symbiosis » levi ackerman

chapter fourteen ; alliance.

Fallan
The stables had become my sanctuary over the years. No one used to bother me on my lonely little perch, where I could gaze out upon the hills of Trost that rolled for miles. Benjin had figured out my hiding spot two years ago, and it seemed that Levi had figured it out too, as I heard the familiar tap of his quickly pacing boots and the awkward cough he always used to announce his presence.
"We need to stop meeting like this Captain," I teased, "People will start getting the wrong idea."
"A Captain secretly meets with a Lieutenant in a stable after dark? Quite the scandal." He replied.
I turned and smiled at him, jutting my head and signalling to join me up on my perch. He shot a hesitant look, then hoisted himself up and shuffled next to me.
"Rather bold of you to take a place in the Forward Scouts." He hummed, looking out onto the landscape ahead.
"Rather bold of you to assume I wouldn't take it." I mused back, quirking an eyebrow at him.
He rolled his eyes and tutted.
"You should be resting." Levi grumbled, racking a hand through his hair.
"So should you." I replied. I noticed a small piece of lint had become stuck to the collar of his shirt, so I lent forward to brush it off. As I raised my hand and moved it towards his neck, he caught my wrist in one swift motion. I chuckled, causing him to hastily release my hand.
"Reflexes." He grunted.
"There's fluff," I laughed and brushed the cotton away. As I did so, I caught him looking up at me with wide eyes.

Levi

I was gazing out at the sky when I saw something move towards me out of the corner of my eye. Alarm bells began to ring in my head and I instinctively raised my hand to catch whatever was coming towards me. It was then that I realised I was grasping Fallan's wrist. I looked to her, to see her staring back at me with a shocked expression. Then, she giggled.
She didn't laugh.
She giggled, like a school boy who had been caught stealing sweets. Her eyes upturned into crescent moons as a merry chorus of titters tumbled from her lips. I'd seen her laugh, I'd seen her smile, but I'd never heard her giggle in such a way. I released her wrist from my hand and wiped it on my trouser leg.
"Reflexes." I let out in a gruff voice, unwilling to let her see that she'd ruffled me.
"There's fluff." She let out in between laughs, and moved her hand towards me again, brushing whatever it was from my collar. As she did so, the soft skin of her hand grazed against my neck, sending pleasant shivers down my spine. I was sat slouched against the wooden walls, and I met her gaze as she leaned over me. I felt my eyes widen as I gazed into her deep blue orbs. It had been a long time since anyone had taken the time to brush lint from my clothing.
In fact, it might've been the first time anyone had ever done that.
I snapped myself out of my daze and cleared my throat, turning my attention back to the skyline.
"So..." Fallan began, "First expedition outside of the walls as Captain of the Special Operations Squad. How are you feeling?"
It was the same question that always brought a lump to my throat. How am I feeling?
Of course, the nerves were undeniable. I couldn't keep Furlan and Isabel alive, and I refused to have anymore unnecessary blood on my hands. I had respect for my squad - they worked together excellently and trusted me completely. But throwing Fallan into the mix as well? That was dangerous. To be frank, I hadn't seen her on the field, but judging by the skills displayed in our training sessions, she was average at best. In no way was I belittling her though - the woman was a genius, but book-smarts didn't help much in battle.
"Yes fine, I'm feeling fine," I breathed out, eager to change the conversation topic, "Can't wait to rip the bastards to shreds."
I paused for a moment, unsure of what to say to fill the growing silence.
"First time on the front lines, how are you feeling?" I asked. She shifted slightly and sighed.
"I'm more concerned about being a liability to you and your squad than anything. I'd hate to be a hindrance."
I felt my heart twist at her statement, and fought against the urge to hold her hand in comfort.
"Just don't die." I grumbled out instead. Smooth.
My blunt statement at least earned a short laugh from Fallan, as she leaned her head against the wall.
"Eloquent as always Captain." She chided with a smile.
I hated the way she called me Captain even in casual conversation. I was a strong believer in earning respect, and not being given it simply because of a title. A title I knew I was unworthy of.
"You know me." I tutted in response. It was getting late, and the last thing I wanted was an unrested soldier in my squadron. Part of me wanted to stay here with her for a while longer, staring at the stars, but I knew I had to repress the selfish urges.
"Come," I tilted my head, "Let me walk you to your room."

We strolled in comfortable silence through the courtyards and hallways, but we finally reached Fallan's door. I pushed it open for her and waited for her to duck under my arm.
"You really ought to start locking this Reid." I muttered, but she simply just shrugged.
"Not much here to steal, unless they were desperate for paperwork or hoodies." She beamed.
Smartass.
We stood in her doorway for a moment, facing each other. I noticed a lock of her now shoulder length raven hair had fallen from behind her ear, and instinctively I brushed it back to its rightful place with a gentle hand. I heard her breath hitch as my fingers made light contact with the side of her cheekbone, and couldn't repress the smirk that tugged at the corner of my lips. I enjoyed the reaction a simple touch elicited from her.
"Good night Captain." She breathed.
"Good night Lieutenant."