things to appreciate about levi and hanji's dynamic, a thread:

they exude different energies but instead of clashing, they balance each other out. they are two people whose bond grew stronger over the years as they endured countless hardships together. #levihan

• the ones I am about to mention are mostly from the manga and anime however I also included bits from smartpass stories and other official side materials because some of them go along with the canon content from the manga.

• this isn't an "every levihan moment thread" but I tried my best to include as many moments between them as possible.

they are introduced together and from the start they already seem quite close. levi is cheered on for being "humanity's strongest" but levi doesn't seem to like being glorified. I think hanji knows this so they comment on a side about levi that others don't typically see.

+as seen in some smartpass stories, hanji primarily talks about levi's kindness rather than his physical strength. hanji makes it a point that others realize levi is a kind person. https://thymesisandpsyche.tumblr.com/post/169336826561/au-smartpass-interview-hange-zo%C3%AB

it seems like levi likes teasing hanji and the two don't mind having the other within their personal space. this is an obvious hint that they are comfortable around each other.

+note that levi referred to himself as an abnormal in ch56. this creates a room for another possible interpretation to what levi said to hanji in episode 9. what if levi was actually referring to himself then?

+levi and hanji not minding the close physical contact as seen in various official works.

the nickname four eyes. note that levi stopped calling hanji "four-eyes" when they became commander but levi uses again to address hanji in ch132.

+levi used it twice in the chapter. while levi comments on hanji's unrequited love for titans and when he called out to hanji when they were about to leave.

+honestly I think the nickname was something very personal to them considering it was suddenly brought back in the chapter where hanji dies. furthermore levi uses it when he was seemingly about to stop hanji from leaving.

BANTERS. did you notice how most characters do not respond to levi's jokes/sarcasm (either fear or bewilderment) except one hanji zoë?

hanji was taking too long so levi went out his way to pick them up from their lab even though he is still healing from recent injury.

for some reason, levi just knew right away that hanji was on the other side of the door just from the knock alone.

petra told eren that levi's word around the castle is the rule but that doesn't seem to apply to hanji. levi did not complain about hanji's decision either.

seen standing side by side frequently whether they are on duty or not. they just naturally gravitate towards each other and there is definitely a lot of trust between them. (thanks @akigures for updating this collage)

+this scene in rts where they are guarding each other's back.

levi and his squad assists hanji and their squad during titan experiments. (this particular screenshot from the smartpass was actually from a dream sequence but by the end of it, hanji was actually in a middle of an experiment and levi was assisting them)
https://snk-smartpass.tumblr.com/post/188355274575/good-night-dear-and-sweet-dreams-vol-05-hange

+hanji also mentioned in a smartpass interview that their squads are often stationed together. https://thymesisandpsyche.tumblr.com/post/169336826561/au-smartpass-interview-hange-zo%C3%AB

they can quickly sense if the other is feeling upset and they try to comfort and reassure them. they learned that titans might be humans and levi felt terrible about it but hanji was quick to reassure him.

+levi caught on right away that something was bothering hanji and we learned that it was because they suspect nick was killed and tortured by the mps and they think it was their fault. levi does everything he could to convince hanji otherwise.

+getting back at sannes for what he did to pastor nick was more of hanji's personal business. it wasn't exactly necessary for levi have to take part but he did anyway and this was likely because hanji is someone important to him and he saw how much it troubled them.

+levi apologizes to hanji because members of hanji's squad got killed under his command and hanji never blamed levi for it.

+when hanji had an outburst and kicked a table into pieces, levi played along with hanji's excuse that they saw a cockroach rather than prying further. he probably felt that hanji doesn't really want to talk about it.

levi is easily misunderstood because he has a tendency to get roundabout with his words and sometimes he sounds crude but hanji sees way past that.

+hanji explaining that although levi is rough with his words, he actually doesn't feel that way. since not everyone realizes that, hanji tries to explain what levi is trying to say. https://thymesisandpsyche.tumblr.com/post/169336826561/au-smartpass-interview-hange-zo%C3%AB https://snk-smartpass.tumblr.com/post/188592750683/shelter-from-the-rain-vol-11-erwin-smith-just-as

when levi, furlan and isabel were new to the survey corps, hanji approached them kindly even though the other scouts were disliked them. this may have been one of the first genuine acts of kidness levi received in the corps.

+right from their very first meeting it seems like they both left quite an impression on each other.

they are efficient as a team and you can see in it their exchanges. they can even finish each other's sentences. I guess they've already memorized they way the other thinks or moves which is likely an effect of working together for years.

+in one of the bonus chapters (ilse's journal) the ones who found the journal were levi and hanji.

+when levi made a bluff to get ramzi out of trouble, the first one who caught onto his plan was hanji.

hanji knows that levi was raised by kenny. this implies that levi has told hanji about his childhood and that they probably do talk about personal things.

according to a smartpass story, levi sees hanji as his family along with the 104th. the two are actually quite protective of the kids. https://yusenki.tumblr.com/post/161879061743/au-smartpass-my-first-time-around-levi-ackerman

showing concern for the other's safety.
hanji looks very concerned about levi after seeing that he was suddenly ordered to resupply his gas.

