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Levi stepped back and allowed himself a small, rare grin. The decorations were in place, the small cake gleaming on the counter, and the balloons bobbing lazily near the ceiling. Their friends would arrive in an hour which just enough time for him to ensure everything was perfect before Hange walked through the door.
He adjusted the framed ultrasound on the shelf, his fingers lingering as he gazed at the tiny flicker of life captured within. Hange was still in her first trimester, so they didn’t know the gender yet. Levi didn’t care. Whoever this little human would be, he would love them fiercely. Still… he found himself silently wishing for a mini Hange. The thought made him smirk. Chaotic, brilliant, stubborn Hange, if the child inherited even a fraction of her spirit, their life would be… interesting, to say the least. But he didn’t mind. He thrived in the chaos that was Hange.
Two years of trying had finally led to this moment, and when Hange had told him she was pregnant, he hadn’t known whether to laugh or panic.
He remembered it vividly.
“Levi!” she had burst from the bathroom, dropping to her knees and burying her face in her hands, sobbing. Levi froze, the sight catching him completely off guard. This wasn’t the composed, teasing Hange he knew. This was raw, vulnerable, overwhelmed. And he panicked silently.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, kneeling besides her, voice steady even as his heart began to hammer. He reached for her, but she lifted something for him to see and there they were, the five pregnancy tests, each unmistakably positive.
“We did it,” she choked out between tears, her voice trembling with disbelief and joy.
For a moment, Levi felt his own heart stop. Goosebumps rose along his arms as warmth pooled in his chest, and then the tears he rarely allowed himself fell freely. Without hesitation, he pulled Hange into his arms. She clung to him, sobbing and laughing all at once, and Levi held her like he would never let go because he could never.
In that embrace, time seemed to pause. All the waiting, the fear, the hope… it all condensed into this single, perfect moment. Two souls, two hearts, united in awe at the life they had created together.
And Levi knew, with absolute certainty, that he would protect this life, and Hange, with everything he had… forever.
The sudden shrill ring of his phone shattered the quiet reverie, dragging Levi from the gentle gaze he’d been holding on the ultrasound. The screen lit up, it was Nanaba.
She was supposed to pick Hange up from work, under the pretense of taking her out for sweets which was just a harmless distraction before the party. Levi’s chest fluttered at the thought of how excited Hange would be soon.
“Nana—” he started, but her voice cut through the line, sharp and trembling.
“Levi!” Panic sliced through every word. “You have to come now! Hange… Hange—she—”
“What happened to Hange?! Tell me now, Nanaba! Tell me!” His voice roared, a mix of fear and fury as his hands trembled around the phone.
“She… she got into an accident. They’re taking her t- to Sina University Hospital,” Nanaba stammered between tears.
The world narrowed to that single, shattering truth. Without another word, Levi ended the call, his movements frantic and automatic. He snatched his wallet, keys, and coat, barely registering the chaos of the apartment around him.
Running through the streets, his mind became a blur of dread and desperate prayers. He muttered under his breath, over and over, words that felt too small against the enormity of his fear.
“Please… please… please… Not them. Don’t take them away from me… Not Hange. Not our baby…”
Each step felt unbearably slow, yet his body surged forward, driven by panic, by the raw, gnawing terror of imagining a world without her. Every breath was jagged. Every heartbeat a hammering drum of fear. Time had slowed, and yet it was racing, dragging him toward the unknown.
---
Levi was certain he would get a ticket or worse, for the way he had driven, swerving recklessly through traffic, ignoring red lights. But fines, accidents, and legal consequences were the last things on his mind. There was only one thing that mattered was Hange and their little one.
When he skidded into the hospital parking lot, the first person he saw was Erwin, standing stiffly, arms crossed but eyes sharp and serious. Relief and panic collided in Levi’s chest. Without a word, Erwin stepped forward and grabbed his arm, guiding him toward the entrance.
“What happened?!” Levi demanded, voice cracking despite his usual control.
