Send 📖+ an AU scenario to get a glance at what my muse would be like in that universe
@monsterkiisses & @kiissesmonsters
Finally, years of research and sacrifice were about to pay off. A dream they had ever since they first held a real titan limb in their hands was about to come to fruition, and it was all because of a small syringe in their hands.
Standing in the middle of an enclave of towering trees, Hange stood opposite Commader Erwin as he explained the retrieval plan for the Cart Titan. Hange was fully aware of the unit of green cloaked soldiers waiting in the branches, prepared to move on Erwin's orders should the plan fail.
"It will work," they said, not sure which one of them Hange was trying to convince. "I'll be fine, sir. Trust me."
Icy blue eyes bore into hazel brown, and Hange held their breath as Erwin's stare penetrated them, his usual stoicm giving nothing away. Then, his hand enclosed around the fist holding the syringe, warm fingers squeezingly reassuringly and easing the tremors in Hange's hand that they weren't even aware of they were doing.
"It will work," he repeated, and for some reason, Hange believed him. "Have faith in yourself, and have faith in Levi and myself. Have faith in our soldiers."
Hange had faith in them, it was why they would not allow anyone else to inherit the Cart Titan power. Not out of power or some misplaced glory, but because this was Hange's experiment and they would not force this transformation on an unwilling volunteer. A true leader does not ask for anything of their subordinates that they themselves are unwilling to do.
"The area is secured from humans and Titans alike, and while I may not be capable of Shifting if something manages to veer from the plans.. we will keep you on course." Erwin continued and his attention was caught by their unconcious prisoner tied to the base of a tree.
Peck Finger had not been in their custody for very long, they captured her when she and the Beast Titan came to retrieve their comrades. Levi was still beating himself up over losing the Beast Titan, and even though Pieck was the enemy, Hange still felt guilty over taking a human life in such a cruel way.
But they had a job to do, and progress usually involved sacrifice.
"Your mission is only one objective: Obtain the Cart Titan," Erwim smile deepens. "It is the simplest order you will ever receive under my command, Hange."
Erwin shoots off into the tree line where Levi obediently waits with the rest of his squad. Hange can't see his face but knows Levi's blades are already drawn as he steels himself for the task given to him. Confident that neither men would let Hange kill any of their comrades, their resolve strengthens. They did believe in themselves and their friends, and it was time to pay back their trust in kind.
Rolling up their sleeve, the needle of the syringe hovers over the prominant vein inside their elbow, with Hange's thumb rests over the plunger as the milky liquid inside the glass tube sloshed about under the afternoon sunlight.
One of two things was going to happen next, either the serum worked and Hange awoke as the Cart Titan, or they wouldn't wake up at all. There was something strangely comforting about that.
I will wake up because my comrades' sacrifices will not be vain.
Closing their eyes, Hange takes a deep breath and exhales.
It's time for humanity to strike back.
Thumb pressing down on the plunger, a cold chill runs through Hange's veins as the white substance disappeared into their arm and mixed with their blood.
Everything after that was a blur. Like trying to recall a dream but the more you try focus on it the more it seems to drift just out of reach.
"They're going off course!"
Something was calling out to them, a primal instinct that urged them to follow, as an unquenchable thirst that could not be sated clouded their senses.
"Engage but do not kill!"
It was torture. The thirst was driving them insane, but they had no means of relieving the tension in their throat. Only one thing was going to stop the hunger but they couldnt find whatever it was they were looking for.
"This way Shitty Glasses!"
A blur. Then a face. A woman. Tied and gagged. That. That was what they were searching for. The call strengthened the closer they got to the woman. There were tears in her eyes. She was struggling. Fighting for her very life even as her spine was bring crushed. Then something warm was flowing down their throat, almost like ecstasy. They gorged on it. The taste. The crunch. The texture. Numbness over took them as the pain finally subsided.
And then they were torn from their cocoon of warmth and safety, like a babe escaping the womb. Hange fought, wanted to stay in that dark blanket of security but could do nothing as they were forcefully pulled out, into the cold and blinding light.
