For one Sasha Blouse, It's been a peaceful couple of years so far.
Yes, they shared victories in Trost and Inner Wall Rose, they overthrew their corrupt government, and the decisive showdown with Marley's warriors in Shiganshina was a momenumental achievement but all those victories had come at a high price—sacrifices aplenty. Yet, humanity had reclaimed its dominion over the island from the Titans, granting them a respite to rebuild and redefine themselves. Sasha was determined to cherish every fleeting moment of this false peace, fully aware that it was a fragile facade.
She felt indebted to Instructor Shadis for instilling this awareness in her; it had deepened her appreciation for every new experience.
Currently, Sasha relished her weekend reprieve at their headquarters in Ehrmich district, following weeks of toil beyond the walls, where she had contributed to constructing a railway network across the island. Seated at a mess hall table, she was in the company of Jean, Connie, Mikasa, Armin, and Eren. They passed the time with animated banter and relished their meals—two things Sasha cherished above all else, especially the latter. Ever since their victory in Shiganshina, their budget for provisions seemed to have expanded, banishing the days of meager fare like stale bread and insipid vegetable soup.
However, a conundrum persisted. It wasn't enough for her. Food was her weakness, and she had earned the moniker "potato girl" for a reason. Where there was food, there was Sasha, but regrettably, the reverse wasn't always true.
During the construction of the ports, she had savored the exquisite Marleyan cuisine courtesy of Niccolo—an indulgence she yearned to relish once more. Now, she had to make do with whatever the Corps' headquarters cooks served, a far cry from her past feasts. Her voracious appetite clamored for more, but she couldn't bring herself to demand it, recognizing the lack of decorum in such an act.
Sasha glanced at the other plates on the table, mostly empty save for some crumbs she wouldn't stoop to ask for. Then there was Eren, his plate virtually untouched, but Sasha knew better than to hope for leftovers from him, it seemed insensitive to her.
With a resigned sigh, Sasha accepted her defeat—some luxuries were not meant to be hers today.
"Sasha," a voice called, and her ears perked up as she turned to see Floch standing tall behind her, offering a casual wave.
"Hey, Floch," she greeted, curiosity lacing her tone. Then, a familiar and enticing aroma wafted to her, igniting her insatiable appetite once more. It was unmistakable—potatoes were nearby. Her pulse quickened, hoping fervently that her sudden heavy breathing went unnoticed by the others. "W-what can I help ya with?"
Floch extended his other arm, presenting something wrapped in cloth to her, scratching the back of his neck in a sheepish manner. "I have a few baked potatoes for you, if you'd like some."
Sasha sat there, stunned and wide-eyed, her mouth agape, as she stared at the cloth-covered offering. She shifted her gaze rapidly between the tantalizing parcel and Floch's face, disbelief evident in her expression, before she snatched it from his grasp with lightning speed. Floch recoiled, visibly startled, his expression shifting to one of concern as he watched her unwrap them and dig in like a starved animal.
"Well, I guess that's a yes," he mumbled before turning and departing, leaving the rest of the group intrigued by the unexpected exchange.
Connie couldn't help but wonder aloud, "What was that about?" He exchanged a bemused glance with Jean, who simply shrugged in response, before both of them cast sidelong glances at the ravenous Sasha devouring her potatoes.
Eren furrowed his brow as he looked at Sasha. "Sasha, you could have asked for mine if you were that hungry."
With the food now devoured, Sasha snapped out of her trance and returned to the present, offering an awkward laugh while intentionally avoiding eye contact with him. The conversation soon shifted, with Mikasa reprimanding Eren for not eating enough, and the table moved on from Sasha's momentary spectacle as she retreated into her thoughts.
That had been incredibly delicious, precisely what she had been craving. Its timing was undeniably peculiar, as if some benevolent deity had heeded her silent pleas. Perhaps it was the all-knowing and compassionate god that Onyonkopon had introduced them to not too long ago, or maybe it was simply a coincidence.
Regardless, Sasha genuinely appreciated the gesture Floch had made. Perhaps he wasn't as bad as she had initially thought.
The following day unfolded in a familiar routine: early morning labor, followed by idle hours listening to the island's decision-makers, and finally, a weary return to headquarters, where fatigue and hunger settled in as evening approached.
