Red.
Hanji Zoe would never forget the sight right in front of her still working eye, playing out on that fateful day. It would haunt her forever. The dark red sky illuminating everything in the otherwise blackness the sky was displaying despite it being still late noon only.
Those terrifying screams of her own brethren getting hunted down and killed. The smell of blood and smoke filling the air. Destroyed walls, crumbling down along with all of destroyed buildings, homes as far as her eyes could see... burning down, falling apart and crumbling into pieces. Vehicles Hanji never saw before marched inside the city with long pipes at the top, similar looking like the cart titans weapons. They shoot and destroyed every building in their path. Soldiers with flamethrowers burning everything down as if to make sure everything was truly dead. They even burned her people alive... or shoot them lined up against some wall remains. This wasn't a war anymore. This was a massacre.. no... genocide. It was hell itself.
"Hanji... san... Hanji-san! HANJI-SAN WAKE UP!"
"Huh!?"
Snapping her eyes open, Hanji Zoe bolted up into a sitting position. She was drenched in sweat. Panic filling her whole body she stared with wide eyes at the person in front of her. It was Jean with a worried look on his face. His hand was touching her left shoulder, squeezing down, sympathetically.
"You were having a nightmare Commander." He simply said and gave her knowing sad smile.
"What- where-? Ah.. that's right! Levi!"
She practically almost screamed his name.
Darting her eyes around to all sides panic filled her whole system. She had to find him. That's right he was badly injured. He could still die. He needed her. She needed him!
"The captain is right there to your right. But please keep your voice down, most of the others are sleeping along with him."
To her right?
Snapping her head around almost too fast and snapping her neck in the process, her brown orbs landed on a bandaged figure right besides her. Almost his whole body was covered in white bandages, even his head was halfway covered in bandages due to his right eye injury and long cut across his whole face.
He wasn't moving but his expression was peaceful. His skin which was not covered in bandages was warm and a rosy color. She was holding his warm left hand, their fingers intertwined the whole time as they slept together, huddled down under the blanket together they were sharing.
Hot tears began filling her brown orb, Hanji quickly tried to blink them away as soon as possible as she tried to fill her lungs with deep breaths to calm her hammering heartbeat down.
Everything is ok. He is ok. They are both still alive. Sliding her body down, she leaned backwards against the ship railing of the ship they were onto.
That's right they were on top of a ship. Onto the deck lying around shattered like all the other few survivors of this hell. They had lost the war. Paradise had lost and turned to ashes. Hell was real. Her dream was reality.
Letting out a shaking laugh Hanji sighed and closed her eyes.
"Sorry, sorry. I couldn't look any more pathetic."
"That's not true Comma-"
But before Jean could interject Hanji raised her hand to stop him.
"I'm hardly a Commander anymore Jean. I lost my position-" she stopped for a moment and took a breath before opening her brown eye again and looking up into the blue sky above her. "No.. we all lost everything and are nothing anymore than wanted criminals anymore."
12hours before the fall of Paradise
Hanji and Levi had just made it out of the forest and were on the path to reach the walls. Hanji was riding on her horse, while Levi was lying on a make shift cart she had build in the forest for Levi after they had escaped from the Yeagerist just barely.
Hanji still couldn't quite believe what had all happened in such a short amount of time.
It seems like ever since Eren and Mikasa had run away over a year ago everything went downhill.
They lost the founder and one of their best soldiers, an Ackerman on top of it. Despite all efforts with the help of Kiyomi and sending some of Hanji's most trusted soldiers out sometimes. Sasha and Connie were a great help. Because of Sasha's close relationship with the Marleyn Nicolo, it was the perfect cover for her to explore other countries undercover. Nicolo knew a lot of places and would protect her because he loved her. Connie was like Sasha's brother, her other half. He would keep her safe as well.
But even so every time they returned back empty handed. No signs of Eren Yeager or Mikasa Ackerman. Who knew if they even went by those names by now.
