Chapter Text
Eren sat in the bushes infront of the tall building. It was past midnight and the moon shed the city into mysterious light. Just a few stars were visible in the dark nights sky and Eren silenty thought that this was one of the many reasons he disliked bigger cities. He counted the seconds til the security guard rounded the corner for the fifth time. Between twenty-nine and thirty-one seconds. The brunet prepared himself to run.
He studied the museum for several nights and days for the last two weeks. There were three night guards in total. Two outside and another one inside, they were armed, but Eren didn't intended to be seen. As the guard turned out of sight, the brunet ran, taking large steps, almost jumping but as quiet as a cat. With a single motion he stepped against the wall and jumped, high enough to grab the frame of a window, another motion and he grabbed the bars which secured the window from thiefs. As if bars would stop him.
Within seconds he climbed high enough to jump to the second floor window, always counting the seconds in his head.
... sixteen, seventeen ...
Eren made it to the third floor. High enough to reach the dounspout with a good jump. His feet were pressed against the Iron bars, somehow finding support as he took a deep breath.
... twenty-one, twenty-three ...
Jump.
He could grab the cold metal with on hand but the other one reached into nothing.
''Shit, shit shit.''
Erens feet dangling, trying to find support in the air.
... tweny-seven, twenty-eight ...
His heart beating fast as he thought about the 18 meter abyss beneath him. With a deep breath he managed to grab the dounspout with his other hand and quickly pulling himself up onto the roof, rolling himself onto his back.
... thirty, thirty-one ...
A faint shuffling of shoes were audible beneath him and he saw the brightness of a flashlight crawling up the wall where he was just seconds ago. As the noise vanished Eren made it to his feet, adrenaline still pumping through his veins. He chuckled quietly. If that's not the best feeling ever, he doesn't know.
He remebered that one of the windows on the rooftop was always open and just big enough to climb through. He sneaked to the place which was marked in his head. Just a couple feet behind this ventilation shaft.
Eren stopped in motion as he heard shuffling noises from the place he was about to go. as quiet as possible he ducked behind the shaft, trying to locate the source of the noise. A shadow climbed up from the open window, embedded into the rooftop.
A Guard? Here?
The silouhette was small. As Eren remebered the Guards were rather tall, giants almost, this Person wasn't a guard. And that could only mean one thing. Another thief just escaping from the museum. The Person clicked their tounge and tapped the dust of their clothes.
Eren saw that it was a man, his clothes dark, what made him almost invisible in the night, and his hair tied into a bun at the back of his head showing of an undercut. The man digged into the pocket of his Jacket, pulling out a piece of paper.
''No'' Eren whispered, not loud enough for the other to hear.
The man who hasn't turned around yet took out a light to look at the folded piece in his hands. Even if Eren wanted, he could never forget these outlines he studied for weeks and months. Isla del Coco. Next to the jolly roger of Walter Kennedy.
This couldn't be. He planned this job so long ago and now, exactly on the day of truth, another one steals the map he needed to find one of the biggest and valuable pirate treasures of all time. There was only one thing he could do now.
''This is mine.'' Eren said as he came out of cover.
The man swung around visibly shocked not to be alone on the rooftop in the middle of the night. The source of light, a phone, as it turned out fell to the ground between them and shed them both into enough light to see more than outlines.
''Holy fuck!'' The black haired man uttered, trying to keep as quiet as possible. His eyes were grey and he had this look that made Eren flinch.
Scary.
''Who the fuck are you'' he hissed ''and what are you doing here, brat?'' His eyes wandered around trying to make out other people in the darkness, but there were none. His fist was clenched around the paper.
''Shit, man! Your are destroying it!'' Eren whined as he took a step forward to grap the map. The shorter man dodged his movement easily.
''You don't know what you are doing!'' Eren keept wailing as he tried to catch the man ''This is over 320 years old! You will destr-'' With a kick to the chest Eren was send to the ground, the air leaving his loungs.
Well, you can see stars in the city after all.
