Author's Note

Hello, hello. Long-ish chapter this time because A LOT is happening.

I want to apologize to dear vain-gl0ry in advance for all the emotional damages that this update might cause.

So, uh. Yeah.

"I believe we need to catch up."

"Yes, we do."

Despite their words, none of them took action. They continued to stare into each other as the soft orange light from the afternoon sun filled the room. The crystal from the empty alcohol bottles scattered over the floor gleamed with the incoming rays, creating an ethereal, calm aura around them.

Levi knew that Sophie wouldn't talk until he did. She contributed to the silence in the room by patiently waiting for his explanation, and it was his cue to break it. He understood what he had to say, but he didn't know how to explain it to her, what message to hide behind his words like the secrets she hid on her models. Despite Hange's orders, did he want her to stay alone in that haven or to come back with him to the struggling Military? What did Levi want, and what did the Captain demand?

A soft giggle coming from the kitchen interrupted his thoughts. Sophie quickly turned her head towards it.

"Sorry, they should've left by now," she muttered, looking down

"It's fine. We can sit down and talk there," he assured her, trying to buy some time so he could snap out of all the feelings blocking his head. He had a mission, and he had already missed his chance to run away.

As they walked into the kitchen, Levi saw the tall, blond teen from before sitting on one of the chairs around the big table. He recalled Sophie calling him Dan, the same name she had whispered when he woke her up. Next to him, the shy kid from the windmill crawled around the floor, playing with a wooden figure. Seeing them side by side, he noticed all the physical similarities between them, besides their tanned skin, fair hair, and dark eyes. Despite being on the other side of the room, Levi could distinguish the resolution and strength of an adult in that teen.

Under the table, the damn chicken stared at him menacingly. He wished that Sophie treated herself to some roasted poultry instead of alcohol.

"Dan? Everything all right?" she said, sitting on the chair next to Dan. Levi grabbed a random cloth from the kitchen counter and continued to clean, even though the surface was already spotless. He didn't bother to cover his face with the fabric around his neck.

"Yeah, yeah. I just wanted to give you this back." The boy reached out for a sack lying on the floor and retrieved a book from inside. He handed it to Sophie, who smiled in return.

"You've finished it already? This is a heavy one." She flipped through the pages before placing the book on the board.

Dan wrinkled his nose and elaborated, "Well, there are still some equations that I don't really understand, and Chapter 6 sounded like a bunch of crap."

"Don't worry, we will go through them another day," she chuckled. "Next week, maybe?"

Dan looked down, and an uncomfortable silence took over the room. Levi quietly moved around as a cheap assistant would, occasionally redirecting his gaze to the pair. Dan didn't seem like the rest of the pupils.

"Uhm, about that…" he muttered. "I don't think the other guys are coming back."

Sophie pushed herself back and blinked. "What do you mean?"

Dan wavered in his seat, babbling as he attempted to put a sentence together.

"Ehm, well. They were supposed to tell you tomorrow, I guess. Or not, I don't know." He paused before adding, "Everyone in town has been talking about these new jobs in the cities. There is a lot of construction going on, and they give a good chunk of money to the people working at the factories."

Sophie gulped, "You mean…at the Industrial City?"

Dan paused, uncomfortable. Levi's attempt to hide his presence and indiscreet listening seemed worthless with all those awkward silences.

"I think so. Mia's cousin said that anyone over 12 could easily get a job there. They are desperate for more workforce." Dan reclined on his seat, crossing his arms as he sighed. "And the pay is just…too good."

"I see." Sophie took a deep breath and looked away. Levi could distinguish Dan's disheartened expression, avoiding eye contact. At least, that also meant that he would ignore the stranger at the end of the room.

"That's why it was only us today, but I think Mia wants to leave too." His voice began to break as he lamented. "I tried to convince them, I really tried…"

Sophie leaned forward and interrupted him, "There is nothing you can do about it, Dan. They want to ensure their future, and money is always a good bet for it. It might sound sad, but it's not wrong."

