Here I am with the next chapter. It feels like updates have been sporadic but I lost track of time and to top it off I'm getting over a cold.


"Where are we going?" Ina asks as she rides on Eren's back.

"It's a secret." Krista winks at ina. "You'll see."

Ina just smiles and leans her head on Eren's shoulder. She's never gotten a surprise before. Well…. Not a good one. She imagines this should be a nice surprise.

"We're going outside?" Ina asks as they approach the courtyard.

Eren and Krista just laugh and keep going. Ina looks up at the sky. The sun is low and she can already see the brilliant colors.

Ina gasps. "Are we watching the sun go to sleep!?"

"Something like that." Eren pats her arm. "Just enjoy the ride, okay?"

"Okay."


Levi doesn't even knock when he gets to Hange's room. He lets himself in and sits in one of her chairs.

"How's it going, hotshot?" Hange doesn't look up from her journal. She finishes writing her last thought before closing it and looking over at him. He's hunched over in the chair with his head resting in his hands.

"I told her." His voice is muffled.

"And how'd that go?" Hange isn't sure what it is but she'll catch on, she always does.

"Better… Better than I thought. I think it helped her."

"Well that's good."

He finally sits up and Hange gets a look at his face.

"Levi, what's the matter?" She gets up and walks over to him and takes a seat on the arm of his chair. "I thought you said it went well."

"It did."

"Then why are you crying?"

"I don't know."

What started off as silent tears turns into silent sobbing. Hange puts her arms around him and the two sit while Levi gets all the anguish out of his system.

"I can't believe I told her…" He mumbles.

"You don't do anything without reason, Levi."

He tries to wipe his face but just starts to cry again. Hange feels the way he trembles. The sound of his erratic breathing. There's only one thing that could make him act this way.

Ohhh… He told her that. Hange realizes.

"Well, Levi. I know you didn't ask me, but I think what you did was very brave."

He nods to acknowledge her.

"Did I do the right thing? Should I have brought up that part of my past?" Hange really isn't used to Levi sounding this confused.

"Absolutely. Levi, this is your daughter. You two have formed an unbreakable bond. These kind of things come out when you absolutely trust someone. You already know how she's suffered in her past. This time it was your turn to trust her with your pain. Bearing your soul to someone you love is never the wrong choice. Even though she's young, I know that Ina will guard your vulnerabilities. She's a part of you, and vice versa."

"I think it helped her." He breathes in and out slowly. "I think it helped both of us."

"How did the sketch thing go?" Hange never got a chance to ask him. Judging by how long Ina remained in seclusion, Hange would say it didn't go well. She told the others Ina had a fever just so they would stop asking about her. Even Hange wasn't sure how the little girl was really doing. Levi had his hands full and Erwin refused to speak of it.

"Hange… Some of these MPs are even more sick than I thought possible." Levi sounds disgusted. "When we were going through the sketches with her… The first guy she recognized… She said he... this motherfucker used to muzzle her."

"What?!" Hange was not expecting that of all things. "A fucking muzzle?"

"Not only that, she said part of this… Thing included something stuck in her mouth that would cut the shit out of her if she wasn't completely still and silent. Now if she's surprised or frightened, sometimes she bites down on her tongue so hard that it gushes blood like a goddamn fountain."

"What the fuck was his name? Levi, I need his fucking name." Hange glares at nothing in particular.

"I'm handling him personally." Levi promises.

They muzzled his baby girl. His precious daughter. Levi feels sick to his stomach.

"A fucking. Muzzle." Hange has never been more outraged. "A muzzle?!"

"Hange… Who knows when this happened. I mean if she's 8 now then…"

"She's still just a baby…" Hange shakes her head.

"To do something like that to… to a fucking baby. She hasn't even had the goddamn opportunity to screw up or do wrong. She was born to be hurt." He feels emotion overwhelming him all over again. The thought that such terrible things have been done to Ina has always been hard to hear. Learning about this creature who used to muzzle her just makes Levi feel like someone is punching him right in the stomach.

"Fucking scum of the earth." Hange mutters.

