zoehangc

[zoehangc]

Hange Zoë X Levi Ackerman

summary: Hange and Levi are out, expressing concerns, exchanging stupid banter and drinking.

trigger warnings: drinking.

Hange sat with Levi at an empty table, nursing a glass of wine. The bar was noisy and crowded, but their corner was relatively peaceful.

"You've been quiet today," Levi noted, taking a sip of his drink. "Something on your mind?" Hange shrugged, swirling the wine in their glass. "Just thinking about work," they said. "Everything feels so overwhelming right now."

Levi leaned back in his chair, studying Hange's face. He could tell they were stressed, but he also saw the determination still shining in their eyes.

"You're pushing yourself too hard," he said bluntly. "You need to take a break, Hange. You're no good to anyone if you burn yourself out." ─ Hange sighed, knowing Levi was right. "I know, I know," They said, taking a long sip of their wine. "But there's just so much to do. I can't afford to slow down."

Levi let out a sigh, frustration creeping into his voice. "That's exactly the problem, Hange. You always put work first. You never take the time to rest or take care of yourself. When was the last time you slept a full night?"

Hange looked away, avoiding Levi's gaze. They knew he was right. They had been burning the candle at both ends for months, barely sleeping or eating in their obsession with their work.

Levi shook his head, a mix of concern and annoyance on his face. "You're ridiculous, you know that? You can't keep going like this. You'll collapse one of these days."

His words stung, but Hange knew he was right. They were stretching themself beyond their limits, ignoring their own needs in the pursuit of their work. But the thought of slowing down, even for a moment, filled them with anxiety.

Hange set down their glass, the wine sloshing inside. "I know, I know," they said, running a hand through their tangled hair. "I just... I can't stop. There's so much to do, so much to learn. If I slow down, I might miss something important."

Levi sighed again, clearly frustrated with Hange's stubbornness. "You won't miss anything if you're passed out from exhaustion," he retorted. "You're not invincible, Hange. You have limits."

Hange let out a resigned sigh, conceding to Levi's words. "You're right," they said softly, their usual bravado slipping. "I have been pushing myself too hard. I just... I feel like I have to work twice as hard as everyone else to prove myself."

Levi's expression softened slightly. "You don't have to prove anything to anyone, Hange," he said gently. "You're already one of the best damn researchers we have."

Hange gave him a small smile, his words slightly lifting their spirits. "Thanks, Levi," they said softly. "But I can't help but feel like I could be doing more. There's always another experiment to run, another theory to test."

Levi rolled his eyes at their stubbornness. "You're impossible, Hange. You know that, right?" he said with a hint of affection. "You need to learn to relax and take care of yourself. You're no use to anyone burned out and exhausted."

Hange smirked slightly, a sly gleam in their eyes. They took a sip of their wine. "Oh, and I suppose you're the epitome of relaxation," they retorted. "When was the last time you took a day off, Levi?" ─ Levi shot them a withering look, clearly not amused. "That's different," he retorted, taking a swig of his drink.

Hange couldn't help but chuckle at his response, his stubbornness matching their own. "Oh, really? And how is it different?" they asked, their tone filled with amusement. "You're just as bad as I am, always working, never taking a break. Kettle, meet pot."

Levi rolled his eyes again, but there was a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his lips. "You're insufferable," he said, shaking his head in mock exasperation.

Hange couldn't help but grin, enjoying their banter. "Oh, come on, admit it," they said, poking his arm teasingly. "You're just as addicted to work as I am. We're both a couple of workaholics." ─ Levi gave them a sidelong glance, a hint of a challenge in his eyes. "At least I don't pass out from exhaustion regularly."

Hange laughed, their usual carefree demeanour taking over as the alcohol loosened their tongue. "Aw, you love it," they teased, poking his chest playfully. "You love me and my annoying tendencies."

Levi rolled his eyes again, his expression still stern but with a hint of affection behind it. "You're even more insufferable when you're drunk," he muttered, trying to sound annoyed. "You never know when to shut up."

Hange's cheeks flushed with the effects of the alcohol. "Oh, please," they retorted, their voice filled with mock indignation. "You know you secretly enjoy my banter. It keeps things interesting around here."