Dan also approached her, but instead of doing so with support and understanding, he did it with rage and bitterness.

"That's what they told us too," he hissed. "That we could get food and money to escape the Underground if we worked at that terrible place."

Levi stopped wiping as he let out a small breath. He turned to Sophie, but she delivered a quick, murderous look in return.

"It's not the same," she sighed, unbothered by Dan's argument. "I've heard that the Industrial City is safe. They will be okay."

"No! You don't understand! You don't know what it was like!" Dan clenched his jaw and slammed his fists against the table. Sophie didn't react to his angry gesture. "I worked on those construction sites until my fingers bled. I was so hungry and tired, and it was so dark…" His words were furious, but his voice couldn't mask the hurt. With teary eyes, he mumbled, "I don't even know what happened to my mum, and if I hadn't hidden Fred in that closet…I wonder…what they would've done to him. I just…"

Dan's breathing became heavier as he gasped between sobs. He didn't cover his face or wipe away his tears. He trusted her, and he wasn't afraid to show her his pain. It didn't take long for Levi to understand Sophie's earlier look, shutting him.

Dan didn't know who he was talking to.

Levi stood next to the counter with a frozen stance and a tight chest. Even though wiping just required a simple, swaying motion of his wrist, he couldn't bring himself to do so. The tension and suspense in the room increased with Dan's telling, while Sophie remained stoic and composed. Levi had only seen her in that distant state at Asbel's cell, and he wondered whether she didn't feel any remorse at all for that kid or if she was only masking it.

"Dan..." she said, bending over to place a hand over his shoulder. Instead of reacting to her comfort, Dan kept his tensed-up fists on the table. He slowly recovered his normal breathing, but the pain and anger were still there.

"Those bastards took everything from me. They hurt Mum and Fred. They hurt me, and I don't even know why or who." he seethed. "I don't want the others to go through that."

Levi's heart shrunk itself hearing his speech. He could've been Dan.

He was too self-absorbed remembering the darkness, hunger, and loneliness by his mother's bedside to evaluate whether Sophie portrayed any sign of remorse behind her tranquil disguise. For a moment, he forgot about who she was and what had happened. Instead, he felt the pain and rage of that kid as if it were his.

She doesn't deserve it.

Sophie moved her hand away from Dan's shoulder in silence. Levi hoped that she would say something, do something besides playing the motherly figure of that kid. When looking at them, it was almost like seeing himself with Kenny. A corrupt parent that had been both his savior and perpetrator, who wouldn't give him the answers he had always sought until the last possible moment. And a broken child whose way of coping was to protect everyone from the same pain he had suffered.

With pleading eyes, Dan begged, "Please, Sophie, talk to them. Tell the others that there won't be any more math. Anything, so they stay."

Sophie shook her head. Levi passed the cloth over the same spot for the hundredth time.

"I can try, but I don't think it will make a difference," she said with softness. Dan snorted in disappointment, but she continued, "Every hour they spend here is less money they earn for their families. Of course, I want them to keep studying, but not everyone can afford that."

"But what if it's another trap? What if I never see them again?" he said anxiously. "They've always been on the surface. They think I'm lying about the Underground. They won't trust me."

"I trust you, but believe me, it's not a trap. The Industrial City is a real place where people go to work. They get money, food, and shelter". She scoffed, "It's certainly safer than chopping wood under the sun for a couple of coins."

"You don't know if that's true," he retorted with bitterness.

Levi gulped. He wondered how long she would be able to keep up that act of hers. Even he was getting tired of pretending to clean. Just as she hadn't scolded Alex for his impertinence, she didn't do it with Dan either. The pupil seemed about to apologize, but she interrupted him.

"My sister worked there."

Dan pushed himself back and gasped, "I thought you were both carpenters in Trost."

