Beyond Belief [AOT x HXH!READER]

#14: Mind Storms

"With me? Why with me?"

It was so early that one could still observe the sunrise over the walls from the headquarters's windows. Every muscle in Levi's body was screaming at him to go back to his quarters for some more well-deserved rest, but evidently, rare were the days when he could enjoy such indulgent luxury.

Erwin had called for him to come to his office, like he often did, before the rest of the scouts would begin to wake up. Inexplicably, the man in question was sitting at his desk looking as fresh as a rose, as if the ways of the biological clock simply could not affect him.

"Because it's just the most logical thing to do, that's all," the commander stated, in a tone so casual you would think he was discussing the weather.

Levi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Let me make sure I get what you're saying here. You expect me to take my squad to our old former headquarters, for weeks, with not only the titan boy, but also the freak of nature we call a trainee?"

Erwin nodded, sipping from his teacup. "That's precisely right."

There was a beat of silence.

"...What have I ever done to you, Eyebrows?"

The seated one chuckled lightly. "Jaeger has been suddenly stripped from all familiarity. He's alone in the scout regiment, and obviously terrified; not only by everyone around him, but by his own body. [Y/N] is the only one here he knows. It's only fair that if he must be under your care while meddling with his ability, that he also be with a friend. A friend we know and trust. A friend who's talented in different ways."

"Do we trust her, Erwin?" Levi questioned, a bit bewildered. "We've established that she doesn't want to hurt us, but to what extent does she actually want to help humanity? To what point can we trust a woman with that sort of power?" He scoffed. "Plus, the titan boy's only known her for about a week. I think friend is a strong choice of word."

The commander raised an eyebrow. "He also went through the most traumatic experience of his life with her by his side... And all the same, [Y/N] has nen. We don't know how that interacts with titan shifting. We should know. We have the two biggest beacons of power that humanity's ever seen right at our fingertips. One might say we should strike while the iron's hot."

"Great," Levi deadpanned, arms crossed.  "I'm sure it's for the best that the guidance of these wonders of nature relies on old friendly me."

"In all the years I've known you, you've never been one to sell yourself short," Erwin remarked, side-eyeing his subordinate. "Color me impressed."

Levi rolled his eyes. "Very funny. It's not so much myself I'm concerned about, it's my squad. They're already overwhelmed by the concept of Eren even existing. How am I supposed to explain [Y/N] to them?"

"You're not," quipped the commander. "[Y/N] is to experiment with him at night, without the use of his titan form at first. I've been told the experiments done with aura have to be quite rudimentary to start with, or else it could send the boy into a state of shock," he paused, pensive. "There is no reason to worry. Your squad knows not to question my orders. They don't need a reason to welcome [Y/N] among them temporarily. She knows what she's doing."

The captain eyed his superior officer warily. "So you really trust her, then."

He looked away for a moment. "Absurdly so, yes."

Levi sighed, looking down solemnly. "And I trust you. I trust your judgment." He adjusted his cravat awkwardly, then forced himself to look back at the man in front of him. "I'll round up my subordinates. We'll leave in two days time at the first hour, as you asked."