The Love We Give

Closer

Chapter 8 picks up right after the last one, a few months later. In-time, we are heading straight for the year 845, so I thought we'd have to cherish and enjoy a bit of a good time, before shit starts to go down. But don't worry, Hange and their partner will be okay. For now.
Look forward to very intimate scenes between the two of them in this chapter - as well as the use of "they/them" pronouns for Hange from now on. To me, it always felt natural to go by those, but I figured, for the sake of the story, I would start out with "she/her", as their nonbinary was something, they would have to admit and explore first.

The song recommendation for this chapter is yet again:
"State Lines" by Novo Amor
...as I really love the vibe of it, paired with Hange and Sira being close to each other

"What's this?", Hange asked in surprise, when Sira had entered their room and handed them a small parcel. It was wrapped rather nicely, they thought, and upon inspecting it, they found the Military Police emblem on it. They looked up to their lover, still with a questioning face.

"Well, open it.", Sira said in return with a faint smile and maybe even some nervousness. After all, she did send letters behind Hange's back, even though with good intentions.

The squad leader then quickly removed the cord around the parcel, before ripping off the paper as well, revealing a short piece of clothing, made out of thick material.

"A shirt?", they asked, seemingly confused and holding it front of their face. For a shirt it did look quite small, they had to admit.

"A binding shirt, yes. You wear it underneath your clothes and... you can adjust the straps. They make everything just a bit flatter and... neutral, you could say.", Sira explained to Hange, crossing her arms in front of her body and brushing her hand against her own upper arm, "Section Commander Heinen wore something like this, back when I was in the Military Police. She had a rather large chest and would often complain how that would make things a bit difficult. I saw it once or twice, in the communal showers, you know. I sent her a letter asking for one to be made for you, I-I'm sorry, if I crossed a boundary there, Hange. I just thought, you-"

"No! I... Sira, I just... don't know what to say." Hange shook their head immediately, even standing up now to reach for Sira's face with their hand. They were moved about this considerate gesture, making them once again realise just how lucky they had gotten with her. She truly said the truth, when telling Hange she would love every version of them – Sira made that clear again and again with how she would treat them. How she would stand up for them, when others had trouble using different pronouns, although Hange didn't mind that as much to be fair. They would have been okay, if it was only Sira and Moblit, Erwin and maybe Levi, Mike, and Nanaba, too, who would have known about this. But their lover was so stern about making them comfortable, that, sometimes, it really did feel a bit unreal to be living like this now. Sira made their heart beat fast in their chest, not just in a sexual way, but in a more intimate way of things. She truly made them feel like her love was unconditional which made existing so much easier ever since.

Hange looked at Sira, placing a soft kiss onto her lips.

"The change of pronouns is one thing, but... you said you mind it. Your chest. So I thought this might help to feel a bit more comfortable. You don't have to wear it, though, if you don't want to." She looked at them with such caring eyes, Hange couldn't help but to let out a quiet laugh. It wasn't the first time that Sira made them realise just how much they loved her, but still, it had Hange in disbelieve from time to time.

Again, they shook their head ever so slightly, now embracing Sira in their arms and placing kiss after kiss on the soft skin of her neck.

"Can you help me put it on?", their voice came as a whisper and Hange felt how Sira leaned back in their arms to look at them, with an even slightly surprised look on her face now.