Equanimity » Levi Ackerman

2 | 𝔚𝔥𝔢𝔫 𝔦𝔱 𝔯𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔰, 𝔦𝔱 𝔭𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰

· · ─────── ·𐂃· ─────── · ·

"Lieutenant Hirsch." A sharp knock on the door had awoken the Lieutenant from slumber. Oh, how she hated formal titles. Maria yawned as she made her way to the door. When she opened it, she came eye to eye with one of the tallest Squad leaders in the Corps.

"Mike?" She tiredly dragged out, still trying to get used to the light. "What's wrong?"

"Word came early this morning, Section Commander Hanji's test subjects were killed." Maria frowned. "Wait," She combed her fingers through her hair while processing what Mike just said. "They're dead?"

"Yes, the Commander and the Corporal are on it with the Special Operations Squad." "Do they want me there?"

"No, Erwin requested for you to stay and report back to him when the soldiers are questioned."

"Thank you, Mike." The man gave her a short nod before she closed the door to her chambers and sighed. 'So, they suspect someone within the Corps huh.'

Not only was it weird for something like this to happen after Hanji and she just left the night before; it was also very concerning. Sawney and Bean had been valuable specimens to Hanji and her research team. It was almost as if someone wanted to protect them from someone finding out their secrets.

Maria slipped into her uniform and tied up her hair. This was going to be a long day.

· · ─── · ·

While all the cadets were being questioned by the Military Police, Maria joined the sight. When she entered the room, she took a moment to look around but was interrupted by one of the soldiers; "Oh, Lieutenant Hirsch. I'm glad you could join us in our investigation."

"Ah yes, of course" She smiled halfheartedly, crossing eyes with a young male. "So, they really think this was a soldier's work?" "Sadly yes, but we haven't found the one responsible yet." Maria hummed while letting her eyes wander over the cadets who were being questioned.

"When did you last change shafts?" "Six days ago. After the clean-up operation." "Just as the records say." "Okay, next. You..." - All this work to find the culprit?

Maria frowned, the words now being tuned out by her own thoughts. 'But how do they expect to find the culprit like this. Didn't they just finish cleaning-up the battlefield...'

Her brown eyes fell on a certain spiky-haired teen. 'Wait... Jean?'

She hadn't seen him in years. His light-brown hair was still shaved in an undercut, like how she remembered him. Only now he had grown older and much taller. Maria remembered how the blunt boy would boast about how he was going to join the Military Police when he'd be old enough.

He hadn't noticed her, and she was glad he didn't. She didn't exactly give him an explanation the day she left. Maria didn't even get to say goodbye. It was one of the things she regretted the most.

She knew the time would eventually come when she had to face him again. But she didn't think today would be that day. Maria had to leave the room. "I will be back in an hour or so, be sure to report to me immediately when you find a suspect."

But that did not happen.

· · ─── · ·

Maria stood in front of Erwin's office. She knocked softly on the wooden surface and stated her name. "Lieutenant Hirsch, here to report about the questioning."