Rivals (OC X Levi Ackerman)

Chapter 20

I head downstairs for breakfast in the mess hall, and look around. I wasn't sure where I belonged. My new squad weren't here yet, but I wasn't squad Levi anymore.

Just as I think that, Jean notices me and pats the space on the bench beside him. I smile faintly at him and put my breakfast on the table, sitting down quietly.

The table erupts with cheers, and I feel tears well up in my eyes.

Jeans puts an arm around me, squishing me in for a side on hug, but my focus is all on the silent face opposite me.

"Levi," I say, in my most enthusiastic voice.

"Freyja." He responds, and continued to drink his tea.

"How've you been? I've not seen much of you recently."

"Same as always."

"Square one, huh?" I ask, the tears returning to my eyes, but I fight them.

He looks up from his tea.
"What?"

"..nothing, sorry." I reply, and he cocks an eyebrow.

"Congratulations on your new squad." He says, flatly, but I know he means it.

"Thanks. Word travels like wildfire, eh?"

"Especially with Hange's giant mouth." He replies, and I cackle.

His expression softens, and though I felt our interaction being watched by the rest of squad Levi, I ignored it and enjoyed the moment.

"How's the head?"

"Huh? It's been healed ages. Bit of hair loss where the scar is, but it's covered, so, it's fine."

Everyone appeared to be listening to me as I spoke about it, and it made me uneasy.

"Right." Levi replies.

I finish my breakfast, and feel the screeching noise creeping up on me as I put my tray away. No, no. Not now.

My knees go weak, and my vision goes dark, slowly. I hear footsteps, and feel my heart race. I don't know who's they are, or what's going on. As I feel my legs might give way, two strong hands firmly grip me and hold me upright.

I struggle against the grip.
"Get the hell off me." I hiss, hitting out. I hear a grunt, but the grip on me just tightens.

"I know you don't like it. But it'll be over in a few seconds. Just tough it out."

It's Levi's voice.

I calm a little, and get my vision back. I get the strength in my legs to stand without his support, and I smile faintly at Levi.

Dammit, what's happening to me?

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

As I turn to leave, I feel the whole mess hall looking at me. It pissed me off a little, but I could handle it.

That is, until I see four unfamiliar, bewildered faces staring back at me.

Oh, shit.

"Uh, and that, over there, is Captain Meyer. Your Captain." Hange says to them, as reassuringly as possible, but they don't look convinced.

I take a breath and shake their hands, giving them a faint smile. Only Sophie returns the smile. Elias looks wary, Amara angry, and Tobias looks outright scared.

"I get like that before my morning coffee." I joke, but they don't smile. "Whew, tough crowd." I continue, trying to get them to talk.

I feel Levi watching me, and know I have to get this squad's approval.
"Well, for better or worse, you guys have proved yourselves. This is an elite squad, congratulations."

"There's not even titans anymore." Amara retorts, and I shoot her a glare.

"That's what you think. While we're scouting out the vast forests, mountains, lakes, there'll be an abnormal hiding. Waiting for you. And it'll rip your head off. Don't get comfortable." I say, and she sighs.

"You're refreshing."

Sophie looks horrified, so I wink at her, and she relaxes.

"You don't need more scare tactics, Freyja. You already punched the strongest soldier in front of us." Elias says, folding his arms.

"If you want to be a captain so bad, Elias, stop acting like you're one already. No ones likes a cocky little bastard." I hiss back at him, and everyone goes quiet.

He smiles faintly.
"There she is."

"Huh?"

"We all heard the story of a strong female captain who led an MP squad, then joined the scouts for love." Sophie says, with a grin.

I feel my cheeks flush.
"Uh, no. Your knowledge is flawed. Definitely not for love. For my career."

"But you took a demotion," Elias replies.

Tobias interjects.
"And the report said you threw yourself into battle just to prote-"

"Enough!" I yell.

They go quiet, and I give them a big smile.

Tobias messes with his glasses, and looks at the floor, while Elias does his best to intimidate me with a stare.

"Stop fucking with me, and I'll teach you what I know, look after you, and love you like my own babies. Are we all clear?"

Sophie nods with a smile, Tobias grunts, Elias sits back in his seat with his arms folded, and Amara bows her head slightly.
Eh, good enough.

"I want to be friends. But that can't work if you don't behave. No banter until I like you. You earn the privilege to chat back to me. And so far, Sophie, you're my favourite."

She goes red and smiles.

"So what are you all good at?"

"Fighting." Elias says.

"Teamwork!" Sophie practically cheers.

"Strategy." Tobias says, adjusting his glasses.

"Everything." Amara mutters.

"Okay, that checks out. You gjys know your strengths. What are we bad at?"

"Nothing." Amara immediately replies.

"Not crying," Sophie says, sounding disappointed.

"I probably need work on hand to hand." Tobias admits.

"I admit, I'm strong, but not the most agile." Elias says.

"And you're an idiot." Amara retorts.

"And you're a bitch." He hisses back.

I can't help but snort, and burst into fits of laughter. I felt a warm come over me, the same that I felt with squad Levi.

Even my squad looked surprised, but smiled along with me.

"Okay, let's go get better accquainted in the training grounds. I have some humbling to do." I say, and get to my feet.

I notice Levi giving me a glance of approval, and I do my best not to let my body smile on the outside.