#it always comes back to levihan

[dont-f-with-moogles]

Writer's Duel ⚔️

So, for those of you who don't know, Sailor (@sixpennydame) and I arranged a little Writer's Duel. The rules were simple - reverse shipping. Sailor was challenged to write a Levi x Hange piece whilst I was asked to write some Levi x Reader. Shots fired - here we go.

Hope Is A Fledgling, Caged In The Soul Characters: Levi x Reader, Hange, Erwin Word Count: 1407 words

Every year, in late summer, the firm you work for hosts a charity ball at a grand estate. The house is a stately, nineteenth century red-brick affair surrounded by a breathtaking expanse of lavish gardens. On this warm evening the venue has all the splendour of a wedding reception, only lacking those soft, floral touches - the bouquets and elegant centrepieces and wide-brimmed hats and bobbing fascinators. But even without such frivolous details, there is that unmistakable magic created only by the gathering of unlikely people upon a beautiful night laden with possibilities. Somewhere, amongst the rich history of the manor house, the low lights and swish of elegant fabrics, there is the promise of wild and exciting things to come.

With all the champagne and heat and activity you find yourself craving fresh air. As the evening has cooled, the French doors leading to the terrace have been closed. Even so, after you have stepped outside, you can still hear the clatter of furniture from within as the circular tables and chairs are dragged to create room for the dance floor. Every so often the muffled sounds are punctuated by a burst of throbbing music. You assume that the speakers are being tested in readiness for post-dinner dancing. 

You lean against the terrace’s narrow stone balustrade and savour the gentle breeze against your warm skin. Instinctively your hand moves to your clutch bag in search of cigarettes. It has been some months since you vowed to quit. Uselessly, you fiddle with the metal clasp knowing that there are none inside. 

Instead your attention lingers upon the rolling greenery which surrounds the estate. Hidden paths sneak off under canopies of low-hanging branches. There’s a glow cast from lanterns suspended from the taller trees whilst fairy lights embellish the dark walls like tiny stars. Here and there, little whispers of romance beckon.

The music from within suddenly amplifies. As you turn, that’s when you see… him. 

Levi closes the door softly, places his hands in the pockets of his grey suit and begins to walk towards you. The breeze stirs his dark hair. As his eyes meet yours, something unspoken within you lifts. Something winged and beating, something almost impossible to contain. And yet, you must, for Levi’s own solemn expression gives nothing away. 

“Sorry about before.” He joins you, leaning his back against the balustrade. “...I had to go help them set up the karaoke machine.” 

You utter a small gasp of laughter. “Really? I bet Oluo can’t wait to get on that!” You grin at him, Levi returning the gesture with a wry smile of his own. 

“Yeah… except that it meant we didn’t get to finish our conversation.” Levi lightly scuffs a shoe against the granite. “I know it was bad timing, given… everything you said.” You look away, your face burning. Levi lifts his head to take in the night sky. 

“I didn’t want to leave things that way. That’s why I was looking for you.”

It takes you a moment to drive down that dreadful feeling; to turn the key upon it. Hope. 

“Well…” you answer finally, chancing a look at him. “...here I am.” 

That sombre expression has resurfaced, and yet, there’s a warmth in Levi’s eyes. He studies you as though with perfect clarity; as though capable of reading your deepest secrets on the map of your skin. Then, almost perfectly on cue, a dreadful caterwauling begins.

You both gasp and wheeze at the noise. Something about Levi’s husky, breathless laughter makes you break into an even wider smile.

“That’d be Oluo’s opening piece,” he chuckles. Your laughter slows as you both lapse into contemplative silence. Levi looks out over the grounds and then turns to you, his face half in shadow. The glint in his eye has faded. In its place, there’s a shade of something akin to regret.

“Oh.” It’s all you can manage to say. “I see.”

The silence imposes itself between the two of you. You release your breath slowly. Those caged feelings have ceased all at once. Now you feel… nothing at all.

Levi is still watching you as though on the brink of an apology. The music and hubbub of enthusiastic voices filters through the closed doors. Outside in the chill air, the wall of silence seems insurmountable, obstructing every possibility before it has started from your lips. Almost as the strain nears breaking point, an ugly thought rears. Steeling yourself, you ask the question to which you fear the answer.

“It’s her… isn’t it?” 

Your eyes dart to his face. Levi is gazing out over the darkened grounds. Then he dips his head by the smallest fraction. 

You nod too, a sardonic smile curling upon your face. 

“Have you heard from her? Do you even know when she’s coming back…?” Your intention is far from cruel. Even now there isn’t a single part of you that wants to hurt him. And yet the question hangs there between you like a blade waiting to slice the tension.

“...not yet.” Levi pushes himself away from the balustrade. Hands stowed within his pockets once more, he crosses to the far edge of the terrace. “At this rate, it’d be easier for me to fly out there than keep waiting…”

Without meaning to, Levi’s words bite into you. It takes every inch of your strength to flatten the emotion from your voice. It takes even more, an unthinkable amount of resolve, to remember how much his happiness means to you… even if you are not the bringer of it. 

“I… hope you two work things out.”

There’s a scrape of gravel as Levi turns around to look at you. His eyes narrow in discomfort. With another shallow breath, your fortitude begins to crumble. The words fall unchecked before you can prevent them.

“And if I’m being even more honest… I hope that you don’t.” Envy rises like acid in your throat. You attempt to press your lips into a firm line but a tremble runs through them. You blink, the trees and terrace starting to blur before you. 

“I hate feeling like this…” you utter in a voice brittle with defeat.

Levi approaches you, despite your secret longing to have him leave you alone under the empty sky. You turn your head away. With a small gasp of shock you feel his hand take yours. His palm is warm against your knuckles as his fingers curl beneath your own. His kindness is worse than his cruelty could be.  

“It’ll pass.”

Your throat is too tight to speak. You press his hand back in reply.

…

Erwin jolted at the sudden rattle of the handle. As his office door opened, he half-rose from his desk and slammed the lid of his laptop. Levi crossed the threshold, eyes moving from the papers in his hand over to his superior.

“I brought the report…” Levi was frowning at the laptop upon which Erwin was nervously drumming his fingertips. “What the hell were you doing?”

“Mm?” Erwin’s eyebrows lifted, his chin resting in his other hand. “Oh, nothing important. Budget checks, board meeting arrangements... Thank you, Levi, that’ll be all.”

Levi placed the small pile of documents on Erwin’s desk and, choosing to say nothing more,  began towards the doorway.  

“Levi… have you heard from Hange yet?” 

Levi stopped. He glanced over his shoulder, his expression sour.

“Not since her flight landed last Thursday.” 

“Well…  don’t give up.” Erwin gave a resolute nod. “It may seem hopeless but I’m sure she will message you when she can.” 

Levi glanced away uncomfortably. He hesitated as though about to counter Erwin’s remark but, instead, pushed down upon the door handle and let himself out of the office. 

Bonus:

A young woman let out a jubilant cry, causing several customers’ heads to whip around in panic. Even the baristas frowned over the clouds of steam which issued from their coffee machines.

“Iconic-Eyebrows has just dropped a new chapter!” She waved her phone in the face of her companion. “He said he wasn’t posting it until Thursday!”

Wrinkling their nose in derision, the woman’s friend began scrolling through their phone. Neither spoke a word as they read. Then, with an exasperated sigh, the woman’s companion threw themself back in their seat.

“Will they just get together already?” they huffed, “I know it’s a slow burn fic but why did he switch to ‘x Reader’? How many obstacles do you need in one story!”

... I'm sorry - I tried! But EVERYTHING IS LEVIHAN!

@this-is-krikkit

[dreamingon-forever]

The Levihan Hair Grabs- A Love Language

From Levi pulling Hange's hair to get her attention and keep her in check so nothing dangerous occurs in her excitement, to Hange grabbing onto Levi's hair in a desperate hope to keep him safe from their comrades.

And the way they both pulled each other closer to themselves?

It's always sad to see the parallels that come out of Levihan's relationship. They always cycle back to each other's initial mannerisms and way of caring for the other, but in a tragic turn of fate.

[eueuphoriaz]

So, I discovered this in my phone while I was doing my annual archiving. It was a clip from the After Party last year and this one is between Levi and Hange.

I didnt think much when I first listened to it, or even when I recorded it down. But today, after listening to it again, I realised, there is a very very subtle hint about their relationship.

1) Hange is talking to Levi about his situation, not talking about Levi and his Zeke squad. The 2 of them really have this bubble between them where they just exist with the other.

Just some random moments which reminds us that Levi is always Hange's most attentive listener (Remember when Oluo told Eren to shut up in Season 1?)

2) So Levi then snap Hange out of her rambling because she is empathising the feelings that Levi had to go through...to have no options but to kill his own squad....

