"Hello?" I called out as we neared the door, hanging back slightly while Levi knocked.

it's impressive

"Is she home?" Levi frowned slightly, peering back the way we had come.

i hope so

"Her house is awesome," I grinned, taking in the treehouse, blanketed in flowering vines.

i love it

"Is she still alive?" Levi muttered, peering in through one of the windows.

"Of course she is," I knelt down to pick up Mr. Squid who was waiting patiently by the door, "otherwise how would this guy be alive?"

he's clearly tame

"There isn't anyone inside," Levi sighed, turning back to me.

"Then we'll have to wait- she'll be here eventually- I know it."

she has to

"I fucking hope so-" Levi was cut off by the sudden sound of footsteps climbing the stairs up to the treehouse.

oh my god

"Levi-" I whispered, moving to get closer to him, suddenly anxious about the kind of person we were going to meet.

"It'll be ok," he nodded at me, hand finding mine naturally.

oh

We saw her before she saw us, a young woman with brown hair who couldn't have been much older than the two of us.

that must be her- hanji zoe

Mr. Squid leapt from my arms before either of us could say something, purring loudly as he rubbed up against her legs.

goodbye my prince

"What have you brought me this time?" She chuckled, her eyes widening in recognition as she saw Levi and I.

hi

"A L/N," she sighed loudly, closing the distance between us, "to what do I owe the pleasure?" Before either of us could answer she brushed past us, pushing open the door, "you seem like you have a lot to say, come inside."

as expected- she doesn't exactly seem thrilled to see me

"We're in this together," Levi muttered, nudging me forward.

i'd hope so

"Together," I echoed, taking the first steps into the house. Immediately I was hit with the smell of hundreds of dried medicinal herbs that were hung from her ceiling. Hanji Zoe's house was warm and crowded, shelves upon shelves were covered with books, the table she was hurriedly tidying was covered in notes on all manner of things related to the forest, Levi's gaze was trained on a large work table where some kind of potion was in the process of getting made.

i understand why my father called her a witch-

"I didn't expect you to make it here," Hanji made no move to hide her displeasure at our appearance, "it appears that this one," her gaze flicked to Mr. Squid, "had other plans."

THANK YOU MR. SQUID !!

"Will you please hear us out? I promise it'll be worth it," I dug in my bag for the cookies the maids had packed for us.

"It will take more than cookies to get my help," she paused, looking them over, "but I suppose I can spare some time to listen, sit- both of you."

thank god

"What the fuck is that-" Levi mouthed at me, gesturing to what appeared to be a taxidermy jackalope.

i'm not going to question anything we see here <3 peace and love

"I'm Hanji Zoe," she introduced herself as we sat down, "I assume you're here for only one thing- which means that old man has finally let go of his pride," her comments were addressed to Levi.

oh right

"You're wrong," Levi shook his head.

"Really?"

yes really

"Actually-" I hesitated, "I assume you're talking about my father- he didn't send us- rather he insisted we didn't come."

but life has other plans

"I thought there was only a girl," she leaned forward, her frown deepening, "he told me he only had one heir."

"He does," Levi spoke up.

"But that would be you- wouldn't it? I recognize my work when I see it," her eyes darted between the two of us, mind whirring.

"I'm Y/N L/N," I gestured to myself, "and that is the heir to the Ackerman Duchy, Levi Ackerman, he stole my body and I want it back."

"Interesting," Hanji grinned, her eyes taking on an almost manic gleam.

it's less interesting when you're living it

"I didn't steal your body, if anything you stole mine dumbass," Levi scoffed.

"He would be correct," Hanji grinned, "were you unhappy with the body I made for you? What forced your soul out?"

hold on-

"What do you mean made for me?"

"Of course your father offloads the explanation onto me," she tutted, making her opinion of my father clear, "I presume you know a little about your first visit to me- I don't think that man would have told you willingly."

"You're correct-" I nodded, "I didn't get much out of him other than his distaste for you."

"You can tell him that I don't like him either," she grumbled, "what do you know?"

"I know I got hurt- that I may have died- and you brought me back," I hesitated, "but I don't know much beyond that- my father didn't even want me coming here."

"It must have been difficult convincing him," she hummed, stroking Mr. Squid.

it was

"I'm hard to say no to."

"I can see that," Hanji smiled for the first time since our conversation started, "alright, I'll tell you the real story."

im in love with her (real)

"You did die, and your father did come to me to beg for help-" her gaze shifted to Levi, or perhaps more accurately my body, "but some creature had gotten to you- you wouldn't have lived for very long even if I had retethered your soul to the body it left."

this is a lot of information-

"What the fuck do you mean by that?" Levi stole the question from my lips.

"I mean that the body you are currently inhabiting is something I made for Y/N L./N at the request of her father."

that isn't my original body?

"I've switched bodies before?"

"You could look at it like that," she nodded, "it's different from your current case- there wasn't a soul inhabiting the other body before you went into it."

"How?"

"It's quite a long story- I have to say I'm surprised you've turned out so well- my research has developed further since I made you," she seemed caught up in thought, "although the fact that you've come back in this state means that there was still work to do."

you're right

"Why did you do it?" I muttered, taking in every detail of my body.

"You're taking this well," she beamed, "I like you."

"Answer her question," Levi frowned.

"I did it because I could- it isn't easy to do what I did- the deceased individual has to be in just the right condition-" she clearly had more to say but cut herself off, "-and your father had a point- if I wanted to continue living like I am now unbothered it's in my best interest to keep the L/N family in control of the forest. I saved you for myself."

that's true- i don't think anyone else is stupid enough to not use the forest

i'm sitting next to someone who wants to use it

someone just convincing enough to make me want to believe in what he's saying

"Are you ok?" Levi, looked over at me, concern flooding his eyes.

i think so

"It's a lot to take in but," I reached for my body's hair, holding it in my hand, "I lived in that body longer than the one I died in, and- I'm really attractive so I can't say that it's an issue."

just a lot to take in

"You're welcome," Hanji chuckled.

"I'm not sure I want to know how you made a body so I won't ask but-"

"I want to know," Levi cut in.

"Of course you do," I rolled my eyes.

"It sounds like we're going to be here for a while, should I put on some tea?" Hanji stood up, her previously cold demeanor melting away.

"I would love some."

"Please."

_________________

HANJI MY BELOVED <333

- ami