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Hanji Zoe tucked the stray lock of hair behind her ear as she marveled at the sight before her. On top of the wall with nothing but the wind and the birds occasionally flying above her head, she can say that finally she felt at ease. Coupled with the magnificent view of the outside or the 'world' as she calls it, she couldn't help the smile that made its way to her face. Of course, adding the sight of titans at the foot of the wall, with their deep moans and dopey looks made the view better.

She turned to walk to her favorite spot, five-hundred-seventeen steps away from the lift behind her, not five-hundred-twenty. Hanji Zoe was never particular about numbers, of numbers being divided equally into half. She was never for even numbers. She was Hanji Zoe and if there was one word that describes her whole existence it had to be the word 'odd'. She preferred to be unique—well, different, since if everyone's unique it would only mean that everyone's the same. It was the perfect spot, a balance between mankind and their enemies, views of colored, towering roofs against the vast clear, blue skies and the looming trees blending in the horizon. It was her escape, and frankly, a few minutes outside her lab was for the better. She might lose her mind if she stayed inside for another second, if only Moblit would just do her a favor and stop being paranoid about her every move it would do so much good.

A gust of wind made her yelp, hands fumbling for the goggles on top of her head. Quickly, she snapped them on after pulling her hair out of the way. Managing to secure the contraption on her face she continued to walk, counting every step she made until she saw through her peripheral vision a figure sitting exactly where it would all end. She observed the hunched figure looking down on the titans below, lean, a mop of black hair dancing with the wind, the green cloak of the Legion securely fastened around his shoulders, 3-D Maneuver Gear strapped into place, clean, white pants and polished boots—

"Levi?"

The figure cocked his head towards her, an eyebrow arched in question, eyes narrowed and mouth set into a grim line. It took him two seconds before he clucked his tongue and turned his attention back to the titans, dismissing her completely.

"Fancy seeing you here." She started, walking towards him.

"I should say that to you, after all you've been down in your lab for god knows how long. I actually thought that you might have died there already and yet here you are alive yet reeking of death."

"And of course you would take pleasure on cleaning the whole place up after your discovery of my death. Nice to know that you're one of my friends."

He spared her a glance, grey eyes narrowed. "Who said I am?"

"Who said you aren't?" she countered back, a grin plastered on her face. "Anyways, hiding?"

"Taking a break." He flatly replied.

"Break? It's only been two hours."

"You don't even know how long two hours can be with those idiots around you."

"I would've given you a cigarette by now if I had any."

He regarded her with surprise and a bit of amusement. "I didn't know you smoked."

"I don't. Cigarette smoking, compared to tobacco, has more dangerous effects on the human body. I researched—"

He smirked, turning away. "I figured as much."

"I give them to the poor scouts who are getting nerves. Quite a good solution—and then they become dependent on it and abuse it." She shrugged, "At least they're no longer apprehensive. Do you smoke, Levi?"

He cast her a look of 'are you seriously asking me that question, you imbecile?' "Do I look like I do?"

"Well, considering your clean-freak nature and the thought of smoke clinging on your freshly laundered clothes, I don't think you do."

"Brilliant." Was the only thing he said before ignoring her again.

"By the way, Levi, you're on my spot."

"Says who?" Hanji sighed, so he was in one of his moods right now.

"Says me. Now move before I kick you. I'm asking you nicely, Levi. So please, just do as I say. I didn't walk that far only to find someone steal my spot that I use for my relaxation."

"Walk? You rode a horse, you dimwit. If there's someone or something that's worthy of the spot as you say it has to be your steed."

"I can just push you over, actually. A little kid like you—"

"I am not a kid. I am older than you, Squad Leader Hanji."

"Pulling up ranks, Captain? I'll have to say real mature. Now, if you'll please move I would be so delighted, or we can share the spot. But then you really aren't fond of sharing, are you?"

"This isn't your spot. I don't see your name carved on it, no claims or marks or anything, what makes you think that I would—did you just push me?" there was a murderous tone in his voice, enough to make a new scout piss on his pants but she was used to it and she brushed it off.

"There." She pointed out, triumphant.

"What's that supposed to be?"

She fixed him a confused stare. "Marks. Just like you asked for."

He glanced at the spot where her hand was and reached for it. "These are scratches… quite too deep. But then," he looked at her smugly, "this wall has scratches all over it, this can be not your spot."

"Yeah, that's true. But then, these scratches are deep. Too deep for my taste. Too much, sometimes that I believe it would never come off, not in the next years or so." She watched an eagle soar high above them before turning back to him. "If you're not going to accept that," she paused, "I peed on it like dogs do when they claim their territories."

"That is revolting!" Levi said with pure disgust, pushing himself off the wall. "What on earth—"

Hanji was laughing at him as she plopped down on her spot. "You should've seen the look on your face! And why would I even do that? That's disgusting!"

Huffing at her childishness and embarrassed about his reaction, he crossed his arms and looked down on her. "Considering that you're a pig, it's hard not to believe."

