Butter that popcorn (Sarah)

Levi's brow raised as he gazed at her her. He had certainly wondered about it and he smiled as she began to make her next move.

"Sure, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't curious."

Levi leaned his body away from the hook, allowing him to watch another sluggish yet powerful move from Sarah. Levi would time his move carefully and step to his right and forward, towards the kick as he ducked his torso low, the powerful kick rushing over the Asian's back, making a powerful cut through the air. Levi was really happy that she hadn't hit with that one. As her kick completed, likely ending with her back turned towards him as she finished her spin, Levi straightened out and leaned into a harsh right kidney blow as he again aimed for those soft spots. 

The fuck?

Levi's body suddenly felt incredibly sluggish as his eyes maintained their vigilant watch, seeing what was about to unfold, but his body refused to react. Compounded with the fact that her speed had more than doubled, this sudden change was quite the tactic, one that Levi would be certain to make note of. As the punch came in all he could do is brace for it. He numbed his sensation of pain and tightened his core as the punch sank in, lifting his off of the ground. He felt like he was stuck in slwo mo, able to see all of this coming, but having no way to deal with it. 

"KRRGH!"

His entra resistance managed to save his breath as the kick came down hard. His vision black for only a moment, coming back as she placed her foot into his back. Luckily the pain was not a factor, but the damage would catch up with him. He chuckled again as he replied, somewhat out of breath. 

"hehe, if this is how you spar, I would hate to see you fight for your life."

If Sarah removed her foot, Levi would stand, not looking forward to when his Tatoo's protection would wear off. His vision was somewhat blurry and his breathing was somewhat labored and he could still feel the effects of her eye on him as he turned to her and looked at her eye inquisitively.

"That really is something, where did you acquire such an item?"

Items used: 

Shogun Guardian Tatoo (Custom item reward x2)- One of two Yakuza tattoo sleeves Levi's body is adorned with. This one is on his left arm. User receives +20 Con in exhange for -10 Dex for 1 post per 10 Int. All damage can be ignored but not nulled for the duration.

New Stats: Str: 47 Dex: 5 Con: 62 Wis: 40 Int: 30

Levi's tattoo began to fade and he quickly persisted the effect to keep himself up as she spoke. He assumed the "magic" on her eye was similar to his tattoos, though it was certainly different than what he had on his body. Levi found it odd that before coming to this school, such items were nothing more than a fantasy. He eyebrows lifted as she mentioned that she something else. 

"There's more?"

Sure enough, she revealed her seemingly magic contact. That sort of ability sounded incredibly useful, though Levi felt like he preferred the old fashioned 'feel you opponent out' method. He shook his head in amazement and nodded when suggested they sit and chat. They hadn't gotten to speak much after how their first meeting ended and it would be nice to get to know the woman behind the skills. 

"Yeah, I'd like that, plus, my tatoo can't keep me up forever."

The dizziness was somewhat better, but he knew he would need to be ready for the uptake when his injuries caught up with him. Levi would let her lead the way, following beside her as he spoke after a few moments. 

"It amazing how far these terrorist groups have pushed us. I would have never thought I'd be as strong as I am." 

Riot...

Levi hid a shiver at the mention of Riot. That name brought back some really bad memories, though there were a few good ones, but they hardly made up for the things he had done. His tattoo had released its effect, though having had a little some time to recuperate, he managed remain up, though his head was throbbing. He would continue to listen to Sarah's story as he gestured towards a nearby bench, taking a seat, clearly needing to rest.  

"Riot...yeah, there are some bad memories there. Shitty that your earlier days here had to be then, not that it's a whole lot better now."

Levi's eyes fell to her missing arm and eye again. He couldn't relate directly, but he could attempt to fathom having to live with an injury that would never let him forget the thing that had taken his arm. As Sarah finished, Levi took a small breath before answering her question as he looked to her. 

