Part 2: Skinny Dipping

As Karma neared the horses, spinning the skewer to give her something to look at, Captain Levi looked up.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey. I, uh, made you a weenie. You should come sit down with everyone. The horses have plenty of grass."

Levi looked at the horses and considered for a moment. He took the skewer. "Alright."

Her heart beamed.

Captain Levi followed her back to the bonfire where Karma gave Jean a move-the-hell-over nod. He got the message and scooted so Karma could sit between them.

Levi slid the weenie off the skewer. The tips of his fingers glistened. "Did you get one, Karma?"

"No, but it's fine—"

"Here." Levi twisted the weenie and handed her half. Steam wafted from the inside.

"Thanks." She smiled and nibbled on the meat. It had been a long time since she'd tasted anything this good and savory. Meat was a rarity—Sasha had been saving up weenies for months for this occasion.

"I heard you guys played Truth or Dare without me." Conny was licking black char from his fingertips. "Pretty rude, but I'll forgive you if we play a few more rounds."

"I'm down," Sasha said. Nods rippled around the circle.

Jean bent to whisper in Karma's ear. "Want me to dare Levi to kiss you?"

She smacked his arm, worried that Levi had overheard. But when she peeked over, he seemed unfazed.

"I will literally kill you," she whispered back.

"Geez, shortcake, I was kidding." Jean nudged her with his shoulder.

Eren's voice drew Karma back to the game: "I'll start!"

Conny's hand jumped in the air. "Ooo! Pick me!"

"Alright, truth or dare?"

Conny grinned. It was dark and unsettling. "Dare."

Eren's eyes landed on a pile of strewn clothing in the sand. "I dare you to jump into the ocean, butt-naked."

Everyone laughed. Even Captain Levi cracked a smile.

"But you'll see my weenie!"

Everyone laughed harder.

"Sorry, no take backs," Eren said.

"Alrighty then. Expect some shrinkage."

Conny walked to the shore and pulled down his trunks. Karma caught a flash of his white butt before he sprinted full-speed into the ocean as if he were on fire.

The group whooped and hollered for Conny, who was swimming in circles and diving under the waves. Then, forgetting he was naked, or perhaps not caring, he started for the shore. Luckily, before any mental scarring could occur, Eren tossed him his trunks and Conny slipped them on under the water. He emerged, modest and sopping wet.

"Thank God for Eren. Half a weenie was enough for me," Levi said to Karma, making her giggle.

"That was awesome!" Conny hopped back onto a log. "Who's next?"

"I'll go," Sasha said. She looked at Mikasa. "Truth or dare?"

"Truth."

Sasha heaved up the picnic basket beside her. "Is it true that I can eat a dozen sandwiches in less than ten minutes?"

"Huh?" Mikasa tilted her head. "Probably?"

"Let's find out."

Sasha unloaded a dozen mayonnaise and cheese sandwiches on her lap. She went to work, unwrapping them and chowing down.

"Interesting tactic," Levi said.

Karma nodded. "She'll never starve, that's for sure."

"Oookay." Armin drew out the word. "Guess I'll go while Sasha finishes." He locked eyes with Captain Levi. "Truth or dare?"

Levi looked to Karma.

"Don't worry," she said. "Kissing and wet dreams are off the table."

"Do I even want to know?"

"I'll tell you when you're older."

He cracked a smile. "Dare," he said, surprising Karma.

"Hmm, alright. Feeling brave, I see." Armin drummed his fingers. "You like horses, right? I dare you to touch a butthole."

The circle went quiet.

Karma stiffened—she'd barely convinced Captain Levi to join their game and Armin pulls this crap?

He'd never talk to her again.

"To clarify, a horse's asshole, right?" Levi said.

Karma's jaw sank. Armin nodded sagely.

Levi patted Karma twice on the head. "Wish me luck." Her hair part burned as she watched him near the horses.

"That was pretty cute," Jean said.

"What—the patting? That was just revenge for earlier." But she hoped his teasing meant more. Was he opening up to her? The thought made her heart ignite.

Captain Levi, in full uniform, the Wings of Freedom billowing against his back, approached one of the horses, lifted the tail, touched the butthole, and returned to the bonfire like he'd only left to get a drink of water.

He pulled out a wipe from his pocket and rubbed his finger clean. "That all?"

