Erwin had marched nearly the full length of the barracks' easternmost breezeway before Levi caught up with him; he could hear the slightly quicker tap of his boots on the stone as he measured his pace to keep up. For a moment he wanted to tell Levi to turn back, to wait for him out on the grounds until he was done being dressed down and very likely disowned, but he didn't. Other soldiers were milling about, going this way and that about their own business, and Erwin had no interest in making a scene, especially as one promised to unfold shortly anyway, beyond his control. He was feeling something very strange as he tried to steel himself for what was coming.

It wasn't fear. His mother Iseult had told him time and again that she was quite certain he'd been born without fear, at least for himself. As a child he'd scaled the palace towers, eaten any manner of strange insect he could find in the garden, and had begun his horse riding lessons on the head cook's faithful draught horse, a creature who stood some eighteen hands high, when he was barely six. Erwin did not meet often with fear, and the few times he did so were calm and cordial encounters.

Nor was it anxiety, though the urgency in it felt similar. He listened to the unhesitating step of Levi's pace at his back, the long familiar quiet clanking of a full Gear set as its wearer moved, and the image of a faithful beast crept into his head again, unbidden. The boy had been furious at him moments before, but had still turned to follow him when it had become clear Erwin was experiencing some measure of distress.

'Levi, ' he said, sensing Levi's attention on him, 'Whatever happens, you aren't required to answer to anyone but me, here. Do you understand? '

'Sure, ' Levi said. He didn't sound winded in the slightest, though he must have jogged a bit to catch up. Erwin half turned, glancing at him, and Levi met his eyes as he did. His dark brow was furrowed, somewhere between consternation and what might have been worry.

'Good. ' As the word left him Erwin understood abruptly what it was he was feeling. It was anger.

How dare he,

he thought, eyes forward fixedly.

How dare he come here to dress me down in front of the entire barracks. He has no right.

He rounded the breezeway corner into one of the open meeting alcoves. Egon was facing the entryway, tall and pale and imposing in his fine clothes, his expression coldly furious as he spoke swiftly and quietly with another man who had his back turned. His words died in mid sentence the moment Erwin came into view, and his eyes fixed on his son like a hunting snake's.

'Well, ' he said, evenly. 'I see what the Commander has been telling me is true. '

'I apologize, Lieutenant Smith, ' said the other man, turning to face him with a faint and apologetic smile. 'It wasn't my intention to get you into some kind of trouble. Or, in fact, to inform Lord Smith about this recent to-do at all. '

Erwin kept his expression calm by an effort of will. The other man was as bald as an egg, with deep lines around his eyes and mouth and a neatly kept mustache gone white with age.

'Commander Pixis, ' he said, and saluted sharply. He had only encountered the Wall Garrison commander a few times since his enlistment, but nearly everyone knew the man on sight. He seemed to be everywhere, at once, in every district; he kept friends in places both high and low, and to all reports valued them equally. He was known as an eccentric to most, but Captain Hamlin had always spoken of him with high and personal esteem, and so far as Erwin was concerned her opinions had greater weight than those of the peerage. Of course Pixis would be acquainted with Egon Smith ' Egon was a vocal and monetary supporter of the military forces, and kept close ties with any member of the brass in particular standing ' but Erwin was fairly sure that Pixis would keep his own council as to Erwin's recent actions. From behind him, he heard a vague humming noise, as though Levi had read his mind, and had decided this was a surprisingly interesting development.

'At ease, ' Pixis said, waving a hand slightly. 'I only tagged along with Egon here because we were rather in the middle of a conversation when he decided to march off. ' He tipped his head a little, canny eyes looking past Erwin. 'Ah, hello. You must be the man of the hour. '

There was no response from behind him, and Erwin didn't look to check on Levi's response. Egon was still staring at him.

