A techie and a reporter:
A/N: Just to clarify for anyone confused, this is set in a world very similar to our own, with the exception of people locations and, of course, the Titans. And just so you know, this story should go on for at least 20 chapters, depending on how the writing goes.
"Well... What do you want?" The raven head replied, a dull and bored tone coating his voice.
"Isn't this... The tech department?" Petra asked slightly nervous.
All the man responded with was an eye roll, maintaining his stoic expression. "Unless you can't read, you should have seen the sign on the door."
"I was just... Making sure, that's all."
"Tsk." The stranger said, as he moved out of his chair to another monitor. Petra noted his toned muscles brushing against his shirt as he walked, despite his small stature. "What have you broken this time?" He asked the ginger, turning on a separate computer.
"I didn't break anything!" She stated, her tone visibly moving to a more defensive nature.
"Then why are you here?" The man replied, dryly.
"Because some tool from another company hacked their way into my account, that's why!" She shouted out, temporarily losing her composure while the other man just sat down fluidly. His expression completely stoic, not even flinching from her sudden outburst.
"That's different then." The man stated, before turning his gaze back to the awakening moniter, booting up the essential systems and logging into a secure account. All the while Petra watched him work, noting the inhuman speed of his keystrokes and how the man's gaze seemed to move in the blink of an eye. "You know you're allowed to sit down, right?" The raven head told her, after which he continued with his work.
"Have you got a name?" Petra asked.
"What kind of a question is that? Of course I have a name, who doesn't?" He bit back to her question.
"Well excuse me for making conversation." Petra responded, taking a seat from out beneath a monitor to look over the strange man's shoulder.
"Levi."
"What?"
"My name. It's Levi." The man identifying himself as 'Levi' responded, the critical edge in his tone notably missing.
"Oh... Well, my name's Petra." She responded, following the man's lead as she lost her critical edge gained from an annoying morning and a lack of coffee.
"Petra Ral?"
"Yeah... Have you heard of my work?"
"No, I just needed to know which was your computer." Levi replied, while Petra swore she could hear a smirk in his words, though his face stayed the same. "So... Any idea who broke into your systems?" The raven-head asked while he continued to delve into the system.
"Not in the slightest. All I know was a guy in a suit walked up to my desk only to bolt out as soon as I arrived." Petra answered, as the man continued to type.
"Well... He wasn't there for another company." The man told her, raising his companion's eyebrow in confusion, to which he addressed. "He didn't alter any system files, left the place without installing a flash drive, and didn't delete any of your work."
"Then... What did he do?" The ginger pondered as she stroked her chin, allowing herself to delve deep in thought.
"He only opened a single file. Probably to read whatever story you're working on, and shut down the computer with a classic alt f4."
"I guess he was just one of those whacko's who can't wait for people to publish their work, and instead finds another way to it."
"Probably not. He managed to get past the receptionist, security, and the CCTV system."
"How did you-"
"I'm the backbone of the IT system. Working the system comes with a few perks." The raven-head stated, pointing behind the newcomer to reveal an aged and bulky TV alternating between the different camera feeds. From the entrance, to her desk and beyond. "Knew exactly where the blind spots for each were located. Whoever jumped on your system clearly knew what they were doing." He explained, as the two looked
"Your stamina's pretty good by the way. May need to tell the loud-mouth upstairs to grow a few brain-cells though." Levi stated, causing a small chuckle to escape Petra's lips before she could stop it.
"You're not exactly wrong. He does have a tendency to mouth off sometimes."
"Unrequited childhood crush?" He asked, receiving a small nod in response. "I'm guessing from the expression and lack of conviction you're not returning that feeling anytime soon."
"Wow... You're good." Petra spoke, unable to hide the surprise in her praise. "Ever consider becoming a journalist?"
"Not really, no. That was never really an option for me, so I just stuck to working servers and fixing cameras." Levi replied, a small hint of dissapointment in his voice.
"Would you have, though?" Petra asked, before hastily doubling back on her words. "I mean, if you had the chance, that is."
The man rose to his feet, standing stoic as if deep in thought before turning to face his new aquaintance. "Without a second thought." He told her simply, returning back to his moniter signalling that it was her time to bail.
