A/N: Thanks for the follows, faves, and reviews, my lovelies! :)
Currently creating a playlist for this fic on spotify :) It's a work in progress! hehehe
Review response:
Brid-Lopez: I love the quote you used there ;) it fits Levi and Annie perfectly!
smile-lifegoeson: Everyone loves puppies, right? :D Can't wait for you to read the next chapter when we dive into more levimika!
Pffttt: I think you'll like this chapter :) it's drama-free, and features ereani! :) haha
Forevershine: The first scenario was a pleasure to write LOL and indeed, in future chapters Annie's father will make an appearance... but I don't want to spoil anything ;) I'm glad you gave my fic a chance! (I still have a lot planned for it) I'm totally with you there though; I can't bring myself to hate the RBA trio either! (I don't really hate any of the characters in canon-verse tbh. I like some more than others, for sure, but 'hate' is kind of a strong word, ya know?)
RylanNekoGuy: Thanks for the lovely reviews :) you got me blushin' lol. And I'd be more than happy to check out your planned story! I love me some networking and support from other writers (in and out of related communities) :)
damagectrl.07: I'm happy that you're excited for future chapters! Levimika will have their moment ;)
Next chapter will be for Mikasa's birthday (Feb. 10th)! Super excited to upload that one for you guys! :)
Wednesday, January 11th
Stohess University Indoor Track and Field
Stay focused. You got this.
The moment Eren looked up at the results board after clearing 14 feet with ease brought him an unfathomable amount of relief to see he was still leading the competition.
As another athlete from an opposing school prepared to jump, Eren paced towards a resting bench alongside teammate, Thomas Wagnar.
"Nice, Eren." The blond offered him a high-five as he sat down. "You're rolling over them like nothing."
Eren pivoted his shoulders to alleviate a light ache in his muscles and reached for a bottle of Gatorade. He peered up at the results board once more, commending his teammate for keeping up. "You're right behind Calaneth's best vaulter. You should be able to surpass him after this next round."
"The next jump is 14 ½ feet." Thomas speculated. "I bet he'll put up a good fight."
"And so will you." Eren offered a hearty pat on the back for the blond, taking another swig of his Gatorade before wiping traces of sweat from his brow.
Amid his brief resting period, his eyes roamed about the stands of spectators, catching glimpses of the multiple event sport play out on both the indoor track and designated area for field events through peripheral vision. He was able to spot Armin, Sasha, and Connie almost instantly; an unmistakable blond bowl cut hairstyle shadowed by a familiar buzz cut companion and the girl who's love for food could almost be considered erotic. Armin stood up from his seat and began waving. Connie tried to call something out, cupping his hands above his mouth to help the call carry itself further. Sasha was devouring a bag of popcorn from the concessions stand. Small kernels flew from her mouth as she began wildly waving her arms to grab Eren's attention.
"WOOO! EREN!"
"JUST DO IT, EREN! DON'T LET YOUR DREAMS BE DREAMS!"
Eren waved back, digging the Shia LeBeouf references while simultaneously realizing it'd been a while since he'd watched the astoundingly motivational videos on YouTube.
Just as he was about to turn back to Thomas, he caught an involuntary glance of yet another blonde, this time of the feminine persuasion, sitting in the adjacent stands.
Annie was in attendance as well for the evening's collegiate sports competition. Hitch sat next to her, texting on her phone and giggling to herself over what must have been a flirty message.
Annie was quick to realize that Eren had spotted her among the small crowd of spectators, and shifted slightly in her seat. She brought her hand up at level with her shoulder in an effort to acknowledge the brunet from the distance; a small wave of sorts.
She's here...
Eren was lost in the moment, heart lurching from his chest.
Thomas suddenly pulled him from his trance, nudging his shoulder and nodding towards the track. "Dude, the women's 400-meter race is about to kick off."
Thomas had a thing for sprinters. Too bad Eren couldn't appreciate the sight of toned runners ahead of them, each stretching in their respective lanes.
He happened to prefer volleyball players.
"Check out the chick in lane 5." Thomas whistled, scoping out the tall athlete hailing from Calaneth University.
Eren recognized her instantaneously. "Nanaba?"
Woah...
"You know her?" Thomas asked, still checking out the blonde sprinter and her long lean legs.
"We went to the same high school. She was a senior when I was a freshman." Eren tilted his head from side to side, bits of fragmented memories piecing themselves together from four years back. "She did really well in the 400m, but her main event was the 200." He finished off his Gatorade after constructing the brief clarification, successful in avoiding the unnecessary deviation into unrelated subjects.
