Archive of Our Own ^beta

Give me your eyes, bringing in the morning. Give me sunrise.

Mornings had never really been Levi’s favourite part of the day. They usually marked the end of a restless night, which was about the only relief he felt when his eyes opened. Sometimes he didn’t even bother getting into bed—the nightmares were so haunting that he preferred to spend the night in his desk chair, where it felt less suffocating, and where he could more easily shake off the hold of his dreams.

Mornings with Hange, however, were something entirely different.

The first time they woke up together, Levi felt surprisingly rested, he realised as he slowly emerged from his sleepy daze into full wakefulness. The sun was already high in the sky, streaming brightly into a bedroom far too messy to be his: it was Hange’s.

The week before, she had lost a bet against Mike, which had ended with her getting drunk and storming into Levi's room in the middle of the night to kiss him straight on the lips. They avoided each other for the next few days, until she eventually barged into his room to apologise—somehow leading to another kiss (and a few more), a late-night walk through the fields with a few vague confessions (because she insisted it was the rightfully romantic thing to do), and her pulling him into her bedroom afterwards, begging him to stay the night.

Of course, he hadn’t been able to say no.

They’d fallen asleep soon after crawling under the covers, facing each other, leading to what was probably the best sleep he’d gotten in a long, long time.

Hange was still asleep that morning, eyes closed tightly and face turned towards him. One of her arms was loosely draped over his torso, and though he could’ve easily slipped out of bed without waking her, he didn’t. Peaceful moments like this were rare, and he wasn’t ready to let it go just yet.

He stared at the ceiling, trying to make sense of the not entirely unpleasant tightness he’d felt at the sight of her, and why having her close didn’t set off alarm bells in his head. Memories of the night before—the stolen kisses and heartfelt touches—came flooding back, making him feel as if he were drifting on clouds.

He wasn’t sure how long he’d been lost in his thoughts, but eventually, Hange began shifting beside him, and he turned his head, not wanting to miss a single moment. When she noticed the bright light in the room, she scrunched up her nose and shifted closer to him, burying her face in his shoulder as if his being there were a daily occurrence. As if he already belonged there.

"How long have you been awake?" she mumbled, lazily stretching her limbs and casually bumping against him. Her fingers found his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze in greeting.

"Just a bit, I think," Levi replied honestly. He still had no idea what time it was… and, for once, he didn’t really care.

At his words, Hange turned her head and finally opened her eyes—and from one second to the next, his world seemed to brighten, colours intensifying in a breathtaking way, as though he were truly seeing everything for the first time.

"Everything okay?" Hange asked, chuckling when he slowly opened his mouth, then closed it again, head a little dazed. She was still looking at him, and the sun-kissed auburn in her eyes was doing something utterly dizzying to his brain. "You look… funny somehow."

He felt heat rush to his face at her observation, the inevitable proof that he couldn't fully hide his emotions. He quickly turned his gaze up again, turning away to avoid her eyes.

"Did I say something wrong?" There was genuine worry in her voice, and Levi immediately felt guilty for having caused it, for being unable to put into words what was truly going on inside him.

But no words left his lips. Instead, he chose the wordless path, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close in a moment of quiet boldness.

Hange chuckled, clearly relieved, which in turn brought relief to him. "Ahh, I see. Emotions. Nasty little buggers." She sneaked her arm around his chest as she shifted, half lying on top of him, her body fitting against his in a remarkably perfect way.

Of course, he needn’t worry—she would always understand.

Give me your smile, all your hidden corners. Give me surprise.

One of the first things Levi noticed—or rather, one of the first things that had etched itself into his memory forever—was the way she laughed. There were different tones and variations, but they all had one thing in common: they were genuine, and came straight from her heart.

Little by little, he got to witness them all, each discovery bringing a quiet sense of joy to him.

He loved the laughs she dedicated only to him—a mix of surprise and delight when she saw him for the first time that day, or when he came over for a spontaneous visit. He felt a quiet satisfaction in her mocking ones, and her teasing grin made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up in curious anticipation.

The first time he allowed her to draw him to a tickle fight, he experienced what true, unbridled joy looked like, her high-pitched giggles ringing in his ears like the most beautiful tune he had ever heard. It made him redouble his efforts, just to hear that sound a little longer.

Not long after that, Wall Maria was breached, and with it, a new awareness of terror swept through the people of Paradis. Until that moment, the walls had stood as an impenetrable barrier, but now their illusion of safety had been shattered.

The Scouts returned exhausted and battered from that terrible fight, which had caught them off guard. The moment Levi locked eyes with Hange in the crowd, an immense wave of relief washed over him. She was alive and mostly unharmed, and that knowledge meant everything to him.

Later that night, they sat together in his room, quiet and lost in their own thoughts. She had grabbed his hand the moment they’d settled into bed and hadn’t let go since, pillows propped up against the wall as they sat together, neither of them ready to sleep just yet despite their deep exhaustion.

She had a dislocated shoulder but seemed mostly fine, which was why it caught Levi by surprise when a tear suddenly rolled down her cheek. He looked at her, eyes wide, trying to understand why her lips were still curled into a sad smile. The helplessness was overwhelming—for until then, he had always been there when she shared her joy with him. But what was he supposed to do now?

"What do you need?" Levi asked, the words feeling awkward on his tongue given the tears glistening on her face. But he needed to know, and asking was better than guessing and possibly fucking it up.

Hange huffed, wiping her eyes in a mix of amusement and frustration. But no sooner were her cheeks dry than new tears began to fall. He reached out with both hands and pulled of her glasses, his thumbs brushing over her damp skin while his other fingers traced small, soothing circles along her jaw.

"I need you to be okay" she whispered, resting her hand on his and pressing it against her cheek. "So many people lost someone today. I don’t know… I need you to stay alive." Her voice trembled, as shaken as he’d never heard it before, and he saw the genuine fear in her eyes.

