Flowers – August 19


Description: Idiots in love

Rating: T

Characters: Hanji Z., Levi

Genre: Romance/Action


Hanji loved flowers. It was one her favorite things about going outside the walls, being able to see wild flowers as they were intended to be seen. Once, she tried to go over the names of them with Levi, but he rolled his eyes and told her to shut up before her big mouth attracted a titan.

He was so grumpy when he showed he cared.

Her favorite flower was the daffodil. She'd always liked the color yellow and they just seemed like such a happy flower. Like little miniature trumpets announcing better days to come. She always pointed them out to Levi whenever they passed some, despite his grumblings.

One day, when they were resting the horses under a mulberry tree, Hanji said, "Did you there's an ancient myth about how the mulberry tree got its red fruit? They were originally white."

Levi didn't tell her to continue, but didn't tell her to shut up either, which Hanji decided meant she should continue. "It was a story of two lovers. They were the children of families that hated each other, and a great stone wall divided their lands. But the lovers found a crack in the wall and whispered their love to each other through it."

Levi's eyes were closed, but Hanji knew it was unlikely that he was asleep. She kept going, "One day, the man, Pyramus was his name, told his love, Thisbe to meet him under a mulberry tree so they could run away together. She agrees. When the day arrived, she got to the meeting place first. But there was a lion there and she ran, screaming. She didn't notice, but in her terror she'd dropped her scarf. The lion picked up the scarf in his bloodied jaws, shredding it, before spitting it out again.

"That was when Pryamus arrived. He recognized the scarf and in his despair over the love he assumed was dead, killed himself with his sword.

"Thisbe, still scared but her love overruled that, returned, hoping to find Pyramus so they could run off. Instead, she found his body. In her despair, she picked up his sword and joined him in death. Their blood spattered onto the tree's fruit forever staining it red."

"That story is stupid," Levi finally responded. "Why would that idiot kill himself over a bloody scarf? And why would she join him in death? It's not romantic, it's just dumb."

Hanji shrugged. "There was a more popular version made later, but the ending's the same, so you'd probably think it was dumb too."

Levi grunted in agreement.

"I never really saw it as a romance though. Just a cautionary tale about how quickly despair can catch hold."

The words settled between, both were intimately aware of the feeling of despair. No one in the survey corps had not felt it at some point, just how pointless it all seemed to be and how inevitable death was.

Levi said, "I still think they're idiots."

Hanji chuckled. She looked up at the berries within the leaves of the tree. "I think it's nice to know that humans had stories even before they had scientific explanations. I mean, now we know that the berries are red so that birds can more easily see them, so that they will eat them and spread the tree's seeds. But humans longed for understanding before they could deduce all that, so they made up a pretty story about star-crossed lovers."

"Pretty stories are for idiots," Levi complained. "Reality is all that matters."

"Reality is too harsh sometimes. It's nice to escape, even for a short while. Nice to pretend that berries are red because two in love kids got a little carried away."

"Then that makes you an idiot."

Hanji giggled. "Maybe it does. But it's nice to be an idiot sometimes."

Levi couldn't agree with that. Being an idiot got you killed.


It was good they rested the horses when they had the chance. Now their steeds were getting quite the work out.

A group of four titans had come out of nowhere, killing any potential peace for the squad commanders, who at the moment, were down two squads.

Thankfully, it wasn't because their soldiers were dead, just left back at base. Hanji had assured Levi it would be a simple mission. She wanted to study the properties of some of the plant life found in the titan forest. See if the plant life gave any clues about the forest's usual occupants.

Hanji's bag was full, but there was a titan fast on her tail. Odd, that her and Levi hadn't had any real trouble in the forest, it wasn't until they got on the plains the titans appeared.

If they had been abnormals, she would have suspected a plan. As it was, she guessed it was just bad luck.

Hanji and Levi kept moving as quickly as they could, yelling to each other. "Do you think you can take out the little one on my left if I bring him to you?"

"Maybe. Do you think the 15 meter behind me will grab me before I get the chance?"

Hanji glanced at the titan he was referring to. "I'll take care of it." She took out her swords and guided her horse with her knees.

Levi shift in his seat, ready to launch off his horse to Hanji's three meter titan. "I'm going to take out the seven meter when I'm finished. Are you planning on taking any of these out?"

"I've got the 15 meter. Whoever finishes first can take the four meter." She smiled even though she suspected Levi wouldn't be able to see it. "He can decide the winner, huh? Whoever takes him out gets 50 points."

He didn't see it, but he could picture it, knowing Hanji would find her own joke amusing. "Ready?"

"Not really, but the horses will tire before that happens." Hanji's horse abruptly moved left, causing one of the titan's chasing her to crash into the other. Hanji frowned. That wasn't the plan.

Levi followed his role regardless, jumping from his horse to the pile of titans. The one he wasn't standing on, lunged for him, but he dodged. He flipped to land on that one's neck, killing it quickly.

The other one was still under the burning body. It screamed and Levi tried to get behind it to get its neck, but it wasn't working. The noise had attracted the four meter, so Levi launched himself at it, going for the easier kill.

Hanji had manage to get the attention of the 15 meter, which was now hot on her heels instead of Levi's, but she realized her plan had a major flaw. She hadn't had a step two after get the titan's attention.

She searched the landscape, but found no help. She would have to figure out a way to get behind it and launch up at it. The titan swiped at her horses back legs, knocking her off. She fell hard, hearing a rib crack as she rolled.

She ignored the pain, and swiped with her blades at the hand that immediately reached for her. She managed to take off a few of the titan's fingers. She ran between its legs to attempt to get behind the titan, but it just swiped at her again, knocking her down this time.

Levi had taken out the four meter, while the seven meter stood up. It charged for him.

Levi rolled out of its way, and as it flew past him, his grappling hooks found their marks on the titan's shoulders. Levi was propelled to the titan's neck and he took it out easily.

His task finished he looked for Hanji. He didn't see her. He only saw the 15 meter still standing. There was something in its hand.

Panic gripped Levi. "Hanji!" He searched for his horse, but it was too far away. He ran towards the titan and its victim. "Hanji!"

The titan didn't seem to notice him running towards it. He looked at his handles, he didn't have much gas left, but it would have to be enough. He launched himself toward the 15 meter and killed it.

Steam blocked his vision. "Hanji! Hanji!"

"Oh, Levi, what did you do that for?"

Levi whipped around to see Hanji climbing out of the titan's hand. "I was testing its grip. Titans don't really have very strong hand muscles. Odd, isn't it?"

Levi wanted to punch her. "You idiot! You could have been killed."

Hanji didn't let his anger faze her. "Please, I had the situation under control." She began to walk toward him, but hissed in pain after a couple of step, clutching at her side.

Levi was on her in a heartbeat. "Are you hurt?"

"Broken ribs, I think."

Levi's arms wrapped around her gently. He wanted to tell her not to scare him. He'd already lost too much, he didn't want to lose her too. "We should get out of here before anymore come."

"In a minute," Hanji's forehead rested against his shoulder. This was nice, she thought, closing her eyes.

She really was an idiot. Levi sighed, pulling her in tighter, but she was his idiot.