"I hate you, Zeke."
It was the very first thing she said to him as soon as he entered his bedroom to retire for the night. To say he was alarmed to see her would be an understatement. After all, she was part of Levi's squad, an elite soldier trained in the art of killing Titans, like himself, and humans, like himself in his current state.
And from what Eren had told him, she wouldn't hesitate to do either at this moment.
Maintaining a neutral expression, he shrugged off his white jacket and hung it on the coat hook near his bedroom door, all the while maintaining eye contact with her and being careful not to show his back. His years in Marley had taught him a valuable lesson: never trust anyone, regardless of how harmless they appeared while sitting in the middle of your room, arms and legs crossed, no weapons in sight, but looking every bit like a viper poised to strike at any opportunity.
She sat there in a chair she dragged from his study in the far right corner of his living space-a plush, exquisite piece with elegant curves and excessive craftsmanship of blue and gold. It was something he had never cared for, yet it now resembled a throne where she sat with a confidence befitting a king.
"To say I'm surprised is an understatement," he maintained a nonchalant tone, careful not to reveal any weakness. Slowly, he reached into his coat pocket, deliberately displaying his actions to avoid seeming threatening. Retrieving his item, he flipped it open, then directed a pointed look at her as he asked, "Do you mind?"
She tilted her head to the side, her blue and green heterochromia eyes narrowing as they focused on the white pack of cigarettes. "It's your room. Do as you please."
"It is my room," he said dryly, as he grabbed the matches he had stuffed in the cigarette box and lit one up. Taking a long drag, he held the smoke in for a moment before slowly exhaling it to the side, ensuring he didn't obstruct his view of her. "And you're a guest in it, against my better judgment or choice on the matter."
He took another drag, then flicked the ashes onto the ground as he exhaled. "A charming guest who apparently prefers hurtling insults before even exchanging pleasantries?" Zeke remarked, his voice laced with sarcasm. "Tell me, are all island Eldians as crass as you, or is it just a 'you' problem?"
She ignored the jabe. "You know why I'm here, don't play games."
"Sneaking into my room for a secret rendezvous, like a clandestine lover, only to hurl insults doesn't exactly make a good first impression," Zeke remarked, tilting his head to the side. "If you needed something from me, you're not doing a very good job at selling yourself."
She blushed at his words, interpreting them as an innuendo he hadn't intended. He chose not to correct her. Her blush was rather pleasant to behold.
"I want you to pardon Hange and Levi for their alleged crimes," she said, getting straight to the point. Her blush never ceased as she finally looked away from him in a shy expression. He didn't know if this was genuine or a ploy. However, watching as strands of her dark red hair, which couldn't be contained in her high ponytail, fell over her shoulders and onto her black-clad breasts, he was intrigued to hear what she had to say.
He was even more fascinated by the fact that she didn't already know the details of the trial or the predetermined outcome.
"Easier said than done," he retorted with a wry smile, indulging in the banter. "Though I am the injured party in this trial, I shall abstain from its proceedings. But at the end of the day, why would I aid the very individuals who have sworn to deliver the demise I am said to merit so fervently? Survival, it seems, holds a certain appeal."
"You're fully aware that circumstances have shifted, and they don't deserve to be held accountable for actions taken before we grasped the full scope of events," she fired back, her blush fading as she speared him with a glare. "Perhaps if we had been privy from the very beginning to your and Eren's intentions to liberate all Eldians from the curse of Ymir—rendering us incapable of transforming into Titans—pressuring Marley to relinquish Eldians or face obliteration by the wall Titans encircling them, and advocating for peace, the outcome might have unfolded differently. Idiot."
But even he wasn't privy to the outcome they were now living. Initially, his intention had been to sterilize all Eldians, but Eren persuaded him to consider an alternative plan, one he eventually acquiesced to, albeit after considerable debate on his part.
"It's almost like we had that exact same plan set in motion until Eren decided to upend it by bringing you to Paradis sooner than expected."
"If my memory serves me correctly, that plan also entailed Historia consuming me, thereby bringing an end to my existence."
She scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Not like you had much longer to live to begin with. When you took on the role of the Beast Titan, you knew damn well you'd only have thirteen years left to live, if you were lucky. Don't act like you never came to terms with that reality."
"And that plan also failed to liberate Eldians from their curse," Zeke continued, his tone steady as he crushed his now spent cigarette in his hand, disregarding the burn. She tensed at the action, realizing Zeke's potential to transform. Offering a gesture of peace, he extended his burnt hand towards her, steam rising from the injury. "All other nations would continue to fear Paradis for its capabilities. However, with the threat diminishing in fifty to sixty years, when no one can inherit the remaining Titans, the desire to destroy us should fade. By then, Paradis would have modernized, standing on equal footing with other nations."
"So it's the same story with minor adjustments leading to a similar outcome."
A faint smirk played on Zeke's lips as he lit another cigarette. "I wouldn't brush them off as minor," he commented. "Didn't the... what are they calling themselves now, the Yeagerists, brief you on what happened? Weren't you involved in the Eldian extraction effort? You're acting as if this is all news to you. Bump your head while sneaking in through my window?"
