Chapter Text
Hange beamed as they took the final look at Swany and Bean for the day, true they weren’t exactly the best of friends or company, but Hange had become rather fond of them.
As they stared at the two titans an idea started to form in their head and as Moblit knew oh too well, when a plan formed in Hange’s head it can be incredibly difficult for anyone to escape from it.
Hange had told Moblit the plan as they shuffled and sorted through their paperwork, as excitable as ever as they explained what they had in mind for the 104th Cadet Corps who’d chosen the Scout route.
“Don’t you think they’d rather have some drinks and meat, you know a small celebration instead?” Moblit asked.
Hange huffed in response, “Don’t spoil the fun. That would be too easy and they wouldn’t learn anything and as you know,” Hange moved so they were inches from Moblit’s face, their eyes wide with wonder.
Moblit sighed, “Everyday is a school day.”
Hange took a step back and smiled, “And….”
“Knowledge is power.” As he spoke he had to smile, Hange was right and it wasn’t that it was a bad plan, he was just dreading how Captain Levi would react or some of the more feisty members of the scouts. A lot of them were hot-headed with short tempers but then he supposed this was precisely the point. Hange wanted to get them working as a team, something which so far they were accomplishing but ego was often getting in the way along with self interests. This was a chance for them to work as a team while having some fun and being away from Titan talk - as much as that pained Hange they reasoned it might be good for them too as well as the other vets to step back from a mission for an afternoon.
What Hange wouldn’t be telling the scouts was that once they’d completed the exercises there would of course be food and drink. They’d been arranging a picnic of sorts with the kitchen staff and now everything was in place. Well everything apart from the approval of the Commander.
Hange and Erwin were close, they got to know one another when training and soon became fast friends who knew they could always rely on the other to have their back. Erwin wasn’t the issue, Levi however could prove to be more problematic. Not that they didn’t get on, on the contrary Hange and Levi had a special friendship, one that was treasured and full of teasing the other and irritating one another as if in competition. Hange just wasn’t sure Levi would think this was a good plan, especially as it involved his squad as well.
Initially Hange wanted it just to be the fresh recruits as well as the section leaders and Erwin if he wished to attend. But now Eren had been conscripted into the Levi squad, it seemed only sensible to include them.
They’d protest Hange had no doubt and was sure that especially Oluo would have something to say about the notion being childish and would of course try to impress Levi immediately afterwards. Thinking for some reason that that kind of behaviour would impress the Captain, Hange knew far better than that but whenever they tried to give helpful advice to Oluo it always went ignored.
Hange knocked on the door to Erwin’s office, Moblit stood close behind, he wasn’t sure why he had to come along to this meeting, it was Hange’s idea and they were senior but still as much as he wouldn’t admit it, he liked that Hange wanted him around. Moblit loved to be useful and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the section commander, although he never spoke the words aloud he did often wonder whether what he felt was something akin to love for them.
The knock was loud, melodic even, Hange knew that would make Levi tut and Erwin smile. In the olden days Hange would often go straight on into the office without knocking, their friendship was that close that there was nothing the other could see that would shock them. Naked showers had very much been a part of their training days, both Hange and Erwin would eye up Mike who, on opening one eye and seeing them staring would mutter, ‘Perverts’.
But things had changed since Erwin and Levi had become an item, their relationship was still very much a secret aside from a few of their closest friends and Hange would hate to barge in when they were ‘preoccupied’ with one another and potentially expose them to anyone else walking past.
Besides the older they got the more they both felt it was a good idea to implement some boundaries and Hange knew just how much Levi appreciated that.
“Come in,” Erwin said, he didn’t need to ask who it was, he knew from the sound of the knock who it was.
“Good afternoon Erwin & Levi, how are you both this fine afternoon?” Hange asked positively exuding happiness and energy.
Levi picked up his cup of tea by the rim, took a sip not breaking eye contact with Hanji and when he put it down he asked, “What do you want.”
Hange pouted and crossed their arms, “Can’t one of your best friends drop in for a chat and to see how you are?”
Erwin smiled, “Tea Hange?”
They nodded, Moblit was still very much stood behind them, “Moblit?” Erwin added.
Levi silently got up to make them both a tea, Hange thought it was sweet how he’d do anything for Erwin. They’d once made a joke one evening when they’d all been drinking together with Nanaba, Mike and Nile that Levi was like a well trained pet. That of course concluded in a fight ensuing with Levi slapping Hange and the two of them ending up rolling around, Hange was laughing, Levi was swearing and Mike was the one who had to get into the middle of them to break them up.
