Beyond the gates [Various x reader] part 11

A night full of nightmares, sweat and a hurting wrist and shoulder later you woke up by the sweet scent of your favorite (favorite tea) tea and the scent of freshly backed bread. You peeked an eye open and saw how Hanji put the plate next to her nightstand and side-glanced at your awoken figure.

"Oh, I see you're awake. Wanna eat something? I thought that you don't want to see those two morons this morning so I brought you something, I hope you like (favorite tea) tea, I saw you drinking it the other day."

Sleepily you smiled up at her. Even though she is a crazy, over enthusiastic and titan obsessed woman, she's still caring, generous and has a good heart.

You tried to push yourself up into a sitting position but your action got cut short by a shot of pain in your wrist. Hanji saw how you flinched in this moment and sat next to you, rubbing your back.

"Don't rush yourself; I'm sure Angelique is fine all by herself."

She left your side and vanished in the bathroom only to come back with a jar and a new bandage. Carefully she removed the bandage from your wrist only to look at the violet bruise under it.

"Oh my, what are these to idiots doing to you..."
"Three, Angelique is one of them!"

Sadly Hanji smiled at you. Sad because of the pain you had to suffer from, both physically and emotionally and from the cheating of your friend.
She opened the jar, put her index and middle finger in it and scooped out a generous amount of what looked like some awkward, creepy slime.

"Hanji, may I ask you what this is?"
"Oh it's a salve so that your wrist is doing better quicker, unless you want to suffer more."
She winked at you and massaged the slime/salve thing in your skin and wrapped the new bandage around it.

"Now everything is alright, isn't it?"
"Closely, I still have to yell at three certain someone’s"

An ear-piercing laugh was audible from the brunette next to you as she stood up, grabbed the pot by its handle and poured you a cup of tea.

"I saw them this morning, Levi and Erwin." she spoke at you while she placed the cup back on the plate, making sure she isn't going to pour it all over you again.

"Both of them looked different from their usual self."

She sat back on the edge of her bed and put her fingers to the bridge of her nose, squeezing it slightly until she turned back to you.

"They asked me if I know where you were. I told them that I know but I won't tell them because you are an emotional wrack right now and I don't want them to see you now. They weren't pleased to hear this and so they began to question me, Levi threatened to punch me like he had punched Eren in the court if I'm not going to tell you where you are. But I kept my lips sealed. Don't worry (f/n), you are safe here."

She placed a comforting hand on your not injured shoulder and looked you in the eyes, more serious than before.
"You know that you can't hide forever. I'm always here for you, even when you go back to the Military Police, I'm always going to be your friend. So I'm okay with it if you want to hide here until the morning of day 7 when you leave us. But it would be better if you talk to them, it's good for your emotional world and you have to talk to Angelique anyway."

This woman was really a handful. She acted so childish sometimes and now she talked to you like a mother, or a friend that you knew since forever.
Tears began to prickle in your eyes as you thought about what she had just said. She was right; you had to talk to them.
You were so touched by her, you knew her since less than four days and she accepted you as a close friend. She helped you over such a hardship and didn't even want something in return. Ignoring the pain in your shoulder and wrist you hugged her as tightly as possible.

"I know, you are right. Thank you....for everything. I'm also going to be there for you whenever you need my help. Even though this week is probably one of the worst I've ever had, I'm glad I met you."
"Same" she responded and hugged you back, just with less force, she didn't want to hurt you any more.

"Now, eat something, I don't want that you starve!"

Seconds later she shoved the whole bread in your mouth.
Yep, the old Hanji was back....

"Oh I nearly forgot to tell you, here's your jacket. But leave it in my room, this jacket has already caused enough problems."
She smiled at you and you smiled at her in return. She was right, this jacket has caused a lot of difficulties.

After a little chatter with Hanji you asked her if she could go and bring Angelique to her room. It wasn't like you wanted to talk to her, you had to because of today's events.

"Day 4: Spy on Eren, Thoma and Felix distract the others."


Angelique entered Hanji's room and you were happy that you were sitting on Hanji's bed at that moment, else her appearance would have knocked you off your feet.

