WhIP

by footfungus

nederlands verhalen over mijn otp

13. The Man from Two Worlds 5 - Levi x Petra

in

"Oh, hell yeah! While everyone tries hard to make it past the interviews and exams, there you are being ungrateful. You sure know how to humble-brag, and it's not good for my sanity."

"You don't understand. While I do admit that this job got me a decent place and lifestyle, I think I'm happier with a job that would make me sleep at night."

"What do you mean?"

Krista pressed her lips into a thin line, then stuck out her right hand. "Hand it over."

"What?" Reiner gaped at her.

"You're keeping a bottle beside you, right? Hand it over, I need to chug down something."

"Not gonna allow you pass out on me again." Reiner shook his head. "But damn, how did you know I got a bottle here?"

"Please," she pleaded with her bright blue puppy eyes.

Reiner grimaced. "Shit. Just watch it. Ymir wouldn't approve of this!"

"Not unless you tell her. Come on. I just need to let this out. Let my feelings out!"

The big guy hesitated, but he was already handing over a half-consumed bottle of liquor. Krista grabbed it gratefully and twisted the lid off. She drank straight from the bottle without a care in the world.

"Uh, you're okay with not drinking from a cup or shot glass?" Reiner asked hesitantly, thinking of the blonde girl tasting his lips from the bottle's mouth. He gulped down the imagination and looked away abashedly.

"It's not like you got something contagious to make me sick," Krista pointed out matter-of-factly, taking another swig from the drink.

"Easy…" Reiner wavered. "Hey, you gotta tell something, right?"

Krista wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her face flushed immediately, looking at the other guy tearfully. "Can I trust you?"

Reiner shrugged. "Well… unless you did a crime…"

"I did," she whispered.

"What?" His jaw dropped. "Hold on… I don't need to hear it. Forget about this conversation between us… I… don't… I don't want to be involved in any of it!"

"Relax…" Krista said. "Well… can you listen first? You think I am even capable of committing a crime?"

Reiner didn't answer. He was looking at her gravely.

"First, my real name wasn't Krista Lenz," she bared.

"What?"

"I'm a Reiss. An illegitimate child of Rod Reiss."

"Who?" Reiner asked dumbly, trying to recall his familiarity with the name. "The businessman?"

Krista nodded. "Unbelievable, right? I am the bane of his existence. If people find out he fathered a child from a woman he only met one night, then that's the end of his pious image."

Reiner was trying to recover. "So… he's not the person people used to see him? The gentle, giving, religious guy he is?"

"People have dirty little secrets. My father was no exception."

It took Reiner ten seconds to speak. "Reiss was a bigshot family, right?"

"That's just them because in the first place, my father didn't want me. And I was kept a secret all these years. However, there was a time that I needed something from him because I was desperate to get a cure for my mother. That's when he agreed to help me because I was still his responsibility, but that came with so many conditions," Krista said sulkily. "That is to spy on Levi Ackerman, and put something in his drink."

Reiner's jaw tightened.

"I was forced to quit my job as a bartender because it was part of his request. I didn't have a choice. I was made to spy on the CEO's activities and report them to my father. I don't know what's going on. I know Levi Ackerman was a stiff but nice man. I never heard any bad things about him except my father. At some point, I hope Levi was the bad guy, and he deserved an equally bad treatment but… I couldn't seem to find anything wrong about him."

"What the hell…"

"Levi was in the news these days—in a controversy where he was caught kissing another woman in public, simultaneously with Petra Ral's live confessions in the background. While people initially despised the news of his viral pictures, they now adored the laidback version of him being out in public and expressing his true feelings to someone. But people didn't realize his real condition. He behaves like a different person and that's why his feelings for Petra changed."

"You mean… he's not who he is?"

"It's the effect of the drug," Krista admitted.

"Was it that time…" Reiner recalled. "Of the news of his accident?"

Krista nodded. "At the same time with my mother's impending death. Technically, I didn't hand him the drug myself, but, I was still accountable for making it happen. At the very last minute, I decided not to do it but the guy—one of my father's cohorts took the task instead. I couldn't do anything but watch as Levi drank the spiked drink that night, praying nothing bad would happen to him. My mother died the next morning and my conscience kept nagging at me for days especially when Levi slipped into a coma. I don't want him to die. It feels like killing another person next to my mother."

"So, are you being caught?"

Krista nodded. "When Levi miraculously woke up, I felt relieved. But then, he called me by my real name—Historia. That's when you found me passed out in the toilet because I was afraid he found out my secret. Some weeks ago, one of my workmates tricked me into her trap questions. Turns out she was ordered by the CEO's executive assistant to verify their suspicions that I was involved in tampering with the records in the company's database. But then, I really am guilty so it would be unwise to deny the allegations. I felt ensnared. It was terrifying. Terrifying than witnessing my mother's slow death. I struggled to justify my side, free up the guilt that had been choking me all these months," Krista narrated throatily. The hand gripping the bottle flogged to her side. "I never felt so alone and defenseless. And then they told me about Levi's real condition. It struck a chord in me, doubling my guilt and I couldn't take it. They'd been honest and entrusted me with that sensitive information. I thought they'd detain me until they could give a proper warrant for my arrest, but… they only asked for my participation to be a witness to my father's crimes."

Reiner sniveled. Maybe he didn't deserve to hear everything that was meant to be a secret. "What are your plans now?"

"I'm sending my father to jail because most of the drug-related crimes in Yalkell had something to do with him. He's getting away with his crimes and keeps doing them. He's the real bad guy. It was a shame that we're one blood. Shame that I existed through him. Shame that my mother met him, but they never really loved each other. Ironic, huh? A lovechild without real love from the one who fathered her." Her tears finally flowed down her cheeks. "He used me for his criminal acts."

Reiner gave her a sympathetic gaze. He was not too warm of a person to provide comfort. "You wanna smoke?"

Krista sobbed. "What?"

Reiner drew out a pack of cigarettes from his side pocket. "You could use some. One wouldn't hurt."

Krista stared at the nearly empty pack in his hand. She plucked out a stick as Reiner lit it up. She gingerly clipped it between her thumb and index finger, bringing it to her mouth and taking a long drag.

She coughed out violently. "Ugh, not gonna work with me."

Reiner snorted. "I guess good girls don't need bad habits."

"You think so?"

"You've been given the chance to prove that you still have the conscience to do better and repent your past actions. I think those people in your company gave you the benefit of the doubt to believe you've been used as an accessory to a crime and not as another threat. You did a good job of siding with them than giving in to your father's orders. That takes a lot of guts and nerves of steel, actually."

Krista stared at him disbelievingly.

"Just do what is right. Your victim lived, and you know what your father is up to. Protect the oppressed. Protect your big boss."

"I will," she beamed.

Reiner smiled broadly. "That's… admirable of you. Sometimes, blood relations can be a pain in the ass. It twists our morals."

"He's not my family in the first place," Krista droned out. "Because I never felt any love from him as a father. I just got his blood because I'm a product of my mother's mistake. But to live with a clean conscience can make up for it."

"Well said, Krista."

"It's Historia Reiss," she said. "That name was unacceptable, but I guess I have to embrace the truth that it was the name that would put an end to my father's wrongdoings."

Three familiar knocks on Yelena's front door will be the onset of infuriation. She yawned on her couch, stretched her legs out, and mumbled a curse. She opened her eyes sleepily and curled to her side, trying to ignore the persistent knocks outside.

"No shit it was that guy again…" she murmured in annoyance. "What does he need this time?!"

The knocks ensued. Louder.

"Fucking ape!" She jolted upright and headed to the door, swinging it open and was welcomed by a sheepish smile of a bespectacled doctor greeting her like he was meeting the person of his dreams.

"Levi's not here," Yelena spat.

"I know."

"Eren, either."

"Of course, I'm aware."

"And I doubt you'll be looking for Hange."

He shook his head. His irritating, bright smile was getting on her nerves.

"Then what is it that you want?!" Yelena growled. "The fuck! I've been on my night shift and you're not gonna make me fix your plumbing again! You're a doctor and I bet you can afford a better apartment with the best housing facilities!"

She loved Eren like a dear little brother, but there was no way she'd treat anyone from his family the same way. Zeke Jaeger was a new occupant next door after Eren suggested changing apartments and living close to each other. The older Jaeger even proposed they could live together after they had patched things up, however, Eren didn't want to burden Zeke and make him handle the house expenses alone. Their reconciliation was sweet and dramatic, but Yelena realized letting the brothers close again is a bad idea. Or maybe because she was sensing the older Jaeger was showing a slight interest in her. The attention was unappealing, because Zeke does manipulative ways to get someone's attention—something she finds stupid.

It's been two weeks now, and Zeke has a habit of visiting her every other day asking some hand in moving in some furniture, fixing the plumbing, replacing defective light bulbs, dusting the ceilings, and getting a parking space in the building's basement. Sometimes, he'd ask her to help him get close again to Levi and make them hang out together in the evenings over cans of beers. He was finally warming up to Hange, much to Yelena's dismay because she knew for a fact that Zeke was still trying hard to get Levi's old memories back.

"I guess this was a bad time? Bad day at work? Or… bad evening at work?" Zeke asked.

Yelena rolled her eye with mounting irritability. "A bad morning. With you standing at my front door."

"Then it would be wise to let me in and sit on your couch?"

"Get into my cooking pot and stew yourself," Yelena countered derisively.

"Sounds you want a taste of me," Zeke mocked.

Yelena fumed. "More like feed you to the dogs."

"Relax! How could you be so grumpy in the morning? Don't tell me you're channeling our little man. It's not cool."

"What's not cool is to come here like you want me to do your laundry this time."

"Hey, I'm not asking for any favor today. In fact, I learned things from you, so I can fix things on my own. That's quite an achievement," Zeke bared his teeth proudly.

"Congratulations. So there's no reason for you to come here."

"Your sarcasm is attractive."

"Your flirting is bullshit."

Zeke laughed out loud. "Do I look like I'm flirting? You're quite sharp."

"Sharper than any blade to swing right on your throat. And here I thought you're actually gay for Levi."

"Hold on. I still preferred women over him. And ah, according to his memory, you're so obsessed with me," Zeke revealed.

"Levi's memories are as fucked up as you are," Yelena shot back.

Zeke sighed loudly. "Do you really hate me that much?"

"You haven't seen that side of me yet. And you'd definitely don't want it."

"I'm more than thrilled."

Yelena crossed her arms. Zeke was a tough nut to crack, and he was the first person who could stand her antics. She wouldn't admit that his persistence in befriending her was an impressive feat.

"It's hard to make friends." Zeke curled his lips. "You're quite a challenge, Yels."

"Nobody ever called me names unless they want an early death."

"But you've prevented my early death," Zeke said merrily, stressing Yelena's badass moments at the hospital basement.

Yelena gritted her teeth. "I did it for Eren, Dr. Weirdo. And if you really want to thank me for saving your sorry ass, leaving me alone would be your best shot. I have no time for this, so would you kindly leave and let me finally sleep in peace?!"

Zeke smiled. He showed her a paper bag and dangled it right on her face. "I'd leave if you accept these. I bought you breakfast."

"I didn't have a coupon in your soup kitchen."

"Yels, it's my treat! Was it bad to wake up in a good mood and remember to buy you glazed doughnuts and your favorite spiced coffee?" Zeke said. "Eren told me you'd kill for these."

"I'd kill for you not to show up at my front door and bother me during the day. I'm too exhausted to put up with people like you."

"Your blood pressure's shooting up. Not good for your health. One day, you'll need me to normalize it."

"Leave me alone and it'll normalize, Zeke."

"I love it when you finally mention my name," Zeke huffed.

"Ugh," Yelena groaned. "Fine! I'd take the bag and eat it for breakfast if you just leave me alone, okay?!"

"Sure!" Zeke smiled again and handed her the bag.

Yelena took it with a grunt, shooting him an icy glare.

"You're welcome! Enjoy your meal!" Zeke chirped before the door slammed right in front of his face. He sighed and scratched his head, chuckling at another failed attempt to make friends with her. "I'd tell my future kids that their mother was the most difficult person in the world."

Behind the closed door, Yelena scooted right to the kitchen to unwrap the bag of goodies: a couple of glazed doughnuts and a paper cup of hot spiced coffee from her favorite café down the street. It's half-a-sin not to accept gifts from generous people, but it's a little acceptable not to make her gratitude obvious. Zeke was every-inch-of-an-asshole, and he should make up for it. Two weeks of being nice is still too early for her to accept him.

"Ah, was Eren trying to tell his brother all my weaknesses?" Yelena asked herself in disgust, taking a big bite of doughnut. "I feel exploited. But damn, these were good."

Another three knocks on the door snapped her head up. She clicked her tongue and marched back to the front door. She was about to lash out at Zeke for testing her patience but instead, an elderly man who looked quite familiar made her choke on her food.

"Good morning," he greeted pleasantly. "I believe this is the unit where Levi stays?"

Yelena had her food frozen in-between teeth, the glaze smothering her mouth. She swallowed down the remainder of the food. "Ugh…y-yeah… I mean, yes sir…"

She didn't know how to address him. But she was sure she should treat him kindly because he's one of the most respected people in Paradis.

Kenny Ackerman was standing outside her door with an unyielding look on his face, and it was the exact starstruck moment as Levi before.

"Is he around?" he asked.

Yelena suppressed the strained feeling and the inability to welcome him properly. "I… uh… I'm afraid he left early with Hange to…uh… have a meeting with a man—Erwin something—before going to his office. I came home from my night shift and didn't catch him earlier."

"A meeting with Erwin Smith?"

"Not sure, but they're meeting with him daily in his house, I guess."

"And Levi's coming to the office today? That's new."

"I'm not really sure, but Hange had been urging him last night to visit his workplace. Uh—I believe you've heard about Hange?"

"Yes, but I haven't met her in person. Levi's playing hide-and-seek with me, and I think he's got no plans on introducing me to his new girlfriend. Was he even thinking I don't approve of it at all?"

Yelena gaped at him. He is very casual and calm, yet sporting fatherly instincts as if a rebellious son dismisses his existence.

"Haven't seen him in a while," Kenny added. "I asked his sister to relay the message that I want to see him, but it looks like Levi won't spare me his time."

"W-would you like to come in for… for coffee? Tea perhaps? Or wine… or…" Yelena could smack her head for offering wine at this time in the morning. "Ah, wrong drink."

"Wine would be fine."

"Eh?"

"Haven't tried it in the morning, but why not? After all, I can't resist that unconventional offer," Kenny said. "After covering up for my nephew for several days now, giving positive statements for his controversies, and yet I still haven't gotten any word from him, I really am in dire need of alcohol."

Yelena swallowed hardly. "Ah… yeah, of course. Come in, Mr. Ackerman!"

Kenny straightened up and entered the apartment with an unreadable look on his face. His eyes hovered everywhere, and it only took five seconds to inspect the small space of the unit.

"I know it's not your typical standard for good housing. I'm here for cheap rent. I don't know about Levi, though. He could afford the best apartment, but he's… kinda low-key," Yelena said nervously as Kenny looked at her at eye level. Their heights met.

"I hope you're not babysitting a little man like Levi."

"He's very capable of taking care of himself," Yelena said. "Don't worry, he's not treated here like a prince. Plus, there's Hange, of course! She taught him things he missed in his memories. He's learning."

"Ah, that woman again. I hope I didn't appear to be lying or making up her character in my interviews."

"Trust me, Hange would've loved to meet and thank you personally."

"Glad to hear that. Likewise, I would love to meet her as well."

They fell into an awkward silence, and finally, Yelena relaxed. "Would you take a seat? I'd go get the wine."

"Anything will do," Kenny said, easing himself on the couch.

"Right!" Yelena nodded and hurried to the kitchen. It didn't take too long to retrieve a bottle of wine she'd been keeping for years. It was an expensive gift for her birthday from her team but she wouldn't mind popping it for the first time to share it with the richest man in Paradis. She even wondered if her neighbors caught him walking around to her unit. A wine session with an Ackerman was one of her best moments in life.

"Ah, I missed this classic!" Kenny said, eyeing the green bottle. "The company that makes this wine was under the Ackerman Holdings, you know?"

"I'm sure I don't need to guess that one." Yelena chuckled, pouring the liquid right onto a glass. "Your company had been funding bigger corporations, making them stable through the years. People were even joking about the source of your revenues. They say you own money printing machines."

Kenny laughed. "There's always a trick to generate revenues, but then again, it's how you have grown in the industry and mastered the cycle of business holdings. Businesses evolve as lifestyle changes. It's these changes that take us to new discoveries and incorporate them into our daily lives. We have to do something about that. Observe the society. Make people realize their needs. And as someone who had the resources, be the provider. Then set everything with value. Aren't we in a materialistic world? That's where the money comes."

Yelena took a seat across from him and poured herself a glass. "Are you telling me the other side of the coin? Sounds like a misleading advertisement."

"That's the reality, dear. You sell good, you make good money."

"But it's not just about the money, right? Don't you even see your contribution to Sina's globalization that speaks so much of its economic success, surpassing the government's role of shaping and regulating our social framework? Your business isn't just about selling. You ease life's inconveniences. The urbanization, transportation, housing, technology, food production? I couldn't even help but ask myself why you never considered a political career."

Kenny snorted. "You have a unique insight. But politics and business won't blend in my opinion—at least to me. I don't want both wealth and power consuming my life. Politics is a dirty arena. A domain of lies, crimes, ineptitude. Plus, I retired early, and I'd like to free myself from further responsibilities."

"But I guess that's not gonna turn up, given your nephew's condition these days."

Kenny sighed, taking a drink. "How perceptive of you. You got that right. I trained him for years, but now we're back to the basics. Shame that I was dragged back to signing papers, studying reports, participating in risky stock investments—all because I think Levi's not coming around. My aging and fragile body was forced to handle the tasks I had when I was in my thirties. Ah, thank god I don't have a wife and kids to share the attention. This life is too lamentable."

Yelena stared at him in amusement. "But you're an accomplished person, isn't it something to be grateful about?"

"I'd tell you what, never glorify success as a conduit for happiness. Success is still a subjective matter. It wasn't about the number of houses you own and how much money you have in your bank accounts. Trust me, you don't want to be in my shoes. Bigger things, bigger responsibilities. Either you want to die young or wish for an extended lifespan," Kenny took another sip of wine, relishing its bittersweet aftertaste. "That's why it's refreshing to see Levi as a different person with a different outlook on life. He reminds me of someone who spends life outside the box. Whose priorities are not about making money but finding value in relationships—be it in families and finding a partner. Funny how he made me regret the choices I made in life, because at some point, I wanted to forget who I am and the tasks imprinted in my whole being. I am old, rich, and alone. Somehow, I don't want Levi and Mikasa to end up like me—stuck in the pressure of handling a bigger-than-life responsibility. But then again, we're only three in the family—the only surviving bunch. Our ancestors speak from their graves that I need those two taking over the business for the sake of the Ackerman name."

"So, Levi and Mikasa have no choice in life in this case?"

"They have their freedom. I'd let them go if they choose to."

Yelena smiled ruefully. "Are you sure about that? But Levi didn't see it that way…"

"He claimed his freedom the very moment he lost his memories. However, his current traits still show his compassion for the people under his leadership. I know he hates it, but he's keeping up with his responsibilities. Somehow, the part of him who loved his job remained. And knowing he's collaborating with Erwin Smith would only mean he's trying his best. I heard Hange's urging him to reconnect with his old self as the CEO. Is that correct?"

"Yes. Hange knows her position. She considers Levi's past and his responsibilities. Also, with the possibility of reverting to his old self," Yelena said. "Somehow, it's a hard-to-swallow fact."

"Yes, it is. But then, I hope whatever life he led after the coma will be retained. I want him to remember the changes that made a difference in our family. His thoughts might get conflicted, but that should lead him to contemplate his realities," Kenny said. "He hates me, and that's the result of remembering me as the person who abandoned him. It could be partly true, but today, all I could do is to make up for my absence in his life—physically and emotionally."

Yelena eyed him with swarming reverence.

Kenny smiled at her shoddily. "Are you close with Levi?"

Yelena nodded vigorously. "At least I could finally make myself a decent meal without hurting my gut. He's got mad cooking skills, and I'm quite learning from him."

Kenny raised a brow. "He had personal chefs who usually come over to cook for him. Now I understand why they're begging me to get their jobs back."

Yelena waved her index finger. "Ah, you have no idea how much weight I gained when Levi started making our meals. He's very orderly and a neat freak, too."

Kenny frowned questioningly. Yelena leaned back on her chair, crossing her legs.

"But you know Mr. Ackerman, don't get this wrong, but I hope you don't regret the position you're in right now. It's highly noble of you to serve Paradis and its citizens even if you don't hold a political position. Your empire of businesses alone evolved this country to rank first-world. As I said earlier, you've contributed to the economic success of this nation. You might not have a family of your own to attend to and have forgotten about living the kind of life you desired. Still, you've served our population a great deal in improving their lives—giving people jobs and opportunities and better social standing. You become their inspiration to chase their dreams," Yelena told him. "You didn't see it yourself, but you speak with virtue. You're selfless and altruistic, and that was highly admirable."

"Are you one of my fans?" Kenny joked.

Yelena grinned. "Always been a fan, sir."

Kenny scoffed. "What was your name again? Sorry, I didn't catch it…"

"It's Yelena."

"Ah, Yelena," Kenny thumbed his chin. "Remind me to send you a bottle of Marleyan Cognac from my cellar. To make up for opening a bottle of wine I'm sure you're keeping all these years in your cupboard."

"W-well… it's not necessary, sir." The first thing Yelena recalled was the most expensive liquor served in Underground—the one Hange had the privilege of drinking. "You don't have to, Mr. Ackerman!"

Kenny waved a hand. "I'm keeping a box. I don't need them all."

"But they… they cost more than… more…" Yelena sputtered. More than this apartment.

"It's not about its value. I don't need all the money and luxury in the world," Kenny said. "It's all about gratitude."

Yelena could have fainted at the imagination of her tucking the bottle of diamonds under her pillow each night. "It's all too much. That's the kind of bottle that will get me killed."

Kenny chuckled. "Well, that's on you if you want it on display. But then again, I want you to accept it because you let Levi stay here. And for taking care of him, at least."

Yelena blushed. "Ah, like I said, Levi's very capable of taking care of himself."

Kenny relaxed in his seat, mirroring Yelena's sitting position. "Would you not tell Levi I came here to see him?"

"Why?"

"I want to sneak up on him. Be a surprise. I know he doesn't like it but it won't hurt to try being a cool uncle to him."

"I don't know how he'll take it," Yelena said. "Can't say he's a sentimental man who'd appreciate family drama, but I think he needs that. He'll need all the affection from you."

Kenny smiled. "I trust your judgment."

"Shorty delivery!" Hange was yelling outside Erwin's two-story apartment door when Levi gently smacked her head. She winced. "Ouch!"

"You're scandalous!" he scolded. "Use the fucking doorbell!"

Hange winked at him, pressing the doorbell once. "I'm just messing around, shorty."

"Tch." Levi noticed her looking at him longer than intended. "Now what?"

"Ah, I think I overdid the styling. You looked very handsome today, dear. Don't expose yourself that much in your office, and don't ever go in public for lunch. I'm a jealous girlfriend." She quipped, gingerly fixing a few strands of his bangs and straightening his collar. "There! Better without the tie. People would really think you've changed for the better! Cool and casual."

"I don't see why you would dress me up this way," Levi complained awkwardly while Hange took in the tucked-out green shirt and beige fitted pants admiringly.

She shrugged. "I know you're always in your suits and ties. But then again, since we're together now, I'd want your style to be a little more relaxed. CEOs are not always uptight. Plus, I want you to look more approachable. Your standards for women have plunged at great atmospheric levels, so people would expect you're not totally unreachable."

"There you are again with your exaggerated self-depreciation."

"Nah, I'm just happy about how everything turned out these days," Hange said softly. "It's been two weeks since the ruckus, but the public is slowly accepting us—or maybe issues like ours don't linger around for too long. However, I feel bad for Petra…"

Levi looked away. He didn't want to entertain his guilt of deserting Petra, and not saying anything about their status. She has long since left his penthouse after videos of him and Hange kissing in public circulated over social media. As Levi initiated the act, that sealed the commotion. The majority admired him for being true to his feelings, but there were also a few of those who didn't favor him for easily throwing away a decade of relationship. Reasons are unjustified due to Levi's unknown condition.

When a disheveled Erwin in his animal-printed pajamas opened the door, Hange exploded animatedly, "Good morning, Erwin! We're a little early today because I need to run by somewhere before heading off to work. Dropping the little guy by because he's still lazy to drive on his own."

Levi scowled at her penetratingly.

Erwin chuckled. "Good morning, you two. Ah, no worries, Hange. At least we could have some extra time to discuss more matters concerning the company."

"Hope it's not about the controversial issues again," Levi said.

"Sorry, that wouldn't be spared," Erwin said. "And we're just two weeks in. The board had qualms and questions, especially Rod Reiss."

Levi side-eyed Hange, who still had no idea what was going on. She blinked innocently, but not that she would prod about it.

"Ah, I think I'd better go. Please take care of him, Erwin! It's his first time revisiting the company after the issues. I don't want a cold shoulder from him tonight," Hange jested.

"You'll have your fun tonight, no worries." Erwin winked at her with a knowing look.

"Oh, we just had it last night!" Hange chirped, grinning at Levi, and dodging a playful kick from him. "Right, baby?"

"Get the hell out of here, four-eyes!"

Hange raced her way towards Levi's car, blowing kisses before settling herself on the driver's seat and driving away. Levi exhaled loudly, shaking his head and giving Erwin a feigned annoyed look.

"Your relationship with Hange was a breath of fresh air." Erwin noticed.

"Says who? It's annoying."

"Can't tell. I know you love that. It's a great dynamic—unconventional yet attuned. And I never thought she'd be so blunt about you two getting at it," Erwin said, smiling. "No wonder you're looking better and better each day."

"If you're thinking about sex, you're the most perverted person in the world," Levi spat.

Erwin was flustered. "Well… unless there is another version of fun in your lexicon."

"You horny married men always think about that stuff." Levi rolled his eyes, seeing four golden-haired kids running around inside the house. They are also in pajamas, matching Erwin's. "Ah, hence the brats with one-year age gaps."

"Leave my kids alone. They were planned."

"I see. And so were your matching pajamas. Great fashion statement. Say, am I expecting another addition next year?"

"You're insane," Erwin snorted, motioning for Levi to enter the house. "Marie's idea. She always bought matching sleepwear. So, back to the fun. What's the 'fun' Hange is talking about?"

"A stupid board game," Levi drawled. "Took me some time to figure out how to play that shit. God, it makes me dumb."

Erwin looked at him in amusement. "So, you spend your nights playing board games together? I don't need to guess who the loser is."

"If I had the memory of a CEO, I'm sure I'm smart enough to beat her. The loser gets to cook our meals. It shouldn't be a deal because I always do the cooking anyway," Levi revealed. "She lost once, but I still ended up in the kitchen with a salivating Yelena at the dining table."

"Sounds like everyone's fond if your cooking. Would you whip my breakfast today?" Erwin suggested.

"What did I lose to you? And what's the use of having a wife?" Levi grunted. "A baby-making machine?"

Erwin cleared his throat in embarrassment. "Okay, you're not here to talk about that. We'd be discussing more serious matters in my library."

"Yeah, after you."

Erwin Smith's home library was situated on the second floor next to the master's bedroom. A lavish area for an apartment, it seemed Erwin had invested much in this space, more than the rest of the house. His mahogany paneled shelves reached the ceiling, giving space to a hundred books. Hange had once squirmed in delight during her first visit, curling up in one corner to immerse herself with a book or two.

Levi started, "Mikasa had been sending me updates. She told me about the board and their thoughts on the scandal. Are you covering for me?"

Erwin shrugged. "Not really. You owe everything to your uncle. He's fronting the meetings and making convincing statements to retain their trust. To some major holders, it's a sort of gimmickry, but then again, if there was no decline in statistics, you wouldn't have any problems with them. Moreover, small-time stakeholders are tractable. They have huge dividends, so as long as they're satisfied with their profits, they wouldn't say something against you. Scandals involving personal matters don't really affect the company and its subsidiaries performance. There's not been a drastic change in the analytics since the scandal came out—unlike your previous controversies with Petra. Your thing with Hange gained a following, much more when famous journalist Rico Brzenska made an overstated editorial column about her insight on complex relationships. Now that's a loud entertainment."

"The complexity is what people didn't know," Levi said. "They entertained the idea that people of my kind could get attracted to an average person without knowing the real science of it."

"It happens in the rarest cases," Erwin said. "But still, it happens. People love the rarity of unconventional partnerships. Somehow, you made them believe in the impossible things."

Levi kissed his teeth. "But it's not how it is. We're still divided by social status, and that's the reality."

Erwin approached the window, his form a little cautious. It's about time to discuss something else. "Let's not dwell on that. At least you don't need to hide now. We had a bigger issue to face. How… are your flashes of memories?"

Erwin knew. Two weeks ago had been all about the scandal and the plans to expose Rod Reiss's crimes. On a weekday, Hange would drop Levi at Erwin's house and discuss the progress of their investigation. Furlan and Isabel were scheduled to meet him one of these days—not when Rod Reiss was making surprise visits to the office with unknown intentions. The old man was acting suspiciously, and was often seen talking to Krista Lenz.

"They're getting frequent at night. But I can't let Hange know," Levi said regretfully. "The memories are still about Petra."

Erwin couldn't tell if this was a good sign. "How much do you remember now?"

"A lot," Levi confessed. "A hell lot. There were headaches when I was trying to stave off those flashes. As if they're slinking their way in every part of my brain, begging to be remembered."

"How about your feelings? Aren't you guilty of hurting Petra after you made a scandal of your own? She left the city without making press statements. Her silence is what makes this situation unpredictable."

"The public called her out after her statements against Hange. Surprisingly, Hange gained the sympathy of the commoners. Petra's taking a break from them all. I think that's the reason why we're not hearing anything from her. I hope she's trying to move on," Levi said quietly. "She called me before leaving the penthouse. She'd let me go because I wasn't the same person she used to have feelings for. She was still hopeful that I'd restore my memories of her. But I don't want to entertain those thoughts of her. I have much bigger problems to face. You damned know that, Erwin."

Erwin gave him a critical look, thinking he was not in the best mental state to entertain the chances of retrieving his memories. Erwin could tell that Levi was bothered by a handful of things, and unlike his old self, who used to be a convergent thinker, there was little to no room for resolutions in their current situation.

"Leave Petra out of this. I need a distraction, and I hope I'll have it today. Do you have some good news for me?"

Erwin sighed. "It's too early for results, Levi. Armin and Annie were still looking through your soft files with Isabel's help, but they couldn't find anything worthy of evidence against Reiss."

"Same with Mikasa. She called me last night, said about visiting three of my apartments in Sina alone and couldn't find anything," Levi groused. "Where the hell would I keep all those fucking evidence?"

"We'd keep looking. We couldn't force you to remember, but I also need you to know Reiss was still spying on you. He's probably wary you'd expose him any time soon. He drugged you in an attempt to wipe off your knowledge of his secrets. We could guess you had everything under control in case he'd done something tricky. In this case, you had the upper hand, but we couldn't sit back and watch him launch a furtive attack. He's got plans on his own and we have to be vigilant. He's always around almost every day, lurking around the corners and getting updates from his daughter. In turn, Krista was giving him convincing lies. At least she's on our side, given we're protecting her."

"That old man's trying to get even. Damn, I feel useless that I don't know how to act around him if we meet face to face. He could figure out I lost it, and he'd use this against me."

"That's why we're being careful not to let him see you. At least Kenny was there to keep Reiss occupied with other business. Currently, I was in talks with YPD and its recorded crime incidents in Yalkell for the past months. Since many are recently involved in the drug bust, they are under custodial interrogation. However, the details remained undisclosed due to an ongoing police investigation. They're keeping things classified as of now. We're also pushing through Zeke's assassination attempt case since his alleged killer was also involved in the dealings beforehand. We had Eren Jaeger helping out. He had information from a colleague who works at the Port of Loading where drugs are allegedly shipped off internationally. Currently, it's under surveillance by the local police with the help of Paradis Drug Enforcement Agency. We'd need any drug-related event linking to PharArmour and Reiss himself. Simultaneously, we also learned that they relocated their drug lab elsewhere. It's highly expected. They've got their tracks cleaned up when Reiss found out you're investigating him. It would be hard to catch him red-handed," Erwin continued. "If we only have the circumstantial evidence all laid out before taking this to the press, crime units, and the prosecutor, then everything would go smoothly. It was a high-profile criminal case. We had one name that is Rod Reiss, but we are not sure of other names behind him who could influence the court system. If we had YPD involved, they could conduct their pre-arrest investigation. We ourselves could provide the evidence they can verify to lessen the timeframe of the investigation. Once proven, being involved in drug manufacturing, drug trafficking, and murders would automatically charge him with multiple felonies."

"So nothing came up in the interrogation? Not even a big-shot name?"

"Nobody said a name. You could say they're protecting their bosses, but in truth, they didn't know who their real bosses are."

Levi cursed under his breath, running a hand roughly over his head. His frustration had a throbbing effect on his temples. He took a seat nearby and shut his eyes tight.

"You okay?" Erwin asked.

"Why couldn't we just send that old man to jail?" Levi suggested as if he was out of options.

"You know that's not possible. Even your old self knew it was unlikely to have justice served because there are big names behind this crime. Reiss alone was adored by people due to his charitable works to cover his criminal affairs. Religious institutions wouldn't be so happy about this. For sure, they'll make some noise and influence court decisions had the issue gets exposed. Expect the major groups to side with him," Erwin said. "Strong evidence is what we should have. Unfortunately, you had them kept under wraps. Church and Magnolia were your allies, but their information could only provide dead-end leads. They couldn't even tell if you shared the information with other people. Right now, it was only you who held the truth."

"Two weeks…" Levi seethed, holding his frustration. "During that period, we couldn't produce anything yet. God, I feel useless."

"Take it easy," Erwin reminded him. "Like I said, it's still too early. We'd get down to our desired results. We just have to keep everything discreet and progressive."

"Erwin," Levi cut him off after seconds of contemplation. "You know there might be a cure to restore my memories."

Erwin fell silent, nodding. "Yes. Mikasa and Zeke told me."

"Was it in your options?"

"It was, but it's bottom-listed."

"But still an option."

"Levi, the last thing we'd do is pressure you. Right now, we're focused on the available resources we could work around."

Would it be relieving that Erwin was being considerate of Levi's feelings? People around him work non-stop to repossess what had been lost and forgotten. Working hard when all it should take was a flick in his memory to remember it all. He sank into his seat, the guilt of not contributing anything to the investigation had been harrowing enough.

"I know you don't want it," Erwin said. "And we couldn't risk its effects during these crucial times. It's not that we don't trust Frieda, but it's at your discretion if you feel there's a need for it. Besides, you are slowly regaining some of your memories with Petra, we could only hope the next flashes would be about Reiss."

"To tell you the truth, it scares me to revert to my old self," Levi said. "Those flashes... they don't vibe with me."

Erwin straightened up, listening with utmost concern. "Naturally. Because you refuse to acknowledge who you are before all this."

"I'm attached to my current self. It feels like I'm getting used to this. Collaborating with you, reconnecting with Mikasa, gaining new friends, Hange," Levi said. "I don't want to lose the memory of a soldier who had the chance to live with the people he lost in another world…"

Erwin looked at him with saddened eyes.

"A lot will change. Once I regained my memories, we'd return to being rivals."

"I don't care," Erwin said. "Maybe you see it that way, but I would care less about how you'd treat me again. That's the reality between us. We've been besting each other out, but that made me love this job. That's what kept this company stronger. You're the challenge to make me perform better. I know your old self would disagree with me saying this, but you're an inspiration, and I am grateful for that."

Levi breathed. "Punch me when I turned back into being an asshole."

Erwin chuckled. "Not gonna do it. I know you'd punch back."

Both of them snorted briefly.

"Hey." Levi was looking at him softly. "Thank you... for everything. For putting up with me."

Erwin smiled. "It's just nice we could finally talk like friends, not as rivals."

Levi couldn't agree more with him.

The blond man returned to his table and retrieved a bunch of envelopes and files, looking through them. "You've quite become an internet sensation for days, and the press wanted interviews. I told them you're no showbiz personality, which leaves the media exposure to your uncle. He's far more well-versed in handling the questions. Aren't you watching his interviews? He loves the limelight. You should be grateful."

"Yeah, Hange told me. He's saying things good things about her thoughtlessly." Levi shook his head. "Who knows what his plans are."

"Trust me, I don't think he's up to something," Erwin said. "He's making up to you."

"Why won't we tell him about the Reiss investigation?" Levi challenged. "I think he'll fare better in pressing charges. And there's no doubt he knows something, too."

Erwin inhaled sharply. "Not when he's close friends with Uri Reiss. You know him? He's Rod's brother and Kenny's best friend. He's dying from a terminal illness..."

Levi remembered the drug in his system that was supposed for Frieda's uncle.

"It's out of friendship and respect," Erwin said. "If your uncle knows something, he'd turn a blind eye. Uri's counting his days, but we can't tell if he also knows his brother's criminal affairs. Better if we keep a small circle on our own. Blood can be thicker than water, and we don't need family relations hindering our plans."

Levi nodded slowly. Uri Reiss was a blurred memory that only reached his knowledge through a dying Kenny. For whatever reason, a part of him felt like he had known Uri throughout his life.

Erwin looked at his clock mounted on the wall. Lately, there were soft knocks on the door, earning a small smile from the blond guy. He bellowed, "Come in!"

Levi watched as the knob turned. He was expecting Erwin's wife to bring cups of coffee, but he was surprised to see a dirty blond guy stepping inside, followed by a red-haired girl behind him.

"Ah, finally!" the blond guy exclaimed, smiling at Levi.

Levi squinted his eyes to recognize the two strangers who came in unannounced. Both are grinning widely at him in extreme excitement, specifically the young woman with red hair and big green eyes.

"Boss!" she erupted, almost teary-eyed. "I'm glad you're okay!"

"Levi," the blond guy pinched his nose, looking away. "Damn... I hope you can at least remember us. Even in a strange recollection."

Levi went rigid. He stood up unblinkingly, knees buckling under his weight at the sight of his dear friends as unrecognizable adults. The pig-tailed Isabel was now sporting much shorter hair, while Furlan's lithe and lean figure made him as tall and muscular as Erwin.

"You guys..." Levi mumbled under his breath.

"Boss..." Isabel was on the brink of tears, her smile curved downwards with a quiver, repressing the gush of emotions to come out without restraint.

Levi was a man of a few words, and while his real emotions are shown through actions, he will never make them obvious. This time, his memory of his two dear friends from the other world created a somber atmosphere at the back of his mind. His thoughts traveled back to those nonexistent events where Furlan's body was chomped in half, and Isabel's severed head staring at him. He could channel some rage right there, but realizing who they were in this world made him a little nervous and happy at the same time.

"Guys?" Furlan cocked his head, whispering at Isabel. "Did he just call us guys?"

"Don't ruin my dramatic moment," Isabel hissed, wiping a tear from her eye.

And before they could react, Furlan and Isabel were pressed together in a tight hug. Levi's strong arms wrapped around them in a suffocating embrace. He has never done it in his memory, yet he could no longer contain his emotions, cherishing this moment to feel them physically.

Isabel nearly choked. "W-wait... Boss... I can't... I can't breathe!"

Furlan blinked rapidly, looking at Erwin in confusion. "Oh. This is the very first time I got a hug from you..."

Notes:

A rant about my current situation.

Though I have updated this fic in two weeks as planned, I'm afraid the next chapters would be a little delayed. Terrible things have happened in my life: first, my workstation at the office was "downgraded" to an uncomfortable place because my "paranoid" boss was pissed at me for some "irrational" and petty reasons. I went to work one day, seeing my table all cleaned up without my stuff. It was when my manager told me that the boss rearranged our seats without notice. Thinking about wanting to fire me but indirectly. To this day, I still don't know how to keep all my hard files. I'm surrounded by boxes, I couldn't properly work. I don't have enough space to move around and keep things in order. I also wasn't able to draft this story during my breaks because it's hard to focus when you're not comfortable in your position. And if you'd be asking if I'm fucking up my job, the answer is no. I'm still "good", honest and productive with what I do (and my workmates love me) and if you happen to be in my workplace with mentally unstable superiors driven by greed and lies, you'd quit on the spot. I could have left my job a long time ago but I need more time because I have an on-going case against a bank fraud (I was a victim of bank scamming last year) with little to no progress at all and I'm still patiently waiting and praying for favorable results. This case brought me anxiety and depression.

Nuff said. It's just a little unfortunate that one person can be caught up in bad circumstances all at the same time. Still, I thank this site for being a niche for comfort, and giving me a break from my sorry reality.

Just so you know, The Ackerman Holdings was the opposite of the company I work with. It was inspired by my desire to be working in a company that "pays well", serves their employees right, recognizes the skills of their employees with open-minded and "smart" leaders, aiding them in their growth and well-being.

Hope to find a work-from-home setup soon.

Chapter 39

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

His house was half the size of the family's manor—quaint, cozy, and whimsical. A small pond centered a lush garden with a variety of flowers, home to bees and butterflies. There was something unique and charming in its architecture to draw bystanders whenever they passed the property. Its structure was pulled straight out of a fairy tale—mainly built of candy-colored bricks and ivy-wrapped stone walls. It was once an abandoned, century-old house planned for demolition, and there was a day when an eight-year-old Frieda stumbled across its enchanting beauty despite its crumbling and dilapidated state. Astonishingly, its unkempt gardens bloom during springs and summers. Since that day, Frieda made herself a secret hideaway when home became suffocating. When the Reiss household took notice of her frequent disappearances, Uri was the first to find out. Frieda begged him to keep it a secret between them because Rod didn't like her roaming around the neighborhood. It was Frieda's twelfth birthday when Uri acquired the property and converted it into his home. This way, he became closer with Rod's children who usually come around to stay over the weekends.

Small renovations and restorations are made yearly, until Frieda and her siblings finally got their own rooms and developed the garden into their playground. It's the kind of chaos Uri tolerated, as his love for children couldn't even match his brother's fondness for them. He brought a camera, and every precious moment of kids' playtime was captured in frames. Since then, pictures of his nephews and nieces have adorned a small space of his home.

From inside his room, Uri can spot the myriad of warm colors by his bay window. He was sitting on his bed—most days, he was already immovable and could barely make a step. He was propped up by a pillow against the bedframe, hollow eyes staring outside.

When the door to his room opened, he was surprised to see Frieda slipping in quietly. He knew she would be visiting him one of these days, but not so soon. She always comes unannounced, bursting with energy to beat the sun outside.

"Frieda… dear." Uri's bony arms were outstretched, reaching for the young woman who moved slowly towards his bed. His huge smile waned, seeing her niece's blue eyes weren't as bright as they used to be.

Frieda stopped at the foot of his bed, a quiver on her lips signaled an urge to cry.

"Hey…" Uri let his arms down, his fists gathering the blanket covering him. It hurts him to see Frieda this way, but he will never ask a question unless she is ready to pour out her feelings.

Frieda forced a smile, her eyes crinkling at the beginning of tears. "H-how are you feeling these days, Uncle?"

Uri opened his mouth to say something, but he knew Frieda's question was only her way to counter the heaviness inside her chest. Any question about his condition was something new, because Frieda would always start by saying: you're going to be okay, soon!

"I'm fine, sweetheart," Uri smiled. "Got nothing else to do other than sit on this bed most of the time."

"Your nurses said you developed bed sores."

"That's likely. But they aren't worse."

"They will, eventually," Frieda said and sat beside him. She opened her bag and pulled out a tin can. "I made a soothing balm out of fragrant flowers and herbs. If you can manage, you can walk around your room and try not to stay in bed for too long. The sun's streaming inside in the mornings, so it's best to soak in its warmth. You're looking pale, Uncle."

She was rambling on, beating around the bush. Uri knew this visit was something else.

"I also talked to your doctor. There would be another series of tests. You might need another surgery for—"

"Frieda," Uri interrupted. "I'm fine. There's no cure. I don't need the surgery. Let me rest. I've accepted my fate wholeheartedly."

"No…" Frieda said firmly. "Everything's gonna be fine. You're going to make it! I'm… I'm gonna come up with another drug to prevent the rapid metastazation of cells. My team is coming up with new research involving organic materials to alleviate the development of cancer cells. It's coming up nicely and effectively. I swear we're gonna finish it in a shorter amount of time. It's a breakthrough discovery… and… and…"

Uri shook his head. "I'm done, Frieda. Don't push it. There would be far more productive things to do than being stuck with finding a cure for me. There's not much you can do to extend my life. Not even a miracle. I'm a dead man."

"No!" Frieda interjected. "There is a way! There is always a way! Diseases evolve, and so are medicines! People like me would find ways to find a cure! I wouldn't care how long it will take but I'm just gonna ask you something—stay alive until I get there, okay? Just let me do my thing to keep you alive and see this world for a few more years. Or… or more than that! Perhaps you could outlive the oldest person in the world! Perhaps you'd see two more generations of the Reiss clan! Let's have more renovations in this house, okay? Let my future children play with you… let them see what their mother's childhood playground was like!"

Her tone has so much enthusiasm, and damn, it hurts him even more.

Uri looked away. "Haven't we talked about this before? You and your siblings have already accepted that my disease is a lost cause. My body's deteriorating each day, fleeting like I only had a few days to live. We're through this, Frieda. I'm fine with the life I spent with you and your siblings. You are everything a father could ask for. And thank you for making me one, even if I share this parental duty with Rod."

"No! You can't just leave me… you can't!" And there it was, Frieda burst into tears. She cried in an agonizing manner that made Uri reach for her hands and squeeze them comfortingly.

"There is something else, isn't there?" Uri asked with a pained whisper. "It's the first time I saw you like this, Frieda. Tell me."

"I… I could only wish you were my dad."

Uri's shocked expression was magnified by his sunken face.

"Why doesn't it have to be you instead?!" Frieda sobbed.

That alerted the older man. "W-what happened? Is something the matter?"

Frieda composed herself, wiping away her tears. "It was Dad. He stole the samples in my lab—the project I had for you. He messed up the composition to come up with a dangerous experimental drug."

Uri stiffened his form. He was not ready for the revelation.

"And Levi's the victim," Frieda croaked.

The lines on Uri's face deepened. He closed his eyes, snubbing the truth.

"The truth revealed itself two weeks ago. I overhead something disturbing at home. Dad was talking over the phone about an attempted murder of Dr. Zeke Jaeger because he discovered that the drug was a new formulation from my lab. Dad couldn't risk the chances of leading that discovery to him and his other crimes. He wanted the doctor dead."

"Have you told anyone about this?" Uri asked wearily. He somehow never doubted that his niece was telling the truth.

Frieda shook her head. "No, not yet. Was it also a crime that I'm keeping this? I don't know what to do. Zeke brought Levi to me, letting me witness the effects of that drug. Levi completely lost his memories of who he was. He lost his memories of me… of everyone else. He's living in delusional memories of another world."

Uri recalled what Kenny had told him. Levi survived death but with a different memory. However, nobody knew it was the effect of a certain messed-up mixture of the drug samples that should be for him. Until today.

"My drug samples are not intended to harm someone! I couldn't bring myself to talk to Dad about it, or Mom. If people found out… if the Ackermans found out, it's all over for this family!"

Uri's worried look only worsened the hurt in his chest.

"The Ackermans are our friends in the business for generations. Why would Dad turn against them? Do you know something, Uncle Uri?"

