eloquence ➪ aot oneshots + prefs

sparring // annie

quick a/n
hey! sorry guys, but this will be an
ANNIE X FEM!/NB! READER
because you would both need to sleep in the same barracks. if u use he/him or are a guy, sorry and i can write a dif version for u too? i dont think many guys read my stuff, but its cool ig if u do.
also, this is super short, and for that i do apologize.
anyway—
ily!
enjoy ur reading!

——

"Everyone get a partner!" the sparring instructor ordered. Everyone mostly turned to a person next to them, as we were really all friends. I wanted to join the Military Police one day, so my goal was not to kill titans but protect the capitol. Because of this, I had mostly focused on my hand-to-hand combat skills rather than titan-killing.

I turned to the girl to my left. I recognized her as Annie, the more quiet, solitary girl. As this was our second year of training, I knew everyone, including her. I nodded at her and she shrugged back grumpily. "Aw, come on Annie," I nudged her elbow, "I'm not that bad am I?" her cheeks turned pink and she looked at the ground. The embarrassment must've been contagious because I, too, felt my face heat up.

"Everyone come get a fake knife," the instructor called, "for both you and your partner! Then separate out here with them and you can begin practicing! Take turns being a bandit and a soldier!"

"I'll get it," I said, uncrossing my arms and starting toward the crate of wooden daggers. I picked one up and examined the edge as I walked towards the far side of the clearing where people trained. I knew Annie would want to go as far away from everyone as she could, and I wasn't wrong.

As I examined the fake blade, my mind got distracted. Why did I blush so much around Annie? I didn't think I had a crush on her... but she definitely blushed a lot around me, too...

"Ready?" Annie asked. I stood in front of her, hands at the ready. I had the wooden knife held out in front of me slightly, my other hand helping keep
my balance and protect my vulnerability.

"Go," I said. Annie held her fists just in front of her face and took a step back with one foot. Suddenly, her leg swung towards my ankles, but I stepped backwards and dodged the right-hook that I knew would be coming.

I didn't have a chance to be on the offensive just yet, but I was close. Jumping to the side, I grabbed her arm, as it wasn't entirely back into position, and put my other hand on her back. I started to flip her backward, but her leg caught me this time. She kicked my left leg out from underneath me, sending up both crashing to the ground.

Luckily for me, I landed on top. I kneeled with my legs on straddling of her stomach and held the wooden blade just in front of her neck. "I win," I smiled. Annie stared at me with wide eyes. Her cheeks were bright red, and I noticed mine, too, were flushing again.

On top of that, I still had my knees on either side of her stomach, leaning not far from her face. I cleared my throat and stood before extending my hand to help her up. She took it and I pulled her up, flipping the knife and handing it to her. "Uh... your turn." She nodded and took the dagger, leaving me to get ready with just my fists.

"Go."

I made the first move this time, swinging my arm to try grabbing her fist that held the wooden blade. She whipped her arm to the side, leaving my whole arm wide open. I realized what a terrible mistake I'd made. Annie was known for her signature flipping move, and I'd just set her right up. Thankfully, I knew how to counter it, but not enough to save myself entirely.

"Shit," I muttered under my breath as she grabbed my arm and swung me over her shoulder, kicking my feet out from under me in the process.

I kicked her ankle just before hitting the ground and caught myself so that I wasn't completely incapacitated once I hit the dirt. Because I was able to get up, Annie had no choice but to stop me. Not that she'd be able to, of course, because I'd startled her and taken the opportunity to sweep her legs out from underneath her, too.

Annie fell on top of me this time, he hands landing at either side of my head before she quickly adjusted to be kneeling at either side of my stomach and holding the blade to my throat. "I win," she mocked me.

"Didn't think I'd hear that from you," I replied, smirking.

"Oh, yeah?" Annie said, her cheeks turning pink. Was this really the same Annie who was quiet all the time? The one who was anti-social and rude?

"You just didn't seem like the type," I said, looking up at her, "and besides..." I grabbed her arm at the side of my head and the wrist that held the blade. I pushed with all my strength and flipped us both over so that I was above her now. She looked up at me, startled. "You haven't actually won if I tricked you."

——

"You, know, I technically won earlier," Annie said quietly as we walked back to our barracks the mess hall, "I would've just slit your throat and killed you if it has been real."

"But you didn't," I pointed out, knowing she was right, "Plus, I did trick you, didn't I?"

"No."

"Yes, I did," I punched her shoulder playfully and opened the screen door to our lodging. Just before she entered, I held out my foot to trip her, but she just glared at me and exaggerated stepping over it.

To my surprise, there wasn't anyone inside the barracks when we arrived. "Where is everyone?" I asked Annie as I leaned down and grabbed a t-shirt and shorts to sleep in from my trunk.

"Watching Jean and Eren fight," Annie replied. I stood up straight and turned to see Annie in just a bra and shorts, pulling on her sweatshirt. My cheeks and the tips of my ears burned and I covered my mouth, snapping my gaze back to the ground.

I looked away to hide my face from Annie, who was already changed and was now fixing her hair, as I walked towards my bunk. Annie slept above me on the top bunk, making me grateful she wouldn't be able to see my red face.

Annie walked towards our bunk as I sat down on mine. She started up the ladder, but paused for a moment, one foot still on the floor. "Uhm," she said, looking at me. I looked up at her, not exactly far from her face as she was right in front of my bunk, "Goodnight," she muttered.

I don't know where it came from, maybe from her obvious reciprocated feelings, or maybe our shared awkwardness, but I got a huge surge of confidence. "Goodnight," I sat up and quickly kissed her cheek, making my cheeks heat up yet again and filling my stomach with butterflies.

I also panicked slightly and squeezed my eyes shut. "WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!" I screamed inside my head, "THAT WAS SO INCREDIBLY STUPID Y—"

My thoughts were interrupted by something so terrible yet so amazing. I snapped my eyes open as Annie pressed her lips against mine and I almost fell backwards out of fear. After just a second, my eyes fluttered closed and I gave into the kiss, though I was still embarrassed beyond belief.

When I pulled away, Annie had one knee on my bed in front of me and was leaning just above my crossed legs, her hands on the mattress on either side of my waist.

I didn't have a chance to react, as Sasha came busting into the room, making the door bang against the wall. Annie jumped up and hit her head on the top bunk before flying up the ladder and into her bed above me.

"Oh—uh—sorry... did I... did we..." Sasha stuttered, sounding scared, "Sorry, we'll go..." she ushered Mikasa out of the room, but I stopped them.

"Nothing's wrong, you don't have to leave," I told them, my face flushing. To my relief, they turned around and came back in.

"You're sure?"

"Yeah," I said as I lied back down on my bed, "We're going to sleep, though, so don't be loud."

"O-okay," she replied nervously before walking over to her own bunk.

I don't think I've ever been more embarrassed in my life, and I wondered how much Sasha had seen. It was totally worth it, though.