Chapter Text
The premise was ambitious, but nothing more than they could handle in execution. In the months that followed the two men would take semi-frequent visits to Paradis, getting immediate work on this joint project. Arriving at the designated location brought forward a range of emotions.
Levi looked up at the chirping birds flying overhead and the enormous trees that towered over them like mountains. This place has seen a lot of bloodshed. His heart ached for the four loyal soldiers who gave up their lives under his command here and the squadron whose misery he had to end four years later. But he knew they wouldn’t want him to suffer upon revisiting, in fact it felt as though it brought him closer to them in some way. It was also the location of which he and the former 14th Commander took refuge from the enemy after that fatal incident that caused the majority of his injuries. And the origin of their proposition, the one which he hoped to fulfill with this project.
Onyankapon arrived by his side and unfurled a paper roll, revealing the orthographic layout to a simple single-story floor plan. They didn’t require much, just the bare minimum in terms of rooms. Jean even mapped and sketched out the blueprints himself, more than happy to volunteer aiding his former superiors in his spare time. They estimated around an eight to nine month timeframe to complete in full, it was more than enough time before Hange was scheduled to return.
“Queen Historia’s willing to invest so we’ll be able to afford the materials!” The pilot informed him enthusiastically. “The goods unavailable in this country are to be exported from Marley straight to the site, so we should be all set.”
“Good, I’ll be sure to send her my regards.”
Onyankapon grasped his shoulder, shaking it a little in excitement and smiled big.
“They’re going to love this, Levi.”
The scarred man allowed a rare smile, already picturing how Hange would react to receiving this surprise.
“Yeah.”
The meantime off-duty was spent in Marley, with Levi focusing his time working on physical therapy for his legs. Living alone with Onyankapon wasn’t too bad. He stuck around for morning tea and by the time he arrived back to the apartment after his job he would frequently supply him with the weekly paper and other goods from the town market. He missed the weight of Hange’s body indenting the opposite end of his bed in their absence, but hugging his pillow was a passable substitute for the time being. Gabi and Falco were additional frequent visitors, often spending their after school hours with him to do their homework, getting the rundown on what they learned, what teachers they liked, what subjects were giving them trouble and if any classmates were bothering them for who they were in the past. It was uncanny to see these former child soldiers partake in such normal activities as school. He could only imagine how challenging it must be for them adjusting to the foreign environment after all the hardships they endured. They were good kids, volunteering to wheel him around town whenever he wished, being quite eager to please. It allowed him to take in the scenery and appreciate seeing the world heal from the damage taken during the Rumbling.
Hange provided detailed reports in their letters which Onyankapon would deliver alongside the rest of the afternoon mail. They received their first letter a little over two weeks after their departure. Levi looked over it alone and his heart clenched at the familiar handwriting, practically able to hear their voice popping off the words on the page as he read.
[ Hey Shorty!
It’s been a week since my arrival and we’ve already made a sizable increase in our progress! The Rumbling hasn’t left much to salvage, the landscape primarily being a flat plain of melted metal slabs and ash due to the excessive heat emitted from the steam of the Colossal Titans who trampled it all. However, thanks to the invention of the photograph, we’re able to have a visual copy of several monuments important to Hizuru! A few of the Azumabito engineers that worked with us on the flying boat in Odiha are familiar with the construction processes unique to Hizuru culture so with a strong foundation we can surely recreate the structures we’re focusing on!
It’s tough camping out in this environment but it’s not anything we haven’t dealt with on expeditions before! It also turns out you’re not the only one facing sleeping problems. Kiyomi is having difficulties adjusting to the futons due to her formerly expensive lifestyle, so I shared tips collected from our experiment to share for her benefit! I don’t blame her though. After sharing a bed all cozied up with you I can’t say it’s been easy going back to the old sleeping bag routine. Call me an emotional weirdo all you want but I miss being with you.
I hope all is well in Marley! How is your physical therapy coming along? You were making steady improvements with that core exercise to get in bed properly last time I checked. Give me updates on how you’re managing! Have you heard from the kids at all? Did they notify you about possibly visiting or are they busy doing their ambassador work? Tell me about Gabi and Falco too, I would love to hear about how they’re doing in school! Send Onyankapon my regards as well, feel free to invite him to put a letter of his own in the next envelope you send out!
Take care of yourself!
— Sincerely, Your beloved Four-eyes ]
After he finished reading he felt the immediate urge to write back to them. Fortunately they included a return address on the envelope so that took care of one of their concerns. He notified Onyankapon about their request and asked about sending them a return message. He informed him of the typewriter in his office but he politely declined in favor of hand-writing it instead. There was something more personal about transcribing words by hand rather than through typed font in his opinion. Not to mention he figured they would feel closer to him by recognizing the familiar penmanship in his letter the same way as he upon receiving theirs.
