Hello my lovely readers! New chapter! ^^
Honestly, I don't know what it is but somehow I have a bad feeling about this story.
This is only chapter 14 and I have 9 more chapters already finished but the more I work on it, the more I feel like it's utter shit.
I don't want to be one of those fics that end up being abandoned in the middle of the story (I can't stand that!) and I also don't want to rush to and ending.
*Wallowing in doubt about what the helllll to do* (sigh)
Sorry for that, now continue, read! Hope you guys like it! (^з^)- I'll figure it out...
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"I think we haven't properly finished our last fight." I look over my shoulder to see Levi standing with his arms crossed. "Right, Jaclyn?"
"I'm good." I try again. When I turn around, away from him I realize all eyes are on us now.
"If you're really trying to… win. Then at least you got to try. Beat me." He taunts and at that I spin around.
The little crowd confusingly whispers to what he is talking about. Only Jonah, Levi and I know what he is referring to. I haven't even told April or Kay what lie I told Levi; wanting to take over his title as humanity's strongest.
"Is this you getting back at me?" I wonder. "Well if you insist, I guess it can't be helped." I shrug.
"You're doing it?!" April asks thrilled, clapping her hands cheerfully as Jonah joins her at the sidelines along with the rest.
I might as well use this opportunity to test his real strength but he won't go all out just like that. I'll have to challenge and drag it out of him.
Without warning he takes the first step forward and launches his fist at me. I'm ready to dodge but he stops mid-air and greets me with a kick as I stumble backwards.
He's not taking this fight lightly, playing tricks on me already. When I look up there is no Levi to be found. I slightly turn my head and see his figure behind me from the corner of my eye.
He kicks my leg and I fall forward to the ground. Quickly I roll over and reach out, grabbing his arm and using my weight to throw him over me. He slams with his back onto the earth and I use that moment to get back to my feet. As expected he recovered within an instant and is already standing, going straight after me again.
We continuously evade each others attacks, fists, kicks and neither of us is hitting one another. Instead of blocking
I decide to wrap my hand around his fist that came at full force. A stinging pain spreads through my palm and made it all the way to my arm as I shake as I try to keep him at place.
"That hurt." I point out. We're both out of breath, panting as drops of sweat are slowly building up under the heat of the evening sun.
"You want me to apologize? Need a kiss to soothe the pain?" He mocks and I pull my brow.
"Please don't, that would be embarrassing." I retort. "After all, what's a fight without pain."
I push him back, letting go of his fist as my breathing is steady again.
I run to him and when he does a step towards me I stop my movements and lean to the right as his leg just misses my face. "Too close." I sigh of relieve when his boot doesn't hit me. I throw a punch and to his surprise I actually hit him in the face. My knuckles first touch his soft skin before I collide with his facial bones underneath.
He only stumbles a few steps backwards before he goes forth again. I gasp and before I am able to react he punches me in the stomach from underneath. All air is knocked out of my lungs and I choke on the last bit of air that still filled them. A different kind of pain spreads like wildfire through my upper body.
"Captain!"
"Jaclyn!"
I fall to the ground on my hands and knees as I cough up splatters of blood. Fluid is seeping from the corner of my mouth. I wipe it with the back of my hand as I slowly try to force myself up.
Asudden Levi's hand is in front of me and when I look up I realize he's offering to help me up. I slap his hand away as I unsteadily get to my feet.
"Don't act as if it's over. I'm not done yet." I say as he looks at me stunned.
I hear chatter and when I glance over to the side I see people eyeing me worried, especially Jonah.
April is sitting on the ground with her arms crossed and lips tightly pressed as she doesn't let out a sound. I grin at her and she nods for me to continue with determination in her eyes. That little silent encouragement is all I need to keep on going.
"That's enough, you should let someone check you up." He says as he frowns at the blood.
I wipe the blood at the corner of my mouth away as I look at my red thumb. "Oh this? Don't worry about that, I've endured worse."
When I think back at it, this is truly nothing. I got stabbed, shot and beaten way harsher and survived all that. This is a battle between a superior and their subordinate, we are the ones who decide how far we can take this.
He doesn't give a reply as his frown increases. If I hate one thing it is pity. "Ha? Still not convinced?"
I slowly reach behind my back and pull a knife. I hear people gasp and Jonah disconcertingly calls my name. Since Levi also pulled a knife on me the first time, I don't hesitate to do the same, even though many more people are watching this time.
"Now you'll have to fight me." I challenge while spinning the knife.
He reaches behind his back and also reveals a knife, size similar to mine. "You're a tough one." He smiles pleased and accepts the fight.
I don't know how far I can- or should go, but I now know for sure he won't be holding back and neither will I.
