Chapter Twelve
Hange

I saw Eren start yelling at them and scolding them like he was their parents and I chuckled with relief. They're all good, they have each other. At least Armin's not alone.

We finished the mission and I was tired again. I was waiting for the next ball and I was excited to design another dress. Hange told some people about my works and it turns out more people wanted me to design and make them a dress for the ball.

Crazy.

I really didn't want to make the stupid dresses for everyone but it would bring a smile to their faces, we needed more of that honestly.

"Hange, how the hell are we going to finish 5 dresses in a month?" I groaned and set the sewing needle down. "Like seriously, how many customers am I going to get after this?"

"Chill out, I'm here!" Hange cheered as she helped me with the bottom if the dress. "I'll put in some work to help you finish, have you finished your own dress?"

"Kind of?" I sighed. "It's a lot.. More revealing.. Kind of out there.. Which means I'll definitely bring my mask."

Hange raised an eyebrow at me before walking towards my closet and trying to eye my new dress. Fuck.

"Athena! What the hell! You're going to look so fucking hot, everyone is going to want to undress you with their eyes!" Hange shrieked eyeing my dress. "People don't really wear black but... This type of black dress.. Gosh, it's perfect for you."

"Thanks.." I muttered in embarrassment, I didn't want all the attention on me but I couldn't help wanting to design different style dresses.

"You're also designing a dress for Natalia right?" Hange asked.

"Yup, I think I finally knocked some sense into Armin. Either he asked her out to the ball or he's going to, I'm still preparing a dress." I sighed. "Young love, how cute."

"Wait, Armin and Natalia are—" Hange gasped and I waved my hand with a chuckle.

"They're not together but I used to think they were so cute as kids, I tried my best to spend time with them but... You know, I entered the training and the rest is history." I smiled fondly. "I always wanted them to end up together, she was always there for him. He was always there for her."

"And how about you?" She looked at me with a smile. "Who do you have in your life to hang onto?"

"Me?" I scoffed and began working on the dress in front of me again. "I have you! Maybe not like all the time but I'm fine!"

"You see others in front of you having connections, you see it so much you crave it yourself." Hange stared at me.

"Can we work on the dresses?" I sighed with a frown as I glanced at her.

"Yeah." Hange said softly. "Athena, you know I hope you find that connection with someone. You deserve happiness."

I smiled at her before working on the dresses calmy again, she was a very nice person.

I owe my life to Hange. Really. I guess I used to be a stubborn cadet back in the day and the only one who really got me through it was Hange. The times scouts would come to visit to see if they wanted certain cadets in their squad she saw me struggling and I had a temper back then. It was quite funny to beat up certain cadets who talked bad about me, no one talked ill about me after that but Hange toned me down a couple of notches. 

I still remember it like it was yesterday.

***

"Cadet Arlert!" I heard a voice coming from behind me and I kept walking away with a unbothered look on my face. 

"If you're here to tell me to run laps as a punishment I'm starting now." I grumbled walking away faster. 

"Cadet turn around before I put you on the ground myself." That comment made me raise an eyebrow and slowly turn around crossing my arms.

I saw a girl with her hair up in a ponytail, she wore glasses and she looked nice although I'm guessing she didn't like the attitude I was giving her at this moment. I saw the wings of freedom on her green cape, must be a scout.

"What's up? I don't have all day," I sighed. 

"You don't have to be a depressed dog about it," She rolled her eyes. "I'm Hange! A scout leader in the survey corps. What's your first name?" 

"Athena," I muttered keeping a glare on her but she slowly softened her expressions. 

"Great! Pretty name by the way, I'm in charge of searching for the next cadets to be in my squad and I'm liking what I'm seeing when it comes to your strength and skill but the aggression towards your teammates... It can be too much." She said. 

"That's because they're brats who can't fight to save their lives." I scoffed. "They act like the outside is a joke and the titans aren't frightening but the second they get out on the field they'll be dead before the mission is over." 

"True," She nodded sheepishly. "But regardless of that you seem to have scared everyone here that they wouldn't even think to train with you." 

