Chapter 6:

Cookies and Wrappers

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Attention: The jar you're about to read somewhere here is actually real and I have two more of them in my room, just so you'll know where I got the idea from.

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Hanji's POV

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Exactly five days from now before Christmas, and I don't have a single thing in mind what to get Levi for his birthday. I get all too extra excited because it'll be the very first birthday gift that I'll be giving him, so it must be special and that it should make it accept it and like it.

Just the other day, it was exactly one week before the big number twenty-five, the very day that I realized that Olou sure has some weird skill of sensing if you are paying close attention to his captain, and that I was not able to find out or get a single clue of finding out what kind of gift I should give Levi.

Now, I find myself staring at my room's window, staring at the falling snow.

I sighed and shivered in disgust.

I am usually sharp, like what Levi told me one time that I found myself struggling to make a decision perfectly, and his words made come into a better answer that he did liked.

Form the top of my bed where I am sitting at, wearing nothing only a very thin opened shirt and my underwear despite the very cold weather as my hands work their magic and cover each gifts that I've bought. It should be nice not to worry about them being covered in the very last minute and that if I find myself stressing over something, it would be me entering each street in the village, finding a perfect Levi. The cold was causing me not to take baths even more, since I find myself forgetting about it totally since I just adored cold weathers. Cold weathers brings out the best in me in my clothing choices. I can get to wear the very big and thick ones which is very comfortable on me whenever I am outside my room but also, I love the feeling that I get when it's very cold and I can wear thin and less ones just like this when I'm inside the room.

Erwin was very kind for today to spare us from any work, since it's nearing Christmas and all and people won't notice us keeping with the season and not doing any sort of mission to please them and howl on us in return. so I decided today to wrap all the presents that I've bought the past days to keep myself busy. I can also get to wrap them very carefully and make them look worth-looking at so they won't get unnoticed under the tree.

Finished wrapping the eleventh one, now I am off to the twelfth. I smiled as I held my gift for Moblit. It was a cookie jar that I bought from a kid along the streets yesterday when I decided to finish the entire gift buying left.

I was heading towards the shop that sells all kinds of towels, handkerchiefs and the likes when a big fat cookie jar with yellow painted hair on top, very little freckles and a smiling lips and kind eyes caught my attention and halted me on my steps. I can't help but smiled since it really reminded me of Moblit.

"I made that myself, Ma'am" a little boy around eleven or ten popped up behind the wooden desk and grinned at me. He has brown hair and a bit less for his age and it made me wonder why. Nonetheless, I gave him a smile and touched his creative work of entertaining art.

"I see you're a very creative boy" I told him as I checked it. The head is detachable from the body, making a perfect sense that it is indeed a cookie jar, or whatsoever jar, but I like it to be a cookie jar. I was very fascinated with this boy, showing that there are still people who have tremendous creativity within them that brings inner peace and serenity for people like me. The world lacks art just like technology and it makes me feel bad since it is replaced by greed, hatred, sadness and fear within these walls. Whether it is because of a titan or from the government, I still think it's because of them all. But this kid right still has little hope and well-being inside of him.

"Not really" he blushed and looked down. What a sweet and shy boy he is, doesn't know how to take real compliments. "I just like to paint things. My big brother was the one who likes to make jars and pots from clays and even from those white ceramics as he says and I like to make them look all look beautiful." He showed me another one, but this time it's a figuring woman, straight in body, black hair and smiling awkwardly. I carefully hold it away from his grip and observe it. It was thinly made but very smooth and I bet it could easily break. I returned it to him and glanced over the few other figures and jars that he has, and there were also some decorated pots as well. Surely, the beauty and creativity that the world is missing right now is in the hands of this boy and his brother.

"So you and your brother do this for a living?" I asked him and took the Moblit cookie jar again, it's just too adorable.

"Yes we do Ma'am." He said and looked up to me. "You seem to like that jar, would you like to buy it?"

I nodded at him, not denying nor hiding my interest over the jar that he decorated. "This reminds me of a great and loyal friend that I have, it looked just like him. Can I buy this one?"

