Sacrifice For You (Hange Zoe x Female Reader)

22: Day Drinking

What seemed like the millionth frustrated sigh passed Hange's lips and I finally looked up from the documents sprawled out in front of me, eyeing them carefully. "Something on your mind?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.

They met my gaze with their own, shaking their head quickly. "No! No- Just going over some plans. Erwin wants to make up some drafts for the formations we're going to be using in the expedition to Wall Maria."

Frowning, I pushed away my work and made my way over to them. They stared at me quietly while I peered over their shoulder, observing the markings they had made on the large sheet of paper. Most of it was random little doodles and drawings in the corners of the page, and some harsh-looking lines that crossed out various ideas.

"Maybe you should take a break, Hange. I know it's only been a week or so since Historia's coronation, but she's heading out to that orphanage today. I'm sure she wouldn't mind us tagging along to help," I offered.

The brunette shook their head almost immediately, refusing the offer. "This is too important, you know I can't [Y/N]." Despite the rejecting words, their tone wavered slightly, as if they weren't entirely sure.

"Look," I started, pulling their chair away from the desk, "if it's that important, then I'll help you finish the drafts when we get back. It's not like you can do much if you're stressed anyway, right?"

They frowned, and I could practically see the gears turning in their head. Leaning down slightly, I placed my hands on their knees, looking at them carefully. Our faces were only a few inches apart, and I heard their breath hitch. "Just a couple of hours, yeah?"

Hange's face grew red, and they huffed. "You can't just do... that."

"Do what?"

"That thing you're doing right now!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I lied, shrugging and pushing away from them gently. A grin made its way onto my face when I turned away and grabbed a jacket.

"Yes, you do!" They retorted, standing up from their chair.

"Mmm, don't think so."

"[Y/N], that's really not- wait. [Y/N]?"

I listened to their voice carry down the hallway, already having walked out and making my way downstairs.

---

The sun was at the very top of the sky, like a yellow flower in the middle of a very blue pond. Except, instead of a flower, the giant ball was damn near cooking me alive in the street.

"What are we doing here?" Hange asked suddenly, breaking my thoughts from a cold shower the second we returned home. I looked up at them with a small smile.

"Figured you could use a drink first," I admitted, despite knowing they didn't handle the liquid with much grace. In fact, there wasn't any grace at all the few times I'd caught them in a drunken state.

Without wasting another second and avoiding their response, I quickly grabbed their hand and dragged them inside the bar we had been standing in front of. It wasn't a very popular one, but many of the Survey Corps frequented the establishment in favor of cheap but effective drinks. Not that they wouldn't quite literally pay a limb to forget the horrors beyond the Walls even just for a night, anyway.

"Go ahead and order whatever you want, I'll find us a seat," I said. Nodding reluctantly, the brunette stepped away as I began to look around.

A few civilians were seated throughout the pub, most with deprived or tired expressions. After spotting a more secluded booth in the corner, I began walking toward it.