I come at him first and our knifes hit each other. He swings it from up to down just across my face as he takes a strand of hair along. When the sharp tip reaches my blouse, the fabric tears apart and I glance down to my chest.
"My bad." He smirks.
"You can't convince me that you didn't do that on purpose." I huff.
When our knifes collide, the silver steel against steel, a piercing sound is audible, making me cringe. He pushes with all his strength as his arm muscles flex and eventually I have to let it go as it flies out of my hand. Immediately I grab his wrist and push it upwards, causing him to open his hand and let go.
I throw my fist towards him and at the same time I see his coming straight for me. I feel the impact of the blow to my face. I lose balance as I fall to the ground and even though it hurts, I'm more disappointed at the fact I lost. I lay with my arms spread, my chest rising and falling as I take in short breaths through parted lips.
Faintly in the background I hear April's voice above all and when I open my eyes her face hoovers overhead me. She's behind me on her knees. "You did it!" She smiles broadly.
I sit up straight and when my eyes fall on Levi, I see he's sitting with crossed legs, wiping the blood with a tissue that's running down his nose.
"You two hit each other and both fell at the same time." She pulls me up and I slightly wince at the pain in my stomach.
"That's means it's a tie, idiot." I say and ruffle her hair.
Her smile fades and within a split second returns. "A tie means you didn't lose... Therefore you both won."
I laugh and shake my head. "If you put it like that..."
When I glance over to Levi the edges of his lips turn upwards and he nods a single time. I return the smile and walk together with April and him to the rest. They all talk about the little match just now as April has a discussion with Jonah like they've know each other forever. But that's April's charm, she's friends with everyone within almost an instant.
I let them be and walk inside the building, heading to my room to change my now torn blouse.
I sigh loudly as I put my arms behind my head, staring at the ceiling while I walk through the ever-so eerily silent hallways of the Survey Corps Headquarters. When I hear a second pair of footsteps echo through the halls I come to an immediate halt. I listen attentively and when I hear nothing but my own breathing I'm about to curse myself for being so cautious. But I sense someone behind me and I turn around, grabbing the persons arm, turning it and sweeping the person off its feet.
I got hold of my knife and point it at the covered face in front of me. The lights are dim and whoever it is, wears a cloak as the head is covered by a hoodie. I slowly pull it away and when my eyes recognize his face, they widen with shock before I frown angrily.
"You shouldn't be here." I spat.
One of the higher ups from the military police.
The man who offered the job.
The one that wants Levi dead.
Zack Ross.
He lays underneath me while I have my knife pointed to his face.
He glances down to my chest and I then remember it is the reason I am walking here in the first place.
"Is that an invitation?" He stupidly grins.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, pervert." I say and get climb off him, crossing my arms as I watch him standing up.
What is he doing here at a time like this? Is he stupid? If anyone finds out he's here right now, when he's not supposed to be, they'll become suspicious- if not figure something out. Not that I care about him and his relations with the Survey Corps whatsoever but he's here to talk to me. That can only mean trouble for someone like myself.
"What do you want?" I hiss.
He only smirks.
"Zack Ross. I know who you are."
"I see." His grin then turns into a smile. "You did your research."
I was about to throw in a sarcastic remark but I remind myself who he is and what power and importance he holds. Zack Ross, a respected man. The Ross family, well known and very much liked by the public. The fact that he is showing his face to me feels like a silent threat on its own.
I'm fully aware and informed about what he wants to do to Levi, the fact that I know, and that it isn't a threat to him makes me uneasy. To him I'm just a girl that lived in the underground, a highly doubted persona.
"Why are you here?" I try to ask while keeping the annoyance out of my voice.
"Just to make sure you're doing your job right." He says and dusts his cloak clean.
"And how am I doing so far?" I ask as I raise my brow up.
"Not bad." He says while nodding. "Quite daring, raising your knife against Levi while everyone is watching."
"You were keeping an eye on me?" I frown at him.
"Now, back to business." He starts but I interrupt him. Annoyed by how he so weakly plans things, people can run into us any moment and he wants to discuss Levi's assassination here like its daily routine.
"Right here?" I ask while my eyes scan the still empty halls.
"We had never planned for you to join the expeditions but I realize if you declined they would become wary of you." He ignores everything I said and starts explaining instead.
"I figured."
"Just make sure you make it alive from the upcoming expedition and then we'll finish things quickly. It has taken long enough already now hasn't it?"
"That's the plan." I say irritated. "And yes, it has been one and a half year already."
Suddenly he grabs my blouse, pulling me towards him as he leans down, bringing his face closer to mine. "Seems as if Levi has grown close to you, is that true?" His question catches me off guard and I decide not to answer. "He beat up one of my men for you, I've been told."