The boy's smile grew wildly on his face and it somehow gives me a really queasy feeling of delight from the very pits of my stomach. I will be so nice that if I buy this cookie jar from this young artistic boy, it's not only him that I am helping and making happy but also his brother and of course, Moblit. And I forgot myself too.

The boy nodded repeatedly as he took the cookie jar from my hands with his rough looking but actually soft hands and wraps it carefully on a sheet of paper and place it on a box. Wow, it even has a box. I took a couple of money out from my pouch and handed it to him as he handed me the box of the cookie jar Moblit that I just bought. Once I had it settled on my hands, I immediately feel excited and wondered what or how Moblit would react, he will surely love this one! I'll add a few cookies inside too so that would throw extra care on it.

The kid counted the money that I gave and counted with his fingers and did it again. He slowly turned his eyes up on me with disbelief on them, his mouth a bit in a shape of an O. What a cute kid he really he is. "This is more than twice the amount of what you've bougth ma'am" he told me. I ruffled his hair and shook my head a little. "Really?"

He nodded and I stopped the ruffling of his hair but didn't removed my hand on his head. "It's alright, you can have them all. You work deserves more credit than you actually think of" From his surprised and confused look, his expression changed into a more bright and cheery one. I hope this time, he accepts my compliment.

"Thank you so much Ma'am!" The young boy did not only gave me a very cute and warm smile but also, he gave me a tight squeeze by my waist and had his arms tightened around my butt and legs. I patted his head and squated down to him. "You're very much welcome" I told him and I gave him the smile he is giving me too. Actually, his artistry is priceless for a young boy his age.

Now that I am wrapping this gift for Moblit, I suddenly decided not to have it covered by wrappers but instead, place a ribbon around its neck so I can place some cookies inside it.

The clock ticked fast and from a very early morning until noon, I was able to finish all the wrapping. Phew. Didn't know I could wrap gifts for three consecutive hours.

I decided to fix myself and wore my usual uniform and grab some lunch downstairs, were I am surely most kids were at already. I combed my hair and fix mya ponytail, tucked my glasses on the bridge of my nose, changed my clothes and took a book for me to read while eating. I eat quite fast just like Moblit, since he is always in a hurry and found myself doing the same. So, in order for me to eat a bit slower, this book might help do the trick.

The young soldiers each greeted me cheerfully as I made way to the hall and saw Sasha and Connie were the ones assigned to cook for the day.

"What's for lunch?" I asked her, though it was pretty predictable, anything that goes with potatoes and meat.

"Some meaty potato garlic soup and spinach. I hope you like the Hanji-san!" My eyes followed her hand and I took the plate and bowl from her quietly, hoping the food will taste good and I won't regret.

I smiled brightly at her and muttered "Thanks!" as I made way on a free table. Once I have turned around and look for a spare free table to eat, a hand tapped me on the shoulder a bit hard and I turned around quite immediately, wondering who it was.

It was just Sasha and she looked a bit embarrassed, hugging a plate on her chest. I raise a brow in confusion and muttered "what is it?" I asked of her. She looked bothered and I really couldn't help but ask her why.

"I'd just like to ask you, Hanji-san," She trembled as she held onto my shoulder and looked at me with eyes almost like mine. Really now, sometimes it really freaks me out on how her eyes resembles mine. "if you could help me and Connie bake some chocolate chip cookies before the party? I mean I know it's too early but it's only five days left before Christmas but time runs so fast and everyone is getting busy for their own business an-"

"When are you planning to bake?" I cut her of. Of course I'd love to! No one ever tried to ask me if I know how to bake, only knowing that I love to slice titans but not baking!

She suddenly smiled, a really big one too and let out a couple of gleeful laughs. "This afternoon Hanji-san. I asked almost everyone but only Connie was eager enough to give me a hand for baking some delicious chocolate chip cookies for Christmas eve."

"And why this early?" I asked since we could actually bake at least when it's three days before Christmas.

She bit her lip and said "I am planning to bake two hundreds of them, Hanji-san"

I smiled. Seems like it was not only my eye color it is that we share but also our crazy minds as well. I nodded at her, telling her that I understand and she gave me a hug despite the difficulty that I have in holding my food as she strangles me to death, repeating the words "thank you Hanji-san!" all over and over again.

