Attack on Titan (One Shots/xReader)

(Hange Zoë) "Tension"

!Gender Neutral Hange Zoë x !Fem Reader

Shifting your weight nervously from one foot to the other, you can't help but fidget with your fingers. The tension was thick, awkwardly thick.

The dark room was only lit by a singular lamp that rested closest to the Sections Commander on their desk. Illuminating their features and the scattered papers that surround them. It was a miracle Hange could find anything they were looking for on their desk, a cluttered mess.

Books here, papers there, a microscope atop said piles of books and papers. Hange hunched themselves over the mess just to even look through the microscope. Their face firm and set with pure concentration. You're almost positive that Hange has forgotten your presence, even if you're standing just slightly behind them.

  You had never been alone with Hange this long before, and this was the first time that they had specifically requested you to help out with their research. You had never been asked to help Hange before, nor have you done any research regarding titans. It doesn't help that Hange failed to mention what the research pertained to in the first place. The moment you were welcomed into the Section Commanders study they had their face buried in the microscope.

  Hardly any words were exchanged aside from an enthusiastic, "Y/N!" from Hange when they swung the door open to let you in. All you mustered out was a "Sections Commander.." a bit taken aback by Hange's outburst. You'd have to learn how the others seemed unphased by it.

  Shaking your head out of thought you finally decided to speak up. Clearing your throat and mustering the courage to break the heavy silence, "Sections Commander?...What exactly am I helping you research?" You chew your bottom lip as Hange seems to snap out of their train of thought. They stand up straight, no longer in a laser focused stare down a microscope.

  This seems to break the tension for just a moment now that you didn't feel like just a shadow in the background.

"Oh! My bad, I just got caught up in my research...but you remember that 'fragment' you found near Annie's crystal?" Hange hummed as you watched their nimble fingers delicately pick up the shiny fragmented rock. They seem to lose focus as they held up the crystal up in the dimly lit room. The soft lightning tracing Hange's fascinated expression.

  You couldn't help but somewhat admire how nicely the lighting complimented Hange, outlining their features perfectly. A strong jawline, the arch of their nose, cheekbones that looked soft to the touch yet sat firmly on their face. Tall, lean but firm frame. You had seen Hange with nothing but a towel before..after Levi forcefully bathed them. Those perfectly sculpted muscles. A faint blush creeped its way up your cheeks accompanied by a low heat as you remembered that day.

  Hange snaps you back to reality as they began to speak once more, "It's the same fragment that I collected from the titan in the wall."

  They opened a drawer...which didn't look any better than the top of the desk. Stuffed to the brim with papers and notebooks. Somehow that didn't seem to bother Hange as they easily reach into the drawer and pulled out another crystal fragment, identical to the original one still in Hange's hand. They hand you the crystal they had just pulled out, fingers brushing against yours as they do so.

You gave a slight nod, not understanding why Hange would even need your help just because you discovered a piece of Annie's crystal that had broken off. You knew Hange was trying to figure out what the crystal was made of, how they could potentially even get Eren's titan form to harden, but you weren't much help in offering any information.

Silence sets over the room again as Hange takes the crystal back from you, and places it under the microscope, now studying both fragments. Tension sets back in the room as you shift uncomfortably once more, chewing the inside of your cheek. "Do you need me to do anything?..." You asked your Sections Commander who was now lost in concentration once more. The most you received in response was a "mmm.."

"Perhaps we could train Eren to harden his skin? Maybe if he ingests one of the fragments...what do you think?" Hange asked, their focus never leaving the microscope except for a couple of glances at you here and there. Their back still turned to you. All you could offer up was a shrug and a "I'm not sure...it's worth a shot I guess." Before an awkward silence blanketed the room even thicker than before. Silence was deafening, perhaps even chokingly so. You had nothing to offer, nothing to say, you felt like no help at all.

Desperate to do something, anything, you began to organise Hange's desk. Grabbing handfuls of papers, eyes glossing over them. Titan anatomy or information, blueprints to new and old contraptions, even some paperwork on the Scouting regiment as if Hange had been secretly researching and conducting experiments on their peers. Your mouth slightly opens to ask Hange about the paperwork, but decide against it. It was already awkward enough...

  Despite the awkward tension in the air, you stole a couple of glances at Hange. You had always found them rather attractive, perhaps even developing a little bit of a crush on your Sections Commander. So when you were asked to help them with whatever they were researching you had hoped it would be, well, not awkward. You let out a drawn out breath as you stack stacked the last bits of paper neatly on Hange's desk and smile at your progress.

  Conquering the mess of this desk was a nightmare, not only were papers strewn and thrown everywhere on the desk but even on the floor. You stand up straight and stretch, the little pops your back makes earns happy little hums. Taking another quick glance at Hange they seemed to be frozen in time, same stance, same laser focused expression. You pull up another chair and sit beside them, tapping your fingers awkwardly on their desk.

  You can't help but notice when they purse their lips...perhaps they were even feeling the awkwardness of the silence, you could practically cut the tension with your blades if you wanted to. Maybe it was you that caused the awkwardness? Maybe they regret asking for your help and are waiting for you to just excuse yourself for the night. Hange could just be polite and doesn't want to hurt your feelings and telling you to just leave. At least, that's what you were thinking until you saw them shift on their feet as well, stealing little glances at you every so often when they thought you weren't looking.

  You could have sworn that Hange even glanced at your lips a time or two...a sudden thought popped in your head. What if Hange reciprocated your feelings but didn't know how to go about it...that could explain why they specifically asked for your help on this research project, brushing their fingers along yours, stealing glances whenever they could, but they were just as awkward as you when it came to this. "Hey Hange..." you looked up at them and took a deep breath, pushing away your nerves.

"Hmm?" Hange hummed as they focused their attention on you now, staring back down at you.

"Maybe a kiss would break the tension?" You could feel the heat rising slowly up from your neck to your cheeks, quite positive it was followed by a heavy blush. Hange's face was no better either, their eyes slightly widened before a smiled tugs at their lips

"Perhaps...only one way to find out," Hange leaned down to place a soft kiss on your lips. You didn't hesitate to return the kiss, your lips fitting together like a perfect puzzle piece. Their lips were soft and supple. You felt yourself beginning to melt into the kiss before they pulled away with a teasing smirk tugging at the corner of their mouth. "Did it work?"

  You gently touch your lips in a bit of awe that you just kissed your Sections Commander...the tension seeming to have melted away with the kiss. A teasing smirk plays on your lips now, "I don't know...maybe another kiss would help?"

"Then I guess we should find out," Hange hums as they pick you up and seat you against the edge of their desk, arms snaking around your waist and a soft pair of warm lips slowly lean in to steal away another kiss.

  You can safely say the tension had melted away...but you weren't going to say anything just yet, a couple more little make out sessions were needed just to be safe..