Dark purple bags were under her eyes, her eyes itself were puffy and red, her hair looked like a lightning hit her and her fingertips were bleeding because she always chewed on them whenever she didn’t feel comfortable.

As she saw you sitting on the bed new tears began to fall from her eyes and by each one that hit the floor you felt sorrier for her. She really seemed to regret her decision, but still you wouldn't let her off the hook so easily.
She didn't even dare to come close you, she knew that she did a horrible mistake and she knew you well enough that you weren't one to forgive easily when it came to those huge problems.

"(f-f/n)....H-how are y-you? D-do you can work?"

She struggled to finish her sentence because she was hiccuping the whole time.

"I think I can work but you have to write. Are you sure that you aren't the person that should skip work today?"

New sobs were audible and you titled your head aside, bewildered why she again began to cry.

"I--I destroyed so much a-and you st-still ask me whether I'm okay? Why? A-aren't you angry?"
"Well I actually am, but you seem really distraught so let's talk about it when we are back in Wall Sina. We still have a lot to do, remember? Now stop crying and get your ass to work."

You gave her a smile as she wiped away her tears. She smiled back, a smile so big that you were afraid that it would tear the skin in her face. You stood up from Hanji's bed, made sure that your jacket was hidden in a box and you shoved Angelique out of Hanji's room to get back to work.

You titled your head back and shouted at Hanji.
"Thanks for the tea and counsel, see ya tonight"
"Tonight?" Angelique asked you, sorrow dropping from her voice.
"Yeah, I sleep with Hanji for the last nights, I hope you don't mind."
It was a rhetorical question, you didn't care whether she minded it or not, you already decided it, and if it was at Hanji, you were sure that the other two morons wouldn’t find you.
Hanji was too messy for Levi and Erwin accepted her privacy and only talked to her in her lab or office.

On your way back to your own room to get the note book you came along Thoma and Felix. They both seemed concerned as they saw the bandage around your hand but kept on walking.

At the end of the hallway they bumped into Erwin and Levi.

"Oi Military Police, have you seen (f/n) somewhere?"

Your friends didn't know a thing of what was going on between you and the two soldiers in front of them. The only thing they knew was that you once had a relationship with Erwin and that Levi gave you a hickey.

"Yeah, she's with Angelique."

Both of the Scouting Legion soldiers pushed your friends aside and stormed down the hall to catch up with you. As they ran around the corner they saw how you and Angelique entered your room. Erwin grabbed Levi by his arm to stop him and the small soldier looked up, glaring at his superior.

"WHAT?"
"Is it really a good idea to visit her now?"
"Why not?"
"She's...I don't know, she didn't even eat breakfast with us."
"And?"
"I think we are going to make it worse if we talk to her now, don't you think?"

Levi broke eye-contact with Erwin and looked at his hand that made you scream in pain the day before.
Levi turned around and walked away, leaving Erwin alone in the hallway.

As he heard the door open and your and Angelique's voice he pressed his back against the wall, held his breath and hoped that you didn't see him.
Luckily the two of you walked into the opposite direction so you didn't see him.


"So (f/n) I think it's a good idea if we talk to his friends first and later observe him. Since you sleep at Hanji's place can you search through some of her drawers?"
"No, I won't spy on a good friend!"

Angelique's eyes widened as she heard these words from you. It took her so long until you accepted her as a friend and now you already called Hanji one? You even said good friend!

"(f/n) do it for your better friend, she won't ever find it out"
"I already do it to my better friend, I won't search through her files."

Angelique's mouth hung agape. Hanji was your better friend? When did that happen?!
Angelique was sulky but didn't say anything in order not to offend you even more and so destroy her beloved friendship with you even more.

Silently you walked to the girl's dorm, hoping to meet one of Eren's friends and quiz them about the dark-brown haired teen.


-Time skip-

"So, you’ve known Eren since you are...9?"
"Yes."
"And how did the two of you meet each other?"
"Not important."
"Ackerman, you don't seem very talkative isn't it?"
"Don't ask her something like that. A lot of us lost their families and friends, should she remember something like that? She's Asian, I'm sure they got killed..."