"We were, but she also heard about that place and wanted to make some extra money for us. She wanted to protect me like you protect Fred."

Levi was baffled at the number of lies she had staged in just two sentences. Calculating. He wanted to believe that there was a good reason for it, like all her schemes and plans to prove a point. But the scene hit too close home for him to look past Sophie's intents. At least, she was right about the Industrial City being a safe place. The Government had made sure of that.

"Was she happy there?" asked Dan, looking away.

For the first time during that talk, she wavered. Levi already knew the answer to that question, but he was curious to see what Sophie would say to that poor kid.

"Well, ehm, it's a very secret place, so she couldn't tell me much," Sophie babbled, swaying her head. "But yes, she was happy, and the pay was good too."

"So…they will be happy there?" asked Dan, apprehensive.

"I don't know," she sighed. "But with everything I've taught them, they can get a better job than just frontline peons."

"What about me?"

Sophie blinked in surprise. "What do you mean?"

"What if I don't make enough money to go to college in Stohess like we talked about?" Dan leaned forward and worried, "Would I have to go there?"

Levi distinguished a hint of a smile on Sophie's face as she said, "So you've finally decided?"

"I mean, I like the books that you've lent me. I want to learn more about science instead of working here, but…" Dan growled, "I'm not sure someone like me can get into those schools, and I don't want to leave him alone again."

He looked at the boy playing on the floor, another silent spectator like Levi. Dan grabbed him and placed the child over his lap, surrounding him with his arms. The kid, Fred, still had the toy in his hand, and whenever he noticed Levi observing him, he shyly looked away.

"He won't be alone. Your foster parents will take care of him," she assured him. "And you are more than capable of attending college in Sheena."

Dan shook his head, unsure about her words. "I want to do it, but I don't know if I can. It's a lot of money." He paused and mumbled, "And I don't think I'm smart enough."

Sophie lifted her chin and gazed at the ceiling, pondering. Levi stopped cleaning. There was no point in hiding.

"Give me a second," she said before standing up. Dan frowned, following her with his eyes until she entered her dormitory. Levi did the same, looking for some hint on what her goal was. He stared at her across her bedroom's open door, opening and closing her workspace's drawers.

He didn't notice Dan's examining gaze until he said, "Isn't it hard to clean with those suspenders?"

Levi turned towards him. He instinctively tried to adjust the cloth covering his face, but he remembered that he hadn't pulled it up in the first place.

Instead, he wiped the same spot again as he muttered, "I like to keep my clothes in place."

Even after such a concise answer, Dan continued to stare at him, unlike his little brother.

"I haven't seen you around here, but you seem familiar. Are you from Yormgen?"

Levi cleared his throat, "No."

It seemed like the kid wanted to ask more questions, but luckily, Sophie returned to the room, holding something in her hand.

She sat down and smiled, "This is for you."

Sophie handed him a cloth envelope. Dan gently left his brother back on the floor. He removed the fabric around the gift, gasping before muttering a curse that Sophie did not reprimand. Levi couldn't get a clear view of the object, but the glow surrounding it gave him a hint of its value.

"Sophie, this is…" Dan lifted the item, turning it around as he inspected it. From what Levi could gather, it looked like a golden brooch. "Where did you get it?"

"It was my sister's," she explained with a soft voice. "I think this will cover a fair amount of your costs if you move to Stohess to study."

"But…your sister…" Dan babbled. "I can't accept it. I don't even know if I can get in."

Sophie smiled, "You will get in. You have more passion and curiosity than anyone else." She grabbed Dan's hand as a sign of support. "I believe in you."

I believe in you. The way she had said those words resounded in Levi's head. I'm proud of you.

Levi felt the pain from hearing that kid's story fade away with the sight of Dan's gentle smile, thanking Sophie over and over for her kindness. It was a bittersweet emotion, seeing that the same person who had wretched him was also the one to support him. Just like Kenny. Just like Asbel. Despite everything, she hadn't forgotten to protect her people, whether it be in a brawl or by teaching math. That was his Sophie.