He knew he couldn’t promise her that. Every expedition could be the last for any of them. She knew it too, of course, but he understood: something between them had shifted over the past few months. Or maybe it hadn’t shifted, but deepened. They had always cared about each other; she had always meant a great deal to him ever since they'd become friends. But they had grown incredibly close, both physically and emotionally, and every separation felt like torture.

Hange lifted their joined hands from her cheek and placed his palm against her chest, right over her heart. "You know my heart is yours, right? I… I need you to always come back. Please." A fresh wave of tears welled in her eyes, slowly dripping onto the back of his hand and down his arm.

"I will do my best, I can promise you that," he said slowly. He didn’t want to lie, but at the same time, he wanted to offer her comfort and assure her that he would do everything to come back. To her. For it was the truth.

Hange nodded slowly, sniffling as a small smile finally appeared on her lips again. "Thank you," she whispered, wrapping an arm around his neck to pull him close, burying her little sobs into his shoulders. She kept their joined hands pressed to her chest for a long time, long after her tears had finally dried.

That was the closest they got to an "I love you" in those early months together.

Give me all your flaws and all your quirks. How you braid your hair and tie your shirts. Give me how you laugh, how you hurt when you do.

Levi learned a lot about Hange in the years that followed. More than that, he learned how to love her, and how much safety there was in letting someone in instead of shutting them out, finding strength in the way she confided in him, even in her hardest moments.

Trusting people didn’t come easily to him, which was why he couldn’t quite understand why she’d been the one to trust him first. She let him share in her joys and found comfort in his presence when she was sad. It didn’t make sense to him, and he felt he didn’t deserve it.

One night—late, and too tired to think much about what he was saying—the confession slipped from his tongue before he could stop it.

"I like you," was her simple explanation. She was currently lying in his bed, her head in his lap, and poked a finger into his stomach. "That's why I trust you."

"You also like potatoes, four-eyes," Levi mumbled, unsatisfied with her reply. "But you don't trust them with your heart." His meaningless words felt stupid; he wasn’t even sure what he was trying to express, and his shoulders rose and fell in a frustrated sigh.

Hange chuckled, sitting up and shifting so she was kneeling in front of him. "I can assure you, I like and trust you far more than potatoes." She reached out, brushing his hair from his eyes, exposing his face to hers. "Talk to me, Levi. What’s really on your mind?"

"I don't get it," he said after a long pause, trying to think of how to say what he wanted to say. "Why do you stay? With me?"

"Because I love you." She said those words with a certainty and matter-of-factness that should have touched him deeply. And although it did, it also made him feel even less worthy to be the one she had chosen.

"But why me? I can’t give back what you give to me."

"Is this about me forgetting to clean your teapot?" Hange said, furrowing her brow in an almost exaggerated way. "I'm sorry, but I'm a very distracted person—you already know that." She made a sweeping gesture with her arm, then pinched his nose. "But I will make it up to you."

"Did you even listen to what I just said?" Levi said, gently flicking his finger against her forehead. "I said I'm the one who can't give you back what you deserve, not the other way around. Idiot."

"I know, I know," she said, a teasing grin spreading across her lips. "I'm just messing with you. Trying to get you out of your head." She bumped her head gently against his in a loving gesture. "You don't know how much love you give me back, Levi. Every day. I've never felt happier."

"But I don't even know how to love." And it's been years already. I should know. His hand, lying on the blanket, tightened into a fist. She swiftly took it into hers, gently uncurling each of his fingers and placing his hand on her waist instead.

"I'd say you're doing a pretty good job at it." Hange smiled, a stark contrast to how Levi felt inside. He didn’t want pity, but his discontent was genuine, likely the accumulation of months and years of questioning himself. "Besides, it’s not as if I could give you the world. I can give you chaos, maybe a headache. Sometimes I make you laugh, though I also get on your nerves. By your logic, shouldn’t I be the one saying those words?"

"Don’t say that. It isn’t true." Levi shook his head, the wrongness of her words hitting him. "You let me in on your thoughts, you let me be part of your life. You share with me what you like, what you don’t like. Even your stupid little rituals before bed, or the books you enjoy. You give me so much more than a headache."

"I know a lot of things about you too!" Hange said, a little indignant. "It’s not like you’re some kind of mystery."

"You taught me how to tie your ponytail in case you broke both of your hands," Levi interrupted before she could continue. "And that you never button your shirt all the way to the top because it makes your neck itch. That you always step into your left boot first, because as a kid you were convinced it would bring you good luck. You trust me enough to share your life—yourself—with me. I can’t do that. Not because I don’t want to, but… because I don’t know how."

"Everything you just said, all those little details you remembered me mentioning—that’s loving me, silly." Hange smiled, taking both of his hands into hers. "You’re overthinking this, Levi. Do you believe me if I tell you I’ve never felt more loved in my entire life?"

"Not really, no," he replied, raising an eyebrow. Though the initial weight in his voice had lifted.

"Argh!" Hange lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck in a tight hug. "You call me stubborn, but you're quite a handful yourself, you know that?" When Levi finally returned the hug, she melted into him, his arms settling into their usual place around her waist. Being so close immediately quieted the storm in his mind.

His doubts were still there, and he knew they would likely never fully fade. Their source was something deeper, something entrenched that couldn’t simply vanish. Yet he felt a little lighter—or maybe a little surer—about her love for him, and about the fact that his presence seemed to bring her comfort.

"I know you don’t like sleeping on the right side of the bed because of the wall—it doesn’t let you climb out quickly," Hange said suddenly, her voice slightly muffled against the fabric of his shirt. "That’s something you admitted soon after we started staying over in each other’s beds. And it’s not the only thing you shared. You taught me how to brew tea, specifically in your teapot, and a few combat tricks when I got hurt during a mission. You also told me about your mother and your life as a kid."

Her voice softened on the last sentence, and she shifted slightly to place a hand on his cheek, rubbing small circles into his skin.

"I don’t need you to tell me everything—I learn it just by being by your side. And you show me you love me simply by letting me be there. I can be myself when I’m with you. You don’t know how much that means to me."

With that, the topic was settled for her, and she pulled him into a kiss that sent them both tumbling onto the mattress.

