Hate's a Type Of Love (Jean X Reader)

11.

Day 5 Late Morning

Reader POV

I woke up to Jean shaking my shoulder gently after the sun was already up in the sky. I groaned quietly and opened my eyes, pushing myself to sit up as I lamely swatted his hand away from me. The day before had been rough and I still wasn't fully recovered from whatever sickness I'd caught, but I was feeling significantly better thanks to Jean letting me sleep away most of our fourth day. The extra rest, fruit, and fish really helped out. "We should pack up and start heading back to the entry to the forest. Shadis told us all to meet back up before dinner time to end our survival test." Jean said plainly, leaving me to wake up properly while he began to pack up his backpack. "Ooh, I'll get to sleep in a real bed tonight. Being sick out in the wilderness really sucks." I complained with a lame chuckle that Jean returned. "I'm sure it does. It wasn't very enjoyable for me either. I had to find Armin and be around that maniac, Eren." I rolled my eyes and got out of my sleeping bag to begin packing up my things as well. It would be a long trek back and the sooner we got going, the sooner we would arrive back at the training grounds.

Once we got everything inside the tent packed up, we took the tent down and collected our fish trap along with some more blueberries from a nearby bush we'd found for the journey back. "I'm going to fill up the canteens again. I'll meet you at the top of the hill." Jean called over his shoulder, already slinging his backpack over his shoulders and walking off to the stream with both our canteens. I didn't really have much choice in the matter it seemed, so I decided it would be faster and less of a hassle to just listen to him. When I saw him crouch down by the stream, I turned around and picked up my backpack, putting it over my shoulders and walking off toward the steep hill that we would have to climb to get out of this clearing. Still being in recovery from a sickness didn't help with the intense climb. It was certainly much easier going down this hill than it was going up, but I did eventually make it, only almost falling twice.

At the top of the hill, I leaned against the nearest tree to catch my breath and wait for Jean to join me so we could continue on. He didn't take long. And he was barely out of breath when he reached the top of the hill and walked past the tree I was leaning against. Damn him. "You alright? Need some water before we start the walk?" He questioned, holding up my canteen as a gesture and I reached out to take it rather than replying to him. I opened it up and took a small sip then closed it and handed it back to him to carry. "Thanks. I'll be fine, let's get going. I want to get back so we can be done with this test." He gave a simple nod in agreement and we were off on our way with Jean using the compass and map to lead the way. Our pace was slower on our way back than it had been on our way into the woods at the beginning of this test but that was to be expected. We were both a little tired and I didn't want to overexert myself and bring back my fever from the other day. I'd rather get over it fully and be healthy again thanks.

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Day 5, Late Afternoon

Jean POV

Our walk from the campsite back to the training grounds was much slower than I had first anticipated. (Name) had looked a lot healthier when we were packing up but her pace was slow and we had to make frequent stops so she could catch her breath or have a small snack or drink. I didn't mind, truly, but I felt bad for her. I couldn't physically carry both of our backpacks and ODM gear cases. I was already carrying both ODM gear cases strapped to my backpack and I'd put as much as I could possibly fit into my bag so hers would be at least a little lighter. But it still was added weight she shouldn't be carrying while still in a weakened state. I'd voiced my concern a couple of times but she'd just waved it off and said it was fine. I could tell from how exhausted she looked as we finally approached the fencing outside the main training area that she wasn't fine. But at least now we were back and could unpack and meet with everyone else for debriefing before dinner. I was looking forward to a nice hot meal and I had a feeling (Name) was too.

"Jean, (Name)! You made it back just in time. You're the last group to come back." Marco called as we got close enough to make out the large group of other cadets gathered in the training grounds. I smiled a bit as he came trotting over to us with Bertholdt trailing behind him. "Hey, Marco. We're last? Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised." I laughed a bit and Marco seemed slightly confused. "What happened? You both look okay but it's weird for you to be so late getting back from something like this." Marco pointed out, worrying over nothing really but it felt good to know my best friend was worried about me. "Oh, well, (Name) got sick during the test. I didn't want to push her too hard while she's still recovering." I barely got to finish before I felt an elbow hit my arm lightly. "I'm right here, y'know." (Name) huffed at my talking about her as if she weren't standing right there. But I didn't get to apologize as Marco took her attention. "You were sick? That's a shame. Well, I think after the debrief from Instructor Shadis, we should be getting dinner so you'll be able to relax then. Come on. Let's go get in line with everyone else."

I sighed but followed after Marco and Bertholdt to the line they'd been in before to wait for Shadis to come out and address everyone. (Name) stuck close to me as we stood and waited. Thankfully, the wait wasn't too long and Shadis kept the speech short and to the point, congratulating Mikasa's group who made it back to the training grounds first and announcing that other placements would be announced and rewarded later tomorrow. And with that, it was dinner time. Shadis dismissed us to the mess hall and even (Name) made a mad dash for it along with everyone else, myself included. I got in line as soon as I entered the mess hall and even though it took a while to get through the line, I was very happy to have a proper, hot meal that wasn't fish for the first time in nearly a week.

With my tray of food in hand, I made a b-line for where Marco sat with (Name) and Conny. I placed my tray on the table beside Marco's and across from (Name)'s then sat down on the bench to begin eating. "So, Marco, how did it go with Bert? Must have been a tight fit in the tent with how tall he is." (Name) chuckled, just trying to make some small talk as we all ate our dinners. Marco set his spoon down in his bowl of stew and smiled over at her. "It went well. We found a great place for the tent in a flat clearing surrounded by thick undergrowth that we had to cut an entryway into. It kept the wind out and we had a great view of the stars. It wasn't too far from a stream either."

I didn't really pay attention to the rest of his story, just enjoying the comfortable feeling of being back inside a building surrounded by my friends as we ate a bland but hot meal and chatted about each other's day. I felt a bit old thinking like this, but I knew that this comfortable life as a trainee wouldn't last. We only had one more test before we graduated and got to move onto a real regiment... I only hoped Marco, (Name), and I all made it into the top 10 to be able to go into the Military Police. We'd only been together a short period of time as a couple but now that I had her, I really didn't want to lose her by being separated by regiment or something worse. This world was unpredictable and I hated that. I wanted nothing more than to see her safe in the inner wall patrolling the streets with me and the other MPs... Perhaps I should have wished for that the night we saw those shooting stars but at the time, I hadn't thought this way at all. I'd been living in the moment then, but now the uncertain future was the only thing on my mind... And it kinda freaked me out.