symbiosis » levi ackerman

chapter seven ; revelations.

Fallan

A loud knock on the door woke me with a start. I groaned and glanced at the clock. 9:54. Fuck.
I scrambled out of bed, running my hand through my matted hair. I looked at myself in the mirror - it wasn't a pretty sight. Greasy strands of hair limply framed my face, which was pasty and bruised. I ran out of my bedroom and into my office, opening the door hastily. Two military police I didn't recognise stood before me.
"Lieutenant Reid, I take it?" the shorter one of the two asked. I nodded slowly.
"May we come in? You might want to sit down." the other said. The now familiar pool of anxiety filled my stomach. I gulped and made my way over to the chair at my desk. The two officers perched on the sofa.
"New information has arisen surrounding the death of your brother, Edward Reid."
My heart dropped. An erratic pulse began to sound in my ears. Dread crept through me, turning my blood to ice.
"This wasn't an accident, Miss Fallan. We have reason to believe your brother was murdered by an individual named Kenny Ackerman, a well known underground-"
I froze. Ackerman... Ackerman!
I'd know that name anywhere.
I leaped from my seat, a spark of anger igniting within me. I balled my fists at my side and made a beeline for the door.
"Miss Fallan, please, if you would just-" one of the officers began as I strode past them and out of the door, slamming it behind me. I had only one destination in mind. My heart was screaming, my eyes filling with furious tears. I turned the corner, storming towards one particular door. There it was - Levi's office. As I strode towards it, I heard Erwin's voice rumble from inside - but I didn't care. Nothing mattered. I threw the door open and immediately headed for Levi, tears pouring from my eyes. I heard Erwin call my name but took no notice.
"You bastard!" I screamed, spitting each word with a violent passion. Levi stood still, looking directly at me. His face remained stony.
His lack of expression only seemed to infuriate me more. I grabbed at his shirt, wildly throwing my fists into his chest.
"You fucking bastard!" I yelled again, "You killed my brother!"
I went to throw another fist into Levi's chest, but felt my hand being held above my head. I tried to scream again but instead I was twisted around, and my face pressed against a broad chest as I was embraced. However, I knew it wasn't Levi. Instead of lemon and pine, I smelled clean cotton and firewood.
I let out a heartbroken cry, sobs wracking their way through my body as I felt myself go limp. The pain of my heart shattering was too much for my legs to handle as they collapsed. I screamed for Edward again and again until my voice was raw.

I had stayed there for a while, crying and screaming in Erwin's arms. He never said a word, but he knew my pain. It was the pain of the shattering realisation that my brother had been murdered. He hadn't tripped and fallen into the river after 1-too-many beers like everyone had guessed - someone had killed him in cold blood.
And that someone was related to the same Levi Ackerman I had poured my feelings out too. Had he known this whole time? Did he feel bad for me, and that was why he was so interested? Or maybe I was their next target, and he was simply getting close to me so he could leave me to the same fate as my brother. I didn't care. I didn't know what I'd do if I saw him - but I was damn glad he wasn't there when I had pulled away from Erwin.
I sat sniffling on Levi's sofa with a blanket wrapped around my shoulders - Erwin was sat opposite me staring intently. Guilt and embarrassment began to creep into me - I'd just cried in the arms of the commander. Weak.
"I hope you know he hates his Uncle as much as you currently do." he said softly. I scoffed at his words.
"I don't think that's possible." I replied bitterly, staring at the floor. So, Levi was Kenny's nephew. I looked around. Typically, Levi's office was spotless. It smelled of bleach and lemon.
"We found out just before you did."
My eyes snapped to Erwin, the spark of fury reigniting itself in my stomach.
"They told you about my brother's death, no- murder! Before I did?" I growled, rising from my seat.
Calm down.
"Yes, to ensure we were prepared for, well... That." Erwin replied calmly and waved his hand around the room, referencing my earlier outburst. I felt embarrassment creep its way through me yet again. It made sense, I was just letting my anger cloud my judgement. I sighed shakily and sat back down, racking a hand through my hair. If what Erwin was saying was true, then it wasn't anything to do with Levi, but still - the idea of even seeing him made me feel sick to my stomach.
Not only that, I had made myself seem weak in front of the Commander. I just couldn't comprehend the fact that Edward had been murdered. I racked my brain for an answer as to why. Edward was always the golden boy - the apple of my parents' eye. Everyone in Mitras adored him, he never got in any trouble and was respected throughout the town. Perhaps this Kenny Ackerman could've mugged him; stolen his money and left him for dead. However, I sensed there was something far more to this.
"Fallan, listen to me. Do not, under any circumstances, go after Kenny. He's dangerous, and-"
Erwin began but I shook my head. The feeling I'd felt all through my childhood began to resurface - the feeling of weakness. Of not being good enough, and knowing it.
"And you don't think I could kill him." I interrupted, smiling bitterly. Erwin opened his mouth to reply, then closed it again. That was all the answer I needed.
"I understand. I won't go after him myself yet, I know I'm not strong enough." I began.
"But I will be someday. That man will die for what he did."