#eventual Levi Ackerman x Hange Zoë x OC

[mxanigel]

Cut to the Feeling

an Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fanfic

Chapter 11: Encroaching Darkness [or read from the beginning]

Hange confirms their theory regarding the nature of the Walls. When the Survey Corps receives devastating news about a breach in Wall Rose, Erwin orders Hange to lead a force to Ehrmich, the last place Shion wants to go.

Rating: M

Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character(s), Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë & Original Female Character(s)

Additional Tags: They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë Being Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Violence, Character Death, Canon Character Deaths, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers, Friendship, Banter, Swearing, Angst, Love and Loss, Asexuality Spectrum, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, Falling In Love, I'm writing this because it's taken over my brain, Literal Sleeping Together, First Kiss, eventual Levi Ackerman/Hange Zoë/Original Female Character(s), Hurt/Comfort, Emotional/Psychological Abuse

Snippet below the cut:

Though her hands stay busy, Shion’s thoughts take a dark turn. A breach in Wall Rose just as they discover how little they know about Titans, about the Walls themselves… is humanity doomed after all?

It’s selfish, but she wishes Hange had been ordered to Trost instead of Ehrmich. She doesn’t want to return home. Last time was a disaster: “If you were strong enough to succeed in the Survey Corps, you wouldn’t have been hurt in the first place. Yet you insist on refusing my generous offers to join the Military Police. And now you want to go back? Despite all I’ve done for you? How did I raise such an ungrateful child?”

Somehow, she still feels obligated to send her mother a brief letter after each expedition, or perhaps it’s spite that drives her to declare her continued survival. It certainly isn’t out of hope to impress the person she could never please, and she’s careful to avoid information that could be weaponized against the Survey Corps—

“Tell Squad Jonas to bring your mount. I need you to drive the wagon we’re taking with Minister Nick,” Hange says.

She grunts an acknowledgment.

“Shion?”

“Eh? Ah, yeah, got it.”

Hange shoves their face into her field of view. “What’s wrong?”

“Things are shitty right now.”

“Yes, they are.” They tilt their head. “But I think something else is bothering you. Am I wrong?”

[mxanigel]

Cut to the Feeling

an Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fanfic

Chapter 7: What Is Love?

Once the Survey Corps retreats through Karanes in the wake of the 57th Expedition, Shion faces the fallout of their losses. Particularly Levi's.

Rating: T

Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character(s), Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë & Original Female Character(s)

Additional tags and a snippet below the cut:

They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë Being Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Violence, Character Death, Canon Character Deaths, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers, Friendship, Banter, Swearing, Angst, Love and Loss, Queer Character, Asexuality Spectrum, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, 57th Expedition Outside the Walls (Shingeki no Kyojin), Falling In Love

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Huh, her lantern isn’t lit anymore. A blanket covers her shoulders, one she didn’t place there. She’s alone. Glancing out the window, the waxing moon is on the wrong side of the sky for it to still be evening. She’s been out a while. But she needs to finish writing this damned report by morning. Time to stretch, move around, perhaps brew some tea.

She lights a candle and shuffles into the outpost’s mess hall, a chamber not nearly as imposing as what they had at the old castle but still expansive enough to serve their dining needs. Shadows dance along the far wall; someone else is already here.

Of course it’s Levi who steps out of the kitchen; no one else would be up this late. He’s holding a cup in his usual strange style, his long fingers gripping it by the rim. Then their eyes meet. “Here for tea?” he asks.

She nods.

He disappears and shortly returns with another cup. He sets it on one side of the table before taking a seat on the other, hobbling all the while.

She takes that as an invitation to sit down, placing her candle between them. The tea is strong, bitter, yet perfectly strained without a single loose leaf floating in the liquid. Fitting.

They sip in silence for a moment, a silence too thick to be comfortable.

“You’ve been in love before, haven’t you?”

Moderately hot liquid catches in Shion’s throat. It’s not easy to cough quietly. “Uh, yes?”

“How did you know?”

[mxanigel]

Cut to the Feeling

an Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fanfic

Chapter 4: The Meaning of a Friend

Summary: As the 57th expedition draws ever closer, Shion wrestles with her added responsibilities and the fallout of how she got them.

