Hello, Stranger (Hange Zoë x f!reader)

Part ten

You had severely underestimated how difficult it was to use that boxy looking death trap. Hange had made it seem so easy, to Moblit it was like second nature. You, however, had flailed around, biting your tongue to keep that scream lodged in your throat.

"Come on Y/N! Keep your weight centred!"

Hange was halfway into the forest, leagues ahead of you. It wasn't your forest, the trees were tiny in comparison and thoroughly unfamiliar, but the shadows of foliage still granted you some form of comfort. The metal of the handles had long since warmed under your fingers and white knuckled hands, as you desperately begged the powers that be not to let you faceplant or otherwise fail horribly.

Moblit had been quietly studying your progress, and to be frank, you weren't surprised. You had seemingly turned up out of the blue, and now would be working in close proximity to Hange, and by proxy, him. Yet, you didn't dislike him. There was a softness about him as you had watched him with Hange. He cared about them, very obviously, the metaphorical safety rail as Hange dangled over the edge.

"See if you can reach the boulder!"

It was a speck in the distance. You shook yourself and fired the triggers once more. There was some form of rhythm to it, between the firing, the momentum of being pulled, the swing. It reminded you of actual flight. You hadn't flown for months, however. As much as you enjoyed being a hawk, the rapid speed they were capable of had terrified you. A pigeon was more your speed. This was not like a pigeon's flight. You, however, were determined not to seem entirely incompetent. One swing after another, the speck got bigger. Half the battle was balancing the swords and triggers. They were compact, but heavy, and had almost caused you to crash at least seven times now. Yet somehow, people were able to use them as extensions of their own bodies. You could do this. You could remake your body times over into nearly anything. This was just another change.

Focus. The boulder was drawing closer now. You'd have to make a left turn. Gritting your teeth, you fired the left trigger, allowed it to reel you closer before firing the right to even yourself. You heard Hange shout their approval. You could do this. How did you stop though? There were no breaks on this thing. That small sliver of confidence had fizzled out, been stepped on and left alone now. You braced yourself for impact. The boots scuffed, and the force of your impact had thrown you to your knees. The blades had been thrown from your hands, slapping the rock to save yourself. Only, they weren't hands anymore. Paws, pads roughened by the contact, and claws unsheathed leaving tiny indents in the grey. You cursed, looking them over, if reluctantly glad they'd stopped your hands from splitting.

"Y/N! You alright?" Hange's voice was dangerously close now. You stuffed your still furry hands into your armpits, and silently willed them to change faster. You couldn't let them find out like this. You couldn't.

"Yeah, don't worry, all good here." You sat still on knees, turning to face Hange as they landed near.

"Your hands ok?"

Your pulse thrummed. "Yeah, just scuffed them a bit landing, don't worry."

Hange didn't seem to hear that last part. They reached for your hands, and you held your breath. They were human again, you sighed inwardly, only to flush as they traced your palms with a single digit. How did they not see what they did to you? They were a scientist. Reactions and results were their specialty.

"They look ok, just a bit roughed up. You're lucky. I nearly broke my arm after my first try."

You smiled at them as they hauled you to your feet. Moblit had landed nearby, and gave an affirmative nod.

"As long as you can still write, Y/N. Now I've got someone to help with Hange, I might just be able to sleep more than four hours a day."

"Aww, c'mon Moblit, you love it, you know you do."

You weren't sure whether to believe his eye bags or half-hearted smile as Hange began yet another tirade about their latest innovations. You knew Hange was endlessly energetic, Moblit however, seemed to lack that same stamina. You couldn't blame him. It took something, different, to keep up with Hange.

You flexed your hands. There were only three scratches on the palms. It still amazed you how quick it was to switch between body parts, like you could pop them off and replace them. You could steal someone's identity, if you wanted to. Forcing yourself into the body of another human was relatively simple, you had practiced with your mother, taking her shape and voice, and that of others whose sketches she had shown you. You blinked at Hange. You could even take theirs, if you wanted to. You shook yourself. No. That would be weird.

"We'll head back here soon, do you think you can use your gear to get back?"

You adjusted the weight of the blades in your hands.

"Can do, no problem."

The return was slightly less eventful. You only crashed twice. That was an achievement in itself. You weren't anywhere close to the skill of either of your companions, but at least you knew how to get from A to B likely without snapping your neck. Moblit had disappeared, called off by some other soldier, leaving you and Hange to go the mess hall alone.

"You did pretty good today! I remember Levi's first day. The instructor was not happy, said he was holding his blades wrong." They stopped to chuckle. "He shut up once he saw him in action."

They were close to Levi, despite the fact he seemed borderline unapproachable. He sat in the corner of the mess hall, alone, drinking what you could only assume was tea. His entire aura seemed to resonate with borderline disgust and hostility. Hange, however, seemed immune, making a beeline for him and patting him on the shoulder. You blinked in surprise as you watched him soften slightly.

"Hello Levi! Good day? More cleaning?"

His scowl flickered to their face.

"Fine, thank you four eyes. These brats couldn't clean if their lives depended on it."

You snorted at that, shrinking back as his eyes landed on you.

"Who's that? Your latest victim?"

Hange sighed, "You're so mean! This, magnificent specimen, is my new assistant Y/N! She's here to help me and Moblit, I was just showing her the ropes with ODM gear today, and I'm sure she'll pick it up in no time."

Your ears burned under their praise.

"How the hell does someone get into the scouts without knowing how to use ODM? You're dead before you set foot outside the walls."

"Ah, well," Hange pulled the chair out closest to him. "They're not an official scout yet, I still need to run it by Erwin."

You were left standing awkwardly as both sets of eyes locked onto you.

"So, you're adopting random civilians now as well as titans and cats? This'll end well."

Hange patted the seat beside them, and you scampered to their side. Even as a human, the captain's gaze was still able to make you feel as small and vulnerable as a housecat.

"Oh don't be like that. I'm gonna make Y/N such a good scout she'll give you a run for your money, just you see!"