Pluviophile | Levi Ackermann × Reader |

|Chapter 26|

I was outside, throwing punches at the training dummies located in the empty dirt clearing beside the Headquarters. I drove the heel of my boot into the face of a smiling mannequin, watching as it's ridiculous grin didn't falter even after the kick. I couldn't get feedback from it, unsure if my moves were even affective.

"Having trouble?"

I turned.

"Goodmorning, Captain," I fixed my stance, no longer prepared to swing at the dummy anymore. "And no, I am doing perfectly fine, thank you."

"Really? Because you look constipated with the way your face scrunches when you attack that thing."

"Gee thanks," I said. "Your words of encouragement do wonders!"

The sarcasm reached him as I went to kick the mannequin again, but he stepped in front of me and caught my leg mid-air. He held it up while I stood perplexed.

"What are you doing?"

"Helping," He said as he twisted my leg and threw me to the ground, dirt scuffing up my shirt.

"Wow," I groaned, feeling a sharp rock poke into my spine. "Do you mind warning me next time?"

"A good soldier doesn't need to be warned," He rose to his feet, helping me up by my hand. "A good soldier is always prepared-"
He used his leg to sweep under my feet, knocking me to the ground yet again. He stood over me, a cocky smirk puppeting his face. "See?"

"Real funny," I said, moving out from under him and getting back on my toes. "Now if you plan on actually helping me train instead of toying with me, get over here." I placed my fists up to guard my face, a foot sliding back behind me to gain my balance. "Show me what you've got."

He enlightened my invitation by ducking underneath my fist, wrapping his hands around my arm and wrenching me to the side. I nearly lost footing, but spun with him to decrease the force and then attempted to use his own move against him- But he was too good.

He heaved me over his shoulder, throwing me to the ground, placing a foot on the palm of my hand to keep me down while he stood overhead.
"Easy."

"Sure," I said, using my freehand to pull his leg off balance, rolling over on top of him to pin him down. "Familiar?" I winked.

"Hilarious," He said curtly. I let go of him, rising to my feet and grabbing a waterskin to drink from. It was getting hotter every day, I couldn't even remember what snow felt like.

After I took a big gulp, I tossed it over to Levi who caught it swiftly in the air. He put his lips around the nozzle and drank from it, water slipping out and sliding down his neck.

I recalled what he looked like fresh out of the shower, shoving my foolish thoughts to the side while trying to remain calm. The spring weather lapped against my cheek hotly, making it even more difficult to conceal my blushing, yet hid it all at the same time.

I panned my gaze over to a figure in the distance.

Harlin.

Levi noticed my displeased staring, walking over and sitting down with me on the dirt, surprisingly not caring about getting his trousers messy.

"Something on your mind?"

"I can just tell he's going to start talking to me the second he sees me," I annoyingly spoke, watching how Harlin latched his gaze onto me and waved over in my direction. I withheld my disamusement.

Harlin trotted over, an overly friendly buzz circling around him. "Section Commander!" He deliberately ignored Levi sitting beside me. "We seem to keep running into each other everywhere."

"Yup," I hummed, eye twitching when I smiled fakely. "Sure do."

"It really must be fate," He placed his hands on his hips. I coldly remained silent. He wavered. "Y/n," He finally said my name, sparking my attention. "Do you dislike me?"

He said it in such a saddened manner I could see straight through him as if he were a panel of glass. He was trying to make me feel bad!

"No," I responded stiffly, not wanting to hurt his feelings nor feed into his fantasies. Levi was listening, going back and forth between looking at us.
"I'm just a very discreet person and don't enjoy talking."

Levi snorted, telling me he thought otherwise. I was always rambling on around him, never shutting up or even caring to be more formal with my word choices.

"Then can I interest you in dinner tonight? We could even go out into the town-"

I cut him off without sparing his heart. "I'm not interested."

"But-"

"Buddy," Levi scoffed. "She's twice your age, and already seeing someone. Why don't you go find some other kid who actually reciprocates your feelings?"

"Seeing someone?" Harlin wasn't in a cheery mood anymore, fumbling his fingers against his thighs.

"Yeah," Levi said lowly. "Me."

"So the rumors about what happened in the Mess Hall were true..." He pushed his gloomy aura away, clearing his throat. "I see. I'll take my leave, I humbly apologize," Harlin walked away.

"Twice his age?" I asked Levi, angry with his word choice. "I'm not that old!"

"You're younger than me," He said. "If anything, I called myself old."

"By a few measly years," I pinched his arm between my thumb and index finger. "But you're not old. At least you don't look it."

"Ah, right," He began. "Because I'm beautiful," He quoted my compliments. I chuckled.

"I feel unattractive compared to you, yknow. It's like I've got some sort of seat to fill!" I fell into his lap, watching the clouds travel ever so slowly through the sky. Levi looked down at me with an exasperated sigh.

"Your looks are the least of my worries if you must know," Levi said. "But you're still pretty."

"Do you really think that?" I asked. He nodded. "Then prove it."

"That's not going to work on me anymore," He pinched my nose. I frowned. "Aw."

I sat up. "Why don't we go out instead?" I said, remembering how Harlin had offered to take me into the town. A certain object sparkled in my mind, giving me and idea. "There's somewhere I want to go."