A/N: A re-write of a lil story I wrote like a year and half ago. it's full of fluff, and fight. i got the urge to rewrite this because of the recent episode ;_;

Knock Out

His back met the earth full force, spittle, and air knocked out of his lungs from the momentum.

Annie had struck the underside of his shins, causing him to lose balance. Eren coughed, turning himself over as he sputtered out bits of grass.

"You must like eating dirt Jaeger." She quipped. Eren fixed her with a tenacious glare, getting to his feet on wobbly knees, he dusted off his uniform; a groan escaping from him as he tried to regain his stance, his body was at its limit.

Damn her and her strong as hell legs. Annie cocked her hip. "You sure you want to keep going?" She tilted her head, coldly examining him.

"What do you think?" He balled his fists, fixed his composure, evened his breathing. No, he was not quitting yet. Not until he won. Annie freaking Leonhardt had kicked his ass way too many times to count in their sparring sessions, and damn it, he will keep at it until he got her to tap out.

"Suit yourself." She shrugged, and raised her fists at level with her head, parting her legs just so.

A second passed; wind broke through the trees, the sound of leaves rustled in his ears. Eren charged at her, swinging a right hook at her chin, she guarded, and delivered a powerful kick to his calves which he failed to block.

He staggered somewhat, but regained himself, quick to deflect one of her punches. She was so damn fast. Eren focused more on defending himself as Annie unleashed a fury of jabs all aimed at his head. He attempted a side kick at her midsection, managing to catch her, though she'd been to close for him to land it effectively. Annie veered back, a hitch in her breath. Her face flushed a rosy hue, and she's panting. He almost got her!

With his guard down momentarily, Annie took advantage. She surged forward, cuffing him right in the cheek, the blow snapped Eren's head sideways and he, once again, collapsed to the ground.

Eren nursed his aching jaw in one hand as he propped himself up with the other. That hit was going to bruise. He winced, hearing a crick of bone as he opened his mouth.

"Annie, goddamn," It hurt to even speak, damn her. Eren rubbed at his chin, "Why do you hit so hard?"

Annie wouldn't give him an answer, instead she extended her hand to him as a peace offering. He ignored her help, getting to his feet on his own.

"Did I dislocate your jaw?" Eren froze as she pried his fingers off his face, tilting his head left and right. He slapped her hands away with a huff.

"What, you kick my ass and then try to nurse me? Quit it."

"Well I'd rather not have the beast that shadows you plot my death if I break something in her baby boy." She retorted, smug and condescending. Annie folded her arms; the Ackerman girl was probably snooping around these woods for her precious Eren. Ready to attack if he so much as shed a tear.

Eren snorted, cheeks flaring red, "We're the same age!"

"Could've fooled me."

A frustrated noise left his throat. "Whatever, let's just get back to sparring." He rolled his shoulders, easing the tension in his muscles. Annie stared at him, sighing exasperatedly. "How many times do you want to end up on your ass, Jaeger?"

"As many times as it takes till I have you tap out." He rolled his eyes as he spoke; he wanted to win today.

"So, you want to keep at it because you're embarrassed of constantly getting beaten by a fragile girl such as I?" Annie placed a hand on her chest, adding the desired effect by fluttering her eyelashes, further mocking him. It worked.

"Fragile, my ass." He scoffed, undeterred, though now blushing furiously. "You can take down Reiner in two seconds!"

Annie shrugged, tucking locks of blonde hair behind her ear. "Honestly anyone can take down that big oaf if they're smart enough."

"Now," She resumed her signature stance, "Let's see if I can take you down in two seconds as well, might break a record." She said, and her lips curled in a taunting manner. It was always fun making Eren get all riled up.

"Oh," Eren sneered, "You're so going down."

With that he loosely raised his fists and advanced; hastily side stepping as Annie went for a straight knee strike, he leaped forward dropping down and grappling her legs, forcing Annie off balance and knocking her to the ground. He landed to her side, his weight keeping her down. A gasp left Annie's lips as her head made impact with the dirt.

But she was relentless; Annie acted quickly before Eren could make his next move, opting for a counter attack as she immediately trapped his head in her arms; muscles tensed as she wrapped them around his neck in a vice like grip, tightening her legs around his middle for complete submission.

Eren released a raspy cough, attempting to lift her; she wasn't so heavy that it was impossible, but then she applied pressure to his trachea, practically halting his breath. And his body went limp.

"An-annie ah," He struggled to suck in air, his hands both grasping at the grass beneath them, and squeezing Annie's elbow.