"You know what I don't understand?" Levi is practically whispering. "I don't know why I feel so shitty. Physically, I mean. I haven't been able to eat a goddamn thing since she told me about what those bastards did to her. I can't sleep, I can't breathe, my fucking hands won't stop shaking, and I feel sick to my stomach." He stares at his hands, as though they'll have the answers he needs.

"It's almost unfair to her. Why should I feel so bad? I never went through half of what she suffered. I mean yeah I was hungry and I got my ass kicked a ton of times, but… No one ever put me in a muzzle. I was never forced to throw up a meal or made to be a slave. My childhood is a fucking stroll through a meadow compared to what she endured. This isn't right. I shouldn't feel this way."

Levi is equal parts frustrated and guilty.

"Ever heard of this thing called sympathy pains?" Hange places her hands on his shoulders and can feel just how tense and wound up Levi is. She starts to move her thumbs in small circles in the muscle right between his shoulder blades. Levi wouldn't let anyone else even consider touching him. Hange is the exception.

"Sounds like bullshit." Levi responds, his body slowly relaxing underneath Hange's skilled hands.

"Well… It's not. It's about as real as it can get. Only thing is, it's different for everybody. You're tense as a rock, Levi, did you know that?"

"Tell me something I don't know. What is it? This sympathy pain?"

"Basically when someone we love is in pain, we sometimes start to feel that pain ourselves. Or maybe we just feel crappy in general even though we're healthy and unharmed. Anyone can experience sympathy pains. It's not uncommon for husbands to feel some pain when their wives give birth. Or for parents to feel straight up horrible when they know their child is suffering."

"So this… this shittyness. It's normal?"

"Afraid so. Ina in particular has been through the absolute worst. She's harboring a lot of pain in that little body of hers. You happen to care about her a whole lot. It's not really that surprising to me that you feel this way. I think you've always been this way, Levi. Remember you told me about Isabel and how she used to get beat up a lot? How you always lost your appetite or couldn't sleep for a few nights after she'd come home looking like hell?"

"So basically, I'm a big softy." He wants to laugh at the irony. Humanity's strongest is actually a bit of a wimp.

"Not at all. It just means that you care deeply when it comes to the people who are closest to you. You feel for them when they are suffering. If anything, Levi, I think this just means your very compassionate. Don't think of that as a weakness. After all, it's hard to be a leader or a parent without at least some compassion."

"Yeah well compassion isn't going to make her better." Levi grumbles. "It won't take her pain away."

"No. That's something that needs to be mended with time, patience, and lots of love. All of which you're giving to Ina." After several minutes kneading the same area, Hange finally feels some of those huge knots in Levi's back break down.

"I love her." Levi tries to take a deep breath, but finds it difficult. Dammit… He's crying again.

"I know you do."

"She's so broken."

"We're all a little broken. But we help the ones we love feel whole again, little by little."

"I don't know what I'm doing. I can't help her." Levi cries. "She's hurting and I can't help her."

"Now wait a minute, do you think she's calling you Papa to be cute?" Hange asks. "You think she attaches herself to you because you like it? You're right, that little baby is broken, so broken that if she felt like she was still in danger, she'd have figured out a way out of here." Hange grabs his chin and makes him look at her.

"I don't mean to sound arrogant, but we've done a damn good job with her. Thanks to us, she can laugh again, she can trust, and thanks to you, you little stack of pancakes, she has a father. She'll come to you for anything! Levi, do you know how important that is? A girl who has been abused by soldiers her entire life, wants to adopt humanity's strongest soldier as her Papa? And you think you haven't helped her at all? You think she hasn't also helped you?"

Levi tries to drop his head but isn't allowed to do so by Hange. "Being a parent is hard, Levi. No one ever knows what they're doing. All we can hope is that we do right by the child. I know for a true fact that you have done so much to help her, and I know that you'll do anything to keep her happy. Keep her safe."

Levi breaks free from her hold. "I will. I want to I just… I get so worried. She's been through so much, I don't know how to help her through this."

"Well, you opened up to her a bit today." Hange dries the last of his tears.

"I know how hard it must have been to share something like that, but I'm sure that it helped to strengthen your connection. Ina knows that you understand her struggles and that's a step in the right direction."

Levi nods.

"Besides, Captain obvious, you're not alone in this. Armin and the others would die for her, and I love the shit out that little cupcake. Just saying." Hange nudges him.

