Gunji tsūru (Military Tool)

Chapter Two (1/2)

Levi can feel his lip curling in something like disgust as he rereads the (mostly terrible quality) reports left on what is currently functioning as his desk for what feels like the hundredth time. Over the years he has seen any number of improbable things - even things once thought impossible, and he has learnt from his past mistakes. Now, he knows better than to simply take things at face value, and he finds that as a result he is rarely surprised.

That is not to say that it does not happen, of course. He is surprised now - very surprised indeed.

Hanji is almost shaking in her excitement, but she bites her lip and waits for him to speak, eyes shining behind her glasses. By now, Levi knows her well enough to know that it isn't the victory in Trost that she is so excited about, but rather the unexpected saviour that made it possible, and what that may suggest for her research. He can still remember when the first reports began to trickle in about the abnormal spotted lurking in the giant forests within Wall Maria, witnesses that claimed the titan had been sighted attacking other titans. The look on Hanji's face then really wasn't so different to her expression now, though she appears to be even more hopeful than before.

It had been Commander Erwin that had denied her when she asked permission to capture the titan in question. It wasn't the abnormals that they desperately needed to study, he had reasoned, but the majority of the titans that they still knew so very little about. These new reports, however, could well change that.

Though with the intelligence provided - shaky and unreliable at best - and the sticky fingers of the Military Police everywhere, there is no guarantee that Hanji will have her wish granted anytime soon. Levi pinches the bridge of his nose in an effort to stave off the lingering headache that has been building since the reports had started flooding in. This isn't what he had signed up for.

"This is the first time we've had so much as a hint that there might be titans willing and able to work with humans," Hanji finally bursts out. It seems that her excitement over this new development is enough to overcome her usual respectful (if unorthodox) manner. "The implications alone are staggering, never mind the opportunity for experiments, and the Military Police would have Jaeger put down like a sick dog with no questions asked. Lance Corporal, surely you understand why -"

"Jaeger?" Levi asks drily, one eyebrow inching up his forehead. Hanji doesn't even have the grace to pause or flush at her slip; she only grins like a gleeful child.

"After Dr. Jaeger - I've read all of his research papers and theories, and he was the first one to suggest the possibility of abnormal-type titans that display little or no aggression towards humans," she explains brightly. "Besides, I understand that in one of the pre-wall languages common in this area, 'Jaeger' meant 'hunter', so what name could be better for a titan that only attacks other titans?"

Despite himself, Levi can feel the beginnings of a smirk at the corners of his mouth. "You've put an awful lot of thought into this, haven't you?"

"I had the name picked out and ready when we first heard the rumours four years ago," she admits, not a hint of embarrassment in her countenance. "It's only just started catching on amongst the men." It takes far more effort than it should to keep from rolling his eyes.

Levi heaves a sigh, carefully neatening the stack of papers on the piece of shoddy workmanship he was ashamed to currently call his desk. "Hanji, as much as I regret to say this, the decision of whether or not Jaeger is to be placed in our custody as a test subject or anything else for that matter isn't up to me. The matter is to be taken to court in the near future, to be settled by Dallis Zacklay. His decision, whatever that ends up being, is final." He holds up a hand when Hanji opens her mouth to interrupt, waiting until she subsides before allowing himself to smile a little. "It's fortunate for you that Commander Erwin has ordered that I attend the hearing, both to hear the eyewitness accounts and to aid in arguing our case."

Hanji looks about ready to faint on the spot.

"Of course, I thought I ought to tell you before we went ahead and argued for the sparing of the titan's life," he continues easily. "If you don't think it'll be useful -"

"Yes! Of course it'll be useful, you have no idea how much we could learn from this!" She babbles in her excitement. "Of course we have to claim custody of Jaeger, we're the only ones that could reasonably achieve such a thing - in fact, we're the only ones that'll be able to find him since he closed the hole in the Wall at Trost."

"Precisely," Levi agrees, standing and carefully tucking his chair beneath the desk. "I'm glad you agree, Squad Captain."

"Huh? Levi, where are you-?"

"To the courtroom," he replies, as though it should be obvious, savouring the look on Hanji's face for a split second. "Did I not mention? The hearing starts in twenty minutes."