"I'm getting tired of finding myself back here," Hange said.

Hange looked out over the rows of short, modest stone markers. She stood with her hands in the pockets of her formal uniform, the outfit pulled out of a cloth garment bag for special occasions like promotions and events sponsored by the monarchy.

Hange never had the pleasure of donning this outfit for either purpose.

Instead, she'd only worn it paired with black bands around her arms and a strip of cloth over her breast pocket. The idea was to hide indications of branch and rank; when honoring those who died, everyone in the military mourned them equally. It was funny how a funeral tended to be the only place all the branches put aside their differences and stood side-by-side without complaint. Even a Titan attack didn't garner as much comradery.

"You can go," Levi said. He kept his attention on the small, white marker at their feet.

Erwin's name had been etched in the same bold font that echoed across the field all the way to the wall. No one would be able to tell he'd been a soldier of any significance. The marker had no note of his rank, the time he served as commander, or even the regiment he belonged to. This was a request Erwin had left in a will penned over a decade ago in a required document for joining the military. He'd never altered it; Hange knew Erwin was the type to feel no need to. No matter what had changed over the years he served, his unyielding resolve never waivered. This included his belief that his life was insignificant compared to the great mystery of what was beyond the walls.

Hange looked away from the stone, the reflection of the material causing her eyes to burn. "I can't leave you here," she said.

"I don't mind being alone," Levi replied. It was like a jab knowing there was no falsehood behind the detached remark. He wasn't trying to reassure Hange in any way – just state a fact.

"You won't be alone – that's the problem," Hange said. She put her hands on her hips, looking up at the cloudless sky with a sigh. "Moblit and Celine have been waiting at the market a few blocks down since the funeral ended. They won't move an inch until we leave."

"Tell them they don't have to wait."

"They won't listen," Hange said. She looked at Levi with a frown. "If you're here all night – they're here all night. At least have the decency to leave for now and come back later after they've gone home."

Levi continued to stare at the stone for a moment. He turned away, tucking his own hands in his pockets as he began to walk. Hange joined his side, the two taking slow steps down the grassy hillside leading back to the cluster of homes making up a quiet neighborhood near the northern wall. It was a popular location for Garrison residents due to its short commute. Hange found the idea of living alongside a sprawling memorial where one's own name may be etched someday to be a bit morbid.

Hange let out another heavy sigh as she dipped her head. "I feel so aimless. I know there's things I'm supposed to do, but … it's stupid, isn't it? How I'm wishing Erwin were here to give me guidance on handling his own death?"

Levi glanced to the side. "What do you have to be conflicted about? What you do from here is easy. We continue our investigation and slaughter whoever's responsible for Erwin's death."

"You make it sound like we even have leads," Hange mumbled.

"We confirmed he was shot by the guns made for the anti-personnel mobility gear," Levi said. They crossed from the grass into the bordering street, dress boots clicking over cobblestone. "Erwin was investigating what Kenny was up to; obviously we missed rounding up a member of Kenny's gang and they murdered Erwin when he was getting too close to something."

Hange snapped her head up, eyes going wide. "But all his findings were still there! None of his reports or anything looked like they were missing!"

"None of his reports that we knew of," Levi said, looking away. "Erwin may very well have had something hidden away, especially if it was sensitive information."

"That's true," Hange said. She stared into space, her eyes narrowing. "Perhaps that's why Conny Springer is missing? Maybe Erwin was able to get Conny to go into hiding before he was in danger."

"Let's hope that's the case," Levi said. "It's been over a week with no sign of him. If we're lucky, we won't come across his bloated corpse in a ditch."

Hange came to a stop as they walked within the shadow of an apartment building, closing her eyes as she began to rub her temples. "I can at least feel a little at ease knowing the Garrison are handling this investigation with us. I was worried Nile was going to put up a fight over holding the Military Police under such scrutiny, but he's been fully cooperating. I think finding out there was a squad under his branch acting completely autonomously really rattled him."

"The Military Police have always been a shit show," Levi said. "It's nothing new."

"Be careful about what you say," Hange said. She opened her eyes, turning her gaze toward the rooftops. Over a dozen soldiers stood in plain view among chimneys and clothing lines. Members from the Scouts and Garrison had been taking turns monitoring the movements of the Commanders and anyone else believed to have a connection with Erwin's investigation. There was no doubt the soldiers wouldn't be able to hear their conversation from that distance, but Hange still felt the need to set a precedent all the same.

"Are we still having the meeting for the expedition this afternoon?"

Hange clenched her fists. She slowly turned back to Levi.

"We won't discuss this now," she said.

"I don't need any details," Levi said. He made to step away. "I just need to know when to prepare."

Hange made no move to follow. A tightness grew in her throat, making the words hard to push out.

"I think we should … delay the expedition," she said.

Levi reacted in the way she expected. He turned on his heel, a line forming between his brows. "Delay the mission? That's horseshit. Do you think you'd be honoring Erwin's memory by doing something as pig-headed as pushing back an opportunity for us to get closer to the answers he was looking for?"

