Arriving at Hizuru after a day long ship travel, all Eldian's were allowed to stay at Kiyomi mansion or her hotels she owned, while the injured got transported to a nearby hospital.
The Hizuru's were all very nice and no one hated the Eldian's.
Levi became the best treatment possible. Way better than what we could offer him on Paradise. Hanji was glad to see Levi in good hands at least.
"How are you feeling today Levi?"
Like every day Hanji visited Levi in the hospital.
Levi seemed to be awake more and more each day again. The nurses said he was an obedient patient too.
"A little less shit than the day before but I am bored. They still won't let me leave the bed."
Seeing his pouting expression Hanji chuckled. She pulled a chair out and sat down next to his bed. All he could do each day was look out of the window and look at the unfamiliar landscape. It was peaceful out there. Cars were driving on the streets, children were playing in the nearby park in at the hospital.
"I will talk with the nurses if I can take you out with one of these wheelchairs at least. They still don't understand that you are an Ackerman. Your body like I suspected works different than ours."
Turning his head to her side he was still not pleased with his situation.
"Maybe you should than take care of me instead of doctors which don't understand me."
Silence filled the room with Hanji only able to blink once or twice, trying to process his almost childish words of complain.
"Could it be you, are you lonely without me by your side?"
"Tch." His grumpy reaction followed by his crossed his arms over his chest and everything along avoiding his eyes almost immediately from her gave her a good idea about his current state of feelings.
„You are missing me!"
Amusement along with some other deeper feelings spread inside her as she leaned over the bed, with one knee on the mattress to reach him she grabbed his head. Forcing him to stop looking out of the window and at her.
"Stop it." He grumbled.
The frown displayed on his face quickly vanished as he felt Hanji lean over until their foreheads were touching.
"I am here Levi. I won't leave your side."
His breath stuck in his throat. Hanji has her eyes closed, while he felt his lips turn dry, closing his eyes as well, sinking into the feeling of her thumbs caressing his cheeks and how her foreheads were pressed lightly together.
"I will try to visit more often. So be a good boy and don't bother the nurses when I am gone."
"What will happen afterwards? What will this give us? Now that we are here like this... this.. chance..."
Those words sounded awfully familiar. Opening her eyes Hanji was looking straight with her brown eye at Levi's grey eye. His hands moved up, placing them gently on top of hers. Even with just one eye he was looking this intensively at her it made her cheeks grew hot.
"Huh? What are you-"
Leaning in a little closer was all it took until their lips met and were pressed together.
But it wasn't a short and quick kiss. It was tender and soft and longing, deepening their tongues exploring each others mouths until Hanji was completely out of breath.
It was ironic Levi who was sick was completely fine while Hanji was the one out of breath with a trail of saliva on her lips.
Levi had to admit he loved the way she was looking at him, with half lit eyes in a daze. Confused but not angry or annoyed. A blush adoring her whole face.
Reaching out with his thumb he cleaned up her saliva from her lips.
"I had more than enough time to think about your words in the forest. Just the two of us you said... what about you Hanji? How will you make up for giving me such ideas in my head, Commander?"
He was pushing her. Addressing her Commander despite having lost that title since a while now. He wanted her to think and honestly answer him.
Some people say the most impulsive answers could be the most honest ones.
"Are you scared? For what are you waiting? We did run away since you decided it. We are wanted criminals because of your choice."
Her face grew more red, gritting her teeth. Was he making fun of her? Was he lecturing her now?
Something in her snapped. She shouldn't do it. He was injured and they were in a hospital but Hanji was one of the most scariest people if you got her angry after all.
Climbing into the bed she straddled him. The brunette ex Commander pinned his arms down onto the bed, to hell if she hurt him because she was too rough to his tattered body. Their faces so close as she gave him a piece of her mind.
"I don't regret the choice I made. Because if I wouldn't have done this, we would be all dead! And I couldn't drag you down into this hell or all these Children and Civilians we had right next to us! I wanted you to survive if no one else! I risked everything as I jumped into the river because it was you!"