'I would like for you to explain yourself to me, Erwin, ' he said. 'I assume there is an extremely good reason for this ' this. ' He made a faint gesture with one hand in Erwin and Levi's direction. 'You are a clever boy, I'm aware, so I'm certain it's a very impressive and interesting story. '

'Sir, ' Erwin said, maintaining eye contact. 'I suppose it is. '

'You suppose. ' Egon smiled thinly, like the sharp edge of a knife had just appeared across his face in place of a mouth. 'I don't know what sort of people you 'suppose' the Smith family is comprised of, but I can assure you we are neither a family of storytellers, nor one of heretics. '

'Heretics, sir? ' Erwin could hear the maddening reasonableness in his own tone, and he felt an unmistakable pang of smug satisfaction. The color beginning to grow in Egon's cheeks was one of the first signs Erwin had ever seen of his father losing control of his temper properly. 'I'm sorry, I'm not sure I understand. '

Indeed, Egon bristled, slight but visible. 'Are you trying to make a mockery of me? ' he demanded, stepping forward. 'Is this some latent teenage rebellion you've kept to yourself all this time? What in God's name possessed you to ' to take charge of this creature against the wishes of both the military court and society itself? '

'You said yourself that the trial was a mockery of justice, sir, ' Erwin said. 'I agree with you. '

'You agree with-- ' Egon stopped and took a breath, bringing the volume of his voice under control with an obvious effort. 'You twist my words. '

'No, sir. ' Erwin shook his head slightly, but did not take his eyes off his father. 'You thought he should be given a fair trial, and this is what I consider fair. '

'You are not the law! ' Egon bellowed, his voice ringing suddenly off the stone. A few gawking new officers nearby decided there was something much more interesting to be found in the training yard and scurried away. Erwin took a step back despite himself, and found himself shoulder to shoulder with Levi, who hadn't moved.

Egon stormed forward, and before Erwin could even make sense of his action he'd seized Levi under the chin, half dragging him forward and jerking his head upright at a painful angle. The Gear he was wearing clanked heavily. Levi made a faint grunting sound of surprise, his hands half lifting to protect himself, then dropping again a little helplessly. His eyes had gone very wide, but he was still, terribly still.

'Do you not recognize the heretical when you see it, Erwin? ' Egon said, giving Levi a rough shake. 'Look at him! Is it not obvious what he is? '

'Father, ' Erwin begin, and Egon gave another yank, turning Levi around fully to face Erwin. His fingers were digging cruelly into Levi's jaw and throat, but the boy still made no move to pull away, though Erwin could see the rage in his eyes and the wideness of his flared nostrils.

'Look at him, ' Egon repeated, his voice a hiss. 'Does he look like a proper and God fearing human being to you? He's a God-forsaken Mystic! One of the Wandering Heretics! A Wall-Breacher! '

Erwin knew the words, and what they referred to. Everyone knew. Even in an organized society like theirs, even behind safe walls and in the warm glow of God and certainty, there were outsiders. It was said they'd come along only a few years after the Walls had gone up, from somewhere out in the abandoned world, bearing unholy magics and God-defying traditions, that they'd brought diseases of body and soul alike with them. Most of the Mystic people lived in close groups of small neighborhoods, often forced up against the nearest Wall to avoid mixing with normal people. At first, it was said, they'd spoken of travel beyond the Walls, of distant and impossible civilizations of other peoples who had rejected God's gift of imposing physical protection, but a few decades worth of civilizing at the hands of the Wallist Church had convinced them of the value of silence. Erwin had no concept of them beyond that. He'd never needed to have one. He'd only needed to know enough to know that they were different, and meant to be kept far away from civilized lives such as his.

'A Mystic, ' he repeated, and glanced up at Pixis, who regarded him in kind with a expression of perfect indifference. There was no help from that quarter, neither in explanation or in freeing Levi from Egon's arrogant breach of the boy's bodily autonomy.

He met Levi's eyes again. The boy was pale all over now, breathing hard through his nose, his skin reddened where Egon was gripping him. There was some plea in his expression, something furious and repulsed ' not a cry for salvation, or even for understanding.

Erwin thought he knew.

You haven't earned it,

he heard again, that persistent echo of the last day and a half, but this time there was an addition, one just as angry and just as wounded.

But try to. Try. Try, for once in your stupid, easy life. Live up to it. Live up to me.

Calmly he took Egon's wrist in a strong grip and wrenched it smoothly to one side. His father made a sound he'd never heard before, and suspected he never would again ' a pained and shocked sound.

'Levi, ' Erwin said, 'Come and stand behind me again, please. '

Levi lowered his head, slowly, and stepped away from Egon without looking back. Erwin kept his grip on Egon's arm, even as his father stared up at him, his face contorted with rage and disbelief. He caught a brief glimpse of Commander Pixis, standing out of the way, watching them all with a vaguely thoughtful expression.

