Fight for Love (Attack on Titan/SnK fan fiction)

Fight for Love: Chapter 4

My eyes open themselves allowing the cruel morning sun to slice at my eyeballs. I squint my eyes until they are used to the light then I just lay there, motionless, and stare at the ceiling. Today is the day I have been dreading for weeks, my birthday. Groaning I roll over and face the wardrobe tears prick at the back of my eyes as I think about how this is the first birthday I will spend without my father, without going to the Survey Corps HQ inside Wall Maria just to run around and have fun, without the roses that he would give me for every birthday. I shake my head 'No I can't think like that' besides I have a morning routine I need to stick to.
Climbing out of bed I walk over to the wardrobe and change into a pair of dark grey sweatpants and a pink loose tee. I dig my hands around in the bottom of the wardrobe and pull out my running shoes slipping them on I step out of my room and bound down the steps to the kitchen where I will make a quick breakfast for the two of us.
The scent of scrambled eggs, gravy and biscuits, bacon and brewing coffee invades my nostrils and wraps around my stomach like a vise. Eagerly I make my plate and Erwin's and make us two cups of coffee. I sit Erwin's plate across from where I will be sitting an carefully place the coffee next to it. I quickly eat and down my coffee standing up I walk over to the sink and quickly do up the dishes. Drying my hands off on a dish towel I walk into the laundry room and switch it out before walking into the foyer and heading for the front door.
"Where you going?" Erwin's groggy and sleepy voice sends shivers down my spine.
I turn toward him and look at his sleepy state. His blonde hair is ruffled and in a state of disarray, his blue eye is foggy and dark from sleep. His black sweatpants hang loosely off his hips and his white tee is pulled up slightly giving me a peck of his perfect abs. I don't let my eyes trail to long as much as my eyes want to look at those delicious abs.
"Out for a morning run." I say keeping my voice strong and calm. Even though on the inside I'm giddy to get out of the house.
He nods then yawns," 'Kay." He mumbles sleepily. He turns toward the kitchen and groggily walks in. I hear the clatter of silverware on a plate before turning around stepping out into the crisp morning air.
I take a deep breath enjoying the feeling of the cold morning air slicing through my lungs. I do a couple stretches before hopping off of the porch and running down the dirt road. My feet slap against the dirt and my breath comes out in white puffs. The chill morning air claws down my throat and my lungs ache from it but, I enjoy it. The strain of my muscles the sting of of the morning air, everything. I make it to halfway down the road before turning on my heel and running back home. I walk into the house my lungs burning and head start to the kitchen for a glass of water. After I down a couple glasses of water I walk to the living room to continue on the book I have been reading recently.
With a sigh I flip through the pages of the book finally finding my place I skim down the page. 'The 13th Commander of the Survey Corps Erwin Smith created this long range formation type to stop casualties that are unavoidable outside the walls.' I read carefully while running a finger tip over the scar on my left hand. My mind flashes back to that day a couple months ago when I told Erwin that I fight for a different cause. Ever since then I have trained harder than before and even Erwin and Levi has helped in my training.
A throat clears from the door of the living room. I place the finger that I was using to trail my scar on the paragraph I just started on. Erwin is standing in the doorway a stack of papers are in his hands. His clothes are freshly pressed and his blonde hair brushed back his blue eyes spark when our eyes lock.
"Back from your morning run already?" Erwin asks.
"I only ran half the distance I usually do."
He raises an eyebrow at me,"Why is that?"
I shrug,"Didn't feel like running all the way to town and back."
He nods his head in understanding,"Yeah from there and back is usually and hour run all together."
I nod my head and and awkward silence falls in between us.
I can feel his eyes on me but, I keep my eyes locked on the page I am reading and pretend as if I am reading when in reality, I am watching him silently out of the corner of my eye.
He clears his throat again and slowly I turn my attention to him,"Well, today, I need to go to the new Survey Corps HQ and help with the last minute remodeling."
I raise an eyebrow,"Your acting as if you hate to leave me alone."
His eyes darken only slightly,"That's not it at all I was just telling you that I will be gone most of the day and won't be back until nightfall." His voice is slightly higher than usually and he grew defensive quickly.
I smile at him,"I was teasing you, Erwin."
I see the tension slowly come out of his shoulders,"Yeah I know." He whispers.
