#smartpass

The first time we see this leniency from Levi when Hange is involved is in chapter 20, Special Operations Squad, where now Eren is fully part of Levi's squad and Hange goes to see Levi to ask him if Eren is busy the next day since they'd like Eren to assist them in their Titan experiments (classic Hange). Levi's answer is simply "Cleaning the yard" for which Hange automatically assumes it's settled, Eren will spend the day with them and Levi is surprisingly fine with it.

I find this situation overturn quite hilarious especially since Hange personally came to Levi to ask him about Eren since Eren is under him, not under them, and then Hange just made plans for Eren as if he were always under them when it's not the case. We can also not really say there is a difference between Hange's position as squad leader and Levi's position as captain. Hange got that rank traditionally through promotions while Levi's exceptional strength already made him perfect to have his own squad, but at the end of the day, one doesn't outweigh the other, so Hange should've never been able to take over the situation like that and yet Levi let them. This is honestly one of my favourite interactions between them because it shows how much Hange understands Levi's weird way of talking. How "cleaning the yard" means Eren is pretty much free, so Hange just imposed themself to take him instead. And even if Hange technically says they are here to ask for Levi's permission, they didn't really ask for it because they took that decision for Levi anyway and the funniest part is that Levi had no objections to this sudden change of Eren's plans.

This also reminds me of another scene from chapter 53, Smoke Signal, where now the Survey Corps are into hiding as they're being hunted by the Military Police and they take that opportunity to do Titan experiments with Eren. Eren is clearly too exhausted to keep transforming and Mikasa disobeys orders again, rushing to Eren's aid. And Levi then asks Hange whether they should punish Mikasa for this insubordination.

I find it interesting Levi says "we" here when Mikasa is again in his squad only, meaning Levi is her direct superior, not Hange, and we cannot claim Hange started adopting Levi's new squad like in later chapters since their own squad wasn't yet killed by Kenny. And again, Hange naturally takes that decision for him by saying they shouldn't punish her. It's honestly hilarious how much Hange can do as they please with Levi's own subordinates and Levi is totally fine with that. No objections, he just agrees. It's not like Hange is Levi's superior either so he necessarily needs to obey their orders. He just goes along with whatever Hange is saying. I find these moments hilarious that he needs to ask Hange when he has no reason to ask Hange since the 104th are under his direct supervision and yet here he is, just asking Hange how he should deal with his own squad. For a "scary" captain like Levi, truly there is someone who doesn't find him "scary" at all.

All of this is surprisingly consistent with what happens in this smartpass story, The Library That's Covered in Dust. Many people have already talked about how Levi comes to Hange's rescue and saves them from books falling over them or that he makes a comment about how their shirt is wet and therefore "seen-through". And an honourable mention to Hange's "you're kind" that makes Levi all flustered fanfiction style. But what I'd like to add about this story is the reason Levi explains to Hange for seeing them, and his reason is to ask Hange permission about Eren roaming the castle and to ask them if Eren can get out of the basement. This is hilarious in a way because it's actually Hange who needs to ask permission to him about Eren since Eren was put under Levi's responsibility as literally seen in chapter 20. And besides, the order to put Eren in the basement doesn't come from Hange: it comes from Zackly when he was put in charge of Eren's military trial as a condition for the Survey Corps to have Eren as Levi states here in chapter 20:

So Hange also has no true say in this matter either, and yet they take that decision for him again, saying that Eren can be given permission to roam around since the castle should be safe enough if he ever Titan shifts. And at this point, if Levi truly wanted an official opinion, he could've gone to Erwin since he is the Survey Corps commander, not Hange who is of equal rank to Levi. So this is a very peculiar reason Levi makes to go see Hange, to say the least. Yes, smartpass stories are not technically canon, and maybe there are small inconsistencies, so manga will always prevail over smartpass stories, but it is definitely interesting, to see what reason Levi chose to see Hange in that story. It might be that he wants a second opinion and that's why he asks Hange, but technically speaking, he doesn't really need their opinion since Eren answers to him. This dynamic between them is definitely interesting and questionable then.

I found two plausible interpretations for this behaviour:

1. Levi isn’t confident enough in being a superior as he was put rather quickly by Erwin as captain of a squad, so he asks advice to the closest squad leader he works with, which is Hange in his case. Personally, I don't think that's the case since Levi is already seen as the "leader" with Furlan and Isabel in the Underground and we see Levi take leadership pretty easily especially later on after Hange dies and the Alliance relies on him, but it is an interpretation one could make.

