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Awoken by a sharp fall, Moblit jolted as he opened his eyes. He threw his head, scanning where he was, a bustling town? His back was on the ground, chiseled stone, his hands could feel how rough it was. As he looked around, he noticed people were staring at him, frightened, while others obliviously walked by. The buildings look slightly damaged, covered cracks and hidden hollows.
He didn’t understand how he was here, he should be in Shiganshina along with the scout regiment. He was supposed to be right next to Section Commander…
Hange!
If he was here, where were they?
His eyes traveled across unknown faces, he knew no one here.
At the very least he was inside the walls.
He studied his clothes, he was wearing the same outfit as he was at Shiganshina. As he studied his clothes, he heard careful, soft footsteps walking.
“U-uhm, excuse me sir?” A hushed voice said.
A young woman with short, blonde hair and freckles was looking at him like he was an abnormality. She looked at him frantically, a face reflecting disdain.
He squinted his eyes, “Yes?”
She tilted her head, “How did you just…appear out of nowhere?”
Was this lady losing it? It isn’t possible to appear out of thin air. But maybe she could help him figure out where he is.
He said, “I didn’t appear out of this air. You probably didn’t notice me falling here,” He looked around, “Where is here?”
Taken aback she said, “Shiganshina…how do yo-”
“Shiganshina?” Moblit baffled, “T-that’s impossible! The Beast Titan is attacking, why are there people here? Where is Commander Erwin Smith?”
Her face almost looked…melancholy?
“Uhm…you must be confused, sir…the Beast Titan attacked years ago…maybe we should get you to a doctor…you might’ve hit your head.” She extended her hand to help him up.
He pushed her hand away, “I’m fine, thank you for your concern. But if you really want to help me, take me to some soldiers, so they can tell me what’s happening here.”
She looked away, “I can take you to some garrison soldiers, is that alright?”
Moblit pushed himself off the ground, “I really appreciate that. I’m not sure what’s going on here.”
She nervously looked at him, “Yeah…maybe the garrison can help you.”
They began to walk, the town was lively and cheery, a juxtaposition from the solemn battlefield he remembers. There were children playing in the streets, three of them. Running around, smiling and carefree. Whatever the case maybe, he was elated Shiganshina had become such a warm, homely place. As they walked, he noticed how many places had been repaired, while some still had damage from the titans. He recalled what the blonde woman had said as they walked, the Beast Titan attack had been years ago?
How was that possible? Does that mean the Colossal Titan was defeated? What about the Beast and Armored Titans?
He noticed a pub, how he wished he could stop by for a drink now; though, he didn’t want this woman to think he had lost his mind. Maybe she was right…maybe he had hit his head and it caused him to get amnesia? It would make sense why he thought he was in a battle that supposedly happened years ago.
She gently regarded, “There they are. They are the young senteries that tend to camp here to protect the walls.”
There were two young men there, they looked like newly graduated cadets. Even though he didn’t know them that did make sense, they were Garrison soldiers after all. They were seated at a table; however, they did not look relaxed. One was a brunette with a mullet and green eyes, the other was a dark-haired girl with brown eyes; and yet, both appeared hardened, but not in the way of the 104th cadets.
She began, “Hello! He wanted to speak with you guys, he’s a little… “ She looked up at him, “...lost.”
She waved at the two before she walked away.
“Well…” He analyzed his emblem, “scout, what do you need from us?”
Moblit started, “I’m assistant to Section Commander Hange, but I can’t find them anywhere here.”
The brunette shook his head, “Section Commander? You mean the Commander of the scouts?”
Moblit was inclined to agree, if these people thought he was a loony soldier with memory loss, they probably wouldn’t help him.
“Ah-yes Commander. Old habits die hard don’t they?” He tried to laugh it off.
But the two people sat there staring at him, analyzing him.
He took a deep breath, “It is imperative I find Commander…Zoe. I have dire information that is on a need to know basis.”
The two soldiers' eyes lit up for a moment.
The girl shouted, “Well, hey Bradley! Eric!”
Moblit turned around, and noticed two tall, garrison boys walking towards them. She stood up, waving them over.
“Bradley and Eric this is…what is your name?” She questioned.
Moblit put his hand over his heart, “Moblit Berner, Executive Officer of the Fourth Squad in the Scout Regiment.”
The mullet boy and the girl shyly smiled, trying not to show excitement.
The boy gets up, “Take over our shift early! We need to help the Executive Officer find Commander Zoe and deliver crucial information.”
The boys looked aghast, almost jealous…?
The boy smirked and the girl stuck her tongue out.
The girl brightly, “C’mon, Officer Berner! Trost is a bit of a ride from here, but we should make it before nightfall.”
