Chapter Text
Levi was just getting ready for bed when he heard a knock at the door. He recognized it instantly. Only one person had the nerve to bother him this late at night.
He sighed.
Despite his insomnia, he needed at least a few hours of sleep each day to function. He didn’t have much energy left for conversation. Especially not with the one person whose stamina could drain him even when he was at full strength.
For a moment, he considered pretending to be asleep. But he knew that wouldn’t work. She knew him too well.
As if in response to his thoughts, the knock came again, louder this time.
He sighed again, just as loudly, and slowly walked over to the door.
When he opened it with a sharp motion, the face that greeted him was exactly the one he had expected.
He drew in a breath to say something like, “Shitty-glasses, do you even know what time it is?” but the words froze in his throat the second he saw her face. There was something in her expression he couldn’t quite name. Something that made his chest tighten.
There was no getting out of this.
With another sigh, he stepped aside and motioned silently for her to come in. Hange flashed him a 100-watt smile, didn’t hesitate for a second, and walked right in.
This is going to be a long night, Levi thought.
—
Hange tried not to show her surprise. She’d expected Levi to scold her for bothering him at this hour. It was always fifty-fifty: either he’d yell, or he’d slam the door in her face with that cold expression of his.
Even now, with her rank higher than his, some things between them hadn’t changed. And she was glad for that. She didn’t want him to treat her differently just because of a title. Honestly, she was surprised she’d even dared to knock in the first place.
But she’d always been the type who believed in trying everything, even if the chances were close to zero. She lived by that rule and somehow, it always got her where she wanted to be.
But Levi was a different story. The rules that worked on others didn’t work on him.
So why had she knocked? Why was she even here?
She wasn’t sure. One moment, she’d been reviewing reports, thinking about Marley and the future, about everyone they’d lost..
And suddenly, she felt like she couldn’t breathe.
And before she realized it, she’d wandered down the hallway and found herself standing in front of his door, as if her body had brought her here without her mind’s consent.
But now she was here. And there was no point in overthinking it.
Looking at Levi’s typically bored and worn-out expression - one she’d known for over a decade - she felt herself starting to calm down.
Without thinking, she sat down on the rug beside his bed.
“Tch. You know you don’t have to sit on the floor.”
“But Levi, we both know your floor is cleaner than my entire room,” she said with a laugh.
“That’s true. But if you catch a cold and get sick, what’ll happen to us without a commander?”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. They hadn’t had a proper commander since they’d lost Erwin. Her position didn’t change that. She had it simply because there was no one else.
“Then you could take over,” she joked, already anticipating his reaction.
“Over my dead body.”
“Or Armin.”
“You know he’s not ready yet.”
She knew. Armin was brilliant, and she believed he’d take over one day, but not now. Not yet.
“What’s going on, Four-eyes? Are you thinking of quitting?” Levi asked. He was teasing her, but his eyes were watching her carefully.
“No,” she replied, though it came out less certain than she intended.
She wasn’t ready to give up, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was failing. Still, she wasn’t ready to say it out loud.
“I’m just thinking... what would happen if something happened to me? Anything could.”
“Don’t even start. We need you.”
He sat beside her on the rug and fell silent.
She didn’t want this kind of atmosphere. Talking about duties and responsibilities was the last thing she wanted. That wasn’t why she came.
But why had she come?
Without thinking, she reached into her pocket and pulled out the hip flask she kept for special occasions.
“Want some?” She already knew the answer. Levi hated alcohol.
“Tch. So that’s why you came? To get drunk here? Forget it! I’m not spending the night cleaning up your vomit.”
Hange laughed. “Don’t be so dramatic. I’m not going to get drunk. I just want to relax a little after work.”
She waved the flask in front of his face. “You sure you don’t want any?”
With a look of pure disgust, he pushed her hand away. “I’d rather have tea. And you should too.”
“I’ll just take a few sips.”
“If you say so,
commander
,” he said sarcastically.
She almost scolded him for using the title like that, but stopped herself. She knew he was doing it on purpose, trying to get a reaction from her, to draw out what was going on in her head. Somehow, he always managed to read her like an open book, even if he rarely said it out loud.