Their group reconvened, sharing food and conversation. Sasha, however, faced a recurring predicament. She slouched at the table, her chin cradled by her palm and elbow on the worn wood. Unhappily, she watched her fellow scouts relish their meals, an unjust pang of hunger gnawing at her.
Then, an unusual aroma seized her senses. Sasha pivoted, spotting Floch once more on his way to her. This time, he bore a plate obscured from her view by its height, yet the tantalizing scent was unmistakable.
"Here you go, Sasha, this is for you," he declared in his customary nonchalant manner, presenting her with a dish of succulent chicken drumsticks. Without uttering another word, he departed.
Sasha beamed with delight, her eyes fixated on the dish before her. Gratitude filled her heart as she eagerly indulged in the meal., her eyes aglow with anticipation. Each piece, a miniature masterpiece, her senses were tantalized as the aroma of roasted herbs and spices wafted up to greet her, a fragrant overture to the impending flavors. She picked up a drumstick with quick precision, its skin crispy and bronzed, as her teeth sank into the succulent flesh, there was an explosion of taste on her palate. The tender meat yielded effortlessly, releasing a symphony of savory notes.
They danced upon her tongue like a passionate tango. The initial warmth of roasted garlic gave way to a subtle smokiness, each bite was a crescendo of taste, building upon the last, until it reached a climax of pure, unadulterated pleasure. She closed her eyes momentarily, tears streaming down as she savored the ecstasy of the moment, the tender, juicy meat, kissed by the flames of the grill, seemed to melt in her mouth, leaving behind a lingering memory of perfection.
"Again?" Connie queried, observing the girl's mental gears seemingly grind to a halt from the sensory overload.
Armin's gaze oscillated between the two. "Well, we all know how much Sasha likes her food."
"Yeah, but..." Connie hesitated.
"What? You think Floch has a thing for her or something?" Jean interjected, causing Connie's cheeks to flush.
"W-what?! No, no! Well... maybe. It's just strange how he suddenly started offering her food out of the blue. They hardly exchange words, and now this?" Connie reluctantly admitted.
"I'll concede that it's quite unusual," Jean admitted, their attention returning to the still-frozen Sasha.
"Perhaps he's simply being kind?" Mikasa chimed in.
"Pfft? Floch? Kind?" Jean almost chuckled.
"Whatever it is, as long as Sasha's happy, that's what matters, right?" Eren suddenly remarked, drawing all eyes to him.
"Yeah, you're right," Connie sighed.
Once more, the table veered away from the subject of Floch's newfound peculiarity. As for Sasha, her euphoria gradually waned, replaced by an ache in her chest that left her fervently hoping for more of the redhead's kindness the next day.
The next day unfolded much like the one before: a blend of labor, idle moments, and the familiar journey back to headquarters. However, this time, Sasha sat at the mess hall with a sense of anticipation, eagerly awaiting Floch's appearance and the promise of another meal to elevate her spirits.
As if on cue, her eyes sparkled with excitement when she spotted him approaching, bearing a tray this time. Her chest swelled with curiosity, wondering what delightful surprise he had in store for her. He offered a small, warm smile as he placed the tray before her. Sasha leaned in eagerly, captivated by the enticing aroma wafting from the dish.
"Here you go, enjoy," he said before departing. Sasha couldn't help but notice his brevity in words lately, but she found solace in the fact that his food spoke volumes louder.
However, this time, there was a hint of disappointment in her heart. After yesterday's sumptuous meal, she had dared to expect an even greater culinary delight. On the tray before her lay a bowl of hearty lentil soup, a few slices of rustic brown bread, and a solitary apple. It wasn't as thrilling as a plate of succulent drumsticks, but it was better than nothing.
"Alright! Something's really wrong here," Connie declared, snapping Sasha out of her contemplation.
"Huh?" she turned to him, bewildered.
"Is something going on between you and Floch? This is just too suspicious to let slide." Connie inquired, and Sasha continued to gaze at him with a puzzled expression.
"Eh?" she tilted her head in confusion.
He frowned. "What?"
"I don't understand your question, Connie," she replied.
"What he means is that..." Armin interjected, seizing their attention, "Floch has been exclusively giving that food to you and no one else, so naturally we're all a little curious about what's going on between you two."