"Don't call me pancakes."

"No, that's just for serious situations." She nudges him again. Levi just glares at her before rolling his eyes.

"So what else is new with you?"

"The brats took her outside today, she's going to see the stars for the first time." Levi can't help the smallest of grins to cross his face.

"That's nice of them, looks like you're getting the night off. Any wild plans for your night of freedom?"

"Might sleep a little longer for a change."

"Mixing it up I see." Hange smiles.

"Do you think she'll be okay with them? She's been a little… Self conscious since she had the accident. I told her it was fine, but she's still embarrassed about it."

"That can't really be helped, she's probably going to be embarrassed about that no matter what you say. This is coming from someone who may or may not have wet the bed until she was 16." Hange shrugs. "She'll get past this just like everything else, Levi don't you worry."


"Are you okay, big brother?"

"Yeah. I've missed you, is all. It's good to see you again."

"I missed you too." She leans back on his chest and lets him put his arms around her.

"How do you like the stars?"

"There's… So many. I never thought there was anything up there at night. It's amazing."

None of these scouts every imagined that one little girl's smile could all but make their day. The impact Ina has had on nearly everyone on base is just astounding.

"Yeah, there's more than we can even count." Armin smiles down at her.

"They're so beautiful." She still sounds awestruck. "Papa was right."

"About what?"

"He said that the stars were beautiful like the sun going to sleep, but also different. I get it now."

"Here you go, Peanut." Sasha hands Ina a small mug of hot chocolate. "Enjoy! It's my mom's secret recipe."

It's warm like tea, but much sweeter and far more rich in taste. So this is chocolate? It's wonderful. Wonderful.

"Sissy this is so good!" Ina exclaims to Sasha. "Thank you!"

"Aw, I'm glad you like it, Peanut." Sasha smiles and gets to passing around the thermos so the others can try it.

"Big brother, try this!" Ina holds her mug up right in front of Armin's face. "Try it! Try it!"

Armin can't help but laugh. An excited and happy Ina makes for an even happier Armin.

"Sure." He chuckles and takes the mug from her. He takes a small sip and hands the cup back to her.

"What did you think?!" She inquires with an adorable grin.

Armin isn't really used to the taste of chocolate. It was okay, he supposes, but far too rich for him.

"It was good." He smiles right back at her. "Drink up."

"How'd you manage to make this?" Connie asks as he hands the thermos to Eren.

"Oh you know, I just had to wait for the next food and supply shipment. They have a whole bunch of rare goods set aside… I'm not sure what for."

"Well of course it's for when we end the war on titans." Jean says with a sarcastic tone. "Obviously."

Majority of them laugh at his remark. But not Ina.

"Brother? What's a Titan?" She asks Jean.

Ina has heard them mention that word over and over in passing but has no real idea what they mean when they use it.

"Something you should never ever have to see in your lifetime." Eren answers the question before Jean can respond.

"It's something bad?" Ina notices that the liveliness has all but gone up to the stars. It has to be something bad.

"Munchkin, finish your chocolate." Krista says gently.

"What's wrong? Why are you all so sad now?" Ina doesn't like seeing them upset. She likes it when they're happy. It makes her happy too.

"We're not, lithe Peanut." Even Sasha sounds more down than usual.

"Is a Titan a bad person? Like a monster?"

"No kiddo, they're a little different from people."

"Ina, a Titan is a large creature that kills people and destroys land." Mikasa just decides to tell her. "They are very dangerous and our job as soldiers involves killing them and finding out where they came from."

Some of them hold their breath while they wait and see how Ina will respond.

"What do they look like?" She sounds more curious than anything.

"They're all different. Some are bigger than others. And no Titan looks like another."

"So… So it's not a monster." Ina is quiet as she drinks the last of her chocolate.

Her statement strikes a deep chord with Eren. He's been keeping his Titan ability from her for several reasons. He doesn't want to scare her. And more than anything he doesn't want Ina to see him differently because of it. Eren isn't sure what to think, but it seems that some of his fears may not have been necessary.

"They are, Ina. But you don't have to be afraid of them. We're here to protect you." Krista reminds the young child. Eren feels himself deflate slightly. Damn, they had to say something.