But she didn’t want to talk. She wanted to forget. Just for one night.
She took a sip.
Then they were silent for a moment. Then for even longer.
Levi was starting to get worried. It wasn’t unusual for him to stay quiet, but Hange? Hange never stopped talking. She always carried the conversation, whether he liked it or not.
Now, the silence between them felt wrong. So wrong that he decided to break it himself.
“So... what do you think our chances are of finding Eren?”
“No.”
Levi gave her a puzzled look. “No?”
“I don’t want to talk about that.”
“Okay. Then... what about Marle..”
“No. I don’t want to hear about Marley either.” She cut him off again.
His blood pressure rose – not out of anger exactly, but sheer frustration. Hange was acting strange, even for her, and he didn’t know how to handle it.
“We’ve been talking about this for days. I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Not tonight.”
“So what
do
you want to talk about? Or did you just come here to remember what it’s like to sit in a clean room where trash doesn’t fall on you every time you move?”
Hange laughed, though he couldn’t tell if it was genuine.
For a moment, he even considered offering to clean her room. Anything to break this weird tension.
Hange noticed that even with his usual stony expression, Levi seemed... unsettled. And she couldn’t help but feel a small flicker of satisfaction. She’d made the man who stayed ice-cold even in the face of Titans nervous.
But why was he nervous? It wasn’t like she’d never been in his room before. She used to come often, though always over his protests.
Now, though, everything felt different. There was something in the air she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
The last few years had taken a toll on them both. They saw each other every day. Levi was still by her side, just as he had always been by Erwin’s. Yet the only conversations they ever had were about war, Eren, or the uncertain future. The same cycle of unsolvable problems.
Once, their lives had been hard but full of excitement, new ideas, and comrades they could dream with.
Now, they were alone. Lost. And neither of them wanted to admit they didn’t know what to do next.
She took another sip. It burned pleasantly on her tongue.
Levi reached out to her with an open palm. Hange blinked in surprise but passed him the flask.
Instead of drinking, he screwed the cap back on and placed it beside him, far out of her reach.
“Levi...” She tried to protest, but he didn’t give her the chance.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s one in the morning. You show up with booze and say you don’t want to talk about anything.”
“I just wanted to relax a little. I’ll go if I’m bothering you,” she said quietly.
“Of course you’re bothering me. Not that it’s ever stopped you.”
“Levi...”
“You’d better tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m just...” she struggled for the right words, “I’m tired.”
“Then maybe you should go to sleep.”
“I wish I could,” she admitted.
Levi sighed.
“Besides, you took my sleeping syrup,” she added, mock-offended.
“Tch. That’s what you call it?” he said, shaking his head. “Where did you even get it?”
“It’s my emergency stash,” she laughed. “Will you give it back?”
“No. As long as you’re in my room, you’re not drinking that crap.”
She pouted. But inside, she was relieved they were talking normally again.
The weight on her chest felt a little lighter.
“I found it in Erwin’s office.”
“Erwin didn’t drink that stuff.”
“Guess you didn’t know him that well,” she teased.
Levi gave her a sharp look, and for a moment she regretted the joke.
“Mike drank that crap. Probably left it behind,” he muttered.
“It definitely wasn’t his. Nanaba wouldn’t have let him.” She laughed.
It was the first time she’d mentioned their fallen friends out loud in a long time. She thought of them daily, but saying their names had always felt like too much.
Since losing Erwin and Moblit, the grief had been suffocating.
But now, with Levi sitting beside her, she focused on the good memories. They ended up reminiscing about the days before Eren. Before the war had consumed everything.
Funny stories she’d almost forgotten. Even Levi spoke more than he had all week.
She finally began to feel a little better. A little more at ease. A little more like herself again.
She was fully aware that the two of them were all that remained of the original Survey Corps members. As much as it hurt, she was deeply grateful Levi was still here.
She didn’t want to imagine what she would do if she lost him too. The thought made her stomach churn.. And it wasn’t from the alcohol.
No. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on that. This was Levi Ackerman, humanity’s strongest. He would outlive her. Of that, she was certain.
“Erwin was a perfect commander. I don’t understand how he did it,” she said suddenly.
