Rough Excursions
Tree, so many fucking tree's is one thing Garrus can think of as the group entered the forest and the sinking feeling that they are lost, increasing everyone's agitation especially potato girl, who is getting antsy by the second.
"Will you stop fucking getting hysterical, your getting on my nerves" Garrus growled, with Sasha getting paranoid. "Besides wouldn't you live and breath that nature loving shit you harp on about"
Sasha wide eyed spluttering into her village accent without realising it. "Every forest is different, I've never hunt in this forest so I don't know the landscape" stopping suddenly to listen "It's too quiet, you may have scared off the animals with your largemouth"
Daz recording the whole thing but kept to the rear, leaned his head and muttered to Alan "What's with the accent?" causing Alan to roll his eye's.
"Don't even mention it, just go with the flow" sighing at the squabble at front, with Mikasa riding closely to him, humming to herself after the satisfying conversation they made hours ago and prefer to be silent.
Angered at Sasha's retort "My largemouth? Maybe it's your hysterics, flinging your body all over the place and twisting like a crazy bitch like your going to kill someone"
"If we don't finish this race, we miss out a WEEK worth of meat with every meal, Meat for breakfast, MEAT for lunch and dinner!" Sasha raised voice "If that's not like the time for hysterics with meat on the line, I don't know what is" Daggers from her brown eye's shooting at Garrus as if wanting to punch that scar right off his face.
Paying no attention any longer Alan pulled out his brown leather bound diary and proceeds to write in it, slowly bring it closer to his chest, noticing Daz getting curious for his own good, which caused the fella to nervously grin and an immediate sorry. Mikasa on the other hand being in her little world randomly asked a question.
"I wondered what Eren is doing right now" Looking to the sky as if it will give the answer.
Bluntly stated from Alan "possibly choking Jean by now, the way they argued when they left, I'm betting Jean being on the casualty list by the end" still focusing writing in his diary.
Mikasa hummed in agreement and noticed the sun is setting through the branches of the tree.
"We should set up camp, night will follow soon, and we need a fire started" Mikasa announced causing the two to stop their petty squabble.
Clear his throat Garrus spoke up "Agreed, Alan and Daz you find wood for the fire, Sasha, since it's light up see if you can find any 'Meat'" gesturing two fingers down on each hand in mock causing the offended target to scowl "While I and Mikasa set up sleeping areas"
Huffing Sasha slid out a bow and arrows from her horse's saddle and crept out in the tree's. How she had that bow in the first place Alan is unsure but rather not question it, suspicious of Garrus intentions of group management, gestured Daz to follow to find far suitable wood for the fire.
Mikasa eye's lingered on the retreating figures until they disappeared through the tree's and proceed to gather the gear from the saddle, receiving rope and a few assorted blankets that the group decided to bring. She already considered her cloak to cover her body, using her blanket as a pillow.
Mikasa begins to feel uncomfortable with the feeling of lingering eyes watching her every move, glancing to see Garrus unpacking his gear while having his black eyes staring at her direction, every chance he gets. Ignoring him he proceeds to Alan's saddle and grabbed his blanket and an extra rope. Thinking of his night excursions when Alan sneaking off to the housing where they keep their ODM gear, she thought of an idea that he might like.
Not too far but out of ear shot, Alan and Daz are finding woods, as in wood, Alan starts picking up large logs as big as them, Daz gaping at the sight.
Deciding to pick up a measly stick Daz showed it to Alan "How about this size?"
Alan glanced down to the pathetic excuse of a twig, thing is damn damp, not suitable to burn. His eye raised "Whats wrong with the one I'm carrying" Stoically asked as if it's normal.
Daz gaping his mouth open and shut a few times, cleared his throat "I don't know maybe you're carrying a massive Log! How can I carry something like that? Wait how are we going to chop it up with no axe, what you going to do hack it to death with your ODM blades?"
Alan rolled his eye's getting the point and drop the log with a loud thud, as the log hit the ground an Arrow whizzed right at him and with fast reflexes caught it an inch from his face, Daz instantly dived to the ground screaming, holding his head as cover.
