3

( weeks later, a day before the expedition )

They had caught who had messed up your ODM gear and it was Oruo which you weren't so surprised about. He had been jealous of you ever since the beginning. You were always better by skill and learned faster than him.

Hange was pissed but you told her to stay out of it since this wasn't the first time he had done something like that.

But for his punishment he was to not go on the expedition and clean the stables for two weeks.

You and Hange were now in your room, silently, as you read, and she sketched since training ended early due to getting everything ready for the expedition tomorrow.

"What are you sketching?" You asked putting your book down on your lap, sitting up from the position you were in on your bed.

Hange looked over to you and smiled without saying anything.

You got up and went over to her bed, and sat next to her. You looked over trying to get a peak but before you could she closed it.

"Hey!" You pouted.

"I'll show you when it's finished!" They yelled back teasing.

They then put their hand on your cheek giving you a quick peck on your nose. Which made you scrunch your nose at the soft touch.

"You're cute." They said wrapping their arms around your waist.

You hugged them back taking in their scent, laying your head on their shoulder.

"How long will we have to keep hiding this?" You asked. It had been weeks since that night on the roof. The kiss you both shared where you both realized your feelings for each other.

Since then you had treated each other like partners but in secret. You would wait to be alone for any type of romantic interaction.

It was hard always seeing them during training and just running up to them wanting to hug them or simply hold their hand while walking in the halls. But you both couldn't risk it.

The only one who had an idea of your relationship was the grumpy old man Levi. He had always known about the little flirting and admiring you guys did so it was no surprise to him, and he didn't care.

"Don't know." Hange sighed with a sniffle.

You looked up at her into her brown eyes and was sad to see silent tears run down her face. You put both your hands on the side of her face gently wiping them away.

"Why are you crying?" You asked softly.

They took in a deep breath as you patiently waited for her response as she cleared her throat.

"I'm just worried about you. But don't get me wrong I'm also very excited because you know how much I have an interest in titans." They laughed a bit which made you smile.

"I just don't know what I'd do if I lost you." She said then kissing your forehead gently.

After she had stopped you looked up at her.

"You won't. We will both come back together. I promised." You said.

They nodded. You didn't want her to worry about you. It wasn't often you saw Hange all sad like this and you didn't want her to be all upset over you.

You both then jumped up as you heard a knock at the door. You quickly went to your bed as Hange got up to see who it was.

You sat there as you watched them open a bit of the door to look out.

"Oh it's you Shorty!" She began to laugh letting Levi in.

He walked in with a smile which he usually didn't have so it made you worried with what he was about to say.

"You look very flustered, Y/n. Are you surprised I almost caught you guys?" He asked, teasing.

You rolled your eyes, covering your face as Hange just laughed.

"It's fine Y/n Levi wouldn't tell a soul!" Hange kept laughing but then stopped making a serious look at Levi.

"And if he did..he knows what would happened." Levi kept a plain face as he wasn't scared of Hange but he did indeed know Hange would be very upset if he was to tell anyone about them.

"You idiots don't have to worry. I could care less. I just came here to tell you that the expedition will start early in the morning when we usually have breakfast so be ready." He then walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Hange then sighed in relief that he was gone and laid back on your bed as you just sat next to them. You can tell by their look on their face they were stressing out about tomorrow. You gently combed their hair with your fingers.

They smiled up at you and you smiled back at them.

-

Early in the morning even before the sun had risen, you and Hange got up getting ready. You both got changed and made sure your ODM gear was good. You packed extra food and water.

"Alright now we have to go to the stables, get our horses, and join the rest of them." Said Hange smiling right at you. She opened the door letting you go first as she locked up.

You both walked side by side in the busy halls as others passed by also getting ready.

-

After everything was ready everyone got into formation and into their groups. Your group is Hange, Levi, Erwin, Moblit, and your section commander of course and you guys ride somewhat in the front.

You were nervous. Your hands were shaky as you gripped the saddle and you couldn't help but bite your lip. You didn't want to be though so you tried to hide it but Hange, who was to your right, noticed quickly.

"You alright, Y/n?" They asked with a worried expression.

"Y-Yeah of course." You replied quickly.

Soon after the gates began to open. You tried to remind yourself of what you have learned and everything the commander and your section commander had told you.

You looked down to your side seeing your smoke signals and tried to memorize everyone as a distraction to keep you less worried.

"Hey, idiot!"

You looked to the side at Levi as you stopped mumbling the smoke signal flares to yourself.

"We started moving, come on! You don't wanna be left behind!" He yelled.

You then started to move, catching up to them, staying right in between Levi and Hange. Since you were now directly next to Hange. You could tell they kept looking at you from the side of your eye.

"I'm fine." Is all you said loud enough for them to hear you.

You galloped faster and so did Hange catching up a bit more with the rest.

