"Nero escaped, but his base was destroyed and he has no more agents."

Commander Erwin took the news, "Hanji is out of the medical bed. She wants all the details."

Before leaving to tell Hanji the story, Levi added a friendly hint, "We had a lot of luck."

Erwin was delighted at heart. He sat back in his office, carrying a sad thought. Although his arm was a stump, he could feel it move. Phantom pains lead to a realization, "Humanity doesn't need me anymore."

"Levi! I heard the mission went well. Tell me the rest. No one tells things quite as you can."

Levi evaded the hug with skill. The scientist almost fell with her wooden crutches, but he caught the back of her shirt. "Oi, be careful. We can't replace you."

Hanji blushed, "Aw, I'm not that important."

"There just aren't any other scientists on the suicide squad club, sis."

Hanji was almost flushed. Levi did care, disregarding his icy stares. "Okay!" She sat on the floor. "Now tell me, no no! Wait. Uh, the new abnormal titan can convert nitroglycerin into explosions. Ah! Wait- Half n' half- or All For One?"

"Stop rambling, damn. What the heck is All For One? "

"Never mind, never mind. Just a dream I had." Hanji squinted her eyes, fixing her glasses. "You drank last night. Ha, Captain has a hangover."

She sang and rocked side to side. Levi grumbled, "My head hurts, just get on with it."

Hanji snapped out of the teasing. "I didn't tell you, but do you know of The Ranger?"

Levi peered from the cracks of his fingers, "Eh? Yes, what about it?"

The scientist held up a finger. "Back when Nero was trying to murder Goggles, he appeared. He was wearing a heavy cloak, waaay out of season for this hot weather, but anyway. He saved us at the end. Then Nero saw The Ranger and stopped."

"The hell you sayin' four eyes?"

"I think The Ranger is a spy for Nero."

"We got this letter."

He handed her the note. "You took something. What was it? I like to think the other side is the only one at fault."

"Nothing," Hanji stopped. She could have had a flashback, but Levi wouldn't know. He was just watching Hanji sit there reacting to whatever happened that day. He would have stopped her, but that would mean she would be loud, ramble, and he would not see her amusing expressions.

"I found this."

Hanji pulled out a stone king chess piece from her coat pocket, "It was on the ground. Now to think about it, when the ranger lifted his hand before Nero and others left, the hand signal wasn't it. Maybe Ranger has the other piece to the chess set."

Levi wasn't just in pain now, he was furious. He wasn't one who got fooled easily. "Ranger saved your life. They even saved us some trouble last mission. And haven't I told you to not pick up random trash?"

Hanji carelessly shrugged, "Don't know, man. This is all speculation. A word of caution holds no harm. Best to be wary than sorry, huh Captain?"

Levi stood from his chair. Hanji saw her predicament, she couldn't get off the ground. He crossed her path. "Hey, Cap., Ranger could be named Bucky. Their title might be The Winter Soldier, another dream."

"Yada Yada," The captain responded, "Stop spewing nonsense. Get off the dirty floor before I start cleaning upstairs."

Hanji was all alone. She discovered her mistake. Her crutches were out of reach. Time was her enemy, the candlestick on the table had only an hour left before going out. Her mission was to get up. She could do it. Hanji was a scientist of the air, not the floor!

"Sir," Mikasa called Levi, "I finished drills."

Levi looked up from a stack of papers at his office, "Go back to the field. Keep doing the drills over till the last one has finished."

Mikasa was in no position to argue. Mr. Akerman was occupied, it was only fair that she was too. She had respect for the Captain, even if she hated the way he treated Eren. Levi was reading two different things, financial management and reports on The Ranger. He could not deny the fact, he knew little of the Ranger's nature. The ranger was a female, could talk, slew titans as a gardener weeds, while Erwin owes her a life debt. "Great, none of those factors prove her innocent." He refused the fact of the noble person being on the wrong side. She had plenty of opportunities to kill him, or others, even Erwin. "This makes no sense."

Levi tied a cloth over his hair, around his mouth, and tied on an apron. He was equipped for Spring cleaning!

The scouts almost stepped inside, but Hanji busted out of the stone shed. "FREEDOM!" She hobbled out with a limp. "Cost me a crutch, but I have escaped."

