A fluffy piece of fanart for my Secret Santa- erenismywifeerenismylife. Who, ah, either deactivated or switched URLs since signing up for the Secret Santa... So It’s being regifted to @xgiigiix !!
I’ll also post this on the discord in hopes that they’re still on there, but to everyone else!! Enjoy!!
Merry Christmas and happy new year @raisedinthunder
I was your secret santa for the levihan gift exchange and decided to make a drawing from your fic Home for Christmas on AO3. I’m sorry it’s a bit late! I’ve really enjoyed reading your work and loved the really cute scene with them squished together on the couch for family movie night.
In case anyone on my blog wants to check out this adorable fic here’s the link!
This my gift to you, @tenacioussheepalpaca! I am your secret santa! I hope you like it!
Read it on AO3
Note: I occasionally used non-gendered pronouns here, as some parts of the story was told from Levi’s perspective.
Tags: action, romance, some fluff, some gore
Summary:
This is the 24th expedition beyond the walls.
Levi discovers something about Hange, and it made him uneasy.
It was way past noon. Everything was turning gold, as the Sun showers its rays everywhere. The sky began to boast its bright yellow and orange hues. Shadows began to appear, as the day approaches its end. The wind, caressing the rustling leaves, began to get colder.
It was such a picturesque afternoon, except for the fact that the Survey Corps is amid their 24th expedition beyond the walls.
Indeed, it was way past noon. Everyone was soaked in red, as titans and humans alike have shed their blood. The sky began to show dimmer radiance. Tears began to stream down, as some lives approach their end. The soldiers, trying to hold their fallen comrades for the last time, began to prepare for departure.
It was such a solemn and mournful afternoon, except for the fact that the Survey Corps overlooked one thing. Just when everyone was ready to depart, loud gigantic footsteps were heard approaching them – accompanied with a loud, grumbling noise.
“Everyone! Evacuate this area immediately!”
The source of the noise was not yet near, but everyone could see that it was a titan of the 14-meter class.
Almost everyone already left their post.
“Hange-hanchou! We need to go!”
“No, Moblit. THIS IS OUR CHANCE! Everyone, remember the contingency plan we were talking about?”
Only a few seconds passed, but the thuds were getting louder. Squad Hange members began to move to their posts, the ones specified in their plan. Nonetheless, the titan sighted was too quick.
“Aaaah… I did not expect this. Could this be… an aberrant?”
As soon as Hange realized this, she told her squad to join the other squads in departing the area. Their contingency plan was to observe the titan’s behavior from afar, with someone highly skilled with 3D maneuvering serving as the bait. However, Hange deemed the plan impossible since the titan was an aberrant.
“But maybe we can get something out of this if I do the observation myself.” Hange thought, while glancing at the squad members who were getting farther and farther away.
Hange intended to not move and wait for the titan to see that there’s one human remaining in the area. Then, Hange would lead it to the forest where 3D maneuver gear will be of use. Through observation, the mechanics of titan limb movement will be studied which could help them revise the corps training.
Hange already calculated the risks and was prepared for them – except that the titan at hand was an abnormal. However, humanity still have so much to learn about these titans, as these are unpredictable.
“Regardless of the risks, this observation will introduce humanity to more possibilities about titans. I can do this.” Hange thought.
Unexpectedly, the titan about 100 meters from Hange sprinted as soon as it saw the soldier. If ample preparations were not done, the titan could have succeeded in grabbing Hange. The evasion from the aberrant titan was successful, and Hange was able to retreat to the forest. Unbeknownst to Hange, another soldier returned in time and followed her.
“Hange!” Levi called, as he joined in the chase.
The two soldiers were moving from one tree to another, holding on through the harness of their maneuver gear.
“Levi?” Hange said, while being perplexed at Levi’s sudden arrival. “What brings you here?”
“That’s what I want to ask you, Four-eyes. We need to leave. The others are already too far from us.”
“I’m acquiring information. This one’s a rare case.” Hange said, encouraging Levi to join the observation.
“No way in hell. I’m getting you. Now.” Levi stressed.
“NO! I desperately need it! If you’re that eager to go, JUST LEAVE ME!” Gasping, Hange continued maneuvering.
Levi reasoned, “Don’t be stupid! It’s just the two of us, it’s fucking dusk, and there’s a damn aberrant chasing us. What a nice way to get information.”
“I can take care of myself, damn it!” Hange asserted.
