A/N: Hello team! I hope everyone is well! I recently had to create my own website for an assessment, with little to no instruction from my tutors so it's been one hell of a week. Thankfully, I had this prepared and just needed to tidy up a thang here and there.
I am currently my own beta, so please disregard any minor mistakes. I also tend to write as if I'm talking, so if this is any concern, wrong story for you lol Also - WARNING! This chapter got dem heavy, hot moments so... enter at your own risk.
Chapter 11
"Tear you apart - She Wants Revenge"
"I want to hold you close
Skin pressed against me tight
Lie still, and close your eyes girl
So lovely, it feels so right.
I want to hold you close
Soft breasts, beating heart
As I whisper in your ear
I want to f^cking tear you apart..."
Three hours.
Warning horns sounded true and brash from above the wall. Shouts could be heard in the distance and soldiers were dispersed quickly, tackling the lingering titans in the surrounding, destroyed village and wall. I had only been back to the base for a couple of hours and instead of moping around, I found some grass and played fetch with Boo. When we got tired, I headed to the mess hall and made myself a salad sandwich. Boo got to eat leftovers from the night before.
And just as we were wandering back to our room, I heard the warning sounds. The 57th Exterior Mission was within sight of the wall.
Pushing past everyone, I stood at the front of the crowd, eyes searching frantically. I was riddled with anxiety and fear, unsure of what to expect upon their arrival. When my gaze fell upon familiar faces, there were tattered clothes, bloodied expressions and looks of horror and disdain. I had entered from the mid-section, seeing the tail end of the soldiers. Jogging along the edge, I passed Mikasa and Eren in the back of a carriage. Her lovely features were shrouded with absolute sadness. She reached out and I took her hand, climbing into the carriage with them.
Swallowing hard, I peered out to the side lines. People were heckling the Scouts. Someone had thrown rubbish at them. I didn't ask what happened. Instead, I pulled Mikasa into a hug. At first, she didn't respond, then her body rested against mine and I felt her shaking. Eren covered his face, tears streaming down his cheeks. I wanted to talk, ask if they were okay, but what was the point? My voice was lost and I could only place a hand on Eren's arm. Releasing Mikasa, she mumbled that her immediate squad had all returned. A sense of relief washed over me.
"Hange, Erwin, Levi and Mike are up the front," her gaze fell away. "…The rest of the Special Op's team didn't make it."
Her voice rang heavy in my ears. Had I heard that correctly? Oruo, Eld, Gunther and Petra had not survived the mission, which immediately indicated that if the best of the best didn't survive, something incredibly monstrous had occurred. My stomach was lurching and I tried to ignore the constriction in my chest as the memory of the familiar redhead flashed before my eyes.
We had not spoken too much in the past weeks, even if we remained friendly. Petra had always been nice, cordial and approachable, but after our conversation, she distanced herself. I wondered if I had ever said something to offend her, make her think lesser of me or perhaps, it was entirely because of her relationship with Levi. Regardless of our previous interactions, the pressure in my chest was growing and my eyes were watering.
They were gone. This was real.
The small group of people; some on horses, carriages or walking, were nearing their destination. Crowds continued to heckle, throwing nasty comments about their tax money and why the Scouts bothered to exist. When they took to the bend and pulled into the Scouts base, I climbed off the carriage and slowly wandered through the survivors. Sasha and Connie sat on a wooden bench. Connie had draped her in a blanket, holding her as she cried. Ymir, Krista and Jean were handing out water, blankets and medical supplies. I saw Hange tending to a wound on Armin's head and immediately ran to her.
Pulling her into a hug, Hange sighed against me, her tall frame bending to hug my small stature. I wanted to ask what had happened, but it didn't feel right. Looking from Hange, I could only see Erwin, Mike, two other soldiers and Moblit standing a few feet away. No other familiar faces.
Searching Hange's face, she pressed her lips together and shook her head sadly.
"Hey," I whispered and Hange lifted her watery eyes to me, "I'm glad you're okay, friend."
Passing Mike, I brushed my palm on his upper arm, indicating I was aware he had made it back. He responded by nodding, acknowledging my kind gesture. Gathering more medical supplies, I assisted with the minor wounds. Cleaning with alcohol solution, swabbing with antiseptic and applying bandages.
"I'm glad you didn't come out with us," Armin said quietly as I handed him water, "no one deserves to see the things we saw."
"When things settle down, I need you to tell me what happened."
Armin looked away. Shakily, I placed a hand on his shoulder. When my hand had curved into him, a twitch rose and the shakiness continued. I wanted to cry, but I didn't feel like I had a right to. Instead, I continued helping where I could and with the odd twitch in my hands, I tried my best not to drop anything or accidently mess up a stitch in someone's wound. I had no experience in tending to the wounded, but when Hange thrusted antiseptic, needles, thread and patches into my hands, I didn't object.
