Attack On Titan- Wings of liberty*

As Sana turned back, her heart skipped a beat. Standing behind her was a slim, tall man with short black hair and piercing dark eyes.

"Why are you sitting here at this hour?" he asked, his tone more inquisitive than harsh.

His sharp gaze roved over her, analyzing her as though she were a puzzle to be solved. "Do you have any ID?" he inquired.

Sana shook her head. "I'm lost, sir. I don't have anything with me."

The man frowned, then turned and walked over to another officer nearby, whispering something. It was then that Sana noticed his uniform. Something about it tugged at her memory. She glanced around, her eyes tracing the surroundings more carefully this time. The design of the walls—it hit her. It was unmistakable.

"This wall… it's from Attack on Titan."

Her gaze darted to the nearby houses, their architecture strikingly similar to the ones from the anime. A wave of disbelief swept over her.

"Am I in a theme park?" she wondered. "They must be cosplaying."

Yet, everything felt unnervingly real—the chill of the night air, the gritty texture of the ground beneath her shoes, the weight of the man's gaze. It didn't feel like a dream.

The man returned, his expression unreadable. "Come with me," he said firmly.

"Do you live in this area?" he asked as they walked.

"No," Sana replied, realizing how out of place her modern clothes must have looked compared to theirs.

He led her to a building, down a flight of stairs that spiraled into darkness. Her instincts screamed at her to run, but she was too overwhelmed to resist. At the bottom, a group of stern-looking gatekeepers awaited. Before Sana could ask anything, the man shoved her forward.

"Make sure she doesn't come back," he ordered coldly.

The gatekeepers threw her into the underground city. Sana stumbled, the sudden shift disorienting her. A wave of unease washed over her as she noticed the people around her—dirty, desperate faces, staring at her like she was an alien. The stench of damp air and decay hit her, making her stomach churn.

"Where am I?" she whispered to herself, her voice trembling.

Desperation clawed at her chest. She needed answers. But who could she ask? Everyone looked wary, their eyes glinting with suspicion or worse—malice.

A thought struck her like lightning. "Levi… yes, Levi might be here. But wait," she hesitated, piecing together fragments of memory. "He joined the Survey Corps in 844. That means… this must be before that."

She approached a man nearby, summoning every ounce of courage. "Excuse me," she asked hesitantly. "What year is it?"

The man scowled but answered gruffly. "840."

Sana's heart skipped a beat. Relief and anxiety collided within her. Levi was still in the underground. But the thought of meeting him here, in this infamous underworld, was as terrifying as it was thrilling.

The Underground Struggle

Determined to find Levi, Sana began searching. The underground was a labyrinth of shadowy alleys and crumbling buildings. People loitered aimlessly—drunkards, gamblers, and others who had clearly given up on life.

The longer Sana wandered, the more the oppressive atmosphere weighed on her. Whispers and curious glances followed her everywhere. Exhaustion set in quickly, her hunger gnawing at her resolve. She hadn't eaten or drunk anything in hours.

Finally, she spotted a small restaurant—or what passed as one in this place. Desperation drove her inside.

"I'll work," she offered the owner. "I can clean or wash dishes—just let me have a meal in exchange."

The owner grumbled, clearly unimpressed, but after some pleading, he relented. Sana worked tirelessly, scrubbing dishes that never seemed to end and cleaning every corner of the dingy establishment. When she was finally done, she was given a small bowl of stew and a piece of bread.

Gratefully, she sat near the door, thanking every deity she could think of for the food. As she lifted her spoon, her eyes caught sight of a child outside, staring longingly at the bistro. The boy's hollow cheeks and wide eyes made her heart ache.

Without a second thought, she called him in and handed him her meal. The boy's face lit up as he devoured the food. Sana left quietly, her stomach still empty but her heart full.

Exhausted, Sana stumbled upon a concrete bench and collapsed onto it. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, but her body gave in.

When she woke, she heard laughter—a loud, mocking kind of laughter. She followed the sound and saw a group of men harassing a girl. Fury flared within her. She rushed forward, grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her away.

"Leave her alone," she snapped.

