Two weeks later, Trost District

"Don't be ridiculous," Mike said, his long, muscular legs slightly elevated and crossed at the ankles, his hands folded leisurely behind his head, "I'm not Commander material."

"What?" Zoë blinked at him owlishly. She felt drunk somewhat and had serious trouble focusing on his face. Her eyes were not what they had once been and it almost seemed as if Mike was hidden behind a veil of scentless smoke? "You are tall, well-built, have blond hair, and are always serious and calm. If that is not Commander material, I don't know what is!"

You also have fabulous calves, she added in her head, squinting at the blurry image next to her, like tree trunks. Commanders should have tree trunk legs in my opinion.

"Look in the mirror, darling," Mike purred, slowly turning to move his index finger from her nose, over her chin, through the valley between her breasts down to her belly button, where he stopped. She shuddered. His touch was cold and as unsubstantial as a ghost's, "you are the Commander of the Survey Corps, Zoë Hange! If you are not Commander material, I don't know who is!"

She shook her head. "But it's too much of a burden. I can't do it."

"Hear, hear," Mike chuckled. "So, you're saying you fooled us all these years? You just played being one of the smartest people alive?"

"Levi thinks I'm shit," she blurted out. "He doesn't respect me at all!"

Mike laughed. "That Shorty? Don't mind him, he's an annoying midget, all bark, little bite. Erwin used violence on him to make him eat out of his hand, try it too."

"You mean… hit him?"

"Yes, hit him, throw him in prison, torture him, whatever needs to be done!"

"But I love him," Zoë sobbed, "dammit, I love him, but I just can't seem to reach his heart! He does not let me close enough."

"Ah, the heart," Mike nodded sadly, "forget about his heart, it is already pledged to a different cause: dying! How can there be room for anything else next to such a goal?"

"But I don't want him to die," she sobbed even harder, "anything, but please, don't take Levi from me!"

An image arose in front of her, it felt too damn familiar: Levi, his trembling body bleeding and broken in her arms, his face cut up and ruined. His eyes, half-open, yet non-seeing. His mouth, trying to form words. Say that you love me too, she pleaded, please. Say it. But how could he when he was dying? It was too late. There had never been a future for them.

"You cannot be weak, Zoë, my darling," Mike purred, playfully trying to catch her tears with his ghost-fingers. "If he makes you this weak, cut all ties as fast as you can. The ultimate sacrifice, you know it's coming, right? Humanity's defeat will come only when we stop fighting. As long as we keep fighting, we haven't lost!"

"Not losing is not enough! How can we win?" She screamed out her frustration. "How?"

"You silly goose," Mike said with Levi's voice. "We cannot win, don't you get it? But we can die fighting, fighting honorably. You must dedicate your heart! Ensure that our deaths are not in vain! Follow me! Follow me into death!"

And she did. Together in death was better than not together at all, wasn't it? And yet, she cried big, ugly tears when they rushed towards the advancing army of Titans, their collective heat incinerating everything in their path, the ash trampled into the ground or carried away by the wind. Her hair caught fire first. Then, her clothes. Then, her skin.

Was this honorable enough? She looked at Levi for answers, but he wasn't there. Blackness swallowed her. Everything. Pointless.

Zoë jerked awake, realized with a pang that tears were streaming down her cheeks, and hastily lifted a hand to brush them away. But the hand was incredibly heavy, her arm full of shuddering, thin needles.

"Shit," she whispered, trembling all over. "Just a dream."

"Shh, don't move," Doctor Grütter admonished her from across the dimly lit room. "Just a few more minutes."

Right. She was in his practice, getting treatment. Zoë tried to relax but how could she when the pressure in her chest was still mounting? It was so goddamn embarrassing to bawl like a baby, but she couldn't stop her tears from flowing, however hard she tried.

"Not to worry, that's a normal reaction," Doctor Grütter's voice was calm and steady. "Along with the physical parts of you that are loosened up through this treatment, emotions become free-flowing as well. It's a good sign."

