9/18/15 A/N: Welcome back! To newcomers and old, this is a hardcore revision of the first three chapters, as well as an introduction of some new material that's been in the works ever since the beginning! You've all been very patient, and I figure I should get this show on the road.

Just for kicks, I've added a rating, character, and pairing (this is optional) list at the top of each chapter in an attempt to embrace the drabble format. With that said, let's get on to the story!

Act One: Gelegenheit (Opportunity)

Rating: K+

Characters: Eren, Annie, Reiner

Pairing(s): Eren/Annie

[Originally posted: 4/5/2014]

Eren Jaeger found himself skidding to a halt upon the earth. He wanted to defend himself, to protest, but the breath was knocked from his lungs. Instead he raised a hand, and his opponent lowered the wooden oar she'd used to send him sprawling. He sat up slowly, wincing.

Training with someone the likes of Annie Leonhardt was often painful in the best of conditions. Today was no exception. He was fortunate she'd bothered to let up at all, really; in any other situation there would be no mercy to be found, nothing but him and his wits as far as he was concerned, and she understood this perfectly. Though as much as he appreciated that shared sentiment, it still hurt. A lot. He could already feel the muted ache blooming along his back, a prelude to bruising. A good thing, then, he supposed dryly, that he was such a quick healer.

"Can't…can't you show some restraint?" he managed. Annie merely swapped the oar to her other hand before replying:

"Same to you."

Eren stared at her. Haloed by the sun, she struck an imposing figure. "What?" he asked.

"You come charging in with all your strength. I only meet you accordingly. And besides, you're a man, aren't you? Shouldn't you be more careful with this delicate body of mine?"

Eren gave a snort of disbelief. She had to be joking. "Right. So how come I always end up flat on my back while you're still standing?" Annie paused, as if considering the right way to answer this. Then she sighed.

"Well, the techniques I'm using are a bit different from what they teach us here. I'm not using my strength to throw you. These techniques are meant for when you're facing an opponent who's stronger than you." The oar fell to the grass with a muffled thump, and she resumed her traditional stance. "I don't suppose it'll hurt to teach you."

Clearly, he wasn't going anywhere, anytime soon. Eren decided to make the most of it. "All right," he said, "let's take a few." Annie smirked at him, and he faltered.

All it took was that moment of indecision. One second she was advancing, the next, she'd landed a blow to his stomach, then his knee. His legs flew out from underneath him as she flipped him over her, and his surroundings became a blur of indistinguishable color and sound and then—!

Impact with the hard-packed ground brought up a cloud of dust and a fresh wave of pain along his body. More bruising. Lucky for him she knew what she was doing or else he'd probably have broken something…though she could do much worse if she really wanted, and given this, Eren was also a touch suspicious.

"Annie—" he hissed, it was difficult to breathe with her arm locked tightly around his neck. "I—you've made your point!"

"Not yet." Her stranglehold abated just enough for him to cough, suck in much needed air. Goddammit, she was just messing with him now. "Not until you learn how to use your strength." There was a small pause, then, almost causally, she added, "And how to talk to girls."

Well. That was a new one. Eren struggled uncomfortably against her grip to no avail, flushed. "All right, I get it!" he burst out desperately, "just—just let me go!"

There was a pause.

"…Oh," said Annie quietly, and the genuine surprise in her voice made him wonder what the hell he'd gotten himself into this time. "So you want to learn more?" The pressure on his chest abated, and he coughed as she sat up beside him, watched her with a rising sense of trepidation in his stomach.

"I don't…um." He trailed off when she leant back over him; he couldn't recall her ever permitting herself to remain this close for so long. His gaze flitted back uncertainly in the direction of the other recruits, then back to her face. A faint smile graced her mouth.

"Fine," she muttered. "I'll demonstrate."

And before he could inquire as to what she meant, Annie grabbed his jaw, the back of his head, intent as she would be when correcting his form, and carefully closed the space between them.

Whatever Eren had been predicting, it certainly wasn't this. Her mouth was a little chapped, warm. The kiss itself was gradual enough for to him wonder if she'd ever done this before, a little rougher when she pressed him down, hands shifting to his wrists. He grunted a little, felt her smirk, tasting teeth and—

It was over as quickly as it had happened. She pulled away and he found himself struck by a spell of dizziness that had nothing to do with the blood rushing to his head. But she was still there, still pinning him down, and there was something strange in her eyes he couldn't quite name. And he could hear the other recruits yelling excitedly but couldn't discern their words and somebody—Connie?—cried: "Shit, she just threw Reiner!"

A shadow cast over the earth and Annie froze. The last thing Eren remembered clearly was the subtle flush about her face as she looked up, jumped back, left him confused. Then the shadow crashed into him with the full force of a charging horse and he was stunned, nearly unconscious. Black spots popping before his eyes, Eren shoved the object off him—heavier than he was expecting—came back to earth seconds later and there was Reiner beside him, unscathed, still roaring with laughter.

"Figured she'd take that well!" he exclaimed merrily, clapping Eren on the shoulder, who was still a little dazed, so Reiner added: "See for yourself." And Eren looked up to where Annie was now holding conversation with Mikasa, but by now they'd attracted a small crowd of onlookers and there was the makings of a skirmish in the air. "So what do you think, Eren?" Reiner asked him suddenly. "Think Annie can hold her own against your sister?"

And of course Eren understood. He was just too punch-drunk to care, and Reiner's question didn't matter anyway. He ducked, grinning privately to himself, insinuations be damned.

If Mikasa had only taken several more seconds to notice the terrible danger presented to her brother; that danger being Annie going in for the smooch. Yes, I'm very mature. Based off of Chapter 44: Strike, Throw Submit. Or Punch, Lock Throw if you're reading the raw manga. Thanks for reading, and if you'd be kind, leave a review! I dig constructive criticism.