The major entered, which caught his attention for a moment, only looking back as his name and rank were called and keeping quiet. Why did she waste her time elaborating the situation to the enemy who hardly cared? Did she really think there was a shred of hope to be found here? All that damage, all those lives— people would have regretted those actions on the spot, not here and now, days later. But Levi let her get on with it, albeit, reluctantly.
But he expected the reminder of his team, he truly did. Of course the enemy would point out their little ‘victory’ of sorts, or so they would have believed it to be. Obstacles that got in the way and all that, but in the end knowledge of the obvious didn’t make it sting any less, but the mere fact that perhaps all their efforts would have been in vain did. The only thing that brought comfort was the fact that, even with their defeat, they tried their damnedest and their best, and that’s all Levi, and mankind, could ever ask for.
At least they, weren’t traitors, that brought him to a relative peace, even if only for the moment. His gaze was hard and unrelenting, if only because it made him feel better; if only because it was the only way he restrained his movements toward her and kick her so hard it knocked her jaw loose. The desire was still in that head of his, so it wasn’t like it hadn’t been there at all. The urge was very real, but the reality of the situation would not allow for it to have any end result. There wouldn’t be, just more trouble, and it was the reaction she probably wanted to entice.
"I don’t want to hear about the death toll, scum." He replied, exasperated as if he was tired of hearing a typical routine. "I want to hear about your motivations, your reasoning." Arms folded underneath the cloak. "Tch, piece of shit, you have to be a stubborn cow about this, I guess." A sigh, "Make this easier on you and yourself and just fucking tell us. We have ways of making you talk either way. Just tell us which you prefer."
She expected the refusal didn’t catch her off guard, nor did the taunting really. Expect it still twisted that ugly thing in her further until it turned into an iced barb that lodged in her heart, a sudden snap of hate. An emotion that seldom entered the equation, yet here it was now as she bristled and clenched her fists by her side. “Stop!" She barked, hard and cracking as it echoed off stone. It was a tone so very rare for her because she could not hate- would not hate. She refused with every fiber of her being until there was a slight quiver, covered by pinching the bridge of her nose. A sigh, heavy and as said so terribly tired.
"Stop it. We’re not killing you." Not yet and certainly not like that anyway. It wasn’t that Hanji couldn’t stomach killing, she did what she had to and did it frightfully well. It was more that she killed only with reason and whilst here there was certainly reason there was more of a reason not to. There was more to learn here, especially given everything. Eventually the other would talk, even if not here and now. As Levi said there were ways enough to force someone, especially when that someone could heal and endure far more than a normal person. Annie was just making it worse.
"If you don’t comply someone will make you. Perhaps not today, not tomorrow, but eventually you will." People always did in the end, however she’d have no part in it. Torture was perhaps something that had to be done, but it was not something she would bring herself to do. Too cruel and too barbaric, even if the one on the other end of it had done more than enough to justify it. That was the difference though, wasn’t it? To not lose yourself to the hate and anger which pushed you to do vile things; to keep your humanity no matter what.
She was still human and today was not the today she would lose that.
The pounding in his head was almost synced with his footfalls in the stone clad streets. He'd seen Hanji slip away in the last few seconds of his briefing, no doubt going to see their newest specimen. Erwin closed his eyes, trying to relieve the current headache that was everything. Eren, Annie.. he wondered if there would be any more surprises for him down the road.
Nearing the enternace to the dungeon, he motuioned to one of the guard to give him their travel cloak. It was handed over to him without a second thought, and Erwin thanked the guard as he walked therough the door and began his descent into the cold darkness.
Footsteps were masked by the echoes of angry dialouge being tossed between many angry individuals. He adjusted the cloak on his arm as he walked into the fray of insults and blame.
"Major," he would say quietly as he passed Hanji, and in turn, would give an equally quiet awknowledgement to Levi, "Captain." He didn't look at them as he passed, only the quiet words were exchanged as he entered the chamber containing a chained Annie.
With a fluid motion he would took the cloak from his arm and draped it over the scantily clad girl. As the cloak settled, he took a step back, "Miss Leonhardt." He sighed her name, exhausted, and grabbing a rusted chair he would pull it in front of the girl and sit down. His eyes bearing into hers, he would speak in a stern, but calm tone, "What I believe my collegues are trying to say, is that the information you possess could be helpful for both parties." He sat back, clearing his throat, "It would be.. appreciated by us as well as all of humanity if you were to share that information." And then he would add, quieter, "Or do you not care for humanity anymore?"
Their threats were meaningless. Their words were meaningless. They sat here and talked at her as if she cared - she could have done without the droning on and insistence upon her cooperation, of course, but it was hardly too much to endure. Everyone was on edge except her. So she listened - to all three of them. The captain, the major and the commander. And she told herself she wasn't moved by any of it, as she always had done.
She took in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. Her tone remained unmoved and calm. "Information." She said, "I'm a failure as a warrior. There's your information. Humanity is my enemy. Now it would be helpful to me if all of you could leave and let me alone."
She sat up, looked dead at the three of them, and shrugged, her tone and expression - or what could be called an expression, as she had never been entirely expressive in the first place - both spoke of a casual conversation, as if she were merely stating the weather or talking about a book she read. "Or you could let me go." She suggested nonchalantly, "If you want me in titan form that's how you'd do it. Of course, you run the very high chance of me escaping. I won't transform down here, though. I'm not much use otherwise. I won't talk, and you won't kill me. Stalemate."
And then more quietly, "Why not ask one of the others? I'm sure you can grab one of the ones who are more cooperative than me. I'm not saying anything."
