Hello, Stranger (Hange Zoë x f!reader)

Part nine

You lay awake for hours that night. Hange had fallen asleep almost immediately, snoring away contentedly, their back to you. You had caught them twitching several times, mumbling something incoherent and gripping the sheets, before relaxing and settling back into monotony. Each time, you would hold your breath, for fear of rousing them, only giving into your lungs’ desires once they started to beg. A large part of you was touched. You knew to fall asleep by someone, to be that vulnerable, had to be a big deal, despite their apparent indifference to sharing a bed. A silent affirmation you were trusted, reinforced by every sigh and grumble. You continued to stare at their back until finally the weight of your eyelids lulled you to oblivion.

A weight had sent you to sleep, and yet another now brought you back. It was warm, heavy on your chest, almost like a sun warmed stone. In your stupor, you reasoned someone must be on top of you. It took several minutes for the realisation to sink in that there could be only one person doing so. You pried one eye open at a time, half afraid of what you’d see. Hange’s hair was splayed across your chest, hanging in disorganised brown waves, with their face half squished into your shirt. Their arms were around your waist, their legs entangled in your own, their body entwined with yours. In every way possible, they had eliminated the space between you. They weren’t cuddling you, so much as being wrapped around you like a human blanket. Amidst the rapid thrumming of your heart, you couldn’t help but smile. It was a surprise to see them like this, yes, but a very welcome one. You’d been afraid you would wake up alone, Hange having left. After a minute of hesitation, you took your own clammy arms and wrapped them around your sleeping companion. You tensed as they groaned at the contact, before sighing into you, seemingly at peace. Again, you smiled. Was it selfish to want to stay like this, if only for another few moments? If it was, you would be only too happily be selfish. You wanted to smooth the hair from their face, have them look up at you and grin a good morning. You wanted to kiss their forehead and tell them good morning in turn. Your face burned. You’d read about romances, but to find yourself entangled up in your own one-sided crush, it was something else entirely. You could understand what drove the brash stupidity of those heroes and heroines now.

Sunlight had begun to creep up the foot of the bed. How much longer could you stay like this? You had no intention of waking Hange, if they were tired enough to keep sleeping, they needed it. You had no clue what tests they had run the day prior, but knowing Hange, they’d be strenuous and almost mindlessly complicated. The fact they were clinging to you as they softly snored was just a positive coincidence. Your mind drifted to the day ahead. Maybe fluffy should show herself a bit, but, that would depend on Hange. You had a niggling feeling that they would insist on introducing you to everyone. In that case, fluffy would have to remain hidden.

It was sly, admittedly, how you got into their base, but you had seen no other possibility. All you could do was hope your indiscretion could be forgived. You knew that the Walls were the last of humanity, and for you to show up having lived outside them, what could you expect? You couldn’t exactly fault their suspicion. If they were testing on this titan shifter, what would they do to someone that could steal their faces? You knew you couldn’t hide forever, but for just, just a bit longer, you didn’t want anyone to look at you like some kind of monster.

Hange readjusted themself slightly, and your eyes instinctively snapped shut. Their breathing had quickened, the snores stopped. You felt their hold on you change, as if they were realising now what they had done. You had expected them to recoil in horror or disgust, but, they didn’t. They took their arms from around your waist gently, afraid to wake you, and placed them under their chin. Were they staring at your face? You had to hope you didn’t blush, and begged your heart to not go into overdrive. Staying motionless, you waited for Hange to make a move. The silence only added to your nervousness.

“You’re cosy, you know that? Well, probably not. I don’t think anyone would have told you that, but they should.”

Their words were no more than a whisper. Gentle, soft, the opposite of the individual that could and did get so ridiculously, and admitted adorably, excited about their work. You liked the sound of their voice regardless, but savoured this brief tenderness.

All too Hange sat up, the weight lifted from you, and your ears desperately searched for noise beyond the rustling of sheets. Should you get up? They were mumbling to themself now, about what they needed to do today. Your ears perked when your name was thrown into the mix. Was that a good thing?

You waited until they were in the bathroom before sitting up. The indentation they had left in the bed was already fading away, leaving you there, alone and noticeably colder. You should probably think about getting up with them, you mused. The uniform was still folded on a chair, but you weren’t looking forward to putting on all those straps again.

“Y/N!” You jolted. Their voice echoed from the bathroom. “I’m gonna show you how to use ODM gear today, I think there’s a training class on. Hurry it up!”

You sighed. No going back to bed now then. Running a hand through your hair, you took your uniform and sauntered closer to the bathroom door. At least it seemed to be a decent day outside, few clouds, and a light breeze ruffling the grass. There were worse days to fall and break your neck.

The door swung open, and Hange blinked in surprise at you.

“You’re up, good. Moblit’ll be waiting for me outside, get yourself sorted and I’ll go and set the scene for you.” They winked slyly. They were going to cover for you.

“I spoke to a cadet yesterday, Armin,” you flushed slightly, “I told him I was your assistant, I didn’t know what else to say tk explain why I was looking for you. Sorry.”

Their mouth formed into an ‘o’. Was that too far? “I can work with that, no problem. Buckle up then, assistant, you’re going to become a proper scout.”

With that, they shot you one final grin, and skipped outside. What had you signed yourself up for?

By the time you had joined them in the courtyard, they were well immersed within a conversation with Moblit. He had stared at you quizzically as you had sauntered over. Hange was animated, speaking with their hands grinning. When they noticed you, that softer smile returned.

“Moblit, meet my new assistant, Y/N!”

He smiled politely and offered a handshake. You took it.

“Moblit Berner. Don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“No,” you admitted, “I was a... a clerk.” You’d devised an entire fake history for yourself as you’d sorted your hair in the mirror. “I’ve never been a soldier, but, I’m going to do all I can do to learn.”

He frowned at that. You couldn’t blame him. It looked like his squad leader had been dumped with a massive Y/N-sized liability. Hange, picking up on his reservations from the faint knitting of his brow, slung an arm over your shoulders.

“Don’t worry, I’ll teach her everything she needs. She’ll be fine. Now, c’mon. We’re gonna show you how to fly with cables!”