WhIP

by footfungus

nederlands verhalen over mijn otp

12. The Man from Two Worlds 4 - Levi x Petra

side a jail."

"I was upset that you're questioning my intentions," Rod hissed in disappointment.

"It's not just about you being my father. It's about being a person," Frieda said, heading back to the door. "I'm sorry about my attitude. Maybe it was my hangover."

"Have you been drinking last night?" Rod asked incredulously.

"I'm no longer a teenager," Frieda said dryly. "And as an adult, I believe I have the right to enjoy alcohol just like any woman my age."

"Frieda, this isn't like you…"

"And what do you want me to be? People change, Dad. It's a boring world, after all. We seek any kind of comfort," Frieda said vaguely, closing the door behind her.

Rod steadied himself, slamming his hand against the wooden desk. There was a slight throbbing pain as he propped himself on one arm. Frieda was acting strangely, and he didn't want to know. He feared to know. Does she know something?

His celebration of Levi's scandal this morning and the bonus of his memory loss that his daughter disclosed will take a backseat for a while. His plans are much easier to execute now, but Frieda's inscrutable attitude this morning gave him a sinister feeling. Her words had hidden meaning behind them, and that alone would keep him awake at night. Frieda could request anything from him, but Levi was an exception. An Ackerman will always be an exception. Ackermans are sly and smart. They act like chameleons and attack like snakes.

"Reisses will gain back what Ackermans once took away," he swore. "In my ancestors' name."

"I could indulge these bastards all day!" Yelena was cross-legged on the couch with gritted teeth, hands on her phone as she was typing away all sorts of mortifying comments to counter those who dared make fun of Hange. She should be in the process of explaining to Levi the events last night with Zeke and Eren until she saw a viral post that wrenched her attention. "Wait until I get to my desktop computer and hack my way into your accounts. You'd all wish your parents used protection and prevented your birth."

Levi was sitting next to her. "Give it up, Yelena. There's no use in barking back. You should rest now."

"Not too soon!" Yelena snarled, eyes bulging while staring at her phone. "I could stay awake and spam this post so people would see some variety. Hange needs backup. She's totally defenseless! God, who is the motherfucker getting paid for this?!"

Levi looked at her wearily.

"And wait, didn't you guys notice that time when someone was stealthily taking pictures of you? You sure are head over heels for each other that everything's blurred around you, huh?"

She was visibly upset, and Levi couldn't blame her. She burst in like a blizzard at the front door earlier to give him the bad news. It was a slap in the face to wake him up from his morning daze. He thought about Hange and how she would take it. He texted her before shutting off his phone, knowing he would be flocked with messages and phone calls. And had Petra known where he was staying right now, she would be the very first one to kick through the door and demand answers from him.

"The woman wasn't even attractive. What happened to Levi's taste? Ah, let's see…" Yelena challenged, reading one random comment and looking into their profile. "Does this bitch even know what she's talking about? A smiling sloth would look better than her."

Levi was shaking his head. "Stop that now. That's just gonna make it worst."

"No shit. Why don't you try to open your phone and read everything that was making this post popular?! Levi, if words could kill, Hange would be buried six feet under," Yelena contended. "These people have all the time in the world to criticize someone they didn't know, but I'd bet they'd slash their wrists out of depression once they got involved in a situation like Hange's!"

"H-how… how bad was it?"

Yelena shoved her phone in front of his face. "The hate reactions are reaching the hundred-thousandth mark. If that wasn't alarming enough, wait until tomorrow and then, there will be people flashing lights and cameras outside our door."

"That bad?"

"Ah, I forgot you have a primitive memory…" Yelena sighed, drawing back her phone. Suddenly, a scary smile lit up her features. "Oh look at that, there was your sister too, taking up the top comment. Looks like she knows what to do."

"M-Mikasa…?"

"At least she's done something…" Yelena smirked in satisfaction. "Oh wait, I'm gonna add her up as a friend. She remembers me, right?"

Levi helplessly watched as Yelena typed away on her phone eagerly.

"What did Mikasa say?"

"Huh?"

"What did my sister say?" Levi asked again with a disapproving look.

Yelena frowned at him. "She's on Hange's side, of course. Are you expecting she'll thumb-up the post? Read it."

"No."

"Don't you trust me? Read it, Levi," Yelena urged. "Her response was intense."

"I said no," Levi said with resolve. For Mikasa to involve herself in social media was enough proof that the post would get on his nerves.

"Damn, I feel bad for Hange," Yelena said. "I wanna hunt down these people and shove sticks up their assess. I wanna do something criminal and won't care if I get a death sentence! These people have a twisted sense of entertainment."

"And you have a twisted sense of humor…" Levi drawled.

"You think I'm kidding?!"

"No. I'd guess you'd do worse than your threats. But seriously, Yelena, knock it off."

"And just like that? Aren't you gonna do something about it?!"

That made Levi quiet. Perhaps it's the fact that he seemed powerless to do something in this fiasco. What can he do anyway? The chaos in this world couldn't be solved by blood and violence.

"Yeah, I get it…" Yelena clipped. "If you were the old you, you'd come up with a solution already. I imagine you calling the app founder to take down the malicious post. But then… what can a certain Levi Ackerman with a fucked-up memory do when the world is against Hange?"

"If I were the old me as you said, none of this would've happened. I won't be sitting on your couch because I'd be somewhere on vacation with Petra," Levi said.

Yelena huffed. "Good point. Well, and you wouldn't get to know me as the most amazing person in the world…"

Levi scoffed. "No. I wouldn't have met Hange—the most amazing person in my life."

"Aww shiiiiit! You can talk that way? It's probably snowing in hell!"

"Shut up."

Yelena's look softened. "But seriously, Levi. What can you do about it?"

Levi faltered. "I have no clue. If the solution is to kill someone, it'd be easy, but this was a different world. People use words to take down someone."

"How savage. So it must be a chaotic world in your memory, huh?"

"You have no idea. And you're just one of the most savage people I know. Someone opposes you and they'd thump onto the ground in a bloody heap. It's always easy for you to pull the trigger and act like nothing happened."

Yelena's eyes widened in shock. She swallowed hard. "Well, that's just probably my alter ego that I didn't allow to consume me. Thank goodness."

"Hey, how can I console Hange about this?" Levi asked.

"You know how. Take her to bed."

"Damn it," Levi spat. "This was a serious question. I've dumbed myself down believing you last time."

"Hah! Don't say you didn't enjoy it. You both enjoyed it."

Levi turned red. "It took us to a deeper level of what we had right now, but then, the circumstances flipped our lives upside down. I don't know how to get around this, and I feel bad enough for Hange."

Yelena leaned back on the couch. "Yeah. Sucks. I feel you…"

"The news must've reached everyone in my company and Petra."

"I know your trusted people there—those blondies who dropped by days ago—can come up with something to fix your reputation. However, we can't be sure about Hange though… it's not that she can just shuffle herself away from the crowd now that she's easily identifiable. She's always out there, and I'm quite sure she'd be hounded by the rabid press."

An idea came to Levi's mind. He got out his phone and turned it on again. Sure thing, loads of messages piled up in his inbox. "Hey, can you come with me somewhere?"

"Where?" Yelena yawned. "You damned know I've been up all night."

"You're driving my car."

"Where?!" Yelena shot excitedly.

"To my penthouse."

The whispers in the hallways of Ackerman Holdings resounded through Mikasa's ears. She may act like she didn't see or hear anything, but her senses function simultaneously to pick hushed words involving her brother. She took slow and small steps, and once she made a stop, the workplace would shift back to business. Gossips are always a form of entertainment, and her own staff was not spared from joining the bandwagon.

Sasha was out of her cubicle, surprisingly not terrorizing Connie's desk for food. She didn't notice her boss standing stiffly behind her. Jean went pallid, but he didn't dare stop his friend as she wigwagged her feelings away.

"I mean guys, can you believe it? Mr. Levi and Ms. Petra just announced that they are back together, and these pictures of him with another woman come out of nowhere?" Sasha exploded. "Well, we've noticed something was off with Mr. Levi when he dropped by weeks ago. I believe it has something to do with this."

Everyone zipped their mouths shut, but Sasha kept going vigorously.

"That woman… I guess nobody has identified her yet…"

Jean tried to interrupt her before she could say a bad word, eyeing Mikasa nearby. "Sasha, I think you should go back to your table."

Mikasa cleared her throat. "That woman was Hange Zoe, a first responder in Sina Emergency Response Team if anyone was interested."

The working area fell silent as Sasha jumped and turned around to meet her own death. "M-Miss Mikasa…"

Mikasa eyed her darkly, but didn't say anything. She'll have a word with her secretary later but she thought of making an important announcement that shouldn't be deferred for another time. "And every one of you, remember that name. She is Hange Zoe, and she is an amazing person. The post was meant to destroy her, but I stand in front of you to counter what people misjudged."

