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For a sixteen year old, he was rather strong, he took some pride in his strength and skills. But than again, almost anyone could give a tweleve year old girl a piggy back when she refused to be let him actually touch her and she wasn't able to walk by herself.

He had to wipe away the memory of when he broke the chain to the metal cuff around her ankle. Infected pus just oozing out from her fresh wound from where the metal had rubbed against her raw skin roughly, scraping away her pale skin. He also tried not to think about the memory of her biting his hand and scratching at him when he first broke the chain, clearly it hurt to have the sudden weight pulled away and make some of the healed skin around her ankle be yanked away by the shift of the cuff around her ankle. 

He was just glad that her nails were too broken to actually cut him when she scratched at him, just leaving red lines that were already fading away with each passing the second. He was also rather thankful for the fact that she didn't break any skin when biting him.

He did yell at her, after all she was biting and scratching him why he was trying to get a better look at her ankle. Turns out he won't be able to break the metal cuff, it would need a blacksmith hands to break it. 

Lucky for the both of them, it was still late evening and most would be home unless they were the drunks. 

His jacket was currently the only bit of clothing she had on, he did up all three buttons to try and cover her up a bit better. Thankfully the jacket was doing it's job good enough, only her legs were bare now and unless they looked close, no one would think she was nude under his jacket. 

He was leading them towards the blacksmith along this road, he's heard of the guy being a decent human and well, hopefully he'll help without asking any questions over the girl state. He felt a little awkward himself, his hands were tucked in his pocket while her legs looped through the hoop his arms now made, it was the only way he was able to actually give her the piggy back ride since she was refused him touching her, as long as his hands stayed in his pocket, she'll behave on his back. Her small hands gripping at his shoulders and he really feared she'll rip the shirt soon but he stayed silent and carried on walking. 

Finally reaching the blacksmiths to find them close by candle light still burned inside. He used the girl uninjured foot to push down on the door handle before moving the door open for them. He stepped inside, the blacksmith still dressed to do his work and currently working on a small metal pin used for carts. It was old fashion, wouldn't be used nowadays by the look of it. 

"I'm not the one to do this to her" Was the first words to leave Levi lips as the blacksmith stared at him and than to the girl who head was popped over his right shoulder to get a look at the blacksmith. Both of them most likely looked a mess right now and neither looked as innocent as they were trying to act.

"What do you need?" The blacksmith asked as he walked around his working station, grabbing an old wooden chair and carrying it over before placing it down. Nodding his head for the girl to sit on it for him to get a better look over the chained cuff, he had a feeling that's why the two were here.

Levi glanced to the girl, snapping his head back straight away as she snarled at him for getting too close to her face. Rolling his eyes as her snarls died down why he walked towards the chair. Awkwardly turning around before squatting down the best he could without the use of his hands, feeling the girl unhook herself from him before plopping down on the chair. He stood up once more, taking a calming breath and rolling his shoulders a little.

"We need the cuff off her ankle but it's worn down her skin rather bad, it's a tender area for her" Levi explained with a frown, turning to the blacksmith who was collecting tools.

"By the look of it, it hasn't been opened since it was placed on her .. I would think it would be a tender spot for her skin" The blacksmith shot back, amused over the sixteen year old way of wording it all. 

"Tsk" Levi hissed back in irritation, he wasn't looking for sass but just for the blacksmith to be able to free the girl from the metal chain cuff. He glanced to the girl who kept her eyes on the blacksmith, finding him a bigger threat let himself right now. Levi wasn't sure if he should laugh or feel insulted that she thought the blacksmith was a bigger threat than him.

"I'll be able to cut it off without catching her but the rubbing will mostly hurt her until I can just undo the metal cuff. If she's a screamer we'll need to gag her since I don't have anything for her to take and I won't give the girl alcohol either, she's too young for that pain number. You don't want her crying out, not unless you want Garrison soldiers or MPs called over" The blacksmith said as he started kneeling down by her feet, placing his tools down why the girl started to growl.

"Oi, stop! He's here to help, he'll get that ugly thing of your angel .. you won't be chained anymore" Levi huffed out, glaring at the girl a little as she sent him a glare why he spoke. 

Her growl faded, she just frowned and glared at the blacksmith instead as he got ready to try and cut the metal cuff. 

