The remains of his routine laid on his desk: an extinguished candle—whose burnt scent still lingered on—an empty teacup, closed inkpots, and folded papers.

He had shut his eyes the moment he had tucked himself in bed, but sleep still struggled to come to him. With his hands over his stomach, he could feel his deep breaths expanding and contracting his torso in a rhythmical, calculated pattern, but the thoughts he had so carefully written—and then burned—still raced through his mind. Fear, anxiety, grief: those words had become too generic to describe them.

Every night, he tried different ways of explaining his feelings, forcing himself to dig deeper into his psyche, but the result was always the same: the solitary darkness of a restless night. Sometimes, he wished someone would punch him in the face, knocking him into the sleep he longed for instead of convincing himself that it would eventually come to him.

And that knock had arrived, but on the door instead of on his face.

Levi stood up with the resolve of a soldier and the fear of a man. He couldn't tell which one came first.

And when he opened the door, he found another fellow soldier and man, just as doomed as he was.

Erwin stood behind it, still wearing the same suit from his last visit, mere hours before. His hairstyle wasn't as slick, the collar of his shirt had been loosened, and his cologne had toned down, mixing with a whiff of alcohol.

"I hope I didn't wake you up," Erwin greeted him.

"No, it's fine," he replied. "Did… something happen?"

Erwin shook his head and removed his jacket. "I wanted to return this before I forget."

"I told you you didn't have to."

"I know."

Erwin offered Levi the jacket, but it took him more than a few seconds to accept it. When he did, Erwin smiled.

Levi passed his fingers over the fabric, noticing its softness, wondering if it could tell him the things it had seen that night.

Instead, he tilted his head towards Erwin. "How was the party?"

"Good, I would say. These sort of celebrations are more political than anything else."

"I see," he whispered, clutching his fingers around the garment. "And was… everything else alright?"

Levi gulped, unsure of which answer to expect or which one he hoped for. He took a step forward, crossing the doorframe, closing on the distance he had carved.

Erwin wet his lips. "It seemed like it, yes."

"Oh. I'm glad."

Their breaths could barely be heard in that seemingly infinite silence, more asphyxiating than the one he experienced every night.

"I should go back to sleep," mumbled Levi, eyes fixed on the jacket.

"Yes, of course. Have a good night."

He heard Erwin turning around, and then his footsteps towards the hallway, but Levi didn't dare to step back into his room. His duty was to uncover the truth, to explore the secrets that lay beyond himself and his existence. While part of him wanted to shut that door and return to the known, solitary night, the rest of him simply couldn't let go of the past.

"Levi."

He tilted his head, only to find Erwin standing in the middle of the corridor. His back was on him, but he had slightly bent his neck towards Levi.

"Yes?" Levi breathed out, nails almost digging into the jacket's fabric.

Erwin remained frozen, and so did Levi's instinct of withdrawal. He wanted—needed—to know about her. All his questions and worries, reserved for the ink at night, forced their way back into his mind, clearer than ever before.

How is she? No, not everything else . How is she ? Does she like the surface? Is she still afraid of cockroaches? Does she still keep her hair in a bun? Is she okay? Does she still have scratches on her fingertips? Is she happy? Is she—?

"Remember that we have horseback training tomorrow. We should wake up early to organize the tracks."

Erwin's voice emptied his mind, all those thoughts fading away like the smoke of the candle he blew out every night. And he didn't dare to recall them, to fuel the flutter in his heart that would never break free. The wings of freedom were on his back, not his chest, and the only unknown meant to be explored was the one beyond the Walls.

That was the life he had chosen, and that choice had never been about himself.

And if everything was alright for her, perhaps there was no place for him, his harrowing nightmares, his living fear, and his growing grief.

"Understood," gulped Levi.

Erwin bowed his head and walked away.

Levi closed the door, merging with the darkness of his room again.


He had just opened the windows of his office, letting in the morning breeze, when someone knocked on the door.

"Yes?" he said, sitting on his chair and grabbing the documents that Hange had asked him to revise.

But the face that shyly appeared behind the door's edge was rounder, with bigger eyes and shorter hair than Hange's.

"Sophie," he breathed out.

"Hey," she smiled, sliding into the room, the swish of her long, emerald skirt and puffy white shirt accompanying her footsteps. She closed the door behind her. "How is it going?"

