Hange picked up half of the sandwich they were holding, tossing it into the air with a quick flick of their wrist. A nearby seagull swooped down, catching the morsel mid-flight and swallowing it whole. Hange grinned, a glimmer of childlike delight dancing in their eyes. "Did you see that??" They turned to you, completely oblivious to the longing in your gaze.
"Yeah, it was cool," you replied, forcing a smile. You handed them your untouched, fresher sandwich. "But this one is not for the seagulls," you added with a teasing lilt. Hange gave a playful pout in response.
"Alright, alright! I'll eat it." They reached for the sandwich, sheepishly fluttering their lashes in mock guilt. "Though I probably shouldn’t. The waves are making me dizzy. I feel like throwing up" they confessed, a hint of vulnerability in their voice.
You hummed thoughtfully, glancing toward the open sea. "Yeah, Onyankopon did warn us about 'motion sickness' earlier." Your eyes flicked back to Hange, who was leaning forward, elbows resting on the ship’s railing, their focus lost in the endless expanse of waves. God, they looked breathtaking in that grey suit, the sunlight bouncing off the fabric. "You look good," you muttered, your voice barely above a whisper. "grey suits you."
You rarely let compliments escape your bitter lips, but something about this moment made it impossible to hold back. How could you not acknowledge the beauty before you? You would risk everything for just one kiss. Their cheeks flushed, a rare sight, and for a moment, Hange’s usual boisterousness was replaced with a shy smile. "Eh? Are you flirting with me?" they asked, the uncharacteristic shyness tinging their voice.
You scoffed, reaching out and breaking off a piece of the sandwich they were still holding. Tossing it to another nearby seagull, you watched the bird glide away before responding. "You wish," you teased, though your voice betrayed a softness as the scent of saltwater lingered in the air, painting the moment in something more tender.
Hange’s eyes sparkled with that familiar, mischievous glint—one you hadn’t seen in a long time. Not like this, at least. Genuinely.
"Do I?" They turned back to the waves, but their question lingered, pulling at the edges of something deeper between you both.
You swallowed. The words tumbled out before you could stop them. "I wish you did," you admitted quietly, your voice nearly lost in the wind.
Hange froze for a moment, their head tilting slightly as if they hadn’t quite heard you. "Mhm?" they hummed, turning back to face you.
You smirked, leaning into the railing, the distant port of Marley coming into view. "I lied earlier," you said.
Hange raised an inquisitive brow, their interest piqued. "About what?"
You turned your gaze toward the horizon, feeling the tension melt away with the rhythm of the ocean. "I don’t think grey is your color."
They blinked, momentarily confused, before you continued, the words falling easily now.
"You look good in everything."
The grin that spread across Hange’s face was beautiful, lighting up their whole expression in a way that made your chest tighten. That carefree, unburdened version ofthem—the one that made your heart ache with nostalgia—was back. Even if just for a fleeting moment.
"Oh, now you’re definitely flirting," they accused, leaning in closer with a mock-serious tone, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Aren’t you?"
You chuckled softly, the sound mingling with the crashing of the waves, your heart pounding in your chest as you turned to meet their gaze.
Hange’s grin widened, their eyes glinting with a mischievous curiosity. The soft rhythm of the ocean waves hitting the ship filled the quiet space between you, the sea breeze ruffling their short hair. They leaned in slightly, the air around you charged with the weight of unspoken words.
"Are you really flirting with me?" they asked, though their voice was missing its usual playfulness, tinged with something deeper now. Their face was closer, warm breath ghosting over your skin.
Your pulse quickened, but you didn’t look away. The moment seemed to stretch endlessly, the unspoken tension wrapping around both of you. Marley’s port loomed in the distance, but it felt irrelevant—far removed compared to the electricity humming between you two.
"Yes," you breathed, the words slipping out before you could stop them. "I am."
Hange's hands clasped the railing, and their eyes softened. For once, there was no witty answer or playful reply. Instead, the moment hung heavy in the air.
Before you could second-guess yourself, you leaned in, closing the distance between you. You captured their lips slowly. The kiss was soft at first, exploratory, as though testing the waters. But then something shifted. Hange responded, pressing closer with a certainty that made your heart race.
The world around you fell away. The wind, the tang of salt in the air, the distant cries of the seagulls—all of it faded into the background. There was only the feel of their lips on yours, the slow, steady rhythm of their breath mingling with your own. It felt like time had slowed, the pull between you undeniable and all-consuming.
When you finally pulled back, your heart was racing, and Hange's breath came in shallow bursts. Then, in typical fashion, Hange broke the silence with a grin that made your chest ache.
"Okay," they whispered, their voice barely above the sound of the waves. "Now you're definitely flirting!"
You smiled, your cheeks flushing warmly. "Yeah," you admitted. "Guess I am."
discoholicmusic
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
theartofmadeline
andulkaphoto
dededos
turnnoffyourmind
origamiaround
snowghoul