Karma choked on a laugh, but everyone else was shocked into silence.

Then, all at once, the regiment started hollering and cheering and congratulating Levi, who merely shrugged. But Karma detected a faint smile.

She leaned toward him, brushing shoulders. "You're having fun, aren't you?" she said.

In her peripheral, Eren was dared to have Jean hurl a frisbee at his back. His cry of pain and laughter sounded far away. It was like she and Captain Levi were in their own little bubble.

The flames glowed in his eyes. "You could call it that."

"I'm glad you finally decided to listen to me."

"You were very persistent."

Karma noticed he was toying with the shell again. "You know, there's like a thousand of those. You can just chuck it."

"No. This one's special."

"Because I called you weird and dropped it on you?"

"It's a memory I'll cherish forever."

A voice pierced their bubble. "And done! What's my time?" Sasha said, yanking Karma back to the reality of Eren rubbing a frisbee-shaped bruise on his back and Armin nodding off after shotgunning three White Claws.

Sasha was licking mayonnaise residue from her fingers and the inside of plastic bags as Conny answered, "9:36, not your best."

"Damn." She plucked a handful of apple slices from the basket.

"Alright. My turn," Mikasa said. She gave Jean and Karma slitted eyes. "Jean, truth or dare?"

"Dare," Jean said.

Mikasa raised her chin. "I dare you to tell us what exactly happened in the sea cave."

Karma's cheeks flamed. Levi straightened beside her. Shit.

"Nothing happened. It was more of a sea cove actually," Jean said.

"Nothing happened?"

"Yeah, we defied death to get there and like fifteen feet in we hit a wall. That's it."

"You spent a half hour walking fifteen feet?"

"Well, not exactly—"

"So what happened?"

Everyone was leaning in now. Karma bit her cheek. Jean gave her an apologetic look. She shook her head, mouthing, "Don't."

"We kissed, alright. Dammit, Mikasa, you're wasting your talents with the Scouts. Join an interrogation squad."

The group was silent. Karma buried her face in her hands. Eren was open-mouth smiling. Mikasa and Armin blanched. Conny blinked. Sasha dropped her apple slices.

The warmth beside her left. Between her fingers, Karma saw Captain Levi's cloak billowing away. But he didn't stop at the tree. He kept walking down the infinite stretch of sand.

"Well, Karma. I guess it's your turn." Jean said after clearing his throat. He didn't even look at her.

"I dare myself to leave." She rose. "Seriously, what the hell, Jean?" Karma stormed off, ignoring his apologies.

Levi was up ahead. She trotted down the packed, wet sand, her footprints puddling with water. The sun had disappeared, but there was still dim light. The sky was orange bleeding into blue.

"Levi." Karma caught up. He stopped and turned. She was eye-level with his nose. The lapping waves grazed the edges of their feet. "Come on, let's go back."

"No. I'm fine here."

"But I thought you were having fun?"

"I was, but I've had my fill. I just want to be left alone."

"You're lying. If you wanted to be left alone, you would've rejected the weenie."

"How are you so damn persistent, Karma? Why do you keep reaching out to me?"

"Why wouldn't I?"

"Because I'll just get in the way of your fun."

"Captain, that's not true—"

"It is. I'm not stupid. Everyone thinks I'm a hard-ass."

"You're not a hard-ass. You're a medium-ass."

"A medium-ass." His eyes arced the sky, but he was smiling.

"Yeah, and I have way more fun with you around—I wouldn't keep bugging you if I didn't. So don't leave, please."

He looked at Karma. The way she bit her lip to stop its quivering. The gentle slant of her brows. They wouldn't be at the beach at all if he'd figured out how to resist this face. "Fine. But I better not have to kiss Jean too."

"Of course not. No promises with Armin, though—there's a fifty percent chance you were the star of his latest wet dream."

"Dear God."

Karma and Captain Levi returned to the bonfire, but Mikasa and Eren were rolling the logs back to the grass and Armin and Sasha were cleaning up the food.

Conny and Jean stood with their backs towards them. Karma could see two yellow arcs and the flames of the fire sizzle and die. She walked behind Jean and crossed her arms. Levi followed, though he was loath to get near the pee arc.

"Ew," Karma said. Jean snickered and zipped his pants before turning around. She pursed her lips. "I'm sorry, Jean. I shouldn't have gotten mad at you."