"Good, I—" He paused to clear his throat and arrange his hair. "Sorry, I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"Oh. I mean, if you are too busy, I can—"

"No, no," he gulped. "Stay."

A quick grin appeared on Sophie's lips as she approached his desk.

She leaned against the table, crossing her arms. "So, I talked to Charles the other day, and…"

Sophie stopped, pursing her lips.

"And?" continued Levi.

"I want to apologize for my behavior. I know I've been acting… a bit rough towards Hange and the others."

"You should apologize to them, then."

"I already did, but… I also wanted to apologize to you."

Levi leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. "How so?"

The pursing of her lips turned into biting, eyes nervously looking all over the office. "I've been… too stressed. Too distant, right? And I haven't been home a lot lately."

Levi shrugged. "You have a lot to work on. That's just how it is sometimes."

"You are not mad at me?" she said, blinking several times, lips forming a perfect o .

"Why would I?" But seeing her frozen, perplexed expression, he felt the need to elaborate. "I've been sleeping at the HQ many nights too, and I also get pretty distant when stressed. At least you aren't as annoying about it as Hange is."

She choked a laugh. "Somehow it's not so comforting to know that I'm not as annoying as them."

"You better be grateful for it. I can only deal with one annoying scientist at a time."

"Alright, alright," she snorted. "But also…"

"Hm?"

"I still want to thank you for being by my side. These weeks… have been a lot."

"I know," he whispered.

She straightened her back. "The thing is, I made a deal with Charles. I agreed to step back a bit and work on my actual assignments the way they want me to."

"Alright. Are you okay with that?"

"Well, it's not like I have any other choice. And if I'm honest, the new projects are way more exciting."

"That's good."

Sophie smiled, but the gesture quickly disappeared. "And… he is going to give me my Ehrmich manor back—uhm, actually, I don't know for sure, but I guess he will ask Hange and the others soon." She fixed her eyes on his, the sun highlighting the freckles over the bridge of her nose. "I… wanted you to know before they told you about it."

"Okay," he whispered. "So…?"

"I think I'll move back there."

Her voice trembled, but not as much as Levi's heart.

"Sure," he replied almost automatically, even before he had truly processed her words. Only when they echoed inside his mind, louder each time, he gathered the courage to ask, "Did I… do something wrong?"

Sophie's skin turned paler, lips parting. "No, not at all. I—"

She sighed, hanging her head. Levi awaited her response, but he wasn't sure whether he truly wanted to hear it, to know that, indeed, he hadn't been enough.

But she grabbed his hand, forcing him to uncross his arms. The warmth expanded to his chest and belly, and it became a flame when her thumb traced his hardened knuckles.

"It's… the only thing that has ever been mine, " she whispered, her eyes struggling to meet Levi's. "Everything else—my position, my money, even myself—it was his. All and always his. I bought that house before we got married, and I just… can't let go."

"Right."

She bent her neck slightly towards him, like a kid peeking from behind a tree. "Besides, I… think Charles knows about us. I suppose Hange must've mentioned something, or maybe someone saw us…"

"Wait, what do you mean he knows ?"

"When I talked to him, he said that I should've learned from what happened with Asbel." Sophie took a deep breath, holding Levi's hand tighter. "You… haven't told anyone, have you?"

He gulped, "No."

"Oh, good," she sighed, finally facing him. "I don't want people here to believe that I'm being favored… again."

"Of course not. Hange is glad you are back and working. That's all that matters."

"Yes, that's all that matters," she repeated with a shallower, more hurt voice. "I hope you are not angry about me moving out?"

Her thumb stopped caressing his skin. Levi ruminated over her question, wondering whether he should place his feelings aside or, for once, let them take the first place.

"That house… it's important to you, isn't it?"

She nodded. "I work better there. It helps me focus, I guess… You know, to go back to where I started and all that."

"I see."

He let himself feel the intensity of her eyes on him, the care of her touch, the hurt behind that veil of compassion. He could sense her measuring every change in his expression, fearing his reaction.

He slid his hand away from hers, and as he did, she pressed her fingertips further into his skin, begging him to not let go. But instead of leaving her, he used that same hand to open the lowest drawer of his desk, retrieving from inside the metal key she had given him before her departure.

When he showed it to her, she covered her mouth with her hands, but that didn't contain a loud gasp that almost turned into a screech.

"You had it this whole time?"

Levi nodded. "I kept it for you."

She smiled.


Despite all the pain in his life, Levi had seen many smiles.