Zeke Yeager was upset the more time went by without Eren by his side. The plan Zeke had proposed to needed the founder and Eren's help and without him everything seems to fell apart. Levi however made sure he took custody of Zeke as a criminal. Hanji had agreed on it. Neither of the two Veterans trusted this bearded bastard.
Hanji had send Levi to an unknown location, only he and 30 special selected soldiers for him as support knew where Zeke was, along 2 messengers they needed to communicate with each other with letters and to send provisions to Levi to his hidden location inside the big trees forest.
No one could have guessed what happened next.
Kyomi followed by Sasha and Nicolo storming inside the Capital military building, interrupting a very important meeting and telling everyone about Marley declaring war on them. Willy Tyburt pleading for help from the whole world to eradicate the Devils from the world and he became nothing more than a rousing round of applause.
This was the end.
There was no way they could defend themselves if every nation on the world attacked them at once.
Sending out a messenger to Levi to inform him about the current situation and to come back immediately, Hanji was left with the remaining Commanders and high ranked officers to plan their next steps and course of actions.
Panic broke out throughout the whole military. Soldiers were ordered to arm up in every position. After the meeting Commander Hanji joined her remaining Survey Corps soldiers to follow her.
„Floch you and your squad come with me. Jean, Mikasa, Armin, Sasha, Connie already left with their squads to strengthen our front lines so-"
Her words were stuck left in her throat as she felt suddenly a gun pressed against the back of her head harshly after she was just about to get on her horse.
"I don't think so Commander. This is all your fault that we will all die. You and all the other high ranking weak pussies of officers. If we had attacked Marley and the others from the very beginning! Than we would not be in this mess now!" Floch yelled at her.
"Floch..." slowly turning around Hanji faced him with a serious expression. "Stop this right now. Do you not understand in what situation we are!? The whole world is going to attack us in maybe just a couple of hours and you point a gun at your comrades!?"
Floch sneered at her and rolled his eyes.
"My comrades? As if I would ever follow a lowly useless Commander as you. We are all going to die anyway. So I will at least punish you and all these idiots scrum bags myself before I die! Now bring me to Zeke Yeager! Or your brain will be all over the pavement."
At first Hanji wanted to refuse but as soon as she found out about the poisonous wine Marley had secretly spread around and how it would turn every Eldian into mindless titans that drank this.. she had no other choice but to get to Zeke herself. She had to meet with Levi and talk to him and to together prevent Zeke from screaming and start the wine from activating.
At least this was the plan until they reached a riverside. It was dark because of the heavy storm that had started earlier, while they rode on their horses in direction to the forest of the giant trees.
Hanji's eyes widened as she spotted a destroyed cart and two dead horses. It seems the cart exploded.
"Huh? What?"
Her breath stuck in heir lungs upon spotting a figure lying on the ground near the river.
Without thinking Hanji sprang down her horse to rush to the injured soldier. Upon closer look her mind already began to race.
No. This couldn't be.
A black haired male with an undercut.
Please don't let it be him.
Please don't let him be dead.
I need him.
I cannot continue without him.
Those were the only thoughts swirling in Hanji's mind as she turned the person over and looked face to face...
"Levi...?"
As if a part of her world shattered Hanji sat there on the wet grass and holding the lifeless body of Levi Ackerman in her arms.
Her lips trembled.
He was bleeding from so many areas on his body. Who knows how many broken bones he might have. He has lost two fingers she noticed but the worst were the cuts and long injury across his whole face. A deep cut which would leave a scar for sure from his forehead down to his eye and ending at his underlip. His eye injury most likely made him blind but all of this didn't matter for her if only he could still be here and stay by her side.
"..."
A sudden raise of his stomach.
Blinking away the forming tears she almost feared her eyes tricked her.
But than it happened a second and a third time followed by the careful eye movement of Levi's still intact eye. Now looking directly at her.
A sudden rush of willpower. Curling her fingers tenderly around his head, she pulled him closer to her chest and cradled him.
"Let me take his pulse Commander."
