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Another meeting's done for today. This time it's the Paradis' team's turn to come to the continent, former arch enemies, now making their way to becoming allies. It's still in the early stages of things, but they're both going somewhere together. In other fields as well. Both nations' experts were creating connections in all fields of life.
Their pasts were equally painful. They all have killed, and being killed. Someone has to decide once and for all, for everyone to bury the hatchet, and stop any attempts of retaliation otherwise, the hatred cycle will continue. Queen Historia made a move to be that person. She made everyone realize the importance of moving forward together, instead of backwards. That's why they're all here now, in this room, discussing their future.
Everyone in the room was gathering their belongings and one by one made their way out of the meeting room.
"Pieck, do you mind to stay for a while, I have a few things I still want to discuss with you," Hange turned to Pieck as she gathered her papers.
Pieck looked up at her and let out a deep sigh, "We gave you all the files, Commander. Boxes of them. Everything you need to know about titans are there," and continued packing up her bag. She reached to her crutch she put against the wall behind her chair.
Hange looked at her, surprised at her sharp words.
"That is what you want to discuss, right?" Pieck looked at her again as she made her way to the door.
"Um, well..."
"Nothing I could tell you that you won't find in those files. Now, if you don't mind, it's been a long day and it's late," Pieck pointed to the window.
Hange turned her head to the window and saw that it's already dark outside. Today's meeting dragged a little longer than the previous days. She walked past her out the door, leaving Hange alone in that meeting room.
Hange chuckled scratching her head as she saw Pieck's back disappearing in the hallway.
*****
Later that evening, Hange was in the car, dedicated for her use during her entire stay in Marley, going to her hotel, when she saw Pieck and an older man exiting the city's hospital ground. Pieck holding his arm while her other hand clutching on her crutch, supporting her.
Hange leaned forward to the driver and told him to make a turn and stop where Pieck and the man was now. The car made a smooth stop slightly behind them.
"Pieck," Hange called her from the window.
Pieck stopped and turned around to see Hange, waving at her from the car window, "Commander?"
"Good evening, Miss Finger. Sir," Hange said as she stepped off the carr and walked toward them.
The old man looks confused but smiled as Hange greeted them.
"Can I offer you both a ride?" Hange pointed to the car.
Pieck and the old man looked at each other.
"If you don't mind, I don't mind taking you both to wherever you're going," Hange smiled, hoping it would convince them both to accept her offer.
Letting out a sigh, Pieck looked at the old man, nodded and looked back to Hange, "Thank you, Commander,"
Hange stepped aside, letting them both walked past her and climbed into the car. Pieck helped the old man to climbed first and once he's sitting comfortably, Pieck climbed in and sit next to him. Hange climbed in after her and sat opposite them.
Pieck informed the driver where to go and the car drove off.
"Father, this is Hange Zoe, Commander of the Survey Corps from Paradis. She and her team are here for three weeks to discuss joint military cooperation with Marley," Pieck explained to her father.
Mr. Finger looked surprise for a second. This was his first time in life to be so close with someone from the 'devil island' Paradis. Pieck squeezed her father's hand, smiling a little when she looked at him looking nervous. Hange nodded at him again, smiling cheerfully. They ride in silence because Hange's rather not sure on how to start a conversation after Pieck's cold response to her early that afternoon. Pieck and her father chatted occasionally, about the doctor, medicine and therapy and other things that must've been happening in the hospital.
"We're here," Pieck said suddenly, telling the driver to stop in front of a spesific building.
Hange opened the car door and stepped off first. She held the car door open and watched Pieck stepped off and helping her father.
"Thank you for the ride, Commander," Pieck's father said his gratitude, offering his hand to shake Hange's.
"It's really not a problem, Sir," Hange shaked his hand, smiling.
"Thank you, Commander," Pieck followed her father, thanking Hange.
Hange smiled, "Not a problem, Miss Finger," and stepped inside the car.
The car drove back into the night. Hange looked behind from inside the car, staring at the father-daughter duo until they both disappeared behind their door.
*****
Monday morning, Pieck opened her apartment building door to the sight of Hange, leaning on the wall by the front door.
"Commander?"
"Good morning, Pieck," Hange gave her biggest grin, greeting Pieck.
"Good morning, what are you doing here?"
"I thought we can go to work together, today,"
Huffing a deep sigh, Pieck went, "You're unbelievable,"
They both then walked out of the internment zone, or what was once called internment zone. The main gate is no more, some of the walls are gone but there still meters of them to go.
"What are these for?" Hange pointed at the piles of brick and barbed wire piling along the pavement.
"They're tearing it down,"
"Tearing it down?" Hange asked.