She did just that, wandering back to the elevator as the sound of gunfire once again filled the corridor from the raven-head's game. She pressed the button for her floor, floor 42, unable to supress the curious thoughts poking around her head. All of them returning back to the mysterious techie residing in the basement.
Several days later, she had fully prepared for her excursion into Titan territory. Packing only the bare essentials into two decent-sized rucksacks. One loaded to the brim with jackets, shirts, pants and other clothes. And another prepared for a different kind of situation than unpacking for a dress-up.
The second rucksack contained a survival kit sealed with waterproof tape, several torches utilising rechargable batteries, one hand-held radio, an extensive first aid kit and a few bobby pins. (Having learnt the basics of lockpicking during her journalist career). Though what stood out most of all was the small handgun and loaded magazines beside it.
Normally, she'd call the gun paranoid overkill. But dealing with literal monsters left no definition for overpacking. Considering that a headshot would immobilise them for one to two minutes. The only found killing blow being a decent shot or slash into the nape of the neck.
She placed the bag into the taxi trunk, before sitting into the seat awaiting her journey to hell.
The ginger didn't exactly know what to expect. For all she knew, the 'full scale war' wouldn't last the month. Or, the opposite could be just as likely to happen. If the horde's numbers were big enough, then it could and would spell the end for humanity as a whole. Either way, a story would be told of it and she would be the one writing it all down.
Providing her unknown camera-man didn't screw things up for her, that was.
Yet before Petra's thoughts could return to her, the taxi turned a corner to view her office skyscraper. With the addition of a decent-sized helicopter on the roof. Coated in military camoflage, ironically making it more visible than not.
That was her ticket to the story of the century.
Petra grabbed her bags, closing the cab doors behind her and paying the fee, before heading into the building. Making a beeline for the elevator.
She let her bags fall to the floor, appreciating the empty shaft's calm before the storm. The storm being the same flood of reporters she had to avoid every day. Then pressing the roof elevator button for the roof. The other only button she hadn't pressed before.
Strangely though, the elevator started lowering down to the basement level. Petra just assumed it was a bug in the system, nothing majorly worth concern. But that theory changed shen the doors slid open with their usual ding, as she saw someone waiting for a ride.
Strangely enough, it was the same man from earlier that week. Though was instead donning a small jacket complete with black jeans, white trainers and fingerless gloves. He was still wearing his signature cravat by his neck.
Before Petra could say a word, Levi stepped into the elevator and pressed the same button she had a few minutes prior.
"So... Going to see the view?" Petra asked, looking to kill the silence.
"Not really. Let's just say I've got that shot I've been looking for." Levi replied, letting the room fall back into undisturbed serenity. Until it was shattered by the ever-same 'ding' as the elevator reached the roof.
Levi began to walk out to the helicopter, still preparing its usual flight checks, before he looked back to see Petra struggling with her bags. He wordlessly grabbed both oversized rucksacks and hoisted one over each shoulder. Planning to ignore any protests that she could dish out.
He set them down next to another smaller rucksack out of the crew's way, before beginning a conversation with Pyxis. Said man quickly thrust a half-drunk flask back into his waistcoat pocket.
Intent on not listening in, Petra looked out over the city skyline to see the world around her. Karanes had been her home for however many years, housing both herself and her father. Who she still saw on the off occasion. It had so many great memories, despite its shortcomings here and there.
It always felt strange to leave, but every bird had to leave the nest eventually. As she had learnt.
Five minutes passed. And then ten. Of only the occasional word here and there behind her, until eventually Petra heard a cry telling her that it was almost time to leave. She ran to grab her bags, only to notice them missing. With only Pyxis and Levi standing in their place.
"Ah. Ms. Ral." Pyxis adressed, his voice for once lacking its usual heavy slur. "Now, I took into consideration your request. And so I figured I'd save time and effort, and give you a two in one package of an escort and a camera-man." Pyxis stated, gesturing towards the man stood beside him. Earning a small 'tsk' in response.
"This is former captain, Levi Ackermann. You and him are going to be working together on the story." Pyxis told her, as the man stepped forward.
"Well then, Ms. Ral." Levi spoke, his voice regaining its edge from the previous day. "It looks like I'm tagging along. And don't worry. I will keep up."