I had been nothing short of useless for the most part of my stay. At the very least, I could help.
Tents went up for the wounded who were incapable of moving. The entire courtyard had been sectioned off, now an open infirmary for anyone in need. I had sited most of the senior soldiers several times throughout the evening. Now that the sun had set and once again, fires had been lit all over the outdoor area, there was little I could do. Wails of pain raked down the open space, soldiers having bones reset or perhaps becoming amputees. Many soldiers had returned to their bunks to seek solitude and rest. I could hear people crying from a distance, hushed whispers and or deafening silence. I had locked Boo in my room, fearful that she would accidentally knock an injured person over due to her clumsy, large size.
Now that it appeared as if everyone had been cared for, I found myself standing in the middle of the walkway, staring at my quivering hands. The drumming in my ears was loud enough to send a painful pulse into the back of my head. I had not eaten in hours; my throat was dry and I was covered in mess. My hands had dried blood and my shirt had become matted with dirt and medical solutions. I felt clammy from the stress; a combination of being too warm when the air was too cold. Shakily, I collected a clean shirt and headed to the showers. I had barely spoken to anyone for the past few hours. There was no room for talking. Everyone was deep in the events which had just occurred. Deep in their sorrows.
When I had entered the showers, the cool air was pleasant against my irksome skin. The warm days and humid nights were becoming worse and with the stress consistently abusing my body and mind, I was feeling dazed. Swallowing my dry throat, I took a deep breath and noticed the continuous splatter of water coming from a shower not far away. Hearing no sound of movement and seeing steam release from the front of the cubicle, my feet moved without my permission and slowly, I edged towards it. Most if not all the people I knew, were still outside.
Except for one.
Reaching the far back corner, steam wafted out the top and front of the cubicle, indicating that the curtain had not been pulled. I placed my belongings on a small bench to the side and carefully peered into the open cubicle.
Something had come over me.
"L-Levi?" I said quietly, my eyes falling onto the large tattoo on his back. He stood directly under the shower, hands pressed against the wall and head lowered. Water trickled over his lean shoulders, running down his naked buttocks and legs. For the first time, I noticed the thick scars that ran across the muscles in his shoulders, triceps and biceps, an intricate weave of lines and dashes. He lowered his arms, stood straight but did not face me.
I was suddenly shaking, hesitant and wondering why I had been so bold to look into an open, currently used, shower cubicle. A thick, pulsating warmth was rising in my chest and unwillingly, my eyes dropped to scale across the small, intricate words that lined and detailed each feather across his skillful ink. He tilted his head to the right, a fraction of his cheek and lashes exposed to my view as I stuttered in a small voice, "I-I'm so sorry about…"
Slowly turning, my words caught in my throat when Levi's pained eyes met my own. His thick, raven hair fell in clumped strands around his eyes and face, shrouding his burning gaze with a faint shadow. Silvery, metallic orbs of absolute power and wretched disdain. His chest and shoulders tensed, brow knitting as he stared at me with intense consideration. More scars danced along his broad chest and stomach. I bit back my tears and hesitantly stepped into the cubicle.
What are you doing…
The water splashed onto my oversized tunic, pressing the cloth to my body. I let my other hand drop to my side, my tearful gaze searching his gaze for any response. Droplets skimmed across his face, down his neck and over his collarbones. Levi's stare hardened, jaw tensing as I blinked back my tears and breathed in the warmth of the small area. Peering up into his stare, the warmth in my chest was becoming thicker, determined and wild. The hot mist rising around us, I held his attention and considered the already bold movement I had made. I wasn't sure what I was doing but I had realized I was moving on instinct. Taking a sharp breath, I gingerly raised my finger tips to Levi's cheek. The look in his eyes shifted, softening but only a moment as I gently ran my fingers against his jaw. I felt as if I was asking a tiger to trust me, to trust something it could so easily tear to shreds. I was asking a solitude creature to let someone in. The question was whether I had earnt that trust and would it tear me to pieces.
A feral growl escaped his lips and he forcefully pushed me against the adjacent wall. His mouth came crashing down onto mine, hands tearing at my shirt. The heat pulsing in my chest spread across my body, reaching my fingertips as they sunk into his shoulders, pulling Levi hard against my own. The pieces of wet material fell away, splashing onto the ground as Levi's hands ran over my body, tearing away my undergarments like a wet paper towel. Coarse finger tips, skimming across raw flesh.
