Evelyn's perspective:

The silence in my apartment was deafening. Six days had passed since the chaos at Wall Rose, six days since my world had shattered into a thousand pieces. I sat curled up on my couch, knees pulled tight to my chest, staring blankly at the wall. The truth Pastor Nick had revealed echoed in my mind, a relentless torment.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Memories erased. Given to strangers.

Each word was a dagger, twisting deeper into my heart. The life I thought I knew, the parents I loved, the memories I cherished - all of it was a lie. A carefully constructed facade hiding a truth I couldn't begin to fathom.

A knock at the door broke through my reverie. "Evie? Are you in there?" Hange's voice, usually so full of enthusiasm, was tinged with concern. "Please open up. I know you must be feeling terrible, but you can't hide forever."

I didn't move, didn't speak. My breath caught in my throat as I waited, hoping she'd leave. After a few moments, I heard her footsteps retreating down the hallway.

Guilt gnawed at me. Hange had been nothing but supportive, yet I couldn't bring myself to face her. To face anyone. How could I, when I didn't even know who I was anymore?

My gaze drifted to the window. Outside, life in the city continued. People rebuilding, mourning, moving forward. And here I sat, paralyzed by the weight of my own fractured identity.

I uncurled myself slowly, muscles protesting after hours of stillness. My reflection in the mirror caught my eye - a stranger staring back at me. Pale skin, dark circles under my eyes, hair a tangled mess. This wasn't me. This couldn't be me.

~

Levi's perspective:

The sterile scent of antiseptic hung heavy in the air as I made my way through the hospital corridors. The rhythmic tapping of my boots against the polished floor echoed in the silence, a stark contrast to the chaos we'd left behind at Wall Rose. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more troubling than the last. As I approached Erwin's room, I couldn't shake the image of his missing arm. The price of our battles seemed to grow steeper with each passing day.

I paused at the threshold, taking a moment to compose myself before entering. The sight that greeted me was both familiar and jarring. Erwin, propped up in bed, his remaining arm gesturing as he spoke with Commander Pixis. The bandages where his left arm should have been were a stark reminder of our recent losses.

"Levi," Erwin's voice carried its usual strength, despite his condition. "Glad you could join us."

I nodded, my eyes scanning the room out of habit. "How are you holding up?"

A ghost of a smile played on Erwin's lips. "I've been better, but I've also been worse. We have more pressing matters to discuss."

Commander Pixis cleared his throat, drawing my attention. The bald man's eyes held a glimmer of something I couldn't quite place – concern, perhaps, or anticipation.

"Levi," Erwin began, his tone serious. "Hange has filled me in on what Pastor Nick told you about Evelyn and Historia. Things seem to be getting more... exciting around here."

I felt my jaw clench involuntarily at the mention of Evelyn's name. The revelations of the past few days had left me reeling, torn between my duty and my feelings for her. "That's one way of putting it," I muttered.

Pixis pulled out some files from a leather satchel at his feet. "I managed to obtain Evelyn's and Crista- I mean Historia's files," he said, his voice gravelly with age and concern. "Evelyn Eliza Scarlet. Unfortunately, there isn't much here. Some really good forged documents, a medical file dated around the time she would have been brought here, saying she was in an accident that we now know to be false."

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed, as Pixis continued. "She attended the best schools, got the highest grades possible in all subjects. Went missing from home at age 15, attended college for about two years, then joined the Military at age 19."

Erwin took a sip of water, his brow furrowed in thought. "Now that we know our King is a fake, a stand-in for the Reiss family, we have to ask ourselves: why would they go to all this trouble to kidnap a child?" He mused, his eyes distant as he pieced together the puzzle. "Evelyn is from outside the walls somewhere, so maybe it's about political gain. But there are no records of any civilizations outside of the walls."

Erwin's analytical gaze swept across the room. "Why kidnap a child?" he mused, more to himself than to me. "Political gain, perhaps. But from where? There are no known civilizations outside our walls."

I remained silent, arms crossed, watching as Erwin's strategic mind worked through the puzzle. The medical files Pixis produced were suspiciously pristine – too perfect, too clean. Forged documents that spoke volumes through their calculated emptiness.

"I need you to keep a close eye on her," Erwin said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "In case she's dangerous."

Dangerous. The word hung in the air, heavy with implication. Evelyn – dangerous? The woman who'd fought beside me, who'd saved countless lives, who'd become more than just a partner. The woman I... loved.

My mind flashed to memories. Her sharp wit. The way her eyes would narrow when she was strategizing. The tattoo on her forearm – a mark I'd always noticed but never questioned.

I felt my heart rate quicken, a mixture of anger and fear coursing through me. "What are you saying, Erwin?"

"We may have to detain her," Erwin said, his voice clinical and detached. "Or in the worst case..."

