The Experiment (Attack on Titan // LeviHan) (Part 1)

All That Matters

There inevitably came a time even the most patient man reached his limit. And he wasn't patient at all.

"You're so fucking clueless," Levi snapped at Zoë, suppressing a need to howl in frustration, "the others will be back and gone again by the time you get this right!"

"I'm trying, okay?"

That she didn't react with the fury he deserved for hurling petty insults at her at every possible opportunity made Levi regret his immature behavior instantly. Even worse, she sounded crushed and apologetic and her voice was shaking. As if any of this was her fault!

"Just leave it," he grumbled and pulled her hand away from the documents she was laboring over. "We'll find another way."

"Hey!" her red rimmed eyes flashing, she ripped her hand back. "I said I will do it and I will! I never go back on my promises!"

They glared at each other. Fucking stubborn. Too much pride. Massive trouble. They had been here for hours with no break and she would never be the one to realize it was leading nowhere.

"Specialists take years to learn how to forge documents," he said somewhat moved to lessen the blow so she wouldn't take her failure to heart too much. "Nobody expects you to be proficient after only a few hours."

"Don't tell me what I can and cannot do!"

Ah, now she was angry after all. Good. May she continue to shower him with ire. It was a much preferable way of interacting with each other than this... this other thing that simmered between them with maddening persistence. Not that she seemed in the least affected. She was so focused on making a fake ID and access permissions he could have started dancing on the table in his underwear and she wouldn't have noticed.

"You can spend another six hours trying to make these documents look real and it will still not be nearly sufficient. And another six hours. And another. I don't have the time to wait, okay? Let me think of another way."

"Will you no longer take me with you?"

She bit her lips, avoiding his eyes. He almost laughed. That was her main concern? Levi shook his head. No self-preservation instincts at all.

"You finally realize what's good for you?" he taunted her.

Time to repeat to himself: It would be so much smarter to leave her here. She could do whatever thought experiments tickled her fancy, draw sketches of cages and torture instruments, and read books about rare metals all day long. He would not have to make sure Zoë Hange didn't get into trouble and she would be safe, even if mindlessly bored. And most importantly... he wouldn't have to resist grabbing her head and exploring those tauntingly unaware lips.

"You gave me your word," she was outraged.

"I did no such thing," Levi turned his back on her and marched out the door. Maybe she would finally see reason and return to her room to sleep now? The dark circles under her eyes were so pronounced that he felt an urge to remove them with soap and a clean cloth.

But no. No seeing reason. He had made only five steps when she fell in beside him.

"Hey, where are you going?" she demanded to know.

"To see Maria," he replied curtly.

Maria - who had skillfully avoided telling him anything useful last night. All she had shared was a tearful story, very much alike those he had heard a hundred times before. Orphaned, sold to the highest bidder by an uncle, forced into the sex trade even before her first monthlies. Finally sent above ground, in the direction of those serving in the military, which was considered to be an honor beyond anything - just to realize that most of those oh-so-heroic men were as perverted and cruel as the ones who ventured downstairs to quench their carnal hunger. A friend who had heard of Levi had told her he 'was kind' and he would provide her with shelter and that's how she had ended up in his bed.