Mikasa turned to him curiously, "all of us?" She asked and he jumped in his own skin with embarassment before she turned to the confused girl. "Connie is curious if Floch's trying to get your attention with food, Sasha," Mikasa added, causing Sasha's brow to furrow as she shifted her gaze back to her meal.
"What?! I'm not curious, It's just weird that's all." Connie denied.
"Hmmm, he's right. Once is chance, twice is coincidence and third time's a pattern." Jean spoke as he finished eating his own meal.
"Trying to get my... attention?" she muttered to herself, she was the only one he was giving food to?
Suddenly, a wave of guilt washed over her. She hadn't considered it from that perspective. Worse yet, she had dared to feel disappointed by his acts of kindness, with her lofty expectations. Even worse, she hadn't thanked him properly for all the food he had given her. Sasha bit her lip, a troubled expression crossing her features. She turned to look for Floch but couldn't find him in the bustling mess hall. After that fruitless search, she decided that she could find him later and opted to pick up a spoon to dig into the steaming bowl of lentil soup.
With delicate grace, she dipped her spoon into the earthly concotion, capturing a spoonful of lentils suspended in the golden, velvety broth. As the spoon neared her lips, she paused, savoring the suspended moment, her senses alight. The first taste, a burst of flavors, rushed upon her palate. The lentils, plump and tender, surrendered their hearty essence with each bite, A chorus of warmth and comfort enveloped her, like a soft embrace on a wintry evening. The subtle tang of tomatoes, the earthiness of cumin, and the faint hint of smoky paprika intermingled in a tantalizing ballet.
A contented smile graced her lips as she continued to indulge herself, before the realization once again brought her out of the moment, leaving her with much to think about for the rest of the night.
Did this really mean Floch Forster liked her?
Sasha found herself wrestling with conflicting emotions throughout the following day. She hadn't anticipated that the mere notion of a boy possibly being interested in her would occupy her thoughts to this extent. It was somewhat stressful, especially for a soldier who had been thrust into the frontlines against gigantic flesh-eating cannibals. Relationships, she realized, were a different kind of giant altogether.
It wasn't that she hadn't encountered such situations before. During boot camp, she had garnered her fair share of admirers. Some boys weren't put off by her rural accent, which she desperately tried to conceal, or her strange unabashed love for all things edible. However, those interactions had never evolved into anything beyond one-sided crushes, and she had never reciprocated their feelings.
Those guys hadn't offered her free food with a warm smile, nor had they satisfied her hunger as he did.
This complexity left her in a dilemma. How did she truly feel about him? He was undeniably good-looking, especially now that he had shed that disheveled hairstyle that had once made his head resemble a bird's nest. He wasn't rude, yet not excessively kind either. His outbursts and attitude during the ceremony two years ago had been a one-time occurrence, and he had seemingly mellowed out since then, choosing to keep to himself and blend into the background most of the time.
That was until he started delivering her extra dinners.
Perched high amidst the towering trees of the giant forest south of Trost, Sasha let out a sigh. Their current location served as the backdrop for a training exercise, one that hinted at potential future operations. Sasha chewed on the inside of her cheek as she settled down on the colossal branch, her legs swaying gently. Her gaze roamed across the forest that enveloped her until it stumbled upon a rather unusual sight.
A dove, its feathers a pristine shade of white, landed on a nearby branch. It approached another dove of the same pristine hue, clutched a small offering in its beak, and presented it to the female counterpart. The exchange occurred as they delicately passed the morsel between their beaks, Sasha watched in fascination as the dove gracefully consumed the offering before the two birds remained closely seated to each other.
Sasha's background as a huntress made her quick to recognized the significance of what she had just witnessed. Nuptial gifts were a common occurrence in the animal kingdom. While some species relied on physical attributes and elaborate displays to court potential mates, others with more understated features leaned on the exhibition of efficiency during courtship to win over females. When a male sought to secure a mate, these offerings served as a means to establish a connection between the two counterparts and if the process was successful, it paved the way for the possibility of offspring.
Sasha's eyes widened to epic proportions as her face flushed crimson. Her mouth hung open, and a strangled noise escaped her throat as her brain forged an unexpected connection.
"Connie is curious if Floch's trying to get your attention with food, Sasha,"
What? What on earth was happening here? Was Floch genuinely attempting to win her affections through the medium of food? If that was indeed the case, then it was working—Sasha instinctively covered her face and stifled a scream, overwhelmed by embarrassment. She couldn't trust herself to speak, so she pressed her hand over her mouth and stared off into the distance, a look of sheer bewilderment etched onto her features.
