Finally the harsh light thrumming against his eyes seems to dim. Or maybe it's his own fatigue catching up and they've decided it's okay to let him rest now.
Someone grabs his hand and the sting from the burn wound resurfaces, sharp enough to make him hiss.
"There's no particular difference to be seen," someone comments in a detached voice. "His healing abilities are on the same level as the rest of them."
There's pressure on his hand, then on the burns once more and Levi jolts.
They prod and poke without mercy until satisfied. Somewhere along the way his eyes stop seeing but his body still feels every little prickle. His mind is far away, lost in a distant memory that's too warm for the cold tiles around him.
Hange removed his hand from under the faucet and inspected it. “I’ve got something that can help you.” She beckoned him towards the couch, where the lighting was good. “Come on, sit.”
When he did, Hange took his hand and draped it across her knees. When she applied some ointment onto it, he winced and grabbed onto her trousers involuntarily.
Two seconds of silence. “Yes. But tomorrow it will be fine.”
“Tomorrow. So, a good twenty four hours. What about garlic, does it bother you? Silver, maybe?”
“The hell?” What compelled her to ask that? He didn’t eat garlic because he couldn’t taste it, but he had no particular weaknesses regarding it.
She chuckled. “The Hunters go around with silver knives and garlic flowers around their necks. Good to know those are ineffective, they seem way more ridiculous now.” She bandaged him carefully, almost gently. “Thanks for cleaning the house, neat freak.”
(I couldn't resist this. Either count it as a spoiler, theorise or just enjoy reading)