"We have nothing against the Ackermans. They're good people. My friendship with Kenny alone spoke so much of how I cherish their presence in our lives. Unless Rod couldn't take the fact that the company was originally established by our clan but now, we're only mere shareholders," Uri said. "He's holding that unfounded grudge for so long—for thinking the Ackermans took away what should be for the Reisses. He became ambitious and jealous. The Ackermans gained popularity and respect through decades—I guess Rod wanted that kind of recognition as well."

"In what way? The illegal way?" Frieda said. "And how about you? It wasn't an issue to you."

"Some people aren't content with what they have. Wealth is not enough. For Rod… it has to come with power."

"Unbelievable!" Frieda wailed. "We are living comfortably. We have everything. We're a happy family. Aren't we enough to be the source of his happiness and fulfillment?"

Uri went silent.

"All those drug-related crimes in Sina…" Frieda's voice was barely above a whisper. "Were they all related to his narco-business? People have killed and robbed each other because of drugs! If he secretly leads an organized crime group, he's risking his life the same way. He's dragging our family in the dirt!"

Uri swallowed hard. His eyes drifted back outside the windows where the view was more bearable than a crying Frieda.

"I don't want to burden you with this, but I don't have anyone else to talk to. It will break me if I keep it to myself. I love Dad… and at some point, I don't want him to be arrested. But he destroyed my trust. He's destroying our family…" Frieda collapsed over the bed and whimpered.

"Frieda." Uri reached over to run a hand across her back. "I'm just here, no matter what happens."

"For how long? You said so yourself you're dying! Please, don't leave me like this, Uncle Uri! You're the only one I got at a time like this."

"If heavens will allow it," Uri muttered in a broken tone.

"Please, just stay. Don't go anywhere, Uncle Uri," Frieda cried once more. More hysterical, much pained. Her fists clamped into balls in grief.

Uri's sunken eyes welled in tears. He was physically in pain, but Frieda discovering the truth and breaking her heart into pieces was much more than what he had to endure on the daily. "Just cry, my dear. You're fine. Everything's gonna be fine…"

Levi's face was bright red. He pulled away almost immediately, sensing the discomfort of his dear friends who were smothered by his embrace. His excitement got the best of him, throwing himself into an awkward position where he was expected to act the other way around.

"I'm… I'm sorry," Levi apologized, looking away in embarrassment.

Furlan and Isabel mirrored his reaction.

"Ah, that was unexpected," Erwin interjected, breaking the tension. "Although I'm quite jealous you didn't give me the same hug. Didn't I die too back there?."

The trio looked at him blankly. Erwin waved it off.

"Ah, never mind. Guess I was too old to pull off a joke." Erwin cleared his throat in slight embarrassment. "But anyway, Levi, sorry if I didn't tell you so soon. Temporarily, I allowed them to stay in my guest rooms until it's deemed safe to expose themselves and go around the city."

"I see," Levi said.

"We couldn't even risk them checking into a hotel because they need their identifications," Erwin added. "Rod was a sly guy, and he could have contacts to alert him of these two's return. As for the immigration records, I already took care of them. No one will say about them coming back."

"Thank you, Erwin," Levi said gently, earning amused looks from Isabel and Furlan.

"I guess I need to leave you three for a while. I know you need some catching up. Although we're all aware Levi's memories would take some time to adjust," Erwin said, heading to the door. "That said, I'll see you later. I'll just prepare myself up for work."

"Thanks, Erwin!" Furlan smiled.

Isabel and Levi nodded curtly.

It took a moment of dead air when the trio was left alone in the room. Isabel fidgeted, eyes flicking back and forth to the window and to her boss, who took a seat idly in front of her with a different whiff of personality she was not accustomed to.

"Oi, why not take a seat and stop looking like a constipated cat?" Levi monotoned.

Isabel stiffened, nearly tripping herself in one of the chair's ornate legs. She consciously settled herself down, amusement still evident on her face.

Furlan chuckled. He dragged one chair and settled beside Isabel.

Levi scrunched his forehead, propping his elbows against his knees. "So… you two looked different than the last time I saw you."

"I don't think something's changed," Furlan said, appearing much more confident and comfortable than the woman beside him. "But then, I gathered you remembered us as your buddy soldiers in your memory. Unfortunately, we died. I hope you haven't fantasized about that happening in real life."

Levi froze. Perhaps the idea of dragging his friends into dangerous missions in his other world had played out in real life. However, those events almost took his own life away instead.

"Yeah," Levi droned out. He looked them both in the eye. "You two died young. It's a nightmare I don't want to recall. At some point, I've been blaming myself that it was all my fault for dragging you to dangerous situations."

Silence crept up as Levi developed goosebumps all over his body. He didn't need to recall those flashes of their bloody images and mangled bodies. What matters now was how alive and grown up these two were.

"And that's why I barely recognized you. You looked quite different today. My memory of Isabel had been a pig-tailed girl back then."

"Huh?!" Isabel gasped as if insulted. "I never tied my hair like that. Not even when I was a kid."

Levi looked impressed. She was high-pitched and high-strung. At least those traits he remembered about her remained.

"She's got longer hair before cutting it really short. She thought she wouldn't be recognized with that kind of hairstyle, but she forgot the fact that she's the only person in Sina with the brightest red hair," Furlan quipped.

Isabel glared at Furlan. "Says the guy with the most stupid-looking haircut!"

Levi watched them as they bickered. Somehow, that scene looked familiar, bringing him back to those 'non-existent' times. His looks softened. He loved what he was seeing.

"That memory of yours was out of this world. Erwin and Mikasa were telling us some accounts of what you recalled so far," Furlan said. "Knowing we died gave me the chills that it could've happened in real life."

"Hell, yeah." Levi's eyes were downcast. "Sucks, I couldn't remember. But knowing I've been protecting both of you from Reiss, keeping all the evidence we gathered to myself to save you from his threats made me at least think I did the right thing. It made me redeem my other self from being the reason for your deaths."

Furlan took a worried look. "You sure were too attached there as if it's your reality. Hey, we're here. Alive and well. Flesh and bones."

"But trust me, Boss, I hate to remember we had to leave you on your own," Isabel said. "But we are scared for our families, and you were scared for us the same way. Ultimately, it was you who was targeted by Reiss. I know you've been expecting something might happen to you, but… this is much more shocking than murder itself. You're alive, but you were someone else."

Furlan leaned closer, studying Levi. "Hey, are you sure you're not making this up? I know it's a sensitive matter between the three of us. I don't know what stunt you are pulling now, but there's no need to keep this a secret and make us look like fools…"

Levi's expression changed. "Are you fucking thinking I was just acting?!"

Isabel elbowed Furlan on his rib. "The hell are you getting at, Furlan?!"

"Am I even capable of making this fiasco up?" Levi quirked his brows. "Don't I look convincing I actually lost it?"

Furlan waved a hand, but something was bothering him. "No… of course not. I'm just trying to test you—figure something out. I thought this was your plan all along. Besides, you were already on your own, and I thought you'd still didn't want me and Isabel involved."

"Not too smart, Furlan. If Boss remembers everything, he will come straight to the authorities and the press to reveal the truth. I thought Armin had already convinced you."

"Well, sorry," Furlan said. "I mean, you can't blame me for being cautious!"

"Besides, Boss has changed. A lot! He'd never hug us like he did earlier, never dress up without his tie, and never curse. And more importantly, he could finally stand Erwin around. He's too good of an actor to be pulling off an act like that," Isabel reasoned. "Plus, he'd never fall for taller people. Acting or not, he wouldn't kiss that bespectacled woman in public because he'd respect his relationship with Petra."

Levi gave her a surprised look. "Have I really changed that much?"

"A hell lot," Furlan added. "I've been with you for more than a decade. Pretty faces attract you the most. I guess your memory's gotten really bad."

"Hey, Furlan!" Isabel chided. "Since when you'd become judgmental? I'm sure she was amazing. Uh, what was her name again?"

"Hange." Levi put on a straight face. "Tell me, Furlan. You think I'll never fall in love with her?"

Furlan scratched his head. "Well, uh… frankly speaking, yes. In a superficial sense. I'm saying this based on what I observed and the number of women you dated before. I mean… it's weirding me out. But damn, it must be hard to be in that situation."

"Honestly, I accepted what I've become," Levi confessed. "I'm happy with the people I'm with now. Happy that all the people I cared about were alive—given that I had lost them all in my memory. I almost thought this was an alternative universe—or another life for us. A world without wars. A world far less dangerous."

Furlan and Isabel grew silent.

"Hange was never my lover in that world. However, she was the last person who was taken away from me. I regretted not stopping her from fighting, knowing she had zero chances of survival. And then I woke up, seeing myself in an unfamiliar place. I could recall people, however, they were not who I used to remember. I even attacked Zeke the first time I saw him. And then I met Hange, finding out she's the person who saved me from the car crash. I was wasted and drugged, and she propelled herself to keep me away from harm. And there came a day when we met again, only to be blown away because I know her by her name."

Isabel let out a breath. "That drug was something else. No wonder Zeke couldn't explain how it affected your brain mechanisms."

"And we already know who to blame," Furlan said. "But Levi… how would you remember? How should we continue what you started?"

Levi bowed his head in surrender.

"We were informed that Rod's daughter was coming up with a drug," Furlan continued enthusiastically. "I thought this would be our chance. We're still not sure if it will work but… I hope you are willing to give it a try. To make things right."

To make things right.

Levi shuffled those memories where he prioritized humanity more than himself—more than anything else. The situation of that imaginary world made him attached to his duties as if there was no way he could take a breather from them all. He was born to serve people—save them so they could live happy, peaceful lives. He'd fought desperately despite the fatal injuries that reduced his strength by half, and he'd very much welcome death at the cost of a chaotic world settling into place.

"Boss!" Isabel called, looking at him alarmingly. "Are you okay?"

"I…" Levi rubbed his head. "So, there is no way to retrieve all those evidence? Didn't you guys have any idea where I would safekeep them?"

"It's only us three in this investigation, but you're still working on some other stuff on your own," Isabel said, trying not to sound frustrated. "That makes you the only one who held them all. It's been two weeks, but we couldn't come up with anything substantial. We have dozens of guesses where you could've possibly stored them, but we couldn't yield results. If only we could crack what's on your mind that time."

"We're still trying our best," Furlan said. "Because we know you don't want to retrieve your old memories yet. But Levi, we couldn't keep this stalling for any much longer. The drug industry might have stopped in Sina for a while, but those criminals have plenty of networks to keep the business running in other cities. We have estimated hundreds of billions worth of money involved, and with that enormous amount, they could literally control everything! You've predicted that major cities in Paradis will turn into a narco-zone. The worst-case scenario is more politicians will be lured in, and law enforcements would render useless. We'd be living in a society where the economy would be controlled by the wealth and power of the illegal drug trade. The Ackerman family was a major player in moving this economy, and we couldn't let other entities illegally overtake that. This is just one of the reasons why you are so ardent about pushing this investigation. To come up with hard evidence and banish Rod's criminal organization."

Levi looked lost and confused, torn between retaining his relationship with Hange and the safety of his friends. More so, retrieving his memories would also put an end to the drug industry and Rod Reiss's network of criminal affairs. In the end, it's all about choosing between his responsibility in this society and his own happiness.

"Furlan, let's not mess up his brain today," Isabel reminded Furlan.

"I'm just telling the facts and the possible unpleasant scenarios to happen in the future," Furlan retorted. He looked at Levi intensely. "Look, I don't know how you would take this, Levi, but our relationship doesn't just fall between a worker and a boss. It's beyond that. It's the kind of friendship we kept for years. You're used to my brusqueness, you turn to me for advice, and you always consider my opinions. You always listen to me more than you do with Zeke."

"Furlan…" Isabel reached for his shoulder with a tight squeeze. "He's not who he used to be! You can't force him to listen to you the same way as before."

The blond guy balled his fist. "You don't understand, Izzy."

"Then tell me what else I need to know," Levi interrupted, guilt creeping in. Somehow, he sensed Furlan's desperation. "What do I need to remember?"

Furlan wrinkled his forehead. "It's a secret we kept between us for years. Look… I don't think Isabel should know this but…damn..."

"Tell me, with or without Isabel," Levi commanded.

Furlan gave him a hesitant look. "We both have reasons why we're stuck with each other. The plane where your parents died is the same one that killed my father."

"W-what?" Levi gaped.

Isabel's gaze flicked back and forth between the two men.

Furlan scoffed. "Of course, how would you even remember? There's a very dense reason for me to pursue this. Because I need justice for my father, who shouldn't be on that plane that day."

Levi looked at him sullenly.

"Dad was your father's most trusted and loyal executive assistant. He had the privilege to join the Ackermans during important events—be it in business or family affairs. He was always required to join their business trips overseas. But this particular day, he had to say no because he promised to watch my ballgame competition at school. I was a kid back then, and his presence to see me play and win was very important to me. However, he turned me down that very same day. He was more committed to his job than his responsibility as a father. I won the game, but nobody was there to cheer up for me. But I let it slide because once I showed him my trophy, he'd regret how he missed watching me. I waited for days, hugging the trophy at night while I slept. I was excited about Dad's return, but that never came. News said a plane crashed, and I saw my mother crying hysterically in front of our TV. Twelve people died; their remains were irretrievable underwater. To this day, I'm visiting my father's empty grave," Furlan narrated as if a fresh wound had emerged.

Levi sat there remorsefully.

"Twelve years later, we met by chance on a rainy day, standing side by side in front of our parents' graves. That's when I asked you if you had lost a loved one in the same plane crash. You told me you're an Ackerman, and that's when I want to blame you because your parents dragged my father to his death. But then, you revealed you didn't believe the crash was an accident," Furlan supplied. "You wanted justice for the death of your parents, and you needed help."

Levi shook off the heaviness inside his head. It was some new information that gave a throbbing effect on his skull.

"After my graduation, you hired me in your company to work closely towards the same goal. That's when you told me someone had been feeding you theories that the plane crash was an assassination plot against your parents. During the early days, your uncle requested an in-depth investigation, but it was always denied and was deemed a closed case. Papers keep telling it was engine failure—passing back the blame to the aviation engineering department—which was apparently under Ackerman Aviation. The anonymous person had been leaving clues in your office, revealing some undisclosed findings by the Aircraft Accident Investigation team. One included a conversation between the captain and an air traffic controller about a gas leak in the plane's cabin before the crash. The leak was not a mechanical issue from a heated jet engine oil. It was something else."

Levi's headache intensified.

"It's a secret between us for years, and we're being led into a series of mysteries that took us eventually to Rod's secret organization—the latest being the drug trade and the lab operating under one of your subsidiaries."

"Hey! Do you really have to bring that up now, Furlan?" Isabel reproached the guy beside her. "I understand you're frustrated, but now's not the best time to pressure Boss with mind-blowing information. How thoughtless of you!"

Furlan grew quiet, and so was Levi.

"This is supposed to be a happy reunion!" Isabel fumed. "Was it necessary to discuss your unresolved past and force it on him who couldn't remember any single thing?! We'll get to our goals, okay? We'll work hard on it no matter how long it takes if that should get us to putting Reiss behind bars and justice to your father."

Furlan bowed his head. "I'm sorry. But you can't blame me because I fear having to act alone on this—knowing Levi lost it all—our sworn goals being sealed away."

Levi stood up and sluggishly walked to the window. "So, I've been tailing Reiss for years for a vengeful objective?"

Furlan nodded thoughtfully. "We wanted justice, and it's not about playing by our rules and going above the law to attain our goals. You have the option to hire a gunman to take Reiss down, but you didn't. You want to achieve justice the clean way."

"That's so much to take in," Levi said, rubbing his head once again in frustration.

"I'm sorry. I've been insensitive," Furlan said. "Maybe I'm just taking chances to juggle your memory a bit with my information."

"Shut up, Furlan!" Isabel huffed. "You're not helping at all. You just can't show up like this and make Boss absorb and remember everything!"

"Isabel." Levi looked at her wryly. "I appreciate your concern but… I understand Furlan's frustration. I have a bigger role to fill and unfinished business to settle."

"Don't force it," Furlan reminded him. "I'd understand if you're not in the best shape to process things."

"You nearly died," Isabel told Levi. "And Reiss would still be after you. We couldn't risk that old man to one you up again. We have to be careful."

Levi turned back to the window with an aggrieved sigh. He'd never show how painful the throbs in his head, and how heavy his heart felt. Living in this world had been more chaotic than what he remembered. His memory loss had been an escape, but the escape was a bottomless pool with so many uncertainties that there was a need to swim back to the surface breathlessly.

"I need more time," Levi clipped. "I hope you can give me that."

Furlan nodded slowly. Isabel smiled weakly.

Levi knew that making a decision right now would mentally drain him. His eyes darted back to the city outside—those slabs of concrete that weren't familiar to him when he first woke up. Today, they're sinking in, sensing the familiarity of the modernized and strange world around him. He closed his eyes exhaustively and leaned an arm against the window frame. Just then, new flashbacks reappeared in his head like fragments of broken glass. Images of a graveyard on a rainy day, Kenny smoking a cigarette and blankly looking out a window, Mikasa bidding goodbye with luggages around her, people around a conference table clapping their hands, Furlan punching him in the face, unknown parcels arriving at his door.

Somehow, they don't make sense at all.

"Boss?"

It was Isabel's voice. And then, more inaudible voices came into his ears, drowning each other out. He couldn't even make out which was which from certain people.

It was torture. He felt limp and boneless. The sense of falling into a bottomless void claimed him. And when he felt strong hands catching him made him realize that his consciousness left him for a second there.

Or more than that.

"Levi!"

He couldn't see. He couldn't move a muscle. He felt like his soul had left his body and the last thing he heard was a voice that sounded like Erwin screaming in his ear.

Levi was standing under the rain for more than an hour, staring at the two headstones with familiar names inscribed on them. Visiting this place had been a part of his weekend routine for over a decade. He'd just stand there and stare. Nothing else. No prayers were said. Somehow, they were useless for something irreversible, and conversations with the dead are another fruitless attempt at lessening the hurt. But then, the feeling of an effervescing ache inside his chest whenever he is staring at the slabs of stones without bodies underneath them is very much the same as twelve years ago—back when this tragedy blew up and ruined his youth.

Standing over his parents' grave turned his world to a standstill. It was freezing under the grey skies, and the sensation of wet fabric clinging to his skin. He was shivering in the cold, and that's when he thought the rain had stopped at the mercy of a black umbrella shielding him from above.

A much taller young man stood beside him, sporting the same anguish as he laid eyes on the gravestones.

"Have you lost a loved one in the plane crash, too?" he asked, eyes staring blankly over the graves. "It's been twelve years…"

"My parents," Levi clipped. "I'm an Ackerman. We owned the plane—that one that took away their lives."

There was a hiss from that guy, and then Levi sensed a silent anger bubbling inside-something that would blow up any second now.

"I'm sorry," Levi said, noticing the shaking hand as it gripped the umbrella handle.

"My dad shouldn't have been there." There was so much hurt in his voice, and Levi had no idea how to ease it. The families of the other plane crash victims blamed the Ackerman family, and this guy wouldn't be any different. "He's one of your loyal staff, and he couldn't say no to any of your executive business trips. His job took his family time away from him—the same way it took away his life."

Levi was used to this. It's been a decade, and the liability is still there. It almost looked like the crash happened yesterday, and the forming tension outsmelled the scent of petrichor in the air.

"Then blame me," Levi challenged. "I deserved it."

"Well yeah, I do!" the guy said, throwing the umbrella aside as the wind violently blew it away. "After all, nobody was made accountable for that crash, right? Nobody was put in jail! The grieving families were just handed out money. And just like that, as if money can ever replace the lives of those who untimely died."

Levi stood there, his face expressionless.

"If you want me to blame you, might as well give you a bonus…"

Levi was caught off-guard by a sudden jab from the guy's fist, tipping him face-first onto the muddy ground. The impact sagged him, and he could only brace himself for the next blow. However, that never happened.

The rain was much harder now, washing off the mud on his face. His cheek throbbed, but the pain redeemed him from the guilt of yesteryears.

"Are you satisfied now?" Levi asked, sitting up.

The guy pounced on him, hauling him by the collar as if ready to strike again. Levi looked straight into the guy's blue, fiery eyes. And when he stared back, he shoved Levi back into the mud, letting him go. He backed away in horror.

"Shit… shit…" The guy gathered a fistful of his hair. "What did I do…? I'm… I'm sorry!"

Levi stilled. Perhaps this guy finally realized who he was dealing with.

"Man, I'm sorry! You can punch back, sue me... I don't care!" The guy rambled, head bowed. He landed on fours, pleading. "I wasn't thinking at all! I'm consumed by anger. All these years, all I wanted was justice for my father!"

Levi exhaled. "You lost one parent, I lost two. Don't you think I am not seeking justice either?"

The guy contemplated and winced internally.

Levi pushed himself up and ordered, "Get up."

The guy silently helped himself up, looking away. "Am I going to be in trouble?"

"You want justice, right?" Levi asked, studying him. "In years, I felt like my parents' death was all planned. The aviation engineering team would never fail in their jobs. Ever."

The guy finally looked him in the eye.

"Growing up, I learned that behind the success of people on a pedestal are also people who'd want to push them off their place," Levi said. "I could've moved on from the tragedy years ago… but… the truth found its way."

"What do you mean?"

Levi looked like he had more things to say but preferred to save that for another time—until theories become conclusions. "What's your name?"

The guy gave him a muddled look. "Church. Furlan Church."

He jolted out of bed from a bad dream that night. At first, he couldn't recall what the dream was—or maybe it vanished instantly the very moment he was heaved back to reality. He ran a rough hand across his face and squinted his eyes to familiarize himself with his surroundings. The lamp was still on by his side, and when beads of sweat rolled from his face down to his neck, he realized he should need a cold splash of water.

He dragged himself off the mattress and the room's cold air tickled his skin. He realized he was naked, and judging by the heaviness of how his body felt, he knew it was one of those wild nights with Petra. He picked up his boxers that were strewn on the floor. He was about to head straight to the washroom, only to realize the constricted space of the room he was in.

Wait. This room doesn't look familiar.

He shuddered at the thought that maybe he had slept with a stranger. That was the nightmare itself. But that stupid habit was dropped a long time ago. He had done it a few times in the past and grew tired of it. He was a changed man and happy with a stable relationship with Petra.

Or had he been drunk? What day was it?

The figure on the bed was unmoved. There are light snores from someone curled up beneath the sheets. There was a slight movement, rousing that person from sleep. Soon, a mop of brown hair peeked out of the blanket.

Shit. It was not Petra. Had he fucked a stranger tonight?

"Levi?"

Levi froze at the mention of his name, as the person emerged from the blanket, in the same state of undress as him.

Thank god it was a woman. But how drunk had he been to end up in bed with her?

Levi swallowed a lump in his throat. He watched as she reached for the side table to retrieve a pair of glasses, perching them over her aquiline nose.

"Hey… what's wrong?" she asked worriedly. "You need the bathroom?"

Who is she? Why does she speak like they had been spending intimate nights together?

Levi put a hand over his head. What the hell is going on?

He could ask who she was and why are they together. Did he happen to fight with Petra, and his frustration led him to get drunk and high that he longed for someone to have sex with?

She slid off the covers and stood up fully naked before him. To stand there without decency would only mean they have done this before. She was way taller, almost masculine. And to think she was the kind he'd never get attracted to sent shivers down his spine.

He looked away in stunned silence, a little repelled by the assumption that he was high on drugs. Whatever kind he took must have kicked too hard that there is no way he'd sober up in no time.

Damn. How could he do this to Petra?!

Bewildered, he ignored her and hurried to the door next to him, assuming it was the bathroom. He closed the door and locked it.

"Levi! Hey, are you okay?" her subdued voice sounded from the other side.

Stop! Go away! Leave me alone!

He propped both hands by the sink and stared at the mirror, wishing it was not his reflection he was seeing. But his very own shocked face stared back, mocking him as if somebody's spirit had been using his body all this time.

"What is going on?! Who the hell is she?!" Levi asked out loud, searching for answers at the color-coded personal effects in the bathroom. Two bathroom towels, two tumblers, and two toothbrushes. Everything is in green and purple colors.

"Do I own one of these?" Levi wondered, picking a green toothbrush and inspecting it carefully. To his horror, the green tumbler had a tacky printed name on it.

Levi.

The other tumbler was turned on the other side, as he didn't want to know the name of the person who allegedly he was having an affair with.

"Levi, open the door!" the woman outside persisted.

"No way…" Levi shook his head. "No, no, no way…"

The knocks on the door grew louder, and Levi backed away cautiously. Several questions prompted him on the spot—questions he'd hate to know the answer to. For a while, he began to breathe erratically, almost struggling to clear his head and remember the events beforehand.

But he failed at that. Everything was blurry. Nothing was registering in his knackered head. This was all nonsense.

Why couldn't he remember a single damn thing?

He shoved aside the shower curtain and curled into a ball in the corner. He covered his ears at the noise outside. A splitting headache followed.

Soon, there was a click of the door, followed by someone turning the knob and slipping inside. Obviously, the woman had to check on him.

"Levi?"

He was thankful for the heaviness in his lids because he didn't want to look at her the second time around.

He could really be that high that night, and the effect has yet to wear off. Or perhaps he had been drifting to an extended dream—stemming into another nightmare again.

Nightmare. This was certainly what it was.

"I'm sorry, Petra. If this was really happening, I hope you could forgive me…" he thought, losing vision and finally, consciousness.

Hange's hands were clasped together on the dining table. Her anxiousness was visible enough to Yelena's perceptive stare.

"Something happened, right?" Yelena asked her that morning. She was down to her third cup of coffee to stay awake. Hange's cup has cooled down, prompting the blonde to prod what could have been wrong.

Hange's head whipped back to the sealed door to their room. No one's coming out yet.

"Why the hell is Zeke there? Has something happened to Levi?" Yelena asked.

Hange bit her lower lip, nodding slowly. She curled her fingers, then started picking her nails.

"Goddamnit, Hange. Stop fidgeting. Tell me!" Yelena snarled impatiently.

"I… I don't know. It happened again…" Hange said vaguely.

"What? Happened what?!"

Hange ran a hand through her hair. "Levi's been slipping in and out of consciousness. It happened twice."

Yelena's eyes widened.

"Thank god Zeke's living next door. I don't know what to do earlier. Yesterday, Erwin told me they canceled their office visit because Levi passed out in Erwin's library in front of his staff. It was a surprise meeting. Levi didn't know he'd be seeing them that time."

"Hold on. He fainted? And they didn't rush him to the hospital?" Yelena asked incredulously.

"Erwin said he fainted and regained consciousness after a few minutes. It hadn't been too long. I had to leave my job so I could tend to him. Erwin drove him back home," Hange said. "But he's okay as if nothing happened. He claimed there had been headaches, but he didn't say anything else other than that. I was afraid he was not telling me some things as if it was best to keep them all to himself. We're very much okay after that. I observed him for the rest of the day, and he seemed normal. We also… had sex last night. At his insistence."

Yelena gauged her statements. Hange had always been a sharp person, but she is losing all her wits in this state. She must have missed the warning signs: sex is a way to either relax one's mind or forget about something.

Hange resumed, "I found him standing at the foot of the bed at four in the morning, looking lost and confused. I asked him what was wrong, but he didn't respond—he couldn't say a word, so he bolted to the bathroom and locked himself inside. I've been calling him and had to use the spare key. I found him curled up under the shower, and he was out again."

Yelena's eyes darkened. "I'm gonna ask you something, Hange. Do you have any idea what could be wrong?"

Hange shook her head.

"Or… you just don't want to entertain that thought?" Yelena asked her. "You know that Levi began having flashes of his past."

Hange drifted her sad eyes away.

"What if… they're getting frequent now?"

"No!" Hange said. "Levi had always been honest with me. He'd tell me that. We'd always tell each other what's going on!"

"What if he decided not to tell you now?"

"Stop it." Hange waved it off. "You're not helping at all, Yelena!"

Yelena was about to retort when Zeke finally came out of the door. Hange and Yelena sprang from their seats.

"How is he?" Hange asked.

"He's finally awake. I checked his vitals, and they're normal. I also did some cognitive testing and functional assessment. However, some of the standard questions confused him. There are times he couldn't grasp them," Zeke explained. "I asked if he'd been hurt on the head or something but said no. Had he been stressed for the past few days?"

"Question is, aren't you one of his stressors?" Yelena hissed at him. "Knowing you as someone who wanted his memory back badly? That's probably a major factor to stress someone out."

"I mellowed down on my insistence to regain his memories," Zeke said. "Levi and I were on good terms now and I'm keeping it that way, Yels."

"Don't call me that!" Yelena barked. "If not for Eren, you wouldn't be able to live next to us and get close to Levi again."

"I could pay for any fancy apartment, but I choose to live next door to a very fascinating person like you. Levi was my primary concern, but you're getting ahead of the race, catching my attention more than my best bud."

"Hange, allow me to kick this bastard out," Yelena snapped.

"Just shut it, Yelena," Hange told her. "It isn't the time to bicker like children."

Yelena paid Zeke a threatening glare. The latter smiled smugly.

"But to be honest, I realized if his memories are bound to come back, it's best if we let them go back on their own. Let time do its job," Zeke said seriously, turning to Hange. "Has Levi ever told you about the possibility of regaining his memories through consuming another drug?"

Hange bowed her head. "It was Mikasa, through Eren."

"And are you aware that a small team of staff in Ackerman Holdings are conducting their own investigation about foiling a man named Rod Reiss whose real intention was to drug Levi and make him forget all about the secrets of his crimes?"

Hange went silent. That topic was brought up whenever Mikasa and Erwin visited them. The details, however, were not clear to her. She always opted not to eavesdrop. It was not her business to meddle, anyway.

"Rod Reiss was supposed to be exposed after Levi's proposal to Petra. He's a fantastic man of too many crimes which had to be addressed. But the proposal didn't end well, obviously. That made Levi's plan stalled for weeks, and then, he fell into a coma after the accident. That's when everything took another sad turn," Zeke said.

"I don't… I don't understand," Hange appealed.

"Long story short, Reiss was due for exposure, but only Levi holds all the evidence," Zeke said. "Until now, his team who are trying their luck in re-gathering their evidence didn't have any progress at all. Rod was the person behind the drug trafficking in Yalkell and several districts in Sina. Also, the very man behind Levi's loss of memories."

"Does that mean they all rely on Levi to remember everything?" Yelena asked. "So pressing charges will push through?"

Zeke nodded. "Levi had been tailing Rod Reiss—long enough to gather substantial evidence to make charges and send him to jail. However, Reiss was a powerful man backed by politicians and the church. That makes him nearly untouchable to accusations. I believe the current Levi was aware of that obligation, and that stresses him out. The pressure is all on him."

Hange swallowed hard. "He didn't tell me that. Had he been keeping things away from me?"

Zeke nodded unsurely. "I know you understand that Levi is divided. He's like two different people functioning at the same time. Half of him was committed to you; the other half was trying to fix some unfinished business—a social responsibility to expose and put a criminal in place. He didn't tell you things because you were never a part of his old life. I would guess he didn't want to burden you."

"Did he tell you some things? About… about me?"

Zeke sighed. "No. But best if you talk to him. It's important to know your place in his life right now, you know?"

Hange gaped in worry. Hearing those words from Zeke held some meaning. It took her a second or two to look at the closed door of their room, hesitating.

"Would he… would he recognize me?" Hange croaked.

Zeke frowned.

"Why do you ask, Hange?" Yelena questioned.

"Because… because that's how he acted earlier," Hange revealed feebly. "Like I told you, Yelena, I caught him standing at the room, looking lost and disoriented. He didn't say anything when I asked him if he was okay. He locked himself in the bathroom, and that's when I found him passed out when I managed to break in."

Zeke sighed. "We could use more tests on him. We need to watch out for strange behavioral patterns as well. He looked normal to me this morning, although he was saying about frequent flashes of memories he believed were his real past. I believe he'll remember you, Hange. If Levi suddenly acts like he's not himself—the current self—then that only warns us of the worst-case scenario. Those opposite memories might clash, resulting in disorientation and misconception."

Yelena looked at Hange. "Had he been acting strange lately?"

Hange pursed her lip and smiled begrudgingly. "Can't tell. Maybe I wasn't attentive enough. In two weeks, despite the controversies we are facing together, he seemed unaffected at all."

"Or he was keeping something all along so you wouldn't have to worry," Yelena assumed. "It still gets me when his first flashes were all about Petra. I witnessed it myself. He was extremely bothered that he ran away."

"Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised if something like that happened again. His memories are bound to return, whether he liked it or not," Hange faltered.

"Hange…" Yelena clapped a hand on her shoulder.

"You're right from the start, Zeke. Maybe I took advantage of him, and it backfired really hard," Hange told Zeke.

Zeke didn't respond.

"I think I need to talk to him," Hange said. "It's high time I put an end to this fairytale, right?"

"If you're thinking of convincing him to take the drug to restore his memories and forget about you, you're just making it worse for him. It's Levi's choice to be who he is after the coma," Yelena said.

"Yeah, but…" Hange looked at Zeke. "Levi is really supposed to restore his memories, right? After knowing who he is before all this, I'm not going to keep him to myself when there were pended responsibilities for him out there."

"You're not wrong about that," Zeke agreed. "Levi's got a lot in his hands. But, are you prepared for such a change?"

Hange slumped back on the seat, teetering uncomfortably. She showed them a lop-sided smile that could pass up as a pained one. "I don't know. But maybe, the circumstances are finally telling me to wake up from this dream."

Notes:

It's like a little over a month. I was having a hard time doing updates due to my current job position and I am not even sure if I'm satisfied with the flow of the story.

Gotta be honest that I'm a little uninspired and less motivated these days, and there are times I couldn't type a single dialogue. Hope to get my inspiration back.

I'd appreciate to know if you're still reading. :)

Chapter 40

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

How do you move on from something that has not happened yet?

Hange ignored the predisposition that she was trapped in a daydream. Sometimes, elated feelings branching from extreme happiness would result in negligence of the cycle of things. The more significant events get tucked in the sidelines, the more red flags go unnoticed.

Her "thing" with Levi is a temporary love affair. She must have overlooked that concept.

She was standing at the front of the door to their room—a little anxious, but there was no way she would run away from this. Levi had been acting differently for the past two weeks. She observed his silence a few times when they were together, spacing out when she was enthused with her own world. He seemed distant, uninterested—or probably just tired of her ramblings. There also had been a time when she brought him to the amusement park with Eren and Yelena. When everybody screams during a wild ride, Levi barely makes a sound of fear or excitement. Hange thought at first that maybe Levi could effortlessly contain his rush of emotions. That was a trait of a soldier, right?

Hange must have been too caught up in her own happiness. Too absorbed that subtle signs of Levi's strange behavior are ignored.

Until today…

When Hange entered the room, Levi was sitting on his bed and looking out the window. He paid her a tired gaze but managed to smile it off.

"Hey," she said softly. She was still standing close to the door, cautiously studying his face for any trace of peculiarity.

Levi knitted his eyebrows. "Oi, what's standing there for? Did the monkey tell you I have a contagious disease or something?"

Hange inhaled sharply. Would she be relieved that Levi still recognized her?

"Four-eyes…"

"Well…" Hange's voice breaks. She stepped a little closer and sat beside him on the bed.

"What's wrong? Don't tell me there's really something going on with me," Levi said alarmingly.

"You tell me, Levi," Hange whispered. "What was going on with you? How have you been feeling?"

"I'm fine," he drawled, eyes averting from her.

"No," Hange said sternly. "Didn't we agree to be honest with each other? Discuss things that matter, especially your health?"

Levi bowed his head.

"Your condition is far from contagious. But I guess it's worse than that. I found you passed out in the bathroom at dawn. And yesterday, you also fainted at Erwin's place after meeting your former staff," Hange said. "You should feel something, right? You don't lose consciousness out of nowhere. You can't just ignore those signs."

"They're nothing. Really."

"Levi." Hange grabbed his arm. "Zeke told me things."

Levi scoffed. "Ah, just as I thought. He couldn't be trusted to keep things in secret."

"Don't leave me out of this. Zeke means well, Levi. He's being honest with me because he cared and because he acknowledged the fact that I was a person who was concerned about your welfare. You told me two weeks ago that you're having weird flashes of memories. And you couldn't deny that those were your memories of your past. They're getting frequent now, right? You're having headaches, and those severe ones become too unbearable that you lose consciousness. Something must be triggering them."

"Don't worry about it. I can handle myself," Levi reassured her. Hange was too smart with her theories.

"That's not the real issue! Did you even remember locking yourself in the bathroom at four in the morning?"

Levi narrowed his brows. That expression gave it away.

"We also had sex last night," Hange added. "Do you at least remember that we did it?"

Levi nodded. "Of course…"

"Why the sex, Levi?" Hange pressed. "We both know we rarely had the urges to do it. Why ask for it last night?"

"Are you serious with that question?"

"I am." Hange bit her cheek. "Sex is a way to relax. But another way is to forget about something. Distract ourselves from things that bother us."

Levi didn't argue with that.

Hange continued, "I woke up at dawn and saw you standing by the foot of the bed—looking lost and confused. I asked you what was wrong, but you rushed to the bathroom and locked yourself there. I kept knocking on the door but you won't answer me at all. That's when I thought I must break in, but you've blacked out right where I found you."

Levi pursed his lip. What the hell is she talking about?

"Levi?" Hange pressed. "Do you remember it? Say something!"

Levi hesitated. Of course, he didn't remember. His silence could only draw enough conclusions.

"I knew it," Hange deflated. "You… were gradually turning into someone else. The old you."

"What are you talking about? Are you sure it was me? Maybe you're in a daze or something. Or you're half-dreaming. Hange, it could be something else…"

"There's nothing wrong with me, Levi," Hange said firmly. "It was you! And to see you acting like that, we couldn't deny that strange things are already happening. Things are happening the way they should."

Levi balled his fists and said nothing.

"You've never been completely honest with me," Hange told him. "But I couldn't blame you. I know what you feel for me is pure and genuine. I appreciate those feelings, but I don't know what to make of them at some point. How long will they stay that way? We can't deny that your condition might be temporary—just like a one-night hangover. One moment you're doing things out of coordination, and when intoxication wears off, you're sober again."

"Hange…"

"Your old memories are way more important. They hold things that will lead you to the truth about those who must pay for their crimes. They hold things far, far more significant than our current relationship," Hange ventured. "Why did you keep things away from me? I know I was not part of your old self, but I also feel there's a need to know who you were before this. Because damn, I feel accountable for selfishly keeping a person away from his responsibilities. For keeping him to myself when he should be accomplishing tasks for the greater good."

"No one's forcing me to be the old me," Levi countered. "Mikasa and the rest were doing their best."

"Even so, your physiology doesn't agree to that. You can't deny that those flashes remind you that you need to—"

"Be the person I was before?" Levi interrupted dismally.

"As Zeke said, it's best to leave things the way they are. If your old memories are coming back, let them come back on their own," Hange said. "Nobody's forcing you, yes. But… the circumstances are."

"So… you're okay with this. You're fine with us losing this?"

Hange shook her head. She so wanted to cry, but she contained herself not to get carried away by her emotions. "We're not losing anything, Levi. I will always cherish what we had. B-but then, I also want to make it a point that you're just a lost soul that borrowed somebody's body. We'll never know what's in the future for us."

Levi looked at her with sunken eyes.

"I don't want this to go deeper. Because in the end, it's just me who'd get hurt in all this. You know that, Levi."

Hange's memory of walking away from him to face an army of colossal titans reemerged. She was high up in the sky, tossing herself around to keep them from getting close to the plane.

So let me go, will you?

It's the memory he'd always keep close to his heart. A memory so painful yet so liberating when he met Hange in another universe, and he was finally able to demonstrate his feelings.

"But I don't want to lose this, Hange…" Levi said quietly. "Are you giving this up?"

Those words are from someone nonexistent. Some drug-induced feelings that shouldn't be taken seriously.

Tears finally made out of her eyes. She didn't want to hear those words. She couldn't hold onto them just to break herself in the distant future. "Tell me, can you see a future with me, Levi?"

Levi froze. Admittedly, the present times he was currently enjoying made him lose sight of his future.

Hange stood from the bed and wiped her tears away. "I just have to prepare for work. Please rest."

"Hange..."

She didn't give Levi the time to protest. She was already outside the bedroom with the door shut tight, and was met with Yelena's concerned look.

"Hey…"

"He's fine." Hange chuckled bitterly. "Ah, I'm late. I have to go now."

"But Hange…"

"Not today, Yelena," Hange waved a hand. "Please."

Yelena kept her mouth shut in understanding. Hange sighed at that. Perhaps Yelena knew when to say something and talk her out of things that bothered her. The blonde's nosiness didn't transpire today. Not when she had been sleepless nor when Hange's crestfallen face had so many stories behind it. A story she didn't need to tell.

"Okay," Yelena said silently, letting the brunette reach her way to the front door.

"How could you still trust a person who is in charge of our investments when he was making poor life choices?"

Rod Reiss was at the end of his rope. His desperation to kick Levi Ackerman out of position was very much evident in his pressing tone, prompting Willy Tybur to reach for his phone and scroll away. There are many more important things to see on his newsfeed than listening to Rod's nonsensical rants today. Not when they are sitting at a café, enjoying a delectable selection of food.

Kiyomi Azumabito was as inattentive as ever, thinking about the ingredients of the cake she had just tasted. She leaned close to Tybur. "My, this cake was the best I had in months. I'll have my pastry chef taste this, and we could come up with another version."

Tybur chuckled. "Yes, Nicollo's palate would already know what's in there."

"You had a good pick," Kiyomi chirped. "Hm, I've been thinking of desserts for an addition to my café."

"I had other recommendations. Lara knows a café in Mitras that sell the best pastries and—"

"For god's sake!" Rod cried. "Why won't you listen to me?"

Kiyomi paid him a nonchalant glance. "Is there something wrong, Rod?"

Rod groaned and scratched his ear. "You aren't listening, as always."

Willy shook his head. He was still on his phone. "What's there to listen to? Are you planning to pull out your stocks in Ackerman Holdings?"

Rod shook his head. "No. What I'm trying to point out is the current CEO's inconsistent behavior."

"Ah, my advisors told me not to worry. They are monitoring the company's analytics after the controversy of Levi with another woman. As I see it, his personal life has nothing to do with the company's performance. You, of all people, should know that. Unless you lost trust in Levi, who doubled up our dividends in a year," Kiyomi said with sarcasm in her tone. "You can always pull out your stocks but don't drag us to take that risky path. My investments have been safe in the company for decades. And we should admit they can stand independently even if they lose the major shareholders. It will never be our loss, mind you. Levi Ackerman had tricks up his sleeves," Kiyomi reasoned.

Willy laughed. "My sister was so pissed at that news that she wanted to pull out her stocks. I told her she'd starve in the next few years."

"What is this all about, Rod?" Kiyomi curled an eyebrow. "When it's always about Levi, you're telling things that don't agree with my opinions."

Rod slackened. He picked the wrong people who would support him in his cause. Of course, he knew Tybur and Azumabito were among the major shareholders who consistently voted for an Ackerman to take the CEO position.

"Levi's losing his edge and interest in the company," Rod said. "Didn't you notice? He's not even coming to work. He's letting his people take his responsibilities."

"What's wrong with that? You're talking about his sister, who he was training to get more engaged and committed to their family's business. And he's building a good working relationship with Erwin Smith, a former rival and was connected with international corporations willing to megamerge with the company. Levi knew the best people to be appointed with a challenging role and make them unleash their talents and potential. He had a strong management development program ever since. That makes him a good leader, don't you think?" Willy said.

"That's not the whole point. I hope you are thinking outside of the box. Take his current relationships with people. That new woman he kissed publicly? What kind of publicity stunt was it? It was very uncharacteristic of him to switch from Petra to a random person real quick," Rod insisted.

"I don't see any trouble with it as long as our investments are safe and there are no changes in the numbers. After all, we business people are only about profiting," Kiyome laughed. "Ah, Rod. Are you a jealous little man?"

"What?!"

"Knock it off. You're making weak points yourself, Rod. Did you invite us here to talk against Levi?" Willy asked. "Our family's loyalty is with the Ackermans since the Tybur's first generation of business. It's been running for decades. I can't believe you're highly critical of Levi's leadership after he came back into position. As long as he had people working in the background and there was no decline in the company's performance, it's not an issue to me. Besides, we're still the top holdings company in Paradis. Nothing comes close second. It doesn't take a smart man to have knowledge of that."

Rod balled his fists. Perhaps he couldn't incite to convince the board that they needed a succession of the current management. He knew it was a lost cause, and he couldn't just reveal Levi's memory loss when people have their selective beliefs.

There should be another way to get rid of Levi.

"Anything else you need to discuss?" Kiyomi asked, standing up after glancing at her wristwatch. "I'm afraid I have to leave now, gentlemen. Someone's waiting for me at the office. I suggest you take it easy, Rod. Cut down on caffeine. I know you're perceptive, but you're making a false and absurd impression towards a person."

"I'm just worried about the future under Levi's leadership," Rod seethed.

"Well, I thought you were just being paranoid," Willy teased. "For no reason."

Rod shook his head in disbelief.

"Get over it," Willy said. "Give us better reasons why we shouldn't need Levi as the CEO unless you want to take over his position because we do know you'd be automatically appointed as the successor."

"Of... of course not!" Rod said defensively.

"I'm sorry, but you must at least come close to Levi's skills and charisma—something none of us possess. Not every one of us is leader-material. However, spare the Ackermans. It's in their blood."

"A unique trait we don't understand for a short man," Kiyomi gushed. "I now understood his popularity with women that I wish I was his age today."

"Oh, no you don't!" Willy chuckled nervously. "Take Lara. It took a while for her to get her shit together when they broke up."

"Ah, so I guess I was born in the right era," Kiyomi quipped.

Rod was gritting his teeth, faking a smile. "The curse of old age, eh?"

"Let the young man enjoy where he is right now," Kiyomi said. "He's at the peak of his career. However, it also comes with great responsibility and challenges. Levi wears stress like an elegant tuxedo and that won him our votes. Don't act like you're in charge of the decision-making, Rod."

Rod smiled smugly. "What can I say, did he make you drink a potion or something?"

Kiyomi shrugged. "Maybe. And you should start whipping your own potion, too."

Already did. Rod thought. And perhaps he should whip another one in this case.

"I want to see Levi." Mikasa was anxiously pacing back and forth in her office. Most days, her brother constituted the majority of her problems. "Are you sure he didn't hurt himself or anything?"

Erwin nodded. "According to him, there was a splitting headache before he fainted. But after a few minutes, he regained consciousness and was fine again. Like nothing happened."

"He needs to be checked right away. Didn't you call Zeke?"

"I'm afraid Levi turned down that suggestion. He said he was fine."

Mikasa pursed her lip. "He's lying."

Erwin agreed with a slight shake of his head. "Furlan confessed to me about something, though. He initially thought Levi was making up his condition, forcing him to reveal some information that was only kept between them."

"What information was that?" Mikasa halted her steps to look at him.

"Levi had been tailing Rod for years. He believed that the plane crash where your parents died was not an accident but a murder scheme. Furlan's father also died on that plane. Since then, they joined forces to prove that notion. Essentially, Levi only hired Furlan to fulfill his promise of bringing justice to the victims of the plane crash," Erwin said.

