**Beyond the Walls of Despair**

The sun beat down on us as we trudged through the desolate landscape, our boots kicking up clouds of dust with each step. As a member of the Survey Corps, I was no stranger to the harsh conditions outside the walls. But today was different. Today, I had Hange by my side, her bright smile and infectious laughter a constant reminder of why I fought. We were more than just squad members; we were partners, and so much more. As a half-human, half-Titan hybrid, I possessed certain... advantages. My sharp teeth, reminiscent of a tiger's, gleamed in the sunlight, and my claws, similar to a lion's, clicked against the dry earth. I had learned to control my Titan instincts, to harness them for the greater good. Hange, with her wild hair and eccentricities, had always accepted me for what I was. We had been on this expedition for hours, scouting for any signs of Titan activity. Our squad had been tasked with gathering intel on the mysterious creatures that lurked beyond the walls. I scanned our surroundings, my eyes narrowing as I searched for any sign of movement. But it wasn't the Titans I needed to worry about. Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my chest, and my heart began to pound in my ears. I stumbled, my vision blurring as my lungs struggled to draw air. Hange noticed something was wrong and rushed to my side. "Hey, hey, what's happening?" she asked, concern etched on her face. Her strong arms wrapped around my body, holding me upright as I swayed. I tried to speak, but my voice was hoarse. My heart was racing, beating hard and fast, but poorly. It felt tight, constricted, as if it was going to burst at any moment. Hange's grip on me tightened. "Please, please, my love, please don't die on me," she whispered, her voice trembling. I smiled weakly, trying to reassure her, but before I could, a loud roar echoed across the landscape. A Titan emerged from the distance, its eyes fixed on us. My instincts kicked in, and I gently wrapped my arms around my swollen belly, protecting it as I growled at the Titan. Hange's eyes widened in surprise, and she quickly understood the situation. The Titan charged, and I unleashed my deadliest attack: Titan steam acid. A stream of scorching hot liquid shot out from my mouth, engulfing the Titan. The creature let out a deafening scream as its body began to dissolve, the acid eating away at its massive form. But as I stood there, my chest heaving, I realized that using my acid had come at a terrible cost. My heart was straining, weakened by the exertion. I was struggling to breathe properly, my lungs burning. Hange's eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, I saw a flash of understanding. She looked down, and her gaze lingered on my belly. Her eyes widened in shock. "You're... you're pregnant," she whispered. I nodded, wincing as a wave of pain washed over me. How had I not noticed? I had been so caught up in the mission, in our relationship... Hange's face softened, and she pulled me close, her arms shielding me from the world. "We'll get through this, my love," she whispered. "We'll face it together." But as I looked out at the desolate landscape, I knew that our journey was far from over. And I wondered if I would be able to protect Hange, our unborn child, and myself from the dangers that lurked beyond the walls.