Levi took out a pen and stared vacantly at the blank sheet of paper in front of him. Minutes ticked by and he remained uncertain with how to proceed. How should he address them in writing? He hadn’t even started the letter yet and he was already facing difficulties. Words weren’t his forte, not by a long shot, but maybe now that he had ample time to plan them out then it wouldn’t sound too bad. Then again he was reminded that this was Hange who he was writing to, the same person who knew him inside out as if they developed telepathy specifically for him. So why the extra pressure?
Just talk to them like you always would.
Letting out a long exhale to settle his composure, he picked up the pen and got to writing.
[ Four eyes,
I would say it’s been quiet without your screeching but you gave the mini brats quite the task to keep me occupied. Falco has been fine but Gabi punched a kid at school for continuously calling them filthy Eldians. Even after everything some people refuse to let go of their hate. They got off with a warning but their punishments won’t be as light if repeated. Shitty situation aside, they're doing well enough in their classes.
I haven’t heard much from our brats with the exception of Kirstein and Arlert who have sent reports here and there. Work keeps them busy but there have been no run-ins with Jaegerists since that one attempt last month. I wrote to Historia recently to make sure her new brat wasn’t giving her too much trouble and to ask about the orphanage. All seems well.
Physical therapy is kicking my ass. The doctors won’t stop poking and sticking their fingers into my scars before every session. They say it’s to loosen up the tissue and prevent some kind of build up but it hurts like hell. As long as I continue my exercises nothing should come of it.
I’m content to hear that you are doing well, apart from the sleeping issues. In your defense, there is a difference between sleeping in shifts and remaining unconscious for the entirety of the night. And you’re not a weirdo, at least not for that. I feel the same. ]
His cheeks reddened at the mere admission that he missed them on paper, even if it was as miniscule as that. But it was too late to take back now, unless he wanted to scratch it out leaving Hange to investigate a long streak of ink which wouldn’t be suspicious at all. He ultimately shifted the conversation to avoid saying anything else too sickenly sweet for his liking.
[ But don’t take that as an excuse. You seem to be doing some good out there and I want you to feel fulfilled by your work. Try using your own advice and find something to hold. ]
Levi made no mention of hugging his pillow as a shitty replacement, not wishing to embarrass himself further listing all the details.
[ Take care of yourself, clean your shitty glasses, eat regularly, take shit from no one and above all, don’t die. Stay strong, you can do this. I know you can.
I look forward to reading your response. ]
He signed his name at the bottom of the page in a neat signature before folding it up and sealing it in an envelope with a fitting Wings of Freedom stamp in the top left corner. The following day he traveled with Gabi and Falco to the post office to send it out. He would wait with high hopes anticipating their eventual reply.
—————
The two continued exchanging letters over the course of the next few months as both their respective projects progressed. Once the framework of the building on Paradis was established, construction proceeded with relative ease.
Having a keen artist’s eye, Jean aided with choosing the range of colors to go with the exterior. He focused on maintaining a relatively monochrome palette with red accents on the roof and window shutters alongside light and dark shades of brown in the form of the wooden front porch and the pillars supporting it with the chimney being composed of either dark brown stone or greyish brick. They wanted the interior to be bright and cheerful to keep the atmosphere uplifting, looking into light yet not entirely overly saturated colors to paint the walls with. Levi thought the balanced mix of monochromatic and radiant colors was relatively representative of their relationship.
Later on he endured an especially awkward conversation with Onyankapon regarding the amount of bedrooms and beds per space necessary. They ended up agreeing on a master and a guest with a king’s sized bed in the former and two twins in the latter. He refused to elaborate on the details. But before they knew it the walls of the house were filled in alongside the wood and tile floors. It was definitely enough room for two people to manage with every room expected to get proper use minus the guest bedroom with the exception of future occasional visitors.
At some point a few months afterwards Onyankapon suggested speeding up the process, which was at around seven months in. When asked what the sudden burst in energy was all about, he explained that it was to make significant progress before the weather cooled down enough to snow. They only had so many tarps available and couldn’t shield the entire building from the elements. The majority of the exterior had been laid out and filled in but without proper roofing there wouldn’t be any saving the hardwood floors they installed. Levi eventually relented although he emphasized not to rush as they still had plenty of time before the eighteen months were up.
—————
It’s now been nine months since the project began, hitting the official halfway mark in Hange’s journey and Levi was browsing the decorative options to go with the interior now that the exterior was completed.