The scouts stared at the maniac. She noticed and composed herself. "Its noon already?"

Armin nodded. Hanji looked to the sky at the sun and remembered why people shouldn't look at the sun. Gave her a titan experiment to do. "It is the first day of official Spring."

The rest of the scouts realized this revelation and got the hose without hesitation. They hosed off their boots before walking into the hazard zone of bleach and lemon smelling products. They scrambled inside to start cleaning their rooms. Hanji sat on a couch. Levi was scrubbing the floor furiously. Miss Zoe looked at the bottom of her shoe, checking for dirt. Finding nothing, she brainstormed. "Erwin chewed you out." Levi left no reply. She took this as an opening to continue, "Eren is a brat. Eren talked back. Eren died, hahaha, no I saw him at the door. Mikasa talked back? Is it because I drank the last of your Lemongrass tea? Swear I didn't mean to, I didn't know!"

How does the ranger do it; stay silent without any retaliation? Levi stopped scrubbing the dull floor, he looked up with a contorted facial expression, "You did what?"

Hanji stumbled to her crutch. "I hear science calling. My bacterial cultures are chilling in the basement. I haven't logged their progress today. Bye."

She left without further excuse. Levi continued to scrub the floor at the same setting: Deep clean. He was in no mood to tolerate any sort of filth. Anyone who hadn't cleaned their room would have hell to pay.

Italian bees had been a full buzz. You had finished planting the vegetable garden and had started on the flower beds. The far away fruit trees were still bare of leaf, but they looked healthy. The sun shined on the grass, river, and windowpane on your half underground cottage. The sky swelled overhead with grey clouds. The wind blew heavily through your hair. Once you cleaned off your hands, you carried grain to the sheep. The sheep ran to the grain bearer. Rolling thunder rumbled overhead. You poured grain in the troth. The free-range chickens ran to the sound of food. You smiled and petted a grey and brown one with red eyes. A shadow loomed over from behind. The wind blew cold. You stood up and turned around, "Bruce."

"It is the first official day of spring."

You peel off the work boots beside the porch. Bruce respected this and did the same for his shoes. "Now, sister, where is mom?"

You poured the tea downcast. "She died mid-winter," You replied sadly. Her resting face was engraved in memory. Bruce sat on the couch. "Are you still going to help humans? Would mom have wanted that?"

You knew better than to listen to Bruce. He had manipulated you before. You set the tea tray on the small table. The hand-carved set rattled. "Our team could use your help. Stop fighting the family, sister, fight for us. Don't tell me you have feelings for Commander Erwin."

You hadn't feelings for the Commander the way your brother made it out to be. Erwin was a reliable comrade. You shook your head. Bruce held the tea in hand without sipping it, "The scouts really are strong. Although, helping them was an unfair advantage. I wonder how well they can fight without you."

"Most of the time, I don't help."

Bruce almost drank the mint tea. He raised an eyebrow, "No poison? You know how much that would help them."

There was a time when you would be hurt, but he was just toying. "I am like you, but I cannot stoop so low." His golden eyes that were so much like your father's sparkled maliciously. "I won't bother the farm if you are concerned about it. I have grown attached to the place just like you. Now that mother, father, and little Rei are resting here, it is sacred ground. Just know we aren't friends on the battlefield."

You took out the king glass chess piece. "Where's yours?"

Bruce scowled, setting down the teacup. "It was taken. I will reclaim it. Hanji, that bitch took it."

You sipped the tea, "Hm." His attitude shift was a refresher of the different worlds you lived in.

Bruce crossed his arms. "Need help with the garden?"

"Already done."

"I can still mend fences, feed sheep, and such. Just until my forces move to the other base."

Bruce didn't sound desperate, if anything he was sad. Even though the siblings were on different sides, they loved their mother. "Just tonight." You decided.

Bruce stretched, "Got any new books?"

You stood and opened the trap door to the basement. You retrieved the newest book and handed it to him. "Maybe I should visit in Autumn."

You cast him an angry gaze. He gulped down the rest of the tea. "What? I just think that every first day of spring should be extended. We are family."

You slammed the bedroom door shut, leaving Bruce in the living room. Your knees buckled. Faking care was strenuous. Bruce is a monster.

