Complications Throughout Generations

Chapter 92

Levi's POV:

The night had come to an end and Hange had just dropped Armin and Jean off.

"Can you take me to Walgreens real quick?" I asked.

"Sure." She nodded without questioning my intentions. She seemed quiet which was unlike her. Of course she was talkative with Jean and Armin but with me, it was different. She didn't feel the need to play a part. Once my mom had brought up Hange's personal life, I started to analyze things a little closer. I had never really put any thought into it before, my mind was always elsewhere.

"Are...are you okay?" I wasn't very good at asking others how they felt. Typically they just came to me and went off on their own. But with Hange, I'll make an exception.

"Yeah." She nodded with a fake smile. We pulled into the parking lot and I took her to the birthday card section.

"Can I ask you something, Hange?" I was scanning the rows for the perfect card.

"Anything."

"Why have I never been to your house?" I turned my body towards her to give my full attention.

"Because we just end up at yours," she shrugged nonchalantly.

"Why have I never met your parents?" We've been friends since middle school and not once have I met a single family member of hers. Even at our 8th grade graduation, not a relative in sight. I can't believe I didn't pick up on any of this.

"Because I haven't." That bubbly personality seemed to be drowned in sadness instantly.

"What do you mean, you haven't?"

"I'm a foster kid." She shrugged. "I live at Krolva Foster Center. I don't have a real family." My heart broke into a million pieces. Why did she never tell me? How did I not know? After all this time...

"Hange, why didn't you tell me this?"

"Because I didn't want to burden you with my shit. I know you're going through a lot." She waved it off like it was nothing. This was the furthest thing from nothing. My bullshit is that Eren is dating my sister, her bullshit is that she doesn't have a real home.

"Burden me? Are you insane? Hange, you've done so much for me. I always want to be here for you...you're my best friend." A gleam of hope shimmered back in her eyes. "Commander Hange and Captain Levi, right? Dynamic duo?" I need to do something about this. I can't have her living like this. I wish I knew what to do though.

"Yeah." A laugh escaped, breaking through his sadness some more. "I keep busy though. I work full time at a coffee shop. That's how I got the car. When I'm 18, I want to have enough to get my own apartment."

"Wow." I was still in such disbelief. I just couldn't believe it.

"So why do we need a birthday card?" She changed the subject and went back to her chipper self. I figured the best thing for me to do was go to my usual self as well to ease any tension.

"For Eren," I mumbled.

"Really?"

"Yeah, just...don't tell anyone."

"When would I ever?"

"You spread my shit like wildfire, shitty glasses," I smiled.

"True, but this I'll keep quiet." She motioned a zipper over her lips and nodded in satisfaction. She started to help me look for a card. It was probably easier knowing it was for Eren. "This one!" It was a Spider-Man.

"No."

"Why?! Come on!" She laughed.

"If it was under other circumstances, maybe. But not now."

"Fine," she whined and walked over towards the more adult cards. Meaning there were no stormtroopers or princesses on the front. She handed me a black card with gold curved lines around the cover. It had a simply Happy Birthday on the front. I'll take it.

We left the store shortly after and walked to her car.

"Hange." Her hand rested on the car handle before pulling it. I walked up to her hesitantly but needed to be done more for her sake than mine. As normal as I possibly could, I wrapped my arms around her and hugged her tightly. She gasped and immediately hugged back. I was lucky to not receive being lifted in the air or squeezed till I couldn't breathe. She needed this. "Thank you."

"For?"

"For being my best friend."

"And thank for you being mine."

I squeezed a little tighter at the new memory.

"Hange," I started but she was quick to interrupt.

"Levi," she walked in front of me and spoke quietly, "Levi, you're my best friend. I want to believe I've made a difference in this world. To this force. To you. Please, let me do this. I wanna go out with a bang, so please let me go."

I nodded sadly. But then I grabbed onto her cape. "Dedicate your heart."

She gasped with a huge smile. "That's the first time I heard you say that!"

Best friends till the very end it seems.