invidia 『Hange Zoë』

2: "oh, you're busy"

Knocking on Hange's door hasn't left you feeling anxious for about four years, their welcoming (if a little unnerving) personality easing you almost immediately after interacting with them for the first time. But tonight, you feel the same apprehension you had as a new recruit on delivery duty. In all the years you've known them, they've never acted differently around you before. Until now, you mentally correct yourself. 

When there's no answer, you knock again, this time a little harder, and with no response once again, you decide to bite the bullet and just enter. The door squeaks minutely as you pass the frame, but it shuts behind you without a sound.

Gentle candlelight lights up the room (much bigger than your own, you lament like you do every time you enter), piles and stacks of books and journals messily placed around the floor. An old bookcase to the side of the desk similarly full with books and files, all either dusty or yellowed with age (these are the ones they never use). You feel warm in here, welcome, like you always have, and it brings a melancholic smile to your face.

Moving closer to the desk at the sight of your friend, you sigh as you realise why they didn't answer. Their head rests on a closed notebook, sheets of paper around their head like a mockery of a halo, their messy ponytail flopped awkwardly to the front of their face, swishing with each exhale. You can't help but laugh quietly at the sight, before moving their hair back behind their head carefully so as to not wake them, taking their glasses off so they don't hurt their face as they sleep. Removing your jacket, you lay it over them like a makeshift blanket, before taking the notebook, paperwork and a pencil from their desk. You head to the battered sofa at the other end of the room to start working.

❀❀❀

Finished and satisfied with the final write up of Hange's experience during the expedition, you stand and stretch, feeling your joints ache a little from working at an awkward angle. Oh well, worth it so Hange doesn't get scolded for not doing their work. They need their rest, and you feel somewhat guilty for whatever is going on with them right now; even if you don't actually know what it is, you still feel responsible.

You place the stack of paper on the desk next to their head, writing a short note on a scrap to explain that you've finished the work and they can just relax tonight, and then placing it on top of the pile. Replacing your jacket over Hange with their cape so you won't get cold on your way back to your own room, you give them one last look before turning to leave.

"Ah they're asleep so soundly, what harm will it do?" You whisper to yourself, (S/C) hand outstretched to the door handle as you argue with yourself. Finally coming to a decision, you turn and walk back over to the desk, before you press a small kiss to their cheek, wishing them a good night's sleep and finally walking out of the room. Maybe it was a little impulsive, but they looked so peaceful asleep at their desk, and friends totally kiss each other's cheeks, so it's not weird.

Not weird at all.

You walk back to your room with an energetic step, your jacket smelling faintly of Hange, and your lips tingling a little still from the contact. Who would blame you for having a bright smile on your face from something like that?

After getting ready for bed, careful not to wake Emmeline as she sleeps soundly in the bed opposite your own, you fall onto your mattress with a sigh, thankful that it's softer than the one you had as a cadet in the barracks, as you start to drift off.

❀❀❀

You wake up after Emmeline, who's already left for breakfast (rude, usually she wakes you up too), sunlight already streaming in through the window to the left of your bed. You stretch, before heading into the bathroom to brush your teeth and (H/C) hair, staring deep into your tired looking (E/C) eyes. Finishing what was meant to be Hange's work on your own without their help had taken a lot longer than you'd hoped it would, so the dark circles under your eyes make sense. Maybe that's why Emmeline didn't wake you today.