He sighs again,"I have some last minute paperwork I have to finish before I can leave and I was also wondering if you could saddle Buddy for me?"
I nod my head then place my book to the side,"I think I can manage that."
He smiles at me then turns and returns to his office and I can't help but think how he didn't wish me a happy birthday. I shake my head this is the Commander of the Survey Corps he has enough on his plate so I won't bug him with my birthday. I mean it isn't that major of a day anyway..
Buddy and Kurodayu neigh happily when they see me approaching the stables. I pat Kurodayu's nose and think about how, with Erwin gone, I can go to see my friends for a couple hours at least. I grin while saddling Buddy,thinking about it, then I lead him to the front yard where Erwin is standing with his hands in his pockets.
"Here you go." I say then hand him the reins.
"Thanks," he says then swings up on the horse.
"I guess I will see you tonight." I say.
He nods then turns Buddy toward the dirt road and kicks him to get going. I watch his back until it disappears in the distance I count off five minutes in my head before turning and running back to the stables. I quickly saddle Kurodayu then swing onto his back and click my tongue twice. Kurodayu launches out of the stables and I lead him into town and toward the refugee camp where my friends are waiting.
-Erwin's POV-
A couple soldiers run toward me as soon as I trot into the courtyard. I hop off of Buddy and hand the reins to one of the soldiers who takes Buddy to the new stables. The others following close behind him, I look up at the old castle and can't help but wonder if Sakura would like what we are doing to this old castle.
I watch soldiers swing around the old castle on their maneuver gear so they can reach higher windows and clean the outside while others clean the inner windows. The progress that has been made on this old building is stunning and we should be done with it but the time Sakura has to leave.
My throat closes up at the thought of Sakura leaving for training. I know, I know, that in those three years she will be changed drastically and I don't want that. Only recently has she decided to open up to me and when she leaves she will return to her colder and harsher self. She most likely won't even want to be close to me after those three years. I shake my head and scold myself for thinking like that she's eleven dammit! Not only that but, I knew from the beginning, that she will leave so, why now? Why am I dreading that the time for her to go is near?
With those thoughts swimming around in my brain I walk up the front steps and into the building. I head straight for my office which is on the third floor out of the five floors. Carefully I walk through the halls avoiding the 'Wet Floor' signs and trying not to bump into anybody.
Hanji steps out of a room on my right and her eyes widen when she sees me. Puzzlement is clearly plastered all over her features.
"Erwin?" She seems to ask.
"What is it, Hanji?"
She doesn't answer instead she matches my pace with her own and follows me through the halls. When I reach my office she walks in in front of me and takes a seat in front of my desk. The office is practically an exact replica of the one back at my house. While thinking of home Sakura's smile floods my mind and her laughter rings in my ears. Shaking my head to get her out of my head I take my seat behind my desk and fold my hands on top of my desk while staring at Hanji who is examining me closely.
"What are you doing here, Erwin?" She asks her face turns stern and she narrows her eyes at me.
"What do you mean 'what am I doing here?' I'm here to help the remodeling."
She shakes her head and places her hands on the desk and pushes herself up so she is standing,"Do you happen to know what today is?" She asks with a raised brow.
My eyes flick down to the calendar on my desk,"Thursday." I answer simply.
She throws her hands in the air a scowl plastered on her face,"Today is Sakura's birthday!" She yells.
My eyes widen and my heart drops at her words,"No.." I whisper while my hands fumble for one of the drawers in my desk. I jerk the drawer open and rummage around until I find Sakura's file. I pull it open and my eyes flash in between the birthdate on her file and the date it is today,"Oh my god. I forgot her birthday." I whisper, completely struck with surprise, once I regain my composure I sigh and close the file. I sit back in my chair my heart pounding and run my hands over my face.
"I can't believe I forgot her birthday." I say this time louder. My mind is buzzing and my heart can't seem to calm down.
Hanji shakes her head,"You are so screwed." Her eyes widen then she bursts out laughing,"Not like that though." She says and waggles her finger at me.
I smack my hand against my forehead and groan,"Hanji! Enough with the sexual jokes, please!"
She continues laughing then turns serious,"No, but, seriously go home Levi and I can handle the remodeling."