"I came around a little before the Riot stuff began." Levi paused to collect his thoughts, "They forced a lot of people to work for them through violence and blackmail. One of them took a special interest in me. Without going into details, I ended up aiding their cause, well, that someone's cause. The majority of Riot is nothing more than a terrorist group, but the someone had a more noble goal, even though it did require unsavory methods." Levi shook his head, hopping Sarah wasn't about to turn their spar into a brawl as his "passenger" spoke up. 

Tell her about me! kekekeke!

Patience. 

He took on a more sheepish expression as he felt like he was confessing all of his sins to a priest. Truth be told, he had never told anyone these things. Why he felt like he could tell someone he had just met, he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because it felt like venting about the shitty things happening to them at such a young age was therapeutic. Levi hoped Sarah saw it that way too as he spoke again, resting the back of his head against the wall behind them. 

"I was not the Aegis, but I was one of the controlled monsters during that attack. It's a good thing Macht got the jump on it through some good teamwork. Didn't stop me from killing several people and regulators fist though..." 

Levi stopped and chuckled lightly, forcing himself to find a little humor in it before looking to Sarah with an apologetic expression. 

"Sorry, guess I needed to talk about that more than I thought I did."

Levi listened intently as he looked at her, his head fighting negativity that he knew was not productive in any way. She had clearly earned what she had through blood and tears; she was definitely one to be admired. She had achieved what he had once been on a path towards, but somewhere along the line, he had lost it. 

Owning one's strength...

There was a pretty good nugget of wisdom. Being involved in so many horrible events, Levi had been forced to acquire strength rapidly, but he hadn't trained it; mastered it. Using it to survive, but never to thrive. It seemed so simple, but he had clearly neglected it nonetheless. Was it lack of will that had caused him to do those things? Riot perhaps, and that was enough really. Levi's eyes clenched as this realization hit him.

I am weak...

The more she spoke, the more it sank in as he ran through the horrific events, realizing that it was too late to do a thing about them EXCEPT for rise above them by owning his weakness and making sure it never happened again by forcing himself to become stronger. Forgetting one's weakness was like never talking about World War II. The Ghoul cackled as she spoke about him.  

kekeke control me? I'll be here when you lose control again...hehehe

No, you won't! I won't let you!

Levi's internal battle would not be apparent to Sarah, but he could see the mountain he would have to climb to overcome that particular obstacle. Levi nodded as she finished, a small smile finally cracking through again as he shook his head, beginning to feel like he once did in his earlier days at 552.  

"I...I have been weak...and I understand why you're upset with us and I'm sorry...but no more..."

Levi stood up, feeling considerably recovered as he looked back to his sparring partner and new friend. 

"I've lacked perspective, but I'm starting to remember what it was like when I had the desire for strength and power beyond simple acquisition." Levi turned and bowed to Sarah as he spoke again, "You are wise, thank you." 

He began to walk back onto the gym floor, checking his faculties to make sure he was fit to fight. A little sore, but nothing serious. It was time once again, to challenge people he knew he couldn't beat, push himself beyond his limits and learn everything he could from each fight. 

"If you're up for it, I'd like to see more of what you can teach me. I clearly have much to learn."

Levi was not beyond being a student to someone who had clearly figured out something he couldn't. It's what had gotten him the power he had achieved and now it would help him master that strength. No more complacency. 

Levi was intrigued by the idea of fighting for his will. Another power of Sarah's no doubt, and it would teach him a skill he had a feeling he would need in the event the Ghoul tried to consume him again. Levi smiled with an intrigued expression on his face. 

"A fight for my will? I can't say I'm not curious as to what you mean exactly..."

His body was still a little taxed from the blow to the back of his head from earlier and it was probably safer if they trained another time, though the precaution to avoid destroying the school intrigued him a bit as well. Levi decided to trust Sarah's judgement and take her preferred suggestion.

"...perhaps it would be better if we continued another day at this isolated location."

Levi relaxed and reached into his pocket, retrieving his cell phone and bringing up the 'add contact' panel as he walked up to her. Assuming she knew where this was going, Levi spoke again. 

"I figure this is easier than hoping I see you in the halls again."

He would patiently wait for her number and would give her his contact information if she wanted to add him to her phone as well.