Hours later, with Hange fast asleep in his arms, Levi’s thoughts were still circling around their conversation. It had eased something inside him and given him back a confidence he hadn’t realised he lacked. He still wished he could give her more than he currently did, but knowing she didn’t mind his closed-off way of living, his quietness and slight awkwardness, lifted a huge weight from his shoulders.

It was in that moment that he swore to himself he would always do everything within his power to make her happy.

Give me how you eat and how you run. Give me what you hate and how you love. Give me what you hide away and think is uncool.

It was by the time Hange became commander that things changed a lot. Not between them, but around them. They’d lost many friends and comrades, and being the last two survivors of their generation of soliders let them share the pain in a very special, deep way.

They didn’t have as much time together as before, which made every minute they had all the more precious. At night, they rarely got much sleep, lying awake in each other’s arms, finding comfort in the other's breathing, in the sound of their heartbeats—because it meant they were still alive, still together.

Hange didn’t share her emotions as openly as she used to, mostly because she was so used to keeping herself under control in public that it was hard to let go of that habit. Eventually, though, it all became too much, and she’d end up bursting into his room, flopping face down on his bed to hide the tears spilling from her eyes—a mix of pent-up frustration and exhaustion. Levi would sit beside her, comforting her as best he could until she calmed down, and slowly draw out everything weighing on her heart until she fell asleep.

A new form of loving her was him taking off her eyepatch, tending to her injured eye, and telling her over and over again that her scars didn’t matter to him. Another was making sure she ate enough, which usually meant bringing food to her office and staying until she’d finished it all. He had also made her promise that she would come to him and talk if something was wrong, no matter what.

Hange had left behind many of the interests she’d pursued as section commander, arguing that they were unfitting for a woman in her position, sometimes even dismissing them as the childish antics of her past self. But Levi knew she missed her experiments—her drive for knowledge was insatiable. So he took it upon himself to remind her of the things she used to love, fetching books from the town’s bookshop, taking her on walks, and asking about the plants and insects they came across. He even took her stargazing once, which became one of the fondest (and, according to her, most romantic) moments they’d shared in years.

Give me all your fears, give me all your dreams. Give me all you’re scared to lose.

The "new" Hange had definitely changed, matured under the weight of the world. But it had always been her who challenged him to dream big, to see more than what was right in front of him. He had learned so much from her, and now saw it as his responsibility to return that hope that once spilled so freely from her—to support her when the world was literally falling apart, when the prospects of a peaceful world felt impossibly far away.

For she had lost that part of herself that had once been so intrinsically her, or maybe it was only overshadowed by the darkness around them. So he made sure she wouldn’t lose it, trying gently to bring back the light she used to radiate.

Give me all your future, give me all your blues. In other words, give me all of you.

"Dedicate your heart" couldn’t and shouldn’t be the last words he said to her. There was so much more he wanted to say, things he needed to confess. It couldn’t be her time just yet.

But she was willing to give up her life to save theirs, to give them a chance to save the future from the burning hell it was caught in. And she did it—unflinchingly, resolutely surrendering to the flames.

He didn’t look out the window, he just couldn’t. His heart felt painfully tight and indescribably empty.

But where a seed had once been planted, a flower now grows, and after years of fighting the unfightable and nurturing the hope inside him thanks to her presence, Levi simply couldn’t let her go like that—he had to try one last time.

Hope means hoping when things are hopeless. Hange herself had told him that during the first years of their friendship, and after years of having faded from his memory, it couldn’t have come to him in a better situation. He wouldn’t give up—not until he was one hundred percent sure.

They found her body washed up on the shore—burned, scarred, and marred by flame… but still alive.

Give me your time, I’ll take any moment. My one for life.

The first thing Hange saw when she opened her eyes was Levi’s face, the usual tension etched into his features. She squinted—the bright light of wherever she was unbearably harsh. When she tried to move her hand, her limbs didn’t obey, twitching weakly instead. Her body felt so, so tired. Levi didn’t seem to notice she was awake; his gaze was fixed on a book in his hands, completely absorbed in its words.

Since when did Levi read?

"What are you reading?” had been the words she wanted to say. But instead, a raspy "Whaa—" left her lips, so unlike her usual voice that she barely recognised it… and then she ran out of breath and had to inhale deeply, her body protesting the effort.

Levi’s head whipped around, and the book fell with a loud thud. "Hange!" His hand shot to her arm, fingers wrapping around it, and she felt its warmth through whatever thin clothing she wore. His good eye was wide open, and after a few seconds, she swore she could see tears glistening in it.

There were so many questions swirling in her head: Where was she? What had happened? Did the world she know still exist? And why did she feel so incredibly weak? But forming sentences felt too overwhelming in that moment. Instead, she slowly pointed to the ground, which thankfully worked this time, wiggling her finger and watching a frown appear on Levi’s face.

"Seriously?" he said, briefly wiping his eye before leaning down to pick up the book. "You’ve been almost dead and out for several days, and the first thing you want to know is the book I’m reading?" He shook his head, exasperated. But there was something so familiar and affectionate in his reaction that it made Hange smile.

He held out the cover to her, but quickly realised she couldn’t see it without her glasses. So he read it aloud, his features softening as her face lit up. She knew that book; it was one of her favorites, and she was sure he knew that too.

"Don’t ever do this again," Levi said, quickly turning serious again. He set the book aside and took her hand in his. The gesture looked so natural it could have seemed as if he’d done nothing else his entire life. No one would have guessed it was the first time he’d initiated it.

He looked very pale, which only emphasised the pink scars running across his face—the ones she’d sewn herself. His cheeks were sunken, and dark circles lay under his eyes. It was only then that she realised he was sitting in a wheelchair, and the smell of antiseptics reached her nose, making her guess that she was in the hospital.

"Is the world…" she said slowly, breaking off because doing anything beyond keeping her eyes open drained the last bits of energy she had. Of course, she remembered what had happened right before everything went blank—before there was a rift in her memories, leaving a huge, black gap of uncertainty.