What was I doing? Why was this happening? I couldn't think properly as my hands and mouth discovered minds of their own, breathing him in like the air I needed, digging my nails into hard muscles like a life line to the sun. Images of our encounters flashed across my mind like fragmented dreams; sneers, curious gazes, abrupt comments and that hard, firm torso pressed against my bare breasts. My eyes flickered open, blinking quickly from the spray of water to see him there, hungrily nipping at my neck. His fingers ran up the back of my hair and gripped suddenly, pulling my head back and eliciting a moan from my mouth. Greedily, his mouth attacked my throat and I groaned again when I felt two of his fingers enter inside of me.
I could feel, smell, sense the desperation. The hunger. The need. The control. I wanted to assume my resolve was intact, but it was not. I had tried to make sense of everything that happened – my arrival, the titans, living in this foreign land, but the ends never met in unison. My training, the friends I had made and the knowledge I had gained, were simple enough. But it had always left me asking more questions, trying to understand why I was not able to fully commit to finding a way home. But this, as Levi used his strong muscles to keep me propped against the wall, skilled fingers teasing me from every angle, made true and absolute sense, even if I couldn't tell you why.
Aggressively, Levi readjusted his left arm to lift me higher up against the wall, removing his other busy hand from his tortuous actions. A whimper escaped my lips, only to turn into a gasp as his fingers curled into my hair and tugged my head back once more. Snarls escaped his throat and I felt him thrust inside of me, both of us moaning from the sudden friction and resistance. He filled me, stretching me from the surprised girth and length and the many moons of having little to no contact.
Levi let go of my hair, instead using his free hand to reach up and hold the top of the partition as he pulled back and thrust in again, that guttural, animalistic growl escaping him once more. I lowered my eyes to see his fierce grey orbs glowering back at me.
Whatever heat and sensations I was feeling, were travelling across my skin and into Levi. He thrusted with determination, want and need. I accepted him whole and with an equal desire, moaning as the friction gave out and the movements became more fluid. His own noises were sending me into a fit of pleasure, my nails clawing into his shoulder and the back of his head. I wanted every second of contact and not a moment less.
And again and again and again.
The partition shook with every thrust, every moment he brought our bodies together. My head swam from the heat of the shower, the steam making it near impossible to see past his jet-black hair. Another snarl slipped from his lips as he nipped at my jaw, squeezing me against his body. A small yelp escaped my attempts to smother my sounds as Levi halted, fierce icy eyes watching me with interest as he slid out slowly, only to enter once more and pull my body down, rubbing my sensitive spot against the base of his manhood. My legs twitched as the nerves sang out, turning my heavy lids to watch him carefully. Eyes narrowing and seeming pleased with my response, the action repeated. The heat was rising in my groin, my moans becoming louder and my legs shaking around his waist. His name escaped my lips, if not but a whisper wrapped in a moan. The momentum became faster as my breathes became louder and with a final push against him, I was thrown entirely over the edge and a wave of pleasure washed over me.
A pleased grunt rose in his chest but I was not left alone to recover. Ignoring my bodies reactions, Levi pushed harder, diving deep within me. He groaned with every forceful thrust, my tightness squeezing against his member. Sensations shot through me, my sight becoming white dots and the heat escaping my mind. I had already climaxed once but he was nowhere near done. Lips possessively capturing my own, Levi let go of the partition and used his right hand to reach between us to rub against my sensitive spot as his thrusts became quicker, more demanding. Muscles tightening, breathing erratic, temperature soaring.
I pulled away, needing to breath as the tension was building again – Levi was slamming me against the partition, I could feel it giving out. I couldn't concentrate on anything besides his hot body pressed against mine, his mouth moving against my skin and the pleasure he was giving me.
Harder, faster.
He was becoming erratic, his fingers moving quickly and disappearing to grip my hip tightly as I groaned his name loudly. Another growl and his teeth bit down hard on my shoulder, sending me on a blinding wave of pleasure as he spilled into me.
Opening my eyes when the black and white spots simmered, Levi was resting his forehead against my right collar bone. I could feel his heart beating against my breast. Breathing deeply, he gently released me from his left grip and I slid down onto my feet. Swallowing hard, his lips were full and pink, eyes still lined with deep thought. However, Levi didn't seem as tense as before. Studying my expression, he pursed his lips and his gaze shifted.
Voice raspy and eyes lifting to mine, he said, "I shouldn't have…"
I blinked the water droplets from my lashes and placing a finger on his lips, I hushed Levi. He furrowed his brow, strands of his wet hair hanging over his forehead. His eyes flickered to my shoulder, narrowing at the welt already appearing.