+the look of fear and anger in levi's eyes when hanji was thrown against a pillar.

+since levi cannot easily abandon their mission, he leaves hanji in armin's care. in the anime before the cave completely collapses, he urgently orders moblit and armin to get hanji out of the cave.

+moblit notices the close bond between levi and hanji. levi encourages moblit to keep doing his duty and protect and watch over his squad leader (this might be foreshadowing to the explosion in rts arc) https://snk-smartpass.tumblr.com/post/188099287305/shelter-from-the-rain-vol-01-levi-moblit-berner

+levi suddenly deciding to meet hanji while excusing it as "so hanji would owe him one" and indirectly admitting he wants hanji to notice him. https://snk-smartpass.tumblr.com/post/188099287305/shelter-from-the-rain-vol-01-levi-moblit-berner

+after the explosion in rts arc, levi couldn't help but worry about hanji's safety. he was thinking if hanji and the others managed to avoid the explosion and wanted to get over to their side immediately. he almost got hit by rocks because he was too distracted.

+levi likely assumed that hanji died from the explosion so he was surprised and relieved to see that they survived.

+when hanji went on to chase after a titan all by themself, levi was already on his horse before erwin even gave orders to go after hanji.

+levi saves hanji from a large amount of falling books and tells them to pay more attention to their surroundings. hanji again remarks levi's kindness.  https://attackoncoffee1988.tumblr.com/post/615576613014454272/the-library-thats-covered-in-dust

+levi speechless after seeing the amount of heavy and dangerous equipments hanji was working on in a locked room. https://snk-smartpass.tumblr.com/post/188840292701/three-viewpoints-selected-cases

+notice how after yelena fired a gun at someone, levi was suddenly by hanji's side in the next frame and niccolo was abandoned on the side? maybe levi wanted to be right beside hanji so he could protect them easily if yelena suddenly does something.

levi tries to tell hanji that eren is going through a phase. while it seems that the concept of it was unknown to hanji, they still used it to explain eren's outburst to zackley.

the survey corps made it out to the sea for the first time but levi seems to be too preoccupied on worrying and watching over hanji.

+in the game aot 2: final battle, the ocean scene was extended and gave us more levi and hanji banter. also that shot of hanji picking up a sea cucumber seems like it was taken from levi's pov.

as mentioned in these smartpass stories, levi appreciates and acknowledges hanji's efforts as the survey corps commander. https://levihan-2020.tumblr.com/post/178495992681/hanji-and-levi-arrive-at-the-orphanage-historia
https://yusenki.tumblr.com/post/161879061743/au-smartpass-my-first-time-around-levi-ackerman

in a q&a, it is said that hanji thinks that the one they are closest to is levi. in one aot game, hanji introduces 3 important men in their life (levi, moblit and erwin) and then says that levi is the one they are closest to. https://trapqueen-sama.tumblr.com/post/160651664315/hanji-introduces-the-3-important-man-in-her-life https://warm-starlight.tumblr.com/post/611004824530632704/in-that-qa-where-isayama-said-that-hanji-thinks

[just gonna insert more stuff from other official secondary materials and games. sorry if I missed anything!]

hangeki no tsubasa:
• levi made chocolates for hanji in the valentine's event "because four-eyes was whining about wanting something sweet" and remembered they liked chocolates.
• hanji wrote a song for levi's birthday https://myshittylevihans.tumblr.com/post/186122409797/hey-levihan-ship-i-know-were-all-cringing-over https://attackoncoffee1988.tumblr.com/post/190447596154/full-version-of-levis-birthday-story-from-hangeki

aot tactics: levi said he just happened to wake up because he wanted to drink tea but it seems like he went to check up on hanji on purpose. he even used his expensive tea. (thanks @fantasyphs and @levihannnn for the screenshots!)

+this is from koucha kaden milk tea collab. in one of audio clips, hanji remarks that the taste seems to be the one levi likes. https://anosorae.tumblr.com/post/125692947647/hanjis-recording-for-the-koucha-kaden-milk-tea-x

aot: wings of freedom: one of hanji's lines is them asking levi to help capture titans. the idea doesn't sound keen on levi but later on we get a line from levi asking eld "are those the ones hanji wanted."

more banter.

the footsie and telepathy. who knows, maybe this is how they typically communicate during meetings?

hanji watching levi with a small smile while the latter was complaining at how the 104th had grown much taller than him

levi looking at hanji in awe. (note that hanji said something similar in the past and levi may have remembered that. I think levi has always been at awe at how hanji stays true to their principles.)

the following tweets are going to be focused on 115, 126, 132 and 139 but I'm not gonna go too much into detail because I've already said most of my thoughts on these chapters in a previous thread: https://twitter.com/kyuujuuhachi/status/1382657478635048966?s=19

hanji risked their life to save levi even though the situation seemed dangerous. outnumbered, surrounded by armed yeagerists and a titan shifter, it was a very disadvantageous situation for them but that did not deter hanji.