"Feeling light headed, hm?" Annie muttered close to the shell of his ear, feeling she might snap his neck, she let her hold on him loosen. Eren tried again to heave her, but to no avail, her legs gripping his abdomen prevented him from any sudden movement, and he was already growing weak from lack of oxygen.

"Tap out if you want me to let go," She whispered huskily.

"No way." Eren laid his palms flat on the ground, one at her side, and the other at the side of his head. He hoped to the goddesses he didn't break his neck pulling this off. Just as Annie was about to squeeze down on his windpipe again, he used the ground as leverage to lift his upper body just a fraction, his head still trapped in Annie's arms prevented him from going any further. Then suddenly, he jerked his body to the side, a shot of aching pain powered through his neck as Annie refused to let go. Her legs were trapped underneath him, loose around his torso.

He managed to get onto his back; before he could plan his next move, Annie completely rolled onto his chest. Eren's hands acted on their own accord, landing on her thighs. He stilled, breathing heavily. Her arms left his neck, she placed them on each side of his head, lifting herself up a bit; he took in her small frown, Annie had noticed the slight bruising around his throat, that were slowly fading away. He should act now while she's distracted. But…she was…warm.

Eren felt his cheeks burn, and it was obviously from being strangled half to death and nothing else. Annie lowered herself onto his stomach; loose blonde tendrils tickled his fore head, her harsh breathing mingled with his.

"Eren." She panted. His throat ached so bad, but he couldn't stop himself from swallowing, a knot of nervousness making him clam up, because he had never heard Annie speak his name in such a low, and enticing voice.

"Annie." He didn't know what else to say, so he cleared his throat. "Giving up already?" He added a cheeky smirk when her gaze hardened back to the good old Annie he knew; but then she did something even more provocative. She lowered her body onto him, so her chest pressed against his, Eren choked on air, "H-hey!"

She was far too close.He knew that it was stupid to over think her proximity, because really when they're sparring, they are constantly touching each other, but that was vastly different to what was happening now. And, what was happening now?

Were they still even sparring?

He nearly lost his breath when their noses touched, his palms sweated even more, were they placed on her thighs. A rush of butterflies released in his stomach; and furnace like heat spread lower. It was as if the whole mood shifted from fight or flight, to something that's always been confusing to Eren, something more…intimate.

Regardless, he had to do something, throw her off, maybe. Try to pin her, and then finally he'd be a winner. But even as he tried to focus on a way to get Annie to tap out, his hormonal body reacted differently; Annie clambered to sit up on him, and he's suddenly taken back by the sight of her heavily lidded sapphire eyes.

Against his better judgement of trying to win against Annie; a smaller voice piped up in his head, and it said, don't look away.

Annie pursed her lips, contemplating something, and then she did something else that was equally if not more outrageous. She brushed away his sweaty bangs, and leaned down to kiss his forehead, and it was a tender kiss. Almost too soft for a girl like her. And a little weird. Annie sat back on his stomach, observing his reaction; which was anything more than astonished.

"W-what, uh?" His right hand left her thigh, he reached to touch the spot she marked with her lips.

She kissed him? She kissed him!His mind was thrown in the gutter; he didn't notice when her weight left his body. She stood off to the side, arms folded, a hefty blush adorning her face. Eren lifted himself off the ground, hunched over, he stared dumbly at the trees in front of him, then turned to a very embarrassed Annie, mouth agape.

"What was that?"

She didn't pay him any attention. "Hey," Eren stood, towering over her, "Annie, hello?" He waved a hand in front of her face. This time Annie shrugged, her cheeks aflame. "I don't know, forget about it, let's just get back to sparring. It's getting late."

Eren cocked an eyebrow, Annie had never been one to be so flustered. Then again, he never—in his fifteen years of living—expected her to kiss him either. The girl was an enigma to him. He shook his head, "Alright fine." He would let her little slip up go. Just this once. Annie sighed in relief, not considering Eren's curious eyes on her. He felt something in his chest grow heavy with a certain feeling, heavy like an anchor being thrown off a ship. He ignored it. If Annie said it was nothing. Then it was nothing.

"So… back to where we started?"

"Yeah…"

Annie did that thing where she tucked her bangs behind her ear, a wisp of blonde fell flat against her forehead; Eren's fingers itched to swipe it away. A sub-conscious reaction, however. He did not notice how his body was responding differently too her antics now.

He got into his fighting stance. The stance she had taught him. She mirrored him, though her arms were higher to accommodate her height. She inhaled as he exhaled. Neither of them made a move, another minute passed; Eren gulped, and then he advanced, attempting to strike her with a left jab, which she easily dodged, and struck him with an upper cut.