She got everyone's attention with a much louder voice that could reach everyone in that hall. Everyone listened.

"I know you've seen the post, and it's a sad world that it negatively impacted social media. People react as if they know Hange. They claim facts when they're just mere theories."

Jean sank in his seat but listened attentively.

"I've opened my social media account to the public, and I know some of you might have seen my comment. And to those that haven't seen it yet, I'd be more than glad to reiterate whatever I said under that post to all of you . I know everybody was curious about Levi's current relationship status, and I've also seen comments saying Hange was the reason for Petra's rejection. I knew my brother better than everyone else, and if there is one person who might have been holding the truth, it's no other than the people from his family," Mikasa continued, letting in a sharp breath. "Hange was the person who saved Levi in the car crash. The news of his accident didn't tell the details of his survival. Nobody was mentioned because Hange didn't want to be acknowledged. She's a mere stranger who's done a good job, and it was just recently that I found out she's the person who kept sending flowers for my brother when he was down."

Sasha bowed her head in embarrassment. Connie looked away.

"She didn't make herself known to the public. She made herself anonymous. She should've been rewarded for her heroism, but she turned it down. Levi found her one day and they become friends. He saw the rawness and sincerity of her character, her intelligence, her humor. Levi has changed after meeting her. And we can't deny that he and Petra were done the very moment she rejected his marriage proposal. Technically, it's over for them, and Levi can welcome a fresh start with anyone he chooses."

Murmurs and gasps sounded nearby.

"Levi and Hange were together now, but I couldn't disclose where they were. I am happy for my brother, and hope you wouldn't criticize him for the person he chose today. Hange was a person whose job was saving lives, keeping civilians protected in times of tragedies and disasters. She's one-of-a-kind and admirable, and no matter how plain and average and 'unattractive' you think she looks, I hope you get past your superficiality because you have no idea what it's like to have a job when death looms around the corner. She jumped in front of a car to save my brother—the man who gave us jobs and made us safe under the roof of Ackerman Holdings because we chose comfort and convenience sitting on our desks all day, and we didn't have to risk our lives out there to make ends meet."

Armin emerged from Levi's office with Annie, but didn't interrupt Mikasa's unstoppable tirades.

"And if you think the Ackermans have gold standards in choosing the best partners for them, you're wrong. Never think of us as people who seek perfection on a physical level. I also don't believe we deserved people of the same social status to keep our names on a pedestal. We are not high and mighty. We can choose the poorest of the poor, the ugliest of the ugly, simply because they touched our hearts and made us happy. And that's what matters," Mikasa ended. "I hope I made myself clear about that."

She turned around with a whiff of mystery and confidence as she made her way to her office. Armin saw this as a cue and gestured for Annie to come along with him. The hall turned to a standstill, everyone in awe.

Sasha collapsed onto her seat. "Oh god! I don't want to lose my job! Why didn't any of you tell me she's right behind me?!"

Connie shrugged. "You're blocking the view so I didn't see her…"

"But I didn't say anything bad, right? Right?" Sasha begged as if she needed the answer.

"I dunno. But I clearly heard you saying Petra's beauty is no match for her…"

"I never remembered saying that! But... wait, did I?" Sasha asked in a panic, turning to Jean who was smiling dreamily like an idiot. "What the hell are you smiling about?"

"Did you hear what she said? I'd guess there's no thin line that separates the average from the elites!" Jean chirped.

"And what are you implying?" Sasha raised her eyebrow.

"I'm taking chances now! About time I find my way into Miss Mikasa's heart."

Connie laughed insultingly. He patted Jean's back. "I get it. Ackermans can fall with the ugliest. There's no stopping you, Jean-boy. You seemed fitting had Ackermans had no choice but choose at the bottom. Just invite me to your wedding."

"That'll happen in a hundred years, Connie," Sasha quipped. "I'd better start cutting on meat, so I'd live longer."

"Ah, how supportive of you!" Jean scoffed.

"We are!" Sasha beamed. "I can skip lunch today. Say, Connie. We can't die until Jean's wedding. I can walk the aisle in a wheelchair!"

"And oh, I can watch it even on my deathbed," Connie said. "All for you, Jean!"

Jean turned back to his cubicle with a huff, ignoring their insulting snickers. "I can't believe I have you two idiots as my friends!"

The ding of the elevator to Levi's penthouse summoned Petra downstairs, fixing an earring on one ear and slipping into her high-heeled shoes. She was never expecting visitors, though she was aware that people from Levi's side were the only ones who knew this place. It could be Erwin, Mikasa, Zeke, or Kenny. The viral post has most probably reached them and were here to empathize with her. She had all her plans laid out last night and was prepared for her narrative, but her eyes widened in surprise to see Levi himself, stepping inside with an outrageously tall woman behind him.

"L-Levi…" Petra couldn't find the right words as if she was meeting a stranger.

Levi sported his stoic face again, with no pleasantries nor a trace of affection to reach for her cheek and give it a peck.

"Hi!" Yelena blurted out cheekily. "I'm Yelena, Levi's… well… new partner-in-crime!"

Petra's expression turned sour after giving Yelena a once-over. She then questioned Levi with a scowl. "Partner?"

"Hey, not what you're thinking! Can you imagine us being a couple? Unless we're putting up our comedy show," Yelena quipped.

"Just shut up, Yelena…" Levi spat. "You can go outside that sliding door to the outdoor area. We need some privacy."

"Ah, I should've brought my swimsuit," Yelena whined, craning her neck to see the area Levi was talking about. "You really have a nice place, Levi. I could swim here all day!"

Petra watched as Yelena childishly ran to the outdoor area, running around the pool area and laughing out loud. She turned back to Levi in amusement. "Seriously?"

"This is my house. I can invite anyone I want," Levi said.

Petra huffed. "And welcome back home! I haven't seen you for weeks, and now you've finally managed to drop by in your own house. I'd guess you're here to explain some things?"

She was sarcastic, but Levi was not in the mood to shoot back.

"Care to explain what happened in Ragako Village? Looks like you enjoyed your vacation so much that you've forgotten you have someone waiting for you at home," Petra said with vitriol, trying to suppress her anger because in as much as what Levi did was unforgivable, her love for him surpassed all that she's supposed to feel. There was a tiny hope that Levi would deny her allegations, even if they were an obvious lie. She could accept all his lies if he agreed to be with her again. She would be ready to forgive him because she knew it was Levi with a different memory.

Levi looked at her calmly. "You're right. I enjoyed my vacation."

There was an invisible stab to her heart. "So… the pictures were true. It was you and… Hange. Whatever happened to that day you told me there's nothing going on between you two?"

"Because there really is nothing between us," Levi said truthfully. "Except that… things have changed now."

Petra bit her lip and gathered her hands together. No. She will never cry in front of him. That will only spell her defeat. "Does that include your feelings for me? You've fallen for her way too fast? That fast?"

"Because the moment I saw her, my memory told me we've been together for too long."

"That was your false memory!" Petra wailed. "But Hange? Does she have a memory like yours? Does she even realize your memories are not real?! That whatever's running in your head is just an out-of-this-world condition? Levi, she's taking advantage of you!"

"She had her chances to take advantage of me, but no. She's not."

"You are not sure of that! It's been only weeks. You're never been together for years! Of course, she's at her best foot forward, trying to lure you with her unique and magnetic personality. And funnily, your standards have weakened like crazy." Petra whipped her head to check the outdoor area, seeing Yelena dangling her legs giddily by the poolside. "And you choose freaks for friends."

Levi followed her line of vision. "They're nice people. You can tell Yelena in the face that she's a freak and she'd gladly agree. The job they had can tell what kind of people they are."

"They're all the same. They want your wealth. They want to share your fame. They want—"

"Never call them that!" Levi castigated, eyes feral. "I can't believe you're saying things to people you barely know."

"Don't confuse me with that Petra in your memory," Petra said. "If I was goody-two-shoes as your subordinate, then you're making a fool of yourself. You aren't thinking straight. You're losing the prospect of the consequences of your actions. Currently, Hange is being humiliated. Can you endure that? She's gaining popularity in a bad way all because of her relationship with you that questioned your character as the man who was faithful to me for years. That alone wasn't received well by the public."

"Whatever we had is none of everyone's business."

"But still, the public will always judge you by your life choices," Petra said matter-of-factly. "You can always ignore them, but how about Hange? She's once leading a quiet and peaceful life, and a relationship with Levi Ackerman will ruin it all."

Levi opened his mouth to say something, but Petra's words were powerful enough to realize the fault in his situation.

"People sympathized with me because I was aggravated. Weeks ago, we were seen in public, making people think we'd patched things up. And now, you're holding hands with a different woman—a less attractive woman," Petra spat. "It was a quick turnaround of events. Would you even tell the world that you've lost your memories?"

