#but if levihan starts to look canon

[quillsandblades]

how do you think a Levihan marriage proposal would happen? (who would do it, would they have planned to propose or would it be something of the moment?)

Thank you for the ask sunny! I had so much fun with this one 💜💚

I love thinking up scenarios about the levihan proposal! While there are too many I have in mind, there’s only two headcanons that I’d consider rational (Cuz the others are something like my fic Experiments and Feelings or yours Mrs Ackerman (is after your sanity), or that I basically consider them married from somewhere around the time Wall Maria fell). 

The first one would be if Hange survived the war (which she did, no one says otherwise): 

 So technically, Hanjo confessed or sort-of proposed first here when they were both in the forest. Levi doesn’t give her a proper answer because Eren’s going berserk with the Rumbling and they gotta get a hold of their brat (as responsible parents it’s their duty) and she understands cuz she gets Levi and he gets her and she knows she’s being rash

They reach the port, prepare the plane and things are starting to look up so he answers her proposal with a yes—but this is Levi Ackerman we’re talking about and he’s clumsy when it comes to romance. So he goes about it the childish way and hides it in taunts about her love for titans. This time it’s Hange who changes the subject, not as a rejection but a reminder that they’re not out of the woods yet

The Rumbling approaches and Hange decides to buy time but of course she’s smart and uses that head of hers to whip up a safe way to get them time rather than getting herself burnt (as she would have in canon if Isayama wasn’t hell bent on killing her) 

So she comes back on the plane without injuries or burns, she’s totally fine and the relief Levi feels in seeing her is so overwhelming he has to lie down to stop his head spinning. And he realises he needs her to stay alive even through their final charge and when she meets his eye he knows she’s thinking the same. 

War ends, peace prevails. Levihan retire and travel the world cuz Hange can’t sit still. They don’t talk about the forest or the port, they don’t know how to. Not now when everything’s much calmer, they’re not used to this kind of thing. 

But there’s an unspoken commitment between them, they’re ‘together’. Eventually they build a cabin in the forest but just living there is a monotonous routine neither of them are used to. So they still travel around but when they need a break they use their cabin, stay there for weeks or months. 

They visit the town and the market whenever they're staying, and people get to know them and they ask if they’re living together then are they married? They often try to explain that yes they live together but they’re not married. Are they lovers? They don’t know how to answer that cuz they never defined their relationship, she’s Hange, he’s Levi, isn’t that enough? Their vague answers leave several elderly people confused and giving them weird glances and having people whisper and mutter. But they don’t care, they’ve been through hell and what people say doesn’t matter anymore 

It’s Levi who addresses the thing, he suggests they get married. He’s not one for words so I never thought he’d give long speeches to propose. Levi had given marriage thought and it felt like a nice concept, Hange was never one for labels, so she never thought much on it, just happy with what they had

But then he asks her, quietly, almost timidly and there’s a slightest blush on his cheeks and he’s fidgeting and Hange just finds it adorable. But she wants to tease him a bit so she says sure but why and then he only mutters, “It’ll shut up the townspeople. And newlyweds get discounts in the market.” And she just laughs, “Sure Levi, I’ll marry you so we can get the discounts.” 

He tugs her ponytail and grumbles that she knows it’s not the only reason. Hange pesters him until he huffs out a quiet “It’s ‘cause I love you, you moron.” He doesn’t say that too often (emotionally constipated midget) but he repeats it now, looking right into her eyes and asking her to marry him. And she’s laughing and pink in the face when she says yes

The second one being around the time when Hange was commander:

Only when they come back from Shiganshina does the implications of what Levi had done hit him fully. Hange is now standing under the weight of the Survey Corps and the future of Eldia. It changes her, and Levi doesn’t like it, not one bit. 

She doesn’t smile like she used to, her laughter is curt, forced and not the carefree cackle he used to hear, the one that made him think she had wings and was soaring. In my mind, they already love each other, they know and have confessed long ago. They had to make the most of what they had and time for companionship was a luxury with death hanging over so close. So they’d thought, why the fuck not? We die today or in ten years at least our hearts will be in peace. 

But this, this is different. Hange isn’t dead, but she reeks of it. And that terrifies him. So he does what he can, he holds her when she’s cracking and stands beside her when she’s struggling to meet the gaze of the world. He knows the old Hange won’t be back now. 

And he realises how much he truly loves her, how much he needs her in his life. Even when she’s like this. He doesn’t care whether she’s shouting his ears off about titans or talking diplomacy with heavy eyes, she’s Hange and that’s all he wants from her. 

And Levi’s not the only one feeling like that. Hange thinks about them a lot, thinks how she’s there for him and he’s there for her. And she knows that matters. She notices weddings in the towns, sees couples tie the knot for life and she feels like it’s not a bad idea. Sharing the highs and lows of life with someone. 

But she’s commander and the world needs her and it’d be selfish. So she drops it (but she can’t and the urge keeps rising, and it makes her think why? She and Levi are already committed to each other, what will a simple stamp of marriage change? She doesn’t get it, but she knows she wants it.) 

Levi’s the one to propose (once again). It’s not fancy, there aren’t a lot of words, there aren’t even flowers or a ring. Only parchment, paper and ink stained fingers, a cup of tea and sunlight in her office. 

And the words, “Oi shitty-glasses, let’s get married.”

She laughs at first, devoid of humour, then she tells him they can’t. It’ll be selfish, Paradis needs her. He just raises a brow and says, “We’re practically already married and seeing as the situation of Paradis hasn’t gone to shit any more than it already had, I don’t see how sealing our relation with some vows and rings will change things.”

She agrees, they get married in a span of twenty minutes in their uniforms and are called in for a meeting afterwards. Levi was right, nothing has changed really.

But he wears this soft almost-smile for the whole day and Hange is laughing for the first time in months. Levi even goes slack in training the soldiers and the 104th are all betting on what could’ve happened to the captain. Jean suggests that maybe he found some new cleaning technology in all the stuff Hizuru’s engineers brought in. Sasha thinks he found a stash of exotic tea leaves. It’s Armin who wins in the end, and everyone’s left shocked—not because they can’t believe Hange-san and the captain are together, but because they thought they were already married long ago.

Weeks later when Hange plans to infiltrate Marley and she’s done talking to the 104th, Levi pulls her aside and says with all the deadpan, “You’re seriously planning our honeymoon in a country that wants to kill us on sight? Couldn't it be someplace peaceful like the goddamn beach?” And she just grins back at him like, “What’s the fun in that?” 

 So yeah they got duties, and their country needs them and everything. But they’re married in it doesn’t really make things worse, in fact Hange smiles a bit easy and Levi feels a bit better and that’s all that matters. 

(This was longgg but I hope you enjoyed it! )

[sixpennydame]

"so if eruri is triggering for you, I’d suggest you start filtering certain tags so you can curate the kind of experience you want here."

I guess you think I don't really filter them out, but you're wrong. Believe me, no matter how much I ban everything related to this ship, it comes up in every way. For example eruri shipper Levixreader writers. Even in the Hcs/fanfic's they write, they are in every way squeezing their own ship under the guise of "this is not ship discourse" and they write the dynamics of that ship under the name of 'levixreader' in order to show that their ship is canon. And you naively Rb'd them and think that Levi's character is really like that. He's a perpetually angry man, he's a cruel selfish man who hates the weak and who hates the weak and who immediately abandons you because he's weak, who puts his feelings for erbin ahead of his duties 🥺 who puts humanity through hell for erbin. but someone who is a dog and a softy for him and someone who threw S/o out of the window for him. Yes he loves S/o but he would even sacrifice S/o for the landlord whose dog he is 😔 But again keep saying "great Levi fic post 😭".

And that's what I'm talking about when I say don't let them manipulate you, because even one of your recent articles is similar to their writing style. I wouldn't be surprised if you soon write Levi as an ass upturned, bed whining, super fanon twink whiny lowlife sub. One of your Rb's in particular is a super delulu shipper levixreader writer, and they so much portray Levi as Erwin's lapdog, order dog, loyal dog, someone who never questions whatever action he takes, never wavers in his loyalty, that Cosmic finally had to write them a misleading reply that Levi is not like that Lmaoo. And they are egotistical and self-righteous enough to say "I know better than you" when they see criticism that contradicts their fanon thinking. Man its 2024 and fucking ackerbond has been debunked years ago and even Isayama's dusty old interviews deny it. Yeah, no matter how much I filter eruri, I see exactly that in both Levi tags and Levixreader tags 🙃 and now whenever I want to read fic or browse Levi posts, I have to look at them with hesitation and fear. I don't understand if I should filter Levi directly?

I'm so tired that I would love for Isayama to drop a bombshell that will disprove both the selfshippers and shippers and all their rhetoric, all their Hc's, and leave us all in a big disappointment. For example to give him a really random female partner. Or I would like him to write a characterization where he really doesn't care about everyone and throws them into the fire, where he thinks about himself and his life instead of thinking about them, where he focuses on himself, where he is truly selfish. Then we wouldn't have to see discourses, dramas and fights like "Levi cared about X the most" "He did this and that for X" "Levi doesn't have a canon ship, but if he did it would be X"

*sighs heavily*

I don’t know what to tell you, Anon. If my reblogging and my moots bring you so much distress, you are free to block me.

I refuse to get involved with ship discourse - that’s not what I’m here for.

But I will say this: the writing I do is xreader, but I love to read and view Levi in many forms - canon and AU, eruri, LeviHan, and everything in between. I’ll be sure to make that clear on my ‘About Me’ page.

I love my moots’ writing and art, and will continue to reblog anything that I find beautiful or pleasing to me. Because that, dear Anon, is why I am here.

[this-is-krikkit]

i might be a little feverish but little talks by of monsters and men sure hits different when you listen to it while thinking of season 4 to post canon levihan and i'm going to write an essay about it.

cool? cool.

so, hear me out. first verse:

I don't like walking around this old and empty house So hold my hand, I'll walk with you my dear The stairs creak as you sleep It's keeping me awake It's the house telling you to close your eyes And some days I can't even dress myself It's killing me to see you this way

that's levihan adjusting to life right after the battle of shiganshina, right?

i mean, the old and empty house and the noises it makes while they sleep represent the now near empty headquarters that they've lived in for a decade that's become haunted with all of their dead comrades' ghosts ; and that line some days i can't even dress myself that is, imo a pretty good match for hange's state of mind (who is no doubt struggling to adjust to their role as Commander) while levi has to watch them shoulder all the responsibility of facing this new world none of them imagined as it is, and knowing it's technically his fault they're in this position

There's an old voice in my head That's holding me back Well, tell her that I miss our little talks Soon it will be over and buried with our past We used to play outside when we were young And full of life and full of love Some days I don't know if I am wrong or right Your mind is playing tricks on you, my dear

now the analogies in this verse might be a little less obvious but bear with me. hange's old persona's is still in there, beneath that much more professional exterior they have to project in their new leading role, and so the other voice saying i miss our little talks to me could symbolize levi missing his crazy close friend (who does make a reappearance once in a while, thankfully, but is mostly concealed) because things aren't quite the same as they used to be between the two of them

and of course, hange is exhausted from that burden they inherited 4 years ago and doubting themself and their decisions (especially when things start to go south with eren and later his minions), and although levi can no doubt understand that, he's still loyal to them as his leader

and then. well then comes that bridge. and i'm gonna let the lyrics speak for themselves, aight?

You're gone, gone, gone away I watched you disappear All that's left is a ghost of you Now we're torn, torn, torn apart There's nothing we can do Just let me go, we'll meet again soon

Now wait, wait, wait for me, please hang around I'll see you when I fall asleep

okay i lied, i'm still going to point out that please hang around is a very obvious parallel to levi telling hange to keep watching, or possibly a reference to his last gesture towards them when they told him to let them go and look cool and he couldn't help himself and had to break everyone's fucking heart over that intimate version of their military salute.

the I'll see you when i fall asleep i feel could refer either to levi's hallucination of all the scouts veterans, or to the fact that he's hoping he gets reunited with them when it's his turn to die, many many years in the future after he gets the rest and peace they all deserved.

anyways THIS IS THEIR ANTHEM BYE!!

[dreamingon-forever]

Ackerman Parallels Between Levihan and Eremika

Sometimes I fall into questioning the validity of Levihan being canon after coming across people who invalidate them. Then I remember all the parallels and similarities between Levihan and Eremika and immediately realize that there’s so much that the two have in common that it’s hard to deny that Isayama did them on purpose. Although Levihan is the more subtle version, the parallels are still very evident. Levihan just happens to have been a more mature and quiet version of Eremika because of the years and events that hardened them into soldiers where they had years to grow their friendship to something more, while Eremika from the start fell into their first love. I think Isayama had done it on purpose, just showing how the two Ackermans found the person they were willing to dedicate their hearts to, but eventually found themselves unable to achieve a happy ending with them due to the circumstances of the world they were in. I know that Isayama never clarified any couples, but I think this was his way of indicating that the two Ackermans found the one they loved.

Here are some of the parallels captured from the manga, all credits going to Enelle Art and Dani H. I have linked their analysis on the parallels of the Ackermans with Hange and Mikasa, and I would suggest to take a look and read over them because it’s quite eye opening and definitely validates a lot of the connections we felt between the two couples.

We know how well thought out the events of AOT are, and the fact that Isayama had known to have foreshadowed and made lots of connections between the start of the manga to the end, it simply seems unlikely that he would’ve planned these parallels for no reason at all. Also, the fact that Hange could’ve died so many times before 132 just solidifies that idea for me. Legitimetely everyone that Levi cared about died before the time skip, the fact Isayama chose to purposely keep Hange alive for that long and be the sole survivor to 132 just doesn’t seem without purpose to me. Hange similar to Eren, were meant to stay alive that long to keep the two going before the end of the war.

