Hanji Zoe x Reader

Bad Dreams & Morning Hugs

a/n: I had a bad day at work yesterday, so I started writing this during my lunch break. I love Hanji so much, your honor.

warnings: tooth rotting fluff, some anxiety on both ends, fem!reader, not beta read (we die like men ♡)

-

It's a quiet morning, maybe even too quiet. Hanji opens their eyes, quickly raising their right hand to try and shield themselves from the bright sunlight that invades the room. A quick look at the clock and they realize it's far too early for them to be awake.

"6:45 am? Hell no," they think to themselves, immediately snuggling their body underneath the covers once more. In an instinct, almost like muscle memory, they flip over to the side, eager to spoon their bare chest against the skin of your back. Except you are not there.

Their eyes snap open again and their expression morphs into one of confusion. They touch the pillow softly, carefully analyzing it. "It's cold..." They think, and the realization that you probably have been out of bed for a while hits them like a pile of bricks.

Immediately, they reach for their glasses and sit up on the bed. "Moonlight?" They call out to the dark, hoping to hear your usually so cheerful response. But they don't hear anything, the only sound that meets them is the cars outside the window, rushing towards their destinations.

Immediately, they throw the covers to the side, their bare legs now exposed to the cold wind of the air-conditioner. They quickly throw some sweatpants and a tank top on, just enough so they aren't walking around the house completely naked.

Hanji ponders for a few seconds if they should turn on the lights, but maybe you simply fell out of bed and they didn't want to disturb you more than you were already disturbed. They poke their head out of the edge of the bed, looking at the empty ground and frowning.

Their heart begins to palpitate, a cold sweat dripping down their left temple as they make their way out of the room, their voice a little louder than before but still with that same shaky tone, "Moonlight?"

Nothing. The house feels empty and cold, almost as if you are completely gone. Their breathing begins to come in nervous patterns, a wave of fear and anxiety washing over their body as they continue to look around for you. Trembling hands turn every doorknob in the house: the guest room, the supply closet, even the guest bathroom.

They go down the carpeted stairs, tired eyes now highly alert as they search for any little piece of you. They look in the living room, hoping to find you in front of the TV but no such luck.

So they move onto the kitchen, looking around some more, hoping that maybe you decided to wake up earlier and make some breakfast. It wouldn't be the first time you woke up early just because your stomach was growling. Unfortunately, no such luck either.

A knot forms on the back of their throat the more they look around. With a quick peek outside, they sigh a small breath of relief as they realize that your car is still in the driveway.

"So you are in the house, after all..." Hanji thinks to themselves. Now that their brain is a little more awake and alert, they realize there is only one place they haven't checked yet, the place you often go when you want to isolate yourself and your emotions.

So they immediately rush to the backyard, to the spot behind the big oak tree, right by the swing.

And there you are. Your back touching the trunk of the tree, knees pressing firmly against your chest while your head hands low, buried in between them.

They watch you for a few seconds, their feet lowly moving through the fallen leaves but still somehow hoping to remain silent. It isn't until they notice just how shaky your breathing is that they make themselves known.

"I've been looking for you," they say, slowly sitting next to you. A quiet gasp escapes your chest as you lift your head, the back of your hand immediately coming up to your face to wipe away the tears, though it's no use. The sniffles and trail of water left on your cheeks are a clear indication of just how much you have been crying.

"Oh... Sunshine..." You say, clearing your throat in a failing attempt to be more convincing, "I... Just needed some fresh -"

"Don't lie to me... Please," Hanji cuts you off, their voice slightly firmer but still maintaining that same caring and comforting tone to it. It almost has a begging edge mixed with desperation, like they need you to tell the truth just like they need air to survive. You sigh.

"I... Had a bad dream and just started having a lot of anxiety," you sniffle, your eyes filling with tears once again. You want to look away, to hide your face and run so they won't see you in such a pathetic state, but it's almost as if Hanji can sense your intentions before you have time to put them to practice because their hand gently wraps around your wrist.

"I'm sorry," their thumb brushes above your skin, their eyes filled with adoration in ways you have never felt before, "do you want to talk about it?"

You shake your head, your lower lip trembling as you turn to the side, your arms wrapping around Hanji's torso while tears immediately pour down your face, hiccups erupting from you like a volcano that had been dormant for years. You cling to them as if your life depends on it, like they are your lifeline and only connection to this world.

In response, Hanji wraps their arms around your shoulders, their head resting on top of yours as they hold you as close as they possibly can.

They shower your skin with kisses, from the very top of your scalp to the bottom of your cheeks, kissing away the tears as they go by.
You shake your head, sobbing so hard you can barely form coherent sentences. Your whole body trembles in their arms but Hanji clings to you so dearly, almost as if they are afraid you are going to disappear any second now.

The sun begins to make its way higher up in the sky, a comforting warmth surrounding the two of you as you sit under the tree. The morning breeze dances with the leaves as their hair tickles your face.

You aren't sure how long the two of you stay like that, with their hands gently brushing above your skin, leaving goosebumps behind. And slowly, your tears begin to slow down, the world comes into a more clear view and you can take a deep breath.

"You feel any better?" Hanji asks, not moving a single muscle. You nod, still clinging to them like your life might end the second the two of you are separated.

"With you here, I feel safe..." You whisper back in response and you can tell by the simple way their breathing shifts ever so slightly that they have the biggest smile on their face. "Will you stay home with me today?" You plead, feeling almost pathetic but the idea of Hanji leaving for work is nearly enough to bring more tears to your eyes.

"Of course," they whisper in the same tone of voice, already pulling their phone out of their pocket while still keeping one arm tight around your shoulders, "I'll text Erwin and let him know I'm not coming in today, that I have a family emergency."

You nod and smile, your head resting on their chest, your ear right above their heart so you can focus on the beating sound. You can almost hear it calling your name as it continues to pump.

"Maybe we can watch some movies, get some takeout, play some video games," Haji begins suggesting and you sniffle, a smile twitching at the corner of your lips.

"Yeah... That would be amazing..." You whisper, nuzzling your head against their body, "You know me all too well..."

Hanji chuckles, clinging to you a little tighter, nearly forgetting to make sure you need some space to breathe, not that you mind at all The two of you decide to sit under the tree for a little while longer, enjoying the warmth of the sun and each other's.

"Thank you, Sunshine," you whisper and Hanji smiles, shaking their head.

"No need to thank me, Moonlight," they whisper, "I will always and forever be here for you. No matter what, I will always love you."

"I love you too..." A whisper, barely audible but loud enough that Hanji can hear you. In response, they tighten their grip once more, wanting to make sure you can feel every little bit of the overwhelming amount of love they hold for you in their heart.

From their hugs alone, you forget all about the bad dream you had. You can't wait to see what the rest of the day will have in store for the two of you.