In retrospect, she realized how joyous and excited she had been each time she saw him approaching with a tray of food. Her brain had formed an association between his presence and the anticipation of delightful meals.
Was this truly his way of expressing his fondness for her? Could she genuinely accept such an unconventional courtship process?
She... she could.
It was a practical arrangement, wasn't it? Whenever Floch appeared, there was food. While Niccolo had introduced her to the wonders of Marleyan cuisine, he wasn't always around. With her duties keeping her occupied and his restaurant now miles away, she couldn't enjoy those culinary delights as frequently.
Sasha cringed as she tugged at her hair in embarrassment. Was she genuinely comparing potential suitors based on their ability to provide her with food? What had she become—a cricket?
"Sasha!"
The sound of his voice shattered Sasha's reverie, causing her to jump in surprise. She recoiled, losing her balance on the branch and tumbling to the ground below. Swiftly, she activated her ODM gear and dangled from the branch, her heart racing as adrenaline coursed through her veins. She looked up to find him staring down at her with concern, their eyes locked in an unexpected moment.
"Are you okay, milady?" he inquired, his voice taking on a deep and charming tone that seemed to soothe her.
"W-what?" Sasha stammered, her cheeks flushing as she gazed back at him, utterly dumbfounded.
Floch's frown deepened at her perplexing behavior, his patience wearing thin. "I said, are you okay? What the hell happened?!"
"N-nothing, ya just startled me, t-that's all! Did'ya need something?" she replied as she climbed back up, her nerves preventing her from accepting his offered hand.
He gave her a questioning look before ultimately sighing. "We're done for the day. You were lost in your own world over here, so Captain Levi asked me to come get you. We're leaving."
Sasha's eyes widened briefly in surprise before she offered an awkward chuckle. "Oh! I- I see. Sorry."
Though he remained thoroughly confused, Floch couldn't help but let out a brief chuckle of his own. "You're strange, you know that? Come on, let's go."
With that, he leaped down and deployed his ODM hooks, soaring away. Sasha watched his retreating figure for a moment before she followed suit.
Yes, she was indeed strange.
But in this situation, she didn't mind it one bit.
Sasha belatedly realized that she had failed to express her gratitude for all the meals Floch had generously provided. She fought the urge to kick herself for the oversight.
Despite the nervousness surrounding the implications of his actions, she couldn't help but feel excited about what the evening held in store. Perhaps he'd offer her some succulent lamb chops, flavorful meatballs, or even some of that delectable sea chicken Niccolo had introduced her to during their time at the port. Her mouth watered at the mere thought.
Minutes stretched on, and Sasha's impatience grew. A part of her worried that he might not show up tonight. Her eyes darted around the mess hall, desperately searching for any sign of his arrival. Connie and the others seated with her noticed her behavior and immediately grasped what was running through her mind.
Jean let out a low whistle. "Potato girl's got it bad, huh?"
"I don't get it... it's just food," Connie frowned.
"It's cute. She's like a little puppy," Mikasa commented.
Sasha sighed in defeat and banged her head against the table, her cheeks pressed against the wood as a cloud of dejection hung over her. Armin gently patted her head beside her and offered words of consolation. However, a peculiar scent suddenly infiltrated her senses, sweet and tantalizing. She jolted upright, her head colliding with Armin's hand, eliciting a hiss of pain from him as he held his injured palm, steam rising from it.
"Floch!" she exclaimed, spotting him towering beside her with a broad smile.
Witnessing her elation, Floch offered a small smile of his own and lowered a plate in front of her. "Here you go, Sasha, some apple pie. Enjoy," he spoke before turning to leave once more.
She was nearly distracted by the overwhelming presence of the pie before her, but she quickly regained her senses, he wouldn't get away this time, she swiftly caught hold of his wrist.
"Wait!"
He turned around, curiosity etching his features. "Hmm?"
She released her grip and shyly averted her gaze, her fists nervously knocking together as her face flushed with heat. She struggled to form her words. "Uhmm, I... I uh... I wanted to say sorry... I didn't thank ya for all the food you've given me, so I wanted to say t-thank you!" she stammered, still unable to meet his eyes.