"Yeah. These are, were, the walls that marked the internment zone where Eldians live in Marley. They're tearing it down around the country. After the war, everyone agreed that these walls needs to come down," Hange listened to Pieck's explanation about the lives of Eldians in Marley before and after the war.
"Hmm, so, we're not so different after all, huh?" Hange chuckled.
"What do you mean?" Pieck looked at her and remembered her time in Paradis and it's walls and realized the truth in Hange's words, "Ah, yes. You're right, we are aren't we?" Pieck chuckled too.
They walked on in silence, Hange enjoying the quiet morning, walking beside Pieck. She glanced at her and took a deep breath before saying, "I'm sorry,"
Pieck looked up at her, "For what?"
"The other day. I was about to make you stay longer, when you have, I suppose, an appointment with your father,"
"Yeah, it was his doctor's appointment day,"
"You could've told me. I won't make you stay,"
Pieck laughed, "It was a long day. I was tired and, I don't know, just wanted to be confrontational for no reason because you just wouldn't stop asking about titans,"
Hange looked at Pieck, again, marveled at her soft voice spewing the sharp blunt truth. Hange chuckled again, "I guess I deserve that,"
For some reason Pieck felt guilty for speaking to her like that. She glanced up at Hange who's now just staring ahead.
"I'm really sorry if I annoyed you that much. It's just, titans, you know?" Hange cuts Pieck and immediately remembered to control herself from getting over excited, fearing it would annoy Pieck further.
Pieck stared at Hange and before she gets to say anything, Hange spoke again, "I know, it's all in the files. I haven't read them all, because you know, there are boxes of them but, thank you for giving us the copy even though it's not much of a use right now since there's no more titans," Hange suddenly stopped talking.
"But...?" Pieck continued her sentence.
Hange laughed, feeling that Pieck finally stopped being angry at her, "BUT, it's just more exciting to hear it directly from the titan shifters themselves, you know?" Hange suddenly went to full excited mode, knowing that Pieck now showed some interest. "Our knowledge about titans are waay behind yours. I did my own research and experiments with Eren but still, we were both in the dark about everything while you have generations of experience and knowledge about them. I don't think I will ever stop having questions about titans for the rest of my life,"
Pieck listened to hange and silently admired the way she talks. They continued their walk with Hange continued talking about titans and other stuff while Pieck occasionally chimed in a response.
"We're here," Pieck announced their arrival at the base.
*****
Friday would be the last day of Paradis team on the continent, they would depart back home on Saturday morning. Hange and Pieck didn't interact that much this week, because Pieck's teaching schedule is pretty full but she would join the meeting on Thursday and Friday afternoon to recap their three weeks long of numerous meetings, visits and training.
"Pieck, would you like to have dinner with me tonight? If you're free that is," Hange abruptly said when they're both alone in the meeting room while they're on break and everyone else was out for a smoke or the bathroom.
Pieck slowly turned her head towards Hange, three seats to her left, "But we have farewell dinner tomorrow,"
"I know. I want to have dinner with you, just the two of us," Hange looked at her back.
"Okay," she nodded politely.
After the meeting's done that day, they both left the base. Pieck hailed a cab and they both went to a restaurant Pieck suggested. The restaurant looked old but has it's own charm and warmth. Only a few tables were occupied when they walked in. Pieck pointed to a table for two by the window that overlooked the river across the street.
"We used to come here almost every weekend," Pieck looked around as they wait their order to come. "Zeke, Porco, Colt, Reiner and I. General Magath would join us too sometimes..."
The atmosphere turned rather sad all of a sudden as Pieck mentioned her friends' names. Hange knew Porco and General Magath had died during the war but didn't know much about Zeke after the war.
Hange leaned forward, seeking Pieck's eyes, making sure she's alright, "Pieck...?"
Pieck looked up and smiled just in time the waiter came and put their food on the table. It came at the exact perfect time so she doesn't have to explain further about her former comrades.
They ate their dinner and talk about other things not related to work. Hange mostly, as usual, do all the talking and asking questions. Pieck would just politely respond and answer them. They finished their dinner an hour later and walked out into the night. It's not quite late yet, there're still a lot of people walking down the street. Pieck guided them to crossed the street and walk along the river that ran through that part of the town to get to the center of the town where it would be easier for them to get a cab.
It was a beautiful night. Full moon already showing on the night sky, the moonlight illuminating the dark water.
"I had a great time tonight," Hange told her.
Pieck chuckled, "I'm sorry, I'm not really a good company tonight," realizing that she had been quiet most of the time during their dinner.
Hange stopped walking and pointed to a bench nearby facing the river, suggesting them to sit. Pieck nodded and walked to the bench. Hange followed her after Pieck rested her crutch on her side.
