Welcome to chapter 12! I wanna use this chance to thank the guest who commented on the fight scenes. I've been meaning to find someone to help me curate the fight scenes so if you're reading (Whoever you are) thank you and please feel free to suggest any tips or ideas. Anyway... on with the chapter!
"Okay that's five minutes, you can take a break now." Annie deadpanned as she clicked the stopwatch that hung around her neck, Bertholdt instantly fell to his knees as he dropped the skipping rope, after catching a fraction of his breath he reached for the already half-empty water bottle a took several large drinks. "Now you've warmed up we'll move onto some proper exercises."
Bertholdt looked up at Annie from the floor with pleading eyes. "P...Proper exercises?"
"Yeah," Annie said while rolling her eyes. "If you want to get stronger I'll make a circuit for you to work. In the meantime," Annie said as she looked to the clipboard in her hands. "You work on the heavy bag," Bertholdt followed Annie's extended finger to a thick black bag in the corner of the gym. "Work on building some strength in your punches."
With a heavy sigh Bertholdt got to his feet and slowly made his way over to the bag and strapped on a pair of gloves. As Bertholdt fell into the rhythms of the swinging bag Annie pulled out a pen and looked down to the board in her hand.
"If he's going to get stronger he needs to work on his stamina," Annie hummed to herself. "I'll get him on the weights for a start." As she spoke Annie began to make notes on Bertholdt's performance.
After several minutes Annie was confident she had a decent program for Bertholdt, she made her way over to him and found that he was still striking the bag.
"H-hey Annie. Aren't… aren't you supposed to study while I train."
Annie response came in the form of a swift kick to the back of his leg. "And you're not supposed to talk back to your coach. Anyway, I was going to say I have a program for you to follow," Annie explained as Bertholdt coddled his leg. "I'll get you started then I'll study."
"Okay," Bertholdt said with a smile. "What do you want me to do?"
"Follow me," Beckoning to Bertholdt, Annie lead him towards a series of weight machines. "Connie!" Seemingly appearing from nowhere Connie came up to Annie's side. "Spot him as he works the weights." Handing the keyboard Annie made her was over to the office that sat in the corner of the gym."
Bertholdt watched as Annie gathered a pile of books and papers and carried them into the arena, he looked over to Connie who was setting up the weights. "Why is she working the cage?"
Looking up Connie smirked. "Don't tell anyone but she finds being in the arena… comfortable," Bertholdt looked on for another few minutes as Annie sat down against the metal fence. "Okay lie down."
Bertholdt shuddered against the cold leather as he grasped the metal bar above. Once he knew Connie's hands were there he began to lift. Bertholdt quickly fell into a steady pace as the initial burning pain in his arms dulled.
"So… other than fighting what does Annie enjoy?" Bertholdt huffed.
Connie's immediate response was a bark of a laugh. "You wanna get to know Annie?" after wiping a tear from his eye Connie looked down at Bertholdt and smiled. "There's not much to say, at school, she tends to stick to herself."
"That doesn't surprise me." Bertholdt chuckled.
"Yeah, she spends most of her time with this girl called Mina. Other than that I don't know anything about her," Connie explained took the weight and rested it on its stand. "How are you feeling?"
After taking a series of deep breaths Bertholdt gave Connie the thumbs up. "Good... " He sighed wiping the sweat from his forehead. "What's next?"
"The squat rack," Connie said looking down at the clipboard. "So…" He asked as they walked towards the rack. "Got anymore questions about Annie?"
Bertholdt didn't pay attention to the sly grin on Connie's face before he answered. "Does Annie… have a partner?"
"Partner?" Connie squealed with laughter, after looking over his shoulder to make sure Annie wasn't paying attention he leaned into Bertholdt. "Do you like Annie?"
"What?" Bertholdt gawked. "No I was just being curious."
Connie's eyes narrowed as his sly grin grew. "Well in that case… there is this boy she spends a lot of time with called Eren."
Almost instantly Bertholdt's eyes fell to the floor. "R-right."
Snapping him out of his mood Connie slapped Bertholdt on the shoulder. "Look at you. You really do like her."
Bertholdt blushed as he rested the weights on his shoulders. "Keep your voice down," Bertholdt hissed as he looked over to make sure Annie couldn't hear them. "I… I just think she's nice."
"Right, right," Connie sighed. "Now squat," Following his orders, Bertholdt bent his knees and lifted himself to a full stand. "So come on. Tell me what you like about Annie." Bertholdt almost dropped the weight as he stuttered.
"What? Why… why would I do that?"
Bertholdt felt deeply unsettled by the grin on Connie's face. "Because… wouldn't want Annie finding out about your little crush," Connie took a moment to admire the look of horror on Bertholdt's face. "I'm kidding. Annie seems to like you and well… she could use a good guy like you."
Bertholdt raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What do you mean?"
"Look," Connie sighed. "This isn't for me to say but Annie's had it rough," Connie gestured to the entire building. "Look at this place. Growing up in a fight club, surrounded by people like Levi… it shaped her."
"She lives here?" Bertholdt asked as he bent his knees once again.
Connie nodded. "Yeah, like I said, this is a great fight club but…"
"Not a great family home."
"You said it," Connie chuckled. "Which is why you're good for her."