"S'all good. Told you I was gonna brag," Jean said.

Karma punched his arm. "So what's with the pee? Why are we putting out the fire?"

Conny zipped up and turned with a wicked gleam in his eye. "Because, everyone is going to experience the art of Free Weenie-ing."

"The hell is Free Weenie-ing?" Levi said.

Karma groaned. "Oh, no. Is that what we're calling swimming in the ocean butt-naked?"

Conny and Jean nodded.

"And everyone's doing it?"

"Yeah, that's why we're putting out the fire. For modesty," Jean said, though Karma suspected he would make an extra effort to see in the dark.

"How did you manage to rope Mikasa in?" she said.

"Eren. You know, cause she might catch a glimpse of his—"

"Thank you, Jean. I got it."

Once the fire was extinguished, Jean was right—it was dark. The sky was black and speckled with tiny twinkling lights and sliced with a sliver of moon. Karma could faintly see her chipped blue nail polish, glimpses of pink bikini, and the green of Levi's cloak.

Hollering and whooping, Conny and Jean streaked across the sand and the rest of the gang followed. Karma could see shapeless splotches of white butt cheeks the whole way.

So much for modesty.

"Hurry up, Karma!" Mikasa called. Her friends were already splashing and laughing.

Was she really about to strip in front of Captain Levi?

Karma fiddled with the strap of her bikini top, testing her bravery. He wouldn't see anything, but her heart still surged as she slid the straps off her shoulders. She took a breath, then slipped her top off completely. She cleared her throat.

"Captain, I totally understand if you don't want to Free Weenie, or whatever. No one will think you're a hard-ass," she said. Though she couldn't see them, she thought she could feel his eyes drag down her neck and collarbone to her chest.

"Fuck it," Levi said. The hazy cloud of green slid to the floor and she heard him shuffling out of his shirt and trousers.

There they were, fully naked now.

Stop trying to catch a peek—you're worse than Jean. Her eyes snapped back to the appropriate level. But now his outline was just inches from her. They were feet apart before—when had she moved towards him? Or had he moved towards her?

Maybe he was trying to catch a glimpse too. Karma burst out laughing at the thought.

"What's up?" Levi said.

"Nothing, just the fact that I'm Free Weenie-ing with the Captain of the Scout Regiment." Karma pressed her lips to smother the giggles. "I laugh when I'm nervous, according to Mikasa."

"Why are you nervous? You can't see my Free Weenie can you?"

"Uh, no, just a general outline. You know those showers with the warped glass? Kind of like that," she said.

"That's a relief. I can see you clear as day."

"What?!" Karma threw her hands over her private regions with a squeal.

Then she heard Levi's soft laughter. "You think I'd bother talking if I could see you right now?"

Every inch of her skin blushed.

"Come on," he said. "We shouldn't exclude ourselves." She knew from his tone that he was smirking.

"Grab my hand so I don't lose you. And don't even think about pulling a Jean."

"I can only imagine what that means."

"Don't imagine it either."

His knuckles brushed hers. The touch was heart-melting.

"This isn't your ass right?" Levi said.

"No, that's my hand."

He clasped her wrist. She maneuvered her hand until their fingers were interlocking, telling herself it was for added security.

The chilly ocean didn't even faze her—she was too hyper focused on Levi's hand and the warmth it radiated as he followed her deeper, the waves lapping against their torsos.

Mikasa's voice was just up ahead, "I see blonde hair. Is that Karma?"

"Yeah, it's me and Levi. I somehow convinced him to come."

"Bet that wasn't too hard once you started stripping," Eren said, earning a whistle that she could confidently assume was from Jean.

"God, Eren, shut up—"

"Yeah, that's what won me over," Captain Levi said, making everyone laugh.

He squeezed her hand like a private message. She hoped the message was, "I'm not kidding." But more likely, the message was, "You can let go now."

To be safe, Karma started to pull away. But Levi clung to her fingers. "You're not gonna get yourself lost, right?" he said.

"Not on purpose. But you can keep holding on if you don't trust me."

"I trust you," he said. Her heart drooped until she felt his grip tighten. "This is just for me."

"Because you're worried about getting yourself lost?"

"Because I want to hold your hand."