Floch's cold voice interrupted Hanji's moment with him.
"He's dead. He got hit wit with a thunder spear explosion from point blank. I saw enough injuries... his internal organs should are a mess... not to forget his inner bleedings."
"This bastard he killed Zeke! At least he got his punishment. I should just to make sure shoot him in the head."
Turning her head over Hanji glared deadly daggers at Floch. There was not single hint of fear even as a gun barrel was pointed directly at her and Levi, while she pulled him even closer to herself to shield him from any more harm.
"He'a dead. I won't let you touch him."
A thunder roared and the light flashed brightly.
It was now or never Hanji decided.
In a matter of seconds Hanji grabbed at the gun and smacked it out of Floch's hands.
A gunshot run in the air but it only hit the wet grass missing both Levi and Hanji.
Grabbing the gun she used it as a bait and hit Floch across the face with the end of it.
All other soldiers were still in a daze because of Zeke's human remains. Zeke seemed to be in two body half's cut in half after the explosion took place.
This was luck for Hanji. It gave her enough distraction to throw the gun away in direction of them, hitting one of her ex soldiers across the face while she could race to Levi and grab him into her arms before she threw herself into the rising river without hesitation.
It was cold, she heard gunshots run in the air but it all didn't matter anymore. All went blank.
The next time Hanji could what she was doing was as she killed three of her soldiers. She sliced a throat of one of them and stole his gun before she shot all other pursuers without any hesitation. It was painful. She felt like a failure. She was their Commander after all. But even worse would have been to lose Levi. Her one and only Levi.
"Levi... the pursuers are gone. I took care of them. Let's go..."
Her soft smile wavered. Levi didn't reply to her. He was alive but asleep.
For now Hanji was relived enough he was breathing.
He had a lot of water in his lungs.
It was understandable after she pulled him into a river like this.
Her cheeks turned a shade of red upon remembering her actions not long ago.
Her lips pressed against his, breathing life back into him over and over again as she did CPR onto him.
Her fingers rose to her lips to touch them.
"Hanji you are stupid. This is not the time to think like a young teenager." Shaking her head she slapped herself lightly with her hands on her cheeks to wake up. "We must hide Levi. Please bear with me carrying you for a while longer."
Deep inside the woods after she reached the remains of the old camp. Hanji took care of Levi's wounds. It was dark by now. A fireplace kept them warm and gave Hanji at least enough light to sew his wounds.
Her knitting skills finally came to fruition. Skillfully sewing his big cut across his face first before she moved on to his smaller ones.
All the time Levi kept silent. Not even as she pushed a needle through his skin he twitched a muscle. If not for his existing pulse Hanji might would think he was dead.
Undressing him and bandaging his body was next before she put a blanket she had found over his body to cover him and keep him warm.
This was all she could do for now.
The silence from Levi's side gave her time to think to herself and talk loudly over it.
Asking no one in particularly what had happened and what might be happening in paradise now.
Sitting down next to him the brunette sighed and held her head.
"I'd rather the two of us just live here, right Levi...?"
Glancing at him from the corner of her brown eyes she gave him a longing and sad filled look. She needed him. His words to help her out. She felt so lost now. She was tired.
Hanji was busy making something to keep her mind off from going crazy as she heard rustling noises behind her.
Turning around her brown eyes widened looking at Levi's face as he pushed himself up as much as possible.
Their eyes met and Levi spoke in a hoarse voice to her.
"Beast.. piece of shit... Where is he!?"
"Levi!" Crying his name out she rushed up to him to push him back down. "You don't need to get up! Lie back down! You are badly injured. You need to rest. Zeke is dead. You killed him. I saw him in half with my own eyes! So please rest. You did fulfill your promise to Erwin so please for the time being rest."
Reluctantly the raven haired let himself get pushed down back to lie down.
His mind tried to process what she just had said. Zeke is dead? He killed him?
"He is dead...?"
"Yes, he is. A thunder spear I believe killed him. I don't know what happened but he was torn in half on the ground."
