[ Maybe Levi is the only person in the world who can truly understand the choice that Mikasa had been forced to make: the burden of humanity, of having the strength to save or damn people, of knowing that sometimes the choice falls to the person who is the strongest. Mikasa had never imagined that she would be in that position, that having Ackerman blood in her veins would mean she was the only person who could stop the end of the world, but she had been forced to do it.

A part of her thinks that Levi would have done it in her place, if he'd had the chance, the strength, the will.

After the commander, after Zeke... She understands.

They're Ackermans. It means that they're the strongest, and they know exactly what needs to be done, in the end. That is a bond she and Levi are going to share no matter what happens here, what changes between them or around them. No one else - Eren, Jean, Hange, Erwin - none of them can grasp the innate knowledge that springs into their mind when the moment calls on it.

Levi and Mikasa understand each other, and her confused feelings settle on one thing: comfort. He hasn't lived what she has, hasn't seen what the man he remembers has, but he understands why she did what she did.

It helps. ]

Sorry.

[ She's a little sorry about the teacup, but it's not actually broken, so she doesn't feel too bad. The touch of his hand is startling, but comforting at the same time: she grips it, allowing herself to lean on his strength again. Slowly, carefully, she lifts her gaze to look at him once again, finding relief in the fact that he does truly understand. ]

You deserved to know.

[ He'd given enough. They'd both given enough.

Glancing away, almost afraid to talk about Eren so frankly with Levi looking at her, she musters herself. ]

I'm taking care of him, as much as he'll let me. He's figured out that he's going to die, but I don't think he knows how. Not yet.

[ It's unspoken: she's not going to tell him. ]