"....it's beyond cruel...." 😢

Or maybe Levi woke up because Hange is mumbling and he has to be the listener and be there for her? 🤔

3) Anyway, I loved how Levi tried to get Hange to think logically and not get to stuck with Sannes' words aka her sense of responsibilities. Although he feels the same, he said he try not to think about it. So this tells me that whatever I am going to conclude about Hange later, also applies to him.

Now, does Levi mean that he forgot about the torture bonding time? No, because he said if he could. But I think that he is trying to tell Hange not to think about what is not helpful to her, especially for the present situation.

Just try not to think about it, like I do.

I think that Levi is trying to help Hange to differentiate between duty and responsibility because these 2 are very different to begin with.

When Sannes, or Hange, or even Nick, felt that it is their responsibility to protect the king, save humanity or keep the Wall's secret, they then faced with that role/ turn that Sannes talked about. But Levi has a duty to kill the Beast, to give meaning to the deaths of the Scouts who had been conned to die, stop the Rumbling, fulfil his promise. A task that he just has to complete, and not feel that he is responsible for it in anyway. Which is why I think he tried to tell Hange to lessen the burden of responsibility, and focus on her duty instead.

And we do hear her tell Jean in 127, that she is still the Commander and she has her duty. But of course, she still struggles with the responsibility part, even up until 132.

4) Now, the last part is where I had a new realisation about their whole interaction here. (Of course Levihan lens in on👓)

I think this is where the very conflicting moment shows for both Levi and Hange.

"We chose to be soldiers, and we chose to push on"

Now, suppose they make the other choice, there wont be any need to fill the role that Sannes talk about. And that alternative choice was really, giving up their duty, or not and live out their lives together in the forest.

And like Hange said, both of them had chosen the path to take.

5) Levi then kept quiet while Hange continued about the roles and turns. I feel so sad here as Hange conclude that when their turn comes, they would need to sacrifice things that they hold dear.

Now, just rewind the clip back and you will notice that Hange had always talked about "the 2 of them".

And I feel that this moment, kind of explains why the 2 of them cannot look at the other in the eye after that.

They understood who they had held dear to them, and the other party also knew.

6) So, what else could be "dear" besides Levi? Definitely not her life because Moblit has always scolded her for risking her life.

For Hange to feel the conflict of sacrificing what she held dear, because of her choice, I think Levi must have understood too. Because their parting words...

"You would understand, Levi..."

And Levi's duty to kill the Beast means he had to sacrifice what he held dear to as well.

7) So in a way, Sannes' words was really for both Hange and Levi, although he said it to Hange directly. But the choice they both made, meant that when the time or turn come, there had to be a sacrifice made.

And thats why Hange did not let Levi speak first. She kind of have forced him to make that "sacrifice". And she took responsibility for that choice he made, likely, to lessen his regret.

** ok, I added that last sentence myself because I cant get my Levihan lens out. 😭😭😭😭

[sunflowersunite]

What are your headcanons for levihan if Hange had survived?

thank you SO MUCH @quillsandblades, I love those sorts of questions

firstly, after they've calmed down from the war and the Rumbling, Hange wants to travel. She wants to see all sorts of sights, learn everything, see everything. Levi follows, inevitably. He's always had her back (he's always been her left eye), so now he goes with her. it's natural to follow her by now.

they don't speak about their feelings immediately. They rushed to confess when the world was ending, and now that it's not, something keeps them from doing it. They've held off for so long that they don't know how to let go of their reluctance. Armin and the others roll their eyes, but wave goodbye at them at the airport.

it's all right, though, because they get to travel together, and start a whole another life.

Hange sees all sorts of devices, ancient or not. She goes to museums, sees human history unfolding before her. Artworks, statues, declarations of war, peace treaties, rusty machines and legendary monuments.

Levi watches her and smiles. He sees the old Hange again, the one without the weight of the Wings of Freedom.

Levi starts to look younger without the stress lines. He smiles a bit more. Hange smiles a lot, and she returns to her old self gradually. They're both so proud of each other (which means extra teasing)

She tries weird spicy food, while he sticks to the beverages. She wants to make him eat, because "you can't know you don't like it if you've never tried"

later, she discovers the Rubik's cube. It takes her about two days to solve it (two days straight, without food, and Levi had to force her to sleep)

Eventually, they settle down. They both want to return to Paradis and live there in anonymity.

They find a remote house in the forest, near the river, like they once promised to. They prefer to be calm and isolated-- or at least choose when they want to interact with the world. They live together, of course, it feels natural by now. It would feel unnatural not to, after everything.

The house has two bedrooms.

They go to Historia's for lunch often. She and her husband share weird looks, but they never say anything. Her daughter calls them aunt and uncle. She climbs on Levi's lap, and he doesn't complain, he just holds her nonchalantly and lets her touch the shaved part of his undercut.

When he asks Hange why she's smiling like an idiot, she tells him it's nothing.

Did I mention that he lets Hange cut his hair?

Hange studies plants, birds, has adopted some animals from time to time despite what Levi says.

Somehow, Levi manages to clean the entire house in no time. He also bathes Hange, because some things never change.

"Don't put pressure on yourself, that's an order," Hange tells him. "You're not my superior anymore," he reminds her. That holds more weight than he intended it to. They're free.

The weight of memories becomes to much to bear, eventually. With all the free time they have, all they do is remember those they've lost. The family that broke up.

Hange gets up at nights and goes to Levi's room. They don't exchange many words, she just crawls into bed with him. They sleep side by side. Eventually, the second bedroom turns into a study.

They treat each other's injuries, apply the necessary balms to the scars and the burns every day. It becomes their routine. Hange sometimes kisses the scar on his eye when she's done, just to see him flustered.

Levi doesn't do exactly the same to the burns on her back, but the touch of his fingers is so deliberately featherlight that Hange can't help but shiver. It's something that comes naturally, because he wants to take care of her.

They get married. It's the only possible outcome. They both knew it would happen, they just needed time to adjust to their newfound freedom.

"it wasn't that obvious," Hange complains when Historia makes a remark one day about "how great, it was about time".

"it was, Commander," Historia says. "We all saw it coming."

they share anecdotes, and the evening passes with Hange saying "wait, you were jealous??" and "that's why you said that??"

they both feel flustered when Historia reveals they were basically the parents of the 104th. They knew, but still, it being said out loud hits different.

Mikasa was maid of honour.

(now, whether they have kids of their own is another story.)

They're both awkward af, mostly Levi. At first when Levi wants to kiss her, he gets extra serious, catches her attention like "oi" and maybe grabs her by the hair.

They feel like Erwin's gonna appear out of nowhere and tell them that they're being unprofessional lol

For a while (or a lot) every time Levi wakes up, he feels like he'll open his eyes and it will all have been a dream, and he'll wake up back in the barracks with two eyes and more people to lose.

so Levi seeks next to him, finds Hange, and holds her, breathes in the scent of the forest and the sea salt on her. Only then does he open his eyes, when he feels like it's safe to. He's never told her.

They visit the sea very often. Levi stands up from his wheelchair then, and they hold hands and look. Now, the sea doesn't hold promises and vows, it's just sea. Blue and beautiful. They watch sunsets and sleep in the sand and watch sunrises together.

the house is full of photos of them and their trips, and little souvenirs and plants and Hange's research.

I feel like they would become legends as the time passed. Of course, Hange is a well known "historical figure" as the 14th Commander, but Levi? There are no pictures of him, only oral tales about "a soldier so strong he could defeat 30 titans at once". Yeah, right, as if. Where's the proof?

Hange becomes a herbologist or zoologist or astronomer or everything. Maybe she becomes a professor and does her own research on a field she loves. Some of her students come to her house and they see Levi Freaking Ackerman chilling like "wassup"

and they ask "did you really kill like 100 titans" "were titans even real?" (because scepticism and because they were too young to remember) And Levi just says "no" and goes about his day.

(there are swords on the wall, though)

Levi prefers to stay at home and be at peace. He helps refugees, of course, and "helps around" with Historia's orphanage (kids run around and he calls them brats)

Hange has made a bet with herself as they grow older that Levi will end up with more wrinkles around his eyes than between his brows. She's never told anyone.

(the bet is proceeding well)

eventually they grow old together and watch their "grandkids" (Historia's kids, Jean's kids, Aruani's kids, Mikasa's adopted kids, etc)

The kids call them their grandparents and they absolutely don't mind. Levi chastises them, but not harshly.

He teaches the kids how to flip butterfly knives. What is Jean going to do, tell him not to?

They absolutely adore Hange. She makes up those fun games and teaches them a multitude of things (although a parent must always be around because her games are kinda dangerous)

Levi wears Hange's clothes. The trope where the girl wears her man's T-shirts, and whatever-- that's Levi. And he can pull them off.

Hange wears his clothes too. I mean, Levi has broad shoulders and although the shirts might be kinda short, it's a fashion choice and she looks fabulous. They've forgotten which clothes are whose. Sometimes they even buy them the "wrong" size for the other one to steal.

