Smoke blanketed the battlefield. Thunder spears echoed in the sky. Steel wires flashed, titans clashed, and yet— in the chaos, one pattern stood out.

You.

The Cart Titan—no longer Marley’s war mule, no longer a crawling beast. You had evolved.

You bore sleek armor along your limbs and torso, custom-fitted by Paradis engineers. Your jaw structure was sharpened, more defined. Your frame was lean, fast, deadly. A balance of strength and speed that few could match. You carried no turrets—only purpose.

And you carried trust.

From one man, in particular.

Levi Ackerman.

Everyone else saw him as cold. Unshakable. Deadly.

But when it came to you, something different passed through his eyes.

He never attacked you. Not once. Even when Marley’s soldiers watched from afar, hoping he’d go for you as he went for Porco or Reiner—

He never raised a blade against you.

Instead, he moved with you.

Every time you entered the field, Levi’s ODM path would trace near your face, near your shoulder—just close enough for his hand to graze your titan cheek. Never a blow. Just a silent brush of contact.

Some thought it was coincidence. Others began to whisper.

Porco Galliard saw it happen again. He was being hunted—Levi trailing him with terrifying speed—but the moment your Titan charged across the line of fire, Levi didn’t attack. He angled under your frame, moving as if you were a part of his squad.

Porco snarled inside his Titan, “What the hell is that? He just passed her like she’s nothing!”

Zeke’s eyes followed the pattern, jaw tightening. “He knows that Titan,” he muttered. “She’s not a threat to him.”

Porco bared his teeth. “Then what is she to him?”

Zeke didn’t answer.

Because no one knew.

⸻

From the warships, Marleyan commanders watched with frustration. “Why is the Ackerman avoiding the Cart?” one muttered. “She’s vulnerable. Fast, but unarmed. He should’ve taken her down in the first strike.”

But instead, you defended him.

When Levi was mid-flight, dodging a hail of thunder spears, you leapt forward—taking the impact yourself. Your armored side cracked, and smoke poured from your form, but you stayed standing.

Levi landed on your shoulder without hesitation, as if it was normal.

“You okay?” he said lowly, crouched near your Titan eye.

You answered with a silent growl—low and steady.

He exhaled and leapt off, continuing the fight.

⸻

Later, after the battle, your human form emerged from the steam, body bruised, hair wet with sweat. You found him sharpening his blades near the edge of camp.

“You always pass by me,” you said calmly. “Even in Titan form.”

He didn’t look at you. Just said, “You never flinch.”

You crossed your arms. “You never strike.”

Silence.

Then finally, he glanced at you. “You’re not a target. You’re the only one on that field who moves like I do.”

You held his gaze. Quiet. Understanding.

“Even as a Titan?”

Levi’s voice softened just a little. “No. Especially as a Titan.”