''Listen, kid.'' The stranger kneeled next to Eren, picking up his phone and stuffing the map back into his jacket. ''I don't know who you are, or where you came from. But that's a number to big for you, okay? So go back to you Mom or Dad or whatever, but leave me alone.'' his voive were hushed but Eren could cleary hear the threatening tone. The brunet grabbed for the man who coulde escape this time. He catched his breath again and had a hold onto the mans sleeve.
''If I had a family I could go home to, I wouldn't do this shit!'' he hissed. An emotion crossed the strangers face, but vanished before Eren could identify it. A stoic face staring down at him and the hand on his sleeve as if it was dirty.
A shrill sound suddenly ripped through the air. The alarm of the museum.
''Great.'' The raven haired scolded as he kneeled down again next to Eren.
''If you can keep up with me, we talk.'' he said low. For a second Eren was sure he saw the guy grin, but as he took a douple take the usual resting bitch face was back again. And then he ran.
Eren jumped to his feet, immitatly following the stranger. And he was fast.
In the distance he could hear the police sirens coming closer. But he wasn't scared. He could escape them. He was faster than them. But he feared being too slow for the man who literally had the object of his desire stuffend inside his pocket. His steps where large as he followed the guy to the edge of the rooftop.
He won't. Eren thought, right before the man jumped from the edge of the building.
''Oh shit'' without thinking twice, Eren picked up speed, ignoring the arch in his legs, and jumped. He fell, his eyes darting for something he could hold on. The guy must have planned the route 'cause there was a Streetlight. Eren stretched his Arms preparing for the jolt. Clumsily he could grab the Pole and swing down to the ground.
Fuck, where is he?
Eren looked around, trying to find the shadow. He heard a metallic sound and found the stranger grinning at him behind a chainlink fence. Grinning.
''Bastard.'' Eren hissed as he followed again. Taking just a few steps to reach the fence and one jump to cross it. Now he was just a few steps behind him as they ran through a park. Both breathing heavily but not slowing down. The sirens were not more than a faint noise, slowly dying down. They passed the park and ran through dark alleys and streets, keeping away from the brightness of the streetlights. Eren kept his eyes on the other mans back. He won't stay behind. His legs arching more with every step he took.
Suddenly the raven haired slowed down and Eren almost bumped into him. He could barely see a thing.
''What?'' Eren whispered out of breath, as they came to a halt. The alley was packed with old boxes and garbage cans.
He's gonna murder me.
The taller boy took a step back. Ready to run, or fight.
''Relax brat.'' The man chuckled ''I'm not gonna hurt you. Well unless you are into these kind of things.'' he laughed dryly leaving Eren confused. He shaked away the thoughts creeping up in his head. The map.
''I kept up with you, now talk.'' Eren tried to keep his cool but he was to excited to hold the map finally in his hands.
''Let's get a little comfortable first, shall we?'' The man said as he pushed one of the Garbage Cans aside to reveal a Hole in the wall. He quickly climbed through motioning Eren to follow him. The small tunnel ended in a kind of Apartment, that was way to nice, by the way, for being illegal under another house. There was a couch that was obviously also used as a bed. The blanket folded neatly at one end. A wall decorated with maps and notes about the museum they just ... visited, and various other places.
The room was big enough to store a desk and a dining table with three chairs. There also was a kind of, functional kitchen. A small fridge, a sink ... A little lamp iluminating the room, diving the accommodation in a warm light. The guy, Eren still didn't knew his name, went to the counter taking out what looked like a bottle of wine. There was another door, Eren guessed it would be the bathroom.
''How come you have an entire apartment under this house?'' Eren asked, curious that nobody had found him here yet. The raven haired poured red wine into a glass, plopping down at the couch. Eren felt a little lost, standing in the middle of the room, a cold gaze on him.
''Sit.'' The stranger commanded, Eren took a chair from the dining table and sitting down, resting his hands on his knees.
''The family above just moved in some weeks ago. Before they did, I bricked up the entrance to the basement. They don't know this room exists. Eren just nodded understanding. He spotted stairs behind the shelf and suspected them to be the original entrance.
