Your Wings - Reader X Levi Ackerman

Chapter 52: Marvelous Creatures

Hange stares ahead, the corner of her mouth twitching upward. "That's... a nice thought."

But something about the way she says it feels off. Hollow. Like she doesn't believe it. Her usual spark—the one that made her eyes light up whenever she talked about her theories or discoveries—is gone. It's replaced by something darker, heavier. You hesitate, unsure if you should press further. She's already carrying so much. But before you can decide, she speaks again.

"I just hope this world really does get better," she murmurs, voice barely audible. "Otherwise, all this fighting... all this loss... it'll be for nothing."

You nudge her shoulder gently. "Hey, come on. We're Scouts. We'll keep fighting, no matter what. That's what we do, right? We fight for that perfect world."

Hange's laugh is bitter. "Perfect? The world will never be perfect."

You fall quiet, considering her words. "Maybe not perfect," you admit, "but damn near close. And if anyone can help get us there, it's you."

She finally looks at you, eyes glossy and hollow. "I'm so damn tired."

You blink, momentarily thrown off by her honesty. "Then rest. Just for tonight."

She shakes her head slowly. "No... I'm tired of fighting."

The admission hits you like a punch to the gut. This is Hange—the woman who faced titans with nothing but curiosity and a wild grin. The one who joked about her own mortality like it was some far-off, laughable concept. To hear her sound so... defeated? It's terrifying.

Without thinking, you sit down beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. She leans into you, the weight of her exhaustion pressing against your side.

"Then don't," you whisper. "You've done enough, Hange. Let me fight for you this time. I'll fight until the world's as close to perfect as we can get it. For you. For all of us."

Her breath hitches, and when she looks up, tears shimmer in her eyes. "You always say the right thing, you know that?"

You smile softly. "It's a gift."

Hange wipes at her cheeks, sniffling. "Thank you. Not just for this. For always having my back. For listening when no one else would. Do you know how many people brushed me off when I rambled about titans? How many times people rolled their eyes, like I was wasting time?" Her voice cracks. "But you never did. You listened. You cared. That meant more than you'll ever know."

You kneel in front of her, heart aching at the sight of her tears. "Of course I listened. You were the only one crazy enough to make all of this feel... hopeful. You made me believe there was more to life than just surviving. I'd stay up all night listening to you ramble if it meant you'd smile again."

She laughs through her tears, shaking her head. "You're an idiot."

"Your idiot," you tease, squeezing her shoulder. "And once we stop the rumbling, first thing we'll do? Go see the world. I'll fly you anywhere you want. We'll study new things, explore ruins, eat food we can't even pronounce. Deal?"

Hange's smile finally reaches her eyes. "Deal."

You pull her into a tight hug, feeling her grip your shirt like she's afraid you'll vanish if she lets go. When she finally pulls back, she removes her glasses, wiping the lenses with shaky hands. She sniffles once, twice, before sliding them back on.

The silence that follows is warm, comforting. Two soldiers, two friends, holding each other together in the middle of a fractured world.

Then, like clockwork, Hange ruins the moment. "So... what were you and Levi whispering about on the ship? You both looked suspiciously lovey-dovey. Should I be planning a wedding or an intervention?"