A good sign? Like she had any use for emotions. And like she wanted to miss Levi so much it hurt, fuck! In some moments, she regretted that she hadn't forced him to stay. In others, she wished she had told him never to return. What use did she have for a veteran soldier who went behind his Commander's back and left her dealing with the mess in the aftermath of a servants' revolt? And what a great big mess it still was... But most of all, she was so sick of having to make excuses for him to everybody else!

Connie, looking around, finally noticing someone is missing after five days: "Where is Captain Levi?" – "He's on a mission." – "Oh, I see! I hope he's back soon? … will he be back soon?"

Sascha, salivating: "Did you eat anything interesting while you were away, Commander Hange?" – "You would have liked the meals at Hange Estate, I think." – "Ohhhh! But now the cook is no longer there, right? So, there's no use going to visit for the food… oh, would Captain Levi know the cook?" – "I doubt it. He doesn't know everyone from the underground." – "He doesn't? Shame."

Commander Pixis, being misogynist as always: "Did Captain Levi not return with you?" –"No, he had some important business to take care of." –"Oh? Then let's hope he'll be done with it soon! There's no point in trying to purge the lost territory between the Walls of Titans without him, is there!"

Nile Dok, sour-faced as always: "The Queen says she trusts Levi Ackerman to protect her; do you?" – "If the Queen trusts him, you should trust him." – "I don't like what I'm hearing about what's happening in the Underground, Commander Hange. We're very vulnerable here." – "Too much inequality is the problem, not people's wish to lead decent lives!" – "Why do Survey Corps Commanders always have radical ideas? By the Walls, I hope he knows what he's doing down there!"

Jean, sweating because he's that afraid of Levi's ire: "You want me and Armin to take care of the new recruits? Are you sure?" – "Yes." – "Without Captain Levi?!" – "Yes." – "But… What if he's unhappy with the selection?" – "Then he can come talk to me." – "O...okay. I really hope he's not unhappy."

Floch: "We're just sitting ducks here. With every day we do nothing, we're a step closer to getting annihilated!" – "Invading another country isn't just done on a weekend. We have time, Floch." – "Doesn't feel like it. And without Captain Levi, we're doomed anyway."

Armin, worried to offend her: "Commander, I am sorry, but in my opinion, Captain Levi did the right thing at the Hange Estate. However, he should have consulted with you first." – "As always, you're very perceptive, Armin." – "I'm sure he will be back soon, Commander Hange! He told us he wouldn't be long!"

Eren, looking like shit: "Will Captain Levi be back soon?" –"What's the matter, Eren? Are you not feeling well?" – "Just… feeling weighed down by everything." – "Don't worry too much. We're in this together!" – "Captain Levi tells me I'm a stupid brat and to get my act together. It helps." – "Eren, you're a stupid brat! Get your act together!" – "It doesn't work when you say it, Hange-san. You're too nice."

Mikasa, angry: "I've always hated Annika. She's a very good fighter though."

Oh well. And that brought her here, to Doctor Grütter and his needles.

"You won't be able to cure me," Zoë said into the dimly lit room, keeping her eyes on the dark wooden beams above her. It wasn't a question; it was a statement. Having needles stuck into her body made her feel better. But better wasn't well and she hadn't felt well in months.

She heard Grütter get up and come in her direction. "No," he said, starting to check the positions of the needles in her feet. "But I think I can stabilize your condition. As long as you keep coming to our sessions."

"I will."

"Like last time?" She heard the smile in his voice.

"You know I had to leave Trost for a bit," Zoë had already told him when he had scolded her for missing an appointment. "On state business."

"The Queen is quite busy these days, isn't she?"

Understatement. Queen Historia, upon her return, still so furious about Tybur she couldn't stop kicking furniture, had immediately abolished the Peonage Law and had deemed unpaid labor illegal, punishable by death - without consulting with anybody first. What an uproar among the people! The nobles had probably still been paralyzed with shock when Historia had next decreed that every noble house had to send 80% of their private guards to the Capital, in order to be drafted into the military. Everyone with sufficient ODM gear skills was turned over to Jean and Armin, who oversaw the training for new Survey Corps members. There also were many undergrounders who wanted to start serving in the military – Shadis was busy as well.