Mikasa propped her hand over a table. "W-what…"

"You were so young back then. And growing up, you were made to believe everything was just an accident," Erwin said. "Yesterday, Furlan and I managed to retrieve a news clip stating it was an engine failure. However, they never conducted a proper investigation. And that was when an anonymous person began leaving hints for Levi to push through with the investigation, even without a governing body to help him. In the end, they've come up with a theory that Rod Reiss was behind all this after discovering his other crimes as well."

Mikasa crashed into her seat defeatedly. "The hell… there are so many perspectives to look into again. We are being displaced from one angle to another."

"It looks complicated, but it's actually not," Erwin said with certitude. "Because we're still looking at one person who's the root cause of everything. All we have to do is catch him red-handed."

"How long will that take? No one's on his tail."

"YPD's still monitoring the activities in the port of shipments area. It's been under surveillance for over a week now, and the team was positive that any time, there would be smuggled transactions of the drug shipments. Your friend, Eren, also cooperated with the investigation team because he had the leads. Rod was elusive, so we should start by keeping an eye on his activities instead. Although we do know that there are people he can easily make his scapegoats."

Mikasa's eyes fell on her lap. "Our parents… I was too young to remember that tragedy. Maybe because that event deprived me of even realizing their parental affection. I didn't know Levi had been working for years to claim justice. Why didn't he seek help from Uncle Kenny?"

Erwin shrugged. "We'll never know unless we talk to Levi in his best mental state—and I do mean, his old self. There are lots of gaps we are yet to cross. Your brother had kept this for years, and here's another puzzle to piece together. I can feel Furlan's frustration, and I'm afraid he will work alone if we can't make anything out of Levi."

"I feel bad for Furlan," Mikasa thought. "He's always been close to Levi for years, and I never thought there was something deeper in that bond. They have mutual goals."

"And Furlan feels he was alone in this battle." Erwin exhaled. "He's a guy in hiding. He's in a tight spot when he needs two things that are hard to achieve right now. Justice and freedom."

"We've been working for weeks, but there's no progress at all," Mikasa said. "Sometimes… I want to give up."

"Levi told me yesterday if regaining his memories through a drug was in our options to solve this case," Erwin informed. "I only said we're not forcing him because I know he doesn't want to reclaim them. His relationship with Hange keeps him firm with the decision to stay this way. However, it only gets tougher for us now that Furlan had another issue to bring up."

Mikasa stood from her seat and paced again restlessly. "It's hard to decide for now. Zeke has yet to talk to Frieda about the progress of the drug. But… what if it's already available?"

"We have to weigh our options. First, we're not sure if the drug can completely cure him. Pharmacology is a complex matter. Trials should be done on test subjects and observe their response. There's no guarantee that in one take, Levi will regain everything."

"Do you think we should decide for Levi?" Mikasa asked, just in time when the door behind her swung open unceremoniously.

Standing in frozen heels, Hange stared in shock as Mikasa and Erwin shared anxious looks.

"Hange…" Mikasa said. "How long have you been there?"

"H-hi! The door's not locked, and I'm afraid I kind of overheard some things." Hange smiled and waved it off. "I'm sorry if I came in unannounced. I thought I needed to talk to you about something important, Mikasa."

Mikasa nodded stiffly. She looked at Erwin, and it was his cue to leave them in private. He clapped a comforting hand as he passed by Hange.

"Is everything all right?" Mikasa sat behind her desk twitchily. She motioned for Hange to take a seat across from her.

Hange took her seat and clasped her hands together. "I guess you're right. It's about time Levi regains his memories."

Mikasa looked away. "How much did you hear from our conversation?"

"Enough for me to realize I shouldn't be selfish," Hange said, staring at her conjoined hands. "No matter how we look at it, the current Levi is just a product of wrong drug consumption. He's not even real."

Mikasa leaned on her table and stared at her empathically. "Hange, we're trying our best to keep him that way. Remember, I also want this version of him."

"Mikasa, you should know that his memories are gradually returning," Hange groused.

"But they are just flashes, right? They don't affect him physically. And they go away in—"

"No," Hange countered. "Levi's keeping it a secret. Two weeks ago, he experienced flashes of his old memories, and I'm sure they're getting frequent. I failed to observe him during those times he'd pause for a moment and then go completely silent. Yesterday, he had a terrible headache that caused him to faint. And I caught him out of bed last night, looking anxious and confused. He looks at me as if he can't recognize me at all. He locked himself in the bathroom and that's when I forced myself inside, only to find him unconscious on the floor."

"What…?"

Hange shuddered. "I believe his mental state is responding differently at random times. I talked to him this morning, he's not making any sense. He probably thinks he's good at hiding things but, I'm not that slow not to figure out."

"But he should be telling us, shouldn't he? He should be telling us!" Mikasa asserted. "He never lied before."

"He's not lying. However, he's not open to telling everything about his condition. He's keeping it silent and making us believe he's okay. If he's divided by his responsibilities as the old person who had unfinished business and a man who found peace in a world he's not familiar with, maybe he should consider the greater impact of his choices."

Mikasa pursed her lips tightly.

Hange feigned nonchalance though her hands were shaking. "I'm willing to give him up, Mikasa. It's just me. I mean, everyone needs Levi. This society needs to benefit from his discovery of the hidden crimes that have been lurking for years. He doesn't need to be stuck with me just because his fake memories said so. It's all delusional thought. It's the aftereffect of that drug."

Mikasa shook her head. "Hey, take it easy. Please, whatever you heard earlier wasn't in our plans just yet. We're weighing all our options. While it was true that the best way to solve all these problems was for Levi to restore his memories, we are also taking all the effort to bring something to the table. Granted, he's not reliable these days. However, I'm positive something will turn up to lead us from one new piece of evidence to another. We're working hard, I promise you."

"I know." Hange exhaled. "But my presence in his life only restricts him from full commitment to putting an end to what he started. He should focus on what's more important: justice for your parents and stopping drug-related crimes in this society. I'll be okay. I was in a job where selflessness was honored. I must admit I was a little selfish when Levi started to give me the attention and love I never had as a person. It's lovely. But then, I should also know my place in his life. Once he regains his memories, that's the time I should step out of his life."

"Hange, we can't be sure of that—of Levi regaining his memories."

Hange bowed her head, painfully recalling Levi's vacant eyes as he looked at her. "But what I'm sure of is, I have to be prepared for that day…"

"Hange…"

"Everything that Levi and I have… they're bound to disappear. I don't want to be attached any longer," Hange said.

"No," Mikasa chided almost ruefully. She stood from her chair and crouched before Hange. "Between you and this society—no matter how big Levi's responsibility is, I'd always see you as a person who becomes an important part of our lives. And it will always stay that way. You're not just some stranger we'd meet on the sidewalks. So never say you're insignificant. Levi was alive because of you."

Hange looked at her doubtingly.

"Remember, you're the one who saved him," Mikasa said bitingly, taking Hange's hands in hers. "Whether it is out of duty or basic instinct, you're the hero who saved a hero. And I couldn't thank you enough."

Hange's wine eyes widened behind the glasses. She opened her mouth to say something but failed to deliver the right words. She could hold on to Mikasa's reassurance—something to keep her hopes alive. However, she couldn't ignore Levi's unpredictable condition—a fuse that was about to explode at any moment now.

"Hange." Mikasa squeezed her hand tighter. "Don't give up on him just yet. Please."

"I'm just saving myself from a future heartache, Mikasa," Hange trailed off.

Mikasa's hands loosened. "A-are you going to leave him?"

Hange shook her head, then tried to keep a straight face. "Not yet. I'm still assessing his condition. But soon, if the situation calls for it, he's all yours. He needs to reclaim his old self. It's indispensable. He needs to come back. It's for the good of all."

Mikasa sighed, drawing her hands back and standing up with a guilt-stricken reaction. "I think it's my fault for bringing you two together. And now you're suffering its consequences. I'm sorry if you've invested your emotions in this relationship. I want to blame that part of me who selfishly wanted this new version of him—make him someone he's not. Somehow, I failed to see that his condition was temporary. I'm sorry if you're dragged in… I'm sorry if—"

"It's me, Mikasa," Hange smiled wryly. "I shouldn't have fallen in love in the first place. I should've known better and listened to people who say I shouldn't pursue my feelings."

"I'll be here whatever happens. Always," Mikasa said remorsefully. "Just… if you need someone to talk to or anything, you can count on me. Levi might lose his memory of you, but not me. Never. And I'll always owe you for saving my brother."

"I know." Hange nodded, wiping her eye as if there were unshed tears. A relieving sigh escaped her, but there was so much pain in her chest.

People have moved on. It wouldn't be hard on her part.

Or so she thought.

If this world happens to be the one in his memory, violence is always an option.

And most of the time, it worked.

He'd beat, torture, or kill people. If worse comes to worst, there is no self-inhibition to question morality. The simplest way is to mainly determine the root cause of the problem and do what is necessary. He is not the best strategist, but desperation has a way of taking things into swift action.

Levi was finally out of his bed after nursing another headache. He glanced at the clock and remembered falling back to bed after that heart-to-heart talk with Hange. And god, it was an unsettled conversation for something to fall apart. It nudges the start of a rocky relationship, and he is not ready for such.

Hange was smart to deduce things anyway. And the fact that he can't do anything to counter her claim that he might have possibly shifted to his "old self" was already an alarming reminder. He couldn't remember a damn thing. And maybe Hange was right, he must have been feeling a little out of touch with reality at most times.

There are things he wouldn't say out loud. After hurting Petra's feelings, his condition worsened for the past two weeks. He'd been trying to fight off those flashes—those memories that made him become the man he is today. He had been weak. He shouldn't have let his personal relationship sway him from his side objectives. He should have solely focused on his goals with Furlan to attain justice for their parents. Things would have been different if he hadn't been a man in love.

Weak. Too weak.

And now, another man from the void came out of that weakness.

He's a soldier. The strongest among his troops. Gruff and fearless. He never backed down from a fight. He made his enemies bleed to death.

He should do something.

He was already out of the door and found the living room empty. Yelena must already be sleeping in her bedroom. Great.

He slipped out of the apartment and headed outside stealthily, putting on his trusty facemask with one mission in mind. He knew he had been useless for weeks. He let people work for him without much result. They heavily relied on his old memories—something he didn't wish to consume him back.

He'll never lose Hange.

And today, maybe it's about time he'd spring back into action as someone who'd take every opportunity to get things the way he wanted them to be.

If someone brushed him the wrong way, he is not missing a chance to do the same.

How unproductive.

Meeting with Azumabito and Tybur was always a lost cause. Rod Reiss was not expecting anything much from them when clearly, their loyalty to the Ackermans had been firm and solid. Without a doubt, most shareholders have their collective agreement in the voting process—something that always highlighted his defeat because he would only get three to four votes at most.

It was a good thing Levi was not taking any action against him. Perhaps Rod should believe Frieda's narrative that his own experimental drug finally took effect. However, he could've just wished it had killed its victim.

He was wrenched out of his thoughts at the sound of his driver clearing his throat. He looked up to see they had finally arrived at the gate of his manor. He glanced at his watch when the car's door was yanked open, a figure emerging out of nowhere to haul him out into the sunlight and throw him violently onto the ground.

At first, he didn't know what hit him. He crashed face-first onto the dirt; the reflexes of his limbs didn't register at the sudden impact. At the turn of his head to search for the attacker, a hard kick to the temple paralyzed him on the spot. The searing pain almost knocked his soul out of his body, and for a while, he wondered what the hell was going on.

How many are they? Will they kill him?

His estates are heavily guarded by security, and they were paid enough to do their jobs. However, here he was, face-planted on the ground with some invisible assailant he didn't get the chance to look at. He couldn't even produce a sound when several blows hit his body all at once with a bone-crushing force.

Where the heck is his driver? There should be help.

He was close to losing consciousness when his head managed to twist sideways to see his driver passed out by the wheel of the car.

Shit. Rod could have wished he was knocked out cold at the first hit. To make him experience all those jabs and kicks was enough for him to beg for death. Grunting, he coughed out the dirt mixed with his blood as he crawled his way back to his car. In a desperate attempt to escape, he was stopped by a sharp tug on his hair; head pulled back to face the blinding rays of the sun. A whisper sounded close to his ear.

"Where the fuck are you going, old man?"

He cried, "W-who… are you?!"

"An executioner from hell," the voice said. It sounded familiar, but Rod couldn't trace where he heard that tone. "You've been enjoying your stay in this world. It's about time to make amends with your Maker."

"D-don't…" Rod panted, using all his strength to fight back but to no avail. His attacker was stronger, possibly younger, and his vulnerability got the best of him.

"So many lives are fucked because of you. So many secrets hidden away. So many unsolved crimes left buried in time. Rot in hell, you old son of a bitch! You know what this society needs from people of your kind? Your extinction."

If given a chance, the attacker would have snapped his neck in a split second. However, Rod knew that the pleasure of killing comes from a slow and painful process before putting him in a restful place. He was a man past his prime, his physical strength wearing off at the presence of fear and intolerance of pain. When a hand clamped his throat, his breathing hitched.

"H-hel.. hel…p…!" Rod croaked.

"You can beg the heavens to pick you up right now, but that's a no-go. You only belong to a place where you can burn."

Rod could no longer feel his body. He was disoriented, gasping for air, begging for mercy. Is this what death looks like? Is this how he should go without a fight? Funny how many times he can summon death at the snap of his fingers, but the situation reversed itself. And now, what can he do when Death seized him in a chokehold?

How unfortunate. He had unfinished business. He had so much to do in the next few days. He had plans. Wait. Wicked plans. And it backfired too soon when he hadn't even started yet.

But forget about those. Forget about hurting people. Here he was, straining with every fiber of his being.

There is no more time to ruminate. Not even a second to pray.

Hell. There is no chance to be spared.

What about his family? His wife, his children?

Frieda.

"Dad!"

The angels must have come to save him as he heard his own daughter's voice calling nearby. It echoed through his ears as if it was the only sound he would need to hear before the hand around his throat squeezed the remaining air out of him.

"Oh no! Dad! Help! Help! Somebody!"

Her voice cut through the air in a panicked timbre. That was her, all right.

An angel guised in the form of his daughter.

He laughed. Frieda has come to save him.

He heard a curse, and then, another voice nearby sounded like someone was stopping his attacker. Another savior? Slowly, the tight grip on Rod's neck loosened. Air burned through his lungs, but at least he was given a chance to breathe. And before he could think he was spared from the talons of death, the grip went to his hair and grew tighter. He knew what was coming and could only squeeze his eyes shut when his head was dragged back up again. Harder.

Rod saw stars when his face was smashed to the ground.

A speeding car careened to the wrong side of the lane, then swerved back in place when another vehicle honked loudly at the front of the road.

Furlan Church yanked off his cap and mask with one hand, the other fixed tightly on the steering wheel. He was huffing in distress, beads of sweat rolling from his head down to his face. He gulped a few times, his mouth feeling dry. His knuckles throbbed, and so was his head. He is losing it.

"Fuck!" he cursed, punching the wheel. "Fuck, fuck fuck!"

He shouldn't have answered that call. He shouldn't have snuck out of Erwin's house and lied to Isabel about going out for a run.

Most of all, he shouldn't have agreed to this plan at all.

This is not how he wanted to claim justice.

The scene at the manor played back in his head. From the time he waited for about an hour around the vicinity until a familiar black vehicle stopped by the gate. He was meant to spy on Rod and his activities for the day. Somehow, he knew that a few of his undertakings would involve the shady ones, and those are what he was after.

Luring Rod into exposing his crimes was not an easy feat. Damn, he's a legit smooth criminal, better than the wispy shadows to remain hidden and unidentified. Somehow, a man with an extended network of powerful crime lords under the guise of unsuspecting individuals was nearly invincible in the game of hide-and-seek. This kind of person has been enjoying their freedom by doing evil deeds for years. It's about time to put that enjoyment to rest.

Out of desperation and the long-running quest to put him in the rightful place, there was a somewhat "messier" alternative to attain justice.

Violence is for those at the end of their rope—impatience streaming through their veins in a boiling fashion.

Furlan was left unprepared for a plan without an established agreement. At the sight of Rod's car halting by the gate, his companion stormed out of their vehicle, fluidly tramping his way like a hungry wolf towards its target. Furlan jolted at the sight of him yanking the car door and hauling a person from inside.

"Shit! Levi!" Furlan hissed.

It was clearly Rod Reiss from that distance, helpless and defenseless as his body stumbled right onto the ground, landing face-first by Levi's feet.

Levi Ackerman.

By gods, he was a raging monster.

Furlan saw a different side of him that was extremely different than the person he used to be around for years.

Rod never got the chance to find his feet, even losing mobility at the spontaneous attacks by the raven-haired assailant. Furlan's stomach flinched at the brutal and heartless treatment, even Rod's driver was not spared of his rampaging propensities.

Furlan stepped out of the car in horror but couldn't think of a way to stop the chaos. He dragged his hands through his hair and looked around for potential witnesses.

Levi was unrelenting. The cruelest of the cruel. He was consumed by rage and wouldn't stop until Rod was beaten into a pulp.

The idea of Levi killing someone signaled Furlan to finally break this madness. He scampered to the scene when Rod was about to be choked to death.

"Stop!" Furlan called.

"Dad!"

Furlan heard a woman's distant voice coming from inside the gates. He sprinted towards his companion and tried dragging him away from his bloody victim.

Levi resisted Furlan's attempt to stop him. And when Furlan lost it, his fist flew to Levi's face. The impact disarmed him.

"Look, just stop it!" Furlan roared. "They're coming! We have to get out of here!"

When voices finally came nearby, Levi clicked his tongue and made his final parting attack by slamming Rod's face onto the ground.

"What the hell did you do?!" Furlan growled at him as they shuffled their way back into the car. He started the engine and stomped on the gas, driving away in a reckless steer. His eyes flicked back and forth between the road and the rearview mirror, hoping nobody was tailing behind them.

Levi was panting beside him. He cupped his throbbing cheek, rubbing it gently.

"I'm sorry, but I really had to punch you, man," Furlan said exasperatedly as he clenched his fist, feeling the impact of bone-to-bone contact. "You are practically going to kill somebody."

"All the better, right? Kill the root before the stem grows," Levi drawled. "But you fucking let that chance go!"

"So, you planned to kill him in the first place?!" Furlan seethed. "Do you think that's how we should solve our problems? I agreed to go with you today because you said you have a sound plan against Reiss. But… fuck! This isn't a sound plan at all! Not the least! You are digging a grave for both of us. Do you really have to beat him up like that?! You know, I hate him with all my soul, but I won't ever do something to get my hands dirty. That was brutal! Way too brutal for revenge. Is that how you do things in your memory?!"

Levi sighed calmly. "It's nothing compared to what I do to people who brushed me the wrong way."

"And what? Kill people just like that? Levi, think! You, killing people is just part of a false memory! Nowhere near from what you are dealing with in real life!"

"But this is what I am now and how I wanted things to be," Levi growled back. "You're too soft for someone who killed our parents!"

"I know he deserved all kinds of torture but we're in no position to take justice into our hands. Leave it to the right people! We're just here to expose him and have the authorities do their jobs."

"How sure are you that your authorities can be trusted?" Levi challenged. "Isn't that our problem in the first place? Because that motherfucker is controlling half of the government? Is there any other way to resolve this fucking mess we've been working on for years?! Would you wait for another decade to settle this just because you're chickening out on violence?!"

Furlan scoffed. They couldn't fight like this. "Look, I thought we were in this together, Levi. Between the two of us, you're more level-headed, more rational. You take things step by step calmly. Things are taking slow, but you've been telling me a lot of times to take it easy. I held onto your words… but…"

Levi glared at him.

"I don't know you anymore…" Furlan trailed off. His eyes focused back on the road as he eased his breathing. "Hell, this isn't you."

Levi fell silent in his seat as Furlan spat out things reactively.

"You could've killed Rod Reiss back there, but what was next for us? If killing people is just a routine for you, spare me. Fuck, it isn't my thing! Ever! This event will give me nightmares for the rest of my life." He was punching the steering wheel repeatedly, cursing out loud in frustration. He pulled over by the roadside, screeching his car as it came to a halt.

It took a whole minute for Furlan to compose himself while Levi went silent, words died in his throat.

"I swear to god," Furlan said. "If someone happened to see and recognize us, we're dead! I've been hiding, Levi. And now, I don't have a chance for freedom!"

Levi stilled on his seat, staring at his busted knuckles and bloody hands.

"I'm sure Rod didn't recognize you because you didn't give him the chance. But how about the driver? His daughter? You did a very risky job right there. How are we going to explain to Erwin what happened? To your sister?" Furlan listed off the things he'd be looking forward to. "You're my responsibility, and I'm accountable for your actions. Shit… I shouldn't have trusted you in the first place."

There was no response from Levi as he kept staring at his hands. His face was slack, eyes unblinking and fixed in one place.

"Levi?" Furlan called.

Levi was unmoved, perhaps unattentive. His hands trembled uncontrollably.

"H-hey… what's wrong with you now?" Furlan pressed.

"F-Furlan." Levi managed to say his name in a hushed tone.

For some reason, Furlan straightened in his seat with a racing heart. He outlined the shape of Levi's bewildered eyes. Something was a little off. Inscrutable.

With a confused look on his face, Levi gazed at Furlan questioningly. "Blood..."

Furlan gaped at him. Something was definitely off.

Levi shuddered. He looked back at his hands, inspecting them cautiously. "Why was there blood on my hands?"

"What?"

Levi looked around him with eyes bulging in bafflement. "Where are we? W-what are we doing out here? What's happening?"

And Furlan knew.

Levi's ideas were bad from the start.

Notes:

I finally found some time to write during lunch hours. Trust me, you don't want to be caught doing 'extras' during work hours. Unless you have 'cool' bosses.

As for this chapter, sorry for the Levihan drama. At least there's a little action towards the end.

Thanks for reaching up to this point.

I always appreciate your comments and for reading this far. :)

Chapter 41

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

It was only a dream. Just a dream, right?

Or that's what Levi thought.

It was a dream where he recalled every detail of what happened—with images so clear and profound, yet he had no control of his own body. In that dream, he remembered Furlan driving a car and they were headed to Reiss Manor. At first, Furlan was delivering instructions. That was new. Between the two of them, Levi always took the lead. However, Furlan's instructions were unclear—soundless to the ears—but Levi saw himself nodding away as if an agreement was settled.

Waiting outside the manor took them almost an hour. Furlan had been checking his watch every now and then, while Levi sat quietly, almost impatiently. When a familiar black car arrived by the gate, Levi didn't waste any more time as he propelled headlong into the scene, allowing the crudest of his actions to take over. He yanked the car's door and roughly dragged Rod Reiss out. Against his better judgment and Furlan's—who was left dazed in the car—he took the matter into his own hands, drubbing his fists against every part of Reiss's body without restraint.

Levi had been meaning to hurt Rod in the worst possible way. In years, he'd been curbing his biggest desire to punch the old man's wicked smile. Oh, how he longed for the moment to knock his teeth, break his limbs—every inch of his bone down to his soul, and render him incapacitated for the rest of his life. Whenever Levi sees the old man, violence was already creeping into his thoughts.

And it happened.

This dream made it all happen. Levi indulged himself in beating the man up, close to killing him because this is what he deserved. Dreams—no matter how twisted they are—had ways to carry out revenge in the most satisfying way. From his tunnel perspective, Rod was a bloody mess in his hands. The guy had no strength to fight—weakened by his blows, making all the work too easy.

Too easy, and that displeased Levi. It was not a fair fight to say the least.

A part of him sensed Rod's helplessness, and when he finally felt the urge to hold back, his body didn't stop. Rod was already curled under his feet, absorbing more hits than he could endure, hugging dirt and blood and begging for mercy.

What the hell am I doing?

More kicks followed. And when Rod looked wasted enough, Levi grabbed a fistful of his hair and leaned close to his bloodied face, whispering profanities.

Wait. Am I really doing this?

Rod was choking out of thin air. Levi's other hand clamped around his neck, mercilessly tightening its hold and not letting go.

Stop! Damn it. Why couldn't I stop?

Rod's eyes rolled behind his head, until two voices spontaneously traveled into his ears, eventually stopping his rage-fueled strength.

He could have killed Rod Reiss in an instant—but somehow, this dream didn't allow him at all.

He'd been cruel and savage. It was pleasing to beat a man who's the root of all crimes, but then again, what is wrong with him?

How disturbing. He should wake up. This isn't him! Not at all.

Levi, what have you done? He could only ask himself.

"What happened? What happened to him again?!" Mikasa hurried her way past people, blindly brushing them off gruffly while barking on the phone.

Hange was behind her at an equally frantic pace, mumbling both a prayer and a curse at each step as they made it out of the building and to the parking lot.

It was Levi. Somehow, Hange's senses are sharp enough to hear his name from Mikasa. As if there was no one else in the world to send her into a fit of frenzy.

"I'll take us there," Hange offered as they scooted to the nearest car. She opened the door and slid inside.

Mikasa followed shortly beside her, panting and red. Her hand smacked her forehead soundly.

"What happened?" Hange asked as she turned on the ignition and pulled out of the parking lot. "Where do we go?"

"To Erwin's place," Mikasa said hastily. "Furlan called. Levi's with him and he said about beating up Rod Reiss outside his house."

Hange nearly stepped on the brakes. "What?"

"I… I don't know the details but Furlan was mouthing apologies over and over."

"W-what about Levi? Is he okay?" Hange asked nervously.

"I hope so," Mikasa said, biting her nails. "Erwin should be right behind us. Furlan also called him."

"Shit…" Hange muttered. "Did they plan this? To hurt Rod Reiss?"

"I don't know," Mikasa rattled. "Whatever is going in Levi's head, it's definitely a bad sign."

Hange quieted in her seat. "He's resorting to violence now, and that's never gonna do him good."

"It's a terrible idea to let him know about his unresolved duties," Mikasa said. "But I never pictured he'd end up like this. He's screwed."

Hange reached for Mikasa's hand and squeezed it. "We'll talk him out of this, okay?"

Mikasa nodded slowly.

Seeing one's father getting beaten up by a stranger was every child's nightmare. Frieda Reiss was standing close to the door of Rod's room, eyes trained on the doctors and nurses gathered around him. Her mother was outside the room, sobbing at the battered state of her husband. Her other siblings were crying as much as their mother as if Rod is not going to wake up any time soon.

But it turned out, it was the other way around. Rod was very much alive and conscious. For a person who deserved all the hate in the world, it was a miracle that he only ended up with bruised body parts, broken nose, and missing front teeth.

One doctor approached Frieda; his face crumpled in concern. The young woman kept a straight face as if she was not affected by the events earlier.

"Your father requested to let him stay at home. It's best if he's at the hospital for a few more tests but he's insistent," the doctor said. "We could provide the best facilities for emergencies, so if you could convince him—"

Frieda waved him off coldly. "You heard him. He wants to stay at home. We can manage. He looks okay to me."

The doctor looked surprised.

"No broken bones, right? Nothing serious that requires immediate surgery except for his missing front teeth which would need dentures once they healed. Also, his nose got broken a few times when he was younger. This is nothing new. He should be fine," Frieda said nonchalantly.

"But..."

"My father's a tough man." Frieda's eyes were vacantly looking at Rod who had bandages all over his face. "This is not something he can't handle."

"I see." The doctor followed her line of vision. "But Miss Frieda, should your family report to the police what happened?"

"I'm sure my father doesn't want that, either."

"H-huh?" The doctor's frown deepened at Frieda's casual tone.

"And what for? Nobody caught the attacker. The CCTV didn't capture where they came from. It's no use. The attackers are probably paid to do this to him. You know in the business world, you make a lot of friends, but you also had a fair share of enemies. Happens a lot."

"But…"

"We'd double our security. And I guess Dad should also take a break from his business dealings. Sometimes, overworking is bad for one's health. I bet you'd agree with me."

"O-of course." The doctor sighed.

"Well, then. I think I should talk to Dad in private. He's fine to talk, right?" Frieda asked casually.

"He is, but don't stress him out," he reminded her. "He's traumatized. He needs to recover from that."

Frieda nodded and headed straight towards the bed where Rod was sitting up. Purple bruises began to show, and swelling was forming around his eyes. The other people in the room picked up their belongings as they quietly exited the room, leaving Frieda and Rod alone.

"You're lucky it wasn't serious," Frieda monotoned. "I saw the attacker and he could've killed you."

Rod gripped the bedsheets tightly, knuckles white as his nails dug into his palms. "Lucky? Frieda, I was about to get killed. Don't call this 'luck' if it's from a bad experience. Whoever that delinquent is, I swear to hunt him down!"

"Unfortunately, we didn't catch him. Even your CCTV didn't capture the events."

Rod wrinkled his broken nose.

"Why must this happen to you, Dad?" Frieda asked impassively.

"Are you seriously asking why this happened to me?!" Rod asked incredulously. Her lack of sympathy was utterly disturbing. "Frieda, your own father was beaten to a pulp and you are sounding like I deserved this?"

Frieda looked at him with icy eyes. "I'm sure you've done worse than this."

"Frieda!"

"I stopped him before he could kill you. Call me a miracle. That guy had burning rage coursing through his body. He didn't have a weapon to begin with, but his hands wielded as one. Do you have enemies, Dad?" Frieda asked provokingly.

"No! I'm sure this is just about competition in business. Jealousy. Rivalry. Nothing else! Nobody wants to have someone top the other. It's always like that in the business world."

"To get you killed?"

"What are you getting at again, Frieda? The last time we talked, you were the same. You're trying to get even. You're getting under my skin. What is wrong with you?" Rod's hushed anger was amplified by his daughter's harsh treatment despite his wretched state.

"Just to give you a fair warning that everything happens for a reason," Frieda told him. "By instinct, people are reactive. Respectively, they respond to a certain treatment according to how they were being treated. What you put in is what you get out. A golden rule."

"That logic doesn't line up. Are you implying that this happened to me because I did something wrong?"

"Ask yourself, Dad. For a person to beat you up like that? It isn't just about jealousy. The surge of hate is pure and brimming…"

Rod didn't need to remember what his assailant whispered to him. Frieda was right. Does it have something to do with his underground business? His networks and affairs were nonproductive these days. From then, a lot was not happy about the closures and displacement of their operations. Since the drug bust incident, street thugs are restless because they lost their jobs. However, his identity was never disclosed to anyone. At least not yet but for a few trusted ones. How would one person find out that he was the "big boss"? Has someone in his circle spilled that secret information?

Or was it something else? The only person who is capable of plotting against him is Levi Ackerman and his cohorts. But Levi's memories are messed up these days. For sure, his current knowledge about Rod didn't even reach the borderline of how much he previously knew.

But then again…

"You want to take this incident to the press? To the police?" Frieda interrupted him from his thoughts.

"No," Rod said immediately, looking away from her.

Frieda twitched her eye. Just as she thought.

Her lips curled downwards as she watched her father looking outside the window, seemingly deep in thought again. She took in the pain he endured. All those marks all over his body were a painful sight alone and that broke her. She may seem uncaring, after knowing what kind of a person he is. However, he was still her father, someone who raised her with boundless love and comfort. He fulfilled his role dutifully, but…

"Why don't you want the police to know?" Frieda ventured.

Perhaps she really didn't need her father to answer when he would certainly set up a lie.

It doesn't take a wild guess. Rod Reiss was keeping his cover.

An investigation would take place. The intention of the attacker would be brought up. Nothing was stolen, his driver was knocked down and not killed. The intention was to solely hurt the target with bare hands and would possibly end up in murder if not for her interruption.

So, who would hurt Rod Reiss that way? Her father was a philanthropist, a man of charitable works and social welfare. A man who had little to no record of bad publicity.

"Fire the guards on duty," Rod digressed. "They're a bunch of useless bastards."

Frieda sighed. "It's not necessary to fire them when you can double their numbers for your security."

Rod looked at her skeptically.

"On top of that, you should stay at home for weeks," Frieda said. "How would you want your partners to be notified of your absence?"

"Tell them I fell off a horse. That should convince them," Rod said. "And Frieda, don't tell Uri about this. I don't want him to worry."

Frieda nodded absently. "He'd be the last person to know."

"It felt strange, however," Rod said, after a moment of silence. "That my own daughter seemed distant. Hearing you back there… I thought the angels have come to save me. But now, I suppose it's just my delusional head making things up."

Frieda bit her lip in guilt. No. She was not supposed to cry. She turned around and was about to head outside. "You're not hearing things, Dad."

"You saved me," Rod said softly. "I just need to confirm it."

"I should," Frieda clipped. "I am your daughter."

"I'm lucky then," Rod said, his half-swollen eye squinted as he forced a pained smile. "For having you as my daughter."

It hurts. Frieda knew she couldn't say the same for him.

"You're stupid! And since when did you learn to lie to me?!" Isabel was fuming in controlled rage, keeping in mind that she was staying in Erwin's house and his kids would have heard her yelling in one of the rooms. She could punch Furlan right in the face if not for Levi's unconscious state on her bed.

He drifted off again. Just like yesterday.

"This was bad," Isabel leaned closer to examine her Boss's face, a faint bruise beginning to form against his pale complexion. Lately, she moved to check his hands, taking note of scuffed knuckles and crusted blood on them. "He's hurt."

"He's not," Furlan stated. "Don't worry. Reiss never got the chance to swing a fist at him. That bruise on his face was my doing."

"You hurt him?! The hell for?"

"To stop him," Furlan said. "He's like possessed by evil. Too violent, too reckless. He's close to killing Reiss if not for Frieda and possibly a few people who saw what happened. I hit him to put some sense into him."

"Anyone saw you? Did Frieda see you?"

"Fuck, I don't know!" Furlan said. "But I was hoping the masks on our faces did hide our identities. I just don't know about the old guy if he recognized Levi."

Isabel inhaled sharply. "This is crazy! This will surely ruin our plans."

"I didn't agree to this, okay?!" Furlan protested. "Believe me, I didn't know Levi had plans to take Rod down on the spot. We only agreed to spy on him."

"Didn't it even occur to you that Boss got a different mental framework? He's not the same person before! Where did your big brains go? And how would you explain his state of unconsciousness? Has your sucker punch got him good?"

"Fuck… I didn't know he's violent and aggressive!" Furlan scoffed. "Izzy, there was something else. I don't even know what to say to Mikasa when she gets here."

"Then tell me! We could explain this to her together!"

"Izzy, Levi's a little mess in the head. Literally."

"What?"

Furlan hesitated to explicate, but not long before the door opened with Mikasa bursting in like a storm. Isabel straightened up as the female Ackerman dashed her way to the bed, mumbling a curse after seeing Levi unconscious with a bruise on his face.

"Explain yourself, Furlan," Mikasa commanded with a piercing glare on Furlan, brushing the hair off her brother's face and stroking his cheek. "What have you two been up to all this time?"

Hange emerged at the door and quietly closed it behind her. She didn't dare to check Levi on his bed. From that distance, her chest ached as she spotted the bruise on his face and his swollen fists. For a moment, she felt the need to tend to him, but the atmosphere made her feel uninvited with all the commotion going on. So, she stood from a distance, far enough to feel Mikasa's rage purging like melting lava out of her body.

Mikasa hissed at Furlan. "Church!"

"I'm… I'm sorry, Mikasa," Furlan faltered. "We're only meant to spy on Reiss but it took a sudden turn. I didn't know Levi had violent tendencies. He attacked Reiss the moment he saw him. I wasn't prepared for that."

Hange was listening but hurting at the same time.

"Attack?" Mikasa asked disbelievingly. "You let him attack the old guy?"

"I couldn't do anything! I was too shocked to move, as if he could do the same thing to me if I tried to stop him!" Furlan retorted. "Levi left him in a pretty bad shape. When I finally got the courage to stop him—punch him in the face because I don't have a choice—Frieda saw us. That's when we managed to turn back."

Mikasa seethed. "This is terrible. And you think Frieda didn't recognize you?"

"Can't tell," Furlan said. "But I think we made a clean escape."

Mikasa exhaled. "With Levi unconscious? Is this your doing?"

"No!" Furlan countered. "It's…it's just like yesterday. We were already in the car and argued over the incident. Of course, I didn't favor his actions. Violence shouldn't be tolerated, even with criminals. And that's when something strange happened…"

Hange's heart clenched.

"For how long is he out?" Mikasa interrupted, ignoring his statements.

"An hour or so," Furlan clipped.

"That's way longer than yesterday. This can be serious! Why didn't you call me then?!" Mikasa scolded. She took her phone out and dialed Zeke's number.

Furlan looked away in guilt while Isabel stood beside him, resting a hand over his shoulder. "I'm really sorry. I should've known better that Levi wasn't thinking straight."

Mikasa was already talking to Zeke on the phone when Furlan stepped out of the room in revolting silence. He slipped into Erwin's library, making his way to the adjacent balcony for some fresh air. He propped one hand against the railing, the other reaching for a pack of cigarettes in his pocket. He lit one and took a long drag, enough to scratch his windpipes. He coughed out.

"Fucking shit…" he cursed out loud.

"Easy. If there was a person who need to apologize, that would be me."

Furlan jerked at the voice behind him. He whipped around and saw the bespectacled brunette approaching. She stood beside him and mirrored his form, only the cigarette is missing.

"I need to be alone," Furlan spat.

"Yeah, me too." Hange shrugged. She stretched her arms over her head. "Ah, I've been sending Mikasa mixed essential oils to ease her stress. Guess I'll opt for a stronger concoction next time."

Furlan eyed her with amusement.

"She's scary, isn't she?" Hange looked at him for affirmation.

Furlan clicked his tongue and looked away.

"I know what you're thinking. It's the first time you saw her like that. As if she's about to explode. I heard the Ackerman siblings aren't that close. But it's different these days. Mikasa become overprotective of Levi."

"Yeah," Furlan agreed. "Thought she had those retractable claws hidden beneath the skin of her knuckles and could cut my head off."

Hange laughed. "Her dark eyes alone could do the trick. No need for a hidden weapon. Although, we wouldn't know."

They shared laughter.

"How can we even laugh at a time like this?" Furlan asked. He reached for his packet and handed her a stick. "Need a smoke?"

Hange grinned. "Yeah. I could use some."

She clipped the stick between her fingers as Furlan set it alight. She puffed and released, sending ribbons of smoke into the air.

"Do you even smoke?" Furlan asked curiously.

"I quit smoking about a long time ago. However, some situations can get pretty messed up to reach for a stick, no?" Hange said. "Besides, I could feel the tension around us. Smoking helps—speaking from experience."

Furlan hummed and took another drag. "Man, if smoking can solve all the problems in the world, I could smoke every second of my life."

"Aha, and that should get you a few remaining years to live," Hange chided. "Ah, same with liquor. The bad things do us good once in a while. Maybe, I could use a bottle or two tonight."

Furlan gaped at her. "Hange, right?"

Hange smiled toothily. "We're lagging behind the proper introduction, but I'm quite sure you don't need to guess."

Furlan smiled back. "A confirmation wouldn't hurt."

Silence settled between them. Half of their cigarettes were consumed—ashes have blown away by the gusts of wind from the balcony.

"Look, I'm sorry," Furlan said, feeling a bit heavier at her company.

"What for?" Hange asked innocently.

"You saw Mikasa," Furlan said. "First time she yelled at me like that. Couldn't blame her, though. I made the mistake of dragging Levi into a foul play."

"It's not entirely your fault. You planted that bruise on his cheek, right?"

Furlan nodded.

"At least you made an effort to stop him. Levi was trouble in shoes. A hurricane when he needed to be. He's got a memory of a soldier and I've seen him do the reckless and dangerous things a normal person wouldn't even have the guts to do. It's like, he never feared anything at all," Hange told him. Her smiling face changed expressions. She took a puff of the cigarette and narrowed her brows. "I've heard about you. You've been working with Levi for years for a goal that's only kept between the two of you. But given his current state, the plans have been stalled for a while, without any assurance of implementation. I think it's only fair to say I am partly accountable for keeping him away from those goals. Because I'm a selfish bitch who doesn't want him to retrieve his old memories."

Furlan listened to her in stunned silence.

Hange snorted. "But then, I realized he couldn't just ditch a friendship that ran for a decade and choose a relationship with someone that's barely two months old. A relationship due to a drug-induced memory."

"Hey, I'm not saying anything about th—"

"If you were a thinking person, you should know what's best for Levi."

Furlan frowned thoughtfully.

"I didn't know Levi by his older version. Funny thing is, I abandoned the fact that he was a person with hands full of responsibilities. All I cared about is building a future with him because that's what falling in love is, right? It's giving us a tunnel vision of merely seeing you and your partner's future. Nothing else. It's just the two of you shutting off the world around you. And that love, my friend, is apparently a recipe for disaster," Hange rambled on. "Ah, it makes a person stupid. Even cuts one's logical thinking in half."

"What are you trying to say?" Furlan asked in confusion.

"The only thing that's stopping Levi from regaining his memories is his feelings for me," Hange said ruefully. "That keeps him apart from pursuing the goals he shared with you—serving justice for a hidden crime."

"So you know…"

"Things found their way to me because they should," Hange exclaimed. "I don't want to be the reason why this city is tainted with drug criminals just because one man failed to do his job in exposing them."

Furlan gaped at her with reverence.

"Besides…" Hange croaked. "The Levi I know is temporary. Some days I feel he's no longer the person I know. And one of these days, I sure am gonna let go of him, before he does that first."

Crisp air traveled between them, blowing the dust off the tip of the now-extinguished cigarette between Hange's fingers.

"It's ridiculous," Furlan said. "We're two people who need Levi in our lives. Like, more than anything."

"Please, don't say you're in love with him, too," Hange quipped.

"What the hell?!" Furlan gasped.

Hange's sad smile returned. "But I give it to you, Furlan. You need Levi. However, it isn't just you. Levi Ackerman was born with responsibilities he couldn't abandon. With his company. With his people. With this society clueless of its dark side. I don't want to destroy that."

"Hange…"

"Love can be a fleeting thing," Hange sang. "Some are victims of it. And it's up to us if we want to relish that feeling. I may be one lucky pick, but then, there's always a choice to be happy despite the heartbreaks."

Furlan looked at her closely. That pretentious cheery personality couldn't be faked anymore. If Hange was in a game, she was the loser who was breaking under defeat and at the same time smiling despite it all. Those words tumbling out of her mouth were self-inflicting. However, Hange knew how to treat and lick her wounds.

He took another cigarette and scoffed. "You're unbelievable. But don't give me that act. You're pretending to be tough. I know you're hurting."

"This isn't any different than my rescue missions."

"Of course, this is different," Furlan said. "Emotional wounds take time to heal."

Hange didn't say a word. Was she being obvious?

"But Hange, I want you to know something," Furlan said. "I missed the chance to tell Mikasa about this but—since you're already telling me these things—I think you're right about Levi's condition being temporary."

Hange gripped the railing tightly.

"Before losing consciousness, I thought Levi returned to his old self."

Hange stiffened. Her grip on the railing trembled.

"In a split-second, he was confused and silent, until he asked me why there was blood in his hands," Furlan said uncomfortably, taking another drag.

Hange opened her mouth, letting out a shuddered breath instead of words. She bit back a bitter smile as a mock reminder that the worst has finally come. For how long is she going to pretend she's all right?

"I can't be sure, though," Furlan said in consolation. "Maybe I misread it. Maybe he was making things up so I'd stop slating him. Maybe—"

"You're not seeing things. I know you're sure of what you saw," Hange said. "It's him. He switched back to his old self."

"What?"

"Thanks for reminding me my time is up," Hange said, turning around. "If that's the case, I… I think I don't want to be around when he wakes up."

Levi's vision consisted of blurred outlines of several people surrounding him. There are hushed whispers, angered tones, pained cries. Everything was muffled. Inaudible. He couldn't move a muscle or lift a finger. His brain couldn't control any part of his body.

Shit. Was he paralyzed?

He drifted off to sleep again, convinced this was a sleep paralysis.

A long-running dream. Sailing along the currents of another dimension.

The next time he opened his eyes again, he saw three people hovering above him. He was lying down, motionless, feeling both heavy and weightless—he couldn't tell.

"Levi?"

His head turned left in the direction of the voice. The closest face he could make out was a blond, bespectacled man whose serious gaze was an expression of both fear and worry.

"Zeke…" he mumbled, squinting his eyes.

"How are you feeling?"

"Like shit…"

"Levi!" Another voice sounded to his right.

He didn't need to guess it was Mikasa. He opened his eyes again. "Damn, you're loud."

Mikasa exhaled. "Thank god you're awake!"

Levi pushed himself up to sit on the bed, rubbing his head furiously. He took in the strange room where he was surrounded by people. "What happened? What am I doing here?"

"You're in Isabel's room. In my apartment," Erwin informed him. He was standing by the edge of the bed with furrowed brows.

Levi cleared his eyes, noticing the same people he expected to see when the circumstances throw him into a limbo. Isabel and Furlan were also there, with the latter pressed against the wall at the farthest corner of the room.

"Again, what happened? What happened to me?" Levi pressed, slightly agitated at everyone's silence.

"You tell us, Levi. What do you remember?" Zeke initiated.

"Is this one of your fucking games again, Zeke?" Levi asked. "Give me a fucking break."

Zeke's head turned to Furlan, with a skeptical look aimed at him. Furlan sighed and took this as a cue to ask questions himself. He vacated his spot to stand beside Zeke and closest to Levi.

"Levi, hey. You remembered what happened earlier? When we drove to Rod Reiss manor?" Furlan queried.

Levi thought for a second, and then felt the stinging sensation on his bandaged hands. "Hell, yeah."

Furlan and Zeke exchanged looks.

"You beat him up. Badly," Furlan said as if to play back the events in his thought. "I have to stop you, then."

"I'm… just fueled by rage. I couldn't think straight," Levi said. "Just seeing his face blows up my fuse."

Mikasa was about to say something but Zeke gestured for her to stay quiet. At least for a little while.

"We ran off when Frieda saw us," Furlan continued. "And then we're arguing in the car because clearly, I don't agree with what you did to Rod."

Levi kept mum, rubbing his knuckles.

"In the middle of our conversation, you turned quiet. And then I thought you turned into someone else. You were confused for a second, asking where we are and why was there blood on your hands. And a little more later, you claimed you're having a terrible headache," Furlan recounted. "That's when you fainted afterwards. What was the last thing you remembered?"

Levi looked at each person in the room with unreadable expressions. Deep inside, he knew the events he didn't want to happen had transpired already. He avoided those inquisitive gazes as if they were trying to blow his cover.

"I don't—I don't know…" Levi mumbled. "Can we… can you just give my mind a rest?"

Mikasa scooched to his side, wrapping an arm around him protectively. She looked at Zeke and Furlan. "Not today. Please."

Zeke nodded reluctantly. Furlan turned his back dejectedly.

"Does Hange know?" Levi asked.

"Hey," Mikasa leaned close to him. "Don't worry about it, for now."

"I want to go home," Levi said, trying to get out of bed. "If Hange finds out—"

"No," Zeke said. "As your doctor, I don't recommend you to come home, yet. You'll be on medications for a few days for your headaches. Plus, I need you to be away from this city, at least for quite some time. We need you to relax your head, clear it from stressors in a place where you don't have to think about anything else."

"Without anything to do? Are you exiling me?" Levi asked sharply.

"Hey," Mikasa consoled him. "You're aware that our situation these days involving Reiss's case is stressing you out. It's not doing anything good for your body. You get headaches, you lose consciousness. It could be the worse effect of the drug in your system and we're seeing the bad signs. So please, Levi. Take this matter seriously. You can keep telling us you're fine, but we wouldn't know how and when your body reacts differently."

"You see, I've been doing my part to solve our problems!" Levi interjected.

"Nobody's asking you to do your part. We fully understand you're not even in the right shape to be of assistance right now. In fact, you're only causing trouble," Mikasa rebuked.