As you guys got farther from the wall you looked around at the view. Other than being afraid of the Titans that were beyond the wall the scenery was amazing. It was beautiful.

You looked over to Hange as they had the widest smile on their face. You could tell she was loving this scenery just as much as you.

She looked back at you and you blushed as you had just been caught staring. She just laughed making her horse closer to yours.

"Look out at the sky." She whispered enough for you to hear.

As you looked the sun was just coming up and it made the sky such a beautiful color. Your eyes gleamed. This was the most beautiful thing you had ever seen in your life and at this moment you felt so lucky you got to see it, and the best part is you got to see it with Hange.

You smiled to yourself.

You kept staring up and smiling at the sky until you saw black smoke come from your side.

"Abnormal Titan heading this way!"

Your smile immediately fated. As you slowed down your horse waiting for the next instructions.

Since it was still a bit dark you couldn't see the abnormal just yet but you could hear it on its way.

"Alright everyone follow the group in front quickly, and then go to the right! Then, there should be a forest where we can lose it! Go! Go! Go!" Shouted your section commander to all of you.

"Tch, I could definitely have taken it." Said Levi.

"Levi, even though I trust your skills, this is the most efficient option to keep everyone safe." Said Erwin who was right in front of both of you.

The stomping of the titan grew louder and louder. All you wanted to do was look back and see how close it was but before you could even turn your head Hange yelled out to you.

"Whatever you don't look back Y/n! It will only make it worse! Same goes for everyone!"

So you fought off wanting to look back and kept going forward as fast as you possibly could.

"Someone help me!-"

You heard someone yell from behind but didn't look as Hange said. You could tell they were gone. Even though it took a life from one of the groups it helped you guys out as the titan started to slow down and soon enough you all reached the forest.

-

You all now had taken a quick rest stop and your whole group were in separate trees around each other. Of course you and Hange were on the same one.

"You thirsty? I still have extra." You told them offering some of your water, as they nodded while thanking you.

"I'm not gonna lie I got really scared back there, and I wanted to look back so badly too." They then said.

"I'm glad you didn't. I'm glad we all got here safely." You said.

They smiled at you and they laid back on the huge tree branch.

You looked down at them. They were so cute. You wanted to be close to them and lay right on top of them hugging them close. But you then looked up at all the other groups in the trees. It was too risky.

"Alright everyone, according to the commander we lost lots of people today." Said one of the section commanders. You frowned at that and it made you upset, but you felt lucky to be alive and not be one of them.

"We will be heading back before it gets too late."

It was still early in the morning but for this type of thing it was very scary to get stuck out here even in the afternoon if anything were to happen.

-

You all were now riding back out of the forest. Your group was now in a different position since there were less people. Your group was in the back.

You looked out at everyone in the front as they rode. You would see different smoke signals go into the air. But since you were in the back you were glad you didn't have to worry much about it and could avoid titans quickly.

Well that's what you thought anyway.

"Oh shit." Said Hange who was to your right as you both looked up and saw an abnormal with a wide creepy grin smiling down at both of you.

You quickly got out a black smoke signal and shot it up into the air. Levi, Erwin, and Moblit who were in front of you both looked back with wide eyes as they then saw the abnormal too.

"Y/n go! I'll distract it away from the group!" Yelled Hange as they turned around heading back for the forest.

"Hange no! Are you crazy?!" You yelled.

She just kept going and the abnormal followed.

"Four eyes! You crazy bitch!" Levi yelled, riding now closer to you.

"Levi, we have to go back to get them!" You yelled.

"Y/n..I agree with you but it's really dangerous!" He yelled back.

For a second you stopped thinking about everyone and blurred out everything Levi was saying. You didn't care. You weren't gonna lose them. So you turned your horse around and followed them.

"Y/n!" He yelled.

"Come on Levi, we can't waste our time on them!" Yelled Erwin from ahead.

Even though what Erwin was saying hurt it was true. They were already losing everyone and were getting left behind.

"Those idiots." Levi said under his breath while he then went and followed you ignoring what Erwin had said.

Erwin just turned back straight looking at Moblit and they both kept going.

-

"Hange!" You yelled out. You were completely lost.

"Shit. Shit. Shit." You said to yourself.

You kept on moving forward slowing down your horse as you tried to listen for any Titans or anything nearby.

You then heard a faint noise of stomping and immediately rode toward it.

You were finally relieved. You would finally find them and be with them again.

You then stopped right away as the big abnormal you had seen before towered above you, turning around, with the cape of Hanges in its mouth.

"No, it can't be." You said as you could feel tears well up into your eyes. You slumped down from your horse and walked toward it.

"Give them back.." You said weakly as you slumped down onto your knees, tears streaming down your face.

"Hange..I'm so sorry.." You cried looking up at the abnormal and suddenly your vision blurred from all your tears and you didn't care if you were going to die.