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

Chapter forty-six- Strawberry swing

Chapter forty six

I awoke the next day to the sound of rain, loud rain. It snarled down my window and splattered onto the dusty ground turning the garden to a thick puddle of brown mud. I dragged myself out of my bed and fumbled with my jacket pulling It on over my white blouse. I trampled downstairs, tripping over myself. I was tired, no beyond tired. It was one of those days were I didn't feel like doing anything. As I went down the steps I heard a chattering from the sitting room, I stumbled into it using the wardrobe to support me. Erwin was musing over a blue print, talking to Tamaki actually. The brown haired boy pointed at the chalk markings. “This would make the color of the smoke brighter, so then the warning signals could be seen though the clouds.” He said. Erwin folded his arms straightening up. “How do we know they will work? I don’t want to invest more money and have it go to waste.” He said, Tamaki tapped at the blue fabric with his index finger. “They are specially made, that caliber part of the gun holds more smoke bombs and it creates a brighter color easier to spot.” He explained.

I got bored and wandered down the hallway towards the mess hall. The groups where down there laughing and talking. I went to sit down next to the others, Ackerman was nowhere to be found.  I blinked as I sat down “Where’s Levi?” I asked Petra. She looked up at me from her cup of tea. “Oh, he didn't tell you…? He went out this morning for training.” I nodded “I should go find him, its not safe to use the gear out in the rain.” I went to get my stuff and I pulled my emerald cloak over my head and gear rushing outside as the rain pelted me violently. I saddled up Lullaby as quickly as I could. I'd forgotten to ask where he went, but I assumed he would be in the forest not far from here. I kicked my horses sides and off we went down the path towards the giant trees. We reached the forest and I dismounted my horse going to the edge of the overhang and using my gear to maneuver though the forest easier. The roar of my motor should be enough for him, I soared though the trees as the water poured though the branches turning the forest from a musty green to a beautiful emerald.

Suddenly I felt something grab my wire and I was yanked forward I struggled with the swords at my sides eventually yanking them out as I came face to face with my capturer, more like… blade to blade. My blades where at his neck in a double cross stance, one movement could decapitate him…. I got a good look, his matted wet hair, and wild steel eyes. I almost didn't recognize him. “Levi.” I grumbled, removing the weapons from his neck. “Don’t pull on someone’s wires.” I scolded him. He chuckled softly “Well, I didn't know who it was.” He moved his wet hair from his eyes. I rolled mine at him “What are you doing out here.” He shrugged “Training, I plan on beating you in the skills area.” He said chuckling quietly jumping from the tree. I followed him as we flew down the side of the massive plant. Water splashed off my jacket and face. It was refreshing, the sky was a dark silver and the ground had several puddles at the bases of the trees. I followed him down the trees as we zipped about them in circular motions.

The forest had a lovely sent to, I’d never noticed it. The world after rain almost, like all the pain had been washed away and the happiness was replenished. He stopped and I almost collided with his back. “Hay!” I cried stopping inches from his back, we hung there our wires keeping us off the ground he pointed towards the forest floor “Look.” There was a very interesting sight down on the ground, among bright green grass and yellow flowers stood a beautiful white deer. I'd never seen anything like it, the stage nibbled at the grass and looked up at us, its blue eyes reflected the rain droplets that fell from the sky. “What… is that?” I whispered to the boy at my side. He shifted against the wires holding us aloft. “I think its an albino deer.” He said we rocked there among the trees watching the creature watching us. Eventually it stopped eating and galloped off into the forest, Levi took off after it and I followed him through the thick trees and branches. Keeping my eyes on the creature as it danced among the weeds and sticks, dodging each obstacle like it was nothing. I soared ahead of Levi and kept my eyes locked on the alabaster stag. It bounded into a thick knot of trees and I skidded upward avoiding the tangle of sticker bushes. I jumped up above where it had gone and we looked out into a little circle among the trees, a break in the clouds illuminated the miniature valley.

The white deer stopped yet again and looked up at us as we stood on the branch looking down into its home. The creature wandered to a thick stream cutting though the patch of grass, dew hung to the grass and clung to the delicate hooves of this majestic creature. It stopped by the water’s edge and slowly waded into the rushing stream. It crossed it and looked back at us for a final time then vanished into the line of dark trees on the other side. It seemed almost the second it touched the dirt on the other side that the rain started up again.

Levi was completely drenched in water, I was soaked to the bone. “Alya and Levi, the expert deer hunters.” He joked. I laughed softly turning back the way we'd came. “Let’s get out of here, I'm cold.”  He nodded following me as we bounded back towards the headquarters.  I skidded to a  stop by my horse as the rain picked up, Levi had a worried look on his face “What’s wrong?” I asked. He gazed at the dark gray sky “I hate thunderstorms.” He said. I raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing “Fine, let’s get back then.” He nodded in agreement, fetching his horse we were off riding back towards the headquarters in silence. We reached the headquarters and de-saddled the horses, covering them in blankets as the poor beasts were cold to the bone. We went inside and stumbled up the steps leaving puddles where we went, I threw my wet clothes into a basket in the corner, changing quickly. As I walked out of the door a snarl of thunder boomed from above and I looked up the steps going towards Levis room. I knocked, knowing he hated thunderstorms.

No one else was in there, everyone was training or eating… or goofing off. I pushed the door open and went to the corner of the room, Levi was huddled on his bed under the covers. I laughed softly “Oh wow. Mr. Brood is scared of thunderstorms.” He said nothing keeping his head buried under the white blankets. I sat down next to him “C'mon, its not that bad.” He sat up very slowly looking at me “You know that, Ferlan and Isabel died during a thunderstorm…” he trailed off moving to the edge of the bed and hanging his legs over the edge and leaning his head in his hands. “I still miss them, and every time a thunder storm happens I can’t help but think of… that moment.” He sighed quietly keeping his head buried in his hands. I blinked tipping my head, I'd seen many fine soldiers die over the years but never anyone I actually liked. I touched his shoulder with my right hand, very softly. “Its alright to morn you know.” I said quietly. He looked at me threw his fingers “I know, and I did that. I never  thought I would lose them, we'd been a team for as long as I could remember.” He sighed quietly. I put my chin on his shoulder taking his hand in mine. “Well, you made new friends. Its possible we could die any day, death is inevitable. It'll happen, even if we don’t want it to.” I explained. “So, don’t let yourself fall into a dark abyss of sadness when you lose someone you love.” I said. He looked up at me, and very slowly moved his face next to mine.

“Your right.” He whispered “Maybe… I'll find someone else to love.” He gazed into my eyes and I felt myself blush, was he talking about me!? Oh god, oh god. What do I say. I opened my mouth just a smidge, and he moved very suddenly….

And… he kissed me.

AN

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FIRST KISSSS<333 OMG.