"No." My response was immediate, sharp. A line I would not allow to be crossed. The thought of raising a hand against Evelyn, of treating her as an enemy, made me feel physically ill.

Erwin's eyebrow raised, a challenge in his measured gaze. "She could be dangerous, Levi. We know nothing about her true origins."

Before I could voice my objections further, the door burst open, and Hange strode in, her usual manic energy filling the room. "Wow, there's some tension in here," she murmured, a young teenage boy following her close behind.

Hange launched into an explanation about the boy, Connie, and his theory about the titans that suddenly appeared in Wall Rose days ago. "He thinks they're most likely people from the villages," she said, her eyes gleaming with the excitement of a new discovery.

"Great, perfect," I spat, the bitterness in my voice surprising even me. "I've spent all this time, all this energy, and the things I've been carving through are people."

Hange's expression softened slightly. "Look, we don't know for certain. I was going to ask Evelyn to go over to the village and investigate, but she won't come out of her apartment to talk to me."

Erwin raised a brow. "Why?"

Hange looked dumbfounded at Erwin. "She only found out her whole life and family are just one big lie, Erwin. She needs time alone."

I pushed myself off the wall, my decision made. "I'll go talk to her," I said, my voice gruff with determination. "She'll listen to me."

Erwin nodded, his expression unreadable. "Very well. But remember what I said, Levi. We need to be prepared for any eventuality."

~

The walk to Evelyn's apartment felt longer than usual, each step heavy with the burden of what I had to tell her. The streets of the inner city were quiet, the usual hustle and bustle subdued in the aftermath of recent events.

I knocked on her door, the sound echoing in the empty hallway. No response. I knocked again, harder this time. "Evelyn," I called out, my voice gruff with concern. "It's me. Open up."

After a moment that felt like an eternity, I heard the soft click of the lock. The door creaked open, revealing Evelyn's face. Her usually vibrant blue eyes were dull, rimmed with red as if she'd been crying. The sight of her like this, so vulnerable and raw, made my chest ache.

"Levi," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I... I don't think I'm up for company right now."

I stepped forward, gently pushing the door open wider. "Tough shit," I said, my tone softening the harshness of my words. "We need to talk."

Evelyn sighed, stepping back to let me in. Her apartment was a mess, books and papers strewn about, empty tea cups littering every surface. It was so unlike her usual meticulously organized space that it made my heart clench.

Evelyn let out an annoyed sigh. "I'm not in the mood. I wanted to have a nice hot bath," she said, her voice tinged with exhaustion and frustration.

I closed the door behind me, taking in the chaos of the room and the woman standing before me. Despite everything, despite the doubts and fears swirling in my mind, I felt a surge of protectiveness wash over me. This was Evelyn – my Evelyn – regardless of her past or where she came from.

"I know," I said, my voice softer than I intended. "But we need to talk about what's going on. About what we learned from Pastor Nick."

Evelyn shrugged, her posture defensive. "If you're here to pick my brain for information, too bad. I don't remember a damn thing about my life before. I don't remember being kidnapped or home, wherever the hell that is," she said, her words sharp with frustration.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what I had to say next. "Evelyn," I began, choosing my words carefully. "Erwin thinks... he thinks you might be dangerous. He's talking about detaining you, maybe even..."

"The only threat he has to worry about is my foot up his ass," Evelyn interrupted, her eyes flashing with anger.

Despite the gravity of the situation, I felt a small smile tug at my lips. This was the Evelyn I knew – fierce, defiant, and utterly unapologetic. But the smile faded as quickly as it had come, replaced by the weight of what I had to tell her.

"I'm serious, Evelyn," I said, my voice low and urgent. "Erwin's not fucking around. He thinks you could be a threat to everything we've been fighting for."

Evelyn's face fell, the anger draining away to be replaced by a look of hurt and confusion. "And what do you think, Levi?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you think I'm a threat?"

The question hung in the air between us, heavy with implications. I looked at her, really looked at her. The woman I'd fought beside, laughed with, loved. The woman who'd stood by me through countless battles and sleepless nights. Could she really be a danger to us all?

"No," I said finally, my voice firm. "I don't. I think you're the same stubborn, pain-in-the-ass woman you've always been. But Evelyn, we need to figure this out. We need to understand where you came from, what all of this means."

Evelyn sank onto her couch, her shoulders slumping. "I don't know how," she admitted, her voice small. "I've been trying, Levi. I've been wracking my brain, trying to remember anything from before. But it's all just... blank."

I moved to sit beside her, close enough to feel the warmth radiating from her body, but not quite touching. "Ugh, I'm starting to get a shitty headache," Evelyn muttered and rubbed her head.

"You should eat something," I said, my practical nature reasserting itself. "When's the last time you had a real meal?"

Evelyn shrugged. "I don't remember," she admitted. "Everything's been a blur since... well, you know."

I nodded, already moving towards the kitchen. "I'll make us something. You sit down, rest."

