The Bridge Between Life and Death (Levihan)

14) Disaster strikes

Levi POV:

How the hell do I get through training with my squad now they know about Hange and me also combined with the fact she isn't getting any better, only worse, with not much longer in her. As they all trundle over, I decide on how to blow over any conversation about me and Hange.

"Right everyone" I shout "Warm up, run some laps"

"But Captain-" Jean starts to say

"Are you sure you want to challenge me today with the mood I'm in?"

"No Captain" He says back and they all start running.

Once they do a few laps I decide it would be best to scare them off of telling anyone about what they saw, just to be sure.

"Oi Brats, gather up" I say and they all come over, panting for breath.

"Captain, I was only going to ask if Hange was awake yet?" Jean says "I wasn't going to say anything about you and-" 

Before he can finish that, I boot his left shin to shut him up and he just kind of hops around, complaining.

"Yes, she is awake and thank you for the books and card from you all, it was very kind and its given her something to do, even though she hopefully won't be in there for too much longer" I say, lying through my teeth "Now for what you saw, Unfortunately you saw what you saw, there's nothing I can do about that. But you breath a word to anyone and I find out who it is, you will not see the light of day again I swear" I state and everyone nods

"Captain?" Armin says "What is the matter with Hange?"

I silence, we never actually decided what to tell people. 

"I-I-I-Errr-" I stutter "She just has a bad flu" I settle on

"Yeah but Captain, that cough wasn't 'just a bad flu'. I saw it with my own eyes, that is no flu. Captain, you do know she was coughing up blood right?"

"Yes, I'm no Doctor though Yeager"

"Captain, I promise you, its not just a flu"

I ponder with the fact of telling them, they know what happened, Eren first hand. there is no point in lying. She doesn't want anyone knowing but they deserve an explanation and Hange wouldn't mind them knowing. I'll just sugarcoat it a bit

"If you must know" I state "You're right, its not just a flu, its not for me to tell you details but Hange has kept this illness a secret from everyone but me for a few months now, and has gotten away with it. Do you remember when she bolted out of the stables one day and didn't come back?" Everyone nodded intently "That was when I found out, she has left, to conceal the fact the was coughing up blood." I say

"Wait, so she has been like this for what, six weeks now?" Armin asks

"It began 8 weeks ago, I found out 6 weeks ago, only you guys and Erwin know from today onwards. I also should add, there is a high chance of it being fatal, and we can't afford the surgery because it isn't covered in military insurance"

I look around and everyone looked horrified. "You deserved to know, especially with Yeager seeing it first hand, but you should know when to stop asking questions because sometimes ignorance is bliss"

"Captain?" Mikasa says

"Hmm" I respond

"You said it could be fatal, how long does it take to you know... kill someone?"

"On an average, 3 months"

There is complete and utter silence from everyone.

"Any more questions?"