+hanji looked livid when floch offered to take levi's pulse. floch wanted levi dead because he is a big threat to them and hanji definitely doesn't have any intention of letting floch harm levi.

+reminder that levi is heavier than hanji and they managed to swim against the raging current of a river while carrying him. it wasn't shown but it's already understood that hanji had to carry and hide him into safety while they fend of the yeagerists after them.

+hanji tended to his wounds with so much care. also the dialogue here? it feels like hanji was convincing themself that levi is going to be safe and he is gonna surely recover from his injuries.

they are each other's confidants. they show each other a side they don't typically show to other people.

+remembering sannes' words caused hanji so much grief but hanji is the type who would keep their problems to themself. but after reuniting with levi in 126 they opened up to him right away.

+levi too opens up to hanji on how he failed and had let zeke get away again.

hanji asked levi if they should just live together (hanji blushed after learning that levi heard what they said) this pretty much tells us that if hanji wants to live a peaceful life, they want levi safe with them as well.

levi understands that running away won't give hanji the true peace they yearn for because he knows that hanji could never fathom abandoning people who need them.

hanji was shown to be very protective levi and hardly left his side unless necessary. levi who is still recovering from injuries insisted that he join them while making plans and returned to hanji's side.

analysis on levi's "so four eyes, yet another love for titans gone unrequited, I see" dialogue because there was a nuance in the japanese text that wasn't present in the english translation. https://shunkani.tumblr.com/post/629032074511269888/chapter-132-levihange-analysis

levi was still having a difficulty walking without support at the begginning of the chapter but the moment he saw hanji was going to leave he was able to walk by himself.

hanji indirectly tells armin to take care of levi.

levi and hanji are very transparent around one another. they can read each other like an open book and I guess this may have been one of the reasons why you could observe in ch132 that they avoided eye contact as much as possible when they were parting.

(also strongly believe that hanji wanted to live and continue to fight alongside the alliance but at the same time hanji has very a strong sense of responsibility and selflessness that's why they couldn't let the others get sacrificed in their stead.)

it seems that hanji already felt that levi was going to stop them and that's why instead of saying goodbye, hanji asks levi "you understand..", "so just let me go will you?"

what hanji said to levi here feels like a callback to what levi said in the forest. "I know you...you're not able to stay out of the action. I guess you could put it this way: levi knows hanji, therefore he would understand their decision.

hanji was scared and I think levi can sense that from hanji's voice alone. but hanji was asking him to let go; so levi not wanting to make things even more difficult for hanji, has no other choice but to respect hanji's decision and say something that could give hanji strength.

ten years in the scouts and this was the very first time levi ever says dedicate your heart. I think this was levi's way of telling hanji that he supports their beliefs and that he believes hanji is someone who truly embodied the ideals of the scouts.

the amount of emotions their eyes had shown. no more words were needed. whatever it was that levi wanted to tell hanji, it surely reached them.

levi couldn't look back at hanji as they leave (possibly because it pains him to see hanji go or he is afraid he might attempt to stop them) and the last thing he hears from hanji was their laugh.

levi values hanji's opinion, we've seen this as well in the earlier chapters. it sounds like levi was the only one who knew about hanji's deduction that killing zeke might possibly stop the rumbling.

when levi temporarily reunites with the veteran scouts, hanji was shown smiling at first but then looks sorrowful in the next panel.

maybe one of the reasons is that hanji was probably worried about levi. also like I said earlier I think hanji really wanted to leave.

in the end levi was able to send them off with smile so maybe this had given hanji reassurance.

the plane was likely a reference to hanji and their sacrifice in 132. both levi and onkyankopon has associated hanji with planes this likely takes place during hanji's death anniversary. strong implication that even after years have gone by, levi still keeps hanji in his memory.

at first it might seem that levi and hanji are complete opposites because levi is reserved meanwhile hanji is energetic. but if you try to look deeper into the character you would realize that they are not entirely different at all.

levi and hanji share similar ideologies in life. they value the lives of wills of their comrades and are one of the few characters who were vocally against the rumbling. they are also very selfess and compassionate people.

another thing they have in common is how they are often misunderstood or regarded as odd by some people. levi is socially awkward and is crude with his words. hanji is seen as eccentric for their unconventional ideas.

but despite levi's crude words, hanji is one of the few who can see way past that exterior and sees the kind soul inside. levi may sometimes tease hanji but we know how highly he values their opinions and insights. also even their sense of humor are similar.

these are the reasons why they seem to be always in the same wavelength—why they understand each other so well. sometimes they don't need to say things out loud and let their eyes do the talking.

that deep level of understanding is the strongest aspect of their bond. it is the one that was consistently developed between the two. they understood the other's selflessness and reasons and that's why they were able to let go.

if you made it this far, thank you for reading. sorry if it's a mess and if I forgot to add a few things. levi and hanji will always be one of my favorite characters and I will forever adore their dynamic.

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