For the One I Love || Hanji x Female Reader

Chapter Thirty-One: Compromise

"Care to tell me where the four of you have been? It's nearly midnight and you've only just returned. We've been looking all over the headquarters and the nearby areas for you - do you know how dangerous it is to still be outside this time of the night?" Hanji asked in a cold tone, uncrossing their arms in the process as they stood up straight and began to walk slowly in our direction.

We couldn't say anything in response, knowing full well that we were guilty as charged. I tried to stand up as straight as possible, letting go of Jean for a moment before almost falling if he hadn't managed to catch me on time.

Hanji's gaze immediately went to where Jean was holding me, their eyes narrowing for a moment before plainly stating, "You're drunk," not in question, but observation, before they continued, "The three of you, go back to your rooms. [Y/N], you're coming with me."

Jean hesitated, glancing at me before shifting his gaze to Hanji as he said, "[Y/N] can't walk on her own just yet, squad leader, we'll take her to her room instead."

Hanji's gaze never left mine as they said, "I'll take care of her," before placing their arm protectively around my waist as Jean hurriedly removed his, with the male giving me a worried look.

"[Y/N], will you be alright?" Sasha and Connie asked me as they had the same worried expressions on their faces, and I could only nod as I said, "I'll be okay...in Hanji's care. See you tomorrow and thank you for being with me today."

"If that's all, then you may return to your rooms," Hanji said in a commanding tone, leaving the trio with no choice but to follow Hanji's order.

Despite the tone Hanji's using, their touch remained soft and gentle, though their face betrayed nothing of what they were feeling. I swallowed nervously as Hanji motioned for me to lean against them as they helped me into the doorway, up into the stairs, and then their room.

Hanji steered me towards the chair behind their desk, making sure that I was comfortably seated before wordlessly pouring me a glass of water, to which I thirstily drank in one go. I softly mumbled my thanks as they went to grab a face towel, wetting it slightly in the small basin, before walking back in my direction as they pulled up another chair beside me.

Hanji then leaned closer to me to wipe my face with the towel, but I unconsciously leaned away from them, avoiding their gaze altogether. I heard them sigh softly, pulling away for a moment as they asked, "[Y/N], you've never gotten drunk before, am I correct to assume that something's wrong?"

I thought of something to reply, however, I suddenly felt my temper flare, which wasn't a good thing, so I chose to hold myself back instead.

"You clearly avoided me a while ago too, which convinced me that your troubles involve me. Can we talk about that?" Hanji stated before they asked, leaning against their desk as they did so.

I felt nervous about everything - the pace and all, not fully prepared to talk about it just yet. However, I thought to myself that if I don't do this right now, that if I don't talk about this with Hanji, the distance between us will only get bigger, and it might reach the point where the damage becomes irreversible.

It wasn't entirely about me being ready, rather, it was everything about who was important to me - who was worth making the jump for.

And Hanji's worth it. Our relationship is worth it.

I took a deep breath in an attempt to calm myself down before I met their gaze as I asked, the hurt I'm feeling visible in my eyes, "Hanji, are you even aware that it's been almost a month since we've spent time with each other?"

Their eyes widened in surprise at this, and before they could say anything, I continued as I stood up, placing a hand on the desk to support myself, "You've been brushing me off too when all I ever wanted to was to be with you."