"It's okay," I pressed my lips to his, feeling him tense for a moment. I pulled back, turning my face up to look him in the eye, "you needed it. We needed it."
I had left the showers with a sense of content. My inner thighs hurt, amongst other areas, but overall, I felt alive. I was burning with energy and for the first time, I felt a sense of recognition. Feeling Levi's equally as hot body pressed up against mine was a euphoria in its own, a delight that was met with open arms. Feeling his skin pressed against my own, his mouth working against my neck, were notions I never expected to associate with feeling 'right'. Nothing else mattered in that moment, just that we were in that second and he was connected to my body. We had lost everything we once knew and he was the last person I had expected to find comfort with, but not a single hint of regret crossed my mind. The hot shower should have scalded both of us, but the fiery warmth just propelled me further and further into the moment.
After our breathing had settled, I dared to press my lips to his, attentively testing his level of comfort. Levi's shoulders tensed under my fingers and I pressed into them, encouraging him to relax. Letting a little sigh escape him when I pulled away, I gave him a small, smile and reached across for the soap.
When I had pulled my clean shirt over my body and threw the ripped pieces of my old shirt into a bin, Levi had caught my arm in the doorway. Turning to face him, he had put on a pair of lose fitted pants but remained shirtless.
"You know what this means," he said, voice deep and raspy still, "there's no going back."
It had sent a shiver up my spine and the dull throb between my thighs sent flash backs shooting through my mind. For a man that I assumed had little to no interest in women or men, I was surprisingly pleased about the recent events. The way he stared at me, the aloof comments and need to be around, perhaps it was there all along. Standing in the bathroom, holding my wrist lightly, a stark contrast to prior events, his gaze was wary but clear. Levi was telling me that things were different now. I wondered if he had felt the intense connection like I had, but the intensity of his piercing eyes was enough to catch the words in my throat before I could consider asking.
Things had changed, I just wasn't sure how.
"You look different." Hange eyed me suspiciously the next day.
I looked away from her and to the bowl of nuts I was picking at. We were sitting in the mess hall just after 10 am. The day had started later due to tending to the wounded and I had gladly helped, having changed into casual clothes and followed Hange out into the courtyard. I had been given the task of handling minor wounds, which conveniently, I was confident enough to take on board. I had strapped a waist bag to my body containing a variety of medical supplies. I had even strapped a small bag using 3DMG harnesses to Boo's body so she could tag along and provide additional support. When we were done, we made our way to the hall.
"Are you sick?" Hange quickly put her hand on my forehead. I pulled away, causing the brunette to stumble onto the table. "Tell me now, kiddo. You shouldn't be sick – you've had that many immunity shots, you could be a walking chemistry set."
Hange laughed loudly at her own joke. Bemused, I glanced at her but made the mistake of looking slightly to the right of her head. I could see Levi sitting with Erwin, his head lowered as he read a binder of reports. He sat straight but with one arm leaning on the back of the chair, listening to Erwin. I looked back at the nuts, picked one up and put it in my mouth, looking back at him again. Mistake! Silver eyes peered back at me, a minor crease appearing between perfectly shaped brows.
My heart gave a hard thump against my chest, a heavy warmth spreading across my front. He continued to maintain his indifferent stare, eyes narrowing with the intensity of his soul-searing gaze. I swallowed hard, the tightness in my throat mirroring the fleeting memories on my mind. Leaning to one side to reposition my leg under me, my shirt slipped to expose my shoulder. Hange's eyes lowered, her laugh drifting into silence as her goggles fell upon my exposed skin.
"What the heck happened to your – "
"I slipped and fell." Quickly, I pulled the shirt back into position.
"What?" Hange was now standing, tugging at the collar of my tunic in attempts to re-expose the bruise, "at what angle? That's one hell of a bruise! Did you fall head first, because –"
"I fell out of bed, didn't you hear me last night? I think I had a nightmare or something."
She furrowed her unruly brows then tilted her head. "I didn't get in until sunrise, so I probably wasn't there. Do you want me to put something on it? It kind of looks like someone bi -"
"Nope," I stood quickly, a hasty smile on my face as I threw one more nut into my mouth. "I'll just let my body fix it the normal way. I gotta build up that immunity! Ha."
Turning on heel, I hustled out of the mess hall as quickly as possible without drawing too much attention. I wasn't sure what would come of the night before, so I wasn't going to tell everyone about it. As far as anyone knew, Levi didn't engage in human pleasures and perhaps we were two people seeking a release, especially because Levi didn't like anyone. Levi didn't like people, period. This only reinforced my theory that we likely had a moment, a need for human comfort and contact and perhaps his words didn't mean a thing.
But, why even say that then? I turned into another walkway, strolling a little slower as I dove deeper into my thoughts.