"We're keeping the Queen in a secure location," Zoë told Grütter. "The situation is very unstable right now."

"Did you also hear that all the Undergrounders want to come up to live in the cities? That's thousands of people! Where will they fit?"

"That's unlikely, especially if Queen Historia makes good on her promise to help alleviate poverty and focus on infrastructural projects down there. But everybody should be able to live where they want, don't you think?"

"Within the Walls, you mean."

That gave her pause, but only briefly. "One day, maybe beyond the Walls. It is possible. First, we will purge all the Titans from our lands. And then…"

What then? She would lead the Survey Corps beyond the Walls again. They were getting Tybur's weapons - he had negotiated a deal with Zackly. Zoë didn't like it much but she had never believed that people as powerful as Tybur and her father would remain in prison for long.

"... and then, we will have a look at what else the world has in store," she ended her sentence. If they did not get wiped out first by their enemies that was.

She felt the doctor's agitation. "I can't imagine that many will be brave enough to leave the protection of the Walls!"

"That's fine. We should be able to trade with the rest of the world, bringing in many interesting goods for those who want to stay… apparently, we have highly valuable natural resources here to offer."

"One thing is certain, big changes are coming," Dr. Grütter sighed, beginning to remove needles from her legs and throwing them into a metal bowl. "I don't know how to feel about it."

"I'm afraid too," Zoë sighed, "but please don't tell anyone, I need to look mighty brave."

Doctor Grütter laughed. "I remember you wanted to hear about my family's knowledge of the Ackermans last time?"

"Last time, yes," Zoë's breath caught.

Grütter chuckled. "Angry with him? Once an Undergrounder, always an Undergrounder, isn't that what they say? I hear that Levi Ackerman will become the King of the Underground."

She shrugged, trying to pretend that persistent rumor didn't scare her.

"I asked my mother to tell me everything she remembers about the Ackermans when I last visited her. Her Clan was affiliated with the Ackerman Clan."

"You mean… the Oriental Clan?"

"Yes, just so," Grütter nodded. "She herself knew three Ackermans quite well, a girl and two boys, siblings. She says they are dead now. After that, she heard of no more Ackermans. She thought all three of them remained childless."

And now there were only two Ackermans left. The extinction of this mysterious Clan whose purpose was intricately linked to their lost Eldian history was much too likely. Levi should have children, the thought came unbidden, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. I think he would be a great father. Overprotective and fussy, but really sweet and caring underneath all that grump.

Aaaaand… the tears were back. What the fuck was wrong with her?

"My mother's family used to keep something for the Ackermans," Grütter ignored her strange sentimentality like the professional he was. "My mother never found out what it was nor does she know who was named keeper after her father passed away - potentially one of my uncles, she thinks. She said her father once showed her the wooden box when she was a child."

"A wooden box?" How curious.

"Yes, beautifully painted. Maybe they exchanged presents like this, to make the Clan affiliation more official?"

Zoë was still thinking about the wooden box and the connection between the Oriental and the Ackerman Clan when she left Doctor Grütter's practice. Maria was waiting for her on the street, standing in the sun with her eyes closed, chewing an apple.

"Ah, Maria, you're back. Do you have news?" Zoë asked, trying not to sound too eager.

Maria opened her big violet eyes and grinned. "You should just go down and visit him, Commander, there's an opening in your schedule. It wouldn't even take you more than an hour! And he'd be deliriously happy to see you."

"Ah… no," Zoë quickly looked away. "It wouldn't be good if it looked like the Survey Corps Commander is supporting the Underground cause."

"Then disguise yourself! Like last time."

Better not to remember the last time and how it had ended.

"You're both so childish and stubborn," Maria sighed dramatically after a look at her face. "Should I tell him you're wasting away, pining? That'll bring him up here in no time."