"There was no stone unpolished, no table unturned. The fearsome beast known as Levi towered above the fifty-centimeter table, fumes of alcohol products radiated a devastating blow. Germkind had a grim reminder that day. Their fellow filth was eaten by bleach before their eyes. The only safe ones had retreated into the basement Trost. The science work-desk known as Maria was evacuated on grounds of being 'unsanitary',"

Hanji narrated, analyzing the Petri dishes under a microscope. Eren was dead tired. The thing keeping him awake was Hanji examining the samples taken off his titan and the human form. "Eren, we could use your titan hair as an emergency rope. Isn't that resourceful?"

Eren rubbed his eyes, "I guess."

The basement wasn't an exciting place. He knew every stone. If the place was blown to bits, Eren bet he could put it together. The scientist carefully placed the Petri dishes on the shelf, "Done for today, but I have an experiment preposition for tomorrow. Since titans seem to charge in sunlight, maybe you won't go blind. Oh, and I was wondering if titans sweat. If so, what is it? Water like a plant, or saltwater like a human… Sugar water?"

Hanji walked up out of the basement leaving Eren. The hazel-eyed shifter was about to blow out the candle, but someone knocked on the door. He opened it expecting Hanji. It was Mikasa.

"Armin interviewed the scouts involved with the first Nero attack. Apparently, The Scout held up a chess piece and Nero left the scene."

Eren's eyes widened. You know, wider than the dinner plates they already are. "So the scout knows Nero personally somehow."

"Armin told me to not jump to conclusions. Captain also knows the Scout too."

"He has Levi fooled," Eren awed. He clenched his teeth, "We should tell Commander Erwin."

"We have more things to be concerned about right now. We should tell the Commander once we find your basement."

Historia became the queen. They found the basement. Levi defeated the beast titan (like the duke of destruction he is). Commander Smith died in honor and wall Maria was retaken for Humanity. While Hanji properly undertook her new position, Levi was struck with grief. He had taken everything calmly. Or, so he tried to appear. Everything was happening too fast. Many had died. At the noisiest time, everyone wished for calm. Especially the Captain. Petra was dead, Kenny was dead, and Erwin. His friends, former father figure, and mature role model were all dead. Hanji was the only immediate person he could be content in the company with. Furthermore, Eren was becoming more skittish. It did no help that Mikasa encouraged his behaviors.

It was the months of autumn. Hanji and Levi rode outside of the wall. "Levi, you should take a break. Eat, sleep, drink, relax. The human body is frighteningly fragile when not taken care of. Superman Akerman' bodies [Akermen?] are no exception."

"I've eaten less in a week back in my underground days. I am eating, sleeping, and drinking."

"Yeah, barely. You can't eat until everything is spotless, you sleep two hours max, and your tea cabinet is stocked! I worry, Captain. The troops worry. I mean, you always make tea. The best tea!"

The two paused after noticing a lack of forest sound. A large crash rang throughout the forest. Birds flew overhead. The two changed course. The horses streaked past towering trees. The earth shook. Worst of all, the trees caught fire. A twenty-meter titan roared behind them. An abnormal with large hands appeared before them, toppling the trees. Behind that was a mass of titans. The two abandoned their horses and took to the air. "Commander Zoe, get away, I can fight them myself."

Hanji was sad enough talking about how poorly her friend had been treating himself, "I know what I need to do."

Levi kept eye contact, "They need you." Her eye brimmed with tears, fogging her goggles. "Levi!"

The captain yelled to keep the unintelligent titans from facing his last good friend.

Commander Zoe retreated to call for help.

Nero had caught Levi. Steam rose everywhere. Slain titan carcasses lay along with carnage of fallen trees. The Captain had such despair that he lost the will to fight. He felt numb, weak, even worthless. The fire-spitting titan laughed, blowing hot air (literally). Levi lost consciousness.

The captain opened his eyes in pain. The place was dark. He breathed heavily, drenched in sweat. He considered the possibility that he was in the infirmary or his bed, waking up to a nightmare. He tried to sit up to no avail. He clenched his teeth, wishing the pain would stop.

