Chasing Ghosts [Attack on Titan](Wattys 2014 Winner)

Chapter thirty- six- Team work

Chapter thirty six

Petra smiled at me “Oh, I'm so happy for you.” She said. I chuckled softly smiling at the kind girl. Levi sat down next to me, he gave Petra an awkward nod. She smiled and greeted him Levi turned to look at me “So, I'm your friend now?” He said. Referencing what I had said the other night. I sat up to look fully at him “In a way you are, everyone is my friend in this Corp. It’s a family, some of us don’t get along but in the end we must work together to fight the Titans.” I said my eyes flickered in the morning sunshine poring though the window in streams of gold. “We all have a common enemy, so why fight each other.” That was a rhetorical question. He nodded slowly “I guess your right.” He sat up and stretched slightly clearly not as sore as I was.

Petra gave me a look, a sly little smile as to say ‘You've chipped off a rock in his walls, congrats’ I finished up the food quite quickly actually. I'd only eaten the tiny little bites of food last night, like a tiny sliver of salmon with some type of herb. It had been about the size of my thumb nail. I slumped back down to the table smacking my head against the surface in exhaustion. I started to drool on my arm actually, I was half asleep within a matter of seconds. Levi poked my cheek with his fork “Ehm…?” He asked prodding at my face again while Petra giggled quietly. “You look like you are about to die.” He said. I sighed “Try wearing high heels and dancing. Then you tell me how you feel.” I said Petra giggled. “I'd like to see that.” Levi let out a soft grumble of disbelief. “I'm sure you would.”

I blinked and listened to them. “What's that supposed to mean?” She said. I heard his chair creak as he leaned back. Keep in mind, my head was still buried in my arms. “I don’t need to spell it out.” He growled quietly. I sat up and looked at him “You an ass to everyone then?” I questioned him folding my arms and giving him a quiet glare. The trainee looked over at me “Yeah. I thought that was established.” I sighed quietly “That's just something else I'm going to have to try and rectify. Being an asshole won’t get you points with the ladies.” I pointed out. He clicked his tongue on the top of his mouth. “I'm fine.” I smirked “Then you're into guys?” I teased. He'd set that one up and made it way to easy. He snapped his head over to look at me “What!?” I laughed and flicked a little piece of food at his face. It smacked the bridge of his nose. “Hay, we're all adults here.” Petra said trying and failing to be serious.

I gave her a weak smile while Levi removed the specks of what I believed to be pancake off his face. I stood up “C'mon, Its time for attitude training.” I pinched Levi's cheek as I passed him. Chuckling softly as he batted my hand away we went up the steps and outside. The others were already working on simple maneuver tricks. Such as a flick of the wrist could be incredibly useful.  “I want to see if you've picked up anything over the past few weeks.” I said to Petra and Levi “Team work, use it. I want you two to work together to take me down.” I said putting my fists up and bouncing back and forth waiting for them to attack. Levi just stared at me like I was crazy, Petra blinked in confusion. “But-” she began. I cut her off “Just do it.” She sighed and looked at Levi offering him a weak smile but he ignored it. The boy launched himself at me kicking himself forward and going for a punch with his right hand. I saw this coming and dodged it as he flew past me I grabbed his jacket hem and tugged him back towards Petra the force caused him to choke slightly as he slammed into the dust next to the auburn haired girl. “I said, team work.” I growled.

Levi hacked and rubbed his neck as he got to his feet. He looked to Petra who waited, she smiled at him but he just nodded to her and they went for me at the same time. Without any words they seemed to be on the same wavelength. That was impressive the two flanked me. Petra on my left and Levi on my right. I jumped upward I was small so being nimble came easy for me. They rushed a second to late and I leapt up onto their heads. Petra and Levi were very close in size so I could land on their heads with my feet. They smacked their heads in to each other and both cried out in surprise. “You're fast!” Petra whimpered though rubbing her now bruised head.  Levi glared at me, a lump forming on his forehead. They turned on me again as I waited they tried another movement .Petra went for my legs while Levi jumped behind me grabbing my arms and holding me still. They got me this time, I could feel Levis hot breath on my neck. It gave me shivers. I smirked and let them believed they'd won. I felt Levi relax his hands and the second he did I head butted him using the back of my skull hitting the side of his face with my hands free and one attacker down I was able to jump away from the surprised Petra.

I landed a couple feet from them Petra was covered in dirt and a trickle of blood dripped out of Levis mouth. He rubbed it off, looking at the scarlet liquid then went for me again. On his own, he was easier to predict as he came towards me he was zigzagging across the dirt to try and make it so I lost focus on him. I'd seen this attack plenty of times, as he came up from my left I put my hands behind my body without effort I kicked him across the temple and sent him sprawling into the pile of now gawking Trainees.  I turned towards them “That is your lesson for today, without team work you'll end up dead. Or like him.” I gestured to the hunkering Levi who had his head buried in the dust in clear pain. I went to him and offered him my hand, he rolled upward actually quite suddenly and grabbed my waist with his hands catching me off guard he grabbed my left arm and twisted it behind me holding it so if I moved it would snap. I waited keeping a calm expression. “And yet again, the sly cat wins.” He hissed into my ear. I grinned “But the dog is smarter.” I said going along with this strange game of cat and mouse. With a quick twisting motion I turned towards him his arm now twisted and he found himself in the same position I'd been in. “One point for dog, none for cat.” I laughed into his ear. He frowned and I let him go. Petra was up now, dusting the dirt from her coat. She nodded to Levi and turned towards me. “Well, that was interesting.” She said teasingly clearly not sure how to react to me kicking the shit out of a past thug.

I shrugged going towards the door flicking my hair out of my eyes with my hand looking back towards them. Levi rubbing his jaw with his hand Petra running the dirt out of her face. “You should work on your teamwork. You'll need it in the long run.” I said simply returning inside with a click of the door.