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“All right, that should be all for today. You’re free to leave if you wish,” Yelena suggested as you and a few others stood from the table where you were previously discussing matters relating to your return to Paradis.
“I think I'll stop by and see Hange before going to my quarters, sleep well, Yelena.” You smiled courteously.
“Ah, yes, of course,” her large grey eyes flashed a glint of mischief .“Remember everyone's expected to be up rather early tomorrow for another round of planning and training, including you; it would be wise not to stay up too late...fooling around.”
Your face briefly lit up with embarrassment at the woman's insinuation before you hurriedly walked away. Sasha and Jean's not-so-quiet snickers followed you out of the room. You’d quite enjoyed your time in Marley, even if it had been entirely unfamiliar, largely due to a rather special someone. You were adamant on denying that the feeling was love, or perhaps you were merely afraid to admit it, though anyone who has ever heard you speak of Hange was rather quick to see right through your facade.
You practically skipped like a young schoolgirl down the stone stairway towards the building where Hange's office was held. Just the thought of seeing them after a long day gave you a much-needed boost of enthusiasm, as well as a cheesy grin.
Finally you arrived at the large wooden doors of Hange’s office at the end of an otherwise vacant hallway. Swiftly, you brought your fist up to the door and knocked twice, but there was no answer.
“Hange?” you questioned softly, not wanting to be too loud in case they did happen to be asleep - this definitely wouldn't be the first instance. At times, you would visit your partner during busy weeks only to find them slumped soundly against their desk, remnants of drool cascading down onto the pile of papers beneath them.
As quietly as you could, you pulled open the door and shut it behind you. Much to your surprise, you did not see a sleeping Hange, rather, them fervently writing something in their notes on the floor beside the desk, tall stacks of books surrounding their hunched over figure. Hange mumbled as they wrote, none of which you were really able to decipher due to the distance between you and just how quickly they spoke.
“Dear, what are you doing on the floor when your desk is right beside-” you questioned amusingly before being interrupted.
“OH Onyankopon! Wait just a moment, I need to write this down before I forget!” They exclaimed, holding a silencing finger up to you without sparing even one glance. You simply shook your head with a smile and walked to sit on their desk patiently.
After a minute or so, they seemed to be satisfied with their records and shut the notebook rather loudly. With a content sigh, they pushed their glasses onto their head, the dark hairs that always framed their face going along with them, before finally addressing you, or rather, who they presumed to be “Onyankopon”.
“Done! Now tell me, why have you come back? I thought you were off to sleep. Never mind that, you're here now, so let me tell you what I've just discovered- Y/N!?” They shouted after finally realizing who you were.
“When did you get here, and where has Onyankopon gone??” They questioned, looking around the room, clearly confused as they made their way over to you with purposeful strides.
“He was never here, my heart, it was me alone,“ you chuckled, opening your arms for a much-needed embrace, which Hange gladly reciprocated.
“Why hadn’t you corrected me!?” they pouted, bringing a hand to their forehead in an exasperated gesture of disappointment.
“Nonsense! You were immersed in your work, it was but a small confusion.” You reassured, moving their hand away from their forehead and caressing the top of it softly. “Now, I may not be Onyankopon, but I am curious about this groundbreaking discovery you’ve made, so go on.”
You watched their auburn eye light up in excitement, just as they did whenever they spoke about the many things they were fond of, the things that fascinated them. Hange opened their notebook, flipped to their most recent entry, and began explaining the concept of their new findings. It brought a smile to your face whenever they interrupted themselves to add pieces of information that they glossed over too quickly for their liking, or forgot to mention previously.
You took note of the way their voice sped up and heightened a bit in pitch excitedly, and the way they used their hands to talk, creating small visuals as a method to better explain. Seeing how passionate just one person could be, your person, never failed to make your heart surge with affection within your chest, and although you knew very little about most of their ramblings, just seeing their immeasurable excitement was quite enough.
“Hmm, where was it again? I swore I wrote it down right here, but what page?” They paused their ramblings, flipping through the pages of notes eagerly.
As the brunette stood in front of you, something became incredibly clear.
“Oh Sina…” you mumbled, finally coming to your own daunting realization.
“Hmm? I couldn't hear what you said, dear,” Hange inquired, half paying attention as they were still scanning the pages of their unintelligible writing.
“I am so in love with you…” you sighed in defeat, leaning your head forward against their chest. There was a lingering silence, where the sound of flipping pages ceased, and the only thing that remained was the deafening thump of your heart in your ears.
You felt your face heat up, and you were sure you were blushing bright red. Truly, you hadn't meant to say it aloud; it was just a spur-of-the-moment slip. Perhaps there was a chance you didn't really say it? Well...well, that would be easier to believe if not for the sound of Hange's heart beating madly in their chest.
“Really?” Hange questioned, their tone indecipherable. You remained silent, sinking deeper into their chest. Had you said it too soon? What if they didn't feel the same? Then what would you do? There was absolutely no way you could recover upon losing them, you simply couldn't bear it.