"I can tell that I lost my interest in you."

"W-what?" Petra shuddered.

"Because that's the truth. You can blame me for a different memory I have, but spare my feelings because they belong to Hange," Levi said determinedly.

Petra's shoulders fell. The smugness she displayed a while ago has instantly vanished. "Y-you… you really lost your feelings for me, is that it?"

"Yes," Levi clipped. "Aren't you the reason why I was wasted the night of the accident? And I should be dead, but Hange was there to save me. Maybe it's destiny that delivers. I was being led to the person who was the best for me. And as for you, think of it as if I really died that night, Petra. You lost me that very day of your rejection. And now, I belonged to someone else."

Those statements wrenched her gut as her fists soared midway, landing on his chest with a thump.

"I can't believe you!" Petra cried. "How can you do this to me?!"

She pawed on his chest repeatedly, combined with hysterical cries. Levi stood still, absorbing all her madness and calmly letting her pour her emotions out. It felt terrible that he made her this way. The much gentler and understanding "Petra" in his memory had tricked him.

Her strong punches had so much weight that she channeled all her rage in them. Levi took in all that she could throw until her strength simmered down to mere whimpers. Her hands weakened after a while, her head landing over his chest in a sobbing mess.

"I'm… I'm sorry Levi…" she trembled. "Please. Remember me. Remember what we had! Why… why would you forget about us? Everything between us?"

Levi was unmoved, but deep inside was also hurting. Half of him was heaving with guilt for some reason, and Petra's combined cries gave him a slight headache. A cacophony of her sounds and emotions made him close his eyes, but unfamiliar images flashed through the dark behind his closed lids.

He saw Petra's peaceful sleeping face on a sunny morning, buried in pillows. His hand hovered on her cheek, gently brushing off loose strands of fallen hair and tucking them behind her ear. That touch stirred her, and he saw those round honey eyes shining brightly at him. Her smile was next as she greeted him, leaning closer and closer, their lips meeting halfway.

Levi opened his eyes quickly and felt the same sensation of her lips on him. True enough, his daze left him unprepared. Petra was kissing him, and he found his hands firmly wrapped around her waist.

"Ahem…"

Yelena's deep voice made him jump back, almost pushing himself off Petra. He whipped his head to see the blonde peeking in behind the glass doors. Her dark, creepy eyes eyed him like he did the worst crime in history—calm yet calculating—and he saw that same look in his memory. Yelena could pull a gun's trigger had she been carrying one.

Levi looked back at Petra's hopeful eyes and regretted what had happened. But whatever transpired was certainly not his doing.

Unless…

The dull ache inside his head worsened. The pounding sensation made him lose his balance, crashing on the couch helplessly.

"Levi!" both Petra and Yelena cried in unison.

He was still clutching his head as the pain seared in; images of Petra kept flashing in.

A walk on the beach holding her hand. A dinner date over wine. A road trip to someplace he's not familiar. Cuddling moments with her.

"Sh-shit…" Levi's eyes shot up. It was only getting worse with his eyes closed. He struggled to push himself up, shoving Petra aside when she tried to help him.

"What's going on?" Petra stammered.

Levi ignored her and hissed at Yelena. "Let's go home…"

"Levi, you're home," Petra said. "This is your home. Our home."

"No," Levi said, lumbering to the elevator and still clutching his head. Yelena stayed right behind him.

The private elevator's door opened when Petra scooted after him. "Hey! You kissed back!"

Levi quelled.

"That's what happened, Levi. You can't deny that. I've been waiting for you to act like you wanted it. And you did! If we aren't interrupted, we can—" Petra rambled on.

"Okay, it's probably my fault that you didn't end up in bed with your boyfriend," Yelena interjected sarcastically. "But please, don't push yourself to him out of desperation. Not good for your image."

"And who the hell are you to tell me that?" Petra glowered.

"Well, I'm just the owner of the place where your ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend are staying."

That left Petra speechless.

"And when two people share a room, you don't need to have a wild imagination," Yelena added. "So forget about getting laid. Not today, honey."

"That's enough, Yelena," Levi said, grabbing her by the elbow and dragging her inside. It was only a relief that Petra didn't come after them when the doors closed. He stood at the corner wordlessly as the elevator descended.

Yelena took the other side across from him, watching him suspiciously. "She's right, though. You kissed her back."

Levi's eyes shot daggers from that distance.

"I saw you from the outdoor area. Not a pretty sight," Yelena said gravely. "The passion was there. I saw... a different you."

"I wasn't aware," Levi said hastily, eyes downcast. "It wasn't me! But these headaches... they're giving me flashes of Petra in my mind. It's as if we had moments together."

Yelena's expression changed. A mix of fear and disbelief. "Those images of her, are they familiar with your current memory?"

Levi shook his head.

"What was she like in those images?" Yelena asked daringly. She had a theory coming up.

"She's…" Levi thought of the right answer. The images were flashing randomly but were all crystal clear. "She's smiling. She's happy."

Yelena heaved a sigh and shook her head. "I think you got that. Never say they were not familiar. Those are flashes of your old memories. They're reemerging."

"No."

"They are, Levi. You're just afraid to admit it because you're living as a new person and want to be like this forever. But you can't deny that you had a past together. You're Petra's boyfriend, and there might come a time that—"

As the elevator door opened, Levi shuffled out hastily in long strides.

"Hey, Levi! Wait up!" Yelena called, scooting after him.

But Levi didn't bother looking back. The throbs in his head persisted as he accelerated to a sprint, running off aimlessly with no direction in mind.

"Motherfucker…" Yelena muttered under her breath, finally losing sight of him. "Where the hell is he going now?"

Notes:

I'm trying to conclude this story in 9 or less chapters because damn... I'm already running out of ideas. And maybe this is getting boring or dragging to some of you.

Kudos and comments are always appreciated.

Chapter 37

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Oh, have you seen this, Zeke?" Pieck was on her phone, swiping through her newsfeed.

"I don't check my account if you ask me," Zeke said, looking out his car's window as if spotting someone. "Happens only once a week."

"Or not at all. Well, I guess being an oldie loses interest in hot topics on social media. Okay, let me read it for you: Levi's secret is out." Pieck showed him her phone. "Uhm… a different kind of secret, apparently, and not about his health. The post was posted like a few hours ago and shared a thousand times. Now, you're sharing the spotlight. But looks like Levi's issue was much more interesting than yours. You know about this?"

Zeke narrowed his eyes and stared at the pictures carefully. "Holy shit…"

"Thought he's gay and living with your brother."

Zeke rolled his eyes. "Please. You know it was a joke, right? Did you take it seriously that he ran away with Eren? He'd kill me if news about him being gay goes around. Look, they live under one roof, but Levi had a partner now. Another woman. I just didn't tell you about it."

"And here I thought I was a trusted friend." Pieck pouted. "I'm so hurt. Care to share what's going on?"

"You should be a showbiz reporter, not a doctor," Zeke spat. "Thing is, that was all part of Levi's knack of recognizing strangers. I learned it recently when I followed him via tracker and forced him to see Frieda. His new woman—Hange—was a part of his nonexistent memory. You're aware that Levi and I kinda lost touch, and here he was, enjoying other people's company and living like another person. That includes getting a new love interest."

"Why aren't you jealous? You seemed calm about it."

"Frieda promised me that she could come up with a drug to reverse the effects of Levi's memories. I dunno how she'd do that, but I trust her skills. If Levi's memories come back as they should, he's gonna let go of these people," Zeke said with certainty, his head turned back outside the window. "But it's a bad thing he's caught in controversy again before we could fix things. Damn, the thing with Petra was a pain in the ass. She's the best example of why I can't date women."

Pieck chuckled. "Spare me."

"Yeah. Of course, you're different, little sister."

Pieck scoffed.

"You're still thinking you have a chance with me?" Zeke teased.

"In case you'd like to know, I'm not interested in you," Pieck said. "Or perhaps I'd like to see my name on your legacy papers because you'd die early and loveless. You need to pass your fortune to someone else."

"You know your way under my skin, huh? My life's miserable, you don't need to point that out," Zeke told her bitterly. "Ah, god. I must've missed Eren by now. Stop talking."

"You shouldn't have brought me here with you. You know me, I'm unstoppable. But then, why hide in your car like a gunman waiting for his target? You're making things difficult," Pieck said and stormed out of the car.

"Where the fuck are you going?"

"Making things easier for you, big brother!" She winked and ran across the street, heading to the entrance of Sina's Emergency Response building.

"W-what the…" Zeke burst out of his car and followed her with a slight limp. Pieck was a small woman who had the stride of an excitable puppy. She was fast, and before he could keep up with her pace because his body was rendered dysfunctional from all the fatigue last night, she was already inside the building and must've made friends effortlessly. He took his time stalling outside the entrance, jittering for a reason.