Rather than gloat about how she was the one of the top sprinters in the state, he figured Nanaba could physically demonstrate that tidbit of information herself in the upcoming race.
"Huh. Interesting." Thomas leaned forward a bit, seemingly anticipating the race more than the actual runners themselves.
One of the meet officials blew his whistle, signaling for the runners to ready themselves.
"Take your mark."
The official held up a starting gun, paused for a nonverbal countdown, and squeezed the trigger.
*POP*
As soon as the gun went off, the runners launched themselves from their starting blocks and began hauling away, taking long powerful strides that harmonized with the controlled fluidity of the alternating swing of their arms.
"Shit, Eren!" Thomas gutted out in amazement. "Banana is in the lead!"
"You mean Nanaba…"
And if one were to put aside the butchering of said athlete's name, his overhyped claim was a bit of an understatement. An accurate assessment would have been something along the lines of: Nanaba Rohm, senior from Calaneth University, is tearing it up and leaving the competition in the dust, showing absolutely no mercy.
"Damn." Eren was more than impressed. "It's barely the first heat…"
"Kinda feel bad for the others." Thomas chuckled, as Nanaba crossed the finish line into victory.
A time of 54.07 displayed on the results board; a solid three seconds ahead of the runner finishing behind.
As the two continued to gawk in awe, Coach Shadis stomped their way, his voice powerful and intimidating as always. It had gotten to the point where Eren found it… comforting of all things.
"Get ready, Eren!" He boomed. "You're set to jump next! Try not to choke out on 14 ½ feet."
"Yes, sir!" Eren shot up from his seat and reached for his pole.
He cautiously walked over to the tartan runway, setting his pole aside to powder his hands. One poor sucker had already been eliminated, failing to clear the next height after falling victim to a strained calf. Eren vowed he'd remain the top vaulter and perform his best, not only for the sake of his teammates, but for his supportive fans in the crowd as well.
A part of him wanted to show off a little for Annie, figuring his time to shine allowed for the blatant display of his unmatchable athleticism.
An official cleared him to jump, prompting a momentary silence among the stands. Holding the pole above, he leaned back and cautiously gauged the pacing required for the execution of an effective liftoff.
Deep breath. Slight shudder of the shoulder. Eyes closed in a fleeting suspense.
3… 2… 1...
In a flash, Eren surgically leapt forward and shot down the runway like a bullet. In one fluid motion, he planted the pole into the box and soared above, lifting off while remaining calm and balanced. The giant space in between his pivoted body and the bar confirmed he had surpassed the height effortlessly.
The bar could have been an entire foot higher and he still would have cleared it with room to spare.
An uproar of cheering and applauding could be heard from the section where Armin, Connie, and Sasha had stationed themselves.
"YEAH! ATTA BOY, EREN! WOOOOO!"
Pulling himself up from the mat, Eren looked up to where Annie and Hitch were sitting.
Hitch threw two thumbs up. Annie was nodding, as if expecting nothing less than the best from the brunet athlete.
When he sat himself back down on the bench with Thomas, he was glad to find Ilse had joined up with them.
"I see you have some groupies." Thomas snickered.
"Friends, I presume?" Ilse asked, eager to put on a hefty sweatshirt over her tight sleeveless uniform top. A draft had poured in from above, unsettling her nerves as goosebumps raided her skin.
Eren nodded, feeling the effects of the draft upon walking into their encirclement. "Yeah. They came out to show their support." He elected to throw on a hoodie soon after.
The next height was to be set at 15 feet; not at all high enough to even challenge the young athlete.
Tonight's going to be a piece of cake.
The first meet of the indoor season bore witness to many triumphs and fails.
A baton had been dropped in one the men's relay races. A false start disqualified a promising freshman recruit in the women's 100m hurdles. Injury prevented one distance runner from finishing the men's 1500m.
But on the flip side, luck seemed to favor a select few...
A female jumper hit a PR in the high jump. Nanaba Rohm, Senior from Calaneth, set a nearly unattainable standard for the 200 and 400m sprint.
Eren Jaeger, Freshman from Stohess University, placed first in the men's pole vault; the only athlete to clear 16 1/2 ft, or 5.05m. While not his personal best, he was glad to have avoided over-exertion.
After speaking with Coach Shadis, who was appeased by the freshman's performance (for now), Eren caught up with his old high school buddies, jogging towards them after ascending from the lower level of the track following the conclusion of the meet.
"Hey, Eren!" Armin greeted him first thing, extending his arm up for a high-five. "That sure was something!"
Their high-five echoed in the emptied corridor, most spectators having left the facility a few minutes' prior.
