpable force pressing in on all sides. They look at you as if you’re somehow responsible for the misery clawing at their lives. Their resentment weighs heavily, stirring memories of the underground's hardships.

You bite down hard, forcing yourself to stay composed as their accusations intensify. They’re right, to a point—these people have lost almost everything. But it's when one of them mutters about how the Scouts do nothing while staying “well-fed” that you feel your fists tighten involuntarily. You glance back at your group, noting the tension in their stances, everyone on edge, ready to respond. Yet Levi remains calm, absorbing their words with an unreadable expression.

A flash of movement catches Levi's eye, and his calm gaze sharpens. "Watch out!" he shouts suddenly.

Everyone stops, turning to look around, startled and confused. The crowd seems just as puzzled, the anger in their faces flaring up even more at what they think is Levi’s attempt at a distraction.

“Oh, that’s right,” a burly man mocks, grabbing Levi by his cloak collar and jerking him forward. “You supposed to be some kind of hero? 'Cause I don’t see it.”

Levi’s expression doesn’t waver, but in a split second, he drives his knee upward, sending the man stumbling back. His movements are lightning-fast as he shoves the man behind him away, making space. He lunges back toward you, grabbing your arm, and pulls you to the side just as a cart thunders past, narrowly missing you.

Dust erupts into the air, and you hear the horses whinnying as the cart careens forward, nearly colliding with the crowd. You’re still catching your breath when the scene clears, only to spot three men in the distance—one steering the cart, two others already making off with members of your squad, their figures slipping out of sight in the commotion.