Ice and Fire
Chapter 1
{Damn it… missed the opening}
Eren thought as he laid on his back, catching his breath. He closes his eyes for a moment and sighs. A gentle breeze blesses his face for a moment as he tries to picture the errors in his mind, figuring out exactly what he had done wrong. Though it is a futile effort, Eren knows very well that Annie's hand-to-hand skills are far superior his, but he persists to practice with her in hopes that he gains something other than bruises and cuts.
Hearing her footsteps, Eren returns to reality to see those condescending icy eyes. Annie stands high and proud above with her eyes fixed on Eren, perhaps still puzzled by his persistence even after a year of drills. In face of the afternoon sun, Annie's skin had shed a subtle film of sweat, emitting a certain… radiance from the view of the beggar below.
As this is a training exercise of course, he asked "Hey, up for another round?" with that insatiable hunger. That infamous attitude of the guy who's in a hurry to die.
Annie turns with her head down and returns to her stance, slowly and precisely bending her upper spine and raising her knuckles to her forehead while locking her legs into place resulting in her perfected form. After months of hand-to-hand drills with her, Eren understood that this was the only time he would ever see a flicker of life in her, shining her brightest right when she either locks him in a position or when she delivers her final strike.
Eren readies himself once more, and as always, reassures himself that this time… he'll win.
Annie lunges forward, seemingly with an intent to strike with her left. Eren sees this fake, and angles his torso to catch the coming kick. It's an almost bone-crushing impact, he grabs hold of Annie's leg with both hands. With his face completely exposed, she tries to land a straight with her sovereign right, but Eren edges his head to the side, just feeling the compressed air from her speed slip by his jaw. Annie's eyes lit up in surprise. He commandeers her arm and attempts to pin her to the ground. In one quick motion, she reverses her disposition and locks Eren's head with her legs around his neck. Eren tries to heave his arm away from her crushing clench, but quickly abandons the effort and lifts Annie's light body and plunges it to the ground with all the force he could muster, relieving himself of Annie's lock.
On his knees, he falls forward hovering in front of Annie. Their faces were only inches from each other's. Neither bothered to move. Eren couldn't believe it. For once, he wasn't knocked onto the ground or having his limbs nearly broken in a lock. He didn't win, but Annie's fatigued posture says otherwise. Her slow breaths breeze his moist skin. Eren had lost himself in this glimpse of victory. She blows a puff of air into his face, bringing him back to reality. Realizing his disposition, Eren backs away and falls to his rear, gasping for breath. Annie leans forward, both taking in the moment to breathe. Both, to say the least, surprised.
Whispers enlightened the silenced air. Eren and Annie had unintentionally gathered an audience for their show. A plethora of faces of concern, shock, and bewilderment. Intent on settling their quarrel, Jean turns away with a distraught look on his face, impetuously grabbing his reluctant partner by the uniform. Reiner turns away with a smirk, shaking his head in disbelief. The rest eventually disperse back to training. All of whom were ignored by two, for their petty thoughts were no concern of theirs. Their eyes were locked between themselves.
"That was… a tie…" Eren still catching his breath
…
…
…
"Don't you think you're a little rough on this frail body of mine?"
Finally accustomed to her supposed sarcasm, Eren responds with a joke of his own.
"Not a chance…I'm starting to think you like it rough…"
Annie looks down and snickers, something Eren had never heard before. Awestruck by these subtle details of character, Eren understands that Annie's expressions lie on a different scale than others. This was practically a laugh or at least as close as one he'll probably ever hear. Therein lies a chasm between them-one wears his heart on his sleeve and the other doesn't wear one at all. With each session of drills, however, Eren usually learns something new.
"Trainees!" a loud voice interrupted them. Instructor Shadis walks onto a platform at the far edge of the area. Everyone ceases their exercises and gather in his presence. Eren stood up without even dusting himself off and offers his hand.
"Here."
She swatted it away and slowly got up, immediately walking towards the crowd. Puzzled yet again by her cold shoulder, Eren follows suit with the rest of the trainees as they line up in uniform fashion and pledge their hearts before Shadis. Looking sternly into his students, Shadis began.
