Housekeeping

Disclaimer: SnK and its characters are not mine.

Chapter 11

At least they got a bit more warning than the last time Captain Levi took over their lessons. He had arrived 10 minutes prior to the start of today's class and waited until his squad had finished trickling in before telling them to go change into their 3DMG and meet him at the edge of the training grounds.

Why he couldn't have brought it up earlier at one of their now shared meals puzzled Armin. Then again, he found it best to just trust the Captain, even if he didn't agree with his decisions.

The blond boy made one final quadruple check of his gear while they waited for the last of their group to join them. He noticed Squad Leader Hanji wasn't here, so he could either take it as a good sign, since that meant it wouldn't involve Eren becoming a titan, or a bad one because there wouldn't be anyone with enough guts to stand up to their superior in case he pulled another outrageous stunt. Well, no one except…

"Mikasa!" Eren yelled and waved at their quickly approaching friend. Armin scratched his head. It was unusual for her to take so long joining them, but glancing at his pocket watch, she technically wasn't late. In fact, she was arriving at the exact time the Captain had instructed them to meet him.

Speaking of, he glanced over at the short man to his right. He was leaning with his back against a tree, his hooded eyes staring down at the well-trodden earth. If Captain Levi was disappointed in her tardiness relative to the rest of them, he sure didn't show it.

Not even acknowledging the completion of the group, their fearless leader started, "For the next week, we'll be doing some training that's new to you brats." He pushed off from his tree and indicated for them to follow him—only instead of into the woods where the training dummies were, he was leading them to an open space in front of the forest.

Before Armin could mull through the possibilities he had in store for them, the Captain continued, "There is a good chance we will encounter other titan-shifters during this mission." Armin could feel rather than see Eren stiffen at this statement. "If they're the ones that we know, they may attempt to ambush us the way the female titan did."

The dark-haired man stopped a good ways into the clear field and drew both his blades. Armin and the others, save for Mikasa, visibly flinched and tensed. They likely all had the same flashback to two days prior.

"For that reason, it is necessary you learn how to defend yourselves against an attacker equipped with 3DMG."

Armin had barely elicited a gasp in realization when Captain Levi leapt toward him with a single gleaming sword ready to strike. The blond teenager froze. Even though his mind was used to running multiple trains of thought in quick succession, it was completely overwhelmed and shut down at the unexpected action.

There was a clang of metal on metal.

The next thing Armin knew, another blade had crossed in front of him and stopped the weapon from crashing down mere inches from his head. His face still a perfect image of shock, he looked over at his savior.

He was met with a fierce glint of onyx and a vicious snarl. Luckily, neither of those were directed at him.

Captain Levi instantly stood down. "Good reflexes, Ackerman, but you might not be around to save Arlert's ass once we get out in the field." He slowly re-sheathed his blades and turned toward the rest of the stunned group. "An attacker will similarly come without warning. Every one of you will need to have the reflexes to respond and the skills to keep yourselves alive."

His teammates could only mutely nod their understanding. Subsequently, the Captain paired them off in order to practice attacking and defending with the 3DMG blades. Armin would face Historia, Eren against Jean, and Connie against Sasha.

"Ackerman, you're with me," the Captain dully finished his assignments.

"But, Sir, your leg…" Mikasa objected. This made Armin raise an eyebrow. She couldn't have forgiven him so quickly that she would vocalize such concern…could she?

"It's fine, Ackerman," the older man grunted. He then turned toward the rest of them. "Don't get too comfortable with your partners—this is only temporary. Once I've reassessed your fighting styles, you'll be matched with someone who's a better complement for future exercises."

To Armin, the grouping seemed fine as is. After all, it appeared to be based off skill level in general. For example, he would certainly have lost his head if he were squaring off against Jean, even if it was just practice. 'Must be a safety issue,' Armin concluded.

But there was no time for him to think about this further as everyone else had already started the drill. Historia took the first go, but her attack was about as meek as a lamb's would be. The blond boy soon found that he was no better. It was strange to him, using his weapons to fight another human instead of a titan.

Glancing over at the others, he found that they were struggling with this concept as well. All of them had been trained to save humanity, and now here they were learning how to kill another human. It just felt so…wrong.