"Stop it! Hanji-san is going to let go of her food if you won't stop doing that!" yelled out Connie as he held her by her shoulders, dragging her away from me. Connie to the rescue, hah. How I wish I could thank him.

I was looking for a place to sit in as I hear Sasha yelling by the kitchen "This afternoon Hanji-san!" and I smiled to myself again.

I finally saw a vacated seat and sat there quietly by myself and started to taste the soup. Well, it taste delicious and help myself for a few more as I speared a few spinach from the plate and pop it into my mouth.

The warmth and taste of deliciousness overloading into my mouth was just glorious.

Too bad Moblit was nowhere around nor any of my squad, I'd like to see him eat like some hungry man who haven't eaten in days and tease him. As I ate, I read the book that I've bought with me in hand, making me appreciate more the food that I am eating as I eat slowly than my usual. So now basically I'm multitasking, which I am really fond of doing and having in my personality, or else I might get insane.

Besides, I need to finish reading this book since I am to help Sasha this afternoon and bake a gazillion cookies for the squad, and I hope everyone who will have a taste will like it too.

I took a sip of water from my glass to push down the spinach that I chew from my throat as I read a couple more of pages of this book. I personally love this book because it deals with Early Myths about Titans that Erwin found somewhere beneath the HQ's deepest lairs (and I don't have any idea why or what he is doing there) and told Moblit to give it to me, telling me where he found it. I of course, got pretty excited and saw how old the book was, thinking this was published by the time the walls are new or maybe not more than a hundred year old antique book. This is really fascinating, just fascinating, no other words.

As I read and speared down some spinach, I looked down to my plate and realized that my food was already out and clean, that's why my fork is desperately making some unwanted noise to my ears. I sighed and closed my book, took all the plates and placed them to the cleaning area.

I decided to head down my room again and at least take a very quick nap since I know perfectly well that baking cookies might drain me down, to think that there'll be only three of us to bake. But, I am very happy to be able to do such baking cookies since I could already get to place them on my Moblit cookie jar. Haha!

I retreated back to my room, placed the book down on top my table, removed my glasses and threw myself on my bed. Ahhhhh, the most comfortable place in the world to sleep in (aside from a titan's warm belly of course) Even if I lack sleep because of staying up to late at night then waking up too early in the morning to report immediately at Erwin's office (he can be pretty rational and ask me to do lots of things which are quite impossible to finish in just one day or one sitting) making me rush into shower or sometimes, non at all, which really irritates Levi once he finds out. Me and my bed may feel or see each other once in a while but we sure do have lots of glorious moments and is enough to make me feel like in a safe haven.

I groaned as my head hit my luscious pillow and due to lack of sleep, I finally doze off to a deep slumber.

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The sun was way up high and yet it feels cold and it sure dim inside my room even if it's in the middle of the afternoon. Oh December, why do you have to be so cold? I had my planned one hour quick nap extend up to two hours, and now I find myself waking up pass two in the afternoon.

I rubbed my eyes, straightened up and took my glasses from the table stand beside my bed. I took no delay to go down to the kitchen and look for Sasha and Connie. As expected, it was Sasha who greeted me first by the kitchen door and welcomed me in, seeing how Connie was actually the one doing almost everything.

I took the apron by Sasha's hand and looked for something to do to help the poor boy. Reading a few stuffs about baking before when I was still a teenager trying to try and learn something new and act a bit more like a girl who knows how to cook or bake or something that could make delicious food by my hands was something I really wanted to know.

"Hanji-san! It is good that you are here to help" Connie eyes and then mumbled as he work on the flour.

"I gave Sasha my word, Connie" I told him back and he said nothing in return as he was still busy with mixing the flour to all the other ingredients. I in turn, decided to place the chocolate chips after Connie's long time of mixing the flour and other stuffs then have them drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto a pre-greased or a lined baking sheet. Sasha is now the one to wait for them to cook and remove them from the oven once they are done and place them into huge jars the HQ has as we finish our first batch of cookies of almost fifty pieces. With the long whipping and heating them up, I am quite happy to have made a batch of fifty pieces of cookies. Good thing the HQ has a good couple number of ovens used for baking breads and other pastries as well. Sasha even made sure to properly clean the utensils so me and Connie could use them again and function properly well. She even boast to have learn how to properly clean huge utensils from Levi.

