Yay, stuff actually happens in this chapter, and the next one too! XD Thank you for all the lovely reviews for the last chapter. The new chapter of AoT/SnK has forced me to change some things in this fanfic, so it's out a bit later. I'm making several assumptions in my fanfic that may or may not be true. I can only confirm things is if ask Isayama-san himself, which isn't happening! The first event in this chapter take place directly after the last. I hope you all enjoy.
"Where are you going to make me go?" Hange asked, her voice calm. A deadly tone for someone like her.
"I'm taking you to your room," Levi replied, his voice matching hers.
An even tone was not a good sign for either of them.
"Going to lecture me?" Her voice took on a cynical, taunting tone.
"That's not what you need right now" Levi said, keeping an iron grip on her shoulder as he walked Hange briskly to her room.
"It kills me everyday… a bit at a time," Hange hissed. "To see her unpunished. To see her without pain. She doesn't know how much it hurts, this burden." She let out a frustrated, strangled noise. It was somewhere between a sob and howl.
"Damnit! I can't stand being… that close… without… she killed- It's torture-" She clutched her chest, feeling a horrible pain there, and there was such an expression of anguish in her eyes that Levi's face softened.
"I know," he said quietly, stopping in front of her door. "I know, but even though it's hard, there is so much at stake here. Everything you've worked for can succeed if you just hold on. Hold on-"
Hange didn't care who heard her or how she looked, tears streaming from her red eyes, hair a mess and hand curled into claws. Her voice, it was ugly and raw. She screamed at him now. "I can't hold on! You don't know… I never saw you cry! I never saw you do anything but play lapdog to Erwin! You should be the one hurting her! You should be the one shouting and hurting, but you aren't!"
She paused, breath ragged, chest heaving. Her eyes were wide and burning with a savage, crazy light. It was quiet for a moment, and then Hange spoke again, her voice suddenly cool and low.
"Expressionless, apathetic, unfeeling… Y-you're... You're just like her."
And then Levi did show a reaction, his eyes glittering like black diamonds with a sudden icy anger, his expression a storm about to break.
Through her tears and anger, Hange knew she had made a mistake, and regret flowed instantly through her. She stumbled back a few steps, her back meeting the wall as he advanced, closing the distance in between them in a second with two long strides.
"L-Levi- I didn't mean-I-I'm sorry-"
Her hands were splayed against the rough stone as she cowered, Levi looming over her. His expression was one of cold fury, but beneath that, a horrible, horrible pain that he had spent so much strength trying to hide.
"Don't you ever, ever compare me to her," he said, his voice low.
It was silent for a minute, the seconds ticked by. Levi's eyes never left Hange's, and he spoke again. "I could never let my emotions destroy me like you've let yours do to you. You're a mess right now. She hurt me too… more than I can bear to think about." He wrenched open the door to her room. "You're going to stay in here until you either find a way to control yourself and keep your emotions in check… or you're not coming out at all. Tear it up, scream, rage, cry all you want, but I expect you to pull yourself together by morning. Like it or not, we're working with the enemy. This is the last time I keep your lack of mental stability a secret."
Levi glared down at her, and Hange nodded, her brown eyes filled with defeat now. Keeping her back to the wall, she walked to her door and then slipped inside the room.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said solemnly, then closed the door and locked it, his eyes boring into the back of a woman slowly being consumed by her own emotions. As he walked away, slipping the key to his pocket, Levi shook his head. She was either going to push her emotions aside or push them down. Hopefully, she would make the right choice.
0-o-0
Mikasa frowned; it was too quiet. She shifted the rifle that rested against her shoulder, her 3Dgear breaking the silence with metal against metal. She had been down here for about four hours, her shift increased by six hours now that most soldiers were away from the base. It was late at night, most operations now carried out under darkness to make things easier. It had been Armin who'd suggested the idea, and it had worked.
A small group had been sent to the walls to gather supplies, gas for their gear, new blades, and other miscellaneous items that they couldn't make by themselves. It helped having at least one powerful person on their side inside the walls, Reeves, or something like that, a company deemed important enough to survive in the central walls. When the time came, they would be an even more important asset in fighting from the inside.
Most other soldiers spent the night and day setting more traps to catch titans and clearing out the area. Civilian recruits, a large portion of them from the Underground, were either drilling, veterans trying to form them into soldiers, or trying to coax crops from any available space on the forest floor. So far, the attempts at farming had limited success, but, slowly, they were making progress. Only a few in their entire operation had been killed since Armin had come up with the strategy.
Back to the fact that the silence was too heavy. Usually, she and Annie would be having some type of conversation, but lately, that seemed to trickle off into a perpetual silence. Down here, the lowest level in the castle, her sense of time was warped. There was a feeling of isolation, being cut off from everyone else. They could have been the only two alive in the entire world, but Mikasa knew that if she leaned her head against the wall, she could feel the vibrations of life though the cold stone. Raised voices and footsteps, carried down here until they were almost too faint to sense. Every sound was magnified to her, as if her entire body was straining to hear any noise at all. To some, the quietness was maddening, and most other soldiers would guard the Female Titan in pairs, playing cards or talking. With their prisoner so silent, it was easy to forget about her,
But not to Mikasa. The presence of Annie was always at the back of her head, a heaviness that pricked her every thought. She could hear every slight breath, brush of skin, and whisper of sheets. Yet, every time Annie began to speak, it caught her off guard; she could not hear the slight intake of breath that came before someone started to talk. Her voice came out of nowhere, starting the faceless conversations that peppered her shift.