She gave him a weak smile. Hanji knew for how long this promise to Erwin burdened him. She was glad he could finally fulfill it and make Erwin proud. At least someone didn't betray Erwin...
His voice was quiet and weak but even so Levi continued to speak. His eye never leaving hers as he looked up at her.
"I see. A messenger from you came and told us about the attack at paradise and for us to return... suddenly Zeke asked if our soldiers drank the wine we had gotten from Marley... and as soon as he screamed they all turned into... titans..." he shallowed and grimaced bitterly. "I killed them all... our comrades before I took care of Zeke. But I wanted to ask you first what to do with this furry bastard. We should keep the beast titan and just feed him to someone. I loaded him up into a cart and plugged a thunder spear into his body as warning. It would go off the moment he would move a muscle and try to escape."
"Your an idiot. This is too reckless. Even if your an Ackerman, you sat way too close to him!"
Hanji lectured him but she couldn't help and give him a relived smile.
He was talking and alive. A huge weight was lifted already from her shoulders.
"I messed up... but.. he is really gone, right..?"
A weak smile formed on Hanji's lips as she grasped Levi's raised hand, he was looking at skeptically. He was still clearly trying to figure out if it truly ended. If he truly fulfilled his promise to Erwin after so many years.
"Yes, I saw it with my own eyes alongside others from our military-... or were... since they betrayed us..."
At this his head slightly turned to be able to look at her. She looked tired and distressed. He could feel her hands shaking despite grasping his hand strongly.
"... what's left.. if we run and hide... like this..."
Hanji blushed and turned visible red at his sudden change of conversation.
Wait wait wait. Don't tell her he actually was awake while she talked to herself.
"Oh.. so you could hear me talking to myself..?"
His face staring up at her answered her question. He heard her.
He nodded. Before he pointed at the cart Hanji was about to finish making before he woke suddenly up and interrupted her.
"...what are you building? Are you.. going to pull me with a horse using that?"
It wasn't even a real question. He could guess this is the is the only reason why she was making this. On top of it he had listened to her talking for quite a while as long as he was able stay awake before the pain numbed him back in and out of sleep.
"Well..."
"I know you." He suddenly interrupted her. "There is no way... you can be docile while being kept in the dark..."
And how right he was. Of course she wanted to run away from her responsibilities which she hated and which made her tired and suffer. But she had a responsibility as soldier, as a survivor from retake wall Maria, as last veteran alongside Levi.
"Ah.. that's right. I can't."
She could swear she saw some tears appearing in the corner of Levi's eyes after her reply also she could swear she felt some wetness appear in her own eyes.
This was not good.
If they both start crying now they won't be able to fulfill their duties.
"I should continue finish making the cart. You go back to sleep and rest. That's an order from your Commander hahaha."
Laughing over her own bossy tone Hanji quickly got up and went back to the cart. Now her back was facing Levi as he silently observed her. His hand flat on his stomach resting. He was already now beginning to miss warmth from her hand onto his.
Early in the morning the two got up. Hanji had maneuvered him somewhere into the small intact tent that they had still. It was cold outside and he needed to stay warm.
Her cheeks flamed upon the positions they were in however. The Tent was small so they was no other choice than to lie together to both fit inside.
At first Hanji just laid down on the little blanket on the ground next to him. They had no extra Blanket anymore for her to use as blanket. And Levi was more important than her.
Levi however grew very irritated at her actions and despite being injured was able to sneak his arm around her torso and pull her up against her chest. Like this the blanket was big enough for both of them.
Being spooned made her feel emotions she shouldn't feel in a situation like they were into. At the end of the world literally. No one of them both knew what would happen tomorrow.
Levi however didn't said anything and only held her in a tight embrace and telling her to go to sleep.
It seems like Levi never let her go due to the same positions they were still into.
Looking up at his face Hanji noticed he was still sound asleep. He must be pretty tired from his injuries. Usually Levi was barely able to sleep for longer than 3hours straight and now he seemed to have slept the whole night through.
