Chapter Text
Levi was mindlessly scrolling through TV-channels. It was ten in the morning on a workday, so he found nothing interesting, except reruns of stupid reality shows or culinary programs. He was preoccupied with this for the last hour, just laying on his couch and constantly shifting between one dumb show or the other. He didn’t know what else to do – he didn’t feel like reading a book, his apartment had been cleaned more this last month that in all years he was living there and it was raining heavily since early morning, so he couldn’t even go for a jog. On top of that, during rainy days his leg was acting up more than usual, so he resigned himself to spending the whole day on a couch.
When he was on his fifth row of TV-channels, his phone began ringing. Levi took it in his hand, wondering who could be calling him. There were two options, really: it was either Erwin, who would ask him how his leg was doing and then ask how Levi himself was doing, or it was Yeager, who would call and ask him if he could come over (Levi honestly didn’t see the point in Eren’s calling and asking – he showed up at his house no matter what Levi answered him or how many times he told him to fuck off). Levi looked at name of the caller and it was Erwin. He couldn’t decide if it was better than receiving a call from Eren. On one hand, it meant, that Eren and his friends wouldn’t be bothering him today. On the other hand, if Levi heard Erwin ask him how he was doing one more time, he would be very tempted to smash his phone against the wall. Not mentioning, that he was really bored today, and even though, Eren and his friends were annoying and sometimes too loud, he wouldn’t be too opposed to their company. As he was sweeping his hand to accept the call, a brief thought crossed Levi’s mind. Maybe, Erwin was calling him to give him his new mission? Levi quickly dismissed it – it was two month since that accident and Erwin refused to let Levi work ever since, ignoring him every time he asked to let him do at least something. Erwin was adamant, saying that Levi needed time to heal both physically and mentally. Which was total bullshit – his leg was doing fine two weeks after that mission and now only occasionally bothered him and as for his mental state? Well, Levi was always fucked up and he seriously doubted that two month of sitting alone at his apartment would change anything. Of course, Erwin wanted him to start the therapy sessions. Levi even agreed to that, thinking that it would help persuade Erwin into giving him a new mission sooner, but after a few sessions, he understood that it was a simple waste of his and doctor’s time – he spent his whole session just silently staring at the wall, refusing to talk and answering doctor’s questions only with monosyllables. Honestly, even Yeager’s visit helped him more, the brat was surely irritating and sometimes he brought his friends to Levi’s house, but at least it helped him to fight off the constant boredom.
Taking a deep sigh, Levi finally picked up the phone.
“If you are calling to ask how my leg is today or how am I doing, then I swear to God, Erwin, I will hang up and block your number.”
“It’s good to hear, that you’re in such a good mood today, Levi,” Erwin laughed. “And here I was calling to propose a new mission for you,” Levi perked up, hoping that Erwin wasn’t joking. “But I’ll understand if you’re still not ready…”
“Fuck no,” Levi practically growled. “I’m sick of sitting at home and watching stupid TV-shows. I’ll perform whatever shitty task you ask of me, Erwin, just give me something to do already, please.”
Levi was sure that he sounded fucking pathetic, but what else could he do. He was desperate, he needed something to do to take his mind off other things, of things that happened two months ago.
“Fine, fine,” Erwin replied, chuckling. “I’ve already sent the details on your email anyway.” Levi immediately got up and practically ran towards his laptop.
“I’m already checking it,” Levi said, turning on his laptop and opening his email.
“Good. Everything you need to know is in the letter and if you have any questions, you know, you can always call me.”
Levi grunted an affirmation and was ready to hang up, when he heard Erwin’s voice again.
“I was serious before, Levi,” his voice was concerned and Levi felt like an asshole for snapping at him earlier. Levi might have been fed up with being treated like a porcelain vase, but Erwin was his friend and he was truly worried for him. He should treasure it more; it wasn’t like he had a lot of friends after all. “If you feel like you’re not ready, I’ll understand and pass this mission onto someone else.”
“No,” Levi said, making an effort to keep his voice calm and free of annoyance. “I’m really fine, Erwin, you should stop worrying.” He took a deep breath, already feeling awkward because of the words he was going to say. He sucked at talking about his feeling, but he also knew, that sometimes, for your friends you needed to make an effort. “Thank you… for worrying about me. I may act like an asshole, because I am an asshole, but, um, I appreciate your concern.”
“Wow, Levi, that was the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me,” Erwin said after some silence and Levi could hear that the bastard was trying to keep himself from laughing. “I’m deeply moved.” Erwin added and then he finally gave in and started laughing.