"These are the last months of your training. You will soon become full members of either the Survey Corps, the Garrisons, or the Military Police thus serving humanity and ensuring its survival. I commend you all for your service, but do not expect anything easier in these lasts two months! Tomorrow, we will begin moving trainees North to the highlands to begin your winter survival training. However, this test will be largely unsupervised and will depend on your abilities. You will traverse through mountains and snow, reaching multiple checkpoints with an assigned partner and finishing within a designated time. Finishing after the assigned time will result in penalties to your scores. Should we find you abandoning the mission, you will be branded criminals and imprisoned. Your assigned partners will be given this evening. That is all."
"I hate the snow." a trainee shuddered
Eren agrees as he remembers working on plots of land in the bitter cold of the snow, remembering the grueling work conditions while the Military Police enjoyed their rum. Eren exhaled and made his hand into a fist.
Annie is staring at him.
"Hmm?"
"Something wrong?" she asks
"Uhh no… nothing… "
Annie turns and walks away.
"Good luck Annie…"
She stops but only for a moment.
"You too." she softly replied
Eren and company change out of their uniforms in the men's dorm. As he strips off his sweaty jacket, he could only think of the next drill. Sparring, of course, is alluring in its own way. After all, he almost won today, finally making some progress. Eren is nothing, if not persistent. As these drills continue, however, the thought of winning against her becomes less and less… attractive.
{Maybe it's just a façade. She might be more human than most of us would think.}
"Something on your mind, Eren?" Reiner asks
"Yeah, kinda…"
"I thought your head was going to pop open earlier." Reiner laughs
A short pause, Eren looks to Reiner
"I thought so too. She keeps saying she's weak and frail but I'd probably be in the infirmary if I didn't drop her."
Reiner shakes his head again.
"You're too reckless for your own good. I couldn't tell which way was up the first time she flipped me head first into the ground. You should be more careful. I think she enjoys seeing you hurt."
"Hmph, she hasn't been slacking off as much since we started hand-to-hand drills. Maybe you're right. But I plan on winning next time. I can't wait to see the look on her face. I need to pay her back for that."
"Uhh… I'm not so sure of that."
"What do you mean? Why?" Eren is alarmed.
"There aren't anymore hand-to-hand drills scheduled, at least that's what I heard… Bertholdt! When is the final examination? Reiner looks away
"Ah? Oh, it's a week after the winter training."
"Ahh, it's a shame the hand-to-hand drills don't count in our scores. You almost lost your head today. At least you learned from her right?"
*crack*
Reiner turns around to see Eren's arm extended into a wall, a hole in the wood where Eren's fist landed.
"Damn it…" Eren sighed, suddenly feeling himself buckle underneath his own weight.
Reiner and Bertoldt say nothing, leaving him with his thoughts. As the friend he always was, Armin approaches him, concerned of his well-being. However, he found himself held by the shoulder before he could reach him.
"You should probably give him some time." Reiner advised
Eren takes a seat leaning forward, losing himself at the sight of his bleeding knuckle. A red stream seeps downward and drips onto the floor. Eren only watches it and listens to the incessant drops fall, showing no interest to treat it. The rhythm is interrupted as Armin tosses him some bandages, only making eye contact for a second or two. A chill surges up his spine, aghast as he swallows this appalling news. Eren takes a breath, only to feel his hairs stand. He sits back, and begins tends to his wounds meticulously, digging out the splinters that had sunk in.
"What's wrong with Eren?" Armin asks
"Tch, I told him there won't be any more hand-to-hand drills." Reiner answers
"Why would he be disappointed? Most of the time, we just seem him on the ground when he's sparring with Annie."
"Not today, he almost won the last one with her. Oi Jean! I hope you're ready for Eren!" Reiner smirks
"Fuck off."
Eren finishes wrapping his hand but continues to fidget in his seat as he opens and closes his injured hand, focused only on his thoughts.
{I wasn't done yet… We're not done yet.}
"Jean saw it. Eren barely looked tired at the start, but you know him. Always pushing himself until he gets hurt. Seems like it paid off this time though."