He looked so peaceful. If not for his bandages covering almost his whole face Hanji would be feeling way more at ease to see him get a well deserved rest.
She didn't know why but she felt like reaching out to his face and put some strands of hair out of his face before she touched his forehead carefully.
No fever she felt for now. A sigh of relieved escaped her lips.
But her relief was short lifed as Levi had now his eyes open and was directly staring down at her.
"Ah- morning."
"Morning."
Blushing Hanji quickly retracted har hand from his forehead and wiggled out of his hold.
Even so it barely helped her since she felt Levi's eyes following her every moment and bore a hole into her back.
"You have no fever I noticed. That's good."
"On the other hand you seem to have developed quite the fever, four eyes."
That little. A shudder run down her spine, quickly turning around to face him with a deep red face now. She was going to explode from heat.
"T-This is just your imagination. I will get the cart ready and cook the leftovers from the rabbit I had caught yesterday and we ate."
Watching her stomp off Levi couldn't help but smirk a tiny bit underneath his bandages.
At least she seemed to be feeling better than before and seeing this new side of her was not so bad either.
A few hours later they finally would be reaching Paradise soon.
It took longer because Hanji had to ride slower than usual to not hurt Levi during the journey too much.
"We should see the walls as soon as we are over the hill Levi." She said enthusiastically. "We need to get to the others, arrest Floch and his group if possible and report the situation regarding Zeke. You think everyone missed us-"
But all of Hanji's positivity left her body as soon as she red burning sky was greeting her.
Flames could be seen in the distance, swarm of birds ravens? Were flying away from the hell they were coming from which was once called Paradise... how fitting... 'heaven' turned into 'hell'
"Did Marley already invade us...?"
What should she do now? They have to go there and fight. But how? With what?
She had only half a full set of gas tanks. And two swords, no thunder spears at the moment.
Her mind was racing as she watches in horror some more parts of the walls crumbling down and titans getting revealed underneath the stones. But they didn't stood long. Hanji believed they were called tanks according to Onyakopon and Yelena. They shot at them over and over again until their nape was hit and they crumpled down in a wave of steam.
"Commander Hanji!"
Hanji's face turned to her right as suddenly someone called her name. From the distance she could make up soldiers riding up to her and some civilians too. Among the soldiers she spotted some very familiar faces.
"Jean! Sasha! Connie!"
"Your safe!" Jean sounded relieved as he stopped his horse right in front of her, followed by the others.
"Captain!" Connie screamed, being first to notice Levi on the cart behind Hanji.
His injuries on his body were hidden because he was wrapped up like in a cocoon and tied securely onto the cart to not slide of. But even so his wrapped up in bandages head was enough to alarm everyone.
His face twitched before he tiredly opened his eyes, groaning in pain it seems.
"So noisy..."
"You're alive captain!"
"Thank goodness!"
Connie and Sasha screamed in unison and blinked away their tears.
"Shut up your idiot pair! We have no time fkr this! Let the captain rest! You can see he is injured."
Being the reliable one and best leader type in the group, Jean yelled at them before he turned his attention back to Hanji.
"Your orders Commander? We are most likely the only soldiers that are left... we could help these Citizen from wall Rose escape... a few others made it already out before. They all are on the way to the harbor where Kiyomi is waiting with a big ship along with Nicolo. Onyakopon is helping too. He said he is able to drive the ship."
Listening to Jean's report Hanji grit her teeth. Her head turning once again to her burning home. She could watch how the biggest tower in Sina which was higher than the walls fell and crumbled down...
The smaller buildings must be in the same ruined state at this point.
"How many enemies?"
"Too many to count. Many different races too. Some where black some where white skin colored, some where speaking in languages I have never heard before."
"What weapons?"
"Guns, explosions, some other machine is even able to shoot out fire. It was burning our comrades down alive right next to us. We couldn't do anything. Big care like machines that can shoot canons...and they have three titan shifters with them. I saw the Cart titan, the new Jaw titan and Reiner... the armored titan... Reiner made a hole into the walls just like 9years ago..." Jean explained bitterly.