"What! No way!"

"Okay," Maria shrugged. "Then I won't. But let me tell you - he is."

"Is what?"

"Wasting away, pining."

Zoë frowned at the young girl who just shrugged again grinning, as if to say told you to go see him!

But she really couldn't. There was too much to do. Not least because a certain someone had decided now was the right time to return to the Underground to take revenge - now, when due to his support of the Undergrounder at Hange Estate, they were at the brink of a civil war.

No. She wouldn't go down to the Underground to see him.

###

Four Weeks Later, the Underground City

Levi would have wanted to read the red book together with Hanji. Whenever he looked at its worn cover, her words would come back to haunt him: Take it - and be free of us Hanges forever.

The way she had said it - brave, angry, but also a little resigned and defeated. He hated it when she sounded defeated, and it was a thousand times worse if she sounded like this because of him! He did not want to be free of her, how could she even think that? He trusted her with his life, a stupid book would not change that, whatever knowledge of the Ackermans it contained. So he had considered simply destroying it to be rid of this… ungood, awkward thing between them. Would Hanji appreciate such a gesture though? Nah - because it would be incredibly stupid to destroy one of the only sources of knowledge about his family that still existed.

So he kept the book stowed away in his pocket, unread.

Which was also incredibly stupid. But he had come to the sobering conclusion that he may just be incredibly stupid: Good with a knife, good with swords, good at killing people and Titans but a complete and utter dolt when it came to anything else.

Levi crumpled up the sheet of paper he had labored over for the better part of an hour and tossed it into the fire, where it ignited with a hiss.

"Good grief," Annika quipped, shaking her flaming red hair. "This is unbearable. If only you'd stop this ridiculous pining."

"Shut the fuck up," Levi snapped. "I'm not pining."

"Why don't you just go up to see her?" She took her boots off the table and sheathed the knife with which she had just cleaned her nails. "You'd be back in an hour or two, seriously."

Go up to see her? No fucking way! They were working steadily towards the right moment to make their final move against the very well protected Renzo. It was a slow moving strategy of little steps, which required patience that Annika sure didn't have.

"And let you mess up everything? Tch," Levi took a new sheet but then he crumpled it up and threw it in the fire too. "As if."

For the first time in weeks, it felt like the right moment might come soon, with support for Renzo crumbling as the excitement of change swept through the Underground. No, now was not the time to leave but the time to sit tight a little longer.

And yet, he knew he had fucked up at Hange Estate - and it bugged him. But however hard he tried to find the words to put into a letter, he just couldn't. The difficulty started with the very first line. Should he write: "Dear Hanji"? But that sounded so strange! He would never say "Dear Hanji" in real life. Just: "Oi, Hanji!" But one didn't write "Oi, Hanji". Then he had considered writing "My Commander", but that, too, didn't sound right. She was his Commander, but what he wanted to say was not really addressed to her as a Commander. And it sounded too… too detached. Writing "To Hanji, my Commander" was better but felt incomplete. "To Hanji, whom I think about all the time" made him cringe so hard he wanted to scream, and writing about craving her body seemed a bad idea too though he damn well did, seeing how he had to expect that whoever delivered the letter would surely attempt to get a glimpse of its content.

There were fast approaching footsteps on the stairs outside. Levi perked up, glad for the distraction, because… urgh, his head hurt.

"That's just Treibel," Annika sat up a bit straighter.

It was Treibel. He swept in wearing his MP uniform, bringing with him the cloying stench of the wet streets. It was raining above ground, water was dripping down everywhere, mingling with the dirt coating buildings and pavements to create a stinky, sticky slush.

"Hullo," Treibel took off his damp jacket and threw it over a chair near the fire, "I'm starving, do you have anything to eat?"

"No," Annika grinned, "Levi has been moping. He's the one who cooks - though, well… I've had better."

"Piss off," Levi grumbled.