Hange took a seat and patted the empty chair next to them for Moblit to sit.
“So I’ve been thinking.”
“Dangerous shitty glasses,” Levi retorted.
Hange paid him no mind, though Moblit shot a warning glance.
“The latest recruits, they’ve really had it rough in comparison to what a lot of cadets have to go through, especially in the early stages. I mean they’d only just agreed to join the scouts when…” Hanji didn’t need to finish that sentence. “Several of them died before even making their choice and now with Eren. They’re brave for their age but they are still kids and I thought it might be nice to do something for them, a kind of reward.”
Levi returned with two cups of tea and Hange could see his mind working before he even spoke.
“Before you say anything Mr there is a point to this, it’s a reward of sorts but before that it will be about learning and how to work better as a team.” Hange looked across at Erwin, “I’m sure you’ll agree that we’ve had a few issues with the current cadets and hot-headedness. It’s so important they learn to work well as part of a team with one another and with us too.”
Erwin nodded in agreement, “I see what you’re saying, so what do you suggest?”
Hange beamed, “A team building afternoon with games and activities. If they all play nice they’ll be a picnic for them. As well as the latest cadets we’ll also attend along with Mike, Nanaba, Ness and Levi your squad.”
Hange felt Moblit shuffle next to them, as if feeling the insecurity Hange immediately wrapped their arms round Moblit and kissed his cheek, “And of course Moblit will be there, maybe Gelgar & and a few of the other senior scouts?”
“Absolutely not,” Levi answered.
Erwin turned slightly to the side, he could sense how uncomfortable Levi was with the idea of forced fun. Admittedly Erwin too wasn’t the type to participate in such events but he had to admit Hange’s idea seemed like a good one and the 104th cadets really good do with learning how to work better together. He furrowed his brow as he thought and placed a hand on Levi’s knee, giving a small reassuring squeeze. Although Hange couldn’t see what he was doing they guessed as such because they saw Levi’s expression melt just a little.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea,” Erwin said, though his expression barely changed as he spoke.
"Is this really something we're going to do?" Levi asked sounding half annoyed and half unamused in a sort of ‘I’ve given up why not let the hell show commence’ kind of fashion.
"Yes," Hange replied enthusiastically.
A moment of silence passed between them when Hange unexpectedly got up and went round the other side of the desk clapping their hands on either side of Levi’s body and gripping him. Hange peered round to face Levi who sighed and avoided eye contact.
"It'll be fun!" She insisted.
Levi rolled his eyes, "Nothing that is advertised as being fun ever lives up to the promise. You may as well advertise organised fun as It’ll be shit.”
Moblit tried not to laugh, he pursed his lips together stifling the noise that desperately wanted to come out.
"What is so funny?" Levi asked turning to face him.
"Nothing, sir," Moblit's expression immediately changing to one of a far more serious nature. Moblit of course agreed with Levi and was laughing because he thought what Levi said was pretty funny, Levi had obviously said it was no hint of humour as if stating a mundane fact like whether it’s raining or not.
Hange let go of Levi, "I think it's a great idea," Erwin said and offered a supportive smile.
Hange clapped their hands together again, this time a little louder and so close to Levi’s ear that he nearly jumped. This time Moblit resisted the laugh that had come out before.
“Excellent, are you happy to leave the preparation to me?”
Erwin nodded, he liked how even after all this time Hange would still ask permission. They really didn’t have to, but the respect Hange had for Erwin was admirable, though if Erwin was honest occasionally he missed the slightly more casual friendship they had. But it was Hange, things would always be a little intimate, silly and informal with them despite the few formalities they obliged, Erwin was grateful for this.
“Wonderful, I’ll make sure everything is in place for tomorrow afternoon. Levi are you okay to round up your squad?”
Levi’s eyes bored into Hange, “You talk about them as if they were puppies or sheep.”
Hange shrugged and smiled, walking back to Moblit and placing a hand on his shoulder as a sign that it was time to leave. “You said it Levi not me,” Hange said as they waved goodbye and walked out of the office.
“Hange will be the death of me,” Levi said as he tutted and drained his tea cup.
Erwin nuzzled into his neck once the door closed, “But you wouldn’t have it any other way would you?”
The silence that hung between them said everything.