As I busied myself in the kitchen, I could hear Evelyn moving around in the living room. The sound of papers rustling, books being moved. She was searching again, I realized. Looking for clues, for anything that might trigger a memory.

"Evelyn," I called out. "Leave it for now. You need to rest."

I heard her sigh, followed by the soft thud of a book being set down. When I returned with two steaming bowls of soup, I found her curled up on the couch, her eyes distant and unfocused.

But as I stirred the pot of soup, my mind wandered back to the conversation in Erwin's hospital room. The suspicion in his eyes, the weight of his words. "We may have to detain her... or in the worst case..." The spoon clattered against the side of the pot as my hand shook.

No. I wouldn't let it come to that. I'd protect Evelyn, even if it meant going against Erwin, against everything I'd fought for. Because in the end, what was the point of saving humanity if we lost our own in the process?

"Eat," I said, setting the bowl in front of her. "Then we'll talk."

We ate in silence, the only sound the occasional clink of spoons against bowls. I watched Evelyn out of the corner of my eye, noting how she seemed to force each spoonful down. When she'd eaten about half, she set the bowl aside and looked at me.

"Alright," she said, her voice stronger now. "Let's talk. What exactly does Erwin think I am? Some kind of sleeper agent?"

I set my own bowl down, choosing my words carefully. "He's not sure. But the fact that you were brought here from outside the walls, that your memories were somehow erased... It raises a lot of questions."

Evelyn's eyes flashed. "Questions I can't fucking answer, Levi. I don't know why I was brought here. I don't know who I was before. Hell, I don't even know if Evelyn Scarlet is my real name."

I reached out, my hand hovering over hers for a moment before I let it fall back to my side. "I know. But we need to consider every possibility. If there's even a chance that you could be..."

"What?" Evelyn interrupted, her voice sharp. "A titan? A spy? Some kind of weapon?"

"I don't know," I admitted, frustration seeping into my voice. "But we can't ignore the possibility that whoever brought you here had a reason. A plan."

Evelyn stood up abruptly, pacing the small living room. "So what, you want to lock me up? Experiment on me? See if I turn into a fucking titan?"

I stood as well, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. "No," I said firmly. "That's not what I want. But we need to be careful. We need to figure this out before Erwin or someone else decides to take matters into their own hands."

Evelyn stopped pacing, turning to face me. Her eyes were blazing, a mix of anger and fear that made my chest tighten. "And how do you propose we do that, Levi? I've tried everything. I've gone over every scrap of information about my past, every memory I have. There's nothing there."

I took a step towards her, my voice low and intense. "Then we keep looking. We investigate every lead, every possibility. And in the meantime, you stay close to me. I'll keep you safe, Evelyn. I promise."

For a moment, the fire in her eyes seemed to dim, replaced by a vulnerability that made her look impossibly young. "And what if we find out that I am dangerous? What then?"

I closed the distance between us, my hands coming up to cup her face. "Then we'll deal with it. Together. You're not alone in this, Evelyn. You have me. You'll always have me."

Evelyn's eyes searched mine, looking for any sign of doubt or deception. Finding none, she let out a shaky breath and leaned into my touch. "Okay," she whispered. "Okay."

I pulled her into my arms, feeling the tension in her body slowly start to ease. We stood like that for a long moment, the silence broken only by the sound of our breathing.

The moment stretched between us, heavy with unspoken words and emotions. Then, as if by mutual agreement, we stepped apart.

"You should get some rest," I said, my voice returning to its usual gruff tone. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

Evelyn nodded, but as I turned to leave, her hand on my arm stopped me. "Stay," she said softly. "Please. I... I don't want to be alone tonight."

I hesitated for a moment, torn between my desire to stay and the knowledge that we both needed clear heads for what was to come. But the vulnerability in her eyes made the decision for me. "Alright," I said, my voice gruff. "But we're just sleeping. You need rest, not... distractions."

Evelyn snorted in amusement, some of her usual spark returning to her eyes. "Aw, were you thinking perverted thoughts about me again? I just want to sleep."

I felt a small smile tug at my lips. "Tch. Brat."

As we settled into bed, Evelyn curled against my side, her head resting on my chest. I could feel the tension in her body, the way she clung to me as if afraid I might disappear.

"Levi?" she whispered into the darkness.

"Hm?"

"Thank you. For believing in me. For... for everything."

I tightened my arm around her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "Always," I murmured.

As Evelyn's breathing evened out, signaling she had finally drifted off to sleep, I found myself staring at the ceiling, my mind racing. The weight of what we were facing pressed down on me, the enormity of the task ahead almost overwhelming.

But as I looked down at the woman in my arms, I felt a fierce determination take root in my chest. Whatever came next, whatever truths we uncovered, I would stand by her side. I would protect her, fight for her, love her.

Even if it meant going against everything and everyone I'd ever known.