Family
Mikasa returned to Historia's cottage to continue taking care of Armin, Annie and Levi, meanwhile Historia had to announce Mikasa's decision to accept her post. Marley's government was ecstatic to learn about Paradis' decision to sever relations with Hizuru and starting relations with them, as the oriental nation was becoming a threat to Marley's political dominance.
The capital was reestablishing order, while a military operation was under way to arrest all Hizuru officials. The press managed to learn about this and infiltrated the raids, causing quite a scandal to the public. Many concerns emerged, as the people had become accustomed to the many technological advancements the Hizuru offered.
The already divided society become even more polarized; many flat out rejected Historia's government due to oppression and poor political management. Almost every member of society saw Mikasa as the only solution, having grown tired of a royal house that lied and deceived them for so long. But the opposition clashed constantly with each other due to radically different political stances, being Mikasa the only connection between… this not being enough, securing the stability to Historia rule, but at the cost of frequent protests and rising power of the press, who managed to secure stories of the government's failures… one of those was the reveal that Lady Kiyomi had committed suicide due to shame…
Morning - Historia's cottage
Mikasa after learning the news about Kiyomi started to feel desolate… the expectation about what she could find in Marley was almost the only thing she could think about… although she was with her friends… she was feeling deeply alone… Armin realized this…
Armin: Mikasa… please talk to me.
Mikasa in her usual emotionless state: About what Armin?
Armin: What is going on with you… that. I can tell Mikasa… please.
Mikasa is silent.
Armin: I know… you never really liked to talk about how you feel… but sometimes it's necessary… having so many things in your chest… can make you take very bad decisions… take Eren… for instance.
Mikasa looks at Armin, clearly hurting…
Armin looking lovingly at Mikasa: Eren never told us how he felt… what he wanted… really wanted… he kept going in his personal quest… for the wrong reasons… he never took into consideration his own feelings… and our own… and left us a broken world… free to pick up the pieces…
Mikasa is nostalgically looking at the ground.
Armin: We must learn… from Eren's mistakes… How we feel… who we love… it's what decides which path our lives take… I think Eren realized this at the end… and wanted to give you that which he could not have… a chance to live… to feel.
Mikasa starts to cry.
Armin: So please Mikasa… let me help you… what's family for… after all
Mikasa with tears in her eyes looks surprised at Armin
Armin: Mikasa… you and Eren… were always my family. I hope… you think so too.
Mikasa hugs Armin strongly and starts to loudly cry for the first time in years, starting to feel a little bit relieved…
Annie is looking at the scene from a distance, feeling very moved and sad… she has felt just as alone as Mikasa does now. Except she now has someone… and Mikasa had lost him for good. She starts to tear up. She realizes just how difficult life has been for Mikasa and she still kept going.
Annie to herself: Truly… not human at all…
Afternoon
Historia is checking on Levi with Princess Ymir.
Ymir: Levi do the nails hurt? Did the doctor think your leg was a plank?
Historia: Ymir please stop teasing the captain, you are going to get a knock in the head
Levi is annoyed while drinking tea: It's been like this since I came here… I don't mind it anymore… just forget it Historia.
Historia: Well captain, never expected you as the parenting type.
Levi: I have been living surrounded by two brats for the last four years. I can't feel annoyed anymore, I've grown immune to it.
Historia chuckles: Now that you mention it… why don't you stay here in Paradis captain? You no longer have to fear being persecuted.
Levi is deep in thought and many memories come to his mind.
Levi: I… have a life in Marley now… It's… too hard for me… being here.
Historia grabs Levi hands: I understand captain. Don't worry.
Levi looks at Historia: But before I can leave… there is something I must do…
Armin and Annie had been talking about their lives and what they should do.
Annie: Armin… you sure you don't want to stay here? This is your home…
Armin: Annie… too much has happened… too much time… there is nothing for me here anymore… and there is you too…
Annie blushing: What about me?
Armin blushing: Well… your father is in Marley… it's your home… and where ever you are… it's… my home.
Annie very blushed: Armin…
Mikasa after talking with Armin had spent the afternoon alone in the fields sitting by a tree. Annie decides to approach her…
Annie: Mikasa… can I sit with you?
Mikasa: sure, go ahead.