2. Levi just really likes Hange’s company (I have nothing else to say about that). So yet another argument to disprove the "Levi hates Hange" argument. If he hates Hange so much, then why does Levi keep asking Hange for advice about his own squad? Why is he fine with everything Hange says in regard to his own squad that he has complete authority over, I'll repeat? Well, let's say Levi has a very original way to show he "hates" Hange, for sure.

So this story got me in the heart.

It revolves around the wife of a wealthy patron to the SC donating baked goods to their branch, and everybody trying to figure out what to do with them, being unused to having any, real luxuries for their soldiers. Nanaba suggests that they split the goods up and have each squad leader take them back and share them with their subordinates.

There's this exchange when Levi brings his share back to his Special Operations Squad:

"'Oh, Captain! Why don't I take this opportunity to make some tea?'

'Don't get so worked up, Petra.'

'Opportunities like this are so rare, though! Also, Olou, you'll make a mess if you cut it up, so let Eld do it.'

So it was true that these soldiers ate for sustenance and little else from their Training Corps days. When Levi met soldiers during his Underground City days, they were always MPs, so he believed they'd all grown fat on luxuries. It almost seemed comical that other fellow soldiers grew congenial over a single sweet, but something about it was also pleasant.

'Do whatever you want. Well... there's a black tin on a shelf in my room. It should be better than the disgusting tea you get in those rations.'

Levi's soldiers recognized the consideration in these words and looked at him with shock. It may have been the first time he showed them anything resembling kindness outside of battle."

What's so telling about the above excerpt is how it demonstrates Levi's kindness, but also his struggle with communicating that kindness. His squad is shocked at his generous offer of letting them drink his own, higher grade tea, because he's never, apparently, offered them anything like that before. But Levi's internal thoughts here are important to understanding why. The only experience Levi really had with soldiers was with the MP's, when he was still in the Underground, and so his impression was that all soldiers in the military, including Survey Corps soldiers, must be used to luxury items and being able to indulge in them. We see Levi's initial confusion here at Petra's excitement over the baked goods, telling her not to get so worked up about it, before realizing it's because they aren't used to having nice things. Seeing the genuine joy it brings them to finally have an opportunity to indulge a little spurs Levi on, then, to offering his own, higher grade tea to go with the sweets. The moment he realized getting to enjoy something of higher quality actually brought his squad happiness, Levi offered what he himself had to give without hesitation. And that really does encapsulate Levi as a person. He has such immense compassion for people, and always wants to help. He just doesn't always know how to share that kindness, almost assuredly because of the way he grew up and the lack of good role models he had. He struggles to know how to express what he's feeling, how to communicate how much he cares.

Then, later in the story, Levi is out at the market, buying provisions it seems, and we get this excerpt:

"He looked over to find a stall with a line of fruit-based sweets. Society was now in a place where more than just the bare necessities could be sold.

'Hey, Mister Survey Corps! How about something sweet to take back to your family?'

I have no family, Levi thought as he tried to ignore him, but then familiar faces came to mind. A new commander, hard at work. Young men who bore the guilt of having survived the killing fields as they analyzed the world's secrets and prepared for the next operation. He doubted he'd get to see the peaceful smiles that came to those expressions like he did before. Even so-

'... Wrap it up for me.'

Something sparked his interest.

All of them thought Levi's sour look never left his face. How would they look if he brought them back some sweets and even made them some tea?

The packaged sweets were freshly baked, and a warm heat spread across Levi's palm."

I mean... just kill me now, please. How sweet is Levi? First, Levi thinking he has no family (which is just all kinds of heartbreaking), but then him thinking of his fellow soldiers. Thinking of, I'm guessing, Hange, and his new squad, realizing they're his family. And then just the way he immediately decides to buy them the sweets on display, thinking about how so many of them have lost their hope and optimism, but hopeful himself that maybe having something nice like this will give them back a little joy, even as he knows it won't really fix anything. When he wonders how they'll look if he gives them sweets and makes them tea, he's obviously remembering how much it meant to his original squad to have even something as small as baked goods to share between them, and he's trying to replicate that here for his new squad, and for Hange, too.

And we see Levi thinking here also about his own difficulty in communicating and expressing his true feelings. He's aware that most people look at him and see an unfeeling, distant and callous person, and he's wondering here, also, if they'll be able to see that's not the case if he gifts them something nice. It's pretty clear from this line that Levi doesn't mean to give off the impression he does to people. He doesn't want to make anyone think he doesn't care. Again, because of how he grew up and the experiences he's lived through, it's had a deeply negative impact on his ability to properly socialize and communicate with others, and Levi is aware of that. He wants people to know he cares about them, again, he just hasn't ever really been shown how to express that care.