Her lips tightened, her glare intensifying, reminiscent of the disdain Levi held for him. "I've observed that different individuals recount the same story in varied ways. I was curious to hear your version."
"And now you know!" He gestured dramatically with his arms before returning to his leaning stance in front of the door. "Though I imagine this history lesson doesn't offer much solace for your current predicament."
"You barely gave your side of the story," she murmured under her breath, her gaze briefly averted. But as her eyes met his again, a newfound resolve gleamed within them. "What can I offer you to secure pardons for Levi and Hange?"
"Unfortunately, there's not much you could offer. At least, nothing you'd be willing to part with," he quipped, enjoying the playful banter, even if she remained unaware of the jest he held within.
If only she were aware that Eren had already secured their pardon from the start.
"You'd be surprised what I'd be willing to part with," she whispered sultry, her hands falling from her stomach where they clasped around her now uncrossed knees. As she gave them a gentle squeeze, Zeke noticed the tension simmering beneath the surface. He wondered if she was aware of the nerves she was revealing with that subtle movement.
He suppressed a smile, contemplating how long he could sustain the charade before breaking into laughter and revealing the futility of her efforts.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself, perhaps more than he should. Attempting to relinquish the celibacy mindset he had upheld for most of his life proved to be a more challenging endeavor than he had anticipated. Playing along wouldn't hurt, especially if it aided him in the long run.
And she was indeed a sight to behold. Zeke recalled the first time he caught sight of her as he retreated from Levi's relentless assault in the Shiganshina district. While trapped within Pieck's Titan mouth, after exchanging words with Eren in passing, she stood there fully equipped in her gear, gazing up at him with eyes that were strikingly beautiful, seeming too large for her petite face. A wild mane of curly, bright red hair whipped around her features. This memory often resurfaced in Zeke's thoughts back in Marley, much to his past self's chagrin.
Now, the memory no longer elicited feelings of shame within him.
"And you're willing to go to such lengths to protect your superiors? I doubt they'd reciprocate," he remarked.
Her eyes narrowed once more. "No. They'd likely just eliminate you and use force to free me from prison, disregarding anyone in their path."
"And what's stopping you from doing the same?"
She huffed, rolled her eyes yet again, and regarded him as if he were foolish. "Because we'd be hunted for eternity, and I value my freedom. Slumming it with a former enemy to aid my friends, without sacrificing my freedom, seems like a more sensible choice."
He chose to ignore the slumming comment. "So now I'm a former enemy? Can't say I buy that. Perhaps you're attempting to get me on my back so you have a better angle to slice my head off."
Her cheeks reddened again, a sight he could get used to if he played his cards right.
He blinked at the thought. Did he genuinely want to pursue this path?
The way she shifted her gaze, alternating between looking at him and then away, her cheeks deepening in color with each passing moment, only fueled his resolve. Yes, he was committed to following this course.
He craved her, as peculiar as that realization felt to him.
"You sure get flustered quickly. Are you sure you're ready for this?" This time, he let his cigarette fall to the ground, where he stomped on it, waiting for her answer.
Her back straightened, and he couldn't help but suppress a smile at her endearing nervousness.
"If it means you'll pardon my friends, then I'm all for anything."
"A bold statement," he remarked, stopping himself from saying more. He was wary of giving her any incentive to conclude their conversation prematurely. Her frazzled nerves were hindering her ability to think clearly, a vulnerability he intended to capitalize on fully.
He advanced a step and gestured towards the closed door at the back of the room. Though she remained seated, he sensed she had already surveyed her surroundings before settling into her current position. He noticed the cautious expression that flitted across her face when he indicated that specific door.
The door that led to his bedroom and a generously-sized bed.
"After you," he teased when she didn't move. She rose abruptly, her posture rigid, a flicker of alarm crossing her eyes before she masked it with contempt. Turning away, she strode confidently to the door, her black-clad figure swaying as she moved—a facade of confidence he knew would dissipate the moment she entered his bedroom.
As she opened the door, Zeke approached the chair she had occupied and squatted down to pick it up. Holding it by the opposite armrest with his right arm, he followed her into the room she swiftly vanished into. Upon entering, he found her standing in the center, gazing at his freshly laundered, plain white-sheeted bed against the center of the back wall. He wasn't one for ornate bedding, but against her dark attire, it made her seem oddly out of place in his bedroom.
He positioned the chair behind her, and she snapped back to attention, twirling to face him. Retreating a few steps, her eyes cautious, she edged backward until she felt the bed against the back of her knees. Her body tensed, and in a bid to conceal her unease, she folded her arms, assuming the demeanor of the viper he had encountered upon his entrance into the bedroom earlier that evening.
He settled into her chair, adopting a similar pose to hers, crossing one ankle over his knee and retrieving another cigarette from his pack. Lighting it, he observed her with a subtle gaze.
"I believe it's time for you to undress. What do you say, Lif Varanus?"