Oh yeah, that man.

As I combine the chocolate chips to the mixed flour and all other things from Connie and make our second batch of scrumptious chocolate chip cookies, I thought how quite easy it was for me to buy and look for gifts for the others while not even a single thing that I have bought or even thought of as a gift that man who means a lot to me too and would be even celebrating that very same day as his birthday, who is also a great comrade and a trusted acquaintance.

I sighed as I whipped. I really wanted to make him feel special for his birthday and that he is remembered for his very own day.

I can feel my arms already getting tired and my forehead getting sweaty than usual for whipping too much already, but I know I need to finish this or else I might not receive any cookies that I myself made to be placed for my Moblit cookie jar and be given to him. I did tried my best and make sure that none of my sweat will go over food that we are making. We even barely talk, being too much preoccupied of work but once we get a minute to speak, we make sure will have our lips turn up.

"Hanji-san" Sasha suddenly muttered my name as she was placing the last tray of cookies inside the oven. I could swear that my mouth has been trying its very best to contain all the saliva inside so I won't drool over the cookies that we are making because it really smells good and I know it taste pretty good too.

"I suggest you help us make cakes for the Christmas Eve party, will it be okay for you?" Sasha placed the tray inside and closed the door of the oven and looked at me with those huge eyes of hers, and saw Connie did the same, searching for my face for some answer to her question. I figure that Connie will help her again make some cakes so he's giving me the same look as hers.

I smiled and nodded lightly at them, even if in the inside I am not certain if it's right at all. I am still worried about the fact that I haven't gotten Levi any gifts yet nor planned or thought of how to surprise him but as the brunette lass hugged me and bald young boy smiled at me, I can't just back out now and say 'no' to them. I have to be honest, I did had a great time baking with them. It was so much fun and baking with them again is a thing that I'd look up into.

Knowing this kid's way of thinking and that the cakes are to be made the Christmas eve party, I am sure that it'll be a bit bigger in size than usual and that tasting and presentation should also be astounding.

"So when are we going to make the cakes?" I asked, patting her lightly at the back.

Sasha released me from the tight hug and grinned at me. "The day after tomorrow. It'll be two days before Christmas and I figure that it's the best time to make and preserve the cakes."

"And think of decorations for the cake too" added Connie.

"Just make sure to know what is the rightful flavor the cakes should be" I reminded them.

When we finally finished all the baking of the cookies, it was almost night time and dinner is already being prepared by the other side of the kitchen. All the glorious smell of food coming in all at once inside my mouth made my stomach grumble and made me want to help the kids preparing our dinner. Somehow, I know they'll just shoo me away and will persuade me that it's not my business and that I should head back towards my laboratory.

Kids these days, they starting to treat me like some kind of granny of theirs.

Fortunately, it didn't took them long to finish preparing our dinner and I quickly took plate of it and finished it a bit fast, without even Moblit or any of my squad joining me the least. I'm guessing that I went to eat dinner earlier than them I suppose.

After dinner, I went to my room and wrote a note to remind myself that I am to help bake cake after tomorrow. Since there were no meetings or research to be done due to the very cold and snowy weather and that everyone is busy preparing for Christmas, I took this night as an opportunity for me to sleep early get back those days that I lack sleep, maybe I could get to look younger and the younger soldiers will treat me more like I'm in their age.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Okay, so this is another delayed chapter and the other one is on the way, hoping I could post it on it's rightful schedule of uploading. This was supposed to be uploaded last thirteenth but with all the things going on in my internship or practicum rather, this got a bit delayed in the process as well as my other works T.T

Anyway, no edits done here as well so I apologize for any wrong stuffs that you would be reading (if there's any but I hope not T,T) and still hoped that you had fun reading.

See yah in the next chapter.