Chapter Text
“Commander Irvin Smith and Lance Corporal Levi, it is within the interest of the inhabitants of Walls Rose and Sina, as well as for the good of all mankind, to conduct appropriate experimentation as to discover the regenerative extent to which your charge, Eren Jaeger, is capable. As such, the court orders, under the responsibility of the Scouting Legion, that such experimentation be implemented within the month and that results be presented to the court with haste. Do you understand and accept the terms of these orders?”
Irvin, stoic as always, appeared silent a moment, thinking the matter over as he would with any decision, no matter how small. A concern dawned on him.
“Your honor, our primary scientist who would usually oversee any experiments on our division’s behalf is currently collecting important samples eighty kilometers northeast of our base. It would be impossible to reach her or expect her return by the end of the month.”
The judge, already collecting his paperwork, responded with ease, “The experiment wouldn’t require anyone special to be carried out. Inflict an injury, time how long it takes to heal, write it down. Simple. I leave the matter up to you to find someone suitable. Any further questions, Commander?”
“No, your honor.”
“Alright. Court dismissed.”
Irvin and Levi left the courts together as usual. It was nearing midday and the sky was clear and agreeable, there were people moving about who could momentarily forget about the devastation mankind was facing, life was fleetingly at ease. This contrasted heavily with the state that Levi found himself in after the morning’s court hearing. He wasn’t happy, and the aura he was emitting was one in which Irvin found hard to ignore.
“…What’s wrong?”
Levi looked up at the man, calculating. He couldn’t help that he had formed a habit over the years of closely watching what was said to others; withholding information at the right times had benefited him in his younger years and now allowed him to appear cool and levelheaded. It was an unnecessary habit around Irvin whom held his esteem and trust. “They don’t even think of him as a person. Any old dog could do the job and they couldn’t give two shits one way or the other.”
Irvin appeared thoughtful, “I agree. I wouldn’t preferred that Hanji was on the job but I suppose I’ll be able to find a volunteer--so long as they don’t personally know the boy.” He glanced at the corporal, “…You do understand the importance of the experiment itself?”
“Yeah, whatever. I’ve kicked the guy around myself a few times as you remember, he can take it whether you find it important or not.”
The two arrived back at the base as the sun was setting; this gave Irvin an opportunity to speak to the troops eating dinner. Although hungry himself, he wanted to set plans in motion right away to begin experimentation; they were given an extraordinarily small time limit to work with. “Attention soldiers!” The room fell silent; this attested to the sheer respect each individual among the soldiers had for the commander. Irvin even caught sight of Eren, who was looked to be listening intently. “As you know, Lance Corporal Levi and I were summoned to a military court hearing held earlier this morning. The Scouting Legion has been given orders to be carried out by a soldier of any rank that would involve pain infliction. If any of you find yourself able and willing to volunteer for this special operation, which by no means would be an easy task, please see me in my office as soon as possible. Thank you.”
With that, the commander started for his office; he knew it wouldn’t take long for a few soldiers to express interest and he would have to pick the most able of them. He wanted someone who could take on the task and be as autonomous as possible so that he could return to his primary responsibilities. Hanji truly would have been perfect for the job if she were not far away on business already. He received several interested men and one woman by the end of the night, and after a brief interview told each that they would be informed of his decision in the morning.
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Irvin chose a young boy, about 19 years of age, who had experience working briefly with Hanji as a volunteer earlier in the year. He didn’t know Eren personally, understood the instructions well and had little to say on the matter which led Irvin to believe that he would not feel much personal anguish for the pain he would be required to inflict. He hoped his instincts had led him to the right decision, filed the correct paperwork and showed the boy to his workspace and equipment. His lack of reaction unnerved Irvin a bit, but then again Irvin surrounded himself with similar people (including a certain short corporal he could mention)--and they were the people he could trust the most. All that was left was to deal with was rounding up the person to be researched--Eren Jaeger. Luckily, since Levi was technically the one in charge of Eren currently, he was also in charge of debriefing Eren on the experiment and sending him to where he’d be staying for the next month. Irvin trusted that he would see to his responsibilities and was finally able to return to his other matters.
Eren walked beside his superior, toward an unattached extension of their unit’s base--a small stone building with a large dungeon-like basement which sat west of the main building. They had been walking for ten minutes already, so it must have been at least a mile from the main building which he had previously dwelled. Eren was as pale as a sheet. He wanted to help humanity and shared their curiosity in wanting to know about his titan powers, however, he was still human and he was still scared. Levi had explained to him what the judge had requested and assured him that he would not die and that pain was temporary. Eren greatly appreciated those words and recognized that the corporal was trying to comfort him. He probably thought that Eren had developed some sort of pain tolerance in being subjected to such high amounts so often, however, the boy still felt everything fully and accepted his suffering as being necessary to the success of humanity. He wondered if he would be able to shoulder this coming pain similarly.
Shortly, they arrived at their destination. Levi, despite his earlier encouragement, seemed to be in a mood and said little to Eren as he spoke with the boy he’d be handing Eren off to. Much of their conversation involved Levi drilling him for answers regarding the experiments, making certain he knew exactly what to do. When Levi appeared to finally be satisfied, he remarked that he’d send a messenger every morning with food and any news that would come up and began to make his way back towards the main building--not before sending Eren one last glance and nod of his head. With that, Eren was left, silently and obediently, to be ruthlessly tortured and traumatized for the remainder of the month.