"Only because your men just like yourself are perverted creeps." I say and it feels as if I'm defending Levi.
"I know this probably isn't necessary but I think reassurance is never a bad thing." He starts and I'm confused to what he means.
"Jaclyn!" I hear April's voice call out at the end of the hall. "Why did you leave like that, I just-" She stops talking and the sound of her footsteps slowly die off. "Jaclyn?" Her voice is now soft.
I push him off me and turn around, her fists are bawled beside her and I see Jonah behind her running towards us. I give her a single nod. Her expression turns from confused to angry to and then shock as she realizes who the man is that stands before me. We only saw a picture once but even she remembers this man. Sensibly not questioning anything she turns on her heel.
"Come on Jonah." I hear her say. "Jaclyn is a busy." He asks a few questions but follows her outside again.
"Reassurance?" I start, hoping he will continue where we were interrupted and disappears as soon as he appeared.
"If you disobey my orders..." He leans in again and whispers. "I'll kill both that runt and... what is his name again? Oh, Kay Andreasen, isn't it?"
I clench my jaw painfully. I've never once, not even in my dangerously, criminal life have someone threaten to kill my friends that bluntly. "I warn you, don't make me put an end to your life right now." I say calmly as my hand trembles with anger.
"Ah, violent as expected. Don't get me wrong Jaclyn, only if you disobey my orders." He broadly smiles without a care in the world. "I promise."
"Don't play with me." I do a step forward as he wisely walks back. "I don't care if I disobey your orders or not, hurt them and I'll make your blood go cold." I hold my knife against his neck and slide it up to his chin, then pull it back.
His smile fades as his face now turns serious for the first time. "As a bonus, I'll kill your little brother Dominic first." His eyes widen. "I did my research indeed, Zack."
Lines of distress form on his face. "I don't care about my brother like you care about your little friends." He says, but the way his voice sounds, hesitant and loud; I know he is lying.
"This conversation took an ugly turn." I walk past him. "Let's just hope we both stick to our 'promises'." I walk and hear the fabric of his cloak move.
"I think you'll have trouble keeping that runt of yours alive. Now you're not in the same squad, she just might get eaten." I could hear the smug tone in his voice. I stop walking and stare down. No. He's just fucking with my mind and feelings. I shake my head and force myself to put one foot after another. He's just taking advantage of my insecurity about April. She will be fine. It will be fine.
April's POV
"... Might get eaten." I hear the last words of Zack's voice before he walks away and disappears. Jaclyn stands with her back to me, frozen at his words and I see she has her fists bawled.
"What was he suddenly doing here?" I ask as I walk over to her. Startled she quickly turns around. Unexpectedly she pulls me into a tight hug but I don't protest. "Did he hurt you?" I ask softly.
"What a stupid thing to ask." She says, her voice muffled as she's resting her head onto mine. "Did you hear anything of our conversation?"
"I didn't." I reply and try to pull away but she's still holding onto me tightly. "Are you okay?" I ask since she never acts this affectionate.
"I just love you." She says, catching me by surprise. The words sound foreign coming from her mouth. I pull away and she eyes me confused. "Can't I say I love my friend?"
I turn my head away as my cheeks are getting hot. "That's not it." I mumble.
She chuckles as she's pinches my red hued cheek. "You're blushing." She point out teasingly and I push her hand away.
"It's just that I've heard you said it only two times before, and that was quite some time ago." She frowns as I continue. "Remember when I was badly beaten up by those scum in the underground, when I came home your face turned pale with worry. That day was the first time you said it." I mutter the words embarrassed as I recall the memory.
"But you know it, right?" She holds my shoulders as I look at her now serious expression. "Even though I said it a while ago, you know I love and care about you at all times, right?"
"I do, I do!" I try to cheer her up. "I'm just surprised to hear something like that from your mouth." I now tease.
"Brat." She says and I put my fake angry face on.
"Not a brat." I say. She steps froward and grabs my head, putting her knuckles onto it. "No! Don't! Jaclyn don't!" I yell and manage to get away from her as I laugh and run.
Suddenly I bump against someone and when I look up I see it's Levi. "Sorry captain." I apologize as he helps me up.
"If you're energetic enough to play around I guess you're fine." His gaze is directed towards Jaclyn.
"Didn't I tell you so." She says as she walks closer.
"Still I need to check you." He insists.
"Fine with me. Otherwise meet me in my room." Jaclyn says and it looks like she regrets saying that last sentence.
Levi smirks and turns around wordlessly.
"Come on April." She grabs my collar and drags me along to wherever her room is.
It's almost exactly the same room I've been sleeping in, but then occupied by three people and beds. "How come you got your own room!" I say and glance around jealous. It's so spacious compared to mine.
