The Fragments of Us | Levihan |

|{|}| TWO |{|}|

Levi's breath hitches, disbelief flooding his senses.

Hanji gawks back at him, startled. She leaps to her feet, clutching the sprout tightly in her fingers. After a moment she seems to snap out of her stupor, and she smiles.

"Uhh, hello! Are you from the—"

Levi lunges forward and pulls her into a tight embrace, feeling the solid warmth of her body against his. Hanji freezes up, but he can't hold back his relief. He feels the steady pulse of her heart racing against his chest, and Levi knows he isn't dreaming.

"Hanji... you're really here," he murmurs into her shoulder. "How... are you alive?"

She returns the hug awkwardly. "Um, do I... know you?"

"Don't bullshit with me, Four Eyes," he snaps, catching and seizing her shoulders. "Where the hell have you been this whole time? Everyone thinks you're dead. How did you escape the Colossal—"

Levi stops mid sentence, only now noticing the blank look in her eyes. Hanji is staring at him as if he's speaking another language, brow furrowed in confusion.

"Hanji... it's me, Levi."

"... I'm sorry. I don't remember."

Levi recoils in shock, unable to believe what she said. "What... did you say?"

"Hanji! I told you to stay back; your wounds need to heal," a voice entrenched in Hispanic roots barks, breaking the tension between them. Levi reluctantly releases Hanji as a tall, lean man with sun-darkened skin, almond eyes, and an angular jaw emerges from around a knoll. His dark brown hair frames the hard lines on his face, which deepen as his eyes take in the scene.

"Hanji, are you ok?" the man calls out.

Levi positions himself in front of Hanji protectively. "Who are you?" he demands, his tone edged with suspicion.

The man steps forward, his gaze shifting between Hanji and Levi. "I should be asking you that. I've don't remember seeing you around the camp."

"Emmanuel," Hanji interjects, her voice calm yet firm. "This is Levi."

"Wait a minute... I know you!" blurts Emmanuel, recognition flickering in his eyes. "I saw your face on a television broadcast in Odiha. You were in Liberio... that night Eren Yeager attacked. You're an Eldian soldier!"

"Listen. It's not what you think," says Levi quickly. "I'm not a stranger to her; we've fought side by side for ten years. I would never hurt her."

"She's lost her memory; she doesn't remember anything about her past, and I'm not about to hand her over to a stranger. Much less an Island Devil." Emmanuel spits out the slur.

Levi clenches his fists, struggling to keep his temper in check.

Hanji looks between the two men, sensing the rising tension. "It's ok, Emmanuel. He's not a threat; he's crippled." She points out Levi's leg brace.

"Just because he's crippled doesn't mean he isn't dangerous. Step away from her, Devil!"

"Like hell I will, String Bean!"

"Why, you—"

"Emmanuel, no!" Hanji darts forward and places a hand over the Marleyan's arm, which has reached for the hilt of his knife. Levi's eyes sharpen at the intimate touch. "Even if Levi is a Subject of Ymir, we can't harm him. Who knows what the Queen will do?"

Emmanuel studies Levi for a long moment, trembling with rage. At last he meets Hanji's gaze and nods slowly. "Fine, but we're leaving. Now."

He shoves his dagger back into its scabbard and stalks away, without a second glance. Hanji places the fresh fern she found onto a strip of clean cloth, rolls it up, and places the samples carefully in her satchel. She starts after Emmanuel.