The moment the aberrant titan’s sight flashed in Hange’s vision, she tried evading it but her reaction time was not enough. Hange was grabbed, but not eaten yet – as she was dragged to a tree. This wounded Hange as a result of crashing to a huge branch.
Levi managed to kill the titan. He saw Hange lying on the ground – trembling.
The Sun was about to set. The wind which was rustling the leaves of nearby trees began to get unusually colder.
As Levi kneeled to aid Hange, he saw blood gushing from his companion’s abdomen. Hange managed to wrap the bandages around the wounds quickly while chasing their own breath.
Levi thought three things: first, he realized that his companion was trembling due to blood loss. Thus, he needs to stop the bleeding as soon as possible. Second, since Hange was soaked in their own blood, they got dirty as mud stuck to their body – and he needs to clean up the dirt as soon as possible. Third, they are in an open area and the Sun was setting. This means that titans would be inactive throughout the night, as it was a new moon. All he needed to do is to set an emergency camp and look for the Survey Corps as soon as Hange rested enough.
Then, the rain started to fall.
Fucking rain.
Levi managed to call his horse, Elgenhein back. Nonetheless, there was no trace of Hange’s horse. He quickly set the emergency tent.
Without energy left, Hange called out, “L-Levi.”
“Hange!”
“C-call Moppel. S-she’s a smart…and a strong…horse.”
“Got it. But try to talk less. You’re still bleeding.” Levi was checking the extent of Hange’s wounds. At that moment, Hange was still bleeding.
“Three dashes…three dots…three dashes…”
Although Levi was being careful with handling Hange, he accidentally bumped his elbow with Hange’s right chest. The wounded soldier hissed hard.
“Ugh – that… hah… hurt…”
“Tch. This is what you get for saving your research over yourself.”
“My research…hah… you know it’s uh…important, right?”
Levi did not respond. He was preparing the bandages and other things needed to close Hange’s wound. He took off his coat and spread it neatly on the ground. He carried Hange carefully and gently brought the soldier on the ground, just where he spread his coat. He’ll have to save calling Moppel back for later.
“I’m…sorry. I think you need to… hah…do the stitches… yourself. Can you… do it?”
“I was just preparing for it. Don’t talk too much, Four-eyes.” Levi assured, while holding Hange’s forehead.
Hange was losing consciousness.
“Stay awake, don’t sleep!”
Levi removed Hange’s cloak, then their upper brown jacket. He neatly folded the clothing and placed them beside Hange.
“Levi?”
“What?”
Hange hesitated to speak. “Huuh… I guess… formalities and such…aren’t needed in situations…where we’re about to die.”
FUCKING BLOOD EVERYWHERE.
“What the heck are you talking about?”
Hange was half-awake and was responding through hums and incoherent words. Nonetheless, the soldier was still holding on the buttons of their yellow polo soaked in blood.
“Four eyes. I understand that this is painful. Try holding on to something else.”
Levi released Hange’s grip from the buttons of the yellow polo, and placed their hand on his neatly spread coat on one side and Hange’s folded coat on the other side. He brought out an extra clean cloth from his expedition pack, rolled it and placed it on Hange’s mouth.
“This is going to hurt, so scream all you want. Hold on tightly if you need to. Got me?”
Since Hange was getting weaker, Levi heard no response. He just saw that his companion shut their eyes tightly and took it as a signal to begin with the sutures.
He began unbuttoning Hange’s polo, one-by-one.
He tried removing the several layers of cloth around Hange’s chest. When he was about to clean the large, open wound, Levi realized something.
Hange Zoe is a fucking woman.
But – fuck! This is not important right now. A damn woman is lying helplessly in front of him, wounded. He can think about Hange being a woman later. What’s more important is to close her wounds first.
He used a blanket to cover Hange while cleaning her wound. Then, he made sure he did the stitches right – slowly but firmly, each interval consistent and close enough to close the wound. He was particularly careful with handling Hange’s flesh.
“Hange-san, you’re as meticulous as always! Your sutures were properly done, and they looked like they were rigorously cleaned before suturing” The nurse greeted Hange, realizing that she had woken up.
“Aaah… But this time, I wasn’t the one who did the stitching. It was someone else.”
Hange continued, “Which reminds me, have you seen Levi around?”
“Hmmm… Levi-san, the strong thug who made it back last expedition?”
Hange just smiled.