"Levi," Erwin butted in. "I hope you are thinking of the consequences of your actions. Let's hope Rod didn't recognize you, but I'm sure he would be taking action against the person who did this to him. We need to get you out of the city right now just to make sure he wouldn't get the idea that you are involved in this. It's hard to predict what a man like Reiss can do."

"I really should have killed that bastard," Levi said.

"Stop that!" Mikasa said. "You're not coming down to his level."

Levi clenched his jaw, realizing something. "Can Hange come with me?"

The room was silenced at the mention of her name.

Zeke cleared his throat. "I'm afraid Hange isn't coming with you."

"Why?"

"You'll be limiting your interactions with people," Mikasa told him. "Plus, Hange had a job. She couldn't just leave her duties to come with you. You know how it is. Your villa is the best place to stay for a few days. To keep you away from Reiss and to recondition your mental state. But don't worry, I'll be staying with you for a few days."

"A jail would be better," Levi hissed.

"Given what you did earlier, I would've loved to keep you in isolation." Mikasa was losing her patience. "But I'm still very considerate of your condition. Please, Levi, don't make me do things you'd regret."

"Does Hange know that you're taking me out of Sina?"

Mikasa didn't look directly into his eyes. "I'll let her know soon."

"Are you…" Levi faltered. "Are you going to tell her what I've done to Reiss?"

"We'd think of a way," Zeke interrupted. "But if she happens to know right now, you'd only upset her. And I'm sure you'd get an earful from her. For now, you should worry about yourself first."

"Could I at least talk to her? We haven't settled a little misunderstanding this morning."

Zeke shook his head. "I'll talk to Hange. We didn't want tension between you two."

"The hell! Aren't you telling me something?" Levi growled. "Damn it, let me talk to her."

Mikasa shushed him. "Take it easy, Levi. And please, don't stress yourself that much. Hange was a very understanding person and I know she'd agree to this—with what's best for you. We'll be driving later to your villa outside Sina."

A protest is futile. Levi was not convinced that everything is taken care of. He had a feeling that everyone was scheming a plan that didn't include him. However, his thoughts were hazy—as much as before. His brain was too tired to function and process things right now.

"Don't worry, Hange might visit you one of these days," Mikasa reminded him.

"Fine," Levi clipped, collapsing back on the bed and exhaling his frustrations. He had no right to argue right now; his plan had been fucked up. It was a plan he hadn't thought about. A plan out of desperation without foreseeing its effects in the future. From now on, he should refrain from going with the turbulence of his emotions. He'd pliantly surrender to what Mikasa and the others were planning for him. Obviously, they fared better in making decisions—for what Levi had were primitive tactics of a reckless soldier that would never work in this world.

It was past midnight when Hange came back from work, sluggishly making her way to the door of their apartment in heavy footsteps. Three cans of beer at the convenience store are not enough to double her over, however, her weakened knees shook at each step. She didn't remember being tipsy after a few beers before, but this got her buckling under her weight. Is this the curse of getting old?

Or something else?

Stopping by the door to fish out her key, she nearly jumped out of her skin to see a shadow standing next to her. Realizing who it was, she exhaled loudly in infuriation, easing the sudden pounding in her chest.

"Fuck, Zeke! What are you standing around here for the middle of the night?!" Hange rasped.

"I was waiting for you," the doctor said. "I know you'd want some updates about Levi."

Hange sniffled. "Something that couldn't wait till morning?"

Zeke curled a lip. "Am I still talking to Hange Zoe here?"

"I got no time for this…" Hange said, twisting the key in the knob. "It's late."

"Don't worry, he still remembers you," Zeke said. "If that's what makes you averse to talking."

Her hand froze in place.

"As opposed to Furlan's claim, Levi didn't switch to his old self. He woke up with the same memory. He's still your boyfriend," Zeke added. "So, are you open for a conversation now?"

"Inside," Hange clipped, entering the unit and motioning for Zeke to follow her.

She flicked the lights onto the living room, noticing Eren's shoes are not on the shoe rack.

"Looks like your brother's running late as well." Hange frowned. "Wasn't he telling you what he's been up to?"

"Actually, he's still pretty wrapped up with the secret drug bust operations by YPD. He's just one of the people who work hard to expose Reiss and his links to the biggest narco-business in Paradis."

Hange's frown deepened. Whether intentional or not, Zeke was twisting the knife in her wound. She put her stuff down on a nearby table and shot him a disgruntled expression.

"I don't mean anything, Hange!" Zeke waved his hands in the air. He took the couch nearby while Hange preferred standing up.

"Eren's not telling me things. Do people around me leave me guessing what's going on?" Hange said irately. Observing closely, everyone's pretty hung up in Reiss's association with crimes—something Levi busied himself in the earlier days. "Look, just tell me what I have to know. I really am in need of a rest."

Zeke cleared his throat. "I took Levi to the hospital to run some tests. His reflex syncope or 'fainting' was a psychophysiological response to stressors. The psychogenic blackout was caused by stress, anxiety—some emotional triggers he didn't disclose to us. And I'm sure he never planned to."

"Skip your scientific and medical findings. We do know what his stressors are," Hange said acridly.

Zeke eyed her sneeringly. "So, do you have an idea of what's the best treatment for him?"

Hange closed her eyes. "I'm not the doctor here. And if the idea comes from me, it will only worsen his case."

"Well, just so you know, Mikasa took Levi out of the city. We agreed it's best for him to stay away from Sina for a while—right after the manor incident. Reiss was quiet—for some reason. We had someone call him up but nothing was ever mentioned about the incident. They said he was on vacation, but we're sure they're keeping things a secret. We wouldn't even know if he's in his worst condition in this case. Rod was never caught in trouble before, so for someone to beat him up like that would raise questions about his character. The last thing he wanted is for the public to prod into his life. I guess that's one reason why they're keeping mum about what happened."

Hange didn't seem to be interested, keeping a bored face.

"Levi also thinks you didn't know anything about what he's done. He's worried," Zeke supplied.

Hange pursed her lip.

"But then again, I'd like you to know he's already manifesting odd behaviors based on my assessment. You just have to prepare for whatever's gonna happen next. I didn't need to tell the specifics."

"As long as the gradual retrieval of his memories won't pose any risky effects on his health, I'm fine with that," Hange said.

Zeke nodded thoughtfully. He stared at her in observation.

"What?" Hange asked.

"I just remembered something. The first time we met," Zeke recalled. "Levi hated me to the bone because of false memories. But it was more mind-blowing when he could recognize strangers and their names. Until today, that was a question to me."

"So what are you implying now?"

"I was very adamant to bring him back to his old self—something to restore our friendship that was lost due to a lot of factors. I also didn't favor his affairs with strangers, however, that changed somehow," Zeke said.

Hange gave him an inquisitive look.

"It saddens me that someone has to go through a condition new to science. It's the kind of condition that affected Levi's relationships with the people around him. It even touched one's heart. However, it's a short-lived fairy tale. A nightmare in disguise."

"You're not making any sense," Hange spat.

"While I detested your relationship with Levi because his current world revolved around you, I'd like you to know that I highly appreciate your selflessness because you know when to distance yourself—even if it breaks you apart."

"And you're here to break me even further."

"Trust me, it's not my intention if you felt it that way," Zeke said. "I know your feelings for Levi are genuine and boundless. I was wrong about misjudging your intentions, and I do admit you're far more suited to be his partner than all the women he dated. However…"

"However," Hange interjected. "My feelings for Levi will be unrequited once he reclaimed his old memories. Whatever we have is temporary. Yeah, I knew that. You don't need to remind me."

"I think it's not necessary to act tough, Hange."

"What do you want me to do? Bawl out like he died? I'm letting Levi go, okay? And I know it's much better if we don't see each other anymore," Hange said. "I'm helping his situation even if it's against my better judgment. I love him, but at the same time, I should bear in my mind that he's controlled by something else—and whatever he has for me are merely drug-induced feelings."

She collapsed on the couch and threaded her hands over her head with abandon.

Zeke sighed. "I'm sorry."

"I just feel bad for both of our situations. Of course, it's necessary for Levi to regain his memories because things are scattered in places. His old self should be there to put them together. You see, my presence in his life only hampers his recovery," Hange said. "So, I'm taking the liberty to leave his fate into your hands."

Zeke's face fell. "Levi expects you to visit him soon, you know?"

"I'm sure you could come up with something," Hange said. "Also, tell me when I should pack away his stuff. I just don't want to be reminded that he shared a room with me."

"Hange, don't be too hard on yourself."

"There's this thing called 'moving on'," Hange said hastily. "Don't assess me otherwise. I just want to get this over with."

"Okay," Zeke said. "Well anyway, I'd like to let you know that I might check with Frieda Reiss tomorrow about the progress of the 'cure' to reverse the effects of the 'bad drug' in Levi's system. It's not easy to produce one, so I made a comprehensive report of its effects based on Levi's tests to aid her future studies. It has potential, at least for advanced medicine."

"Let me come with you."

"What for?"

"She's the pharmacologist, right? I just want to make sure…" Hange trailed off. "That she'll be honest with her intentions."

"Spare Frieda of your suspicions. She's different from her father."

Hange seemed buried in thought. "You can't blame me for not trusting too easily. I just want the best for Levi."

"Of course." Zeke turned around and headed for the door. "I guess that's all I can tell you. I'll see you tomorrow, then?"

Hange nodded. "Yeah. Thanks, Zeke."

Zeke nodded back. "If Levi retrieves his memories and forgets about you, I'd make him remember."

Hange smiled bitterly. "No need. If he's meant to forget me, then so be it."

Notes:

Here's what I have to say: Stay strong, Hange. :)

I announced before that this fic would end up in 45 chapters. But I'd probably stretch it into five or more because I don't want to rush things. Also, expect more extensive chapters. I'm putting my heart and soul into it... jk! ;)

Are 50 chapters too much? Cos maybe this is the last multi-chapter fic I'll write. I swear I never thought this would be two years in the making. Lol!

Thanks to my readers who are still sticking around! Especially to those who managed to binge-read up to the latest update. You are all amazing! :)

Kudos and comments are appreciated.

Chapter 42

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Didn't Eren come home last night?

Hange was staring at the shoe rack by the front door, wondering if Eren had dropped home last night. The arrangement of footwear was still the same since the last time she paid attention to them. For no reason, she found herself staring at the rack and saw the vacant spaces where Levi used to store his shoes. She remembered plucking a pair last night and storing them away so she could bring them to Mikasa soon. She shook her head off to chase away any memory of him. It was hard to act tough and empty her thoughts about that one guy who will never probably set foot in this apartment again, much less, share a room with her again. She recalled last night's brief conversation with Zeke, and how he could effectively read her in an unintentionally provoking manner. But then again, some feelings are just hard to keep. They're always bound to show when they are taking up so much space in her already congested heart.

Well, back to Eren. She should worry about someone else worthy of her attention. His shoes were also missing. There is no way he'd been home last night and gone earlier today. She grabbed her phone and checked for a message—no Eren in her inbox.

"Where did that guy go?" Hange mumbled to herself, feeling a little guilty after Zeke informed her about his brother's participation in police drug bust operations. It appears people around her are getting worked up in exposing the criminal. It only overblew the need for Levi to retrieve his memories.

And damn. That did it. It reminded her again of something she had been keeping off her mind. She only had a few hours of sleep last night; more on tossing and turning and overthinking. The more she kept trying to get Levi off her mind, the more he kept preoccupying her. It still hurts that she didn't give him a proper farewell, and knowing him, he'd most probably go out of his way again to reconnect with her.

"Hange! Hange, are you there?!"

Harried knocks sounded at the front door.

"Z-Zeke?" Hange guessed the muffled voice at the other side of the door. She proceeded to open it and was surprised to see a panting mess of the same person she conjectured.

His arm was propped by the door frame, face dotted with sweat as he gasped, "I need a hand!"

"W-why? What happened?" Hange asked nervously.

"It's Eren," Zeke rasped. Only then Hange noticed the blood on his hands. "He's in my unit. He… he just came home. Shot…"

Wordlessly, she slammed the door to her apartment to follow Zeke to his unit. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of Eren sprawled on the couch, pale, and bleeding. She sat beside him, seeing patches of blood on his left shoulder and right thigh.

"Oh shit, what the hell happened?!" Hange gasped alarmingly.

Zeke disappeared to his room and later came back with a surgical kit and two towels. "Press the towels on his wounds, please. Put more pressure while I prepare the first aid."

"I know the drill. You don't have to tell me," Hange said and dutifully took all the effort to cover Eren's wounds. She helped him lift his right leg, propping it onto the nearby table. She watched Eren's pained expression and muffled groans. "Relax. Don't move that much."

Zeke sat on the other side and eased Eren. "You'll be fine. I got you, brother."

Eren smiled ruefully. "Shit… I should seriously learn from Levi how to dodge bullets when I encounter one."

Zeke tore the fabric of Eren's shirt and proceeded to examine his bleeding shoulder. "I'd say it's much better to learn how to keep away from trouble first, young man."

Hange was pressing the towel on Eren's thigh. The mention of Levi only kept her out of focus. Of course, Eren doesn't know a thing about him yet, so she spared him the topic. She asked instead, "What the hell have you been doing last night?!"

"The drug transactions at the port got busted. There were around twelve people and all have hidden weapons. I guess they knew what was coming and prepared for the worse. Nobody surrendered so they exchanged bullets and I got caught in the crossfire. They were blindly shooting at each other, and I don't know what was happening until the agent who was with me was also shot. I tried to run away and that's how I got hit…" Eren said with a staggering breath.

"And why the hell didn't you run to the hospital?" Hange asked disbelievingly.

"Yeah, it was dumb. I couldn't think straight," Eren said. "I know I should be running to a hospital but I ended up hailing a taxi. Not the best decision, but I don't want to be questioned about my wounds. So, I only told the driver my brother was a doctor."

"At your convenience," Zeke said. "And for someone shot, you talk a lot. But not to worry, the shoulder wound isn't serious. Bullet didn't lodge in. We'll only need a few stitches." He sighed in relief and prepared his tools.

Hange tried to peek at Eren's thigh to examine the wound. "Same on the leg. Just a graze. Fuck, you're a lucky bastard."

Eren smiled painfully. "Hurts like hell, though."

"No wound is painless," Zeke said and poured antiseptic over his shoulder.

Eren hissed, "Hey! Go easy on me!"

"Hey yourself! What did I even tell you not to involve yourself in dangerous activities? You're a civilian, let the authorities handle those situations," Zeke chided. "You don't even own a weapon to save yourself. Does it come with a reward again, hence you're jumping into the scene without thinking? Come on, Eren! You're after a reward that will only get you a fancy funeral."

"It's not about the reward," Eren said. "Like I said, I was helping the cops to wipe off the criminals in this city."

"They're not gonna be wiped off that easily," Hange said. "A society is never going to be free of criminals. They breed in all places, growing in number when the real mastermind got control of them—incentivizing them by monetary means."

"I think that incident will be in the news today," Zeke said. "Erwin should know and see if some of them were caught for questioning. Hopefully, a name would come out. We also need to report that Eren was safe. That scared the shit out of me."

"Sorry," Eren mumbled.

Hange looked at Zeke gravely. "I can go see Frieda Reiss myself if you need to attend to more important things."

"Are you sure?" Zeke asked.

"I'll just let her know you sent me to see her. And I guess she would already recognize me," Hange said. "You can send me your documents if you need her to look at them."

"Who's Frieda?" Eren asked.

Zeke shushed his brother. "Just mind your wounds, Eren."

Eren zipped his mouth shut.

"Okay, Hange. I'll also give you the address of the lab where she's working. And, if you don't mind, I can call a co-doctor to escort you. She's the one who discovered that the drug was from Frieda's lab."

Hange narrowed her eyes, thinking. "Don't you trust me?"

Zeke raised his hands. "It wasn't like that! It's still your call if you want to talk to Frieda alone. Dr. Pieck Finger was a trusted friend of mine and the old Levi knows her, too. Look, I won't call her if you're not comfortable. I'm just simply suggesting to make things easier for us. They're both in the medical field so they knew their language."

Hange sighed. "Fine. I think it's okay to have some company."

Zeke smiled. "I'd give Pieck a call."

"But," Hange wondered. "You think Frieda is around? After what happened to her father?"

"We're taking chances here. Apparently, I was thinking she couldn't be around. But I need to press her on that matter because she promised to work on it. We also need to snoop around and see what really happened to Rod."

Hange looked at Eren's pained face. "Let's finish patching Eren up, first."

Zeke agreed, preparing the suturing kit. "Better. Brace yourself, brother."

Since waking up from a coma, Ragako Village was Levi's most memorable place to date. His villa—a similarly stunning place to ease his thoughts and recharge his well-being was a luxurious property nestled on a terraced hillside. It boasts the same way as Ragako in terms of natural splendor, grand views, and earthy colors. While he didn't agree to be secluded from the city without any human interaction, staying in his villa was not a bad idea after all.

He was sitting on a bench, overlooking the expanse of colorful landscapes and farmlands beyond him.

"Those acres of land are your property." Mikasa emerged from behind him.

He whipped his head back in surprise. "Which one?"

"Everything your eyes could reach," Mikasa revealed flatly, as if owning several properties this massive didn't impress her anymore.

Levi scoffed. "Even the horizon?"

Mikasa rolled her eyes. She took a seat beside him. "Don't be silly, Levi. Or maybe you had that crazy idea to grow crops in the air."

Levi didn't say a word.

"What are your thoughts? Those are just half of your properties," Mikasa said.

"In my memory, those kinds of landscapes are battlefields," Levi said. "Still shocking to know I own acres of land which I only remembered to be littered by mangled bodies of fallen soldiers. Ridiculous. And what do I do with those lands? Stare at them the whole day to relax my mind?"

Mikasa shook her head. "On paper, it wasn't yours because a private individual had limited rights for land ownership. You bought those properties under Ackerman Holdings that were once acquired by the local government from private property. It's agricultural land mainly using both arable farming and pastureland. However, it lost its crops four years ago because the government couldn't produce the budget for sustaining its cultivation. Locals relied on farming for a living but they aren't productive because they don't benefit from the crops. Half of their earnings go to the government. But then, you proposed the idea of acquiring the land for a development project to utilize its potential for fruit and vegetable picking all through the seasons. The government agreed to your terms if a certain percentage of the harvest earnings goes to the local revenue. The farmers were delighted to be paid fixed and fair salaries. Aside from that, they also get the privilege to enjoy extra earnings from their crops. It's like basically benefitting from a land they worked hard for even if they don't have it under their names."

"Can't they eventually get land ownership?"

"It's basically in your plans, but if they acquired individual possession, there would be tight competition among them. But at least they're still satisfied in this kind of setup because they're on equal footing," Mikasa explained. "You've made a feasibility study of your projects before venturing into them, also making sure your workers benefit more than what they deserved. That makes you different from other business capitalists who only exploit the needs of their workers—forcing them on low-wage labor."

Although Erwin had mentioned to Levi the nature of his work, he was still surprised to know about side projects outside the city. Just how much should he learn about himself?

"I've done quite a lot, haven't I?" Levi said.

"More than needed."

"Sounds like I'm the best out there."

Mikasa blinked away in surprise. "But not too perfect. I'd say, you're highly admirable and respectable on that part."

Levi silenced himself.

"You see, Levi. This is just one of the reasons why you were voted by the board to lead the company. Your ideas and projects aren't just about urban planning. You also took time to explore the possibilities of developing rural areas to improve the livelihood of its population."

"And here I thought the rich were only driven by the greed of money and slavery," Levi said. "Aren't we even the slightest of that kind?"

"Not in our case," Mikasa said. "Somehow, growing under Uncle Kenny's wing made me realize a lot of things. When you own excessive things in life, show your gratitude by extending your blessings and using them wisely."

"But still, it doesn't make me any less despicable. Despite my philanthropic approaches, I still got myself an enemy who'd go out of his way to eliminate my existence."

"That's not new in our line of business. Those enemies of yours are driven by envy. Either they want to drag you down or surpass your position," Mikasa said. "It's always a competition. It's a dog-eat-dog world. Can't change that."

Levi sighed.

"Anyway, did you sleep well last night?"

"I feel good when I wake up, somehow."

"Any headaches, flashes?"

"No, doctor," Levi said dryly.

"I hope you're being honest."

"Don't make it sound like Hange. Hey, I've been good. Better than I was in the city," Levi said. "Being here relaxes my mind."

"I hope it's a good thing."

"Not when I don't have anything to do around here. When is Hange gonna drop by? I'm sure she's gonna love it here," Levi said. "Can't I even use my phone to call her?"

"About your phone, sorry. Zeke's orders," Mikasa said. "Less interaction for now. But like I said, she will visit you soon. In the meantime, you have to refrain from seeing things in social media, or talking to someone. Even if it's Hange."

Levi inhaled sharply. "I just hope to have settled things with her before coming here."

"Settled? Aren't you guys okay?" Mikasa asked as if she doesn't know what was going on.

"Just a little tiff. While I do agree that we don't have to keep things away from each other, that shouldn't always be the case. Sometimes, I think it's best if she didn't know about my flashes. I don't want her to worry and think it's the start of regaining my memories," Levi said.

"But Levi…" Mikasa was trying to contain the density of his situation. "Aren't you completely aware of what's happening to you? That those flashes lead you to make extremely bad decisions? And we're still not over the fact that you hurt someone. Brutally."

His sharp orbs shot Mikasa a disapproving look.

"Hurting a person—no matter how bad they are and how much they deserved it—is very unethical. I loved this version of you, but when you used violence against Rod Reiss, I doubt if you are still capable of controlling yourself without distinguishing right from wrong," Mikasa told him. "What pushed you to do that?"

Levi's eyes turned back to the scenery again. "As a soldier, I know killing people is morally wrong. But peace has always been a soldier's goal and the creed they fought for. I've killed men in my memory because the circumstances pushed me to. Because justice is nonexistent. It's a matter of survival towards one achievement. It's either I kill, or get killed."

Mikasa exhaled loudly. "Could you just—ugh—talk without associating the circumstances of your other world with our pre-existing reality? I get your point, but the thing is, if you could just think rationally that we have to meet the terms of a justice system. We have a governing body to assist us in legal actions. That's how you acted before! You're taking careful and systematic steps that took you years because you don't want to play dirty! If… if Hange knows about this, you'd equally disappoint her."

Levi's eyes shifted to her, and then, to his swollen knuckles from yesterday. "It's bad… isn't it?"

"It's bad if somebody caught and identified you," Mikasa told him. "Did Rod see you?"

"I didn't give him the chance."

"How bad did you beat him up?"

"Bad that he'd hate to see his broken face," Levi said sarcastically. "That makes his suffering all the better."

"Levi!"

"I just want to finish this job my old self had been working on for years."

"But it's not the way you should finish it."

"The world is cruel. You just don't happen to see it. You're merely seeing the surface and not the darker side of this society. If the justice system is unreliable because the criminals are behind it, violence is what we needed."

"No," Mikasa said sharply. "Don't say that. If you keep looking at the bad side of things and act as if it's allowable to set your own rules—you'd miss the good things this society has to offer. And yes, maybe I haven't seen the darker side of society until your case had been unfolded. But then again, our family's name ranks in one of the top catalysts in nation-building to meet society's needs and satisfaction. Most crime rates are all about people who are deprived, and that's when we step in and assess what we could provide. We made changes. We provide more jobs that don't need high qualifications. Jobs to make our lifestyle balanced and bearable. Jobs to hone skills and keep people motivated. We're far from a utopian society and there are more unsolved crimes than what the records show but we'd expose them in a legal way. That had always been your primary objective in the first place."

Levi gave her an anxious look. "I really don't belong in this world, do I?"

The female Ackerman slackened. "It's still you. No matter what memory you currently have, or the version you've become, you're still the only brother I have and I will never have it any other way. You belong here, not elsewhere. It's still hard for me to guide you all through this... to teach you things when it's supposed to be you who should be teaching me. But then, I'm okay with this... with guiding you in any way I can because at the end of the day, all I care about is you being alive... and still living with us."

Although Mikasa's statements were full of reassurance, Levi began to have doubts about himself.

"Do you think, this version of me is short-lived?" he ventured. "That in the coming days—at any time of the day, I'd be back to normal again?"

Mikasa stiffened uncomfortably. "Honestly, I'd hate to think about it. It's still a question if you will be able to retain your memories as a soldier apart from remembering all about your past. Nobody could tell."

"If I lose my memories, will you tell me everything about this?" Levi asked. "About this odd shift of my identity? About meeting Hange?"

Mikasa sighed. "Why Levi, are you feeling something? Do you feel like you're losing this soon?"

Levi didn't respond.

Mikasa turned her eyes to the landscapes, sensing a foreboding feeling. "Don't worry, I promise to tell you everything. You're not gonna miss any single detail. Not even Hange."

"Wait up! Furlan!"

"Sir! You can't enter these premises without an appointment!"

"I know I'll be entertained by your boss once she sees me!"

Frieda's ears caught familiar voices sounding in the hallway. Her chest pounded, face scrunched up at the heavy footfalls coming near her lab. She was not expecting any visitor, and definitely not the kind who screams in the hallways. When three harried figures emerged at the glass windows from outside, barging right through the door to her laboratory, she knew this was going to be a serious confrontation.

She was met by Furlan Church's frantic eyes. "Frieda!"

Frieda stepped back frightfully. She never saw Furlan for months, right after Levi's accident. Behind him was another familiar face that Frieda recognized as Levi's other staff, Isabel Magnolia.

"Please, sir, this place is off-limits to non-personnel!" the desk officer warned, panting behind them.

"Frieda, I need to talk to you!" Furlan said hastily. "This is important!"

"Furlan, you're just making everything worse! Remember we shouldn't be exposing ourselves like this!" Isabel reminded him, grabbing his arm.

Furlan shoved her aside. "I'm not hiding anymore!"

"What the hell is this?!" Frieda asked.

"Miss Frieda, they insisted on seeing you," the desk officer said. "It's in our protocol to set appointments first. Shall we call security?"

"You'd better not!" Furlan snarled.

"It's okay. I can handle this," Frieda said calmly. "You can leave us now."

The desk officer nodded dubiously and shut the door upon her exit.

"So, what brings you two here?" Frieda sat behind a desk and pretended to be working on something else. "I haven't seen you in a while."

Furlan scoffed. "Nice going. Wouldn't you even ask about how we are because we haven't been in touch for months? Wouldn't you even want to know why we weren't working for Levi anymore?"

Frieda's eyes switched to her laptop. She chuckled. "I tend to forget some things. You know I'm a busy person who works nonstop on research about breakthrough medicine. Socializing isn't listed in my priorities."

"And so is forgetting about Levi? You must have been really busy that you haven't found out what happened to him," Furlan said.

"I'm aware," Frieda clipped. "And yes, I'm aware he's lost his memories. I've been in touch with Dr. Zeke Jaeger and he was requesting to formulate a drug that could reverse the effects of—"

"Yes," Furlan cut in. "Because the drug that fucked up Levi's memories is your very own formulation in your lab, right?"

Isabel shushed him. "You shouldn't be talking to her like that…"

"Of course, she's already aware of that," Furlan hissed. "And I hope she's also aware that her father is the root cause of all this."

Frieda blanched out. She could no longer feign the horror on her face as Furlan delivered his statements boldly. They only reminded her of the things she'd never wish to recall.

"Furlan!" Isabel growled.

"She should know, Izzy. But I think she already knows, am I right, Frieda?" Furlan mocked.

"You have no right to accuse a person without evidence," Frieda said hardly.

"Oh yes, evidence, my ass!" Furlan waved his arms in places. "Of course, we have them! Levi and I worked hard to gather every single piece of evidence to conclude that your very own father is the highest-ranking criminal in Sina. Unfortunately, only Levi keeps them all, but his current memory prevents him from remembering his objectives."

Tears began pooling around Frieda's eyes. She wiped them away with shaking fingers and kept a straight face. The truth about her father was much more gnawing coming straight from somebody's mouth.

"We've been hiding," Furlan added. "And we're not supposed to expose ourselves because we wouldn't know if we'd get shot in the streets any day. Your father found out about us and it pissed him off because we know his secrets. He threatened our families if the truth comes out. And it was only Levi he couldn't touch because they held cards against each other. And so, he came up with an opportunity using his daughter's drug to put Levi in the rightful place."

Frieda shook her head. "Please, if you don't have anything good to say about my father, you have to leave now."

"A drug bust operation last night was already in the news," Isabel supplied. "Frieda, your father spearheads the largest narco-business in this country. The authorities have always been working hard to trace the mastermind of the operations, but scapegoats are always arrested. He's always protected by powerful people who also benefit if they hold their tongues."

"Get out!" Frieda snarled, pressing the intercom button. "I'm not listening to you anymore!"

"Hard to swallow the truth?" Furlan huffed. "Open your eyes, Frieda! Eighty percent of the crime rates are drug-related. Your father even used a pharmaceutical company to operate the business underground."

"Shut up," Frieda begged. "You have no right to tell me those things without proof."

"The proof is yet to come out. But that's not all, are you even aware that you have a half-sister, and she was used as a spy in Ackerman Holdings? She was forced by your father to give Levi the drug," Furlan revealed. "You can look up the name, Krista Lenz. She had her documents to show she was Rod Reiss's lovechild with a former prostitute."

"Furlan, you shouldn't be telling those—" Isabel interjected. Somehow, Frieda doesn't deserve to be emotionally hurt like this.

"I'd say what she has to know! I don't care anymore! Someone needs to know the truth about Rod Reiss and his criminal conduct!" Furlan emphasized his statements unstoppably and desperately. "His own family should know his dark secrets that were kept for so long. He's a man with a mask, acting like the good guy behind pretentious charities. The man who centers photographs on religious events. The man who used his daughters to cover his malicious activities."

"Security!" Frieda barked over the intercom. "Get these people out of my lab."

"If those weren't shocking enough, he's also the man behind the plane crash where Levi's parents died—along with my father," Furlan added with intensity. "There's a perfect time for every revelation, and today's the perfect time for you to know these things."

"You can be sued for this, you know that?" Frieda said shakily.

"On what grounds? I haven't gone public with my statements to slander someone. I may be desperate but I'm not stupid. But I'm telling you to think about this, Frieda! Think about this nation that the Ackermans have helped develop and improve over the years. This shouldn't fall to the hands of people who only want wealth and power to gain control of this society!" Furlan said.

Three guards barged in, reaching for Isabel first.

"Furlan, that's enough," Isabel told him. "We have to go!"

"Levi protected you!" Furlan screamed, as several hands grabbed him from behind. He planted his own hands by the door frame, preventing the guards from dragging him away.

Frieda looked at him gauntly.

"He's funding your projects to keep you occupied! To save your name in case the truth comes out! Your friendship is what's also been keeping him from exposing the truth! He didn't want to hurt you! You have to believe me, Frieda! You have to talk to Levi! Help him regain his memories to know the truth!"

"Take him out of here, please," Frieda ordered the guards.

"You're different than your father! I know you're a good person! Please! You have to do something! Do something right, Frieda! Do something that will save your family's name!" Furlan wailed.

He was soon dragged outside the lab with enough force, along with Isabel. His nail marks were visible against the door frame, scratching the memory of his words that froze Frieda in place. She remained standing unmovingly, until the silence in the room was restored. She almost lost composure and once everything sank in, she allowed her tears to fall freely down her face. She wept silently, discreetly. Everything she heard was too much to take in, much so when she also knew the truth by heart. She wanted to break everything her hands could reach, from her laptop, to the beakers and flasks strewn across the table. She wanted to burn her lab down. She wanted to destroy everything—most especially her memory of her father's alleged secrets.

Furthermore, acquiring new information like having a half-sister blew her mind away. She had much younger siblings who are still in school. Clearly, a despicable betrayal was committed while being married to her mother. While a part of her didn't want to believe Furlan, a bigger part of her knew he was telling the truth—driven by extreme desperation and frustration. She could admit that she hadn't seen him for quite some time, but she was never once curious about people's lives.

And their mysterious disappearances.

So, everything was making sense now. The chains are linking.

Furlan's words reverberated into her ears, playing like the music she needed to hear over and over again.

No.

Her heart was in denial, but her logical brain nagged at each event in the past that exposed her to the truth about the side of Rod that was foreign to her.

That night in the balcony, the stranger who beat him up, Furlan's explosive revelations.

Levi's current condition.

She must do something. Something.

She reached for her drawer and grabbed some notebooks she hadn't touched in days. She opened the black one—which contained complex notes and illustrations of her chemical structuring of drug reversibility. She had only started making theories and assessments, and was not even halfway to success. She stared at her scribbles for a moment and got lost in the diagrams. She didn't understand a thing now, and why she was doing it in the first place. In a mixture of both fury and despair, was it wise to finish up the job that would destroy her father's name? Her family?

The notes flew across the room and thumped against the glass window. She decided, then.

No. There is no cure for Levi. She's not doing it.

She loved her family. More than anything else.

Comfort is what she needed right now, but who is the right person to turn to? She sobbed once more and collected her things, storming out of her lab, and leaving a mess of her own frustrations.

"Do you have an appointment with Miss Reiss? She was at her lab earlier, but also left after confronting two uninvited visitors."

Hange knitted her brows at the no-holds-barred statement from the desk officer who seemed preoccupied with her papers. Uninvited visitors?

"I am Dr. Pieck Finger, I usually have a free pass to her lab," Pieck remarked. "Besides, I've worked with her for months on a pharmacodynamic interactions project at Sina University's neurology department. We're basically colleagues and I was allowed to come around and stay in her lab."

"Oh? Oh! Yeah, Dr. Finger! I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you!" The desk officer exclaimed as she jumped off her seat to apologize. "It's… just... we're kind of wary of visitors after the ones who made a little scandal earlier."

"Visitors?" Pieck asked. "She had visitors before us?"

"Um… pretty much unwelcoming, apparently. We need guards to get them out."

"What?!" Pieck side-eyed Hange. "Do you have their names?"

"No. They barged right in without logging their names here. Miss Frieda must be in a very tight spot."

"Can you describe them for me?" Pieck asked.

"Hm… a tall blond guy and a red-haired girl. That's the only description I can give you."

Hange inched herself towards the table, finally having an idea of who they are. "And what do they want from Frieda?"

The desk officer looked at Hange suspiciously. "I don't know, but the guy was sure as scary as hell. He kept screaming about… well… some things I don't understand. About Levi Ackerman… oh, hold on…"

She was staring at Hange longer than intended as if to recognize her. Pieck got the cue.

"It's rude to stare, you know. But I know what you're thinking. She's Hange Zoe. You must know her from the viral videos," Pieck said hastily, taking Hange's arm. "She's here because Levi was her boyfriend, who, was also Frieda's friend. We don't have an appointment with her, but like I said, I have access to her lab. Don't worry though, I think you won't need security to drag us out. We're harmless."

Hange watched Pieck as she was effortlessly scheming their real purpose for seeing Frieda.

"We have some documents for her to see in her lab. They're important for Frieda's project with Levi Ackerman. And I'm sure she's coming back in a while. We're willing to wait," Pieck said.

The desk officer sighed deeply and smiled. "Okay, I'll give you access to her lab. But if Miss Frieda called in to say she wouldn't return, I might request for you to leave."

"No problem!" Pieck chirped, paying a side glance to Hange.

"Th-thank you," Hange said quietly.

Pieck led the way to Frieda's laboratory in a cheerful stride. Hange walked behind her, eyes hovering everywhere to inspect the place, and only seeing a few people walking in the hallways.

"You see it now? It's not too easy to set an appointment here," Pieck said, turning her head sideways to catch a glimpse of her companion.

"I'm glad I didn't turn down Zeke's suggestion to let you come with me. I hope you're not busy though," Hange told her. "I'm grateful for your company."

"No worries!" Pieck said. "Well, Zeke has said enough things I didn't need to know, but he involved me anyways, so here I am, looping myself in. Well, how was Zeke's brother? I heard what happened."

"He's caught in the crossfires last night in Yalkell. Since doing surveillance jobs from the police in exchange for rewards, he always gets embroiled in trouble. He's shot, but thankfully, they're all shallow bullet grazes," Hange said. "We patched him up this morning."

"Hm, that's too risky for a civilian. He's a lot braver than his big brother, though." Pieck chuckled.

"Zeke's too delicate."

"Agree. Emotional, too."

"Well anyway, Zeke told me about you discovering the drug…" Hange finally opened up. "That discovery led us to the real mastermind of all this."

"Yeah. Zeke kinda missed looking into Levi's blood results after the accident. Some drug compositions aren't identified, and I theorized they're Frieda's formulation after running thorough tests. I have worked in this lab for months for a collaboration, somehow getting familiarized with the chemical diagrams," Pieck explained. "During that period, Frieda was very determined on formulating a drug for her terminally ill uncle. I've witnessed her long hours of nonstop research, coming up with different samples each time for testing. But then, the samples are stolen and the rest is history."

They stopped at the farthest door indicating the end of the hallway.

"We're here," Pieck said and entered the lab. Hange followed suit.

"Nothing's changed. Still the same arrangement," Pieck said, looking around. "Frieda loves an organized mess."

"Still looks better than how I organize my stuff," Hange observed.

"I wonder if the passcode was changed," Pieck pointed at one door across the room with a control panel beside it. "Frieda entrusted me with her not-so-secrets. Want to check them out?"

"No. We're not here to look for something else other than what we're really here for," Hange said, taking one of the chairs nearby. She stared at the scribblings on the board and some laboratory equipment on the work table. "I've seen and learned too many surprises recently. Can't brace for what's next."

"Well, I believe Frieda has nothing to do with Levi's condition," Pieck said. "It just happened her samples were stolen. But it makes me wonder why she had scandalous visitors before us that they need to call security."

"Isabel and Furlan," Hange said. "That's them. I'm sure."

Pieck stood beside a small table and drummed her fingers against it. "Sound familiar. Aren't those two Levi's former staff? I only heard about them from Zeke."

"Yes. They're Levi's most trusted staff. A lot has happened, apparently," Hange said, a little cautious to tell Pieck everything. "They're not supposed to expose themselves, but here they are. I don't feel good about this."

Pieck frowned, lost in details. She shrugged it off as her eyes caught the sight of a black notebook by her feet. She bent over to pick it up. "The infamous black notebook. Frieda used to keep this under lock and key."

"What?" Hange asked.

Pieck waved the notebook, then began skimming the pages. "You know how grandmothers keep their secret recipes in a notebook? Frieda's doing it the same old way. However, its contents are very personal. Something she never shared with anyone. But why did she just let this thing lie around on the floor?"

"Are you even allowed to take a peek in it?" Hange asked.

"Doesn't matter. If you're not a chemist or a pharmacologist, these were all gibberish," Pieck said. "One has to know what these scribblings mean, otherwise, they're just plainly unreadable. But… it's kind of interesting. There are molecular geometry illustrations and diagrams on the latest pages—which I think are about figuring out the drug formulation to normalize or reverse the functions of brain receptors."

Hange pushed herself up from the seat and stood beside Pieck, close enough to take a look at that book spread wide before their eyes.

Pieck chuckled. "Curious? These would look illegible to you, Hange."

Hange reached for the notebook anyway, bright eyes scanning the diagrams and the notes underneath them. "You're referring to neuropharmacology. And yes, maybe Frieda has started formulating the drug for Levi."

Pieck frowned.

"Usually, medicines take years to develop—establishing a safety profile and regulatory approval to hit the market. That's how pharmaceutical companies make money. By keeping a secret book as you said, I think Frieda was working alone on advanced formulations without a team that would normally need combined studies and varied ideas. The complexity of these diagrams only indicates that it would take years of research to evaluate the efficacy of a certain drug and its required dose. It doesn't just stop there when they also need long-term toxicology studies and large-scale clinical trials. Having these notes means that Frieda was doing a one-man-team project but for what? Unless it's for her personal gratification. That, or she's merely doing this for a side project for experimental purposes."

Pieck's brows shot upwards, seemingly winded by Hange's insights. "Well, you're right. But I think it's only in the case of advanced drug research. Frieda likes to keep some side projects on her own because she herself was aware that drug development needs to pass through the eye of a needle. She's quite impatient with the long and crucial process, so when she discovers something, she will work on it alone. And if she sees its potential, that's when she gathers her team to conduct more research until they reach the clinical trial stage."

"I see," Hange hummed, her brows knitted while reading the notes. "But you know, it also appears Frieda was effective in projecting theories without even putting a test subject to an actual trial. Levi consumed a drug—or a combination of unknown compounds—orally. And while it was literally poison, its effects were not as extreme as its intravenous counterpart to kill him on the spot. Levi these days was already manifesting odd behaviors which I believe were parts of his old self, coming out at random times—mostly during periods of emotional rush. Somehow, maybe Levi didn't really need a complex cure after all. His condition might reverse naturally, but we won't know for how long. Frieda sees it the same way, too."

"Wait, you sounded like you know what's going on!" Pieck gasped.

Hange made her way to the board and inspected the scribbles of chemical diagrams. Her eyes rounded at the complexity of the visuals before her, smirking in satisfaction as if she could understand all that was written. She took a marker and began scribbling interconnecting lines and chemical symbols in a blank space beside the illustration.

Pieck's jaw dropped. A molecular structure.

"The chemical structure of a certain drug will determine its physiochemical properties—absorption, dispersion, metabolism, excretion, toxicity—which affect the pharmacological activity of the drug molecule," Hange stated expertly. "Memory erasure—the case of Levi—only proved that it was highly possible in experimental conditions. Frieda's combination of raw samples was an experimental drug that resulted in false memories. You know, there are cases of drug-induced amnesia, selective memory suppression, destruction of neurons, interruption of memory, disruption of specific molecular mechanisms…"

"W-wait… Hange…" Pieck was surprised at Hange's remarks, amplified by the flawless representation of bond interaction patterns on the board. "You… you know this stuff?"

Hange smiled meekly. "Being in an actual lab brings back those days…"

"I don't get it…" Pieck said in bafflement. "What?! What are... what are you?!"

"Not a lot of people know this thing about me. I'm a college dropout—two years away from being a doctor just like you, but still a long way ahead for a residency program. I've become interested in chemistry, molecular biology, microbiology, pharmacodynamics among other things in the earlier years and I'm quite surprised I still recognize these types of diagrams," Hange confessed. "But it's really been my dream to be a virologist."

"W-what the hell? Nobody drops the medical course halfway, let alone two steps away to the finish line…" Pieck couldn't believe her ears. "You f-fucking dropped the biggest race of your life!"

"Some things just don't work." Hange shrugged, looking at her diagrams again. "I guess I'm not cut out to be a doctor, anyway."

Pieck stared at her in apprehension. "What university did you go to?"

"Sina University," Hange said with a sheepish smile. "I have to work hard in between to sustain my expenses, but in the end, I realized chasing your dreams would also exhaust your resources. So, I decided to feed my tummy more than my brain for that matter."

Pieck whistled soundlessly.

"Frieda was a genius in her field. Although making these structure-based drug designs is only a theoretical representation of a certain chemical reaction without conclusive results, her attempt to come up with an antagonistic drug for Levi's unknown medical condition was impressive, given she wanted to finish it in a narrow timeframe. She was backed by ambition and intelligence to endlessly look for opportunities for a drug lead discovery," Hange said, looking at the black notebook again. "But if these illustrations fall into the wrong hands, we'd be introduced to a new variety of recreational drugs that will be illegally produced and distributed."

"I agree," Pieck said. "Her father already made his move by messing up the samples. It's a bad idea to have someone hanging around in a lab without any business in there. But hey, can you tell by the diagrams her progress as of today?"

"I'm afraid there's nothing much to see here, and I'm thinking she will have a separate simulation of molecular dynamics stored somewhere—most probably in a computer," Hange assumed. "But I see she's coming up with a hypothesis to test opioid receptors and reverse it by utilizing naloxone—an antidote for opium misuse. She's also trying to venture into repeated administration of the same drug concoction for reverse tolerance—however, this is a little unreliable because Levi's condition didn't result from long-term addiction. Unless his brain mechanisms suggest the same pattern of drug abuse."

Pieck gawked at her in amusement. "It can be highly dangerous to make him take the same drug without the exact concentrations, you think?"

"Yes. Plus, there are only a few studies to support her claims. The drug in Levi's system was a different formulation—the first of its kind. Unless Frieda finds out that her samples have similar components of another drug that can be easily reversed by a certain medication—just like naloxone to opioids," Hange said. "Well, that wouldn't take a lot of research anymore."

Pieck took her phone and smiled at Hange. "I'm taking pictures of her diagrams."

"What for?"

"I admire Frieda for her work, but I admire you better for coming up with those ideas," Pieck said, snatching the notebook from Hange and began taking pictures of each page. "I have a dedicated research team of chemists and pharmacologists who have also worked with Frieda some time ago. They know their stuff, and I can ask them to look into it. I think I also have enough data on the composition of Frieda's raw samples before, plus, the traces of compounds found in Levi's system. In this case, we might not need Frieda anymore." Pieck winked.

Hange stared at Pieck blankly.

"Let's just hope the compounds have the similar chemical structure of opioids—but we'll see that if we ran another lab test," Pieck said cheerfully. "This is an interesting concept for another research! Will start getting the right people to work on this!"

Hange stood there droopily, feeling a little uptight at Pieck's excitement.

"Hange," Pieck turned back to her. "This was out of the topic, but I was also a med student at Sina University. You remind me of how professors talk during lectures. Professors are knowledgeable in their craft. They speak like they've read a book a hundred times. You seemed the same."

Hange snorted. "I don't see myself the same way. Hell, I didn't even make it to graduation…"

Pieck smiled smugly. "I just wonder if you happen to know the 'virus project incident' that had been going around when I stepped into my first year in pre-med school. Said about a group of really smart students having been expelled due to a virus outbreak, causing illness around the faculty department and roughly a whole dorm of students. However, the university never disclosed this matter. It remained a mystery. Well, Sina University is a reputable school—some nasty stuff didn't need to go public."

Hange smiled ruefully. "No one airs their dirty laundry when they have a reputation to uphold. But I guess that particular event would end up in the university's history books."

"Or just merely an urban legend," Pieck said. "But I'd say the professors couldn't stop talking about one particular student who formulated the antidote at the height of the infection."

Hange went silent.

"And I just happen to remember now…" Pieck's sleepy dark eyes gave Hange a discerning look. "Is it one of the reasons why you dropped your studies?"

Hange swallowed her spit, knowing a smart person like Pieck would eventually figure something out.

"She's a working student. And I heard she wanted to become a virologist," Pieck figured. "They never disclosed any names, but I made my own research, because I was always curious and fascinated by people who made my college life interesting. And now, why do I have the feeling like the student matches your description?"

"Fine, you got me. That student was me," Hange admitted, releasing a sigh. "I guess there's no point to hide it anyway since it happened in the past. You're sharper than I thought, Pieck. Am I even your inspiration for finding out about the origin of Levi's drug-induced memory loss?"

Pieck's face brightened up at the confession. "Oh... now's that very much interesting! Well, I guess I always gravitate towards people who have the same wavelength as me. You couldn't hide the genius in you, Hange. To come up with an antidote to a pathogen and cure a number of—"

"I think you haven't made your research enough," Hange said with a wicked grin. "The pathogen was my own creation too. Naturally, an antidote would be available."

"What?!"

"My pathogen samples were stolen by a group of students who were always curious about my experiments. It's solely for my thesis that I've planned for a while. Also, for a research proposal for a virus strain in the region of Trost that keeps mutating and claiming lives for years. However, I felt liable for the spread of infection—I've been careless enough and almost caused fatalities, especially to those with weakened immune system. It's horrible."