"Springer!" the Captain suddenly barked. The young man in question froze in terror. "You wouldn't be able to kill a fly with that pathetic attack. You're supposed to be giving Braus practice, not a love tap. Now lunge like you mean it or you're my personal training dummy for the rest of the week!"

Connie cringed and clumsily saluted, almost giving his head a closer shave with his blades as he did so. "Sir, yes, Sir!"

Their fearless leader then turned back toward Mikasa. Armin could barely hear what he said to her before he charged, but it sounded to the effect of "I expect you to not hold back."

With an equally focused expression, the raven-haired girl blocked the attack with ease and instantly counterattacked. Captain Levi deftly leapt back to avoid the strike but was forced into a subsequent backflip as Mikasa pressed the advantage.

There was a clash of blades as the older man mirrored her block and counterattack sequence. And so began a dance of blades between the two warriors, neither of whom let up for a second in the impromptu sparring session.

Suddenly remembering that he should be practicing, Armin turned back to Historia—only to find her and everyone else gawking at the battling duo. He could see Connie visibly trembling at what he could have possibly gotten into if he didn't satisfy the Captain's demand.

They probably went at it for a straight ten minutes before there was a break in their routine. At one point, the Captain landed on his left ankle at the wrong angle, forcing him to briefly wince. As Mikasa charged toward him, she noticed this and hesitated, almost imperceptibly. However, to her opponent, it was as clear as if she had come to a grinding halt.

Levi used this opportunity to toss his blade up and catch it in a reversed position, giving him the leverage needed to perform a spin attack and knock the raven-haired girl's leading weapon out of her hand. Shock at the unexpected move caused her to stop in her tracks, and she was soon parted with the other in a similar fashion. In a blink it was over, with the Captain's blade once again in front of her throat.

Mikasa furiously hissed at him. "Bastard! You did that on purpose!"

"I did no such thing, Ackerman. You went soft," stated Levi coldly.

By the confused looks on everyone else's faces, Armin guessed no one else saw what he had.

"Trust me, it won't happen again." Mikasa slowly backed away from the sharp piece of metal and, fuming, went to go retrieve her blades.

The Captain fell out of his stance and glared at the rest of his squad. "Back to work, all of you! This isn't some shitty circus."

In a panic, everyone tripped over themselves to resume their exercises.

Armin kept the bare minimum of attention on his training with Historia. The rest was focused on watching the matchless duo. Their subsequent bouts went similarly, but Mikasa got sloppier with each loss. Finally, the Captain called an end to their session for the day and dismissed everyone.

That is, everyone except Mikasa. He called her back, possibly to have a few words with her. Wiping away sweat with her jacket sleeve, she silently stood before him to hear what he had to say.

Levi spoke to her in such a low voice that Armin couldn't catch what he was saying. The next thing he knew, the older man began walking in the direction of the woods, Mikasa warily following him not long after.

Armin involuntarily narrowed his blue eyes at them. He didn't like the idea of her going off with the Captain after recent events. The teenage boy was about to bring this to the attention of his friends, but he soon found everyone else was already a good ways back toward the castle, so there was nobody left to call upon.

There was quite the debate in Armin's head. On the one hand, he wanted to be there to help Mikasa in case she was in danger. On the other, who knows what the Captain would do if he caught him tailing them?

The blond boy swallowed hard as the two subjects of his attention disappeared into the forest via 3DMG. He knew he was going to regret this, but Mikasa was his friend, and he wasn't about to abandon her. Armin sprinted after them, bracing himself for the worst.

The midget in front of her swung from tree to tree, his piercing gaze always looking upwards as if he were searching for something in particular. Or somewhere, rather.

"I need you to come with me." That's all he had said. Mikasa should have just outright refused. But, judging by the tone of his voice, it wasn't an order; it seemed more like a request.

She knew she shouldn't be alone with him after what he did, much less so far away from her friends. Her instincts should have told her to get away.

Yet they didn't.

For a moment, she wondered if there was a screw loose in her brain. She was supposed to be loathing this guy and staying clear from him. She should only do what was necessary to protect Eren, and that didn't include being this bastard's lap dog.

Before she could dwell too long on that last part, the Captain finally landed on a branch midway up a tall tree. Mikasa soon followed suit.

