WARNING:

Contains mature themes!

I cannot guarantee a happy ending.

Trigger warnings for violence, gore, sexual content and references to suicide, self harm and drug use.

If you're still here then here is a synopsis.

Summary

When Eren was 15 his mother was brutally murdered. 6 years later he is a detective in training. In Stohess three bodies have been found with their napes cut open; something that was the trademark of another notorious killer; Eren is sent to a high security prison, tasked with interrogating Levi Ackerman believing he might have valuable insight into what kind of person would replicate his killings.

And that is where this story begins….

The main inspiration for this story was the movie Silence of the Lambs with a lot of influence from the TV series Dexter too (and of course Attack on Titan :D)

Also just so the timeline doesn't get confusing I started this fic in 2016 so that is when the main storyline is set.

Hope you enjoy!

Ok Eren it's now or never, you've got this.

Trainee Detective Jaeger finished the last of his coffee and tossed it out the car window. He cursed when it missed the trashcan and fell to the tarmac below. A littering fine was the last thing he needed today. His reputation was on the line. First impressions were everything.

Eren wanted nothing more than to be the great detective he knew he could be, but after screwing up everything good in his life so far why should this be any different? Everything he touched burst into flames.

In the distance he heard the faint sound of a police siren, a crime already? It wasn't even 9am. His iphone buzzed as a text arrived from his best friend Armin, wishing him good luck. He was glad it wasn't yet another concerned message from his sister telling him "Be careful Eren!" Mikasa meant well but it infuriated him, he was a grown up yet she still treated him like a dumb kid, incapable of leaving town without getting lost or hurt.

Although it would be very easy to get lost in Stohess; being from a small town in the middle of nowhere made Eren appreciate how spectacular the city really was. The architecture really was amazing. In his hometown Shiganshina the buildings were uninspiring (and in need of fresh paint) but here in Stohess they were tall, intimidating and shone in the sunlight.

However one thing that really bugged him about this place was how overpriced everything was. $6 for a coffee; outrageous!

The clock on the dashboard shifted from 8:59 to 9:00 but the voice of self doubt made him sit tight.

Chief Inspector Smith believes in you, why can't you just believe in yourself?

Of course he was honoured to have been picked out of countless applicants, of course this was an excellent opportunity for career growth but he couldn't help but be apprehensive about meeting a serial killer. In fact the thought of walking into a building filled wall to wall with lowlife scumbags made his blood boil. Evil murderous bastards! What a waste of money keeping them alive; they didn't deserve to breathe. Unfortunately capital punishment had long ago been abolished.

The reasons for seeking assistance from one of these monsters Eren could not quite comprehend but he was in no position to question his superiors.

It was now 9:01.

Right, go, get out, move!

Sighing heavily he stepped out of the car, almost hitting the flashy sports car parked beside him with the door. What a relief he didn't, that car probably cost more than his year's salary. According to Google maps the prison compound was only five minutes away on foot. He thought the short walk would calm his nerves.

It didn't.

It was the morning rush hour, cars honking their horns clogged the roads; people shouting on their cell phones streamed past in both directions, ignoring the homeless man who begged on the sidewalk. There was something about this grand city. Despite its finely dressed citizens and glittering buildings, its plush night clubs and prestigious casinos, the place felt corrupt to the core, like it was built on greed and disparity.

Unlike home, Stohess seemed cold and uncaring.

When Eren saw the compound rising into view his stomach tightened. It dominated the horizon; brown bricked and iron gated; hideous in comparison to its surroundings. Eren made his way round the 20 foot wall that surrounded the complex, following the signs to the visitor's entrance; that was when the shaking began.

Man up! Or you'll get eaten alive in there!

This was it. He had to make the best impression he possibly could. He straightened his tie, and took a deep breath.

He hoped his mother would be proud of him today.

"Hey Eren right?"

Eren didn't know if he was afraid or reassured, when he stepped through the main entrance, a wild eyed woman with a lopsided grin awaited him.

