#Niccolo aot x reader

[ukeshik]

Dear sexy funny Constance is half ready🤭🤭🤭🤭

But now I understand that I would really like to write some kind of modern au with Nicolo in the chef/owner restaurant. But I understand that no one will read this, and I would probably like you to do more than one chapter. 😩😩😩

(I remind you that for now I'm just hatching all the ideas with Jean, and then all his power and splendor will fall on you someday, whether you want it or not😈😈😈😈😈)

[jeanbie]

Omg hi I don’t know if you take nsfw requests but I was wondering about aot’s favorite positions🥺 your writing is so so good!!

honestly.....i thought this was hard !!! i can't see any of them being overly picky on positions or even having all time favs; over the eras of aot, they all change so much it's actually hard to say...so i tried my best to think semi-objectively :3 absolutely feel free to disagree with ANY of these, everyone has diff interpretations (and i love all of em)

warnings: fem!reader (sorry), sexual content ofc, if u want the girl vers lemme know :D

AOT BOYS & FAV POSITIONS ★ masterlist.

MISSIONARY

“you look so fucking pretty right now—” is the only thing they can think of saying as they bow their chest over yours, watching your face twist as their cock sinks deeper into your cunt. one of your legs is wrapped firmly around their waist or hanging up over their shoulder; this way, they can watch you writhe and whimper whilst also watching the way you suck them up nicely, the way your body tenses and flinches with every thrust they give...

— jean, zeke, niccolo

RIDING

there is no greater joy than leaning back and watching you do your thing. their hands are on your waist, smoothing around your hips and stomach in an effort to distract themselves from simply filling you up and going wild — they love to watch you sinking down on them, your back arched and breasts rising with every rise and fall. they meet your hips by raising their own, finding pleasure in watching your face pull into contorted shapes, hearing the moans and whimpers from your mouth. from down here, they like the control they can have, and on occasion, the submission of doing whatever you tell them to

— levi, armin, porco

BENT OVER

if they can bend you over it, they can fuck you on it. tables, beds, tree trunks, fences, desks, sinks — it’s like they’re trying to fuck you on every possible or available surface they can find. they just love to see the sight of your ass tilted up, hips pressing into a hard surface, legs spread in a desperate attempt to stay upright, all while they drive themselves into you however fast or hard they want to. they can be as gentle or as rough as they want to be; running their hands up your back and between your shoulder blades, or smacking your ass and pulling your hair — everything about fucking you from behind is perfect for them, and by the sounds of things, perfect for you

— eren, floch

[bonus] s4!eren loves to fuck you over a sink or a vanity, anywhere he can pull you back by your hair and make you watch in the mirror. his eyes never leave yours through the glass, his lips whispering the dirtiest things he can possibly think of just to get you to cum around him, to watch yourself unravel in his hands

RIDING THEIR FACE

they are a seat. that’s all they are, all they ever want to be — a seat for their perfect partner. they could spend hours with their tongue up your cunt, hands pressed into your ass or hips as you ride the features on their face. they would happily die of suffocation down here, just as long as you were happy and they got to taste their favourite thing in the world

— connie, onyankopon

GIVING THEM A BLOWJOB

every position is good with their partner, but absolutely nothing beats you on your knees between their legs, their cock in your mouth. a hand in your hair, on your cheek or the back of your neck, they love to watch you take care of them, especially after a particularly long and otherwise bad day. whether it’s simply between their legs as they sit, or as they lie down before bed — or under a desk when there are other people around, nothing will ever top the feeling of your mouth running itself up their dick, or how warm and wet it feels as you take them. 

— ERWIN, bertolt

REVERSE COWGIRL

“comfy, darlin?” with their hands on your hips, they love to help you sink down onto them, using your hips as handles to bring you up and down at whatever pace they fancy. they just love the sight of your face turning back to him with a pleasured look, the muscles in your back tensing whenever he hits that perfect spot up your pussy. seeing you looking like this makes him feel so proud — you’re taking him like its no problem, your ass bouncing on his stomach, toes curling as you set your hands on his legs for balance. he’ll let you take control until you tire, and then the fun can really begin

— reiner, kenny (help)

[bbunisre]

PAIRING ☆ jean kirschtein x fem!oc! ( you can just imagine it as yourself!!! i tried to describe physical features for this purpose x )

WARNINGS ☆ SMUT SMUT SMUT SMUT SMUT, uhh idrk guys i lwk only wrote almost half of this LAWLSIES but ig sasha and niccolo aren't really a thing?!?! a little niccolo x oc, voyeurism (???), vulgar and dirty jokes lol, that's all i can think of rn, will update this OH YEA JEAN'S MASSIVE HORSECOCK :p

SUMMARY ☆ In which Mirabelle enters Paradis Island years before the Liberio Attack and finds herself instantly interested in Jean Kirschtein, an innocent man who is soon tied mercilessly to her womanly wiles. Jean attempts to escape her but can only run so far before he starts running back to her.