Dan inspected the brooch again. "It's…an owl?"

"A barn owl, technically," she corrected, swaying her head. "But yes, an owl."

Dan smiled and thanked her again, but just as the last word of gratitude had left his lips, he turned his attention to Levi. He felt uneasy with his stares. None of his dedicated cleaning motions could mask his presence anymore.

Levi grunted, "Oi, brat. It's rude to stare."

Sophie clicked her tongue and frowned, disapproving of his words. Dan's face turned a shade of tanned red as he looked down.

"Sorry, Sir," he muttered. "It's, uh…my friend Alex is obsessed with this guy, and you look just like…" Dan paused for a moment, scanning Levi from top to bottom. "Him."

Levi and Sophie exchanged a few looks. Despite his aversion to being recognized and everything that came with it, that kid had faced enough lies. Unlike Sophie, he decided to be upfront about his identity.

"Surprise…" he chanted, swaying his arms.

Dan's eyes and mouth opened in unison. "W-what?" he gasped, looking at Sophie. With a smirk, she shrugged. "No way, you are…?" his gaze switched back and forth between Sophie and Levi.

To break the silence caused by Dan's shock, Levi grabbed a chair. He sat next to Sophie and sighed, "So, what was it this time?"

"What?" the boy exhaled the word, too taken aback by Levi's revelation to make a complete sentence.

"What exposed me?" Levi elaborated, "Was it the uniform, the hair…?"

"The height," interrupted Dan without hesitation. Sophie snorted, and Levi rolled his eyes in response. "Alex said that he is….Uh, that you are a short, strong man. And rumor has it that you, ehem, love cleaning."

"Tch, sure," said Levi.

"But…how?" He turned to Sophie and whispered, "What is he doing here?"

Levi replied before she had a chance to lie again. "Official business."

Sophie became the new spectator, watching the scene unravel in silence. Little by little, Dan recovered his composure. His shocked expression became filled with respect and admiration.

"Sir, my friend has told me everything about you. You are a hero!" he gushed, leaning forward. Levi could distinguish a naïve, passionate sparkle in his eyes. "Is it true that you killed 10 Titans on your own in just one mission?"

"Well, uh…"

"Oh! Alex said you were from the Underground, is that right?"

"Eh, yes."

Dan grinned, completely marveled by his presence. "So it's true! I'm from there too. I never thought people like us could get far. But you did!"

Levi looked at Sophie, hoping for her support. Instead, she stared at the brooch on the table, biting her lower lip. Despite Levi's silence and awkwardness, Dan continued to assault him with questions, ignoring Sophie's presence.

"You worked with Commander Erwin! Is it true that he is as fearless as they say?"

Levi rubbed his forehead and gulped. Fearless. He had been a fearless leader indeed, but also a broken man chasing a childish dream. He was also his best friend, the one who had given his life for Levi's slight chance to kill the Beast Titan. And he had failed. Two years later, he hadn't been able to make his sacrifice worth it. He didn't want that kid's admiration, not when the deaths of his comrades and his duty followed him every day.

Sophie whispered, "Dan."

He ignored Sophie and continued, "You know, my friend Alex, he wants to join the Military next year. After the Shiganshina mission, he has been training every day so he can devote his heart like you!" Despite Levi's unresponsiveness, he squealed, "Oh man, Alex is going to lose his shit when he hears about this."

"Language…" Sophie scolded him only with a whisper. Even though Levi was staring at Dan, he couldn't find the strength to reply.

Devote his heart. Shiganshina. Those kids who had died in Erwin's charge were almost the same age as Dan. Every night, he heard their screams as the rocks broke through their bodies, and their frightened expressions haunted him. Even at that moment, he could smell their blood on his hands. He could never wash that scent off.