It's why we get so many awkward interactions between Levi and others, with him attempting to express compassion or provide them comfort in some way, and it often coming out in strange and sometimes even inappropriate ways, sometimes even leading others to think Levi is being the opposite of kind, like what happened with Historia during the Uprising arc, or like Levi making shit jokes to cheer Eren up, or the numerous times he's hurled what seems like insults at people, but rather than malice, it's simply been out of fear or worry for them on his part. Levi just simply hasn't ever been taught how to communicate with others in a way that would be deemed socially acceptable, and so we see him struggling to learn how to express his care in a way that will be understood by others. We see in this story Levi gradually learning one such way he can, and it's just a testament to what a kind and caring heart he has, that he keeps seeking out ways to show others kindness, and tries here to replicate successfully doing so again with his new squad and commander, just like he once did with his old squad. We see this play out again, when Levi allows the men under his command to take the boxes of wine with them for their mission of watching over Zeke in the forest. He's once more trying to give his subordinates a little joy among all the suffering and loss.

TRANSLATION: @worldofchicken

SOURCE: https://aminoapps.com/c/attack-on-titan/page/blog/smartpass-au-good-night-sweet-dreams-mike/BVzL_EJuwuJo0g1mRY5Xx4e71ZWqMX7eQ3

• • • • • • •

Goodnight Sweet Dreams Dear Vol. 16 Mike Zacharias

[People say, dreams are mirrors that reflect the heart.

Does sleep bring the tranquility needed to forget the ruthlessness of the day, or is it an abyss harsher than reality?]

“We’ve invited the chief and the squad leaders. Please eat.”

At a mansion owned by a wealthy merchant in the suburbs, there appeared Survey Corps members in full uniform.

This merchant is very important, since he helped Survey Corps that lacked funds, and helps funds their expeditions.

“Please drink this glass of wine.”

“…Erwin.”

When he was talking with one of his comrades, Erwin ‘accidentally’ dropped his glass.

“Sorry.”

“No, no, it’s alright. Would Squad Leader Mike like some too?”

“I’m not a good drinker, water is fine.”

“Thanks, Mike. Was there a drug in it?”

“Ahh.”

“They probably thought the Survey Corps isn’t worth to invest in, so they wanted to switch to the Garrison. They were planning to make a scandal once I lose my composure. Seems like that’s it for our partnership.”

On the carriage that brought them back to town from the suburbs, Erwin and Mike talked about their views.

However, it’s different outside the walls, where mankind struggle together. In the battle against the hidden enemies and the titans, Mike’s smelling ability has an important use.

In the rocking carriage, Erwin gave out a bitter smile.

“Your smelling ability is godly, good for you.”

You even know what you didn’t need to know, Mike felt like he saw that look in Erwin’s eyes, snorted, and gave no answer.

…the sound of the rocking carriage, unconsciously turned into the sound of the horses he rode with his comrades.

“S, squad leader! We can’t use this route! There’s the smell of blood!”

“Shut up, Mike Zacharias. We haven’t got any info from the commander.”

“But, this smell, it must be the titans…”

“Don’t talk too much! There aren’t any smoke signals!”

When Mike had just joined the Survey Corps, Erwin hadn’t invented the long-range battle formation, all information was spread by the smoke signals.

“Damn… why didn’t anyone believe me?”

Even when he was young, Mike was able to tell the smell of blood and sense danger. He had detected the enemy’s territory, however, being a new soldier, his idea wasn’t accepted.

“My trainee class is in front of us, if I want to survive…”

At the end of the expedition, Mike lost some comrades. It happened many times until his ability was recognized and he got promoted…

“Mike, we’re arriving soon.”

The rocking carriage made a rocky noise.

“Did I fall asleep?”

“You’ve been asleep for a while.”

Mike sniffed around, and smelt his own tears. The tears flowing from his eyes, probably was caused by the nostalgia of the pain in his dreams.

Without showing it in his face, he looked forward, and casually said:

“You were saying I’m unfortunate.”

“Is it about the smelling ability?

Mike nodded and let out a smile.

“Now that I think about it… it doesn’t hurt as much now because I’m useful in the battles.”

Erwin looked at Mike, who’d suddenly become talkative, and let out a laugh after listening to him.

“I’ll count on you next time.”

“Ahh. As long as it’s within my ability.”

A Levi Comic based on this official smartpass story.