WORD COUNT ☆ 20k+ lock tf in

EPISODE 1

lemme know if you wanna be on the taglist <3

TAGLIST ☆ @lakeiskewl @greenie-c

CREDITS artwork: yuka_levi dividers: @dollywons @aestradairio

[mi4ura]

Aot Modern AU headcanons (somewhat specific)

Erwin listens to classic old timey music. He likse to have them low during smexy time. And he's always asking questions on reddit, and definitely scrolls daily on FaceBook.

Levi has a whole cabinet and some of his pantry full of different tea flavors. You walk in every morning seeing him reading his book and sipping tea.

Connie is that one TikToker that makes skits about memes and goes viral all the time and has like 4.6M followers.

Sasha has a Mukbang channel on YouTube and posts, I kid you not, every day. And she has AT LEAST 2M subscribers.

Jean, Connie & Sasha have a YouTube channel also, and they're really. They get edited all the time and Jean noticed so he started posing, but Connie and Sasha make fun of for it.

Armin majors in psychology.

Eren is a streamer and gets clipped raging EVERY DAMN TIME. But his views are 19-12 year olds so they feed into it. He is always posting on Snapchat.

Ymir posted a SINGULAR thirst trap video, now she's basically viral for being fine. Connie, Sasha and Jean have her in their videos to get views like they're not already popular.

Historia likes to watch Sasha's mukbangs and usually never misses a video. She likes to cameo in Sasha, Jean and Connie's videos sometimes. But she has her own vlog channel.

Mikasa has accounts she doesn't post on but they have more than 1M followers. She also likes Artic Monkeys.

Hange posts random facts and YES, she has tons of followers.

Reiner took a depression test and lied about some the answers and was surprised he passed. He went around saying he had depression. He saved a lot of sad songs too to his favorites.

Annie's LOVES baggy . People say she has a sleeper build when she works out, because she always covered up until she flexes.

Niccolo has a couple cooking channels. The captions are always so cute and usually about Sasha. "The food I make for my girlfriend while she's sick" "What I made for my girlfriend for dinner" "How I disguise medicine so my girlfriend eats it" "Baking a cake for my friend's party". He's also like a male Nara Smith, making shit from scratch.

[riddlessecretss]

riddlessecretss’ Masterlist

Tv/entertainment-

Harry Potter:

Mattheo Riddle;

“Come fuck her then, yeah?”

~ Yours and Mattheo’s unplanned secret meet up gets weirdly interrupted quicker than your long awaited orgasm.

Share boys! Coming soon

~ while all the rest of Hogwarts leave to go home Tom, Mattheo and Theo take turns teasing you.

Theodore Nott;

Share boys! Coming soon

~ while all the rest of Hogwarts leave to go home Tom, Mattheo and Theo take turns teasing you.

Brat. Coming possibly tonight!

~ leaving a party to satisfy Theo’s needs after you tease him for too long.

Tom riddle;

Share boys! Coming soon

~ while all the rest of Hogwarts leave to go home Tom, Mattheo and Theo take turns teasing you.

Lorenzo Berkshire;

Draco Malfoy;

Blaise Zabini;

On my block:

Cesar Diaz;

Oscar (spooky) Diaz/santos;

Outer Banks:

JJ;

John B;

Pope;

Rafe;

Baby:

Brando De sanctis;

Focus on me

~Helping Brando calm down after a fight.

Niccolo Govender;

Claudio Fiorenzi (Fiore);

Anime:

Eren Yeager;

Levi Ackerman;

Osamu Dazai;

Sports-

F1:

Carlos sainz;

Come to bed, cariño.

Staying up late to finish your painting before the deadline until Carlos gets too needy.

Lando Norris;

Max verstappen;

Charles Leclerc;

Lewis Hamilton;

Daniel Ricciardo;

YouTubers:

Italian Bach;

Arthur Tv;

Texts 🔞

George Clarke;

Arthur hill;

Hockey:

Michal Mrázik;

• This is obviously so empty but I have a lot of exiting new ideas and feel free to give me new people/ categories. I’ve had a VERY longgg break but I’m ready to start writing again. Once again, Nev💝.

