Overprotective: AOT/KNB Crossover [Reader x Eren]

Chapter 14: I Can't Go Back

~from Hanji's POV~
I rushed home from school, Eren's words echoing in my ears. Was (y/n) all right? I couldn't tell Eren about (y/n)'s situation so I hadn't mentioned it to him earlier, but I'd gotten in the habit of waiting for (y/n) to leave before I did, but she never left the apartment (hence me being late to my first hour class). If she hadn't gone to an appointment, was she really, truly, merely...sick?
I knocked on the door. "(Y/n)? Are you in there? (Y/N)?"
I tried the door only to find it locked, but I'm not Levi's best friend (whether he admits it or not) for nothing. I went around to the alley between apartment buildings and climbed up the ladder and onto his balcony, slipping in the window that he always left unlocked.
"(Y/n)?" I asked, making my way to the living area, and there she was, sprawled on the couch.
Oh, good. She's fine, I thought. That was before I noticed her forehead covered in sweat and her eyes, slightly glazed over.
"(Y/n)!" I exclaimed, running over to her and putting my hand against her forehead. She's burning up!
"-ne," she whispered through dry lips.
"What?" I asked, leaning closer, and her eyelids fluttered as she struggled to keep them open. "Phone. In bag."
What's so important that she needs her phone, especially since she never uses her phone? Not bothering to voice my questions, I quickly rifled through her back and pulled out her small flip phone, handing it to her, but she shook her head.
"You...1," she whispered, and then her eyes closed, although her uneven breathing failed to cease.
Not understanding her, I fumbled with the phone before accidentally holding down 1 and speed-dialing someone. I was about to hang up when I heard a familiar voice.
"(Y/n)? (Y/n), are you there?" he asked, and I breathed into the phone in relief.
"Himuro!"
"Hey, who is this?" he asked, sounding more guarded.
"It's (y/n)'s friend, Hanji!"
"Why do you have her phone?" he asked, still sounding wary but not as suspicious.
I wasted no time in explaining the situation. "It's (y/n). She's sick or something...Maybe I shouldn't have called you...Sorry, that's probably bothersome since medicine will probably do the trick, but she told me to call you...I think..."
"I'll be there in fifteen minutes," he replied immediately. "I just have to get out of this one thing..."
I noticed voices in the background, and then he hung up. I turned towards the unconscious (y/n), wondering how she was lucky enough to get someone who would drop everything just to come see her, but I immediately felt guilty afterwards. It's not like she isn't suffering more than the rest of us...
***
Himuro was there in eleven minutes.
"Sorry I'm late," he apologized immediately as he quickly came inside, despite the fact that he was actually early. "Where's (y/n)?"
I showed him over to the couch, and he frowned. "Where's her room?" he asked, looking as though he might pick her up princess-style and carry her away.
"Uh...Levi's apartment is small, and there's only one bedroom, so..."
Himuro deadpanned. "Are you kidding me? He couldn't even give up his room? But (y/n)-"
"Doesn't want Levi to know," I interrupted. "I think we should respect her wishes. Anyhow, that's not the problem right now. Just look at her. She looks awful."
Himuro reluctantly refocused his attention, and I studied him while he scanned her. I could see a slight resemblance to (y/n) in the facial structure, but that was about it. Whereas (y/n) was small in stature with large eyes, Himuro was tall with thin eyes, although they both had angular faces and (h/c) hair.
Must be from their dad. Is he short, I wonder? Or was the short one Levi's - (y/n)'s - mom?
Distracted, I blinked rapidly and focused in on the scene.
"(Y/n)? (Y/n)?" Himuro asked twice, looking really pale for some reason.
I mean, she's just got a fever, right?
"I'm taking her to the doctor," he announced decisively, easily scooping her up into his arms and moving towards the door.
Just then, (y/n) shifted slightly in his arms. "Shougo...Haizaki," she whispered, and then resumed unconsciousness.
But those two words were all it took to freeze Himuro in place, quiet rage painted on his face.
"Himuro? Hi-muuuuuuro?" I called, waving in front of his face until he blinked and snapped back to reality. "You okay?"
He didn't respond, just exhaled slowly. "It's nothing...just, that name..."
"Shougo-san? Why is (y/n) talking about him, of all people?" I asked, tilting my head slightly.
Himuro looked at you with wide eyes. "Do you...know Shougo?"
I shrugged. "Not really. I mean, he only transferred into our school yesterday."
Himuro's face morphed into a look of abject terror. "He what?"
I looked at him strangely through my glasses. "He's a transfer student. He seems nice enough, though, so you don't have to worry-"
"That's what they all said," Himuro murmured bitterly.
"Excuse me?"
"They all said, Shougo-san? No way! He would never do something like that!" Himuro turned to me with desperation in his eyes. "But he did do it, Hanji! He did it to my little sister, and nobody...nobody believed that he..." There were tears in his eyes as Himuro turned away and began speed-walking towards the clinic.
That's when I realized who Shougo-san really was, and how, just like everyone else, I'd been caught in his trap. Even though I'd promised (y/n) that I'd always be on her side, I was still as weak as to let a cruel boy deceive me.
And now he'd come back. To haunt (y/n)? What else could he possibly want from her?
I dropped to my knees, further repulsed and horrified by my previous thoughts of jealousy. (Y/n) was struggling so much more than I was...
Still kneeling, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed a familiar number. "Yeah, Levi? I need to talk to you. Your apartment. Now." I hung up, dropping the phone on the ground, my eyes stuck on the floorboards. I knew that (y/n) might hate me for this...but I'd already failed her in some ways. I didn't care if she never talked to me again.
I want her to know that she's not fighting alone.