I had been with other men, long-term boyfriends. I had experienced love before, the desire to settle down or foresee a happy future. But, the experience with Levi was like touching the missing fuel to my wavering spark. Noise and sound became a blend of tones, the taste of his mouth like sweet honey and the sensation of his hard, firm body against mine was –
I needed to stop.
I was not intending to stay here. I didn't belong here. I'm not of this place, this land or world.
Blinking and feeling the air pick up around me, I found that I had randomly stopped and was standing in the middle of the walkway. My body ached from my unknowing clench of muscles as my brain strained to understand the changes I was feeling. Taking a deep breath, I sat down on a small bench and stared at the people working in the distance. I was not well, I knew this, but I was going to remain strong. I would deal with my problems, with Levi and getting home, one by one.
Take a deep breath and clear your mind.
Crossing my legs, a dull throb ran up my inner thighs and my thoughts shot back to him. Moaning in defeat, I buried my face in my hands and decided it wouldn't be bad to mull over the situation and if I needed help, I would ask Hange – but that would only be in a dire situation. Maybe if Levi became weird or aggressive, that sort of thing. Anything else, I would handle like a grown up.
And just like a grown up, I tumbled through the information I knew about Levi based on the things I had heard. The young ladies who were cadets or had recently joined a regiment, all believed he was straight. They'd approach him and ask double-ended questions with hidden sexual meanings. The older women had decided he was into men. I had learnt this by accident, one afternoon whilst tending to the horses. Because of my height, they didn't see me standing behind a steed as I gently ran a brush over its coat.
"I once heard that Humanity's Strongest was seen at one of those lady-boy bars deep within Wall Maria," the older housekeeper said to her companion as they entered the stables, "it wouldn't surprise me, to be honest. No one has ever seen him with another person, besides Commander Erwin."
"Franny! You aren't suggesting that he and Erwin are…" Her friend burst into giggles.
Franny scoffed. "I'm not saying anything. Seeing him with Erwin all the time, speaks for itself!"
This led me to comparisons between other people residing in the regiment or compound. More than once I had heard some of the older Scouts talk about the people they had been with or how attractive they thought the new cadets were. It was easy being on the shorter, smaller side because no one really saw you.
I had been sitting in the sun against some hedges, throwing a knot of thick rope for Boo to fetch. I had been waiting for Hange to get me after her meeting with Erwin to update him with my sessions. 'One hour', she had said. 'Won't be much longer', she had said.
"Hey, Ronald – are you going into town tonight?"
"Nah, I have a date with that hottie from squad 15."
Sitting up, I threw the knot again. I didn't recognize the voices behind me but it was enough cheesy conversation to capture my attention.
"The one in Captain Levi's combat training class today?"
Ronald scoffed confidently. "Yeah, that's the one. I don't know how Levi can train those girls without getting a boner over them."
My gosh, how old were these guys?
"Tell me about it. I heard he only likes older women, not the little dolls that come through here. You know – well developed."
As for the other people I knew or were friends with, I didn't really bother to ask about their sexual orientation. It wasn't really something that needed to be discussed and from what I had observed in the outer regions, no one cared what was in your pants or what you identified yourself as due to bigger issues threatening to destroy man kind. Like Hange had said, people blew off steam and that was the end of it. With careful consideration, I decided this was my resolve; nothing was set in stone and I would attentively deal with this as the issues arose. With a final deep breath, I decided I had done enough over-thinking and headed back into the main building. I went about my day as normal. I barely saw any of the upper soldiers because they had locked themselves in an office to discuss how Eren would be turned over to the MP's.
Once things seemed to settle, I cornered Sasha and forced her to tell me everything. I had found the clumsy teen out in the mess hall, lingering by the door. It wasn't a surprise to see her start, alarm on her face as she immediately assumed she was in trouble. Sitting her down on a bench in the warm sun, she relayed the entire mission from the moment they left the base to the moment they got back.
"T-the entire Special Op's team," my voice was shaky, "and no one could stop the female titan?"
Sasha shook her head, sorrow in her large brown eyes. "I didn't see her, but she took out a lot of people. Armin told me she could run – really run. Apparently, she could calculate her moves according to what was happening and hid the nap of her neck. Even an abnormal doesn't do that."
I had only seen normal titans. Never an abnormal.
"So, we have to hand Eren back for certain?"
Sasha gave an uncertain shrug, "I think so."