An incredulous chuckle escaped him, and he regarded her with amusement. "What, is that it?"
Confused, she looked up at him, a hint of a frown creasing her features. "Y-yeah?"
He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "Don't be sorry. As long as you're eating, that's all that matters to me, yeah?" He gave a small smile and then nodded in the direction of the others at the table before taking his leave.
Sasha was left in stunned silence, her gaze locked on the spot he had occupied moments ago. Slowly, she turned her attention toward the apple pie, tears streaming down her face as she savored each bite. Connie appeared as if he wanted to say something, but Jean held him back and shook his head, wisely deciding that touching this with a ten-foot pole was suicide.
Sasha had been uncertain about Floch's intentions before, but now she was absolutely certain.
This wasn't merely an act of courtship; it was a declaration of love.
Floch loved her.
Truth be told, she hadn't quite processed the entirety of the situation yet, but one thing was undeniable: he cared deeply for her. He wanted to ensure she had something to eat, and all that mattered to him was that she never went hungry. It couldn't be any more obvious. Sasha knew she had friends who cherished her— they sat right next to her— but she had never imagined that someone would love her to this extent. It brought tears to her eyes, and a warmth filled her chest as she savored the delicious pie.
She would need to reflect on this further, but if her future days were spent like this, she didn't mind giving him a chance. It would be like heaven on earth, just the two of them and all the food in between. Yes, that sounded absolutely perfect, a life beyond her wildest dreams. Her eyes took on a dreamy glaze as she pondered their potential future together, much to the concern of everyone at the table.
However, a certain thought crossed her mind— the image of the two doves.
Her face turned a deep shade of crimson, and suddenly, she began choking on the pie. Panic rippled through the group as Eren called out her name with worry.
Mikasa rushed to her side, performing the something something maneuver until she managed to dislodge the piece of pie from Sasha's throat. By the time Sasha regained her senses, she was left with a single, alarming thought, drowning out her friends' frantic shouts and concerns.
Sasha was definitely not ready for babies.
Sasha spent the majority of the following day avoiding Floch like the plague. Whenever it seemed like their paths might cross in the corridors of HQ, she swiftly changed direction. If they were standing together with a group, she made sure to position herself as far away from him as possible. When assigned a task with him, she completed it with minimal acknowledgment of his presence, and if he called out to her, she pretended not to hear him.
She didn't possess extensive knowledge about matters of attraction and relationships, but she had gleaned enough from her experiences in the wild and her understanding of the animal kingdom to realize that what might follow was definitely not something she was ready for. Receiving a few thoughtful gifts had been heartwarming, but entering into a mating ritual was undeniably too soon, especially considering it had only been four days. Besides, they were both soldiers with responsibilities to their kingdom (or nation?), so indulging in such activities and potentially becoming parents was out of the question.
Surely, he would understand, right?
A troubling thought suddenly intruded into her mind: what if he interpreted her nervous avoidance as rejection? What if, in her inner turmoil, she pushed him away inadvertently? The notion terrified her. If she were to miss out on the potential joys of being with him, she wouldn't know what to do with herself. She might even wither away and drown in regret, like some animals did, as her father had once told her.
She realized that she had to make a decision—soon—before things spiraled out of control. She needed to confront him, engage in a frank conversation, and reach an understanding. In the end, both of them could reach good terms, and come to a mutually beneficial agreement. Yes, she resolved to muster the courage to corner him somewhere and address the issue head-on.
Or perhaps not.
Sasha fought back the tears as she leaned against the table, with Armin by her side reluctantly patting her in an attempt to offer comfort while he kept a watchful eye out for Floch Forster.
She couldn't do it. Every time an opportunity arose, her legs turned to jelly, and her words tumbled out in a jumbled mess, barely coherent. Her frustration grew as Floch's impatience with her became increasingly evident. He would likely expect a decisive answer with his next offering, and she knew she couldn't continue avoiding the issue if she wanted to keep him.
She might end up losing him without even trying!
"Look out, here he comes again," Jean announced, prompting Armin to retract his hand. To their surprise, Sasha didn't move from her spot.
She heard him stop at the edge of the table beside her once more. Without bothering to turn and greet him, she remained with her cheek pressed against the table, wearing a frown. However, all her avoidance plans were tossed aside the moment the tantalizing aroma reached her nose.