"And that's why nobody heard from you again…" Pieck said gloomily. "You know, I hope you don't blame yourself that much for that unfortunate event. It wasn't your intention to spread the disease. Professors admired your intelligence, and as you said, this event will be in the history books. When that story came out straight from one of the professors, he kept saying that the student's intelligence has yet to be surpassed. That was you, Hange Zoe! You've proven something to me today, and after learning you're not just an ordinary person with average capabilities, I hope it's not too late for you to decide to pursue something you're very good at. The medical field needs that kind of talent."

Hange scoffed. "Not when I'm loving the job I have right now…"

"Hange, it's not too late to finish what you started—a few dashes away to make it happen. Being a doctor will give you a better career, a better future," Pieck insisted. "If you don't want to pursue your studies in Paradis, I have contacts in a Marleyan University where they are looking for med school scholars. I'd help you with your credentials."

Hange inhaled sharply. She had long since forgotten about her medical degree, and meeting Pieck took her back to her dreams.

"And… what if Levi forgets you one day?"

That hit a nerve. Pieck didn't know when to stop her brakes. She is young, carefree, and straightforward—and Hange would even say Pieck was a more confident, passionate, and logical version of her.

"Let's face the fact. You're smart enough to figure out that once Levi regains his memories, there's a possibility that he will forget all about you," Pieck continued provokingly. "And I know where you're going with this, you're seeking Frieda's help because you've come to realize that it was best for Levi to return to his senses because his current condition may pose a health problem in the future."

Hange nodded.

"In my opinion, this is the best time to pursue your medical degree to keep you distracted and occupied. I mean… heartbreaks can also lead a person to much bigger opportunities in life. It's not my place to tell you this but as I person who had huge admiration for you, I hope to see you one day chasing your dreams. Don't let your talent go to waste."

Hange smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not losing sight of my future. And I'm definitely not going to break down from a heartache."

"Excuse me."

The desk officer suddenly appeared at the door with a phone in hand. Hange and Pieck exchanged looks.

"Guess this is going to be bad news," Pieck told Hange.

"I'm afraid Miss Frieda is calling it a day," the desk officer announced. "She said she had something important to attend to."

"Oh, are we allowed to know?" Pieck asked. "Family matters?"

"She didn't give any details." The desk officer shrugged. "But you're probably right. She had a sick uncle she visits often. I heard he's not gonna last."

Hange breathed. "That should really take much of her time. I feel sorry for her…"

"That's our cue to leave," Pieck said, putting the black notebook on the table. "Families are way more important than anything else. But please do tell her we dropped by."

"Sure, Dr. Finger."

Pieck made her way to the exit with Hange behind her. They quietly walked the hallways again with thoughts bothering them.

"We have the option to leave Frieda out of this," Pieck said. "Even if she did make a promise to help with the drug, her family situation will keep her occupied. Plus, we should also know why Levi's former staff dropped here earlier."

"I have a bad feeling about it, actually," Hange said. "Furlan's making a move on his own. Worst case, he's already told Frieda about her father."

"Well, that was a sound idea in the first place, but we'll never know how Frieda would react to that," Pieck said. "She's a smart person, but it's a member of a family we're talking about here and she might act according to her emotions."

Hange grew silent. Pieck was right.

"I'll see what I can do about the drug reversal. I'll gather the best team for this job. I'm sure Zeke would oppose my ideas so I'm asking you not to tell him anything just yet," Pieck said. "The more brilliant heads to work on this, the more chances of getting it done in a short span of time. We'll keep in touch from time to time, and I'll give you updates."

Hange nodded absently.

Pieck looked at her closely, almost pleading. "And please, think about it—about finishing your medical degree."

"I... I'll try," Hange said, vacant eyes staring into nothingness. She felt lightheaded and lost. Somehow, going with the flow is the best thing to do right now. However, her heart is screaming in pain.

This shall pass.

Notes:

Okay... I find it a little difficult to write this chapter not because Hange is hurting, but because I want to reveal her backstory as a dropout medical student. And yes, she's a genius as her canon counterpart. If you could recall Chapter 3 where Mike and Hange were having a conversation in Underground bar, Mike briefly mentioned that Hange should've just pursued her medical degree. The idea of this chapter was almost forgotten.

You see, there's always a reason why my story took several chapters. Lol! And here you go! You probably have an idea now where the story is heading...

Okay, so I tried to simplify the technical terms to make Hange's theories a little convincing-if not thoroughly factual. I made a little research but of course, there can be some inconsistencies. After all, fiction is still fiction. :) Hope you don't get bored while reading.

Kudos and comments are appreciated.

Chapter 43

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

So what makes a good father?

The question was not realized until now.

As a child, all Frieda could remember was how she lived her life in comfort. It was a "normal" childhood—to say at least. To say it was perfect was an overstatement because it was never been close to that. Childhood was supposed to be made of fun and laughter, little cuts and bruises, bird songs and lullabies, and sometimes, a little crying over spilled milk and broken dolls. For childhood only stretches into a few years, before adulthood claims all those times you wish to turn back.

Frieda and the rest of her siblings were raised in a strict household. Crying isn't allowed in the house—not when her father was around. One tear didn't make past her cheek when Rod told her that crying makes a person weak. She once broke one of the expensive displays in their house, her snotty face wrinkling her father's expression as if he was disgusted by childish antics.

But aren't children supposed to cry?

And that's when she found "home" in her Uncle Uri's humble abode. There was freedom in expressing her feelings—freedom in nonstop laughter and ugly crying. As opposed to her father's words, her uncle said that crying was never a sign of weakness. Crying means acknowledging genuine emotions, thus, making a person brave.

Frieda's eyes were still swollen as she entered her uncle's room. Perhaps he'd trace what was going on again as she couldn't hide their waning brightness every time she paid a visit. Her random presence in the house was no longer a surprise, but when she saw sets of camcorders by the end of her uncle's bed made this encounter a little suspicious.

The man behind the camera was unfazed by her intrusion. He began packing up his belongings in a hurry; either his job was done or Frieda didn't need to know what is going on.

"Wh-what's this?" Frieda asked curiously. She paid the man a questioning look, trying to recognize the face she finds a little familiar.

"Ah, Frieda, this is Ian," Uri said softly. "You should know him from Sina's Journal."

Ian Dietrich? The journalist from Sina's Journal?

Ian nodded curtly with a small smile. He didn't manage to make a proper introduction as he busied himself tidying up his clutter.

"A-are you going to have your life documented or something?" Frieda asked Uri.

"There's nothing wrong with documenting my life before I die," Uri said, beaming. To see him smiling today was a little out of the ordinary—perhaps a little disturbing. "If people get to watch this after my death, they'll learn to embrace their lives even more."

Uri had fantastic ways to crush Frieda's heart. She was here to lighten up her mood from the events at the laboratory earlier and not to break down again from another heartache. "Uncle, please. No talking about death…"

Ian was already finished with his equipment and turned to Uri. "The final product will come out in a few weeks. I can't forward this to the editing team so that'll take a little much longer."

"Thank you, Ian," Uri said. "And please, I hope we'd proceed with what we talked about—no matter what."

"Yes, sir." Ian was already headed at the door when Frieda cried out.

"I'm not watching anything about you, Uncle Uri!" Frieda exploded into tears. "You're gonna live longer than you think! You promised to stay with me!"

Uri gestured for Ian to leave the room. Frieda saw the grim expression on the man who witnessed a drama before shutting the door behind him.

"Frieda…"

"You can't do this to me!"

"Listen, there's nothing we can do about extending my life," Uri said with a hardened tone. "But there's something I want you to know before I die…"

Frieda shook her head.

Uri's face fell after finally noticing Frieda's red-rimmed eyes. "Have you been crying?"

She sprinted towards his bed and hugged his frail body against her. "It's Dad. Some people knew… they already knew about him…"

"Tell me." Uri managed to rub her back with soothing touches.

"I was confronted by Levi's former staff in my lab earlier. They're accusing him of so many things."

"Do you believe them?" Uri's frown deepened.

"I don't know who to believe now." Frieda sobbed. "I was hoping everything was a lie."

"What does your heart tell you?"

Frieda pulled away and gingerly wiped her tears. "Why does it feel like they're telling the truth? Maybe because I've witnessed enough? I've heard enough?"

Uri heaved a sigh. "But… what do you want to do about it?"

The question surprised her. Does her uncle even know the answers to her predicament?

"I just want to disappear—or forget everything about this," Frieda said. "Be like Levi. Be someone who forgets their past."

"Levi holds all the evidence against your father," Uri said. "And without any memory of it, the truth remains hidden away. But the difference with you is how you handled the situation, As a daughter, nobody wants to do something against your own father. Blood relations hold you back. However, it is to choose between being a good daughter and being a good person."

"Do you even believe Levi holds all the truth?!"

"But why are you bothered by it, Frieda? Why are you crying over that fact? You could've chosen not to believe everything that you learned, but here you are, hurting over the things that were revealed about your father."

Frieda looked at him disbelievingly.

"Families are supposed to protect each other. Ask yourself, now. How would you want to protect Rod? Leave him untouched and his secrets tucked away? Or expose the truth because it's the right thing to do?" Uri grabbed her shoulders, squeezing them firmly. "You want to protect Rod from this society, but it is this society that should be protected from him."

There was a fire in his eyes. Frieda never witnessed a burning courage from someone who is willing to sacrifice their blood relationship.

"You don't mean…" By a fraction of a second, Frieda gets it. "You know everything all this time?"

"The choice is still yours, Frieda," Uri said. "I'm not doing anything unless you've decided for the best. For so long, I kept quiet about my brother's secrets—everything his family shouldn't know. I was acting against my better judgment to save this family's name—to save a fake reputation built by your dad's false identity, but now that my life is fading away, I thought it's about time I do something right…"

"And what?! Make us carry the burden? Make us live without our father while you're already at peace? Would you even watch from up there how we are going to bear people's wrath if they found out? You wouldn't be alive by then to see if people would treat us differently. Would we be spared? Or would they accuse us the same way as Dad?" Frieda spat.

The grips on her shoulders loosened. Uri's slim fingers were ghostly slipping away. He didn't mean to reveal his plans that way and convince her to do what was necessary.

"Uncle Uri, you? Is that why a journalist was here earlier?" Frieda finally realized something and stood up from the bed. "You… you against Dad? Are you willing to expose him?"

"It's me against my conscience," Uri said gravely. "It's the fact that I'm dying and feeling this sense of calling. You'd say I'm not a good brother to your father, but I have to be a good person for this society."

"You can't be…" Her disappointment was evident on her face.

"Trust me, Frieda. It's better to live with a clear conscience. Without having to harm people and gain power over them. The world is not about competition and besting each other out. People co-exist with each other, and what this society needs is harmony from its population," Uri said.

"No…" Frieda took several steps back, shaking off his words. "No! You can't do this! You can't!"

"Frieda…"

She was long gone before Uri could realize that his plans would ruin his relationship with her. The door was shut tight as she exited, leaving him with a pang of hurt in his chest. He slowly got off his bed and reached the bedside drawers where he had been keeping documents under lock and key for so long.

He pulled about five envelopes and ran his hands through them. It's been months since he hadn't touched these papers as his thoughts traveled back to those days when he secretly met with a man in his garden.

"I'm entrusting you with these…"

Uri was handed a light briefcase.

"It's all there. It contains files of sensitive information that should lead to one person as the mastermind of hidden crimes in this city—and that includes the forgotten case of the plane crash that killed my parents."

Uri made a face, lost in thought.

"I know your clock is ticking, and so is mine. But you'd most probably outlive me because I dug myself a grave for procuring these documents. If something happens to me in the future, please…. do what is right."

Uri didn't open the documents for several days after that meeting, thinking the information would keep him awake at night. After three weeks, the worst thing happened. He finally opened the files, thinking the person who entrusted them wasn't bound to wake up. The contents of the documents were beyond his grasp of morality. While no promises were made after acquiring the documents, Uri thought he was given the choice to do what his conscience tells him.

He kept the documents sealed and hidden for quite some time. However, deciding for himself raised issues with Frieda.

He gripped the files tightly. Learning what was inside the documents was worse than learning about his disease for the first time. "Levi, I thought I did something right today, but that will have to cost Frieda's trust in me."

She claimed the same spot that started it all. The event that started drastic changes in her life.

The bar counter was empty of customers, as most preferred to be sitting in groups and lounging in VIP rooms.

Nothing much has changed in the Underground's interiors—except maybe it's its customers whose lives are either about fancy celebrations or sophisticated drama to reach for one bottle and drown out the feeling. Either way, hers was all about brooding just like her first time in the bar. The only difference is she wouldn't spot Levi sulking beside her.

She took the darkest corner of the bar counter as if she is willing to burn a hole in her pockets. She didn't care about cashing out some money and crawling all the way back home. If her system allows it, she is willing to pass out tonight.

"Hans?"

She muttered a silent curse. She didn't expect Mike to be on duty today as he emerged behind the liquor rack. He was the last thing she wanted to witness her turmoil. Hell, he'd seen the worse of her last time, and her second time around was another one that needs a dose of alcohol.

"Holy shit, it was you!" Mike exclaimed with a scoff.

"Hey." Hange gave a small, displeased wave. Guess there is nothing she could do when Mike would surely snoop around her life just like he used to.

"Wait, did I miss a message from you or something?" Mike wondered. Her presence was unannounced anyway.

"Nope. I actually thought you were not on duty today," Hange said. "One shot for starters, please. A hard one."

Mike gaped at her in surprise. "So, you came alone just to be alone?"

"Yeah. And unbothered."

"Whoah! That was new. Without your super awesome boyfriend so you could share his liquor again?"

She groaned internally. She couldn't escape any topic about Levi.

"And which reminds me, you owe me that love story!" Mike said.

"I owe nobody about my life's details," Hange spat. "It isn't anybody's business."

"Holy shit! Are you for real?!" Mike exclaimed. "Why do I have a feeling you'll need a listener today?

"I told you, Mike. I want to be alone!" Hange lashed out. "Just give me a glass, okay? Do your job tonight and leave your customers in peace."

Mike gave her scrutinizing look. "You want peace? It's not written on our liquor's list. How about I'd kick you out of here and go drink somewhere?"

"Fuck off Mike…"

"Of course, I can do that! Dare me?" Mike wriggled his brows. "In Underground, bartenders have more rights than its customers."

"That's the dumbest policy I've ever heard," Hange sneered.

"Pretty much like the dumbest way to choose an average person over a celebrity," Mike insulted.

"Did you just…" Hange looked offended.

Mike snorted. "Gotcha. Now, talk or you'll never gonna sit on that stool ever again. I should be leaving in five minutes, but I could stick around for you. Come on, Hans. I can't leave you like this. Let's talk like we used to. Talk like you're gonna die without telling me what's going on."

Hange contemplated for a while, eyes rolling in disgust at Mike's imposition. "Drinks on you?"

Mike scoffed. He snatched a bottle from the bottom rack and poured Hange a glass.

"Why does it always have to be me owing you something? You better be telling me something interesting," Mike said, sliding the shot glass in front of her.

Hange grabbed the glass firsthand, taking a large sip. "Yep, so interesting you're gonna laugh at me."

"I'm not that evil who laughs at anyone's misfortunes and heartbreaks."

"Cool. Because the heartbreak's laughable," Hange said and reached for another shot. "Y'know, I should've listened to you and Moblit before. Listen like I know I have a dysfunctional mind that messes up every decision I make."

"Decision like?"

Hange didn't respond.

"Well, I've seen the news. But wasn't it well-received by now? People adored your relationship with Levi despite the initial social media flak."

"Not when they happen to know the truth behind our relationship," Hange stated solemnly.

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

Hange was nodding her head furiously. "Yeah, I know. I should've considered your warnings in the first place. But I'm fucking lovestruck and my brain's logical ability has significantly reduced to a pea size."

"You broke up with him?"

"No. Not yet…"

"Hans, be spontaneous with your story, damn it."

Hange grumbled. "If you're so interested in someone's story, at least be patient!"

Mike raised his arms.

"But… oh shit…" Hange's voice died to a whisper. She was still meaning to tell him anyway. Besides, she could really use someone to talk to other than a burning liquor down her throat. "I think he's gradually coming back to his senses…"

"Well, that was to be expected, wasn't it? He isn't who he is, to begin with." Mike shrugged.

"That's not all. Levi had lost a chunk of memory essential for exposing the truth about hidden criminal activities in this city," Hange bared. "Levi is drugged—losing his memories in the process because he's keen on exposing the biggest criminal in this city."

"What?"

Hange didn't know the details—the whole story—but Zeke told her enough to understand that her relationship with Levi was fruitless. Mike empathized with her as she ranted about the good and bad times, about how she had forgotten about Levi's real identity and the many responsibilities that come with it. Having a relationship with him was akin to ignoring the symptoms of a developing disease. She was so elated by her situation, taking her to the highest strata of happiness, in which a sudden plunge would cause her death.

"Unfortunately, the circumstances are the very antagonist of your story," Mike said, finally joining her in her drinking session. "You can't say it was the Reiss guy—in fact, he's the reason why Levi ended up falling in love with you."

"But still, he's the root cause of everything! I'd rather live the single life I have before all this. Rather not met Levi because everything was made up of false hopes and dreams," Hange slurred.

"Well, so what are your plans now?"

"I met someone in the nick of time." Hange glides a finger over the rim of the glass. "Said about helping me in continuing my medical degree. Go somewhere far—outside of Paradis. What do you think?"

"Come on! That doesn't need a lot of thinking and setbacks! Go for it! That should be the best decision."

"A great distraction."

"That, too."

Hange sighed, seemingly unconvinced.

Mike put a hand over her shoulder. "Look, I know you're thinking you've made some really bad decisions in life, but good things have come out of them. Like opportunities presenting themselves in the toughest times! Trust me, things will fall into place. They always do."

"I hope I have your positive outlook," Hange hummed. "But why didn't you go back to law school, then? You have like a dozen opportunities but you let them all slide."

Mike smirked. "Sometimes, what you think is best for someone isn't really the best for someone."

"Like?"

Mike paused to look her in the eye with a glint. "It always comes with the perfect timing and gut instincts. Plus, the duty calls. Not when there's a tiny human that's about to come out in a few months…"

Hange paused, thinking if she heard him right. After the realization, she squeaked, putting her hand over her mouth. "For real?!"

"You know, I hate going with my plans so I'm surfing the waves of life wherever it takes me. I'm going to be a father soon so that should change my priorities. This life is not all about me but my little family."

Hange's look softened. She wanted to celebrate with Mike and share the delightful news with all their friends. Her happiness is genuine, but something felt off. It's hard to celebrate somebody's happiness if yours is missing.

"Congratulations to you and Nana. Please tell her my warm regards," Hange said.

"Actually, she's expecting you to visit her with Levi Ackerman soon."

"I'm afraid that's never gonna happen."

"I understand," Mike said gently. He poured another shot of liquor into their glasses. "Still sucks that the little stunt you two pulled off at the townsquare is just a 'match made from drug'."

"Not funny."

"Sorry..." Mike apologized with a chuckle. "But still, good job."

"Good job?"

"For not breaking down. And for thinking about Levi's welfare."

Hange clicked her tongue. "Mike, it's just another heartbreak that comes and goes. I'll be fine. Just let me sulk for a few days…"

"Underground's always open for broken people!" Mike beamed.

"Nah! That should get me broke."

"I have a few bottles to spare. The patrons love my service so that has earned me a few boxes for future celebrations."

Hange laughed. "Please. The next time I come here, I'm sure as hell would be celebrating."

"As a doctor," Mike said, putting a comforting hand over her shoulder. "With a title that you've set aside for a while. I know you could do it. In a few years, I'm sure you'd be proud of yourself."

Hange raised the glass for a toast. She smiled with a shiver, clearly with thoughts swirling in uncertainties. She'd take comfort in Mike's words to make herself feel better, but deep inside, there was no other way to fill in that gaping hole in her chest.

Hell, her previous heartbreaks were not as bad as this.

Their glasses clinked soundly, and the liquor traveled down her throat smoothly yet painfully.

Damn, it burns.

And maybe she was channeling the other version of herself who burned to death in Levi's memory.

The café was crammed with customers during lunch hours.

Frieda Reiss had been sitting alone at a table for about an hour now, browsing something from her laptop to distract her thoughts. But what she had been reading was much more bothering than expected. When she hired a trusted, private investigator last week to gather details about the real identity of a certain "Krista Lenz", every piece of information made a roiling effect in her stomach.

Furlan Church was telling the truth.

Just as her eyes shifted to the café's entrance, a petite, blonde woman shuffled in, looking lost, nervous, and overwhelmed. Frieda was seated by the window, allowing her eyes to follow the movements of that woman she never doubted to be the person she was waiting for.

Contacting Krista Lenz was a pretty easy task. Frieda knew that her alleged sister was working at Ackerman Holdings and was frequently needed by her father. A simple text message did the trick.

Krista was glancing around the café with visible restlessness. Her right hand was clutching the front collar of her blouse with twitching fingers. She didn't move further to inspect the place and spot the very person she was looking for. She just stood by the door in an attempt to leave the place if she couldn't find her father—and just as she hoped.

Frieda sent her another text message, telling the exact location of the table where she was. When their eyes meet, the palpitations of her heart worsened. Soon enough, the blonde woman was standing stiffly in front of her with big blue eyes bulging at Frieda's intense glare.

"You must be Krista?" Frieda asked casually.

"I… I am," Krista replied with a little stammer. "I was told Mr. Rod Reiss would be meeting with me in…"

"You mean my father?" Frieda interjected. "Sorry, but Dad's not around. It was me who actually texted you."

"Y-you're his daughter?" Krista clipped. Her shock was more pronounced this time. "I see…"

"You may sit," Frieda told her. "And you can order anything. Lunch's on me."

"No, but thank you," Krista said quietly, taking the seat across from Frieda. Sweat began forming all over her face.

"Take it easy, I just wanted to talk," Frieda said. "You're looking very nervous."

"What do you want from me?" Krista asked without looking at her.

"I just want to see you, and prove something. And then I realized we have the same eyes," Frieda said. "Rounded and bright. We got it from Dad's dominant genes."

"W-what?"

It hurts to bluntly tell her. Frieda needed no confirmation as the obvious was glaring enough to question her doubts. Krista looked horrified more than confused. For another person to know her real identity was giving her a sinister feeling.

"I already know…" Frieda said.

"H-how? D-did he tell you?"

Frieda shook her head. "Somebody told me. And no, Dad had no plans on telling me about his extramarital affairs anyway. For a man like him who maintains a good public image, he's not a fan of scandals."

Krista leaned towards the table. "Look, I'm sorry! Sorry that I was born. Sorry if I existed. But I want you to know that I don't want anything from fath—from your dad. I swear! I was having a peaceful life with Mom until he turned up and…"

Frieda's brow arched. Krista looked remorseful—eyes begging and teary—giving away what was unexpected.

"How come you're not happy being a Reiss? Because you're illegitimate?" Frieda asked.

"I don't want that name," Krista whispered. "Ever."

"Why?"

Krista hesitated. Should she trust Frieda? Or did her father find out that she had been lying to him, thus, sending his eldest daughter to squeeze something out of her? She should be careful with her answers.

"Krista," Frieda pressed. "Why don't you want to be a Reiss?"

"I don't want to be associated with that name," Krista said firmly. "I'm aware that my existence alone will ruin a family if that truth comes out. But I can't choose a father, can I? And if you're thinking I was gonna share your wealth, you're wrong."

Frieda straightened up.

"Believe me. I don't want any of it," Krista added. "I'm working for Ackerman Holdings and it's enough for me to get by. Somehow, I was trying to recover from my debts for my mother's medical expenses before her death and—"

"Is that why…" Frieda was trying to connect the dots. "Is that why you needed Dad's help?"

"I refused his offer in the first place," Krista admitted with sad eyes. "Because the offer should come with a certain condition."

Frieda didn't need to hear the truth, but she was certain it was what Furlan had told her about. Meanwhile, Krista didn't go into the details, suspecting Frieda was up to something. She was still cautious with her words, and it was hard to trust someone from his father's family.

"But you still did." Frieda shot her a condescending look.

"I have no choice. My mother's survival is my priority. Families are important and I'd do anything to keep her alive, but then, she still died eventually. And now, I have to make up for what I did."

Frieda bit her lower lip. "Are you going against our father?"

"He's not my father," Krista said resolutely. "He'll never be. And if I'm going against him, it's just because it was necessary."

"What makes you say that?!" Frieda's eyes were on the verge of tears again. "You don't know him!"

"Or was it you who really didn't know what kind of person our father was?!" Krista lashed out. "He used me to put down a person! He used me for his personal gains!"

Frieda swallowed her spit. She wiped the corner of her eyes and composed herself, allowing a beat of silence which Krista took notice of.

"Wait, didn't he send you to talk to me?" Krista asked, noting the strangeness of the situation.

"No," Frieda said. "Like I said, he didn't even know about me meeting up with you."

Whatever led to Frieda doing her own investigation of her father's secrets was a little convincing that Rod had no knowledge about this meeting at all. Krista finally noticed Frieda's troubled look since they met face to face. If somebody was feeding Frieda sensitive information, then this should be the start of Rod's revelation of skeletons in his closet.

"Again, I'm sorry," Krista said apologetically. "I know it was hard. But at some point, I know I shouldn't have said things against our father. Perhaps it's his contrasting treatment between us—you were loved, while I am unwanted. Families aren't always about love. Sometimes, they're the most toxic of all relationships."

Frieda felt sorry for her. Krista displayed bitterness, unpretentiousness, and honesty. Perhaps being alone in life without anyone to depend on shaped her morality. Rod had been unkind to her. It's just his blood flowing through Krista's veins, but the filial connection is never there.

"Is that the only reason why you wanted to see me? To prove your father fathered another child?" Krista asked.

"I want to know more," Frieda deadpanned. "And I hope you could trust me."

Hardly. Krista narrowed her eyes. Should her job in Human Resources be able to see through Frieda's real intention? "Parents loved their children, but it's a different story when a child was never wanted by their parents. Because they were unplanned."

Frieda's jaw tightened.

"I don't know about you, so it's hard to trust you. You understand that, right?" Krista said as if setting her own conditions. "And I won't just give out the details of what I know because I also want to protect myself. I'd say, I had little to no details of our father's hidden agenda. For sure, he is a very loving father to you. His affection towards his family was genuine. Even the most evil person who has ever lived in this world had their soft side—their weakness."

"Are you saying our father is evil?"

"It's subjective. Because that is how he presented himself to me," Krista said impassively. "But I'm not really encouraging you to hate your father because I don't want to ruin the affection you have for him."

"But you already did," Frieda said.

"Like I said, it's subjective. And it's you who approached me in the first place. You ruined it for you."

Frieda sighed at Krista's rude remarks. But that gave her a little courage. "Historia. That's your real name, right?"

The blonde bit the inside of her cheek.

"I really am convinced that you don't want anything from my father's wealth. But that's not the real issue here…"

Krista looked at Frieda's watery eyes again.

"Tell me… please tell me what I need to know…" Frieda begged. "How bad was it? Why do you hate him?"

"You've been warned," Krista said.

"I know."

And that's when Krista leaned back against the chair, clearing her throat, and crossing her arms. She didn't know how much she should tell, but she didn't give a damn anymore. Frieda's pleading eyes looked honest and sincere, and that's when Krista finally opened her mouth as she narrated the events leading to Rod Reiss's concealed crimes—starting with Levi Ackerman.

A gunfire?

Mikasa was suddenly distracted by that familiar sound that trounced the online meeting she was having at the moment. She excused herself from the panel and lifted her earphones to ensure she was not hearing things. Another shot was heard, followed by three consecutive sounds.

"What's that? Are you in a shooting range or something?" A chuckling voice from one of the online participants asked.

They're gunshots, no doubt.

"Sounds about right," Mikasa shot back with a fake smile. "If you'll excuse me, you can proceed with the meeting. I'll just go check outside. I'll be back in a while."

She bolted out of her room in a hurry and tried to locate the source of the noise. The pounding in her heart hammered against her chest as she rushed outside the house, thinking her brother was in trouble. However, she was greeted by a red sunset and the realization that she was stuck in her room for five hours straight.

The gunshots rang into her ears again, much louder than she was in the house. And as she walked the grassy slopes of the villa, she spotted Levi assembling bottles over a crate.

"What the hell…" Mikasa gaped.

As six bottles were lined up, Levi walked a few meters—far enough from the crate. He pulled out a gun from his back pocket and stepped back just a few more feet to deem a long-range distance for shooting.

Two bottles were hit in a second, and Mikasa covered her ears at the next produced shots.

"Levi!" she yelped.

Levi's head snapped to his side as he missed the last shot. He clicked his tongue and gave Mikasa an annoyed look. "Tch, that's the first missed shot."

Mikasa edged next to him and gave him an icy look. "And what the hell is this?"

Levi stretched his arm with the gun without much aim, and without breaking eye contact with his sister, the sixth bottle exploded into pieces.

Mikasa shut her eyes at the ringing sound. Her head buzzed, making her more irritated. "Levi! Just stop it."

"Damn, I got it," Levi drawled victoriously, seeing no bottles were left over the crate.

"You're going to scare the neighborhood!"

"We don't have neighbors."

"The sounds of the gunshots can be heard from miles away. We're on the top of the hill! And where did you get that gun?!" Mikasa ticked him off, very much riled up.

Levi looked at the gun in his hand innocently. "Am I not supposed to own a gun? Saw this in the attic."

"The attic? Did you seriously raid every room of your house?"

"What's the problem? It's my own house. And it's been a week I don't have anything much to do."

"There are dozens of ways to do something if you're that bored. Gun shooting, really?"

"As long as I'm not shooting people, what's the problem? I'd bet some people use this as a hobby. And it's been a week it feels like in the prisons. You just can't make me sit the whole day. I couldn't even check my phone, I couldn't talk to anyone else. And no one's fucking dropping by to visit me."

Mikasa was clouded by a little guilt. "Look, about that…"

"When is Hange coming here?! Does she even know I was here? Because I know she can squeeze some time to visit me if she does."

"Zeke would be coming here to check on you," Mikasa said.

Levi rolled his eyes. "I'm talking about Hange. Not Zeke."

"Levi…"

"Look, I'm fine! I don't need a doctor right now. Nothing weird happened during the whole week of staying here. Those flashes I mentioned before, they're gone! I'm good! I'm perfectly fine. I didn't faint at all and there are fewer headaches. Those meds work."

Mikasa shook her head in doubt.

"Can I just go home to Hange?"

"We'll talk to Zeke about that." Mikasa looked away.

Levi groaned. "Is there really something you're not telling me?"

Mikasa looked at the sunset gloomily. Of course, there are things she's not telling him. At least, not yet. In over a week of staying in Levi's villa, she was getting frequent updates from Zeke, Erwin, and Armin. As usual, there's no good news. And with the news of Eren getting shot, her anxiety worsened. Zeke also informed her that Frieda was no longer participating in their cause for some reason, but interestingly, a co-doctor name Pieck Finger was teaming up with the necessary people to test a potential reversal drug for Levi's condition using Hange's theories. Surprisingly, if there was a person who was very determined on getting a cure for Levi, it was Hange.

"Actually, there's a lot…" Mikasa said. "Sorry if it took me a while. I just want to make sure all the news won't affect your stress levels by any chance."

"Tch. As if one piece of news can kill me on the spot," Levi droned out.

"Sure. So what can you say about Eren getting involved in a shoot-out last week?" Mikasa declared. "He was shot twice."

"What?"

"He's feeding the cops with information about drug smuggling overseas. That was one way to lead the crime to the mastermind."

"Did it?"

The sharp intake of breath from the younger Ackerman only meant nothing good has resulted from Eren's involvement in the drug bust operations. The usual dead end.

"That brat…" Levi said. "Is he okay?"

"Likely. He's on a few days leave. I talk to him sometimes," Mikasa told him and reached for his hand to snatch his gun away. "You're not allowed to use guns again."

"Wait!"

"No more," Mikasa said, turning away. "This gun doesn't suit you. Go play with something else."

"You haven't told me anything about Eren yet!" Levi called.

"I have a meeting on hold, I have to get back."

"Mikasa!"

Her steps hastened as she distanced herself away, trying to avoid unnecessary topics that might be easily brought up and triggered if Levi asked too many questions. He was still calling behind, trailing after her, but her feet halted at the strange shadow that emerged from the lower part of the ground by the villa's entrance.

"Uncle Kenny?"

The older Ackerman squinted at the sight of his niece holding a gun. "Is that a gun you're holding?"

Mikasa swallowed her spit, nervousness bubbling at the surface. This day was definitely full of surprises. It was too late to hide the gun, so she just let it clipped between her hands. "W-well…"

Levi finally caught up with her and was equally shocked at Kenny's uninvited presence. He murmured silently, "What the hell…"

"Since when did you learn how to shoot guns, Mikasa?" Kenny asked, stepping a little closer to her. "Are those the sounds I heard on my way here?"

"I… uh… yes," Mikasa stammered.

"That was me," Levi piped in, as if trying to cover for her. "I was shooting bottles."

Kenny raised his brows. He stretched out his hand and gestured his niece to hand him over the gun. The girl complied and wordlessly put the weapon onto her uncle's palm.

"This classic was mine. Where did you get this?" Kenny ran a finger over the barrel and the grip panel. "This was missing for over a decade."

"It's sitting in the attic. Its box was covered in layers of dust. I thought it's still working so I put it to test," Levi monotoned. "Why the sudden visit? I didn't expect you around."

"Levi!" Mikasa scolded him.

Kenny laughed in amusement. "So, I wasn't welcomed in this villa that I helped you with during its construction?"

Levi scowled. "What brings you here then? I thought you never cared about me that much."

"I care, Levi. Nobody's just telling me where you are," Kenny said, side-eyeing Mikasa. "So, a new friend of mine told me you're in your villa. However, I'm not sure which villa is which. By a spin of luck, I found you here."

"You could've just asked me, Uncle Kenny," Mikasa said. "Levi needs some time off. His mental health is declining."

"Oh…" Kenny looked at Levi worriedly.

"I'm fine," Levi said. "Who even told you I was here?"

"Yelena." Kenny smiled. "What a lovely human being who suggested I should spend time with my family. I realized she was right. It's about time I spend more time with family more than anything. After all, it's just us, three. But… am I even welcomed here?"

"It's rude to send you away, anyway," Levi monotoned.

"But I'm serious, Levi. I'd love to spend some time with you," Kenny said in a suave tone.

"Don't make it sound intimate. It grosses me out," Levi said crossly.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Kenny," Mikasa apologized, elbowing Levi's side. "Same manners, you see?"

"I understand," Kenny smiled smugly. "But of course, if Levi doesn't want me around, I can go."

"You're free to go," Levi said. "But nobody's sending you away. You can stick around, old man. Besides, I don't have anybody else to talk to here."

Mikasa coughed out. "Levi, please. Don't talk to him like that."

"It's okay. I'll get used to it," Kenny told Mikasa. "Besides, this is the first time in years Levi has ever talked to me without being cold and distant. A little cocky, but not that I can't handle, though."

Levi gaped at him.

Kenny looked at the gun. "You were thirteen when you saw me shooting a gun—this vintage revolver, specifically. You were fascinated by the sounds, by how the targets get blown. I taught you how to cock, fire without a bullet inside, of course, but you hurt your hand on your very first try. Since then, you haven't touched guns again."

Levi scoffed. "Teaching a thirteen-year-old how to shoot a gun? Sounds familiar. In my memory, you taught me how to defend myself and beat people up. Got my first kill at a very young age."

"I wouldn't be surprised why you hated me."

"The hate is not about teaching a child violence. It's about abandoning me. Leaving me to fend on my own like a street rat."

Kenny looked deeply into Levi's sharp eyes.

"Plus, you take pleasure in killing my comrades. That's when I mirrored your skills so we're even. Thanks to you, I keep surviving. When people come after me, that's how your lessons come in handy. They're all dead before they could swing at me."

Mikasa interrupted. "Levi, we all do know nothing like that happened in reality. Leave those memories somewhere. Uncle Kenny doesn't deserve to be hated because your false memories told you to."

"Well, I thought I deserved all that hate anyway," Kenny intoned admittedly. "Levi had every right to—with or without those strange memories."

Mikasa recoiled.

Kenny smiled still, eyes turning back to Levi. "But how did you manage to fire a gun without learning how to use one?"

"I just know," Levi said. "My memory said I could expertly handle one."

"Someone's confidence was overflowing," Kenny's brows arched dubiously. "Can you show me?"

"You'll regret it," Levi smiled mischievously.

"Prove it, then. Let me regret it," Kenny hooked an arm around Levi's shoulders and led him back to the makeshift "firing range".

"Wait, you don't…" Mikasa tried to stop them.

"It's okay, Mikasa. I'd love to see what your sweet brother's talking about," Kenny said calmly. "We haven't had a little bonding in years."

"You have a meeting, right?" Levi reminded her, seemingly interested in hanging out with Kenny, too.

As if a little hurt from embarrassment, Mikasa stomped her way back to the house to resume her online meeting. She could opt to stick around and look after Levi, but then, she trusted her Uncle Kenny meant no harm. He'd been covering for both Levi and Hange during the controversies for the past weeks, and to think he's never met Hange in person just yet, he was able to perceive her character accurately and positively. She was only hoping Kenny wouldn't give Levi a hard time. While she knew those two brother were only on speaking terms due to running the business holdings, it was refreshing to see them bond as a family.

The sunset was at its peak—red, wild, menacing. Kenny Ackerman looked around the expanse of the vicinity where Levi had spent his little gun shooting exhibition without a care in the world. He stepped towards the crate and examined the shattered liquor bottles, thinking they were a result of skillful eyes and gun precision. He smiled with a shiver and turned back to Levi.

"You did all this?"

"Who else would?" Levi asked gruffly.

Kenny opened the chamber of the gun and saw the empty cartridges. "You never liked guns at all."

"Times change."

"No," Kenny corrected. "You changed."

The older Ackerman saw a box of bullets at the bottom of the crate and reloaded the chamber with six bullets. He retrieved four empty bottles of liquor and lined them up over the crate after a thorough inspection, relieved enough that no Marleyan cognac fell victim to Levi's bullets.

"Show me what you got, Levi." Kenny handed over the gun and led Levi several meters away from the bottles.

Levi scratched his head and gripped the gun with one hand. "We're too close to the targets. Do you take me for an amateur?"

"Levi, this is the standard distance for first-timers…"

Levi shook his head and walked another few yards away and positioned himself in a laidback posture. Using one hand, he stretched out his arm and aimed for the targets.

"Levi, you don't stand with that posture. Don't you also use one hand and…" Six consecutive shots were heard as Kenny flinched and covered his ears at the ear-exploding sounds. As he straightened up, all the bottles were gone. "What the hell…"

"My memory of you doesn't teach the basics," Levi said. "Only the advanced."

The shocked expression on Kenny's face took good ten seconds to finally ease up. Witnessing a terrifying talent from his nephew was a little too hard to believe. After recovering from the shock, he breathed loudly.

"Satisfied now?" Levi cocked his head.

Kenny blinked his eyes rapidly. "One can even barely hit a target from that distance."

"I can even go further."

"No need." Kenny waved him off. "I'm good with what I saw. If I take you to a shooting range, you'd draw a crowd."

Levi clicked his tongue proudly and set his eyes on the sinking sun. "I'm not even a marksman in my memory."

"What are you, a superhuman?" Kenny asked jokingly, trudging towards the ground where Levi stood.

"I'd say I'm touted as 'humanity's strongest'," Levi said.

"Humanity's strongest?"

"It's stupid, but my physical skills and strength have never been surpassed by anyone, hence that moniker," Levi said. "It's quite an advantage, though. I always survive battles, but the curse is where I have to witness deaths. Over and over again."

Kenny drew a breath. He was amused by the story and seemed riveted by it. "And I'd guess you witnessed mine?"

Levi stared at the gun. "Yes. And that's the time you revealed we're blood-related."

"If you happen to know we're blood-related earlier, would you have changed your thoughts about killing me?" Kenny asked.

Levi shrugged. "I only care about humanity's safety before anything else. If you're a threat, you'd still meet my blades."

Kenny curled a lip. "A soldier's heart still lives in you. I guess that world you have back there goes beyond their morals. Kill when it's necessary."

"The situation dictates people's actions. Unfortunately, we're always caught in the worst circumstances. Fight or die," Levi said nonchalantly. "It still weirds me out that we don't kill each other in this world."

"I don't kill people, Levi," Kenny said quietly.

"Rod beat you to that, then."

Kenny frowned. "You're still lost, aren't you?"

Levi sighed. "Because I don't know which world I belong to right now."

Kenny put his hands inside his pockets. "At some point in our lives, we'd hate the position we're in. I, myself hated what I have in life. While most people thought I have everything and living in comfort, I feel displaced and lost. It's just all the material things—nothing much to contribute to a person who is deprived of emotional wealth. Making money for the company kept me busy, preoccupied. This life controlled me, made me forget that time flies fast—and then, I forgot about the greying of my hair, the wrinkling of my skin, the pain in my bones. I realized I was aging and have a few years to live. I feel like I missed so many things—and I don't feel accomplished enough. When I was left with two kids who lost their parents at a young age, the responsibility was tasked upon me. I feel obliged to take care of them because that's how my morals work. I might not be a good father figure to both you and Mikasa, but seeing you two grow up as efficient leaders in our business, that's when I realized maybe I did something right, and found my purpose."

It was quite refreshing to see Kenny being sentimental—a contrast to the person who never really cared about Levi that much.

"You have never heard this from me, but I am proud of you. I am proud of what you've become. I thought you were more accomplished than I was. You're a part of nation-building, and its exponential growth through the years. You move the economy. You're an icon to this society. But I forgot to ask myself, have you been happy? Is that what you really want to do in life? And that's when I found out the real reason why you soared high to success. You wanted power, just like everyone else. You bested out the most experienced people twice your age to be in position. It's a competition for you against those who also wanted the same goals as you have. It's another war you have here, Levi. Only your enemies are hidden, waiting for the perfect moment to attack."

"And they did," Levi said bitingly. "Rod Reiss did."

Kenny knew what was coming. His eyes averted from his nephew.

"He messed me up," Levi added. "He messed up the person who should be destroying him."

A comforting hand clapped him on the shoulder. Surprisingly, Kenny gave him the softest look he could muster. "It's my fault for grooming you into a person that also destroyed you."

Levi looked at him penetratingly. "W-what?"

"I should've paid attention during those days. I am your uncle and as much as I hate to admit, you've been distant to me after I ignored your claims about your suspicions about Rod Reiss. And yes, you told me all about him and his alleged hidden crimes. You were driven by rage to seek justice for your parents' deaths. That's what fueled you to reach the CEO position because you know all of Rod's intentions to control and monopolize the company that he will use as a cover for his criminal activities. I saw past your desperation, revealing your findings to Uri—Rod's brother instead. Of all the risky ideas you have in mind, it is the riskiest you took to provoke me. Feels like I couldn't be any useless."

"You… you know everything?!" Levi snapped at the revelation.

Kenny turned away from him in guilt. "You started your investigation at a young age—at an age I thought you were going through a rebellious phase when you lost your parents. Rod was a friend of mine just like his brother, until he was engulfed by his own ambition. I turned a blind eye because all I see was the Ackermans' established relationship with the Reisses for generations. And then I acted on my own, did my investigation, and proved you were right all these years. Rod—he's a dangerous and powerful man who can escape his crimes, and I want to protect you from him."

"And what's the point of making me act like I was the same person before all this?!" Levi questioned. "Is it absurd to expose myself? Making me virtually vulnerable to his attacks?"

"If he knows you lost your capabilities to lead the company, he'd convince the board to replace you. While I am still the chairman of the board, I waived my rights to appoint the next CEO—which makes him an automatic successor due to a signed agreement—a pact that gives a Reiss the right to be in position because their ancestors were the ones who originally established the company."

"That's the shittiest agreement I've ever heard!" Levi snarled. "I could punch you in the face right now! You're not protecting me. You protected him, Kenny! All this time, you're protecting a criminal! You have the resources to prove his crimes but you've done nothing!"

"I want you to know that I don't have enough evidence to accuse him," Kenny said calmly. "All I have is knowledge of what kind of person he is."

"You're useless," Levi said.

Kenny bowed his head. "We're only three remaining Ackermans. He could do the same thing to us as what he did to your parents. I couldn't risk that."

"Can't think of any other way? You'd let him control you? He's just easy to take out. Put a bullet through his head and everything will be over!"

"We don't kill people, Levi."

"Bullshit! How can you be the opposite of the most infamous murderer in my memory?!"

"He tried several times," Kenny said.

"What?"

"Rod's a murderer. He could wipe us out—all three of us if he wanted to. But then, it wouldn't be convenient for him because any murder of an Ackerman would put him as the primary suspect firsthand," Kenny revealed "That's the only trump card we have on him."

"How would one murder prove his crime, then?"

"Uri," Kenny said. "Rod's brother. Their relationship these days was not so good. Uri knows all of Rod's crimes, but he'd been keeping mum about it because of Rod's children who he loved dearly."

"What a fucking joke," Levi said. "Family—it hinders our logical reasonings. Your emotions make you deny the existence of a crime. Your emotions tweak your weak spots. That makes you no different from the real criminal."

"You don't have a real family in your memory, do you?" Kenny asked. "Don't you care for anybody else?"

"Well, I do care!" Levi said sarcastically. "The only family I have are my comrades. That's why I kill for them."

Kenny looked at him with saddened eyes. "Sometimes, I thought you're better off as the person without the memory…"

Levi glared.

"But with that kind of mindset, you're throwing yourself into a bottomless void," Kenny said. "Violence doesn't solve anything."

"Coming from you? It sounds ridiculous," Levi said. "Rod does things with violence! He deserved the same."

"Is that why you attacked him?"

Levi was surprised that the secret finally reached Kenny. "How the fuck—"

Of course, Kenny wouldn't miss an issue.

"Violence is not necessary," Kenny said. "In a world with wars, violence is condoned to solve issues as a matter of survival. But your reality today had a society where the system imposes punishment on those who did it. While others argue that violence can be morally justified, it doesn't always equate to good results. Right now, you just have to stay put and trust the people who'd do things for you. Trust the process, we'd get you to your goals."

"What do you mean?"

Kenny turned to face the sunset. "There's a time for everything. Yours should be coming soon."

Levi smiled insultingly and pointed the gun at the sky, firing the remaining bullets from the gun. "Why do I have a feeling you're not telling me some things?"

"Would it be wise to tell a guy who doesn't know anything about his past?"

Levi rolled his eyes. "Good point, though. Makes me think your confessions today aren't meant for the right person. You're talking to the Levi you're not fond of, Kenny. Someone who cared less about who he is before. I'm irrelevant today."

"Trust me," Kenny said gently. "I preferred this version of you. And I'm grateful that you've finally spent more than five minutes of your time with me without sending me away. Talking to you lifted off the weight of my emotional baggage."

Levi clicked his tongue. "And should I be grateful that you wouldn't have to point a gun at me at every opportunity?"

Kenny smiled. "I'll never point a gun at you. Ever."

Levi's narrow brows softened. "You're still creepy as fuck."

Kenny shook his head with a pleased sigh. His smile doesn't change. "You are amusing in every way you are. Can I stay for the night?"

"Your call. Just not in my room," Levi said, turning around with a shrug. "And by the way, thanks for covering for me for the past weeks. You made the controversies bearable."

"I just know when to step up," Kenny said. "Whenever you're helpless."

