Chapter Twelve:
The sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows through the narrow windows of
Tiana's workshop. The room buzzed with the familiar sounds of machines and the
clinking of tools, the scent of oil and freshly polished metal lingering in the air. Tiana was
in her element, standing at her workbench, a pair of goggles pushed up onto her
forehead, her hands deftly maneuvering a small screwdriver as she made delicate
adjustments to a piece of ODM gear. Beside her, Hange was equally engrossed in a
separate contraption, her eyes wide with excitement as she examined the inner
workings of a modified grapple mechanism.
"Fascinating," Hange murmured, her voice filled with wonder. "The way you've
redesigned the internal mechanisms, Tiana, it's brilliant. I never would have thought to
integrate the gas propulsion system this way. It's almost… organic."
Tiana smiled, a hint of pride in her expression. "Thank you, Hange," she replied, her
tone warm. "I've always believed that the best designs are the ones that work with
nature, not against it. If we can mimic the way living things move, we can create
technology that's more efficient, more adaptive."
Hange nodded enthusiastically, her eyes alight with curiosity. "It's amazing," she said.
"I've been working with ODM gear for years, and I've never seen anything like this. You
really are something, Tiana."
Tiana blushed slightly at the compliment, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "I'm
just doing what I love," she said modestly. "And it's been great working with you. You
have such a unique perspective on things."
Hange laughed, a bright, cheerful sound that filled the room. "Well, I've always been a
bit of a mad scientist," she said with a grin. "But you—you're a true engineer. You see
things in a way most people can't. It's inspiring."
Tiana smiled again, feeling a warm sense of camaraderie. Working with Hange was
refreshing; her enthusiasm was infectious, and her boundless curiosity matched Tiana's
own. It was a rare thing, to find someone who understood her passion, her drive to
create and innovate.
As they continued to work, Demetri stood nearby, his sensors monitoring the room's
environment, his glowing eyes fixed on Tiana's movements. He was always alert,
always ready to assist, his presence a comforting constant in the busy workshop.
Hange set down the grapple mechanism she had been examining and picked up a cup
of tea from a nearby table, taking a sip before turning her attention back to Tiana. "So,
Tiana," she began, her tone casual, "how are you finding life here with us? I imagine it's
quite different from Androsia."
Tiana nodded, setting down her tools and wiping her hands on a cloth. "It's… different,
for sure," she admitted. "But in a good way. Everyone here has been so welcoming. And
it's exciting to be working on something that could really make a difference."
Hange smiled, nodding in agreement. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "We're certainly
glad to have you. And I think Levi's glad to have you around too, even if he doesn't say
it outright."
Tiana glanced at Hange, her curiosity piqued. "Captain Levi?" she asked, trying to
sound casual. "What makes you say that?"
Hange shrugged, a playful glint in her eye. "Oh, you know Levi," she said with a
chuckle. "Always so serious, always so focused. But I've seen the way he looks at you. I
think he's more protective than usual."
Tiana's heart skipped a beat at Hange's words, and she quickly turned her attention
back to her work, trying to hide the flush that crept up her cheeks. "He's just doing his
job," she said, her voice a bit too quick. "Making sure I'm safe."
Hange grinned, clearly enjoying the reaction she was getting. "Maybe," she said with a
mischievous tone. "But Levi's not just protective of anyone. He's careful, calculated. He
wouldn't be so attentive if he didn't think you were important."
Tiana's blush deepened, and she busied herself with adjusting a small gear, trying to
focus. "Well, I appreciate it," she mumbled. "It's… comforting to know he's there."
Hange nodded, her expression turning more thoughtful. "He's a good man," she said
softly. "And despite everything he's been through, he still cares deeply for his comrades.
It's not always easy to see, but it's there."
Tiana nodded, feeling a strange flutter in her chest. She had sensed that about
Levi—that underneath his stoic exterior, there was a depth, a loyalty that ran deeper
than most. It was one of the things that drew her to him, that made her feel safe around
him.
Hange took another sip of her tea, then set her cup down, leaning against the
workbench. "You know," she continued, her tone more conversational, "it's funny. Levi's
been with the Scouts for a long time. He's one of the oldest members, actually."
Tiana, in the middle of taking a sip of her own tea, froze. "Oldest?" she repeated, her
eyebrows raising in surprise. "How old is he?"
Hange looked thoughtful for a moment, then shrugged. "He's about 36, I think," she said
casually. "Not too old, but definitely more seasoned than most of us."
Tiana choked on her tea, sputtering as the hot liquid went down the wrong pipe. She
coughed violently, her eyes watering, and Hange jumped back, startled. "Tiana!" she
exclaimed. "Are you alright?"