“Bullshit. He wasn’t perfect. Things just worked out somehow. He made mistakes too.”
“Like choosing me as his successor,” she said with a laugh, though it didn’t feel like a joke. She regretted saying it the moment the words left her mouth. She could feel Levi’s gaze on her.
“I’m just kidding,” she added quickly, forcing another laugh. It sounded even more uncomfortable than she expected.
“Erwin made mistakes. But he usually knew what he was doing.”
“It only fell to me because there was no one else. Not because I was the right person for the job.”
Her honesty surprised even herself. She’d never said it out loud before. She’d pushed the thought aside for so long, but she knew this was what she truly believed.
And it hurt.
“You’re doing everything you can.”
His words made her flinch inside.
Was she in such bad shape that even Levi felt the need to comfort her?
“Really? Is that why Eren left? Why we’re stuck in place, not knowing what to do next? Why everything is falling apart...?”
Her voice broke, and she had to stop to catch her breath. The room felt like it was spinning.
Then she felt Levi’s hand on her shoulder.
“Four-eyes... no one would know exactly what to do in a situation like this.”
“Erwin would. He’d come up with something. And even if he didn’t, people would still believe in him. But me...”
Levi sighed again.
“He’d be so disappointed in me,” she whispered, looking down at her hands in her lap.
She was embarrassed by how much she suddenly wanted that flask back.
“He wouldn’t be disappointed. Erwin picked you as his successor even before that final battle. He had other options.. and he chose you. He knew you’d work hard and fight to fix things, even if it meant not eating, not sleeping... or not bathing, probably.” He made a disgusted face.
“For your information, I took a bath this evening,” she replied, this time with a genuine laugh.
“I know. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let you into my room.”
Levi paused, falling silent for a moment, as if searching for the right words.
“Erwin knew you’d always figure something out. That you don’t give up, no matter how bad things get. No matter how impossible your plans sound. You'll always find a way.”
She didn’t know what to say. Her head dropped slightly.
She was deeply moved by his words, but she also knew Levi wouldn’t be thrilled if she showed it too openly.
So instead, she tried to lighten the mood with exaggerated theatrics.
“Levi, thank you. You’re so kind. I’m truly touched. You almost made me cry.”
“Tch. Cut it out, Shitty-glasses.” His expression of pure irritation told her she’d hit her mark.
But then her tone shifted. She wanted him to know how much it meant. She spoke softly, honestly.
“Thank you. For being here.”
“I always will be. Just... next time, try to show up at a more reasonable hour.”
Something close to a smile played on his lips. And Levi didn’t smile often. That really was something.
Hange wondered for a second what she had done to deserve it.
“I know. Thank you.”
It made her chest feel warm, and she couldn’t stop smiling in return.
A spontaneous thought hit her. A ridiculous one. But before she could second-guess it, she acted.
She grabbed his face with both hands and planted a kiss on his cheek. Probably just to tease him. She knew how much he hated being touched.
The amused look vanished from her face when she saw his expression.
He was staring at her, stunned and furious, as if she’d just killed his puppy.. or worse, thrown away his cleaning supplies.
“What the fuck was that for, Shitty-glasses?”
She froze. “Relax, Levi. It was just a joke.”
“Have you completely lost your mind?” he barked, rubbing his cheek with the palm of his hand.
Hange felt heat rising to her face. “Don’t be so dramatic,” she laughed, awkward and forced.
What was she thinking? Maybe she really
was
out of her mind.
“Is that why you came?” he growled.
“Eh... what?” she blinked, stunned.
“You came to my room at one in the morning with a flask... Was that the plan?”
If her face had been red before, now it was on fire.
“Levi, it was just a joke! I didn’t mean anything by it!”
He snorted, still angry, but slightly calmer.
Hange didn’t understand how their innocent banter had turned into this so fast.
How had she managed to ruin the whole night so easily?
“That’s good. Because I’m not interested in providing you with... that kind of relief,” he said coldly.
“Neither am I! What do you take me for?” she asked, genuinely shocked. She hadn’t even thought about it that way.
So why had she done something so stupid?
“I think you’ve been acting strange lately. You’re tired. Burnt out. I’m here to help you... but not like this.” His face was nearly as red as hers now.
