Sacrifice For You (Hange Zoe x Female Reader)

21: Damned For You

I ran a finger over the rough patch of skin on my shoulder. It was a mix of dark blues and purples, with some green on the edges. Sasha had taken the stitches out a day or two ago, and it finally was starting to feel normal again despite still looking downright horrendous.

The mirror in front of me was cracked in places, but I looked like myself- or at least it felt that way. For the first time in a long time. The sleeves of my tan button-down were rolled up near my elbows with a few buttons undone at the top, along with a pair of plain black pants.

In the glassy reflection, I could see my bed in the background, along with my battered and dirty ODM gear that was still waiting to be fixed. The room was standard and boring with minimal color, but it felt comfortable enough.

A calloused hand suddenly clamped over my own, snapping me out of the daze that had consumed my mind. With a surprising amount of gentleness, the hand moved my own to the side, revealing the colorful bit of skin.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there," the person mumbled, standing behind me and pulling my shirt back over the bruise a few seconds later so that it was no longer visible. "I knew it was risky."

Turning toward the brunette, I shook my head reassuringly. "You of all people know there was no choice in the matter. Yours is worse right now, anyway," I responded, gesturing with my head to the sling that their arm was resting in.

Hange suddenly smiled, taking me by the hand and pulling my body closer to theirs with care. It wasn't their usual toothy grin, but rather one of surprising calmness and content. "Does that mean I get special privileges?"

The way they touched me so naturally sent sparks up and down my skin. Rolling my eyes, I stared back at them carefully. "Like what?"

They feigned thought for a moment, tapping their finger against their chin. "Mm, perhaps a certain someone allowing me to escort her to Historia's coronation?"

My mouth went dry for a moment and I blinked, leaning in slightly. "You are such an idiot."

"So is that a yes?"

"Did it sound like a no?"

"Coy as always."

They hesitated for a moment, their expression faltering, almost like they had realized something last minute before pulling away from me. I held back a frown, slightly confused at the gesture but brushing it off as nerves nonetheless.

Without a word, they walked to the other side of the bedroom, returning to the papers they had been working on. The coronation was soon, and the stage was almost done being set up. I looked at my feet, a lump rising in my throat. How was this going to go?

It'd been a few days since the fight with Reiss, each of which had been spent either in the med-bay or talking with the Levi Squad about what would be happening next. And, so far, it was the plan to retake Wall Maria. But that wasn't what I was focused on.

After the fight with the Colossal and Armored Titans, Commander Erwin's words to me still hadn't left my mind- even now. The choice I had made to stay with Hange instead of chasing after Eren and Ymir, and how he would have made the same one if he had the ability to do so.

The meaning behind his words had clicked a while ago, but now there was no denying what he had meant exactly. I had chosen to succumb to my own desires and stayed with the person I care about, instead of fighting for the bigger cause.

"Do you think Eren is ready to seal Wall Maria soon?" they questioned, pulling me from my thoughts. I stared at the back of the brunette while they waited for an answer.