Okay this is long, I gotta stop. But send me more questions like this, people, I love them

[sayonarasanity]

Alteirkay Masterpost (Levihan)

Multi-chaptered Fics

Reverberation (AO3) 9/9 (Childhood friends to lovers.)

Summary: “Levi, come on,” Hanji urged his side until she made him lie on his back again. “Look,” she took the hand resting on his chest and enlaced their fingers. “You don’t need to be jealous. You know why?” “I am not jealous. For fuck’s sake—” “Because we are soulmates,” she cut in as if he never made a single word. “Which means there is nobody in the world who can understand you better than me,” she went on. “And there is nobody in the world who can understand me better than you.”

The Moon is Dark (AO3) 10/10 (Reincarnation)

Summary: His face was wet. “What the hell?” He murmured touching his face to see if he was mistaken. He was not. His hair was damp with sweat. There was an uneasiness invading his whole body. He was filled with it like he had drunk it straight from a bottle. His chest was heavy, his breaths were uneven, and his right eye was throbbing like a hammer was hitting at it continuously. He was feeling like he had just lost someone.

Sense of Home (AO3) 3/3 (College AU)

Summary: Levi sighs. He wants to say something back. He really does. But he makes the mistake of looking into her eyes and decides to just let this one go. Because looking at Hange Zoe is never a good idea. It hasn’t been a good idea from the very beginning. Yet he looks despite himself. He stares into her deep, brown eyes which are nothing but two endless wells and thinks that maybe just maybe he will eventually find a rope to climb back to the surface.

The Laurel Crown (AO3) 2/2 (Levihan Parents AU)

Summary: “Listen to me brat,” Levi says, holding the tiny body of the wailing baby at eye level under her arms. “I am not your enemy. I am your goddamn father.”

One Shots

Dandelion(AO3)(Office AU Erwin's POV)

Summary: Maybe, it was the fact that Levi was being a lesser bitch than usual recently, for almost four months actually and hell when he thought about it, Erwin was in fact relatively late to see the signs. But the signs were, to his credit, so transparent no one could blame him for not noticing them any sooner. For at first, he had believed that the reason why Levi was acting just a slightly bit kinder towards the people in the office, was perhaps the tea machine he had bought himself which was excellent at steeping tea and good tea always brought his spirits up. But now he suspects the reason might not be something that simple.

Keep Me(AO3)(Office AU, Part II of Dandelion, Levi's POV)

Summary: To say that he wasn’t, at least even the tiniest bit, looking forward to these short encounters would be a lie. But each morning when he opened his eyes and realized that getting up from bed didn’t feel like labour he rushed his breakfast to not miss the bus and walked faster to the bus stop so that he would have a few more minutes for a cigarette and perhaps a couple of words he told himself that it wasn’t because of her. But he had never been good at lying.

Chance With You (AO3) (Alternate Universe - Reincarnation)

Summary: It is hard to see beauty in everything. Especially after a life as a soldier who had witnessed so many of his fellow comrades’ and thousands of people’s deaths. But Hanji wears that word as an outfit every day. It is drawn aesthetically in the way her eye lights up despite everything, in the way she examines each living being she finds in the garden, and in the way her curiosity never leaving her mind. She is neither a tree nor a bird. She is a forest; she has a universe and a variety of colours in her land. Beauty is a butterfly that has perched upon her shoulder and it never leaves her side.

Windmill (AO3) (Modern AU)

Summary: The next day she brings a propeller, almost the same size as the windmill and places it next to it. When she turns it on, the vanes of the scale model twirl slowly. Then she looks at Levi who is standing still and astonished. The wind howls in his ears, and his heart beats unsteady because it faces the same storm again. Vicious, wild and free. And she smiles because she knows.

come tell me I'm wrong (and please don't be gone) (AO3) (Canon Comp.)

Summary: “We are not going to survive this war,” he says to her. Wind blowing his hair slightly, the shades of the late night and early morning mixed on the horizon. Stars are nowhere to be seen even on top of the walls. They should be closer to the sky, but they are not. Not at all. “Which war are you talking about?” she asks back. One knee is propped up and an elbow rests on top of it. The wind blows her hair too. Her green cloak rustles, and the sign on her back makes itself visible. The Wings of Freedom. What a fucking lie.

Say You Won't Let GO (AO3)(Alternate Universe - College AU)

They were friends for nearly six years, six months and maybe six or seven days when one evening, in senior year of college and after drink after drink Hanji told him, “I wanna ruin our friendship.”

Summary:

Survivors (AO3) (Canon Comp.)

Summary: When the night settles over the sky, and the people of the city go to a restless slumber, Hanji writes under the weak, yellow light of a single candle. Outside of her window the wind whistles, creating a secret harmony with the sound of her pen over the paper. She writes and writes while the candle melts, while the papers pile up above her desk, while the dark shadow of death hovers above her head, she writes without ever stopping a moment to think.

when the evening is spread out against the sky (AO3) (Modern AU)

Summary: She laughs and smiles and she does that so easily, so effortlessly that it is like she is the fucking goddess of mirth or something. Because it is the fact that she affects even a man like him who frowns every second like his damn life depends on it and hasn’t known the meaning of laughter until, well, until Hanji Zoe entered his life about two months ago, that makes him question the very existence of his own self.

behind the wall, under the cave (AO3) (Modern AU)

Summary: This must be what love is, she thinks. A stray traveller who likes the stop by the places it deems it is needed. To settle in that one room that is yet to be claimed. It is weird to witness how it affects even the most conventional, the most inherent traits one has. It is weird to witness how one is almost willing to let it do so because however unexpected of a guest it is they want it to stay.

[jumpinguptothesky]

I don't know why I wanted to write this fan fiction. The fact is, I was really inspired and I'm really writing it without being able to stop. The only difficulty is translating it into English as well as possible.

Just goes to show, brain rott is real. Levihan always comes back to my mind, even when I think I've forgotten it. You can find it here.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62060140/chapters/158719963

I hope you'll enjoy it!

His Scent of Tea and Cedar

Summary:

Hange Zoe is a renowned writer. Her editor suggests she write about sexual services for women, but she flatly refuses. However, when she learns that her friend-with-benefits and impresario, Zeke, is about to get married, a creeping sense of loneliness begins to settle in. Craving intimacy, she decides to give the sex therapist service her editor recommended a try. To her utter shock, the man standing at her door is none other than her young and strikingly handsome janitor: Levi.

Notes:

Inspired by Yasashii Milk by Tadaka Rose

Chapter 1: Invisible Fractures

Excerpt:

"You think I’d just let you say this to me like it’s nothing?" Hange's voice trembled with raw emotion. "You couldn't tell me earlier? You had all the time in the world... at the door, when I offered you a drink, when I invited you up. Don't you dare blame me for your cowardice! I can’t believe you’re telling me this after everything... while... while we were..."

The living room was bathed in the gentle light of the morning sun. Golden rays streamed through the vast bay window, illuminating a garden where dew glistened on the leaves like countless diamonds. These almost ethereal gleams brushed the pages of an open manuscript resting in Nanaba's hands. Her short-cropped blonde hair reflected the faint golden beams, and her piercing eyes scanned the lines with intensity. Across from her, Hange sat nervously, shifting slightly in her leather armchair.

She tried desperately to maintain composure, though the subtle expressions of her editor, who had been silently reading for some time, left her feeling unmoored. Each moment felt like an eternity, as always when sharing her work.

Hange attempted to focus on the scenery outside, her hand nervously brushing her disheveled brown hair. She resisted the urge to chew her nails or adjust the frames of her glasses.

“This is incredible, Hange, truly,” Nanaba finally declared, closing the manuscript with care. “Your style is as captivating as ever. Every sentence resonates; every description transports.”

A modest smile graced Hange’s lips. “Thank you, Nanaba. You have no idea how much it means to hear that from you.”

But then Nanaba furrowed her brow, placing the manuscript gently on the coffee table. “That said…”

Hange detected a note of apprehension in her voice. “What? What’s wrong?”

Nanaba shrugged. “You’re starting to go in circles, Hange.”

“In circles?” she repeated, crossing her arms, clearly affronted.

“Don’t misunderstand,” the editor continued, raising her hands in a placating gesture. “Your last bestseller, about that group fighting for freedom against monstrous colossi, was phenomenal. But it feels like you’re clinging to the same themes. Even though each of your stories is different, your topics and perspectives always revolve around similar ideas… You need to try something new.”

Hange narrowed her eyes, skeptical. Her first saga, Wings of Freedom, had been a massive success. Since then, she had continued to write about humanity’s struggles, crafting noble, idealistic heroes. Even when she created new worlds, she returned to the fantastical, translating life’s everyday challenges, wars, and resistance movements into epic battles against oppression. She sank into the couch, rubbing her temples.

“So, what do you suggest I write? Science fiction? Mystery novels?”

Nanaba smirked playfully. “New Romance!”

A nervous laugh escaped Hange. “New… what?”