“No, I’m not referring to the thug, I was referring to Levi, that unbelievably strong and thoughtful soldier. He was with me throughout the expedition… I guess.”
The nurse did not understand what Hange meant, nonetheless, she replied: “I often see him here since the time you guys came back from the expedition. Looked like he was checking on you.”
Hange got worried. The last time she saw Levi, he was soaked in blood, too.
“Hey, can I go back to my quarters now? I think I can walk now.”
“Can you stand on your own now, hanchou?”
“I’m fine, I’m fine. I’m quick to recover, you know. I think I need some air, too.”
She saw the man sitting by the edge of the wall, his legs hanging on the other side. When he turned his head to look at Hange, his eyes widened a bit. If it weren’t Hange, this gesture would not be noticed at all.
“Don’t worry, Levi! I’ve escaped death a hundred times already! Ha-ha.” Hange greeted, as she joined Levi.
“Hange.” Levi retorted, and looked at Hange with sharp eyes.
“Ahhh, sorry, sorry. I exaggerated a bit. Maybe it’s just a couple of times. Aaaaah, it’s getting cold.”
“Aren’t you gonna rest?”
“No, I wanted to see the stars, too. You’ve been hoarding such a beautiful sight.”
Levi took off his upper jacket and draped it over Hange’s shoulders.
“Aaahh… Ha-ha.” Hange was flustered.
“What?”
“These moments remind me of how human I am.” She explained, while looking down.
“Hm.” Levi responded.
Then, Hange continued, “…that…although we’re in military, I can still be treated like this. Aaaah what’s this? It’s cold, but my face feels hot.”
And her chest was pounding wildly too.
“You need to take more care of your damn self.” Levi replied.
“But I tried to be careful as much as I could.”
“That’s why I said you need to do it more.”
Hange smiled. At last, she found someone who understands. She found someone who will support her.
“Levi, I haven’t thanked you yet.”
“For what?” Levi replied.
“For going back for me... during the expedition. For doing the sutures by yourself... for bringing me back to safety... and for checking me if I’m alright.”
Levi turned away. He did not reply for a moment.
“You’re really kind, Levi. I hope others will get to see this side of yours, too.” Hange added.
“That research of yours,” Levi finally faced Hange, and looked straight to her eyes. “Count me in. Do not do everything by yourself.”
Hey folks! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! ❤ Just a few reminders about the late Secret Santa exchange:
Since messages have been sent out, everyone should know their giftees! Please pay attention to their preferences as provided to you while you create the gifts.
We’ve also set a minimum requirement for the gifts, so we’d appreciate if you try your best to follow these guidelines:
- Art: Draw at least a fairly detailed and coloured bust sized drawing or a highly detailed b/w one.
- Fic: 1.5-2k words across any genre
- Gfx/gif/edit: 2 big/complex images or 4 simple/small images in a photoset
- Misc: the above are the common gift types for exchange event, but if you’re planning on gifting something else and would like to know a minimum requirement for that medium, please feel free to ask.
We’re really looking forward to seeing your works!
Reminder that due to tumblr’s new policy, we will not be able to hold the exchange for nsfw works in public. Please contact us if you have any questions about it.
We’ll be checking in on January 2nd to see how people are doing, and the date of posting will be January 7th. Remember to tag your work with #levihan secret santa or #levihan ss so we can reblog it onto the blog.
If you cannot follow through with your gift please message us ASAP so we can make alternative arrangements for your giftee.
Tequila Christmas - An SnK AU gift for Levihan Secret Santa!
This is a gift for @raisedinthunder ! So sorry for the late update Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!
Warning: Some swearing here and there.
They lived together in a small apartment that suited them just right. True, it was cramped, and old, and had serious dry mold and crumbling wallpaper when they first saw it. True, they had first moved in together due to necessity more than anything else. But they had come a long way since then. The dry mold and dusty wallpaper disappeared within the first month. Their awkwardness at sharing living space disappeared within the first two months. And before they knew it, “the apartment” became “home” and they went from “coworkers” to “friends” to something much more.
Winters were particularly difficult because of the dodgy heating, and so on this particular night, they were huddled together on the couch under the massive, warm rug they tended to share as a daily ritual.
“How was work?” She asked him first, dumping in marshmallows into her hot chocolate.
“Jesus, do you want to put yourself in a sugar coma?”
She smirked. “When this much sugar is on hand, fuck yes.”
“Tch. Tolerance is a virtue, Hange.”