Erwin’s jaw tightened, and he spoke with measured gravity, each word deliberate. “She… she was running an errand. She insisted on doing it herself. A drunk driver hit her. She’s in surgery right now as we speak.”
Levi’s stomach dropped, his knees threatening to give way. His hands clenched into fists so tight his knuckles whitened. The words barely registered, yet the image of Hange lying broken on the street seared into his mind.
Erwin led him down the sterile, fluorescent-lit corridor, ignoring Levi’s tugging and pacing. “Levi, listen. Panicking won’t help. She’s in capable hands. But you need to stay focused—”
“I don’t care about capable hands!” Levi snapped, his voice sharp, brittle with terror. “I just… I need her. I need them both to be safe!” His eyes darted ahead, as if imagining Hange and the baby slipping away from him in that very moment.
Erwin’s grip on his shoulder was firm, grounding him. “I know, Levi. I know,” he said quietly. “But right now, all you can do is wait. I’ll be here. Kuchel’s on her way too.”
Levi exhaled shakily, but the fear didn’t leave. Every second felt like an eternity as the elevator doors closed, carrying him toward the unknown and the operating theater where Hange fought for her and their little one’s life.
—
Levi sat in the stiff plastic chair outside the operating theater, but he wasn’t really sitting. His body tensed and twisted with every imagined scenario. Time had slowed to a maddening crawl, each tick of the clock pounding like a hammer in his skull.
His mind refused to be still. Images flashed unbidden with Hange laughing with her usual chaotic energy, brushing flour off her cheek after their failed attempt at cooking, the way she’d thrown herself into his arms when she had told him she was pregnant. And now… now she was lying on a cold hospital bed, fighting for their child, for both of them, while he sat powerless.
“Please… please, not them… not my Hange… please…” Levi muttered under his breath, his fingers curling into the arms of the chair until the plastic dug into his palms. Every whispered prayer felt inadequate, each syllable swallowed by the sterile hum of the hospital.
He couldn’t stop imagining all the “what ifs.” What if the surgery failed? What if he never held her again? What if he never heard her laugh, never felt the weight of her hand in his? His chest tightened so fiercely it was hard to breathe.
Levi’s thoughts spiraled further. I’m supposed to protect her… I’m supposed to protect them… and I failed. I couldn’t stop it. I wasn’t there. The guilt clawed at him, sharp and merciless. He felt a desperate, almost physical need to claw the world back into order, to make it right by sheer will and failing that, to at least hold them and never let go.
Flashbacks continued, relentlessly. The moment she told him she was pregnant, her tears, her shaky hands, the way she clutched him, shaking with joy played over and over. That joy, that hope, now felt fragile, suspended by a thread.
Levi’s jaw ached from clenching his teeth. He whispered every name he could think of, every deity he could remember, any god or spirit who might listen. “Please… keep them safe… let them come back to me. I can’t… I can’t lose them. Not like this…”
His body trembled as he hugged himself, rocking slightly, the only movement he could allow. He felt unbearably alone, though Erwin and Kuchel were nearby. Nothing could reach into the hurricane of fear and love consuming him.
Every second stretched into eternity. Every echo of the hospital, the distant monitor beeps, the shuffle of shoes in the corridor, felt like a countdown he could not stop. Time had truly stopped, and all that existed was a single, burning thought: Hange. And their child. He would not, could not, survive without them.
---
Levi felt a gentle touch on his shoulder, and a soft, familiar voice broke through the fog of his panic.
“Levi…”
He raised his teary eyes to meet his mother’s. Kuchel’s heart ached at the sight of her son who was usually so controlled, so stoic now trembling and raw in fear. Without hesitation, she pulled him into her embrace, one hand threading through his hair, the other steadying his back.
“Hange is a fighter,” Kuchel murmured, her voice calm but firm, trying to anchor him. “She’s the strongest person we all know. Remember when she was still a lanky little kid, smaller than you even, and she defended you from those bullies? Even though you could’ve handled it just fine.”
