Hello, Stranger (Hange Zoë x f!reader)

Part fourteen

There had been no titan theories, no banter as they joined you in bed that night. Their hair was still half damp, clinging to their face and neck when they emerged from the bathroom. They didn’t look at you as they put their clothes away. Your stomach had fallen. Had you put too much on them? Did they hate you? Hange’s back remained facing you as they climbed under the covers. They did, didn’t they? You exhaled slowly, gathering your limbs to move further back. You could sleep outside if it would make them more comfortable, the last thing you wanted to do was exacerbate the situation.

With the creak of the bedframe, a hand reached back, searching for your retreating form.

“Hange?”

“Just, stay close. Please. For tonight,” their voice was timid as they offered up their entreaty, gently pulling you closer by the wrist. Heat burned your ears. Gingerly, you obliged, edging back over, leaving a few centimetres between your bodies. You didn’t want to overstep. Hange, however, closed the gap themself, pressing flush against you and drawing your arm over their waist.

You couldn’t breathe.

“Can I, can I hug you with both arms?”

Hange hummed their permission, and you shuffled your other arm around them, careful to not make them uncomfortable. Up close now, their scent flooded your senses. They smelt fresh, sweet, almost intoxicating. You pressed your nose to the nape of their neck, strands of damp hair tickling your face. Despite how quickly your heart was racing, you were content.

“Night, Hange.”

“Good night, Y/N.”

For the first time in years, you slept through the night completely. You woke in a mess of limbs, only half yours. Hange had turned over in the night, now facing you, still on their side, with their face buried in your chest. Their breath fluttered against you with each soft rasp. You weren’t entirely sure where you stood with them, but for now, you were more than happy being able to hold them like this. It was warm. Cosy. Content. You hoped they would talk to you more today. Taking a shaky hand, you ran it through the length of their tresses. Their hair was softer than it looked, and seemed longer when it wasn’t held up in a ponytail. You combed through it, noting silently the satisfied sigh as you moved up to their scalp. Cute. You rubbed circles into their head, still nestled beneath your chin.

“That feels nice,” your hand stopped for a second at that. Hange was awake. How long had they been?

“Don’t stop on my account. I’m not complaining,” their arms, wrapped around you now, tightened slightly. That simple movement drew yet another wave of flushes.

“As long as you’re happy, I am,” you breathed lowly. The closeness was an idyll.  This was the first, the only person, that you had fallen for. It was quicker, steeper and more unpredictable than you had imagined, but you loved it, and to be holding them like this, was perfect. In that moment you realised you would be somewhat content even if they didn’t reciprocate your feelings. This closeness was enough. Just to be there for them, that would be enough.

“Levi scheduled a meeting first thing today. Shorty’s gonna throw a fit if I don’t show up again,” they nuzzled back into your shirt. You smirked.

“So, you’re gonna blame me for that then, eh? Sorry I’m late, I was held hostage.”

Hange chuckled into your chest. Good. That was the person you knew.

“I’m not entirely confident that would go down well. We’re heading out tomorrow. I need to get the full go ahead on my titan trap.”

You’d completely forgotten amidst your flurry of emotions. Hange would be going without you. You couldn’t protect them.