During his most recent trip to Paradis he made a pit stop at the old survey corps barracks to go through Hange’s things. He discovered a folder of Moblit’s old portraits and various sketches and took them with him, making the decision to get the most detailed ones framed. He made sure the workers handled the old parchment with care to ensure nothing of the artistic assistant’s work was smeared or tarnished in any way. They ended up doing quite the opposite, performing a process that preserved the quality of the work before encasing them in glass surrounded by a detailed golden frame. It was perfect.
Levi racked his brain for other materials meaningful to Hange for him to implement. Miniature models of advanced technology, unique-looking rocks, plants not native to Paradis? They like flowers, right? He recalled a time where the two of them had to retrieve a few bouquets for an event in the palace and how pensive they appeared admiring the blue roses surrounded by the maple leaves fluttering down around them. Another time they admitted to having an interest in botany during a late night drinking with their fellow veterans, stating they would’ve likely taken up the practice had it not been for their soldier duties and Titan research. Filling the place with a vase or two wouldn’t be a bad idea.
Levi put a hand to his forehead with a sigh. Walls, he was hopeless.
——————
Another month passed and Levi was tightening a black scarf around his face, protecting it from the frigid cold. He bristled at the gust of wind that whipped his cheek and the fluttering snowflakes that dusted his raven hair. It was December 24th, a day most frequently associated with Christmas Eve but to the one-eyed veteran it was simply the day before his birthday. Regardless, he failed to recognize why Onyankapon had the most enlightening idea as to drag him out in freezing temperatures to stroll around Marley when he’d preferably remain warm inside the apartment. In fact, he decided it was pressing enough for him to voice his complaints.
“Is there a reason why you were so adamant on us heading out this late? It’s fucking freezing out here.”
“It’s the holiday season! People across the world are finding ways to celebrate in their own special ways.” He explained with a smile. “Whether that’s putting presents under a pine tree, lighting a special nine-wicked candle, playing games, or simply cozying up by the fireplace with loved ones, there are plenty of traditions to accompany the winter festivities.”
“And yet you couldn’t make up some shitty ritual that took place indoors?”
He let out a hearty chuckle. “The city may light up at night year round, but it only gets like this for only a couple of weeks annually per December. I figured it was something worth appreciating.”
They took to the marketplace near open water, the street lamps casting a golden glow across the rocky pavement. People were doing last-minute shopping for their families weaving in and out of stores holding out for in the last hours of their openings. Holiday music generated from record players reached their ears outside the buildings from which they stood, intermixing pleasantly with the background noises of the crowds. The smell of warm seasonal pastries perfectly suited for the weather reached his nostrils, although he resisted the urge to share his intrigue with Onyankapon.
The house in Paradis was practically finished at this point with the only lacking facet being a small garden he wished to implement to grow herbs. However, the current weather made tilling the rocky soil an impossibility. Hange’s messages have additionally been sparse, with the past couple months being completely bare in terms of letters. They must’ve hit a roadblock or gotten invested in something big. Or on the darker side of things, something could’ve happened to them. Levi tried to avoid thinking that way but he’d be lying if he said their silence didn’t concern him.
A loud horn sounding from across the other side of the city interrupted his thoughts, signaling the arrival of an oncoming cruiser.
“Ah, that’s the last boat of the night! We should head over there!” Onyankapon declared and began leading the wheelchair in its direction before Levi had the chance to refuse. That didn’t stop him from protesting of course.
“Oi! You said we were supposed to be avoiding the crowds!” He raised his voice over the whirring of wind blowing in his face.
“Trust me on this one, you won’t want to miss it.”
He raised a questioning brow. Greeting the final passengers arriving at the port must be part of some Marleyan holiday tradition, a sign of luck perhaps.
As the two approached the port, Levi caught sight of rugged passengers exiting the boat with their suitcases. Various families reunited before him; a father kneeling down and embracing his two little girls, a pair of what appeared to be twins rejoining the rest of their siblings, and a couple sharing a ‘welcome back’ kiss of sorts among several others. Witnessing all of these heartfelt gatherings he couldn’t help yearning for the company of a certain bespectacled individual with the brightest laugh and biggest smile who would make him feel like he was floating. If Onyankapon’s reason for bringing him here was to remind him of who he was missing then he could sleep out in the snow for all he cared. He missed them every waking day, and even if it didn’t show on his face then wouldn’t his dedication towards their joint project provide further proof that he does? Levi let out a sigh. He could only imagine how they’d look decked out in warm winter gear with flurries catching their lashes and sprinkling their hair, breath puffs visibly escaping their lips with every excitable shout and fogging up their glasses. With how cold the weather was they would likely huddle up with their arms around the small of his back to keep him warm. It was a nice daydream to momentarily delude himself from their absence.