"Hmm… maybe it wasn't only the drills he was looking forward to?" Armin raises an eyebrow in jest
Reiner raises his eyebrows and looks to Eren, taking a moment to think.
"Heh, not a chance." Reiner shakes his head
The company gathers and leaves for the mess hall.
"I've been wondering how they determine the assigned partners for this expedition. They've been taking notes on us through scoring, so I assume they'll pair us up to balance our strengths." Armin wondered
"What good is training in the highlands anyway? None of the branches travel to snowy regions." Connie asks
"As far as we know… but I thinks it's more of a test of teamwork than endurance."
The trainees take their usual seats. Mikasa finds Eren and Armin at their usual table. Eren looks around, but Annie is nowhere to be seen. Mikasa notices the bandages on Eren's hand.
"What happened to your hand?" she asks
"Uhh… nothing it's just from training."
"It was Annie wasn't it?" Mikasa shifts to a stern look while searching the mess hall, intent on confronting her.
"I'm fine, Mikasa. It's nothing"
"If it was nothing, you wouldn't have bandages on your hand."
"It wasn't her fault. It was mine, and I'm fine anyway. I can barely feel it."
Some officers walk into the mess hall with a stack of papers in hand.
"Ah, it must be the assignments." Armin says in relief
The officer holds the papers up to his chest and begins.
"This expedition takes around two days to complete. You will leave on different days to ensure that you are only working in your assigned pairs. Based on your scores so far, a few of you will be in groups of three. In no particular order, here are your assignments:
Armin Arlert and Jean Kirschtein
…
Mikasa Ackerman and Sasha Braus
…
…
…
Reiner Braun and Connie Springer
…
…
…
Bertholdt Fubar and Mina Carolina
…
…
Ymir, Christa Renz, and Dazz
…
Millius Zermusky and Nack Teaz
…
Marco Bodt and Thomas Wagner
Annie Leonhardt and Eren Jaeger"
{!}
Eren is struck by the announcement. His eyes open wide and his pupils retract. The instructor continues to list groups, but Eren could only think {Another chance... maybe we can spar again on this mission… We have to! And where is she anyway?!} Eren, almost frantically, scans the room for her but to no avail.
"We will inform you of your departures soon."
Many of the recruits move to their respective partners. Eren gets up immediately and sits with Reiner and Bertholdt, hoping for an explanation.
"Have you guys seen Annie around?"
"I haven't seen her since heading back from the training grounds." Bertholdt answers
"Sorry Eren, I haven't either. She's probably sleeping or something." Reiner says
"Are you excited to fight her again?" Bertholdt teases
"I am." Eren smiles as he eats
"And that's why I'm a worried." Reiner says
"Why is that?" Bertholdt asks
"I don't think Eren and Annie need to worry about the wilderness or the cold. You guys will probably kill each other sparring." Reiner jests
"I guess fighting is their calling. You two are warriors..." Bertholdt suggests
"Heh, I think I may have hurt her earlier actually. Maybe next time, I should take it easier on her."
Eren lied to himself in this moment. A rematch, of course, is something he is looking forward to, but it is obvious it is not the only thing. Even to himself, it is obvious. The problem, however, he is unsure what exactly. He learns almost everything he can from her and almost nothing at the same time.
Eren holds his stomach in pain, staring in frustration with Annie.
"You're not holding back. I'm only responding by doing the same. I'm not nearly as strong as you though. If you consider yourself a man, shouldn't you go easier on this frail body of mine?"
"Don't make me laugh. Why am I the one on the ground then?"
"It's not like I threw you using strength. I use different techniques than what they teach here. The weak have to use their enemies' strength against them. It wouldn't hurt if you learned these moves."
"Alright, I get it, but let's take a little break first."
…
…
…
"Annie… I give up! I give up!"
"Give up? I don't need you to give up…"
"…I need you to learn…"
"…how to use your strength…"
(Her grip tightens around his neck.)
"…and how to…"
*gasp*
A cold sweat drips down his cheek. It's quiet enough to hear the speeding beats of his heart. It wouldn't be the first time he woke someone. Thankfully, the ambiance of the room remains with the usual snores and moans from the trainees uninterrupted. Relieved by the silence, he takes a breath to calm himself.
