[The conversation goes in the exact direction Erwin assumes it will. He's put a lot of the pieces together, the little tidbits he's gleaned from Vaeros and things Hange themself has dropped in conversation. He's not surprised to learn he dies at Shiganshina, even though the confirmation of it sends a little dagger of despair through his chest. It's only once he knows he dies that he realises how much he truly wants to live.]

[The surprise is that Levi had a chance to save him and didn't.]

[That is something Erwin will be thinking about frequently, in the days and nights to come, when the cottage is quiet around them and Levi has managed to sleep before Erwin does. He thinks he knows why Levi does it; he also doesn't think Levi would make the same choice now, if presented with it here. But then, Erwin can simply live here, and not be haunted by whatever choices he made in the past.]

[They can all just live here.]

[Erwin sets his teacup down and rises off the chair. He takes the two steps over to the couch and sinks down onto it, on the other side of Hange. He presses himself to Hange's back and reaches across them, holding onto both Hange and Levi.]

It's okay.

[His voice is soft and sad, but he understands.]

You did what needed to be done. You both did. I could never ask for a better pair of soldiers, or friends.