"There's nothing? Not even bread? Or potatoes?" Treibel went to the little kitchen in the back. "Oh. A moldy carrot! Great."

He came back, chewing on a sorry looking orange thing. "Man, you won't believe what's happening out there."

Treibel liked to start all his reports in similar ways; Levi suspected he did it to make himself feel more important, having such a thoroughly sorry life otherwise. But today, Levi was not in the mood to indulge him.

"Spit it out already, I have no time for your shit," he snapped.

Treibel threw a quick look at Annika, who just rolled her eyes. Yes, I saw that, Levi thought, his mood darkening further. To be forced to spend time with the likes of these two when he had so much else to do!

"Okay," Treibel cleared his throat. "Listen to this: The Military Police had to be deployed in Mitras - against the noble families' remaining house guards! The nobles finally made their move yesterday, trying to take back power. And… not so long story short, they failed! Their attempt got crushed spectacularly."

"Ha!" Annika jumped up, her fist pumping the air. "Finally!"

"Not enough nobles in the military ranks in favor of a new rule?" Levi frowned.

"I'd say that most of the noble kids identify with the military more than with their families at this point in time," Treibel looked unbearably smug as he said that. "Would you believe it, even Frederick has joined the military!"

"Who?" Annika started rummaging through a cupboard, humming under her breath.

"Zoë Hange's brother!"

"Urgh," Annika turned around, a bottle and three glasses in her hands. "Him. Those Hanges are the worst, with those horribly crooked noses."

"Hey, take that back! My sister is married to the oldest Hange brother!"

"Great for her," Annika grinned, swiftly filling the glasses with golden liquor, "but he prefers to plunge his dick into men's assholes."

"Disgusting!" Treibel huffed, taking the offered glass from her hands. "Why do you have to be so crass?"

"Because that's how sex between men works, dumbass," she slammed a glass down in front of Levi. "And now drink up, sweethearts! It's time we celebrate!"

"A bit premature," Levi murmured. It sounded like good news indeed but he understood enough of the world to know that money moved people more than passion. And the nobles had money, loads of it - before long, they'd use it to buy what they wanted, which included manpower for another coup d'état.

"It sounds like Queen Historia will have to make a public appearance soon," Treibel clinked his glass to Annika's and knocked back the liquor. "People are demanding that she speak to them."

"I'll go talk to her," Levi pushed back his chair. "Anything else?"

Tybur's face turned somber. "Tybur was released. He handed over his weapons to the Survey Corps. He is banished from living in any of the cities."

Levi nodded moodily. Maybe Tybur would be smart enough to stay away this time.

"I'd be careful if I were you, Levi. He didn't make it a secret that he blames you for his fall from grace. He sounds like he knows how to hold a grudge."

"He's been on my kill-list for years," Levi's hand went to the handle of his knife. "I just don't seem to be able to shorten it, dammit."

"Because you're going all sooooooft and cuddly," Annika laughed. "Soon you'll have a potbelly and will lose your hair, that always happens to boring old men."

"Better to have a potbelly and receding hair than pendulous tits and a flabby ass."

"Says who?" Annika bristled. "Everything is nice and firm here!"

"I wasn't asking."

"Oh, before I forget," Treibel interrupted with a frown. "Looks like Council Hange wasn't involved in the nobility's attempt of a coup."

"Just because he's in prison?" Levi snorted. Like this wily old fox didn't have connections and people everywhere!

"No, but because he was the one who warned the military something was in the offing."

So he had known - maybe even instigated it, then betrayed the others. Well, it likely meant he'd be released soon too.

"As soon as things are more settled, take Oliver up to see Hanji, Treibel. He needs to pay his dues," Levi said.

"Er… why don't you take him up to Hanji? He's afraid of you, not me."

"Yeah, but Levi prefers to mope," Annika giggled. "It's so damn annoying."

"Fuck off," Levi grabbed his jacket. "And fucking clean this place before I get back, it's your responsibility this week."

"Hahaha, funny," Annika grabbed a jacket too. "But thank you, no. Treibel, do you wanna go out? Levi is such a bore."