Cocking his eyebrow, he saw Sasha running through the bushes panting for breath, upon seeing where her arrow is, her faced like a ghost. "I'm so sorry, I heard a thud to my left that sounded like a Dear hitting the floor and just instinctively shot at that direction" panicking "Then I heard Daz screaming, thinking I accidently shot him" Her faced reddens., lowering her head in embarrassment.
Not amused he tossed the arrow back to Sasha who in turn caught in mid air and reinsert it in between her fingers and bow.
"Catch anything?" Alan simply asked as if what just happened didn't happen at all.
Sasha eyes go dreamy and mouth started to drool, reached out onto two rabbits clung to her hip, as she hung them up to show off her skills, Daz stopped whimpering, saw the two Rabbits and gotten onto his two feet and smiled at the thought of a good meal coming soon. Looking to the tree's based some suitable sized wood for the fire was scattered. Maybe Alan's tree revealed the more suitable firewood he will never know. Content he begins to shovel them up in his arms, with Alan carrying a much bigger quantity.
Back at the camp Garrus, fidgeted, looking up to the sky, it's getting dark, they need a fire now to keep warm. Their sleeping arrangements are set up, satisfied with the result he turned to Mikasa who is currently doing a project of her own with the bedding she's messing with.
The awkward silence was unbearable for him, so he thought of something to break the ice. He cleared his throat making Mikasa to stir to glance at him for a second, only to return to tying some rope around a tree, getting the knot tight as possible.
"So, Mikasa." He thought "Got a boyfriend" 'yeah that was smooth Garrus, real smooth'.
Mikasa paused for a moment before returning her back to her rope.
"I mean you're the most beautiful woman in the whole, Christa have nothing on you" Hoping to gain her attention. Receiving a low hum from her direction. A groan escaped his lips, this woman is infuriating, how did that freak manage to spark a conversation with her so easily.
Laying eyes on her red scarf he thought there's no harm in asking about that is there? Taking a leap of faith "Where did get that nice scarf from?"
Mikasa stopped, lost the focus she had at ignoring his attempts, she glanced down the scarf and moved it closer to her, remembering the conversation in making friends outside her comfort. "A dear friend gave it to me"
Garrus heart skipped a beat happy he finally got the woman he desired to respond. "Well, it looks lovely on you, although it looks like it been through weather, it looks in good condition"
"I kept good care of it" holding the scarf closer to her face, unsure and not liking where this conversation is going her eyes still looking at the knot in the rope refusing to face towards him.
Having enough of short answers "If you like, I know a place in Stohess district at wall Sina, where they do much better scarves that you can enjoy"
Raising her head, turning herself to face him, her face expressionless, eyes empty as if staring into his soul. "No" was the only word to escape those lips.
Irritated by her reaction and definitely not the one to take No for an answer he walked closer, his hand reaching for the scarf, he wants to prove a point that it's just a scarf, unknowing how much it meant to her.
Seeing his hand, she slapped it casually away leaving a mark on where her mark had landed, her face unchanging yet her eyes darkened as if daring him to try again.
Garrus's eyes widened in shock and contorted to rage. Walking to reach her face he received another slap this time harder "What the fuck you bitch" holding his hand throbbing in pain "I was only being nice to you and bring up conversation and you just be like that, like some fucking FREAK" spitting the last word with such venom.
Turning away from her a fist came flying into face, with a sickening crack as it connected to his nose.
Blood rushes out as Garrus nose is broken, clenching his teeth, resisting the pain rushing to his brain, glaring at the perpetrator that dared hit him only to receive a much darker glare.
Rage is seething underneath Alan, witnessing from entering chosen clearing they saw the unwanted advance and the insults that followed. His blood boils, demanding to be released as he continues to glare at Garrus, seeing blood running down his face.
Sasha and Daz watched horrified at what happened, shocked to even move, yet wouldn't dared move.
With a howl of rage Garrus charged at Alan running him out of the clearing preparing to fight him tooth and nail throwing him out of the made-up camp.