“Levi, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I’m not asking you for... whatever it is you’re suggesting. You misunderstood.” Her voice cracked. She needed him to believe her. She’d never felt so humiliated.
“Good. Because I’m not interested.”
“Of course you’re not! I wouldn’t even..”
“Neither would I. Just the thought...”
She swallowed hard.
Please, let this conversation end.
“I don’t want that either. You’re not exactly the object of my desires,” she tried to joke, but it tasted bitter.
“Tell me about it. Even if you were the last person on the planet.”
“I kno..”
“I’d rather be drooled on by an angry Titan,” he added, fixing his gaze on the floor.
It felt like a punch to the gut. She hadn’t come here for anything like that. She just wanted to tease him, to feel normal again.
So why did it hurt so much?
It couldn’t even count as rejection, because she wasn’t interested in the first place... was she?
He was her best friend. The last one she had left. Yes, she cared about him more than anyone else, but she had never let herself think about him that way. She couldn’t afford to. Not with the job they had.
She knew some members of the Survey Corps distracted themselves between missions with... other things. And she didn’t blame them.
But it wasn’t for her. Not when she couldn’t even be sure she’d live another week.
And with him? It would be so much worse. Too complicated. Too dangerous.
So why did it feel like she’d been slapped?
Her face was burning. She could feel his eyes on her. Tears stung the corners of her eyes.
No. Please, not now.
She already felt small. Embarrassed. If she started crying, she’d never be able to face him again.
She had to leave. Now.
“Hange,” his voice reached her like from underwater. He no longer sounded angry or cold.
“I didn’t mean to hurt..”
“Haha. Why would it hurt?” she snapped. She caught the slight flinch he made at her tone.
She hadn’t meant to yell. But she needed him to believe she didn’t care. Anything else would be too humiliating.
“You were just being honest. That’s what I appreciate about you,” she added, laughing again, too loudly, too forced.
But she knew he could see right through it.
“Hange...” he said her name again, softly.
Please don’t pity me. That was even worse than his disgust.
She had to get out of this room right now.
She forced a yawn and stretched. “I’m really tired. I should get to bed.”
She nudged him gently, without making eye contact.
“Don’t worry, I mean my own bed.” Another fake laugh.
“Four-eyes...”
Without further hesitation, she picked herself up off the floor and headed for the door.
“Tch, you don’t have to leave..”
“Oh, Levi, I’m really tired and I’ve already bothered you long enough. It’s better if I go.” She was already reaching for the handle.
“Hey, you forgot your flask.”
She needed it. More than ever. But taking it meant turning around. And she could already feel the first tears rolling down her cheeks.
“It’s fine. Keep it.”
“I don’t want it.”
“Then throw it away.”
“Shitty-glasses, wait..”
Her hand was already on the doorknob when Levi ran up to her so fast she didn’t realize he’d even stood up. He grabbed her wrist. She flinched.
“Levi, I need to go. If you don’t let go of my hand, I can’t.”
He didn’t say anything. Just that familiar “Tch,” and then he pulled her back into the room.
They stopped by his bed, and she landed on it with a thud.
“Levi, what the fuck?” she muttered, keeping her head down. She didn’t want him to see her face.
“Look at me.” His voice was firm, almost a command.
She wanted to say, I’m the commander, but the words wouldn’t come.
“I said, look at me.” His tone softened, but there was frustration underneath.
She didn’t move. Then his hand gently tilted her chin upward.
She shut her eyes. She didn’t want to see his expression.
She felt more tears sliding down her cheeks.
He must have noticed, but he didn’t say anything. Just sighed.
She wanted to beg him to let her leave. But begging would be even worse.
So she waited. For anything. Any reaction. She braced herself to be told to get out, to be pitied, to be scolded.
But instead, she felt something brush her cheek.
A thumb, gently wiping away a tear.
She must be dreaming.
She considered making a joke, anything to break the tension so she could escape and then probably avoid him for the rest of her (possibly short) life. But before she could react, she felt his breath against her skin.
And then she must really have been hallucinating, because suddenly, she felt the touch of his lips on hers.
Levi kissed her.