"It's because I'm an official member of Levi's squad." She winks.
I jump on her bed as she pulls out a fresh pile of clothes. She pats her trousers and blouse in an attempt to make it appear more clean, but all she does is smudge the earth and grass stains. She groans and starts to undress.
When she just put one foot out of her trousers the door abruptly opens and Levi stands in the threshold. I try my best to not laugh out loud as Jaclyn abruptly stands right up. "Care to knock when you enter my room." She says slightly irritated.
"It's not like I haven't seen you like that before." Levi says casual before stepping inside, closing the door behind him.
"Aaaah?" I say out loud and my eyes widen. Exactly what does he mean? I notice Jaclyn swiftly looking at me and see her cheeks turning slightly pink before turning her back to us. She quickly changes into a clean clothes and turns around when she's done.
Levi did the usual checkup and she appears fine. He was just worried about the blood she spat up. Sore muscles should be the worst pain tomorrow, nothing serious.
As soon as Levi exits the room again I turn to her. "Explain." I say and she knows exactly what I'm referring to.
"Nothing." She says as she let herself fall on the bed. "Shouldn't you go to bed, it's like nine already."
I'm about to say something as she tries to provoke a reaction out of me, but the words never leave my lips. "Don't think I'll fall for that, changing the subject. Come on Jaclyn, tell me!"
"I've got nothing to say you damned brat." She says irritated and closes her eyes as she lets herself sink into the mattress.
No other way to force an answer out of her but to get at the point directly. I crawl on the bed next her and lean in so that I'm whispering in her ear. "You like him, don't you?"
Immediately her eyes shoot open with a denying and innocent look but I see right through that, and she knows it.
"Don't talk bullshit."
"Then what did he mean by that? He saw you half naked? Did you guys-" I say, the rest of the sentence muffled by her hand covering my mouth.
"Don't be so loud!"
"So that means you did!" I say full of disbelief. "When, how?"
"I didn't do anything idiot. Now shut up." She says and pulls my head down on the pillow next to her.
"Ah please, don't be so stubborn. You can share some things with me, you know!" I plead for an answer but she remains resolute, letting no secret leave her lips.
"Oh well it doesn't matter. I think I have an idea of what might have happened." After all she's acting suspicious. I don't know what they've done, but there's something, I can tell.
"Think all you want." She sighs.
"Maybe Levi can share a secret." I mumble loudly enough for her to hear.
She sits up straight on the bed. "If you value your life." She starts and locks me between her legs. "You won't say or ask anyone anything." She continues and starts tickling me.
I let out an uncontrollable laughter, kicking and throwing my hands everywhere to get her off me, but there's no way I could win. "Stop it, alright, alright!" I yell through ragged breaths and choked laughs.
"Alright what?"
"Alright I won't tell or ask anyone!" I scream high pitched and she instantly stopped. With a broad smile on my face I try to catch my breath as she climbs off and a small smile forms on her lips as well.
"I'll bring you to your room." She offers and puts on her shoes. I nod and walk over to the door as she opens it and locks it again behind our backs.
We walk outside under the dark cloudy sky. I sigh as I look up, unfortunately there are no stars or moon to be seen tonight. We walk together to the other building that's just across of hers.
"Jaclyn." I start and wait for her to respond. She hums and looks over to me. "Remember that time we were watching the stars with Kay and-"
"You fell of the roof and Kay followed when he tried to grab you." She smiles as she recalls the memory. "How could I forget that night."
"I miss those times." I say crestfallen.
I'm happy I'm here right now with Jaclyn, together again after a while, but it's not the same without Kay, Ethan and our own place. Somewhere deep down I wish she never took on this job, we could make it work somehow like we've always done. To me it's not worth it to be apart for such a long time, and the risk of her doing this is too great, I believe.
"You're worrying about me, aren't you?" Jaclyn asks as she glances over to me, nudging my shoulder. "Your face is easy to read."
"I am." I confess. "But I trust you. I trust that everything will work out." I say and let out a sigh.
We reach the other building and Jaclyn walks up to my room. When I open the door I see that the other two are already lying in bed. Liv and Nola, my two roommates. From the moment I joined the trainee corps up until now we're together here at the Survey Corps. We get along well, they're brave girls for joining the Survey Corps, and they think of me so too, however they don't know my reason for joining.
I quickly introduce them and I see Jaclyn is making an effort to act nice since they're my roommates. Even though it's not needed, I'm grateful she's wanting to do that for me.
"Now go to bed kids." She swiftly ruffles my hair and walks away again.
"Goodnight." I say and she looks over her shoulder to me as she faintly smiles.
I watch her until she reaches the end of the hall and walks outside into the dark night.