The fright in her eyes.
Her rocking body.
Her quiet muttering.
Her shaking hands.
It just took one event, one person, one thing, and it caused her to break.
The death of Chikalatoni and Albert was startling. The death of Sawney and Beane was devasting. And now, the death of Steve was...
Tragic. Heartbreaking. It was enough to cause her to break.
She ran as fast as her legs could. Her body panted at the endurance. Hange collapsed at the Titan's almost gone corpse. Grabbing its skull, she began cradling and stoking it. She cried and screamed, mourning at the deceased Titan.
Her thin fingers stroked the leather collar that once belonged to Steve. She looked at the ground where he had sat. Tears brimmed in her eyes at the memory.
"Why you Steve? Why? Why would they, someone kill you?"
She cradled the collar and curled up on the ground. Her glasses fogged up from the endless tears. Her chest shook and heaved at every breath. The auburn hair was sprawled on the ground.
He stood watching her. Watching her cry her heart out. He let out a sigh as she started screaming. Biting his lip he began walking over.
She flailed her arms and kicked her legs, but she was no match for him. Levi placed his arms around her and pinned her.
She screamed until her throat was raw. Her cheeks burned from the endless, flowing tears. She fought him struggling to break free.
The voices in her head got louder and louder wanting to break free. Her head felt like it was going to split in two
Akuma threatening her, to hurt her. Sara wanting her to run away and forget everything happening.
Levi whispered in her ears, "Hange calm down. Do you want them, especially her to come back again?"
Hange's eyes widened, the last time she had come back, Well it wasn't pretty.
Flashback...
"Oh Hange, forget that asshole. He never and will never care for you. Because of that you'll be punished by me."
Akuma cackled and whipped out a dagger. She held the dagger to her right arm and began stabbing it.
Blood dripped onto the ground. She stopped and inspected the damage.
"Hange, I'm doing this to teach you a lesson and to protect you. Now for that broken leg."
Akuma traced the dagger around the broken leg.
In her head, Hange was screaming.
"I'm sorry Akuma, I'm sorry! I won't do it again."
"You better not bitch."
Hange screamed and looked around. She looked at her arm and winced. Akuma had stabbed it multiple times.
"At least she didn't get to my leg."
Hange heard footsteps and whipped her head around. She unsheathed her dagger and held it in her left hand. Her eyes squinted curious to see who or what was there.
In Hange's Head Sara and Akuma were arguing.
"At least this will all be over. Nobody wanted us."
"Shut up you wimp! Hange will probably try to capture it as usual."
"Why does she want to capture it?"
"Don't ask me, ask her."
End of Flashback...
Hange's breathing steadied and she blinked furiously. The voices started to die down, but she could still hear Akuma. She relaxed her body and looked to see Moblit running.
"Hange is it you? Are you okay?"
"Yeah, it's me. And sure I guess."
"They didn't come back did they?"
"N-No, I think. Levi, did they?"
"No, but they almost did."
Moblit sighed and stroked her hair. Levi picked her up and made sure she was steady on her feet. She slowly started to walk. Her head was facing the ground and she dragged her feet.
Levi began to walk off, until he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to see Moblit still standing there.
"Keep an eye on her will you?"
"Sure."
"She won't talk or let anybody else see her."
"I know."
Levi looked at Moblit one more time before glancing at Hange. She remained immobile, frozen in her position.
Silence hung in the air as she stood there. Her breathing was the only thing that could be heard. She seemed to be in a trance, remembering Steve.
Flashback...
"Okay now Steve, this might hurt. I'm sorry if it does."
Hange raised a needle to the Titan's arm and froze. The needle stood remained in the air waiting to pierce . She bit her lip, hesitating to pierce the Titan's arm with the small object.
Hange looked down and tried fighting back tears. When she looked up, tears flowed from her brown eyes. She slowly injected the needle and fought back small sobs.
The needle began filling up with the crimson liquid. After a few seconds the syringe was full. Hange removed the needle and sighed.
"I-I'm so sorry, Steve. Did that hurt?"
The Titan showed no emotion and a flicker of a smile appeared on her lips. She sighed in relief and patted his arm. With her other arm she filled a small vial with the Titan's blood sample and placed it in her pocket.
"Now let's get a bandage on that arm."
She wrapped the injection spot a few times and sealed it off. Hange blew a kiss on it and asked, "Is it feeling better now? Well that's it for today."
XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX
A lantern glowed in the dark and breathing could be heard. A small lanky figure and a titan could be made out.
"Not sleepy are you? Well I'm happy to stay up as long as you like!"
3 hours later...
"You finally went to sleep now, big guy. Well I'll see you in the morning. Sweet dreams, good night."
Hange grabbed the lantern and smiled at the sleeping Titan.
End of Flashback...
"Hange, Hange? Are you there?"
Levi shook Hange and she blinked.
"Yes, Levi."
"Let's get you back to your room."
"Ok."
Levi began guiding her through the long hallway. He glared at any curious scouts, warning them not to ask.
He opened the door and led Hange in. She sat on the bed and stared at her feet. Almost immediately she started breaking down.
"Why Levi? Why? Who w-would want to hurt Steve?"
Levi looked at her not having any answer. He sat next to her and rubbed her shoulders.
"It'll be okay Hange."
"N-no it won't!"