The smile he always wished to see the most was the one of his comrades, finding their families in the crowds that celebrated or dreaded the Survey Corps' return. Those moments, while scarce, sometimes managed to quiet the harrowing cries of the relatives that hadn't been so lucky.

He also cherished Hange's goofy smile whenever they made progress with their research, and he used to cherish Erwin's thin grin whenever his plans got approved. He always remembered those little moments, using those memories as a cape to guard himself with whenever the cold loneliness assaulted him.

Even in the Underground, despite the violence and filth, he had witnessed happiness. He had heard the laughs of innocent kids, running and playing on the streets, oblivious to the decay around them. He had seen Isabelle's proud smile whenever she had learned a new ODM trick or healed a stray animal. He had seen Farlan's cocky smirk whenever he had fooled everyone at the bar with his card tricks. And he could still vividly remember Sophie's smile the day those gears had worked.

What he had never expected was to witness that same broad, cheerful, almost childish smile ten years later, the moment she had stepped into that manor.

The curtains covering the tall windows let almost no light pass through, bathing the entrance in their gentle, calming blue tone. All the furniture had been covered with white sheets, gracefully swaying as Sophie moved around the room, spinning like a dancer, giggling like a kid.

"I can't believe you kept it all." She passed her fingertips over the staircase's railing. "And there's barely any dust!"

Levi stepped into the manor, shutting the main door behind him. "I came here every now and then to clean up and make sure it hadn't been robbed."

She turned to him with the brightest smile. "You really did?"

Levi clicked his tongue. "Although there might be no tea left in the kitchen."

"Huh, so the scoundrel who stole it must've had very good taste."

"Or perhaps he was very desperate."

"Oh, I bet he was," she giggled. "I suppose I need to go shopping, then."

"And do another clean-up."

"Another?" She crossed her arms, turning left and right. "This is pretty much spotless."

Levi sighed and grabbed her hand, guiding Sophie towards one of the better-illuminated steps of the staircase.

"See? Those damn windows of yours don't close properly. The floor is gleaming with dust from outside."

Sophie scrunched her nose. "Oh, true. Hopefully, it won't take too long to clean."

"If you are too busy, I can come by in a few days to give it a sweep."

She turned to him, intertwining her fingers with his. "I mean, are you busy today?"

"No, not really—"

She leaned in, placing her other hand around his, enveloping it, warming it. Her eyes widened, and Levi let himself drown in them.

"Then let's clean it together."


Levi had never thought that silence could be so comforting.

He had always both embraced and dreaded it. When alone, he found it too heavy, like the universe mocking his loneliness. When surrounded by people, he craved it; a break from the world, a chance to make it all stop. Hardly ever had he found balance in silence.

And he would've never expected to find it in an empty mansion, cleaning an engineer's bookshelf.

Indeed, silence loomed over the room but without any threat in it. It was a harmony interrupted by themselves only: their brushing and sweeping of the floors, the subtle knocks and clinks from moving books and models around, and the splashes of water from twisted rags.

Levi rearranged the last book on the shelf and closed his eyes, relishing the fresh air inside that once musty bedroom, shut from the outside world for years. When he opened his eyes again, he stepped down from the staircase, his gaze scanning every corner, every book, and every little object in-between.

He dropped his cleaning rag on a nearby bucket and turned around, scanning the rest of the room: the perfectly ironed bedsheets, the shining sideboards, the spotless crystal of the vanity mirror, and the elegant blue curtains, tucked at each side of the window.

And next to an open closet stood Sophie, still as if she were part of the furniture.

Levi approached her. "You good?"

"Hm?" she replied, briefly bending her neck towards him. "Oh, yes. It's just… I forgot how detailed these were."

Levi opened the closet door just a bit more, revealing an impressive collection of dresses, made of fabrics brighter than any floor he had scrubbed. The sunlight reflected on all the little beads and shiny threads decorating them, creating an aura of divinity around them.

Sophie passed her fingertips over one of the sleeves of exquisite crimson color, with white lace at the cuffs.

"They are very nice," mumbled Levi. "Are you going to keep them?"

"No, I don't think they even fit me anymore," she snorted. Her hands moved to the tight waistline of the dress, trying to stretch its seams, only for them to return to its stiff, original shape. "I… wasn't very happy back then, was I?"

She let her hand fall back, only to cross her arms and obliviously stare at the floor. Her hair covered her expression, but there was little for Levi to devise.