This was... the unmistakable smell of...
"Meat!" she exclaimed excitedly, sitting up straight and turning in his direction with newfound energy.
Floch concealed his surprise at her sudden burst of enthusiasm and offered a small smile as he lowered the plate. "Yeah, you guessed it. Here you go, enjoy." He attempted to set the plate down but froze, his face reflecting a growing sense of confusion, as Sasha physically stopped him from placing it on the table. "Sasha?"
"I- I'm sorry, but I can't accept this. We— we need to talk first," she stammered nervously, inwardly struggling with keeping herself in check in the face of something as otherwordly as a thick juicy piece of steak.
"Huh? Talk about what?" Floch asked, his confusion deepening. He glanced at the other scouts seated at the table, and they all collectively shrugged.
"I..." she trailed off in uncertainty, her heart pounding rapidly. She took a deep breath before blurting out, "I wanted to thank ya for all the food you've given me."
He furrowed his brow. "Well, yeah you said that before, you're welcome that's my job."
"And I'm deeply flattered by it, really I appreciate what you do, it means so much to me! But I can't keep accepting your kindness without discussing these things first. It's just... we're moving too fast!" Sasha practically yelled, her voice echoing throughout the entire mess hall.
"S-Sasha, what the hell are you talking about?!" Floch snapped at her, exasperation written all over his face.
She squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and then shouted her next words directly into his face, her voice resonating through the hall for all to hear.
"I'm sorry, but I'm too young to have your babies!"
The entire mess hall fell deathly silent, the shock and disbelief palpable in the air, not a single noise to be heard other than the hushed choked out sounds that escaped Forster's throat. Floch stood there as stiff as stone, his eyes wide with horror, his mouth hanging open in sheer astonishment at Sasha's bold declaration. The other five people seated nearby were no better off, each wearing an expression of shock that mirrored his own.
"S-Sasha, what the fu—" Floch began to respond, but before he could complete his sentence, Sasha cried out and hastily retreated from the mess hall, inadvertently knocking the plate of meat from his hands in the process.
"I'm sorry, I just can't do it!" her voice echoed as she fled.
Floch remained rooted to the spot, barely registering the steak now resting on his foot. His face bore the same look of stunned horror as he watched her disappear from sight. Time seemed to stretch on endlessly as he slowly turned to face the gaze of everyone in the mess hall. He couldn't help but cringe at being at the center of such a scandalous declaration. His eyes met Commander Hange's disapproving look, and he could feel the weight of Levi's dangerous gaze. A whistle from Jean at the neighboring table drew his attention.
"Damn, you sure move quick, Floch," Jean smirked.
Floch chose not to dignify that comment with a response. He noticed the murderous glares coming from Mikasa, Eren, and Connie, causing him to furrow his brow again. He briefly craned his neck to look up at the ceiling, took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. Afterward, he knelt down to pick up the broken plate and the meat scattered on the ground.
As he finished putting everything back onto the tray, he sensed a pair of boots standing in front of him. Floch didn't dare to look up; instead, he resigned himself to his fate.
Floch Forster grumbled to himself as he continued to scrub the floors of the mess hall, Captain Levi had ordered him to clean this entire place until it was spotless, right after nearly kicking his teeth in.
He couldn't comprehend what the issue was with that girl, or where that sudden outburst had come from. All he did was give her food, so how did it get this bad in just a few days? He really couldn't grasp her at all, she knew she was strange, by god he did, he was there from day one to witness her little antics but he couldn't imagine it'd ever come to this point.
"I'm sorry, but I'm too young to have your babies!"
A faint tinge of red colored his cheeks as he thought back on it, what a foolish girl, what the hell possessed her to shout something like that? Now the entire regiment thought he was some kind of forceful creep. He sighed as he continued to scrub the floor, bidding farewell to the notion of sleep for the night. He'd be lying if he didn't notice how his gestures had been making her happy, Jean had teased him about it a couple of times beforehand. But it wasn't like he was trying to do anything inappropriate, it was just his job.
He was suddenly acutely aware of the footsteps walking up behind him, he flinched and turned around expecting the small menace that was Levi Ackermann but instead found none other than Connie Springer.
"We need to talk."
Floch squinted his eyes at him, "Look, whatever you're gonna say I've probably already heard it from the others, Commander Hange has already sat me down and told me not to sexually harass anybody."