—--
As they rode through the open fields with trees rarely scattered, he noticed how calm they looked. He gathered that if Shiganshina was reclaimed, that means all the areas surrounding Trost were too. Had the scouts gone back to doing expeditions outside the wall? Had Erwin stepped down from the scouts if Hange was commander?
The boy, who he now knew as Chance, and the girl’s name was Mary, are on both sides of him, riding slightly ahead. The horses were giving it their all, and it shouldn’t be long now. He felt…warm, even though the wind was cool. The thought of seeing Hange always brought him a sense of adornment and devotion, with a pinch of heart attack. The constant spikes in adrenaline weren’t Moblit's most ideal life, but in this flawed, cruel world, a life spent beside Hange was a resplendent gift.
He wanted to ask these kids questions about the new time he was in, but feared he would break the thought that he was an important, high ranking officer on a mission. He smiled to himself, these kids made it obvious they wanted to help him either to aid a mission or to gain brownie points with him.
“How much further?” He asked.
“Not much further, Officer!” Mary shouted.
He wondered if Hange had physically matured? What a ravishing sight that would be. Or what experiment they had been working on.
He just wanted to see Hange.
—--
“Okay, Officer Berner!” Mary shouted, “I know you probably want to go inside and talk to Commander Zoe but-”
Chance cut in, “That was a long journey and we don’t want to make you have to walk anymore. So we’ll go get them for you.”
Moblit wanted to laugh, but he didn’t want them to know he caught on.
“Woah,” He paused. “What truly thoughtful soldiers tha Garrison has. Pyxis would sure appreciate you doing this all for me.”
This time, they didn’t contain their smiles, “Thank you, Officer Berner.”
The two did the heart salute before they left him alone outside the doors of the scout building. He realized they weren’t the smartest of kids, considering that he should’ve been brought up to Hange and the fact it was only three flights of stairs,
but he’d let them live in their little fantasy a bit longer.
Looking up towards the sky he noticed the beginnings of a sunset, most of the scouts were probably having dinner around now. He wished he could remember what he had done since the mission to take back Shiganshina, but to no avail. He wondered what cherished memories he lost.
The sky was an orangish blue, warm and clear.
He stood in front of the door wondering.
—--
Hange sat in their office, sinking in paperwork, strategic planning and the crisis of sorrow. There was no time to mourn when you were commander, the people you lost died to better humanity’s chances. But there was a whole world of people who wanted to kill you, none of it ever felt worth it. They had become the head of the Scouts, but all of the people who were there with them from the beginning weren’t here.
The only person from back then who saw them get here is Levi, who always dodges attempts to talk about those who have been lost.
Questions rattled Hange’s mind, what were they going to do about Marley? Or the rest of the world? What are they going to do about the rest of the world?
What would Erwin do?
They don’t know, they could never predict what Erwin was thinking.
There wasn’t a person like Moblit to help them with their planning, or keep them on task.
All of their friends from the Levi Squad were dead, only memories are what they had of all of them.
They could go for some rum right about now, did they have any left in their drawer. As they reached to grab some, they heard a knock on the door.
Hange sighed, “Come in.”
One of the scout members opened the door, “Two Garrison soldiers said they have imperative information from an Executive Officer.”
They were perplexed, “Did they say which Executive Officer?”
“No.”
Hange rolled their eyes, “Bring them in.”
Three sets of footsteps were heard in the hall, and two ecstatic kids entered.
“Yes?”
Hange stared at their work, not truly paying attention to the kids, “
Saluting Hange the boy began, “Scout Commanger Zoe, we have brought Executive Officer Berner to deliver inform-
Hange shook their head, “Repeat what you said.”
It wasn’t possible, Hange must have misheard the name.
The two of them looked at each other confused.
He started again, “Section Commander Zoe…we brought in Executive Officer Berner to deliver information.”
It wasn’t possible.
They saw him die that day.
He saved their life.
It wasn’t possible.
They stood up irritated, “Are you mispronouncing someone's name or is this some sort of cruel joke?”
Both of their eyes widened, not comprehending the gravity of this situation.
The girl started, “H-he came up to us in Shiganshina district! He told us his name was Moblit Berner! I swear this isn’t some joke.”
A moment of breath was gone.
Hange frantically stumbled, “Well wha-what did he look like?
She continued, “Light brown hair with a middle part! Oh and he was uh” She began snapping, “Wearing a green shirt, yeah that’s it!”
It wasn’t possible.
There was no way a fresh Garrison would know him, or the fact that he always wears a green shirt.
And even if they did, they wouldn’t risk losing their jobs over a prank.