Like I’m sorry, but even the way they mourn and are shown to bid each other goodbye, even their proposal to live together and run away just seem too perfect.

[dont-f-with-moogles]

Omg!! Thank you for taking your time in writing prompts. I would like to request Levihan 26. 'The diamond in your engagement ring is fake' (not sure if this the correct name haha) thank you little sunshine 🌞

Drunk Drabbles 26: “The diamond in your engagement ring is fake.” This has got to be the silliest and most un-canon thing I've ever written. I also totally got carried away with the word count. Hope you enjoy it, Anon! Thanks for the ask and calling me Sunshine 🥰 You're too cute. Anyway, this one's for you. Offer Your Hearts (But, Seriously, Keep Your Secrets) Characters: Levi x Hange, Erwin  Word Count: 1425 words Erurihan x Friends Crossover

There was something inviting about the parlour despite the meagre light cast from the small open fire. A single candelabra had been lit and placed upon the low table, around which Erwin and Levi had gathered. The Scout’s Commander was sipping red wine from a long-stemmed glass whilst his companion held a china teacup by its rim. However, the calm which had settled over the room was not to last. In the corridor beyond, there came a thud followed by the frantic rattle of the door handle. Before either of the men could utter an exclamation, Hange had flung themself into the room, barely managing to pant out an apology.

“We’ve only just started!” Erwin assured them cheerily, lifting an almost-full bottle of merlot. “I got you a glass.”

“Ohh… no, no, no.” Hange waved their hands. “Not after the last time. I haven’t been able to touch red wine since!”

“Probably… for the best.” Erwin glanced at Levi who promptly averted his eyes. As Hange sat down beside him, they could not help but notice the way Levi’s mouth twitched. Their head turned towards Erwin who was pressing his lips to his glass, his shoulders shaking. A nasty, lurking feeling had settled upon Hange. It was as the men’s barely-suppressed tittering became unendurable, that realisation suddenly dawned.

“No… no way… you told him?”

At this, the two men dissolved into laughter. Hange leapt to their feet, the belt from their dressing gown whipping the air.

“Look, I wasn’t drunk!” Hange gestured at them violently, even as Erwin howled and Levi covered his face with his palm. “Erwin’s the one who insisted that I visit a merchant in the city. He was a potential sponsor for the Scouts so I had to make a good impression. It wasn’t my choice to go! The wine was disgusting - far too rich! Give me that flat, pisswater beer they serve at The Hole in the Wall in town anyday!” Hange dropped their arms as the volume of their mirth increased.

“It’s not like I chose to throw up in his coat closet!” they tried helplessly, “I wasn’t thinking ‘oh, this’ll make the evening go faster!’”

Still, the two men rocked with laughter. 

“Fine!” Hange stammered, “maybe I should even the score then!” Whirling round to face Levi, they raised their finger triumphantly. “Did you know that Erwin gets his eyebrows threaded at a salon in town?”

“Doesn’t surprise me.” Levi lifted his cup to his mouth.

“Yeah? And he gets his hair bleached?”

Levi choked on a mouthful of tea.

“Well, if that’s how you want to play it, Hange!” Erwin set down his wine glass upon the table. “I wonder if Levi knows that you once gave Sawney a foot massage?”

Hange chanced a look at Levi. He was regarding her with an expression of abject disgust; eyes narrowed and mouth hanging open.

“To think I let you touch me with those hands, Four Eyes…” 

“Erwin owns a copy of ‘Love in the Time of Titans’ and I know for a fact that he’s read it at least twice!” Hange exploded.

Levi gave a husky little laugh. Even as he leaned forward for his cup, the smile still lingered upon his face.

“Oh, think that’s funny do you Levi?” There was a dangerous glint in Erwin’s eye. “Let’s tell some of your secrets, shall we?”

All at once Levi’s features turned to stone. “Hange and I are getting married. We already know everything there is to know about each other.” His eyes flicked from Hange to Erwin. “You’d best keep quiet if you know what’s good for you.”

“Levi couldn’t tell the time until he was twenty eight!” Erwin announced, his stare with Levi unbroken.

“Wha-” Levi gestured fruitlessly. “It… It’s hard for some people!” He glanced again at Hange, this time for reassurance. His fiancée nodded with visible confidence. 

“See?” As Levi took another sip of his tea, Hange widened their eyes in unspoken shock.

“After Marie started dating Nile, Erwin grew a goatee!” Levi snarled in retaliation. Erwin inched so far forward that he almost slid from the sofa onto the floor.

“Once, Levi was ordered to redo his cleaning chores by his first Scout Leader so he stole the guy’s face mask, used it to wipe down the bathrooms, then put it back in the guy’s room.”

“One time, Hange wore my underwear to work!” Levi cried.

“Hey!” 

“Sorry!” Levi clapped a hand to his forehead, “I just couldn’t think of any more for Erwin.”

“When he was living in the Underground, Levi slept with an elderly fortune teller just so she would give him a discount off tea leaves!” Erwin declared.

“Holy shitwalls!” Hange gripped their sides, wheezing noisily. “I can’t! I’m laughing so hard…”

“...so hard you need to find another closet to throw up in?” Levi lashed back at them. Hange snapped upright, their back pressed against the sofa as though rearing for an offensive move.

“Levi entered a singing contest at The Hole in the Wall and won.”

“Hange came in third and broke a bar stool!” Levi returned the serve.

Erwin collapsed into renewed laughter, his face his hands. Hange clucked their tongue, shaking their head slowly and deliberately.

“You go on and laugh Erwin… I’m still picturing you with a moustache!”

Erwin readied himself, as though considering whether or not to seize the bait. Finally, he snapped. “Be my guest, Hange. I bet you don’t know that Levi told me that the diamond in your engagement ring is a fake!”

Hange’s wheezing laughter drew to a sudden halt. They shared a bewildered glance with Levi. Then Hange stretched their arms above their head.

“You know, Erwin, I just don’t think diamonds suit me!” They yawned and cocked their head to one side. “Besides, I spend half my time looking down a microscope, so surely I would have noticed?”

“Now that doesn’t surprise me.” Erwin’s voice carried a tinge of pride. To his left, Levi shifted uncomfortably. 

“It’s not a diamond. It’s a piece of crystalised wall-” He stopped, eyes widening as Erwin swept out a hand.

“Don’t tell me! Because… Hange discovered the crystallisation process and you wanted to commemorate their success as well as your love.” He brought his fist to his mouth and shook his head. 

“Oi…” Levi sighed, “you sound like you’ve read ‘Love in the Time of Titans’ all over again.”

“You haven’t read it!” Erwin’s voice struggled and broke as he waved his free hand. “You don’t know real fluff and angst!” …

Beyond the window the night was black and still, only broken by distant patches of streetlight. Erwin’s wine bottle had emptied without Levi or Hange’s help. Dying embers glowed in the metal grate. Two empty teacups stood upon the low table. Behind, three exhausted figures had sunk into the sofa’s backrest.

“In my defence… it was winter so the goatee had its practical use.” Erwin punctuated his point by placing his wine glass down a little harder than he meant to.

“And in my defence, the fortune teller came onto me.” The shadows thrown from the low flames flickered over Levi’s pale face. “Thirsty bitch.”

“Sounds like you were the thirsty bitch.” Hange chuckled. “Thirsty for tea anyway… I don’t suppose you still have trouble telling the time now right?”

Levi was glaring towards the opposite wall when Hange thrust their pocket watch in his face. With a quick flick of their thumb, the catch clicked open.

“Quick - what time is it?”

“I don’t know, time to rub some titan feet?”

Hange lowered their arm.

“You know… just because we’re getting married, it doesn’t mean we have to tell each other every little thing.” They regarded him imploringly, eyes rounded in the gloom of the parlour. “Some secrets are best kept that way. Right… Levi?”

Levi’s thin smile returned.

“Right.”

“Then we should keep all the secrets we've shared here this evening.” Erwin stood, smoothing down the creases in his slacks. He leaned down to pick up the empty wine bottle and glass. “In that case, I’ll plan to avoid the company of anyone who knows that I have my hair coloured.”

Levi reclined so that his arm rested against the back of the sofa. “I would avoid Miche then.”

“...and anyone in the pub at this time of evening,” Hange added, craning their neck around to regard Erwin. The military commander briefly looked as though he was about to answer before he stormed from the room. ... Step right up! Step right up! New Drunk Drabble Prompts! 👈

[byallmeans1]

what sets hange’s and levi’s relationship with each other apart from the rest!

I get asked this question a lot, and I feel like each time I give a half-assed response, and honestly i don’t expect this time will be different lmao

At first levihan seems to be a typical opposites attract, which, if delivered the right way, is a trope I enjoy. But it’s not enough to get me absolutely obsessed. The way they met and the fact that Levi almost went stabby stabby on Hanji adds a little spice to it all, not gonna lie. But as the story progresses and we get to know the characters  better, it turns out they actually have a lot in common. Shitty sense of humour, and poor social skills, above all. Hanji seems friendly but they’re pretty exentric so they often get labeled as being batshit crazy. Levi on the other hand is emotionally constipated, mean, and scary. But Hanji doesn’t care about that, and it seems like his harsh words don’t hurt them at all. They just don’t give a single shit which is pretty hilarious.

The most appealing part of levihan is that despite being so different on the surface, they get along very well and understand each other like no one else. Hanji’s casually making fun of humanity’s strongest, and he doesn’t seem to mind at all. I love the fact that they’re both fucking weird and no one really gets them. And, after some consideration, I’m actually happy that they’re not canon, because Isayama’s understanding of romance lowkey makes me cringe. It’s good the way it is. The undeniable fact is that they’re best friends, and love each other a lot. Whether it’s romantic or platonic doesn’t really matter.

When i look at their relationship in a romantic way, I don’t think of them as a highly sexual couple, which is also cool. What’s more, there are no gender roles. Fuck them.

I love levihan most because it’s about friendship and a strong bond, above all. It’s about understanding each other without words. I love them because they’re not canon, otherwise there would be a sudden shift in their motives and personalities for the sake of „romance”. I love them because they don’t really fit in any trope I know. I love how their relationship starts off as simple, and then evolves into something special. I love that they both grow and develop, and have their own separate plotlines at times. And I love that it’s all about traumatized people and a harsh reality, and the way they help each other out and find comfort in each other.

[anlian-aishang]

What's your unpopular aot opinion if you have any?

OOF okay I have very many hot takes. I am going to put this beneath the cut at the risk of upsetting others. Read at your own volition and plz don't send me angry mail lol. It's all just a bunch of drawings <3

This is only up to where the anime is so far (posted 12/22/23). It is not about fandom, of which I have way more unpopular opinions 😅

// I don't have respect for Mikasa. I think she's one-note. I don't understand why people like her. She is a total pushover for Eren and has disregard for everyone else. I find it annoying.

// I don't find any Levi x anyone ship superior to others or more obvious than others. In my archive, you'll see that most ship-art I reblog is Eruri, but I really don't see anything in official canon that confirms them over levihan or rivetra or any others. I truly think that the amount of Eruri doujinshi I have read is solely responsible for my soft spot for that pairing.

// Sorry sorry sorry to all my Zeke-loving pals, but I think Zeke is sooooooo not attractive, neither inside nor out. I don't care if his dad was too overbearing or if his childhood was hard. Newsflash: there are plenty of characters who had unhappy upbringings and did not end up fetishizing eugenics :P Also - wow - that beard and those glasses gotta gooooo 😪

// Still don't like Gabi. Still don't like her. Sorry not sorry. Don't find anything about her likable. I have heard the argument that she is just a kid, and I agree with that to the extent that I forgive her for some of her ignorant opinions and Sasha-killing actions - BUT that doesn't mean I should cross the threshold and start to like her.

// I think the Marley arc was very poorly paced. Did they really expect us to fall out of love with all the characters we had gotten to know over the last 3 seasons in like ~10 episodes?

// I think MAPPA's animation is not as good as Wit's. I understand that they are overworked and underpaid, and that really sucks and makes what they did produce commendable. But if we were to just look at face value, an objective side-by-side, I think Wit's style is much better. I feel that it shows - that MAPPA was rushed in production. There are too many still images, not enough shading, too few frames, too many low-quality levis. So many of the frames look like they were first drafts, not meant for final productions. And PLZ I will be the first to say that I could not do better, but I am not very impressed with what I've seen :/ I would have rather them delayed it for another four years to give it the animation quality it deserves.

// I think Hange's character is very complex and deserves more screentime. They can be the most serious and grounding, but also the most berserk at various times. What is going on in their mind? Why are they the way that they are? I wish we could have seen more backstory - or even just one monologue about their duality.

// JEAN'S SCRUFF NOOOOOOOO SHAVE IT PLZ. Marleyan!Eren, too fdsjakfjskalfj I am simply not a facial hair fan x-x Not even Levi gets a pass on that :P

// I don't understand the Pieck hype? Like, I still see her as a bad guy for her RTS actions, and I have yet to see her have any remorse.

// Besides THAT ONE FRAME OF THE ANIME, I didn't think Levi pulled off the suit.

// On the other hand, S1 Levi gets so much unnecessary hate. Plz be nice to our lil fidget spinning sweetheart and those of us who adore himmm 🥺

// Also, Eren Kruger = A WHOLE SNACK 😤

[koalaforlife]

So it's been a while since I've read the manga

And because of that and some comments I came across lately (e.g. one analysis about Mikasa showing more development in the manga but being reduced to Ereeeh in the anime) I am thinking I need to go back and re-read it especially now that I have such a different perspective on things and not only do I tolerate and understand some characters better than I ever did when I first read it (looking at you, Floch, still despicable AF but hey I get you, homie) but also I'm sure there were things that the (less-wise) me from 6 years ago missed out at that time.