And he was right, Pieck's charm can lure a guy or two, but this time, there are three blushing young men hovering over her by the entrance's hallway. He stepped inside and halted behind her, clearing up his throat.

Pieck turned around with a beaming smile. "Oh, there you are, Dr. Jaeger. It's your lucky day! Eren was here, and I made someone call for him. He'll be here in a minute. Told you it was easy!"

"W-what…" Zeke's mouth dropped. He was not ready for this yet. At least not yet because his plan was just to see Eren from a distance and plan how to approach him some other time. Looks like Pieck got the game ahead of him. He grabbed her by the elbow and led her outside.

"H-hey… what are you doing?" Pieck wriggled herself off his grip.

"It's not my plan to talk to him yet! I think I'm not ready…"

"What?!"

"I'm not ready to face him yet. I've been rude, I kept shutting him off my life—" Zeke stopped when he saw Eren's figure standing a few meters at the end of the hallway, stunned as if he'd seen a ghost. His hand gripping Pieck loosened.

"Zeke." Eren's washed-out face studied his brother closely. He walked past the three curious guys and stopped halfway just to confirm Zeke was indeed in front of him.

"You must be Eren!" Pieck broke the awkward silence and nudged the blond doctor. "Come on, Zeke. You want to talk to your brother, right?"

As if there was a choice. Zeke exhaled and motioned for Eren to follow him. "There's a nearby park two blocks away from here. Can we talk?"

Eren smiled modestly. "I guess we could."

A dense crowd of reporters welcomed Kenny Ackerman as he stepped out of his car. Their rabidness in getting their scope to clarify the controversial and viral post this morning was expected. Of course, the news got to Kenny earlier from a bunch of calls. Some shareholders tried to reach him, but he had only one answer for each of them: I guess we have our preferences.

One popular TV station was going live, and Kenny was not spared of the ambush interview as the mic was shoved right in front of his face, blocking his path to the holdings' building. Phones and cameras surrounded him like vultures around a carcass. Fortunately, he was taller than the rest of them because the air from that tight spot could restrict his breathing. He chuckled at the prospect of Levi being ambushed like this, and broken bodies would litter the sidewalks once he threw punches and kicks. He never brought bodyguards, but his secretary tried hard to swat off the crowd like flies.

"It's okay, Caven. It's been a while since I'm not being swarmed like this. I think I can give a little time for these people," he calmly told a blonde woman in a white suit who was a bit surprised by his coolness. He turned back to the crowd. "I would love to guess what this means. Was it my nephew you wanna talk about?"

The crowd went crazy, pushing themselves closer to him.

"Mr. Kenny, a post about Levi Ackerman allegedly on vacation with another woman went viral this morning. Can you confirm it was him?" One reporter shamelessly took the spotlight with a candid question.

"Ah," Kenny hummed. "Well, it is what it is. What you see is how you interpret it."

"So, would that mean you're confirming it was indeed Levi Ackerman? Who was reported two weeks ago that he and his girlfriend Petra were back together?"

"Was it really confirmed that he was back with Petra? Did it come straight from his mouth? He's seen out in public with her a few times, but you, folks, assumed they were back together. Petra had been announcing her wedding, but I'd guess we'll never know with Levi unless he declares it himself," Kenny said equivocally.

Several faces frowned at the answer. One pressed, "But did Levi cheat? The public assumed that the taller woman with him was the reason for Petra's rejection of his wedding proposal."

"Levi was my nephew, and I know him better than everyone else. He never cheated once, and Petra would agree with me. Her rejection for no reason during Levi's proposal effectively ended their relationship. Levi wasted his life for weeks until the accident, and that's when he met that woman. Nobody brought up how a certain person rescued Levi from the car crash. That was her, just so you know."

"Have you met her by any chance?"

"What's her name?"

"How long have they been dating?"

"What can you say to those who say she was taking advantage of him? Because she's an average person and not one of the elites?"

More and more questions are being thrown, but Kenny was not a bit daunted. His intimidating stance and calmness towards his statements made them more significant, drawing more crowd, more queries, more clarifications.

"I haven't met the lady, but I've only been hearing good things about her. But the dating part? I haven't talked to Levi yet, so I couldn't answer that. And to those people who kept throwing shade at that poor woman without even knowing her on a personal level, I'd advise you to take a breather someplace with less pollution. You say she was an average person but we, Ackermans are, too. What's the difference? I don't label people based on their social status. Levi can choose any person who will make him happy. It's all about compatibility. If there came a day that Levi made a wrong choice, it's all on him. But then again, there are no good or bad decisions. I taught him early on in life to make decisions with little to no regrets and, no matter the outcome, just grow out of it. Acceptance should come first."

That quieted the crowd.

Kenny raised his chin. "Anything else? I'm expecting more substantial questions. You're interviewing the chairman of Ackerman Holdings, and those questions fall below my level of comprehension."

His calmness was slowly fading, but he could still wear composure like a well fitted-glove. His wrinkly face had a forced smile to it, just to display his manners in a more captivating and convincing way.

"How would this affect the Ackerman Holdings? Would people lose trust in this company?"

Kenny scoffed. "You assume too early. Do you think this controversy will take down the number one holdings company in Paradis? What's with all these people not taking into account what the company did to our economy and society? You can hate Levi and his choices in life but never forget what the Ackerman family did to make every citizen's life convenient. We took part in road construction, subway stations, trading ports, telecommunications, real estates, food industries, health and pharmaceuticals, aviation, agriculture, cityscape developments, nature restoration and preservation, I could go on and on with a hundred list. Now tell me, you want to express hate towards one harmless action of a person who chose another woman who never favored your taste? Then you're free to stop utilizing every Ackerman contribution in this country. Try to stay inside your homes because once you step outside your door, I'm sure the road you will be walking on is a part of our projects. Would you even think that we'll lose stakeholders and partners for this? I'd be more than glad to let them go if they please. We can stand alone as we are, and I'm sure more people behind us will show their support and patronage. Levi's love life has nothing to do with his CEO duties, the economy, and definitely with your unjustified opinions. He didn't owe any of you to force him with your preferences and standards. He's not a celebrity. He's a CEO, one of the pilots of this society's flight for growth and advancement. Channel your absurd opinions elsewhere—better in the entertainment industry. Please respect his private life."

"Sir Kenny, we have to go," Caven whispered close to his ear.

"If you'll excuse me, let me have my way," Kenny requested, and his path was cleared. "I believe I've said my piece, and I could only request for one thing: let Levi be, because as a person who fostered him like my own, what matters to me is his happiness. Have a good day."

Six floors above, Armin was leaning at the window inside Mikasa's office. "He's coming in now, Mikasa."

Mikasa rose from her seat and surveyed the crowd of reporters down the street. She was holding her phone where she had watched the live streaming of her uncle's interview. "I hope a lot of people have seen that."

Annie was also on her phone, very much impressed. "That was a powerful one from Chairman Ackerman."

"Not expecting that from him, apparently. He's always one to ignore interviews. And he doesn't give a damn about controversial issues." Mikasa breathed.

"But I guess it's different when a family is involved," Armin said, turning away from the window. "Both you and your uncle delivered your statements well. The strong familial affection domineered the uncertainties in this event."

"I'm quite relieved," Mikasa said. "I think I'm feeling it now that we really are a family. I finally saw a different side of Uncle Kenny."

Armin smiled at her in agreement. "At least you know that he cares. And I could feel sincerity on his part. He had compelling words, but he didn't use them to sugarcoat the situation. He knows what he's saying because you're always a family since the beginning, and he needs to protect Levi."

"I know. I hope that interview could help Levi get through this mess…"

"Let's stay positive! But first things first, I know we have a lot of things to talk about," Armin reminded her.

"Right," Mikasa straightened up. "Erwin should be coming in a while. So, what do I need to know?"

Armin and Annie exchanged glances, but Armin took the spot. "We located Church and Magnolia, and I can confirm that all our theories are correct."

"What?!" Mikasa's mouth gaped in shock.

Armin heaved a sigh and started, "Rod Reiss was operating an illegal business under PharArmour, Inc. He's being protected by unnamed government officials who also partake in the drug profits. Levi appointed Church and Magnolia to take surveillance, and progressively, they are acquiring evidence. However, Rod found out and confronted Levi about it. It was unclear how the conversation went, but there were threats targeting Church and Magnolia's families. That's when Levi acted independently and gathered all the evidence for himself, leaving his cohorts out of trouble. He's planning to expose Rod through the press because he knows if relied on the justice system, there would be a person or two to rig the allegations. He sent Church and Magnolia to Marley for safety reasons in case something happened to him, but he reassured them they could live in peace after his press release. It was scheduled after his proposal to Petra but then… you see, things happened."