"Don't care," I turned to the sky. "I can train by myself." 

"You need to train with others too, not just yourself." Hange furrowed her eyebrows.

"Head instructor hasn't told me anything," I shrugged.

"Because he seems to fear you too," Hange shook her head. "You look like you're going to turn into a murderous monster when you graduate from here." 

"I'm here to fight titans." I snap my eyes at her. "I'm not a murderer when it comes to others, I could be but that's not who I am. I'm here to help make a better place for my little brother and that's all. I don't need the help of others around me to slow me down." 

"You need the help of a team, you're out on the field just thinking about yourself you'll get yourself and others eaten." Hange scolded. "I don't care what you say about them being stupid, help them out and train with them." 

"Who are you to tell me what to do?" I spat. "If my instructor tells me to I'll consider it but I'm completely fine on my own, leave me alone." 

"I can't let you go like this!" Hange lunged out at me and tried to knock me to the ground but I quickly ducked and moved out of the way and stood up seeing her on the ground. 

"I don't care if I beat a scout up, I told you many times to leave me alone." I threatened. 

"Well, aren't you just a peach?" Hange scoffed as she stood up and tried to hold my hands. 

I dodged and pulled my leg behinds her and locked it pulling her down but she pulled me down with her, before I knew it we were fighting on the ground trying to dodge each other. 

She was so annoying, why did she even give a fuck? 

"I don't want to be apart of your stupid squad!" I whined. "Leave me alone you alien!"

"You're so stubborn!" Hange argued and she managed to push me on my stomach with my hands behind my back. 

Fuck. Maybe it was because I liked her spirit or because I didn't want to hurt someone severely as her, I backed down.

"Let me go!" I groaned.

"Hange! What's the meaning of this?" A deeper voice approached us and I could see a man with blonde hair and bushy eyebrows. 

Is this some sort of sick joke? I'm being attacked. 

"Commander Erwin! This cadet is going to be apart of my training program, I'm expecting her to make my squad." Hange placed her knee on me knocking the air out of me. "She's a handful though, just like Levi.

"This one?" The guy I guessed was Commander Erwin crouched down to lock his eyes with me. "She looks... Feral." 

"Exactly! With a few training techniques I'll give her, she should make my squad and be one of the best scouts! I'm sure of it!" Hange squeals. 

What the hell was going on? 

"I-" I was so confused. "But you see! I don't think I'll even want to be a scout! I was thinking of becoming an MP!" 

"Understandable, Hange you can't just kidnap cadets into being in your squad we talked about this." Erwin groaned.

"Yeah! What that Erwin guy said!" I protested and tried to get up but it was no use.

"Commander Erwin to you," He shot me a stern look which made me roll my eyes.

"She said she wanted to make the world a safer place for her little brother, what's his name? I'm sure you won't make the world a safer place in the MPs." Hange snorted. 

Fucking bitch. She was right and she wasn't easy to mess with, I couldn't keep her mind off of the situation. 

"Whatever, just let me go." I argued. "Come on dude! You can't just let her keep me like this!" 

I looked at Erwin who only raised an eyebrow at me and told Hange to get off of me, I was able to dust myself off the floor and I glared at both of them.

"You guys are crazy to think I'll join you, I will never be on your squad!" I grunted. 

"Hange, you got yourself a handful but if Levi got through it so can she." Erwin chuckled. "Good luck, nice meeting you." 

He walked away as Hange grinned at me like a maniac, who the hell did she think she was? She was crazy! I can't be left alone with her!

"I can't make you join my squad, but I will train you to be better." Hange said and took a step closer to me. "You're a pretty good soldier but you lack humanity a lot of the times, I know you must not be like that on the inside and I hope one day you can trust me to let those feelings out. You don't have anyone in these camps, but I'm offering my help and training so you can sort it out. If by the end of the training you don't want to join then it's okay, go your way and join the MPs." 

I huffed and nodded as she walked away. I didn't like her but something about her intrigued me, she didn't give up on me. Even if I was being a bitch to her she didn't back down like the others who tried to face me, which made it hard to say no to her training.