"It’s still there," Levi replied, giving her hand a comforting squeeze. "But I can tell you everything later. You need to be checked." He let go of her hand only hesitantly, skillfully maneuvering out of the small space between her bed and the window toward the door. When she hummed to get his attention, he turned back, giving her time to find her words.

"Thank you," Hange whispered slowly. Somehow, she knew it was because of him that she was breathing, given a second chance at life. The way his lips tightened ever so slightly, and the faint pink coloring his cheeks, was all the proof she needed. He gave her a quick nod, then opened the door and stuck his head out, calling for the doctor.

Recovery wasn’t easy, and she was forced to spend a lot of time in the hospital. Levi stayed by her side as long as he could, sometimes sneaking in after visiting hours and holding her hand until she fell asleep. When she awoke in the morning, he was already there, either reading or simply looking out the window, likely turning over some dark thoughts in his mind. Sometimes, he would be watching her the moment her eyes opened—which was her favourite way to wake up.

He told her everything that had happened since she left to fight the Titans—a conversation that was painful and left her with thousands of new questions and doubts about their future. She couldn’t give him much in her weak, healing state, but she cherished every second he was willing to share. He dedicated his days and nights to her, his entire self, and she took it all, each shared moment mending something inside her.

His love was selfless and honest, despite his own struggles.

Give me your light and give me your shadow. I’m right by your side.

The day she was finally released from the Paradisian hospital, Hange felt as free as she hadn’t in a long time. Pushing Levi’s wheelchair around had become second nature during their walks through the hospital—even though he insisted he could manage it himself, not wanting her to overexert herself—and on their way to Onyankopon’s home, where Levi was temporarily staying, she took the lead again. They paused here and there, and he had her sit on a bench or a low wall to catch her breath.

She didn’t want to leave his side from that moment on. They shared his bedroom in Onyankopon’s flat, sleeping together in the small double bed with light green bedding and the fluffiest pillows she’d ever had. Her few things quickly found their place in the wardrobe, in drawers, and—much to Levi’s displeasure—on the floor and bed. Their bickering over her clutter had become a routine between them, the closest thing to a normal life she’d ever experienced.

Whenever she took over his side of the bed during her sleep, he threatened to throw her out in the morning, and she’d curl her limbs around his body, pleading with him not to let her sleep on the couch, repeating over and over how much she loved and needed him—until his cheeks flushed and he finally stopped resisting her hug.

He always stayed in bed until she was awake, so she never had to spend a single morning without him. He helped treat her burns, patiently applying salve to every little spot she couldn’t reach, waiting until it was fully absorbed and she could get dressed. When she took twice as long to eat because the skin on her face felt so tight that even eating was a struggle, he slowed his own pace, making sure he never finished before her.

Levi let her in on the interesting things he spotted at the market while she was in physical therapy or getting her burns checked, bringing back small gifts he thought she would like. He also shared the latest gossip he learned during his weekly hospital appointments, where he did exercises for his knee or had check-ups for the lasting effects the final battle had left him with, and picking up all kinds of news from his physiotherapist.

Life grew a little easier with each passing day, and they gained strength side by side. But it also took a toll on them, and there were many moments when their past caught up with them.

Levi, in particular, was haunted by nightmares and flashbacks, waking in the middle of the night soaked in cold sweat, his breathing so frantic that Hange didnt know what to do. He didn't say nothing at first, enduring the night terrors all alone, not wanting her to know.

The first time she did wake up, she saw the panic in his eyes and immediately understood what was happening. She held him close until his breathing had slowed and she no longer felt his pulse hammering against his chest.

She felt a little hurt when she realised this had been happening often and he hadn’t asked for help. He was always there when she woke from memories of unbearable, excruciating pain that seemed to engulf not only her body but her entire soul. So why hadn’t he let her comfort him the way he did with her?

Levi promised that the next time it happened, he would let her wake him, letting her hold him close against her chest and run her fingers through his hair until he fell asleep in her arms.

And he kept his promise. A few days later, Hange was woken by a cold, shaky hand firmly clasping hers. She immediately pulled him in, staying awake with him until he had calmed down and slumped into her arms.

Give me how you kiss and how you shout and leave your clothes around our house. Give me how you check the locks before we both sleep.

A year and a half passed, busy with recovery and adjusting to their new lives—no longer haunted by battles or fighting for survival. They finally had time to do the things they wanted: going on long walks, having picnics on the outskirts of Marley, and visiting nearby towns. They bought new clothes, tried new foods, and learned many new things.

Hange fell in love with the typewriter, and Levi was hesitantly curious about tea bags, running several tests to see if they affected the taste of the tea. They both enjoyed listening to the radio at night, letting Onyankopon tell them all about the artists who were in vogue. Gabi and Falco shared the latest news from the neighbourhood with them, staying over for tea almost every other afternoon.

Surprisingly, it was Levi who suggested getting their own place for the first time. He said it so casually that Hange almost didn’t catch it. But when she asked if he really meant it and he nodded, she began to like the idea of having something they could call their own—something that belonged only to them. Besides, they had already been taking advantage of Onyankopon’s hospitality for too long; they couldn’t stay there forever.

That’s why, half a year later, they bought a small house a little outside the city, in one of the quieter neighborhoods.

There were some renovations they needed to do first—the windows weren’t sealed properly, the roof needed some reinforcement, and they decided to use the opportunity to give the facade a fresh coat of paint—but all in all, they were very happy. Hange was especially excited as they slowly began moving their belongings and buying the furniture and other items they would need.

The first night in their own home became one of the sweetest memories she ever made.

The entire afternoon of their moving day, they were busy unpacking and rearranging their things to leave space for Levi’s wheelchair downstairs. There was plenty of bickering and compromise when they couldn’t agree on where each item should go. But eventually, they finished the most important tasks—tired, but very, very content.

They had a cosy little cooking session in their kitchen later that evening and enjoyed their first meal at the small table in the living room. The radio played soft music, only adding to the deep sense of finally having a home, and Hange had a constant smile glued to her face—so much so that Levi couldn’t help teasing her about it.