"Oh god…" Mikasa paced back and forth and ended up reclining on her chair. She massaged her temples. "It's hard being an Ackerman."

Armin looked at her with sunken eyes. "Just don't give up, Mikasa. We'll get through this. We can meet with Church and Magnolia again to plan our next move. The only problem is, Levi kept all the evidence and we need your help in looking through his files and vaults. It should be safe kept somewhere, right? Isabel can also try to access his soft files and see what we can find there. At least now, we have our criminal. We only need the evidence to come along. At least, it's a huge step to put Reiss in jail."

"Can Church and Magnolia specify what we're looking for? How much do they know before Levi took the job of investigating alone because he couldn't risk their safety?" Mikasa asked.

"Well… it's best to schedule a meeting again with them soon. We can call them any time," Armin said. "But I'd guess we couldn't put this case out in the open because Levi was also embroiled in another controversy."

"That's the point, Armin. One issue will affect the other. But we couldn't just sit back and wait until the controversy dies. It's easy for Levi, but it will be different with Hange."

"I'm sure the press will be after the parties involved. Petra Ral included."

"That's likely." Mikasa rolled her eyes.

"And people loved her," Armin added. "Levi and Hange could only be saved by accounts of people surrounding them. At least you and your uncle performed a little damage control."

"We could only wait. The controversy's still fresh. It will take time unless Levi needs to make a statement. But we couldn't make him talk in public, not when he's currently unstable."

"You're right. And…" Armin glanced over to the third person in the room. "Actually, there was another thing you need to know."

"What's that?" Mikasa asked.

Annie cleared her throat. "I talked to Krista Lenz this morning. I managed to blow her cover. It's also confirmed that she's Historia Reiss, as Mr. Levi suspected. I recorded our conversation for evidence and also forwarded it to Armin. I made her talk, and she admitted she was solely hired to act as Rod Reiss's spy. She's a former bartender at the bar where Mr. Levi made his last stop before the crash."

Mikasa has had enough of explosive revelations. Her head began to throb again as she reached for a bottle of peppermint oil on her table.

"She was an illegitimate daughter of Rod hidden from the public. When Krista needed funds for her mother's medical needs, she sought help from her father, but that should come with a price," Annie narrated. "That's when she was tasked to spy on Mr. Levi for the reason that wasn't disclosed to her. Thing is, Krista didn't know what her father's plans were. Until one night, she followed Levi to a bar where he'd been drinking. Her task is to make him drink a spiked drink."

Mikasa sprang from her seat and exploded, "So she's the one! Where the hell is Krista?!"

Armin was fast enough to grab her by the arm. "Easy, Mika. Krista didn't know a thing about the drug. She'd been guilty. And her mother died that very same night when Levi fell into a coma. She's willing to be punished for her deeds, but I guess we'll need her more to help us in pressing charges against her father. Don't let your feelings get the best of you!"

Mikasa calmed herself. "So, things are connecting now…"

"Huh?" Armin wondered.

"Zeke Jaeger found out that the blood tests on Levi had traces of drugs formulated in Frieda Reiss's lab. Its effects should induce altered memories because of psychedelic properties. Frieda didn't deny their existence but claimed they were stolen. Hold on…"

Armin and Annie mirrored horrified looks on their faces.

"Could it be…" Armin ventured. "Levi had been aware of Rod's criminal activities all this time? However, he proceeded to gather evidence first because he didn't trust the justice system which might be also behind Rod Reiss's immunity to criminal charges. His best option is to reveal everything to the public using the press, but Rod got ahead of him. Rod stole the drug from Frieda and gave it to Krista. That way, his dark secrets are safe."

"So there, we all have our answers! Levi's caught in very terrible timing," Mikasa said grumpily. "He's got one job and was ruined by a rejected marriage proposal."

"Hey, he's just caught in bad circumstances," Armin consoled her. "Don't dwell on his butchered romantic affairs. We can always come up with our solutions. Don't stress over this just yet. We'll revive what he started."

"I'd contact both Isabel and Furlan again. We can arrange a meeting with them because they're also insisting on meeting with Mr. Levi," Annie offered. "And as for Krista, rest assured she will cooperate with us. She can show us her personal documents that link her blood relations to Rod Reiss. She even claimed she had always been against her father's actions, and putting him to jail would also give justice to her mother's death."

"Thank you, Annie," Mikasa acknowledged her. "Thanks for helping us. I'm grateful."

Annie nodded her head with a small smile on her lips.

"So…" Mikasa stretched her arms. "Guess it's also time to tell Erwin what we found out."

"Better," Armin agreed. "And we'd start looking into Levi's files in his office. He could be hiding them somewhere here. Well, hopefully. We could ask for Isabel's help."

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation.

"That must be Erwin now," Mikasa said, looking at Armin gravely. "Take it away, Armin."

The park was empty.

Or maybe it was Zeke's choice to find a spot a little far away from the crowd. That particular spot expressed a state of neglect. A few feet nearby was a small, dark green pond, slightly reeking of sewage and algae. The grassy grounds were not well-kept and trimmed, except for a few varieties that didn't grow any longer, or dried up under the sun. And then, a decaying wooden bench—left and forgotten to rot in time was fixed in place, far different from the rest. Over that bench, the Jaeger brothers sat quietly, and not a word was exchanged between them after five minutes of occupying that space.

Zeke was on one side, while Eren took the other end. A wide gap separated them as if they were strangers to one another.

The older Jaeger finally broke the silence, sensing the looming awkwardness between them. "Is it okay for you to come here with me when you have a job back there?"

"I was on a break. It's fine," Eren said.

"Okay," Zeke clipped, nodding slightly. "Okay."

There was a ten-second silence. Eren took the liberty to say something this time.

"Zeke, about last night…"

"Thank you," Zeke said hastily, turning his head to Eren. "Y-you didn't need to save me, but you still did…"

"But I have to, Zeke. I could take any bullet for you."

"Even if I told you before we're not connected anymore?"

"That was just you," Eren said. "You shut me off. But don't take me for someone easy at cutting ties. Definitely not with my brother. You're the only one I got. We only have each other."

Zeke closed his eyes to curb his real emotions towards his younger brother. "It's been years. Haven't you thought of forgetting about me?"

"You're the reason why I survived my teenage years. You were my provider when my mother left me for another man. You never harbored hate towards me as a result of our father's mistake. You treated me well, and that's when I thought life would be easier because I could always depend on you. But that's my mistake because I grew up wasting my life. Maybe it was the fun of the teenage years. Carefree and limitless. And when… when Dad died… when I felt accountable for him and his wife as well, that's when I realized all the irreparable damage I'd caused your family. I've had enough nightmares to keep me up all night. I've said my thousand sorries, but I know they're not enough. I could cry and sleep over Dad's grave over and over again and look for signs that I was forgiven. Hell, if only I could bring back what we lost. If only I could switch places with Dad because the world needs him more than me…" Eren was on the verge of tears, looking at the sky to prevent them from falling. "But some things are irreversible. We can't turn back the time and make things right. So today, I'm making up for it. I'm constantly changing myself to be a better and more acceptable person. I'm not begging for your forgiveness, Zeke. All I'm asking is for you to let me be the brother who will save you in times of trouble."

Zeke kept his silence with lips pressed in a tight line.

"I was… glad…" Eren continued. "To see you back there in the hallway, and they said you were looking for me. I was hoping you're…"

"I want to know the person who wanted me dead," Zeke said abruptly, painting disappointment over Eren's face.

"Well…" Eren sighed dejectedly. He balled his hands over his lap. "I'm not sure who it was. I just happened to bump into someone who passed the information to me. Someone ordered to kill you, and they're giving away a huge amount of money. I also happened to know the guy who took the job, so it was easier to prevent the murder from happening. Do you have enemies, Zeke?"

"Not that I know of," Zeke intoned. "I'm a neurosurgeon. Some patients die under my care, and that'd probably upset their families. That's the only thing I could think of had someone wished me dead."

"I don't think so," Eren said. "Grief doesn't justify an action to hurt someone, especially in your line of job. There must be something else."

"You sounded like Pieck," Zeke said.

"Who?"

"The woman I'm with."

Eren cocked his head. "Is she your partner?"

Zeke chuckled gently. "A friend. She's a co-doctor."

"I see…"

Silence swept between them again, but the air was much lighter now. More relaxed, no suffocating feeling.

"She said there must be something behind the attempted murder. But I'm too preoccupied to think about it," Zeke said. "At first, I thought it was just a mistaken identity."

"It wasn't. I talked to Daz beforehand and asked him if he knew the person who wanted you dead. But he's got nothing except the alleged reward he wanted badly. The police had your case. I'm sure they're on it, and an investigation should be taking place by now," Eren said. "But… do you think it's safer if you change apartments? Stay somewhere else? There might be another attempt, you know?"

