Chapter 12

Adira loved the 3D Maneuver. Gear No objection. Since they were going out of her home place the next day, they figured they should try teaching her how to use it; if ever a titan tried attacking her she'd know how to save herself. And in the process, Levi was the most qualified to teach her. But other than being taught by a strict and kill joy person, toying with it was like paradise. But of course, Sir Cleanliness was not nice about playing.

"Stop playing around! I'm your tutor so you go by my rules! Adira, are you even listening to me?!" Levi yelled, following said girl. She managed to learn quickly and go too fast without even being in fear. Probably because her hounds were just below her and if she fell they'd catch her. Of course.

"Sorry, Corporal Levi. But you're in my territory, for one!"

She was laughing, which suddenly became a usual thing ever since she knew how to use the 3D Maneuver Gear. Levi called it 'something like a sugar rush, or maybe she's becoming insane'. Not very nice, but not inaccurate either. Who knows? Being alone can crack some people!

Levi growled. It was true. "Hey, are you still feeling confident if the way you're currently passing is where your hounds can't follow? Because it is!"

And in fact, he was not lying. It seemed that she just noticed. Her laughing died down and then there was silence.

"Um... C-Corporal... How the hell do I stop?!"

Oh, now she starts wondering how to stop. Isn't she smart?! he asked himself, though finally glad that she finally gave a thought to that. Plus, she'd run out of fuel in another 5 minutes if his calculations were correct. She'd used it more than an hour straight.

"You just– Adira watch out! You're going to hit the–"

He sighed in relief. She was able to dodge a tall and wide building. It could've knocked her unconscious if she was hit in the head.

"Tch. Oi, be more careful!"

The girl gave him an apologetic look.

"Sorry! But what was that again? How do I fucking stop?!"

Before Levi could even answer, her 3D Maneuver Gear stopped working. She was now falling seven meters above air, screaming and waiting for a hard blow.

"Help me!"

He sighed. You idiotic girl... How did I end up being stuck with you?!

He changed destinations and aimed to reach the bottom before she did where he could catch her. Any normal soldier wouldn't have made it in time and she would have died, but since Levi was the best at the 3D Maneuver Gear, he managed to get there 10 seconds before she reached her death fall. He caught Adira and she was heavier than he'd expected. Of course, he could've handled… Except that the fall gave an extra force, making him fall to ground, landing on his under.

"Tch. That hurt," he complained.

Adira, who landed on Levi's lap, making his body complain how much worse the pain was, was too busy believing she survived a seven meter fall.

"I'm alive... Ha, I'm alive... I defied the death of gravity..." she kept on muttering to herself.

"Oi, get up, damn it," Levi complained, but she was too busy thanking the heavens. "Yes, you're alive," he snapped. He heard a sniff and stole a glance at the girl's face, only to see that she was crying "H-Hey..."

Great. Now he was stuck with a crying girl.

Suddenly, she looked at Levi and pounced on him, giving the guy a bear hug.

"Ohmygoshyousavedme!" she said really fast. And then, when Levi started thinking that the girl finally got over it, she slapped him.

"What the hell?!" he yelled, giving her a glare.

"It's your fault!" she retorted. "You didn't teach me how to stop before you made me try using the damn thing!"

Better news: he was stuck with a moody one, now. One minute in shock, the next grateful, and now angry at her savior.

"Hey, just so you know, you took off by yourself before I even finished my sentence! And I'm the one who saved you! I don't even know how I got stuck with you!"

He fought and it was a glaring contest with the two. After a while, when it seemed that the girl would never give up, he sighed.

"Whatever. Let's just get back and refu-"

"Ha. If you think I'm trying it again, no thanks! One trauma is good enough," she laughed with no humor

Levi stood up, carried Adira bridal style, making her try hitting him in the face–and failing, and told her, "Sorry, princess, but not everything goes your way."

He used the word 'princess' like a taunt. He really meant she was acting like a brat, which she got perfectly but refused to show she knew what he meant.

"Put me down! Have you no mercy on a traumatized girl?!" she yelled, struggling against him, kicking and swapping her arms and legs everywhere. "Corporal, if you think this is a joke it is not funny–at all! Fix your sense of humor!"

Levi cracked.

"For your information, my sense of humor is just fine! I am not in any means joking around, unless you want to be stuck here or walk hours which will probably tire your legs! And no, I don't show mercy to anyone!"

"Heartless," was all that Adira said, not knowing what to retort. "You are just heartless."

"Deal with it. This is Levi," he said, showing her a first-time smirk which she stared at in surprised.

Never had Levi even showed a smile–now a smirk? She didn't notice herself starring at him until Levi interrupted her thoughts.

"I know I'm handsome, but you'd better want to close your eyes before you start screaming at my ear."

Adira's face turned hot and she fumbled for what to say. Without any warning, Levi took off. She had to cut off her scream. It was ten times worse when you were held bridal style where your only security was under you–no seat belt of any sort or anything like that. The experience was much more terrifying than the first time she'd tried it with Levi. Though at that time, he was holding her in a different way. A way she'd much preferred.

A/N: I don't own this story; it rightfully belongs to I'm Pregnant Onii Cchan from Quotev.