Both them are silent for a while. Annie is feeling nervous, she wants to say something to Mikasa
Mikasa: What is it Annie? I can feel the tension…
Annie flustered: Uhh… well… I wanted to talk to you… but I'm not very good at this… I don't want it to come out wrong…
Mikasa: What is it you are worrying me… Historia tried to speak to me like this a while ago…
Annie blushing: WHAT?! NO! It's not that… I just… I talked to Armin… and he told me… about how close you are… and I… well... I just want to say that… if you are his family… then… you… are my family too… you… understand what I mean?
Mikasa is surprised but glad: Yes Annie, I do.
Annie is relieved: Damn that was hard… I know we have been at odds all the time since we met… but I always felt strangely close to you… like we were very similar…
Mikasa: Yeah… I have felt like that too…
Annie: I… have always admired you… I guess that's why I always wanted to beat you…
Mikasa: I never expected you to be so sensitive Annie.
Annie blushes: What you mean? No I'm not!
Mikasa: Seriously just look how cute you are right now… It's making me uncomfortable
Annie pushes Mikasa: WHAT THE HELL!?
Mikasa getting back up: What?
Annie angry: I never knew you were so mean! You and Eren truly were meant for each other!
Annie immediately realizes what she just said and wishes she could take it back, she looks nervously at Mikasa, but sees that she is not angry or sad, but softly smiling.
Mikasa: You think so?
Annie sitting next to Mikasa: Well… yeah. Every girl in our class could see it… Sure Eren was a coldhearted blockhead most of the time and treated everyone badly, including you… but when he wasn't like that… he could only speak or think about you… how to be better for you… how he was always hoping for you to stop mothering him so he could be the one protecting you…
He was always with you… it was like there was nobody else for him… he never paid attention to any other girl in that fashion… he treated all of us as friends while all the other guys were hitting on us… even when I was teaching him to wrestle… he constantly said he was doing it so he could protect you… it was… very rare to see something like that…
The other girls thought he was just an idiot… but I could see it… he really loved you… even if he never expressed it… that… made me feel very insecure… I guess I wanted to ruin that for you because of it… I'm sorry…
Annie nervously glances at Mikasa, but she is calmly smiling.
Mikasa: Thank you Annie… for telling me this.
Annie blushing: I… It's just how I feel…
Mikasa: I think I liked it better when you were tough…
Annie gets up enraged and walks away: THAT'S IT!
Mikasa yelling: Annie I'm sorry! Please continue talking about how inferior you are!
Annie shouting: SHUT UP!
Mikasa runs towards Annie, grabs her hand softly and tells her: Want to train for a little while?
Annie still furious, but a bit calmer: Only if we have a spar session.
Mikasa smiles at her: Of course. She puts her hand on Annie's shoulder, and Annie smiles, she is no longer angry.
Armin was watching the whole scene from a distance, feeling warm and happy.
Three weeks later
The medics finally took the nails out of Levi's leg and gave him a metallic brace for his knee, so he can now walk without assistance… so the group is ready to leave for Marley. They decide to leave the next day, needing first, to fulfill Levi's request…
The group is led by Mikasa and Historia to Trost, to a memorial complex that was built 3 years ago, in honor of all the fallen from the titans and to celebrate the defunct Survey Corps.
It's a massive complex of gardens and commemorative statues. Levi approaches one of the largest ones. It's the memorial to the Commanders of the Survey Corps. At front and center is Erwin, with Hange by his left and instructor Shadis by his right, with the former commanders spread out on the sides.
Levi: Hey guys… long time no see…
Levi is nostalgically looking at the statue.
Levi: Well Erwin… it seems there are still a few things we don't know about our world… but… don't worry… I'm on it…
You must be glad to hear that the titans' power is not fully gone yet four eyes… crazy bastard…
He looks at the eyes of the statues… sees Hange's statue has a book on her hands…
Levi: I… know what to do now… you always had… all the answers…
Levi looks down with tears in his eyes and chuckles: Tsk… how funny this must be for you…
Mikasa approaches from behind and put her hand on Levi's shoulder; meanwhile Annie, Historia and Armin stand besides Levi… and put their fists in their hearts… Mikasa does it too.
Levi is very moved, and puts his fist on his heart: I'll… continue… dedicating my heart…
After a few moments, they approach the biggest monument of the complex: A massive statue depicting the Attack Titan, with a real-life sized statue of Eren standing in front of it. It's protected by barriers, as the monument is filled with flowers and letters.