"You were amazing, Eren!" Sasha squealed. "I would hug you, but you're all sweaty… No offense!"
"None taken." Eren laughed, finding the trail of popcorn kernels on her sweater quite the amusing sight.
"Ahhh." Connie sighed. "This brings back so many memories." Lost in the nostalgia, he was sure to pay homage to their old high school days using an all-too-familiar joke that served as the main running gag during those painfully awkward years. "Good thing you still know how to work that pole."
Connie, you little shit.
Eren just rolled his eyes impishly while Connie and Sasha exploded into laughter. Armin shrugged, intending to change the subject when the pole vaulter spoke up before he could get a single word in the conversation.
"Thanks again for coming tonight, guys." Eren let out a deep breath, relieved to have lived up to everyone's expectations. He'd been on the verge of psyching himself out weeks prior, but their presence served to fuel his determination to pull through.
"No problem." Armin smiled good-naturedly. He appeared as though a question was perched on the tip of his tongue; a question he'd been meaning to ask Eren for the past couple weeks. Regardless of its significance, it would have to wait for now...
Connie and Sasha appeared ready to bounce, and given that they all carpooled together, Armin didn't want to be the one to hold them back.
Before going their separate ways, Sasha invited Eren to join them on an impromptu trip to Cold Stone, offering to treat the victor to some ice cream.
Eren accepted the gesture, but ultimately declined; on account of it being far too cold for ice cream and the showers calling his name like seductive sirens.
Bidding them farewell, Eren insisted that they all coordinate their busy schedules and 'get together soon to properly catch up,' without the intrusion of sweaty pole vaulting shenanigans.
Subsequent to their separation, he had barely taken but a few steps in the opposite direction when he was met with Hitch and her unwavering stare. It initially caught him off guard, but the sight of Annie following her footsteps calmed his nerves a bit.
While the trio were in mid-conversation, (consisting of the usual congratulatory remarks, Eren struggling to find a healthy balance of humbleness and confidence, and Hitch dropping subtle muted hints to Annie about doing the dirty deed) Sasha's head clandestinely perked over their direction, eyes fixated on the blonde in particular.
She turned to Armin curiously, tapping his shoulder. "Um, who's that?"
Connie and Armin stopped and turned around in unison, the exit doors to the parking lot just out of reach.
A girl with wavy light brown hair could be heard laughing, about what was to forever be unknown. With a playful flick of her hair and flirtatious batting of her eyelashes, she jingled some car keys and exited through the opposing doors, leaving Eren alone with the mystery blonde.
With Eren's back to his old high school buddies, he had no way of knowing they were watching him from the distance.
So… that must be... 'Annie.' Armin thought. She certainly fit the description Eren had given him in the past. The question on his mind from before had just been answered.
Eren and Annie were slowly working on developing their friendship into something deeper.
Armin reasoned it would be best to keep the sudden realization to himself, respecting that Eren most likely preferred to keep certain aspects of his life private.
"Probably no one." Armin hurriedly answered Sasha's inquiry after a long pause. "Let's get going."
Connie rubbed his chin and narrowed his eyes. "I don't know, Armin." He drawled, suspicious of the circumstances laid out before them. "They seem pretty friendly to me."
Armin set aside any prior thoughts on the present matter to appreciate Connie's deduction. For someone who was often an oblivious idiot and the butt of every joke, he sure was quick to put two and two together this time around.
"Armin's right." Sasha groaned, cradling her abdomen with both arms after a horde of hunger pangs viciously attacked at once. "We shouldn't jump to any conclusions. Now can we please get some ice cream?!"
The girl was on point with her priorities!
Without looking back, Armin trailed right behind Sasha. Connie followed suit after shrugging the entire thing off. "Whatever."
The temperature that evening was 35 degrees Fahrenheit, but the low temperatures failed to discourage the reddish-brown haired dame and her buzz-cut companion from skipping arm-in-arm alongside one another to the car, all the while chanting a mellifluous:
"I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!"
Eren and Annie took their time heading to the main entrance level.
Hitch had informed Annie she would be waiting for her in the car, but painstakingly insisted there was no rush.
Barely five minutes had past before Hitch began spamming her phone with exasperating (but colorful) messages.
8:49pm - Hitch: Take all the time you need, girlfriend ;)
8:49pm - Hitch: I'm sure he wants a little congratulatory kiss ;)
8:49pm - Hitch: ;)
8:49pm - Hitch: Ha! Just thought of the perfect little song for you two... *ahem*
8:50pm - Hitch: Eren and Annie sittin' in a tree...
8:50pm - Hitch: F-U-C-K-I-N-G
Annie's eye roll was wide enough to circumnavigate the globe.