[brave-and-gentle]

Got Covid for the first time, so I wrote a shit ton and published the first chapter of my new fic about my favs (it’s Jeanxreader, who could’ve guessed??).

Now read it or else 😌🔪

Forewarning - if you are ride or die Jeankasa to the ends of the earth, this is not for you, plsss do not come after me 🕯️🕯️🙏🏻🙏🏻 and I swear Jean and Mikasa are on good terms but it’s not pretty…RAFO.

Summary:

On the eve of his 29th birthday, Jean Kirstein never thought he’d be a divorced, single dad all before 30. All his friends are either happily coupled up, or in Connie's case, aggressively single. Jean believes that he missed his one shot at happiness, and decides to be content with his work, friends, and son, Mason.

Until he meets you.

You're also fresh off a divorce, deciding to move from Liberio to Trost for a fresh start. It breaks your heart to leave your long-time friends, but you don't want anymore reminders of him. All you want is a quiet, new life - working at the local library and making new friends.

Until you meet Jean.

[lemon-leviathan]

I Hate It Here, I Fucking Hate It Here.

So For Anyone Who Knows Me, I’m The Type Of Person Who Spoils Things For Myself. Usually Accidentally, But On The Rare Occasion On Purpose Because I’m Also An Inpatient Person. On My Last Post I Asked You All If I Should Finish AOT Because I Stopped Watching It, Well I’ll Be Happy To Let Those Of You Know That I Started Watching It Again. Unfortunately In The Process I Ended Up Spiraling Down A Rabbit Hole And Spoiled MULTIPLE Very Important Scenes For Myself.

🚨🔔‼️So SPOILER ALERT I Guess…‼️🔔🚨

The Whole Big Dream/Time-Memory Travel Thing, I Finally Understand Now. I Understand Why Eren Was Crying. I Get Why He Asked Mikasa About Her Hair. He Remembers Her From His Most Recent Memories, When Her Hair Was Short And His Wasn’t. He Remembers The Mikasa Who Beheaded Him. The One Who Kissed Him. He Remembers HER. Knowing That Eren Was In Control The Whole Time Really Messes With Your Head Especially When You Start Over And Notice Things You Didn’t Before. Things That Never Made Sense Until Now. He Knew What Was Going To Happen And Who Had To Die, And When. He Saved Bert By Sending The Titan After His Mother, By Sending DINA After His Mother. Maybe Due To Armin’s Colossal? Anyway Poor Boy’s In A Time Loop Of Sorts. But That Wasn’t The Worst Of It. That Wasn’t What Hurt Me The Worst So Far…

They Told Him…They Finally Told Him. Jean Knows How Marco Died, He KNOWS. Reiner And Annie Told Jean What They And Bert Did To Marco. They Told Him EVERYTHING. How Reiner Pinned Him Down On The Roof, And Forced Annie To Strip Him Of His ODM Gear Before Leaving Him There. Standing A Few Rooftops Away Listening To Him Cry Out And Scream For Help. Calling For Them By NAME. Watching Him Get Picked Up, Watching Him Struggle And Look At Them With A Pained Look In His Eyes Knowing No One Was Coming To Rescue Him. Knowing His Friends Left Him For Dead All Because He Found Out Something He Shouldn’t Have. And Then Reiner My Darling Reiner Being His Weird Soldier/Teenage Self Has The NERVE To Ask Why Marco Was Being Eaten. Like He Moved On Autopilot And Realized What They Did, What HE Did A Little To Late. Hell, The Titan THE TITAN Stopped Momentarily Because It Too Was Confused. Seeing Jean Find Out What Happened To Him, And Then Beating The Shit Out Of Reiner For What Happened Hurt But At The Same Time…I Was Relieved. Marco’s Death Haunted Jean For YEARS And It Probably Still Does But At Least He Has Some Closer…(Can You Tell I Liked Marco?)

Speaking Of Annie, Yes I Saw The Clip Of Everyone Saying Their Goodbyes To Her. I Saw Levi’s Face…I Know About The Whole Gabi/Sasha/Niccolo/Falco Thing Too (Can I Say I Know About The Connie/Falco Scene Too?) , And I Also Know About Moblit…I Know Horseface And Mikasa Are A Thing. I Know Levi And Mikasa Are Related. I’ve Seen Cabin Eren…

And Like Most People Armin’s Wailing Freaking HURTS.