He closed the closet door and leaned his back against it, containing the pain it hid inside, hoping it would never come out again. What way would he have of comforting her?

"I like that skirt," he said with a trembling, embarrassed, and almost childish voice.

His blood began to boil, heart racing as a symphony of fuck fuck fuck overtook his thoughts. Was that the way to help? Was that how normal people soothed someone they cared about?

Sophie lifted her head and chuckled, "You do?"

"Yes, it's… very pretty."

"Huh, I'll wear it more often, then. Especially since you are also a bit of a fashion enthusiast yourself."

"Hm?"

Sophie tapped her head, gesturing to contain a smile. "Your headscarf."

"Tch. That's not about fashion, it's about sanitation ."

"Sure, sure," she laughed.

With a grunt, Levi untied the knot at the back of his head, removing the old cloth that kept his hair in place. The raven locks fell all over his forehead, and he used his fingers to comb them, setting them apart.

Sophie stared at him, widening her eyes with an adoration he had never felt from cheering crowds and enthusiastic subordinates. She leaned in, arranging a rogue strand of hair.

Her fingers then contoured the outline of his face until her thumb rested on his cheek, gently brushing it.

He parted his lips, and so did she, but with a different intention in mind.

"I saw you dancing with a broom," she said.

Levi choked. "What?"

"That's the story from the Underground I was supposed to tell Hange. One day, I went upstairs, and it was only you in the kitchen, brooming. I wanted to say hi, but then…" She bit her lower lip, holding back a giggle. "I noticed you were swaying around, humming, and spinning the broom. I'm… pretty sure you were dancing."

"What the fuck? I was probably just…"

He trailed off. Was he just cleaning , or had he forgotten that he used to do more than fight and clean? That he used to be more.

"Dancing," he whispered, releasing the tension in his lungs. "Yes, I was dancing."

Sophie smiled, "It was very cute, actually, but I knew you would kill me if I said anything about it so… I kept it a secret."

Oblivious to her words, Levi stared at the parquet floor, imagining it was the one of their den and that his feet were as lightweight as before.

"Yeah, I used to dance a lot when I was alone," he mumbled, mostly to himself. He turned to Sophie, swaying his head. "Or when I thought I was alone."

"Oh, really? Then why didn't you dance with us whenever we went to the tavern?"

"I guess I had a reputation to maintain."

Sophie blinked. "A reputation?"

He looked down again, sweeping his foot over the floor. There was nothing left to clean, but he still searched for clarity.

Levi gulped, "I thought… people wouldn't take me seriously as a thug if I danced around or got drunk."

"But… do you like dancing?"

He shrugged. "I haven't done it in a while."

"Then good thing you aren't a thug anymore, hm?" she chuckled. And suddenly, she grabbed his hands, placing one on her back, holding the other one. "Here. I also haven't done it in a while… Let's see."

"But there is no music."

"We don't need music," she smiled, her breathing brushing his lips. "Ballroom dancing is a bit more complex than broom dancing, but I think I still remember the basics…" She began to move her feet, gently guiding Levi with her hold. "One step forward, then to the side, then back, and then close. That's right."

They repeated the sequence over and over, with Levi mumbling an apology every time his foot stepped on hers, and her responding with breathy it's okay. After many instances, the routine became seamless, and Sophie began to hum some melody. Lost in the flow, he closed his eyes, remembering those lonely dances in the Underground, with only the creaking floor accompanying him, and he slowly slid his hand to her waist, bringing her a bit closer with each step.

And overtaken by that feeling he thought he had forgotten, he spun her around, briefly moving away, only to guide her back to him until their bodies were pressed together.

Sophie's pupils, so close he could count the dark streaks of their irises, flickered.

"Is that… good enough?" whispered Levi.

She batted her eyes. "It's perfect."

Sophie leaned in and kissed him, just a peck on the lips. Levi closed his eyes, and even when she moved away, he was too entranced to open them again.

"I didn't know that was part of the routine," he said, a shy smile drawing on his lips.

Sophie laughed, "We can make it part of our routine."

"Gladly."

He pressed his lips against hers, tightening his hold on her waist. Sophie's hand slid to the back of his neck, furthering their kiss. His feet and arms felt lighter than ever before, the warmth of her touch melting away any iciness in his heart. Levi stumbled, deliberately this time, until Sophie's steps followed his motion towards the bed.