''Seems like a shitton of work for a piece of paper, huh?'' the brunet mused, letting his gaze wander over the walls.
''Speaking of-'' the raven haired fumbling into the pocket of his jacket, pulling out the folded map Eren desired. Erens eyes widened. He snatched out one hand slowly but the stranger holding it out of reach.
''First the formal stuff,'' he purred ''I'm Levi.''
''Eren'' the brunet breathed keeping his eyes locked on the item. ''Tell me, Eren'' Levi emphasized his name, testing how it rolled of his tounge. ''who do you work for?''
''No one, I search alone.''
''And what do you search?''
''Treasures, isn't this obvious?'' Eren cocked an eyebrow at Levi. Eren didn't needed to ask, he knew Levi was alone to. Eren had a similar room. Collecting clues and maps.
''Why? What do you need the money for?'' Eren smiled slightly. This wasn't the first time he heard this question. Money wasn't Erens desire. He knew very well what the Treasure was worth. But he just took souvenirs from his journeys.
''I don't need the money. And I don't want it either.'' Levi took a sip from his wine. Disbelieval crossing his face. Eren couldn't blame him. Nobody else would risk his life for a Treasure he has no interest in.
''Then why? Why breaking into a museum, stealing, risking your future and your life?'' His voice intended confusion while his face was stiff as ever.
''The feeling.'' Eren simply answered as he always did. ''You know this feeling when you discover a place, nobody else had in hundrets or thousand of years? When you see a treasure so valuable that people would fight wars over it? I don't search for the money. I search for the quest.''
After this Levi said nothing for a while, just sipping his wine from time to time, lost in thoughts. His gaze seemed absent and Eren wondered if he should say something else. Just as he was about to open his mouth Levi stood up and let the map fall onto the table next to Eren. The brunet snatched it quickly, unfolding it and feeling the material.
''God, you creased the paper.'' He shook his head, his fingers gliding over it to look for something. He traced the outlines of the Island, drawn with ink which slowly fades. The right corner showed Walter Kennedys Jolly Roger. A skull with crossed Bones underneath and a naked man with a hourglass and a saber. And then he found it.
A little square bump about the size of a postcard intending that this was more than just a plain map. He tourned the paper around to find a blank side. He felt his heart beating faster in his chest. Levi just watched silently, trying to figure out what the brunet was doing.
Eren leaped up and jogged over to the lamp, holding the map against it. A dark spot was visible where the bump was. But that wasn't the only thing. There also appeard other lines that added up with the map.
''What is this.'' Levi asked who got more and more courious. Eren didn't answered. Instead he pulled out a knife from his pocket slowly laying the blade against the material.
''Oi! What the fuck are you doing?!'' Levi was next to him within a second snatching the knife from Erens hands.
''No!'' He yelled. But couldn't keep the grin of his face. He was so close to the next importand clue. ''Here feel this!'' Eren grabbed Levis hand and guided it to the bump. He felt the smaller man tense up but choose to ignore it. ''There is another Note or Letter or something! I need to get it out ok? I promise I won't destroy the map!'' He dashed back to the table pulling Levi with him.
''Give me the knife. And make some light with your flashlight okay?'' Levi didn't asnwered but shortly after the knife was on the table and a bright light iluminated the table.
Eren peeled the first layer of paper down, starting at the bottom corner.
''Look, its two papers glued together with aonther one folded in the middle!'' And he was right. The paper was perished but he managed not to destroy anything. After a few Minutes he detached the map from the layer beneath and held a folded Letter in his shaking hands. He felt the blood pump through his veins and pulsate in his ears.
''How did you knew this?'' Levi murmured inspecting the two layers of paper.
''Uhm ..''
''You didn't? And you wanted to steal the map because you just hoped there was something?'' Levi shook his head. ''Shitty Brat ...''
''Hey I was right! There is always more than you see at the first glance ...''
Levi payed attention to his wine again, pouring another glass.