All That Aside I’m Still On Season 1 In My Rewatch/Pick Up Of AOT So I Don’t Know Everything Yet…But I Know A Lot. And That’s On My Spoiling Things For Myself!

[s0urlemone]

Accepting requests

I've read stuff on Tumblr for years now, but I'm completely new to the user experience. Either way, I completely lack inspiration at the moment, so feel free to leave some requests. I don't have any rules set for now, except for the basic ones. It'll be fun for me to write something while skipping the whole "think of an interesting plot that people would like but that also has to be fun for you to write" phase.

You can request a fic or hcs. I'm more familiar with the former but I can experiment with the latter as well. I can write both for pairings and x reader.

Also might add more fandoms later.

xoxo

[starry-snippets]

captivate you. (band au! aot x reader)

howdy guys! started a band au fanfic for aot featuring Connie, Reiner, Marco, Jean, and Eren as the band Paradis. in this story you're a fan of the band since the get, proudly calling yourself an island devil; which is the name for those who rock out to their nu metal albums.

the story will contain adult themes, references to Christianity and religion, drug use (smoking, alcohol consumption, nothing one would call "extreme"), references to mental health issues, toxic pairings/couples (floch x reader), minor violence, profanity, sexual content, other relationships happening adjacently, and lots of mutual pining but being stupid about it :3

hope you cheek it out and enjoy!! will also post here :3

[madewithspice]

AOT As Fanfic Tropes

✧ Friends to lovers: the both of you were two peas in a pod, absolutely inseparable. To see one without the other was an oddity for everyone including yourselves. From playing out in the fields until sunset to walking each other home after school, you slowly start noticing how fast your heart begins to beat faster when they smile or the way their touch lights up sparks along your skin or how eager your eyes are to get lost in theirs. Gradually the innocently made friendship pact turns into vows of “til death do us part” much to the delight of your parents.

mikasa ackerman, reiner braun, marco bodt.

✧ Enemies to lovers: from the moment your eyes landed on him, you knew you couldn’t stand him. The way he stood, the slight tilt of his head, the obnoxious laugh, ugh you despised it all and the very second you failed to fall at his feet was the moment he couldn’t stand you. He would purposely try to get under your skin, to itch at your flesh and bones until his name was etched into your soul. So you began to fight fire with fire and burn his idolised reputation to the ground. The two of you fought battle after battle until one day you were face to face and the tension was so thick that it held you by the neck and forced you to look into his eyes, spiralling down to his soul. And that was the moment you knew you had lost yet both did gain something so pure out of the hatred once held.

jean kirstein, niccolo, levi ackerman.

✧ Hurt/comfort: when everything weighed down on you and you felt you couldn’t hold yourself up anymore, they shouldered your burden alongside you so when the world crumbled under them you returned the favour. From that day onwards your fates were intertwined almost as if you were born to fix each other up. You both became each other’s lifeline and soon enough just an utterance of “you’re okay I got you” was enough to wash all the pain away. Even knowing that they would come to help you almost made the pain seem worth it. The concern plastered across their faces was so heart touching so how could you not call their name when in need of tender love.

eren yeager, sasha braus, moblit.

✧ Mafia AU: the world you knew had toughened you enough so that nothing could break you. No threat or attack could affect you the way they did as you watched from the tinted windows of your luxury car. They caught your eye within the first few meetings with the feeling being mutual but there was no Romeo and Juliet without a bit of drama. The untouchable heir of a mafia gang and a lowly bodyguard, the thought would spur humiliation and laughter throughout the underworld. But when you’re betrayed by a close ally and there is no one left to trust, what else is there but to take their helping hand and give back the hurt tenfolds.

porco galliard, yelena, ymir,

✧ Omegaverse: okay so I don’t actually know what this is about properly but I do know it’s wolves and four legged shit so yea this is a jokey one but let’s face it people are weird and would read this with zeke x pieck or hange x pieck or whatever else their minds conjure up. So I can’t really write anything here. Idk maybe they howled at the moon and you fell in love ?? Lol tbh I just wanted to put zeke with some weird shit just because. If anyone wants to write a little prompt for this in the comments, feel free.

zeke yeager, pieck, hange zoe.

-Kiki.