But.
But…
It wasn’t…
It wasn’t…possible?
Their voice sounded hoarse, “Where- is he?”
The girl began, “He’s outside the door to in the scout building-”
Before the girl could finish, Hange had already begun running. Pushing their body to the absolute limit, they threw their shoulders forward, lept with their legs. Their breathing was a bit rugged, their feet were being reckless, but they didn’t care. If they fell, they could get back up, but if they dared slowed down, they thought the idea of him being…there would dissipate.
Loud thuds were echoing through the stone hallways, as he began sprinting down the stairs, taking each turn full thrust. Who cares if they got hurt, who cares if everyone thought they were crazy.
He could be there.
That’s all that matters.
They ripped open the door from the stairs to the hall, people were staring now.
The door, there it was in its glory.
Hange burst open the door, and someone was standing in front of it. They turned around fast in order to catch Hange, who was about to run straight into their back. As they did, Hange caught their eyes, it was his gold shimmered brown eyes that caught theirs.
“Hange look ou-”
They had crashed head first into his chest, Moblit put his hand behind Hange’s head, and a hand on their lower back. Now both had fallen on the floor, with Hange face deep in Moblit’s chest, his head still on Hange’s lower back.
Hange looked up, it was his face.
His dirty blonde, almost blonde hair sat comfortably on his face. His fluorescent eyes looked at Hange with an adornment, his eyes creasing. The extra lines under his eyes from worrying about Hange so much, the dark eyebags. His strong, bent nose, his skin, smooth with some blemishes, and his strong, angular jaw. And there, his small smile, bewitching and divine, with his chapped lips.
It was him.
It was possible.
He looked away, removing his hand from their back, “Oh sorry,” He chuckled. “I just didn’t want you to get hurt.”
He didn’t want Hange to get hurt?
They began to cry, tears of bliss, of delight, of comfort; but also, they cried tears of agony, apprehensive, and devastation. Broken pieces of their emotions were forcibly combining, it was overwhelming and confusing. All of that aching sorrow should be gone, but it was still there. Three years without him couldn’t be fixed in a moment, but they were also joyous. They had dreamed about this moment for years, also clutching to the memory of his face as it slowly began to fade.
“Oh my god! What’s wrong, Hange? Did I make you uncomfortable?” His smooth voice filled with concern.
They sobbed, “Wrong? No, no Moblit you could do anything wrong. I just never thought I’d see you again.”
They wanted to bury their head in his chest, or squeeze him so tight that he could never leave them again. But they worried if they stopped looking at his face, he would slide through their fingers and be gone again.
“What do you mean see me again? What have I been doing these past three years?” His eyebrows were bent.
“What? You were dead, Moblit.” Hange huffed.
His eyes widened, he wasn’t smiling anymore. His mouth hung slightly agape, utterly confused and devastated, his cheeks grew a slight pink.
“I…died…?” He paused, “Was it…in the…Battle to reclaim Shiganshina?”
Hange nodded, “Yes. You uh, you died saving my life.”
He softly glances at Hange’s face, both studying each other's faces.
Moblit brought his hands to Hange’s face, gently wiping the tears, holding Hange tenderly and delicately.
Moblit spoke hushed, “I’m sorry I left you. But I’ll never do that again. Only if it is to save your life, which I would gladly do again. Though, there is something I must say…”
Hange looked up at him, tears flowing, but not as much.
Sniffling, they said, “Go ahead.”
He nervously spoke, “Hange…A life without you isn’t life. It is merely a faucet of survival, frivolous and fruitless… You’re the laughter after a joke. You’re the blossoming of flowers in the spring. You are the sun that rises in the morning. And I may be the most selfish man in the world, but I cannot imagine not spending the rest of my life with you. Let me be utterly and hopelessly in love with you every rise of the sun in the morning, and the beginning of the moon at night. I beg of you, please, allow me to spend the rest of my life by your side.”
Hange laughed, “Did you just confess to me after you found out you died?”
Moblit blushed, “W-well, I thought about telling you in Shiganshina, but…well clearly I never got the chance. I didn’t want that to happen again.”
They giggled, finally smiling their old smile. One of pure elation, no sense of worry blockading them.
“You didn’t have to ask to be by my side, you never had a choice in that matter,” Hange wrapped their hands around him, “You’re stuck with me forever.”
He chuckled, “I’d want nothing more than that.”
He wrapped his hands back around them, pulling them closer.
Both of them are afraid of letting go.
“Should we get up Hange? You are the Commander now.” Moblit ran his fingers through their hair.
Hange looked up for a second, before snuggling back in his, “Nah. I think I’ll stay here for a while."