'How dare you- ' Egon began, but Erwin raised his voice over the protest, the authority of certainty flooding him.

'No, ' he said. 'I understand that you are dismayed by this choice I've made, Father. I suspected you would be. If you like, We can discuss further details of what it entails in private, in reasonable and civilized voices. However, I have taken personal responsibility for Levi, here. His crimes of action are also my responsibility, which is why I have pledged ' ' his voice rose again, by way of projection rather than volume, '--to end his life with my own hands if he fails me. As such, you will not touch him. '

He let go.

Egon staggered back again, momentarily off balance, and tried to bluster his way back into some position of dignity and authority. Erwin watched him coolly, thinking for the first time in his life how interesting it was that at only twenty five, he was several inches taller than his father, and certainly built more strongly as well.

He turned, and smiled at Pixis, cordial. 'There's no need to apologize, Commander, ' he said. 'The situation is perfectly under control. '

Pixis nodded, as though the incident had been nothing more than a brief philosophical discussion. 'Clearly, ' he said, and looked at Levi again. 'Levi, isn't it? Not 'Rivaille.' '

'Yes, sir, ' Levi said, without resistance.

Pixis smiled, and then he said something in a language Erwin had never heard before, something rolling and guttural, but oddly elegant. Erwin glanced at Levi. The boy's mouth was open in apparent shock. After a moment, however, he lifted his head and replied, a word or two that sounded similar. Pixis nodded again, his question obviously answered.

'Well, ' he said, 'That's fine. I'm told the two of you will be showing us the results of your teamwork in at the end of the week? '

'Yes, sir, ' Erwin said. 'Levi has a number of good ideas regarding the better use of our Gear and our combat training time. '

'Does he, now? ' Pixis sounded genuinely pleased. 'I'm glad to hear it. It's long past time someone tried to shake things up a bit. Smith, you haven't considered a reassignment to Survey Corp by chance, have you? Seems to me those poor bastards could use some new ideas more than anyone. '

'Ridiculous, ' Egon said. His voice was a little rough, but he seemed deflated, now, uncertain. 'Absolutely ridiculous. The entire exercise is a waste of time and resources ' of my own money, in fact. ' Some of the fire seemed to return to him, and he fixed on Erwin again.

'Your mother is a decent woman, ' he said, 'Despite her position of birth. She would be ashamed of this behavior. I'm ashamed of it. I want nothing further to do with it. ' He drew himself up again. 'From this point on I wash my hands of you. You are no longer my son. You never should have been in the first place. I will no longer be held responsible for your outrageous behavior, nor will I be embarrassed by your ' tainted associations. '

Before Erwin could muster a response, Levi spoke up abruptly.

'You know what's embarrassing? ' he said. 'A man who's obviously got no problem with adultery lecturing anybody about fucking decorum or outrageous behavior. '

'He has a point, ' Erwin murmured. 'I'm not sure you're in a position to make judgments about such things. Despite your position of birth. '

Egon's mouth snapped shut. Pale spots had appeared beneath his eyes, and the lines around his mouth were jaggedly drawn by the tension in his face. He looked at Pixis a little wildly, and then whirled around and stormed away. Idling MP officers were forced to step out of his way as he went.

Erwin felt a little light-headed. 'That, I suppose, is that, ' he said, and nodded at Pixis. 'I'm sorry for the scene, sir. I had no intention of... of... well. ' He smiled, weakly. 'Of any of that. '

'Nor did Egon, I think, ' Pixis said. He'd hooked his thumbs into his uniform belt, and was staring off in the direction Egon had gone. 'Shame. He'll probably vote to have Levi killed no matter how well you do. He'll have the right as a financial backer, of course. '

Levi snorted, utterly untouched by the possibility. 'Whatever happens to me, ' he said, 'It won't change the fact that he's a pathetic piece of shit. '

'It isn't his decision, ' Erwin said. 'Nothing to do with me is, anymore. ' He felt a little hollow, saying it. 'I hope he's not expecting me to change my name. That'd be a great deal of hassle. '

'Smith is common enough, ' said Pixis. He straightened up and leaned over, trying to get a glimpse of the sun through the breezeway. 'Ah, it must be about noon. I should get going. ' He turned a little, and held out his hand to Levi, who took it. 'I'm looking forward to hearing what you've got in mind, ' he said. 'Do let me know if you need anything. '

'Of course, sir, ' Erwin said. 'I ' thank you for your faith. '

'I like a bit of a gamble, now and then. ' Pixis grinned at him, and stepped between them. 'Good luck, ' he added over his shoulder.