Full Chapter on Ao3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/62060140/chapters/158719963

[silvermarig0lds]

LEVIHAN NATION it’s been a long time coming but I have something for yall… (no new art sorry) this is a headcanon that has made itself comfortable in my mind for quite some time now. WARNING VERY CHEESY AND MUSHY

Imagine, post-rumbling, Hange survives and fulfills her cottagecore dreams with Levi, but she frequently gets called to go on business trips to Marley and Azumabito and even other parts of the world to facilitate peace talks. Despite Hange’s incessant requests and their mutual separation anxiety, which developed as a consequence of what happened the last time they stayed apart from each other for a prolonged period of time (cough zeke cough wine cough forest), Levi chooses to remain at home instead of tagging along due to his mobility issues.

Nonetheless, Levi secretly wishes that he can see the world with Hange, and in spite of his attempt to keep up a facade of nonchalance Hange sees RIGHT THROUGH IT. As such, Hange always makes sure to collect souvenirs, snacks, interesting gadgets, tea packets with flavors that Levi has never seen before. and many different kinds of memorabilia for Levi on her trips, in an effort to let him glimpse into what she has been seeing.

On one particular night after an exhausting trip, Hange surprises Levi with a promise ring. She doesn’t know if Levi ever wants to get married, and she doesn’t wish to pressure him, she says. But this is her way of telling him that she is here to stay. Forever.

Levi tears up, and Hange notices that his hands are shaking. She tenses up, unsure if Levi likes the gift or not. But her worry swiftly vanishes when Levi kisses her, all the while smiling against her lips. Her heart soars in delight as she kisses back.

“You idiot,” Levi mumbles lovingly when they break apart.

“I love you.” She giggles as she replies.

“If you wanted to ask if we can get married, you could have just asked.” Levi teases her, to which she replies in surprise. “You want to…?”

“If it’s with you, yes.” He says, in a matter-of-fact tone. The answer is so simple, and yet. “Because I’m in love with you, Four-Eyes.”

OKAY THIS IS VERY CHEESY IM SORRY ANYWAYS I WOULD KILL FOR A FIC LIKE THIS…I JUST LOVE the idea of Levi getting choked up with emotion as Hange presents him with a ring

[fanmoose12]

Hi there! I've got a high school castes Levihan prompt for you, should you choose to receive it.

It's based on the 'I was talking crap about teacher A to teacher B and here they are at Target holding hands' idea! Maybe in this version Hange's a science teacher and Levi is the neurotic janitor. Who would have sensed the danger in venting about the janitor's psychotic standards on cleanliness and school rules to Hange? Who would have thought that those 2, in fact, had a little secret something going on...? Looking forward to what you come up with!

Jean is fucked.

Jean is so, so fucked, and not even in the good way, not in the way he would have preferred to, not by a certain gorgeous black-haired beauty with eyes as magnificent as dark sky on a cloudless night, who would absolutely destroy him, at least, according to the fantasies that replay through his mind every time he makes it (and his hand) wander.

No, he's fucked in a cruel, merciless way, in a way that makes his knees tremble and his heart beat way too fast at the mere thought about it.

Honestly, Jean kinda wants to run straight to his mother, to hide behind her back and bury himself in her warm and safe (and that is his absolute priority) arms.

But he is seventeen years old, he's all grown-up. Wise beyond his years. Smart, incredibly brave. And very, very handsome. If his mother is to be believed. Which she absolutely must be. She wouldn't lie to him, right?

After all, mothers know their children best and all that.

So, grown-up, smart, incredibly brave and very, very handsome Jean doesn't allow himself to seek protection. He doesn't rush in his mother's arms, doesn't hide or quiver. He stands up tall, looks the danger right into its eyes, and-

Runs as far from it as fast he can, abandoning the snacks he's been craving throughout the whole day.

He'll probably have to later apologize about it to the poor girl, who tirelessly works at this store. He will do just that, beg her for forgiveness, get on his knees if she'd wish to, even volunteer to cover a shift or two for her.

But right now- his life is in grave danger, and Jean runs away, forgetting about sense, logic, honor and all those things that his mother was trying so hard to breed in him.

He runs until he's out of breath, until his legs all but give out. And stops only, when a familiar-looking house appears in his view.

It's Yeager's, because of course it is. Evidently, it's yet another sign that the universe is set on absolutely crushing him. Perhaps, it's a punishment, Jean thinks, for his incredible wit and unbelievably good looks.

But beggars can't be choosers, so loathe Eren though he does, Jean still knocks on the door of his house. Eren might be his mortal enemy and a jerk with a stupid face and ugly mouth that constantly spills out some bullshit, but Jean's situation is nothing short of dire, and he absolutely must vent his frustrations out to someone. And if fate decided that Yeager will be the one fulfilling the role of a willing listener, then so be it.

He can always punch that dickhead later, after he pours his heart and soul out to him.

It doesn't take long for his knocking to be answered, and, unexpectedly, Eren is not the one to open the door.

It's Mikasa, badass and beautiful Mikasa, who sets Jean's heart aflame like no other living person does. Even now, the sight of her takes his breath away, makes his heart flutter in a way it always does in her presence, although the glorious sensation is somewhat dulled by a prickle of resentment.

What is Mikasa doing at Yeager's house? Why does she never visit Jean? Are these two really-

His suspicions halt, as Mikasa's forehead creases with worry, and she asks in that gorgeous, deep voice of hers,

"Jean? Is everything alright?"

Mikasa's concern warms his heart, but the memory of the events that led him here serves as the metaphorical bucket of cold water that twists Jean's insides into a knot.

But he can't very well show it, not to Mikasa, the girl of his dreams, the absolute queen of his heart.

"Of course!" he lies blatantly, feeling proud - his voice didn't even waver, he didn't sound like that same pride is the only thing stopping him from bursting into tears. Good job, he congratulates himself after managing to put a hopefully convincing enough smile. "I just stopped by for- for a quick chat."

Mikasa's frown deepens. "With Eren?"

"Naturally," Jean says, before he can stop himself. "Me and him, we're great friends."

"If you say so..." Mikasa mumbles, sounding not at all convinced. But she does let him inside the house, and on a day that's already going horribly for him, Jean decides to count it as a win.

He follows Mikasa to Eren's room upstairs, and finds that she's not the only guest. Armin, Sasha and Connie are there too.

So all of them are hanging out together? And no one thought to invite him as well? What a bunch of traitors.

"Yo, Jean!" Sasha waves at him. She's lying on Eren's bed with her feet propped against the wall and head hanging upside down, and Jean debates if he should comment on it, but promptly decides against it. It's not the weirdest thing he's seen today, and definitely not the weirdest thing he's seen Sasha do.

"Hey, dude!" Connie turns to greet him too, eyeing him with an uncharacteristically thoughtful expression on his face. "Are you good?"

"You do look a little pale..." Armin chimes in.

Eren's the only one who doesn't at all react to Jean's arrival, opting to just glare menacingly at him. But he doesn't even try to throw him out of his house, and Jean is already grateful for that. If Eren wishes to just stare at him, that's more than fine with him. He's too emotionally drained to start another argument or even glare back at the boy.

He plops down on the floor next to Connie, and sighs so loudly and wearily that all eyes are instantly glued to him.

"Guys..." he begins, "There is something I need to tell you..."

"Oh!" Connie reacts instantly, beaming like it's a Christmas day. "You finally decided to come clean about your crush on Mikasa?"

Very quickly the room goes very quiet. And still. Jean promptly averts his eyes, doing all he can to summon a hole that will hopefully swallow him whole, while Mikasa fidgets with her skirt, a blush that Jean would have found absolutely breathtaking had he had the courage to look up at her, rapidly spreading on the apple of her cheeks.

"You idiot! That was supposed to be a secret!" Sasha hisses, smacking Connie's head. She probably meant to say it quietly, in a whisper that no one but Connie would be able to hear, but the universe hates Jean, so, of course, the whole room hears it.

The silence gets even more excruciating. It really is the worst day of his life. Jean can't even find it in himself to get mad at two dimwits he for some reason considers to be his best friends. He doesn't feel embarrassed too, not too much anyway.Mikasa now knows about his undying love for her, so what of it? His life is ruined anyway.

"Jean," Armin, kind and wonderful Armin, reaches out to him, offering a gentle smile and redirecting everyone's attention from the moment that will surely haunt Jean's nightmares for months to come. "You wanted to tell us something?"

And bringing it back to the moment that will haunt the rest of his now no doubt much shorter life.

But he came not just to feel sorry for himself. He came here to share his grievances, to warn the others to not repeat the mistake he's already made. He might as well spill it already.

"Well, yeah, you see, it's about janitor Levi..."

"That jerk?" Eren perks up. "I fucking hate that guy. He made me wash the floor of the whole east wing after I spilled some soda."

"Yeah, he's a bit intense," Sasha agrees. "He once threw out my burrito, because he said it stinks. I mean, who does that?"