"No, not that. I just wanted to know why you did it?" Connie shook his head.
"Listen I have zero clue what that girl's told you but I didn't do anything to her! All I did was give her food!" He hastily defended himself.
"Exactly, why?"
Floch blinked in confusion, "Huh?"
"Why'd you single her out? You could have given it to anybody else." Connie questioned.
"Well... It's because I knew she'd eat it, you know how she is... She could swallow an entire cow whole and still have enough room left in her stomach to inhale our yearly crop yield." Floch replied.
Connie blinked, not sure he heard right. "What?"
Floch glared at him, "What don't you understand about that? Look, we all have our jobs here, right? You teach new recruits how to use their ODM, Jean teaches them squad tactics, Sasha's got her own rifle training going, and people like me? We manage the provisions and the stables, keeping people well-fed and shoveling horse shit is just as important." He began to explain.
"And guess what? It's not as easy as it looks! Alright? Ever since we freed wall Maria and our territory expanded, our farmland expanded as well, and supply is finally matching the demand so things aren't that expensive anymore. Our contract with the Reeves company basically gives us a steady supply of provisions, but see, there's just a small problem."
Connie arched his brow. "Which is?"
"Well, two. The first problem is that we now have more damn food laying around to mold, so we end up needing to throw it away, and the second problem is that people are still so conditioned to poverty that they don't fathom the thought of asking for seconds. And guess what I end up having to do? That's right! Dump all of that stuff away!"
Connie suddenly gained a look of realization. "Oh my god, so you-"
"Yeah! Gave it to Sasha instead of letting it go to waste! And look where that got me!"
"Holy crap, that's..." Connie trailed in disbelief, before he brought a palm to his face and began chuckling uncontrollably.
"What's so damn funny?!" Floch grumbled.
"Sorry, sorry!" Connie waved away his concerns with an apologetic grin before his expression turned grave, sending a shiver down the spine of the redhead pinned beneath him. "Listen, buddy, you're in a bit of a pickle."
"Huh?"
"Sasha... she's got a real thing for food, you know? But more than that, she's a bit of an idiot. A few nights of you dishing out free chow, and suddenly, she's convinced you're head over heels for her and vice versa, all because you fed her obsession. She thinks you're courting her."
Floch sat there, stunned and immobile, processing this revelation. His gaze drifted to the ground, eyes wide with realization. The way she smiled at him, the way she behaved around him, how she avoided him in the halls, everything made sense now. "Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh' sums it up pretty well."
He looked back up, his eyes filled with uncertainty. "So, she believes I handed out all that food because I wanted to date her?"
Connie arched an eyebrow, a glint of danger in his eyes. "Do you?"
Floch winced. "I mean, she's not bad."
Connie let out a sigh. "Look, it's been two days, and she's down in the dumps. She's miserable wherever she goes. Between you and me, I hate seeing her like this, and since this is your mess, you better go clean it up. Otherwise, you'll have to deal with not just me, but Mikasa and the gang... including Captain Levi."
At the mention of Levi's name, Floch flinched. "Okay, okay, I got it."
Connie didn't relent as he watched Floch continue to scrub. A few moments later, Floch glanced up again with a frown.
"What, you mean right now?"
Sasha sighed once more, her gaze fixated on the stars above, an overwhelming sense of regret and disappointment settling heavily in her chest.
She had managed to ruin what had been the best thing to happen to her in quite some time. Why did she have to let her nerves get the best of her? Now everything seemed beyond repair, and she couldn't help but doubt whether Floch would ever want anything to do with her after their recent encounter. It meant bidding farewell to the extra food and any dreams she might have harbored about a future with the redhead. It was all her own foolishness, really.
She bit her lip, fighting back the tears that threatened to surface, almost pulling her hair out in frustration. All those extra potatoes, the pie, the meat she had accidentally spilled on his shoes – they were all lost to her now. "Whyyyyyy..." she whined, her voice a low, mournful sound.
Hugging her knees tightly to her chest, she gazed at the horizon, considering her options. Perhaps she could make up for it by working harder and securing extra food for herself. After all, hunters had to rely on their own skills in the wild; they couldn't expect handouts and still call themselves true hunters or huntresses. Sasha had made up her mind.
"Hey."