One of the men lunged at her. Sana twisted his arm with all the strength she could muster. A fight broke out, chaotic and brutal. Sana fought wildly, using every ounce of adrenaline to fend them off. To her surprise, the girl joined in, landing punches of her own. Together, they managed to drive the men away.

As the last of the men retreated, Sana's vision blurred. Her body, pushed beyond its limits, gave out. She crumpled to the ground, darkness closing in.

"It's so dark… I can't see a thing," Sana murmured groggily as her senses began to return. She stared at a cracked ceiling, disoriented and weak.

"Are you okay?" came a familiar voice, soft yet concerned.

Sana turned her head slightly. "Isabel?" she asked, her voice faint.

"Yeah, it's me," Isabel said, kneeling beside her. "You really scared me back there."

Sana tried to move, but her body felt like lead. "Water… please," she managed to say.

Footsteps echoed in the room. Moments later, a man appeared, carrying a glass of water and a plate of food. His calm demeanor and sharp eyes immediately caught Sana's attention.

"Here," he said, handing the items to Isabel. "Help her sit up."

Isabel slipped an arm behind Sana, carefully propping her up. "Come on, drink," she urged gently.

Sana sipped the water slowly, feeling the cool liquid ease her parched throat. Isabel passed her the plate, and Sana began eating, the food restoring some of her strength.

"Thank you," she said softly, glancing between them.

Isabel smiled. "Don't mention it."

Once Sana finished eating, Isabel leaned closer, curiosity shining in her eyes. "By the way, what's your name?"

Sana hesitated for a moment before replying. "It's Sana."

"Thanks for helping me, Sana," Isabel said, her voice quivering slightly. Tears glistened in her eyes, but her smile remained steadfast.

Sana managed a faint smile in return.

"Where do you live, Sana?" the man asked, speaking for the first time since bringing the food. His voice was calm but carried a quiet authority.

Sana glanced down, taking a few seconds before answering. "I… I don't have a place to stay. Actually, I just arrived in the underground recently."

The man studied her for a moment, then exchanged a look with Isabel. Without saying another word, the two left the room.

A Glimmer of Hope

After a few tense moments, Isabel returned, her face lit up with a wide grin.

"Hey, Sana," she said, excitement in her voice. "How about staying with us? I mean, we're not exactly 'good people,' but we'll take care of you."

Sana's eyes widened. "Can I really stay here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course!" Isabel replied. "Aniki doesn't mind."

Relief washed over Sana like a wave. "Thank you," she said, her voice cracking.

"Rest now," Isabel said. "You'll need your strength."

Just as Sana settled back, the door creaked open. A man entered, his presence commanding the room. His sharp gray eyes and stern expression left no doubt—this was Levi Ackerman.

"You can stay here," Levi said curtly, "but…"

Before he could finish, Sana sat up straighter despite her exhaustion. "I'll keep myself and this place clean, sir," she said earnestly.

"You better do it," Levi replied, his tone even but firm.

Sana blinked, still processing the surreal moment. She was face to face with humanity's strongest soldier.

Her gaze lingered, unable to look away.

Levi raised an eyebrow. "What are you staring at, gaki?"

"Nothing… sorry about that," she stammered, quickly averting her eyes. "Thank you for letting me stay here."

Farlan reentered the room at that moment, his usual calm demeanor lightening slightly.

"Welcome to our family," Isabel said cheerfully, her voice breaking the tension.

Sana's chest tightened, a single tear slipping down her cheek. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt a sense of belonging.

Isabel and Farlan gave Sana a tour of the house. Though small, it was immaculately clean—no doubt thanks to Levi's strict standards.

"This is where we eat," Isabel explained, pointing to a small but cozy corner. "And this is where we sleep."

The room was sparse but organized, with a few neatly arranged blankets and pillows.

"Not much, but it's home," Farlan added.

Sana smiled. "It's perfect."

The group eventually gathered downstairs for tea. The warm drink was a welcome comfort after the chaos of the day.

Isabel chatted animatedly, her energy infectious. Farlan occasionally chimed in with witty remarks, while Levi remained mostly quiet, observing from the sidelines.

For the first time since arriving in the underground, Sana felt at peace. Though the road ahead was uncertain, she knew she wasn't alone anymore.