Chapter Text
Eren shook the woman's offered hand as she introduced herself as the lead scientist at the facility, Hange Zoe, returning the polite sentiment and introducing himself as well, though she was already aware of just whom he was. She had been a colleague of his father's before the elder man had disappeared and had access to all of his files, both personal and professional.
Eren looked about the sterile corridors as she led him further into the facility, explaining passionately along the way about the functions of certain areas and about the project she was in charge of, the project that had once belonged to his father. The 'Angel Project' was government funded and highly secretive, only the top brass privy to it's existence and its location only known by the very top few of that group. It did not escape the eighteen year old's understanding that he was neither top brass nor a scientific genius as his father had been and yet he had been invited to the top secret facility. They had only explained that since he had no prior plans for higher education nor a full time job, that they should like to offer him a very special position as had been suggested in his father's files when they'd invited him and very subtly strong-armed him into at least visiting the facility, as though he would be allowed to leave if he refused to become a part of their project. He was not so naive as to believe that they would actually allow him to walk out the doors if he so chose not to do just that.
He nodded along to Hange's words, hardly paying attention to her excited babbling. The job they'd offered him seemed simple enough and he'd had nothing better to do, so he'd accepted, interested in becoming a part of something that was obviously so important, considering the highly sensitive classification the government had given to the project. He would be a companion to their angel. Eren hardly believed that the scientists actually had a real live angel; angels didn't exist. But he hadn't voiced his disbelief, all too happy to play house with the so called angel if it meant he would not have to worry over finances, considering that his personal funds had dwindled down to next to nothing in the passed few months since he'd graduated from high school.
He adjusted his grip on the cat carrier in his left hand as Hange stopped before a room, typing on the keypad on the right side of the metallic doorway before it opened with a low hiss of hydraulics. “This will be your room for the remainder of your stay,” she explained pleasantly. She handed over a key card and a folder that held information and a map of the facility, suggesting he get settled in for the evening and requesting that he meet her in observation deck one the following morning so she could brief him on his responsibilities and meet the 'angel' he'd be keeping company.
He'd accepted and she had left him on his own, the door sliding closed behind her and he set the carrier onto the floor, crouching to open the wired door to allow the small black cat from the confines. He smiled when the petite feline curiously poked her head out, wide golden eyes peering about their new home with interest before Mika slipped out to explore further and Eren straightened, stretching before he moved to unpack the luggage that had already been placed in the room that was now his.
He showered once he'd finished organizing his clothing and the rest of his things, feeding and watering his cat before he fell into his surprisingly comfortable bed, asleep before his head had even hit the pillow, exhausted after the long flight and all the excitement of his first day at the facility.
----*****----
Morning came too quickly in the brunette's opinion and he grumbled as the shrill ringing of his alarm cut off beneath the press of his hand. He flopped back onto his mattress with a deep groan, roughly rubbing his hands over his face before he rolled out of the bed and reluctantly prepared for his meeting with Hange.
Once he deemed himself presentable, dressed in a simple dark green v-neck long-sleeve and dark jeans accompanied by a pair of well worn and comfortable sneakers on his feet, his hair still a messy mop of chocolate strands even after he'd attempted to comb the unruly mass, he let himself out of his room, bidding Mika farewell as he left. He made his way to the observation deck, the map securely held in his grip. He tucked it into his back pocket once he'd arrived at the specified location and caught sight of the scientist.
Hange was speaking to a small group of white clad colleagues when he approached and she shooed them away quickly upon catching sight of him, a wide smile stretching over her lips as she greeted him.
“Eren, I hope you slept well. Are you ready to meet our precious angel?”
He shifted and rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly as he tried to return her exuberant smile with a watery version of his own, clearly not a morning person. He nodded, “Sure.”
Her coffee coloured eyes brightened, sparkling with barely veiled excitement as he gave his affirmation. She clasped her hands together and fidgeted as she began speaking quickly, “Alright, well, there are a few things you should know about our angel. First and foremost, he's male and he's named Levi. Um, he may seem a bit rough around the edges, but he's actually not so bad once you get passed his aggressive personality. I think you'll get along with him well. He's been very lonely and is aware that we've brought you here to keep him company. He's been looking forward to it, though he'd never say so,” she grinned and sent Eren a cheeky wink as though she knew something he didn't and the teen shifted uncomfortably, uncertain what to make of her actions.
She moved to unlock the reinforced steel door that led into what she called 'the dome' where the angel resided, pressing him insistently over the threshold into the biosphere. “Oh, before I forget, Levi has a rather unique appetite. He eats human flesh, but you shouldn't worry. He's promised not to eat you and he just fed recently so he shouldn't be hungry. Have fun. I'll be in the observation deck if you need anything.” And with that last terrifying piece of information she turned on her heel and the door hissed closed behind her retreating back, the heavy locks reengaging and effectively locking him inside with the creature they called an angel.
The brunette stepped further into the dome cautiously, looking around wearily. There were trees and flowers blooming all around him, the ground covered in a carpet of plush grass, soft strains of classical music filtering through the otherwise silent area. He bit his lip and inhaled deeply through his nose, desperately gathering his courage. Had the scientist been screwing with him? Surely this Levi, this so called angel didn't really feast on human flesh, right? She'd only said that to psych him out, hadn't she?
The sweet scent of the flowers soothed his nerves as he made his way further into the dome, only stopping when he came to a rounded clearing where an ornately designed little glass-topped, metal table and chairs sat, tea for two already waiting upon its surface. He looked around curiously, no sign of the angel in sight. He hummed to himself and moved to sit in one of the chairs, idly reaching for the filled and steaming cup perched before him. He leaned on one elbow and sipped at the tea idly, boredom already creeping in as he tapped an impatient foot against the soft grass beneath him, wondering where Levi was. Hange had said that the angel was expecting him, so where was he?
TBC...