"No." Ina argues. "Monsters look like people. Those bad soldiers… They were monsters. They're evil… And cruel. They can do really bad things. A Titan… that just sounds like an animal. Animals aren't scary."

Everyone is silent. When you've been through what she has, how can anyone see those MPs any different. They can't really argue with her logic. It makes sense in the most bizarre way. She isn't wrong. A human being makes the choice to hurt another person. A Titan makes no such choice. Who is the real monster in that scenario?

"Hey, come here, pretty." Connie holds his arms out to Ina.

She sets her mug down and crawls from Armin's arms to Connie's. He hugs her close and kisses her cheek.

"Let's see if we can find a shooting star." He lets her lean back on his chest as she searches the sky.

"What does it look like, big brother?"

"You'll know it when you see it."

Several quiet minutes go by, and Ina doesn't see anything. But she's determined to find it. She scans the sky over and over. These stars really do go on forever. So beautiful.

"Oh!" Ina points up at one star that seems to run from one end of the sky to the other.

"Oh! I found it! I found it!" She squeaks. "They can move?! That's amazing!"

"Make a wish, Ina." Connie whispers.

"A wish?"

"If you see a shooting star, you get a wish."

"Really?" Ina closes her eyes and concentrates.

I wish to stay with Papa and all my new brothers and sisters forever.

"You figure one out yet?" Eren pats Ina's head lovingly. "Make sure it's a good one."

"Yes." Ina leans into Eren's hand slightly. "I did."

"But don't tell us. It has to be a wish that remains in your heart." Krista speaks up.

"Did you guys get to make a wish too?" Ina asks her brothers and sisters.

"We don't need to. We already have what we wished for." Eren smiles and takes Ina's hand.

"I love you, big brothers and sisters." Ina says happily. "Thank you for showing me the stars."

"We love you too, munchkin!"

They all come together for a group hug, with Ina right in the center. She's never been this happy before. Ina hopes she can always feel this way.


"Mika." Ina gently tugs on Mikasa's sleeve. "Can I tell you something?"

Ina is the one and only person Mikasa will allow to use that nickname. She's made it clear that anyone else will have broken kneecaps before the second syllable can fall from their lips.

"Sure." Mikasa kneels down in front of Ina. They wait until everyone is in the barracks before Ina talks.

"What's wrong?" Mikasa hasn't failed to notice how embarrassed Ina appears as she tries to speak, constantly opening and closing her mouth as she is struggles to find the right words.

"I… I had a accident a few days ago." She's very quiet as she confesses.

"An accident? Are you alright?" Mikasa's mind automatically goes to injury.

"It was when I stayed with Papa. I was having a bad dream and…" She pouts. "I peed myself." Ina drops her head. "Papa had to take care of me. I was so…" Her hands rush to her face. So embarrassed.

"Ina." Mikasa smiles just slightly. She had thought of a million other things that could have fallen under the category of accident. A million things not including wetting yourself.

"Don't worry about it." She places strong hands on Ina's shoulders.

"I don't know if I should sleep with you guys. It might happen again."

"Look at me. This is the military. Do you know how many grown adults here have peed or pooped their pants?"

"None?" Ina guesses.

"No. Nearly all. People get scared. And sometimes they can't always help it if they have an accident. Can I tell you something?"

Ina nods. She finds all of this hard to believe, but she knows Mika wouldn't tell her something that wasn't true.

"I came very close to having an accident once."

"Really?"

"Yes. It was our first real task as soldiers. Titans had broken through to a district called trost. So much happened in such a short time. A lot of my friends had been killed, and then I lost track of Eren. I didn't even know if he was still alive. I was so lost and scared. It was a really difficult day for a lot of us."

Ina takes it all in. Their work as soldiers is so different from what the others did.

"My point is that you have nothing to be embarrassed about. It happens."

"Thank you, Mika."

"No problem, Ina. Now let's get ready for bed."


If it feels like the story is concluding think again. I guess you could say her recovery and adoption into the survey corp family is the first arc of the story. The second arc begins with the next chapter. the intensity picks back up again but not all at once. I hope everyone has been enjoying this so far. Thank you so much for reading.