However, for the sake of writing my thoughts down here as a journal and perhaps getting some quick answers from fans that have a better memory than I do, I will touch on a possibly controversial topic and, actually BECAUSE I have surrounded myself with Levihan fans, I am optimistic that I will get the answers I need, from people who can stay objective and see things as they are and not as they make them out to be.

I don't want to engage in any ship wars or dismiss the validity of any relationship. I'm just curious.

So I was watching some videos on character analyses and at some point I noticed how common it was to say that Levi and Erwin were best friends, Levi was incredibly loyal to Erwin, Erwin was Levi's rock, etc. And I for sure started out in this fandom with the same thought, but for the life of me now, I can't remember....Why?

People tend to say Erwin was Levi's best friend but now I can't help but think Levi had two best friends, Erwin and Hange. What part of Erwin and Levi's friendship got translated to ULTIMATE BFFS in the fandom?

Again, I am not looking to start a war, and even if I don't get an answer now, I'm sure I will when I re-read the manga, it will just take some time.

But here's what I thought, and only based on memories I have from either the anime (which I have revisited in the recent years, unlike the manga) and the levihan analysis posts I read a long time ago.

To me, judging by the way I've experienced the fandom, it almost looks like the friendship between Erwin and Levi was "told" for the most part, whereas Levi and Hange's was "shown."

Other than Levi deciding to follow Erwin because "he could see something he couldn't" (and of course, because Erwin's speech was that great, that enlightening, that motivating), other than him trusting Erwin's judgement each and every time because he knows his reasoning is flawless, other than the choice a heartbroken Levi makes (to put Erwin to rest)...I can only say these two were great friends because I remember fandom saying it for so long, so it feels like I was "told" they were great friends but the manga showed it only a few times. Interestingly enough though, even these few examples I mentioned are actually presented in the form of sentences uttered by none other than Levi, either as a monologue or in a dialogue.

Whereas with Hange and Levi, I can count already from the top of my head some of the instances that show a different dynamic, and hint at a close friendship as well. Their famous telepathy, the way Hange understands and translates Levi, the way she oversteps and he lets her, the way she was the first to treat him as a friend etc. And we see these from the interactions and conversations but never do we hear impactful or emotional monologues from Levi (regarding Hange).

How do I describe this? It feels to me that the ExL relationship is revealed mostly through Levi's words (and fandom's words - for now, until someone can remind me some other impactful scenes that hint otherwise) whereas the HxL relationship is revealed mostly through characters' dynamics.

Personally, what I want to believe, regardless of whatever the fuck Isayama wrote as canon, is that the three of them were besties, that Erwin and Hange were as great friends as ExL and HxL were and that is my ultimate headcannon and no one can convince me otherwise :D

Still, I was curious to know if other people shared the same experience of how the two relationships were portrayed, and if someone can remind me of some essential scenes that depicted ExL friendship because it's been so long that I don't remember anything else, and I don't want their canon friendship to be reduced to "they are best friends because people say so" for me.

[julystorms]

I hate how with the new chapters people are hoping Levi and Hanji didn't become a couple or something. They don't want them to be too close because that would invalidate their ship (ErwinxLevi). They'd rather see Levi be lonely than to see him find comfort in and be close to Hanji because of their own shipping bias. They don't want Levi to be close to anyone but Erwin and don't see how that makes them biased (because eruri is "canon"). Ship and let ship. Sorry I had to let it out to someone...

warning: this isn’t very nice to eruris or levihans so just… read at your own risk.

i could probably rant for like 34 years about how fandom treats romance as this large sweeping once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, like people don’t fall in and out of love on a regular basis, like marriages don’t end for reasons that aren’t “person a is an asshole.”

really, the idea is more than a little damaging in the way it encourages people to hold onto things even when they’re over. (lmao don’t tell me fandom doesn’t influence real life? don’t tell me that people don’t pull from fiction and expect that/get disappointed over it not being like that in real life. the things young people have said to me/asked me… astounding, tbh.)

anyway, lots of people remarry. lots of people don’t cling to one relationship forever. few people take the opposite route and shut themselves off forever.

but the biggest problem is that romantic fiction paints previous romantic experiences as irrelevant and unimportant and “less than” whatever is current. that honestly makes me angry. even if a relationship ended in angry divorce, can writers stop pretending that there were never feelings there? can they stop with the bullshit like ~oh, he’d never felt a love like this~ when there was literally nothing wrong with his previous relationship? it just didn’t work out oor his partner died? people just like to fucking feel good about themselves, like to imagine that a person who used to be in love w/ someone else will like them more than their previous partner. fuck off–love doesn’t work like that for most people.

why this entire thing is relevant is because there’s no doubt in my mind the eruris don’t want erwin’s relationship to levi diminished in the name of this new and current possibility, and…god??? i can’t blame ‘em??

like look, the eruri fans’ behavior recently hasn’t been altogether stellar (and of course i’m making a sweeping generalization, here; not all fans, etc etc), but levihan fans have been almost as fucking self-important and smug in the past and i wish y’all’d stop pretending that you weren’t. i distinctly remember 30230 posts about how they LOOKED at each other #canon, or how worried he looked in one panel when she was hurt. let’s not forget all the squealing over him bathing her and…other weird fucking things that got the levihan fandom subset into a goddamn tizzy and in ways that truthfully creeped me the FUCK out and made me embarrassed to even ship the same thing. i’d personally keep that embarrassing shit to myself but fandom generally does whatever it wants, so there’s no stopping it. just do whatever you want; everyone else does.

my stance on this is: the eruris are probably bracing themselves for the onslaught of levihan (not to mention er////e///ri, kill me now) fans squealing about how their ship has a higher chance to be #canon, and how they’re glad erwin is dead because it made their ship more likely to be #canon – like damn, okay. that’s pretty heartless but a’ight. not to mention all the fans who will write drivel like what i mentioned above: stories and meta that will narratively pretend that erwin meant little to levi in comparison to hange. (i mean obviously no two relationships are the same but narratively speaking it’d be cool if people stopped making the current one out to be ~better~ like it’s a ~deeper love or whatever stupid shit inexperienced buffoons think sounds realistic.)

sidenote: yall always going on about how poly ships are the best shit ever and i still ain’t seen one post talking about levi and hange working through the aftermath of losing erwin together. lmao??? why? cause the love is gone since it’s down to two? whatever.

in the end: shipping in fandom is always gross. there are always tons of really diehard fans for every ship that want that ~deeply tragic and romantic idea of one partner forever bc their love is just so strong~~~!! they’d rather their characters brood and be Sad™ for the rest of their mopey existence than find even a friendship comfort in another person (but ofc if they do find a friendship sort of comfort lmao they have to make sure they put the word in there 3012 times to define it precisely so that nobody is “confused”!!!!!!!!). i don’t know why anyone thinks this is fucking romantic & i don’t know why anyone even believes levi would be unspeakably lonely without erwin. like obviously he is going to be sad and miss him (even if you don’t ship it can you guy stop pretending erwin means nothing to him at all?) but jesus christ learn how to fucking write actual human beings–you know, people who aren’t defined by their romantic attachment???

the levihans just want to take the moral high ground here and it pisses me off nearly as much as the eruris clinging desperately to this tragic love bullshit. like don’t pretend that this whole guilt-tripping “let levi be happy” chant doesn’t have about 34 ulterior motives. please. if levihan had seemed a solid canonical possibility in recent chapters, and hange had died, y’all’d be bitter when the eruris stepped up and used that same logic against you. y’all just as bad and some of you are reminding me a little of vultures perched nearby, eyes on the prize. like geez, calm down? let stuff happen? this ship war bullshit over fictional characters is ridiculous. there are unfollow buttons on this site for a reason. there are block buttons for a reason. there is xkit and tumblr saviour and blacklist. if seeing the eruris say this stuff bothers you, then start unfollowing, blocking, blacklisting.

cause like…if you REALLY mean “ship and let ship” then…why are you even reading this stuff? what the eruris are doing doesn’t affect you. they’re not going to ship what you like just because half their ship is dead. they’re not going to stop liking their ship because erwin is dead.

like if you want some sympathy regarding how they don’t want levi to get close to hange because they want levi sad forever, okay: you’ve got it. but if this is ‘look at how dumb the eruris are lol’ then you don’t have my sympathy at all. yeah, they dumb af. so are the levihans though.

[glassesandswords]

Pre-126 animation PSA

I know we all are frothing in excitement for the biggest LH scene to be animated which is great BUT here are a few important things to keep in mind as we count down the days: 

1. Keep your expectations low. Yep. It’s a known fact that the more die-hard the fanbase, the less chances there are that the fans would be satisfied with the adaptation of the original material. Pretend the blush ain’t gonna be animated. Go into it with the lowest possible expectations so that you’ll come out (hopefully) pleasantly surprised and not screaming in rage. 

2. A request: If you have any nitpicks about the scene or the way it is animated, please wait till the hype has died down before posting it. Seeing negative opinions of something dampens the mood of those who genuinely enjoyed it by making them look at things they didn’t even bother noticing at first. Please let the LH fans in your dash have their moment of happiness, we’ve all been waiting for it for so long. 

3. There’s bound to be backlash. Prepare for it. Use the filters and block buttons liberally to sort out triggering content. Do not generalize all shippers of one ship.  Do not go into other ships’ tags and scream Levihan canon. Do NOT start a ship war. Do not participate in one. Just block, refresh, and celebrate the scene with your LH moots, we are all here to lose our minds about it anyway. 

4. Drill this into your mind: People can interpret the scene any way they like, there’s no right or wrong way to look at it. You don’t need to take shit from anyone, but at the same time, don’t harass anyone who doesn’t see it in the same way as you do. 

5. All hail shirtless Levi. 

[tundrainafrica]

What are some of your personal favorite levihan authors? 😁🙌

SO SO SORRY I TOOK SO LONG TO ANSWER THIS. I've been trying to get into Levihan again lately and I've been working on a fic for someone's birthday so I've been out of it but Imma drop my favorite authors here. I haven't been reading a lot lately so I'm kinda not the most up to date but I'll definitely give a better answer sooner or later. But... to answer your question as of now.

Also, I'm more of a long fic reader over a short fic reader and I tend to get to know authors more when I read multiple works from them so most of the writers I put here have multiple works and they have long fics. Anyway I hope this helps.

@fanmoose12: One word. Legend. She's been here in this fandom for a while and I pretty much got into a Levihan binge and I started writing fics because I ended up reading hers in the first place. Partners is one of the first AUs I read and is a good place to start for any reader. Her writing style is a good balance between easy to read and colorful.

She's particularly good with AUs and fluff <3. Her AUs in particular are pretty in character even with lighter settings. My favorite from her is Second Chance and In another life. I'm a sucker for reincarnation AUs as always

Mannatea : One of the older writers here. She has REALLY good pacing. Her writing is very consistent with scenes, quick in action scenes, slow when need be, one of the best and most in character particularly for canon compliant fics.

My favorites from her are All of me and Pristine

@djmarinizelablog Her writing style is incredibly poetic, her smut is always well placed in her long fics and izela puts so much effort into researching her stories, I honestly feel so at home whenever I read them. <3 <3 <3. The work she puts into thinking up scenarios and researching are everywhere because literally, the scenarios she puts Levi and Hange in are so well thought out and creative and just if you want Levihan just ANYWHERE and in still fairly realistic scenarios, her fics are a treat. My favorites from her are free falling and You are light years away.

@someonestolemyshoes Shoes writes one of my favorite dialogues among all the authors. Her writing is also very sophisticated while at the same time, still colorful and deep. She also writes one of my favorite characterizations of Hange and Levi.

My favorite fics from her are Somewhere only we know for a long burn which will break your heart in the end. Keep Going for HURT LEVI and tbh, one of the most in character Levihan fics I have read and literally fits in my little head canon place.

just-quintessentially-me: Really good at action. She writes the best action scenes and best Levihan banter. 101% recommend for people looking for smart ass Levihan exchanges and her writing style is really just... *thumbs kiss*

License to Science is a MUST READ for people wanting a Levihan Spy AU and love loss and SIMPLE CHOICE is one of my fave canon compliant ones. AFTERMATH IS JUST HILARIOUS. One of my fave canon compliant ones too and one of the first I read in the fandom.

@smallblip One of my favorite writers when it comes to narrative. Her narratives are very lyrical, it really be like poetry when you read them. Her AUs are also a treat and her smut always makes me feel like Levi and Hange literally transcend existence when they fuck. Stellar is one of my favorite AUs, along with her mafia AU thunder in our hearts.

@sordidbones Drew also has one of my favorite writing styles and I actually use a lot of his works to study how to write since I like the way he plays around with his words to make AMAZING smut fics. One of my favorite smut writers definitely if you want the whole package. He also writes amazing angst, h/c. One of my fave fics from him is canon compliant "at the end of all things" where Levi and Hange have a baby during the war.

[this-is-krikkit]

hello Kit

i just read 'mouthy' and i can tell you that you made my evening with this fic <3 thank you for writing such good and sweet t4t levihan

this truth and dare game sounds fun! how about 🍓 🛼 🍄 (maybe for erurihan?) 🍅 🐝 🎨 ?

i hope it's not too much though... (❀ˆᴗˆ)

oooh Victoria thank you!! i'm very happy you liked it 🥹🥹 thanks for letting me know ♥️🥰😘

-> wanna play writer's truth or dare with me?