"You think that's intense?" Connie exclaims. "He threatened to cut my dick off if he sees me missing the toilet once again."

"Well, he'd be right to do so, Connie," Sasha chides. "That's totally disgusting."

"I can't help it sometimes!"

"I've heard that he's actually a gangster," Armin says, interrupting Sasha and Connie's bickering. "And that's why he works at school. You know, so that'd be easier to sell drugs to the kids."

"He never offered me any drugs..." Connie complains. "You think that's because of the whole missing the toilet thing?"

Jean rolls his eyes at him, deciding to not dignify that nonsense with a reply. "What does it matter? What matters is that the guy is a psycho. I mean, you all agree with me, don't you?" He pauses, waits for everyone to nod their agreement, then continues, "Well, that's why I've shared some of our... mutual reservations about him to Hange-san. You know, just to vent out my frustration at the guy. And you know how Hange-san is totally cool and understanding, right?"

Once again, everyone murmurs their agreement.

"So, I ranted a bit about janitor Levi, maybe, called him names a few times... but Hange-san was laughing as I did so! Of course, they then told me that he's simply a complicated man and other stuff along those lines, but at the moment I thought they were just being professional and what not, but today I went to the store to buy some snacks, and I met Hange-san there, and janitor Levi was there too, and, well... they were holding hands and I think I even saw them share a quick kiss, like they were a couple or something..."

A chorus of 'Hange-san and janitor Levi?', 'holding hands?", 'a couple?' and a collective 'ew' erupts. Jean waits for it to settle down, before quietly inquiring,

"You don't think that Hange-san is plotting to kill me, right? I mean, as cool as they are, they're a bit crazy too, and I just insulted their boyfriend to their face, and they're a science teacher, they must know how to dispose of a body, I saw that on Breaking Bad, and..."

Jean's ranting, he knows, and maybe he's began hyperventilating too, and he's definitely in a desperate need of a hug, preferably from Mikasa, but all that he gets are sympathetic looks, and-

A scream from Yeager.

"Fuck!" he yells, beginning to pull at his hair with worrying ferocity. "Fuck, fuck, fuck! I didn't know they were together! I thought they hated one another, what the fuck! Guys, I-" he pauses, then looks ahead like a man that's about to be hanged. "Just the other day, I... I kinda told janitor Levi that Hange-san is batshit crazy, and that they... stink worse than a monkey's poo."

The whole room is rendered speechless, everyone is gawking at Eren with a mix of shock, sympathy and premature grief. And Jean- Jean bursts out laughing.

He was wrong. He was so, so wrong. It's not the worst day of his life, far from it. It's definitely one of the better ones. And it's bound to get even greater - when he witnesses janitor Levi beating the living shit out of Yeager.

He reaches out to him, clasps his shoulder just a bit too forcefully. "My friend," he says, with a grin that's threatening to break his face. "You're so fucked."

[starshower1215]

Hange Zoë (S4 Spoilers! And Levihan)

At this point, I do not know if I am supposed to be putting a spoiler warning since the show is over, but whatever.

The sad thing to me about Hange's death is that she never gets to heal. The curious person who was so passionate about life is gone for good, and Levi loses his old friend forever. We see them break down over the course of the season, but Hange will never get up again, and that reality just seems so hopeless. Even after being in the face of death and danger in the past, Hange has always been able to look cheerful and move on, and still have a passion for life (on the exterior, at least). She loses this and never even has the chance to regain it.

Not only this, but if she had lived, would she have been able to regain it? I feel post-war Hange, had she survived, would have been much like Hange in that forest scene with Levi. Not exactly happy as she used to be, but certainly not so cold as she was. They both took enormous blows to their mental health, obviously. She would definitely never be the same, but could she have been similar?

On top of that, as mentioned in another post of mine about Levi, people undergoing trauma cannot heal from the trauma as it is going (obviously). So Hange, like Levi, has never fully processed all the grief built up over years of her friends' and comrades' deaths. Levi seems to block it out mentally by focusing on the next step, the avenging of their life. Similarly, Hange turns away from the issue and focuses on her titan research, or how to improve this weapon or that one. They both are always moving and moving to run away from the inevitable that comes crashing down when there's nowhere left to hide. So yeah, she would have a rough time.

Also, Levi and Hange would absolutely sleep in the same room. Or try to, at least. Maybe not the same bed, but they have always had each other's back in battle, so when the battle rages on in their heads even though they're safe, they would be there for one another.

[littlelasagne]

WIP Wednesday

I had a free week before Christmas and I wanted to write something festive for Levi's bday BUT I got super sick and couldn't finish in time 🥲 I am sick of getting sick 😭 IDK when I'll have time to finish this now. 😭😭 When someonestolemyshoes came to visit me, we found a plant shop right next to a tea shop. Levihan right?! I even bought a plant and named it Hange 😊 So this AU was inspired by those shops - Levi and tea, Hange and plants, but with my own spin on it. I spent way too long mapping out the street and not enough time writing lol. It's also enemies to lovers because I've never written it and thought it would be fun. Scuse typos!

Petra fiddled with the lock to her shop. Granny’s Fudge Pantry. Its pale pink and white exterior was kooky enough to convince the tourists to pay for extortionately priced fudge. At least it was good fudge.

“I’m rolling out the Christmas menu this week,” she said, gritting her teeth as she struggled with the lock. “I’ll bring you round some candy cane bites if I ever get this door open.”

The lock clicked and Petra bustled inside her shop. Hange stayed outside to relish the peace before she had to go inside and deal with the three hundred mini fir trees and potentially hundreds of christmas shoppers.

He came up the street in his long black coat, a white scarf round his neck and a briefcase in his hands. Huh, since when did Levi carry a briefcase?

Hange knew better than to try and talk to him, but pissing him off first thing on a Monday would make the start of his week slimy and ultimately, bring a lot of joy to hers.

“Good morning, Levi!” Hange called in her jolliest voice. He didn’t bother sparing her a glance. He stood metres away from her and just like Petra, he struggled to open the lock to his Tea Emporium. “Get up to much this weekend?” No answer. “Feeling festive yet?” No answer. “The boiler still on the brink in there?” No answer. “So what’s in the briefcase, you smuggling illicit tea or something?” No answer. “Talk to me, peahead.”

“Morning, Levi!” Despite the cold, Petra had come back outside. She’d taken off her coat and had a festive apron around her waist.

“Morning, Petra.” He always replied to her. Hange rolled her eyes. Petra beamed.

“I’ve got some nice Christmas fudge out this week, I’ll bring you some!”

“I’d like that,” Levi said. With a thump, he’d opened his lock and quickly hurried inside his dusty shop.

Petra smiled at Hange, her eyes darting to the ground and her cheeks flushing. She hurried back into the warmth. Sure it was pathetic, but Hange couldn’t blame Petra for having a crush on Levi. She had once harboured a crush – a brief one at that – on Levi too.

[eueuphoriaz]

Levi's double standard with Hange

No, this is not about his treatment towards dirty people.

Caution: Levihan lens is on 🥽

As Humanity's strongest, Levi's focus is always about the good of Humanity. And this, he does so by giving Erwin his strength.

Let's take a look at how serious he is when it comes to missions. Season 1

Whatever the cost...to protect Eren, which is Levi Squad's mission. And they did

Just throw away the bodies....so that everyone can make it back alive

....Some SC lives are worth more than others... Even when he is threatened with the lives of Erwin and other SC members, he is so focused on getting Eren and Historia back. Season 3

No emotions at all, just mission and making sure Humanity can survive another day to fight back. Even if he has emotions, they take a backseat as he focused solely on the tasks at hand.

Then we have these....

Suddenly, Hange's survival is also important... More so than his own squad (Note, he checked on Eren cos Eren is their trump card).

And he needed to check if there are any survivors from his and Hange's squad. Why eh?

Because he needed to confirm...

And the pain of telling Hange that they will see each other again in 132... I read somewhere as well, Levi doesnt want to confirm her death.

A heartbreaking double standard Levi has for Hange. 😢

---------

On a sidenote, without the Levihan goggles, Levi could also have changed his "standard" after he started to have some doubts with Erwin at the end of Season 2. We see how Levi rushed towards the other squads when the Beast threw the boulders, or when he tell the soldiers to survive in Marley. But what we dont see, is him checking on the soldiers during battle to see if they are dead or not.

But I am not going to go deeper with Levi's character analysis. Just want to enjoy the bittersweetness of Levihan.

[koalaforlife]

Happy Birthday, Hange Zoë

This is a story of how Hange became one of my favorite characters now after so long, and how I think they are one of the most underrated characters, always pushed aside (probably due to a lack of an emotional backstory and lack of the relatability factor). 

For starters, I will note that I will most likely end up referring to them as she/her because in my mind (thanks to the anime), I can’t help but see this character as a female and honestly, I’ve been struggling for Idk, all my life? to find a female character in any media that ticks all the boxes for me (I have plenty of ultimate faves in terms of male characters instead) and to my utmost surprise now, I think Hange just might be the one so allow me to fulfil my long-time desire of finding a great female character that I can call my ultimate favorite.

