Hello, Stranger (Hange Zoë x f!reader)

Part sixteen

AN/ thanm you all so much for the positive feedback last chapter!!! Expect more of bottom Hange in the future ~

You were surprised Hange had actually made it in time. They bore no evidence of last night’s happenings, save the faint blush when their gaze locked with yours for longer than a few heartbeats. You weren’t entirely sure where this left you with Hange, but they hadn’t pushed you away at least, whether you were a source of entertainment or something more, that would just have to come in time.

You were tightening the saddle on their horse now, whinnying softly with its rider perched atop, eager to set off. Hange had been chittering relentlessly all morning, figuring out equations verbally and wondering, hoping, aloud.

“You sure you’ve gotten everything?”

“Yes, mother,” they rolled their eyes at you, tightening their grip on the reins. You pinched their calf for that, earning a squeak. It was shaken off quickly.

“I’m so excited. How big do you think they’ll be? What kind of physiology? I’d love to see a wild one skinless, all those exposed muscles just waiting to be touched...”

You were pretty sure they were salivating.

“Last time you did that you burnt yourself. Moblit told me. Stay close to him.”

“You’re no fun,” Hange whined.

“I beg to differ, don’t you?” You shot them a knowing look which they flinched at. There was a smirk of satisfaction now that you yourself were able to fluster them. This new power would not got to waste. “Don’t do anything stupid. Be careful. Please.”

They egged their horse forward a few paces once you had finished your work, satisfied they were secured properly. Hange was hanging down half off the saddle, their face was level with yours. You raised an eyebrow.

“Of course I will,” their lips drew nearer to your ear till their breath fanned over you, ghosting your skin, “I never leave anything unfinished, darling.”

You slapped their chest as they snorted, fighting to quell your blush as the captain came up alongside them. He offered you a curt nod, oblivious to or simply disregarding your interaction with the section commander. You saluted.

“Do something useful while we’re out, and don’t track mud into the hall. It’s just been mopped.”

You nodded.

“Yes sir. I was hoping to train.”

“Just don’t break your thumbs,” and with that, he was off. Part of you wanted to see what Humanity’s Strongest looked like in action, but you reminded yourself you may well do yet. Hange’s gaze trailed after him. They needed to be at the front lines too. Sometimes you forgot they were a section commander, with the responsibility that came alongside that title. They had a whole squad waiting for them somewhere.

“Go get ‘em then, you’ll never hear the end of it if you’re late.”

They were off before your comment had even registered, wrapped up in their own world of theories and possibilities now, one you could only peer into. You waved as they wove through the numerous unnamed green specks to their position at the front of the formation, several others gathering around them. They would be fine, you soothed yourself. They had the entire scouting legion looking out for them, and now, that included you.

That brought you back into focus. Now it was your turn to get ready. Those soldiers left behind had already started to disperse, heading off to do whatever the could with what was essentially an unofficial day off. It was all too easy for you to sneak off to the back room of the stables, slip of your uniform, and change your shape. A bird hopped out of the door in your stead, feathers ruffled and blinking as if in a daze. A falcon. You adjusted your wings slightly. You could do this.

The courtyard was bare when you took off, chasing after the dust cloud left by the hundreds. Wind buffeted your face, slipped between your feathers to wash against your skin. You were swimming in blue openness, with ever changing colours beneath you. Glancing down, Hange was swinging back and forth on their horse like an impatient child. Your gaze narrowed as you stopped to hover. Erwin seemed to be double, likely triple, checking the integrity of the formation, shouting orders at soldiers who didn’t quite seem to be sure what to be more afraid of; death, or him. With a final satisfied nod and a wave of his hand, the gate opened, and the scouts filed out. You’d need to fly over the wall, you mused, wind roaring in your ears. A handful of wingbeats and you were soaring above it, narrowing your gaze on the flecks of green beneath you as you dropped lower.

Hange was easier to spot once the soldiers had separated, whooping and beaming at the possibility of giant naked man-eaters. Unsurprisingly, they had broken off from Moblit early on, charging off on their own, and navigated in a slight zigzag. Any sort of movement in their periphery they fixated upon, galloping closer to, only to pull back when they realised it wasn’t a titan. You had only spotted one so far, and it had been far to the left, too far for them to see or for it to see them. Maybe that luck would hold out a while longer, yet the further the walls fell into the distance, the more unsure you were.

It had been a while since you’d flown. A falcon was fast yes, but not much help against a titan. It wouldn’t pay any heed to you like this regardless, even if you clawed its eyes out. Yet, you couldn’t risk letting yourself be known. Hange was quick, perceptive. You weren’t confident you could keep your inhumanity hidden if they started getting suspicious.

Your mind returned to the present as a clamour was heard below.