Mikasa is visibly uncomfortable.
Armin: Wow… this is… a statement…
Levi: A monument to a titan… that's funny…
Historia: I objected to the construction of this… thing. But the military leaders and the council insisted… it's actually a pilgrimage site now… hence the flowers and letters…
Annie: Well it sure is ugly… and the titan statue is even worse.
Mikasa anxiously: We should leave… there is one more stop before we can go…
Historia: Mikasa hates this place… she has not come here since it's inauguration…
Armin: Yeah… I thought so… sorry to have made you come here Mikasa…
Mikasa: It's fine…I wanted to visit the commanders for a while now… you gave me the courage to come… thank you.
Armin, Annie and Historia blush by what Mikasa said.
Levi. This trip has surely been emotional… can't wait to get out of here.
Shiganshina
Mikasa brought Levi to Eren's grave so he could speak to him, as he was the only one who had not done it before.
Levi: Hey idiot… look what a beautiful place you have here… you probably think it's just a tree right? You sure fucked things up didn't you? If you were here, I would beat you to death for being so stupid.
Mikasa is disturbed by what Levi is saying, but Armin approaches her and tell her it's fine.
Levi: Then again… what good would that do? All you knew was violence… it's no surprise that the only solution you could come up with was killing everybody and getting yourself killed… I guess… in your position I would have done that too…
You would have felt very out of place in this non-violent world… I sure do… Too much time to think… too many regrets… I guess you had some too.
Levi reads the epitaph of Eren's grave and chuckles ironically
Levi: Tsk… Mikasa calls herself your wife… I don't think she is that crazy to have made that up… I hope you gave her at least a little bit in return… while you were still here… I… sure wish… I did.
Mikasa puts her hand on Levi's shoulder as he starts to walk away: See you later idiot… not too soon I hope… I have… things to do.
Mikasa asks to give her a few minutes with Eren… She sits next to the gravestone.
Mikasa: Eren… I'm going away for a while… I know you don't mind… I'm going to visit our friends…
Mikasa is deep in thought
Mikasa: I… don't know… if what I'll do… is the right thing… but I have to try… you understand right? I… need to know.
She sits quietly for a minute
Mikasa: Armin and Annie are a couple now… it's a bit strange seeing them like that… they are so… clingy… not like you and I were… to each their own, I guess…
But seeing them… made me miss you too much… so I have to try… got nothing to lose right? I hope you are ok with it… but even if you are not… I have to do it. I'll come back in a few weeks alright? See you later…
The next day
The governing cabinet and Historia greeted farewell to Mikasa, Armin, Annie and Levi with full diplomatic honors. They arranged a luxury boat for their trip and offered a telegraph set as a gift for Marley's government.
Levi is at the deck drinking tea by himself, meanwhile Annie, Armin and Mikasa are chatting about what to do when they arrive.
Armin: Jean and Connie will be so excited to see you Mikasa, we should have dinner together as celebration… you should take it easy in this trip, not make it all about diplomacy.
Mikasa: Yes… I… was thinking… if you could show me the places of interest of the nation… like the ruins of the Hizuru border at the east…
Annie: Mikasa you want to be a tourist?! Never would have imagined it! Of course, I'll show the places of interest! Especially the places where they have the best drinks!
Armin: Annie please! Remember I told you how sick we got the day we went to Marley. I don't think Mika…
Mikasa: I'll go Annie. I liked it.
Annie: YOU SEE ARMIN! That's my girl. You have to lighten up Armin seriously.
Armin is shocked: Oh… well… I don't like being sick…
Mikasa: But Armin, didn't you feel relaxed and happy?
Armin disturbed: Well yes… but in the morning I woke up next to a bucket filled with Sasha's vomit… I don't want to live something like that again.
Mikasa chuckles: It was a good day… it's one of my favorite memories with Sasha… and Eren was so happy at that moment…
Annie: Let's leave the nostalgic memories for when we are drunk alright? We had enough of that during these weeks. Hey captain! How about you? Want to join?
Levi drinking his tea: I don't contaminate myself with that poison Annie.
Annie: Pff, so stiff captain. Your loss. More for me and Mikasa. We are going to crack the heads of some drunks. It's going to be so much fun!
Mikasa is happy to see Annie so excited and Armin so worried about them… if only that was the only thing she had to think about. Her mind was set on the possibility… of seeing her family again…