She had the ability to stay so quiet, Mikasa would occasionally look in through the bars to see if Annie was still there. And every time she did so, those blue eyes would be boring right into hers, smirking even though her mouth didn't, amused at the fact that Mikasa had to reassure herself. They said, What's the problem? Worried about me or something?
One time, she even commented about it, picking up on how it irked Mikasa. "Honestly, I'm touched. Am I really that important?" The question came after Mikasa had subtly leaned forward to catch a glimpse of Annie. There was that icy gaze. Did she do anything but stare at the door, in the same position every time. It was like she somehow knew when Mikasa's resolve would break. That was the one question Mikasa didn't respond to.
I was like Annie somehow knew it irked Mikasa to see her sitting there and waiting. She was expecting her, and here was a slight aura of self-satisfaction around her.
Today, however, neither of them had said a word. There hadn't been a single sound from that room. Mikasa sighed internally and stepped away from the wall to check if Annie was where she was supposed to be.
She seemed to be sleeping, but immediately, Mikasa could tell that something was off. Annie was not waiting for her. She was lying down, not moving. Too still and too pale. She couldn't spot the rise and fall of Annie's chest.
Mikasa frowned again and unlocked the door, stepping inside. Worry pricked at the back of her headñ Annie didn't stir at the clink jangle of keys and scraping of metal. She still didn't move as Mikasa approached her bedside and looked down at the Female Titan. There was no slight, telltale pulse on the side of her neck, but it seemed… too intimate to check for one.
Mikasa brushed the feeling of unease aside and picked up Annie´s wrist, her hand easily fitting around it. There was a pulse, faint and slow. Something was definitely wrong. Mikasa dropped Annie's limp hand and turned on her foot, unsure if this was a facade. She exited the small room and locked the door behind her, standing right near it. She would wait for the next soldier to relive, and send him to fetch Hange.
0-o-0
Six hours later, Mikasa could hear the clank of 3Dgear and soft footsteps. Someone walking down the stairs. She stepped away from the wall and stood at the bottom, waiting for whoever was coming. Nanaba came into view.
Before she reached the end of the steps, Mikasa spoke. "I need you to get Squad Leader Hange. Tell her come down immediately, but don't panic. Act normal." Her voice was low and solemn, her eyes serious.
The soldier regarded her for a moment, but Mikasa's reputation was well known among the Survey Corp, and with a moment's hesitation, she turned and marched hurriedly up the stairs.
0-o-0
Hange watched as the soldier entered the room, quietly making her way around the table and ignoring the strange looks at her interruption.
"What is it, Nanaba," she murmured, locking eyes with Erwin.
"Ackerman asked me to get you. She seemed pretty serious," Nanaba muttered. "She didn't say anything about what it was, but she's currently on guard duty-"
Hange pushed her chair back and stood, her face stoney. "Continue, everyone," she said. "I'll be back."
She beckoned Nanaba after her and strode purposefully to the door, not letting her worry show until she was out of the meeting room. With the base half deserted, Hange broke into a run, her boots pounding solidly on the stone floor, her face hard.
Mikasa stepped aside as Hange reached the bottom of the steps. "Ackerman, what is it?" she asked, turning to the soldier.
"The Female Titan, Squad Leader," Mikasa said, saluting her superior. She nodded her head at the door. "She looks… weaker. In some type of comatose state. She won't respond."
"Unlock the door. Wait out here, both of you."
Mikasa stepped forward and did as the Squad Leader ordered and stepped aside, watching as Hange brushed past her and into the room.
"Wait, Squad Leader- take this," Nanaba said, holding her rifle out.
Hange paused, looking back at the gun. She tilted her head to one side, remembering yesterday, when she had made a visit down here to see what questions Annie would answer… a day after she had lost it. A shiver ran through her body at the memory of being completely and utterly out of control. And it was the Female Titan's fault.
Internally, Hange sighed, knowing that she would have to keep herself in check. Her hands shook for a moment, but she steadied them, reflecting on the way Annie had crossed her arms and stood against the wall to avoid sitting or lying down, compromising positions. Her eyes had been narrowed in weariness and not boredom. Hange remembered how those blue orbs had followed her every movement, flicking sharply from her hands to face every time she made a gesture, expecting at any moment for the woman at the other end of the room to attack.
Hange remembered a flash of satisfaction, pride, even, at the fact that Annie was afraid of her. No shame in what she had done, but anger in the fact that Levi had been right behind her. Like a handler. A guard.
"No, I don't think I'll be needing it," she responded to Nanaba, waving her hand dismissively. Her glasses flashed momentarily, and she crossed her arms, then she turned and entered the dark room. Her boots clicked on the stone floor as she made her way over to Annie, peering down at the Female Titan.