“Fuck off,” Levi said, hanging off to the sound of his friend’s laughter. Even so, a small smile appeared on his lips as well.
Laying his phone down, Levi finally concentrated on his new mission and the letter Erwin sent him. Erwin was his boss and also the head of their little group. Their organization, although Levi wasn’t sure he could call them that – officially they had no name and not many people knew about them and their activities. Levi wasn’t even sure where exactly Erwin was taking new missions and clients for them. They were a kind of security agency and usually were called in to provide someone with safety. The missions could last for a considerate amount of time, but usually they took no more than two weeks. The member of their organization just needed to deliver their target to safety and then their job was finished, just as that was with Levi’s previous target, Eren Yeager. Although, after that mission, Eren decided to join them and was now training to become one of the agents. He even managed to sign up his childhood friends, Mikasa and Armin, to do the same. Their organization wasn’t big, it consisted only of ten or so people and all of them were professionals. Levi was one of the best – he was a quick thinker, remained calm even in the more dire situations and had an unusually great reflexes.
He studied the information on his target that Erwin had sent him. The name was Hange Zoe and she was 31 years old. At such young age, she was already a professor at Humboldt University of Berlin and had PhDs in Cell Biology, Biochemistry and Toxicology. So, clearly a very intelligent woman. Levi wondered briefly, what had she done that now she needed protection. He read his mission’s goal and was surprised at its simplicity. Erwin must really be concerned about him, because all he needed to do was to make sure that professor Zoe traveled safely from Berlin to New York.
Then Levi noticed that Erwin also attached a photo of his target to the letter. He opened it and looked at Hange Zoe’s face. She had big round glasses and short brown hair that she put up in a ponytail. Her eyes were also brown, almost a match with her hair. A small smile was on her lips. Levi noticed that he was staring at the photo for too long, unable to tear his gaze away. He shook his head, a little annoyed at himself – it was just his new assignment and he hasn’t even met her, why was he so bothered already? He quickly closed the letter and turned off his computer, but it was still hard to get Hange Zoe’s eyes out of his mind.
Two days later, Levi was standing at the entrance of a small, cozy-looking Berlin café, where he was supposed to meet Hange Zoe. He looked inside the café, searching for the woman he had seen in a photo. As it turned out, he didn’t need to search for long – just a second after he stepped inside he heard a loud boisterous laugh. Turning his head to the source of that sound, he was met with warm brown eyes of Hange Zoe. She looked just like she did in the photo – big round glasses and a brown hair in ponytail. Still, seeing her in person, even if he was at the other end of the café, felt different. She looked the same, yet she was more vivid, more alive. She was wearing a deep green suit and white shirt. A moment later Hange also noticed him and began waving her hand, beckoning him to come closer. Only when he was near the table, where Professor Zoe sat, he noticed that someone else was already sitting there. It was a man, probably a little younger than Hange. He had chestnut hair, dark green eyes and was dressed in brown pants and blue shirt. He was staring at Levi, distrust clearly written in his gaze. Levi briefly wondered, who the man was and what was his deal. Wasn’t Hange supposed to come alone? However, his thoughts were quickly interrupted as his new assignment, Hange Zoe, took his hand into hers to give him a handshake.
“You’re agent Levi, right?” she asked, smiling. Levi cringed at the title “agent”, which made it sound like he was some kind of cool secret operative, while in reality, he was just a guy who was paid to watch over people’s safety. Hange Zoe didn’t seem to sense his displeasure, because she continued to talk, a smile never leaving her face. “I’m Hange Zoe, although you can call me Hange. You know, your boss told me you were his most efficient subordinate, so I imagined you would be, well, a little taller?”
Levi gritted his teeth, freeing his hand from woman’s hold immediately. Although, he was the one to break the handshake, he felt somewhat regretful because of that. The woman’s hand was warm and she was holding his hand in a gentle grasp. However, Levi was still annoyed with her, he hated jokes about his height.
“Well, I’ve imagined you a little different, too” he retorted. “I thought you wouldn’t be so annoying.”
His reply was rude and he was being an asshole, he knew it, he knew it was no way to talk to his assignment, but he still couldn’t stop himself. However, the woman didn’t seem to be all that offended, if her delightful laugh was anything to judge by. Anyone else would probably be hurt or angered at such retort, but as Levi was quickly learning, Hange Zoe was a little different from most people.