As soon as they were upstairs, he ushered her into the bathroom for a shower, hopping under the water himself once she was done. She was standing at their bedroom window when he returned, the soft clicking of his crutches announcing his arrival. An indescribable warmth flooded her chest as she watched him stow his clothes in what he’d announced would be their laundry bag, briefly glancing up at the mirror and running his fingers through his damp hair as if he had been doing it every day for years.

"Your hair is getting longer," he remarked when he joined her, his finger brushing against her strands. "You sure you don’t want a towel for it? I don’t want you to get cold."

"Then make me feel warm," Hange blurted in a moment of giddy sweetness. Levi rolled his eyes, but the tips of his ears were slightly pink, bringing a smile to her lips. When she gently tugged at the hem of his pajama shirt, beckoning him closer, his hands found their place on her waist, pulling her in.

His right hand moved to her face, the fingertips of his remaining fingers tracing the eyebrow of her injured eye, then sliding down over her cheek to cup her face. She leaned into his touch, letting the goosebumps on her skin ripple through her entire body. Her breath hitched as he leaned closer, the tension of the seconds just before putting her on edge in the most pleasant way. He took his time, fully aware that she was impatient but unwilling to show it, letting his nose brush against hers, deliberately savouring the moment.

When he finally kissed her, it was almost overwhelming, and she surrendered herself completely to the feeling that swept over her like a wave, carrying with it everything wonderful and beautiful she had ever experienced.

They tumbled into bed not long after, holding each other close as they showered one another with affection and unbridled love, safe within the space they could now call their very own.

A few weeks later, they had already settled into well-established routines that guided their daily lives: a shared breakfast, reading time on the porch that led out to their little garden, grocery shopping on Thursdays (since from Friday to Sunday the shops were always too crowded, according to Levi.) Weekends were for walks through the fields, Mondays for meetings with Onyankopon. Gabi and Falco came by at least twice a week—usually even more often—joining them on walks or staying over for lunch.

Hange had a habit of always forgetting about her tea on the desk, only remembering when it was already cold. She liked to sing in the shower, cranking the radio volume high enough for Levi to hear downstairs. Her clothes were scattered all around the house, and he would remind her to pick them up. Levi was the better cook, and when she had nothing to do—she had already burned the food several times, so he no longer trusted her with the pan—she enjoyed simply watching him work in peace, occasionally tossing him a compliment that made the tips of his ears turn red.

She had her own garden beds where she grew vegetables and herbs, tending to them with the greatest care. The first time they used them in their dinner, she was nearly euphoric, especially when Levi remarked on how much better the potatoes tasted with rosemary. It was him who every night made sure the front door was locked.

They exchanged letters with the brats, as Levi still liked to call them, who had already come over back when they were living with Onyankopon, asking for advice and guidance. When the kids found out about their new place, they not only congratulated them exuberantly but also announced that the next time they were in Marley, Levi and Hange should brace themselves for a spontaneous visit.

Still, there was an undefinable restlessness inside her, which she had sensed for the first time—to her surprise—half a year after they moved into their new house. She felt on edge, even though nothing was wrong with her life and she should have been happy with everything she had. Yet she felt unsatisfied, as if there was still something she needed to do.

Levi sensed that something was up but felt helpless when his usual methods of comforting her didn’t work. She assured him she was fine, claiming it was probably the gloomy late-autumn weather making her feel a little down. But he didn’t believe her, looking almost sad as she forced a smile just for him. She knew she had to do something, for her state wasn’t affecting only her, but him as well.

Her insomnia grew worse over the following year, almost as bad as when she had first been discharged from the hospital. After countless sleepless nights filled with tossing, turning, and endless thinking, she slowly began to get to the bottom of the issue.

"I need to leave for a while," Hange announced a few days later as they sat at the table having breakfast. "It has nothing to do with you," she quickly added when she saw Levi’s eyes widen, the fork with scrambled eggs frozen halfway between the plate and his mouth.

"Is this some kind of joke?" he asked, calm, placing the fork back on his plate. Hange shook her head.

"No, I… I need to get out of here. Just for a while. It’s the reason why I’ve been feeling so restless."

"You want to leave… us?" Levi's voice cracked slightly, confusion and something like fear written all over his face. It almost broke her heart. "You don’t feel happy here. That’s why."

"No, of course not!" Hange exclaimed, scrambling to her feet and hurrying over to him. She took his hands in hers, patiently waiting until he had steadied himself enough to look up at her. "I have to go back. Just one last time, to get some kind of closure. I need to see how things are in Paradis, and not only through the letters the kids send us."

"You can’t!" he said, standing up and clutching her hands tightly against his chest. "What if they find you? What if you die? You know we aren’t exactly welcome over there—or has your brain already forgotten everything that happened?"

"I won’t," she said softly, gently disentangling their tense hands to lace their fingers together. "It’s just one last trip, Levi. I’ll be fine."

"You barely made it out of that hell, and now you want to go back?" He raised his voice—not exactly shouting, but making his frustration more than clear—and she winced. "Stupid!" His hands were shaking, but when she tried to pull him into a hug, he drew back. Without a word, he grabbed his crutches and left the room. Moments later, the front door clicked, leaving Hange alone in the living room, miserable, as a tear slowly rolled down her cheek.

Give me your ideas and "Babe, come here's" and all you sad and happy tears. And without your breakfast tea you’re incomplete.

An hour later, Levi was back again. It turned out he had only made it to the corner of their street, where he had stared holes into the buildings across from the bench he was sitting on until his nerves had calmed. He found Hange curled up on their bed and immediately apologised for his reaction, and she, in turn, apologised for having caught him off guard with her idea.

They talked it over in detail until Levi could understand her reasons a little better. "You know I don’t want you to go," he said, his hand finding hers beneath the blanket. "I’ve already had to let you go once. I will never forget the day we found you, not knowing if you were alive or if you would make it. But if you think you need to do this to be happy, I won’t stand in your way. I’ll support you in any way I can."

