Faults ~Levi x Reader AU~

Chapter 29: Justice Will be Served

"Holy shit," Hanji gasped, glancing between Marco and I. "Really? Your ex is facing charges for assault and attempted rape?"

I nodded confidentially, "Yeah. Apparently, I'm not the only victim he's had." I shrank down into my seat, drawing my limbs near. "I'm just the only one he was fixated on." I bit my bottom lip, fighting back tears. "Because of me...he hurt others...because of me those other girls were...they were..."

"He was a woman beater," Marco finished, his tone low. "It's not your fault that he acted out. He wasn't going to stop."

"Agreed," Hanji nodded. "Though you were his main fixation, he used his power to maintain control in other relationships as well." She moved closer to me, placing her hand on my back. "But, that all said, what are you gonna do?"

I opened my mouth to answer but paused. I knew I should have gone with my original plan and obliged to face Andy at his trial, but as the hours ticked by, the more utterly petrified I became. Just the thought of that monster being in the same room as me made my skin crawl. In fact, just thinking about him in general made me want to vomit. So, I was uncertain I could even face him ever again...but, for the sake of the other women he beat...for the other women he left mental scars on...for the women whose lives he had destroyed as he had destroyed mine...I had to face him. I had to go to his trial to share my testimony...to put his ass away. I never wanted to see Andy's face again after that. Ever.

I bit my bottom lip and breathed, "I'm...I'm going...I'm gonna go to Andy's trial. I have to." I clinched my hands into fists. "I have to put that monster away...to save the next woman from him."

"Are you sure?" Hanji whispered. "Are you sure you can handle that?"

"Yeah," Marco interjected. "That trial might stress you out. What about Peiper?"

"I can do this. I have to do this," I said sternly. "If I don't...if he's left to wander the streets...only God knows what he'll do to another girl."

I watched as both Hanji and Marco exchanged sad glances. I didn't need them to verbalize what they were thinking. That was an unnecessary and pointless action for them to do. I knew they were against my plan. They preferred I'd just stay far away from anything that involved Andy. And, I wished I could have. I wished for nothing more than to just bury my head in the sand and ignore it all. But, my morality prevented me from doing so. I had to do what was right.

"I hate to say it, but we can't stop you," Hanji sighed, massaging her temple with her fingers. "If you're really that hellbent on this, then we'll support ya...no matter how against it we are."

"Just promise you won't bite off more than you can chew," Marco pleaded, his soft eyes boarding into mine.

I smiled at the two and nodded, "Thanks you guys. I promise I'll be careful."

"Yeah, yeah," Hanji breathed. "What did shorty say about all this? Surely he had an input."

I thought back to the day prior, remembering how for the fraction of a second Levi's face was masked over by surprise and then anger before fading back to his usual stoic expression. It had taken me aback. Though he had been showing me more kindness and attention since discovering my pregnancy, we still hadn't declared anything. I was oblivious to what it was between us. So, seeing him with that upset expression was not something I expected. Then again, seeing his reaction to everything from Peiper to the whole Andy ordeal was something I had never foresaw. It was all strange to me.

I ran my fingers through my hair and stammered, "H-he...he wasn't necessarily thrilled about it, but he wants to see Andy put away just as much as I do. He just doesn't want me to go alone."