They saw him as a soldier admirable enough to follow in his footsteps. None of the recruits that had joined the Survey Corps because of him had survived. Barely anyone under his command had ever lived. He wasn't a hero.

He finally understood why Sophie hadn't revealed her identity to that kid, despite all of Dan's suffering and pleas for answers; they were both hiding. She hid her greed and mistakes behind care and compassion, just as he hid his pain and failure behind strength and praise. Their façade was the only way to forgive themselves.

Despite Levi and Sophie's miserable expressions, Dan continued to ramble.

"Oh wait! Alex is coming tomorrow! He can finally meet you!" he gasped. Dan placed his hands on the table, supporting himself as he got as close to Levi as possible. "You are going to be here tomorrow, right?" Levi pushed himself back in response and looked away. Dan turned to Sophie and corrected his question, "He…is going to be here tomorrow, right?"

"I don't know," mumbled Sophie as she crossed her arms. She turned to Levi and said, "Are you, Captain?"

"No."

He said the word in a heartbeat, almost instinctively. Sophie lowered her head, and Dan moved away, slowly and disappointed. But he didn't give up.

"Well…He lives nearby, so I can go get him now! I bet—"

"Dan," she interrupted him with such a commanding voice that even Levi snapped out of his thoughts. "The Captain had a long trip, and he is on a mission." She placed her hand over Dan's as she added, "I know that Alex is very fond of him, and I bet that he will be happy to know that at least you got to meet him."

Dan pouted, "Yeah, but…"

"I'm sure the Captain will remember his name once he joins the Survey Corps."

At her claim, Dan lowered his head and muttered, "Okay. I guess I'll be off then."

Dan placed the brooch inside his sack before standing up. He grabbed Fred by the hand, and the kid clumsily followed his older brother as they walked towards the door, with Sophie accompanying them. Levi stared at them as they hugged and greeted each other farewell.

The siblings' silhouette slowly started to fade into the sunset while Sophie leaned on the door frame. Levi gently approached her.

Once he was next to her, he whispered, "He doesn't know about you." It was a statement, but for Sophie, he phrased it as a question. "Does he?"

He observed her profile, melancholically staring at the distant pair. It took her a couple of seconds to reply.

"No."

"What if he finds out?" She kept gazing at the horizon in silence. Levi insisted, "Sophie?"

"You felt it too, didn't you?" she said, finally turning around to face him. "His rage and anger against those who hurt him. I was like that too, right?"

"Yes," he gulped.

After a tense pause, Sophie continued, "He is smart. It's not a matter of if he finds out. It's a matter of when." She took a deep breath and concluded, "Once he does, I won't run away, but at least I've tried to do the right thing. That's what you always said."

Levi gently shook his head. "Lying him for so long will only hurt him more."

"Yes, but telling him that I'm sorry won't make a difference. However, helping him to be the man he wants to be will. This is the only way I can do it." She looked away and scoffed, "Call me a selfish coward if you want."

"No," he said. Sophie frowned, perplexed. "I was never able to look at kids like Alex in the eyes and tell them that they were going to die for a cause that not even we understood. Erwin was always the one to do that." He paused to remember his friend's resolution. His last charge. "I could only tell myself that their sacrifices would be worth it."

"But they were, right? I've heard the Titans around the Walls are gone now."

Levi clenched his jaw. That accomplishment somehow didn't feel enough. It was one victory against a hundred defeats. They hadn't won the war, and he hadn't fulfilled his promise, a promise that not even Sophie knew. He couldn't tell her. He couldn't tell her that the Captain those kids loved and praised had failed when his comrades needed him the most.

Suddenly, she placed a hand over his shoulder. It was the first time she had touched him since his arrival, and he felt the same as always. Calm.

"You okay? I know Dan can be quite pushy sometimes," she said with a soft smile. Levi stared at her comforting expression. Perhaps he could tell her. Maybe she would understand. However, that was not the time. He had another reason to be there.