“Isn’t that supposed to be patience?” She took a sip, then hissed loudly when the scalding liquid met her mouth.
“Well, clearly you have neither, Shitty-glasses. Just let it cool down, already.”
She sighed theatrically. “How long have you known me, Levi?”
“Far too long.”
“Then this shouldn’t surprise you.” Holding her gaze locked onto his, she dumped more marshmallows into her mug and took a large swig of the concoction.
He rolled his eyes. “I give up. You’re hopeless.”
“Hopelessly in looove,” she cooed and hooked her arm around him.
He leaned away, wrinkling his nose. “I stand corrected. You’re hopelessly drunk.”
“Well, in my defense,” Hange declared, “I blame today.”
Levi frowned, and took a sip of his tea. “Why, what’s today?”
“Shut. Up. You filthy fuckin’ liar.” Hange wagged an accusing finger at him. “You know perfectly well what day it is today.”
He stared at her blankly for a moment, then his eyes widened. “Oh.” He looked supremely unhappy. “It’s Christmas.”
“Christmas Eve,” she corrected him. “The team wanted to go out for drinks-”
“You mean Moblit wanted to go out for drinks,” he deadpanned.
“And so, being the beautifully brilliant boss that I am,” Hange continued blithely, “I went with the team. It’s traditional.”
She reached for the bag of marshmallows and Levi swept it out of her reach. Ignoring her outraged hiss, he muttered, “Bullshit. We’re not even religious, Hange.”
“Wow, fuck you too,” Hange snapped. “Your atheist mathematical ass may not get the joy and the gaiety of the season but I do.”
“Yes, nothing says ‘joy to the world’ like getting piss-drunk on tequila shots.”
“You know what, screw this. I’m going to bed.”
And that was when Levi realised how insensitive he’d been. Moments like these were infrequent, but, with Levi’s natural crankiness, inevitable. “Fine, sit down. Look, be as joyous and festive as you like.” He grabbed her wrist. “Hange. Hange.”
“What.” She snapped, struggling to extricate herself from the rug and pull her hand from his grasp at the same time, and failing miserably at both.
“I’m sorry.” His quiet voice seemed to calm her and she stared at him for a long moment.
She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the faded chirp of their second-hand cuckoo clock. Outside, the bells in the University campus began to toll.
“Midnight,” Hange whispered. Then she yanked her hand away so suddenly Levi was forced to let go of her. Before another word was uttered, she stumbled away into their bedroom.
“Hange-? Hey, look, I said I’m sorry-” Levi had stood up to follow her when he stopped abruptly. She had flitted back into the room and was holding a large, haphazardly-wrapped package.
Her voice was even, her face expressionless. “I know you don’t care for this festival so…” She stepped closer and handed him the large box. “Happy Birthday.”
He looked from the gift to her, and back at the gift again for a long moment. Then, he turned on his heel and marched into the bedroom.
Hange slumped visibly, her cheeks reddening, angry and embarrassed. “Right. Of course, I shouldn’t have expected any better-”
And then he was back, holding a-
“What the fuck?” Hange gasped.
“You’re right. I don’t care for the festival.” Levi spoke as quietly as always, as though it was just normal for him to be standing there, holding a large box wrapped neatly in candy-cane patterned gift wrap. “But I know you do.” He offered her the box. “Merry Christmas, Four-eyes.”
They stared at each other for a long moment in silence. This was new territory for both of them. Somehow, over the years, they had never had a Christmas together, the universe managing to keep them apart through some way or the other (work, a sick relative, a sudden revolution… you know, regular stuff). Now both of them were left equally surprised and unsure.
Hange being Hange, took the first step forward. Mutely, she reached out for the gift in his hands while simultaneously offering him hers. They moved slowly, awkwardly, as they accepted their gifts. This was very, very new for both of them.
“Well.” Hange said. “Shall we?”
Levi simply nodded, his pale cheeks flushed pink.
They sank onto the couch. For a split second they simply sat, staring at the boxes on their laps. Then Hange attacked hers, and Levi began to unwrap his, an ill-concealed smile on his face.
Unsurprisingly, Hange managed to unwrap her gift first. Levi paused his unwrapping and watched her. “Go on,” he muttered, fidgeting slightly. He was clearly still not at ease.
She ripped away the tape sealing the box and finally opened it. And sat and stared at its contents, stunned.
“Levi…” She whispered hoarsely.
He flicked imaginary dust away from his sweater. “Don’t you like it?”