Except he didn’t have to imagine it.
Time slowed as his vision honed on the last person to exit with a familiar tall, lanky figure to emerge from the boat. He did a double take as he drank in their appearance. They possessed a mop of messy reddish-brown hair styled in a half bun wearing a black leather eyepatch, oval-framed glasses, and a beige winter coat with black pants tucked into their high rise caramel-colored boots.
It was unmistakably them.
Levi resisted the urge to pinch himself. There was no way he could be hallucinating now, or did time move faster than his old bones could keep up? It had only been ten months since their departure, had something come up that prompted them to return sooner? Onyankapon waved and called their name to grab their attention. Their face lit up immediately upon spotting the two men, sporting a wide grin as they picked up their luggage and raced down the stairs to meet them. He couldn’t help but notice his cravat tied around their neck like a makeshift scarf, although upon closer inspection it possessed a guise similar to that of a neckerchief. No, this was too vivid to be a trick of the subconscious, they were definitely here. Hange Zoë, appearing just as achingly beautiful as the day they left.
Without averting his gaze, Levi reached behind him to grasp his wooden crutch which protruded out from behind the chair, although he was having trouble finding it.
“Happy holidays, captain.” Onyankapon muttered with a smile, handing him the object he was looking for.
Levi rose to his feet just as they arrived a few feet in front of him. They stood in silence, both clearly having trouble finding a proper way to greet one another after several months spent apart. Hange’s exhalations came out in breathy shudders. Whether it was a fault of the colder temperatures, or the running, or the fact that they were actually here with him was anyone’s guess. Probably the running. Luckily it was they who took on the task of speaking first.
“Hey shorty.” Their voice cracked mid-greeting, crimson eye shining with unshed tears.
He wasn’t much better, unable to form words beyond simply uttering their name in return.
“Hange…”
He leaned forward to move on his crutch but he didn’t get very far. The brunette dropped their bags to the ground and intercepted him in three wide strides. He let go of his wooden walking stick the moment before getting ensnared by their arms pulling him into a tight hug. Levi’s hand flew to the back of their head to sink his three fingers into their russet locks whilst the other wrapped snug around their waist. Hange melted into his embrace, burying their face in the crook of his neck and releasing that withheld emotion with a heavy sigh, the exhale heating his nape. He closed his eyes and basked in their wondrous presence.
It’s good to be home.
“You’re early.” He greeted them raspily.
“Couldn’t miss your birthday for the world.” Hange’s answer came out in a breathless whisper. Their throat was tight withholding the urge to cry. “I…I missed you so much, I couldn’t wait any longer.”
Their voice was sweet music to his ears, just as he remembered it, with their sweet admission tugging at his heartstrings. He relished in getting to hear it eight months sooner than expected.
“Smell decent enough.”
They let out a bright laugh, a sound that graced his ears and rejuvenated his very soul, and he welcomed it joyfully. Now that he heard it again it was baffling to think he went so long without it and didn’t believe himself capable of depriving himself of its light ever again. There was so much he wanted to say now that they were here, to put into words the feelings that he felt too awkward expressing on paper while writing his letters. But it wouldn’t be natural for him to miss an ample opportunity to engage in the classic banter that he pined for in their absence.
“Coming from you? That’s the highest compliment I could receive! I guess that means I finally passed your hygiene standards huh?” They pulled back, placing their gloved hands on his shoulders and admiring his appearance with an adoring smile. “You haven’t aged a day.”
“You’re not too bad yourself, four-eyes.” He reached up and swiped the pad of his gloved hand over the weaker skin below their eyepatch where they had sustained burn wounds. “These seem to be healing well, not as red.”
Hange shrugged. “Could just be the weather making me pale. Gah I can’t wait for it to get warmer again!” Their eye widened suddenly, as if struck with an idea. “Oh that reminds me! Onyankapon!” They called for the attention of the third member of their party present, perking up at the mention of his name before the brunette continued. “You have the tickets right?”
The what?
Onyankapon smirked and flashed two paper slips out his pocket, waving them with a few flicks of the wrist. “Right here.”
Levi’s eyes widened. It all suddenly made sense. No wonder he insisted on making significant progress on their independent project over the past couple months, the pair must’ve been keeping in close contact. Not to mention where his clothes had disappeared to, he must’ve packed them away for the trip! He planned on interrogating them for details later, but he needed to address the obvious first.