----

Rating: T

Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character(s), Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë & Original Female Character(s)

Characters: Levi Ackerman, Special Operations Squad | Squad Levi, Hange Zoë, Petra Ral, Oluo Bozado, Eld Jinn, Eren Yeager, Erwin Smith

Additional Tags: They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Banter, Queer Character, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers, Swearing, Eventual Romance, Friendship, Acquaintances to Friends to Lovers, Hange Zoë Being Hange Zoë, Angst, Love and Loss

Snippet under the cut:

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The busy schedule and engineering challenges keep her mind occupied. Except in the quiet moments, like trying to fall asleep or awaiting the next barrel test. Then her thoughts wander back to Commander Erwin’s questioning, to what could have transpired behind closed doors to lead to that outcome. Objectively, she understands why they did what they did; her raw reactions testified to her inability to be a Titan spy as much as the facts of her record. However, her heart aches with renewed memories of Rena’s death.

She trusted them. Yet they’re soldiers. She should’ve kept them at arm’s length. No matter how fond she is of Hange, they’re her superior officer. As is Captain Levi. She’s grown complacent by finding a place she belongs.

Rena would chide her for that attitude. Which only worsens how she feels.

[mxanigel]

Cut to the Feeling

an Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fanfic

Chapter 8: Between the Lines

Hange and Shion agree to an unconventional deal so that Hange will take a bath, and Shion reconnects with her former squad leader for the first time in months.

Rating: M

Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character(s), Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë & Original Female Character(s)

Additional tags and a snippet below the cut:

They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë Being Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Violence, Character Death, Canon Character Deaths, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers, Friendship, Banter, Swearing, Angst, Love and Loss, Queer Character, Asexuality Spectrum, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, 57th Expedition Outside the Walls (Shingeki no Kyojin), Falling In Love, I'm writing this because it's taken over my brain, Literal Sleeping Together

-----

“You don’t have to sleep on the floor, you know.”

Shion glances up from her notebook. Hange stands in the study’s doorway, arms crossed, a deeply annoyed expression on their face.

“Good morning to you, too,” she replies dryly, long accustomed to her friend flinging thoughts without context or lead-up. “And yes, I do. There aren’t enough beds.”

“Beds are supposed to go to the injured. You’re injured.”

“Others are worse off than me.”

“You keep saying that.” Hange grabs her shoulder. “Your head’s valuable too.”

“Oh, good, I’m glad you need me for my brain.” Exhaustion sharpens her retort more than she intends.

They drag one hand down their face. “That’s not what I meant.”

“What’s going on? You seem worried.”

“I am. About you.”

[mxanigel]

Cut to the Feeling

an Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fanfic

Chapter 3: The Reason She Fights

Summary: Learning the truth behind the 57th Expedition comes with a price.

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Rating: T

Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character(s), Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë & Original Female Character(s)

Characters: Levi Ackerman, Special Operations Squad | Squad Levi, Hange Zoë, Petra Ral, Oluo Bozado, Eld Jinn, Eren Yeager, Erwin Smith

Additional Tags: They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Banter, Queer Character, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers, Swearing, Eventual Romance, Friendship, Acquaintances to Friends to Lovers, Hange Zoë Being Hange Zoë, Angst, Love and Loss

Preview under the cut:

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As the start of the next expedition draws closer, Shion sees less of Squad Levi with their time divided between watching Eren, conducting ODM exercises, training the new Survey Corps members, and studying the expedition’s strategy.  That makes sense. But Hange’s frequent absence doesn’t. Usually, they’d be drooling over Shion’s sketches of Titan anatomy with frequent demands to scribble all over them. Instead, Shion has had ample time to peacefully complete not just her initial analysis of each known facet of Eren’s Titan form but revise her sketches with new information as they obtain it.

A knock on the open door prompts Shion to look up from her Titan left arm diagram. Hange doesn’t usually announce their presence like—

It isn’t Hange. It’s Captain Levi, his frown deeper than usual. “Shion. Come with me.”

She leaps to her feet. “Is there a problem?”

“Commander Erwin has requested a meeting with you.”

“The commander wants to meet with me, specifically?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“He’ll explain.” Levi jerks his head in an unmistakable hurry up gesture.

What the hell is going on? The thought of the commander personally asking for her creates a heavy weight in her gut. “Should I bring my notes?”

“Just yourself is enough.”

Well, shit.

[mxanigel]

A snippet between Shion and Levi's Special Operations Squad the evening after they bring Eren to the old Survey Corps HQ.

Opening scene of Cut to the Feeling (rated T, canon-compliant, ongoing)

-----

Shion flings her cards onto the table with a grin. “And that’s my win.”

Petra groans. “Not again.”

“You’re cheating. You have to be.” Oluo slams down the cards he’s been holding.

“Careful. We only have one deck,” Eld says quietly.

“Right. Sorry.” Oluo wrinkles his nose. “They teach you card tricks between those Titan experiments?”

“As if we have time for that.” Shion rolls her eyes. “Hange keeps us busy, though it’d be easier if they weren’t trying to get killed multiple times a day. At least I’m good at first aid now.”