Crashing through some bushes Alan skidded to regain his balance to only look up at the brawny muscular brute charging to him, 'Jeez he's nearly the same build as Reiner' muttering to himself, to only swerve out of his continuous charges. 'Sadly, not like Reiner' grimacing that he just compared this fool to his brother, he breathed, instincts kicking in yet again, he stepped quickly as if he's like the wind himself.
Garrus watches his movement, he maybe stronger than this freak but he won't underestimate the strongest cadet.
Looking from where the two crashed from Daz and Sasha just gaped and looked to Mikasa, though her composure is still, unchanging, inside her, her thoughts are in turmoil, scared at what happened. Mikasa glanced to where the two disappeared and her heart thumped as she remembered the rage emitting from the man who defended her. Never have she saw that face turned to pure rage.
Always a grin, or a smile, if it's something he doesn't like his face be stoic like hers, unmoving, in control of his emotions. Yet his face as saw what happened, he lost control, lost control because of what happened to her. It reminded her of Eren, when he gets angry over something important to him.
"You ok Mikasa?" Sasha inquired, nervous that she will trigger her as well. Mikasa blinked and nodded meekly.
Dropping the wood in the middle of the clearing, Daz proceeds to setup the wood in silence, rather be happy with what he's doing that ask questions of what happened, Mikasa is grateful for Daz, irritating sometimes yet his heart is in the right place, deciding to help him receiving an Eep from the easily frightened Daz, relaxing once more and smiled as if saying you be ok. Mikasa begins to start making fire from some random leaves and start twisting some long wood to create friction fire.
While that is happening, Sasha begins to skin the rabbits, mouth watering in ways of eating it when cooked.
Mikasa take one more look to the outer clearing, a pang of worry cross her mind, hoping he be ok.
A crack connecting Alans cheek, as Garrus landed a mark.
Grinning that he manage to get a hit that wasn't given, Alan growled, more annoyed with himself for losing focus, damn this Bastard, he seethed, he wants to kill him, but know if he did, he be in deeper shit. Luckily Daz isn't around to record this.
Garrus spit blood out of his mouth, receiving far more jabs than he landed in him. 'Give this guy credit, he knows how to go against the strongest' Alan mused, he's been holding back most of the time, trying to keep his rage in check, when he's close to losing focus Garrus landed a kick or two snapping him back to focus. Leaving a bruise and cut here and there, he needs to focus even more now that he's receiving visible cuts on his face.
He breaths again, circling and swerving the aggressive advance. Garrus is started get pissed even more, suddenly, this guy is like hitting air every time he throws his punches at him. 'Where the fuck did this newfound energy come from'
He starts flailing into a frenzy, getting more pissed that he is no missing, suddenly Alan came from below and grappled his arm and head together throwing him down by suing his strength, once crashing onto the hard ground, Alan swiftly manoeuvre his legs around his waist and grips both his arms around his, inactivating Garrus.
Garrus heaved, trying to break free of this hold, 'Damn him, where did he learn this move, the unexpecting bastard' struggling to break free, he starts panting for his breath.
Alan slowly breaths, staring to the back of Garrus's head waiting for him to calm.
Few minutes past until he able to relax his grip until Garrus falls limp into submission, finally letting him go. Standing up Alan begins to walk back to the camp until hearing stifled cries coming from the floor.
Disgust appeared his face, but fought the urge, forming it to emotionless, he kneeled nearby and waited.
Garrus is cursing himself, being so damn foolish, he gazed up to see that bastard looking down at him with his expressionless gazed.
"Go ahead you fucker, look down at me like everyone else does" egging him to do it, only to receive that stupid eye raising of his.
"It's not fair, how can you get good treatment from that bald bastard and I have to work hard to even get approval" he cried, tears finally free "It's bad enough I have it before the military, fighting for my fucking fathers attention, when he only see's is the money going into his pockets"
'Ah, daddy issues'
"He pays attention to the fucking oldest sibling, because he's the heir to his business which he gets groomed and beautiful women thrown to his feet" he continued pouring everything from his chest that he held for so long. "That old Bastard doesn't give a damn about me, so I joined the military to escape from that shit.