Demetri, always alert, immediately moved forward, his eyes glowing as he activated his
cleaning protocol. He quickly extended a small arm with a cloth, wiping up the spilled
tea with precise, efficient movements.
Tiana waved a hand, trying to catch her breath. "I'm fine," she managed, still coughing
slightly. "Just… surprised, that's all."
Hange raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Surprised?" she echoed.
"About Levi's age?"
Tiana nodded, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "He just… he looks so young,"
she said, her voice a bit breathless. "I would have guessed he was… I don't know,
younger."
Hange chuckled, clearly amused. "Levi does have a way of keeping himself in shape,"
she said with a grin. "But yeah, he's older than he looks. Been through a lot, that one."
Tiana felt her heart race slightly, her mind spinning with this new information. Thirty-six.
She had never considered Levi's age before, had never thought about it in those terms.
But now that she knew, she found it… intriguing. There was something undeniably
attractive about it, about the idea of him being older, more experienced. She had always
had a thing for older men, a preference she'd never really understood but had never
questioned either.
But she would never admit that out loud. Not to Hange, not to anyone.
She tried to compose herself, to keep her expression neutral. "I suppose that makes
sense," she said lightly, trying to steer the conversation back to safer ground. "He
certainly seems… seasoned."
Hange laughed again, nodding. "Seasoned is one word for it," she agreed. "But don't let
his age fool you. Levi's as sharp as they come. And as tough as they come, too."
Tiana nodded, her mind still racing. She had seen that toughness firsthand, had
witnessed it in the way he moved, the way he fought, the way he seemed to see
everything, notice everything. It was part of what made him so compelling, so
fascinating.
She cleared her throat, trying to focus. "Well," she said, picking up her tools again, "I
guess it's good to have someone like him around, then. To keep us all on our toes."
Hange smiled, picking up her own tools once more. "Exactly," she said. "And I think he's
glad to have you around, too, Tiana. You bring something new to the table, something
fresh. It's good for all of us."
Tiana felt a warm flush of pride at Hange's words, but also a lingering sense of curiosity.
She wondered what Levi truly thought of her, if he saw her as more than just someone
he had to protect. But she pushed the thought aside, focusing on her work. There would
be time to think about that later.
For now, she had a job to do, a purpose to fulfill. And maybe, just maybe, she would find
a way to get to know Levi a little better, to understand the man behind the stoic mask a
little more. And perhaps, if she was lucky, she might find out if there was something
more between them than just duty and protection.
Hange watched Tiana closely as they worked, her sharp eyes noticing the slight flush in
Tiana's cheeks, the way her fingers seemed to fidget a bit more than usual, the way her
eyes darted back to the door now and then, as if expecting—or perhaps hoping—Levi
might return at any moment. A sly smile crept across Hange's face. She wasn't one to
miss details, especially when it came to human behavior. And Tiana's reactions today
were quite telling.
"Hey, Tiana," Hange said casually, setting down her tools and leaning against the
workbench. "Can I ask you something?"
Tiana looked up from the gadget she was tinkering with, her eyes cautious. "Sure,
Hange," she replied, trying to keep her tone light. "What's on your mind?"
Hange grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I was just wondering… do you have a
thing for Levi?"
Tiana froze, her heart skipping a beat. "W-What?" she stammered, nearly dropping the
small screwdriver in her hand. "No, of course not! Why would you even ask that?"
Hange chuckled, clearly enjoying Tiana's flustered reaction. "Oh, come on, Tiana," she
teased. "You can't fool me. I've seen the way you look at him. And the way you reacted
when I mentioned his age… You practically choked on your tea."
Tiana's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink, and she quickly turned her attention back
to her work, trying to hide her embarrassment. "That was just… surprise," she insisted.
"I didn't expect him to be that age, that's all. And I'm just… grateful for his protection.
Nothing more."
Hange smirked, leaning closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Are you
sure about that?" she pressed. "Because it seems to me like you might have a little
crush on our stoic captain."
Tiana's eyes widened, and she shook her head vehemently. "No!" she said, a bit too
loudly. "No, I don't have a crush on him. I don't… I mean, he's just… he's just Levi.
Captain Levi. That's it."
Hange chuckled again, clearly unconvinced. "If you say so," she said, her tone light and
teasing. "But you know, there's nothing wrong with having a little crush. Levi's a
good-looking guy. And he's definitely got that whole strong, silent, brooding thing going
for him."
Tiana's face was practically on fire now, and she wished she could disappear into the
floor. "Hange, please," she begged, her voice barely above a whisper. "I really don't…
it's not like that."
But Hange wasn't about to let up. "Oh, come on, Tiana," she said with a grin. "Admit it.
