Chapter 7: Sparring
Levi stretched his wiry frame, leaning back into the chair he was sitting on and gave his hands a break from the reports he was writing. Looking out across the training grounds from his seat in the castle courtyard of the Survey Corps headquarters, Levi couldn't help but enjoy the warmth of the bright late summer sun and the trees tinged with the beginnings of autumn's color. A cool breeze made the warmth incredibly comfortable and almost everyone was outside. The training grounds were crowded and Levi was pleased to see members of his own team taking the initiative in their training.
Petra's auburn hair glowed in the sun and it was easy for Levi to pick her out of the crowd, throwing lightning fast punches at an opponent whose back was to him. Levi was so focused on watching his subordinate's fighting skills that he didn't realize she was fighting against Milcah until Petra swept her. Rather than going down hard on her back, Milcah managed to twist in midair, springing off of her hands and out of the way of Petra's deadly axe kick that sent up a huge spray of dust as her foot impacted on the ground. Petra was obviously taking it easier on Milcah, stopping frequently to give her pointers or have her practice a punch or kick until it met her specifications.
Levi watched the two women with a level of appreciation, Milcah couldn't have found a better instructor in hand to hand combat. They were both covered in sweat, having abandoned their jackets and Milcah's, Levi noted with appreciation, was neatly folded on a nearby bench. Both of their tank tops were sticking to their skin, accentuating the women's well-muscled bodies. With a touch of annoyance he noticed other men sneaking quick glances at the two women from time to time.
He didn't understand why the men couldn't think of the two as their fellow soldiers rather than staring lustfully. He was certain that either of the women could put up a good fight against any of the men if any of them dared to ask to spar, Petra would probably hand their asses to them. It was true they were both pretty in their own ways, Petra with her thin frame reminded Levi of his own toned but surprisingly strong body. Milcah, though she was about the same height as Petra was built differently, slightly more heavy-set with more pronounced curves. Her tight military uniform only served to accentuate her tiny waist in proportion to her wide hips and shapely legs. But that wasn't an excuse to act the way that the men did. Levi looked away from the pair for a moment because of the strange tightening in his stomach.
When he looked back he felt his eyes flash in irrational anger as Mike Zacharius walked up to the pair. He had just finished a run from the track and sweat was dripping down his bare chest, droplets caught on his thin layer of chest hair. The two women greeted him with wide smiles, pausing in their workout as they chatted with Zacharius. Levi clicked his tongue in annoyance, officers shouldn't get too friendly with their subordinates. As they continued to speak together, Levi could tell that Milcah and Zacharius knew each other based on how comfortable the two were together and their shared laughter. He hadn't realized that Milcah really interacted with any of the squad leaders besides himself or Hange.
Why wouldn't Zacharius just leave, Levi thought impatiently, the uncomfortable knot in his stomach returning as the man put a friendly hand on Milcah's bare arm. Milcah's porcelain face was graced with freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose and the tops of her cheeks which were now darkening beneath the beginnings of a blush. Levi wanted to throttle her, whatever Milcah felt was always splayed out across her face for all to see, it was unbecoming of a soldier. Levi stood up from his table, and moving inside, tried to calm down. Why did he care what Milcah felt? He had no authority over her.
Milcah could feel her face heating up as Mike Zacharius leaned against her arm, laughing at one of her jokes. She wished she could keep her feelings bottled up and avoid being quite so obvious. Mike was extremely attractive and an incredibly skilled soldier, the second strongest after Lance Corporal Levi. Standing next to him she was trying not to stare at his bare chest. Ever since she'd met him, Mike Zacharius made her heart leap into her throat.
"Why don't you help me with Milcah's training?" Petra asked Mike, glancing at Milcah's blushing face shrewdly. "It will help her to fight someone bigger than her."
"It would be my pleasure," Mike agreed with a gorgeous smile.
Milcah felt as if she'd die, glaring at her friend helplessly. Petra only grinned at her unabashedly. Swearing to get vengeance against the ginger, Milcah turned to face her opponent, raising her hands and shifting on the balls of her feet she assumed a fluid ready-stance. Mike turned to her, his strong arms lifted, sweat covered muscles gleaming in the sunlight. Swallowing the nervous lump in her throat, Milcah launched herself at him, knowing surprise and speed was her best strategy.
Levi had made it halfway back to his office before realizing that he'd left all of his paperwork on the table in the courtyard. This was ridiculous, he thought, his mood getting blacker and blacker with each step back to the yard. Whenever Milcah was around he always seemed to end up at a disadvantage somehow. Walking back outside he was surprised to see a crowd of people gathered around the area Petra and Milcah had been training. Tch, he thought in annoyance, marching out, determined to break up the men who couldn't stop staring at the pair.
Pushing himself to the front of the crowd, Levi stopped in his tracks, watching Zacharius and Milcah trading kicks and punches at lightning fast speeds. Petra's tutoring had certainly done Milcah some good, the girl was able to stand her ground and block rather than just dodge. The two of them were slick with sweat and Levi could tell that Milcah was too fast for him. Mike seemed to have figured that out as well and he made a sudden grab for her, ducking his shoulders and charging, intent on tackling her around the middle. Milcah, rather than side-stepping, leaped up in the air, and Zacharius wasn't able to stop his charge fast enough. She kicked him hard in the back with both feet, sacrificing her landing in order to try to bring him down.