"What? Me?" Treibel pointed a finger at himself, his mouth standing open.

"Do you see any other Treibels around here? No? Oh, then it has to be you."

"I'd… I'd love to!" Incredulously, Levi watched Treibel's face flush. Annika would eat him for breakfast and then what? He'd need a new informant keeping them abreast of all the developments upstairs. "Is Levi coming as well?"

"Oh no, Levi is not coming," Levi chuckled darkly. "Levi is going to visit the Queen. But I warn you two, do not cause any disturbance, we are trying to lay low here."

He slammed the door on his way out. Soon. Soon he would forever turn his back on this place. Soon.

Not soon enough. The stench on the streets was nauseating. How he had ever endured living down in this damp, filthy hell was a mystery to him. Dodging the drip-drip of water falling from the rock above, Levi scalded a building and swung himself up on the roof - still the safest way to move down here. Up on the rooftops, there were no dark corners and side streets in which attackers could hide - nor could anyone follow without being seen.

Queen Historia stayed hidden in a poorer part of the City - a necessity, given how many people had been out to kill or kidnap her after her controversial decisions to smash the noble families' base of power. Only a handful of trusted individuals knew where she was, and yet, they had also made sure to place doppelgängers in different locations above and below ground.

The well-hidden guards nodded to him reverently when he appeared on the Queen's rooftop, putting their knives away.

"All quiet?" Levi asked their leader.

"Nothing moves up here," the grizzled prizefighter reported. "Everybody is waiting for the tipping of the scales."

"Huh?" Levi opened the roof hatch to climb in.

"You're going to fight soon, won't you? To take power."

Levi didn't even try to contradict the older man - he had given up. There was no point in telling people he had no interest in ruling this shitty place in any capacity when they just didn't listen. He had also stopped arguing that there was no need anymore for anyone to rule in this godforsaken place, when very soon, there would no longer be a separation between the below-stairs and the above-stairs.

"Captain Levi, is that you?" Historia called from a room below. "It better be because if you're not, I'm armed and willing to kill."

"It's me, relax," Levi said.

"What about a nice little bow?" Historia smiled sweetly. She loved to flaunt her position in his face just because she could. It galled him to no end that he actually felt a mild form of servility in her presence, which just had to be Ackerman garbage because she was a mere child with mediocre fighting skills.

"That's a good Captain Levi," she waved regally for him to stand at leisure. "I gather there is news? Have they finally decided to behead me?"

"No, quite the opposite," Levi informed her. "The military have suppressed an attempt by the noble houses to regain power at your expense, my Queen. Your rule is confirmed."

"Oh, goodie," she clapped her hands. "Then I can shock them with my next decree. Do you want to know what it is?"

"Do I have a choice?" he grumbled.

"No, you don't," Historia lifted a hand. "So hear me speak! I, Queen Historia Reiss, descendant of King Fritz the First, hereby pass the Repatriation Bill! Every living soul within the walls can choose where they want to live and will, if this place is in the countryside, receive justly allocated land to farm from the Crown."

"You are taking their land away too?" Levi frowned. "To give to Undergrounders who want to try farming?"

"Yes, because how are these rich buffoons to farm it now that they can't keep Underground slaves anymore?" Historia went to the hearth, where a kettle was just beginning to boil. "Tea, Captain Levi?"

"I'm not sure I can keep you alive if you continue to do things like this," Levi was a little impressed though.

"Oh, but you better," she filled the water into a battered-looking teapot. "I'm not done in the least. Have you forgotten what you promised me? You said you'd help with the orphanage because you knew what it felt like to be a child living in the dirt."

"Of course I fucking remember."

"One orphanage is just a drop on a hot stone. We'll need countless more."

"But I…"

"Yes, I understand that you are a soldier. And I understand that you will have to go kill a few Titans as soon as it is convenient. But we have plenty of time after that."

"Do we?"

They looked at each other in silence for a few moments.

