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"Carol, you need to rest!" Melina tried stopping the section commander as she walked past her, her teeth gritting at the pain in her left abdomen. A wound she had received during a battle against Jaegerists.
"Rest, my ass! If that dummy Hange thinks I'll just let them walk into an obvious death trap, then they're damn wrong!" She got down onto the dock using the small stairs provided and walked to where Hange was departing from the squad and walking towards Levi.
The plane was ready to fly, until Floch decided it was the perfect time for a sneak attack and shot three bullets through the fuel tank. The Azumabito engineers said they needed an hour more to cover up the bullet holes, but they had already used twelve hours setting up the necessary parts of the plane. The rumbling was close, dangerously close, and they didn't have any more time to spare.
Hange, who had almost reached Levi, winced at the familiar voice, making them stop dead in their tracks. Out of all the people who wanted to stop them, Hange had hoped it wouldn't have been Carol, because it would only make leaving even harder than it already was.
Hange turned their head to look at Carol with a sheepish smile, as if they weren't planning on flying right into the rumbling to cut some necks so that the rest could board the plane and get the hell out.
"Ah, if it isn't my dear Carol!" Obviously, Hange was trying to downplay the risk of the situation, like they usually did when they were involved in it. That earned them a "tch" from Levi behind them. "Cut the crap, you titan freak!" Carol snapped, a hand resting right above her wound, glaring up at the taller of the two.
Hange's eyes snapped towards the wound, and their legs worked automatically, closing the distance between the two of them. "Careful," the sheepishness leaving their face, a more serious expression of worry taking over.
Melina in the background sighed, her gaze meeting Hange's for a split second, conveying an apology through her eyes for not being able to stop Carol.
"Careful? You want me to be careful?" Carol could almost scoff, if it weren't for the pain in her abdomen that would shoot up every time she tried to even breathe. When Hange came close, their hands coming forward so that Carol could use them as support, she didn't hesitate.
"You're an idiot if you think I'm letting you get even five feet away from me." Her grip on Hange's arm was solid — a demand, but also a plea to get rid of the idea of going out there.
"Don't try to be a damn hero now. You've done enough already." Carol wasn't looking up at Hange, but at her hand that held theirs. "We've done enough. Let's just go home now. Please." Her voice cracked, and tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
Hange didn't say anything. What could they? It was already difficult to see their dear Carol — the always strong one — break down in front of them. What could Hange possibly say to make her tears go away, or give her any sense of relief that they'd be back?
There is no hope in a war.
Slowly, Hange took a step closer and let their free arm wrap around Carol's shorter frame, pulling her into a hug.
That did it. Sobs left the girl's throat. Carol didn't try to suppress her cries — she was tired, and mostly she was scared to lose the only person that had ever mattered to her.
"Please, don't go..." She sobbed into Hange's chest. Her hand, which had gripped Hange's arm, fell limp to her side. "I don't know what I'll do without you... please." These were the raw emotions Carol had never had the chance to show Hange, and now that she finally was, it might be the last time she would ever do it.
"I'm sorry," Hange whispered into her hair, fighting back their own tears.
At the apology, Carol's cries grew louder. Everyone around felt their own tears form, none wanting their as former commander—Hange had passed the title to Armin— to leave.
The scene shattered the moment the ground below them vibrated, indicating that the rumbling was getting close.
"Carol, I have to go." Hange whispered gently, even though they knew that no amount of gentleness would bring her any comfort. "No! No!" Carol wailed, her heart wanting to keep Hange back, but her brain — her stupid brain — telling her it was for the best, or everyone would be trampled to their deaths.
So, unwillingly, Carol pulled back just a little to look up at Hange. Despite the situation, they kept a smile on their lips, just for Carol.
Hange's hand travelled down to where Carol's hand rested by her side, and let their fingers wrap around her wrist, bringing it to their lips. "You look pretty even with tears, my dear Carol."
Carol wanted to glare at them, but the weight of the moment made it impossible. "And you look like a dummy...a suicidal dummy." She retorted, though there was no heat to it the way her words usually carried.
"Hm," Hange hummed and pressed their lips against the inside of her wrist, staying like that for a couple of seconds before breaking the connection. "Your dummy."
Then, reluctantly, Hange let go and took a step back.
Carol mirrored the movement, hers slower.
Then, her hands moved. Her right hand curled into a fist and landed against the left side of her chest, while her left hand moved behind her back.
A salute. "Give your heart." The words — the ones spoken by thousands of their soldiers to dedicate their hearts — now spoken by Carol. She had always found it a little silly, and now she couldn't help but feel sentimental as she spoke.
Is this how Erwin must have felt?
Hange looked at Carol, eyes wide with surprise for a moment, before letting a small smile form. "Hm. I will."
"So long, partner." With those final words, Hange turned, their long legs eating up the distance easily.
Carol watched through a now blurry vision, a sob tearing through her throat. "Don't go..." She broke down, breaking from the salute as her knees buckled — she would have fallen if it weren't for Melina, who quickly caught her by the arms.
"Don't go...please." Carol repeated, her hand raised forward, fingers outstretched, as if she could just pull Hange back. As tears streamed down her cheeks and onto the ground below, all Carol could feel was a hollow ache in her chest. Everyone slowly left.
Maybe, in the next life, they didn't have to fight this war. Maybe, in the next life, they'd just be...there, by each other's side. Travelling a world that isn't bound by walls.
"I'll always be your dear Carol."