Hange leaned back on the bench, looking at the sky. "The moon's lovely tonight,"
Pieck looked up and smiled, "It is, isn't it?"
They sat back in silence, watching the moonlit sky. The sound of the water flowing, the faint sounds of people's footsteps and chattering behind them were the only sound surrounding them that night.
"Did going to that restaurant brings bad memories for you?"
Pieck lowered her gaze, now looking at the river below them, nodded.
"I'm sorry..."
"Not your fault, Commander. It was my idea we go there,"
"Yeah, but it was me who asked you out today..."
"Not your fault!" Pieck firmly answered. Realizing she made an unnecessary harsh respond to Hange's word, Pieck turned to her left where Hange was staring at her, a clear shock in her face. She sighed and looked away, back to the river, "I'm sorry... It's not your fault, Commander,"
Hange moved closer to her and look ahead too. She didn't demand any answer or explanation, just sit and be there with her, for her.
"I don't know any other place," Pieck suddenly spoke. "There's really not a lot of establishment where we were welcomed here. Not while we were wearing the armband, sometimes not even when we were wearing THE RED armband,"
Hange looked at Pieck, she was looking down at the ground, her face completely covered by her hair. She was tempted to gather her into her arms but decided not to, only slightly touching her arm to hers to tell her that she's not alone.
"I don't go out much in the first place. Especially outside the internment zone. Zeke took us all there one day after our training. He treated us all burgers. I never had burger before and remembered thinking it was the most delicious thing I've ever ate in my entire life," Pieck smiled. "After that, it would be his thing. He would randomly brought burgers to us. Somehow he always knew when we were having a difficult day and he would show up with burgers at the end of the day and gave us one each before we went home,"
"He treats us individually the day we inherit one of the titans. He even took Porco along even though it was Marcel who got the Jaw that day," Pieck continued her story. "After Marcel, Annie, Reiner and Bertholdt left, there were only the three of us, Zeke, Porco and I. That's when we started to go there regularly. Colt came along after the decision for him to inherit The Beast Titan was final. We celebrated that night. Then, Reiner came back, and there were five of us there, every weekend when we were not deployed, on that table by that window,"
Pieck sighed and leaned back, looking up at the sky, "Now, there's only me,"
Hange turned her head at the same time a single tear fall from the corner of Pieck's eyes. On instinct, she pulled herself closer and put her arm around her shoulder, holding her tightly. Pieck started to cry, silently, her body shaking and her hitched breath was the only telltale that she was crying. Hange tucked her head under her chin, stroking her head, occasionally rocking their bodies just like you would do to a crying baby.
Zeke, the name that lit a fire in Hange's heart. He almost single handedly annihilated the last of the Survey Corps troops, her closest friends were his direct victims. She held grudge for him for years and now, listening to Pieck talk about him doing these sweet things was really difficult to digest. Deciding that it's not the time for that, Hange focused her attention to Pieck right now.
They sat on the bench listening to the river and the sounds of night critters around them. Human sounds disappearing slowly as the night grew. The moon was no longer in front of them, the position it was in now illuminates their surrounding.
Pieck slowly wiggled in Hange's arms, she loosened her hug and let Pieck repositioned herself back to the bench. She reached into her pocket to get a handkerchief and started to dab on her face.
"I'm sorry I wet your shirt," Pieck smiled pointing to a wet patch on Hange's shirt where her head was earlier. "Don't worry, it's tears, not snot," Pieck chuckled.
Hange laughed at Pieck's attempt on humor. Stroking her hair, she asked, "You okay?"
After letting out another deep sigh, Pieck nodded. They sat in silence once more. Hange didn't know what's got into her that night, she leaned to the side and kissed Pieck.
Gasping in surprise at Hange's sudden behaviour, Pieck froze on the spot. Hange gently moving her lips, tracing, feeling and pecking Pieck's soft one. Pieck slowly responded after she got over her shock. Her hand moved and grabbed Hange's front shirt, slowly pulling her closer and making her stay at the same time.
They slow kissed for a few moments more until Hange slowly broke them off. She pulled back, "Sorry. I shouldn't have done that,"
Pieck stared at her and slowly smiling, "I don't mind. I was surprised but, I don't mind,"
"You were surprised? That I would kiss you?" Hange asked her.
"Yeah,"
"You don't think I would?"
"No,"
"Why not?"
"Didn't think you were interested,"
Hange's jaw dropped at Pieck's answer. She thought she had given her every signal she could make that she's interested in her. Hange felt like she was being insulted with that answer. "You think I'm not interested in you?"
Pieck shrugged and then nodded.