You've thought about it, haven't you? What it would be like, being with someone like
him?"
Tiana was about to respond, to deny everything once again, when she heard the soft
creak of the door opening behind her. She turned sharply, her eyes wide with a mix of
panic and embarrassment, and saw Levi stepping into the room. His expression was
calm, but his eyes were sharp, taking in the scene before him.
Hange's grin widened at Levi's arrival, her eyes flicking between him and Tiana with
barely concealed amusement. "Ah, Levi!" she greeted, her tone cheerful. "Perfect
timing. We were just talking about you."
Tiana's heart dropped to her stomach, and she shot Hange a death glare that could
have cut through steel. Her eyes were wide, her message clear: Shut. Up.
Levi's eyebrows lifted slightly, his gaze shifting from Hange to Tiana. He couldn't hear
exactly what they had been saying, but he sensed it had something to do with him.
"Talking about me?" he asked, his tone neutral but curious. "What about?"
Tiana opened her mouth to respond, but no words came out. Her mind was racing,
trying to think of something—anything—to say that wouldn't make this situation even
more mortifying. "Oh, uh… nothing important!" she blurted out, her voice a bit too high.
"Just… you know… work stuff."
Hange, ever the instigator, leaned back against the workbench, a playful smirk on her
face. "Yeah, work stuff," she echoed, clearly enjoying Tiana's discomfort. "And maybe a
little bit about how impressive you are, Levi. You know, as a captain. And, uh, other
things."
Tiana's death glare intensified, her face burning with embarrassment. "Hange," she said
through gritted teeth, her voice low and dangerous, "enough."
Levi's eyes narrowed slightly, his instincts telling him there was more to this than just a
casual conversation. But he decided to let it go—for now. "Right," he said, his tone
clipped. "Well, if you're done talking about… work stuff, we have a lot to do today."
Hange nodded, still grinning. "Of course, Levi," she said cheerfully. "We were just taking
a little break. Right, Tiana?"
Tiana forced a smile, though it was strained. "Right," she muttered, still glaring daggers
at Hange. "Just a… little break."
Levi's gaze shifted back to Tiana, and for a moment, his expression softened. He could
see the flush on her cheeks, the way her eyes were bright with embarrassment. He
wondered what Hange had said to fluster her so much, but he decided not to press the
issue. "Good," he said simply. "Let's stay focused. We have work to do."
Tiana nodded quickly, grateful for the change in subject. "Of course, Captain," she said,
her voice a bit steadier now. "I'm ready."
Levi gave her a brief nod, then turned his attention to the contraption on her workbench,
examining it with his usual meticulous care. Tiana took a deep breath, trying to calm her
racing heart, her thoughts still spinning from Hange's teasing. She was going to have to
have a word with Hange later, a serious word.
But for now, she forced herself to focus on the task at hand, pushing thoughts of
Levi—and everything Hange had implied—firmly to the back of her mind. She couldn't
afford to be distracted, not now. Not with him right here.
As she moved to join Levi at the workbench, she could feel Hange's amused gaze on
her, and she resisted the urge to glare at her friend again. This isn't over, she thought to
herself, her jaw set in determination. But as she glanced at Levi, standing so close, his
presence calm and commanding, she couldn't help but feel a small flutter in her
chest—a flutter she tried desperately to ignore.
Maybe Hange was right. Maybe there was something there, something more than just
gratitude or respect. But whatever it was, Tiana wasn't ready to admit it. Not yet. And
certainly not in front of Captain Levi.
…
The mess hall was bustling with its usual evening activity as Levi and Tiana stepped
inside. The scent of freshly baked bread and roasted meat filled the air, mingling with
the hum of conversation and the clatter of dishes. Soldiers moved through the room in a
steady flow, finding seats at the long wooden tables, their faces a mix of weariness and
camaraderie after another long day.
Levi led the way, his posture as straight and commanding as ever, his eyes scanning
the room with his usual vigilance. Tiana followed close behind, her mind still buzzing
from the events in the lab earlier. She tried to focus on the task at hand—finding a seat,
getting some food, and hopefully avoiding any more embarrassing encounters. But as
soon as they entered the hall, she spotted Hange sitting with the other scouts, and her
stomach dropped.
Hange caught sight of her almost immediately, a wide grin spreading across her face.
She raised a hand in greeting, but it was the knowing smirk on her face that made
Tiana's heart skip a beat. Oh no, Tiana thought, feeling a wave of panic rising in her
chest. She's going to tease me again. Right here. In front of everyone. In front of Levi.
Hange's eyes twinkled with mischief as she waved them over. "Hey, Tiana! Levi!" she
called out, her voice carrying over the noise. "Come join us!"