Hange gently moved you back just enough to face them directly, their large hands gripping your shoulders gently. “Are you really?” they questioned softly, their eye searching for something within your own. “...In love with me?”
“Of course..” you muttered, nervously scanning their face for any sign of rejection. Slowly, a wide, toothy grin overtook their features, and before you could truly process it, their lips captured yours in a passionate kiss. The force of Hange’s eagerness knocked you off balance, sending your back to meet the wooden desk below you with a thud.
“Mmpf- Hange!” you gasped against their lips, gripping onto their neck for some sort of stability.
“Oh- Sorry, sorry!” Hange shouted, breaking the kiss to apologize. “Perhaps I got a bit too excited.” A small giggle fell from your lips before you assured them it was fine.
“I love you, too,” they blushed, cupping your cheek affectionately as they hovered over you. You smiled warmly, turning your head to place a sweet kiss against the calloused skin of their palm.
Hange slowly leaned down and reconnected your lips in a soft kiss. When the two of you parted, your foreheads rested against each other tenderly, Hange's thumb still caressing your cheek reverently.
“Join me for a drink?” Hange questioned, a smile gracing their features as they looked down upon you.
“I’d like nothing more,” you affirmed, placing a chaste kiss on the tip of their strong nose.
Hange lifted you off the wooden desk with ease before offering a hand to you. At times, you forgot just how strong the soldier was, and truthfully, it was one of many traits that never failed to get you excited.
The two of you walked hand in hand out of their office and down the vacant hallway. The familiar thud of your boots against the stone echoed within the walls of the corridor, stopping only when you arrived in front of Hange's door. Hange unlocked it and opened it, gesturing for you to enter first.
“I've landed myself quite the gentleman, haven't I?” you joked, taking your boots off at the door. Hange trailed behind you, doing the same before pulling the door shut with a soft click.
“It would seem so,” they responded with a confident smile. Hange made their way over to the phonograph, which rested atop a small table beside the window. You smiled to yourself as you opened the cupboard to grab 2 glasses and a bottle of dark liquor.
Beautiful sounds of a slow-tempoed song began to flow from the box, filling the room around you. Truly, it was your favorite invention out of the many you’d come across during your time in Marley. If you could, you would take one back home just to fill your room with the sweet, melodious sounds whenever you pleased. A tranquil hum erupted within your chest.
“It’s beautiful, isn't it?” you sighed, swaying slightly to the music as you poured the dark liquid into the glasses. Hange approached you from behind, wrapping their slender arms around your waist and resting their face in the crook of your neck.
“It is,” they affirmed, and although you failed to recognize it, Hange was not talking about the music. They placed a sweet kiss against the skin of your neck, then the exposed skin of your shoulder.
“Indulge me, please?” they smiled widely, placing both of their hands to rest on the curve of your waist, spinning you around. With a soft shake of your head and a warm smile, you laid one hand atop their shoulder, the palm of your other hand rested firmly on their chest.
“I must warn you, dancing is not my strong suit,” you chuckled, looking up at them.
“On the contrary! We have danced together many times, you're exceptional,” they assured, pulling you flush against their body and moving to the beat of the music. “I, on the other hand, am who you should be worried about,” they chuckled, though you knew they were serious. The few times you attempted to dance with one another, they managed to step on your toes rather hard...more than once.
The two of you stared into the eyes of the other, entranced by all you found within them. Their gaze held such affection that you felt you might become overwhelmed with emotions had you basked in it any longer. You moved your head to rest against their chest as you swayed in the hold of their embrace. This was true contentment, safely tucked away in the arms of your lover, whilst soft music played all around you and the gentle night breeze from the window caressed your skin. You listened intently to the steady beating of their heart, relishing in their scent and the feeling of their affirming grip on your body. You truly doubted anything would ever measure up to what you felt in this moment.
“If it were possible, I would stay like this, with you, for the rest of my days,” Hange murmured against your temple, the sound of their voice vibrating in their chest beneath your palm. Butterflies erupted in your stomach, bringing a pleasant red to your cheeks.
“Mm, don't tease me with such fantasies," you said with a bittersweet smile. "You know my heart longs for nothing more.” The two of you relished each other's company for a while longer, pleasantly lost in each other's embrace.
“Y/N?” Hange asked after a while. You hummed in response,
“I fear once we return to Paradis, there will be... few moments that we share like this." Their tone conveyed a somberness that made you grasp a bit tighter on their shoulder, as if the moment you let go, they would cease to exist. "I can't help but feel that things will only get more complicated from this point on.” You felt Hange's lips pull into a soft frown against your skin, their tall body tensing up in your hold.
“Hange, my love, there is no use in fretting over what we cannot control, nor what is yet to come,” You responded, pulling away just enough to look up at your lover. “If fate should have it that things take a turn for the worse, then we shall handle it then...Let us just enjoy this time we have with one another,” you smiled solemnly at them.
Hange returned the saddened smile and gave a small nod.
You hadn't said it then, out of the fear of wasting already precious time, but you knew just as well as they did; This would be one of the very last instances where you’d be able to experience true happiness...together.