“So…you’re kicking me out.”
Onyankapon put his hands up defensively in fake surrender. “Hey it’s not like that! Hear me out, you’ve excelled in your physical therapy enough over the last ten months to where you’ve been qualified by your specialist to be let go as long as you continue your exercises independently. Hange’s here now and our little project is finished waiting for you patiently on Paradis so” he gave him a melancholic smile and put his hands in his pockets “you don’t need me anymore.”
Well when you put it that way it sounds depressing as hell. Levi thought to himself. Casting his companion aside if he were a tool he could discard once he had no further use for him. It reminded him of how he felt upon being ordered into retirement, ejected from the corps upon being crippled of his combat abilities. It made him feel useless, an emotion he didn’t wish to thrust upon the young pilot, even if it were not in Armin’s intentions when doing so. Fortunately Onyankapon recognized that expression and was quick to assure him otherwise.
“Come on, don’t look at me like that. This is the start of a brand new beginning for you! I’ll miss your company but I can always visit with you doing the same here in Marley. We’ve got our own separate lives to concern ourselves with, I’d be happier knowing you can spend yours living with someone you truly cherish.”
“Awww Onyankapon!” Hange gushed adorably, clearly touched by his words.
Levi didn’t want to admit it but he was just as affected by his sentiment. He took their response as his cue to give in.
“Alright, fine. But you said that was the last boat of the night, when are we leaving?”
“That may be the last ship coming in, but the last one setting sail for Paradis boards in…” he paused to check his watch “…thirty minutes. And you two have seats reserved.”
“Well we better hurry then! C’mon!” Hange caught Levi off-balance and dragged him back to his wheelchair so they could get moving.
Onyankapon scrambled to gather Hange’s bags and they pushed the wheelchair forward at high speeds. Levi let out a startled curse through his teeth at the sudden lurch in motion. In turn they let loose an overjoyed “yahoo!” as they weaved through crowds to their desired destination. People hastily darted out of the way as the duo of abnormals plus Onyankapon barreled through the city.
“Pardon us!” He apologized as he hurried behind them, hoisting Hange’s bags up to his chest to avoid bumping into anyone unfortunate enough to stand in their way.
Despite the brainless spontaneous nature of their decision, the thrill of the wind in Levi’s face was nostalgically exhilarating. For a moment it felt like he was soaring through the skies in the maneuver gear again, albeit without direct control over his movements. Having a heavier cargo to carry, Onyankapon lagged behind the rest of the group, struggling to keep up, although Hange periodically peered over their shoulder to assure that they didn’t lose him.
Eventually they reached the port and Hange dragged their heels to bring the wheelchair to a screeching halt. The abrupt stop nearly sent Levi flying out of his seat had it not been for the deathgrip he had on his armrests. The three of them were hunched over and panting, the whiplash from that impulsive adrenaline-driven decision sapping the air right from their lungs.
“For fucks sake four-eyes did you leave the last of your common sense in Hizuru or what?” Levi managed to breathe out in exasperation, still recovering from the sudden ride he was given.
Hange’s gasps for air promptly turned into hysterical wheezes, the bout of laughter making it tremendously difficult to regain their breath. Onyankapon shook his head with a smile and carried the luggage over to the boat, showing the register their tickets so they could load their bags. Levi watched him go before absentmindedly turning back to the brunette bent over beside him. Seeing them up close his gaze continuously drifted down to his cravat, its stark white a sharp contrast from the rest of their outfit to the point where his eyes kept gravitating towards it. It didn’t take them long to catch on.
“Ah that’s right! I promised, didn’t I?” Hange straightened up with a smile and puffed out the cloth for emphasis. “I can assure you I washed it regularly so it won’t be coated in my gross Hange germs. You can take it back now.” Their fingers began working the knot but they were halted by Levi raising his hand to stop them.
“And leave your neck unguarded by the wind? Not a chance, keep it. I have plenty of those anyway.” The hand he raised retreated to the back of his neck as he continued. “It uh…looks good on you.”
The brunette’s cheeks flushed with color at the compliment, and this time he was certain it wasn’t a side effect of the cold.
“Ah, thanks. It was also the thing I chose to hold onto y’know? When you uh…told me to take my own advice in your letter that is.” Their face only grew redder by the second simply explaining it.
A little late to be getting bashful all of a sudden. He thought to himself, although he wasn’t complaining. The view was nice. Not to mention how they used his cravat, a significant aspect of his appearance, to aid in healing their sleep deprivation. It was an especially touching fact to learn.
He didn’t get the chance to reply unfortunately, as Onyankapon returned soon after. He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb, gesturing towards the workers transferring their luggage on the carrier.