Levi didn’t reply. He didn’t need to. He simply clung to her, listening as her words wove a lifeline through the storm of his panic.
“She doesn’t care about how big the obstacles are—she fights against them anyway. She will survive. I promise,” Kuchel whispered.
Levi melted into her arms, burying his face against her shoulder, desperately wishing this were all a nightmare. “I should have been there,” he murmured hoarsely. “When she comes out safe… I’m going to be her shadow. Always by her side.”
Kuchel chuckled softly, tears slipping down her own cheeks. “She’ll be annoyed.”
Levi lifted his head slightly, a faint, bitter smile breaking through the fear. “She’ll find it endearing.”
“Oh, darling,” Kuchel said, her voice trembling with both laughter and tears, “I don’t doubt that at all.”
In that embrace, Levi clung to hope as tightly as he clung to his mother, every heartbeat a prayer, every shudder a reminder of how fiercely he loved the woman who had stolen his heart and the tiny life they had created together.
---
After five grueling hours, the waiting room had mostly emptied. Only Levi, Kenny, and Kuchel remained, the three of them a silent island amid the hum of the hospital. The others had gone to freshen up or gather supplies, leaving the trio alone with the weight of uncertainty.
When the doctor finally emerged from the operating theater, Levi was instantly on his feet, every nerve taut with anticipation.
The doctor exhaled heavily, a faint weariness in his eyes, and gave Levi a small, reassuring nod. “The injuries were serious, but she was brought to the hospital just in time. Both the mother and the baby are safe.” His words hit Levi like a wave, crashing over him, flooding his body with relief and disbelief. “She’ll be moved to the ward shortly. After that, we’ll allow you to see her.”
Kuchel sank to her knees, relief so intense it left her trembling, and Kenny immediately wrapped a steadying arm around her.
Levi closed his eyes, tilting his head back, letting the tension drain from his shoulders. He whispered thanks to every god, every spirit, every force that might have listened to his desperate prayers.
Kenny fished his phone from his pocket, his fingers quick and steady. “I’ll call Erwin. He should hear this good news immediately.”
Levi remained still, silent, letting the moment settle, the fear finally giving way to a fragile, shivering relief. He knew that the hardest part was over but the first sight of Hange, the weight of her hand in his, and the promise of their child would be the moment when he truly let himself breathe again.
---
Levi removed his reading glasses as he heard her soft, teasing call.
“..vi… Levi!”
Hange stood in front of the mirror, waving at him through the reflection. She lifted her oversized T-shirt slightly, revealing her stomach. “Do you see a slight bump, or is it just my dinner?”
Levi snorted, pushing himself off the bed. “Remember how much you pigged out? Definitely your dinner,” he said, walking toward her.
Hange pouted, but her fingers still traced the faint curve of her bump, fascination shining in her eyes. “Meanie,” she muttered, though a small smile tugged at her lips.
Levi slipped behind her, placing a tender kiss on her bare shoulder where the T-shirt slipped slightly. He threaded his fingers through hers, the hand resting on her stomach. “Definitely a mini Hange growing in there,” he whispered, letting his lips trail up her neck, pressing soft, lingering kisses along her skin.
Hange hummed in contentment. “I’d like a mini brooding Levi… but a female version. Oh… that’s just Mikasa.”
“Nope. Not that brat. Our kid definitely should not take after her. She’s still after my head for the one time I disciplined Eren. She is obsessed with that Jaeger kid and I’d prefer our ‘daughter’ stay with us forever.” Levi replied, his voice dry but affectionate.
“It was necessary. Buttttttt… about our hypothetical daughter living with us forever she might hate us for it but I will not argue further.” Hange supplied, eyes sparkling with amusement.
“That’s why I married you,” Levi said simply.
Hange turned, a grin spreading across her face. She cupped his face and kissed him hard, making his legs go weak. “I love you, Levi,” she whispered, breathless. Levi melted right there, completely undone by her warmth and affection.