***

'What did he say to you? ' Erwin asked, hesitant.

They'd returned to Erwin's apartment immediately after Erwin's disowning; the desire to continue working had decidedly left Erwin, and it seemed to have left Levi too. The boy had taken up a perch on the back of the sofa in the living area, with an unfamiliar, defeated sort of slump to his shoulders. He looked up at the sound of Erwin's voice. There were livid marks on his jaw and upper throat, solidifying into bruises still.

'He asked me what my family was. ' He paused. 'There are different types of... us. '

Erwin hesitated again, and then sat on the opposite end of the sofa, watching him. Levi looked away, fingers curling around the edge of the sofa's back.

'What did you tell him? '

'

Ashkenazim.

' Levi's eyes were on the window, and the wall beyond. 'That's what we call ourselves. We used to live in the North Corner against the other side of Sina. '

'You're from the other side. '

'Yeah. '

'Did you climb over? '

Levi glanced at him, and to Erwin's surprise he smiled a little, genuine. 'You think I'm pretty amazing, I guess, ' he said. 'No Wall can stop me. '

Erwin smiled back. 'I do, ' he said. Levi shook his head.

'I didn't climb it, ' he said. 'I went up a few quarters and stowed away on a ferry through the Sina gate. '

'Why did you leave? '

Levi fell silent for a long moment then, and his gaze drifted away towards the window again.

'There was a plague, ' he said at last, putting his chin in his hand and resting his elbow on his knee. 'I don't know how old I was. Old enough to walk. Everyone got sick. I got better. My parents and sisters didn't. Most other people didn't either, and the ones who did moved away. Eventually, the military decided to burn the village to keep the illness from spreading to anybody else. ' He rolled his slim shoulders in a shrug. 'I ran. I didn't want to die. '

Erwin leaned back against the sofa's arm, watching him. He watched to touch him, then, and not selfishly as before ' he wanted to reach past that cold exterior and offer comfort, some reassurance that all of Levi's running hadn't been in vain. A part of him thought that the boy wouldn't reject it, either; that something in his solitary existence craved contact, even if it was only one person, someone who knew who and what he was and accepted it. He had the impression that Levi could fearlessly face any of the world's horrors, so long as he knew someone was standing behind him. That someone was guiding him. With that sort of armor, nothing would stop him. But without it, he wouldn't have a chance.

He moved over, until his shoulder bumped the boy's knee, and he reached up and took one of Levi's dangling hands in his own.

'I don't... know everything, ' he said, slowly. 'About you, or where you come from ' or how you... how you are, even. But I would like to understand. '

Levi looked down at their joined hands, and then he nodded slightly.

'Understand, ' he said evenly, 'That I would've broken his arm if I hadn't thought you were going to do something about it. ' The calm viciousness in his voice nearly made Erwin shiver, and not really with discomfort. 'No matter what it cost me. '

'Yes. ' Erwin did understand.

'Good. ' Levi pulled his hand free, but didn't draw away entirely. He looked down at Erwin, seeming a little puzzled, this time. 'Why did you say 'if he fails me'? '

Erwin frowned. 'When? '

'You said you'd end my life if I failed you. ' Levi was giving him that look again, that steady and searching look. 'Not them. They're supposed to be the ones who decide if I pass or not, aren't they? But you said 'me.' '

I have pledged to end his life with my own hands if he fails me.

Erwin squared his shoulders slightly. 'I said what I meant, ' he replied. 'I don't care about their judgment. They're frightened, small minded, lazy and complacent. They might decide you should die no matter what happens. But I'm not doing this for them. Your life doesn't belong to them. '

'Who does it belong to? ' Levi murmured, lowering his head. He looked strangely curious.

Erwin felt an answer emerging, a single, decisive word on the back of his tongue, one that felt as sharp and as certain as the cut of a blade through flesh.