“Alright, your bags are being loaded. Since you’re retired soldiers with injuries you qualify for priority seating so you’re good to board whenever you’re ready.”
Hange shook their head, ridding themself of the blush, before rejoining Levi at his side. They then took his hand and squeezed it as they met each other’s gaze, hopeful for the future that awaited them.
“Come on, let’s go home.” Together.
——————
Levi spent the majority of the boat ride listening to Hange ramble on about their various duties over the past ten months, specifically the portions he missed out on during the time they didn’t write to him. Working outside in the sweltering heat proved difficult for them over the summer. On those especially hot days where the sky was spotless with the sun ruthlessly beating down on their backs, they lathered their skin with extra lotion to protect their burn marks from worsening and possibly developing any skin conditions. That aside, work was fairly manageable. The people overseeing the construction process on site were understanding, allowing volunteers ample time to take breaks and rehydrate before returning out in the field with enough wiggle room to allow others to pitch in their own ideas. Despite the tough environmental conditions and sleeping in a tent, they felt fulfilled for the commitment and attributes they contributed.
They informed him how seven months in they expressed their homesickness to Onyankapon in a letter to which he then suggested that they come back early. At first they declined, stating they still had a load of business to attend. Being the workhorse they are, Hange had buckled down and honed in on their individual assignments, pitching Kiyomi ideas in the same style they would to Erwin during their researching days. He eventually got through to them after convincing them that the holiday season was a special time of the year full of surprises and they wouldn’t want to miss it, hinting at something big on the horizon. In their endless curiosity and incessant nosiness, Hange eventually relented and made a deal, informing Kiyomi months in advance so they could prioritize the most prominent aspects of the project before their departure from Hizuru. They fortunately reached a satisfying enough stopping point for them to pry themself away as opposed to changing their mind last minute and thus were able to arrive back in Marley early!
After exiting the boat they took a brief train ride up north towards where the walls once stood. It was nostalgic for Hange, seeing Paradis again after over a year since the Battle of Heaven and Earth, bringing their heart at ease seeing the land which they called home freed from the tyranny of the Titans at last. The brunette was surprised when Levi nudged them to get up upon reaching a specific stop, as it was located a decent distance from civilization. The walk itself was further along than Levi recalled, but then again he was never so impatient to reach his destination before now.
“Whew! If I knew our hotel would be this far out I would’ve suggested we stay at Onyankapon’s for the night instead.” They commented with a yawn.
“It’s not for much further.” He assured them, eyeing the familiar landmarks leading to the spot. I swear it’ll be worth it. Seeing as they still believed his cover up story, it was already showing promise.
Upon rounding a corner Hange froze abruptly, undoubtedly recognizing the route. Levi was sure their mind must be racing a mile a minute conjuring up endless possibilities as to what this could mean. Or they could be recalling all the painful memories of tragic events that transpired here, which motivated him to turn over his shoulder and lightly elbow them out of their reverie.
“Oi, you okay?”
“Eh? Oh, yeah. I just wasn’t expecting something to be stationed all the way out here.” They admitted with a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of their neck.
He patted the hand remaining on the chair handles before refacing forward. “Come on, we’re almost there.”
They spotted the automatic porch lights from the distance before the actual house, but it didn’t make the reveal any less fulfilling. A paved pathway indicated a shift in the environment, the tall trees thinning out to open up where his surprise awaited them at last, positioned proudly in the center of the clearing.
Hange’s hand shot to their mouth to smother a gasp. They were speechless, overcome with emotion at the sight of the perfect single-story cottage standing before them. The shutters were white with a porch out front and a rocking chair stationed next to the door. The roof tiles were the same red shingles used on the houses in the Shiganshina district, giving it a small taste of home. A dark brick chimney protruded from the back of the house which was undoubtedly connected to a fireplace inside. Their imagination couldn’t do this splendid scenario justice, the real deal was better than they could’ve ever hoped for.
“Is this for…is this what I think it is?”
Levi gave them a small shrug, trying to feign nonchalance while his mind ran wild. “You proposed something like this…is it close enough to what you had in mind?”
They turned around to meet his gaze, a gentle neutral expression on their face as they searched for answers.
“You really want this?” They prompted him, although it was delivered in a manner more akin to a statement than a question.
“Of course I do. Do you think I spent the last ten months spilling my guts over this project with the intention of living in isolation for the rest of my sorry life?”
They let out a humorous huff. “Yeah, you’ve got a point there.”