"What are we doing here?" she let slip impatiently, not even giving him a chance to get the first word in.

"Working on the next set of training," he responded without letting on any hint of irritation. "You brats should be able to handle fighting each other using 3DMG in two more days."

Mikasa crossed her arms in a huff. "So if 'we brats' aren't able to handle it until then, why am I here?"

"Because you're different."

The way he said that sent a tingle up Mikasa's spine. His voice had somehow softened and lowered in pitch slightly. It was almost so…somber that whatever flame of anger she harbored was immediately extinguished.

After a pause, he stiffly added, "Based on what I saw today, I think you're ready for the next lesson now, and I want to test that theory out."

An image of the Captain's misstep from earlier flashed before Mikasa's eyes, and she opened her mouth to speak when he cut her off.

"My leg is fine, Ackerman," he answered her unspoken question gruffly. Damn mind-reader. "I can see why Jaeger gets so pissed off at you."

Mikasa's onyx eyes narrowed. "Eren's well-being is the most important thing to me."

"I know," he responded in a deadpan voice. "I just wonder when and why I made it to your list too."

For once, the half-Asian girl was taken aback.

Averting his gaze downward, Levi double-checked his equipment was in working order as he continued, "I'm sure I'm not high up on it, but…I guess I should feel honored."

Mikasa's head started to swim so much it was any wonder she was still standing on that tree branch. The sincerity of his words hit her so unexpectedly she pondered if this was the same son of a bitch that had tormented her in more ways than one. She couldn't think of any way to respond before he switched back to the matter at hand.

"Are you ready?"

Blinking her thoughts back in order, she gave a short nod.

He raised one blade out in front of him, pointing to a tree branch about 50 meters away that was on equal level with the one they were standing on. "You stay here, and I'll start from there. When I drop my arm, that's your signal to start attacking, understand?"

"Yes, Sir," Mikasa acknowledged.

"Good." He shot out his lines to a nearby tree, but just before he swung himself over, he added, "Oh, and Ackerman…" Mikasa involuntarily started at the familiar phrase. "…Don't go soft this time, because I won't do the same for you." All she could see as he parted were those stone cold eyes of his quickly retreating from her.

They weren't as deadly-looking as they had been the last time, though, just void of any emotion. At least the raven-haired girl understood the gravity of his parting words. For this exercise, she couldn't think of it as an exercise. If he really weren't going to hold back, then she had to do the same, no matter how she felt for him. To do otherwise was to put her life in danger, because in the heat of the upcoming fight, he might not be able to stop himself, even if he wanted to.

She made one last check of her gear as the Captain got into position. Sweat began to form in the palms of her hands, but she kept a firm grip on the twin blades she held.

Presently, he held one muscular arm up. Mikasa tapped on the 3DMG triggers impatiently, her mind deciding on an initial attack yet keeping other possibilities open depending on how the bastard reacted.

Exhaling one last deep breath, she cleared her thoughts, banishing the memories of the past week, of the past few days especially. Right now she had to do what she did best—

His arm dropped.

—fight!

Armin was out of breath by the time both figures were in view. Even if he had a million years' worth of training, he'd never be able to keep up with humanity's two strongest fighters. He practically collapsed against the next tree branch he decided to stop at. From here on out he would have to be as quiet as he could possibly make himself, yet somehow get closer to see better.

They stood atop trees far apart from each other with Mikasa in a ready battle stance and the Captain slowly falling into a similar one with his arm raised up. When his limb came crashing down, they instantly shot towards each other, blades ready to strike lethal blows.

With a loud double clang that echoed throughout the forest, they crossed swords in the middle and continued past each other, only to land on the exact opposite branches from where they had started. It reminded Armin of an old medieval joust he used to read about in one of his grandfather's books.

After sizing each other up, both dark-haired soldiers went at it again. Weapons clashed stronger this time, but the outcome was the same.

Armin took this opportunity to get into a crouching position, 3DMG triggers at the ready. When they went in for another exchange of attacks, he shot out his lines and took advantage of the intense concentration they put into their battle to swing to a closer tree.

Little by little, he repeated this process until he calculated he would be near enough to intervene if necessary but still be out of sight.

Now for him to stay hidden and watch…and pray he didn't have to help Mikasa out.

