Chains of Destiny | Attack on Titan x OC

20

The following day, the atmosphere in the mess hall was lively, but Hange's attention was elsewhere. "It's already 2 in the afternoon, yet I haven't seen Deia anywhere," they said, glancing around the room with a hint of concern.

Levi, sitting with his usual stoic expression, looked up from his meal. "She might just be training, slacking around, or keeping to herself. You know how the brat is."

Miche, leaned back in his chair, raising an eyebrow. "I've never met this Deia you keep talking about. You seem quite fond of her, Hange."

Hange nodded enthusiastically, their eyes sparkling with excitement. "She has so much potential! I want to know her more!"

"Maybe you're worrying too much," Levi remarked dryly, but there was a hint of concern in his tone. "She's capable."

Then Hange decided to take action. "I'm going to look for her," they announced, standing up from the table. "I can't just sit here wondering."

Levi nodded, though he still wore an expression that suggested he thought Hange was being overly dramatic. "Just make sure she's alright."

Hange dashed out of the mess hall, their heart set on finding Adrasteia. They made their way through the corridors, calling out her name. "Hey, Deia! Are you in here?"

When they reached Adrasteia's room, they knocked gently on the door. "It's Hange! Can I come in?"

After a moment of silence, Hange pushed the door open slightly. What they saw made their heartache. Adrasteia was lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, a blank expression on her face. The room was dimly lit, the curtains drawn, and it was clear she hadn't moved much.

"Dear," Hange said softly, stepping inside. "Are you okay?"

Adrasteia turned her head slowly to look at Hange, her eyes red from tears. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, though her voice lacked conviction. 

Hange frowned, walking closer. "You don't look fine. What's going on?"

Sitting up slowly, Adrasteia felt the weight of her emotions pressing down on her. "Not that big of a deal. Just had a dream. . . about my brother," she chuckled, "We talked."

Hange moved to sit beside her on the bed, offering a comforting presence. "And how do you feel about it?"

"I miss him," Adrasteia admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "He always knew how to make things feel lighter, even in the darkest times. It's just. . . hard to let go of that part of my life."

Hange nodded, understanding the depth of her pain. "That's completely natural. Grief doesn't have a timeline. It's okay to miss him and to feel sad about what happened. But remember, it's also okay to carry those memories with you as a source of strength."

"But sometimes it feels like those memories hold me back," Adrasteia confessed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I don't want to be stuck in the past."

"You're not stuck," Hange said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Adrasteia's back. "You're just in the process of healing. Talking about him and honoring his memory can be part of moving forward, too. It doesn't diminish your love for him."

She took a deep breath. "I guess I never thought of it that way. I want to honor him, not be haunted by his absence."

"Exactly," Hange replied, their voice filled with encouragement. "You can take the lessons he taught you and the love he gave you and use that as a foundation for your own strength. You're stronger than you think."

Adrasteia wiped her eyes to prevent the threatening tears from falling, feeling the warmth of Hange's words seep into her heart. "Thank you for being here, Section Commander. I really needed this talk."