🍓how did you get into writing fanfiction? 

well, i started writing when i was huh...... ten i think? and i wrote fanfiction back then, i just did not know what it was (and definitely didn't post it hahaha). i got into it on purpose when i got into my first online fandom, through discussing ideas with other fans and reading their fave fics!

🛼 describe your latest wip with five emojis

hummmm let's see. i think this is the wip i'm closest to posting right now (when i get a minute to work on it ughh):

🏢🪽💢🚬💑

🍄 share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

for erurihan as you asked: i like to think they took FOREVER to get together, not because they're a tryad, not because they're busy af in canonverse or any AU i imagine them in, but because they're, all three of them, the absolute fucking worst motherfuckers alive. hange is oblivious as fuck, levi's sure both of his crushes are unrequited, and erwin's the most repressed asshole on earth who took one look at his own feelings and went "NOPE" and closed that door (or did he?)

writing them is painful in fics when they aren't established (which i know i haven't shared any of those actually sorry for the tease lmao), but it's also very Them x)

🍅 give yourself some constructive criticism on your own writing

sure!! here goes my one biggest criticism i give myself each and every day: i don't think i'm very good at conveying intentions when it's not like with one strong line of dialogue or one crucial point in the fic. i feel like a lot of my fics are... unbalanced in that way, as a result?with strong moments that i love to reread that make me feel stuff (and hopefully my readers too), and "filler" moments that i cringe at without fail each time bc im like, dude did you even try?? so, i need to work on breaching that gap of quality i feel exists within most of my fics... i'm just not very sure how.

also, sometimes i try to be funny, and when i reread my stuff, i realize smth i thought was hilarious at the time of posting is actually pretty lame. so i should either stop trying to be funny, or get better at it x)

🐝 tag your biggest supporter(s) and say one nice thing about them

honestly, anyone who comments on my fics or leave me any kind of feedback and people who send prompts, all of you i consider a huge support and i thank you all so much for it!! ♥️♥️

now i do have to mention @nube55 as not so much my biggest supporter, but definitely the #1 victim of my overly enthusiastic ass and the dozens of new wips i come up with in a week's time 😁😁 honey (yes 🍯 that's right), you're always happy to listen to my ideas and chime in, so just know i love you and how much support we give each other (in fandom things and others 💜)

🎨 link your favourite piece of fanart and explain why you like it

i can't actually do that as my all time levihan fave art was shared through dms and i was told not to post it publicly! but this one is another one of my faves, here (don't thank me, just give op some love!!):

[fanmoose12]

Hello, my beloved! Do you have any LH HC post rumbling?

I have three theories from fluff to pain:

1. They end up together living a peaceful life in a small house far away from the city with a pet. They die of old age.

2. Hange can't stay away from the action, so she travels with the kids to Paradis and helps Armin with the whole Peace deal. Meanwhile Levi doesn't return and stays far away from Paradis. Hange returns to Levi when she feels they're safe and start a life with Levi. At the moment Hange return to Levi, they're both older and wiser and they're very happy to see each other again. I like to think that Levi welcomed Hange with a rude remark, but his eyes showed all the longing he felt after seeing her again.

3. REALLY PAINFUL TELENOVELA STYLE. Hange survives, but she doesn't find Levi or the others since they never come back to the port. Hange finds a farmer-kun with whom forms a family, but dies rather young due to their injuries. Hange had told their kid so many stories about her great friend who was Humanity's strongest, so when Hange pass away they decides to look for him. Because this is ff, they found him and Levi's shocked to see a kid so simmilar to Hange. When they tell him that they're her kid, Levi can't believe his eyes and he feels so bad because he thought Hange was dead all this time, but he was happy to know Hange got a little time of happiness and peace on her life.

I hate LeviHan so freaking much because they live in my heart rent-free and my head can't stop thinking of cringe scenarios between them. They truly deserved a lifetime together.

nooooo, farmer-kun??? him ruining a perfect romance again, oh nooo

as for my personal headcanon (it's actually canon in moose's version of snk) hange stays with the kids just long enough to make sure that armin is ready to step into the shoes of the commander, and then levihans get the fuck out of paradise bc they technically are still traitors and they still are very much hated by yeagerists. for a while they travel around the world, helping survivors of the rumbling with whatever they can. sometimes the sight of all this ruination becomes too much for hange and she breaks, but levi is always there to hold her and help her get back on her feet. and whenever levi feels down, starts to feel insecure bc of his injuries, hange is always there for him too and picks him up with the right words and a terrible joke. after a while, they decide to settle down for real and so they get themselves a place in marley, hizuru or whatever country survived after eren. hange gets a position at one of the universities where she's able to both deepen her knowledge about the world outside their walls and teach others about eldia, its technology and history. levi becomes sort of a househusband, he cleans the house, prepares meals, does laundry, but after a while, he gets a little bit bored and after onyankopon pitches to him an idea about starting his own teashop, gabi and falco help him to set it up. hange too helps whenever she can, and she is the one who invites their old squad of brats to visit on the day of opening. levi is kept in the dark about their visit, and when they arrive, he's shocked, overwhelmed but so very happy. and when the kids rush to wrap him and hange in a group hug, he realizes that the war is really over

oh, and also they have lots of pets. the first one was a stray dog hange found during a rainstorm. then was a cat that followed levi home after he gave it some food. then hange brought a parrot..... gabi gifted them a turtle, falco brought a rabbit..... and their little apartment turned into a zoo lmao

[lolligaggin]

Levihan headcanons

• I always imagine their kids would be tall. Levi would be taller if he hadn’t been so malnourished at a tender age. (Also Kenny wasn’t short) So Levi and Hange’s son could easily tower over Levi.

• Since his kids are so much taller than him, he feels a sense of pride since they got a lot of Hange’s genes and his dormant tall genes, no doubt, but also frustration because he feels like they don’t listen as well to their shorter dad once they’re as tall or taller than Hange.

• Speaking of genes, Ackerman genes are STRONG. Poor Hange’s kids don’t look much like her, except their son (who I always imagined named Erwin (RIP)) has her personality with the ability to have Levi’s imposing air of indifference. Except he’ll act serious but then laugh in your face. He has Hanji’s nose and his hair color is a mixture of his parents. Not as dark as his sister’s, and he has Levi’s gray eyes. He’s also exactly a foot taller than Levi once he’s finished growing - which Levi loves and hates at the same time.

• Their daughter, Kuchel, (they call her Elle for short) looks exactly like Levi, or rather her namesake, except with Hange’s hazel eyes. Her name is fitting as she’s a carbon copy of her grandmother. Her personality is more like Kuchel’s as well; she’s very sweet and demure, but she was Hange’s sincere kindness and intelligence. Also she has Levi’s OCD as far as being clean. Thanks to Ackerman DNA, the kids eyesight is decent but Elle needs glasses for reading still - which makes Hange secretly really happy.

• Erwin and Elle are fraternal twins, conceived after the war. Canon divergent: everything is the same but Hange survived. She and Levi make good on their dream and move into a cabin in the woods as soon as they humanly can. The twins were a planned accident. They knew they would have kids eventually. But Hange was pregnant within six months.

• Queen Historia puts into place an excellent pension for both surviving veterans; Levi and Hange don’t have to work if they don’t want to, but Hange can’t sit still for long. She eventually becomes the kingdom’s minister for botany and agriculture. Helping streamline the frame work for farmers to better disperse food throughout Paradis while also importing new seeds and plants from other countries to yield more crops, and to help feed a rebuilding country burgeoning upon a brand new world now available to them.

• This means Levi is a stay at home dad and he could not be happier. He can clean and maintain his house to his hearts content. He can also rest and relax, which were foreign concepts to him, and brew and drink tea (Hange bringing home new herbs and teas for him to experiment with) and feed children expertly crafted food. He has even started a garden. Every morning at dawn he feeds birds outside his house with homemade bird seed, while drinking something warm, as his house slept. And he allowed himself a moments peace and tranquillity - thankful for his life now despite the horrors he has experienced.

• As the kids reach pre-school age, Hange plants the idea in Levi’s head that he could start a small tea house, since he would have more time.

• Hange finds out she’s pregnant again when the kids are 4 years olds This time is not twins, thank god, but it’s a girl.

• The third baby girl is named Grace, after Hange’s grandmother. The name Grace could not be less fitting. Grace was rough and tumble with Levi’s personality and Hange’s affinity towards rolling around and playing in dirt. She also has Hange’s temper, and she’s strong, so when she is really angry she has been know to smash things. She’s also a certifiable genius. If not kept in check, and without proper training, she could easily become an evil overlord. (Think Louise Belcher from Bob’a Burgers) Her face is absolutely Hange and Levi mixed, to the point where she looks the most and least like them at the same time. Her hair is dark like her dad’s and sister’s, but her eyes are a clearer blue than gray.

- > Speaking of Bob’s Burgers, I’m using it as a blue print: Bob and Linda are absolutely Levi and Hange. Elle is Tina (quiet and insightful and wears glasses, but has a secret badass side - thankfully Elle isn’t nearly as boy crazy, although she is harboring a crush on Annie and Armin’s son) and Erwin is Gene (hilarious and indifferent to most things. But unlike Gene, he acts tough like his dad but is secretly really soft (which is also like his dad but no one really understands Levi’s soft side unless they’re Hange) and Grace is absolutely Louise. Scary as hell and could cut you: physically or with her brain. You don’t cross Grace.

So because of this, I imagine the twins being 13, Hange working part-time in the capital, Levi finally owning a tea shop, and the youngest is 9. And thus: Levi’s Teashop is now in my head whenever I watch Bob’a Burgers.

Thanks for reading, it’s so long sorry. But I had to type it out lol

[lady-eny]

TITLE: ON THE NATURE OF DUTY (10/17)

Some tags: AU - Spies & Secret Agents, Enemies to Lovers, Action, Canon-Typical Violence, Minor Mikenana, Minor Zekehan, Minor Character Death, Reincarnation

Summary:

When Levi, Eldia’s best agent, is sent to kill the marleyan star analyst Hange Zoe, he doesn’t expect what awaits him.

Forced to team up with his enemies to save the world, he soon starts losing sight of his duty. Despite reminding himself how much he hates her, Levi can’t prevent his brain from scrambling at her mere presence, ever closer…

Perhaps it’s that he knows her from a long time ago…

CROSS-POSTING ON: AO3

Other Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 15 Notes: We're in the second half now! O.O And I've got news: Tomorrow begins the Levihan Drabble Week!!🎉To avoid overwhelming you, next chapter will come out in two weeks (meaning: around JUN-17)

I'm sure this week will be full of amazing works, so pls support the Levihan fam! Thank you so much for reading! See you soon!

✨Feedback is very much welcome! Hope y'all have great two weeks!

Chapter 10

She threw her ODM gear and dropped to the ground. Raised her goggles to her forehead and looked up at the starry sky.

“Come see this! I don’t think I’ve ever seen them shine so brightly...”

He winced at the dirt she was wallowing in. “No way.”

She tugged on his pants. “I promise not to ask you to capture a titan for me all day tomorrow.”

“For a week.”

“Three days.”

Reluctantly, he flung himself down next to her and allowed his muscles to relax. She snuggled closer to him and an unusual warmth washed over him.

Maybe being down here wasn’t so bad...

Levi didn’t know how used he was to meeting Hange’s eyes whenever she was around until now that she’s purposely looking elsewhere. Though he maintains he didn’t say anything incorrect. She acted wrong and trusted way too much back at Tybur’s. Excessively so.

At least they’re on the right track, which makes him assume they can succeed. He’s closer to completing this mission, returning to his apartment, and living like nothing ever happened. 

Bliss.

First things first. They have to uncover those bastards and stop them. A step forward is not yet the finish line. 

As soon as they enter their new hotel room, Levi pulls out his phone and dials Erwin, anxiety quivering his insides. They continue in Helos, the city of Tybur’s primary headquarters. He’d have preferred to stay in one that practically doesn’t belong to that company, but it couldn’t be helped—the yacht party will be held close. 

He sits at the desk next to one of the three identical beds. Twists his neck while waiting for his boss to answer, dreading the sound of his voice. Like yesterday, he’s been out of reach the entirety of the day, something Erwin absolutely hates.

“Ackerman,” Erwin answers dryly. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

An expected reaction from Erwin. Levi blows out a breath and briefs him on today’s happenings, everything orbiting around the same simple implication: he had no time to call back—even when, truth be told, he did. 

“You took such a great risk for nothing,” Erwin concludes, disapproving. From the years Levi’s known him, he can tell Erwin’s hardly containing a scold. 

“Not really. I…” Here comes the hard part. Levi glances at Hange and Mike, who are acting all busy with their bags but secretly remain attentive to his conversation. It’s kind of awkward, speaking with Erwin under their scrutiny. How are they perceiving the exchange? “I… We need an invitation to a birthday party in honor of Willy Tybur. We’re certain it’ll take place tomorrow night.” Silence on the line. “I know you have many favors stored from the times when Eldia and Tybur were on friendly terms, so…”

Securing an invitation to that precise event wouldn’t be an easy feat. Levi knows it. Yet their stolen one won’t do it, as it contains a code that won’t be admitted unless issued correctly. In addition, it’s addressed to Mr. Magath, a prominent businessman who’ll be in attendance. Without the invitation in its rightful owner’s hands, the code will surely get deactivated. Erwin, for instance, can move his numerous contacts and collect some favors to attain a genuine one—if he wishes to. 