"It’ll only be for a while," Hange replied, struggling to hold back her tears. "But I know I won’t be truly free if I don’t go back one last time. I really need this." A sob escaped her lips as she saw the pain on Levi’s face, and she hated herself for needing the trip in the first place.

"Hey, don’t cry. It’s okay," he said, reaching out to brush the tears from her face. "Come here." He opened his arms, and Hange let herself fall into his embrace, finding his right hand and pressing her lips to his knuckles—right where his fingers used to be.

They spent the rest of the morning in bed, finding comfort in each other’s presence and eventually going over Hange’s travel plans in detail. It was Levi who suggested she leave before winter set in to make the journey easier, moving her departure up to the near future.

"You have to promise me something, though," she said after a moment, turning her gaze up to him.

"Anything," Levi said, brushing her hair aside with a tenderness that nearly made her tear up again.

"Remember that time we both got a little drunk, back when I was still section commander, and I almost fell into the river?"

"I usually try to forget those nights,” he replied dryly, eliciting a chuckle from her.

"I asked you what you would want to do if there were no Titans, and we were living in a safe world.”

"Mhm, what about it?"

(His first answer had been that no matter what he did, he’d want to be by her side. (They had been drunk, which was why he’d said it out loud.) But she’d better not remind him of that—especially now, with her leaving.)

"You mentioned that you’d like to have a tea shop—a place where people could try the teas you sell, and where you’d offer a large collection of only your favourite blends." Hange paused, giving him time to let her words sink in. "Why don’t you… just make that idea happen? It could be your little project while I’m gone, something that makes you happy."

As soon as the idea was out in the open, she couldn’t hold herself back. And what was even better—Levi didn’t seem too opposed to it. Sure, his first answer had been no, saying he had no idea how to run a shop like that. But they talked it over in great detail, and he let himself be swept up by her energy when she mentioned having spotted several shops in the city that were up for sale.

"If I go through with the idea," he said, placing strong emphasis on the word if, "I don’t want this to be just my project. It’s yours as well." He pulled her back into his arms, nestling his face against her hair. "We’re a team, remember? And once you come back—whenever that may be—it’ll be yours too. Do you understand?"

"Yes," Hange replied with the brightest smile she could muster, feeling a little better about the upcoming separation. After all, it was only temporary, and she would come back.

The following weeks were full of preparations, second thoughts, and temporary goodbyes. The night before her departure, Hange felt incredibly sad, for it would be the last time in a while that she would fall asleep next to Levi. As expected, tears eventually started to flow, and he wiped them away swiftly, pressing a kiss to her cheeks, then to her mouth, threading his fingers through her hair until she had calmed down again.

They both only got a few hours of sleep, climbing down the stairs with tired eyes and heavy limbs to share their last cup of morning tea together. Hange usually went for coffee, having grown very attached to the energising beverage. And although she probably would have needed that kick of energy more than ever on that day, she let him make her his favourite tea instead. It was something so closely tied to his personality, and she couldn’t leave without one last cup of it.

He accompanied her to the harbour, her suitcase strapped to the back of his wheelchair, her bag on his lap, and she pushed it all in front of her. Her tickets were safely tucked away in the pocket of his jacket; she had handed them to him when she bought them, otherwise she would have lost them. The walk was unpleasant, the piercing cold of the last week of November accompanying them all the way, the wind biting at their faces and any part of their skin not covered by jackets or scarves.

The ferry was already there when they arrived, and in an instant, Hange was filled with doubts. What if she was rushing this? Maybe she shouldn’t leave. Maybe staying would be the better decision, instead of returning to a place where she wasn’t even welcome. Maybe she was just deluding herself.

"You can do it," Levi said, as always knowing what was going on in her mind without her having to say a word. He took her hand, holding it firmly in his. "You’ll be fine. And I’ll be here when you come back."

Half an hour later, the boat set off with a loud horn. Hange stood at the stern, looking back at the people on the dock, waving goodbye to their friends and loved ones. And in the middle of them was Levi, his hand raised, waving along with everyone else—but his eyes were fixed only on her.

Yes. She could do this.

Give me all your hopes, give me all your doubts. Give me all your work day news.

Hange was gone for a little over two years. There were a few things she needed to take care of, and people she wanted to see again. She stayed with Mikasa for a while, met up with the kids traveling back and forth between Marley and Paradis, and visited friends she hadn’t seen in a long time. Things kept coming up, keeping her busy and constantly on the road.

But through it all, Levi was always on her mind.

They wrote each other letters, quite regularly, and surprisingly long ones. Hange had always had a tendency to ramble, but his letters were so detailed, as if he had made an effort to fill her in on everything. His descriptions were thorough, and he included little anecdotes he knew she would enjoy, which always made her smile.

He had actually gone through with the idea of opening a tea shop. In December, he bought one of the small spaces Hange had seen for sale in town. He complained about the terrible state it was in, but noted that it had potential if they put a lot of work and renovations into it. Onyankopon was helping with the legal matters, and Gabi and Falco came over every day to assist with the project.

In spring, his letter came with a little black-and-white photograph of what she realised was the shop’s front. It was a small, freestanding building, completely made of wood and a flat roof, with a wide glass display to the right and a dark green door to the left. It looked cosy and inviting, and she felt proud of what they had accomplished in such a comparatively short time.

Pictures of the interior followed in the months after, and by late summer, it was finally opening day.

It seemed that the grumpy owner had piqued people’s curiosity—at least according to the letters Hange received from Gabi and Falco, the shop’s first and only employees. After a few quiet weeks with only a handful of customers, things were starting to get quite busy.

Levi shared his concerns with her; he’d never run a shop and had no idea how such things worked. He worried it might eventually fail. But Hange knew they had gotten off to a good start, and believed that the business would continue to thrive. "Once I’m back, I’ll spread the word all over town and mention your little tea shop to anyone I come across. You know how chatty I can be—there won’t be a single person who doesn’t know about it."

"It’s our tea shop," Levi corrected her in his reply letter. Then, for the first time, he wrote something that made her smile in a bittersweet way: "I miss you, Hange. Take care of yourself."

