Yesterday's Enemy [AoT]

THIRTY-FOUR

'Humanity's history has taught nothing if not the simplest truth of this world: war is easier than peace. We are a spiteful race, and most often, we seek to destroy what we do not understand. Peace goes against our innate instincts as a species, and yet, we must learn to rise above this atavism to live in true harmony.'

-An extract from the book 'Evolutions' written by philosopher Adette Briggs.

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THIRTY-FOUR

Somewhere in Southern Titan Country

"What is it now, Levi?" Lorelai said curtly, entering the stone building. "We don't have time to chat."

The sight of the inside sent a chill down his spine. The room was packed, wall to wall, ceiling to floor, with cold black canisters of which Levi could only guess the contents. Each released a dull red beep as each second passed. The place reeked of chemicals and poison; there was nothing natural in this room.

He looked to her, that feeling of dread growing in his chest. Lorelai, unfazed, began stuffing her bags with all manner of explosives. Her eyes showed no sign of hesitance, only hate.

"Will you wait a second?" Levi began.

"Did you not hear me? We don't have time to chat," she shot back, meeting his eyes suspiciously as she carried the first of the crates out the door. "Erwin will be back any minute, and I-"

"Will you shut up and listen?" he snapped, grabbing her wrist sharply.

That stopped her dead in her tracks. Betrayal flashed quite clearly in Lorelai's eyes, but it was quickly hidden away. Instead, she met him with that closed-off, wary gaze he'd seen in Islet. Levi only then realised just how fragile her trust for him really was.

"...What do you plan to do with those things?"

Lorelai offered no answer. "What exactly are you implying, Levi?"

He loosed a shaky breath. Levi knew he needed to choose his words very carefully; just one slip of the tongue, and he might end up yet again on the business end of the shotgun newly holstered to Lorelai's thigh. They were all alone out here, and anything could happen.

"...I just want you to be sure of what you're doing. I can't help but think you're acting based on fear and not your usual logic. That's all."

Lorelai shrugged, retracting her wrist and heading out the door. "Sometimes the two align; now hurry up."

It seemed honest concern was far too mild to sway her. Lorelai's only thoughts were of bombs and battlefields and finally getting revenge on the Walls. When would she wake up and see that simply turning the cruelty on them was not the answer?

Levi followed her outside. "What the hell do you plan to do with these things?" he demanded. "Blow up Wall Maria? Lay siege to the capital? I'm sorry, but I want to know just what the plan really is before I start smuggling explosives."

"So now you pity those land-hoarding dogs?" she scoffed. "Pick a goddamn side, Levi." Lorelai turned her back on him once again, beginning to walk down the slope.

He looked down, trying not to let her words bite at him. She's just afraid, he reminded himself.

"What about peace?" he called after her. "Or have you given up on that?"