He's not an animal,

his own voice said, returning the memory of only a day before. It felt like a lifetime.

He's not an animal.

He swallowed the word, and chose a different one.

'You. Your life is your own. '

Levi made an odd little noise in the back of his throat. He sat up again, and turned to slide off the back of the sofa the other way.

'Fine, ' he said, and Erwin could sense the chill in him. 'I'm going to go sit in my room and think about how to fix all your problems for you, then. I hope that's okay. '

He was hurt, Erwin realized, and he stood up as well. 'Levi. '

'You think I'd just let some motherfucker touch me like that? ' Levi said calmly, turning to face him. 'You think I'm some helpless little kid? You think I've ever in my life stood still and let some old fuck paw my face and talk bullshit about my dead fucking family? ' He tipped his head, like a schoolteacher expecting a proper response from a wayward pupil, perfectly in control. 'Well? '

'Why did you? ' Erwin said. He was too drained for dismay or for hurt of his own. The only thing left was reason.

'Because right now my life is yours, ' Levi said, the slightest hint of a growl beginning, 'Not mine, and I'm trying real fucking hard to hold up my end of this bargain, even if you're just going to fuck it up and forget about it once I'm dead. '

He lunged forward suddenly, as he'd done before, and Erwin was too slow, this time.

They crashed to the floor, Levi's weight against his stomach and his hands gripping at Erwin's shoulders. One of Levi's knees was pressed between his legs painfully, and Erwin winced as his teeth fixed deeply into the side of his neck, breaking the skin. A surge of electric feeling coursed through him with the contact, and this time it felt familiar. It felt like certainty again.

'Get off me, ' Erwin said. He felt Levi's teeth clench again and swallowed a noise of pain. 'Levi. Get off. '

For a long and agonizing moment the pressure remained, on his stomach and against his thigh and his cock, and then Levi drew back. He dropped to his knees as Erwin sat up, his pale eyes fixed on Erwin's face and body as though waiting for a sign of retaliation.

Erwin put his fingertips to the throbbing mark in his neck. They came away slightly bloody.

'Levi, ' he said. 'Just stay there. ' He eyed the boy for a moment, then added, 'And sit up straight. '

Levi's hooded eyes searched his face. He drew his legs up and crossed them, slowly, then straightened out his back and let his hands rest on his thighs. Erwin surveyed him briefly, then got to his feet and went into the little kitchen to fetch the water jug. He dampened a dish towel and pressed it to his neck, the sting of it barely touching him.

'If I'm displeasing you, ' he said, 'From now on, you will inform me. If you aren't sure how to word it, then... ' He turned. Levi hadn't moved. He wore an expression of careful attention.

'Then figure something out, ' he finished, aware that it wasn't as precise as it could have been, but unable to word it any more eloquently. 'I meant what I said. I want to understand. But you have to help me. '

'You're going to bleed on your shirt, ' Levi said.

Erwin clapped the damp towel to his neck again. 'Thank you. '

'You pretend to be a passive suck up, ' Levi said, lifting his head. 'And you do it so much it's what you've become. It's not pretending if it's all you ever do, Erwin. I've known you for a day and I can tell how full of it you are, even if you've fooled everyone else. '

'People prefer to assume my cooperation, ' Erwin said quietly. 'But I suppose you have a point. '

'Yeah, I do. ' Levi slumped a little. 'Shit, you piss me off. '

Erwin dabbed at his neck again, trying to ensure that no more blood dribbled down onto his collar, and then he set the towel aside. Levi looked up at him suspiciously as he knelt in front of him, and stiffened as Erwin took him by the shoulders.

'If anyone touches you that way ever again, ' Erwin said, 'Don't wait for my word. Show them yourself why it's a mistake. ' One hand left Levi's shoulder to touch his bruised face gently, and he felt the boy's jaw tighten with stubborn self-possession.

'Relax, ' he murmured. Levi looked up at him, doubt and frustration in his eyes, but then the reassurance in Erwin's voice seemed to filter in. He huffed quietly, and Erwin felt his body unwind, felt him loosen like a man unbound. His hands dropped from his thighs and he turned his head just slightly, pressing his cheek into Erwin's palm. His eyes closed.

'I have you, ' Erwin said.

They remained that way for quite some time.