"He didn't leave a note about what he took- but Petra didn't use the whole bottle, there's a little bit remaining if you need it for any reason." I hovered next to a slightly unkempt Hanji Zoe who had just arrived.

"You're going to have to explain to me how this happened-" she waved me away, "but for now go take a seat, I need some space."

alright

"Will this really work?" Farlan who had been hovering around Hanji with me asked, "I don't doubt her capabilities but-"

she doesn't really look like a doctor?

"I believe in her-" I getsured to my body, "I mean- she pulled me back from the dead."

if anyone can help levi she can

"Do all of them need to be here?" He pointed at the group of knights that had accompanied Hanji.

it'll be too much effort to get them out

"We're here to guide Hanji Zoe, and guard the Marchioness," Mikasa cut in, moving to stand in between Hanji and Farlan.

i appreciate it but realistically what is an overworked aide going to do to her

"Farlan- they searched day and night for a way to help Levi- I know that you don't know them but-" I paused, "they're my knights."

we're supposed to be best friends forever..... no fighting

"Mikasa- send everyone else out- they should be resting."

compromise

they rode throughout the night to be here

i feel bad enough that they weren't immediately shown to a place to rest

"Alright," she nodded, gesturing for the rest of the knights to leave.

thank you

"Y/N," Hanji called for me, "have you noticed anything strange since he was poisoned?"

"No? Not particularly-" I glanced back at Farlan, "have you? He's honestly been fine- it just looks like he's sleeping."

honestly nothing is more concerning than something

makes it difficult to pin down the cause

but i guess i should be happy that he appears to be fine

"His condition has been stable," Farlan nodded.

"Interesting," Hanji hummed, smiling slightly. "It doesn't seem like a normal poison- his pulse is stable- he isn't visibly weakening."

but he has been asleep for days

"Maybe he took something from you?" I glanced at the mostly empty bottle, "do you know of anything that would do this?"

im sure he picked this one on purpose

from what he's told me about his childhood

im sure he has a good grasp over different kinds of poisons

"No," Hanji shot me down, "I've never been interested in poisons- several other researchers were more interested in the properties of different plants found in the forest- my research has been primarily focused on lifespans since the very beginning."

right-

"Is there anything that we can do about it?"

"Of course," she grinned, "I don't know how to make these poisons but I've kept records about the experiments of some of my former colleagues."

"Then?"

"Don't worry about it- I'll finish checking his vitals and start thinking about how to handle this," she continued to fuss over his body. "Do you know where he got this?"

no not really but-

"He's a little obsessed with the forest- or well magical things in general."

sooo...... not impossible for him to have a surprise random magical potion

"He has been acquiring anything connected to the forest for years now- most of the collection is back in the Duchy but I'm sure he keeps some here," Farlan spoke up, "that's probably where he got it."

"I'm surprised these things are still hanging around-" Hanji seemed pleased about the idea, "I thought your family would have worked to get rid of what little magical tools still remained."

right... she's been living alone in the woods all this time

"It's still difficult to get them-"

levi probably has the largest collection second to the items kept in storage back home

"I'm assuming your doctors tried to treat this like a regular poison and it didn't work?"

"That's right," Farlan nodded.

"These kinds of potions tend not to work like regular poisons-" she felt for Levi's pulse, "he's merely sleeping. Aside from some minor muscle pain from lying in one spot for so long he will be fine once we wake him up."

that's good news

"Do you know how to do that?" I leaned in a little closer.

"Of course," she waved me away, "I've saved you three times now."

"I guess you have-" I trailed off, "I really owe you now."

i should ask her about petra

"We can talk about that after we wake him up."

"He'll want to talk to you- we want to talk to you," I hesitated, "there's someone else who might want your help and I- I might be interested in loosening certain restrictions."

if she won't help petra ill just have to find someone else to do it

"I think that would settle your debts," Hanji chuckled, "we should talk about it when he wakes up."

"When will that be?"

"The next couple minutes if my hypothesis is correct."

"Do you need anything? Farlan, Mikasa, and I can go get it-"

"Just your consent."

"What do you mean by that?" Farlan asked, moving to be by the bedside.

"One of you is going to have to kiss him-"

OH

"Again?"

"AGAIN?" Farlan whipped around to face me.

ok this shouldn't be a surprise to you....

"First of all we're dating," I frowned at him, "second of all, yeah, we had to kiss the first time- in order to swap back."

"Then this will be simple!" Hanji clapped her hands- "just kiss him and this will all be fixed."

"Alright- everyone close your eyes- it's a little embarrassing to do in front of people."

I glanced around the room to make sure no one was looking before leaning in and kissing Levi.

i wouldn't have dreamed about doing this a couple months ago

they would have been nightmares

that's true

"Why the fuck are everyone's eyes closed?" A familiar- albeit slightly gruff- voice rang throughout the room.

thank god

"Levi!" Isabel burst through the door, pushing past everyone to hug him, Farlan quickly joining her.

"You really scared all of us," I muttered, biting back my laughter.

it's a bit cliche how this all played out

"Did I?"

"You did."

"I was half expecting that you would have run away by the time I woke up," he laughed, reaching out to squeeze my hand.

wow....

"Good to see you're still an asshole."

"Did you win?"

"Of course I did," I couldn't hold back my smile any longer, "Floch Forster has been stripped of his titles- he can't do anything to us anymore."

"Good."

"Hey, Levi?"

"Yes?"

"You couldn't get rid of me if you wanted- our lives are too entangled to unravel."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"I really love you."

"Me too."

_________________________

and that's a wrap (for now)! sorry if it seems a bit rushed i was trying to finish this before i leave to study abroad on monday!

i may come back to this story at some point to write an epilogue and close up loose ends but i think this is it for me for now.

i don't really know when i'll start something new as i want to take a bit of a break and focus on enjoying my time abroad! thank you all for enjoying my work and sticking with me until now- i really wouldn't be the person i am today without this creative outlet and all of your years of support.

if you ever want to chat or reach out you can message me on discord @ amieoba or write something on my conversations tab (i'll try to check regularly)

until next time! (i love you all- please take care!)

- ami