"Where is Armin? Is he dead?"
"The last time we saw him he said he would get Annie with her Crystal... he developed some feelings for her it seemed." Jean said hesitant.
"We told him to stop and how he is an idiot but he didn't listen." Connie added and looked down with a saddened expression.
"Damn it..." cursing under her breath Hanji's grip on her reins tightened. It became almost painful, the leather straps cutting into her skin. "Damn it!"
A sigh could be heard from behind. Levi was still awake it seemed and listening for now.
"Commander Hanji.. your orders. Choose the decision you will regret the least."
Levi's words rang into her ears. Her eyes widened in surprise hearing those familiar words.
"A choice with no regrets you say?"
Hanjj chuckled bitterly. But any decision she would fell now would leave her with tons if regrets.
Her face moved to the burning Paradise ruins back before they rested onto Jean and co and those frightened Citizen from Wall rose, those crying children and the baby which got tightly pressed to her mothers chest.
Biting her lower lip in frustration Hanji spoke finally and giving her orders.
"We will evacuate. Paradise is lost. We failed our comrades. We failed to protect our home but we can at least protect those that are among us still." Her face turned serious as she turned to look at Jean. "Jean, you and the others protect the route to the harbor in case of enemies attacking us. Me and Sasha will guide the Citizen here to the harbor and onto the ship. After we reached all the ship we will depart, understand?"
"Yes, Ma'm!" Everyone saluted her, putting their fist onto their chest over their heart before they all shattered to fulfill their Commander's orders.
And this is how they ended up on the ship. Everyone made it into one piece and they could depart safety.
Suddenly Connie approached the three figures, carefully avoiding to step not onto anyone.
"Hanji-san. We have prepared a room for the Captain. He should sleep in a real bed considering his condition. And you should rest as well."
If it were only herself, Hanji would have refused. Rather giving the room to a parent with children instead of her old tired bones but this was for Levi's sake too.
"Thank you Connie. Can you two help me carry him? He is small but quite heavy." She chuckled.
Both chuckled alongside her and helped her lift Levi up. They had put him on a stretcher before which made it easier now to get Levi inside. The room small but had a big enough bed for two people to squeeze themselves onto if needed. Jean slung one arm around his shoulders while Hanji took the other side as they together dragged Levi to the place and carefully laid him down.
For some reason the whole movement this time didn't wake him up at all.
"Sleeping like a baby." Connie said as he observed the situation from a distance.
Jean gave him a panicked look.
"Are you stupid!? As soon as he is awake he will kick your butt for calling him a baby."
At their banter Hanji laughed amused. "He is all harmless. But it mustn't be a bad thing to finally relax and be like a sleeping baby.."
Not faced she approached Levi and sat down next to him on the edge of the bed. Her fingers pushed once again some hair out of his face.
The two young adults watched this moment
And smiled alongside Hanji.
Levi seemed to have trusted Hanji's decision if he could rest this much after she made her choice.
"We will leave you two alone now. We are outside if you need us. Sasha should be in the kitchen area with Nicolo by the way."
"I see. Thank you."
Nodding at them Hanji watched them leave until it was only her and Levi left.
Alone Hanji stretched herself. Looking down at sleeping Levi made her release how tired she was actually.
Sighing she decided she should just lie down as well and take a quick nap. It isn't like they didn't sleep next to each other already next to each other before.
Getting up she took off her harness and boots. Freeing her hair out of her ponytail, Hanji carefully climbed into the small bed next to Levi. Now that she was lying face to face to the side next to him, she couldn't help but recall what had happened in the forest. Hanji felt her cheeks growing hot.
"... just the two of us..." she murmured.
Why was she recalling her stupid words again... they didn't stay in the forest... but truth to be told the place didn't mattered for Hanji. All she wanted at that moment was to leave her old life behind.. to live somewhere else and do what she likes to do... taking Levi with her...