I jump to my feet and nod my head at her. With a determined pace I walk to the door, when I pass up Hanji she smiles,"Besides without you being here what could go wrong?"
I stop in the doorway and slowly turn toward her with a raised eyebrow,"Don't answer that!" Hanji exclaims and waves her hands in the air. I sigh and turn and walk quickly through the halls ignoring my soldiers that constantly try to catch my attention. I jog across the courtyard and into the stables where I almost instantly find Buddy.
I swing onto Buddy's back and lead him out of the courtyard and into town. 'I can't just show up and wish her a happy birthday I need to buy her something.' The thought swims through my mind and I agree with myself, as stupid as it sounds.
I near the market and my eyes dance over booth after booth. Not finding anything she will like my heart begins to fall when I near the last booths.
"You sir! Aren't you part of the Survey Corps?"
I turn my head at the last booth and see an old greasy man with a toothless grin smiling at me,"Why not buy this for someone special?" He says and picks up something silver that was laying on the table. My eyes widen as I gaze at it, leaning closer I examine it then my frantic heart changes from pounding with disappointment to pounding with hope and joy.
"Perfect." I say with a smile.
The old man's smile broadens and his greedy eyes spark,"I know it is, so, would you like to buy this one of a kind piece?"
Nodding my head I quickly pay for it and ask him to put it in a box and wrap it in golden paper. The old man hands me the box and smiles at me again.
"Pleasure doing business with you!" He says I don't reply, instead, I turn Buddy toward home and clutch the tiny golden box close to my chest.
-Sakura's POV-
"Happy birthday!" My friends sing in unison.
A blush creeps up my cheeks,"Thanks guys!" I say with a small smile.
I lean against the wall of the barn and gaze happily at my friends smiling faces. Armin takes my hand and gently pulls me to the ground to where all of us are sitting in a semi circle.
"Now don't get mad but, we got you a little something." Eren says and slides his hand in his pocket.
I open my mouth to say something,"Close your eyes!" Armin says with excitement clear in his tone of voice.
With a sigh of irritation I obey and close my eyes. I feel my left hand be picked up and my fingers being uncurled from around my palm. A light weight falls into the palm of my hand and I feel the familiar coldness of steel then the softness of leather. Furrowing my brow I try to think of what it could be before they tell me to open my eyes.
"Open your eyes." Mikasa says at my shoulder.
Slowly I open my eyes and look down at the palm of my hand. Sitting in the palm of my hand is a leather bracelet with three charms dangling off the leather. I pick it up with my index finger and lean closer to examine the charms. One of the charms is a bird that looks more like a dove, another one looks like two blades crossed over each other to make an X and the last one looks like a clenched fist.
"Each charm means something different." Mikasa says.
Armin nods and points at the bird,"A bird for freedom."
Eren grins madly and points at the blades,"Blades for killing titans."
Mikasa points at the fist,"A fist for strength."
I smile widely and turn the bracelet in the air and examine it at different angle before slipping it onto my wrist. I look up at my friends tears of happiness prickling at the back of my eyes, reaching forward I pull all of them into a group hug.
"Thanks guys," I whisper,"I love it I really do."
I pull back and smile at them,"Good to hear." Armin says with a smile.
"We have two months from this day forth." Eren says and an evil smile dances across his lips.
"Thanks for stating the obvious." Armin says then rolls his eyes.
I nod my head slowly,"Yeah, then we will be off for three years of training."
"We can do it though," Armin says confidently,"because we have each other."
I smile,"Exactly and when we have each other we can do anything."
Eren smiles an raises his fist we all knock our knuckles against his own.
Mikasa looks up at the sky and sighs,"You shoulder be leaving soon." She whispers.
I shake my head,"I can stay her-"
She rudely interrupts me,"If you want to get home a couple hours before Erwin does, then you should leave now." She says sternly.
"Mikasa!" Eren says with wide eyes.
"What is she going to do if Erwin ends up coming home early?" Mikasa snaps.
I sigh,"Don't fight guys. Mikasa's right I should go."
I stand up and hug each of them individually saying my farewells. I step back my eyes trailing on each of them.
"See you later, Alligator." Armin says.
I give him a small smile,"In an hour sunflower."
We nod at each other then I turn around and walk to Kurodayu who is waiting patiently for me.