"Oh my Gosh! I didn't expect you to be so young!" she cried, almost tripping over her own feet as she rushed to greet him.

Eren extended a hand, expecting her to shake it but instead she seized him by the waist and pulled him in for a hug. He placed his arms uncertainly on her shoulders. It baffled him how someone could have so much energy at 9 a.m.

"Ahh! You're just a baby" she said pinching the side of his face, Eren squirmed away "So glad to meet you, I can call you Eren right? I do hate being formal"

This woman was a little feral. Her hair was tumbling out of her ponytail, her glasses falling off her face; her eye contact was a little too intense but she gave off such enthusiastic vibes that Eren couldn't help but like her already. He smiled awkwardly.

"Yeah, I'm ok with that" he faltered "Nice to meet you uh?"

"Oh where are my manners today!" she shrieked, slapping herself in the face "I'm Dr Hanji Zoe, the prison's resident psychologist. I'm sure we are going to get along very well!"

"I hope so" Detective Jaeger laughed as she grasped his hand a little violently.

"Well let's waste no more time" she said leading him by the hand "After all…I bet you're just dying to meet Levi aren't you?"

Eren swallowed.

He wasn't.

He really wasn't.

Eren wasn't a particularly neat and tidy person himself but what a mess Dr Hanji's office was. He wondered how she could concentrate with so much clutter on her desk.

"Wow! You're so brave talking about it Eren!"

When Dr. Hanji gasped she bumped the desk, almost knocking over the mugs of coffee. Eren was sure she didn't mean to be patronising but her histrionic reaction to everything made him feel like a child grappling for praise.

"And they didn't catch the person responsible?" she said sympathetically.

She had asked him what made him want to become a detective and he told her the truth. The young man shook his head mournfully.

"The police were useless!" he growled "didn't do nearly enough, so I swore to do better!"

He had to stop and catch his breath there. Telling the story of his mother's murder always reignited that dangerous spark within him. He should have known better than to delve into his past at a time like this. He quickly lowered his voice realising he'd got carried away. The outburst had left him sweating. Luckily his impassioned words hadn't fazed Dr Hanji at all.

Wait! Was she writing?

"Dr. Hanji, are you…"

"Oh sorry Eren" she chortled "Don't mind me, it's just a habit. I like to make notes on people. I'm very fascinated by the human mind"

Eren grimaced. Suddenly this felt like a test; one he hadn't prepared for. He appreciated that she was a top criminal psychologist but didn't understand why she felt the need to study and examine him. He was no criminal after all.

Perhaps sensing his discomfort Dr. Hanji put down her pen.

"I'll stop if it bothers you" she offered "Anyway where were we?"

"We were, talking about um…"

"Ah yes!" she interrupted "You were about to tell me how much you know about my favourite patient Levi"

Favourite? Favourite murderer? Was this woman sick in the head?

"…I heard he killed quite a few people" Eren bumbled. He was truly lost for words.

"Ahh more than a few" laughed Dr Hanji laughed spinning wildly on her office chair "thirteen people to be precise"

Eren nodded. Chief Inspector Smith had already debriefed him on the key facts about this particular killer. Thirteen bodies found, all with a trademark slice to the nape. This was the killer dubbed by the media at the time as "The Stainless Assassin" named for his attention to detail. But he had a real name;

Levi Ackerman.

There was never a single stain; not a drop of blood; not a fingerprint at the scene of crime. The killer wiped it clean. That was what made him so hard to catch.

"10 years he killed undetected" hissed Hanji, eyes gleaming behind her glasses "The son of a bitch cleaned up thoroughly after making a mess of his victims, gave detectives like you years of sleepless nights"

Almost as disturbing as the murders themselves was the way Dr Hanji's face lit up when she spoke of violence and gore. She described slaughter methods as casually as citing a recipe for homemade soup.

"And he killed every victim in the same way" she exclaimed "With a deep laceration to the nape of their neck, isn't that fascinating?"