“So, you’re saying you’ve already fantasied about me?” she said, after her laughter had subdued. She looked directly into Levi’s eyes and her voice turned deep and a little husky. Levi could feel his mind go blank, as he scrambled to think of something to say to save at least the remnants of his dignity. He also found himself unable to stop staring into Hange’s eyes.
“Don’t be absurd,” he managed finally. He hid his face, hoping that the woman didn’t notice the blush, that was spreading onto his cheeks. His words made her laugh again and she threw her head back, clearly enjoying herself. Her neck was now exposed and this time Levi tried very hard not to stare. He quickly averted his eyes and was met with dissatisfied stare of a man Hange came with.
“Who is that?” he asked Hange, sitting across the man.
The woman clasped her hands joyfully and came to stand behind the man. She laid her hands on his shoulders and squeezed them affectionately.
“That’s Moblit Berner! My assistant and best friend!” The man, Moblit, smiled at her words and squeezed her hand in return. “Unfortunately,” Hange continued. “He’s also very stubborn and refuses to let me go to New York without him. It won’t be too much trouble for you if he goes?”
Levi was a little shocked at her revelation, he didn’t anticipate a second person to come with them. He opened his mouth to say exactly that, but was quickly cut off by Hange.
“Let me rephrase it,” she said and Levi heard a dangerous edge in her voice. She still had her hands on Moblit’s shoulders, but she managed to look intimidating all the same. Levi was honestly impressed. Usually, when people tried to scare him, it just earned them a rude retort or a punch in a face. But this woman… she made Levi listen to her. “I may not like the idea of him going,” she continued. “But if he decided so, then I won’t hold him back. If you have any problem with that, then I need a new agent assigned to me.”
“It’s fine.” He grumbled. “A second person wouldn’t make such a difference.”
That big and warm smile appeared on Hange’s face once again. She sat down near Levi, wrapping her hand around his shoulders and bringing him closer to her chest.
“I knew you would agree!”
Levi cursed and tried to get away from the annoying warmth of her body. However, Hange’s grip was stronger than he thought. She looked at his struggling, winked and then released him. Levi definitely did not blush. Then he looked to the side and saw that there were two suitcases on the floor next to their table.
“You are ready to go?” he asked, pointing at the suitcases with his chin. After getting affirmation from both Hange and Moblit, he took out his phone to book all of them a plane ticket.
“There is one issue, though,” Levi looked up from his phone to see Moblit, who was obviously nervous. He avoided looking at Levi and was staring at the table. “I’m, um, afraid of flying.”
Levi couldn’t believe it – was the man serious? He felt annoyance stir up inside him, but before he could say anything, Moblit raised his hands in a placating gesture and continued.
“I’ve found a ship, which would take us to New York. We need to go to London first and then the ship is going to stop at Reykjavik and the whole journey would probably last more than two weeks, but it is much safer than on a plane!”
“Great work!” Hange clasped Moblit on the back. Levi noticed that he slightly winced but didn’t complain and smiled at Hange. “I agree with Moblit’s plan,” Hange announced, turning his attention to Levi. “Do you?” She had a look in her eyes, as though she was challenging Levi. To what exactly he didn’t know, but he was never the one to give up a fight.
“I need to ask Erwin first,” he said, staring right back at Hange. She looked closely at him as though, as though she was studying him. He didn’t particularly like that look, it remained him too much of Erwin – he too often stared at people like that. Inwardly cursing, Levi tore his eyes away from Hange’s and got up to go and call his boss.
“Levi? Is there some problem?”
“Kinda. Our professor brought a friend with her. And said that she wouldn’t go without him.”
“Huh,” Erwin chuckled. “That’s unexpected. However, I spoke with Professor Zoe a few times and she managed to strike me as a unique person,” and Levi couldn’t agree more with that sentiment. Although, he wouldn’t describe her as unique, but rather as slightly crazy. “Did you agree to her request?”
“I did. But it turned out, that her assistant is afraid of planes, so they came up with another route. They want to travel by sea. Erwin, it would take weeks!”
“Well, I’d understand if you don’t want this mission anymore,” Erwin said slowly, carefully. “It is a surprising turn of events and I can always ask someone else to do it or, you know, I can always do it myself. I haven’t been on missions for so long. Maybe I really should take the mission, I've always wanted to travel by sea an-”
“Don’t give me that bullshit,” Levi cut him off almost angrily. “I agreed to this mission and I will finish it. If that weirdo wants to go by sea and spend weeks in the middle of nowhere, then fuck it. I’ll do it.”