“Yoohoo! Hello there! How’re you today?”

They’d spotted one. A large one. Maybe ten metres tall, lean and gaunt, and now fixated on Hange. Its limbs looked like they should scarce be able to support its mass, but it did, even if only lopsidedly. Its staggering steps would bring it close enough to grab Hange in a few heartbeats. They, however, were preoccupied with studying the creature, steering their horse in circles to appreciate the full spectacle of it. The titan’s hand stretched towards them, a mess of veins and unnaturally pale flesh, some semblance of interest in its features. Your heart was in your throat.

“Nice try there! Your motor skills seem pretty good!”

Hange was flying around it using their gear, practically dancing between its limbs. They weren’t phased in the slightest by it reaching for them. Were they going to try and capture this one? You weren’t entirely sure how they could on their own.

“Why don’t you come with me gorgeous? We can be friends!”

The titan’s hand missed their leg once more. Couldn’t Hange see this was dangerous, or were they just stupidly overconfident? They propelled themself back in the saddle, and began luring the monster onwards. You flapped closer. They hadn’t seen you, preoccupied with dodging the titan as it continued to fumble after them. Then again, they had no reason to pay attention to a bird.

The creature lunged again. The hand missed Hange. It didn’t miss their horse. Your heart faltered as their body was thrown from their mount. Its legs had crumpled, and Hange was thrown over its neck, coming to a clattering stop with a harsh yelp. It was reaching for them again. You dove, frantically flitting down before its face. You squawked, tried to dig your talons into the flesh of its face, but nothing. You weren’t even an inconvenience to the monster. You were nothing.

No.

At the thought of Hange’s peril, something snapped. Your body thrummed as it fell, skin tight as you collided with the earth, snarling. It was still reaching for Hange. How dare it? You yowled, throwing yourself atop the monster, digging your claws into is shoulders and wrapping your jaws around its neck. Kill it. Tear it. Your canines tightened around its throat. Destroy the nape. Cut deep. A sickening crunch echoed, and the flailing limbs fell still. Steam burnt at your gums as the bloody remnants began to dissolve between your teeth, forcing you to drop the hot corpse before it faded to nothingness. It was dead. Pathetic, you snarled, prodding the emerging skeleton with a claw.

It took another minute for the adrenaline to recede, the blood to fade from your lips, and your mind to clear. The body was crumbling now, and you had done that. You recoiled. How? You brought a limb to your face, marvelling over your new shape’s power. Animal yes, and judging by the extendable claws, feline, but like no body you had taken before. You had been the size of that titan, you still were. Panic burned at your throat. You hadn’t consciously changed, so what was this?

A grunt brought your attention stumbling back to the present. Hange. They were sitting up, cradling an arm, their features contorted in pain. They were hurt. Instinctively you padded closer, dropping your weighty head to their level to properly look at them.

“Stay back!” They brandished a splintered blade in one hand. They were scared of you.

Swallowing your hurt, you obeyed, sitting on your haunches several metres back. Hange visibly perked at that. They didn’t expect you to listen. You rolled onto your back, blinking up at them. Did they understand you were submitting? They seemed to. Hange’s wonder only increased with your actions. Emboldened by your move, they ambled closer, still gripping their sword white-knuckled. You snorted.

“You understand me? Why help me? Where did you come from?”

You hummed. They edged ever closer. That one arm was still held limp. Was it broken? They’d need medical attention, you couldn’t do anything for them here. Should you take them somewhere? The horse was long gone, terrified of you. Hange would be stranded if you didn’t do something. Stranded, and unable to defend themself. You wanted to tell them you would look after them, but how could you now? Any indication you were Y/N, you didn’t know what would happen.

“Section Commander!”

You recognised that voice. Moblit. He was charging towards the pair of you, blades drawn. A purr lodged in your throat. They’d be safe now. Rolling over, you took a step back, only to yelp as you felt something nip at your flesh. It took several heartbeats for you to realise what it was. Moblit was hurtling towards you. Those were his hooks in your muscles. He thought you were a titan. He was going to try and kill you.

“Moblit, no!”

You hissed. He was quicker than you’d hoped. You couldn’t hurt him, but you couldn’t let him sever your spinal chord either. Blades made contact with the scruff of your neck, and you dropped before they could cause any real damage. The hooks in your skin shifted. He was going to attack again.

“Moblit, it saved me, we need it alive!”

He finally hesitated, and you saw your opening. You didn’t bring about this body, but you could get out of it. With a shake, the harpoons slipped free of your pelt, and your body altered once more. Smaller, lighter, you ignored the slick of blood on your neck as you took off.

Hange was on their own now. You needed to stop the bleeding before you were slipped into unconsciousness, leaving splatters of red in the grass as you flew once more.