“So, you’re requesting something from me after disobeying my every order for the last few days? Even when your behavior has been nothing but irrational as of late?!” Erwin’s shout resonates through the room. By Hange and Mike’s bug-eyed expressions, they overheard it.

Levi clears his throat. “Err… Yes?” He won’t dwell on explanations while the gaze of those two burns on his nape. “In that party, we can find out if Tybur’s indeed implicated and how to end this. And successfully fulfilling this mission would position us on good terms with the WCO—no more public censorship, no more exorbitant fines.” Levi’s aware his convincing skills are rusty at best. That doesn’t stop him. “This can be good for us in the long run.”

“I wonder if we’ll get any direct benefit from this in the end.” Another thing Erwin hates? Someone else telling him what would be best. It’s one of the reasons he’s constantly fighting with their superiors. “No eldian has been killed in the recent attacks. Furthermore, it will do us little good to be on friendly terms with the WCO if the war resumes and our most valuable agent is incapacitated. Or dead. Stop being delusional,” Erwin fumes. The optimism Levi gained prior to this topples. He doesn’t even want to imagine the face Mike and Hange must be making. 

“I’m asking for this favor as your f—friend.” Levi internally coils at the break in his voice.

After a moment, he hears Erwin sighing. “I’ll see what I can do. But if you disappear like this ever again, Ackerman, consider your salary cut to half. Permanently. Wait for my call.”

Erwin hangs up and Levi lowers the phone with an exhalation. For some reason, Hange’s reports to Nanaba come to his mind. Even when one of them was in a higher position, they never talked with each other as boss and subordinate. Rather, they did it as comrades. Friends.

Because above all, that’s what they were.

Maybe he and Erwin have never been real friends. Maybe he’s the faulty one for believing so, due to never knowing what true friendship looked like. Until now. 

“That was…” Mike trails off, sounding insecure. “How much time should it take him?”

Levi shrugs. “Some hours.”

Mike throws himself into the middle bed and turns on the TV projector up front. In the meantime, Hange puts on her sweater.

“I’ll get something to eat,” she announces, walking to the door.

“I can go instead,” Levi suggests, quite futilely. Hange doesn’t as much as acknowledge his words before leaving.

Uneasiness crawls under his skin. He’s juggling with the idea of following her when the TV projection captures his attention. A reporter is talking.

“As far as we know, the explosion in Liberio hasn’t shed light on the investigations. We obtained some footage of the moment of the explosion. Viewer discretion is advised, as the following images might contain sensitive content.”

The screen shows the late airport. Levi’s brain struggles to link that massive building with the pile of rubble he saw this morning. In the bed, Mike stiffens when a smiling red-headed woman appears on the screen, talking to the camera about her travels. She’s showing her cellphone when a violent boom deafens her. The airport behind her explodes, and then there’re only screams. The video fades to black and the reporter returns into view. 

Levi doesn’t get to hear the reporter’s next words.

The bathroom door slams shut. Mike’s no longer in the bed. Levi didn’t see him moving, abstracted by the screen as he was. Unsure of what to do, Levi uselessly hangs in the same spot. Ignoring the constant danger of Hange exposing herself in public, this is another excellent reason why he should have gone looking for food instead. Unlike him, Hange would know how to deal with her friend. He awaits her coming in at any second. 

She doesn’t. 

Does he have another option? He drags a hand through his hair and knocks on the bathroom door. 

“Mike? Are you alright?” Mike doesn’t reply, so Levi lets himself in. 

The blond is on the floor with his head between his knees. Levi shifts uncomfortably in the doorway. Finally, opts to sit at Mike’s side, whose faint cries echo in the bathroom’s acoustic. Settling, the white tiles under him are ice blocks and the whole space smells like toilet paper—not so bad, taking into account how most bathrooms reek.

Mike’s shoulders are shaking. Levi looks from his hands to the ceiling. What can he possibly say?

Mike beats him to it. “I didn’t see it happening live before. T—The explosion. I should have been there…” Mike chokes through his tears. Levi identifies this feeling, blaming yourself for not preventing a loss. Knows it overly well. He recalls wild desperation in his legs, a sensation from a bygone day compelling him to run faster and faster. And still, no matter how hard he forced himself to move, arriving when everything was already in motion. His mother calling him with her last breath. Chaos all around. Too late. The memories make him heavier, but Mike’s cries remind him that his pain isn’t unique. “I only want for her to come back with her sly smile. To stop feeling like shit. I miss her. Will I ever stop?”

Levi has no good answer. His features and voice soften. “I don’t know... I hope it gets better.”

One doesn’t feel like shit every single day afterward. But in his personal experience, it’s because he hasn’t been feeling much since that day. Is that preferable to constant pain?

“This is embarrassing.” Mike wipes his tears with the back of his hand and throws out a teary laugh.  

“No, it is not. I… I also know how it feels to lose someone who mattered too much,” Levi admits, a phantom ache squeezing his chest. Mike meets his eyes, and Levi encounters a sense of understanding between them. Reassuring in some way, knowing that someone else goes through the same. After all, it proves they’re not completely alone.

Silent minutes tickle by until Mike’s faint sobs subside and his spine erects taller.

“She isn’t mad at you.” At his confusion, Mike explains, “Hange.”

“Brilliant way to show it.”

“She’s mad with herself. And ashamed for putting lives in danger. I don’t think she considered that possibility.”

“Clearly.”

“Hange,” Mike begins with a fond tone, “is very trusting, which can be a problem. Still, she’d never put someone in danger on purpose.” I know, Levi sorts out. “She believes union is one of the many things needed to end the war, for which we should rely on each other. But… I think not everyone deserves her faith.”

Levi wholly agrees with Mike, as he’s the first one undeserving of it. He lies his head on the tiled wall behind him, which is like touching snow to his skin. Ignores all the germs that must be rubbing on his hair. “She has never had trouble sleeping in a room with me.” 

Mike snickers. Levi lifts an eyebrow at him. “What’s so funny?”

“It’s just that… I didn’t mean you. You’ve proven yourself highly reliable relating to her.”

What? “Are you nuts? I’m the last person she should count on. I’m an eldian.”

“So what? Do you really fool yourself into thinking you hate her?” He shakes his head. “And what if she’s a marleyan? I didn’t peg you as the prejudiced type.”

“I…” 

Do you really fool yourself into thinking you hate her? Mike’s words reverberate in his head. He… can’t, because he truly doesn’t. Not completely, at least, and not anymore. Hange might not be one of the worst creatures to ever inhabit this planet, as he once believed.

Levi glances at the disgusting floor where he’s sitting, focusing on the dirt between the tiles which he hates so much. But maybe, just maybe… He doesn’t. Maybe he’s always forced himself to despise it, because otherwise, how could he continue living, knowing how much of it he’s swept from this earth?

The main origin of his strong loathing used to be more due to his body feeling out of control in their first meeting than her nationality. However, now… He still dislikes her, of course—being her a marleyan, that couldn’t be any different. And yet…

“I don’t hate her,” Levi states. His declaration doesn’t surprise Mike in the slightest. While he doesn’t hate her, she remains a marleyan, something he can’t forget at any cost. Doing so could only harm his land and himself. “I just don’t get her. What are her motives?” 

It’s challenging to shake out the idea of marleyans being deceptive, except… Hange looks so open—so sincere, saying she wouldn’t let his leaked information be used for anything but. 

Can he believe her?

He can’t. Shouldn’t. But… he wishes he could. 

“Ask her, then.” Mike jerks a shoulder as if that was the most evident, easiest solution to everything. Which may be.

“Mike? Levi? Where are you?” Hange’s muffled voice comes from out of the door. 

In an instant, Levi becomes aware of where he is, and what he’s been talking about with Mike. A feeling of camaraderie was flowing between them, but her voice woke him to awkwardness. Dammit, perhaps Hange’s teeming openness has infected him. 

“Here!” Mike stands and goes back to the room. “What did you bring?”

Hange’s slit eyes glide from Mike to Levi with suspicion before handing them packets of cookies. Popping cookies in his mouth as if they were candies, Mike sits down on his bed, and Hange on the floor. Levi takes the desk chair and starts eating, the TV noise filling the room. Hange looks weary, hands slow and posture slouching. Chewing, she glances up and catches his gaze for the first time tonight. He can’t read her expression, but her hazel eyes appear dimmer. She lingers on him for a moment without expression and then turns to the TV.

It stings. 

In the news, they’re interviewing relatives of today’s explosion victims. It dawns on him that the reason those people lost their families is because of them. Because they haven’t done a good job unveiling those responsible for this. The previously sweet chocolate cookies taste rancid in his mouth. Mike and Hange seem to be sharing his thoughts; he looks like eating shit while her shoulders sag lower. Her hand reaches out, in search of what Levi now recognizes as reassurance from the fur peeking out of her bag. She clings to Mr. Sonny as unnecessary repetitions of the explosion play on the screen. But neither of them makes a move to change the channel.

On the nightstand next to Mike’s bed, Levi’s phone rings. They all look at each other. Levi strides to the phone and looks at the screen—an unknown number. He accepts the call with his guts tied up.

“… Yes?”

“Ackerman?” Probes a fruity voice. 

His guts untie. “Petra,” he breathes out. “What’s wrong?”

Hange’s head snaps to him with a deep-set frown on her face, looking even more bothered than a minute ago. Levi flops on Mike’s bed, rubbing his brow. How did Petra get this number?

“Erwin told me to call you,” she reveals. Naturally. “Erwin got to convince someone about the invitation, the people with it merely need an address to send it.”

He taps his feet, thinking of logistics. “I’ll send you a location.” He can pick it up in the morning.

“Very well. And… Ackerman.” A pause. “Even though I can’t make a lot of questions, I know this has something to do with Tybur, so… Take care!”

Levi smiles. Petra’s one of the best people in his life, always taking care and worrying about others. “I will. You take care, too.” He gets off the phone.

Mike cocks his head to a side. “What happened?”

“Erwin got it.” Tomorrow they only have to study the area, make the preparations, and lastly, adhere to the plan. 

“All is settled, then.” Hange immerses herself in eating her remaining cookies. 

Mike finally switches channels to one with a movie where a spy is parkouring from one building to the other. Levi scoffs; that’s sheer fantasy. 

“Ackerman,” Mike says, “I wanted to ask you this since I met you… Is the rumor of you jumping from a third floor with only a blanket as a parachute, and still surviving with an insignificant wound, true?”

Levi scratches his heated cheek. Understanding he possesses a reputation is never the same as hearing one of the many rumors surrounding him. Some people even consider him to be a myth, and he prefers it like that. 

“It is,” Hange affirms. Grimaces instantly, as if regretting saying it a second too late.

“How do you know?” Levi wonders. She’s right; it is true—it wasn’t as effortless as Mike implied, but no one but him and Erwin should know it for sure.

Mike grins. “Don’t you know how much of a fan Hange is? She has probably watched all your supposed videos, although I believe half of them are fak—”

Hange shoots Mike with a glare so intense that the blond shuts up mid-sentence. And with that, the silence restores. 

Mike falls asleep first, his loud snores almost rumbling the entire hotel. Levi climbs to the bed nearest to the door and lies down. Instead of following suit, Hange slides open the balcony door and disappears from his sight. He hesitates for a split second before joining her. 

She’s observing the horizon, the glistening and colorful lights from the many billboards shining over her skin. Without a look back at him, she collapses to the floor. There, those artificial lights can’t reach her. Her back leans on the side concrete fence of the balcony, head tilted up at the starry sky.

He settles across from her, one leg outstretched and another bent to support his arm. Arctic wind blows against his skin and chills his bones, but he doesn’t come back inside. He has something to say. 

“I… I’m sorry for snapping at you. Earlier.”

She doesn’t reply right away. Her gaze won’t meet him yet.

“It’s okay,” she eventually says with a hint of tiredness, pushing her glasses up her nose. “You weren’t wrong. I didn’t consider the girls’ safety. Even without that, we didn’t know anything about them. It was a mistake…” Her shoulders hunch along with her head, bangs shadowing her eyes.

Levi strokes the back of his neck. It’s less sore than most of the time. “Right. You can only trust yourself.”

“There I disagree.”

His frustration mounts at the sight of her defiant chin. “Oh?”

Her eyes finally catch his. She crosses her arms over her chest. “To achieve great things you need other people, to work together and believe in them. I firmly believe it. Maybe I overdo it, maybe I need to doubt more, true. But confiding in no one, never? That’s not the solution but the problem, and the reason why we’re still in this fucked-up conflict. We never let our guard down.”

Because your people have betrayed us on countless occasions. 

An impatient snort from him. “It’s better to work alone.” Less danger and risks for everyone. Levi likes the control it confers him, the steadiness. Why would he prefer the contrary?

“It isn’t.” Her jaw sets. “Such as today. The plan would have worked better if only you had waited for me and trusted me.”

“Trust is difficult to achieve,” is his brusque reply. He knows better than to rely on someone working for the enemy.

“Because you don’t put anything of yourself into trying!” Her nostrils flare. “Do you know how difficult it is…” She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in. “How many times have I told myself I shouldn’t even talk to you? You literally tried to kill me!”

Her statement floats in the space between them for a while, making the air dense. 

Levi wants nothing but to dissipate the tension, but a thickness in his throat prevents him from responding. Unable to bear her glare, he angles slightly away from her. Summons her words; she said it was difficult not because he’s an eldian, but because he tried to kill her. Somehow, how genuinely unprejudiced she is keeps taking him aback. 

“How come you don’t hate me?”

“In truth, I used to hold only hate for eldians. Raw, bitter, consuming hate. But then I thought, this will never get me anywhere. There and then I chose to stop.”