"Yes. Because Commander Hange will make sure we have," Historia finally said. "Don't you know?"

###

Six Weeks Later, Trost District

"I am well, my dear Zoë," her mother wrote to her. "Please do not worry. My friend is very kind and we have a lot of common interests. Sarah - you call her Esmelda - is free to go where she pleases now but she has decided to stay for a while longer. Selfishly, I hope she stays with me. Don't worry, Zoë, I'm paying her! I don't want to start my new life in freedom as a breaker of the law!"

Zoë held the sheet of faintly pink paper between her fingers for a long time after reading through it at least ten times. It was strange, but she didn't feel like she knew her mother at all. One day, she thought, one day, when all of this is over, I might visit her at her widowed friend's cottage.

Thoughts like these felt like lies - but without them, life would be too dreary.

Zoë didn't know what her father would do once released from prison. Go search for his wife? Somehow, she doubted his pride would allow it. He'd much rather live with his demented mother, Granny Cothilde, somewhere out of sight. But then again, his pride probably compelled him to find her and shackle her to him once again. She sighed. At least, it would take him a while to find her. Her mother's location was a well-kept secret. Not even her brothers knew.

Fast feet outside on the corridor heralded the arrival of Maria - Zoë knew her step. She braced herself for hearing things about Levi's activities in the Underground. Necessary information. But it hurt nonetheless. And it made her angry that she was an emotional mess, even after so many weeks.

"Hange-san, Hange-san!" Maria yelled, bursting into the office. "It's done! It's finally done!"

Zoë sat entirely still as Maria gushed about how cleverly Levi and his associates had eroded Renzo's support until he was basically standing alone and unprotected. Then, they had moved in to kill him, spilling only his blood instead of many others'.

"The Underground is finally freeeeeee from tyranny!" Maria rejoiced, hopping from one leg to the other, "oh maaaaaaaan, there will be a huge party tonight! Do you want to come?"

"Come where?" Zoë asked, smiling a little.

"Oh, the party will be everywhere," Maria beamed, "you guys probably don't know yet but there are a lot of Undergrounders living in Trost already! But I suggest we go to the 'Raging Bull'! It's my favorite!"

The Raging Bull, huh. Zoë smiled fondly at the memory of that one night of being carefree, after she had become the new Commander. It seemed long ago when it had only been a few months.

Yeah, fond memories… So why not. It was Friday evening after all.

"I should probably change," she suggested, looking down at her crumpled uniform. "And do my hair?"

"No, don't worry!" Maria said, "Survey Corps is always welcome, we Undergrounders love you."

Because Levi is one of us. And you love him. But Zoë was now quite determined to have a bit of fun tonight, she would not let Levi's absence bother her one bit.

The "Raging Bull" was already full to bursting when they entered, Zoë noticed as soon as they had stepped through the door, and it was barely 7pm. It was like Renzo's death had freed the Undergrounders in Trost from such a horrific burden, they simply had to erupt in joyous activities.

"Commander Hange! Commander Hange!"

"Oh!" Zoë smiled fondly. "Would you look at that, it's you guys!"

"Come sit with us!" Armin waved excitedly. "Maria too!"

"Ah, no thanks," Maria grinned, "I want to dance!"

She waved at Zoë and then disappeared somewhere in the crowd.

"So great to see you!" Sasha smiled, "here, you can have my beer!"

"Oh no, that fine, I can w…"

"Have mine!" Connie pushed Sasha's beer back at her and put his tankard down in front of Zoë, "it just arrived, I haven't even touched it."

"That's… very kind, thank you," Zoë took it, looking at all the familiar faces around the table. "Where's Floch?"

"Didn't want to come," Jean grumbled. "Doesn't like Undergrounders for whatever silly reason."

"Won't Captain Levi be back now?" Eren asked, hopeful. "He went to the Underground to kill this evil crime boss, didn't he?"