Sasha sounded close by, "Conny, this is fun and all but it's literally pitch bla—" She bumped into Karma, who stumbled into Levi's chest. "Oops! Sorry, whoever that was."

"All good," Karma said as Levi steadied her by the waist.

Bless you, Sasha. You goddess.

"Come on, the pitch black is perfect for scary stories," Conny said.

"Ooo, I got a good one." Jean was on Karma's left. He whispered something Karma couldn't make out, then began. "Long ago, a sailor was lost at sea. It was quiet and dark, just like tonight."

Jean paused, letting his words sink around them like an ominous mist. Karma absorbed the scene, picturing a scruffy-faced man alone on a ship with nothing but the tossing waves for company.

Jean continued, "He went on like this for days. Pretty soon, he was out of water and the fish weren't biting. That's when he heard it—" A falsetto voice jolted Karma. It was Armin, singing a haunting melody. It was strangely beautiful. "The song beckoned him forward. He used the last of his strength to sail towards it. Finally, his boat skidded on land. The voice had led him to an island and he was saved—"

"Not much of a scary story," Sasha said.

Mikasa elbowed her. "Shh, he's not done."

Jean drew out a chiding, "Anyway," before continuing, "The voice was like a drug. The sailor abandoned his ship to hunt for the sound. There, lying on the shore, sprawled out in pale moonlight was the most gorgeous creature he'd ever seen—picture Karma's face, Mikasa's body, and Sasha's charm—except, where legs should have been, was a scaly tail fin."

"Ooo a mermaid!"

"Shut up, Conny."

Jean cleared his throat for silence. "The beautiful creature turned to him and smiled, luring him forward with a finger. He felt compelled to kiss her, so he did. Slowly, he realized that he was back in the water. Soon, the sea was over his head and he couldn't breathe. But he was so intoxicated by the creature, he didn't even struggle. Lower and deeper he sank until—"

A scream gurgled from Karma's throat as she was swallowed up by the ocean, dragged down by some ungodly creature grasping her ankle. But how? Had she unknowingly fallen for the siren's spell? Was this really how she was going to die?

Then she was yanked up by the hand. But even when she broke the surface, she was still drowning. Her body convulsed in coughs and gags, expelling spoonfuls of water. She hyperventilated, unable to grasp enough oxygen.

"Hey, Karma, you're alright. Just breathe." Levi grounded her by the shoulders. Karma focused on slow breathing and Levi's soothing voice until the shaking and panic died.

"Eren, you dick!" Mikasa's voice was followed by a smacking sound.

"Ow, sorry. Jean said it would be funny."

"In what universe is drowning someone funny? You idiots better apologize right now or I'll drown you myself."

Jean and Eren grumbled a sheepish, "Sorry Karma…"

"It's alright." Karma spit out more bitter water that dribbled down her chin. "How about no more scary stories for tonight?"

She felt the group nod.

"Hide-and-Seek?" Armin said.

"I'm down. Who's it?" Mikasa said.

Karma crossed her arms. "I volunteer Jean or Eren."

"Fine. I'll be it," Jean said, rolling his eyes with his tone.

"Let's go in pairs," Levi said.

The thought of being alone in the dark with Captain Levi made Karma's toes tingle. But it also terrified her—he was so calmly clever, while she was flagrantly flustered. Not to mention she'd almost drowned in front of him twice.

Embarrassment was a money-back guarantee.

"Why? So you can sneak off and makeout?" Jean said, water rippling as he crossed his arms.

"Wouldn't be the first."

"Yeah, whatever. No pairs."

"Actually, I'd feel better with a partner. And it'd make your job twice as easy," Armin said, voicing reason as usual.

"Exactly what I was thinking." Levi said.

Jean exhaled a groan. "Okay, fine. But I choose the teams. Eren and Levi, Armin and Conny, Mikasa and Karma. Sasha can be it with me."

Karma was both disappointed and relieved.

"You guys have until I count down from a hundred. Need me to explain the rules, shortcake?" Jean said. Karma could hear him smirking.

"The rules are literally the title of the game," she said.

"Good. No going past the boulders or deeper than waist level. If Sasha or me touch you, you're out. Okay, go! 100…99…"

Karma scrambled to find Mikasa, but Levi tugged her wrist. He bent to talk into her ear. "I bet Mikasa wouldn't mind swapping partners. Jean won't be able to tell, anyway."