A dainty face, kind eyes and red hair flew through my mind and guilt bubbled in my stomach. A wretched disappointment soon joined as I realised, I hadn't considered Petra in the slightest during my encounter with Levi. After I left Sasha and strolled through the grounds, this played heavily in my mind – was I a bad person? Had I taken advantage of him? Resting against a railing, I stared at the tents in the courtyard, thinking of the people recovering within the off-white walls. Had she survived, would she be in that tent and would it still happen between us? Levi had obviously suffered immense disturbance, whether it was mental or physical. I wasn't certain if he had seen his team die in front of his own eyes, but it didn't remove from how shameless our actions had been. He took me, it was apparent that my very presence had probably set something off that I didn't know or understand which may have occurred due to the loss of his team. But you didn't fight back either because you enjoyed it. You felt something.
In my own chaos, I decided to remain quiet on the entire subject. I didn't know if I felt guilt because I knew Petra had loved him and I certainly couldn't decipher whether I wanted to ask him why it had happened in the first place. Instead, I dove into the current politics of the regiments. The meetings went on for days. The air was always thick around the senior soldiers, and perhaps the squads who were deeply affected by the failed mission to reclaim Shiganshina. It wasn't hard to spot the soldiers who were part of Trost or recent events – they always sat together and most days, they appeared fine. But on some days, they appeared weathered, worn down and glum, their faces hollow and dark shadows looming under their eyes. The only times I saw Hange and Levi were at meals. Hange would occasionally sit with me to take a break from the others. I had never seen her like this before – usually she was all about paperwork and now, as she prodded as the crumpled papers in front of her, her lids appeared heavy and puffy, as if Hange had not slept properly in days, perhaps weeks.
Eren had been kept in a secure room. I hadn't seen him since the day of the mission.
My training had been put on hold. Everything was on pause until a transfer date and time had been secured. The Scouts were not letting up and the MP's were relentless. This did allow me more free times to explore, spend time with friends and dabble in the quaint library located in the very back of the main building. The books were similar in style, history about the Walls and only dating back 100 years. Some books were on topics of politics, the military, when the regiments were formed and maps of the surrounding lands. I couldn't find anything about the world I knew nor a case similar to the one occurring at present.
During a warm evening, I had decided to take a walk through the gardens. It wasn't all too much of a garden, more like a large open space with grass, a foot path, trees and maybe a few flowers. It was a good fifteen minutes from the base on foot, but this didn't bother me. I needed to move away from the tension that drowned the regiment.
I had only been in the garden for roughly ten minutes when I came across Mike. Over time, I had gradually developed a friendship with the oddly, large male. My initial meeting with Mike had been startling but once I had sat with him several times during meals, I soon learnt that he was a quiet man, reserved and rather determined in his role as a soldier. He didn't speak much, but was happy to listen to me ramble away but anything and everything. I didn't tell him my darkest secrets, but it was nice to make a friend who was a little closer to my age group.
Like many other people I had met, Mike was a little sketchy about his exact age. He had informed me that many birth records had been destroyed when titans broke through the wall many years before Trost, as well as lower class families simply not having the means to make or register the birth of a child. Mike was from a lower class family that resided just outside of the Underground entrance. He was an only child, raised by his mother and didn't know his biological father. However, Mike was lucky enough to be raised by his mother's partner, a friendly man who he soon associated as a father figure. They had been poor, but happy.
When both his parents had passed, Mike began to earn money by entering illegal fight clubs both in the Underground city, as well as in the squatter areas above ground. It was here that Erwin found Mike, realizing his potential and convinced him to join the Scouts. Mike had mentioned that Erwin was only young at this stage, a vibrant 20-something year old, a few years younger than Mike, starry eyed and determined that there was a way to save humanity.
"He still believes this," Mike had said several weeks ago. "The difference is that he smiles less."
I observed the insanely muscular man from my place several feet away. With his back to me, he was viciously kicking and punching a small tree. The tree would bend and flick with every powerful hit. His technique was similar to boxing and Muy Thai, something I had seen on TV more than once. Mike was a huge man, but his agility and flexibility was remarkable. With every kick, swing and attack, he moved like a large cat, dodging it's surroundings.
"We have punching bags, you know." I said, chuckling a little.
Puffing, he turned to face me. Sweat rolled down his chiseled face and neck, disappearing into the moisture residing on his broad chest.
"Did you need to get away from the base, as well?" He asked between gasps of air.
"Yeah, I'm sick of the tension. It's so hard to talk to anyone – even Hange is a mess."
Mike nodded, lowering his arms as he had been holding the position he was using to hit the tree. He stood with his hands resting on his hips, his gasps slowing down. Swallowing hard, Mike reached over to a canister of water, took a hefty gulp and offered it towards me. I shook my head with a 'thanks', turning my gaze to the battered tree.
"So, why this?" I questioned, indicating the sad tree.