"Nothing happened where I stayed last night."

"But Zeke…" Eren pleaded. "There are other days to perform the act. We'll never know unless it happens again. And it might be too late."

This surprised Zeke. Eren, from years ago, would talk about how boring school was, how studying doesn't really improve one's life, and how he was close to quitting school until he did it. Eren today, a little taller and older, displayed maturity and sensibility. Much surprisingly, he expressed concern.

"I've seen the cycle of life in the streets. The crimes and violence aren't much talked about. There are big names behind undetected crimes and sometimes, they kill people to make them scapegoats. I've been in the drug business for years. I meet several people, some I meet twice, some never again. And then, there are stories of murders and unsolved crimes turning up. You can't end up the same and have people guessing what's behind the story, and then it'll just be forgotten in time," Eren said grimly. "Sometimes, I feel scared for myself, too. I wouldn't be surprised if I ended up dead in the alleys. If something happens to me, I guess it's just the result of my past crimes. But you, Zeke, have never done anything to be involved in any of this."

Zeke's detached expression softened. "What do you want me to do?"

"Look for another place to stay for a while until there were results of the investigation. For now, Daz wouldn't be able to help because he doesn't know a thing about the people behind the assassination orders. I might find a way to be in touch again with a few friends or get information somewhere. I'd make sure to—"

"No, Eren. Don't bother. I can take care of myself."

"But…"

"It's dangerous for you!" Zeke bellowed, springing up from his seat and standing before Eren. "Last night, you couldn't even defend yourself! You're disoriented, and if not for your friend back there, we could've been both dead by now."

Eren bowed his head. "I didn't plan it carefully, but I must do something that time. I couldn't just let anything happen to you!"

"You did great," Zeke said. "I am grateful for the effort, but I hope you don't involve yourself in any trouble again. Look after yourself first before anyone else!"

"I'm done being selfish," Eren said firmly. "I'm way past that troubled teenager who messed up your life. It's about time I make up to you."

"Eren, it doesn't work like that. You're right, we're the only ones left. We only have each other, but I couldn't take it if..."

Eren looked at Zeke questioningly.

"Please… stay out of trouble," Zeke said abashedly, finally swallowing his pride. "If something… if something happens to you… I…"

A gust of wind struck the place. Eren didn't move in place as he stared at his brother disbelievingly. His eyes watered, lips quivering. He slowly pushed himself up on weak knees and met Zeke's eyes.

"You really are a changed person now, Eren…" Zeke said softly. "I'm proud of you."

As if pushed by an invisible force, Eren found himself sobbing against Zeke's shoulder, one hand gripping the collar of his jacket. Zeke looked up at the sky tearfully, still unsure how this was finally happening. He lifted his right arm, running it up and down Eren's back. The moment was overwhelming, flooding them with mixed emotions to finally break them into tears.

"I'm sorry…. I'm sorry, Zeke..." Eren bawled out, chanting his apologies repeatedly.

"Hey, I forgive you," Zeke hushed him. "It's okay now, brother."

From a distance, Pieck had been watching them. A huge smile was plastered on her face as she mentally patted herself on the back. "Good job, Zeke."

Bad news. She's had enough of bad news. After the rescue mission at the sea this morning, Hange decided to stay in the office, getting worked up on paperwork. The controversy reached the workforce up to Theo Magath, who seemed unbothered by private matters. She sluggishly made her way to his office as if she needed some explaining to do.

"Sir, if you needed to suspend or exterminate me from the workforce, I'm willing to accept your decision," Hange said determinedly.

Magath looked up from his desk and waved her off. "I don't see the reason why I would suspend you, let alone terminate you."

"You've seen the news this morning," Hange said. "I gather."

"Yes," Magath clipped, eyes back on his papers. "Was it true?"

Hange swallowed. "Y-yes, sir."

He shrugged limply. "Good for you, then."

"Sir, this wasn't about me. I was in the rescue force, and one controversy within its people might ruin the image of—"

"No one's ruining the image of the rescue force. The hell are you saying?"

"Sir, everyone hates on me. I'm afraid my image will reflect the team as a whole. You know how people can be judgmental and proclaim their views as truth."

"Did you kill someone?"

"What?" Hange asked in bafflement.

"Did you kill someone?" Magath repeated.

"N-no…"

"Then, we have nothing to talk about."

"But sir…"

"If you want to leave the workforce, it's up to you. But remember, no one's firing you, " Magath said. "Have it your way, Zoe."

"But the news…"

"Can't say much about you hitting it off with an Ackerman. I'm just seeing two people who are smitten with each other," Magath said languidly.

Hange blushed. "Not… not someone who snatched somebody's fiancé?"

"Oh please, people have the freedom to choose their partners, regardless of society's standards," Magath pointed out matter-of-factly. "And I know you, Zoe. I know you always considered morals in making decisions in life. Don't let other people be the judge for that."

"Did you only say that to make me feel better?"

"No. I say these because I know how emotional you can get," Magath said feebly. "There's nothing wrong about you and Ackerman being a couple. The guy's not even married. He was rejected and got into an accident. Maybe he bumped his head badly and then forgot about who he was."

Hange frowned. Magath was laughing considerably at his own joke.

"Humor aside, Zoe, forget about that controversy. It's not like people's opinions can kill you," Magath said reassuringly. "Besides, have you seen the older Ackerman's live broadcast earlier? I think you should see that."

"K-Kenny Ackerman? The chairman?"

"Best to see for yourself," Magath said. "If you need another break, it's certainly allowable. But I hope you won't decide to leave your job for trivial reasons. It wasn't like you to take the controversies to a serious level. You can't please people, but then again, you don't live for them. In the end, it's your life and not anyone's business. Don't worry about us—your team—because we're seeing a leveled-up version of you who made one public icon fall in love with her."

Hange curled her lip downwards.

"Hey, don't give me that. And don't you dare cry in front of me!" Magath chided her. "I only cared about your skills and contribution to the team. But I hope your love life doesn't affect your duties at all costs."

"Sir…"

"You're a good person, Zoe. You deserved to be happy." Magath smiled awkwardly.

Some reassuring words can patch a bleeding wound. Magath was never empathic on the outside, and it was the first time Hange saw a different side of him. She turned around, feeling a bit better, and headed out of the door to be greeted by her co-workers. She was well-loved by most of them, and despite her current situation where her deeds were questionable, she has rather seen the other way. The way they smiled at her ruefully, and warm hands clapping on her back, Hange had been very grateful for their warmth and understanding.

However, Yelena calling her to give the news of Levi missing after meeting with Petra threw her into a panic.

"I lost him somewhere because I was driving his car. He ran away on foot!" Yelena told her. "Must have grown a couple of extra legs. Shit, I was driving around Sina and couldn't spot him."

"But why did you meet with Petra?" Hange ignored her statements. She was already running on the streets aimlessly, trying to make sense of Levi's behavior and the possible places he would run off to. "Is it because of the controversy?"

"Well, you should be proud that Levi told her the truth that he's living with us," Yelena said. "But Petra's a woman who'd never accept such things. She's…"

"What?"

There was a pause and a sigh on the other end. "Nothing."

"Are you still looking around?" Hange asked.

"Yeah."

"Go home, Yelena. You need some rest. I'd be on it."

"Sure?"

"Yeah," Hange said, loosening her button-down shirt to allow some air. "He's kinda unpredictable. This might take a whole day looking around, but I won't give up on him."

The sunset was equally spectacular as the first time she visited that special place. The construction of the building was slowly progressive in each level due to furnishings being added on a daily basis. However, that same level with the sunset viewpoint was still the same mess, as if it had been left untouched since the day Hange and Levi trespassed inside. Nevertheless, it was the sea beyond that Hange's attention. It had that sparkling hues of oranges and reds—at least the nicest thing to see whenever she is feeling down, and slowly, her worries for the day faded away.

It was relieving to find Levi sitting against a wall column, facing the sunset again—one leg bent up and one arm rested over his knee. Hange crouched beside him sneakily, but her resounding chuckle jolted him right off his sitting position—almost scrambling away in a defensive, guarded manner.

His eyes widened. "Hange…"

"Found you," Hange said. Her soft looks against the sunset eased him. "Hey, why do you look like you're gonna punch me in the face or something? Did I scare you?"

"The hell…" Levi relaxed and sighed, slinking back to his previous position. "Don't you dare sneak up on me. I could've knocked your teeth, know that?"

"Oh. Dentures are expensive."

"How did you find me?"

"It wasn't hard!" Hange started sarcastically. "I started like five hours ago, I think? Been at the park, the subway, the shopping center, the ah… tea shops… hell, why did I forget about this place?"

Levi stared at her closely, noticing her disheveled form. Hange must have had a hard time looking for him. "You looked like shit. Maybe you shouldn't have stressed out looking for me. It's not like I'm not coming home tonight."