Give me all your secrets, give me all your truths. In other words, give me all of you.

"I love you. You know that, right?"

"I know. I do, too."

All of the stars in the moonlit sky couldn’t match what you are to me.

And just like that, two years had passed, and Hange had finally managed to find some closure. She began to yearn for her old new life in Marley—and for the one person who could make her feel truly at peace. Once she was certain everything that needed to be done had been done, she set off with a happy heart and a calm mind, ready to leave the past behind without forgetting where she came from.

When she boarded the ship, she realised just how much she had missed Levi. She missed waking up next to him, spending their days together—lazy mornings and carefully planned afternoons, slow evenings, and warm, endless nights. She missed his voice, his touch, the way he scolded her when she forgot her things again, or when she slipped on his shirts without asking.

She missed home.

Levi wouldn’t be waiting for her at the harbour. She’d mentioned in her last letter that she wouldn’t return for another two weeks. But when she stumbled across an earlier ferry date purely by accident, she hadn’t been able to resist. Her departure had been a little rushed, but who could blame her?

She was going home.

Darkness had already fallen on that cold winter night of her return. It was only a week until Christmas and Levi’s birthday, and she was glad she had actually managed to be back by then. The streets looked almost exactly as they had when she left, except for a few signs that had been renewed and repainted, and a few new benches scattered across the grassy areas just off the road.

When Hange reached the edge of town, she finally had a clear view of the night sky, undisturbed by the glow of the streetlights. There wasn’t a cloud in sight; tiny stars sparkled against the black backdrop, guiding her back to the place she now called home, reminding her of the few times she and Levi had gone stargazing. She followed the familiar country road with a beating heart, eventually turning onto the smaller path that would lead her to their house.

The lights in the living room were still on, she realised with a smile, and she quickened her steps as the anticipation of the upcoming reunion gave her a burst of energy. She fished her keys out of her coat pocket (she somehow hadn't lost them during her journey) and unlocked the front door with shaky hands, moving as quietly as possible.

Levi didn’t seem to have heard anything, not even when she stepped into the welcoming warmth and began taking off her boots, leaving her suitcase standing in the entranceway. The radio was playing jazz music, and she tiptoed her way into the kitchen, where she heard the sound of dishes being moved.

"Surprise!" Hange exclaimed, bounding into the room with a bright smile, arms wide open.

Levi, who was standing at the sink, whirled around, his mouth falling open as he realised who was standing in front of him. With a loud crash, the water glass he’d been holding hit the floor and shattered into pieces. "Shit!"

Hange laughed out loud; of course, that had to be the first word she’d hear from him after two years apart.

She didn’t have much time to laugh, though, because moments later, Levi stepped over the shards and let himself fall into her open arms, his grip on her waist tight as if he never wanted to let go again. She hugged him back just as fiercely, one hand tangled in his hair and the other on his back, letting the pure joy of their reunion wash over her, bringing happy tears to her eyes.

The sweetness of her return marked the rest of the night and the weeks that followed. They were inseparable, both day and night, eager to make up for all the months they had spent apart. Hange’s sleeplessness, which had worsened during her final months in Paradis, faded quickly, and Levi, who had struggled each night in her absence, slept even longer than she did on their first night together.

He showed her the teashop, their own little business they would be running together from now on, and Hange was immensely proud of what he had accomplished with their friends' help—something she didn’t hesitate to remind him of again and again.

"It wouldn’t have been possible without you," Levi said, tilting her chin up gently and kissing her breathless—right there in front of the shop (during opening hours, mind you!).

This was the place where she belonged, where her future lay—or, most importantly, with whom it lay. She was alive, happy, and safe thanks to him, and not a single day passed without him showing her how much she meant to him.

They were a team, partners, friends, and lovers. He meant the world to her, and she knew the feeling was mutual.

She felt it every time their eyes met.

Give me your hand, give me your forever. Give me a chance.

It was Saturday, a few weeks before her forty-third birthday. The sun stood high in the sky on a beautiful August day, drawing people into the bustling streets filled with life and laughter.

Levi and Hange had taken a walk to one of their favourite spots out in the fields, where a small river flowed not too far away. From the little bench they had long claimed as theirs, situated beneath a few trees that provided cool shade, they could hear the water gurgle. Levi’s cane leaned against the bench’s edge; his knee had improved enough that he could get along without a wheelchair in most situations.

Hange hummed an unfamiliar melody to herself, watching a little bird peck at something in the grass, its tiny beak disappearing into the ground again and again. A fresh breeze stirred, and she turned her face into it, letting the air cool and refresh her skin.

"Say, Levi," she said, breaking the silence, unsure whether to speak her thoughts aloud or keep them to herself. Something had been on her mind for a while, ever since witnessing a particularly sweet moment in town, having left a strong impression on her. But she had made him a promise some time ago, and if she didn’t want to break it, she would have to speak up. "Have you ever… thought about marriage?"

She heard Levi inhale sharply but didn’t dare look at him. He shifted nervously beside her, the little stones beneath his shoes crunching softly.

"Yeah… uh, maybe?" He paused, tripping over his own words. "You mean you and me, right?"

"Oh, is there someone else I should know about?" Hange teased, a smile on her face as she finally turned to him and saw his cheeks flush red.

"Where did that sudden thought come from?" he asked, crossing his arms and ignoring her joke.

"I was just thinking," she replied, making a sweeping gesture with her hand. "It’s a natural step in a lot of relationships, isn’t it? And I know we aren’t the most conventional couple, but when I thought about it… it didn’t sound half bad." She paused, for once unable to read Levi’s current neutral expression. "But I know we don’t have to be married to be a couple, and besides, I never heard you mention what you think of marriage. Maybe it was a silly thought—no, you know what? It was a silly thought. Forget I even said anything."

"Hange," Levi said, shaking his head. At least she knew what that meant—he was telling her to stop her thoughts from spiraling. So she stayed quiet, waiting for him to continue. "Did you go through my things?"