"Maybe hold her hands, this may hurt and well .. seems to me she's not got much use for her voice" The blacksmith advised, glancing to Levi who froze up a little.

"She won't let anyone touch her let alone me" Levi replied without missing a beat, holding his arms out towards the girl who snarled at him once more. 

The blacksmith didn't say a word and started working on the cuff, Levi tensing as small hands gripped at his fingers. His eyes growing wide as he turned to the owner over the small hands and found them attached to the little girl. Her face showed no discomfort but hidden deep in her eyes showed the pain she felt. 

Levi decided to stay silent, biting his bottom lip and letting her squeeze his fingers. He didn't mind at first, after all he lived in the underground. He was use to fighting dirty, to handle a hard punch to the jaw or gut. He's faced titans, he's been stuck as a survey corps soldier for the past year and actually made captain just last month. 

So, why did this little girl .. this twelve year old grip hurt so fucking bad!!!

God, a titan grip was less painful than this. 

He was never more thankful over her nails being snipped because if she had nails he was sure she'll slice his fingers clean off right now. He didn't even notice his foot tapping out the pain she was giving him until the blacksmith stopped his work and looked to the tapping foot that was growing on his nerves. 

"I always liked the idea of true love, when I was a kid I was always thinking over my future. Having a kind wife who'll I'll love forever and having a kid or two with her why we became a happy family. My childhood friend, she always called me crazy and would much rather become a soldier and she did. I went on the route of being a blacksmith and she became a garrison soldier. But once a week we always ate lunch together and once a month we went drinking. I was always too shy to make a move on any of the women but my friend was always on going and if she liked the thought of a guy she tried making a move. But that spirit of hers got her to meet her husband, she was on shift and in uniform when bumping into him. A street fight, he was trying to stop it and she stepped in to stop it as well. A funny meeting if you ask me but they fell in love .. it was sweet to watch. They had a son, he married a soldier as well and had twin daughters. Me and my old friend are still rather close and her son thinks of me as his uncle and his daughters think of me as another grandparent. It's nice to have a family, even nicer when you get to see truth love form before you" The blacksmith spoke calmly, a fond smile on his lips and his eyes blessed as he told his story. 

Levi took notice of the little girl just listening, her grip on his fingers loosening as she listened. She was just enjoying the man story, tilting her head a little and trying to work out the friendly on man who was helping her.

"And you? Did you find your own true love?" Levi asked, knowing the little girl wanted to ask the same but couldn't voice it yet. 

"I've always dreamed of true love but I never found it for myself. I was always too shy to ever make a move on a girl and I couldn't just speak with women very well either. Than I got distracted with my blacksmith shop and well, I love my job. But time pass quick when your having fun and well, why my childhood friend lived her life and started her happy ever after with her husband, making a family .. I just grew old. But why I regretted never being brave enough to try and find true love, I knew even if I went back in time I won't change anything. I still won't be brave enough to try and change my life now. But I'm happy as I am, the twins may not be my grandchildren by blood by they're still my grandchildren. They're around your age, the oldest is joining up to be a soldier and the youngest wants to be a blacksmith like me .. I'm going to teacher her to be as skilled as me" The blacksmith answered with a happy smile, a shy look in his eyes as broke open the cuff and pulled it free. Both he and Levi wincing over the infected pus puffing out and some of the barley form scabs stuck on the metal making fresh blood start pouring from her ankle once more.

"I'm no doctor but she needs medical help" The blacksmith commented as he glanced to Levi who gave a small nod.

"I'll get one to see her once I get her back to my room, she'll be safe there from the bastards who did this" Levi replied, looking at the girl ankle, looking at her fresh wound but frowning over the old scars along her ankle just showing how long she's suffer with this. Never getting real treatment and just left to suffer. The opium most likely used to distract her from the infection and pain, the men using her like a toy keeping her mind from it all.  

The blacksmith just nodded, standing up and taking away his tools to put away. Throwing the old cuff in a bin to melt later why the girl removed her hands from Levi fingers. Just frowning as she looked at her ankle, shuffling to the edge of the chair and slowly pushing herself to stand. A silent cry left her mouth as she stumbled forward making Levi quick to catch her, lifting her up to get weight of her feet. 

"Don't be an idiot, we'll get you walking soon but first we're gonna fix you up" Levi sighed