{I don't care if there's a blizzard or an avalanche… We're going to settle this.}
Eren sweeps his blanket aside and steps out of the barracks. The moon glistens a pale light and casts it upon the training grounds-a quiet whitened plane. A contradiction, the training grounds is a symphony of noise during the day. The ground quakes as it is trampled underneath a hundred boots. The instructors dry out their lungs while the trainees grunt with frustration, whine from exhaustion, and mourn for their next meal. But not now. The night has its own ambience. Its own song. The quiet and cooling air calms him, but not enough to take his mind off her. Like a moth drawn to a flame, he holds this urge to pull himself closer to the fire. A fascination, an affinity unexplained.
Eren looks around. A figure sits on the adjacent fencing of the other dorm, staring into the full moon. Golden hair… he already knew.
"AWOL again?" he walks to her
"You could say that."
"Where to?"
"Somewhere quiet."
"Did you have fun?"
"Mhmm..."
Eren notices the patches of dirt on her clothes.
"Something happen while you were out?"
"Just went exploring. Needed to think. It's much better than sticking around this dried out void."
"Mind if you bring company next time?"
Surprised, she thought he learned something.
"Hmph, remember what I told you before I fought Mikasa?"
{She's reading my mind...}
"I was just dreaming about that actually..."
Eren props himself against the fence. She anticipates his next words, her eyes fix on his.
"Ah… something about using my strength."
She sighs in disappointment but grins as she looks down. It seems there's still more to learn.
"So, what were you up to tonight? You've got dirt on you."
"It's not that easy sneaking out right after drills. It would've been easier if my back wasn't sore..."
"Oh... sorry about that."
Annie thinks for a moment… Eren's not the brightest trainee, but he's certainly not stupid. Gullible perhaps, but not stupid. She might as well humor him. He might start catching on to her lies too.
"We're just running chores until we're called for winter training right?" She changes the subject
"Yeah, and I'm your-"
"I know"
"…You weren't at dinner."
"I asked Mina when I got back."
*Sigh*
"So we're going somewhere tomorrow?"
"Do you want to?"
"I've only been busting my ass on the training grounds for the last couple of months-so yeah. I'm looking forward to it."
Annie hides herself behind her forearms for a moment. It isn't a smirk she hides from Eren, nor is it a grin. It's an affectionate smile-one that she must keep to herself. She realizes he probably wants to spar, but his intentions are clear to her even if they aren't to him. He wears his heart on his sleeve, yet he just as oblivious to himself as he is to anyone. She has a duty, however, not to entertain such thoughts. There are much more important deeds to be done… Deeds she grows more and more regretful of. Duties she grows more tiresome of.
"Tomorrow then, meet me at the stables after dinner."
Annie dismounts the fence.
"Annie."
She stops in her tracks once more for Eren. He clenches his fists, priming himself. He knows she'll probably say no. She never does anything she doesn't need to.
"There aren't anymore hand-to-hand drills scheduled. And I really want to spar with you again. I want to learn more. I was so frustrated when I heard the news that I punched a wall. I even made a hole."
He shows her his hand. The blood had seeped into the outer layers of the bandages. A crimson red had saturated and hardened his knuckles. The bandages sting and burn his exposed nerves. It's swollen enough that he can't completely open his hand. Eren himself looks at it, regretting his own carelessness.
"It still hurts a lot, even more so when I think about it. Do you think we can spar again later? There's only two months left, and you're going to join the Military Police. We'll be too busy to do it again when I join the Scouting Legion."
He hears his heartbeat once more as he stands on edge for her answer.
"…Sure… On one condition."
"Anything."
"You have to make a promise later… and keep it."
Annie looked at Eren with what seemed to be a sincere face of concern, gleaming in the moonlight that highlights her pale face and icy eyes. She wore subtle frown. Eren returned her expression with one of surprise. Outside of drills, she usually wears of face of utter disinterest, as if she cared for nothing and no one at all. As usual, however, there always seems to be something left to learn from Annie-always something Eren needs to learn.