'Ok now it's just jealousy issues paired with daddy issues. That's a potent mix' Alan mused, listening to every word he is spilling out.
"So yeah look down at me call me what you want" finishing off what he has to say.
Alan can only watch him, this sad, poor excuse of a human. Noticing Garrus's glances as if expecting verbal or physical abuse, Alan pitied him, not having a positive outcome in this poor guy life, he heaved out a long sigh and got back on his feet.
"Stand up Garrus" he simply said offering his hand to help him up. Head shooting up with tears still flowing his cheeks shocked at the unexpected gesture.
"What?" his voice broke, a bit higher pitch than Alan wanted.
"Stand-up" Alan said again, this time Garrus reached to hand, hesitant that it's some trick. Alan raised his eye again 'Jealousy issues, daddy issues and Trust issues, damn this guy has a serious potent mix'
Grabbing Alan's hand, heaving back up to his feet, Garrus wiped the tears away and awkwardly looking around hoping Daz wasn't recording everything he just said. "I'm sorry" quietly murmured.
"It's not me you have to say sorry too" Alan bluntly spoke, causing Garrus to flinch, reading the guilt and regret on his face.
"yeah your right, I was a proud stupid fool, who turned out to be like his stupid older brother, expecting everything to be handed on a solver platter" scowling at his words.
Alan patted his shoulder, finding some words of encouragement "Least you have a pair of balls" Garrus glancing to his direction "Not many pompous bastards join the military when there's a chance to face the titans"
Garrus smiled and gave a painful laugh, due to the beating he received in their rough excursion "Yeah, but I'm the bigger fool if that's the case"
Giving his rare genuine smile "At least you have the freedom to choose, what you felt right at the time." Giving a sigh "Life is cruel Garrus, you can have nothing and everything but there will be something to stop you, yet in all that cruelty there is some Beauty left" eyes saddening to his words.
Garrus wanted to say something but couldn't find them, Life is cruel yet beautiful at the same time. "You suffered as, well haven't you?"
In a blink Alan smiled "Doesn't stop me from moving forward"
Garrus left with him in thought, a new bond formed from enemies to respected rivalry.
The crisp smell of rabbit, brought to their attention as they made way to the camp, to their surprise it was Daz in charge of the cooking, the concentrating on his face as he turns the meat, tongue sticking to the side, making sure the whole rabbit is cooked to his satisfaction.
Garrus mouth popped open witnessing a tied-up Sasha gasping and panting as she tries to wiggle free, aiming for the exquisite scent of cooked rabbit, with Mikasa sitting on top, with her legs crossed over as if nothing new is happening. Noticing the noise Mikasa looked up to only glare at the unwanted person approaching her, Daz quickly standing up meekly preparing to defend the woman's honour only to see Alan hovering his hand gesturing it is alright, crouching back to the golden brown rabbit, eye's still on Garrus.
Garrus scratched the back of his head, trying to find the words, embarrassed to the state he's in with a cut lip and broken nose and black eye, he looks like a right eye sore to her.
"I'm not good with this, but I am sorry, for causing you offense and distress" bowing before her head down. Mikasa can only blink to glance at Alan who gave a grin and shrugged, to glance back.
"Your forgiven" Garrus heard, finally be able to breath the breath he was holding, and nodded, diverting his attention to Daz and the rabbit. Who Daz nervously scooted over and showed him the cooked prize.
Mikasa cocking her eyebrow to Alan for an explanation, only to grimace the cut he has on his cheek and the bruise swelling behind it.
"Care to explain the sudden change of personality?" her expression blank yet her eyes shown amusement.
Giving a short chuckle "A lot have been said" Mikasa pointed out not just words apparently "Yes that as well, but there's a more pressing image right in front of us" gesturing to the struggling tied up Sasha.
Glancing down and shrugged raising her eyebrow "Would you prefer we starve as she eats all the meat cooked?" giving a shot of humour of her own, feeling it might be this man's influence and his contagious eye raising.