They sat together at the edge of the mattress, hands caressing each other's faces, arms, and torso, looking for more to uncover, more feelings to explore.

And he decided to take another step into the unknown.

His kiss turned slower but also deeper, inviting her to lay on the bed. She sunk into the mattress with a sigh, the short locks of hair surrounding her head like a halo. Levi's chest fluttered with the sight, projecting a string right out of his heart, pulling him towards her with unmatchable attraction.

But that attraction wasn't a mindless force. He knew what it was, he knew what he wanted: to dance every morning, to hold her close every night. He wanted that calming silence between them, to see her smile with every screw she tightened, and to hear her say it's okay whenever things weren't okay.

He kissed her again, hand cupping her cheek, absorbing every bit of her presence, guarding it with the defenses and fear that his battles had cultivated.

And when he pulled away, he scanned her expression, anxious to know whether she felt the same.

Her cheeks turned a deeper shade of red as her trembling fingers reached for the uppermost button of her shirt. She unfastened it, and then all the buttons below it, revealing just a bit more skin each time. Underneath the open shirt was a medium-length corset—old, judging by the discoloration and threading of its lace.

Levi's fingertips traversed her collarbones, feeling Sophie's breathing itch more and more when his hand hovered over the clasps of the corset. He stared at her, anxiety and desire intertwining in his chest.

He sat up and removed his shirt, feeling the fresh air dig deeper into the scars that covered his arms, chest, and stomach. And when Sophie stared at them, he felt them heal beyond the flesh. She placed her hands over his shoulders, slowly caressing them before traversing the rest of his body. Levi closed his eyes, feeling the coldness of her fingertips over his skin, bristling with her touch. When she got closer to a particularly rough mark under his ribs, he let out a breathy gasp, and she moved away in response.

His eyes fluttered, but he didn't dare to open them yet, to wake up from that dream. But the sound of the corset's clasps snapped him into reality. Levi adjusted his posture on the bed, his hands at each side of her head, gaze fixed on her nervous pupils as she exposed herself to him.

The rush of novelty, so different and alluring, traveled through his body, speeding up his heartbeat. That same force pushed him towards her with a hungry, passionate kiss, the first one of many that he trailed down her body, discovering every part of her, cherishing mark, every mole. It was a path to follow on the person he treasured the most.

The deeper and lower his kisses, the louder her gasps, and the more sudden her jolts. When his lips reached the band of her skirt, he positioned himself above her, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead against hers. Her hands massaged his back, easing a decade-long tension.

"Is it okay?" he whispered, briefly looking at her.

Sophie's eyes widened, a ray of sun brightening them.

She nodded. "It's okay"

We are okay.


"I should change the curtains."

Sophie's whisper brushed his skin, her head resting over his chest, her arm hugging his body with the same softness as the bedsheets covering them.

"You don't like them?" asked Levi, playfully combing a strand of her hair.

She closed her eyes, sighing. "They are too dark, I think. Too blue, yes. Maybe a lighter color will make this place look a bit warmer."

"Mhm. What do you have in mind?"

"I don't know. Yellow, maybe?" She batted her eyes, tilting her head towards him. "What do you think?"

Levi briefly turned to the windows, the sunlight warming his skin like Sophie's bare body over his, both sinking in the mattress, legs intertwining, enveloped in the sweetness of the afterglow.

"Yellow is nice. I like it," he finally said, sliding his hand to Sophie's back, knuckles caressing her spine.

She hummed, snuggling up against his body, and he had never thought that a weight on his chest could be so comforting.

"Levi?" she whispered.

"Hm?"

"Do you want me to change that door at your apartment?" Her fingers traced his chest but not his scars as she spoke, "I think the wood is getting a bit rotten, and the hinges were pretty rusty too."

Levi observed her drawing on his skin. Her motions followed no rule, no pattern, but they were filled with a genuineness he had always longed to experience.

"Yes, I think it's about time," he gulped.

Sophie smiled, "Great."

She continued to map his body, and he continued to stroke her back up and down, sometimes burying his fingers in her hair, combing it, noticing how her breathing became deeper and calmer every time he did.

"Can you also… make a birdhouse?" he said.

"Huh? A birdhouse ?"

Levi closed his eyes, daring to step into his memories, hoping that the reality he now held onto would shelter the pain and quiet the regrets.

"The girl that joined our gang after you left… she really liked birds. She always took care of them whenever they fell in the Underground, so I wanted to build a birdhouse for her." He paused to click his tongue. "Turns out, I'm not really good with my hands."

