Hello, Stranger (Hange Zoë x f!reader)

Part two

Hange had been with you for a week now. The wound on their forehead had practically healed, and as their strength had returned, they were increasingly energetic and eager to learn about your life beyond the Walls. You had shown them how you prepared food, how you wove twine, and how to navigate amongst the treetops even without their flying gizmos. They had absorbed all of this almost immediately, all too eager to follow as you gathered supplies and wrap them in haphazard string bows. In turn, they had attempted to teach you how their ODM worked. They demonstrated how the blades could fall out, and be replaced almost instantaneously with other tucked within the boxy-scabbards. How the triggers fired harpoon-like cables that would allow them to swing between the branches, propelled by gas from canisters. They were graceful as they moved, almost dancing amidst the dappled light of the canopy. Your eyes followed them in a mixture of awe and concern, as you desperately hoped their gear would hold, not only long enough to keep them safe, but long enough for you to continue enjoying their spectacle.

Three days later, you had given them an old notebook to use, one you mother had given you to practice handwriting as a child, to keep notes. They had been enraptured by the lumbering titans below, calling out to you their metre classes, whether they were abnormal, or even simply what they would call them. You had thought it would be a good idea, something to keep them preoccupied and make their current situation seem almost valuable. Hange seemed to constantly need to be doing something, as a distraction, or due to an innate desire to learn, you couldn't tell. Their enthusiasm was contagious. Even the simplicity of life, the monotony you had become used to seemed fascinating to them. They had sat by and asked questions about yourself, your family, everything and anything they could. You'd had to be careful to handle their questions, being occasionally vague. Their face would fall slightly at that, and guilt would nip at the pit of your stomach.

By no means were you ungrateful for the company, nor the help they offered. It had been years since you'd spoken to anyone, you were half surprised that your voice had held out given its lack of use. Hange, however, spoke enough for both of you. Whilst sitting outside, enjoying the fading sunlight, they told you of their comrades, their traits, their exploits. You learned of a Levi Ackerman, small in stature yet the best soldier they'd ever seen irrespective of their typically cold personality, Moblit Berner, their assistant, and one of the few people able to reel them back in, and Erwin Smith, commander of the Survey Corps, a planning mastermind. In a single breath, they had listed off at least three times as many people as you had ever met.

At night, when the two of you were nestled beside the fire and simply waiting for sleep to take you , they had begun telling you of their experiments. How they studied, why they studied, and particularly about this new kid, Eren. Their face had brightened immensely in the flickering firelight as they spoke of his ability to turn into a titan, to heal, to become the ultimate reusable source of knowledge. You were more than happy to lie and listen to them, though you couldn't help but wonder. Was this Eren like you, another shapechanger? Or was he something different entirely? The conversation had shifted to their own stunts before you could come to a decision, messing with their comrades, especially this Levi man, and only broken by the occasional small chuckle. A small, budding in your chest warmth seemed to coincide with those chuckles. That nigh you had fallen asleep that night to the sound of their voice, energetic yet smooth, and slept well for what felt like the first time in years.

"Y/N! Y/N, wake up! I can hear them! I can hear my squad." Blinking, Hange's face came into focus. They had a sword in one hand, your shoulder in another, frantically glancing between yourself and the tree's opening.

"Come on, I need to find somewhere good to fire off that flare." They spoke frantically as they attached the boxes to their harness, tightening loops and fiddling with cables. They glanced up at you. "Levi'll probably be leading, and there'll be plenty of supplies for me to restock, I should have just enough gas."

You sat up now, watching as they frantically paced back and forth. Should you go with them? It wouldn't hurt to make sure they were reunited with their people safely.

"I'll see you off, at least."

Heat burned in your cheeks as they wrapped you in a hug. "Perfect, perfect!" They were warm. Comfortably warm. All too soon that warmth was gone.

You dismissed the feeling, grabbing several food packs and placing them in your satchel, swinging it over your shoulder. You would miss them.

"Come on Y/N! I can't miss them!"

You took off after Hange, gingerly shifting from from foot to foot in rapid succession. A great grin had ensnared their features. Excitement radiated off of them in waves. You couldn't help but share their excitement, if only minutely.

"Cover your ears!" Your hands had just clapped over them when a loud trill shook your skull. Green smoke trailed from the launcher, placed back in their pocket almost immediately.

You took off the bag and handed it to them. "For the journey back, in case you get stranded, you might need them."

Their gaze softened as they rummaged around, noticing the book and pencil in amongst the provisions. "You could come with me, you know. It's not going to be safe here forever Y/N. Things are changing. The Walls aren't perfect, but at least you don't have to sleep with one eye open."

A pit opened in your stomach. They blinked at you expectantly.

"I, I can't Hange. My home, I," you trailed off. The words wouldn't come out. Part of you wanted to go, to leave, to run away from the memories that clung to this place, but how could you? They were human. Not shapechanger. What would they do to you, in the Walls, if they found out? Would they experiment on you too? You had grown fond of Hange, moreso than you had expected, but the idea of that ravenous curiosity turned on you? You'd be lying if it didn't unnerve you.

"Is it cause you've never been to the Walls? You'd get used to it, I promise!"

You stepped back.

"I can't."

Their goggles glinted. "I can't force you, but if you ever reach my outpost," they clapped you on the shoulder, "you'll be very welcome." Saying it out loud, they knew how seemingly impossible it would be. You tapped their hand with yours.

"And if you ever wind up back here, come and visit."

"Try and stop me."

You returned that forced smile.

"Hange!" A voice hollered from your left. You tensed instinctively.

"Here!" You slipped out of their grasp.

Hange turned to holler back. "Over here Moblit!"

A single figure shot forth, coming to a staggering halt on the branch, but you were gone. Instinctively your body had changed, propelling you up amongst the leaves. You were a large cat now, your clothes hanging off of your new body loosely, yet your eyes still strained on your almost friend.

Hange's head snapped back and forth. They hadn't seen you go.

"Y/N! Y/N?" You remained motionless.

"Squad leader, are you alright?" The newcomer, Moblit you guessed, gingerly inspected them, looking for signs of obvious injury but finding none, much to his apparent approval.

"Come on then, Commander Erwin's sent patrols in every direction. Time to get you back home."

"Yeah," Hange nodded, their eyes still strained on the horizon, looking for some sign of you, "alright."