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Levi Ackerman’s life had been a shitstorm to say the least.
Many times he had wondered why his mother had actually kept him. The only thing he had to thank Kenny for was teaching him how to fight. But he, like his mother, had been taken from him. The deaths of his closest friends, Furlan and Isabel, had lit a fire he hadn’t known existed. Over the years, he had grown accustomed to the deaths of his squads and friends, but that never meant they didn’t rip a new hole in his heart every time.
Though, his regrets hadn’t grown when he chose that small boy with that same adventurous look in his eyes, over his Commander. Surely, finding the basement and discovering Marley were things he had wished Erwin was around for. Receiving justice for him by killing Zeke was one of the few things in life he was proud of. Though, there were things he was glad he wasn’t here for. Sasha’s death, the descent into chaos between the world, and The Rumbling.
The Rumbling. Shockingly, it was so foggy in his memories. Perhaps his mind had tried desperately to block most out.
A lot has changed. Falco and Gabi, bless those kids hearts, had opened up a tea shop a few blocks from their housing in Marley, where they also lived with Levi. Gabi, almost 20 now, looked more and more like that sweet scout she killed years ago. Another one of the world’s cruel jokes. Falco, who also ran the shop, had begun to work at a newspaper company. They weren’t the only ones who had changed either.
The handful of scouts that had actually survived also began their lives freely. Jean and Connie still nagged each other’s head’s off even in their twenties, possibly even worse. Armin has been living life as a Marleyan ambassador and visited from time to time. Annie, on the other hand, knew that it was best to not speak to Levi directly, and had accepted that. At first, 6 months had passed, and they were together. A year, and Levi caught a glance of a ring Armin had shown Falco.
Another couple years, and Armin had brought a photograph of him holding a small bundle of blankets. They welcomed a small daughter. Armin had been hesitant to talk about his relationship with Annie to Levi, and was pleasantly surprised when Levi had offered his congratulations. When Armin told him the baby’s name was Zoe, he offered a rare small smile and a scoff. It was a very kind and honorable gesture that Levi appreciated, but no matter what, she was still gone.
She was gone.
Hange.
That damned scientist. It was almost the universe’s last ‘screw you’ to Levi, how she could save him, but he couldn’t save her. The thing about knowing someone for almost a decade, is there’s no way to not get attached. He cursed himself everyday for that. He had let himself feel comfortable around that idiot, and he refused to watch them burn alive that day. He rarely dreamt, but when he did, they were not joyous ones. How his squad’s died, how Erwin passed, how Hange…
“Levi?”
A voice brought him out of his late-night thoughts. Gabi was at the door with plain pajamas on and her hair in a ponytail.
“Just wanted to make sure you didn’t need anything, Falco and I were going to head off to bed.” She spoke as she reached for the light by the door. Levi nodded. “I’m alright, thanks for checking.” Gabi returned the gesture and flipped the light-switch. “Jean, Mikasa, and Connie were gonna stop by on their break tomorrow, if that’s alright?” She walked out the door and grabbed the job to close it. “Alright by me. Good night.” “Night.” She closed it.
Levi couldn’t remember the last night he has gotten a good sleep, and his brain felt more drowsy then normal tonight. It was almost impossible to re-wire his brain to believe titans weren’t around anymore, and that he didn’t have anything to fear. Maybe just one nights rest wouldn’t kill him, and if it did, he wouldn’t be complaining much. He grabbed he blanket and placed his head on the pillow. The silence was surprisingly calming tonight, almost pulling him into a deep sleep.
Levi opened his eyes to a…living room, he assumed? He looked around and saw almost no furniture except for a fireplace and a reclining chair he was sitting in in the corner of the room. Instinctively, he pushed up and almost had a heart attack.
He was standing. On both of his legs. His breath was shaking and he didn’t dare move. He was wearing the suit he was wearing when the scouts had first arrived in Shiganshina. It brought back bittersweet memories. He made one experimental step forward, and almost let out a laugh of disbelief. Was he dead? He reached up to his face to feel his scar. “So that’s still there.” He whispered out loud. he looked to his right and saw a long hallway, ending with a front door. Still walking slow on shaky legs, he placed his hands in his pockets and looked around. The house was an average looking home, almost reminding him of Gabi and Falco’s.
Walking down the hallway, he felt almost a sense of freedom. It’s been a long while since he could stand on his feet again, and his dreams had never been this peaceful. Looking forward, there was a door on his left, extending a arm he grabbed the knob, but didn’t turn it. Could this be some disgusting joke? If he turned it, what would he see?
Isabel’s head?
Erwin’s body?
Hange’s ashes?
He exhaled a deep breath and removed his hand and placed in back in his pocket. As he began walking past the door though, he suddenly stopped when he heard something he never thought he would hear again. That laugh. He recognized it anywhere, it was hard not to. When four-eyes laughed, it either meant she discovered something new, or something was about to go really fucking awful. However, nothing had made him happier in a decade.
He turned his head around and heard her again, coming from behind that door. He walked back to it and once again he place his hand on the knob, this time he took a deep breath, and prayed for the first time in his life. He turned it and pushed it open.
God, he had almost forgot what she looked like. Their hair still in a ponytail, those shitty glasses, and her eyepatch to cover that scar she tended to many times. However, she was in a sweatshirt and pants. and actually never looked happier. She was sitting on the ground with her knees pulled up, and when Levi looked, he didn’t think heart could drop any further but it did. She was playing with a newborn that was laying back on Hange’s legs, and the baby’s feet on her lower abdomen. Her hands were tickling the baby, who was dressed in a gray onesie, and neither could hold their laughter. They hadn’t noticed Levi until he closed the door, and he hadn’t noticed the crib that was to the right of Hange and the baby.