"Fair point" Alan chuckled amused to the point and sat on the log next to her, content with the silence and the grunting noise of the sloth underneath Mikasa.
Listening to Garrus warming up by the fire, with Daz getting the first aid kit, holding a bottle and some wool in hand. "Did you cook this Daz?" which the man nodded "Damn good piece rabbit" turning to Sasha as he slowly munch on the delicious meat, giving a moan of the savoury goodness "God damn this meat is gorgeous, that it rivals boar meat"
Sasha now writhing and panting violently "Let me out of this Mikasa. Let me smack the that grin off his face and add more blood cuts to him" mouth slowly frothing as she wriggles under the strongest woman. 'Give this crazy girl a Rabies shot, that froth is not normal'
As if contemplating Mikasa just stood up and to everyone's amusement, Sasha starts squirming violently about edging inch by inch, closer to Garrus who happened to hop on his knees every time she gets close, laughing with a bloody face, making it like a deranged psychopath 'seriously, clean your face up man, your getting blood on your rabbit'
Mikasa smiled at the scene, slowly looking down to the man now laughing and free, she wished Eren be like that, but his mind is too focus on titans and getting stronger, but Alan it's like he's free from such burdens, it feels heart-warming. Startled with the strange feeling she retreated to her scarf, she sat next him on the log in the camp.
Garrus has now retreated to his bed treating to his wounds hissing at every dab is the mixture took effect. Daz was holding his piece of rabbit while holding onto Sasha's hand feeding it to her while she's still tied up, Daz getting red as Sasha elicit each moan and groan from every bite of the succulent golden crisp meat.
"Dammit Potato, are you eating it or fucking it" Garrus exclaimed from his corner. Sasha ignoring him over that meat.
Apparently, her priorities are overridden when meat is involved. Daz now gesturing to Alan the meat is cooked, Alan claimed them picking up the two with pointy sticks and skewering them, he retreated back to the log and handed one to Mikasa, happily obliged, taking bites and chewing thoughtfully as he stared into the fire, feeling the warmth as each flame flicker from the gentle breeze.
Mikasa while eating, noticed a focus in his dark blue eyes, wondering what's on his mind she saw his cut and bruised cheeked, grimacing at the sight, she eat her last chomp and walked over to Garrus, startled by her appearance, cleaning up his scratches, and stopping the bleeding, noticed Mikasa was standing there with her stoic gaze waiting, he glanced to Alan and Mikasa, until it dawned on him, he grumbled reluctantly and handed of the bottle of the stinging fluids.
Mikasa retreats to the med kit bends over to appear to look inside to grab a piece of wool, unaware that Alan was looking at her.
His focused shifted from the fire to Mikasa's movements watching as her hips sway with each moment, distracted even more as she bent over, her hind quarters shown in all it's beautiful glory, his heart skipped at the sight, mesmerised by the way she walked and the lust as she pressed into the med kit searching for the required item.
As Mikasa turned, blushing he quickly changed focus to the moaning Sasha as she is still getting mouth fed by Daz, demanding for more.
His blush deepened cursing at the poor choice for his eye's as he imagined it to be Mikasa. Glancing up to Mikasa now eye raised as she stares back, finally sitting down, she dampens the wool with the mixture with Alan looking at it with reluctance.
"You don't need to do this" staring still at the unwanted fabric, being ignored she moves her hand towards the right side of his face, noticing how rough her hand are, where she has handle her blades, her main fingers rough as they wield the triggers for the ODM, yet amongst the roughness, it's skin still smooth and beautiful.
Feeling a stinging sensation, he gritted his teeth, clenching his fists, keeping his focus still on the fire.
"Why?" bringing him out of his concentration bringing a slight huh.
Her face stoic but her eyes speak of curious, not understanding why he did what he did.
"Why fight him, when I could handle him myself. Why risk yourself harm when there was no need?" Alan couldn't bring himself to find the answer as she bore her eye's into is, trying to understand.
