Life.

It was fleeting and could be taken away at any moment without warning, but it was beautiful. The world was beautiful, and as Levi sunk the shovel into the compacted earth, he couldn't help but reminisce on times long past. The damage that the Rumbling had made to the planet was slowly healing month by month, with help from the survivors of Humanity. Greenery was slowly returning to the barren landscapes across the world, and Levi was grateful for having a new sense of purpose.

It hadn't exactly been by luck that he and the other people in his group had stumbled upon the trampled earth where the port of Odiha had once stood not that long ago. The soil was scarred by the footprints of the wall Titans, deep fissures torn into the ground where many had been felled by Hange's last stand.

Levi sighed deeply, scooping the discoloured earth to the side as he wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. It had taken him a good few hours to locate this specific spot, but he felt even better for managing to do so; this was Hange's final resting place, and something inside of him felt complete for finally finding it.

The sapling slotted perfectly into the hole that he had dug, and as he knelt down on the earth, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by emotion.

"You should see what we've managed to do, Four Eyes," he began, carefully smoothing the soil back into the hole around the small tree with his bare hands, "I know that you would absolutely love it. So much has happened; I just wish that you were here to see it for yourself."

He had to stop, breath catching in his throat when the realisation hit him that he was most likely holding what little remained of his friend's body, and the tears came unbidden to his eyes. He knew all along that there would never be a body to recover due to the nature of Hange's death, but the guilt still struck. When Erwin had died, his body had received a full burial in a marked grave; it pained him to know that Hange wouldn't be able to get the same treatment.

"Everybody misses you, y'know. You, Erwin, everyone who we lost. Not a day goes by where we don't think about you and what you selflessly sacrificed so that we can be here today…"

He let the soil trickle between his fingers as tears dripped onto his legs. It had been six months since that day, and it had been six long months of conflicting thoughts. Had he done the right thing by letting them go? Was it really a brave thing to do? Hange had been ready for a long time, just waiting for the situation to arise, and yet he felt truly awful that he didn't demand to take their place so that they would live.

"I know how much you were hurting towards the end, Hange. Being named Commander was too much for you to handle and I…I just hope…"

His voice wavered slightly as his smile faltered. It pained him to remember exactly how exactly how much Hange was going through in the final months and weeks before the Rumbling. Seeing their smile fade and their personality crumble until they were a shell of their former self had been excruciating for him to witness, and it only served to make him feel exceedingly worse when he remembered how Hange had shut him out whenever he had tried to help them.

"You were in so much pain, and I just wish there had have been a way for me to ease it for you, even if only slightly. How much I…How much I wish you had just told us how much you were suffering – maybe you would…would still be here today…"

He couldn't stop the tears from flowing freely now as he sat there on the scorched earth, desperately trying to wipe away the searing trails that they tracked down his cheeks. Hange had become so, very painfully depressed in her final months of life, and Levi wished he had taken action long ago; maybe if he'd had them sectioned…

No. He refused to even entertain the idea of it any further; Hange would never have forgiven him if he'd done such a thing to them. Even if it could have helped them, Levi knew how bad it would have been in one of those hospitals on Paradis due to how little the Eldians on the island knew about mental health care.

Something caught his attention in the corner of his eye, and he swore in that moment that he saw-

"Levi!"

He turned at the sound of a voice calling him, seeing Gabi approaching with a flask of water and box of food held securely in her arms. The young girl stopped beside him, a small gasp escaping as she took in the sight of the charred earth below her feet. Upon turning back to where he thought he'd seen them, he was crestfallen to realise that there was just barren earth.

"Is this-"

"Yeah," Levi uttered in a tone he hoped wouldn't betray his emotions as he poured some water from the watering can onto the parched earth at the base of the young tree, "It is."

"We finally found it. We've been looking for so long."

He made space for Gabi as the teen knelt beside him, passing him the water flask and box of food that he opened, finding a simple prawn katsu sandwich and some crackers inside. He began to eat his lunch as he listened to Gabi, not quite registering anything that she was saying. Oh, what he wouldn't give for Hange to be with him right now, sharing a tender moment. But as was the life of soldiers – sometimes duty called for such sacrifices to be made, and that had been Hange's duty in that moment.

"Hange died for this," Levi mumbled as he glanced around at the volunteers who were planting even more trees around the vast expanse of flat ground, "We were able to escape Odiha before we were trampled, and it's because of their sacrifice that we survived but they can't even see what it enabled."

Warm hands grasped his, and he looked down as Gabi smiled gently.

"The world will remember them for what they gave up to make sure of the survival of humanity." She said softly as she regarded the veteran with care. It was difficult for her to believe now that, just a year prior, she and the ex-Captain would more than likely have been at each other's throats and trying to slaughter the other. Oh, how far everything had come in such a short time, and Gabi was happy with that development. It had been difficult for her to overcome the hatred towards the Eldians of Paradis Island, but the times were changing, and it was most definitely for the best.

"I just hope that, wherever they are, Hange is finally at peace." Levi grumbled as he rose to his feet, albeit very unsteadily as Gabi reached out a helping hand which he accepted readily. The teen beside him gave a slight smile, sighing slightly as she looked over the sapling; cherry, one that had been Hange's favourite fruit.

"I'm sure they are."

The pair turned to make their way back to the group as they gave quiet conversation. Falco waved to them from off in the distance, as did Onyankopon. The world definitely was beautiful, and it was incredible to Levi that he had the opportunity to experience life beyond the walls. And behind him, a young scientist with glasses and messy hair pulled into a ponytail watched as their friends spoke warmly about times long gone.

It warmed Hange's heart to see Levi getting to live the life they had always dreamed of for each other, even if they never got the chance to experience it for themself. To see him smiling once again and be able to relax in peace without the worry of war looming above his head. Hange gave a smile, contented at knowing that Levi would be okay and they for one were more than happy to wait for him until the time came for their paths to cross again someday.