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

A Lesson

Had they just had a conversation like normal human beings? Yes, they had! Quite giddy with this unexpected, fast success, Zoë skipped down the stairs. And he was finally, finally going to show her some of his awesome tricks! It had only taken her 4 months to get him to agree to it. Another 4 and they'd be best of friends. Another 4 and they'd be... hm, what? Kissing?

"This way," he said, pointing his chin at the... kitchen?

"Are we hungry?" she frowned.

No answer. Levi shouldered the door open and entered the large room that always smelled heavenly of fresh bread and apple tart. Hmm, maybe she was hungry? Suddenly salivating, Zoë craned her neck to locate a treat... when Levi swiveled around impossibly fast, grabbed her by the straps around her hips, turned her upside down and shook her.

Clang.

"Here it is," he sounded content as he dropped her on her head and bent down beside her.

"You... ouch!"

"Mine," he said and held up the knife in front of her eyes, "don't ever touch it again."

With that, he turned around and continued walking forward. Wavering between embarrassment and outrage, Zoë scrambled back on her feet and hurried after him.

"You little..."

"And close that top strap," he said over his shoulder.

Zoë looked down at herself.

"That one," he said, stopping and turning around. Expecting another humiliation, Zoë lifted her hand in defense, but Levi just leaned forward a little to lash the harnish strap over her breasts. "You forgot to secure it."

Zoë stared down at his expressionless face. His eyes, she noticed, were dark grey like the sky before a vicious storm. He wasn't wearing the Survey Corps uniform, but black trousers and a nicely ironed, floral white shirt. And that ascot. Why would someone always put on an ascot? Did he need to hide his throat? Was it disfigured?

"Always check your equipment at least twice," he lectured her, turning around again. "Such sloppiness could cost you your life."

He had rendered her speechless, which was a new, befuddling experience for Zoë.

"You cannot just...," she remembered the brush of his hands over the most sensitive skin with a rush of blood to her face. "... touch my breasts," she stammered at his frown.

"I didn't notice any," he huffed and bent over a work table near the wall. "Besides, don't put any unsheathed knives there, idiot."

"I didn't..."

"If I had recently sharpened it, you might have lost the rest of your inexistent breasts."

"I have breasts!" She bristled, "I just bind them really tightly because..."

"Come over here," he said, holding up two knives he had taken from the counter top, weighing them in his palms. "One of those will have to do."

"Are we fighting with real blades!?"

He didn't deign to answer. Excitement surged through her. "We use wooden replicas in the training corps."

"No wonder you're all hopeless," he grumbled. "Show me your grip."

She grabbed the one from his left hand. He nodded, took it back and handed her the other.

"This one is better," he decided. "Don't grip it so hard, you will tire your muscles."

He motioned to her to follow him and they went out into the courtyard together. It was deserted. The echoing emptiness gave her a sudden jolt of apprehension - ever since joining the Corps five years ago, she had always been surrounded by her comrades, day and night. Seeing their headquarters so empty gave her the creeps. Luckily, she wasn't one to believe in superstitions like bad omens and such crap, but she still hurried to catch up to the only other soldier around.