"Well, that got you off didn't it? So it worked. That's all that matters. Say," she said, dragging the 'a' for too long. "What's the reason why you're here?"

"I told you, I'm taking a break."

"Are you sure? Because," once again dragging the last syllable too long, and at this point she had his full attention, "because I've heard that you're in love with your recruit! So I thought that maybe you're here to, oh I don't know, think about her or something. Anyways," she said with a giggle, practically amused at the turmoil of emotions passing on his face, "she is so pretty! Like a ray of sunlight in your darkness! The broomstick to your dustpan, the mop to your—okay, okay!" she conceded, raising both hands as surrender.

"And who told you that?" he snapped.

"Oh it got around, I hardly think it would matter. Knowing you, you'd lash out at anyone regardless." She grinned at him, "So, I won't name names. Speaking of names, the name's Petra Ral, right?"

"Tell me, do the words privacy and boundary never cross your mind?"

"So you don't deny it?"

"I'm not confirming it either."

"You sound like Commander Pixis and Irvin during inquiries regarding Titan attacks, which also means that it's true—and," she cut off, noticing his effort to deny her accusation, "I know you well enough, when you deflect or evade an issue it is true. So, how've you been with her? I heard you had a lot of private lessons with her—"

"Shut it." He hissed, turning his attention back to the titans below them as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"And that you treat her kindly."

"That's because she's a girl," he answered flatly.

She regarded him with outmost shock, "I'm a girl and you don't treat me differently."

"You're not a girl. You're—" he looked thoughtful for a moment that Hanji thought it was disturbing, "Hanji."

She raised an eyebrow at him and snorted, "Nice to know I belong to another sexual orientation I've never encountered."

"Of course you've encountered it," he tsk-ed, "asexual, like titans."

"It doesn't change the fact that you still treat her differently."

"Do you expect me to treat her like the pigs under me? Will you stop that disgusting look you're giving me? I am not in love—no, attracted to her or anyone. She's my subordinate and it's immoral to think of her having that trivial emotion for her when we're in the middle of this bullshit." He waved his hand dismissively, "only fools would choose this time to render themselves weak by that emotion."

"Well, contrary to what you believe," she started, tracing the scratches on the wall, "I think this is an appropriately inappropriate time to fall in love with someone."

"I must be having a nightmare," he drawled, "Hanji Zoe talking about love of all things."

She ignored his jab and continued, "This is the time when you don't expect things, heck, you see everyone at their worst and finding someone who would accept you—blood-splattered, emotionally drained, traumatized, weak, cold, undead, angry—is something that is so comforting. At least there's this one person who accepts all of you, not only the good side but also the bad. And, I believe that it's nice to break from reality once in a while. You know, feel normal. Live normally."

"Like fools." He repeated.

"Precisely. Only trivial stuff matters. What time to wake up, what to cook for lunch, who should I invite over for dinner, what to wear, and so on. There are no deaths, no people to protect, no people to watch die... just live."

Silence dominated and Hanji chose to continue her ministrations on the scratches until Levi spoke, "This is the first time I heard you talk about it—love, don't tell me you fell in love already, Hanji?"

She looked up and frowned, "But of course! I may act this way but I also have a heart unlike some people I know who deny their feelings as if it's the most dangerous thing in the world." Looking pointedly at him.

"Really?"

"Yes, and as a matter of fact, I fell in love here," gesturing to the wall, "precisely where we are seated at the moment. Don't give me that look, I am telling you the truth."

"It's hard to believe."

"I was standing right here. Overlooking the plains outside the wall, the titans in the horizon advancing towards the wall, their hungry faces hopeful, their lower extremities creating a cacophony against the land—"

"And what did I expect? Of course, titans."

She opened her mouth to argue when a distant sound of feet pattering on the wall caught their attention, she turned to the source of sound, a petite figure from the distance advancing slowly towards them. She squinted her eyes and made out a halo of golden hair flowing with the wind, wide amber eyes and a flicker of worry on her delicate face.

"Petra." She heard her companion say.

"Heichou, Hanji-Hancho." She answered, bowing to the two of them, ten steps away from where they are. "Umm… I know it isn't a good time—"

"It is," Levi interjected, throwing Hanji a sideward glance. "What seems to be the problem?"

"Two squads are currently arguing in the grounds, Heichou and, well," she looked away, "Mike-Hancho has not been any help at all downstairs—please don't tell him." She added nervously. Hanji shook her head in disappointment, Mike was probably hung over at the moment, knowing too well his habit of going to local pubs on Fridays.

She felt Levi push himself off the wall, brushing against her side, his gear scraping against the wall, unbeknownst to him. Hanji stared at him: tall and powerful, hands dusting his pants off before walking away from her without a back glance.

She watched the two of them walk back to the lift, their backs getting smaller at every step they took. She glanced at the space where he last sat and touched the new marks: faint, short and barely there. She traced them with her fingertips and looked at the vast horizon.

"Yes," she said to herself, "titans."

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Author's note: How was it? Hope you liked it!