Huh? That was unexpected. "I stole your shirt yesterday, if that’s what you mean. But it’s in the laundry bag. And I used your comb this morning because I misplaced mine."

He shook his head again, and to Hange’s surprise, reached into his pocket and withdrew a small black box, which he handed to her. After making sure she was actually supposed to open it, she slowly wrapped her fingers around the lid and carefully lifted it. Inside was something silver, shining softly in the sunlight. It looked like some kind of jewelry, round in shape, reminding her of a—

"It’s a ring!" she exclaimed, her eyes widening as she examined it. It wasn’t just any ring, she realised after a few seconds. It was a—

"It’s an engagement ring!" Her jaw dropped as she glanced back and forth between the ring in her hands and Levi’s still-expressionless face. "No way!"

"That's why I asked if you went through my things and might've found it," he explained with a shrug.

"You wanted to propose?” Hange’s heart was beating wildly as the meaning of the object she was holding in her hands finally sank in.

"No, I bought it just for fun." He rubbed his temple, his cheeks flushing a little. "Actually, I’ve had it for almost a month now. I… there was never a right moment, or maybe I was just overcomplicating things. And I didn’t even know if you wanted to get married—I never heard you talk about it."

"Well, you do know now," she replied with a giggle, barely able to keep herself from kicking her feet. A coincidence like this could really only happen to them. "Then just do it now!"

"What?"

"Propose, of course!" She closed the small box and pressed it into his hand, curling his fingers around it when he tried to pull away.

"This is ridiculous," Levi grumbled, eying the case in his hand as if it might suddenly bite him.

"Please?" She placed a hand on his wrist, brushing her thumb against it in a way that made his spine tingle ( something he’d confessed one night as he'd been on the brink of sleep.)

"This is ridiculous," he repeated, but then stood up slowly, like it cost him a great deal of effort—which it probably did. "Do you want me to get cheesy and get down on my knee and all that?"

"Certainly," Hange replied with a grin, scrunching up her nose at him. "Minus the kneeling part, of course—not sure your leg could handle it."

"Tsk, of course it can." Levi dropped onto his left knee, ignoring her attempts to pull him back up. When it touched the ground, he grimaced briefly, the motion sending a sharp pain through his leg. But everything was forgotten when he took the box in his hands and flipped it open, his cheeks and ears bright red.

"You know I’m terrible at romantic speeches, so this will probably be very awkward. Uh… you- you've been the one person who has stayed by my side throughout my entire life. You wanted to be my friend when I didn’t deserve it, and you taught me both how to love and be loved. I’ve enjoyed every day we’ve spent together, and I’d love to spend the rest of my days by your side—even if you can be quite a pain sometimes." He paused, nervously scratching the back of his head. "So… I’d be very happy and honoured if you would let me marry you. … Hange Zoë—shit, I almost forgot to say your name."

Hange chuckled, reaching out to brush his cheek when he avoided her gaze. "That was incredibly sweet," she said, touched by the honesty in his words. It had been the perfect mix of seriousness and awkwardness, and she loved every second of it—though it also made her feel a little embarrassed. "But now hurry and stand up before you get a cramp again. You’re not as young as you used to be, you know?" She tugged at his shoulder, supporting him as his knee threatened to give way.

"I just proposed, did my best to find the right words, and you call me old?" Levi complained, shaking his head and feigning offense. Then he eyed her sceptically. "You still have to answer my question, though—you know that, right?"

"Oh, of course!" she exclaimed, amused, giving his cheek another pat. "I’m sorry, I was kind of distracted by a very handsome man who just fell onto his knees right in front of me, you know?" She giggled when he rolled his eyes at her. "Gosh, I didn’t think I’d live to experience this!" With determination, she clenched her hand into a fist and pressed it to her heart, her own cheeks now flushed as well.

"Yes, I will marry you. Or let you marry me—it’s basically the same thing, isn’t it? And I do want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you with my entire heart, no, with my entire being." Her words were clumsy, almost as awkward as Levi’s had been. But when she saw the unbridled joy in his eyes, she couldn’t help but smile.

"Okay," he said, reaching out to grab her hand. She noticed it was trembling slightly, and she gave it a reassuring squeeze. "That’s nice. Yes. Then I guess we’ll get married."

"We’re really bad at this," Hange laughed, waiting patiently while he struggled to get the ring out of its box. When he didn’t succeed on the first try—and because she felt like she might burst from the joy threatening to bubble over inside her—she cupped his face in her hands and pulled him into a deep kiss that left them both breathless and grinning from ear to ear.

Once they had calmed their nerves a little, Levi finally managed to free the ring from its case and slowly slipped it onto her finger, so reverently that it made her skin tingle. It wasn’t a fancy ring—just a simple silver band with a single shiny gem set into the metal. It was the most beautiful thing she had ever worn.

They continued sitting on their bench for a while, hands joined and fingers interlaced. Whenever he ran his finger over the new piece, Hange’s heartbeat quickened, and she wondered if this was true love—the kind that couldn’t be surpassed by anything else.

They got married a month later, on a mild, golden autumn day in September.

Only their closest friends were present, including the kids, who had promised to arrive two days early and spend a lot of time with the soon-to-be-weds, bringing gifts. The boys even took Levi out the evening before, giving him a sort of stag night and forcing him to spend the night at a hotel, convinced that keeping the traditions would bring them luck.

On the day of the wedding, they both wore white and were clad in suits—hers a little more billowy than his—and each wore the happiest smile they could muster as they said yes, promising each other their hearts and fullest devotion.

They hadn’t spent a single night apart from each other since.

Give me all your days, 'till our days are through. In other words, give me all of you.

And they stayed true to their vows.

They remained together until their last breath, each holding the other’s name on their lips as their final seconds passed.

Levi passed away first at 63, after a year-long battle with complications from his lingering injuries. Hange lived for five more years, until it was her turn to fall asleep for the last time, her body finally surrendering after a life filled with hardship and countless trials.

She was more than ready to join Levi again.

In other words, give me all of you.