Levi remained silent. This freaked Hanji out even more because she couldn't read him for once at all. As much as she tried to read his expression she couldn't.
To top it off he was smirking up at her.
With amusement he was smirking from below at her to mock her.
It ticked her off. So much. Her blood was boiling, her heart was beating as she just smacked down her lips for the second down down onto him. In hope it would wipe that stupid grin off his face.
And he was replying to her hungry, fierce kiss, with the same eagerness as her. This continued until Hanji broke the kiss away out of breath. Her lips felt swollen by now but she didn't care.
"I could get used to this."
Those were Levi's first words after their make out session.
"You learned how to bath more frequently as you became a Commander too."
Hanji grunted. Her irritation turned into something else. She couldn't help but start laughing boisterous loudly, burying herself into Levis body, lying down on top of him.
What are they doing here?
"I am living in a hotel room from Kiyomi still."
"One room with a bed should be enough for us for the time being. It's probably bigger than the room we had in the barracks."
"You were never supposed to hear my words in the forest..."
"But I did."
Feeling his hand move around her waist, he was hugging her. It made her blush in a adorable way and Hanji only felt like to burying her head even more into his chest, if this was even possible. All so he wouldn't not see her face.
"You did... is okay for us to do this? We did run away... you think the others think it is okay for us to live in peace together?"
Moving his good hand up Levi began patting her head and move his fingers through her brown hair.
"You said you don't regret your choice. So don't regret it now and stay to true your words and your actions from earlier."
Feeling her head move he stopped patting her head and was now eye to eye with her again as she was shyly almost looking up at him.
"And figure something out and get me out of here. It's boring and they don't have any good tea here. It's just piss water. Even you make better tea than them and you are capable enough to take care of me."
A cocky grin playfully made it's way on Hanji's lips. Hearing Levi praise her tea making skills meant a lot coming out from the tea addict he was.
"Oh really? Say please and I might do it."
Rolling his good eye because his other was still hidden behind bandages Levi sighed.
"Please.. happy now?
"Hm. But you better not regret your choice living with me. Because I will not change and drive you crazy and you cannot complain about it."
Grunting Levi knew he would probably regret it but he would high likely not want to change it any other way because he was an abnormal just like her.
Levi's recovery went faster than the doctors at Hizuru had expected.
Hanji visited Levi every day. And Levi became more clingy every day and adorable.
"Levi... let me go. If a doctor comes inside how do you want to explain this?"
Hanji laid in Levi's hospital bed once again. She got changed into a huge cuddling pillow. Being spooned from behind while Levi bad his head buried deeply into the crock of her neck.
"I felt cold. Besides I am about to leave this place soon, right? You said, you made them agree to leave my treatment to you as of tomorrow."
Feeling his lips press against her neck Hanji sighed and turned into whine of complain as she felt his hands creep upwards until they groped her breasts.
"Leviii! What are you doing!"
"Finger therapy.. remember the doctors said I should train my hand because of my loss of two fingers".
"Since when are groping my breasts now a therapy for you! You are just a pervert!"
Hanji gasped for him pinching her breasts with using his thumb and ring finger.
"Be any louder and they will hear you."
"Unbelievable." the brunette blushed crimson red.
Having enough she finally shoved his hands away and moved away from him. Wiggling out of his grasp the brunette could hear frustrated groan which was so adorable but she had to stay strong. This adorable new self of Levi could not always win her over.
"Hanji-"
A sudden knock interrupted them and Hanji could not be more glad she moved away from him. Quickly rearranging his clothes before the door opened and a doctor came inside and smiling at both of them.
"Mr. Ackerman. I see you have again Miss Zoe visit you. As you requested and due to your fast recovery we will discharge you tomorrow already. Miss Zoe will continue to help you recover, right? You two must be really close."
Really close... their somehow change of sudden relationship still made Hanji blush like a young teenager. She was so pathetic.