FULL COMIC BELOW, please take a look if you like Levi or AOT <3

This is so weird. I can see this ask on the tumblr app, but it isn't in my inbox on desktop. I usually only answer asks on desktop so I wonder how many others I've missed that only show up in the app??

Anyway, I'm glad I caught this ask because I wanted to say thank you for your kind words, which I'll also pass on to @momtaku ♡

In answer to your question I'd say that this is definitely a case of YMMV. Everyone has a different opinion of what constitutes canon. I tend to see canon as a sliding scale that goes something like this: SnK manga, official guide books & interviews with Isayama, anime & OVAs, Smartpass content, other officially sanctioned content including Tactics and other games.

I know there are fans who regard the manga as the only canon content but I think it's important not to disregard the Answers Guidebook and Character Guides. They were written by Isyama with good reason and the date of their publication was not coincidental. The Answers Guidebook was published the same week as chapter 84 and provided a wealth of detail about Erwin and Levi's relationship, among other things.

The Smartpass content tends to get overlooked these days, but it's really worth delving into as it includes lots of really lovely stories and "interviews" that give real depth to the characters. You can find Smartpass translations on @yusenki's blog (X), @momtaku's (X) and @tsuki-no-ura's (X).

Tactics content is harder to come by but I've just discovered that some fabulous nerds have posted *everything* on reddit. Bless them. The "Attack on Titan: Tactics" Complete Archive.

DISCLAIMER: This is a fan translation, so 110% accuracy is not guaranteed. However, we did our best to keep it as close to the original as possible without breaking English.

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The place that the Survey Corps decided to take shelter from the rain was in an old castle that had a strong structure, regardless.  The echoing sound of rainfall beating against the large windows created a noisy atmosphere.

“No way… What a mountain of treasure!! Those ancient writings… If I could read them that would be nice. What the!? I still can’t decode this!”

That backside of someone who was lively as ever, merrily searching for documents was Hanji’s.

“Oi, Kuso-Megane. Did you let your squad members free to roam the place, leisurely?”

“Ah, Levi? That’s not the case because Moblit is taking care of everyone’s concerns. He’s an excellent and valuable subordinate, isn’t he?”

Without looking back, Hanji searched through the books – various types of ancient documents and picture scrolls, that were in this room which seemed to be a library in the past. She tried to pull a book from a place much higher up than her own height, and staggered.

“Ohhh!!”

“Tch!”

Because mountains of books were caused to fall down, altogether, he barely managed to snatch the neck of her jacket, pulling her out of the way.

“Uwaa… You saved me, Levi. If I was hit by such a large amount of books, it would have been a spot that would make my head strange.”

“Don’t worry. It wouldn’t become any weirder. Honestly, you should pay more attention to your surroundings.”

Hanji corrected her hanging, dislocated goggles. She then brushed the dust off of the book she had taken out.

“This book here, for example… This old castle that exists inside the walls, there are many books and stored supplies written with letters that we can’t read right now. Such historic ruins are dotted in great number inside the walls. Seems like an extinct civilization, doesn’t it?”

“Don’t tell me the extent of your outlook. After all, I know your head is sharp. This is why I tell you that your life is important. If it weren’t for me being here right now and you were hit in a fragile place, the bones of your neck would have been broken.”

“You’re kind.”

Levi felt as though he were annoyed. He even made a face as if to show he was in a bad mood. He hates his own character being expressed with such words.

“You say this on purpose, knowing that I don’t like it.”

“Ah ha ha! Saw right through me, huh?”

Hanji, then, sat of the floor with a thump. She opened a book while lifting her face.

“What sort of business is it, so soon?  You came to see me, didn’t you?”

“Ah. It’s about Eren. He wants permission to roam around this old castle, that as a military, we give the approval for him to come out of the basement.”

“It’s safe. The outer walls here were build using a solid method of construction. Furthermore, in the unlikely event that Eren transforms into a titan and busts through the roof, there are a good number of footholds on the tower for our maneuvering equipment……. Ah, if only I could understand the meanings of these pictures while cramming in the impressions of these books and such…” Hanji said, carelessly.

“Understood. That helps…Also…”

“Yes?”

“Before searching the place, dry the clothes on your body. It’s unseemly that your shirt is showing through.”

He points at the fire in a fireplace which was probably lit by Moblit who was worried about the soaking wet superior officer. Levi glared at her with a look in his eyes as if looking at raw garbage.

“Understood. It would be good if I read over there.”

Levi sighed at the view of Hanji’s back as she slowly moved to position herself before the fireplace, and then he left the room.

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