Levi half-smiled with a grateful nod. He started walking away from his uncle with a relaxed stride. "I'll cook the dinner. Wanna help out?"

For the first time in years, Kenny's smile broadened in surprise. While he never had established close relationships with any of his remaining family members, Levi was the first to lose the knots in his always authoritarian character.

And he'd cherish that.

"I'd love to," the older man said.

Notes:

More revelations this chapter. :)

My favorite part was Kenny's bonding with Levi. And yes, he can be a man of secrets.

Just finished this before heading off for vacation. I just need to BREATHE from my life events for the past weeks.

Kudos and comments are appreciated.

Chapter 44

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Zeke Jaeger didn't become a doctor for nothing. Sitting across from him was Hange with her disturbingly and unchanging smiling dog-of-a-face. At closer inspection, her eyes looked dead, magnified further by the dark circles beneath them as if she hadn't slept for days. Her eyes and smile were a stark contrast to each other, and being the experienced doctor that he was, Zeke could tell what a face of depression looked like from miles away. With Hange this close, depression found permanent residence within her.

"Stop torturing yourself. You don't need to participate in hastening Levi's recovery if that hurts you," Zeke reminded her, holding a cup of coffee and taking a sip from it.

"If you'd like to point out that I look worse for wear, it's just my job getting me all winded. Rescue missions can be intense some days," Hange explained, turning her head outside the café where she and Zeke were waiting for the third person to come by.

"Don't make me stupid," Zeke spat. "I know you're always sleepless. And it's a person—not your job—that's causing you unrest."

"Damn. Are doctors always confident in their observations?" She was sarcastic, or most probably her cover for grief. She took one long sigh and looked elsewhere—her untouched coffee being the best thing to stare at rather than the crowd outside or the person in front of her. "You should do a better job at profiling."

"Don't say you didn't miss him?" Zeke asked. "It's been two weeks. You can always ask me about his current condition and—"

"Stop," Hange cut him off. "Please. You're making this worse for me, Zeke."

"Mikasa said you're not answering her calls," Zeke said. "She's worried."

"I'm an extremely busy person."

"Levi asks about you. Every. Damn. Time. We're running out of excuses and what's the best to tell him. Don't you even want to see him? Look, I never restricted anyone from visiting him. He needs to relieve his separation anxiety. During his first few days in the villa, he's complaining about getting bored—having little to no activities. We have to keep him mentally stimulated."

"I'm sure there's a hundred list of activities to keep him preoccupied and distracted. If I happen to see him again… I…" Her voice cracked. "I don't know what else I'd do. Just don't make me see Levi, please. Don't let me push him away and hurt his feelings. That, or I'd take him somewhere too far. Far away from you guys and you'll never see us again."

Zeke frowned.

"I have the craziest ideas, so don't make me use them," Hange warned. "I have the tendency to make the stupidest decisions."

"Fine." Zeke sighed. He looked at his watch and noticed the time. "Pieck's probably on her way here. Looks like good news."

"Bad news for me, you mean."

"Hange, you're making this worse yourself."

"Zeke, I'm sure you know the stages of grief. I'm not even halfway to acceptance."

Zeke threw his hands up in the air. It's best not to trigger a woman who is having a hard time moving on. Hange can get a little unpredictable—or maybe it's her defense mechanism that was making her a little out of character. A little later, Pieck Finger approached their table in a panting rush, occupying the seat next to Zeke in a flurry of limbs.

"Sorry I'm late," Pieck said sheepishly. "Have to run by something first. Thanks for coming too, Hange."

Hange gave her a small nod, face withdrawn as she knew where this conversation was going. With Pieck's brightened look, she's a bearer of good news.

Pieck opened her satchel and took her laptop out, flashing a wide grin to both Hange and Zeke. "Okay, so first things first, let's get to the real deal. Hange, your ideas finally yield results—all within a week! As expected, my team was very eager to hasten the clinical tests with promising output. It's a very interesting research material for them to put their other tasks aside because it's Frieda's drug we're talking about here. And when it's Frieda's project, everyone wants to take part in it with unwavering dedication and motivation. It also helped that they're convinced this was a secret project of the best neurologist in Paradis, giving them the privilege of working for Dr. Jaeger."

"Hold on," Zeke interrupted. "What?!"

Pieck smiled. "Oh Zeke, sorry if I dragged you into my schemes."

"What is going on? I don't understand a thing," Zeke complained.

Pieck straightened up. "It's about time I tell you what Hange and I came up with when Frieda's a little out of commission. Didn't you realize I'm not giving you updates about her? Thing is, she's not gonna help us in making a cure—I'm sure you've noticed."

Zeke pulled his beard. "Likely. She's not answering my calls. She doesn't show up in any of her labs."

"Plus, I'm also sure you already know that Furlan and Isabel happened to talk to her two weeks ago—the very same day Hange and I dropped by. They told her the nastiest things about her father. The news must have affected her, and that's enough reason not to rely on her," Pieck said. "With that, I prepared an efficient team to do the research and clinical trials using the data in her notes. We're lucky we've acquired eighty percent of everything we need. While those are merely drafted theories and still insufficient, it's still good we're rooting for its completion. All thanks to Hange!"

Zeke looked at Hange. "You?"

Hange shrugged feebly.

"That's another long story, but Hange's contribution surpassed whatever Frieda left unfinished," Pieck beamed, showing her laptop at Zeke. She began rambling on about the findings of her team and Hange's prognosis and assessments to conduct risk-free clinical trials. Pieck revealed to Zeke about Hange's medical degree at Sina University and the virus project controversy, making him drop his jaw at that new information he most likely missed during his secret investigation of her character before.

Hange watched them helplessly with discomfort, remembering her sleepless nights for the past two weeks were all about doing her research and exchanging data and ideas with Pieck. However, the more she uses her brain, the more her heart breaks. And after finding out that Levi's current memories were possibly irretrievable once he was back to normal, her hopes shattered like glass slicing right onto her skin.

"Apparently, we're backed by a conclusion that the drug in Levi's system had almost the same composition as opioids—possibly because the mixture had a significant amount of painkillers in it. One chemist volunteered to be the test subject using a non-fatal formulation of Frieda's drug mixed with alcohol. I know it's not enough to establish a thorough trial to test its effectiveness because Levi's case is much more complex. I mean, we couldn't put a healthy individual being tested on risky formulations. So, we regulated the drug without compromising its potent nature and the team provided the usual safety measures to deem the trial safe. The test subject exuded difficulty in breathing, mild hallucinations, and disorientation after a few hours. We fixed his breathing problem, but his hallucinations lasted for a few days—making the drug more potent than any hallucinogens that lose their effects in a short amount of time. Here's the plan: Levi should be in his best physical and mental condition to be administered the same drug, then the antidote should be injected after visible symptoms. He should be observed and put in intensive care if something terrible happens…" Pieck continued. "That's the takeaway."

"What in the lord's name have you been doing all this time, Dr. Finger?!" Zeke chided her. "Are you seriously doing dangerous experiments on a team of chemists and pharmacologists and using them as test subjects?!"

Pieck rolled her eyes. "They volunteered. Willingly. And I got everything under control, Dr. Jaeger. You don't produce better results without taking a little risk. I could send you the data and tell me if you find something disagreeable. The first subject after the antidote was fine now after a series of tests. He's still in hyper-care and under close observation for a few more days to see if there are adverse side effects. So far, we haven't observed anything out of the ordinary."

"And how did you come up with the raw materials to produce the same drug and the antidote?"

Pieck smiled. "Basic. The raw materials are extracted from organically grown endemic plants. Frieda once sought methods to grow plant tissues in a lab, hence, she kept a dozen samples at the university. As for the antidote, it's the usual naloxone with a few tweaks. We're also eyeing a combination of activated charcoal because it's a known potential blocker of the effects of certain drugs. It's just all about studying the chemical composition of the drug and how to reverse its effects using safe reversal drugs."

"An opioid receptor and activated charcoal?" Zeke paid Hange an amused look, then turned back to Pieck. "So basically, you're going to drug Levi to activate his neurons and then, administer the antidote? I can't allow it. It's still dangerous! Your test subjects have no preexisting condition like Levi's and the effects might vary per individual."

"We're going to manipulate Levi's brain chemistry and brain circuits, bringing it back to its default wiring," Hange interrupted. "We're focused on molecular neuropharmacology. It's not about pumping his brain with the same fucked-up mixture of a drug that destroyed it in the first place—that's why the team imposed regulations on formulating the safest dose of the same potency. I know you're tracking and monitoring Levi's health and I'm sure you didn't find any other developing illness to worsen his existing condition. Levi's false memory syndrome looks advanced, but if we're already seeing shifting identities—which I and Furlan previously experienced—there's a huge chance that this phenomenon is curable using a simple and uncomplicated treatment of what we usually use for drug misuse. I know you once assumed that Levi would naturally heal on his own, but his shifting personality is not something we should tolerate. You do know it would cause more problems with his brain health, specifically his cognitive inhibitions. Moreover, we're dealing with a silent war game with Reiss that needs to end. Time is at stake here."

Pieck was nodding and smiling in agreement.

Hange added, "These experiments and trials are all about digging deeper into the pharmacology of the substance that started it all, and then reversing it using another substance of an opposing nature. We have all the data—the molecular geometry and structures and that will show us the chemical bonds and their compatibility with each other. I have all day and night to discuss it with you."

Zeke quieted down with a contemplating look on his face. He was floored down by Hange's unexpected expertise in a subject he actually had limited knowledge of and never paid attention to. He was secretly impressed to the point of reverence.

"I'm seventy percent confident that this can improve his condition. The other thirty percent holds the odds if he's not at his peak of health or there are other underlying issues. Of course, he should be evaluated firsthand if he's in a perfectly healthy condition to take the drug and alcohol mix. He's going to be another test subject under medication management. And then, we'll take it from there. Don't worry, another healthy volunteer is up to be another test subject. In fact, they're all interested in experiencing the experiment using their own bodies. Risky but it's all for science and pharmacological advancement. Give us a few more weeks and we'll hit the gold," Pieck added with confidence and newfound exuberance.

"You're unbelievable! And do you really have to drag my name and convince your team that it was a secret project of mine?!" Zeke spat at her.

"Everyone wants to be involved if it was you as the project manager." Pieck smiled. "And me as the head of the research team."

Zeke rubbed a hand across his face. "You never change, Pieck. Your curiosity always invites trouble."

"The trouble is when we don't do anything," Hange interjected. "I'm glad Pieck was very fervent with this experiment. It was an advantage that she had the resources to establish one dedicated team who produced results in a short span of time."

"More like pulling off her charm to win them over," Zeke scoffed. "But then again, clinical trials take years, not months, not weeks. Not even under a week!"

"Then we made history!" Hange exclaimed. "Frieda had convincing theories that didn't need further research. She knows her thing. She had it under her belt. I also had enough knowledge in pharmacology—you must've been aware of my story. Our combined knowledge would be enough to get this done."

Zeke clicked his tongue. "What if something bad happens to Levi?"

"Nothing bad will happen to him," Hange said with reassurance. "Don't you want your best friend back? Won't you trust me because I'm not Frieda?"

"It's not that," Zeke said. "Fine! After knowing who you really are, I know I should be impressed. But… are you sure about this?"

"About what?" Hange asked innocently.

"You're gonna lose Levi," Zeke said. "There's a possibility that every memory of you will be wiped out."

"Levi will still be alive. And we're just bidding goodbye to his false memories that shaped his character today. And just so you know, I am aware that I will be forgotten," Hange said. "In fact, his current memories will be wiped out completely. It's akin to alcohol-related blackouts disrupting the brain activity in the hippocampus. His current self will soon be gaps as if he'd been intoxicated for too long. That's the closest I could compare his state with a similar existing condition."

Zeke looked at her as if she had grown a second head.

"Hey!" Pieck reached for Hange's hand. "You know, we don't have to do this if it's gonna hurt you."

"That's ridiculous!" Hange blurted out in a burst of fake laughter. "It's the result of my sleepless nights and that should be put to use. Don't worry about me. Levi's original memories are way more important than my feelings, okay?"

Zeke and Pieck traded worried looks.

"I'll be fine!" Hange said confidently. "Come on, Zeke. Give everyone the good news! And good job, Pieck. I'm sure this is a record-breaking project."

Zeke stared at her gravely. "Hange, you're using your brain to break your heart."

Hange scoffed dismissively. "Who knows, Zeke. Maybe this brain and heartache will pave the way for a better future. Right, Pieck?"

Pieck nodded unsurely. "W-well, yeah. Of course."

At Pieck's affirmation, Hange's eyes grew sad and tired, prompting Zeke to call her out. "Your sassiness today doesn't suit you, Hange. Pieck, don't get her involved in the research anymore."

"But why?!" Hange wailed.

"We don't usually allow emotionally unstable people to be a part of a crucial project," Zeke explained sternly. "Just like how we don't allow surgeons to perform surgery on their immediate families at the brink of death."

"Read my data and tell me I'm not capable," Hange challenged.

"Of course, you are," Zeke said. "And more than efficient to surpass my knowledge if you happen to have earned your diploma. But Hange, I know it's hard for you to push something that hurts you in the process. We do know how much you've invested yourself in getting a cure for Levi but it's gonna break you down in the long run. Don't act like everything's fine."

"Zeke," Hange countered. "I know what I'm feeling, and I know how to handle myself better than anyone else. I may look like I'm losing this but I still think rationally and I know that my involvement in getting the cure for Levi is necessary. I can move on from heartbreaks—as much as everybody else. Just let me do my part. Please."

Pieck exhaled. "Damn, why do I feel like I wanna cry?"

"Just don't," Hange told her. "And Pieck, I want you to know that if everything goes well, I'll accept your offer to pursue my medical studies in Marley."

"Marley?" Zeke raised a brow.

"They're holding scholarships this year. Sina University is the most prestigious in Paradis but Marley's more advanced in medicine. I think Hange had better opportunities there," Pieck said. "After learning who she is… I know I should do something to utilize that kind of talent. Plus, it's a better distraction if Levi—you know."

"I see…" Zeke said sullenly. "Some contingency plan, huh?"

Hange clipped a smile. "Like I said, I know how to handle myself."

"Fine," Zeke said, urging Pieck to continue with her findings.

The conversation resumed with a lighter atmosphere. Hange was suddenly in the mood to immerse both doctors with her impressive knowledge in medicine and pharmacology. While looking enthused to stir the topic further, Hange was carefully read by Zeke as he listened to her ramblings.

And he knew. Hange would never convince him that she was fine.

Frieda was surrounded by newspapers, skimming through the headlines to chance a topic related to drugs and missing people. Most days, it's all about denying the truth about her father and the enormity of his crimes. Here she was, clinging to every material that would prove her father's innocence—which unfortunately didn't produce any. While meeting her half-sister Historia made her troubled for a few days, she was still hopeful that despite the convincing claims, Rod Reiss was still a "father-material" to redeem him from the disparaging remarks of the people around him.

"So many missing people." Frieda was shaking at the tenth article. "There should be bodies and at least, a suspect!"

It also didn't help that her private investigator brought police records that are still under investigation. Yalkell district had the most crime records to date of which half are cold cases, including the previous drug raid.

The mastermind remained unidentified.

"Shit!" Frieda ripped the papers off.

She left her room in a hurry and went straight to her father's where she found him sound asleep. She administered a stronger concoction of painkillers and other pills, knowing Rod had been keeping himself busy with his "businesses" almost every single day. Frieda observed his improving state as days went by. His bruises and wounds are healing. His limp was gone. As Frieda looked closer, the buzzing of a phone by the nightstand startled her. Beside it was another phone—the one she recognized as the one he frequently used. What's the other phone for, then? She quickly lifted off the handset without waking Rod up, peering at several missed calls from unregistered numbers.

"No names?" Frieda wondered, and by luck, the phone didn't need a passcode to unlock it. She went straight to his inbox, eyes widening at the number of messages from at least three unknown texters.

Should I read them?

She respected privacy, especially with her family. However, a part of her brain was screaming something that needed her attention. With hesitant fingers, Frieda pressed the first message that looked suspicious. It looks like all the messages were already read, but Rod hasn't answered any of them yet.

Boss, we've finally cleaned up the Yalkell raid incident. There's no need to worry. No names were involved. While we do lose some money, we keep our identities hidden. That's more important.

What?

The assigned agents were killed. The last one died recently at the hospital. We also paid someone to wipe out the records in their database. I'm sure any newly assigned team will take more time to start from scratch again. It already took them weeks to revive the case but they were fruitless. We could only hope it stays that way.

Frieda's head pounded, proceeding to the next message.

Boss, this must be late but there were reported frequent sightings of Furlan Church and Isabel Magnolia in town. It's also confirmed they dropped by your daughter's laboratory weeks prior.

Frieda swallowed hard, then stalked the rest of the messages.

We still don't have the coordinates of Ackerman to date. According to his assistant, he was on vacation. They didn't disclose the exact location but we're sure he might be in one of his properties outside Sina. We're also sure he's in touch with Church and Magnolia. Something's afoot. Do we have the orders?

Her heart beat fast. What orders?

Ackerman must've lost his memories and it's highly probable that Church and Magnolia are the ones taking action. We're afraid they also told your daughter about some crucial information against you. Tell us the extermination plan right away.

Extermination?

There's no more denying what the messages are for. There's no better angle to look at them differently and contort the initial understanding of what those meant. Clearly, the crimes were all her father's doing. As soon as tears swelled in her eyes, Frieda took the best action she could think of.

She immediately took pictures of the messages using her phone camera. While doing so, there are incoming messages again. She read them, took their pictures as well, and deleted them, hoping her father wouldn't notice the strange activity on his phone. She shakily placed it back on the table, staring at her father's sleeping form.

"Why, Dad?" she whispered silently.

The answer came from the light snores sounding in the room.

The first two shots were amiss, with Kenny looking more and more exasperated as Levi finished the bottles off in one smooth swoop.

"You're losing your spunk," Levi remarked, reloading his gun.

"Like I claimed to be the sharpshooter in your memory," Kenny protested grimly. "My vision's bad. Old age is catching up on me."

"You have a lot of excuses after every missed shot," Levi scoffed.

"I'm out of practice. Give me a few days, kid. I'll give you a run for your money."

"You're staying for a few more days?"

"Why? Don't you enjoy my company? And here I thought you want me around," Kenny said with a puckered smile. "I was here for two weeks already."

Levi frowned in surprise. His uncle had been staying over for weeks already after his visit. Surprisingly, Levi didn't notice his overstaying presence that much—or he wouldn't admit out loud that he was apparently enjoying Kenny's company around the house.

Most of their activities involved target shooting and sometimes, a few visits to the farmlands. Keeping Levi busy with de-stressing activities improved his health.

"I guess I'm getting used to your old ass around," Levi trailed off.

Kenny shot him a brow. "Don't know how to take that."

"Thanks for easing the boredom," Levi clipped. "At least you don't make me feel alone during this isolation period—which reminds me, it sucks."

Kenny looked at him gently. "Anything to keep you busy, Levi. Thanks for giving me that chance to prove I'm not a bad guy, though. I just hoped we could do this more often."

Levi shrugged unsurely. "Remember, I'm not the person you used to know."

Kenny's smile died down, suddenly realizing Levi's temporary condition. "But you're still you. I'd enjoy every minute of it."

A gust of wind blew past the place, allowing a few seconds of silence as dried leaves swirled around them.

"Are we done now?" Levi asked suddenly. "It's gonna be lunchtime soon."

"You go ahead. I'll clean up the mess," Kenny said as he dutifully started cleaning up. "Can't leave a single shard lying around."

"Okay," Levi said, about to turn away and grunted as his hand flew right onto his forehead. A jolt of pain drilled into his head in a searing sensation, stiffening him in place.

"Hey…" Kenny noticed him. "Something wrong?"

Levi raked his head with his fingers. "Must be the sounds of the gunshots giving my head a buzz. I'm fine."

"Oh. We should opt to have our ears protected next time."

"Yeah. I guess so…" Levi said and carefully watched his steps, walking away limply.

Kenny watched his nephew depart, disappearing in his line of sight as he entered the house. Days go unnoticed if one manages to catch a break and make the most of it. For Kenny, a few days with Levi was the best he had in years. He was in a pretty good mood, humming a song under his breath as he collected the pieces of broken glass on the grass. Is this what having a son feels like?

When footsteps sounded behind him, his head whipped around to see Mikasa with a phone in her hand.

"You're finally out to catch some sun?" Kenny asked. "You've been spending so much of your time in your room. If I didn't come around to keep your brother entertained, he'd be looking for ways to keep himself busy. Looks like you've got no time for him at all."

"Look, I'm sorry. You know how it has been."

Kenny nodded thoughtfully. With Mikasa finally here and Levi taking his time in the kitchen by now, the older Ackerman knew it was time for some serious discussion.

"How are things going in the city?" Kenny asked.

"Zeke had some news. Without the help of Frieda, there's still a chance to make a cure for Levi's memories. Apparently, there are progressive results now from a clinical trial," Mikasa informed him.

Kenny hummed. "So, who's in charge of the cure?"

Mikasa bowed her head low. "A co-doctor of Zeke who has worked with Frieda before. Also, Hange."

Kenny's brows twitched. "Hange? You mean…"

"Levi's girlfriend."

"Wh-what? How?"

"As verified by Zeke, she was a medical student dropout from Sina University who was also knowledgeable in chemistry and pharmacology. It's another story but… we can trust her. She's the sole reason why the cure had been progressive. Why potential ideas are spilling out."

"I see…" Kenny sighed. "You don't seem happy."

Mikasa looked away. "I just… couldn't take the fact that every one of us is tricking Levi. As if we're holding his life. His clock is ticking."

"I don't want to do this either, Mikasa," Kenny admitted. "This Levi… the current one was starting to grow on me. Is that why you don't want to spend more time with him?"

As agreed, it was all part of the plan to take Levi out of the city to recalibrate his physical and mental being. However, it was Erwin's idea not to leave Kenny behind the crucial details of Levi's current condition. With Levi's headaches and flashes of his past, fainting episodes, and violent tendencies, Zeke assessed that the best way to keep Levi grounded was to keep him immersed in activities and out of triggering subjects. Kenny filled the gap there.

"Levi's the best version he'd been. He's rude and rough at times, but he has this very endearing personality that makes him the opposite of who he was before. He had a way with words, but his actions showed that he cared. A lot. I'd lie to myself if I say I want him to go back to normal…" Mikasa said.

"Funny how our lives are always about two choices." Kenny took the last shard of glass, dropping it into the bin. "Choose between the old and the new. The good and the bad. You just have to be wise enough to choose the best one with less regrets."

Mikasa watched as Kenny brushed his hands together. "It's hard when you get attached."

Kenny hummed. "But it's harder when we dismiss the old Levi who had unfinished business—just like seeking justice for your parents' death."

It was like a punch in Mikasa's gut. "How much do you know about Levi's real objectives?"

"A lot," Kenny said. "A lot to ignore. Levi's been seeking my help ever since he discovered Rod's true identity and hidden agendas. I didn't do anything. I neglected him. I neglected your brother."

Mikasa listened as Kenny narrated the events that eventually led Levi to be distant from him, thus, affecting their relationship from the start. He was remorseful and emotive—something Mikasa had never seen before.

"Are you making up for it right now?" Mikasa asked.

"Maybe…" Kenny said. "But I know it's already too late."

"It's not too late, Uncle Kenny," Mikasa said. "We could still fix some things. Even beyond repair…"

Kenny didn't say a word. He observed his surroundings and drank in the fresh air. It looks peaceful yet something sinister hangs above.

Sooner or later, there will be no gunshots in the air, no more exploding bottles, no more cheers and curses.

And too soon, Kenny would be spending another day without a gun in his hand.

It's late at night and only an hour before the bar closes. Mike Zacharias was staring at the topmost shelf of the liquor rack, chin resting on his thumb as he inspected the old arrangement of untouched bottles of their VIP patrons. His eyes shifted to one sparkling bottle that had a lot of stories to tell. Something about the memories of one dear friend who he happened to encounter a few days ago for another outburst of drama just like her first time in the Underground.

With an effortless reach, his hands seized Levi's Marleyan cognac and a couple of other half-filled bottles beside it. He gingerly placed them over the counter and retrieved a clean cloth and a soft-bristled brush from a compartment under the racks. There was nothing else to do when customers were dwindling in number. The expensive bottles need a little cleaning for today.

He picked the cognac first, blowing light breaths on it and wiping it carefully with a soft cloth. He hovered it under the light to spot any remnants of dust. Satisfied with his work, he placed it back on the rack until his peripherals caught wind of a shadow sitting over a stool behind him.

"S-shit!" Mike exclaimed, almost letting the bottle slip off his hands at the sudden presence of the customer. What surprised him most was to see a familiar face sitting in the exact spot where one person used to sit.

"L-Levi?" Mike's jaw dropped, squinting his eyes to confirm it was really the man himself. "What a pleasant surprise! Long time no see! I thought you're… you're out of town?!"

Levi didn't seem to hear him. He looked disheveled by his wind-swept hair and sweaty forehead.

"Hey…" Mike stepped closer. "You all right, man?"

Levi's eyes looked confused. He was looking around him, placing both twitchy hands on the counter. "Water. Can I have some water, please?" he requested shakily.

Mike took a few blinks to realize what Levi wanted. Water? "W-well… sure!"

Once a goblet of water was placed in front of Levi, he quickly grabbed it with both hands and drank it to the last drop.

"Hey… easy!" Mike snorted. "Where have you been anyway? Have you been doing your midnight run or something? You looked exhausted. Are you meeting with Hange tonight? It's pretty late if you two wanna talk around here. We're closing under an hour."

Levi frowned. "What?"

"She was here a few nights ago. Well… I thought something was up between you two. I hope you get to settle some things," Mike said.

"What are you talking about?" Levi said in bewilderment. He ran a hand across his face. "W-what the hell… w-why are you telling…"

Mike was too sharp to get the hint. His hands ran cold at Levi's inquisition. He also remembered Hange's claims that Levi's memories are coming back at random times. Could it be…

"Anyone else who knows you were here?" Mike asked gravely, trying to figure out the strangeness of the man in front of him.

"Am I not a regular for the past few nights? You used to serve me during those times," Levi said exasperatedly.

"Damn," Mike cursed, finally getting it. "Damn it!"

"Hey…" Levi leaned forward. "There's something I couldn't understand until now. I know this is weird—must be the effect of my meds—but wh-why are you asking me those questions?"

"Can't you remember?" Mike ventured. "Couldn't you at least remember what went on for the past few days?"

"Remember what?!" Levi asked in bafflement. "You know I wish I could forget all about Petra rejecting my proposal a week ago."

"Fucking shit…" Mike hissed. He fumbled his phone inside his apron's side pocket. "Okay… just stick around for me, will you? I'll be back in a few…"

Levi was mumbling something incoherent as Mike ignored him and disappeared behind the rack. He dialed Hange's number and gasped once he heard her voice.

"Hans! God, you should know something!" He looked back at the counter to find Levi fidgeting in his seat. However, his anxiousness looked much worse than before. "Hey, listen up. Levi's here. Alone. Is he supposed to be in town today?"

A pause, and then his eyes bugged out after hearing something from the other end.

"Oh geez! You have to get here fast!" he demanded. "Something strange is going on!"

When Levi opened his eyes to find himself lying on a bed and staring at the ceiling, something felt off. He breathed slowly, trying to calm and clear his head as he fought the idea of how he ended up here.

Is this his room in his villa? Likely. He took in the familiarity of his surroundings.

He propped himself up on the bed and rubbed his head furiously. When nothing was registering again, he stood up and began pacing around the room. He couldn't find his cellphone anywhere. The clock on the wall read 8:45, and from outside the windows, it certainly looked like nightfall had fallen.

What day was it today?

His mouth felt dry and saw from the nightstand some empty blister packs of pills. They could be the culprit of the fuzziness in his head.

But wait…

Why was he taking them again?

"Ah, Zeke…" Levi scoffed, recalling his best friend's many prescriptions for the past week after that "event" with Petra. Zeke told him not to skip his meds, and take them at designated times. No more, no less. However, by the looks of it, Levi must have taken them all at once without thinking.

Shit. Of all the worst times to destroy his life because of a woman.

"Damn it," he cussed, sitting back on his bed. "Get a grip, Levi. You have a lot to do than sulk in a heartbreak."

He had a mission—a futile endeavor that was also a longtime goal that had been held up for years. But Petra's rejection broke his heart, as well as his remaining courage to expose Rod Reiss and his crimes.

When Furlan talked to him "last night" after another series of grave threats to his family, Levi knew he had to take action.

It's now or never.

But first. He needed to contact that "one" person as soon as possible. Someone he entrusted all his evidence with.

In a rush, he yanked open his closet to change to a new set of clothes. And while he couldn't find his cellphone anywhere, he found the key fob to his car.

"I must see him tonight…" Levi decided, rushing out of the house to find another two familiar parked cars by the driveway. "Are Mikasa and Uncle Kenny here?"

He looked back inside the house but didn't spot any shadow or movement. Whatever the purpose of their presence in his house was, Levi would certainly not let them know what his plans were—specifically Kenny. He jogged to the side of the house where a detached garage was built just a year ago to store a couple of his spare cars.

He started the engine, pressed the remote of the shutters, and drove into the night.

Just a floor above the house, Mikasa was down to her third cup of coffee when she heard the sounds of a car driving away.

"That must be Uncle Kenny…" Mikasa mumbled to herself, eyes not leaving her laptop.

"Shit! Shit, shit, shit!" Hange steered her car recklessly at the parking lot in front of the Underground bar. God knows how she got there so fast under ten minutes without crashing along the road. Mike's phone call had been alarming, and with a racing heart to confirm what she feared, she was trying to get her head straight and emotions intact for the time being.

Calm down, Hange, she chanted to herself.

Should she call Mikasa? Zeke? Erwin? God, how could she forget?! She was here all alone, and if she happened to be right about her hunch, she would need backup. She was about to storm out of the car until three other cars pulled over to her left side.

Was it a little late for drinking when the bar was about to close in an hour? Hange watched closely as one man's head poked out of the window with a phone in his ear, neck craning as if he was trying to spot someone at the bar's entrance. His actions were suspicious enough that Hange had to slightly roll down her window and listen within earshot.

Later, another man went scampering towards the parking lot, leaning by the window to talk to the man in the car.

"Confirmed. Ackerman's inside. But I couldn't get in. They need membership cards."

Hange's heart skipped a beat. She leaned her ear close to her window and listened, grateful for the tinted windows.

"Our informant said he was spotted at Uri Reiss's residence just a while ago but wasn't allowed inside. Then, he drove straight here in Stohess. According to the guard, he came alone. Must be here to pass some time. You think this is our chance?"

"We'd wait for the boss's orders. He wouldn't like it if we act on our own. Ackerman had been missing for weeks and he's probably brewed something up, now that he's back in town. It's sketchy."

"Do you think it has something to do with visiting Uri Reiss in the middle of the night?"

"Beats me. Who knows about his plans? Ackerman's sly. And if I were the boss, that man should've been done for way too long ago. I'm not convinced he's lost his memories as the boss told us. Probably one of his schemes. Meeting with Uri secretly was something else."

Hange stiffened in her seat. She dialed Mike's number in a hurry and whispered, "It's me. Hey, is Levi still with you? I'm here at the parking lot and things are pretty suspicious. There are people… they just pulled over right beside me and I think they're spying on Levi. I overheard their conversation but I don't know what their exact plans are. Please don't let him leave, okay? I'll try to come and get him."

As she hung up, she threw her head at the headrest and breathed sharply. Think! A string of questions and theories was playing at the back of her head—most were already making sense. Levi's presence in the Underground bar where he used to hang out during his depressive state would only mean that he allegedly "switched back" to his old self. Plus, Mike's frantic call telling about Levi's strange behavior was just hard to ignore.

Furlan was right: Levi's identity shifts at random times.

"How's that possible?" Hange questioned herself. Does Mikasa know about this? Were they back in town and didn't inform her?

No. The answers should come later. She shouldn't make a hunch and expect the worst. First thing first, she had to deal with the current situation: don't make these people see Levi.

She slinked her way to the passenger's seat and sneaked out of the opposite door. Careful not to get noticed, she ducked lower as she stealthily rushed to the entrance of the bar.

It was to her advantage that Underground limited its customers by availing of its exclusive membership. She should act fast while the suspicious men didn't have access inside. And while she didn't feel good about the idea of approaching Levi and dragging him out of the bar, she thought she had no other choice. His life might be in danger and she'll never forgive herself if something happens to him. Heartbreaks be damned.

As expected, Mike managed to get Levi into a conversation to buy some time. They were huddled in the corner in that same spot where she first saw him, the shadows on Mike's face pronounced as he fretfully talked to Levi in the most anxious way.

Hange stood beside Levi, close enough for him to notice her. She cleared her throat, which got his attention.

"Hans!" Mike exclaimed not surprisingly.

Levi turned his head to his side, brows creased as if to recognize the newly arrived person. He turned back to Mike questioningly.

"Great," Hange muttered, rolling her eyes. "Just great."

Mike was too slow to react, eyes twitching at Hange to get a hint of what was going on.

Hange didn't waste any more time, he grabbed Levi by his shoulder and turned him to face her. "Hey, I need you to come with me…"

He's barely unrecognizable with those deep-set eyes scrutinizing her. Hange could tell that he eyed her differently than he used to. Her heart hammered against her chest in a not-so-good way, knowing she already lost him.

"Excuse me?" His voice was annoyed, shoving her hands off him. "Do I know you?"

"Can't tell," Hange croaked. "But please listen to me. Your life is in danger. There are people outside the bar, waiting for you. We don't know what their real intentions are."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Levi asked.

Hange remained calm and composed, but damn, she was shaking like a leaf. How would she even start to explain things to him? "It's… complicated. You have to trust me!"

"I don't give trust to random people easily," Levi scoffed. "Why do I have to believe you?"

Hange sank.

"Levi... I mean, Sir," Mike interrupted. "It does sound ridiculous but I can vouch she's telling the truth. She's a friend of mine."

Levi's frown deepened. He shook his head dismissively and slid off the stool, about to walk away from this nonsense.

"Don't go, please…" Hange begged, grabbing his arm. If she was at her usual level-headedness, she could have recorded the earlier events to show him proof. "By some coincidence, I encountered men at the parking lot who followed you all the way here. I heard their conversation and they're spying on you."

Levi scoffed. "I deal with them a lot of times."

Hange's frustration began to show like a whistling kettle. "Really? Deal like how? So does it mean you have escaped death a lot of times like it's a normal thing to you?"

Levi's glare intensified. "What?"

"You dropped by somewhere before coming here, correct?! That's how they followed you! You know yourself that you're in grave danger because of keeping secrets! Why are you here then?! Why are you in the city? Who should you be seeing in the middle of the night? Aren't you supposed in your villa? What are your plans? These people have tracked you and they're after you because clearly, they know you're up to something against them!" Hange seethed, bombarding him with questions.

Levi mirrored her frustration. After all, he was still confused by all this. It only worsened that this provoking woman seemingly knew better than he was. He was fast to decide about his plans to see Uri Reiss, driven by impulse without even thinking.

"On another note, do you remember what day is it? The date? If you got them right, I'd let you walk out of the door as you damned please," Hange told him with a bated breath.

Levi looked at Mike anxiously as if he needed help.

"Just… listen to her," Mike urged him. "And trust me, we don't want trouble tonight and we certainly don't want anything to happen to you."

"Look, I know all of your secrets…" Hange said indignantly. "You're going to expose Rod Reiss, right? You know everything about him and his crimes. Furlan Church and Isabel Magnolia are the only ones who knew about this. But then, you must know that I also share that information."

"How did you…" Levi gaped at her in shock.

"I'll tell you soon," Hange said. "But this is not the right time to tell everything! We have to get you out of here. People are coming for you."

Levi held his breath.

Hange turned to Mike desperately. "Mike, was there another exit to this bar?"

"Yes. It leads to the back alleys," Mike said. "But... are you sure? You can stay here for your safety. We can call the cops…"

"No. It gets complicated if we have the cops involved. Besides, we couldn't trust anyone these days. Some people are spying on Levi. They probably are getting paid to know his whereabouts. Let's hope those goons aren't scattered everywhere," Hange huffed. "I'll take Levi out of here…"

"Use the staff room," Mike said. "I'll give you the key. There's an exit there."

"Okay, thanks," Hange said, grabbing Levi's hand unwittingly.

"I didn't agree to any of this!" Levi growled, withdrawing his hand.

He was about to pull away but Hange fixed him with a red-hot stare, her hand tightened its hold as if to stop his blood from flowing. "You're going with me, whether you like it or not. I'll drag you away if I could and I don't give a rat's ass if you're a CEO or some royalty or some untouchable human being. Your life is in danger and I'm a rescue officer. It's my job to keep you safe!"

Where were all those people when I needed help?!

Hange was on her sixth contact, cursing each time nobody picked up. Of course, it's easy to predict the reason: nobody answers a call in the middle of the night. She couldn't ask Mike for help other than to give her a buzz if something suspicious happened inside the bar.

She paced restlessly along the dark alley, and with Levi standing tautly beside her, she was taking more time to process things. She could've been swallowed by frustration because Levi has obviously turned back to his old self. And just like that? He returned to his normal self in just a snap?! Just... how? There were so many questions running through her head, but she was also aware Levi had more to ask. She didn't need those questions to invade her thoughts right now especially when they were running against time with barely any sound plan.

She rubbed her head furiously, nails digging into her scalp as if the universe was conspiring against her. The back alley was quiet, a perfect place to scream but she could save that for another time.

"How do you know I was planning something against Reiss?" Levi broke the silence.

Hange's eyes switched from her phone to him. "Long story…"

"I gave you my trust," Levi reminded her. "Even if I'm not fully convinced that you're someone trustworthy. So, can you perhaps enlighten me on what's going on? And who are you?"

Hange's heart ached. But this wasn't the time and place to think about herself and her bruised ego. She swallowed the hurt and held her phone tightly, shoving it in front of his face. "We're almost past two seasons. What was the last season you remembered?"

Levi's words died in his throat. "S-season?"

There was no time to narrate the events. It was hard to keep a straight face when all she wanted to do was break down in front of him. But she couldn't waste any more time, she needed to get him out of there. Fast.

"Follow me…" Hange told him, wiping a little tear at the corner of her eye. She took the first step, with Levi trailing behind. However, he was throwing a lot of questions as they went on.

"But isn't it the end of winter?" Levi asked her. "I remembered the snow melting in the northern region. This is strange. How come is it summer already?"

"God! Don't you feel the weather around you?! You were someone else during a whole stretch of a season. That's the truth," Hange grunted, keeping straightforward but vague answers. After all, there is no sense in trying to explain everything to him all at once. Not today. Not when they're running away from something.

"Someone else?" Levi iterated, speeding his way past her and halting in front of her. He looked her in the eye intensely. "What the hell?!"

Hange's lips curled. "Petra Ral rejected your marriage proposal. You went depressed, almost deserting your plans of exposing Rod Reiss. That's also how you got involved in an accident after a night of drinking because of a spiked drink. You fell into a coma and woke up weeks later as a person with another memory. Reiss was behind all that happened to you, and now, there's no doubt he's the same person who ordered people to follow you. That's all I can say."

"W-what?" Levi gasped. He was too stunned to ask another question.

Hange was already in fat tears but made sure they didn't find their way out of her eyes. She exploded, "It must be a secret battle between you two, launching furtive attacks and looking for ways to get ahead of the game. Look, I know it's hard to believe how I know all of this. But it wasn't just me, okay? There are already people other than Isabel and Furlan working hard to finish what you started because you couldn't remember any single damn thing."

Levi paled out.

"F-fuck… why did you have to retrieve your memories without a warning?! Why now of all times?!" Hange bleated defeatedly.

Levi didn't say a word. This person—voicing out her frustrations in front of him had been very emotional since meeting her inside the bar. But somehow, the way she acted around him pushed him to trust her. Something inside him tells him that there is no other person to trust other than her.

Hange sniffed, looking at the dark sky. She wanted to cry her heart out but she resisted the flow of her emotions. She couldn't let him see her cry like this. "After I get you out of here, we'll try to contact your sister, your doctor... Isabel… Furlan. They'd explain it better, okay? So please, don't make this hard for me. Just let me get you out of here. Let me protect you."

She brushed past him and hurried to the end of the alley, leading them to the main street. Hange cautiously looked at both sides to assume the exit to the alley was not flanked by Levi's pursuers.

"Look, we couldn't get any help as of now. I hope I don't need to run back to the parking lot because it's risky. But we don't have any other choice. Can you stay here for a while? I'll go around and get the car. I'll pick you up here at the same spot, okay?" Hange told him. "Don't go anywhere, I'll come back for you."

Levi hesitated, but he didn't argue with her. For Hange, if he was the Levi she was fond of, he'd always have trust issues with people around him. However, the original Levi was quick to decide and trust—probably because he was still lost and confused by all these. This is somehow a good thing, but she will need a lot of explanation to do later.

"Just… just hide. Don't let anyone see you, and more importantly, don't talk to anybody else unless it was Mike. I'll be quick. I'll just make sure nobody's gonna find you," Hange said, putting her shaking hands over his shoulder. God, she wanted to hug him so badly.

"Fine," Levi said calmly. "I'll stay here."

Hange bit her lower lip and suppressed her urge to kiss him goodbye. She was sure Levi had been wondering already why she was keeping a constipated face. She was set to go when Levi called her back.

"What's your name?" Levi asked.

Hange felt like her heart was crushed ten times over. "Hange," she croaked.

"Hange." The name rolled his tongue softly yet strangely. "Who are you in my life? Have we met during spring? And what's up with us?"

The questions punched harder, paralyzing, and she knew it would linger for a little longer.

I'm your lover.

"I'm… nobody," Hange said quietly, turning away. "We met during spring, that's how I know a lot about you. But sorry, I can't answer your other questions right now. We have to hurry before those guys catch us. I gotta go. Please stick around."

She ignored the words that followed. She didn't look back because Levi's vacant look would make her feel worse than they already were. She scurried her way several blocks to make it to the front of the bar. By then, only a few vehicles were parked in the parking lot, knowing they were closing in under an hour. As expected, the three suspicious cars were still there, and about eight men were pacing in front of the bar as if on patrol.

Hange heaved a sigh and unassumingly walked to her car. As she was about to open the door, she heard a cocking of a gun.

"I finally got a reply from the boss," one of the men said. "Kidnap Ackerman once he gets out of the bar. We'll wait for the next instructions…"

"I still don't understand why we don't have to shoot him on the spot," one chuckled. "This job is getting harder and harder if we let our victims live."

"Let's trust the boss's plans first, idiot. I'm sure Ackerman's murder will come soon, too, if not today."

Hange froze, not realizing she didn't move in place. Her head automatically turned in the direction of the voice. Thoughtlessly, her eavesdropping had been obvious, taking notice from one of the men. She quickly bounced inside the car but it was too late when a hand prevented the door from closing.

"Hey, Miss, have you been listening?" the man hissed.

"Excuse me?" Hange feigned innocence. "W-what are you talking about?"

"You're not drunk, are you?"

Hange swallowed hard, fear setting in. "I am a bit tipsy. And yeah, I heard you talking… but does it matter?"

The man grinned. "Well, I have a question and it matters. Have you seen Levi Ackerman inside the bar? You know… that popular CEO everybody's talking about?"

"I don't creep up on people if that's what you thought of me," Hange said, averting her eyes away. "And I have too much going on in my life to care about people around me. So would you please let me go?"

Two other men came closer. This time, she felt assaulted.

"The bar required membership cards. Can I see yours?"

"What for?" Hange resisted. "If you guys can't afford Underground, I'm sure there are other bars that use free passes."

The other men laughed.

"Hey, you thought we couldn't afford Underground? It wouldn't hurt to give us a peek, then we'll leave you alone…"

"This is harassment," Hange said. "I could call the cops…"

"For what reason? We just want to see your membership ID," the man said.

"I said no because you have guns. Isn't that enough to be wary of you? Is it normal for you to carry guns around?" Hange asked acidly but nervously, spotting one man with another gun half-tucked in the waist of his pants.

"Listen up, you show us your membership card—just a peek and we'll leave you alone. We're not even asking for money," the man said. "And don't make us use that gun you've been eyeing on. I act on impulse if I grow impatient. Now choose. How do we settle this? Would you want to waste time on us, or would you rather have your life wasted? Smug people leave the earth earlier most of the time because of bad decisions."

"Are you threatening me?" Hange asked, though clearly, she had no other choice but to oblige. She needed to get out of there. Unhurt. Levi will be waiting for her on the other side of the street.

"Depends on how you look at it," the man said, looking closely. "But… aren't you a bit familiar?"

Hange turned her face away. Had she known better, she become popular in the past weeks due to Levi's stunt at the square. Would these people recognize her?

"Hey, do you really want to waste your life?" the man patted the gun over her window.

"What did I ever do to you?!" Hange growled, fishing out the card in her pocket and shoving it to the guy, hoping her name on the card wouldn't ring a bell.

The man squinted his eyes. "So that's how it looks like…"

Hange felt a wave of relief as he said that. Maybe these guys are trying to forge fake cards they could use to get access inside. However, she didn't need to tell them that the cards needed to be scanned to confirm legitimate membership.

"Happy now?" Hange asked. "Can I have my way? You're blocking the door."

The man raised his arms with an insulting grin and stepped back. "Sure!"

Hange took a deep breath and closed the door soundly, thankful they were finally out of her hair. She started the car's ignition with an annoyed grunt, switching gears to pull out of the parking lot. Eyes never left her as she drove away, however, she abruptly slammed the brakes when two people blocked her path in an instant, pointing their guns at her.

"W-what the hell?!" Hange groaned. Two gunshots cut through the air and Hange felt the car tires deflating. "Did… did they just shoot my tires?!"

They motioned for her to roll down her window, then, surrounded her car like wolves around their prey.

"Hange Zoe. I think I quite remember now. Sounds familiar and so is your face," one of them barked mockingly. "You're leaving without your boyfriend?"

"Shit…" Hange seethed. They found out.

She was dragged out of her car, expecting the worst to happen. Her mind went blank, her feet itching to scramble away as if on instinct, but not that she got the chance to escape. Two gunshots fired near her feet, freezing her on the spot.

"Little liar. You have the guts to hide your boyfriend from us, huh?" one guy said. "The bar's closing… where's Ackerman?"

"I don't know…" Hange lied. "He left earlier than me."

"We didn't see him leave the bar. Unless there's another exit?"

Hange growled. "Why not try to get inside and see?"

"I could punch a lady, you know?"

"I told you he left with someone earlier. He didn't hang around for too long…" Hange huffed. "For a person who's hired to spy on someone, you lacked the skills. If I were your boss, I'd fire you pronto."

Bad move. Her statements are provoking, expecting the third shot to hit her body this time. And then, she realized the gang's growing number. Around fourteen people circled her. For sure, they were Reiss's cronies. They were after only one individual, and Reiss had more than enough to pay for a job well done. Her wits left the earth, but she tried to keep her composure. That's how she was trained during dangerous situations. However, this was something she was ninety percent sure she couldn't make it out alive. If she attempted to run on foot, a bullet would be fast enough to put her down. They would take her body and dump it somewhere it couldn't be found, rendering her another cold-case victim.

"Feisty bitch! You think you're better than us?!"

"Of course not! For criminals like you, you should all be jailed little birds. But here you are, reveling in freedom with all those crimes that you and your big boss enjoy a lot," Hange spat. "That's far impressive."

The men traded looks with each other and engaged themselves in a conversation.