****
The worn leather of the book calms me a bit as I settle into the couch returning to my previous page. While reading my hand goes to wrist where I fiddle with the bracelet that my friends got me. I only read about fifteen pages when I hear a neigh and a stomping on the porch. The door is jerked open and a panting Erwin is standing in the doorway.
Worried I close the book and sit upright. Erwin's eyes flicker to mine and I see relief flood in them, his hands are behind his back and he walks into the room with his back straight.
"Erwin?" I ask.
He kneels down in front of me so we are at equal eye level his eyes examine my own before he slowly opens his mouth and speaks.
"You know that in two months you will be leaving for training, right?" There is a slight infliction in his voice giving away nervousness.
I raise an eyebrow wondering what he is getting at then slowly nod my head. He continues,"You will endure three years of very tough training and...I believe you have the strength to do it. The strength to make it into the Survey Corps." Now it just sounds like he is babbling almost like he is trying to talk away his nervousness.
"Erwin? What is going on?" I ask my voice high with worry.
He sighs,"I guess what I am trying to get at is.." His hands now move from behind his back and sitting in them is a small golden wrapped box,"Happy Birthday."
My eyes widen at the sight of the small box,"You remembered." I whisper.
He slowly nods his head and gives me an uneasy smile,"Yeah, and I feel like an complete idiot for forgetting."
Smiling I reach forward with shaky hands and take the box from him. Our fingers brush ever so slightly and a small bolt of electricity shoots up my arm at that little amount of contact. My eyes glance to his and I see his eyes widen from it. 'So he felt it too.' I set the box in my lap and gently pull on the golden paper until it is sitting around me in shreds revealing a small white box. Curious as to what it is I pull the lid off and remove two layers of white tissue paper.
Sitting in the box is a silver necklace with a Wings of Freedom pendant sitting on the silver chain. Happiness blooms in my chest at the sight of the necklace slowly, I pull the necklace out of the box and dangle it in the air before me.
"Do..do you like it?" Erwin's voice is shaking slightly.
I smile wide,"I love it." What I said was true I truly fell on love with the necklace.
He smiles widely,"I'm happy to hear it."
Our eyes lock and my heart skips a beat at the intensity of the stare. We stare at each other for what feels like hours but is probably only a couple minutes. Breaking the stare, I reach up and brush my hair away from the back of my neck and move to put it on when Erwin places his hand on mine, stopping me.
"Can I put it on you?" There is a small spark of hope behind those blue eyes when I nod.
Swiftly he stands up and gently takes the necklace from my hand. He walks around the couch and stands directly behind me. My heart is pounding so fast and hard I fear he might be able to tell when he lowers the necklace onto my chest. I feel his fingers brush against the back of my neck sending a shiver down my spine, he clasps the necklace, but, he doesn't move his fingertips from the sensitive skin at the back of my neck. I drop my hair down to cover the clasp and to provide a curtain in between Erwin's fingertips and my skin. His touch does nothing to calm my heart and only makes it go even more haywire.
I look down at the pendant thinking about how his touch seems to always send my heart racing. I'm so out of it I didn't realize Erwin was now standing in front of me. My eyes slowly trail up his body to his own blue eyes.
I put my bottom lip in between my teeth and nibble on it slightly as we stare at each other. His eyes flicker down to my lips and darken only a couple shades he reaches forward and pulls on my bottom lip causing it to come out of my mouth.
"Don't do that." He says his voice is gravelly almost hoarse.
I furrow my brow in confusion,"Why?"
He shakes his head,"Just don't. Please."
In confusion I slowly nod my head agreeing but only slightly.
"Well, I have some more paperwork to finish and...um...yeah, Happy Birthday."
I raise an eyebrow watching him walk out of the room. I have never seen Erwin stumble over his words like that, never. My fingers dance across the smooth edge of the pendant a smile tugs at my lips. At least he remembered even if he was a little late.
----A/N----
So did you like this? Huh? Huh? Well I need to say something real fast. First off I feel like this story is a little all over the place and I apologize for that but, in the next update, it will level out mostly because the next update is when Sakura will go for training. Second after the next update it will time skip to when she gets recruited which will be early because of her being the number one trainee in her class she gets to be recruited two months early. And that's about it! Sorry again for it being a tiny bit all over the place.
So! Comment, Vote and of course Fan!