"Um, I actually really need to talk to Mikasa. Rain check?"

He let go. "Alright."

A new hand gripped her arm. "Karma? It's me. We need to talk."

"I know. Let's go."

"87…86…"

Karma and Mikasa waded toward the inlet of the jutting boulders. By the time they got there, about fifty yards away, Sasha called out, "Ready or not, we're coming for you!"

"Dude, you said it wrong," Jean said.

Mikasa snatched back her attention. "What's going on with you, Karma? One day at the beach and you're making out with every guy in the regiment?"

"I know. I'm a total hoe," Karma said, voice stifled by her palms.

"Yeah, explain."

"Well, the cove thing was sort of a fluke. Jean said he liked me and it made me wonder if I liked him back. So since he'd never kissed a girl before and I was curious, we just went for it."

"And?"

"And what? That's the whole story."

"And how was it? Is he a good kisser?"

Karma smirked. "Woah, why do you care?"

"I don't. I'm just curious."

"It was…surprisingly good. Just the right amount of tongue."

"Okay, ew."

"And he touched all the right places."

"Stop."

"His lips are really nice too. Full and soft."

"Now you're just messing with me."

Karma snickered. "I just tell it like it is."

"Well if it was so good with Jean, why have you been all over Levi?"

"What—I have not been all over him."

"Yeah, you have. You shared his weenie."

"Ew."

"Then he got jealous about you and Jean kissing. And apparently you both got an eyeful during the Free Weenie."

"He was not jealous. He left cause he felt like a party-pooper."

"He leaves right when Jean brings up your kiss in the cave—"

"Cove."

"—and you can't put two-and-two together?"

"I failed algebra."

"My God, Karma. You're purposefully not seeing the signs."

"That's ridiculous."

"You're worried that what happened to Jean will happen to you."

"What does that even mean, Mikasa?"

"Jean put himself out there, the kiss was great, but the whole thing fell flat. What if you kiss Levi perfectly and it's not good enough? What if he likes someone else more? You're terrified of rejection."

Karma had already known the truth, but hearing it out loud shocked her all the same. "Damn, Jean was right. You should look into investigative work." Karma distracted herself by exploring the jagged boulders with her fingertips. They glistened in the starlight.

"Just put yourself out there. You'll never know if you don't try."

"You sound like a poster in a middle school gym."

"Karma. I'm serious. If you like Levi, do something about it."

"Fine. Next round, we'll switch partners. I'll put myself out there with Levi if you put yourself out there with Eren." Karma raised her chin. She knew Mikasa would back down.

"Deal."

"Wait, what?! Hold on—"

"A deal's a deal, Karma."

"You've had like ten years to pull a move on Eren and now you're feeling up to it?"

"You challenged me."

"So that's all it takes to motivate you. Good to know." Karma leaned back against the boulder, it was rugged against her shoulder blades.

Minutes later, Sasha found them by accident.

"Gotcha!" Her hands slooshed out of the water, wrangling something squirmy and slimy. She paused when Karma and Mikasa gasped. "Oh, is someone there?"

"Sasha, is that a fish?!" Mikasa said.

"How the hell did you manage that? It's pitch black," Karma said, agape.

"When you lose one sense, your others are heightened," Sasha explained unhelpfully as she led them back to the designated rendezvous point. The others who had been found were gathered in a mass of laughter and splashing.

"Alright, remember our deal. Good luck, Karma," Mikasa said, patting Karma's shoulder. She slipped away to hunt down Eren.

"Levi?" Karma whispered, wading blindly through the rowdy silhouettes. An elbow jammed into her ribs. A screen of water slapped her ear. Then someone grabbed her hand.

"Right here," Levi said.

"That's everyone, right? Sweet! Me and Armin call being 'it!'" Conny said, jumping and splashing in his eagerness.

"Everyone ready? Okay, same rules as before—" Armin suddenly gagged. "Ew, Conny, why is the water warm?"

"I have a UTI."

"Gross. No one drink the water. And, go! 100…99…"

Karma and Levi plodded through curtains of waves and biting wind until they heard Armin shout, "Ready or not, here I come!" He sounded far enough away to buy them a few minutes of nerve-racking solitude.

Now it was just her and Levi. Naked in the ocean.