Levi flaps a dismissive hand. “Pff. You make it sound as if it was something you could just decide and voilà. No more hate. Choices aren’t that almighty.”

Her expression grows turbulent. “Oh, but they are. Our choices define us, wholly and entirely. Regardless of what happens at the end of our lives, everything hitherto is simply a succession of them. That’s what we are. Choices. We keep making them and following those we believe are the best.” A tight smile forms on her mouth. “But you’re partly right. It is not easy at all. Wasn’t. Yet it was my choice and I stood by it. Even so, I was wary of eldians afterward and for a long time. I didn’t genuinely try to understand your lot until recently. I have to thank you for that.”

“Me?”

She doesn’t reply, her gaze lost in the distance. Completely disregarding his presence. 

He wishes he could fade into the floor underneath him. It’s like they crashed into a wall. A massive, solid wall they can’t get past unless he does what, deep down, he knows he should have done a long time ago. 

Levi clears his throat. Glances at his hands. Swallows.

“I’m sorry… about that night. In Odiha.” 

She flinches. And something between them fractures. More importantly, something in him shatters; the idea that his work justifies the damage he inflicts. That by protecting his people, the corpses he leaves behind are unimportant. 

They aren’t. 

They’re significant. 

They matter to him and have always done so.

His head hangs, and there is this empty, draining feeling. 

She purses her lips, pensive. “Do you enjoy it?”

“Enjoy what?”

“Killing.”

His head jerks up, muscles tensing. How can someone enjoy something like that? He feels like dying little by little with every life he takes. If those missions were more constant, would there be anything left of him? 

“No.”

“Okay, then.” She droops against the wall and presses her palms over her eyes, glasses askew. “Apology accepted.”

Albeit her words are agreeable, he can practically touch the waves of anger still coming out from her. 

“What do you want from me?” He blurts. 

“Excuse me?” She drops her hands and blinks. He repeats the question and her eyebrows furrow. “To be friends. I want to be your friend. But you don’t… you can’t trust me, can you?”

How can he? It’s not like she isn’t harboring secrets. “You say you want to be my friend and talk about trust all the fucking time, but you don’t trust me either. Why were you going to that museum that night?” Her teeth clink loudly by the speed with which she closes her mouth. “See? You ask me to do something but you won’t do the same.”

“I…” Her eyes snag on his. “I was looking for my sister.”

Her… sister? Didn’t she say she was dead? Levi racks his brain, but actually, she didn’t. He just concluded it. Didn’t she disappear more than ten years ago, though? To continue looking for her sounds… 

“I’ve been seeking information on what happened to her ever since she went missing,” she mutters, and his chest folds painfully at the tinge of sadness present in her voice. “Well, not ever since—I was pretty young when my parents died, and then I moved with Nana’s family, which… wasn’t a pleasant experience, so I left after a year or so. It was when I moved to my last home that I started looking. The caller told me he had information about her, so… I stupidly went.” She toys with the hem of her shirt.

The unexpectedness with which she flew from Marley, the recklessness in her act… Was it all because of her sister?

“I see.” Levi wants to express how sorry he is, to remove some of her glaring sufferings, but he’s unable to do it. After some sluggish minutes, he changes the subject. “You really used to watch my videos?”

Hange’s eyes widen, cheeks flushing red. “No! Yes. Umm, I mean… you’re famous for your exceptional fitness… which I’m interested in…  Ah! I mean… interested in the scientific aspect of it, as expected…”

Her sputtering sparks a weird twinge in his chest. A sensation of contentment spreads throughout his limbs. “Now I know why you recognized who I was in the elevator.”

“Your fighting style is unmistakable,” she nods, a smile dangling at the corner of her lips. “You should start diversifying a bit.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Hange dedicates him a smile, her hazel eyes bearing humor in them. Once more, meeting his eyes with ease. He returns the smile. 

For the first time, he envisages how everything would be if Hange wasn’t a marleyan. Would they be friends? Best friends, maybe? Recalling how loose he felt talking with her last night, he can see it. And… doesn’t entirely hate it. 

Nevertheless, things are as they are, and the reality is that she’ll always be his enemy and he’ll always have to eliminate her. There’s no point in crying over spilled milk. And crying, he never does.

She places a finger over her mouth. “Why do you think they didn’t ambush us on Tybur’s? I wasn’t even wearing a costume, as the last time they did it. Could they have given up?”

Whatever refrained them from going after her today, he doesn’t think it was for lack of motivation. They had plenty of chances for that before. So why stop now? 

“It’s odd,” it’s the only thing he says. 

Levi lets his muscles go slack under their comfortable silence. She lies down, her long fingers laced together loosely on her abdomen. 

“Why don’t you like them?”

He notices her line of sight, toward the stars above them. Watches them, too. “I never said I didn’t. I do, and am glad to be able to see them from here.”

“Don’t you want to know how they look from closer?” Her tone is dreamy.

“No. Humans are fucking plagues. I don’t want to witness how the planets orbiting them are dying for yet more humans.”

“That’s so pessimistic… I think we’re bringing life to those lonely planets and that the stars enjoy the new company, don’t you think?”

Levi opens his mouth and closes it. He never saw it like that and doesn’t dislike her perspective. It’s a brighter picture he couldn’t have conceived by himself, one that makes him feel somehow better. 

The canvas of the night is usually painted with gray and heavy clouds. But tonight it shines brightly, the points of light in the distance seeming, for a flicker, colorful. With her steady breathing and earthy scent floating to him, Levi feels so light. He takes a deep, satisfied breath in, and closes his eyes…

They left their building behind and went deep into Marley’s streets. Hours ago, he was feeling rather ill, so Hange and he separated from the others to get some rest. But she insisted on catching up with them, now that he was feeling much better. 

“We’ll get lost,” he muttered, meaning that he was already lost. 

Hange put a finger over her mouth. “Onyankopon said three blocks to the right… Oh, excuse me,” she said to a woman in a street stall. Marley had lots of these, he’d noticed since arriving. “Do you know where the theater is?”

“Four blocks in that direction,” the woman replied, pointing to the left. He sighed; Onyankopon got it wrong again. “Where are you from?”

“Ahhh… From far, far away!” She looked around in a panic, as if trying to find an answer. Slang an arm around his shoulders. “My dear brother and I got lost from our group.”

The woman narrowed her eyes. “You look nothing alike at all.”

“She was adopted,” he explained.

“Me?” She made a scandalized face. “But I’m the one who looks the most like mom!”

He couldn’t stop a laugh from escaping him. This was kind of fun.

Following the woman’s instructions, they arrived at the theater. Armin was the first to spot them. 

“You made it! Come this way, the view is much better,” Armin urged, pulling them toward the front line, where the other kids and Onyankopon were already settled. Everyone looked overly enthusiastic—even Eren, who had been down lately. 

A red curtain opened in front of them, and the show started. 

Two hours later, the group left the theater with equally down faces. 

Mikasa brushed a tear from Sasha’s cheek. “It was… so sad!” The brown-haired cried, chewing a blue cotton candy.

Jean and Connie agreed with a nod. Levi exhaled; it was definitely not what he was expecting. 

Hange stepped in front of them, hands on her hips. “It wasn’t sad.”

Onyankopon glanced at her with confusion. “They all died!”

“Mmm.” She paced in front of them, a hand holding her chin. “But didn’t you see everything they suffered before? And it was implied that they reunite afterward. It was happy,” she declared.

“That’s true…” Armin rationalized. “It wasn’t that sad after all!”

The smile resurfaced on the other’s faces. 

“Exactly.” Hange clapped. “Now, we should go looking for something to eat.”

“Yesss!” Sasha shouted, leading the way ahead.

Hange turned to him and tilted her head. “Shall we?”

Levi’s stomach fluttered. He was aware she also found the show sad—he was right beside her, hearing her sniffling. Still, she put her emotions aside and found a way to make the kids happy, offering them an alternative viewpoint where it all looked more radiant. That’s what she always did: examined all the possible aspects to find the correct answers, the beauty in the ugly. Either with titans, people, or plays…

“I won’t eat whatever crap Onyankopon suggests tonight,” he replied, following the others with her by his side. 

Her eye acquired a thoughtful quality. “I read that the fish here is prepared differently…”

Everything always looked better when she was around, more so in these depressing days, when she became the Commander they needed the most… Constantly looking forward. 

***

D-5

Hange hasn’t breathed once since they started their march to the yacht. They reach the guard at the beginning of the boarding ramp and hand him the valuable invitation. The guard dedicates a brief look at the paper, scans it with a little device in his hand, and nods at them. Just then, Hange expels all her breath. 

The night is clear and the wind pure and refreshing as they walk through the ramp. No one pays them any attention as they blend with the crossing crowd. Yet Hange clings to his arm, her fingers curling and uncurling in anxiety. 

“We are completely, one hundred percent sure he’s here, right?”

“It’s his birthday. Plus Erwin confirmed it himself. He’s here.” Levi controls the impulse to pat her arm in reassurance. 

They pass the narrow yacht’s threshold, and Hange looks around in apprehension. “We could try some other way.”

Levi looks at her. Her hair falls around her shoulders in soft jagged waves; one hand is smoothing down her onyx dress, while the other’s nails are biting into his skin. Forcing himself not to linger on her current appearance, he quickly directs his attention to the long hallway at their front.

“We don’t have time for any other way,” he retorts, dusting off an imperceptible fluff from his sleeve. He adjusts his suit jacket. The clock is unstoppable as it ticks-ticks toward another explosion. They have to hurry and act promptly. 

There isn’t a better time to fool one of the most powerful men in the world than now.

Or attempt to do so.

They discovered the yacht is Tybur’s property of many years, so the hope is he spends some time here, thus leaving personal stuff behind. Their plan is straightforward. Levi tries to find something that could lead them to the criminal organization (unlikely to succeed), while Hange goes to Willy Tybur and clones his phone (likely to succeed). That way they’ll get a glimpse into his private matters, and hopefully, something relating to the attacks. Even if they don’t, it’d help them locate Tybur wherever he hides later. With that sort of information, getting him in a less crowded place should be easier. Or so he was told. 

“He could have hundreds of phones,” he complained earlier, when they were in the middle of their planning session.

Hange scoffed from where she was sitting on the hotel room’s floor. “That’s an overestimation.”

“He might,” Mike agreed with him. “But the man believes himself untouchable. He must carry a personal one with him.”

Levi wasn’t convinced. “Say you’re successful. Say we get out of there alive. Will we have a chance if we let him go tonight?”

“It’s the only choice we have.” She had a point there. “We can’t kidnap him with all the security he’ll have around. And we’ll be in the middle of the ocean without resources. I say this plan is as good as it’ll get.”

“Well, maybe,” Levi conceded. “Is he even that smart if he’s one of the people behind this? They must know the government will never resign their power but still made that silly demand.”

She rose to her feet, as if assaulted by an epiphany. “Maybe they do know it. The public didn’t know them before. Now they do and the ones in power are painted as the true villains. Maybe that was their goal all along!”

In that case, it isn’t they aren’t smart, Levi mused. They must be pretty damn intelligent, because it’s working. The public is giving their backs to their leaders. 

Mike nodded. “Yeah. Years ago in my psychology class, I learned people tend to associate things. Here they must be associating the murders with the ones they can see and easily blame. Their governments and the WCO.”

Instead of regarding most of his words, Levi got fixated on one part. “Psychology classes? Aren’t you an agent? What do you actually do for a living?” Hadn’t he mentioned something about acting classes just yesterday?

Mike shrugged. “Why should I do one sole thing my entire life?”

“I can’t stop feeling there’s a reason we’re habitually a step behind.” Hange was pacing in the room. Suddenly, she stopped and snapped her head at Mike. “Mike. Don’t inform the WCO about the yacht location.”

“Okay?”

“Thanks. And Levi…” Her pleading gaze met him. “Just trust me on this. Erwin didn’t see the invitation before, right? So just don’t tell your people and I won’t tell mine. At least until we’re already on our way there.”

“… Fine,” Levi said after a few uncomfortable seconds. He didn’t fancy the idea; in fact, he did it so little that in the end, he couldn’t keep his word. 

Erwin hadn’t known much about the Yacht party. He’d only asked for a favor and received the invitation, but never held it in his hands. Yet he knew of its existence and Levi’s future assistance, so he couldn’t possibly keep him in the dark. Therefore, when he called, Levi left the room and the prying ears to provide his report. Sharing his whereabouts with his boss and obeying, as he must have been doing all these days, was somewhat relieving. 

That’s why he’s currently relaxed. A weight is off of his back. He’s finally doing his duty, behaving as the eldian agent he is. And they’re about to take a massive step toward the end of this, so, yeah. 

It’s a good night, isn’t it?

Following the flow of people, they pass the deck and enter a barely illuminated hall. Underneath their feet, bright green and blue water blend, and in each corner rests a vertical green water tank with a woman swimming and dancing inside. It must be some kind of android or hyper-realistic projection, obviously. No one would survive that long without oxygen.

In the center is the bar, whose ceiling is surrounded by green lights. Although there are tables with velvet lounges, they move to the bar—or struggle to do it. They can’t take a step without running into someone with increasingly extravagant and phosphorescent makeup; gleaming yellow, purple, and blue lipsticks glowing in the darkness. Despite the coolness outside and the air conditioning inside, Levi feels sweat trickling down the back of his neck. 

Hange and he finally make it to the bar, where Levi glares at the seats. Is everyone a fucking giant, or what? Hange stifles a laugh at his face while he hoists himself onto the too-high stoll next to her.