Also, it's important to mention that for the longest time, my favorite AoT characters had been Levi (ultimate bias) with Erwin coming in a veeeery close second. 

Let me start with the beginning. When I first saw her in the first season of SnK, the exaggerated reactions that were meant to be comic relief only made this “mad/obsessed” character more cringe to me. Not to say I hated them, I just…got second-hand embarrassment from watching them. I didn’t quite get a good grasp of the character and probably like 90% of the fandom, I just saw them as just another character fading in and out of the background, that at times helps the plot advance with some new bits of info.

Then, at some point, I probably saw some cool scenes of them that gave me a pleasant surprise (eg. when she threatens to push Pastor Nick off the wall) but as I was getting distracted by other, more impactful and shocking scenes, I wouldn’t really think much of it and I didn’t actually use them to form a full character portrait/depiction in my mind. These scenes, few and far between, were forgotten in the end.

When I became a more active reader and passionate fan, about 4 years ago I would say, somehow I ended up learning about the pair LeviHan, and it really won me over with their dynamics. Whether people choose to ship them romantically or not, there is nothing that can deny the fact that they had a special friendship in canon AoT. 

In any case, to my shame, I have to admit I started paying attention to Hange because of that ship, and though I didn’t realize it at that time, I liked her for the most part because of that ship. So basically, I liked her because of my favorite character, Levi. Of course, I still liked the legendary trio, Erwin, Hange, Levi, but again, I don’t think I was that attached to her as a singular character.

Soon after, I dropped out of fandom when the manga took a really weird turn for me. I started disliking it and it went on for a while. I lost my hope in it getting any better. I don’t know why it affected me THIS much but I can only assume it had something to do with my mental state back then. 

Now, after almost 4 years, I reprised the manga and watched the final season of the anime. I felt differently, way more tolerant and accepting of whatever direction the story was going to take. And I can’t say I am unhappy with it, I just think that certain parts seemed like cliches and overused tropes, which is not very characteristic of Isayama, but oh well. I think the poor man was exhausted and wanted to finish it asap, and I can’t blame him. 

Speaking of mental health, a few months back I had gone through a major shift where I started thinking more positively overall. I think this is important to mention because it’s probably why I also saw Hange with such different eyes this time. 

And, I think this is also why I finally got ready to read the rest of the manga, despite knowing she dies. That was the only spoiler I got, and when I first heard it years ago, I was “disappointed, but not surprised” - at that time like I said, I had lost all hope in the manga. And once again, I had felt more sad about it because of Levi, who’s lost everyone he cared for deeply and who understood him. Once again, I had failed to see Hange as a singular character with massive importance in the story, instead of just a convenient accessory to Levi. 

So why is this character important? There are many reasons why she was integral to the story, and inspirational to us readers, so I will try to summarize all that.

1. Open-mindedness

I don’t think most people remember (I know I didn’t) how she was the only one who first tried to challenge our perspective on titans. 

For decades, we've tried to fight the Titans with hatred in our hearts. I want to try and see them from a different angle than the current norm.

Call it maybe foreshadowing, or just Isayama trying hard to come up with a unique, arguably crazy character (that’s what I thought at the time), but when you think about it, it’s something that was desperately needed. When you don’t understand and know something, try to look at it from a different point of view. When you are afraid of something and the situation is dire, try to dare to hope there might be something good in it.

Armin: They decided we're devils without knowing our intentions? Why won't they consider a path of peace?

Mikasa: I think...because they don't know. They fear us because they don't know what we are.

Hange: That's right. They won't trust people whose faces they haven't seen. So let's meet 'em! If you don't understand something, go figure it out! Isn't that what we Scouts do?

That positivity, openness, and exuberance shines throughout most of the scenes we get with Hange in the first season, and when things get serious in Season 2, we also get a glimpse of their duality: though they were someone that faced titans with excitement, they were not to be messed with when it came to protecting people.

2. Humanity  / Emotional Intelligence

That duality becomes more apparent in Season 3, where we see them shine on their own. And btw, one of my kinks in this season/arc was the fact that the OP, goated trio, EruRiHan, were each on their own having to call the shots and contribute to the team’s success with little to no communication at times. Fills my heart with warm fuzzy feels and pride :D Anyway back to Hange. :D 

Hange displays some nice people skills as she is trying to tie the “reputation” loose end and clear their names and seek answers, truth, and justice, by collaborating with Flegel, Roy, and Beaure.

Some notable quotes here are the following:

[speech to flegel] Well, you have a point. The thing is, that doesn't sound like living to me. Look at it this way, Flegel. Instead of scampering around like a scared little mouse your whole life, wouldn't you rather face up to your enemy, even if it means risking your life--?

and one of my most favorites,

“What are you talking about? Defeat is all the Survey Corps have ever known. (said with a fucking sunshine on their face, because they are literal sunshine)

And when all is cleared up,

Levi: Looks like the gamble paid off.

Hange: Yeah. It wasn't just Erwin though. The lone choices of many managed to change the world.

This sentence  just made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside because it sounds inspirational to me: it's the small things we can all do that help shape the world, and it's not just the more inspirational, brave, and special people that bring change, it's all of us.

If for some reason the previous scenes weren’t enough to see what an empathetic and people-oriented person she was (eg. when she tries to befriend Eren, Levi and his friends, when she gives Sasha a potato as thanks, when she admits she wasn’t going to harm Pastor Nick, and was visibly disturbed by his death)….well this line I think perfectly shows how Hange encompasses teamwork, people’s unity, compassion, friendship. 

3. Mental Strength

However, at the same time, they are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Just like pretty much every relevant character in this story, they have to kill (or torture) to survive or to help humanity. That ability to know what needs to be done and get it done comes with a certain life experience and maturity that a lot of our main characters still have to achieve, which is probably why Hange gets overlooked as she already is a matured, developed character for the most part of the story, who doesn’t really need to make any life-altering decisions that shape their personality in one way or another.

But for me, that was a plus, actually. Don’t get me wrong, I love Armin’s growth, Conny’s development, Reiner and Annie’s inner conflicts, Historia’s whole arc, and some other minor character developments (Sasha and Ymir). But I can’t help but admire Hange now when I look at a more complete picture: a person with love for knowledge and love for life, but with a feral instict and strength to protect that same thing she loves - the lives of innocent people and the access to truth and knowledge.

There are people I want to bring back, too. Hundreds of them. I've had to say farewell since the day I joined the Scouts. But...You know, don't you? No matter who it is, there comes a day to say farewell. I know it's impossible, but you have to accept this. There will be times you can't keep your sanity. It's tough. Very tough. I know. Even so, we have to keep moving forward. 

4. Honesty and Accountability

Hange is blunt ("I agree. I thought it should've been used on Erwin...") and always takes responsibility for her decisions especially when she knows it might affect someone's mental state. ("The decision was mine. You were just a factor."/"I said the decision was mine."). I don't think people appreciate how important this is.

5. Flaws

When she gets overwhelmed with politics, responsabilities, and stress, and overpowered by the Jagerists, it is almost humiliating to see her cuffed and rendered useless, unable to do anything but follow the stronger ones. You can see how she slowly realizes that this surpasses her abilities to tackle the politics and the grim reality that the world most likely wants them dead. Defeated, she says

Erwin, you only made one mistake in your life. Why did you make me a commander?

I am sure some people would agree with her, but honestly, I disagree. First, there was literally no better option. Second, Erwin had an ability to see, understand, and manipulate people. If he nominated her, he must have believed in her enough, just as he believed in Levi and Armin when he entrusted them with crucial tasks. And third, some may argue that Erwin would have handled the situation better. But while Erwin might have probably been less stressed and overwhelmed with the political discussions, the reality would still be the same, and he would have had to work with the same equations and factors: world wants them dead, eren doesn’t want to sacrifice historia, eren wants the rumbling, what’s there to do? what could have Erwin done better in these circumstances? 

This new side of Hange’s character is really sad, but it makes her relatable in my opinion. I know a lot of people find other characters relatable instead, but for me this part right here speaks more to me than others. This sort of impostor syndrome (which Armin also suffers from), and the clear showcase of a character’s flaws and failures for the first time (when did we see Hange fail before?), all these things bring her down from the sort of “great character with no mistakes” pedestal and make her seem more like…us.

How many times did we not get some huge responsibility that we felt we were not good enough for, and doubted ourselves? Be it a project at work, leading a team, parenting, or even simple things like not being good enough at some hobby that you want to pursue, or good enough to be in a relationship with someone. These doubts are human and okay to have, and there's nothing wrong with that, but...

6. Resilience 

But what’s important is to keep moving forward and do your best, do whatever you can to change the outcome for the better, and if you fail, don’t go too hard on yourself. Hange knew that she did all she could, and she kept moving forward, even though she felt so down at times and almost as if she wanted to give up. 