Sophie snorted, "Oh, I think you are really good with your hands."

"Shut up," he said, rolling his eyes, and Sophie laughed. "No, but, that birdhouse fell apart the moment I hung it, and I…" He gulped, the imagery of blood quickly flooding his thoughts. "I never got the chance to build it again."

He clenched his jaw, forcing those memories out of his mind, but Sophie's voice shut them out instead.

"You know what? We can build one together."

"Really?"

She rolled over, leaning on her side, resting her head on her hand.

"Of course. I'll help you with it," she smiled, her thumb tracing the outline of Levi's face, and before he knew it, he smiled too. "The thing is… you were right."

"Hm?"

"Back in Yormgen, you were right. I do like building things, and I'm good at it, but it wasn't what ruined me." Her head and voice turned lower, eyes briefly returning to match Levi's. She placed her palm over his quivering chest. "It was part of it, yes, but what ruined me… it was not having anything else. Anyone else." Her smile returned, a bit fainter, but just as honest and relieved. "And I'm so glad you are still here after everything."

Levi grabbed her hand, fingertips caressing her wrist, feeling her pulse.

"Because I regret not being there when I should've." The pressure in his chest returned in a heartbeat, but he let it out with a deep breath, and his eyes began to water. "I've been too late too many times."

"Not with me," she whispered, the sunlight revealing the tears gathering at the corner of her eyes. "Having you here now… makes everything go away. And I don't care about the job, or Charles, or the war, or being Chief anymore." Her lips parted, trembling with every word. "I only care about you."

And when the first tear broke out, she leaned in to kiss him. Her lips didn't move, and neither did his. They remained frozen in time, wishing, hoping, begging for everything to stay that way.

When she moved away, she wiped away his tears. Despite chasing freedom for so long, that had been the first time he had let himself be free.

She sniffled, strengthening her smile. "You make me really happy, Levi. You make me feel like I'm… finally worthy."

He wrapped his arms around her, bringing her closer, pressing his skin on hers, his heartbeat intertwining with hers, his fears and pains merging and healing with hers.

"You always were."


Author's Notes

Hey there.

I'm afraid I'm putting this fic in an undefined hiatus, which is also a nice way of saying that I'm pretty much abandoning it.

When I drafted the story I had plans for 3 arcs (one up until Sophie's exile, Yormgen, and then this one when she's back). After I finished the first arc and published it, I wasn't sure whether to continue with the story because I knew the rest would be a lot of work, and I didn't know whether people would be interested in it either. But I was excited about the character arcs and plot that I had planned, so I ended up writing more.

And it was cool. Until it wasn't. Until it became a chore and no chapter felt "good enough", or my dialogues felt flat, or the entire plot just seemed out of my abilities.

I tried to use those "flaws" as a motivation to push through because you can only get better at writing if you write, they say. But, to be honest? I think I kept getting worse prose and boring dialogues (and this comes from both internal and external feedback lol). Maybe my learning curve is fucked up. Or not. Idk.

Anyway, I do think my writing has improved a lot during these 38(!) Chapters and I've also learned a lot about myself when getting into the minds of Levi Co. But there's a breaking point between effort and reward and I think I've reached that. I know I'm not a professional writer and I never intended to be one, but sometimes you need that feeling of "I'm proud of this" to keep going and I really don't have it. I'm more proud of pushing through the story than of the story itself, and that's a problem. It's like trying to pull a stick out of a deep well of mud. If the stick doesn't move, maybe it's not meant to.

I also know that writing a longfic isn't supposed to be smooth sailing, but I think it should be fun and rewarding for oneself, and I simply no longer feel that way.

So this has been brewing for a while, but I decided to push through a bit more until I reached this chapter and reassess my feelings towards this fic. Sadly, it's been the same thing for the last couple of months: I enjoy writing it, but I hate the output, and I don't think I'm that motivated about the story anymore.

I wanted to stop at this chapter because I feel like it's very feel-good and shows a lot of growth between Levi and Sophie. They are healing, and they are doing it by each other's side, which I think it's very beautiful.

So, yeah. If I hit my head and some higher power grants me the divine motivation and energy to continue with this story, I might come back, but it's a very low chance, and just like these two, I don't want to make any promises I can't keep.

In any case, thank you so much for reading and supporting this story. I'm incredibly grateful for all the support.