Levi placed his hand over hers, and Sophie approached him in response. His gesture lit her eyes up, a sight that always made him get lost in time and space. However, he grabbed her hand and gently removed it from over his shoulder. Sophie gulped and looked down as his fingers slowly slipped away from her skin, letting her arm fall back. He couldn't let his feelings take over his mind.

"Let's go inside," he whispered.

Finally, they were alone. Not even the damn chicken was there.

Sophie sat next to Levi, looking at the floor with her arms crossed as she took in all the information. Despite her isolation, she had learned about the state of the world from whispers around town. He filled in the gaps of her knowledge as far as his permissions allowed, just like he had agreed with Hange. Plain and clear.

"This is…a lot," she sighed. "I knew that there was some uncertainty regarding the Outside World, not that they wanted to kill us all for being…Eldians, you said?"

"Yes, Eldians. We are the only ones who can turn into Titans. That's why they see us as a threat."

"Shit." Sophie placed her elbows on the board and rubbed her forehead. "But I don't get it. What does that have to do with you being here?"

Levi cleared his throat and took a deep breath.

"The rest of the world is more advanced than us." Seeing her confused expression, he elaborated, "Technologically advanced, I mean. They have weapons that we don't, bigger boats, and much more. Even with the Titans, we are at a disadvantage, for now, at least."

"For now?" she frowned.

He sighed, "It's hard to explain. The Government is still trying to find a way to solve this conflict, and the spectrum of ideas is pretty wide." Sophie didn't seem convinced, but he concluded, "The thing is, we have some help from outside the island, but after rebuilding Wall Maria, we've barely made any progress to match their technology."

"So what?" she said. Given the daring expression on her face, Levi knew that she was already aware of why he was there, but as usual, she wanted to hear him say it.

"We need you." Levi stared at Sophie, waiting for her reaction, but there was none. "After everything that happened, Engineering had to be reorganized from top to bottom. It took a toll on the development and production of the projects. Everything is a mess around there."

Sophie scoffed, unbothered by his complaints. "Seriously? You think I can go there with my magic wand and make Engineering what it was in a heartbeat?"

"Yes, and it's not just me who thinks that."

"Hange?" said Sophie. Levi nodded. "Well, I appreciate that vow of trust, but I'm not like you."

Vow of trust. Hange didn't mean to trust her. They just wanted her to pay back all the damage done. But it would be easier for Sophie to believe that she still had a friend in them.

"Not like me?" asked Levi, placing one leg over the other.

"I'm not some one-man-army crucial for our survival or anything." She wavered her hand as she added, "It's just math and blueprints. Anyone could do it."

"Yes, but not like you."

Sophie scoffed, "Come on, there are plenty of smart-asses in Stohess."

"You think so? Because I've heard that your Board was an absolute disaster. They couldn't even design a bridge out of straws."

"Uh, yeah. Why would they?"

Levi uncrossed his legs and leaned forward. "What do you mean?"

"The Board is just there for project approvals and budget revision. I wouldn't put my best engineers signing papers all day; that's a bureaucrat's job." She placed her arm over the back of the chair, relaxed. "If the Government can't manage Engineering, that's their incompetence, not mine."

Levi hated to admit it, but she was right. He had been guilty of signing documents day and night, and all that paperwork had trapped Hange's brilliance as a scientist and potential as a Commander.

"So I take it that you were the one making all the big decisions while they licked your boots?" he mocked.

"Says the man who has been scrubbing my floors all day," she grinned. Levi opened his mouth to call her out, but she interrupted him. "Yes, it was my division, my projects, and my rules. But if anything went wrong, I would to be the one responsible for it, and not my Board or engineers. Those Government snobs love to have someone to blame when things don't work out." She sighed, "My work was everything I had left. I pushed it to perfection at my expense because if I made a mistake, they wouldn't hesitate to take it away from me."

"That's a lot of responsibility for just one person."