Nothing came to him, so she lowers her gaze and focus on cleaning his cut. It's the least she could do in thanks, she was touched don't get her wrong, she just doesn't understand why someone would come to her aid and fight for her, just like Eren, 'no that is different' Mikasa scolded herself, bringing out of that train of thought.
"I don't know" he finally said, "I just have this urge to fight, I don't know what came over me" His face stoic as he gazed into the fire.
Satisfied with her cleaning she placed the bottle down. Alan now work his face muscles "It was unneeded, I heal fast" he stoically said.
Mikasa just hummed "I rather not have it scar and infected" she bluntly said.
A skip of the beat stirred in Alan, being confused with his own emotions. No, he can't dwell on it.
Deciding to turn in for the night, he stretched his himself getting himself up and noticed the hammock in between two tree's he turned to Mikasa, as if reading his mind.
"I made that while you were gone, I thought you like being in the air" she stated as a fact.
Amused he and feeling touched, wondering why she think he would like that. "Thank you Mikasa" he said giving her a smile, bidding her good night as he hopped into his hammock and fell to sleep.
Mikasa watched and gave a small smile of her own before turning herself in for the night.
The next morning was rough, Garrus would say, waking up to the sight of Sasha tied up still with pieces of meat hanging of her mouth on his fucking chest. If his luck could get any worse, he saw Daz up and ready, recording the whole seen in front of him to his horror.
Alan and Mikasa packing up the gear ready to set off before the sun rose, intending to hit the forest trail to the mountain pass.
Mikasa glancing to his distraught unrest lifted Sasha over her shoulder and put her on the back of her horse like a tied-up criminal, bringing a snort from the still sleeping girl.
Alan smiling and shaking his, equipped his ODM to his sides, hooking to the first tree he saw, he flew upwards of the giant tree before him, feeling the breeze and feeling as he served each branch, applying tiny bursts to keep him afloat, hooking to areas that could shoot him upwards quicker to see their exact location, reaching the top, he took in the view of the never ending forest, swear he could see some groups at the top of their own tree, bobbing up and down as they got their location. He focused to the mountain, two-hour ride perhaps, if they don't have any problems arises.
Waiting for him to scale Down Mikasa double checks everything is bare of what used to be their camp, Garrus taking his stride, as he walked pass the still sleeping Sasha, smacked her round arse, waking her up with a yelp, eliciting a laugh from the offender.
Daz rushing over now debating the awake and restless Sasha as she curses toward Garrus and threatening to add another scar to his face, deciding better to leave her as she is until she calms down.
Mikasa hear a thud behind her seeing Alan unequipping and hoisting his ODM onto his horse.
"So fly boy" receiving a questioning look from Alan, Garrus proceed to ask "Where to now? The sun is rising, and we are losing time" pointing to Sasha who is now come down to realisation of the weeks' worth of meat and demanded they leaver tied up on the horse and move quickly.
'She really needs to get her priorities straight' Alan mused.
"We head north west in that direction" pointing to one of the trails leading through the forest, "Don't worry about being late to the party, I saw a few up in the tree's at the top, they seem to have the same idea as us"
Nodding Garrus retorted "We best get a move on, once we get to the mountain pass, we get lazy shit breath untied and be prepared for what's to come"
"who are you calling shit breath" Eyes popping now popping, Sasha intense stare at Garrus "the breath of meat tends to be the most beautiful smells ever"
Disgusted Garrus starts heave "That breath of yours smells like someone fucking shitted down your throat and washed it out with piss" turning green to the image he now planted in his head.
Silencing the now mortified Girl, wondering why he would smell her breath in the first place.
Hearing a small chuckle Alan glanced to the perpetrator who happened to be Mikasa, now giving a small smile towards him and the group, she is entertaining the thought of growing fond of.
Looking away giving a small blush and smile to himself, hearing Mikasa give out a genuine small laugh, his thoughts turned to finding it to be one of the most beautiful sounds he was fortunate to hear.
With their bearings gathered they ride down in a race to the mountain pass, that will eventually lead to their primary goal.
AN: I am on a roll, first story that wracked my brain with inspiration, feel free to review and give your thoughts. :)