Hange was still reeling from this revelation in disbelief, attempting to convince themself that this must be a fabrication beyond their wildest dreams. Was he even aware of the unspoken implications that this arrangement had? Of the full extent of which they wanted it? They had to check to make sure.
“So does this mean…we’re…?” They paused and flicked their index finger back and forth repeatedly between the two of them before pointing it at the fourth finger on their opposite hand, leaving him to fill in the blanks.
“Yeah.” He confirmed with a softening expression, understanding what they wished to ask without even needing to hear the rest of the sentence. “I wouldn’t have it any other way, four-eyes.”
A wave of giddiness surged within them at his verbal acceptance. It would seem they finally got their answer; Humanity’s Strongest and Smartest were officially united at last. They raced back to position themself behind his chair with their hands eagerly gripping the handles.
“Show me around!” Hange demanded with enthusiasm.
They pushed his wheelchair up the makeshift ramp built alongside the stairs and stopped in front of the dark wooden door. Levi fumbled the keys out of his pocket once they reached the porch, his fingers trembling with hardly contained excitement and nervousness as he finally managed to unlock the front door and enter.
Hange gasped as they took it all in. They wheeled him in and closed the door behind them, taking off their respective coats to put up on the hangers before going to explore. Levi allowed himself a gentle smile watching them wander about the kitchen, brushing a hand over the surface of the countertops and investigating the various plates and glasses ornately organized behind the white cabinets. Whenever they discovered something new he couldn’t help watching their expression as they absorbed all the new information presented with this occasion being no different. Not wishing to track dirt accumulated by his wheels in the house, he grabbed his crutch and stood up to approach them. He began showcasing where he kept the utensils and other supplies for food preparation stored alongside the advanced appliances that they managed to import from Marley. When they spotted Moblit’s drawings framed on the walls it took everything within them not to burst into grateful tears. It was a lot to take in at once, but Hange adored it all the same with passionate fascination.
“It’s perfect.” They breathed out in awe. “I never thought I’d be able to have this…for the longest time I didn’t think I deserved a life like this” they admitted quietly “but…you’ve made it possible. I can’t thank you enough.”
“If anyone deserves it it’s you, four-eyes. And I’m tired of hearing you claim otherwise.”
Hange’s gaze shone with an immense amount of love that spoke volumes of their gratitude. For a moment Levi thought they were about to cry but he was mistaken as they marched forward and suddenly hoisted him up with one arm beneath his bent legs and the other supporting his back. They wobbled on their legs slightly, having not anticipated the struggle to hold him up properly. Out of everything he had anticipated upon arriving here, being bridal carried by Hange Zoë was not one of them. Although he’d probably be less opposed to it if they had a better grasp on him because right now he felt as though he were about to fall on his ass.
“Oi watch it!” Levi scolded, clinging to their shoulder in desperation until they got a decent enough grip for him to relax comfortably enough in their arms.
Hange let out an apologetic laugh. “Sorry! I’ll warn you next time, but I’ve always wanted to do this.” They had a dreamy faraway look in their eye as they said it.
“What, to drop me from this height?”
“Ha! You wish.”
They leaned forward and kissed him, and just like that all cohesive thought evaporated into thin air. Levi brought himself closer, adjusting his arms around their neck to reciprocate, much to the brunette’s content. This was already far better than they imagined, and it would seem the ravenette’s opinion was quickly swayed in favor of it as well. Maybe getting abruptly swept off his feet wasn’t so bad after all.
When he deepened the kiss Hange felt themself go weak in the knees and fought the dizziness that urged them to slide down to the floor. Instead they backstepped steadily across the hardwood floors toe to heel, carefully dodging the furniture in order to avoid causing a mess. That was, until they realized they had no idea where they were going. They broke the kiss to gasp for air prior to asking the burning question.
“Uh…which way is the bedroom?”
Levi groaned half-heartedly and tugged at their makeshift neckerchief to signify he wished to be put down. Once released, he took them by the arm and led them to the desired location. He mastered his limp enough to the point where he could navigate shorter distances without his crutch, but he could only go so far on foot. Luckily their destination was close by.
Upon closing the door behind him Hange wrapped their arms around his front in a hug and leaned over his shoulder to kiss his cheek, but their actions were abruptly halted.
“Nuh-uh,” Levi tutted with his index finger on their lips and turned around to face them, “not until you get out of those filthy clothes.”
Hange smirked shamelessly and raised a questionable brow at his phrasing, causing him to pull his hand away and fix them with an unimpressed stare.
“Ugh, not like that you fucking weirdo.”