"Because the punching bags break too easily."
I put my hands up in mock defense. "Sorry, Mr. Strong."
Mike chuckled, a deep rumble in his chest. "Do you want to have a try?"
Juno hesitantly stood in front of the tree, clearly skeptical whether she was capable of hitting something that appeared so harmless. Mike stood beside her, directing her how to stand and hold her arms. He towered over her, bending slightly at the hips to readjust her stance. Standing next to him, even as he crouched, she was practically at his elbows. The smallest and tallest.
Levi held his tea, resting against a tree from a short distance away. He had seen Juno leave the walk way and decided to follow her. Time had passed since the showers and she was acting as if nothing had happened. In her defense, Levi was also dismissive and rather pensive about the entire situation. The only indication that their encounter had happened was when he had seen her slip up in the mess hall the morning after, the shirt slipping from her shoulder to reveal the murky purple of a feisty bite. He nearly dropped the binder, having tensed suddenly and needing full control to not grab her and drag her back to the showers.
What the fuck is wrong with you? Levi pressed his index finger and thumb into the bridge of his nose, you lasted weeks without cracking and then that.
It was no secret, Juno was intoxicating. She walked around in loosely fitted shirts and when the wind picked up, it would cling to her body; every curve and corner – hell, she was practically famous for her loose shirts. Her hair was either out, falling in long, straight drapes down to her lower back, or in an utter mess on the top of her head. When Juno had arrived, her skin was deeper in warmth but now that she had kept out of the sun, Juno was a light caramel tone. It made the small dusting of freckles on her nose more noticeable.
Levi watched as the male Scouts would bicker with one another to be her combat partner. They would whisper about how her arse and breasts were a perfect contrast against the way her waist cinched in the middle, like she was some sort of purebred animal lined up for a competition.
It made him grind his teeth together.
Juno had to know people talked about her. She was almost always within earshot but plainly disregarded them. Acted as if she didn't hear a single thing, whilst other girls would giggle and blush.
I suppose because she's older than the new Scouts, she probably doesn't care. Levi watched as Mike took hold of Juno's left leg to reposition her. His gut clenched. The brat shouldn't be hanging out with him.
Levi respected Mike, but like everything else, he didn't invest too much into it. Mike had been with the Scouts longer than Erwin, Hange or himself. He was also older than any of them, had been on the most expeditions and had the second highest individual kill count. Levi sometimes wondered why Mike didn't try for the position of Commander, because his skill set and level was far beyond the requirement. Instead, the veteran chose to remain as a Squad leader, occasionally stepping in for Levi when he was not capable in doing so.
Juno laughed, full and clear, forcing the grey-eyed male to lift his gaze. An involuntary growl erupted from his throat when Mike placed his hand on Juno's hips to square her stance.
The encounter with Juno had been completely and utterly uncalled for. Levi didn't engage in such actions with anyone because frankly, no one had ever caught his attention strongly so that he would put a move on someone. Regardless of what people thought he was into, he was too strung up on work and responsibilities to even bother. Erwin counted on Levi to make decisions, have an opinion and to take control of situations that no one else could handle. Levi had the capacity and experience to do so; it had been proven time and time again, thus allowing for the soldier to move and act outside of standard rules and authority.
This didn't mean Levi didn't have human urges. It just meant he could lock them down, for the most part.
At the ball, Levi had stood by Erwin's side while chatting with Pixis. The old man was known for his flirtatious ways, even if he did have a wife and children. Heck, he had seen Pixis make a comment to a young Garrison soldier only minutes before. The girl had been too flustered to say anything back, instead hurriedly leaving in a fit of giggles.
The graduation ball was an event for the politicians and higher ups to snoop around under a façade of celebration to the new soldiers. It was held at a different regiment each year with varying degrees of interest, some years with very few turning up to the event. Information was shared or declined in full, many choosing to not share the full details of their actions but just enough that they didn't appear out of the ordinary. Erwin had deemed it appropriate to bring Juno into the equation, as they had already seen the unusual young woman inside of the Scout grounds. There was no logical reason to deny her existence, especially as multiple interests had questioned the Scout's about the 'exotic woman by the Captain's side'. In this case, the Garrison had their eyes on Juno.
"Erwin, you are looking healthy," Pixis extended his hand to both men, "and Levi, keeping well I see."
"Commander Pixis, lovely to see you at this annual event."
Levi had simply shaken his hand and remained quiet.
"How are the upcoming plans for your next expedition?" Pixis inquired, "I see you have added new and unique looking persons to your regiment."
"They're coming along fine," Erwin said confidently, "we expect to have everything ready to go in the next coming weeks."
"And the new persons?"