“This is the biggest yacht I’ve been into,” Levi comments, glancing at the high ceiling and the breadth of the place; and he hasn’t even seen the room’s section, whose corridor he can catch a glimpse of on the other side. Maybe someday he’ll come to one invited for real. 

“This is the only yacht I’ve been into.” Hange snatches a wine glass from a waiter’s tray and empties it at once. Takes another one. “Want some?”

Levi shakes his head and asks for a glass of water from the barman. Just when she’s about to booze the drink, he plucks it. The last thing they need right now is alcohol.

“Boo! I won’t get drunk!” She complains and retrieves it. “It tastes great…” Another waiter walks by, and Hange steals yet another drink before Levi can react. She offers it to him. “Want to taste it?”

 Levi takes a sip and then drinks it in one gulp. “Now we should focus.”

She nods, and then mutters, “You look great.”

Heat consumes him from all around. “Ahh… thanks. You… too,” he says, sounding strangled. 

I look great, he tells himself. She’s plainly stating a fact. Nothing else. To make himself think about something else, he turns to the bar and sips his water, examining all bottles displayed. Some must be worth more money than himself. 

Hange blows a short breath. “Alright. It’s that one over there, yes? He looks like Tybur-father, at least.” Her chin gestures to the left, where three men in tailored suits huddle around another man with long, blond hair and a charismatic smile. 

“By the way everybody glances at him,” Levi says, observing the people at the party, “I’m inclined to agree.”

Erwin told him the Tybur heir looked much like his father, and he has no siblings, so… 

“I’ll go now, then.” She swivels, but Levi puts a hand on her arm before she leaves.

With Mike, they went over the plan hundreds of times: Hange merely has to butter up Tybur long enough to get his phone cloned. With that, they’ll get knowledge of his locations and conversations. Simple enough. 

Only, Levi hadn’t paused to think what Hange would have to put up with, just to entertain that man—up to now.

“I…” 

A red tailored suit hogs Levi’s vision. He looks up.

Argh. 

He knew there was a reason why the air suddenly reeked acridly.

Hange’s hand flies to her chest. “Zeke! What are you doing here?”

A bottle of beer dangles from Zeke’s fingertips as he looks at Hange from head to toe. Levi feels a weird drop inside his chest and straightens. What the hell is he doing here? 

Zeke shares a smile that dsplays the teeth, his hair combed back with something that stiffens it and makes it shine. “You told me you’ll come here and I was nearby. I thought backup wouldn’t hurt.”

Hange takes a sharp breath in, gaining a squint from Levi. 

When did she tell him the location? How close was he? How did he even get in? Could whatever he was doing have something to do with Eldia? Erwin doesn’t swallow the ‘family matters’ explanation; he theorizes Zeke is secretly working on something relating to their war, something shitty. Levi can’t disagree, but is aware his personal bias is an influencing force in his opinion. Better said, it most surely is. 

“Oh, really? I merely told you half an hour ago,” she says, her voice unnaturally monotone. Levi has spent so much time observing her, deciphering the nuances in her expressions to later use against her, that he can’t but notice how something in her face is… off. 

Zeke grabs her hand and kisses her knuckles. “By all means, I couldn’t let you take such a risk without me around.”

She wraps her arms around his neck. Levi adopts a sullen look while hot spots burn in his stomach. They don’t have time for this bullshit! Hange needs to get to Tybur as soon as possible, not to fraternize. They’re losing momentum.

Hange separates. “Thanks for coming. You’ve seen Tybur before?” She inquires, still sounding flat. 

“No, no. Yet I’m sure you won’t have a problem with him—all the time we had to sweeten those tycoons will finally pay off.” 

She responds with a tiny smile. Levi’s mind stirs under the new pictures parading behind his eyes, of Hange and Zeke attending fancy parties, of them working together toward their shared goal, Marley. How many memories do they share that he’d never know about? Not that it’s important at all, it’s just… a little annoying. 

“I’ll go now, then.” Hange tips back the rest of her drink. Looks ahead, betraying her emotions, which summarize as: quite frightened.

Levi takes her elbow aside. Draws her closer and inclines to her ear, all but touching it. “Are you okay? Don’t do anything too uncomfortable, we can always find another way. And… don’t you dare die tonight,” he whispers at her neck. “I’ll be close.”

She quivers. “I know… See you later.” 

For some reason, her phrasing evokes a sense of dread to his chest. Levi empties his water glass as she slides to Tybur, her spine firm and confident, dress slipping behind her and gleaming with the greenness of the floor. 

“Wonderful, right?” Zeke asks, glowering at him with contempt. 

Hange or the party? Levi decides to interpret it the easier way, and spits, “Snob’s party.”

Zeke bursts a laugh. “So, tell me, Ackerman. How much do you tell your superior? Erwin’s his name, I believe?”

Levi’s face automatically fades to neutral. What is he getting to?  “Uh?”

Despite the loud music, Hange’s laugh reaches his ears, followed by Tybur’s. Levi hopes it’s a good sign. 

“I’ve been investigating,” Zeke explains. I couldn’t care less, Levi thinks and huffs. “Part of my work is knowing everything that’s happening everywhere, and I just tripped over something beyond interesting. Seems like the ones who have been trying so hard to kill our dear Hange are related to Eldia.”

Levi paralyzes. “That’s… impossible,” he states, though lacking conviction. 

“It truly isn’t. I actually know for a fact that Eldia has been the one giving the orders.”

Levi’s mind speeds. 

No. They wouldn’t, would they? 

Yes, they would. 

But without notifying me? 

Levi’s brain goes memory after memory to prove Zeke wrong. He remembers the call after meeting The Ripper, Erwin ordering him to let her die and even to help if necessary. Everything sorts itself in his brain; how Erwin knew about the bridge without him mentioning it, how familiar the man he fought with was, how angry Erwin got with Levi’s interference… The reality hits him and settles like acid in his gut. 

“You honestly didn’t know?” Zeke smirks. “Didn’t they initially send you for that?” The little alcohol Levi drank sloshes around his stomach. Levi’s eyes throw flames at the other man, whose curled mouth and ugly beard and ridiculous glasses… “Oh, you like them?” Zeke takes his glasses off. “Hange made them for me, years ago. Aren’t they special? Just like her, and us, of course.”

Levi glances at Hange, whose hands wave while speaking with Tybur. Her head tilts the slightest bit to a side to hear him with attention—and she always pays attention, Levi realizes. Colorful light dances over her smooth skin as her pinkish and silky lips curve into a smile.

Unable to look longer, he gives her his back and supports his weight on the bar counter. The acid recedes, but it’s replaced by a dead weight pulling him down. 

Yes, they did it. He’s sure. 

Eldia desires her death above everything, and he knew it all this time.

Could that mean they’re also behind the bombs?

No, Levi instantly rejects. That would be going too far, even for them. He’d never doubt his people, not even for a second, on something of that scale. And about this… He can’t blame them for trying to kill her. It’s their job. His job. Constantly out of her home’s protection, she’s an easy target: someone dangerous in need of extermination. It’s a logical tactic he should have recognized sooner. An understandable one, but—

Wait.

Levi’s muscles freeze. He leans on the bar counter…

We need to get out of here.

He swivels. Hange is nowhere in sight, and neither is Zeke or even Tybur. Where did they fucking go? He goes straight to the dancing crowd, head snapping from side to side in search of a glimpse of her. Bodies push and pull him, their body odors asphyxiating him from all around. 

She’s not here.

He drags himself out of the throng and hurries to the door through which they entered. Outside, couples are looking at the vast ocean before them, smiles on their faces. Levi throws himself to the rail. His breathing comes faster and faster until he’s gasping. He looks up at the same ocean which seems to be so beautiful to the others. To him, it’s only one thing: deadly.

Erwin knows they’re here. 

They’re here, isolated in a yacht in the middle of this trashy body of water with no easy way out. Only sea and more sea surrounds them. The perfect place to attack, without reinforcements or anything able to aid her in time.

Levi grips the icy rail with force. How could Erwin keep him in the dark about this?

 He dashes back inside. Pads down the hall to the room corridor, where the men who used to be with Tybur are chatting. 

“Where are they?” Levi spits to them.

“Who?”

Levi seizes a man by the neck and pins him against the wall, lifting him off the ground. The man’s wine glass falls to the ground and shatters with a crash. 

Many heads turn at the disturbance, their wary eyes on Levi. He doesn’t care. Fuck anonymity.

“Where. Are. They? Tybur and the person he just met! Which room?”

“Whoa, calm down buddy.” The man raises his hands in surrender. “No idea!”

Hange and Tybur must be in one of the rooms, but which one? Levi lets the man go. Sweeps the corridor. He hears nothing. Jolts the doors to find them all locked. Does he have time to break into every single one?

Against Tybur and whoever dares to confront her, Hange can handle herself just fine—he knows it. But Erwin’s men… some of them even trained with him. She wouldn’t be able to hold on forever—not without a weapon, a place to run, or a warning. Not alone. 

At the end of the corridor opens another hall, this one elegantly adorned with a gold chandelier hanging on the ceiling, tables with white tablecloths, and velvet crimson curtains on the walls. Elegant people wander around; dark black hair, long tanned neck, thin-fabric dress, red hair, green suit… None is Hange. 

Where is she?

Levi advances, pulse elevating. His finger taps his thigh uncontrollably as he looks around, and around and around at the dozens of faces that look the same. 

Suddenly, a door opens from the corridor he just left, and a disheveled Hange comes into view along with Tybur. Levi stops breathing, his body going limp at her sight. His hand covers his forehead to recover.

She’s fine, and he found her. Now they can get the hell out of here.

A touch of red infuses her cheeks as she nods at something Tybur is muttering. The man hands her a wine glass, and she’s accepting it with a grin the second she encounters Levi’s gaze. Hange glances at Levi over the rim of the cup, eyes smiling; discreetly, she gives him a thumbs-up, communicating her success. Levi can only look at her from a distance. 

All this time, his people have been the ones trying to hurt her. 

Whatever his expression is, it manages to wipe the grin off her face. She opens her mouth as if to say something, and... 

The sound of a gunshot reverberates through the room, stunning everyone present. Screams. Running. Panic.

Levi doesn’t move. He stands in the same spot, watching as Hange’s eyebrows begin to crease and her skin pales, as her hand reaches to hold her side and redness drips to the floor. 

Tybur reacts first. He pulls Hange’s arm and bodyguards appear out of nowhere to spread around them, forming a protective wall that moves in unison towards Levi’s opposite direction. 

Their departure wakes him up. 

He rushes towards them, running into the panicked crowd that drives him in the opposite direction. And then, men dressed in brown, a badge he now recognizes, pour into the hall. Levi tries to run away, but in his frenzy, the men detect him and lunge at him.

They surround him. Levi steps back until slamming into a table. 

“Don’t let him interfere,” a tall, masked woman commands. Accompanied by many others, she slips into Hange’s direction. The remaining half encircles Levi. His mind tries to find a way out without harming them. It’s his people, after all, even when they don’t understand that she matters. That she can save this fucking world if only they let her. 

He should allow them to do their job and do his, which is following orders, the ones that stipulate he must do nothing. He’s sick of failing them, but—

The boom of more gunshots resounds loud and potent in his ears.

Levi just can’t let them. 

He drops to the floor and crawls back under the table. The men charge at him. Too soon, Levi jumps to his feet at the other side and pushes the table to them. He needs to get out of here, not to hurt them. Just get to her. 

Levi bolts to the room’s corridor. But someone grips his shoulders and sends him spiraling against a wall. 

The men must have orders not to injure him seriously, because instead of pulling out his gun, this agent uses a dagger. Aims at Levi’s arm. Moving more swiftly than the man’s reflexes, Levi easily ditches the attack. Kicks the man on the chin. On the neck. 

Another agent grips him from behind and tries to tie his arms. Levi dips his heels on the carpet and rotates the man over his back and to the floor. 

The others are struggling to get to him, stopped by the frightened people rushing around. 

One frees from the crowd. Levi takes a food tray and throws it like a frisbee to his head. It knocks him with a metallic sound, and the man falls. Levi ducks, narrowly avoiding the punch of another agent, who collapses from the impetus. Another directs a dagger straight to his head—perhaps they weren’t ordered to avoid anything. Levi grabs the heavy curtain behind him and manages to stop it, trapping the dagger in the material and snatching it from the man. Levi points the dagger at them, yet more and more come to encircle him. 

Levi glances back. The curtains must cover something, right? He slides them open. Even though he’s no expert in the matter, the glass in front of him looks thin. Fragile. He grasps a chair as the men get closer and closer. Hurls it at the window, breaking it with a loud crack followed by tiny tinkles. Levi jumps out the window and runs as fast as he can. Footsteps soon rumble behind him, but not many people are faster than him. 

He strides into the hall where the bar is. It’s deserted. 

They are not here.

But they came in this direction, so they must be nearby. 

Levi seals the door behind him, blocking it with tables. It shudders with every hit from the men outside, not budging. Across from him, a door is ajar, swinging in the wind. They must have gone that way. 

From his peripheral view, Levi catches sight of a stocky man in a dark suit coming at speed. Levi lunges toward the swinging door, but the man charges first. He crushes Levi with his heavyweight, knocking him to the floor. Levi’s forehead hits and bounces off the glass that covers the glittering green water on the floor, causing a break in the surface. His head spins, a metallic taste filling his mouth.

Levi tries to get rid of the weight, but it’s too much for him. He can’t move, and with difficulty manages to breathe. He feels something hard against his head and hears the familiar click of a gun.

“Don’t move,” the person above him orders.

And Levi recognizes the voice.

From the doorway, the icy wind brings whinings and a cacophony of gunfire. Louder screams explode in the air, halting his heart.