He rests his elbow on the table and leers at her. “Next time I get injured, I’ll ask you to treat me.”

“Oh? I thought you liked shorter women.”

“What?!” Oluo pushes himself to his feet. “Who told you that?”

Petra smiles wickedly.

“Oh, come on.”

[mxanigel]

Cut to the Feeling

an Attack on Titan (Shingeki no Kyojin) fanfic

Two new chapters posted this week!

Chapter 5: Don't Die

Shion planned to accompany the special target restraining weapon into the Titan Forest during the 57th Expedition. That doesn't happen.

Chapter 6: Aftershocks

After somehow surviving her unexpected assignment during the 57th Expedition, Shion discovers the extent of the devastation wreaked by the Female Titan.

This is a particularly shitty moment to fall in love.

Rating: T

Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character(s), Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë & Original Female Character(s)

Additional tags below the cut:

They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Hange Zoë Being Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Canon-Typical Violence, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers, Friendship, Banter, Swearing, Angst, Love and Loss, Queer Character, Asexuality Spectrum, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, Pre-57th Expedition Outside the Walls (Shingeki no Kyojin), 57th Expedition Outside the Walls (Shingeki no Kyojin), Character Death, Canon Character Deaths

[mxanigel]

Did I post the second chapter already? I sure did. Why did I do that? Because patience is not a virtue I possess, apparently. Oops.

AO3 tags have been updated to reflect added content. Hange Zoë & Shion Miller friendship scene snippet under the cut~

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Hange rushes to Shion and starts pelting the sides of their fists against her shoulders. “Sonny and Bean are dead! This can’t be real! Shion, tell me I’m dreaming!”

She knows no more than what the scout reported. What can she do to ease her squad leader’s anguished cries? The only way for Hange to believe the news is to see the evidence for themself. “You should go investigate what happened.”

“Yes! Yes, I should! Oh, but the Eren experiments—”

“Can wait until you return. You could even bring him along. He might notice something since he can turn into a Titan himself…” Ah, shit, that isn’t my decision to make. She glances at Captain Levi. “As long as you approve, of course.”

Hange turns their pleading eyes to Levi, who sighs. “We’ll depart as soon as our horses are ready.”

Shion grips Hange’s upper arms. “I’ll stay behind to begin preparations as planned. I know you’re upset, but don’t try anything stupid without me around, please? And don’t cause too much trouble for Squad Levi.”

“Shion~” Genuine tears pool in Hange’s eyes. “Thank you!”

Meanwhile, Levi looks more tired now than a moment ago.

Cut to the Feeling

Rating: T Chapters: 1/? Fandom: Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Relationships: Levi Ackerman/Original Female Character, Levi Ackerman & Hange Zoë Characters: Levi Ackerman, Special Operations Squad | Squad Levi, Hange Zoë, Petra Ral, Oluo Bozado Additional Tags: They/Them Pronouns for Hange Zoë, Canon Compliant, Levi Ackerman Needs a Hug, Levi Ackerman Is Obsessed With Cleaning, Angst, Angst and Romance, Banter, Queer Character, Shingeki no Kyojin | Attack on Titan Spoilers

Summary: Formerly a member of the Garrison, Shion Miller joined the Survey Corps' Fourth Squad to take the fight to the Titans after the Fall of Wall Maria took the life of her girlfriend. Her sensible approach to her duties eventually lands her in Hange Zoë's squad to help conduct Titan experiments. When a human who can transform into a Titan appears, she supports Hange in trying to figure out how he works. Her education, training, and experience have prepared her for many things. But spending time with humanity's strongest soldier, Captain Levi Ackerman, wasn't one of them.

(AO3 link)

Preview under the cut:

6 days after the Battle of Trost

Shion flings her cards onto the table with a grin. “And that’s my win.”

Petra groans. “Not again.”

“You’re cheating. You have to be.” Oluo slams down the cards he’s been holding.

“Careful. We only have one deck,” Eld says quietly.

“Right. Sorry.” Oluo wrinkles his nose. “They teach you card tricks between those Titan experiments?”

“As if we have time for that.” Shion rolls her eyes. “Hange keeps us busy, though it’d be easier if they weren’t trying to get killed multiple times a day. At least I’m good at first aid now.”

He rests his elbow on the table and leers at her. “Next time I get injured, I’ll ask you to treat me.”

“Oh? I thought you liked shorter women.”

“What?!” Oluo pushes himself to his feet. “Who told you that?”

Petra smiles wickedly.

“Oh, come on.”

“I’m not interested, anyway.”