Tiana's eyes widened, and she shook her head slightly, trying to signal Hange to stop.
But Hange's grin only grew wider, her amusement evident. Tiana could feel her heart
pounding in her chest, her mind racing. She couldn't let Hange say
anything—anything—about what they had talked about earlier. Not here. Not with Levi
right beside her.
As they moved closer to the table, Tiana felt a surge of desperation. She needed to talk
to Hange, needed to make sure she kept her mouth shut. She turned to Levi, her
expression pleading. "Captain," she said quickly, her voice a bit breathless, "could I…
could I have five minutes? Just to talk to Hange privately?"
Levi raised an eyebrow, clearly sensing her urgency, but he nodded. "Five minutes," he
said curtly, his tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Make it quick."
Tiana nodded gratefully, then quickly moved to Hange, grabbing her by the arm. "Come
on," she muttered under her breath, dragging her out of the mess hall and into the
corridor beyond. "We need to talk. Now."
Hange allowed herself to be pulled along, still grinning with amusement. Once they
were far enough away from the mess hall and out of earshot of Levi, she turned to
Tiana, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Alright, alright, Tiana, what's the rush?" she
teased, her tone light. "Afraid I might spill your little secret?"
Tiana shot her a look, her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and urgency.
"Hange, please," she said, her voice low but intense. "You cannot tell Levi about…
about what we talked about earlier. You just can't."
Hange raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying Tiana's flustered state. "Oh? And why not?"
she asked, her tone teasing. "You think he wouldn't be interested in knowing that you
have a crush on him?"
Tiana groaned, running a hand through her hair. "Because it would be mortifying," she
admitted, her voice a strained whisper. "He doesn't see me like that. I'm just… someone
he has to protect. He probably thinks of me like a kid or a responsibility, not… not like…"
Hange's grin softened slightly, a more understanding look crossing her face. "Not like a
woman?" she offered gently.
Tiana nodded, her eyes dropping to the floor. "Exactly," she said quietly. "He's so…
focused, so intense. And I don't want to make things weird between us. I need him to
keep doing his job, not get distracted by… by whatever this is."
Hange watched her for a moment, her expression more thoughtful now. "You know," she
said softly, "Levi's not as unreadable as you might think. He might surprise you."
Tiana shook her head, a small, sad smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe," she said. "But I
can't take that risk. Not now. Not when there's so much at stake."
Hange nodded slowly, her playful demeanor softening into something more serious.
"Alright," she said finally. "I won't say anything. But you've got to promise me one thing."
Tiana looked up, her expression hopeful. "What?" she asked.
Hange smiled, a gentle, encouraging smile. "Promise me that you'll at least consider
talking to him about it," she said. "When you're ready. He deserves to know how you
feel. And who knows? Maybe he feels the same way."
Tiana felt her cheeks flush again, but she nodded. "Okay," she agreed softly. "I'll… think
about it. But for now, just… please, don't say anything."
Hange nodded, reaching out to give Tiana's arm a reassuring squeeze. "You've got my
word," she said with a grin. "Your secret's safe with me."
Tiana let out a breath of relief, a small, grateful smile spreading across her face. "Thank
you, Hange," she said quietly. "I mean it."
Hange winked at her, her playful grin returning. "Anytime," she said. "But don't keep him
waiting too long, alright? Levi's not the most patient man."
Tiana chuckled softly, nodding. "I won't," she promised. "Now, let's get back before he
starts wondering what we're up to."
They made their way back to the mess hall, and as they entered, Tiana spotted Levi
standing near the door, his arms crossed, his expression as stoic as ever. She took a
deep breath, steeling herself, and walked over to him.
"Everything alright?" Levi asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as he looked between her
and Hange.
Tiana nodded, doing her best to appear calm. "Yes, Captain," she replied. "Just needed
to clarify something."
Levi studied her for a moment, his gaze steady, and Tiana felt her heart skip a beat.
Does he know? she wondered. Did he overhear something?
But Levi simply nodded, turning toward the table. "Let's eat," he said curtly. "We've had
a long day."
Tiana let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding and followed him to the table,
taking a seat beside him. As she glanced around, she caught Hange's eye across the
table. Hange gave her a small, knowing smile, and Tiana couldn't help but smile back, a
mixture of relief and nervous anticipation swirling in her chest.
She wasn't sure what the future held, but for now, she was content to keep her
secret—at least a little longer. And maybe, just maybe, she'd find the courage to talk to
Levi about it when the time was right. But until then, she was grateful for friends like
Hange, who knew when to tease and when to keep a secret. And perhaps, that was
enough. For now.