Bertholdt almost choked on his words, he hurriedly put the weights back on their stand before trying to talk. "What are you talking about?"
"You're not really a fighter, you don't work out...much. You're like everything this place isn't." As he spoke Bertholdt thought back to the night he and Annie ran through the park.
You're comfortable to be around.
"You really think that?" Bertholdt asked.
Connie clasped his shoulder and smiled. "Yeah! You're good for her," Connie looked over and jabbed Bertholdt's side. "Speak of the devil." Bertholdt looked over to see Annie approaching them.
"How's he doing?" She asked.
Connie handed her the clipboard and gestured for Bertholdt to take his shirt off. Blushing as he did Bertholdt pulled his shirt over his head. With his torso and abdomen exposed Connie and Annie walked around his body.
"He's got a good frame and with some work, he'll be damn strong." Connie explained.
Annie hummed in agreement as she looked between the clipboard and Bertholdt. "How did he handle the weights?"
"Pretty well actually."
Seemingly pleased Annie nodded her approval and gave Connie the clipboard. "Okay, Connie get the place ready for the fight tonight. Bert you come with me."
"Yes, ma'am." Connie sighed as he made his way towards the office.
Annie lead Bertholdt to the ring where she quickly gathered her work and walked back to the office. "So, we're going out for a run."
"Again?"
"Yes again. Running is good for you, now put your shirt on and meet me outside." Annie huffed as she put her papers away in her desk.
"C… can we take a break?" Bertholdt sighed he rested his hands on his knees. Annie rolled her eyes and looked at her phone.
"Fine."
Bertholdt instantly collapsed on his back, his chest heaving. "Why… why are we running so hard?"
Before answering Annie sat down against a nearby tree and wiped the sweat from her brow. "If you're going to fight Mike we need to work on your stamina."
"I thought I was training to get stronger." Bertholdt hummed.
Annie shrugged her shoulders. "Well, I don't it to a total one sided fight. I don't want Connie to have to scrape you off the floor that's all."
As a gentle smile grew across his lips Bertholdt stood and stretched his hands over his head, yet as he stood he noticed Annie was looking was looking at his legs.
"Um… Annie, is something wrong?"
"I think there's a way for you to fight Mike," Annie hummed. "Come on, we're going back to the gym.
"My legs?" Bertholdt gawked.
Annie nodded. "You've got long, strong legs. Listen there's one thing stronger than a good punch. A good kick."
"So you're saying I should learn to kick?"
Once again Annie nodded. "As you saw Mike works on defense and counters if you can open his defense and land a heavy kick you could put up a decent fight."
"You really think I have a chance?"
Annie held her chin and hummed. "We've got a while before the fight, in that time I'll teach you to kick."
"That reminds me," Bertholdt said looking Annie in the eye. "I've never seen how you fight."
Annie stuffed her hands in her pockets. "I don't like people watching me fight."
Bertholdt looked down at her and chuckled. "Yet you fight in a popular tournament?"
An icy glare met Bertholdt's eyes. "I have my reasons." Annie hissed.
Wanting to change the subject Bertholdt scratched the back of his head. "S...so you'll teach me how to kick?"
"Yeah," Annie said with a sigh. "Come by the gym everyday after school."
"What about my job?"
Annie rubbed her temples and once again sighed. "Quit. I'll pay you to look after this place instead."
Bertholdt's eyes widened momentarily. "You don't have to pay me, I already turned down the fighter's pay."
"Look, a cleaner doesn't get paid as much as a fighter and besides you'd be working for it."
It only took Bertholdt a couple of minutes to come to a decision. Eventually, he reached out to Annie with an open hand. "Deal."
Annie took his hand and gave it a firm shake. "So when do I start?" Bertholt chuckled.
Stifling a laugh Annie looked to the clock. "Now, you can help Connie get this place ready. Faster you get it done faster we get back to training."
Bertholdt gave Annie a mock salute before jogging over to Connie who handed him a cloth. Bertholdt quickly got to work following Connie's orders as he set about polishing and scrubbing every surface in his reach and before long the gym and arena were shining. After Annie had inspected their work she nodded.
"Good job," She hummed before turning to Connie. "Start letting people in," As Connie made his way to the door she turned her attention to Bertholdt. "And you. It time you get home, don't want you too tired for school or training."
After Bertholdt gathered his things he turned to see a startlingly tall girl walk into the ring, her dark olive skin shined under the spotlights as she waved to the crowds. "Who's the fight between?"
"That," Annie sighed. "Is Ymir. People call her the devil, I feel sorry for whoever has to fight her."
Bertholdt noticed to way Annie balled her fists as she spoke. "H-have you fought her before?"
"Yeah, I won but she broke two of my ribs and my nose," Without realising Annie had wrapped her hands around her sides. "She fights like no one I've ever seen," As she spoke Bertholdt felt his jaw drop. "I'm not going to enjoy fighting her." She sighed.
"You think she's going to win?" Bertholdt gawked.
Annie simply nodded. "Without a doubt. Ymir doesn't have a fighting style, she's a brawler and a damn tough one at that. Anyway," Annie shook her head and turned her attention back to Bertholdt. "You better get home before your parents worry."
"Parent," Bertholdt whispered without realising. Annie looked up at him with a raised eyebrow. "Nothing," With a shake of his head Bertholdt grabbed his bag and made his way to the door.