Setting her phone to silent in an effort to dodge the wave of irksome messages from Hitch, she suspended any further movement to devote her unwavering attention to the accomplished athlete in her midst.
"So… What'd you think?" Eren asked, his lips curving into a half-smile. "I know it might not have been as exciting as your volleyball games, but I hoped you enjoyed it at least a little bit."
"It was all right, I guess." Annie remarked, keeping her outward level of enthusiasm to a minimum as a means of hiding the fact that her interests had unexpectedly been piqued. (Not-so-innocent interests to be specific.) "You definitely stood out from the rest of the competition, that's for sure."
"Stood out because of my awesome skills?" Eren jested. "Or were you just checking me out, Annie?"
Such a flirt. Annie heaved a sigh. "You're too much."
Eren chuckled, deciding he'd answer for her. "I'll settle for both."
A peculiar staring contest intervened, as they traded looks in both amusement and perplexity.
"In all seriousness," Annie began, gently prodding his arm, "you were great out there. I was impressed."
Eren's eyes lit up, bright emerald orbs glowing with wonder as his next words captured the intimate essence of the moment perfectly.
"Impressed enough to let me take you out on an actual date?"
Annie's mouth slowly fell agape as if about to say something, but in actuality conveyed a subdued sense of astonishment. Though she hadn't expected his proposal, she welcomed the opportunity for potential courtship on account of a few reasons; some more sentimental than others. For starters, it practically guaranteed he'd be more than willing to accept her invitation to the Fall Sports Athletic Banquet. All she had to do now was ask.
It was also nice that the feelings they were modestly expressing were mutual.
With a faint smile, she nodded her head. "Sure."
A flood of emotions overwhelmed Eren in an instant. A rush of adrenaline-fueled excitement had his head spinning, nearly causing the hot-headed pole vaulter to erupt into cartwheels and bounce off the walls like a parkour crackhead.
He managed to contain himself and feign a smidgen of a calmed demeanor. He'd allow himself to break out into song and dance once he was all alone in the locker rooms.
"Cool." He tried, but failed, to resist the blush from burning his cheeks, the intense red heat spreading to his entire face. "You free this Saturday?"
Annie wondered if he had planned this all along, as if asking her out had been his main goal for meeting up with her after the sporting event.
"Yeah." She answered nonchalantly.
"How about I pick you up at your place around… 5?"
"5pm. Saturday." Annie reciprocated. "Got it."
Eren beamed. "I have the perfect place in mind."
Annie raised a brow, a questioning look etched on her face. "You've been thinking about this for some time, haven't you?"
Eren became slightly defensive, but adorably so. "Ehhh… maybe…"
Annie looked down, adjusting to the sudden warmth enveloping an emotional side of her she wasn't even sure she had. "I think about you from time to time, too." She admitted, testing the waters she'd yet to explore.
With their conversation taking a slightly more serious turn, Eren momentarily reflected on his complex relationship with the blonde and all the complications it entailed. In the past, he had laid it all out for her, professing his true feelings in the purest form of sincerity.
He needed to know exactly where they stood with another.
"Annie, I have to know..." His eyes roamed over blonde tresses, her icy blues, and rosy complexion. "I have to know if we're really on the same page here."
It was a question Annie knew she should have been prepared for, realizing he wouldn't wait forever for a definite answer. She figured agreeing to go on a date with him would have been sufficient, but Eren struck her as the kind of guy that needed a little reassurance. Maybe he wanted the date to be less of a casual outing, and more of a serious occasion riddled with romantic inclinations. Regardless, he wanted to hear her say what she was feeling, aware of the silence looming over them, threatening to sever the ties that bound them together.
But putting her feelings into words had never been her strongest suit; a certain stubbornness she inherited from her father.
She was still a work-in-progress, tending to that aspect of her life as best she could. Little by little, Eren was helping her develop the courage to move on from those struggles, something she was beyond grateful for. Hopefully, he could be patient with her... and forgive her this time for letting her actions speak for her.
Annie moved her hand up and carefully traced along Eren's jaw, caressing his cheek as she leaned forward.
She pressed her lips firmly against his, kissing him softly before pulling away to see his face flushed and eyes peering tenderly below dark brown tendrils.
"I'll see you Saturday." She said gently, stepping back. "Goodnight, Eren."
With that, she turned on her heel and headed for the parking lot, having kept Hitch waiting a few minutes longer than she had originally intended.
Eren watched her walk away, leaving him equal parts hopeful and disappointed.
Stroking the back of his neck, he heaved a sigh and ran a hand through his hair.
Night, Annie.