"So what must we do tomorrow? Any discharging documents to sign? And what about the costs.. I mean-"
Hanji's voice trailed off because of course they were different, everyone knew in the hospital they were Eldian's and they didn't have any money to repay them for everything they did.
But doctor Saitama only shook his head and stopped her before she could talk any further.
"Miss Kiyomi covered already for everything no worries Miss Zoe. I came here to remove the bandages on Mr. Ackerman's eye. We will make one last check on it about how it healed just to be on the save side. His fingers healed up nicely and his whole body is gaining strength again. He is even able to walk again even if he cannot yet run a marathon again. But with his Ackerman genes or how you explained it Miss Zoe it should be possible again soon again. As doctor I am still absolutely fascinated by his strength and fast recovery."
"You aren't the first one being fascinated by my body doctor."
Sitting up onto the bed Levi grunted as he watched his partners wide eyes looking at him speechless.
"Levi!"
"Oh my. I understand." Giving out a chuckle the doctor moved up to Levi and sat down on a chair to be on Levi's eye level, ready to do his job. "Please hold still. I will remove the bandages now."
Removing them his long scar got fully revealed. Opening his eye like the doctor instructed he examined his milky and blurry eye. Hanji bit her lip. His eye was like her own. She could tell.
"Do you see anything Mr. Ackerman?"
"It's not complete black. Lights. But everything is flurry. I cannot make out anything. In short exactly like hers."
Turning his head to Hanji, she gave him a sympathetic smile.
"At least we know already how to take care of it, right?"
The words 'we' still made Levi feel warm inside. At least they weren't facing their problems alone but had each other to lean onto.
The next day it was Levi's discharge day and everyone came to celebrate it.
"I finished filling out your discharge papers and got your medicament's you have to continue taking... I bought some extra clothes for you in town. I hope you don't mind. Just some shirts and pants, socks and... underwear... b-because you need more than just the ones you did wear back then. And the hospitals clothes you cannot keep after all."
It's a good thing Hanji packed and checked his little backpack and so could avoid looking at him. She sounded like some kind of housewife just now. How embarrassing.
"Hm."
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Levi took the freshly washed white shirt she had giving him. Pulling his arms through the sleeve was no problem and he would be already done and ready to move on to put on his dark blue pair of pants if not for those stupid buttons to button up.
Clicking his tongue he worked on getting the button through the hole but with a loss of two fingers such a mundane task became still a struggle for him until he would get used to it. On top of it he had only the vision ability of one eye to deal with as well.
"Tch."
"Levi?" Turning around upon his frustrated sound making and rustling, her brown eyes softened.
Hanji had already made her way up to him and kneeled down in front of him. As her fingers brushed against his own he stopped and let her do it. "May I?"
"Whatever."
"You will be able to do it alone again in no time. Just rely for me for a while longer and don't feel embarrassed. I saw you in a worse state already, right?"
Buttoning his shirt up Hanji stopped leaving the last one open. Getting up again to finish packing she stopped and observed his face, the way he looked to the side in clear embarrassment despite her words from earlier. Before she left she leaned over and pressed a quick kiss on his forehead startling him and Hanji could swear she saw a hint of blush on his face. He was so adorable if you caught him off guard.
These whole emotions and letting them out was still very new for both of them but it wasn't a bad feeling.
Laughing Hanji stepped away and hummed to herself.
"Tell me if you need help with your pants."
"I can do it alone. No thank you."
He grumbled and quickly moved on to his task.
After Levi was finally dressed and his shoes were tied as well thanks to Hanji's help they were finally ready to leave. Hanji called a taxi for them because Levi was still not supposed to walk very long distances without crutches at least because of his weakened state. The first time Levi noticed his muscles decreasing and his abs becoming less visible due to the lack of any training he felt heartbroken. Even if he didn't admitted out loud Hanji could see it in his eye and the way he looked at himself in the mirror.
At least before his hospital leave He got his old haircut back. Hanji had pampered him yesterday, surprising him as she took out a pair of scissors and a razor, a blanket tugged under her arm and signaling him to sit down onto the chair in front of the mirror.
