Hand in Hand

27. Family

Hanji sat against the wall of (y/n)'s cell with her knees pressed up against her chest. She had been waiting for over an hour. Every once in a while, Hanji would waddle over to the makeshift bed (y/n) was laying on, a rough wool blanket and a Scout cloak, and confirm that she was still breathing.

Moblit had left them to finish cleaning after making sure Hanji would be okay alone. He knew she always had a soft spot for (y/n). Ever since she was assigned on the squad, he watched their relationship blossom. He saw how closely Hanji studied her condition and helped her. Their friendship seemed to help Hanji heal from her own trauma as well.

The stone walls of the cell made the air cold and sticky. Hanji impatiently looked over to (y/n), who was shivering in her sleep. Walking over to the bed, she laid down on the wool blanket and stuck her arm under (y/n)'s head.

'Maybe she'll wake up if she's warm,' Hanji thought.

She needed her to wake up more than anything, even more than getting information out of Sannes. After the past four years of relying on (y/n) emotionally, how was Hanji supposed to go back to being alone? It wasn't her only reason for wanting (y/n) to wake up, but with the vulnerable state she was in, it was the only reason circulating through her mind.

"Dammit," Hanji whispered. She chuckled softly at her selfishness. "I feel like Erwin."

Greedy thoughts gnawed at her brain, but if the bottom line was (y/n)'s health and safety, Hanji was okay with that.

"What..."

"Are you awake?!" Hanji rolled on top and pushed her forehead against (y/n)'s. "Say something if you're alive!"

(Y/n) stirred awake, her eyes barely adjusting to the face smothered against her own. "Hanji, you stink like dried blood, get off of me. What happened?"

With a sigh, Hanji lifted herself up, and supported (y/n)'s back to help her sit upright. "Are you feeling okay? Do you not remember what happened?"

(Y/n) stared down into her lap and opened her eyes wide, trying to clear her hazed vision. "I thought I was talking to Mikasa. My heart is racing and I feel horrible." Looking around her surroundings, she asked, "Am I in a cell?"

"You collapsed a little over an hour ago, " Hanji said softly. She placed her hand on (y/n)'s face and rubbed her thumb gently over her cheek. Her skin was still sweaty and feverish. "Moblit brought you down to the basement so that I could watch over you."

"Why did I collapse?"

Hanji shook her head. "I have no idea. Moblit thinks you stood up too fast. I thought that the medication was helping but I might have to change the formula."

"About the medication, Hanji, " (y/n) muttered sheepishly. "I forgot to grab it before we left the Trost Branch and before the MPs raided the place. I haven't taken it in..." she began to lazily count her fingers but got lost and started to recount.

Hanji's mouth dropped in disbelief. Grabbing (y/n)'s fingers, she yelled, "It's barely been two days!"

"Damn you're noisy," (y/n) groaned, yanking her hand back and covering her ears.

Her ears, her vision, even her heart were all still feeling the effects of her fainting. She still felt that at any moment she could end up passing out again. The cell's clammy air didn't do anything for her fever either, the sticky layer of sweat hadn't seemed to go away yet.

When Levi had told them to hurry and suit up, packing her medication had been the last thing on her mind. Her mother's tea had been left behind too, both of them sitting neatly on her desk. She and Levi never did have that cup of tea, and now she was sure that the recipe had been destroyed in the MPs raid. The only thing left of her father was gone. (Y/n) knew she shouldn't feel pain for him, but it was the only piece of him she had, and now she'll never see it again.