Eren stumbled, nearly tripped, but he fought to stay on his feet. Annie surged forward, her knee sweeping into his hipbone to stagger him. She hopped back, bringing her leg up to strike his head as he doubled over, Eren dashed out of the way, he quickly ducked and grabbed a hold of her calf. Annie's eyes widened as he yanked at her leg, she fell to the ground. Eren hastily mounted her small frame, pinning her arms above her head. He's exasperated now, perspiration clinging to his brow, but he's proud he managed to take her down.

"I got you now." He grinned despite himself, showing rows of pearly teeth. He might've looked a bit crazy to her, but he didn't care. Annie wriggled her wrists in his tight grip. "It would appear so, but," her lips tilted in a shadow of sly smirk, "How will I tap out if you have my arms pinned?"

Realization dawned Eren. Fuck.

"Uhh…" He drawled. Annie twisted her body causing Eren to put more of his weight on her. "Quit squirming!" Now, he was in charge. Now he was the one who stared her down, face to face, their noses almost touching. Her eye's as blue as the skies above them, clashing with his vivid green, green as the forest that surrounded them.

His breath ghosted her cheek. Annie stilled, sapphire eyes locked with his. Eren felt, as well as heard, her heart pulsating heavily in its cage. His stomach did a somersault, he was so close to her now, he could count each of her eye lashes.

The mood had changed once again, but this time the tables have turned.

"Hey." He mumbled. Annie swallowed, biting into the plush of her bottom lip, appearing utterly flushed, and tired; and she was giving him a certain look he hadn't seen before. Different from when she was the one on top.

His hold on her arms loosened, but she did not throw him off as he expected her too. A familiar heat coiled within him. The furnace burned like ever before. Eren decided that he would be just as spontaneous as she was. He released one of her arms, Annie brought it to rest on his chest, but left it there, not pushing him away. In fact, she slid her palm from his chest, up his collar bone, to his neck, then to his face, she cupped his cheek. Eren's heart could burst from his chest with how quickly it was hammering against his ribs.

He allowed her to bring him closer, and closer, until he felt her lips tentatively brush against his own. He exhaled, closed his eyes, and their lips met. Eren released her other arm in favor of holding her hip, her hand drifted to his chest. The warmth of her mouth sent shivers running down his spine, he slanted his lips on hers more insistently. Inexperienced to this raw emotion, this physical intimacy that was making his head spin.

His grunted, when she tried to nibble at his bottom lip. Annie slid her hand from his cheek, resting it on the nape of his neck, gradually, and with some restraint, they pulled away. Both panting, Eren rubbed little circles on her hips with his thumb, while his other arm rested above her head. He was not sure what was happening between them right now; But a plethora of emotions had awakened for the blonde beneath him. It was weird, and satisfying all at once. He felt giddy like a child receiving numerous gifts, Eren wondered if she was feeling the same.

Annie tugged lightly at his hair, snapping him back to reality. He decided to get her back, and placed a chaste kiss on her forehead, he leaned back on his forearms, and grinned; With his hair sticking out at every end, and the flash of his teeth, Annie couldn't help but smile a bit too.

Eren drank in the view of her, her blonde tresses undone, loose strands of platinum tendrils spilling onto the bed of grass, blue eyes glittering with mirth, and lips pink and puffy from their kiss. The little voice in his head said,

She was beautiful this way. And every other part of her she kept hidden.

Eren wanted to tell her, but he continued staring at her, until she had the audacity to poke one of his eyes.

"Ow! Don't-" He grasped her offending hand, she snickered, the tiniest of giggles he ever heard. He thought it was the cutest thing.

"You going to get off me any time soon, Jaeger?" The tone of her voice was playful. When he stared at her again, she was still smiling, or half-smiling…whatever that slight tilt of her lips resembled. He wanted to remember this part of Annie forever. Eren hummed, "I still need you to tap out, y'know."

"This isn't a win, y'know."

"I'd say it is!" He barked out a laugh, leaned down to bury his face into her neck, inhaling her scent, of grass, and spring flowers, and the perspiration from their fight, his face burned, the butterflies in his stomach threatened to burst free. She ran a hand through his wild hair, he sighed contently, nuzzling her.

This was so different, he never expected that sneaking out midday to train with Annie would ever lead to this. He never expected that his first kiss would be with the small apathetic girl that could kick anyone's ass.