At first he hesitated since usually he cut his hair on his own but Hanji was able to pursue him enough and promise him at least one hundred times that she won't turn him bald. In the end he was satisfied. His little smile was saying enough.
"And here we are! This will be our little home for a while or better to say a room in this big hotel will be our home." She grinned as she opened the door for him like a gentleman just that this time the gender roles were switched.
"You are such an abnormal."
Walking inside, Hanji lead him to the elevator. Explaining how this works she rambled on until they were up and stood now in front of a closed room with the plate 63 written on it.
Putting her hand around his shoulder Levi got confused because of her sudden closeness. But Levi said nothing and let her. As soon as she unlocked the door Hanji grinned even wider.
"HEICHOU WELCOME BACK!"
The cheers of many people inside freaked Levi out. Now Levi was glad Hanji had an arm around his him to keep him steady.
But the sight in front of him made his good eye go wide but this wasn't because of the mess in front of him from the confetti they had tossed around and the colorful balloons all over the room hanging down or the ridiculous big and slightly askew hanging banner on the wall with the writing "Congratulations on your discharge Levi Ackerman".. no it was because of the smiling people inside. Jean was there and holding a bottle of wine, Connie was next to him and along Sasha were the two devils throwing the confetti and making the room a complete mess, next to Sasha stood Nicolo in cooking uniform and to his absolute surprise there stood Armin Arlert as well. Shyly he was smiling as well with a big wrapped present in his hand.
"How is Armin here?"
Hanji pushed him inside literally and forced Levi to sit down on one of the arm chairs the living and dinning area had. It was a quite fancy hotel room. With a bathroom, bedroom and a living and dinning area.
"Nicolo and Sasha met him in Marley after the war." Hanji explained.
"I was captured after I tried to get Annie out. They put me into prison into shackles until Annie saved me." Armin stepped forward and explained his journey.
"So the female titan is out of her crystal." Levi said.
He wasn't asking. If Annie got him out this meant she was free and walking around.
"Before we continue, Sasha why don't you help me and make some black tea. In the upper shelf in the cabinet there I have them stored along with a tea set. I will in the meanwhile put this bag away. Jean, Connie, Armin put the presents on the table next to Levi and take a seat."
"Yes, Hanji-san!"
They all said in unison and saluted her before they took actions as if they were still soldiers and Hanji still their Commander.
"This wasn't an order however." Sighing Hanji shook her head in disbelief and left the room to enter the bedroom.
Levi watched them all move around and felt finally again somewhat at home.
Jean helped around wherever he cold for Kiyomi. Connie and Sasha worked for Nicolo in his restaurant he opened. Historia was saved and is living with her baby in peace in a hidden location. Kiyomi had her ways luckily for them. The other Eldian's were all living in various places all across Hizuru. They became new identities if they wanted to and tried to build up a farm or any shop to earn their own living and begin their new life in a new world.
Lastly Armin explained how Annie heard everything he talked to her all those 4years long. And how she admitted she likes him and couldn't let him die. Armin became a Marleyn official and joined Annie's rank. They even married. Armin shocked everyone as he showed his ring on his ring finger.
Jean choked on his drink, Connie was coughing wildly. Sasha spat her piece of meat out of her mouth, making Nicolo groan and Levi twitched her eyebrow in disgust.
It wasn't long ago as thee war ended as Nicolo and Sasha found him in Marley walking around and he became something like a double agent? And now he is married to Annie Leonhardt!?
Armin wanted to visit the others and he is happy they escaped and alive. He is glad Captain Levi is alive as well. Armin explained he wants to try change Marley from the inside, to make them a better place.
That's why he decided he will stay in Marley and live his remaining live there happy with Annie.
They all will go there separate ways now however live changes and so they did.
Eren and Mikasa left years ago, Paradise is gone and now Armin left to be with Annie in Marley.
Levi was the first to break the silence and telling everyone to stop looking this constipated. He came out of the hospital after all.