You pried Nero from the neck while he was distracted. You threw him from a height of sixteen meters. Before snatching Levi from the empty shell of a titan, you watched him go unconscious.

The chickens greeted their caretaker. You had bundled Levi in your cloak after tying a tourniquet to his arms. The captain wasn't light but also didn't meet a suspected weight. You slipped off the pairs of boots at the door and shed most dirty layers. Quick to not totally cut circulation, you untied the tourniquets and slipped two home-made painkillers. You set him in a tub filled with warm water and cleaned around the wounds with disinfectant. The needle and thread hugged the cuts together. The water was an orange murky color in the end. Carefully, you slipped your father's old shirt over him before taking the pants. Levi was then laid to bed. Your bed. His face was peacefully asleep.

Levi woke up again. The room was flooded with golden light. It wasn't a room he had seen before. The bed he was in was also very different, larger. The pillows were fluffy and soft. Levi put aside his now more tolerable pain and tried to get out of the bed. He looked at the clothing he wore. It was a striped nightgown with buttons. His ankle hurt as if he twisted it too far. There were two doors. One was open to a bathroom while the other was closed. Levi opened the mystery to find a cozy living-room attached to a kitchen, also bathed in a blanket of golden light. Two couches faced each other parted by a low table. The kitchen had hanging dried herbs and drying dishes. If the captain hadn't felt any pain, he would have mistaken the simple world for heaven. A sweet smell hung over the air like freshly brewed tea.

The furthest door opened. "You're awake."

A soft melodious voice sounded. Levi knew the person as Ranger, "I am awake. Where am I?"

You blush slightly, "My fami- My farm."

Levi looked around again. He stared out the window. It was autumn and the flowerbed had withered. Few plants remained green. The view was peaceful. The captain wandered over the hidden paradise. "This is your place." He almost laughed, "All this time they were searching for an abandoned village next to the walls or near the edge of the great forest."

You couldn't make heads or tails of the situation. He was a difficult character to read. "Tea," You offered.

Levi stood in place, back facing you. "I guess that is all I can do now. Drink tea and wait to heal. What a burden I've become."

His words were drenched in anger. He was scolding himself. You found anger too, but not because he had been injured. "Burden? No," You turned to set the stove, "Just temporary emotional baggage. It is fine to have, at least you can feel. But don't think less of yourself or others by trying to take a bit of the weight."

Clear footsteps hit the floorboards. Levi leaned on the couch resting his chin on the back of the couch. Your heart clenched with fear. There was no telling if your words meant anything to him. The black haired man faced you with a blank expression. You turned swiftly to evade the opinion of another human. Trying to focus on the combination of dry herbs to put in the special blend almost helped avoid thinking about the elephant in the room. Rather, possibly worse, an angry midget. Hell hath no fury as a short man in pain. A short man in general.

The kettle whistled and you had prepared the cups. The steeper was a fine silver contraption in the shape of a pineapple. Once the hot water hit the honey and tea, the steam drifted through the house in a sweet and fresh smell.

You turned hoping he had turned around. He hadn't. Levi stared, almost in a pout or silent protest. In any case, it was cute. Your eyes drifted to the ceiling, trying best to be formal to the guest. The tray set soundlessly on the table. Levi slowly sunk into the sofa, tailor style. The air, despite being heavenly sweet, drifted awkwardly. You were accustomed to quiet and large amounts of solitude. Levi reached for a cup and took in an exaggerated breath. Impolite in most senses, but in this case, it broke the awkward stream. He breathed out, attempting a smile, "Lemongrass tea, mint, and honey. Something tastes a bit like aspirin?"

"Willow Bark." You desperately add. Then you try to elaborate further, "It is helpful in small dosage. It can help with blood clotting and pain. Your wounds are not... Shallow. I don't have access to much medicine, sorry."

Levi blew the steam off before taking a sip. His smile relaxed, becoming more genuine. "How considerate. But you have been vaccinated, right?"

"Yes," You replied in a heartbeat. Which, considering how fast your heartbeat was, was the speed of a bullet.

Levi hummed, "That's good." He took another sip. "Hey, Ranger, since you have decided to talk all of a sudden I have questions."

Without anything better to do, you nodded bashfully. What could go wrong?