"I could say the same about you," she replied.

Levi sighed. He had been wrong. Sophie wasn't surrounding herself with pawns to keep her power. No, it was more than that.

There were four Walls in Paradis: three protected the cities, and the fourth one, Engineering. Sophie had built it brick by brick for the past decade, just as he had built a similar wall around his heart and duty. Hange had seen her protection as ego, just as those kids saw his kill count as heroism. But they were only defending whatever gave them a purpose beyond their pain.

"I get it, but that's what I mean," he countered. "You know how things need to be handled."

Sophie threw her head back and took a deep breath. Levi didn't want to interrupt her meditation.

"Who is the current Chief?" she finally said, still staring at the ceiling.

Levi rubbed his forehead, "Some guy named Charles, I think?"

"Pfft, and you say that my Board was a disaster?" she mocked, bending over. "Charles is only there for the paycheck. Get Alma instead. She is pretty good."

She stood up once she finished the sentence. Levi followed her with his eyes as she moved around the kitchen.

"Don't you think we can get that sister of yours?" he taunted her, alluding to her old self.

Sophie mindlessly arranged some of the objects around the area without paying attention to his words.

"Sadly, my sister died two years ago in a terrible accident." She finally turned around to face him."You see, I moved here to mourn her."

Levi stood up and approached Sophie until he was right in front of her. She didn't push herself back, but he could feel his closeness triggering something in her. Her eyes twitched as they scanned him, and her breathing became more agitated. He wanted to keep his feelings as far apart from his mission as possible, but he knew that giving in would stop her from hiding.

You were the only thing she would've needed to come back.

"So there is nothing left of her?" he whispered. "Nothing at all?"

Sophie gulped, "Nothing at all."

Levi was disappointed but not surprised. Still, he didn't quite believe her words. The way her face and body reacted seemed to portray something completely different.

"Then why do you still have a workshop filled with models and numbers?"

"I teach for free." The decision in her voice became meaningless when looking at her eyes. "I need to pay for my food somehow."

"I'm not like Dan. Don't lie to me," he countered. Sophie took a step back. He followed her. "You could've done anything else, but you still like it, don't you? And you are good at it."

After a pause, she lifted her chin and said, "Find someone else."

"So you can keep lying to that kid while the rest of us fight for the island's future?"

"Don't guilt-trip me into this," she said, gritting her teeth.

Levi bent his neck and murmured, "Then why won't you come back?"

"Because I was obsessed," Sophie answered. "It was the only thing that gave me some sense of purpose and control. I fed on the praise and responsibility of running such a prestigious division on my own to deal with the mess that was my life, only because I had nothing else." She took a deep breath, "So yes, I do like it. And yes, I am good at it. But it ruined me."

"It wasn't that what ruined you."

"Oh really? And how would you know?"

He felt the impulse to refer to the bottles under her bed. That was what had ruined her, not the blueprints. But he was already standing on the cliffside, and he couldn't afford to take the wrong step.

"I've seen you work since you were a kid. I've seen that spark in your eyes." He approached her, fixated on her gaze as he whispered, "I'm seeing it right now."

"It's not the same," she replied.

"It is."

With his words, Sophie relaxed her composure. Her talk about how she ran her division made him realize that Hange was right. There was no one like her, not like it ever had been for him.

Sophie leaned on the wall with her hands behind her back.

"I can't do it," she muttered. "I can't be the Queen Bee again."

"No one is asking you to run the entire thing on your own anymore," he said, approaching her again.

"Don't lie to me either," she seethed. "You wouldn't be here if the only thing that Engineering needed was someone to proofread their math." She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "You may be okay carrying all that responsibility on your shoulders. But I can't. Not anymore. I have a life now. I have these kids, a purpose. I may not be fighting a war, but I'm doing something good here."

Sophie looked away as Levi remained still. He understood her reasoning, but his mind got stuck in one particular sentence.