“Like it?” Hange laughed shakily. “It’s a spectrometer. A spectrophotometer. A microspectrophotometer.”
“That’s what you wanted right?” He asked her, not quite able to hide his concern. “For your weaponry artifacts?”
She opened and closed her mouth a couple times, clearly at a loss for words. Levi continued to stare at her anxiously.
“Open your gift,” she said finally.
“Hange-”
“Just open it, Levi.”
He’d fucked up. Fuck, he’d fucked up. He didn’t even know how or why, but he knew he had. If Hange’s immediate reaction wasn’t effervescent joy, then he’d definitely done something wrong. He had a sudden urge to pack his bags and leave, rather than unpack the gift he certainly did not think he deserved.
But she was waiting, so he complied, carefully unsticking the various tabs of tape that held the wrapping paper in place. When he opened the expensive-looking box that looked like it came from a fancy couturier’s, he sat back, stunned in his turn.
“What -what is this.”
Hange burst into speech. “It’s the scabbard. Your scabbard. The one to go with your heirloom sword, you know, the one so sharp a thousand years later that it can still split a hair in half. The sword whose scabbard was lost in time, the one you’re going to give to your cousin when she’s ready. I mean, look, it’s got the Ackerman coat of arms. Now you can give her the full set.”
Levi turned to her, his expression still shocked.
“I know what you’re going to say.” Hange continued, letting out a shaky laugh. “It’s expensive. But I happened to find it and I couldn’t let it go, not when I found your heirloom, Levi. So I -heh, I kind of…” She had a strange smile on her face, “I sold it. My collection, my artifacts, I sold them all, got a really good price for them, and I got you this. So, um, yeah. I know you got me the spectrometer for them, but it’s okay, I love it and and can totally use it for other things. It’s fine.”
Levi stared at her for a long moment. Finally, he croaked, “Hange.”
“It wasn’t a loss, don’t worry, I got a good price for them, honestly, I should've done it sooner, the money could’ve come in use-”
“Hange.” He interrupted her loudly. She stopped her nervous babbling. “Hange, that spectrometer, fuck… I sold my sword.”
“You what?”
“I found a private collector and I sold the sword. There’s nowhere I’d use it anyway. And you’ve been raving about the spectrometer for ages, so-”
He stopped abruptly. They both stared at each other again, equally shocked -again. Then, in sync, they smiled at each other.
“You’re an idiot.”
“You’re a colossal idiot.”
“You sold your thousand-year-old sword!”
“You sold the artifacts you’ve been collecting since you were eight fucking years old!”
They stopped, and their grins widened. Thrusting away their now-useless gifts, they slumped into each other’s arms, familiar and comfortable once more.
“We’re both idiots,” Hange declared, burrowing into his embrace, as usual. “Of the Colossal variety.”
“Agreed,” Levi murmured, his hands stroking her stringy hair, as usual. “It’s like you said, Shitty-glasses. We’re hopelessly in love.”
She smirked, leaning into his hand in her hair. “Look at you being romantic and all. Who'd’ve thought your granite-face exterior has such a gooey-”
“You can’t be poetic for shit, so shut up, will you.”
“All gooey and mushy and sparkly- mmph!”
He cut her off with a warm, deep kiss that banished every last vestige of awkwardness. How could they be awkward or uncertain, when being together always felt right, like being home?
When he pulled away, she murmured, “Now what do we do about the stuff?” They peered over the other’s shoulder at the gifts.
“Well,” he whispered against her cheek. “We could sell them, too.”
Hange gasped excitedly. “Then we’ll have money to spend!”
“Yup. And I know exactly where to spend it.”
She looked at him quizzically.
He grinned. “On a Christmas tradition, of course. Getting piss-drunk on tequila shots.”
“There’s the grump I fell in love with!”
And so, for every Christmas after that in the Zoë-Ackerman household, there was always, always tequila.
Notes: My first Levihan fic ever, hope they’re not too OOC!
Gift of the Magi is my fave X-mas story and I was so pumped to use its theme for these guys because, come on, it’s perfect for them!
Also, I really, really wanted to include this but I couldn’t find a way to do so - Hange is a Forensic Archaeologist, which is such a cool and disturbing but mostly cool career field, so it was perfect for Hange! She and Levi teach at a University, and Levi’s subject is… math. He does intense MMA, she’s a crazy acrobat, they bond over capoeira. Nothing less for this badass pairing.