"My job requires looking for missing people, so how would I not look for my missing boyfriend?"

"I'm not missing."

"You are. You turned off your phone and…" Hange sighed loudly. "You fucking scared me again, you know that?"

Levi sulked in guilt. He folded both his knees and brought them close to his chest, wrapping his arms around them. "Sorry."

"Yelena told me," Hange said. "She's never the caring type but she's worried about you. She's been driving around in town and called me when she couldn't find you. Said you two have been to your penthouse to see Petra."

"What else… did Yelena tell you?" Levi asked wearily.

Hange looked surprised. It might have seemed a lot has happened. "That you told Petra the truth. That we're living together. Why do you have to do that? Is it because of the scandal this morning?"

"That fucking scandal," Levi cursed. "You were hated because of me."

"It's just their opinions. Digital verbal attacks and cyberbullying don't matter to me at all. At least people don't come after me shooting their guns," Hange said jokingly. "Ah, the amount of hate. I guess I should get used to it like a chill celebrity."

"I feel bad about it, but why aren't you at least a bit bothered?"

Hange leaned against the wall column. There was a certain expression on her face that Levi thought of her smiling through the pain. "I think there's nothing much we can do about people's opinions anyway. Honestly, the scandal scared me at first. I was at a rescue mission this morning when the news blew up, and I was instantly recognized by a few people out there. They talked about me, laughed at me, criticized me—all the nasty stuff. But then, I realized I was still surrounded by people who believed in me. My co-workers empathized with me. They're pretty cool about us, actually. And then, Mikasa posted something to my defense. Even your uncle answered an interview. You know, maybe a lot of people are against us, but what matters is some people are backing us up, especially your family."

Levi's eyes softened. "Even K-Kenny?"

"My boss told me. To be honest, I was hesitant to watch it at first. By now, maybe a lot of people have watched it. Maybe you should change your impression of him."

"You think what he said is sincere?" Levi wondered.

"We never met, and he's making a wild guess about my personality to make it all convincing. I'd like to think he's sincere enough."

Levi pursed a lip and didn't say anything.

"So, don't worry about it!" Hange said cheerfully. "Shall we go home, then? Boy, I'm starving. You're gonna cook our dinner because you made me flip the whole town looking for you!"

Levi clicked his tongue. He knew her cheery disposition was all pretense. Hange wouldn't tell him that she was affected by the issue, but since she must have noticed his brooding mood, at least one of them should act optimistically.

She was about to push herself up from her sitting position when Levi grabbed her wrist.

"I need you to know something. I know Yelena wouldn't tell you, but Petra…"

Hange looked at him with uncertainty. Sometimes, it would be best for Levi to keep mum when it's all about Petra.

"Some…" Levi hesitated. "It's something about my memory. I told her the truth about us and she couldn't accept that fact. When she cried hysterically in front of me, I experienced flashes of our past."

Hange kept a straight face, urging him to go on.

"They're vivid. Given my memory today, those images are hard to recall but… I know they're snippets of my past with Petra," Levi assumed. "They scared me, to be honest. I ran away because my head was giving me glimpses of memories I was not familiar with. I don't want to know what they are."

Hange's expression dimmed. "I guess we can't do anything about that…"

"Hange…"

She sighed out loud, trying to laugh it off. "But it's the old you, Levi. It's who you are. Never say you're not familiar with those. You're just afraid to accommodate the possibilities of reconnecting with your past."

"No."

"Stop it," Hange told him hurtfully. "It's showing now. Your condition could only be temporary. Any time, you'd be recalling every event in the past. That includes your affair with Petra."

Levi shook his head. "And you're okay with that? That I'd forget all about us?"

"Hey." Hange held his hand, squeezing it tightly. "Of course, it's not okay with me. But I guess we just have to accept that everything about you today is part of an altered memory. You can't deny the existence of the old Levi. Things are bound to come back to normal. It's out of our control."

"And just like that? We'd throw everything away?"

"No," Hange said. "I'd cherish everything that we had, Levi. But right now, we'd go with the flow. Let the circumstances take us to paths where we should be."

Levi withdrew his hand from her. "You don't make sense."

Hange bit the inside of her cheek. She was tempted to counter his pessimism but failed at that. "I'm tired of thinking about the future, Levi."

"Because this could be temporary? That me being like 'this' was temporary?"

"You ask yourself now, Levi. How long will you stay like this? Some of your old memories are coming back. I just have to accept what's in the future for me. Whether you like it or not, it would just be 'me' who'll suffer the loss. Because maybe you won't remember me by then. And I certainly don't want to make a fool of myself by chasing after a man who doesn't remember me. So I can only tell myself that I'll be okay. I can cope with that. Besides, I'm not new to heartbreaks," Hange said. "So don't be too hard on yourself."

"But you promised me," Levi croaked.

"Promised?"

"That whatever it takes, you'll make me remember you if I regain my memories."

"Of course. That's a promise." Hange was smiling tearfully. "But at the same time, if you shove me aside because you don't recognize me, it's all over for us."

"No. I should be remembering you. There should be a part of me who'd remember everything about us."

Hange stared at him in bewilderment.

"Don't you dare give up on me, four-eyes."

It was a plead, more than a request. Hange was crushed internally, and before she could make it obvious, she gave him a reassuring smile for an answer.

The conversation ended right there. The dead air took more than ten seconds, and their mood for talking flitted away before the topic gets more depressing. Hange helped herself up and dusted off her pants. She took one last look at the orange horizon, signifying the end of the day. How many beautiful sunsets are left for her to watch with Levi? Will this be the last? Her smile didn't leave her face, but Levi could read sadness through her eyes. She avoided his deep, concentrated gaze and turned around.

"It will be dark soon. Wear your mask and cap. We couldn't risk you getting caught in public again," she said, walking sluggishly on her way to the stairs where she came in.

Levi followed her silently, and they never talked as they descended the several flights of stairs to the ground floor. He kept a good distance as if she was a stranger, and then, it hit him. The idea of Hange being a stranger gets him, biting his lip behind the mask. There was a strange sense of hurt and madness that he'd never wish to entertain. He could blame himself for bringing up a sensitive topic that killed the mood. His honesty ruined it for them, and now, all he could do was retain that safe distance from her.

Hange didn't need to remind themselves to go separate ways once they made it to the city's square. Levi could take the bus; she could take the subway. The last thing they wanted was to be spotted in public together.

It was already dark when they reached the city square on foot. Hange looked over her shoulder to check on Levi. He was still on her tail but at a bigger distance by now. His hands were buried in his pockets, eyes dead-set on her. The crowd separated them, and it couldn't get any emptier for both of them.

Hange nodded slowly, and Levi responded with the same nod before turning away in the direction of the bus station. They conversed through their eyes and understood the words behind them. They parted like strangers swimming through a faceless crowd.

An LED screen from across the street grabbed the crowd's attention when the face of Petra Ral interrupted the flashing advertisements on the neon panels. Suddenly, in the middle of bustling nightlife, was a public statement that Hange needed not to guess. It was a live television interview from the scandal this morning. Of course, Petra wanted to address the issue right away. She could even pay for any TV station to broadcast her side of the story. Really? In the middle of the streets?

Hange froze on her heels, her throat running dry.

The foot traffic slowed and then, halted. The crowd turned to the screen with gaping interest.

"Yes, about the pictures…," Petra announced dramatically. "They were true, unfortunately. About two weeks ago, Levi left the penthouse we shared together. We never talked. No calls, no texts. I didn't know where he was, except his sister told me that he was out of town for his therapies I wasn't informed of. Then, a friend of mine sent pictures of someone who resembled him with another woman. However, I refused to believe them. It's just that after verifying myself, my boyfriend was indeed seeing someone else."

Hange could run away, but she remained rooted in her spot. Her limbs felt numb.

"But it wasn't Levi's fault that he fell in love with another person. He was a mess in the head after the accident. He fell into a coma and then fell for the person who saved his life. I mean, it's justifiable. Maybe it had been over for us since the day I rejected his wedding proposal. But I just wanted him to know that I still loved him dearly. Nothing changed. It's just... I feel stupid about my actions! So stupid that I put his life at risk. Yes, it was all my fault! I am guilty of a groundless decision to lose the person I loved. I'd still accept him today, no matter how much has changed about him. We're once lovers, and I know deep inside his heart I still have a special space in it."

Hange looked away, feeling bad about herself.

"Levi's simply confused," Petra chuckled painfully. "We lived together for a while, and I saw some odd behavior that feels like… it wasn't him. I mean, it happens to people after a coma, so it's pretty understandable. His mind is not at its full capacity, probably because of the impact. But I just hope people aren't taking advantage of that state. He's fragile and vulnerable. He needs comfort. Unfortunately, he found it in another person. He met with me this morning, and it hurts that at the height of the scandal, he told me right in the face that it's truly over for us, that he was already living with that woman, Hange Zoe."