Levi knitted his brow, eyes firmly on the older male. "Are you referring to the woman in the black dress?"
Pixis turned to consider the crowd. Juno was talking animatedly with a group of people. She threw her head back, laughing, her long hair swaying behind her.
"Oh yes, she is new. Where is she from? I think it's obvious she isn't from here."
"Juno is visiting from her town." Levi replied bluntly. "She will be training with us. We're testing to see if her and her people would be appropriate as a secondary team for the Scouts since we aren't very successful in gaining new troops each year."
"Excellent idea," Pixis licked his lips, eyes still focusing on Juno, "well, I'll have to meet her. Juno, you say? Absolutely divine –"
"Might I just ask, Pixis. What is the interest in her?" Erwin interjected, watching Pixis intently.
Pixis tore his eyes from Juno and smiled. "Erwin, it's important for us to know what is happening. Especially with the corrupt MP's and rebel groups, I'd assume, for the safety of our people, knowing everything is key."
Pixis had gone on to speak with Juno, however, Levi wasn't comfortable. Instead, without a second thought, he removed her from the conversation and dragged her onto the dance floor. Much to his dismay, it wasn't a place he wanted to be but at the very least, Pixis wasn't able to speak with her for a short amount of time.
She was incredibly warm to the touch. Warmer in body heat than what Levi expected. It had made him think back to the few days before when Juno had come down with a fever. It was such an unusual situation – she was scorching hot at the worst of the fever, but as he recounted the times Juno had been nearby, her body seemed to run hotter than everyone else. And when he touched her skin –
And when you touch her skin, Levi let the memories of the shower flash past his eyes, causing him to grit his teeth.
"Hey Levi!" Juno said quietly as she approached him.
Levi had been so deep in thought, he hadn't seen or heard her approach him. She was gazing at him with a curious expression, seemingly mindful that it was odd to have approached him unawares. Sniffling, she wiped the back of her hand across her forehead, the heat from the day clinging to her skin. A light glow was lingering on her cheeks, mahogany orbs squinting from the heavy rays setting behind him. She exhaled deeply, chest lowering and rising once more from the brief exertion of activity and the warmth sending the air thick with heaviness. There were the dull thuds of Mike hitting the tree from behind her.
"I see you are training", he stated, voice leveled and attention firmly planted on her expression.
"Yeah, with the scheduling all over the place, I thought it would be nice to go find something to do," Juno's lip twitched, gaze thinning as she added, "plus Mike and I are close, so I figured it'd be okay to hang out with him."
Levi watched her expression change from awkward to mildly assertive, keen to engage in a wary conversation. She turned her large, mahogany iris' back to him. A breeze picked up and a strand of her hair flickered up from her right shoulder.
"Mike is a good solider and teacher," Levi replied, voice steady, "but there are better."
She rose a brow. "I see. So… Did they fix the shower partition?"
Levi brought the cup back to his lips. His own gaze narrowed, thinning and shifting to fall on her intense stare. She's testing me, he let out a small huff as he brought the tea cup away from his mouth. His chest tightened as the memories entered his mind for the umpteenth time. There she stood, completely dressed and attempting to talk about what had happened. A complete opposite to the bare flesh and stifled moans of the event itself.
"I would assume so, considering it's a shared bathroom," Levi cleared his throat, pensive gaze moving away to stare outwards, "I'd seen a female soldier using the facilities yesterday."
"Right," her response had been hesitant as she studied his face for any signs of further information. Juno blinked, a fleeting moment of hurt or maybe anger shooting past her features before she smiled, "Mike has offered to teach me regularly," Juno looked over her shoulder at the shirtless Mike. Mike was standing with his hands on his hips, huffing from the round of kicks he had just completed. With a content sigh, Juno continued, "and with the weather becoming warmer, it'll be training in the evening. I'll probably have to strip down to train properly with Mike – but I'm sure he won't mind since he'll also have to dress comfortably."
His eyes widened and her lip curled fractionally as Juno coyly waited for the response. Levi's jaw tensed, his stare becoming harsher. Levi was now facing her square on, his fingers turning white against the cup he was grasping. It was obvious, Juno was seeking answers to determine where she stood with him but this, as she waited patiently for a response, those feline-shaped eyes nailed to his face with a hidden, burning challenge, was a situation Levi had never faced before. Levi had met many irritable women, people he had pissed off or generally odd beings, but a woman who was clearly testing him using passive-aggressive tactics – it made his core ache, his stomach clench and a bubbling of his temper, teetering at the edge.
Little witch, she knows what she's doing…
Juno then shrugged, a smile on her pink lips. "You know how it is, training and all. There's no going back, right?"