Beads of sweat trickled down Mikasa's temple. They had only started a short while ago, but with the earlier exercises, her body was already feeling like it had been through an intense workout. So far from what she could gather from their aerial attacks, Captain Levi had no openings or weak spots. Period.

Still, the only way for her to end this battle would be to find one, fast.

They launched at each other again for the half dozenth time. Their blades danced in a quadruple hit maneuver before pushing off from each other.

Or maybe she could create an opening.

Instead of continuing on, Mikasa retracted her lines and spun a half turn. Before she let herself fall too far, she used her 3DMG to go flying at the Captain's retreating back. With a surge from her gas tank, she rocketed toward him, both blades drawn to strike.

Her double slash to his unguarded backside, however, was blocked with a single sword swung swiftly and smoothly over his shoulders. Pushing off against her weapons, the older man likewise spun around midair and attacked with his remaining blade.

Mikasa dodged to the side in the nick of time and reeled herself quickly away. Damn shorty. She would have to regroup and think of another strategy.

Unfortunately, the Captain wasn't about to let her have that opportunity. The minute she touched down on a tree branch, she was met with the sight of him inches away from landing a lethal blow.

The raven-haired girl instantly jumped back and let gravity take her downward to avoid a subsequent swipe at her head.

Levi was soon hot on her heels, swooping down after her, weapons poised. At the next tree limb she came to below, Mikasa shoved off it, propelling her backwards, perpendicular to his dive.

From then on, their exercise became a game of cat and mouse, with the Captain constantly on the offensive, never allowing her another opportunity to go on the attack.

Mikasa had to do something. At this rate, she was going to be too exhausted to put up the necessary defense to avoid getting killed.

She had to take him by surprise somehow. That was the only way she could turn the tables. She clenched the grips of her 3DMG harder. They were becoming more slick with all the sweat oozing out of every pore in her body.

Suddenly, an idea popped into her head.

The next time she landed on a branch, she purposefully got too close to the trunk. It wasn't long before Captain Levi had her pressed up against the tree's bark, their blades criss-crossed over each other.

"You should give up, Ackerman," the shorter man scolded as his face drew dangerously close to hers. "You're making dumbass mistakes."

"On the contrary, Sir…" At that, she simultaneously released the locks on her blades, yanking the grips out, and lurched to the side.

The sudden loss of resistance forced Levi to stumble forward and slam his face into the tree, giving Mikasa an opportunity to land a strong kick to his side and consequently knock him off the branch. Only taking half a second to catch her breath, she quickly reloaded a pair of blades from her holsters and dove down after him.

Free-falling with his backside down, Levi didn't waste time recovering from his initial surprise. In an instant, he crossed both weapons in front of him to deflect the oncoming assault from the raven-haired girl. When the opportunity arose, he spun out and shot himself in the direction of the nearest tree with Mikasa hot on his heels.

For awhile, it seemed like both officer and subordinate would continue their deadly blur of a dance for all eternity. But judging by the dull pain throbbing in his bad leg, it couldn't last forever.

"Not bad, Ackerman," Levi grunted between the clangs of their blades meeting.

"Thank you, Sir," Mikasa replied in a deadpan voice. It was clear from the slight strain behind it that she was reaching her limits as well. This seemed as good a time as any to end their little sparring session. The young soldier's defensive reactions were lightning fast, and her attacks were performed to the utmost perfection such that there was no area left exposed—except for one.

Levi turned and flew away fast with his 3DMG, leading Mikasa to a small clearing in the woods. When he was in the dead center of his pass through it, he dipped down low, slowing enough to let his student take the bait. Never letting up on her offensive, Mikasa was only a blade's reach behind him when she lunged.

The Captain pulled up at the last second, dodging her attack, and pushed his gas hard to ascend as fast as he could. Puzzled, Mikasa followed suit, but it wasn't until Levi reeled in his lines and performed a spin-turn in front of her exposed cables did she realize her grave mistake.

A look of horror flitting across her face, she released all the gas she could to try to catch up to him.

Suppressing the smirk that tugged at his lips, Levi called to the tardy girl, "Show me how you fly, Ackerman."

With that, he sliced through both her 3DMG lines.

A/N: Levi, you are terrible with women. Just sayin'.