Looks like my turn has come...even though I thought I did the right thing. Times change and you end up in a cell....What do you say we live out here, forever?

[a few moments later]

Levi: There's no way in hell you can stay out of the action.

Hange: Yeah, I can't. (bittersweet smile)

She does what she does best: she moves forward. She saves Levi and nurses him back to health, risking both of their lives in the process (I guess she was possessed by Erwin’s gambling spirit? :D or she was just THAT determined to ensure their survival). She seeks to form an alliance with the remaining survivors, including the Marleyans. 

In the forest scene, you could say that she is the one presiding over them, and the funny thing is, she does it while cooking dinner. It’s kind of symbolic if you ask me, as food is crucial to our survival, but it’s also something that brings people together. 

7. Integrity

One of the most powerful quotes in my opinion, is this one

I’ll be damned before we justify genocide somehow.

[manga: There is nothing anyone can say to change my mind about that.]

It really showcases her determination to save human lives and a core belief that makes her just more admirable in my opinion: genocide is wrong.

But I'm sure none of them would have been so selfish as to say..."as long as the island has freedom, that's all that matters."

Her demise is so characteristic of her - she’d always been fascinated with titans, but that never stopped her from killing them in order to survive and to save people’s lives. Her goodbye words to Levi and that lovely chuckle of hers once again reminded us of that familiar “all sunshine and rainbows” energy she always had. And then she fell like a burning star. 

The music choice couldn’t have been more perfect. I admit I didn’t even remember this song before, but now it’s one of my all-time favorites, and I can’t help but feel all kinds of bittersweet and nostalgic when I hear it now.

Hange is now my favorite character, up there with Levi, and irrespective of Levi and their relationship. I love her because to me she is relatable, because she encompasses pure things such as willingness to understand and accept things and people she doesn’t know, exuberance, love for life, and curiosity. I love her because of her duality- both flawed and strong, both sweet and menacing, and I love her because she never loses her integrity as a human being. Hange brought more to the story than most of us think, she wasn’t just comic relief or a vessel to share information about the lore, she brought our beloved characters together and nurtured them, and she was the embodiment of what the Survey Corps represented: exploration, understanding, and bravery. If Erwin was the mastermind that pushed them forward, and Levi the one that protected them the most, I like to think Hange was the glue that kept them together, and kept them going with her positivity and passion for life.

[storiesofaot]

Hey dear 💜

Hope you're doing well! How about 👻 💥 & 🛏️ for the ask game?

Hellooo! ✨️ I'm doing good, thank you - very happy that it's finally Friday hehe! Hope you're doing well, too 😊 And thank you for dropping by!

👻 Is there a new genre you'd like to write?

Hmm that's a good question! There's that Royal AU oneshot (which is based on a drabble I wrote in September, back when I was taking requests), which I definitely want to finish at some point this year. I really enjoyed writing that one, and it's a genre I usually don't write in. And maybe something more adventurous as well, that'd be fun! 😊

💥 Is there a chapter, scene, or WIP you're most excited to write? Share a snippet or tell us about it!

Here's a snippet of my current Levihan WIP which I talked about here, and which I'm reaaally enjoying writing:

Trying new things didn’t only distance him from the man he used to be, but it also always brought her presence back to him. He often found himself wondering what she would’ve thought of this or that, betting against himself whether it would be to her taste or not. He couldn’t help it; it was as if his mind sometimes had a will of its own.

She would probably have laughed at his thoughts, maybe even scolded him for being so narrow-minded, old-fashioned, or simply stubborn. "Don’t you see all the wonderful things this world has to offer? Progress is a wonderful thing, not something to be resisted." (...)

“How come you’re still talking all this weird shit in my head, even though you’re somewhere else now,” he grumbled as he stood in front of the sink, doing the dishes after being persuaded to try some new, exotic dish for dinner. "You really need to stop this, Hange. Otherwise, I will never be able to move on."

🛏 Is there a new trope you'd like to write this year?

I've answered that one here, but something I didn't mention was "childhood friends to lovers". I've written a short fic which kind of touches a little on that trope, but I'd love to write more in detail about it since it's one of my favourites! 🥺

The New Year Writers Ask Game

[wanderlustqueen-writes]

Hello Alice 🤎

Sorry to sneak into your ask box but I loved 'The Truth is out there, but so is Love' and I need more X Files LeviHan!

I don't know if you take prompts but if you do I'd like to request a drabble based on this quote : "Mulder Levi, you just keep unfolding like a flower." (The X Files - S1 - Episode 12 "Fire"). Because I (and Hange) want to know more about Agent Ackerman's past!

Feel free to ignore this request of course!

Thank you

🤎🤎

Hi Livia! Thank you so much for your request and for your kind words. It makes me genuinely happy to know you liked this fic 💜💚

I'm sorry it's taken so long to reply to this, I was just having a hard time figuring out what to write. Then, I realized the first anniversary of The Truth Is Out There, But So Is Love was approaching, and everything fell into place. I hope you don't mind that I made your prompt into a celebratory drabble for the fic's anniversary! ________________________________________

Pairing: Levi Ackerman/ Hange Zoë Warnings: None. SFW and Fluff. Additional tags: The X Files AU, She/Her pronouns for Hange Zoë Wordcount: 1,4k

“The fuck is all this?”

Levi asked as he stepped into the basement office. Over the past months, he’d grown used to the crampiness of the space he shared with Agent Zoë who — much to her credit — had been trying to keep things clean, even if chaotic. But what he stared upon right now was a different kind of chaos. Colorful chaos.

The document boxes and cabinets were covered in metallic serpentine coils, which spilled to the ground, painting it red, green, and yellow. The wall of newspaper cutouts had some joyful additions: a picture of an alleged alien head now had a tiny pink birthday hat over it, the severed arm that an article claimed to belong to a victim of the Jersey Devil held a little slice of cake over its hand. Dozens of purple balloons clung to the ceiling, trying to escape the havoc, their curling ribbons hanging so low one of them grazed at Agent Ackerman’s cheek. Levi pushed the strip away, only to have it prickling at his skin a second later.

“Tch. It looks like Party City took a dump in here.”

“I know, right??” The excited voice called from the other side of the room. Agent Zoë sat at her table, face turned to the opposite wall, exactly like the day they met. Her hair was chaotic as always, brown strands moving as she lowered her head to fiddle with something. Levi watched as his partner set aside a small box, and the smell of smoke mixed with something sweet diffused in the air. Hange put on a polka-dotted cone hat before swiftly turning her chair in his direction, smiling from ear to ear.

“Happy birthday, Levi!”

The agent frowned as he inspected the rainbow sprinkle cupcake she held out to him, especially the “1” shaped candle that topped it.

“I’m 32.”

He moved his gaze to her.

“And it’s not my birthday.”

“Well,” Hange started, reaching for his hand to give him the sweet treat “Since I don’t know your birth date, I figured we could celebrate your first year in the X-Files. It’s been exactly 365 days since you walked through that door for the first time.” There was a tinge of genuine warmth in her final words. The same warmth that he felt in his chest.

“The monkey case? It’s been one year already?” Levi asked, sincerely surprised.

“Yes!” Hange said, reaching for a desk calendar that was on one of the cabinets. She pointed at the date that was circled in red “July 26”.

When he was first assigned to work with Agent Zoë, Levi was counting the minutes to be done with the job and move on to the top floors of the J Edgar Hoover Building. Now, a mere year later, still buried in the basement floor, investigating all kinds of weird shit by Hange’s side, he couldn’t imagine himself doing anything else. Time flies in the X Files.

The sound of Hange cleaning her throat pulled him back to reality

“So, when is your birthday, by the way?” she said, feigning casualness

Silence.

“Come on, Levi! At least give me a clue.”

“Fine.”

Hange’s face lit up.

“It happened one time since we met.”

Hange’s smile melted into a hilarious betrayed scowl and Levi had to fight hard to maintain his nonchalant expression.

“Wow,” she said, with an exaggerated wounded look “Levi, you just keep unfolding like a flower.”

He couldn’t fight the urge to smile this time.

“I just don’t celebrate birthdays,” he explained, appeasing his partner “so I refrain from sharing this date with people. But if you’re really so curious, I’m sure you can find that information very easily.

“It wouldn’t feel right” Hange explained, shrugging as if she was ready to drop the subject, but then “That means you never had a birthday party?” she asked, bobbing her head to the side. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to!” she quickly added.

“My mom made me a few when she was alive, but I hardly remember any of them” Levi recounted as faded flashes of his mother lifting him from the ground and holding him above a colorful table to blow his candles invaded his mind. “There was one party my friend threw me. The red-haired friend, from the foster home, I think I told you about her once-”

“The one that was like your little sister.” Hange nodded, eyes fixed on him, waiting for his next words.

