āHey!āĀ
Hange startles, the appearance of a voice striking them as lightning ā not as loud, not as booming, but just as sudden.
They turn around, shift their gaze slightly lower, and there he is - the pride and might of Survey Corps, their most important asset, humanityās strongest soldier, Hangeās very own best friend.
Levi.
He strides towards them with enough menace on his face to scare each and every green behind the ears cadet. Hange, however, answers his grim expression with a grin.
āLevi!ā they exclaim, their voice loud enough to not just rival the thundering rain all around them, but to carry through several floors of Survey Corpsā HQ. āWhatcha doing here?ā
To that, Leviās reply is a single raised eyebrow. āI should be the one asking that. Death by Titans got too predictable for you? Decided to drown instead, four-eyes?ā
Hange cackles, perhaps, a bit too loudly, considering itās nearing midnight, and most of their dear comrades must be already embraced if not by comfort ā then, at least, warmth of their beds. Judging by the rapidly darkening ā seriously, how can he do that? ā expression on the faceās of Hangeās beloved shorty, he thinks so too.
They clear their throat, and do their best to make their voice at least a little quieter. āAs much as I would have loved to confirm your suspicion about my rapidly deteriorating mental state, this time itās Commanderās orders. Erwin needs me in the capital first thing in the morning.ā
āAnd youāre riding out? In this weather?ā Levi tilts his head, pointing it towards the storm thatās raging in the courtyard, as though somehow Hange had missed it.
Hange looks out too, lets their gaze linger on the too heavy raindrops, then turns to Levi with a shrug, repeating, āCommanderās orders.ā
Leviās tsk is a loud, nearly tangible sound ā Hange oh so wishes that harsh wind hadnāt snuffed out all the torches in the corridor, so they could not only hear Levi, but see him too.
The face heās making must be priceless. Amusing to the point of laughing, and even if not that - itās definitely cute enough. Leviās face always is.Ā
āAt least, put this on,ā he mutters, and before Hange can react ā laugh it off, squeal with delight or wrap their arms around him and hold him against their chest for all eternity ā Levi takes a step forward, pulling the hood of their cloak over their head with surprising gentleness.
āThere,ā he whispers, his voice nearly getting lost in the rumbling of cold and heavy rain. The lightning strikes ā instant and so sudden, and for less than a heartbeat it illuminates Leviās face ā unguarded, vulnerable and so unexpectedly soft that it steals Hangeās breath away.
Their gasp is stolen away by the thunder.
They donāt react in any other way, in any of their usual way ā they donāt smirk, donāt make a smart retort, they only search for Leviās hand in darkness, and once they find it, they give it a single, gentle squeeze.
And if they spend the whole ride to the capitol, ruminating on that short, impossibly sweet moment, wondering what Leviās actions and expression might have meant, well ā this is no oneās business but their own.