You grew more and more silent at the end of your sentence. You have heard about Mikasa's strength and even though you were strong, you still didn't want to fight against her.

"So...you knew his father, Grisha Jaeger, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"Did he do anything suspicious?"
"No."
"Do you know what's in the basement?"
"Not even Eren knows, so why should I?"
"Good question, anyway, I think you won't tell us anything we don't know from Keith or Erwin himself, who else can we talk to?"
"Armin."
"Thanks, see ya at dinner"
"Hm."

Angelique wasn't happy about the way you talked to Mikasa after you didn't let her speak anymore. All of a sudden you were so nice to the Scouting Legion soldiers. Haven't you hated them?
Now it seemed like you came along with everybody but Angelique. Well, excluding Erwin and Levi from 'everybody'.
You acted so distant to her and made one of 'best-friends' with everybody else, it made her sick.

You arrived at the boy's dorm and knocked on it. As Jean opened the door he couldn't help but smirk as he saw you.
"Want another kiss?" His shit-eating grin disappeared from his features as you pushed him aside and entered the room.
"Where is cadet Arlert?"

You could here a loud 'Bang' and a yelp afterwards. As Armin heard that you were searching for him he jumped from his bed and hit his forehead against the upper bed on the bunk.
"Why are you searching him pretty lady, I'm sure it's more fun with me."
Reiner smirked at you and how a light blush found its way on your cheeks.

"Not yet."
"Not yet?"

As you noticed what you had just said it was too late and all the boys began to whisper in the background.

"You know where you can find me, don't let me wait to long."

Reiner's smirk grew even more as he saw how you desperately shut your eyes and tried to get the image of him without a shirt out of your mind.

"Can I join?"

Your chin hit the ground as you heard what Jean just said.

"NO! HELL NO!"

You grabbed Armin by his collar and went out of the boy's dorm, avoiding any more weird incidents.
As you were outside you couldn't see Angelique anymore, where did she go?

"(f/n) what's wrong with your wrist?"

You looked down until you told him that it wasn't anything serious.

"Let's go to the infirmary, I have to cool my forehead anyway and so we can change the bandage too."

'What a sweetie'


After you cooled Armin's forehead and changed your own bandage, you sat down on the edge of the bed next to him and wanted to begin with your little interview, but Armin was quicker than you and asked you first.
"(f/n) why do you wanna talk to me...I mean....I'm not the tallest one....or the strongest.."

Taken aback you stared at him, eyes widened.

"Armin, in the military strength is not the most important thing. I've heard that you are very intelligent and that's also a very important part in the military. Imagine Sasha has to manage your money, after a week she would have spent everything in food and you wouldn’t have something for the rest of the year."

He smiled at your remark and blushed slightly as he noticed that you were sitting right in front of him, a hand on his knee.

"So you see, in the military everything is important. Some people are very strong but they lose chess against a rock and the others are intelligent but can't beat up someone like Reiner. The only important thing is that you are in the military and have the intention to fight. Don't feel bad because you are weaker than others."
"Thanks (f/n). You are right! So why do you wanna talk to me, have you seen anything suspicious in my drawer?"

Now it was your turn to blush as you remembered that he had caught you how you were searching through his undergarment.

"Oh gosh, no! Do you even have anything of this......you know....?"
"Oh no, if you think about what Reiner and Jean have, no I don't!"

You both sat there, silently and hoping that this awkward moment would go away anytime soon.

"Sooo...." you began to speak "do you know anything 'weird' about Eren? I mean is there anything he hasn't told us and keeps all by himself?"

Armin looked at you for a brief moment before you saw how the glint in his eyes faded slightly as you mentioned his friend.

"Oh you want to talk about Eren... No, from what I know he told everything Erwin, Levi and Hanji. I think she's testing him today, so if you want to see him in his titan-form you should better hurry up."

You smiled at him, thanked him for his help and kissed him on his cheek before you left the infirmary.
Armin didn't know how to respond but as you left, a shy hand touched his cheek, more specific the place that you had kissed, and smiled to himself.

As you left the infirmary you noticed what you had just done and shook your head, now was not the time to think about something like this. Now you had to find Hanji and Eren.