"...nge...Squa...n L...der...Hange."
Returning to consciousness, Hange groaned and blinked lazily up at the sunlight trickling through the canopy of leaves as sensation slowly returned to their limbs, feeling the roughness of bark under their fingers. Taking stock of themselves, the first thing that came to Hange's attention was that their shirt was missing and the jacket they were wearing was a couple of sizes too big. The explosion must have obliterated their uniform.
Feeling their pillow shift, Hange tilted their head further back and came face to face with a familiar set of beady black eyes glaring down at them. Levi had Hange's head resting in his lap, and his blood soaked cloak was already evaporating into steam. Did Levi drag them out of the nape?
“I got blood on you,” they croak, groggily poking at Levi’s now stained cravat. “Sorry about that.”
The slight crease around the eyes and a soft curl of the lips told Hange, Levi was happy.
"Looks like I get to call you shitty four-eyes again," he smirked.
"My eye," Hange gasped. Sitting up straight they ran their fingers over the newly regenerated eyeball. "It's back."
How Hange missed having depth perception again! Did their newly acquired Titan powers mean they could heal from just about any injury? How fast could they regenerate a whole arm?
"Levi, quickly cut off one of my limbs! I need to see how far my regenerating abilities extend."
"Pull a stunt like that again and I just might," he growled, knocking them on the head with his fist.
"No one is cutting off anyone's limbs," said Erwin, ignoring Hange's disappointed pout as he dropped down from a higher branch. Judging by his appearance it was Erwin's jacket Hange was currently wearing. "It’s not over yet. We still need to see if you can control the Cart Titan's powers on demand with a clear head.”
Erwin offered his hand out and Hange eagerly took it. Pulling the squad leader up both Erwin and Levi lowered their friend to the ground again where a noticeable patch of burnt grass sizzles under their feet, and the steaming remains of a titan was kneeling next to the base of one of the trees.
"That was me?" Hange grinned, wishing they could have seen themselves as a pure titan. "How tall was I? Was I a variant or a normal?"
"15 metres and as if you need to ask," Levi rolled his eyes. "Even in human form you're a variant."
Erwin distracted Hange from asking anymore questions about their titan biology by focusing on the task at hand. All it took was one quick injury to trigger the transformation process. The Leonhart girl seemed to favour cutting her finger with a blade concealed in a ring, while the Yeager boy was more inclined to just bite himself on the hand.
"Here," said Levi already holding out a blade segment. "No point in making it more painful that it needs to be."
"Thanks." Hange smiled and took the segment.
Levi nodded and shot off into the air again, quickly getting out of the blast zone. Erwin moved to follow so Hange quickly started undoing the buttons of the jacket they were wearing. "Your jacket, sir."
"Keep it," Erwin said, handing resting over theirs before they could unbuttoned it any further. "I'll give you my cloak when you turn back."
That seemed like a waste of clothing, but considering how many soldiers were currently watching Hange's every movement, they appreciated Erwin protecting their modesty.
There was no room for hesitation this time. Hange far too excited to see the results of the seeds they sowed and the smile on their face did not falter when they slashed their palm open. Another explosion, but this time Hange was fully aware of the changes their body underwent as they grew in size and the bones and muscles twisted.
When the transformation was complete, the first thing that came to Hange's attention was the slight dissimilarities between themselves and the form Pieck took. Hange’s spine and legs still adapted to the quadrupedal stance of the cart titan, but it was not quite an identical copy either. Apparently, the appearance of the Titan alters from person to person. That was a relief. Hange liked knowing they put their own personal stamp on their work.
"Hange, how do you feel?"
The cart titan turned to address Erwin. Their mouth curled upwards and a set of grinning teeth greeted him as the back of the Cart Titan's neck slit open and the upper half of the brunette burst out, sinew and muscle still clinging to their face and chest.
"Mission accomplished, Commander!"