Hange’s head turned to her left and grinned as she still played on the baby’s tummy. “Hey, Shortie. I was wondering when you’d finally get here.” Her attention turned back to the baby as she stroked its cheek.
If Levi wasn’t confused, he most certainly was now. “Hange?” He whispered, almost like a plea. “Hm?” She responded as she picked the baby up by the waist, laid her back on the ground and lifted the baby up and down as it giggled.
“What…what is all of this? He looked around the room, the walls, the ceiling, anything to find a flaw, or proof this wasn’t real.
“Whatcha talking about? It’s her room.” Hange replied with a laugh as they stuck their tongue out at the infant, causing it to smile and bite it’s fingers.
“Stop. Stop, you know what I mean.” He shook his head. “Who’s this kid and where am I? Please, tell me.” She looked at him with that face that he missed so, very much. She brought the baby down to rest on her chest and reached for a small ring for it to teeth on and placed her hand on the babies back. She tilted her head as best she could to look at the baby’s face.
“She’s ours, dumbass. You’re in the world that I’ve been living in for a while now.”
That answer shook Levi to his core. That baby…his? A world Hange was was living in? This was some bullshit, if he’d ever seen it.
“The hell are you talking about? I don’t-“
“I wanted to bring you here.” Still staring at her daughter’s face, she rubbed small circles on her back as she teethed on the toy. “I couldn’t stand to see how much regret you hold.”
Levi exhaled as his eyes shook. He walked a couple steps forward and sat on the ground she was laying on, with his right leg crossed, and left one propped up to support his left arm. Looking at the baby’s face, he felt something in his heart he never felt before. He didn’t know how he didn’t recognize the jet black hair, but she had got Hange’s eyes. She noticed and grinned.
“She’s got your nose too, thank god.” Hange laughed.
“Is…is this real?” Levi questioned. He had to know. Hange took a deep breath.
“The Paths are fascinating. There’s…world’s and, universes, and…” She stopped. “This is mine. It’s if…we just lived in the forest together after The Rumbling ended, and the titan curse. I assume it’s some sort of, peace, for me.” They looked at Levi who’s mouth was agape.
“This…” He laid on his back as well and looked to his right to be face to face with his daughter and Hange. “This is real? This is…what could have been? With us?” He looked into her eye. She nodded, almost in sadness. The toy felt out of his daughter’s hand as her cheek was pushed against Hange’s collarbone. She was fast asleep.
“Why didn’t…why didn’t you ever tell me you-“ Hange let out a huff. “When could I have? We fought for our lives every single day. I pushed aside a little thing like love and just, let it go.”
Levi was silent for a minute after that. “I wish you had told me.” He whispered. Hange looked at the ceiling, pushing back tears. “Me too. This could have been our reality if I had. Still, I’m glad I’m here now.” She sniffled and pushed the baby’s hair behind her ear. Levi reached his hand out a bit and stroked his daughter’s cheek. He gasped at the feeling. It was so real. “She’s so beautiful.” He said without a second thought. Her left cheek was smooshed up against Hange’s chest and he could see both of their breaths falling into sync.
“Does…does she have a name?” He said. Hange smiled at the baby’s little noises. “Isabel.” Levi finally allowed one tear to slip out. That all but confirmed this for him.
“Hey.” She looked into his eyes. “It’s almost morning.” She whispered with melancholic eyes. Levi shook his head, stroking his daughter’s hair.
“I don’t want to leave.”
Now Hange was crying. “I know.” She sat up, holding the her daughter’s head on her shoulder and her other arm holding her legs.
“You have your own life you still have to get back to. I let you come here because I wanted you to know that I’m not in pain.” She shook her head. He sat up as well. Hange grinned at him. “Tell Armin ‘thank you’ for me, okay?” Levi nodded. “Don’t worry either,” she sniffled. “we’ll still be here when you finally come here for good. She may be a bit older by then, but it’ll work.” Levi reached out and wiped a tear from her cheek. “Thanks, Four-Eyes.” Looking at Isabel, he allowed a few more tears to leak out. “Take good care of her, okay?” She nodded quick. “I’ll see if I can get you to visit a couple more times.” Levi laughed. “I don’t know how all this shit works, but I’d be more then happy to be in this reality then my other one.” Hange smiled at that, but it faded. “You have to wake up now, though.” Levi gave a single nod as Hange touched his shoulder.
Levi awoke with a small gasp and light outside. Sitting up, he leaned against the pillows and caught his breath, just as the door opened.
“Morning, Levi! Supposed to be a big day with all the ambassadors in Marl- Levi?” Gabi asked.
“Hm?” Levi looked at the doorway.
“You’re-you’re crying. Are you alright?” Gabi sounded concerned as her brows furrowed. Levi reached up to his damp cheek. He looked at his hand and shook his head.
“I’m alright. Just a very interesting dream.”
“Well, i’m glad you got enough sleep to have a dream! A good one at that!” Gabi walked over as Levi got into his wheelchair.
“Good news too! Armin’s bringing Zoe to the shop today while he attends the meeting!” Gabi spoke as she wheeled him out of his room. Levi nodded.
“I think that would be nice.”