Chapter Text
Her tragedy started years ago. Had they not met she would've been dead, but looking back would that have such a bad thing? She still remembers it. The smell of the Underground when her mother dumped her there. Evelyn only remembered hearing whispers of something like a new husband, and not wanting baggage. It seems that's what she was, baggage to be dealt with. She was so young when they dropped her.
Evelyn looked up at the little boy about the same age as she staring at her, he had shaggy black hair and sad grey eyes. Next to him was a man with brown hair and a black hat, his eyes calculating and cold. The boy said something to the man and returned a few moments later with a bit of dry bread, it had been a while since Evelyn had eaten, her blue eyes sunken in and her ribs poking through her pale skin. Eagerly she devoured the bit of food, so grateful tears sprang into her eyes, happy for this little feast. The man came over and squatted in front of her, frowning but curious.
"So, how did you get yourself in this mess little miss?" He asked, his tone flat.
Evelyn refused to answer, Mama had warned her about talking to strangers, of course Mama wasn't here anymore but that was irrelevant.
"Come on now, can you talk?"
She nods, guarding the little crumbs of bread with her tiny fists.
"Well I suppose that's something." He scratched his head, clearly thinking about what his options were. "Damn it." He finally said. "Come on then, my wretched black heart just won't let me see you die." He stands and turns, expecting her to follow.
Evelyn hesitates, unsure of what to do. That is until the boy simply takes her hand and pulls her up.
"Let's go." Is all he says in a quiet voice.
She doesn't know why but she feels like this boy is a good person deep down, so she goes with him.
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The man with the hat simply walks in to a small inn room, sitting in a chair and kicking his feet up nonchalantly.
"We might not look like the most sophisticated gentlemen but you won't starve." He pauses a long moment before adding. "I'm Kenny, this here is Levi."
She looks at both of them before swallowing, muttering out a quiet. "Evelyn.."
"Pleasure to meet you Evelyn. Now I don't normally take in stray brats but with that unruly hair of yours you kind of reminded me of my little sister. Plus if the runt has someone his own size maybe he'll leave me alone."
Evelyn just stares at the four walls, unsure of what to do, but ultimately deciding to sit beside Levi, out of the two he seems much more approachable.
"Nice to meet you Levi." She manages softly, but instead of getting a response he simply stares at her, but never pushes her away or tells her to sit elsewhere.
She smiles a little, feeling she was right about him being a kind person.
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Years pass, the trio of misfits becoming the duo when out of the blue Kenny left both Levi and Evelyn on their own. He changed after it happened, especially after the last conversation she saw the two having, although she never knew what it was about. Sensing it was just sadness that made him change she never questioned it. Since then however, Levi had become colder, more protective, it was something she was grateful for, although sometimes it became irritating if she wanted to do anything.
They were still just teenagers trying to survive, many nights were spent huddled together in an alley when they didn't have enough money to have shelter. Stealing food and things they needed became second nature. Their pensive alliance had melted into a deep friendship, where they relied on the other.
Evelyn knew in her heart that Levi was just looking out for her, even when he started to control how she dressed, what she did, and never letting her cut her unruly brown hair. When she asked why her only response back was.
"As a woman you should dress more feminine."
She had no knowledge of how things like gender roles were supposed to be so she always took his word for it. Although pants looked much more comfortable in her opinion.
Unfortunately for him, his conditioning never fully tamed her outspoken personality, causing her to question him and his authority every once and a while.
On such occasion, they had gotten into a fight when he had caught her wearing pants at home.
"What have I told you about the way you dress? You should be more feminine, not parading around in pants! Do you just never listen to me like an ungrateful brat!?"
"Seriously Levi? I just put them on while I was cleaning since you're so particular about how you like everything done!"
Swiftly a hand reached out and slapped her right across the face, causing her to sit there in shock a moment.
"You want to look like a man so badly? I treat you like one. Go take that off before I break your fucking nose." His tone was calm, like he had just asked her to make tea and hadn't threatened her.
It took a few moments to collect her thoughts and register her stinging cheek before she responded.
"You know what, I'm done."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm done with how you treat me Levi, I'm not a little kid any more who needs your help. I'm going out on my own."
He scoffs, clearly amused by her little act of defiance. "Really, you think you can survive out there without me? I'm the reason you're still alive right now! I could've left you to starve many times over and this is how you repay me!?"
Evelyn had already gathered up her minimal belongings, which was simply a tiny knife and a change of clothes. "I'm leaving, and I'll survive without you."
"If you walk out that door, you'll regret it." His tone is even more cold and unfeeling.
"Goodbye Levi." She says as she walks out the door, shutting it softly behind her.
Levi takes a moment to process what had just happened, but he has a feeling her defiance will be short lived, she'll come crawling back to him, eventually.
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