Hange swallowed, her mouth dry. "We aren't ready."

"We are ready." Levi closed the distance between them, leveling her with a glare. "What game are you playing? Do you know something I don't?"

"That's not it."

Another lie.

Levi grabbed Hange by the lapels of her jacket, yanking her into a stoop. "Erwin had been working on a plan to reclaim Wall Maria long before you took his place," he hissed. "He would've died a thousand times over to make sure it happens. Don't you dare stand here and insult him by acting like you know something he didn't, you damn four-eyes."

A weak smile grew on Hange's face. She slowly lifted her hands, placing them over Levi's. She noted the slight tremor as she gently loosened his grip.

"You need time, Levi," Hange said, her voice soft.

"Oi."

A shadow passed over Levi's features. "What the hell are you talking about? If you're saying this mission is being delayed because of me, I want you to take that notion and shove it up your ass."

"You're not –"

"Say I'm not ready again and I'll cut out your tongue," Levi said. His eyes narrowed. "Order two of the soldiers up there to give us their gear; we're going to Headquarters and you're going to tell me everything."

A carriage rolled up the main entrance of Trost's Headquarters, coming to a stop. Moblit swung the door wide, stepping down before lifting a hand to offer help to his companion. The offered hand went ignored as Celine flung herself from the carriage, holding her arms out as she made a heavy landing. The dust around her boot settled while Celine steadied her balance.

"I won't feel an ounce of pity if you break your ankle doing something stupid like that," Moblit said. He unhooked Celine's crutch from the back of the carriage, handing it over.

"You can't blame me for wanting some independence," Celine said, placing the crutch under her arm. "There isn't always going to be someone who can help me get out of a coach."

"Actually, there is," Moblit countered. He slowed his gait to match Celine's pace as they crested the wide steps. "A coach always come equipped with this handy thing called a coach driver."

Celine's lips came together in a pucker. She quickly made to change the subject before Moblit had too much time reveling in the rare occasion of him outwitting her.

"What do you think is going on?" Celine asked. She paused as Moblit held the door before making her way inside. "We were waiting for so long I figured Hange and Levi had left. Then all of a sudden, we were told Hange wanted us here."

"I'll give you the same answer I gave on the ride over," Moblit said. They turned a corner, their pace quickening. "I have no idea."

Two Scout soldiers flanked the doors to Hange's sitting room. They held them open as Moblit and Celine approached, the pair taking in that the room made up of little more than two short couches facing one another was empty. The doors closed at their backs, Celine exchanging a worried glance with Moblit from the addition of muffled yelling behind the far door leading to Hange's office.

"I didn't think she had any meetings scheduled today," Celine said, keeping her voice at a whisper. "Who does she have in there?"

Moblit hardly had time to open his mouth before the door across the room opened with a bang. Levi stood in the threshold, regarding them with more malice behind his gaze than she'd witnessed since they first met.

"Here's the two rats who went above my head," Levi said. Everything from his posture to narrowed eyes indicated he'd strangle them on the spot if he could. Celine's mouth went dry.

"Hange just told me everything about our upcoming mission," Levi said, his words like ice. "There's nothing in it at all about what we agreed upon."

Celine's hands began to tremble. She closed them into fists, struggling to find the right words. It was an echo of what had taken place earlier that day when she'd stood beside Levi during the funeral service.

No words had come to her in comfort other than a simple 'I'm sorry.' All she'd been able to do was offer her hand in a manner like what he'd done for her after the incident with Sina's gate. There had been some relief that he'd held it for a time, but Levi had withdrawn back into himself the moment the service ended. He'd walked away from Celine without a second glance to plant himself before Erwin's marker. There he had stayed for an hour before Hange had urged her and Moblit to wait for him somewhere outside the stifling heat.

A hand rested on Celine's shoulder. She looked up at Moblit as he leveled Levi with a stern expression.

"We didn't go above your head, Captain," Moblit said. "When we submitted our proposals for plugging the wall to the council, we included the option to utilize Annie Leonheart's hardening ability. We still submitted the other proposals, the commanders just–"

"Get your hand off her shoulder," Levi said.

Moblit flinched. He lifted his hand as he and Celine shared a look of confusion.

"Levi."

Hange stepped out of her office. If the look of contempt Levi was throwing her way bothered her, she didn't show it.

"Don't try to feed me any shit about this being the best option," Levi spat. "The Female Titan can't be trusted. Sending anyone on a mission with her outside the walls would mean nothing but having Eren captured and everyone else wiped out."

Hange crossed her arms. "I know you have the balls to tell all the commanders and everyone else on the council that you think they're wrong, Levi, but I also know you usually have the tact to keep your mouth shut. I hope you can see now why I wanted to push the excursion back. You're not thinking clearly, and you're no use to us when I can't have the part of you that analyzes information given in an objective manner."

"Shut the hell up," Levi said, venom lacing his words. "I'm the only one here seeing things as they are. That Titan bitch's lies are obviously a manipulation tactic; Erwin would've known this."