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It was finally nearing the end of the month. Time to find out what nearly a month’s worth of experimentation had brought to light. Time to finally see Eren again. Levi wouldn’t usually admit to feeling anxious about reuniting with anyone; however, he had only received news regarding the experimenter and not Eren himself (and this news he received through whoever was sent to bring food over to them daily).
He and Irvin had agreed to meet up at the compound together to let the boys know that the operation would be ending and they would have to present their findings soon to the military court. Hopefully it would be enough to sate the judge’s curiosity; Levi wasn’t going to hold his breath. Arriving at the building, he could see through the front window that Irvin was already inside, chatting up Private Böse(whose name he only recently learned). He showed himself in without bothering to knock.
“Irvin. Private Böse.” They greeted him with a nod. “Well, what’s the verdict?”
“I was just letting our experimenter know that he could head back to the barracks while we wrapped up our business here. He mentioned being rather tired, and I can’t say I blame him. I trust any paperwork we might need is in the notebook?” Irvin pointed towards the desk which was in fact littered with several notebooks. They all looked thoroughly used.
“Yes, sir.”
Something about Böse seemed… off. He didn’t physically look any different than how he had when they’d parted not a month ago, however, something substantial in his demeanor seemed to have changed. At least, this is what Levi’s gut told him.
“…I’ll be heading back then.” He said his words quickly, already half out the door and left Levi and Irvin to glance suspiciously at one another. Levi felt himself grow slightly anxious. “Have you checked on Eren yet?”
“No. Could you go get him? I want to look through Böse’s notes a bit.” Levi started making his way to Eren’s room without answering. It was obvious from the start that Levi would be the one to retrieve Eren, he was Levi’s charge, after all.
Levi followed the stairs which wound down tightly toward a single room. Barred to assure its inhabitant’s sustained captivity, only darkness could be seen beyond the door that locked Eren inside his own personal prison. It was eerily quiet and Levi’s anxiety was growing as he lit a lamp left by the door and made his way inside. He called out Eren’s name in a way that no soldier would dare ignore. No answer.
Stepping inside, Levi let his lamplight illuminate the surprisingly small, surprisingly empty room. He felt his stomach drop. It wasn’t like he hadn’t been expecting evidence of blood, but it was everywhere. Only the ceiling and high walls were spared of the deep red splotching that painted the area. Miscellaneous tools and stakes were scattered about and in his shock, Levi almost missed the small figure crouched low in the far left corner.
“…brat?” He was making his way over to Eren slowly, he found that his legs refused to move as fast as his mind was willing them. Eren seemed to notice his presence this time and without turning around or moving at all questioned quietly, “Is that… Heichou..?”
This response substantially calmed Levi’s nerves and he answered coolly, “Of course, you stupid brat, I’m here to pick you up.”
The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment before Eren stirred. It looked to Levi like he was adjusting himself, and after watching Eren do so a few times, Levi became impatient. “What are you doing?”
“…Sorry. Just a moment, sir.” Eren seemed then to intensify what he had been doing before; it looked as though he was struggling.
“Jesus. If you’re need help getting up, swallow your pride next time and ask me right away so I don‘t have to waste the day away watching your pitiful ass.” Levi just wanted out of this godforsaken place and was more than willing to get a closer look at Eren’s current state. When he reached out a hand, however, Eren reacted as if 10,000 volts of electricity had just coursed through his entire body. His jerk backwards was so severe that his back collided heavily with the stone wall behind him, causing his lungs to expel and leaving Eren gasping for breath.
Levi was shocked. “…What the hell is wrong with you?” Eren was unable to answer. Levi hesitantly reached out again, only to watch Eren react in terror, exactly as he had a moment ago. Levi felt anxiety bubble up within him yet again, and not a moment later he could hear Irvin’s voice calling down to him from the office room.
“LEVI! I NEED TO SPEAK WITH YOU URGENTLY!!”
“Shit. I’ll be right back. Uh…try and get ahold of yourself…” And with that Levi quickly made his way out of the room and up the winding stairs. He felt much more claustrophobic climbing them this time.
“I need to speak with you, too. There seems to be a problem with Eren,” Levi was speaking in his leader voice, he did so whenever he felt insecure about the current state of things. Irvin didn’t turn around from the desk he was seated at. He looked frantic shuffling through the papers he had splayed about; it looked like he was sweating.
“You’re damn right there’s a problem with Eren. Shit. I thought by this point in my career nothing would be able to faze me but…I…I’m at a loss.” Levi just stared. After another moment of frenzied reading, Irvin continued. “What happened in this building could by no means be called an experiment of scientific means. You could only call this--what he’s describing in these notes--the most inhumane torture imaginable. Shit, is Eren even alive right now?” Levi’s eyes widened, but he only continued to stare. “…Being grabbed by a titan, ripped in two, chewed up and eaten…that would be a welcomed fate compared to this… I never--” Irvin stood up abruptly, “I never ordered this! This is blatantly obvious disobedience, disregard for the life of a fellow human, and signifying of severe mental corruption…I’ll have him detained!!” With a start, he briskly crossed the room to the front door, “Do what you can to get Eren back to the base. If anything, just make sure he knows that he is safe now.” He flung the door open and paused once more, “Tell him I’m sorry.”
And with that he left.