"It's not a surprise she knows something," a man in a baseball cap said. "See guys, Ackerman didn't lose his memories. Had the gall to tell his girlfriend what was going on. However, how much does she know?"

"What do we do with her?"

"I would really want to put a bullet in her mouth. Boss says if someone intervenes, pull the trigger."

Hange's heart stopped. She was dead. This nasty encounter was the result of stupid decisions and the wrong choice of words. She cursed internally, anger coursing through her veins.

If only Levi…

She didn't know who hit her first. A solid material landed at the back of her head in a blinding pain, propelling her forward. It was followed by a sharp jab to her jaw and stomach. She was down on her knees in an instant, coughing out the squeezing feeling in her chest as her breath hitched. She crossed her arms against her stomach, suppressing the feeling of bile rising to her throat. Her glasses fell off, cracking once they hit the ground, and now, her eyes are useless to make out in the dark.

"Hey, easy… she's just a woman!" one called.

She shut her eyes tight, opening them again in an attempt to clear her vision but to no avail. This assault was the worst of her nightmares—and yet an enjoyable treat for her assailants. Their voices rang into her ears in a chorus of laughter, buzzing unbearably as they were littered with insults.

"Oh no… a woman? She looked like those who bare their fangs at people if they address the wrong gender pronouns. And I'm pretty sure she doesn't like dicks either."

"Haha! Agree. Because maybe she had one?"

"Would one look into her pants to confirm it?"

"Spare me! Even the strongest drug wouldn't let me lose my taste."

"I'd like to believe Ackerman lost half of his vision other than his memories. The drug was potent indeed. I mean, what fun could she give?"

"I'm sure those legs could wrap all around her boyfriend's short body like a serpent."

Hange gritted her teeth, fuming in rage and pity. She was hurt and ridiculed right at the time of saving Levi who had no idea of who she was. She heaved another breath as she struggled to push up on her feet. However, she was already on fours when another kick landed on the back of her knee.

"You're all fucking sick!" Hange roared.

"Why not call your little boyfriend for help? I hope he knows what happens with you if he doesn't show up."

"I told you he's gone!" Hange growled.

"I'm sure you live in the same house. If you can give us the address, we'll let you go."

Hange was not convinced. For sure, they are messing with her. "We… we're no longer together, that's why he's not with me. I just broke up with him! And with the many houses he owns, who knows where he's headed next."

Everybody laughed, grating into her ears.

"It's the most stupid excuse I've heard, but we'd take it. Of course, Ackerman wouldn't stomach waking up next to you every damn morning."

"Whatever you want to believe in! It's still useless!" Hange screamed. "You can hurt and insult me all you want but you wouldn't get anything from me!"

"As you wish."

There were two kicks to her face, the second one throwing her off position. She kissed concrete, cheekbone throbbing. Damn, that stung. She clenched her fist and rubbed her cheek, finding red smudging her hand. She seethed at the sight of her own blood, and now, she was convinced these guys were true to their words. Fourteen against one guaranteed slow death. She was defenseless, and her lack of clear vision weakened her senses. As she tried to pick up her glasses, they were crushed underfoot before she could reach them.

"Your little guy loves hide-and-seek, huh?" A shadow crouched in front of her, tilting her face with his thumb. "If we're not gonna see Levi tonight, you can tell us what his plans are."

It came as a surprise to Hange. Is this why they wanted him? Because they have no idea of his plans and want to stop him? All this time, both Levi and Rod are testing the waters, thinking one has a much better strategy than the other.

"Plans? You'll see. That will definitely explode right in your faces! Fuck you all!" Hange cackled, accepting this was probably the very last time she'd curse at anyone. She could only hope Mike would find Levi at the back alleys—or Levi could save himself. Prayers were useless, but she had no other ways left to save herself from her impending doom. She closed her eyes in surrender, mouthing something she could only hear herself. As if the wind would carry her words to him, Hange broke down in silent tears.

Sorry, Levi…

I've been stupid...

Please be safe where you are…

I can't save you anymore.

Notes:

Sorry for the delay. There's a reason for a 10k-word chapter.

And it's not just to make up for a month-long absence.

Just a little uninspired these days...

Can't tell when the next update is or if I'm going to post a final chapter outlining/summarizing the ending to the story. I lost my drafts saved in a flashdrive a few weeks ago and it's frustrating me until now. Unfortunately, I don't have another backup. Knowing I'm close to finishing this and losing all my ideas feels like losing half of me.

To those who still read this, thank you. To those who lost interest, I cannot blame you.

If by any chance the flash drive turns up out of nowhere (like a goddamned miracle), maybe we'll see the ending to this. But for now, please bear with me that updates might take longer.

I just wish for two things: I want my motivation and flashdrive back.

Chapter 45

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

One habit of Rod Reiss was keeping the door to his room locked at all times. Being the man of secrets, one wrong move would send his life to the edge of the cliff. However, given his current situation—barely walking on a cane and gradually recovering—he would need assistance in moving around and meeting his basic needs. He left the door open this time, allowing anyone in the household to come in and check his condition. His world these days got smaller and smaller being stuck in his room, but thank god for the gift of technology when phones, laptops, and internet connection are introduced. His communication lines remain open to keep himself updated with his business affairs.

While health and bed rest should be his top priority, Rod would secretly attend to what mattered most to him: a side business involving Levi Ackerman. And by that, he skipped two pills today—knowing he'd be fast asleep during the night when midnight calls are far more important than a whole night of rest.

He was propped up on the bed, a phone in his ear as he talked in hushed tones. His wife was currently out of town as his proxy for his business dealings. He usually never carried his "underground tasks" at home as he couldn't risk getting his little secrets discovered by his family—especially his eldest daughter. Frieda was already acting suspiciously towards him. He didn't want to add to her growing curiosity.

His eyes would gaze at the door, wary of sudden intrusions. Frieda used to slip inside with the lightest steps and go unnoticed. She was a strict nurse, and he didn't know if he found it endearing that she had a gazillion of demands to take his pills as scheduled and get early to bed. He was relieved Frieda exhibited her kind and caring nature, even being cold to him at most times.

Sorry, Frieda.

He couldn't ignore that one message—not when the text had a sprinkle of gold that sparked his interest. It said Levi was in town—in Underground bar where he used to hang around. He wondered if his loyal dogs, Church and Magnolia were with him, but his contact confirmed that Levi was there alone.

However, there's a catch: Levi was caught outside Uri Reiss's house before driving to the Underground bar.

Was Levi plotting something to gain leverage over him?

Rod called his contact immediately, skipping the trouble of typing away his orders. "Find a way to kidnap Ackerman and make sure nobody witnesses that he was taken away. If anyone intervenes, you know the protocol. Just spare your target. Bring him to the hideout and wait for my next orders."

A click to his right alerted his ears, whipping his head towards the direction of the sound. He frowned to see his door shut tight.

Must be the wind, he thought.

A gust of pressure blew right on her face, thinking a bullet would finally send her straight to hell. However, her ears registered sounds of grunts and pained cries following her vision in a slow-motion blur. She envisioned a street brawl was taking place, but whoever ticked the commotion was probably someone who eats chaos for breakfast. Eventually, there were gunshots and screams around—Hange knew the dangers of stray bullets so she curled herself up and cowered like she was in the middle of crossfires, taking the least of the chance to stay alive.

As if something fell from the sky, a body solidly thumped down in front of her, groaning and bucking in pain. From her poor peripherals, she spotted other bodies being thrown and shot around—limbs writhing, blood spilling.

"Wh-what…" Hange swallowed her voice, head shifting to check what was going on.

"Shoot him!"

"The order is not to kill him!"

"He's fast!"

"Shit! Shit! Shit!"

"Motherfucker! He's gonna kill us all if we don't do something! Fire away!"

Hange tried to crawl her way out of the scene breathlessly, eyes unblinking so she could focus on which way to go. The struggle felt like stretching forever—and for whatever that was happening nearby as if an angel of death decided to dance in circles with a sickle, she could only utter a prayer of thanks. That should have extended her life a little much longer had she managed to get out unharmed. For quite some time, she didn't realize later on that the noises ceased, only to be replaced by sirens blaring from a distance. Cops? When strong hands grabbed her shoulders, almost lifting her off the ground, she violently thrashed her arms.

"Get off me!" Hange squirmed, screaming hysterically.

"Hange! Hange, stop it! It's me!"

"No! No! Get the fuck—off m…" Hange resisted, punching and kicking away aimlessly.

Hands clamped around her wrists, preventing her from throwing a punch.

"Four eyes! Stop it!"

As if the sweetest sound to hear, Hange's ears perked up at that familiar voice—either she was dead or just dreaming.

"Four-eyes…"

Her vision cleared at the proximity of his face, panting, worried, and flushed. His hands cupped her cheeks, one thumb gently grazing over the fresh wound on one side, making her flinch.

"L-Levi…?" Hange's eyes blinked twice. "What the… it's… it's you…"

"Just right on time…" Levi shushed. His sharp eyes softened as she fought back her tears, seeing that familiar expression on him. "Damn, you're hurt…"

Hange shook her head in disbelief. The pain she sustained from the men didn't register at first, and yet she managed to check on the motionless bodies surrounding her. "I'm fine. B-but... Levi... you… killed them?"

There was a scoff, as his hand rubbed her head gently. "I knocked them out. Don't worry… no killing happened."

"But…"

"You shouldn't worry about people who hurt you. I would really mean to kill them all if something bad happened to you," Levi said bitingly.

"Levi… listen…" Hange didn't know how to start—or what to say first. Twenty minutes ago, he didn't recognize her, and now, how come he easily switched back to the guy she was fond of?

"No, you listen to me," Levi said harshly. "I didn't know why I even got here. But I hope you can give me a straight answer. Tell me with your eyes, Hange."

"W-what are you talking about?"

"Did you really break up with me?" Levi asked with the most innocent face he could express.

Hange gaped at him quizzically.

"I heard you!" Levi said, one hand tightening around her arm. "You told these bastards we broke up! I didn't even remember you breaking up with me! Don't you fucking dare, Hange…"

Hange burst into pained laughter. She could cry and laugh at the same time. This was definitely the craziest day of her life, and with Levi staring at her like a terrified child, one honest answer would suffice. "They want to know where you are, but I won't allow them to track you. I had to protect you."

"You fucking scared me..." he sighed soundly. Satisfied with her answer, he wrapped his arms around her body, drawing her close to him.

Hange's body weakened, her arms falling limp to her sides from a hug that she damned missed so much. Tears found their way out of her eyes as she whimpered, her vulnerability and emotions shaking her through the core. She closed her eyes in surrender, arms wrapping around his body just the same. It was the first time in years that she cried a river, sobbing unrestrainedly as if there was nothing to hold back. Every kind of fear engulfed her, crashing like violent waves to wash her ashore. That fear of death, and not being able to protect and save Levi.

That fear of losing him.

The sirens in the background grew louder now as four police cars screeched to a halt nearby. Heavy footfalls sounded against concrete, followed by barking orders here and there. Whoever called the cops was a godsend, but then, this would also mean a hundred and one questions to lead them to a much tighter position.

They pulled apart, relishing each other's presence even in the face of disaster. Hange knew Levi had more questions for her, and when he was about to open his mouth to say something again, a familiar voice called from a distance.

"Hange! Levi!"

Levi helped Hange to her feet, holding her by the waist.

A disheveled Mike rushes to them in a panic. "God, Hans! Damn, you were not kidding when you say there's gonna be trouble! Are you guys okay?"

"I flicked the trouble. My bad," Hange admitted. "I shouldn't have gone back to retrieve my car. These bastards know no boundaries. They could even hurt a child if they wanted to."

Mike clicked his tongue. "Shit. I shouldn't have let you out."

"Was it you who called the cops?"

"What? No," Mike denied. "When I heard the gunshots, I checked to see if you guys were still in the back alley. And that's when Eld announced there's a scuffle going on by the entrance."

Later, uniformed, armed men came rushing into the scene, followed by a growing number of bystanders that surprised Hange. Where were these people when she needed help?

"An anonymous informant reported there's some trouble happening here…" one of the cops declared, inspecting the bodies strewn around. "Who did this?"

Levi looked away, but it was too late when the cop already recognized him.

"I'm Inspector Gregg from Stohess District Police Department. We received a caller earlier telling a group of men were going to kidnap Levi Ackerman in this location, but… it appears there's a sudden turnaround of events. Did we get the wrong information?"

"The caller knows what they're talking about," Hange said. "But Levi's capable of defending himself. With the help of this big guy here."

She shot Mike a deadly look, eyebrows raised.

"W-what?" Mike glared at her, and then, upon realizing the situation, he nodded diffidently. "I—uh… it's pretty dangerous to fight armed men, but… knowing a little self-defense comes in handy."

Inspector Gregg paid them an unconvinced gaze. "Something the public didn't know about some secret extraordinary skills of Mr. Ackerman? Is this some kind of a joke or a prank?"

"Inspector, these guys were alive!" another cop interjected, saving both Mike and Hange for coming up with terrible excuses. He was crouching over to examine a couple of spread-eagle bodies on the ground. "There are bullet wounds on their legs… but not fatal."

"I'm pretty sure a prank wouldn't go that far just to pull off a convincing entertainment," Mike pointed out. "I—uh shot them so they won't run away…"

"Let me see myself…" the inspector scooted away to check what the other cop was talking about.

Their confusion was apparent as if it was unlikely for two individuals to easily floor down armed people and prevent fatal injuries or death.

Hange frowned at Levi. "What stopped you from killing them, then?"

"After seeing you? You have no idea that I have the burning urge to kill them on the spot, but I fought to keep my senses together. I learned this society doesn't tolerate violence," Levi said in annoyance and sarcasm.

"Right…" Hange scoffed. "I'm glad you're a thinking person this time."

"Wait guys," Mike interrupted. "I've been really meaning to ask but… what happened here? Who beat up the guys? Don't tell me it's…"

"The biggest joke of my life," Hange said exasperatedly, freeing herself from Levi's arm. "The obvious happened, Mike. I told Levi to wait at the alley while I fetch the car and then, when I was assaulted by these bastards, he came into the scene, knocking them all out by himself."

Mike's eyes narrowed, giving Levi a disbelieving once-over. "I'll be damned…"

"What?" Levi looked lost by Hange's statements.

"Don't ask. You won't remember any single thing anyway," Hange said dismissively. "I couldn't even tell myself what happened. Everything… everything happened so fast. Wish I was just drunk."

"What are you talking about?" Levi's bafflement took another level. He was looking around him, observing the scene of bodies he fought earlier. Everything was starting to fall heavily into his memory like slabs of concrete falling from the sky.

Inspector Gregg came back as usual, looking at both Levi and Hange. "We are now certain this was not a prank. We're taking these men to make the proper arrest. But we also need you for questioning. But first, you need that wound taken care of."

"I'm fine," Hange said, gently running her fingers over her throbbing cheek. "I'd rather sit for the questions. I'm pretty sure I have more to tell than Levi. These bastards shot my tires, hurt me, and threatened me with the worst things they'd do if they didn't get what they wanted. Thought I'd never see the sun again."

"Hange…" Levi clamped a hand over her shoulder.

"Okay," the cop agreed. "We'll need you at the precinct to explain what happened. This is for documentation purposes, but Mr. Ackerman's involvement would also raise questions. He's the person of interest to these kidnappers. We'll need a word from him as well."

Hange looked at Levi anxiously.

"I'll come," Levi said.

"Levi," Hange whispered. "Are you sure?"

Levi nodded.

"If that's the case, we'd clean up the mess first. I'll be standing by, come to me whenever you're ready," Inspector Gregg told them to which the couple responded with a nod.

Levi and Hange watched the inspector as he attended back to the scene, manhandling and handcuffing men as they finally regained consciousness.

"What's your plan now?" Mike asked the two. "How much are you going to tell them?"

"Enough to help us investigate the person behind this. Well, we didn't need to guess it was Rod Reiss but we need to have solid evidence to point all of this to him. And you're coming with us, Mike," Hange ordered. "You're involved in the fight, remember?"

"Hange…" Mike complained. "I didn't even lift a finger to knock them all out!"

"Just tell them you helped. Plus, we have no other witnesses to prove our point. You think it's believable if Levi took them all down by himself?" Hange insisted, rubbing her arms. "It would look like a joke if a man like Levi—without any record of violence was involved in a brawl and fought twelve men down with barely any weapon. His condition is still crucial to be exposed. I hope this won't get the media's attention."

"Shit," Mike cussed. "Some things are going to rear its ugly head."

"This is why I don't want the cops here—which reminds me of the caller who alerted them about the kidnapping incident. Isn't it kind of suspicious? Someone out there knows what was gonna happen. They alerted the police and gave Levi's name," Hange said, thinking. "I don't know if this was done on purpose or a kind of scheme—but it doesn't make sense. What I do know is whoever set this up was not aware of Levi's mad skills."

Levi remained tight-lipped as Hange and Mike conversed. He was also confused by all these, head cluttered as the events sank in. He didn't know how it even started when he found himself staring at the group of men dehumanizing and ganging up on Hange. That sight alone snapped something in his brain, sending signals that controlled his body to plunge into the scene like a destructive hurricane.

"Well then, I'll just go get my stuff inside the bar," Mike told Hange. "I'll be back."

Hange responded with a tired nod, and as Mike sauntered off, she walked towards her car—Levi's car—to retrieve a spare of eyeglasses. Soon, her vision cleared, seeing the chaos in its wake. Except for the car, no damages around the property were found. Levi was right behind her, sensing her uneasiness.

"Sorry about your car," Hange apologized.

"What the fuck, four-eyes? Are you thinking this car is much more important than you?" Levi drawled.

Hange scoffed with a bite of her lip. She leaned back on the hood of the car, exhaling loudly and fuming in frustration. This is ridiculous!

Well, everything is.

"Hange, what's the matter?" Levi asked nervously.

"We need to talk…"

Levi grew silent.

"About you." Hange couldn't keep it to herself any longer. "What's really going on with you?"

"Me?"

"Your presence here. Aren't you supposed to be in your villa? Aren't you supposed to stay there until your doctor tells you a change in plans? Where's Mikasa? Did she know you were here? Did you drive your car all by yourself? What are you doing in Underground late at night? And more importantly, what are you doing in somebody's house before getting here, hence having these guys follow you?" Hange's words were faster than a gattling gun, shooting like Levi didn't have a chance to remember which question was which.

"Hold on… wait, Hange…"

"Of course, you have no idea…" Hange groused. And there she goes again, on the verge of tears as everything is sinking in, pulling in the courage to tell him every detail of what happened. "Levi, about thirty minutes ago, you didn't recognize me."

"What?"

"Thirty-fucking-minutes ago, Mike called me, telling me you were at the bar and acting strange. I had to come for you—because I know what I feared is already happening. When I parked my car—coincidentally—that's when these guys showed up because they were informed that you were back in the city. They were ordered to kidnap you. Fortunately, they don't have membership cards to get access to the bar so that gave me the chance to get ahead of them—catch you before they do. And…"

Levi stared at Hange whose exasperation was at its limit, almost explosive. She was dying inside.

"I—fuck! I had to explain things to you—convince you to trust me because you didn't know who I was. And now, I have to explain things again how we ended up like this," she revealed. "Levi, you were someone else back then."

Levi shook his head lightly. So that explained his unforeseen presence here. Did he switch back to his old self and travel all the way from the villa to the city? It certainly is making sense now.

"It hurts, to be honest," Hange cried. "To finally meet your other self, without any recollection of me—without even knowing what my name was. Damn, it hurts, Levi."

"Hange, I swear… I didn't know what was going on! I didn't know how…" Levi tried to console her as if everything was his fault.

"I know!" Hange cried out. "I was just… mad at myself! I'm mad at everything that was happening to you. Of course, it's not your fault. It couldn't be helped that your condition is getting serious and uncontrollable…"

Levi looked at her with sunken eyes. The fact that he was oblivious about his switching identities was breaking her apart.

"Worst part, the bad guys are coming for you… and they want you dead," Hange said. "I don't know… I don't know how to protect you anymore."

"I'm not asking for anyone's protection, Hange. Don't make me feel useless and helpless," Levi said, taking a deep sigh. "I can protect myself—I even protected you!"

Hange shook her head. "You can only protect me when you have that strength. When you are capable of defending yourself with skills shaped up by your false memories. You can make use of those whenever you're in danger, but for how long will that last?"

Levi deflated, almost mouthing an apology that aggravated the hurt in her chest.

"Levi… listen to me. These… these threats to your life should be stopped. You understand that, right?" Hange gave him an intense stare, clamping her hands over his shoulder in a tight grip.

Levi nodded unsurely, but his face scrunched at the sight of the wound on her face and the dark bruising around it. He witnessed that. His own eyes saw how those people were capable of hurting anyone—regardless of gender. It's the realization that Hange was the collateral damage of the unsettled plight of his past. It's her overprotectiveness that gets her hurt in the process.

"Levi…" Hange averted her eyes from him. "Do you think it's about time you settle with only one identity?"

"What do you mean?"

"Whatever was happening to you right now…. it's recurrent. And it can't be stopped. You can't fight off your old self coming back—along with your old memories. No matter what you do, they're bound to return and consume you." Hange quivered. "We couldn't put you in a situation where different identities flick back and forth—messing up your brain mechanisms. We need to stabilize that. The last thing we need is permanent damage to your brain. And if something like this—a brawl you couldn't escape—happens again, it will always require your hundred percent of strength beyond your limit, and that'll seriously damage your body."

"A cure…" Levi said, knowing what she was coming up with. "That it?"

Hange didn't confirm anything, but her sad eyes said enough. "I met your old self, and so did Furlan. And earlier… it happened again. How would you even explain your presence here? How did you get into the city all alone? How would you be able to control two individuals claiming one body? Science or paranormal, two different people are living inside of you. Each had different personalities, different undertakings, on opposite ends of the spectrum. You can't live like this, Levi."

Levi gazed at her miserably. "And then one day—this—us—everything that we had…. everything I had with you would be forgotten. Is that what you're trying to say?"

"Look," Hange's hands went to his ashen face, cupping it protectively in a manner it could break any second if she let go. "I'm only thinking about you—your future. And the future of your company depends on your leadership. From the start, you have only one identity. There's only one Levi Ackerman. He's the CEO—not the soldier, not the squad captain, not anyone else. The only one who knows about the secrets of the biggest crimes committed by a person who remains at large. The one whose mission is to bring justice for his parents' deaths."

The rims of Levi's eyes were red. His expression was unreadable—perhaps implosive—lost in a torrent of emotions because everything blows right into his face.

Hange knows everything?

She went on, "Be kind to your old self. Be the selfless soldier who only thinks about the welfare of the people—this society that was targeted by criminals who want to satiate their thirst for power and governance. Let your old self take over because he's the key to ending Reiss's criminal activities and his plans to destroy you and your family."

"Hange, we'll lose this," Levi said faintly. "Is this what you want? This is the only time… the only world that favored us to be together…"

"Nothing was ever real between us!" Hange barked, pulling away with a huff. "There's no such thing as an alternative universe where both of us lived and fell apart! Whatever you have in your memory is just the effect of the drug! It's a dumb, make-believe world! A fucking figment of drug-induced imagination!"

"Hange…"

"You'll be okay…" Hange whispered, wiping at her eyes fiercely. "When the cure is out, everything will go back to normal. You'll forget about me, whether you like it or not."

"No fucking way…" Levi hissed in resistance. "I won't do it!"

"Don't be selfish. Think about the people around you! People who keep adjusting to you. Their world doesn't revolve around you, okay?" Hange said. "Think about me, Levi! Because… because I don't want this anymore. I don't want to see you the second time around looking at me like I was a stranger!"

"Is this why…." Levi jeered, anger flourishing through his veins. "Is this why you kept out of touch for weeks? You're avoiding me because you know everything all along?"

"The truth found its way to me," Hange said. "You don't need to keep things away from me anymore. At the same time, we can't keep things the way we want them to."

Levi's hands clenched.

"I love you, Levi," Hange said. "But I know you'll forget all about my feelings, too."

She turned away from him and headed towards Inspector Gregg. Levi was left frozen in place, processing the blow from Hange's revelations. On the way, she passed by the guy who kicked her face—sitting on the ground and whining about how everything hurt. Something snapped, and as if possessed by evil, her leg swung freely, the heel of her shoe smacking squarely into his face.

She aimed at him with all her strength—making sure the impact was harder than what he made her experience earlier.

"Serves you right, you bastard!" Hange hissed. She was about to give him another kick when an officer grabbed her from behind to stop her.

From a distance, Levi watched Hange as she poured out her rage like a drunken lunatic. She was kicking the ground, cursing out loud as people stopped her. He wanted to stop her as well, put out her fire, and ease her raging propensities. That familiar scene playing before his eyes carried him back to those memories of her usual eccentricity that annoyed him at times, but left him adoring her more.

She was the same. She was the same person with the same antics at the back of his mind. The good old Hange.

He lost her in that world. And soon, he's bound to lose her again.

Twice.

He must have missed the sensation of one tear escaping his eye.

A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, making him turn. Mike was already beside him with a bag on his shoulder. From the looks of his face, Levi knew he shouldn't have turned around.

"Levi? Are you crying?" That is all Mike could ask.

"Hange, Hange…"

It took three nudges for Hange to finally wake up, finding herself sleeping on a table in Yelena's kitchen.

She pried her eyes wide open, trying to recall where she was.

"Hey, it's already past lunchtime." It was Yelena, hovering above her.

"What?" she yawned—still dazed—stretching her arms as she straightened up. She flinched when a sharp pain traveled down her back. "Shiiiiit….."

"Clearly, you're getting old. Here," Yelena said, handing over her glasses that nearly jumped off the table.

Hange took her glasses and perched them over her nose, her vision coming clear in bright colors. "Yelena…"

Yelena's brows furrowed in worry. "You took a pretty bad hit, huh?"

Bad hit? Of course, that would be her face swollen by now. And when Hange saw an empty bottle of vodka on the table, she was a little unsure how consuming one bottle of hard drink had knocked her out like that. Normally, she would still be an early riser, carrying on her usual routine like a hangover never happened.

Yelena took the opposite seat across from her. "That's my second most expensive vodka, y'know? I'm glad I have my Marleyan cognac under my pillows."

Hange stared at her emptily, the gears on her head hadn't started turning yet.

Yelena crossed her arms as she leaned comfortably in the chair. "I'll let it pass. After all, I know you needed that drink. Anyway, I wasn't left with a choice but to ask Zeke about what happened. He told me everything this morning."

"Everything?" Hange scoffed. "He wasn't even there last night…"

"Well, whatever the story was, I'm quite sure you had it rough. And I'm sorry I couldn't pick up your call last night."

Right. Of course. No bottle of alcohol would drown out the memory of last night. Hange gathered her hands around her head in an attempt to declutter those memories she'd hate to remember. However, they still found their way intrusively into her thoughts like swarming bees to a beehive.

It's too vivid of a dream or a nightmare for that matter. And the pain on her cheek didn't need to remind her that "terrible things" indeed happened.

Levi's sudden appearance in Underground. Levi's alleged kidnappers. Levi fighting them all. Levi switching identities.

Her getting hurt and all that shit…

It's a maelstrom of events.

Hange put her thumbs over her temples to alleviate an incoming headache.

The event at the precinct didn't even help when the kidnappers failed to identify the mastermind of the attempted kidnapping. Phones were confiscated to track the caller's location but oddly, nothing was ever traced. A thorough investigation would take place again—and probably much longer. Moreover, they would need Erwin's help to push legal action against the assailants.

"I nearly got killed…" Hange said in a whisper, folding her arms on the table and leaning on them. "I nearly got killed for protecting him…"

"And in the end, Levi protected you," Yelena said. "According to Mike, he took all fourteen men down who ganged up on you. Zeke also said Levi had been switching identities. W-what the actual fuck? Should it be something like retrieving his memories and not switching personalities? This is the most absurd phenomenon I've ever heard. You're not telling me things, Hange."

Hange yawned. "Yeah, you're missing out. But I don't want to go into the details of why Levi's brain works like that…"

"Then tell me something in general," Yelena said. "You haven't even told me what happened to Levi except that he's forced to stay outside Sina."

"Beats me. I could only theorize that there are triggering factors that cause him to switch memories. Fuck science," Hange cursed. She took the time to narrate all the events last night—from the moment Levi in his "alleged old self" showed up in Underground, to raising hell with his assailants at the parking lot.

Yelena listened with growing anxiousness.

Hange went on, "You can say his condition is absurd. And yes, it's truly absurd. It's there. It's existing. It's happening to a person and nothing can change that. About time I need to ruminate over a lot of things."

Yelena sighed. She was speechless for a moment, finding a way to comfort Hange but failed at that. She decided then to drive out the weighty atmosphere between them. "By the way, in case you want to know, Zeke brought Levi to his clinic this morning to evaluate his condition. Probably might run some tests too. Did Levi stay at Zeke's unit the whole time?"

Hange nodded, remembering knocking at Zeke's door at three in the morning to bring Levi in. Levi insisted on staying at Yelena's unit but Hange refused his request, emphasizing he needed medical attention first.

"I made Levi stay in Zeke's place," Hange said. "I think I'm so done with this—I don't want him close. I don't want to talk to him. I don't want to be acquainted with him anymore."

"Is that how you wanted to move on?"

"Tell me another way," Hange challenged. "A less painful way. Come on, we both know Levi's bound to retrieve his old self. He's just there—at the corner-most of his brain waiting to come out any time."

Yelena gave her a scrutinizing look.

"Last night… shit… that confused expression on his face ripped me apart. The way he asked who I was in his life makes me want to tie a noose around my neck," Hange said.

It's when Yelena's lip curled downwards, possibly feeling for Hange.

"I shouldn't be hurting, right? My mind keeps telling me that Levi's feelings aren't genuine because they're only fabricated by false memories. I fell for a person whose presence in my life isn't gonna last. I should stop fooling myself."

"Don't be too hard on yourself. The more you push him away, the more you'll hurt. And the more you deny his existence, the more his memories will haunt you."

Hange couldn't agree more with that.

"I know what makes it more difficult is how you feel everything was hopeless. Yes, he couldn't control himself. And you're right, his memories of you are fabricated. But you should also know that despite how the drug changed him as a person, he still genuinely loved you at one point," Yelena said.

"Unfortunately, it's just something that wouldn't last," Hange said bitterly. "That's why I was hoping we could finish the cure the soonest time possible.…"

"Wait. Cure?"

Yelena was not new to Levi's history of memory loss. Hange had briefly mentioned to her the story behind the Reiss family and their connection with the Ackermans.

Hange nodded. "The pharmacologist—Frieda Reiss—the one who made the raw samples came up with theories about reversing the effect of the drug in his brain physiology. Although they still lacked data, there's still a way to finish it by doing more intensive research. I'm now a part of it."

"Are you damn serious? "

"Yelena, you know how's it been! What would you do if you were in my shoes?!" Hange said critically. "I was a medical student dropout, but my knowledge remained intact in chemical compositions and drug formulations. With that kind of knowledge, you know I should do something!"

"And you're confident that you could accomplish something? Is that why I always find several cups of coffee in the sink by morning? Is that what's keeping you busy for several nights? You're pulling an all-nighter?" Yelena leaned forward as if to judge her. "Are you trying to do some miracle? Or are you simply trying to kill yourself?"

"I'm doing what is right," Hange hissed. "And yes, the project had been progressive. God knows how this is killing me, but I'm doing this all for Levi's sake! Rod Reiss was already making the move with ulterior motives and attempts to destroy Levi in any way he could. I wouldn't allow that!"

Yelena listened to her without protest, allowing Hange to voice out her resentment.

"And there are other factors to be considered. I don't see a future between Levi and me. I am so absorbed by our relationship that I forget to realize that the world is moving around us. I lost sight of the future. We took our relationship in a pathless way—without directions, without concrete plans. Our world only revolved around the two of us," Hange ranted. "I'm forgetting he's a CEO, who currently had people working for him in the background because he's virtually useless. And I also forgot he earned that position as a result of his talent. His role is vital in decision-making and the overall performance of his company. He's the foundation of Ackerman Holdings. He's the reason for its growth. He's not a stay-at-home fellow in a small apartment who does the household chores. Who waits for his partner at night and prepares her dinner. You see, it's a boring cycle. He didn't deserve this kind of lifestyle. There's so much more for him as the old Levi!"

Yelena's icy glare melted. She leaned back on the chair with a sad smile. "I don't know, Hange. I want to be proud of you. Your selflessness is beyond me, but it's much more noble if you would just acknowledge the gravity of the situation. Without any trace of bitterness and self-depreciation. Without any hate."

"I…" Hange faltered. "I'm not hating. And I definitely don't hate Levi. I just want this to get done as soon as possible. Be back to normal. Be back to our usual selves. The more we keep our situation like this, the deeper the cut it makes. I can move on. I promise. And I'm trying…."

"No, you aren't trying. You are only breaking what you're trying to fix. You can't leave Levi in the dark like that—act like you're mad at him? Mad for a reason that wasn't his fault? Don't take it on him."

It surprised Hange that Yelena thought of her that way. It must be losing her self-introspection that only the people around her would notice.

Yelena continued, "I know the struggle—of wanting to avoid him at all costs because the thought of losing him is tearing you apart. But Levi doesn't deserve that rough treatment. Don't push him away. You know who you are to him. He loved you! And I know it's not what his memories dictate. It's his memory acting independently. Don't treat him like a lost entity—a delirium, a wicked fantasy. He's a person with feelings. A person who can feel and think and love someone. His feelings for you have developed over time—not because you're a mere figment of the person in his memory—but because I believe you've shown him far better qualities than the other Hange who he lost in his other world. He loved you for who you are."

"But… I…"

"There's that fear of losing him, that's why. And yes, you're gonna lose him all the same. Because it's given. Because it's already happening. Because it's how it's supposed to be. But think about this—this would hurt—but I hope you'd give him all the remaining time to feel loved. That you appreciate his existence—even if it's short-lived. Don't make him feel unwanted. He's unique, he's special, he's one-of-a-kind who swept you off your feet. He's Levi in a different world, but make him feel that he's welcome here. Make him your world—just for the last time," Yelena advised.

A miserable smile graced Hange's lips with a little uncertainty. "I don't know... but why do I feel like it's not worth it?"

"It certainly does look it because you're seeking validation from reciprocated affection," Yelena stated. "And once Levi's back to his normal self, he couldn't recall a single thing about you. But don't solely make him the reason to feel human—to feel your importance. You're Hange—independent, tough, smart. You saved lives. You saved his. And now… you're saving this society from shadow criminals infesting this city by giving up the love of your life. You're more than a hero. You're more than your worth."

It was a little uncharacteristic of Yelena to sound encouraging. As if her sociopathic nature doesn't give her the right to act empathically.

"This is just one of the few hurdles in your life. You stumbled down, but that doesn't mean there's no getting up. Push up, find your feet, stand straight, and face the sun! Face Levi's true nature. Face your future without him. Life's not all about chasing your value by being loved. Don't make him take a part of you. Be whole, even without him. I know there are tragic relationships… but don't classify yours as one."

Hange huffed with a bitter smile on her lips. "Sometimes, I really don't need self-encouragement books. Not when I have you."

"Just promise me one thing…" Yelena said with added intensity. "You're not gonna hurt Levi's feelings again. He doesn't deserve it."

Hange nodded slowly. Her fingers reached her eyes to stop her tears from coming but Yelena was quick to swat them away.

"No crying in front of me!" Yelena chided. "I know it's tough. But knowing you for a long time, you're a lot stronger than you think. You've endured enough physical pain, so do the same when it's breaking you emotionally."

"Fuck… you ruined my drama." Hange chuckled. "Fine, no crying."

Yelena stood to her full height and turned around to face the kitchen sink with a pile of unwashed dishes.

"I'll do it, Yelena…" Hange told her.

"No. Go rest." Yelena ordered, turning the faucet on in full blast.

"I've rested enough."

"No. Your face looked like shit."

"Don't sound like Levi…"

Yelena didn't retort after that. She busied herself with the dishes until Hange noticed her shaking shoulders. She stood beside her, a smug smile painted her features as she stared at the blonde closer.

"Look who's crying now?" Hange felt victorious and yet touched by Yelena's unexpected surge of emotions. "You're not even cutting onions."

Yelena sniffled loudly, tears gushing out of her eyes. "The water smelled of onions!"

Hange raised her brows. "I think I have a smelling problem, then."

Yelena snorted. "Fine! This can't help it! I'm gonna miss that short guy so bad."

Restless footsteps and taps traveled through Frieda's ears as she neared her father's room carrying a tray of food. One of their helpers was on emergency leave this morning, so she willed herself to bring the food herself to Rod. The door was slightly ajar, and all of a sudden, Rod's voice was distinct enough to hear an ongoing phone conversation. Just as Frieda thought, he was up to some "business" again.

"All of them?!"

Frieda stood close to the door and listened carefully.

"All down? Every single one of them?"

Frieda's grip on the tray tightened.

"That's impossible! Have you talked to any of them…. what?! Are they all arrested? Cops? How the hell there were cops last night?! You can't be serious. Levi is not capable of defending himself! Are you talking about a CEO-turned-brawler?!"

Frieda's ears perked up. Levi's fine?

"Are you saying he's outnumbered but not outmatched?! Don't give me lies! I'm not taking stupid excuses when you can just tell me you're all useless idiots!"

A sigh of relief escaped her, thanking heavens that Levi was not in the news the day after last night. Hearing her father's conversation last night, she challenged herself to do something against him, thus, sending a message to her sister Historia to alert the police about a possibility of kidnapping in Stohess District—particularly in Underground bar. However, it appeared Levi didn't need the help of the police at all.

"Is that the effect of the drug?" Frieda asked herself. "That's… impossible…"

Suddenly a loud clank in the room was heard, followed by Rod screaming on the phone.

"Go with plan B! Don't also let him get close to Uri. Levi's obviously got something up his sleeves and I'm not in the mood to play games. Do something! Track him. I want him killed as soon as possible along with his cronies Church and Magnolia. That's an order. Make sure it's a traceless murder!"

The tray in Frieda's hands fell onto the floor, leaving a mess of shattered plates and glasses.

Rod's head whipped behind him and hurried to his door in a limping manner, however, he saw no one outside, other than his wasted lunch for the day. He steadied himself on the cane, shaking with the fear of having heard by anyone in the household. His sweat was cold, eyes burning both in rage and fright.

Kill Levi. That's a tall order. It's now or never.

There were times Levi couldn't control his body. Or as if he was merely watching himself do things against his will.

Just like last night.

Standing a few feet away from a group of gangsters, he was frozen on the spot. Hange was there—centering them all and was plopped on the ground with blood on her face. He thought he was in a dream because he couldn't move any part of his body. He could only watch helplessly as they hurt Hange.

Fuck. Wake up!

Seeing her in that situation was torture. Levi's heart raced and ached, wishing he could just punch himself and twist away because he couldn't stand seeing her like that. As the conversation becomes extensive with Hange telling them about breaking up with him, he knows he has to do something.

Wake up!

This nightmare was too much to bear. His rage was searing, reaching his bones to the point that he'd combust and explode. Dream or not—he's ready to launch himself at Hange's attackers and kill them all if only he could lift a finger. Just… a little movement…

Wake up!

Hange's head bowed low in surrender, taking in the pain and humiliation—damn, he's not used to seeing her like this!

This was a public place, there should be people nearby! Where were they?! Why couldn't anyone help her?

Or more importantly, why couldn't he?

Wake the fuck up, Levi! What the hell are you doing?! What's standing there for? You're the only one who could help her!

He saw red. There was fire in his eyes, and as one guy held Hange by the chin, all hell broke loose.

Suddenly, a surge of electric current ran along his fingers, as if he finally regained his senses. His right foot stepped forward, now with much ease as he reclaimed control of his body. He didn't waste any more time as he propelled forward, doubling his speed to mess up the party. The very first person who saw him was too late to draw a gun, too late to see what was coming. He tumbled to the ground as soon as he met Levi's fist.

A full-blown chaos followed in a sequence of spinning bodies, breaking bones, and gunshot limbs. Levi's adrenaline rush and unwavering strength were further fueled when he held onto his memory of Hange close to being killed. He swept the men in one fluid motion, seamlessly grabbing weapons—incapacitating them like chain-sawed timber, but cautious enough not to kill them for some reason.

His fists throbbed in pain, his bones cracked in overexertion. And that's when he realized this was not a dream at all. He rushed to check on Hange. Those hot tears of hers have said enough that every event was real.

"Levi."

He snapped out of his trance to find himself staring at a blurry face right in front of him. He blinked twice, thrice, and then Zeke came clear into view. He was sitting beside a coffee table with an empty glass of water and packs of medications. His head turned around to recognize the room he was in.

Zeke's clinic.

"Hey, you okay?" Zeke nudged him. "Are you listening to me?"

"W-what?"

"Levi, you're like zoned out for a minute."

"Am I?"

Zeke shook his head slightly. "Tell me, do I still have your attention? Can you recall what we were talking about?"

Levi didn't respond.

Zeke exhaled loudly. "Would you want me to repeat everything?"

"No. Just… carry on where you left…"

"Mikasa just called in and was very upset with what happened. She was supposed to be in the city this morning after hearing about the incident, however, she had to attend a business meeting in Rose City that couldn't be rescheduled. I only told her Erwin and I were taking care of things. And as for what happened last night, Erwin was fronting the investigation proceedings. He also requested the incident be hidden from the media. As usual, it won't be good for your image and nobody would believe this was a case of kidnapping because no kidnapping happened. Even if the other guy—Mike—tried to cover for you, the police were barely convinced with the way the situation was handled."

"Bastards," Levi groaned. "Should I be hurt or half-dead in the process just to make a convincing claim that there was an intention to kidnap me?"

"Apparently, the suspects made their statement already. Unfortunately, it's more plausible that their reason was to kidnap you for ransom. They never disclosed anyone as their mastermind. Obviously, they're covering for Rod—if he's indeed the real mastermind of all this. Erwin was also pursuing a legal battle to keep those men in jail until one of them comes forward to tell the truth."

"What about the informant who sent the cops to the scene?"

"They said it's a woman, but they couldn't trace her location because she used a public phone."

"So that's it? All those bozos are going to jail while their boss is free?"

"Levi, we're still early in the investigation. This didn't take a lot of attention because no serious crime happened. And people of your kind get the same threats all the time. The police offered you protection and security, however."

"I don't need it. I'm more than capable of defending myself," Levi spat. "But what about Hange? She's hurt. Should that be a reason to deem this case serious?"

"She's hurt because she protected you," Zeke said with a rusty taste in his tone. "Mind you, she's not even the target. Is this all about her and not your safety?"

Levi sighed and shifted his eyes to the dark view outside the window. Nightfall has come. "Would you still stop me from using a phone? Can I call her? I didn't see her all day."

"I believe she's fine. I talked to her this afternoon just to check up on you. But you should know how upset she was."

"Is she mad at me?" Levi's voice died in his throat.

"It's your situation that's making her mad," Zeke said. "Well, that's likely."

Levi let out a frustrated sigh. "Aren't you going to ask me anything? About what happened? About how I found myself back in Sina last night?"

"What's the point? The obvious is there. You're a new—if not a rare case of dissociative identity disorder. Normally, that condition only develops after severe trauma or childhood abuse, but yours developed from a drug overdose and possibly a head trauma resulting in a coma. I'd be frank, Levi. Your condition is getting worse day by day. I even don't see how staying in your villa could trigger the stressors to make you shift identities. It could be something else."

Levi buried his fingers along his hair. "I dunno what's happening to me anymore…"

"Can you be honest with me?" Zeke dared. "How can I help you with your situation if you're not telling me everything?"

"I…" Levi croaked. "I tend to overthink a lot. And there were times I'm skipping some meds…"

"What?!"

"I thought one of them was the cure! To make me remember who I was!"

Zeke stamped his palm over his head. "Levi, there is no cure yet! The meds are to stabilize your emotions and ease your headaches. If there was a cure available, we'd have to prepare you physically and mentally. Come on, man! Are you still thinking I was the trickster in your memory? Hell, I wouldn't do anything to harm you and put you in any kind of treatment without your consent and a thorough health assessment!"

"And what now? Available or not, I'm sure you are already whipping one."

"Because it was necessary!" Zeke slammed his hand onto the table. "Because you need it! You have to be YOU! The old Levi! And it's not just about future health concerns if we keep you like this! Feel around you! We've reached our last-ditch effort of gathering evidence against Reiss but nothing ever materialized! It's a dead end! And now, that guy is making his move to get rid of you."

Levi bit his cheek, knowing where Zeke was going with his statements.

"And it's pure luck that you survived last night because of your strength. However, can you still survive a second attempt?"

"It's this identity that saved me and Hange! It's this self that's capable of surviving Rod's attacks."

"Physical attacks," Zeke corrected. "But that's a flawed argument, Levi! You're only thinking about yourself! But what about the people around you? Isabel? Furlan? Me?! Have you forgotten I was also attacked because I was a person close to you? And what about Eren? My brother kept exposing himself to link the drug activities to Reiss! He was shot twice because of that!"

Levi zipped his mouth shut, unable to retort.

"This isn't just about you, Levi. Feel around you! People are working hard to solve your personal crisis when in the past, you never allowed anyone to partake in it! And that crisis could only be resolved by you regaining your memories!" Zeke continued.

Levi would like to fall on deaf ears, but he understood where Zeke was coming from.

"And there's Hange! That woman risked her life to save a person who was not gonna stick around for long. Did you even know she's going to sacrifice her own happiness just to put your senses back together? Why? Because she's rational! She's selfless! She knows how to weigh her options and act according to the gravity of the situation. She knows how crucial it is to bring your old self back and resolve the issues you left hanging in the past."

Levi went completely silent. Those words from Hange last night made him question again this dysphoria that impacted his life and the people around him. Does it mean he was being selfish? Had he completely neglected his role as the CEO and as the son who's been seeking justice for his parents for more than a decade? Does he owe this society the information about the biggest criminal in this city under the guise of a good-natured man?

Was the birth of this strange identity kept everything stalled?

"I know I shouldn't be telling you these things," Zeke said, mellowing down. "But I want you to think about this, Levi. Do a self-evaluation. Re-think and look ahead. Look into the future. I hate to say this but… if you're saying you're a soldier who thinks about the safety of humanity more than anything, I hope you'd do the same for this world."

Levi's heart ached. The world in his memory deprived him of the freedom to realize his feelings and openly love somebody. It's the kind of world that he lost his loved ones because of duty and self-sacrifice. It's how he lost Hange.

And then, when his current reality makes living bearable without deaths and wars—when he is finally able to express and declare his emotions to that one person he was given the chance to live in another universe—everything just turns into a bittersweet nightmare.

He is in the wrong body. Or maybe he is in the wrong world. If he could only borrow another body and be the person that he is. Embrace freedom as he desires.

At one point, he knows…

This world never belonged to him. He is not welcome here.

He looked at Zeke with a different level of anguish, coming to a realization that maybe, Zeke was right. His statements very much resembled Hange's tirades last night.

"The cure," Levi said calmly. "How long will it take?"

Zeke gaped at him in wonder. "We're close to the final clinical stage. It will be out in a few weeks."

With a long sigh, Levi leaned forward. "Is Frieda Reiss still taking the lead?"

"No. I never heard from Frieda again and I believe she won't participate in this project because of personal issues. So, the duty was reassigned to another able person after procuring data from Frieda's notes."

Levi frowned.

"Actually…" Zeke hesitated to tell him the truth. "A co-doctor and friend of mine was in charge of the research. But… the person who contributed to finishing it in a narrow timeframe…"

Levi's pulse raced.

"…was Hange."