Hange bent forward, resting her elbows on her knees, grabbing her hair with both hand and let out a frustrated groan.
"Commander..." Pieck called her in concern.
"Miss Finger!" Hange suddenly stood up and facing Pieck with both hands on her waist, "As far as I can remember during my entire stay here, I was always giving you signs that I am interested in you. I always make sure to sit next to you, always talk to you, always want to talk to you, always making time to talk to you. How can you think that I am not interested in you?" Hange blurted out her frustration.
Pieck could only blinked at Hange's outburst and answered calmly, "You always talk about titans. Your questions were always about titans. It's very easy to assume your interest on me is only because I'm a former titan shifter,"
As always, cold words flow from Pieck's mouth. Hange went quiet and sat back down on the bench. Silently thinking about Pieck's words. It has some truth in it.
"Am I wrong?"
Hange looked at her, "No. Not really,"
"Not really?"
"You're only half wrong, is what I want to say," Hange paused for moment realizing that Pieck was right. Telling her otherwise now would only make her seems like a jerk. "I AM interested in you because you were a titan shifter and because I have so many questions about it but I'm also interested in you because you're, YOU!"
"So, why don't you just say so?" Pieck continued. "Why always using the titans to talk to me?"
Hange looked at her, jaw dropped, "I, uh... I didn't know how to. I felt like it was the only thing that we kind of have in common and I was afraid you wouldn't be interested in me ,"
"I'M not interested?"
"Yeah..."
"You think I'm not interested in you?"
"Well, yeah...? You were always so quiet and look disinterested,"
"Then why would I let you have me on that boat, huh?"
"That, um...that, uh..."
"What's the matter, Commander? Cat got your tongue?"
Hange laughed this time, "Well yes, actually. A certain kind of cat got my tongue. You, got my tongue,"
"Haha very funny, Commander. I'm not a cat,"
"Well, your titan mark looks like cat's whiskers. You know that don't you?"
On reflex, Pieck lifted up her hand and touched her cheek where the titan mark usually appear. Hange noticed that and smiled, "Seriously? you never thought that it looks like a cat's whiskers?"
Pieck chuckled, "No, I didn't. No one ever said anything like that,"
"They're missing an awesome opportunity to gave you a cute nickname,"
"Only someone like you would still think of cute nicknames in the times of war,"
"Well, we only live once, Miss Finger. There's nothing wrong about enjoying it while we can," Hange leaned back on the bench. "And as of what happened on the boat, I thought that was just what people do when facing a certain unavoidable bad situation,"
"What?"
"You know? That thing, where people do what would be considered stupid during a normal situation but, when you're in certain unavoidable bad situation, especially knowing that you're about to die, you'd do this stupid things just because you feel like you got nothing else to lose so, why not just do this stupid thing anyway?"
Pieck stared at Hange and laughed when she finally finished, "Really, Commander? So, I'm inviting you to my bed is stupid?"
"Technically, that was my bed..." Hange blurted out without thinking and immediately shut her mouth when she saw Pieck raising an eyebrow.
They sat again quietly for a little while until Hange, unable to shut up, asked Pieck carefully, "So, you like me?"
"What do you think?"
"Well, I know that I like you and if you say that you like me too, I think I was just hoping that you like me in the same way I like you,"
"You are correct this time, Commander,"
"I am?"
"You are,"
"So, may I kiss you?"
"You may,"
At that, Hange leaned over to the side, gently cupping Pieck's face and kissed her. Pieck smiled and kissed her back. By then the street has gone completely quiet. They were the only one by that river.
This time, Pieck's the first to made a move to slowly broke their kiss, "It's late, Commander. I think we both should get back,"
Hange reluctantly do as Pieck said, "You think we can still get a cab this late?"
Pieck looked behind her and went, "Yep. There's one across the street,"
Following Pieck, Hange turned and saw a cab just opposite them across the street, "Huh? Lucky aren't we?"
"The driver probably been sitting there for a while, watching us. Waiting for us to finish kissing and go home," Pieck grabbed her crutch and slowly stood up. Hange immediately offered her arm for Pieck's other hand to hold on to.
"What?"
"This area is pretty famous for couples. Especially on weekends, these benches would be full of couples making out way into the night," Pieck explained. "These drivers know that those couples need to go home at some point so, they would just park their cab and wait for them to stop making out and head home,"
"Huh? That's clever,"
Pieck just chuckled and grabbed Hange's hand once she was settled on her feet. They made their way across the street, hand in hand.
"So, after this, I will write to you," Hange said as the car drove off to the direction of Pieck's house.
"And I'll be waiting," Pieck smiled, resting her head on Hange's shoulder.
THE END