This lightened up everyone's mood and they continued to party.
Nicolo got allowed to use the hotel kitchen and created an amazing 5star dinner with the best ingredients he could gather together. After tea they opened Jean's Hizuru Sake present. Connie didn't know what to get Levi so he visited a Asian tea shop and got Hizuru specialty green tea. They all recommend it for any tea addict person.
Sasha and Nicolo's present was the dinner. Armin gave Levi some books from Marley as present. Levi should be having lots of time to read because he still had to recover. The books were informative over the world and had information about different countries and where to travel. Armin was aware eventually the two ex veterans might want to survey the world and see a lot more besides only Hizuru.
In the end it was past midnight and everyone ended up so drunk they had to crash in living area on the ground in front of the fireplace lay Nicolo with Sasha and Connie together. Armin slept in the armchair and Jean was uncomfortably with Connie's legs draped over his chest on the ground lying.
Hanji and Levi were the only two not drunk.
"This feels like a deja vu..." Hanji whispered to Levi.
Levi sighed and nodded.
"Just like in Marley... they still cannot hold their alcohol damn brats."
"They are adults Levi. Armin is even married now."
Levi scoffed. "He barely stepped out of his diapers. He is 19 only. He probably was a virgin not long ago."
Hanji chuckled at his statement.
"Come let me clean up the plates and we will go to bed too. It's late. You are probably tired."
Levi wanted to help but Hanji shushed him to bed.
His protests were on deaf ears. How much had changed. Usually Levi was the one cleaning after her and now he had to watch Hanji be the responsible one. Levi had to admit he should not feel this bad about it but he did. He wanted to be the one... he wanted it to be like how it used to be.
Entering the bedroom he switched the lights on and for the first time he laid eyes on his and Hanji's bedroom. The double bed they would share now.. every day..
Once again Levi was left surprised about how clean everything was.
Levi remembered the times he entered Hanji's room in the barracks. Clothes, paperwork always something was lying around on the ground. Even her bra and underwear. But now nothing. It was absolutely clean. Even the bed was freshly made.
His eye spotted a small green box with a red ribbon on top of the bed. Next to it a small note.
Confused Levi set down onto the bed, taking the note he read it.
"For clean freak. Sorry it took a while until they made this exactly how I requested it. I hope you like it but I find it very comfortable."
Opening the box he found a black eye patch inside. Taking it out Levi noticed the fine leather that was used and finely made it was. It did look exactly like the one Hanji used but for his eye. This was way better than the cheap white eye patch the hospital gave him.
Reaching out Levi grabbed the white hospital eye patch and removed it. It didn't cover his scars at all but it made it easier to keep his eye closed.
Just than he heard the door opening and Hanji stood at the doorway looking at him and grinning as soon as she saw the opened present from her on his lap.
"What do you think? You like it?"
Closing the door behind herself Hanji made way to the wardrobe.
"I do. Thank you Hanji."
Looking up Levi stared at her and how she removed her clothes down to her underwear.
He couldn't avert his eyes. Despite how many times he had seen her like this.. even naked... it always and high likely forever until he took his last breath would fascinate him and arouse him.
"Levi I can feel you staring at me."
Turning around to him Hanji blushed a little out of embarrassment.
Absolutely adorable.
"You too do whenever you helped me getting dressed. Or you think I didn't notice your brown eye traveling all over my chest."
This only made her become redder upon being caught.
"Levi you're a pervert."
"Says the perverted woman."
"I-I am not!"
Her stammering was adorable as well. Putting his present aside Levi started to unbutton his shirt or wanted to until he stopped himself.
"Will you lend me a hand? Please?"
The way he added his please was purely on purpose to tease her, to push her buttons in a way that would make her do something out of impulse again.
"Sure."
Taking a deep breath Hanji tried to stay as calm as possible before made her way up to him and kneeled down once again in front of him. As fast as possible so her eyes would not linger too much on his body she unbuttoned the shirt for him.
"There you go."