They put their hands up in mock surrender with a cheeky grin before turning towards their luggage to unpack. “Alriiiiight just checking.” Being an avid clean-freak they figured he probably wouldn’t be up for something like that anyway but couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tease him regardless.
Once they washed up and changed into their pajamas the two promptly hit the mattress with heavy sighs, happy to finally lie down and get their long-awaited beauty sleep. Well, not before Hange pounced, wrapping their limbs around his torso and kissing his face to make up for lost time. They weren’t given the upper hand for long, as Levi flipped them over to provide some affection of his own. Hange’s giddy laughter at how unexpected his reaction was made waiting those long ten months completely worth it. He removed their eyepatch and glasses to press his lips to their face and neck where the most predominant burn marks were visible. Having been shown tenderness towards his wounds before, Levi wanted them to feel the same captivation he did upon experiencing it for the first time. It proved to be a striking success, as Hange’s heart did backflips being doted on so ardently. The mere prospect of him instigating this with the intention of making them feel loved was enough to threaten shedding tears of joy. Hange couldn’t wait to devote the rest of their life loving this paragon of a man, an absolute wonder in every regard with humane flaws worthy of proper care and appreciation.
It went on for some time before the brunette rolled over to pin him down so they could return the favor. Levi didn’t want to complain, but after enough time passed exchanging kisses he playfully shoved them off before they could get ‘too disgusting’ in his words. His partner gladly relished seeing the blush that flooded his cheeks as a result of their handiwork in the brief moment they caught a glimpse of his face. He didn’t allow them the precious view for long, choosing to hide it by giving them his back, lying on his side. Hange took that as their cue to go to sleep. They scooched closer to curl up behind him with their arms bundled around his abdomen, a position which Levi obliged to with an incoherent drowsy grumble. Before long the two of them succumbed to a deep slumber, happily reunited once more.
——————
Hange awoke the next morning to find Levi latched to their side, his arms wrapped firmly around their waist and leaving them lying comfortably on their back. Upon attempting to shift their position to sit up, they felt the arms tighten. It was too firm to insinuate he was still asleep.
Strange. Usually it was they who clung to their shorter partner, however it seemed the roles had reversed overnight.
“Let me go Levi, I need to get up.” They grumbled drowsily.
“No.” He gruffly refused, voice muffled by his face buried in their silk pajama shirt.
They couldn’t deny how adorable his morning voice was. Its gravely huskiness tempted them to remain snuggled up in his embrace if it meant keeping warm under the covers. But at this rate they’d never leave bed, and Hange refused to reveal a potential weakness for him to dangle above them. Not to mention his wheelchair was still in the other room. So they instead took to teasing as an effective counter.
“I know you love me but…” they were interrupted by a yawn “unless you release me you're not going to reach the plates for breakfast.”
“Don’t act like you’re above needing the step stool too.” He countered, choosing not to address their bold statement.
Well he didn’t deny it. They noted. Not to mention he took the bait.
“Speak for yourself, as if you can even use it to begin with.”
He kicked their leg, retaliating for the jab at his condition. “Of course I can. Asshole.”
They smirked in spite of the punt they endured. “If you have a problem with my taunts then you should let go, it’s either that or being stuck with me tormenting you all day.”
“Not a chance, nice try.”
Then he left them no choice. Hange squirmed in his grasp, attempting to wriggle their way out of his arms. It was, of course, to no avail. Injury be damned, nothing was capable of escaping the former captain’s tight hold. They would have to take to forming a deal to get out of this one.
“I’ll give you five minutes.”
“Ten.”
“That’s twice as long!”
“Double or nothing, four-eyes.”
“As if you weren’t the one who started bargaining.”
“Take it or leave it with the latter as my cue to kick your ass out.”
“But isn’t that what I want?”
“You know what I mean.”
Hange chuckled and nuzzled their face in his neck, relenting with a smile. “Okay fine, offer accepted.”
“Yeah…sure.” He muttered for lack of a better response. There was a brief moment of silence before the brunette spoke up again.
“Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Zoë.” They murmured cheekily in his ear.
Levi felt his face heat up.
“Just close your eyes and shut up.” He ordered sleepily and squeezed his arms around them tighter, fighting to ignore the implications of that statement.
“Aye aye, captain.” They relented, their voice slightly muffled as they kissed his crown of black hair and drifted off into sleep.
Regardless of his earlier dismissal, the new name had a good ring to it. He never held a close attachment to his surname anyway, seeing as he only learned of it within the past decade. He could easily think of someone who suited it better. Levi closed his eyes and breathed in deeply, his mind conjuring an appropriate response before falling into unconsciousness.
Pleasure’s all mine, Dr. Hange Ackerman.