They’re Hange’s. 

[free-pancakes]

Dreams and Nightmares

Summary: LeviHan Canon-Divergence fic

Hange barely survives the final fight against Eren, and is saved by inheriting the Beast Titan from Zeke Yeager in the end. However, the Scouts soon find that this would come with a heavy price--particularly at Levi's expense.

Chapter 8/? Chapter 7 Chapter 6 Chapter 5 Chapter 4 Chapter 3 Chapter 2 Chapter 1

crossposted to ao3 here: link

notes: sorry for such a late update. this also turned out much longer than expected. it's real fluffy though, and quite self-indulgent, but hope you all like it!

CHAPTER 8:

“Was he really that important to her?”

The words echoed in Zeke’s mind as he continued to watch the memory unfold before him.

Hange returned to the room with a steaming hot mug in her hand, and carefully handed it to Levi. She watched in anticipation as he took a quick sniff and sipped on the tea.

“Not bad,” he whispered. And at that, Hange’s face lit up, and it took all her might not to let out a loud “Yahoo!” in her excitement—she heard Levi was quite particular with his tea, and she was feeling absolutely ecstatic that he didn’t spit it right out.

Levi soon fell quiet, satisfied with the drink. Hange sat down at the desk right next to him, keeping him company as she scribbled away in one of her notebooks where she kept notes on her titan research, often speaking her thoughts out loud. While listening, Levi’s eyelids began to droop. To Zeke, he seemed... almost as though he was fighting sleep just to listen to her for a little longer.

The memory soon dissipated, Zeke finding himself standing in a new setting—a gigantic ballroom lay before him, the massive chandeliers glowing dimly above him, hundreds of people wearing ornate, traditional-looking suits and gowns. A sign by his side read, “Annual Sina Military Ball”.

Zeke walked around, trying to find Hange but instead found Levi standing alone, a small cloth bag in his hands.

“The previous commander?” Zeke said under his breath as Erwin and two others approached Levi, clearly teasing him.

“Guys, please. And Mike, shut the fuck up.”

“I��m just sayin, if she turns you down, you can join me. Open bar this year yknow?”

“Mike, stop stressing him out!” Nanaba replied, swatting Mike on the shoulder as he laughed.

Erwin stood behind Levi, grabbed him by the shoulders and gently pushed him into the crowd.

“Just go already, she’ll love it.”

As Levi walked into the crowd, the three huddled together.

“He’s hopeless isn’t he?” Nanaba sighed.

“Yup. Erwin and I will wait at the bar,” Mike answered.

Zeke walked behind Levi into the crowd of people, until he saw him hesitate before tapping the shoulder of someone in a long navy blue gown shimmering with gold. Big, beautiful brown curls turned to reveal... Hange?

Zeke’s jaw dropped—he barely even recognized her.

“Oh! Levi! Aw I’m sorry—“ She itched at the fabric on her side. “I wish they’d let me wear a suit or something to one of these things, all this traditional wear or whatever is too much, but I mean your suit doesn’t even look comfortable either! Man, I just—“

Hange paused as soon as she noticed the small cloth bag in Levi’s hands.

“Oh? What’s that! What do you got there?”

His heart was thumping so loud, he was sure Hange could hear it. He reached into the bag, to pull out a yellow hair clip—it was his mother’s.

Hange’s eyes grew wide and nearly sparkled in the low light, and she smiled as Levi pulled the strands of hair from her face, and held it up to the side of her head with the clip.

“Not bad,” Levi said under his breath, his heart almost stopping at how stunning she really was. Hange gave him a quick hug hiding the blush suddenly reaching her cheeks, and the hug sent Levi’s head spinning. She then reached out her hand—

“Levi, the orchestra’s playing my favorite! Let’s show them all what a proper slow dance looks like!”

Levi rolled his eyes, but took Hange’s hand, accompanying her to the dance floor.

Sand began to fall like a curtain in front of Zeke, wiping the scene away to the open sky, sun setting peacefully in the horizon above the water. The smell of salt tickled at his nose, and he stood ankle deep in ocean water. Young voices sounded from behind him.

“We probably should get going soon, right? The sun’s already setting.”

“Aw Jean, just let them have a moment. I haven’t seen them this happy in such a long time.”

“Sasha, Captain Levi never looks happy!”

“Connie shush! You can tell he’s happy underneath! Come on, just look!”

Hange and Levi stood knee deep in the water, and Hange held up a small, cream-colored conch shell. Levi’s face scrunched up in disgust as she held it towards him, but she pulled him close by the shoulder while trying to reassure him, and held up the shell next to his ear. Zeke waded in a bit closer to hear what they were saying.

“You can hear the ocean inside the shell! It’s something I read about once.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Come on, Levi! Just listen.” And when he finally did, his eyes lit up ever so slightly, his mouth just partially agape.

“So you’ll always remember our first trip to the sea,” Hange said. And before she could hand the shell to Levi, she dipped it into the water letting it fill up, and splashed him with what collected inside.

“What the hell, Hange!” Levi grumbled, kicking water back at her. Splashes back and forth escalated so much that they had gotten absolutely soaked—Hange laughed as she tackled Levi into the sea, the two coughing and giggling stupidly as the rest of the kids ran back into the water to join them.

Once again, sand whisked away the scene and Zeke was now standing in a balcony, overlooking a courtyard. He looked back to see what was going on inside—another ball? He then looked down to see Hange and Levi standing together out in the venue’s garden. They looked a bit more mature, older. And Hange was wearing an eyepatch—it must have been a different memory from before.

Zeke heard footsteps coming from the hallway behind him.

“I’m telling you, Mikasa, smelling someone’s hair during a hug means they love them!”

“I guess now that you say it, I suppose that could be true…”

The two walked out past Zeke, and leaned their elbows on the balcony together, looking down at the courtyard and garden. They gasped and crouched when they saw who was standing down there.

“I’ve never seen Sasha so nervous! She wanted to dance with Niccolo, so I took the hair clip off and put it on her—yknow for the confidence boost. I hope that’s okay, Levi?”

Levi looked at Hange, and tucked her loose strands of hair behind her ear. “I like it better on you, but I suppose Sasha needs it tonight, then.”

A new song echoed from the orchestra inside—Zeke recognized it to be the same from the earlier military ball memory.

Levi reached out his hand, just how Hange did before.

Hange giggled and grabbed his hand, pulling Levi close, practically in a hug as they swayed together. She leaned into him, her cheek pressed against his forehead.

“New shampoo, huh? Lavender—you know that’s my favorite, right?”

Jean and Mikasa heads snapped towards each other, their eyes locked and faces red in realization.

“Hange-san smelled his hair—“

Mikasa slapped a hand over Jean’s mouth.

“Shush, they’ll hear. Let’s go before they notice us—“

The scene quickly changed, and it was quite jarring for Zeke this time around.

He found himself staring into the face of his past self, sitting miles above Liberio inside the war balloon the Scouts had taken control of. This time, he could see the room where Hange and Levi walked off to after hearing about a fallen soldier named Sasha, or something like that.

Levi stared at Hange, in his eyes a mix of worry and anger stirring inside him.

“Stop looking at me like that, Levi,” she said curtly, clearly trying to hold herself together.

“Hange…” Levi urged.

He watched her hands shake as she reached into a first aid kit from her bag, pulling out a half used tube of wound ointment—the same one she had always used on him.

“C’mere,” she beckoned, and Levi obliged begrudgingly, letting Hange pull down his shirt slightly to apply the ointment to the lacerations on his shoulder. He watched Hange biting her lip—he knew she was holding back the tears, trying to “look strong” for everyone else, but he thought that was utterly stupid. She was allowed to have feelings… Commander or not.

“Hange…”

“I’m fine, Levi, would you stop pestering me already??” She barked back, though still maintaining her gentle touch as she tended to his wounds. She continued in silence until they landed.

Hange and Levi left the back room, standing together outside the door as the Scouts filed out with Zeke and Eren. Oyankopon nodded at them both, and left. Lastly, Jean, Mikasa, Armin, and Connie, holding Sasha’s body, all of them a tear-ridden mess. Both Levi and Hange saluted them as they walked past.

Hange started to follow behind them but Levi took hold of her hand. She didn’t look back.

“I’m okay, Levi. Really. I have to—“

Levi pulled her and ushered back into the room, now that everyone was gone.

“Go be okay in there for awhile. I’ll stand outside.”

Before she could protest, he gently closed the door behind him, and stood guard outside of it. He knew it was exactly what Hange needed.

From behind the door, there were muffled sounds of glass breaking, boxes thrown, and anguished wailing.

Zeke watched as Levi stood unmoving from the door his head down, biting his lip as a few tears ran down his face.

The memory faded and Zeke was now in a small office. Levi sat before him, holding a familiar cream-colored conch shell. He lifted it up to his ear, listening, and maybe, just maybe, a smile began to form on his lips.

A quick, loud knock on the door startled him, and he hastily shoved the shell into a drawer, slamming it shut.

“Levi, quick!”

He stood up frazzled.

“What’s wrong??”

“A camera, Onyankopon got us a session with a camera!”

“Hange… what the hell is a camera? And you know I don’t trust all these Marley things…”

Hange gave him a big pout. “Aww, Levi! Come on, it takes photographs! Like the one in Eren’s father’s notebook! The one of his old family?”

“My family photo…” Zeke thought, his own past memories now aching at his chest.

The memory dissolved, but the same scenery returned, unchanged. Yet this time, Levi was holding a framed photograph in his hand—a picture of him standing next to Hange seated, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. He looked tired, a light shade of purple hugging the skin under his eyes. But when Levi laid his eyes on the photo, his face lit up with a genuine smile as he stared.

Then once again, a quick, loud knock on the door startled him, and he quickly stuffed the photo into the backpack sitting at his feet.

“Hey, Levi! You busy?”

Levi stared back at Hange, both need and sadness swimming in his eyes.

“I know Levi… but I brought you a surprise!”

She pulled from behind her a white, spherical object, and held it out for Levi to see.

“A… baseball?” Zeke said under his breath, emotions tugging at his chest.

“Hange… this is the last afternoon we spend together just us—God knows long I’ll have to watch Zeke in the forest before I get to see you again…” He said, avoiding eye contact with Hange.

“Don’t you trust me, Levi?”

Levi continued to look down towards his backpack, fiddling at it with his foot, only stopping when he felt Hange’s hands on his cheeks, and a gentle kiss on his forehead.

“Do you really have to ask me that, Hange?”

She laughed, the sound of it bringing Levi comfort. She backed up and held her hand out towards him, a smile on her face, her eyes beckoning him to come with her. And of course, Levi sighed, and took her hand.

They walked outside, a clearing in the patch of trees next to the barracks.

“Here take this, they’re called mitts! Helps soften the blow when you catch, since the baseball is pretty hard.” Levi took one and wore it.

“So I read a bunch of different Marley novels, and for some reason, playing catch is such a common kind of bonding time? Between a parent and child, or between friends? A symbolic kind of theme, maybe? I thought it was fascinating!”

Levi looked at the baseball—“So what… we just, throw the thing back and forth? And what? We’ll magically become friends??”

Hange threw her head back and laughed. “Good one, Levi! We’re already friends! So, hm, how about we just throw it back and forth for now? If it gets too boring well, we could always just drop it. Sounds like a plan?”

As soon as Levi nodded, Hange grinned and ran a distance away. She waved to make sure Levi was ready, and lobbed the ball over to him, landing with a satisfying thump as it hit Levi’s mitt. He picked it up and ran his fingers over the red laces, and soon pitched it back to Hange a bit too far, so she ran and dove for it, catching it just before it hit the grass.

“Hange be careful!”

She laughed in excitement, and got up to throw it back.

Before long, they were throwing for hours, talking about anything and everything. Sharing memories that hadn’t been touched in years, laughing over inside jokes, the 104th kids, and their past, beloved friends.

Their voices began to fade, and Zeke strained to listen, calmed by how comfortable their conversation felt, comforted by the sound of the baseball hitting their mitts, back and forth.

Soon, the memory went black, a burst of light, and he was back.

Paths.

And there was Hange, laying down in front of him with her back towards him, the sand no longer black surrounding her.

“H-Hange?” Zeke asked.

Hange didnt’ turn around to face him.

“So, you saw all that then too, huh?”

“I… did. Sorry, they seemed like private memories,” he answered cautiously, careful to guard himself if Hange decided to fight him again.

“No harm, Zeke. Not like that was your fault.” She finally sat up, sniffling and wiping away residual tears.

“But we do have to thank Levi—he got us out of a potential mess.” She ran her hands through the sand, now colored a bright white. “Susceptible to our emotions huh. Could have been a disaster.”

Hange caught on quick, Zeke thought. But something she said bothered him a bit—

“What do you mean, thank Levi, though?” Zeke asked, genuinely confused as to how she thought he played any part in getting her out of the black sand ordeal just now.

Hange smiled, knowing exactly what Levi must have done. The box of things she had him pick up—he probably opened it.

“Not bad, Shorty,” she whispered to herself.

She laughed to herself again, but soon stopped as she saw Zeke holding out his hand in front of her.

“Are you… are you deciding to help me?”

Zeke’s chest tightened as he thought about all the memories he had just seen. He was angry at how much it moved him, both personally, and objectively—Hange and Levi had a history he never imagined existed between them, based on what he knew about them prior.

With his free hand, he pinched at the bridge of his nose in annoyance. He hated that he wanted to help. But he couldn’t deny it—he felt for Hange.

“Yeah,” Zeke replied. “Let’s figure this out, together.”

Hange grinned excitedly, and grabbed Zeke’s hand.