His expression remained neutral like always. Probably his stoic resting face would never change like this despite if in his mind completely different feelings swirled around. Luckily for Hanji she was able to read even the smallest mimic changes from him.
Moving away from him she continued getting ready for bed, while Levi did the same. They stayed quiet the whole time.
"I will turn off the lights okay?"
Levi nodded quietly besides her before she turned of the bedside light on her side and the room turned dark.
"Good night Levi."
"Night."
Lying down besides Hanji closed her eyes trying to welcome sleep. Tried was the important word here. As much as she tried as long as she held her eyes closed and tried to think about some nice things she just couldn't fall asleep.
But why?
WHY?
She had no problems falling asleep until today.
The only difference to before was her sharing a bed with Levi now.
"For how long are you pretending to be asleep, shitty glasses."
Hanji froze. Snapping her eyes open, a shudder run down her back.
Sighing she turned over to her left side, brown eye met a piercing grey eye.
"You are still awake..."
"It's pretty hard to fall asleep if someone is tossing around this much next to you."
"Sorry..." she mumbled looking down.
Now she felt bad. Levi was a light sleeper. Of course he couldn't fall asleep like this. And he should rest more than ever now for his health.
"Don't understand me wrong. I didn't talk to you to scold you." Levi said in a calm tone. "Why are you doing this?"
Confusion was written all over her face.
"Doing what?"
Clicking his tongue, the raven tried to think about his next words.
"I thought you are smart. For what are you scared?"
"Scared? I am not scared?"
Now Hanji was completely confused.
What reason does she have to be confused about?
"Were your words in the forest real? Those were your honest feelings, right?"
"Wh-what are you suddenly saying? I-I told you already- aren't we together- we kiss and in the same bed and-"
Her words were cut off as Levi reached out and pulled her with a sudden strength to his body until her face was buried into his chest. His marvelous warm chest that she was staring on way too much.
"You still behave like in the forest. Move on and stop being a chicken already and accept what you feel. We aren't in the forest. We aren't bond by our duties anymore unless you still cannot let go of them. I told this already to you in the hospital."
Her heartbeat was beating so fast, listening to every word he said. His head was resting on top of her head. He was warm, his arms were nice around her torso and rubbing soft circles on her.
She liked this. She truly liked this feeling. No, she loved him.
"Stop pushing me away already and stop creating this transparent wall around you."
Biting her lip, Hanji closed her eyes and breathed in, his scent was there... his heartbeat she could hear prominently beating inside his chest. They were both alive.
Yet here she was questioning herself if she was allowed to deserve this happiness. Every time she took care of him and despite the many times they kissed.. she ended up keeping some distance. Always thinking back about the forest. Now she was thinking how they laid down just like this next to each other inside the tent. From the moment she was next to him in the bed.
"I'm such an idiot."
"This I already figured out without you. What else?"
"Hey! Rude!" She smacked his chest lightly before she buried herself back inside it.
Her ears were growing hot and luckily she was unable to look at him in this position and could muffle her words inside his chest. Maybe it would be muffled enough so Levi would not understand it.
"Tell me Hanji. Those words you never said to me. Now."
"I love you..." she muffled these three important words into his chest. "I love you Levi Ackerman..."
"Hm." Satisfied Levi combed with one hand through her brown locks. A smile on his face she couldn't not see. "Again."
"Wh-what!?"
Her face became deep red. Hanji wanted to push herself away to look at him but the raven haired didn't allow her and kept her right there hugged closely to his chest.
"Say it again."
"I-I love you..."
"Again."
Now he was just here to tease and kill her from embarrassment.
"You're horrible Levi! I change my mind! I hate you! You are a teasing bastard!"
"You don't" Levi smirked. "Go to sleep now."
Pouting Hanji groaned. She was sure she would fall asleep easily now in this loving position. But this would mean she would admit defeat against him!
"What about you? You have to reply!"
The only reply was a soft kiss on top of her head. "I will give you my reply in the morning. I promise you this. Right after we rested enough... because you will need it.. probably."