Eren nodded unsurely, finding it more horrifying than fascinating. Maybe accepting this opportunity was a bad idea. If the staff here were this insane then what did that say about the inmates?

"You know I'm surprised he got caught" the doctor mused "For such a cunning killer, he really fucked up big time"

Eren's eyes widened, appalled.

"Oh Eren, no need to look so alarmed!" she said ruffling his hair "Of course I'm glad he got caught, I'm just surprised. I guess he was smart but Detective Leonhart was smarter"

"Detective Leonhart?"

But Hanji's mind was already off on a tangent. She let out an exhilarated cry and leapt out her seat, almost spilling the coffee a second time.

"As you can imagine I followed the murders with great interest at the time" she raved "I was ecstatic when I found out he was being sent here and I would have the honour of working with him!"

Eren's emerald eyes followed her as she bounced around the room.

"He's very well behaved" Hanji said adoringly "Keeps his cell very clean"

Detective Jaeger almost laughed at the notion of a well behaved serial killer. This lady was nuts! He was quickly talking himself out of going through with this.

No Erwin's counting on me

He had come this far. No turning back.

"We hope that Levi Ackerman might co-operate with us on this case" the young detective stated.

A wicked grin crept onto Hanji's face.

"Ah yes" she said "I hear there's been a bit of copying going on"

Eren nodded. In the last month three bodies had been found with one thing in common, Ackerman's trademark nape slice. But if he was in prison it had to be the work of someone else; a copycat killer. This was why he needed Ackerman's help.

"We believe Ackerman might have valuable insight" said Eren.

He was beginning to doubt himself more and more by the minute. Did he think Levi Ackerman would want to talk to him? Absolutely not; what reason would a serial killer have to share his thoughts with a detective; and a rookie at that? But he was determined to see this assignment through. How else was he supposed to prove himself a capable detective?

Hanji stepped towards the door and opened it, her grin stretched even wider.

"I won't keep you waiting any longer then" she said opening the door "Follow me"

Eren felt a flutter in his stomach that wasn't excitement.

Eren lost count of how many locked doors and security checks they had to go through. Hanji proceeded to give him a brief tour of the compound, passionately telling the history of the building.

"This prison is currently home to over 1000 inmates" she proclaimed "The security is top notch. In the 200 years since Stohess Penitentiary was founded there are only 4 documented escapes…the last one being in 1984"

Eren really was trying to listen but the deeper into the compound they got, the more his nausea grew.

"There are two residential blocks consisting of 9 wings between them, A to H, oh and then there's X, mustn't forget about X, that's solitary confinement… and that's exactly where we're going"

Eren blanched.

"S,solitary confinement!"

He'd seen enough TV crime thrillers to know what kind of people were kept in solitary confinement

"But, but I thought you said he was well behaved!" he cried.

"He is" said Hanji hesitantly "…Well most of the time anyway, we did have a little hmm….incident this week"

"Incident!"

"Oh nothing serious"

Hanji's 'reassurance' only made it worse.

"We gave him a timeout for his bad behaviour" she said laughing it off "But Officer Mike should have known better than to grab Levi with his filthy hands"

It troubled Eren how Hanji spoke of a cold blooded killer as if he was merely an insolent child who'd been sent to the naughty step. He wondered if it was possible for a person to love their job just a little too much.

"He prefers to be alone anyway" said Hanji.

Eren, lost in his troubled trance had fallen behind a little. He was yanked back to reality when the crazed doctor seized him by the wrist.

"Anyhoo, on with the tour, so this is B wing or the rehab wing as we call it, here we help prisoners recover from substance abuse" she led Eren down a very clinical looking white corridor "oh and down there leads to C wing, that's the induction wing for newbies"

She talked for a long time but soon she became background noise. Eren's anxious thoughts were so much louder.

He almost walked into the back of her when she stopped abruptly.

They'd reached the end of the corridor. A daunting door stood between them and the next room. Hanji's expression when she turned around was far less buoyant than before.