Hange's nostrils flared. She took a step forward, lifting her chin as she towered over Levi. "Your opinion is one I value, but only when I ask for it. Perhaps you would've been included in the communications over the chosen option if you weren't so close minded. Maybe then you would have all the facts behind a decision which had backing from Erwin himself."

The enraged expression on Levi's face shifted as his eyes widened. He grit his teeth, any sign of doubt melting away.

"All of you still lied directly to my face," he said, voice low. "The armor for Eren and Ymir was crafted using the Female Titan's hardening ability."

"Sorry."

Levi turned. His look of contempt felt heavy on Celine's shoulders. She took a deep breath as she fought to harden her features.

"That was more of an omission than a lie, but we still skirted the truth," Celine said. "We knew you would have a problem … we just figured you could be reasoned with once you saw the armor in action. It's magnitudes stronger than any other material we have; it can protect Eren and Ymir even from that thing they call the Beast Titan. We just want what we think will increase the mission's chance to be a success."

A shadow crossed Levi's features. "What evidence do you have that the armor will work against it other than the Female Titan's word?"

Celine's resolve waivered. "We …"

"How am I supposed to lead a mission where I have no trust?" Levi asked, keeping his eyes locked with hers.

Hange saved Celine the trouble of answering the question. "Because you don't have to trust Annie Leonheart," she said. "You just have to trust me."

"The Female Titan isn't the only one I don't trust," Levi said. His gaze roved between Celine and Moblit. "I want them both cut from the mission."

Celine's stomach dropped. She sensed Moblit tense at her side.

"Denied," Hange said, not skipping a beat. "Celine and Moblit are integral to the excursion's success. If you weren't letting your emotions control you, you would–"

"Then as of this moment, everything they need to say to me concerning the mission will be submitted in writing," Levi said. He strode forward, walking past Moblit and Celine without a second glance. "We've passed the point where we need to meet face-to-face."

The door to the hallway swung open. Levi's retreating figure was visible for a moment before one of the soldiers in the hall closed the door behind him with a soft click. The room fell heavy with silence as all eyes remained fixed on the handle. Celine had little hope Levi would return. The thought made her feel sick.

"Why did you tell him about the expedition so soon?" Moblit asked. He turned to face Hange, his shoulders slumping. "I thought we agreed to give him some time."

"I tried!" Hange snapped. The spark of anger snuffed out, Hange pushing her glasses up to rest in her hair as she rubbed her eyes. "Dammit … I tried, alright? He's like a damn dog – he could smell I was hiding something from him and wouldn't give up once he latched on. I thought maybe if I stayed relaxed things would be alright. Then he lost his temper … and that really pissed me off so I started yelling right back. We heard you two walk in right in the middle of it and it only made things worse."

Moblit watched Hange with a frown marking his concern. He turned his gaze back to the door. "Do you still think he's going to be alright to lead the expedition in this state?"

"He'll be fine – that's the problem," Hange said. She returned her glasses to her nose with a heavy exhale. "Levi thrives under stress; he'll let out all his frustrations on slaughtering Titans. It's great news for us objectively, but I hate to think about what that's doing to him."

Celine dipped her head. She placed her hand over her heart, clutching the material of her jacket as if that would somehow ease the pain in her chest. "I know we made the best decision choosing to use Annie," she said, voice soft. "But no matter how much I try I can't understand how he has so little trust in her. It's like he refuses to acknowledge the things she's done to show us she's on our side. How am I supposed to convince him otherwise?"

"You can't," Hange said. Her features grew downcast. "Levi isn't the type to tolerate those guilty of betrayal. Annie's case also affected him personally." She ran a hand over her hair in a weary fashion. "And now we're a part of that betrayal. I'm sorry Celine; Moblit. You two are going to have an uphill battle working with him from here on out. I know what I said before about you staying on the project … but I won't object if you want to ask for reassignment; it may be for the best."

Moblit immediately spoke up in objection. His argument over how hard they'd worked over the past few months fell away as Celine looked again to the door at her back. The hope inside her left a dull ache over the idea that Levi wasn't going to return. He wasn't going to open that door and apologize. He wasn't going to look at her again as he had when they'd sat over tea at his home and spoke of cooking and learning how to embroider. He wasn't going to offer his hand when she needed comfort, nor would he accept hers. He wasn't going to turn to Hange or Moblit with his troubles. He would be alone.

Celine turned, her crutch letting out dull thuds on the carpet. The sound caused a pause to Hange and Moblit's discussion.

"Celine?"

Celine reached out to grip the door handle. If Levi wasn't going to open it, there was no reason she couldn't do it herself.

"I need to keep going forward," Celine said, her eyes fixed ahead. "I'm slow, but I'll keep moving."

The door opened without much trouble. The corridor was empty; Levi long gone. That didn't matter. It could take days, or weeks, but Celine would catch up. She was a far cry from eloquent and would probably say the wrong thing again … but there was no shame in getting up to try a second time.

Levi had taught her that.