''So what is this mysterious letter?'' Crossing his legs he sat down again on the couch. Levi had something arrogant that made Eren uncomfortable. He tried to shrug it off. Without him it would have been much harder to get the map in the first place so he could at least be a little grateful.
Eren inspected the yellow-ish paper in his hands. The letters where also written with black ink, but it hasn't faded as much as the map, because it was secured from the sunlight.
''It's from Walter Kennedy, well the map isn't. The letter was attached some decades later. The map was made by Henry Morgan. See this Jolly Roger? It's Kennedys and was also added later. Thats why the ink is stronger than the outlines. It's a hint.''
Levi nodded.
''And what does the letter say?''
''Uhm .. wait a second. It's written in these old handwriting.''
Eren inspected the Words and slowly started reading:
''July 1716
We sat the course to the Isla del coco after finding Morgans Map and identifying the position of the Island. It was unusally easy to reach the place. The crew and I left the Rover in boats about two miles offshore on the west coast. The Rover would be dashed to pieces on the rocks and cliffs if we sailed further. We took everything we got with us. Gold, Jewelery and supplies. The island was overgrown and our machetes were dull as we reached the cave. One of my men, Jackson, died as he was careless and fell down a cliff. The rocks are sharp, grinded by the water that occosionally floods the cave and forms tunnels and holes into the stone. Morgan choose a good place to hide his unbounded treasure. Two other men got lost in the tunnels. We looked for them for hours as we found their bodies. Bloody and lacerated. The crew got nervous but I managed to drive forward as we eventually found the treasury. It was a sight I'd never forget. Chests piled to the ceiling and heaps of Gold Coins. Valuable fabric covered the ground. The crew was joyful and we took our time to add our own treasures. Rum was passed around as we celebrated. I let my men take some things with them. Souvenirs for their wives and children. At dawn we returned to the ship.''
Eren closed his eyes as he inhaled deeply to process the information.
''Damn'' he breathed and turned the paper in his hands. ''No location. Everything we know is West coast.''
Eren took the map and the second layer and went over to the lamp again to ispect the lines.
''Its marked where they left the ship, and the route they took but not where the cave is.'' He returned to the table letting his head rest in his palms. It was almost 2 a.m.
''Alright, kid.'' Levi stood up with a huff, preparing the couch to become a bed.
''Let's rest and we work out a plan tomorrow.'' He suggested.
''We?''
''Of course, we. You can't find this mysterious treasure alone, neither can I.'' The raven haired walked over to the sink to wash the glass of wine.
''Excuse me?'' Eren asked irritated. ''You probably can't but I mastered similar quests on my own.''
''Well fine, princess. I can't and you have no interest in the money but I do. So just let's team up and it is probably easier for both of us.'' Levi crossed his arm shifting his weight on one leg.
Eren couldn't help but supress a grin. The small man looked so sassy and intimidating at the same time it was almost ridiculous.
''Fine.'' he shrugged, Levi had a point after all, so it couldn't hurt.
''Were can I sleep?'' He looked around the room. Next to the bed was only the floor or a chair he could get comfortable on.
''The bed.'' Levi said.
''Wait what?''
''It's big enough and I have a spare blanket. Just shed off your filthy clothes. And keep your naughty thoughts for yourself, will you?'' Eren felt his face heat up and he turned around quickly acting like he was doing it to take of his Jacket. He let the black leather fell over the chair and untied the keffiyeh from his neck. He felt Levis gaze in his back and wondered for a second if he is a kind of pevert.
As he turned around again Levi also took of his Jacket, revealing a black T-Shirt that left little space to imagination. The fabric tightend around his upper arms and he was obiously very, very, very well builded.
''Stop drooling, shitty brat. Do you wanna sleep on the floor?''
''Did not drool ... '' Eren mumbled, embarassed for being caught staring. Levi chuckled and layed down. Turning his back to Eren. The brunet followed, also turning away so they layed back to back.
''You did.'' Levi whispered.
''Did not.'' Eren whinced. He suddenly felt very tired and sore. His Legs arching from running so long. It didn't took him five minutes and he was asleep.