"I'm not okay."

"What?"

"I'm not okay with carrying that responsibility and being the one-man army you say I am."

An uncomfortable silence grew between them. Sophie slowly approached him.

"Then why do you keep doing it? The Titans are gone. We are at peace for now. Why would you keep fighting? Don't you have anything else in your life?" She was asking too many questions for Levi to answer. What he wanted had never mattered. She took another step forward and whispered, "Or anyone else?"

"No," he replied in a heartbeat. "Not all of us have the privilege of running away to the forest."

"Levi…"

"Make a choice, Sophie," he interrupted. "You can stay, and we will forget about this. Or you can come back and help us. It's up to you."

Levi's heartbeat raced as he finally established the purpose of his visit. Everything had been said and done. He just needed her answer.

"Why you?" she asked.

"What?"

Her gaze wandered around his face, examining it, looking for something like when she had caressed his hands at the HQ. He let her invade him with her eyes. Perhaps that would give her what she wanted, and what he couldn't say.

"It's not Zachary or Hange who is standing here asking me to come back. It's you. Out of all the damn Military, it's you." She softly blinked as she murmured, "Why?"

He could feel the rocks falling off the cliff he was standing on. He wanted to fall for her again, but his duty kept dragging him away. If he told her the truth, it wouldn't be her choice anymore. He knew that three words leaving his lips could completely change her answer. Levi saw those pleading, dark eyes and realized just how much power he had over her. But he had made a deal: no dirty tricks.

He silenced both his duty and feelings.

"Make a choice."

Sophie breathed out, slowly pushing herself back. Levi waited, but she didn't say anything. There was too much indecision in her presence. She didn't even dare to look him in the eyes. There was no point in expecting her to voice an answer. Her aspect was enough.

"I see," he said.

Levi turned around and walked towards the door. She didn't stop him.

As he approached the post where his horse was, he felt both relief and hurt. In a few sentences, Sophie had proven to him that the island did need her. But at the same time, she had a life, and she was doing something good for those kids. She redeemed herself by teaching and giving them a chance. That was no different than locking her up in an office to work on blueprints, even if it were with him by her side.

He could follow Hange's advice and use himself to bring her back. His rational side told him that she didn't deserve that peace, that he should do whatever it took to protect Paradis. That would mean giving in to his feelings, promising her love and happiness in exchange for her work. Her reaction to his closeness was evidence enough that he could pull those dirty tricks, led by both his duty and selfishness.

Levi couldn't do it. He wanted her to stay and live the life he wished he had. That was just as selfish as bringing her back, only so he had something else in his life besides blades and failed promises.

As he grabbed the reins of his mount, he felt a hand around his arm, forcing him to stop his motion. He turned around to find Sophie staring at him decisively. They observed each other in silence, with Levi still waiting for her answer.

"Let me sleep on it," she begged. "Please."

Levi growled, "Fine." Despite her grip, he pulled the reins to move his horse away from its station. "I'll come back by sunrise."

"Wait," she said, pulling him closer. "Look at the clouds."

Levi lifted his head. The sky had gotten cloudy and grey, and the sense of humidity in the air was almost asphyxiating. He returned his attention to Sophie.

"What about them?"

"There is a summer storm coming."

"So?"

She slowly let go of his arm and got closer to him. Levi knew what she meant, but he wanted to hear her say it.

"Stay."

Author's Note

Hehehe

Well, in exchange for all the angst I've presented, I give you two bits of information

1) Next Chapter is called Candlelight III, so if you've read the other two, you will know that we are in for some feels. And who knows? Maybe something more ;)

2) It will be Sophie's POV, so before y'all cancel this woman for the Dan-gate situation, let's hear her out.

Thanks for reading this! It was a bit hard to write this chapter because I had to balance the tension/revelations and familiarity and I'm not 100% sure that it met my expectations, but it is what it is. I hope it was entertaining enough, tho!