The name revelation was pronounced with biting intensity. The crowd gasped. Murmurs flooded Hange's ears. She felt attacked at the mention of her name, and now that she was around a crowd where her face was exposed and easily recognizable, her chest tightened.

"Four-eyes!"

She turned around at the recognition of that voice. She finally noticed accusatory eyes on her, and it was no longer a question for a handful of people noticing her. She could have dug herself a grave where she was standing if not for Levi's call from a distance.

But…

"Levi…" Hange whispered to herself after seeing him standing behind her as if he had never left at all.

It was easy to spot an Ackerman within a crowd. A short but imposing stature, a handsome yet unsmiling face. He removed his cap and mask simultaneously, totally exposing himself to the public eye. More inaudible gasps followed when one person blurted out his presence, and Hange wanted to die on the spot.

"You fool…" Hange mumbled.

Petra's live interview was still rolling and glaring, but then again, the attention was now on Levi. Some people snuck pictures of him, and Hange knew how crazy people could get from seeing his rare public appearance.

Levi stepped forward, until he found himself sauntering towards the ground where she stood.

"Levi, what the hell…" Hange seethed in embarrassment, sensing all eyes on them.

Levi looked around him, gathering more crowd from that little unplanned stunt. "Now we got their attention…"

"People are staring. What the fuck are you doing?!"

Levi smiled smugly. "There's no need to hide what we have. Let them stare. They need answers, and we give them that. Petra's right. I'm a mess in the head today, so I'd like to mess up their heads some more…"

"Wha—"

He grabbed Hange's head by her ponytail and brought their faces close to each other. Her doe eyes widened before him, mouth parting.

"Levi..." she whispered, still taken aback by the way he treated her with intimacy. "You're not gonna do something crazy!"

"Fuck what others think. They hate you, might as well they hate me, too."

Hange wriggled out his grasp, but Levi's grip was tighter.

"Close your eyes..."

"No."

"We're telling the world the truth," Levi said. "And I'm proud of this decision."

"Levi, you're putting up a freaking show!" Hange exclaimed, too stunned to pull away.

"Whatever. The freaking show is all about me announcing my feelings publicly. If Petra had her ways, I gotta have mine, too," Levi said confidently before sealing the distance between them.

And right at that very moment, Levi had done a more explosive scandal than Petra's confessions on the screen. The world stopped at least to everyone who was witnessing this public display of affection. Several thumbs clicked the record button on their phones, and more and more people crowded around them.

Levi snaked his other hand at the small of her back, and Hange steadied her hands over his shoulders.

Nobody protested. People's eyes were glued on the kissing couple along the street. Somehow, a cringy moment turned out to be raw and emotional, drawing a mesmerized crowd in the middle of Petra's tirades on-screen.

When Levi finally pulled away, he breathlessly pressed his forehead against Hange's. He smiled weakly. "Never had the chance to do this with you in another world because things had been different. The world will hate us, but I'm not losing you twice, four-eyes."

One person from the crowd squeaked in delight. "Dear, it feels like watching a movie!"

Hange pressed a quick kiss on Levi's forehead and smiled back lovingly. "Not gonna lose you either, shorty."

Notes:

A chapter filled with reconciliation, fluff, and blissful times. Because I don't want to put Hange in another spin of emotions. Lol!

What would be next, though?

Kudos and comments are appreciated.

Chapter 38

Notes:

This chapter happened on a two-week timeskip.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

"You're no longer a bartender, Krista! Get the hell out of here!"

Ymir was pushing the little blonde out of the bar counter as more and more customers flocked the area. However, Krista planted her shoes firmly onto the floor, preventing Ymir from moving her any further.

"Someone needs no help at all, huh? It wouldn't hurt to let me share your load, Ymir. Besides, I fix better cocktails than you," Krista scoffed. "That should earn you more customers tonight!"

"You know what I'll earn? Exhaustion. If I own this bar, I will work 24/7 just to keep the cash flowing, but hell, the more customers each night, the more job I'll take and I'd have my poor salary all the same," Ymir complained straight into her ears. "Now, get out."

"Don't you want to hang out with me?"

"I got a job, see? Just get out of here, or I'd ask Reiner to toss you outside the bar," Ymir threatened. "Or… you can opt to stay in the locker room and wait 'til I get my shift done."

Krista pouted. "Can I just stay here with you? I won't do anything! I'll just sit around and watch."

"No. You're only attracting more customers because you're too sweet and guys surround you like bees. And like I said, I want less work tonight."

Krista stood stiffly while Ymir grumpily tended to customers gathering by the corner. She offered again, "Ymir! I can help, you know?"

But Ymir just ignored her. Krista sighed in defeat and walked away, heading to the backdoor leading to an alley where she used to spend some time feeding the stray cats before getting employed at Ackerman Holdings.

It was cold and dark when the metal door closed behind her. Sure thing, there are no cats around. They probably wandered off someplace because Ymir would rather kill the cats for their meat than feed and nourish them. She took in the damp and filthy surroundings when the smell of cigarettes penetrated her nose. Her head whipped to her right, and saw Reiner sitting over a crate with a stick in hand.

"Reiner…"

The burly guy was blowing a cloud of smoke into the air and jolted at her intrusion. He's not one to let people see his smoking habits, so he hastily put the tip out and cleared his throat. "Krista…"

"You're putting a nail in your coffin," Krista reproached him.

Reiner rubbed his head. "I'm on a break. And one's not gonna hurt."

"Yeah? And how many in a day?"

"Just a stick or two," Reiner lied.

"Liar," she hissed.

Reiner coughed out. "Well… it isn't your business, is it?"

Krista looked hurt. "Just let me be a friend who's concerned about your health and well-being."

Reiner chuckled. "Thanks, but I guess those were supposed to be said by wives to their husbands."

Krista blushed. "Hey…"

Reiner raised his hands in surrender. "I'm just kidding! So, what brings you here?"

Krista sighed and leaned against a wall across from him. "Ymir wanted me out of the counter. Said I don't belong here anymore. I just missed my old job, you know? And feeding the alley cats in-between. Would you even know where they went?"

Reiner cocked his head. He didn't seem to understand. "Cats?"

"Ah, you don't know about them," Krista huffed. "Well, before I got employed at Ackerman Holdings, I've been feeding a dozen cats here. I asked Ymir to take care of them but… I guess she's got no parental instincts."

Reiner laughed. "What can Ymir do about those poor little things when she couldn't even feed herself? Plus, you can't make a tiger feed the cats."

Krista giggled softly. "Tell her that and you're dead."

"But seriously, Krista, you're lucky to be working at Ackerman Holdings right now. It's everybody's dream job. I heard they pay well."

Krista shrugged. "Yes, they do. It's the dream company of many. They treated every employee well, gave them stability. But…"

"Huh?"

She quivered. "I think they don't deserve me. I kinda fucked up my job."

"What?" Reiner wondered. "But you're excellent in your job as a bartender."

Krista wrinkled her nose. She remembered a few days ago when Annie Leonhart blew her cover, when Mikasa Ackerman and Erwin Smith confronted her about her covert actions and misdeeds. She was made to sign up for some papers she didn't even have the guts to read. She knew by heart that they had lost trust in her, but she wanted to prove them wrong. Now that she was exposed, it is up to her to choose between her father and the people she wronged—specifically, Levi Ackerman.

She chose to be on the good side.

"A desk job is far different from mixing cocktails. Being a bartender is a no-brainer because I've been in the job since college. It only requires basic skills that didn't even need talents, time management, and good customer service," Krista said. "But… my current job is a complicated matter."

"I see," Reiner said. "Something a bouncer like me won't understand."

"Hey! It's not like that!" Krista wailed.

Reiner let out a breathy laugh. "You know, when Ymir and I learned about you switching to a corporate job, we couldn't help but be proud and jealous at the same time. Don't get us wrong, though. Sometimes, being stuck in a job like this gets too boring and emotionally draining. You're being paid to stand by the door and watch around. Wait for trouble to happen and you'd be black and blue the next day. It's the kind of job you didn't need to use your brains, but boy, you gotta get your shit beaten if you didn't pack enough muscles to make yourself look like nobody wants to mess with you. Sometimes, comfort zones get you caged up because you've been in the business for years, but then again, there are times when I also dream of a job that will make me proud of myself. That I won't get to carry drunken people to their cars or take a punch that wasn't for me. That maybe I'd get to wear suits and ties and leather loafers because I'd want to look respectable. Some people dream of elegance in the corporate world, and I was one of them. So please, don't ever say you are fucking up your job because nothing is as fucked up as my job."

"Reiner, it wasn't my choice to be there," Krista explained.