Sunset was well behind the pair once they finally arrived in the training grounds.
"I never noticed how isolated the inner wall is. It takes ages to get anywhere." Jumping off of the back of the horse she shared with Levi, Tart examined the grounds. "This place is amazing! My daddy and I did a ceremony here, but I was only seven when it opened." Levi jumped off as well, and tied the horse to a pole.
"Yes, now let's get to more pressing matters." He pointed to a device that was completely foreign to Tart's world. "That is -"
"What IS that thing?! It looks scary!"
"I was just about to tell you. Listen!" Being utterly exhausted, he wanted to get this over as quickly as possible. "This is used in the basic aptitude test. It deems whether you're capable of using 3D gear." He began unclasping all the straps from his legs, then tightening them around Tart's smaller legs. Once he finished outfitting her, he clipped her up to the machine. "All you have to do is remain upright. Are you ready to be lifted?" Tart nodded. I hope Shadis doesn't find us. After his silent prayer, Levi cranked the machine. Once her feet were lifted from the floor, she immediately fell backwards.
"Shit!" She cursed. Barely making it in time, Levi caught her.
"Careful. I haven't gotten you completely lifted yet, this is tough without someone spotting you." As he held on to her back, the flower fragrance danced through his nostrils.
"Is it? Then I'll pull the lever." A figured appeared from the shadows, approaching the device. Seeing the hairless head and evil eyes, Levi tried not to defecate in his pants. (AN: I think Levi would be scared of Shadis, since he's younger and not quite secured in the military yet. Or maybe he would still be a sarcastic jerk to him. I went with scared.)
"K-Keith Shadis, sir!" Levi jerked upright to salute him, letting go of Tart and causing her head to crack on the pavement. He's going to fucking murder us. "Shit.." He couldn't break the salute to check on Tart.
"Who is this young lass? She's not in the Trainees Squad, is she?" Shadis inquired.
"No sir!" Levi still did not break the salute.
"Then who is she? And why is she using my equipment!?"
"I'm the king's daughter, Tartarus, sir! I believe we met when I was a child!" Tart piped up, despite her uncomfortable stance on the ground. Shadis walked over to her, and stared at her awkward, pained position.
"Help this girl up, soldier!" He commanded. Levi quickly pulled Tart off of the ground, mumbling an apology to her, and supported her back as Shadis addressed her. "Well I'll be damned. Where has the king been keeping you stashed away all these years?" There's no way he could ever forget that pigment in her hair.
"In the East wing, sir!" Tart answered his rhetorical question.
"And... Rivaille isn't it? What are you doing with the Princess out here?"
"She ordered me to teach her to use the gear, sir!" Levi felt unsure of himself in Shadis's presence.
"I'm guessing her father doesn't know she's here?"
"No, sir!" Tart and Levi replied at the same time.
"Well, let's get her completely lifted and see if she's worth anything." Shadis moved back towards the crank. "Are you ready, Princess?"
"Yes sir! Please call me Tart!" She braced herself, focusing all her energy into staying upright. Shadis had her fully lifted now, but she didn't fumble at all. She stood strong. Before she could celebrate, Levi removed his hands from her back. She immediately fell once more.
"Maybe she's failing because she's not wearing equipment outfitted for her." Levi suggested to Shadis, not wanting Tart's dreams to be crushed entirely.
"Or maybe she's just a Prissy Princess who's too used to the inner life." Shadis laughed.
"Lift me again, Levi! I can do it! I swear!" Levi obeyed Tart's command. He whispered some helpful instructions into her ear, telling her to loosen up and focus more on her center body and not her legs. This time when he let go, she didn't fall. She stood strong, on her own.
"Hah! Looks like we got ourselves a Proficient Princess!" Shadis smacked Levi on the back triumphantly. "I'll talk to your father about getting you properly trained. It'd be good for you, help you if a titan ever reappears. Rivaille, get her out of that thing and get the hell off of my grounds!" Shadis walked away, cheering to himself and singing about the Proficient Princess.
"I think he was drunk." Levi thought aloud as he lowered Tart back to the terrain. After he unclipped her from the device, she dove straight into his chest. She looked at him with grateful tears in her eyes.
"Thank you so much! Thanks to you I'll be trained to use the gear! I'll never be able to repay you!" As she hugged him, a wave of sadness came over Levi. I guess she doesn't need me anymore now. This thought depressed him, and he couldn't fathom why. Rejecting these feelings, he pushed Tart off of him.
"You're welcome, now let's get back to the castle. You smell like horse."
"Yes sir!" She smiled.
When the finally arrived at the castle grounds, dawn was beginning to awaken. Levi helped Tart over the wall, then jumped down himself.
"You can go, Levi. I'm sure you're completely exhausted." Even though her intentions were pure, he took them the wrong way.
"I could stay; I deserve some nice royal breakfast." Although he was completely exhausted before, he had renewed energy now. He wanted to spend as much time with Tart as he possibly could, before she used him up and threw him to the side.
"Yes, you've earned it. I'm going to go take a bath then, wash all the horse stink off of me. You can stay here, just hide in the courtyard if you hear a maid." After Tart left, Levi resumed picking up the broken vase that was still on the floor from yesterday. Having collected it all, he leaned back against her bed and rested his eyes. A little nap couldn't hurt.
Birds chirping in the courtyard awoke Levi, a sound he wasn't used to hearing. Her entire room smells like flowers. He went to wipe his face in disgust, then noticed Tartarus snuggled on him, laying in his lap. What an idiot. He brushed some hair out of her face. The thick linen she used to absorb the water from her bath was drapped sloppily around her torso. It was lowered, barely covering her breasts. Levi, being male, obviously noticed this. He also noticed the way the linen parted high up on her thigh, barely covering anything.
"H-hey, wake up." He stuttered, forcing himself not to get too worked up. Tart didn't wake up, and instead rolled over. While she moved, the linen loosened even more. By the time she was completely on her side, her left breast was entirely exposed. Her boob is bare! Shit. I can't look, that's so wrong... I suppose a glimpse wouldn't hurt anyone. After his inner peptalk, he glanced down. I've never seen one bare before.. Her tiny pink nipple stood erect on her tiny areola, mounted on her tiny breast. Levi couldn't keep it down anymore. Shit, shit, shit! She's laying on it! Despite his struggles, he soon stood erect as well, pushing up against the back of Tart's head. She frowned in her sleep. Shit, shit, shit! Then mumbled something incoherent. Shit, shit, shit! Finally, she opened her eyes. She smiled at him, before realizing the situation she was in. She covered herself up, before screaming at Levi.
"Pervert!" Fist to face.