"This is the D wing" she hissed "This is where long term and life sentence prisoners are kept. …..just look straight ahead and pretend they're not there ok"

Before Eren could ask 'why?' a loud electronic buzz sounded indicating the door was no longer secured.

A prison guard with sandy hair and an undefined moustache blocked their path. Around his left eye there was a purple shadow.

"Hey Mike" said Hanji teasingly "Nice black eye"

The man whose name was apparently Mike merely grunted in response but that didn't stop Hanji's teasing.

"That'll teach you to upset my precious clients"

Eren gasped as he put together the pieces. This must be the "incident" Dr. Hanji had been referring to. Hanji nudged him but Mike didn't crack so much as a smile.

"What are you doing here Hanji?" he growled.

"I'm escorting Eren" she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world "Eren's a detective"

Mike sniffed; he looked the rookie up and down and didn't look impressed. Eren couldn't pretend this didn't bruise his ego.

"He's here to talk to Levi" said Hanji.

Mike snorted and stepped aside. When Eren walked by he heard the prison officer muttered to him.

"I can smell your fear, better hope he can't as well"

Although shaken, Eren dismissed the comment as silly. Mike couldn't possibly smell anything. Fear didn't have a scent. Did it?

Eren held his breath as he followed Hanji across the floor. He tried to heed her advice and not stare, but curiosity got the better of him. He glanced to the left and saw prisoners rising to their feet to check him out.

"Yo pretty boy, want some of this?" a coarse voice called from above. He looked up to see a man leaning over the railings, making a lewd face and grabbing his crotch before one of his guard escorts shoved him back in his cell. Embarrassed Eren averted his eyes.

He took another deep breath and held it until they passed through the door at the opposite end of the room.

He followed Hanji until she opened a door marked X.

Eren was surprised to see stairs leading downwards.

"Solitary confinement is underground "Hanji clarified when she saw his horrified confusion "Down in the basement"

Eren stared down the stairway. It was poorly lit and there was a terrible draft. Had someone deliberately designed it to be so uninviting? What kinds of monsters would he meet down there? The ones in D wing were bad enough.

"Fun fact" declared Hanji attempting to ease his anxiety "Back in the olden days the basement is where executions took place"

Eren really wished she hadn't told him that. There was nothing fun about that fact.

"The last execution here was in 1961 shortly before the death penalty was abolished" said Hanji "Now it's just the place we keep all the troublemakers"

Eren breathed heavily through his mouth hoping the nausea would subside. He couldn't place the source of his fear, was it fear of meeting a killer or fear of failure? Or was it both.

"Goodness me, is that the time" gasped Hanji inspecting her watch "Well Eren, this is where I have to leave you"

Wait? She was sending him down there alone?

The doctor rummaged around in her pocket.

"I meant to give you this" she said hanging a laminated card around his neck "It lets the guards know you have clearance, oh and I noted down all the codes for the doors you might need"

Eren's hand was trembling as he accepted the card.

"You….you're not coming with me?"

"Oh Eren, you're a big boy, you'll be just fine" she said slapping him on the back.

"But, but Dr. Hanji-"

"Oh I wish I could stay" she whined "I just love chatting to Levi, he cracks me up! He has this funny nickname for me, 'shitty glasses', isn't that hilarious!"

Eren just blinked in disbelief. So Stohess's most notorious murderer was also a comedian apparently.

Hanji turned on her heels.

"Levi has been transferred to cell X44 for you" she hurriedly explained "it's especially equipped for interrogation. You'll be perfectly safe, I promise"

"Dr Hanji, wait!" Eren called, he still had so many questions. But the eccentric doctor was skipping away, laughing manically.

"Just don't invade his personal space and don't make any height jokes and you'll be fine!"

"Height jokes? Wait, what do you mean?"

The heavy door banged shut behind Hanji.

She was gone.

And Eren was all alone, staring at the gloomy staircase that led downstairs to the basement; to solitary confinement.

Levi Ackerman awaited him.