Levi snorted, trying to hide his amusement. "Yeah, interesting and annoying," he said dryly, taking another sip of his drink. "You're like a damn mosquito. Never knows when to stop buzzing."

"You know you secretly love my ramblings," they teased, leaning towards him with a mischievous smile. "You just can't admit it."

Levi tried to maintain his stoic facade, but a small smirk betrayed his amusement at her antics. "You're delusional," he said, taking a sip of his drink. "I tolerate your ramblings at best."

Hange mock-gasped, dramatically clutching at their chest. "Just tolerate? That's harsh, Levi," they said, feigning hurt. "Admit it, Levi. You'd be bored out of your mind without my genius ramblings. I'm the only one who can keep up with your grumpy ass."

Levi couldn't help but chuckle at their over-the-top reaction. "Yeah, because you're the life of the party," he said sarcastically. "Nothing says fun like a hyperactive, overly enthusiastic, slightly drunk lunatic," he replied, rolling his eyes once more. "I'm surprised you have any brain cells left with the amount of sleep you deprive yourself of."

Hange shrugged, their movements becoming more animated as the alcohol loosened their inhibitions. "Who needs sleep when you have caffeine and sheer willpower?" they replied, a cheeky grin on their face. "I thrive on the chaos."

Levi shot them a warning glance. "One day, all that caffeine and lack of sleep will catch up to you," he said gruffly. "You can't run on steam forever, Hange."

Hange leaned forward, peering at him through half-lidded eyes. "And when that day comes, when I finally crash and burn," They asked, their tone suddenly more serious. "Will you be there?"

Levi scoffed, but his expression softened slightly at the vulnerability in their voice. "You really think I'd let you fall apart?" he retorted, his gruff tone betraying his true concern. "Who else is going to keep you from completely destroying yourself?"

Hange chuckled heartily, their worries briefly forgotten. "You really do care, you old softie," they teased, their eyes sparkling with amusement. "Who knew you had sentimentality hidden beneath that tough exterior?"

Levi scowled at their taunts but couldn't hide the glimmer of affection in his eyes. "Shut up, you drunk idiot," he replied, shaking his head. "Just be careful not to drink yourself into a stupor. I'm not carrying your unconscious ass back to quarters."

Hange let out another boisterous laugh, downing the rest of their drink in one swift gulp. "Oh, come on, Levi," they said, swaying slightly in their seat. "You're such a buzzkill."

Levi rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance. "And you're a pain in the ass when you're drunk," he retorted, shaking his head. "You always get so loud and clingy."

Hange feigned offence, a playful gleam in their eyes. "Me? Clingy? I'll have you know I'm the pinnacle of independence," they retorted, their words slurring ever so slightly. ─ Levi raised an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Yeah, sure. The pinnacle of independence who can barely stand straight right now."

Hange playfully swatted at him, nearly toppling over in the process. "Hey, I can totally stand straight," they protested, still swaying slightly. ─ Levi caught their elbow, preventing them from falling off their chair. "Yeah, sure, you're the epitome of grace," he said dryly. "I must have forgotten all the times I've had to catch your ass because you tripped over your own two feet."

Hange stuck their tongue out at him, their usual playful demeanour still shining through despite the alcohol. "You're just jealous because I'm having more fun than you," Hange retorted, their words slightly slurred.

Levi rolled his eyes once again, but there was a hint of amusement in his expression. "Jealous, right. I'd rather be sober and grumpy than stumbling drunk like a fool," he retorted, still holding onto their elbow to keep them from falling flat on their face.

Hange pouted, but their expression quickly turned into a grin. "You're just a grumpy old man, Levi," they teased, leaning into him slightly. Levi rolled his eyes, but didn't pull away. "And you're a damn headache, Hange," he replied, his voice gruff but not without affection.

The two sat in comfortable silence for a moment, Hange's head resting on his shoulder. "You know," Levi said after a moment. "You're lucky I tolerate your drunken ridiculousness." ─ "And you're lucky to be able to deal with it." ─ "Yeah, I know."

─ end ─

A/N: this is originally posted on my instagram account. @zoehangc