The crowd cheered as Zacharius stumbled forward, but he tucked and rolled while Milcah caught herself on her arms, spinning to defend herself against his counterattack. Zacharius had already begun his assault, now that Milcah was on the ground he had the upper hand, being much stronger than she was. Apparently Zacharius was going for the same strategy, Levi thought with a derisive snort as he charged at her again. Her counterattack was so fast if he blinked he probably would have missed it. As she spun onto her back she locked her legs around his chest and threw her while body into the twist, slamming him into the ground hard and coming up on top of him, straddling his chest, facing away from his head.
Mike looked a little winded and if Milcah had been a larger person she might have won, but as she spun to deliver a final strike to his face. Zacharius wrapped both arms around her thighs and flipped her over, pinning her beneath him with his bodyweight. There were some catcalls from the crowd, Mike's face had ended up buried in Milcah's lower stomach as she struggled to get free, and Levi made a mental note of the perpetrators in order to give them hell later. She swung both hands at him in order to cuff him on both ears simultaneously but he caught her wrists and pinned her, their faces coming dangerously close, and Levi could tell that her flushed face was from more than just fighting and his anger began to boil dangerously.
"Private Milcah," he intervened, to his own surprise. The pair looked up at him, breathing heavily and Mike rolled off of her, offering a hand to pull her up. Milcah saluted him, looking at the Lance Corporal expectantly. It was only at that point that Levi realized that he didn't know what he was going to say to her, and the silence dragged on awkwardly.
"What can I do for you sir?" She prompted eventually as the crowd around them dispersed, and her words shook Levi out of his daze.
"I need to talk to you privately," he said, taking in her tarnished uniform. "Get cleaned up and meet me in my office, you're filthy."
"Yes sir," she answered instantly, turning back to Zacharius with a smile. Levi had to force himself to walk away, hearing her take leave of the squad leader. "Thank you for sparring with me sir."
"Of course," he answered charmingly, "You are a worthwhile opponent Milcah. We should practice again together, we are well matched."
"Yes," she could only answer breathlessly, and Levi's eyes twitched in annoyance.
"Private," he shouted back impatiently and Milcah jumped.
"Coming sir!" she answered, flashing a final smile at Mike and chasing after Levi. Milcah was in a love-struck stupor as she hurried to the shower, scrubbing the dirt off of her body and hurrying to put on clothes to meet Lance Corporal Levi. It was beyond probability that Mike Zacharius would be impressed with her, let alone want to train with her again. She could still feel his body pressed against hers. Levi's voice crashed through her daydreams rudely as she wandered into his office.
"You look like a blushing brat, Private," he told her with a condemning click of his tongue. "You're so obvious even the titans would have enough sense to know how you're feeling."
"I don't see how that's any of your business, sir." Milcah snapped back without thinking, crossing her arms over her chest. Levi's mouth opened for a moment, his lips curling cruelly before he thought better of what he was going to say. Instead he gestured towards her chair and Milcah dropped into it, still frustrated with the Lance Corporal. Why did he give a damn about her feelings towards Captain Zacharius anyways?
"What did you need from me?" She asked in annoyance after sitting in silence for a full minute. Levi had pulled her away from a fantastic training session just to sit in his office and glower at her. Looking up at him she realized he was appraising her attire and her cheeks colored lightly. "I know it's not regulation sir, my uniform was too dirty to wear after my practice."
Levi's eyes snapped up at her, realizing he'd been caught staring. She'd walked into his office in a long violet skirt, a brightly patterned sash tied loosely around her waist. A simple off-white peasant's blouse covered her top, the wide, curved, neckline showing just enough of her cleavage to catch his attention, long hair curling tantalizingly down to her hips. This rookie really was more than a soldier, she was also a young woman, one who had so recently come into her beauty that she still wasn't aware of it. Realizing that he should respond to her, he waved his hand dismissively.
"I don't give a damn what you wear," Levi responded in annoyance. "I wanted to know how you were progressing in your creation of your new 3Dmg gear."
"I finished the belt, sir," she responded instantly, her face brightening considerably at his inquiry. "But I still have to design the hand controls on the hilts. I'm worried that adding another control there will sacrifice grip strength."
"We'll have to see when I test it." Levi responded and was surprised to see her grin excitedly at him, leaning forward against his desk.
"You're still going to test it?!"
"Of course."
"Thank you so much sir!" She exclaimed, grabbing his hand with both of hers and positively beaming. "I thought you'd never want to be around me, much less test my design, what with me breaking your nose and all, but don't worry I completely understand why you hate me and I promise to do better while I'm around you and not get in your way and—"
"I don't hate you Private," Levi cut through her babbling and she stopped short, looking at him in confusion, her hands still wrapped around his.
"But then why do you—"
"You have a lot of promise. Your skills with the 3Dmg are intuitively good but undisciplined, and you're a piss-poor excuse for a soldier with most of your physical qualifications. When I give you tasks I do it for a reason, not for emotional vengeance." Levi told her sternly, pulling his hand out of her grasp and Milcah looked away from him awkwardly.
"Thank you sir," she said finally, her eyes returning to his, "I want to be the best I can be."
"You don't remember me, do you sir?" She asked quietly after another long silence, as if she could tell what he was thinking. Levi stared at her and she turned bright red, hurriedly excusing herself from the room before he could respond. Levi watched her go, leaning back in his chair with a sigh, so they had met before. Rubbing his eyes tiredly, Levi's eyes dropped back to his desk, he still had a couple more reports to get through today.
"Fuck." He murmured in annoyance. The papers were still sitting outside.
AN: I wanted to give Levi some competition c; hope you liked the chapter
