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

To the Rescue

"Back off, kid," Levi growled at the girl who was crowding him in his hiding place behind the beer barrels. She smelled like she hadn't bathed in weeks and frequently rolled in the gutter for fun.

"I need to learn from you if I want to become kingpin," she elbowed him in the side in her attempt to get even closer.

"For fuck's sake!" Levi pushed her away, not having a wish to contract head lice. "Stay over there!"

"You're nasty," she pouted, rubbing her arm.

"That's my trademark," he agreed and made sure to concentrate on the guards in front of the Military Police headquarters again. There were two, leaning against the wall. They looked to be discussing something.

"Will you charge?" The girl had snuck closer again.

"Shhh, quiet," Levi snapped.

"They're not paying attention at all. They're all lazy and useless, y'know."

That had once been his opinion too. But after spending time listening to Erwin talk about the organization of the military branches, he now feared that not everyone was rotten in the Military Police. Indeed, the raid he had witnessed the night before had not only been an unpleasant surprise, but had also been pulled off with great efficiency. Better to be careful - it seemed that whoever had command down here was not a complete dolt.

"We wait until shift change," Levi told the girl, silently chiding himself for making it a 'we'. But she was a tenacious little creature and he had only so much energy to spare to keep her away.

"Why?" Esmelda edged closer again. "They look weak. Overpower them!"

"A shift is three hours long. We don't know how long these two have been standing here. After we witness the shift change, we wait for two hours and fifty minutes before we do anything."

"You mean to wait for another three hours?!" her mouth flew open. "How dumb are you?"

"I never told you to glue yourself to my side," Levi shrugged. "Go find something else to do if you're impatient."

The current MP headquarters were situated in a large house with thick stone walls. The roof looked newly patched, the windows were whole and marvelously clean. Levi knew it had once belonged to a half-criminal merchant family with ties to the above-ground economy. Apparently, they now rented it to the MP. Prisoners would be held in the basement, in the former storage rooms. That meant narrow staircases that were easy to guard and defend and a space damn hard to get in and out of unseen.

Unless... Levi tilted his head back and studied the roof. That could work.

"Guard change, guard change!" the girl fidgeted excitedly, nudging him with her pointy elbow.

Levi looked towards the door. And swore.

"Oh," Esmelda sounded impressed, "I've never heard that word before. What is it?"

Levi couldn't believe his bad luck. Treibel. Fucking Theodor Treibel had just stepped out of the house. Brown hair, hard eyes and a pinched mouth. Also attentive and dutiful. Had he followed Hanji down the stairs? Why?!

"Did you just growl like a dog?" Esmelda asked intrigued.

"I know that one," Levi pressed out. He knew that his hate towards the guy was slightly irrational but it also gave him a welcome boost of energy. "Waiting for two hours and fifty minutes is off the table, that one won't slack."

"Yay, we're charging!" The girl already launched herself forward eagerly. Luckily, Levi managed to catch one of her braids just before she could break cover.