“Oh, good. Good luck then. Call me if you need anything.”
Levi nodded and then remembered that right, Erwin couldn’t see him do it on a phone, so he grumbled something that Erwin would probably understand as his affirmation and ended the call. He slowly walked back into café, where Hange and Moblit were busy discussing something in hush tones. They stopped the moment Hange noticed him. She turned around to face him and asked.
“How was your conversation?”
“Get your shit ready. We need to hurry if we want to catch a train to London today.”
“Yahoo!” Hange loudly exclaimed. Several other customers looked at her in bewilderment but she paid no attention to it. She raised her hand to Moblit and he high-fived her. He also wore a smile on his face, although his wasn’t even half as big or as crazy as the on Hange’s face. Then, with her hand still raised up in the air, she turned back to Levi. When Levi just continued looking at her unimpressively, she whined. “C’mon! Don’t leave me hanging!”
With a grunt of displeasure, Levi caved in and hit his hand against his. He didn’t know it was possible, but Hange smile grew even wider. Levi rolled his eyes, but a part of him, a very small part was secretly enjoying Hange’s smile. She might be a crazy weirdo, who already has caused him too much trouble in the first ten minutes since he met her, but her big goofy smile wasn’t so bad and it made her face glow and her eyes sparkle, and he did that to her, she smiled at him and… and he really needed to stop thinking about Hange’s smile or Hange’s whatever. The hell was even happening to him?
Two hours later, Levi, Hange and Moblit were sitting in a compartment on the train headed to London. Levi was staring out of the window, while Hange was busy writing down in her journal. She occasionally leaned over to Moblit, showing him her notes.
“What are you doing?” Levi asked after an hour and a half of their ride. However, Hange did not answer him and so he repeated his questions. Only this time much louder and he punctuated it with a light kick to her sheen.
“Oi, no need for physical violence,” Hange replied, caressing the place, where Levi had kicked her. “Did you ask something?”
Levi barely resisted the urge to kick her again.
“Yes, I asked what are you doing?”
“Oh, I’m just writing some ideas for my new thesis. Wanna hear?”
“Eh, no.” Levi wasn’t too curious about science stuff and he got a feeling that he probably wouldn’t understand half of the words that Hange would say to him.
“Well, you aren’t losing too much. I probably wouldn’t finish it anyways.” Hange’s voice was regretful, almost sad. Levi wanted to ask about this, but then he caught Moblit’s gaze. He was staring at him with the same distrustful and angry look from earlier. Levi silently turned back to the window, deciding not to involve himself into whatever was going on. He shouldn’t care what is going on in Hange’s head anyway, his mission’s priority was her safety, not her emotional state. For that kind of shit, she had her assistant.
Half an hour later, Hange laid down her journal and got up from her seat, stretching.
“Can I sit next to you?” She asked Levi.
“What’s wrong with your sit?”
“I want to read, but it’s getting darker and the lighting on your side seems better.” Levi looked up at her, trying to see if she was fucking with him. However, Hange wasn’t looking particularly mischievous, in fact, she looked rather tired and still a little sad. Levi wordlessly scooted over, making a room for her to sit comfortably. He hated it, but he did feel a little guilty, thinking that his stupid question was the cause for her state. Hange thanked with a nod and a small smile. She sat down, opened her book and began reading. Levi discreetly stole a glance at the cover and read the annotation. He thought that professor at the one of the best Berlin universities and a woman with three PhDs would read something more… sophisticated. Instead, she was reading some book about romance between a vampire and an alien? At least, it looked like it was about that. The cover, and probably the book itself, was ridiculous. However, it seemed fitting for Hange. She also was somewhat ridiculous, but at the same time also clearly very intelligent and smart. The woman herself was a clash of opposites and contrasts. Levi might not know her for long, a little more than five hours, to be exact, but he already felt intrigued by her. He wondered once again, what she had done and why did she need to protected? What was she going to do in New York? Levi wanted to ask, but then he remembered her assistant’s cold attitude towards him. He doubted, Hange would reveal a lot in his presence.
Overall, he was actually looking forward to travelling with her for the next few weeks. He wanted to know more about her, to at least try to unravel the enigma of Hange Zoe.
Levi was broken out of his thoughts, when something touched his shoulder. He looked to the side and saw, that Hange had fallen asleep, her book laid forgotten in her lap. Levi felt his lips curl into a small smile as he shifted slightly to make it more comfortable for her. He was sure in one thing: boredom wouldn’t bother him much during this mission.