"Leanhardt," she said curtly, and received no answer. She thought for a moment and uncrossed her arms, laying one hand on Annie's shoulder. She shook it briefly, but this didn't provoke any response. Her body was limp. A check for her pulse revealed a slow heartbeat.
What is this… ? Could it be a trick?
"Nanaba, on second thought, could I see your rifle?" Hange asked, not looking away from Annie as she held her arm out.
"Yes, ma'am," Nanaba responded, placing the firearm in Hange's outstretched hand.
"Thanks," Hange said. She allowed herself a small grin, but it shrunk quickly, her expression growing cold like her voice. "I assume it's loaded... ?"
"Yes, but-"
"Great." Hange pointed the gun straight up at the ceiling, placed once and over her ear, and, without hesitation, pulled the trigger. A sharp crack rang out, making every person's ears ring. Hange winced with the pain in her head, momentarily stunned, as were Mikasa and Nanaba. There was no movement for a few seconds, pieces of stone and dust raining from the ceiling.
"Squad Leader!"
Nanaba was the first to recover, then Mikasa, dashing into the room, the former grabbing Hange's shoulder.
Hange shrugged her hand off, roughly pushing the soldier away. "Relax," she said coolly, "I didn't shoot her." She tossed the rifle to Nanaba, crossing her arms.
"Squad Leader… I'm going to have to ask you to leave," Mikasa said, her voice even. Levi had told her what had happened, and she didn't want to get into a fight with such a highly skilled soldier.
"I'll leave when I'm done here," Hange responded, her eyes locked on Annie. She made her way back to the Female Titan's bedside scrutinizing the small form there closely for any change.
She hadn't moved an inch, showing no reaction to a gunshot at such close quarters.
"I'm going to notify Erwin," Hange said, straightening up. She turned and walked to the doorway. "Nanaba, Ackerman, stay here and keep close watch. I'll need to run some tests when I have permission… orders to restrain and injure if needed."
Hange locked eyes with both of them , receiving a nod of affirmation.
"Good," she said, brushing past Nanaba and too the stairs. "I'll be back."
0-o-0
Eight hours later, and there had been no change with Annie. Erwin had ordered there to be double the soldiers on guard. Gelgar and a brunette soldier with olive eyes were now standing at attention outside, both looking intently at the door. They were unnecessarily tense.
The commander had also given Hange permission to run a few small tests, but their results had revealed nothing about Annie's condition.
"Hey."
She spun around on the heel of her boot, eyes locked on the end of the room where Annie was. The only light came from torches outside, and with Mikasa and Nanaba blocking the doorway, the back end of the room was covered in shadows. She could barely see Annie, and every muscle in her body was taut, waiting.
"What?"
"I need to go outside," Annie said, her voice dead serious. It was flat, more so than usual; there was an undertone of tiredness. It was also deeper, the voice of who had just woken up from a heavy sleep. There was a small clicking sound, rustling, and the oil lamp flickered on, the small flame lighting the captive.
There were those blue eyes, their shine dulled.
"... What do you mean by that?" Hange asked, her eyes wandering over Annie's face, judging her expression. The oil lamp embellished the shadows there.
"You observed what happens to titans at night from your studies with those two titans," Annie said. "You also tried to lure me underground, so you know what happens." Not to mention… that my time could be sped up as I grow weaker. How much time do I have, now?
Hange nodded. She began to see where this was going. "You need the sun, or rather, it's light. For energy?"
"I don't know, but it's clear that my strength is failing. I need to be strong enough if you want me to use my powers to help you, and while I don't know if I truly need it or not…" She stopped talking, knowing that Hange could easily connect the dots.
From Hange knew about Annie, acting weak was not something she would do around another person, especially someone like Hange. Admitting a weakness right to her face was severely out of character for Annie, and Hange could see that this was serious.
"I'll speak to Erwin," she said, her tone hardening. She repressed a sneer. Even doing this, something that was necessary for their plan to retake the interior, disgusted her. Helping the Female Titan… it felt like a betrayal to the dead.
Don't think about it, don't think about it, she thought, loosening her hands from tight fists. You can't afford to be unstable right now. Think cold, think unfeeling… distance yourself from her.
But she couldn't do it. Her emotions were strong, burning in her. Hange turned on her heel, almost too quickly. "I'll request a meeting immediately." Her voice was cruel, clipped too short. It was bad that she entertained the idea of holding this over Annie's head, to make her beg for it. She enjoyed the thought for a moment. She shook her head to banish the idea, already walking out the door and closing it behind her.
"Thanks."
The voice was so serious it seemed sarcastic. Was it? So quiet, but deliberately strong, just loud enough to be heard.
Hange paused, looking through the bars. Annie was back to lying down, her eyes closed, face pale, and hair spread around her head. There was that steady, slight, slow rise and fall of her chest. Like nothing had changed.
Hange ran a hand through her hair, her hand still resting on the door's handle. She stood there for a moment too long, considering what to say, wondering if that was real gratitude in that short word. In the end, she said nothing at all, her only response footsteps slowly clicking on the stone, gradually growing faint until there was silence.