"I guess," Zoë sighed. "But I'm not sure he's coming back. They all…"

A tremendous uproar shook the very building they were in. The 104th recruits had jumped up and craned their necks to see better. Zoë however sat still, finding her palms sweaty all of a sudden, her heart thumping forcefully.

"He's here!" Eren screamed. "Captain Levi is back."

"And he has Historia with him! It's the Queen! People are going to go crazy!"

Yes, people went crazy. It was so loud, Zoë had to cover her ears, fearing the noise might trigger an attack.

She felt him before she saw him.

"Captain Levi, Captain Levi!" the recruits yelled, waving like crazy.

"Ohhhhh," Connie's eyes grew big. "Is that your gangster outfit, Captain Levi? It looks very impressive. Hey, Sascha, do you think it would look good on me too?"

Zoë looked up because anything else would be embarrassing. There he was. His scowling face, his black hair a little too long, his tight little body. Unharmed, unbothered by all the fuss, and so very dear to her it took her breath away.

But she had long ago come to a decision.

"Ah, Captain Levi," she said coldly. "Nice of you to join us."

"Commander," he saluted. "I report back for duty."

She had pondered throwing him in prison. It felt justified and her father's lawsuit against him was technically unresolved. But then again, she wasn't that petty. And all in all, his daring plan had set things in motion that were nothing but good for humanity.

"Good," she nodded. "Well done."

"What happened, Captain Levi?" Armin asked excitedly. "Tell us everything! So the Queen was with you all this time?"

"Yes, she was," Levi said, taking a chair that was offered to him after throwing a glance over at Historia, who was bathing in the crowd of admirers. "I didn't sleep a wink out of fear for her life, dammit."

The kids made him talk about his plan to kill Renzo, leaving them quite impressed. Her as well. She hadn't known that Levi could be this calculating and patient. But then again, these days, she had to wonder whether she really knew anyone.

"And you didn't want to stay down there and become the new kingpin?" Eren asked big-eyed.

"Oh please, brats," Levi scoffed. "It's so dirty down there I wanted to leave from the moment I arrived. Disgusting!"

They ordered food, they drank, everybody was very happy to have Levi back.

A bit later, predictably, a bunch of people busted out instruments and began playing a jig. Tables and chairs were pushed aside to make space for dancers. In pairs, groups, and by themselves, people hopped and twirled and laughed and shouted. All the recruits left to join. Zoë smiled when she saw Mikasa's blush - Eren had put his arms around her to twirl her around.

"You… look well?" Levi said quietly at her elbow.

"Oh," her breath caught, could she not be spared any more humiliation? "Thanks."

"You went to the doctor?"

"Yes," she nodded. "I go there twice a week."

"Has Oliver come to see you?"

"Yes," she nodded again. "That too."

"And he gave you access to his research?"

"Yes," she agreed. "I learned that they have blood tests in Marley, with which to identify Eldians."

"Hm," Levi murmured. "That's not good."

"We should be able to design a way around it," she told him. "Oliver and me."

"Don't trust him, Hanji."

"No," for the first time, she looked into his grey eyes. "Of course not. But you know how it is. If we want to survive, we cannot stop at anything."

"Even… betrayal?" he asked, holding her gaze.

"We cannot stop at anything," she just repeated.

"I'm sorry, Hanji," he said. "I really am. I didn't want to hurt you."

You didn't hurt me, she wanted to say, but that wasn't true.

"I know that," she said instead. "But you know, the problem is that you can hurt me. Much too easily."

"I understand," he said, looking away. "I'm sorry."

"I think we should keep our distance until this is over," she heard herself say. "A professional distance."

"Yes," he agreed much too easily, why did he agree to everything so easily? "Yes, you always said that. You are right."

She bit her lip because there was a huge lump in her throat.

"Do you want to dance, Hanji?" she heard him ask. "Just… I mean…"

"Okay," she said, it sounded like a sob. "Yes. I'm so glad you're back, Levi, you hear me? It was hell without you."

"My Hanji, my dear Hanji," he said, taking her hand and pulling her up. "I missed you every second of every minute of every hour of every day."