"Hange?" Levi iterated.

Zeke nodded in confirmation. "You must be aware of her talents. Turns out, she's a genius who gave up on chasing her dreams. She had long since forgotten about her passion, but here she is, kicking back to reignite her talent and skills. She's all about finding a cure for you, even allowing the fact that it will result in losing you forever."

Levi slackened. There it was—Hange being Hange. She knew when to use her brains and then break his heart. The mere fact that she was the person behind the cure was more than heartbreaking. His chest tightened, remembering that drop of tear last night after Hange walked out on him. She was at her final straw, and even if Levi felt betrayed, he couldn't simply get mad at her.

No. Never.

"Levi?"

"I'll take it," Levi said softly.

It came as a shock, more than a surprise. Zeke tried to open his mouth but was too stunned to say something.

"After all, I trusted I'm going to be in good hands…" Levi said with a small smile. "She's being Hange. She knows what she is doing. She'll always sacrifice herself for the better good…"

Zeke looked away.

Levi walked to the window. "She's aware she's gonna lose me. I'd give her that, but I don't want to hurt her anymore. I'm not a permanent person in her life, as she was to me in my other world. Maybe… it's much better this way… because I don't want to experience that feeling again—of losing her first. It's her turn now, but I know she's strong enough to handle that."

"Levi, you have no idea how much she was hurting."

"But what can we do about that? We're both hurting. Isn't this for the good of all?" Levi said hopelessly. "I'll be okay, right? Because once I take the cure, I won't have to remember how terribly hurt I was today."

Notes:

I'm still trying to find my motivation to write again although I couldn't tell if this was how the chapter turned out in the original drafts. Sadly, I don't think I'd ever retrieve my USB. :(

So anyway, I'm trying to recover whatever I've plotted in my head and find some time to write during my free time which I barely have. My job sucked these days and I have little to no time to write. I worked 6 days a week-and now, almost 12 to 15 hrs a day, and the only dayoff I have would mean sleeping the whole day. I'm underpaid and I still don't know what the hell I'm keeping this job for.

This sad life begs for a miracle.

Thanks to everyone who messaged me to keep going. To my loyal readers and new readers, there's gotta be only a few of you who look forward to finishing this fic and I dedicate this and the remaining chapters to all of you! Much love and thanks for sticking around and letting me know you're still interested and excited about how this story ends. You are all amazing to engage with me in each chapter and you're the fuel that keeps this story burning.

Well, here's another long chapter to make up for the long absence.

Hope you like it. Kudos and comments are appreciated. :)

Chapter 46

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

"Can't you see it? There's something weird going on in this company." Sasha's eyes wandered around, a little too carefully as if other people would overhear her. Of course, her two friends are positioned nearby to hear her whispery musings.

"Knock it off, Sash. You're feeling a lot of things lately," Jean scoffed, eyes focused on his computer and drumming his fingers anxiously on the table. He was cursing every second under his breath, wiping a nonexistent sweat on his forehead.

"Jittery today, aren't ya? What are you working on this time?" Sasha asked.

"I'm gonna guess it's that one company with lots of inconsistencies in their financial statements," Connie said. "He's been working on it for a week and it's challenging his limited capabilities."

"Fuck off! Why don't we switch places and see who has limited capabilities?" Jean ran both his hands over his head in surrender. "Miss Mikasa requested me to do the auditing for a pharmaceutical company—this PharArmour Inc. I don't see why there are different statements of the same period which don't quite add up. Unless there were fake documents here and Miss Mikasa was trying to test if I could figure out which ones were real and which ones were not. There are a lot of unknown entries and they all go to the suspense account. Couldn't tell if these were errors of omission, duplication, or mixed accounts. Perhaps they're cooking the books."

"Well, what's the problem? The job was entrusted to you so you just have to tell her about your findings!" Sasha said nonchalantly.

"Our subsidiaries have excellent financial records. It's just the first time I encountered a mess like this!" Jean said infuriatingly.

"You're just frustrated because you don't like seeing discrepancies," Connie said. "For an auditor, you're evasive to challenges!"

"It's challenging, idiot! And I love this job because it's Miss Mikasa who entrusted me to work on this. But I need to be sure about my findings. These records are suspicious! Obviously, with mismatched records, this is a financial statement fraud!"

"Come on, drop it, Jean! Don't get worked up on that. Let's just talk about the weird things in this company!" Sasha beamed.

"Can't you tell?" Jean said, pointing to his computer. "This was one!"

"Oh, why yes!" Sasha chirped. "And another was Miss Mikasa's indefinite leave of absence."

"Hey, she's doing remote work," Connie said. "She's still working."

"Sure, genius! But Miss Mikasa never ever worked remotely since being appointed to a position," Sasha said. "Apparently, the Ackerman family has been missing for weeks. You think they're having their little family bonding—or is it something else?"

"Heck if I know. And it's none of our business!" Jean snarled.

"And don't forget Mr. Levi's newfound love for the rescue officer! Well, that was cute but… we haven't heard anything from their affair again. What escalates quickly, dies quickly." Sasha said.

Jean rolled his eyes. "Sasha, as long as I'm getting paid nicely for my job, I won't pry on anything strange under your curious and malicious eyes. I don't care about other people's love affairs."

"I'm surprised Sasha's more interested in other people's lives than potatoes now," Connie snorted. "But I fully understand why Jean hates prodding into others' love life…"

Both Connie and Sasha exchanged funny faces, and blurted out in unison, "Because his love life's nonexistent!"

They kept jabbing at each other with Jean taking all the hits. Lately, Sasha's peripherals caught four people walking to the conference room. Two unrecognizable people are lagging behind them. Both are wearing sunglasses.

"The blond squad," Sasha whispered. "And oh, there are two mystery toy soldiers this time."

"Huh?" Connie followed her line of vision.

"The blondies! Armin, Mr. Erwin, Annie, and Krista!" Sasha said. "Don't you observe that they have more meetings than usual? And why there's Krista and Annie from Human Resources?" Sasha wondered.

"I'm dumb. I don't want to think." Connie leaned back on his chair. "Although I actually thought blondies love hanging out together…"

Sasha snickered. "But what about those two behind them? Are we even hiring today?"

"Sasha, please," Jean reproached. "Would you just annoy someone else? I'm concentrating here!"

"Awww… you're no fun! I was just about to offer you some help!" Sasha said.

"No, thanks!" Jean smirked. "Ain't gonna share my credit."

"Make sure you've finished all that before Miss Mikasa arrives!" Sasha said. "You don't have her schedule, right?"

"Fuck! Is she coming back already?!" Jean asked.

"Uh-excuse me?"

Three heads turned to their right in surprise. Jean's blood boiled at the sight of that familiar guy with the bun who was smiling widely at him. His stars are definitely tricking him these days.

"Hi, Jean!" Eren greeted.

"Oh! You know him?" Sasha asked Jean.

"Of course!" Jean said bitingly. "Eren."

"I have a meeting with Mr. Erwin Smith in a few minutes. I'm looking for the conference room," Eren said meekly.

"Oh, the room's right over there!" Sasha sprang from her seat and pointed towards the farthest door to her left. "So you're also included in the blond squad's meeting?"

"Uh—what?" Eren cocked his head.

"Nevermind! Just hurry up, chap. Mr. Smith and the others are already there," Sasha told him. "Go, go, go!"

"Oh, thanks!" Eren said. He was suddenly interrupted by a ringing phone from his pocket as he took a step away. "Excuse me. Uh, hello, Mikasa…"

Jean stiffened, brows furrowing as his attention turned to Eren, who stopped by to accommodate the phone call.

"Yes… I'm here just in time. I think everyone's already in the conference room. Zeke isn't coming today. Yes. Yes. Okay, I will. I'll see you soon… yeah… sure. Take care!" Eren said with a little giggle and hung up. He looked back at Sasha. "I gotta go. Thank you!"

"You're always welcome, chap!" Sasha winked and watched as Eren headed towards the conference room. She looked at Connie dreamily. "Now that's what you call handsome."

"It's just his hair," Connie said. "Guys grow their hair long enough to look cool!"

"And you don't have much hair because you know you wouldn't look 'cool' at all!" Jean grunted. "But, did I hear it right that Miss Mikasa called him?! She actually called his phone? They have each other's numbers?!"

Connie and Sasha glared at him.

"Miss Mikasa's not dating, right? She's not dating that guy!" Jean exclaimed.

"Who cares, Jean?" Connie chuckled.

Jean gave him a disapproving look.

"Someone's jealous!" Sasha chirped. "Ah, let's not bother Jean anymore, Connie. He's got a lot in his head right now. Earlier, his head was brimming with numbers, and now, it was brimming with a guy who looked ten times better than him!"

"Get the hell out of my cubicle!" Jean snarled, chest heaving.

"Drinks on me tonight!" Sasha said playfully before going back to her desk. "I'd let you drown in liquor!"

Connie followed her and went back to his workplace with an insulting snicker. "Good luck with your numbers! And don't kill yourself just yet!"

"I hate you both!" Jean growled, snatching a cup from his drawer. The liquor can wait. He needs a strong coffee right now.

The conference room had a thick, stuffy atmosphere that not even the smell of fresh lavender could repel. Eren peered into the door, seeing six people waiting at the mahogany table. It was his first time being called into a meeting at Ackerman Holdings—requested by Mikasa herself. He was called to represent Zeke who couldn't make it today, plus, he was also one of the few people who were helping in gathering evidence against Reiss. Through Mikasa and Zeke, Eren was already familiarized with all the events involving Levi.

"Eren, please do come forward!" Erwin called. He was seated at the edge of the table. On his right was Armin and a blonde girl with a sleepy look in her eyes. To his left was another blonde with huge blue eyes and beside her were two other people he was not familiar with.

Eren smiled, taking the empty seat beside the blonde girl next to Armin.

"By the way, this is Eren Jaeger, Zeke Jaeger's brother. He's here with us because Zeke was not available today due to an emergency surgery," Erwin announced. He gestured to introduce the other people in the room. "By the way, Eren, I'm sure you know Armin. There's Annie and then, Krista—two of our Human Resources staff. Also, Isabel and Furlan, two of Levi's most trusted staff."

Eren curtly nodded. "He… hello. Pleased to meet you all."

Erwin cleared his throat and started, "I called a meeting today for some updates and to announce a very unexpected incident recently. As usual, this involves our CEO, Levi Ackerman who was currently staying at my place for his security. He might also move out back to his villa tonight after Krista warned us of potential threats to his life, as well as Isabel and Furlan."

The two people seated across from Eren removed their glasses.

"Wh-what? Us?" Furlan asked.

"You two have been spotted in town. And… my father's men were after you," Krista declared. "If they see you the next chance they got, they'll… they'll kill you."

"Where did you even get that information?" Furlan asked incredulously.

Krista froze in her seat uncomfortably. "I-it's complicated. B-but this is reliable information. Trust me, my father was convinced that he was about to be exposed soon, so he's making the move to get ahead and—"

"Ridiculous. If you couldn't give us a credible source, I'd likely believe this was a scheme of yours because you're taking your father's side!" Furlan snapped.

"W-wait... it's not like that. I'm not…" Krista stammered.

"Furlan, let's not make any false assumptions here," Erwin castigated. He turned back to Krista. "We respect if you don't want to divulge details. But I just hope you'll help us in solving the pieces of the puzzle because until now, we couldn't produce anything that could lead us closer to our objectives. Last night, it was you who called the Stohess police. You know Levi was going to get kidnapped by your father's men. How did you acquire that information?"

Krista looked at the people around her, giving her mixed expressions. She was in touch with Frieda, with whom she shared sensitive information without even thinking if she could be trusted or not.

"Krista?" Armin intervened. "Are you protecting someone?"

"It's…" Krista fidgeted. "It's Frieda Reiss. She's the one feeding me with information. She's also the person who called me to alert the police about the kidnapping in Underground bar."

A moment of silence filled the room.

"Are you in touch with her?" Furlan asked. "She knows all about you?"

"She's the one who approached me just recently. It happens she said some people actually told her about my existence," Krista said.

"That would be us," Isabel mumbled guiltily, giving Furlan a side glance. "And I wouldn't be surprised why they're on our tail again, right Furlan?"

Furlan shrank in his seat.

Erwin shook his head in disappointment. "In this case, I'd also ask you two to leave the city and stay with Levi until everything settles. We don't know how many people are spying around. Enemies are scattered for all we know."

Isabel and Furlan nodded.

"But, I think we're gradually making progress here," Armin said. "The fact that Frieda was telling Krista about her father's hidden agendas to prevent the crime from coming."

"She's a close friend of Levi, that's why. And knowing her, she's a good person who values friendship," Erwin presumed. "But I think whatever Frieda learned about her father doesn't guarantee there's a change of heart. Family is family. There's no way she'd turn against him. She's still on his side—given the fact that she also dropped her promise to formulate a cure for Levi. The least she can do is spy on her father and relay the message to Krista."

"But it's obvious she couldn't monitor her father all the time. These days, he's staying at home due to his injuries but once he's fully recovered, Frieda wouldn't be able to get close to him," Armin added.

Erwin turned back to Krista. " What's your opinion on this Krista? Can you actually trust your sister? How did she take it—the truth about you and your father's secrets?"

"It was hard for her in the first place. Well, that's truly understandable. But she remained calm despite everything I told her. She's fighting this turmoil on her own and if there's someone who's in the most difficult position, that would be her," Krista said.

"Have you told her about our plans?" Erwin asked.

Krista shook her head. "No. I just told her how much I hate our father for coming into my life because he used me for his crimes."

Furlan huffed. "How can she still be silent despite all these? Three people are lined up for her father's murder plans and she's mum about it? Like what? Only tell us to scram away because Rod's after us?! Go save ourselves because she couldn't bring her father to his arrest?!"

"I understand your sentiment but we still need more time," Erwin reminded him. "If you all must know, Levi reverted to his old self during the Underground bar incident. Hange and her bartender friend were a witness to his sudden identity shift. Levi drove all the way from his villa to Sina. As Hange observed, Levi's memory stopped at the time before his accident."

Furlan stood up and propped his hands onto the table. "Didn't he say anything? About his plans or anything that has to do with Rod?"

Erwin shook his head. "I believe not. It had been difficult for Hange because Levi didn't recognize her at all. Hange drove to the bar that time and coincidentally, she overheard people who were waiting for Levi outside the bar. She approached Levi, tried to convince him that his life was in danger…"

"I missed her call…" Eren said. "I didn't know she needed help that time…"

"Yeah, I missed her call too," Erwin said regretfully. "And that's how she got assaulted by the very same people who planned to kidnap Levi."

Erwin briefly described the events that followed Hange's rescue-mission-gone-wrong that prompted Levi to save her instead. Everyone listened in astonishment, especially at the part where Levi allegedly shifted back to his savage self.

"Good lord, what would have happened if Levi didn't switch identities?" Armin gaped in shock.

"And the cops were late at the scene?" Annie asked.

"Everyone was down when the cops arrived. And that's when it gets complicated because the kidnappers didn't disclose their boss's name. They said they're only acting on their own and not by orders. The police even favored their statement that they needed Levi for ransom. It's a bad move that they protect their boss whereas they committed a non-bailable offense."

"Stupid," Furlan snapped. "How could people still protect Reiss?! Is that how this society works? Put Reiss's safety first before themselves? Reiss had the power to control everybody!"

"It's always like that, Furlan. It's no longer a question to us," Isabel said in disappointment. "Another dead-end for us. Every plan we worked hard for never gave us results."

"Well…" Eren cut in, trying to ease the commotion. "The battle's not over yet. Zeke and Levi got to talk and Levi finally agreed to take the treatment to restore his memories."

"Are you kidding?" Furlan raised a brow. Isabel elbowed him.

Erwin looked surprised. "W-well… that was new."

"They talked yesterday at Zeke's clinic. My brother finally convinced Levi to give it a try," Eren said. "I believe it was his realization of the situation getting worse."

Furlan clicked his tongue. "It's probably Hange. If she didn't get into trouble that night, Levi would still force the job on us."

"When will you just drop your cynicism?!" Isabel said. "You can't get mad at Boss, Furlan. He's not himself, and now, he's trying to do his best to help with the situation!"

"Is there a way to know when the cure will be out?" Erwin asked Eren. "But… isn't Frieda the person behind it? I thought she was not communicating with Zeke anymore."

"According to Zeke, maybe in a few weeks, they'll release it. But it's not Frieda who's behind the cure," Eren revealed. "It's Hange."

"What?!" Erwin exclaimed. "She never mentioned anything about being involved in formulating the drug. Does she know pharmacology?"

Eren shrugged. "It's been kept a secret between Zeke's co-doctor and her. Said about looking into some of Frieda's notes to gather ideas. Even Zeke was surprised because they kept it away from him. Hange once mentioned to me that she's a college dropout. She's a medical student from Sina University according to Zeke—so maybe she knows all that stuff."

"Are we perhaps expecting the worst to come?" Furlan asked. "I talked to Hange once and she knows how important it is to retrieve Levi's memories. But I know she's hurting. Can we actually trust she's making a real cure and not permanently keep Levi's current memories?"

"I understand your doubts, Furlan, but I trust Hange on this. She knows her position. She made a decision and was committed to it," Erwin said.

"Knowing Hange for some time, she always does what is necessary with the right reasoning," Eren said defensively. "She puts other people's sake before herself. I could attest that she's sincere with her intentions."

Furlan sulked in silence.

"Okay, so I think our efforts aren't exactly useless as of these days. Surprisingly, Frieda, Levi, and Hange are also getting involved with our goals. Krista, you keep in touch with your sister but keep all our plans a secret," Erwin ordered.

"Yes sir," Krista said.

Erwin turned to Armin. "Armin, how many documents have we procured right now that would potentially serve as a lead to PharArmour's fraud operations?" Erwin asked.

"Mikasa has assigned an accounting expert to work on PharArmour's recent financial records. The results should be up before the weekend. Also, Annie's doing a run-through of their manpower's database and their current funds for their projects and programs," Armin said informatively. "We'd compare it with the expenses declared in their statements. I have a hunch that both the number of manpower and their projects are nonexistent."

"I've been checking with Kirstein every now and then. It appears he's having difficulties in auditing the documents," Annie supplied. "That would only mean that the data don't add up."

"Good. We'll keep gathering data that same way. Nothing will be stalled. We'd still work with the same objectives. And for both of you, Isabel and Furlan, I'd suggest you two go with Levi back to his villa. It's a safe place for the three of you," Erwin ordered.

"Another place to hide? God, I'm tired of this." Furlan scoffed. "The world will be a safe place if we put Reiss behind bars."

"Dumbass. This is our chance to witness Boss's switching identities! We can finally ask him if he knows where he hid all the evidence against Reiss," Isabel told him. "And that, my dear, is how we put Rod behind bars!"

"She's right," Erwin seconded. "Given you'd be staying under one roof, you can closely monitor him, and there's a huge chance the switch in identities will be triggered again. Let's have faith. At least, a cure's also underway. We'd get to our goals sooner than later."

"Fine," Furlan said, looking away.

"And Eren, please do let us know if you'd get any information about any upcoming drug transactions not only in Yalkell but in the nearby districts. Any word from your friends will do. But please, do be careful and don't get yourself involved again in any police operations," Erwin said.

"Ok," Eren said, with fresh determination. "Will do."

Their meeting finally resumed at a more relaxed pace. The new information gave them some hope, knowing Levi was finally cooperating with their goals.

Hange was still a stranger to extravagant places. The first time she stepped into a fancy restaurant was due to Petra Ral's invitation-turned-confrontation plenary. This time around, the venue was in Mitras, the district where the wealthiest in Paradis possessed residential properties. It was also the district where suburban skyscrapers stood high and mighty, one of which was Levi's now-abandoned penthouse. She brushed off the memory where she once stepped into the most sophisticated and modernized home she had ever seen in her whole life. That one time when Levi invited her and Eren to stay for the night after the scuffle in Yalkell.

And that was the first and the last.

Hange cursed at herself after realizing she was not dressed for the occasion—or for whatever this restaurant exudes as if there was a royal presence each day. The interiors had a grand touch of elegance with high ceilings, ornate columns, and over-decorative furniture with twisted and complex elements. Hange dizzied herself by staring at the murals and intricate sculptures, drawing emotional exuberance, and at the same time wondering if this place was an art museum more than a restaurant.

Thirty minutes ago, her Chief Theo Magath sent her the address of an unnamed person who requested a lunch meeting with her at a restaurant in Mitras. Hange was not familiar with the place, and now, she could smack herself for not realizing such a place like this existed in this city. She was tempted to take pictures, if not for a few people seated on cushioned chairs, enjoying their meals in peace and style. She could feel the crawling in her skin after realizing this could be a trap after the events the other night. Who else would invite her to a place like this?

She took her phone out to tell Magath that she would be turning down the invitation, however, a waiter in a pristine suit immediately recognized her and ushered her to the VIP section.

There's no turning back.

The VIP room was twice as overwhelming as the main hall. A musky scent penetrated her nose as she entered the said room in stunned silence. Just by standing there and drinking in the overpowering lavishness around her, light-headedness consumed her. It worsened when she saw the person who sent her the invitation, seated on an upholstered vintage chair with a laidback smile on his face. Hange's hands automatically reached for something to hold and steady herself—a top rail of the nearest chair.

Kenny Ackerman in the flesh.

Oh, how Hange felt like she was meeting a king on his throne.

"Good day, Miss Hange Zoe," Kenny greeted. "I'm glad you accepted my invitation."

Hange's hands gripped the edge of the chair. If the place itself could drown out her senses altogether, meeting Kenny Ackerman could shut them off completely. She smiled with a shiver, trying not to look awkward in front of him.

"Are you… okay?" Kenny asked, pointing a finger over his cheek. "You're hurt?"

"Ah," Hange chuckled. "Just got into a little trouble. Happens a lot more than you know it."

She had no idea if the news reached Kenny. Zeke was the source of all information and updates and she wondered if Zeke had talked to him about the other night.

"I just need to remind you to take care more of yourself then," Kenny said.

"Thanks. But I'm fine. No worries. I've tolerated enough."

"Okay. I'm sorry if this was too sudden. A man myself was always chasing time," Kenny said cordially. "Would you take a seat? Make yourself comfortable. You looked like you're about to faint."

Hange scoffed. How couldn't she be? Is Kenny Ackerman the type of person who sends random invites to ordinary people? But of course, Hange was not stupid to think that Kenny didn't need anything from her. Levi had mentioned hating his uncle—but it's all just about a recollection of his false memories. Hange didn't even feel a daunting aura from this man who looked well-mannered, polished, and decent. However, she had to look closely to confirm that Kenny Ackerman had the saddest eyes she had ever seen. He was very much the opposite of what Levi described, but she couldn't even tell if it was the place itself or his presence that was making her perturbed.

"Not your type of place?" Kenny asked. "They serve good food."

"I'm…" Hange stammered, still standing by the table. "Not a fan of fancy dining. Plus, this place has a lot going on in its interiors. They're numbing all my senses and pretty sure they stopped working."

The old man burst out laughing—the type of unreserved glee as if she was the only person who made him laugh this much his whole life.

That was… quite a surprise.

Hange took that as a cue to ease herself. She slid onto the seat across from him and finally relaxed.

Kenny had a good ten seconds of teary laughter. He finally composed himself when the door opened as three food servers slipped with trays of food and premium wine. Soon, the musky scent was replaced by the smell of freshly cooked meals—a feast of textures, colors, and flavors.

"Go ahead, Miss Zoe. Take your fill. I'm sure your senses will come back in no time," Kenny said, reaching for his plate of grilled meat and potatoes.

Hange took in the arrangement of food staring right into her face. The unfamiliar dishes screamed the wide gap in her social standing versus an Ackerman. She took a slice of bread and soup instead.

"I will find it offensive if you don't pick your meat," Kenny reminded her.

"An appetizer will do," Hange said. "I'm still trying to even out my breathing. All that food literally took my breath away."

Kenny chuckled. "I see you don't like the place."

Hange nodded. "I'm fairly new to this kind of place. But it's okay. I'm sure I can adjust eventually. Apparently, the only impression I have is I can't tell if this is a restaurant converted into an art museum or the other way around. The dynamic design of the interiors was overstimulating my senses."

"I love that you are being honest. Good observation, though. This restaurant makes first-timers uncomfortable—intimidated, perhaps. But you know, I could spend my time here all day with just a glass of wine," Kenny said. "It's overwhelming at first—dizzying to the eyes, heightening our feelings of motion and sensuality. There's a myriad of themes that are mixing up all the elements, making it convoluted, less appealing."

Hange hung her head. "I'm no art enthusiast. Perhaps my lifestyle couldn't afford something like staring at a painting all day. Time is always precious to me."

Kenny raised his brows.

"What's the real reason, then? What does this place have to make you stick around?" Hange asked curiously.

Kenny smiled, chewing a small cut of his meal. "The architecture and the overall design are chaotic. I'm trying to find peace in chaos."

"And… did you?"

Kenny shook his head. "Unless my nephew finds peace in his life… mine should follow."

Hange sighed. "Of course, this has something to do with Levi, right? Is that what the invitation is all about?"

Kenny dropped his fork and put his hand against his chin. "I'm sorry if I made you think that way, but truthfully, I just wanted to meet you in person. No judgment. Your relationship with Levi has nothing to do with it."

Hange didn't answer right away. Does Kenny even sense her self-depreciation?

"Can I ask something?" Kenny asked. "A question unrelated to Levi."

Hange nodded. What was he getting at?

Kenny took a deep sigh and started, "As adults, we're always bound by our busy lives, and we forget to look at something and give it a little attention—perhaps a little focus. Sometimes, we wanted an escape…"

Hange leaned closer to the table, trying to figure out what the question was.

Kenny resumed, "If you were given the chance to go to a certain place for escape, where would you want to be?"

"Just… just somewhere where…" Hange knows a simple but honest answer. "Just a quick escape out of town. Passing by a dirt road and chancing a field of wildflowers. Just bask there for a few hours and have some peace."

Kenny straightened up with slight interest. "Hmmm… and why in that place?"

Hange shrugged. "Well, it's just me. Beauty is subjective. I guess we all have different tastes in finding what's beautiful. While most people love the superficiality of things, I—on the other hand—love desolate and barren roads. I once lost my way out of town, took the wrong road and it brought me to a dead spot. No signal, no houses, all dirt roads snaking out into the horizon. But surprisingly, wildflowers are growing nearby in different varieties. That patch of land stood out because bright flowers are rare in desolate places. The view that day—blue and cloudless sky, the right amount of sun—brought me a different kind of feeling. Something inexplicable. There's beauty in boring places. The last thing I know, I found myself lying on that field of flowers."

Kenny hummed with a small smile on his face. "You have the eye for the rare and unnoticed."

"I find meaning in a lot of things. Wildflowers are special to me because they grow and bloom on their own—pretty adaptable to their environment without special and proper treatment. It's a cliché kind of thing but I love their symbology—representing strength and perseverance in the face of adversity," Hange said.

"You're a wildflower yourself, Miss Zoe," Kenny told her, reaching for a wine this time. "And I'm proud of myself for making a better impression of you publicly. I guess I was right all along."

Hange's shoulders hang loose. She was not used to flattery.

"No wonder why Levi chose you."

"Levi picked me because of false memories," Hange said matter-of-factly. "And once he's back to normal… there's no way he'd fall for me again…"

"Is this your way of escape?"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Why you're helping with the cure." Kenny narrowed his eyes. "The news reached me. Are you sure you want Levi to forget all about you?"

"I just want to make things right," Hange said. "If it was on me—if I was selfish enough—you'd never see Levi again."

Kenny crossed his arms over his chest.

"Levi ran away from his villa the other night. You should know that he's switching identities and we shouldn't let that happen for health reasons. I'm confident that I... that I can get Levi back to his senses. Isn't this what everyone wants? Levi is facing a war of his own—a forgotten objective that should've solved his personal crisis by now if not for losing his memories. The enemy's now after him, and this is the only way I can protect him."

"Is that the reason for that wound on your face?" Kenny asked.

"Like I said, I'm fine. This is nothing." Hange looked away.

"You've sacrificed enough for my nephew. I applaud you for that," Kenny said. "Sometimes, I question myself why couldn't I just be like you? You have more than to give."

I've given up a lot of things for him, Hange thought. "And it hurts me in the process."

Kenny eyed her sympathetically.

"Maybe it's time you should know about Levi's whole story. How everything led us to where we weren't supposed to be," Hange said. "Do you even have any idea of what your nephew's going through?"

"I'm aware," Kenny cut her off. "All along, I'm perfectly aware."

"What?"

"I know everything, Miss Zoe. I kept quiet in the shadows. I turned a blind eye," Kenny said. "His discoveries about Rod, the death of his parents, his revulsion, his plans. I know how it's been. Levi needed my help more than anything… and I just… told him to let it go… let the sinners face their demons in their own time…"

"But that's not how it works!" Hange snapped. "You stand still and not do anything? You have the money, the resources, and you can literally do everything to control the situation! Levi worked hard for years to finish what he started—see to it that his goals are met. He only had two people behind him. But they're not enough! Where were you to support him? And now, you're telling me you knew everything all along?!"

Dark shadows consumed Kenny's face. His once bright and calm face was dimmed in guilt.

"Levi's just a step away from justice. And this isn't just about him. This society should know what kind of person Rod is! He is scarring this city with the desire to take control. He craved power! We can't give him that! Why can't you just do something?! Why keep your mouth shut?! Are you running away from the truth? Or are you just being a coward?!" Hange said accusingly.

"Maybe…" Kenny said. "Yes. Maybe I was a coward."

Hange couldn't contain her anger. Why?! Here was the person who should be supporting Levi all through this ordeal. Why can't he do anything?

"You're right. I have the resources. I have the influence. I have the power. But they're not absolute," Kenny said. "I'm still helpless. I could've done something smart. I could outsmart Rod if I want to…"

"Then why couldn't you?!" Hange was at the edge of her seat, seething with anger.

"It's not just about protecting Levi and Mikasa…" Kenny said. His face scrunched up as if in pain.

Hange watched Kenny as if there was a secret he'd been hiding for too long. Something he'd rather keep in grave than divulge to any soul. "Is there a better reason why you couldn't do anything against Rod?"

"Tell me, Miss Zoe, what would stop you from doing things against your will?" Kenny asked provokingly. "How can you pull a trigger when something blocks your target?"

Hange went silent.

Kenny asked. "Can you keep a secret?"

"W-what? But w-why me?" Hange's eyes widened.

"Because I trust you."

"But we just met… we just…"

"Because I know how much you cared for Levi. Your sincerity and sacrifice are beyond me. I think that's worth the risk of entrusting you with a secret I've been keeping for decades."

"Decades?"

Kenny nodded. "I just thought it's high time the truth comes out, along with Rod's downfall."

"What do you mean?"

"Rod had us on strings for years," Kenny said. "It's still engrained in him that Ackerman Holdings belong to the Reisses—even if we made it past several generations of the Ackermans monopolizing the company that was originally established by their ancestors. Ackermans have been well-regarded in the business industry for decades, and Rod had a complex sense of personal identity—with inflated pride and attachment that never changed in ages. He never welcomed progression and change in management. And when he got the chance to gain support from people with the same wicked intentions as him, he did the unthinkable."

Hange listened with a leaping heart in her chest.

"Like I said earlier, how can you pull a trigger when something blocks your target? Rod played his trump card using Kuchel—Levi's mother and my younger sister," Kenny said.

Hange blinked twice. "W-wait… but Levi's mother was dead, right? Wasn't she among the dead people in the plane crash? It's always been Levi's goal to attain justice for his parents' deaths."

"Those were Mikasa's parents. Levi and Mikasa were not siblings. They were cousins."

Hange slumped against her chair, trying to recover from the mind-blowing revelation.

"Mikasa's parents were married for a while—childless for years. And Kuchel, the youngest in the family was actually Levi's real mother. She was carefree, a little rebellious, a little letdown to our elders. As a young woman who loved freedom and independence, she despised the family name. For generations, Ackermans have been regarded as excellent business leaders. But we're just a few in the bloodline. Only a few got to marry and have children, others died early of sickness. Some even outlive their children—just like our parents. My grandfather's the one who raised us. You see, to lead a company comes at a price. It takes away your health, happiness, dreams, freedom. Even as young children, we are being prepared for succession when the time comes. Everything that we have—all the wealth and luxury—was the result of that upbringing. And Kuchel… she didn't want any of it," Kenny narrated solemnly.

Hange reached for a glass of water and drank half of it.

"She ran away from home, taking some of the money. Then she came back months later with an unwelcoming surprise. She was pregnant."

Hange gulped. She looked at her soup and lost her appetite.

"She never disclosed the father. But I know it was one from her wild nights. The family welcomed her still, but grandfather turned cold towards her. He treated her harshly, forced her to work during her pregnancy. But when Levi was born, she left again—and this time, she went missing indefinitely. My brother and his wife—Mikasa's parents—adopted the child and treated him as their own. During those times, I never stopped looking for Kuchel. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, months into years—it feels like she's gone forever. When our grandfather died, that's when I was elected to be the CEO. Mikasa's father succeeded as the chairman. Our roles become crucial, more demanding. It took most of our time, and when Levi stepped into his teenage years, that's when his youth was robbed and we started training him in the business. By god's grace, Mikasa was born—at least someone was added to the family. You see, we're just a few bunch, we never procreated. I never married—never got the time, never got the chance. It's my role that made me forget what my real purpose in life is."

Hange sighed. This time, she was seeing a man who reminisced the past and regretted a lot in his life's choices. But maybe, there really isn't a choice. Somehow, the life of an Ackerman was not just all about power and affluence. Running a company dominated the entirety of their life—it's a lonely prison—and maybe Levi sought happiness when he got the chance to date Petra.

Kenny continued, "However, I never forget my role as the brother who kept looking for his sister. I believed Kuchel was still in Paradis and never left the country at all. I hired the best people to track her whereabouts but to no avail… until Mikasa's parents—Levi's adoptive parents died in the plane crash. During that time, Levi grew depressed, begging me to figure out how the accident happened, and who's to blame. Unbeknownst to me, Levi was already investigating on his own, and he knew the criminal himself. After a while, I also did my own investigation, proving Rod was behind all this."

"B-but… what happened then? Why didn't you press charges? Should your discovery hold evidence of a person guilty of a crime? Why didn't you do anything?!" Hange asked.

"I don't have much evidence in me, but I confronted Rod in his house. That's also how his brother Uri witnessed me accusing Rod of murder," Kenny said. "The truth broke his heart, and since that day, Uri and Rod were not on good terms. Uri wants to reveal the truth, but he loves Rod's children so much that he can't hurt them. And then, I—being the first person who also knows about Rod's crimes—started receiving threats about coming after Mikasa and Levi. Uri got it covered somehow, telling Rod if he hurt any Ackerman, he'll be the very person to press charges against him."

Kenny reached for another shot of wine and took a while to resume, "The silent war went to a standstill for years until Mikasa got into college and Levi was working for the Ackerman Holdings. Levi finally approached me about discovering Rod's crimes—along with other mind-blowing revelations. It happens Levi never stopped trailing Rod for years, because someone had been feeding him with clues that led to Rod's involvement in drug production and trafficking."

Hange's head throbbed. The sensory overload from taking in every piece of information overwhelmed her.

"Rod discovered that Levi has cards against him, so he told me to stop Levi from collecting evidence in any way I can. But I just couldn't stop Levi, could I? So Rod tried to one us up again by finding Kuchel's whereabouts and holding her hostage. Rod said he had her for several years now, and if Levi did something funny, Kuchel's life was on the line."

"So… Rod had Levi's mother for years already? What's his proof that he had her?"

Kenny shrugged. "There are pictures of her. All I know is, someone's on watch and can pull the trigger any time."

"You didn't know where she is until now?" Hange asked.

There is gloom on his face. "I found her. Yesterday, I had news from trusted people whose only job was to locate her. And I just learned that she was dead."

"W-what?!" Hange rose from her seat in a gasp. "But… did Rod…"

"Her death isn't murder. It was an incurable disease. Rod tricked us," Kenny said. "He never found her. He paid a person in place of my sister. I found out Kuchel was dead sixteen years ago. She had lived a peaceful and solitary life in a quaint village somewhere in Maria City. She had been hiding her identity, going around with a fake name, relishing her freedom. She didn't want to be found. Unknowingly, Rod took advantage of her disappearance."

Hange sat back in her seat. "Shit..."

"It's so stupid. I've been fooled." Kenny clenched his fist, tears forming around his eyes.

"Don't blame yourself. Families make us weak. Families are our number one vulnerability. Rod knows how to trigger it," Hange said.

"You know what hurts the most?" Kenny said tearfully. "For years, I was made to believe that Kuchel was alive. She's the only one I have left, and I have that tiny hope that she and Levi will reunite in the future. She's the reason why I was always out of touch, why Levi thought I was neglecting him and Mikasa."

Hange sighed deeply. Kenny's anguish was deep-seated, and yet he couldn't share his remorse with anyone else but her. His efforts of using his resources for years just to find a missing person were a lost cause. Kuchel's identity was hidden from Levi since forever, and now, what's the use of exposing the truth when the element of surprise was long gone?

"I'm sorry to hear that…" Hange said quietly, extending her sympathies towards the older man.

"There are questions that are left unanswered. All her life, has she even thought of that child she left behind? Was she able to sleep at night knowing she abandoned her own flesh and blood? And at the time of her death, was she able to remember that she had a family who awaited her return? Did she ever regret her actions?" Kenny broke down.

Hange was left frozen in place, unable to console him.

"Has she truly forgotten about us? Is that how she despised this family? Disappear completely?" Kenny added, burying his hands in his hair. "You see it, Ms. Zoe. The Ackermans aren't a perfect family—as opposed to what people believed in. We keep our tragedies a secret behind all that blinding wealth—but somehow, the kind of wealth that couldn't buy happiness, that couldn't bring back all that we lost."

"Mr. Kenny…" Hange was close to crying.

"Life can be a funny thing," Kenny said. "Behind all the excessive things you own are irreversible losses. And those losses are brought by people you never wronged."

Hange stared at Kenny's half-eaten plate and the colorful array of the remaining food they would surely never finish.

Is this a celebration of sorrows?

"Sorry for venting out," Kenny apologized. "Some feelings are hard to contain anymore."

"It's okay," Hange said. "So… are you going to tell Levi?"

"I don't know," Kenny said. "There's no point in telling him, anyway."

Right. Hange would agree to that. "But… do you have the place? Where she's buried?"

"Yes," Kenny said. "But I don't plan on visiting her grave so soon."

The truth about Kuchel's death was just as fresh as yesterday. Kenny was grieving over shattered hopes, and Hange understood that feeling.

"Thank you for listening," Kenny said. "And thank you for loving my nephew."

Hange never planned on crying, but her eyes gave away, along with her traitorous feelings. She'd been acting tough for the past few days, and maybe, sharing the pain with another hurting person made her embrace her vulnerable side. She sobbed loudly, and Kenny let her be. They both exposed their fragile selves, mirroring each other like a piece of glass broken into two.

"Can I ask you something?" Kenny asked a moment later.

Hange wiped her eyes clumsily, nodding wordlessly.

"Please spend the rest of the days with Levi," Kenny requested. "I know it's like spending your days with a dying person, but… I'd like to think Levi took a break from all the unsolvable problems he had as an old person. He'd been the best version of himself today and I'm glad that I met him. His remaining days though shouldn't be spent with me. I want him to spend more time with a special someone. Be with him, Hange Zoe."

"I…" Hange took in the sadness in Kenny Ackerman's eyes. He looked incapable of begging, as she regarded him as a person who had absolute power and command.

A part of her wanted to scream, cry, and run away, and yet she felt weak. She was feeling everything all at once, and when she couldn't digest that difficult request from Kenny, she allowed that weak part of her to take over. All she did was nod in surrender, bringing out that pleased and gentle smile from the man across from her.

Wild sunsets reminded Levi of unpredictable tomorrows—of how much time he had left. Although his current memories told him about untimely deaths, his death is something he'd expect too soon—at any time, any place. And although his body would still be physically available to the people who awaited his recovery, his memory—of Hange and everyone else he newly met—would burst like a bubble even in the softest touch. And just like death—all feelings should be gone. He wouldn't hurt losing people. He wouldn't feel the pain of losing Hange. Again.

He was watching the golden fields bathed in the remaining golden hour of the day. Seated beside the driver's seat, he was interrupted by Furlan's crisp cough behind the wheel. The blond glanced at the backseat, seeing Isabel fast asleep. They were heading to Levi's villa as agreed, away from Rod's threats.

"You're quiet during the whole ride," Furlan told Levi.

"Am I supposed to talk?" Levi asked flatly.

Furlan snorted. "Don't make me fall asleep, is all. Driving's pretty boring."

Levi sighed loudly. "What do you want to know?"

"Why you agreed to take the cure."

"They're still working on it."

"But it's underway."

Levi scoffed. "Yeah, I know you're excited. You'll get what you want soon. Stay patient."

"That's not what I…" Furlan bit his cheek. "Levi, are you—wait, are you mad at me?"

Levi clicked his tongue. "You exposed yourselves out there, knowing what consequences that would make. We're like fucking sitting ducks here, waiting for bullets on our heads."

"Levi, you damn know how a desperate person acts!" Furlan countered. "We couldn't rely on you, and I want to get this done with! I want this over! I want nothing else but peace in life. It's too much… this is getting too much. I don't want to hide anymore."

"But look where we are now. Aren't we hiding again?" Levi said.

"Look who's talking! Didn't you also expose yourself? Causing trouble to Hange who got hurt because of you?!" Furlan snapped. "Aren't we all chasing our deaths?"

Levi went silent, gritting his teeth behind his clamped mouth.

"Well, maybe I was a real goner here, but at least I want to prove to myself that I've done something right! Even if it's a lost cause!" Furlan said. "At least Frieda knows what her father was like, and whether she'd do something or not, I know that information would find a way into her conscience."

Levi remained quiet, sitting through the ride with eyes on the dying sun.

"Look, I'm sorry," Furlan mumbled. "I know I wasn't thinking—pushing the boundaries just the way you act recklessly back at Rod's manor—and I understood now. As we're taking all the drastic measures towards our goals, nothing positive comes out of it."

"Kenny…" Levi said all of a sudden.

"What?" Furlan took a quick glance at Levi then back on the road. "What about your uncle?"

"He knows," Levi said. "He knows everything, but couldn't do something about it."

Furlan nearly stepped on the brakes.

"I don't know… he said about some stupid shit of protecting me. It's vague. He's giving me vague statements," Levi said.

"Yeah. I don't get it either," Furlan said. "Or… must it be because of his close ties with Uri Reiss?"

"Uri?" Something in Levi's head jolted. "Kenny said about me telling Uri all about my discoveries…"

"H-hold on…"

"And I remember something else…" Levi straightened in his seat. "When I temporarily gained my old self, I was told I was hanging outside Uri's house in the middle of the night before ending up in Underground bar…"

"W-whoah… there's gotta be something…" Furlan pulled over by the roadside, taking a deep breath. "We must take chances! There was a reason why you went straight to Uri's house after regaining your memories!"

"But that's how Rod's men tracked me. Someone must've alerted Rod that I was visiting his brother. And now, Rod wanted the three of us dead."

"What if Uri knows something, too?"

"But he's Rod's brother," Levi said. "When you told Frieda about her father, she didn't do anything. Uri could be the same. If I indeed told him all about his brother, he should've done something way back then."

Furlan let out a huff in disappointment.

"Families protect each other," Levi said. "It's a sad reality when they keep their own trash."

Furlan turned the steering wheel and went back on the road. "Thanks for the suspense, though. Just when I thought there was a glimmer of hope in there, you put out the spark. So what are we gonna do now? We definitely can't rely on anyone in the Reiss family."

"Didn't you even remember I agreed to take the cure? Your good old Levi's got you."

"Are you really sure about that?" Furlan queried.

"I trust Hange…"

They never talked after that. Something about that conversation snuffed the mood for talking. Furlan increased his driving speed at the changing hues of the sky. As they finally reached Levi's villa, the stars were already visible on the horizon. Furlan and Isabel helped in unloading their belongings, taking the key to the house and disappearing inside.

Levi took the last of the bags, and as he was closing the compartment of the car, a striking beam of light flashed him from behind.

Another car?

Levi covered his eyes at the blinding sight, muttering a curse after realizing this could be a surprise attack from the enemy. He jumped back guardedly in a combat stance.

A laugh was heard from an approaching shadow.

"Relax… no one's attacking you…"

Levi cursed once more after hearing that familiar voice.

Hange's figure emerged behind the lights. "Hey, Levi."

"What the fuck…" Levi said, thinking this was merely an imagination.

"Surprised?" Hange said in a neutral tone. She stood a few feet away from him awkwardly.

"B-but… w-why… why are you here?" Levi couldn't find his voice. He thought their relationship was over, and Hange was behind his cure. Her presence tonight sent a lot of questions into his head and shivers down his spine.

Hange stepped towards him. Much closer to seeing his reaction. "I know I was an unexpected visitor. Sorry for the short notice."

"A-are you here for…"

"For you," Hange said, closing that tiny gap between them with a hug.

Levi breathed in her scent. He knows it wasn't like him to get emotional over a hug, but here he was, moved by Hange's embrace.

It always feels nice to be held like this.

Hange's lips brushed against his ear and whispered, "I'm not leaving you again, Levi."

Levi's frown softened. His arms circled her, much tighter than how she held him. "That a joke, four-eyes? The last time I remembered, you don't want this anymore."

"I lied," Hange croaked. Lie or not, Hange knew her presence tonight was what her heart desired. "Are you gonna kick me out?"

"Just stay," Levi said. "And if you leave again, you'd get more than a kick."

Hange chuckled painfully. She didn't pull away, and yet Levi felt her tears falling onto his shirt.

"Oi Hange, are you goddamn crying?"

"Just let me be, okay?" Hange sobbed childishly. "Been crying a hell lot lately but I promise that'll be the last. Please don't ruin my moment."

Levi smiled, running a hand over her back. "Fine. Cry as much as you want."

Hange sighed deeply, burying her head in the crook of his neck. Somehow, the terrible mistake of Levi allowing her to cry made the feeling worse. "I'm so sorry… shorty…"

Levi shushed her. "Don't talk now, four-eyes. I'm not taking any sorry from you."

Hange finally pulled away. She detested her overdramatic actions, but Levi didn't scold her one bit.

"What changed your mind now?" Levi asked her, eye to eye.

"I love you, Levi."

Levi was taken aback. But he knew that the answer was not that simple. Hange was a person who thinks rationally more than emotionally, and the real answer would surely hurt him. For whatever reason, he didn't pry for more questions. By heart, he knew her presence here meant she was relishing the last remnants of their love story. He stared into her eyes and saw the void, and when Hange pressed her lips onto his forehead, that's when he felt the freezing sensation.

Her kiss was cold as ice.

Notes:

Just in time after the airing of Attack on Titan's anime finale. Have you guys watched it? Couldn't find a link to watch it for free. :(

So finishing this chapter was another achievement from all your encouragement. Here's another plot twist of Levi not being Mikasa's brother after all (this was in the original plot). Hange and Kenny's meeting was painful to write (because I put more effort in their dialogues in the original drafts). And here's the reason why Kenny couldn't do something about helping out Levi in pressing charges against Rod.

I had a three-day holiday last week so I have more time to write, giving myself a deadline to post another chapter after the anime's airing. Plus, I took a break from work, trying to manage my time from now on. I'll do my best to finish this in nine more chapters-hoping the fandom is still here.

Kudos and comments are appreciated. :)

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