“Exactly. She bought us two handfuls of candy, I don’t even know where she got the money, probably beat some kids at marbles or something” Levi chuckled “Then she arranged them on the bed, in the shape of a birthday cake. It was a surprise party too, because it was nowhere near the right date.” He smiled, his heart full of love as he reminisced about his friend, and when he looked up, Hange had the sweetest smile on her face.

“Did you ever contact her?” “I planned to. We promised we would stay in touch. But as it turns out, the adults weren’t very keen on sharing the families’ information with a couple of kids. Over time I even forgot her name, I just have a vague memory of someone saying that it was also a flower”

“What flower??” Hange all but jumped on him to get the answer.

“Jesus! How should I know? I know fuck-all about flowers.”

Hange nodded, but Levi could see in her eyes that her mind was elsewhere.

“How about we just celebrate Christmas?” Levi’s proposition caught his partner's attention.

“I don’t do Christmas” Hange answered, puzzled.

“Me neither. Is the perfect middle ground, don’t you think?”

It really was.

Or so he thought when December 25 came and with it an invite to Hange’s apartment.

Levi dreaded he would find over-the-top decorations or — even worse — a bunch of guests with whom he would have to socialize. So when he crossed her door he was relieved to see that it was just her usual place, mess and all, with just a pizza box and one beer bottle awaiting on the small center table. The other bottle was in Hange’s hand, and she used it to point him to the couch, as she went on to feed her fish.

The movie this time was Hange’s choice, and Levi wasn’t surprised when the opening scene of Alien started playing on TV. He was surprised, however, to know why it was her favorite film.

“I like the fact that the cat survives.” She told him “Ripley goes through all that trouble to save Jonesy as she’s running for her life. Then the creature finds Jonesy in his cage and spares him. I think I like the fact that both the human and the alien had to act in a certain way, opposite of what one would think, and that made it possible for the cat to live. I think it means we’re not so different. Or that everyone is more complex than they appear.”

“Maybe it just means cats are fucking scary.”

She laughed, lightly kicking his foot.

As the final credits rolled, Hange propped herself up from the couch.

“I have something for you.”

When she came back from her room, she was holding something flat and rectangular, wrapped in green paper, with a delicate purple ribbon. Levi opened it to reveal a book.

Botanical World 1: An Illustrated Guide To The Flowers of America

He stared at the gift for a whole minute, knowing what it meant.

“If we don’t find her name in this one, there are four more, for Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.”

Levi gulped, trying to swallow the painful knot that was in his throat.

“We can go through it together.” Hange tried, then added, a few seconds later “Or If you don’t like it I can take it back. Anyway, Merry Christmas, Levi, or Happy non-Christmas, I don’t know” Hange chuckled nervously and stared at him expectantly.

“I think” Levi paused, taking his time to look Hange in the eyes “Happy Birthday is more appropriate.”

Levi patiently waited as his partner peered at him. Then squinted. Tilted her head to the side. Her eyes started to grow wide as realization dawned on her.

Hange gave him the most breathtaking smile, and suddenly Levi wasn’t sure what the best birthday present was.

[youre-ackermine]

Hi Val 🤎

May I ask about one of your WIP again? How about "Lifelines" (+ snippet of course)?

Thank you my love 🤎

Hi Livia Sweetie + lovely anon 💜

Of course, you can ask about a second one! Thank you for sending this.

I started to write 'Lifelines' in July and it's kind of "on hold" for now, but I really want to dig more into that story whenever I have some inspiration back.

Summary: Kinda Postwar!Levihan where Levi & Hange meet in a rehabilitation hospital where they both recover from their injuries (both physical & emotional)

Content: modern setting - angst - grief / mourning - hurt / comfort - falling in love

Snippet: Kenny comes to visit Levi in his room

“You’re late!”

It's been a long time since his nephew's unpleasant tone and perpetual scowl last affected Kenny - if they ever did.

He guffaws and waves it off.

“Glad to see you too, brat!”

With a few strides of his long legs he joins Levi across the room and shoves a luxury paper bag onto his lap.

“Lil’ gift from Uri,” he explains when Levi raises a brow in silent question.

“S’ been to Hizuru last week and since yer so fond o’ that tea…well…just fucking take it I guess!”

Levi peeks inside the bag before placing it neatly on his desk. “Tis my favourite, yeah. Thank him for me.” 

“Do it yerself, it’ll make the ol’ coot happy.” He trails off. “Always had a soft spot for ye. But why?” Kenny gives him a once-over then shrugs.. “Beats me”

It's not a scene between Levi & Hange but I hope you liked it!

Have a nice week-end love (& anon as well!) 💜

*Smooch* 😘

Ask me about my WIP

[phantommaws]

PikuHan Snippet - Pale Reflections

I’ve been sitting on this wip for a little while and don’t know where to take it. I’ve only been in the AOT fandom for just under a year and my current fic is focused on LeviHan, but I’m also writing a oneshot to show my love for PikuHan. I would love any comments and/or constructive criticism on what I have so far, or for you as the reader to hopefully enjoy my content so far <3

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

What if?

It was a question that plagued her as she sat on the mattress in complete silence, long black hair tangled from neglect. The night was cold and dark, and with it came the horrible thoughts and feelings of despair; Pieck was no stranger to such emotions now – they were commonplace in her day-to-day life following the Rumbling.

The battle had been the hardest she had ever fought in her life and she revelled in the knowledge that she was able to return to her father. However, nothing could ever come close to helping the heavy pain of loss that settled across her entire being like a blanket.

The war had not been without severe casualty; despite the immense efforts of everyone in the Alliance, they had only managed to save a fraction of humanity – a meagre 20%. Yes, she had to admit that it was better than nothing, but her heart ached whenever she thought about it too much. About what it had meant, considering how she had suffered such a deep, personal loss from which she wasn’t sure she could recover from.

Upon first meeting them, Hange Zoë had come across as nothing more than a crazed, eccentric soldier with a passion for science and nothing more. However, as Pieck had taken the time to get to know them better, she had learned that behind their strange demeanour lay a kindhearted person who just wanted to understand more about the world and those who resided in it.

It was admirable, and she had taken the time to sit with the Commander and tell them everything that she knew about the people of the world, the different countries and cultures. It had been worth it to see the way that the light would return to Hange’s eyes and the way that they would smile upon learning something new.

That smile.

Oh, that smile. How Pieck longed to see it again, even if just once. Hange had rarely smiled in the days leading up to the beginning of the Rumbling, and that fact alone made the former titan shifter sink further into her feelings of despair.

No matter how hard she tried, she would always fail to conjure up an image of Hange’s smile. Even their face was slowly starting to look blurry whenever Pieck imagined them, and it terrified her to no end when she realised that she was also beginning to forget the sound of Hange’s voice.

Laying down and curling under the covers did nothing to soothe her horrible thoughts. It had been roughly eight months since the Rumbling had been stopped, and yet the pain felt as fresh as the day it happened. The bed was cold and Pieck felt so very lonely, trying to ignore the fact that the one she longed for would never be able to share it with her.

She missed the way that Hange would hold her close at night, arms wrapped around her chest while her head rested under the older scout’s chin. The way that they would kiss the back of her neck while whispering sweet nothings about the plans they had made together for a future family – a future that would now never happen. It made Pieck feel physically sick with grief, to imagine a life that would now never be lived.

…

Eight Months Prior

Pieck shuffled uncomfortably from foot to foot as she stood there on the stage alongside the other members of the Alliance. Something about being stood in front of a crowd of thousands of people felt so inherently wrong to her – she hated the thought of being put on a pedestal for simply doing what was right.

“These medals have been presented to each of you as a symbol of your bravery in the Battle of Heaven and Earth. May your names be committed to the history books and may the many generations to come tell the story of your heroic deeds upon this land.”

The cold metal felt like a deadweight sat there upon her chest. She didn’t want this; all she wanted was for her deeds that day to be forgotten and for her to live out the rest of her life in peace with her friends and family. But now, she knew that was not a possibility for her. The Alliance would be expected to take up the mantle of being ambassadors for Marley. To negotiate with the island of Paradis and be responsible for preventing any future conflicts was an incredibly big responsibility for anyone, but for Pieck it felt like the weight of the world itself was resting on her shoulders.

“Captain Levi Ackerman, I believe that you wanted to say some words?”

She brought her gaze back up to follow the Captain as he slowly made his way up to the podium, struggling even with the cane he now used to help himself walk short distances. He looked so tired and pained, and his voice matched his expression as he began his speech.

“There are many things to be said about the events that have transpired here. The losses suffered by everyone who has survived were unnecessary and I personally cannot even begin to imagine how I would apologise for the lives that were cut short. But from the ashes of devastation rises a new era for the future of humanity, one in which I am hopeful for peace between the people of Eldia and the world.

“It has taken an innumerable amount of sacrifice to bring about an end to the Rumbling, and none other stands out more than that of our selflessly brave leader and Commander, Hange Zoë…”

It felt as though her entire body reacted upon hearing her lover’s name mentioned in the Captain’s speech…

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Tag list: @youre-ackermine