Sasha froze, her eyes widening in shock. Slowly, she turned her head to the left and found Floch standing beside her on the rooftop of their headquarters. He gestured to the empty spot next to her. "Can I sit here?"
She hesitated for a moment, briefly contemplating running away, but then decided against it, nodding in agreement. Floch sat down next to her against the wall.
"I, umm, had a little chat recently, very recent actually." he began, and Sasha bit her lip.
"I'm sorry Commander Hange reprimanded you because of me," she sniffled.
Floch shook his head. "No, it wasn't Commander Hange. It was someone else, a good friend of yours," he said, casting a sideways glance at her, a faint blush creeping up his neck. "They told me that...giving you food made you like me."
Sasha's face flushed, and she buried her face in the sleeves of her brown jacket. "I'm sorry," she muttered, her voice muffled.
"Stop apologizing. I'm sorry too," Floch admitted.
Sasha looked up at him in surprise, her confusion evident.
"I never thought that doing that would make you think I was courting you. To be honest, I wasn't. I just knew you enjoyed eating, and we had more food than we knew what to do with. So, I thought it would be a perfect arrangement, you know?" Floch scratched the back of his neck.
Her eyes dimmed slightly as she processed his words. "Oh."
"Yeah, 'oh,'" he repeated with a small smile.
"I was being stupid then, as usual," she mumbled, her self-deprecation evident.
Floch immediately chastised her, his tone firm yet gentle. "You're not stupid, don't say that. This is my fault as well. I didn't think it through as much as I should have, and I ended up hurting you... Well, to be honest, I was hurt more, but the point still stands."
Her mouth opened again, but Floch cut her off. "And don't you dare say sorry again."
They settled into an uncomfortable silence, the weight of the situation hanging in the air. Moments later, Floch reached into his pocket and pulled out a round piece of cloth, offering it to her. She gazed at the item in front of her face with curiosity before her nose detected a familiar aroma. "Take it."
Without hesitation, she accepted the cloth and unwrapped it to find a baked potato nestled inside, her eyes widening in surprise. "I might have just been giving you food before because it was convenient for us both, but I want this to be different. I thought about it... And well, I wouldn't mind reciprocating those feelings, even if they were initially misguided."
Her eyes lit up in awe, her mouth agape. "Floch, do ya realize what ya're saying?"
"Yeah, I guess I am. To be honest, maybe it's not the best time for these kinds of things considering the amount of work still left for us, both inside and outside this island. But, well... we only get to live once, right? If I plan to make it count then what the hell am I doing if I don't at least get to appreciate something in my life before some titan scoops me up?" He smiled that endearing smile of his, and she felt her heart flutter.
After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Well, that's only if you still want to have me, of course."
She didn't need words to convey her answer. Instead, she split the potato in half and offered him one part. He glanced down at the offered piece. "I take it that's a yes then?"
"Mhmm, now take half."
"...That's not half, and you've left yourself with only a quarter," he muttered, but he accepted it nonetheless.
"I- I know that," she stuttered.
Floch gave a crooked grin and inched closer to her. "Just shut up and eat," he said before pressing his half to her mouth. She was taken aback at first but soon eagerly began eating. Sasha leaned her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her as they continued to share the potato. Suddenly, Sasha buried her face in his chest with a burst of embarrassment.
"M-my mind still hasn't changed about what I said earlier, it's too soon for babies!" Her muffled voice reached his ears.
Floch chuckled and held her tightly. "Yeah, no worries, I'm not in a rush either, I haven't even met your parents yet. Besides, I'm already feeding one right here, and she's already giving me a massive headache."
Sasha smiled into his chest and held on tighter. "Good."
She decided that this arrangement would work perfectly well for now, as long as he kept impressing her with more gifts, preferably the edible kind.
As for Floch, he couldn't believe that a fucking baked potato got him a girlfriend.
The end, hope you enjoyed it! This idea was dancing around in my head for a while after I've seen a few readers on my main story wanting FlochXSasha, also that one story by 8MexicanJaeger called "Hunting for our freedom" as well as a few spanish FlochxSasha stories by Ale-Yeagerista that I had to translate in order to read lol.
Hope this wasn't too bad, this was technically my first attempt at romance since I haven't gotten to that yet on my other stories.
Anyway, thank you for reading and bye bye!