Off The Beaten Path

Coming Down

She fumed over her dinner, vaguely listening to whatever nonsense Hange was spouting.

She was angry that she'd been so riled up, she was angry at the words she had said and that her children had heard her being so mean. She was angry that he constantly elicited that type of behavior in her. Bernell ripped another chunk of biscuit and handed it over to a tired Terra. She watched with a slow smile as her daughter rubbed at her eyes, attempting to take a bite of the food and missing, sucking on her hand for a while before whining. Bernell's eyes raised to her children who were now slouched across from her; their plates long ago empty.

"I think it's bed time, Lisa." She grinned, standing and reaching for a pocket only to freeze. "I-I forgot I don;t have any money." She frowned, then grinned, a wicked idea hatching in her mind. "Watch them." She whispered, making her way around the table to sit beside Hange.

The woman was wearing real glasses, not her specially made goggles. Her hair was up, though the shorter strands had fallen around her face. She looked softer without the large leather braces strapped to her head. Permanent indentations and tan lines marked where the leather belonged. Bernell felt a curious sort of courage leak through her.

"What a shame women can't be allowed to work." She sighed.

Hange shot up, still drunk and obviously on the low side of it. "Wha' d'ya mean 'allowed'?"

The angry glint in her eyes encouraged Bernell, Hange was waiting for something to set her off. She just needed to push the fire closer to the fuse.

"Well," She sighed, looking at her children meaningfully. "I'm not allowed to work. As a single mother I'm not sure how I am supposed to support my children without a well paying job- but..." She caught Hange's gaze and for a second her heart froze.

Can she tell? Does she see through my scheme? Bernell looked down, fiddling with her hands, hoping for all the world she looked like a lost woman with no one to turn to.

Her eyes narrowed behind her spectacles. "Is that what they meant?" Her voice had lost its slur, her face grew red. "Well fuck 'em. Get a job. Fuck 'em."

Bernell sat up straighter, shocked. "Y-you mean it? I can get a job?"

Hange shrugged, "I mean, Smith and Ackerman will have to okay it too."

Bernell stood, sighing heavily. "Of course they will." She turned a smile on the drunk woman, "Thank you, Hange."

"Hey yeah." She stood, slapping her hands down on the table, causing everyone to start. "Have I told you about the chemical differences that can be found in the spinal fluids of titans? the short ones are-"

"Thank you!" Bernell held her hands up, backing away quickly. "I'd love to hear about it sometime but right now I need to take my kids to bed. They're just about falling asleep in their chairs."

"Oh, yes. I see." Her eyes flashed cold with promise, "I'll keep you to your word about some other time then."

Bernell chuckled nervously, "Of course. I'm sure it is fascinating."

She ignored Lisa's curious gaze until they were outside. And even then she remained tight lipped, taking some pleasure in knowing her friend was bursting with questions and comments.

Finally Lisa couldn't take it anymore, "What was that between you and Levi? And what were you talking to Hange about? Do you like him Bernell?"

The words erupted from her mouth like air from a titans wounds. Jennifer stirred in her mothers arms. Lisa blushed as she ignored the looks from what was left of the people on the streets.