---
But then the memory dissolved, replaced by the sterile reality of the hospital room. Hange lay with an oxygen mask over her face, machines beeping steadily beside her. Her hair was disheveled, her body still weak from surgery.
Levi reached for her hand, holding it tightly against his forehead. He pressed a soft kiss to her knuckles, whispering prayers and gratitude under his breath. Slowly, his hand traveled to her stomach, now showing the faint but undeniable curve of their child.
A soft chuckle escaped him. Definitely their baby. He caressed the bump gently, kissing it tenderly. “Thank you for surviving… for staying with your mother,” he whispered to the tiny life within her, his voice breaking with emotion.
Levi rested his head beside her hand, willing himself to stay present, holding both mother and child close in spirit, heart overflowing with love, relief, and the fierce promise of protection.
---
Everyone knew better than to suggest Levi go home and rest. He stayed by Hange’s side, watching over her with quiet vigilance, until his exhaustion finally caught up with him. Slowly, he lowered his head to rest beside her hand, one of his own hands still gently pressed against her stomach, feeling their baby growing steadily within her.
In his dreams, Levi revisited the memories that had shaped their love, the first time he asked Hange out, their engagement, their wedding. The dreams carried him further, into the moment she had first told him she was pregnant, and it was there that he woke, breath catching in his throat.
When he opened his eyes, Hange was staring at him, her gaze soft and filled with a mix of relief and amusement.
“We scared you, didn’t we?” she rasped, her voice still rough from sleep and surgery.
Levi didn’t realize he had been crying until her fingers brushed against his cheeks, wiping away the tears that had slipped silently down.
“Help me up? And some water, please,” she requested. Without a word, Levi moved, lifting her carefully and bringing her a glass. He guided the water to her lips, watching over her like he always did, silently ensuring she was okay.
“I should call the doctor,” Levi said, concern flickering in his eyes.
Hange shook her head, a faint smile tugging at her lips. “Actually… the doctors were here. I woke up almost an hour ago, and Kuchel was here. I asked them not to wake you.” She nodded toward the couch, where Kuchel slept soundly, exhausted from her own vigil.
Levi’s gaze softened, relief and love mingling in his expression.
“The doctor said I just need a few days to recover here in the hospital,” Hange continued, her voice lighter now, “and then I’ll be good to go.”
Levi reached out, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple, then resting his forehead against hers. “Good,” he murmured. “Because I’m not letting you out of my sight… not for a single second.”
Hange chuckled softly, the sound fragile but full of warmth, and for the first time since the accident, Levi allowed himself to relax, holding her hand and feeling the steady, reassuring rhythm of both mother and child.
---
Levi adjusted the pillows behind Hange, making sure she was comfortable. One hand rested lightly on her stomach, feeling the subtle movement of their baby, while the other held her hand, not letting go.
“You’re not moving from this bed for at least a week,” he said quietly, his voice low but firm. “No errands, no cooking, no heavy lifting. Not even standing for more than ten minutes. I’ll handle it all. Don’t argue.”
Hange raised an eyebrow, a small, amused smirk tugging at her lips. “You sound like you’re about to declare martial law.”
Levi’s expression didn’t soften, but the faint curve at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. “Call it… precautionary measures. I’m not taking any chances. Not with you, not anymore. You will always be in my periphery.”
Hange squeezed his hand, leaning slightly into him. “I think… I like having you like this. Even if it is overboard.”
Levi pressed a gentle kiss to the back of her hand, then rested his forehead against it, eyes closed for a moment. “I don’t plan to take any risks. You’re too important. Both of you are.”
Hange hummed, content, letting herself relax completely in his presence. Levi didn’t need to say more, his quiet vigilance, his protective energy, the way he simply was there, spoke louder than any words.
And Levi stayed like that, sitting beside her, holding her hand and tracing gentle patterns over her stomach. Not dramatic, not showy. Just him. Watching over them. Always.