"Eren." She tapped his shoulder. He didn't stir, instead laid his entire weight on her. She grunted, wriggling her legs from underneath him.

"Eren, I am not your mattress, get up." She tugged his hair again, but he ignored the slight sting, and closed his eyes, snoring softly into her ear. She grabbed his shoulder, shaking him awake of his fake nap. But he only snored louder. Finally, she shoved him off, he rolled onto his back, releasing a fit of giggles, he dragged a hand down his beat red face.

"Ha…haha—I'm sorry, I couldn't help it."

The little voice in his head said, yes you could. Shut up. He thought.

"We should get back, the sun is already setting, and I know you don't want to be scrubbing shit from the horse stalls if Shadis catches you." Annie spoke as she searched the ground for her hair clip. She's her usual self again, except, now she's…brighter, or maybe that was the sun casting its fiery colors over her. Alighting her in an ethereal glow.

He was so lucky.

She eventually found her hair clip, fastening her cropped hair into a tight bundle. Eren peeked at her from under his arm. She sauntered over to him, holding her hand out, he took it and she guided him to a stand. Instantly he was reminded of how truly tiny she was, and the urge to kiss her again resurfaced.

"I like you!" He blurted. Out of nowhere. Annie blinked, rubbing nervously at her arm, "Yeah?"

Eren smiled, touching her shoulder, "Yeah, you knock me the hell out."

He immediately back tracked, realizing what he said was not meaningful to how he felt. "I mean like, not just when we're fighting, I mean…" Eren tried to figure out what to say, how to get his feelings out.

"Shit, Annie you're full of surprises…I just—"

Annie's hands shot out, and he didn't have the time to block, but no attack came, instead she grabbed his face, pulling him down, and kissed him for the third time. Eren let himself relax into the kiss, but the moment he put his arms around her waist, she let him go.

"You're something else yourself, Jaeger." A melancholic smile played on the edges of her lips. "I've already broken my rules now." Annie's gaze went somber, flickering from him to the grassy ground, a dejected sort of emotion wafted off of her. Eren didn't understand, but he didn't want to see her sad. He stepped forward, tilted her chin up in his hand, but she swatted his hand away, shaking her head.

"We have to go." She stalked off, and he's left staring at her grass stained back. The same anchor-like ache dropped into chest, the same kind of hurt from before, but it diminished when she turned around, hip cocked in her usual manner.

"Are you coming, or not?"

Eren bounded forward, like an excited puppy following its owner. Annie resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but she smiled again as they approached the main road. They continued walking in comfortable silence, side by side. His knuckles occasionally brushing against hers.

He wished this moment would drag on just a bit more. The scene before them was so surreal, the sun setting down on the horizon far beyond the trainee camp in the distance, painting the sky a water color mixture of reds, oranges, pinks and yellows. Annie, by his side, content, and his stomach doing loops on a ODMG.

"Pretty." Annie mumbled, taking in the view as well.

The little voice in his head, that started to sound a bit like Jean said; not as pretty as you.

Eren took her by the arm, roughly pressing a kiss to her cheek, and then ran off, laughing madly. Annie was left sputtering, her face going redder than a ripe tomato. She stood there a moment longer, before chasing after him. They raced each other to the barracks.

Annie eventually caught up to him, she jumped on to his back, hooking her legs around him so he couldn't shake her off. Eren staggered forward, but clutched onto her thighs so she wouldn't fall, her arms wrapped themselves around his neck.

"Go." She tugged at his hair again, and there's a slight sting to it, he's beginning to think he might like that.

He snorted, "What am I, your horse?" But he gave in, providing her with a free piggyback ride until they reached the outer skirts of the trainee camp.

There they bid their goodbyes, and walked off to their own barracks that stood parallel to each other. Eren halted, just as he opened the door to the boy's barracks; the voice in his head whispered, look over your shoulder, dummy.

He did. His heart skipped a beat when his eyes locked with Annie's, who stood at the entrance of the girl's barracks, hand gripping the door handle in the same fashion. She's contemplating again, he noticed. She shrugged than, giving into whatever decision that flew across her mind. She blew a kiss at him, in her own apathetic manner.

Eren chuckled, and he reached out to capture her invisible affections, though much more dramatically. He held it against his chest. Annie shook her head, smiling that not-so-smile of hers, as she turned to enter the barracks, he did the same.

The little jean-like voice in his head said, watch out, idiot, she's way out of your league.

A/n: Fun Fact: The move Eren performed on Reiner while they were fighting as titans is the same one I had annie use on him, it's called the guillotine choke hold . pretty cool stuff