[mahtharula]

✧･ﾟ— table for two

starring: privatechef!niccolo x black!reader wc: 872 cw: reader is a model,  niccolo is italian (his name is niccolo, explains itself), refers to cheating, slight angst?

the strong scent of chicken parm filled your nose as you eased your way to the main living space of your penthouse. pink fluffy slippers adorning your manicured feet, while your body was wrapped in your pale pink silk robe that hugged at your curves perfectly, finished the look with your bundles being pinned up in curls. 

as you made your way to the stool that sat at your island, you couldn’t help but watch the man preparing your meal from the evening. From his blonde hair that stayed in a nice short cut to his strong back that flexed against the white material as he whisked at whatever was in the pot.

“good evening, niccolo.” you cooed softly as you sat at the stool, watching as the man before you turned towards you, greeting you with his kind brown eyes, “good evening, ms.l/n. it's nice to finally see you.” he said softly, the warmth of his gaze making you shift in your seat as he went to prepare your plate. 

“nicco, i thought i told you to call me y/n, you don’t need to be so formal.” you spoke once more as niccolo placed your plate before you, “ i know, but it’s about respect. but if that’s what you want, i will, y/n.” he said, presenting you with his signature smile, “thank you and this looks so good nicco!” you squealed, earning a soft laugh from niccolo as you picked up your utensils as he began to clean.

it has been 4 nights since niccolo has seen you. you wouldn’t leave your room at all because of the douche you called your boyfriend. it was a consistent thing with the two of you to keep fighting over his adultery ways! but of course, you would take all the blame and lock yourself away while your boyfriend did god knows what and he hated it! of course, he would want to step in but he knew that was out of bound with his job requirements. 

the silence was peaceful for both of them. from the utensils scratching along the plate to the running of water niccolo had going on for the dishes. The ambient sound was comforting. the presence of one another was comforting. it was as if the two of you were in your own bubble, not focused on the outside world and its problems. but sometimes reality had to come and bite you in the a–

“hello?” you spoke, holding your phone to your ear as your food was disregarded, “no zeke, that’s rich coming from you–what do you mean i’m the blame?” you asked as you stood up from the stool and made your way towards your bedroom.

your voice only got louder the moment your door slammed and niccolo could only close his eyes, keeping his focus on the dishes to refrain from following after you. it was the same bullshit from this guy. whether you're doing a show or traveling, zeke always had a way of getting under your skin, but that’s not what you're supposed to do as a boyfriend, is it? 

it was 30 minutes after you disappeared. the dishes were cleaned, the kitchen was sweep, wiped and sanitized to niccolo’s standards and his bag was all packed for him to clock out for the night. he planned on leaving to give you your space, but something in the back of his mind was nagging him to just check on you. placing his chef bag by the door, he eased his way towards your bedroom door before sending three soft knocks to the door, “y/n?” he called, waiting for any sort of reply. when he was met with silence, he slowly pushed the door in to see you buried in your pillows, “oh y/n…” niccolo said with a sigh as he made his way to your side, rubbing along your back as you cried.

“nicco, i don’t know what i’m doing wrong.” you cried into the pillow, your words getting muffled but niccolo still heard, “its not you, y/n, its him. he’s not the one for you and clearly can’t treat you the way a flower should be taken care off.” niccolo was going somewhere with this but some of his own feelings eased out as you shifted your body to face him, “you think i’m a flower?” you asked softly as you stared at those brown eyes of his, “i do.”

it was like something clicked in your brain as you stared at the man before you. lifting your hand to his cheek, you grazed the supple skin before you leaned in to plant a soft peck to his lips. a peck that lead to a deeper kiss that made you straddle his lap, your acrylic nails raked at his hair as his hands gripped your waist. “wait, wait, wait–” pulling away from his lips as you stared at him, seeing the admiration and lust floating through his eyes, “could you spend the night?” you asked hesitantly, fiddling with your fingers as your stared at the man.

niccolo took ahold of your hands, planting kisses against your palms before giving you an answer.

“of course, flora mio.”

✧･ﾟ— author’s note • so first and foremost, i feel like this man needs more recognition! second, this is much longer than expected but maybe it needs a part two...who knows! but i hope you enjoyed this 😙

[may-nr1rooftoptriodefender]

What comes next

pairing: Levi Ackermann x f.reader/kinda oc

(it’s supposed to be reader but there are a few things important for the story… Nothing is mentioned in this chapter but for it to make sense in later chapters Im gonna say it. She has no first name bcs I suck at names but she has a last name. Her family and her background is already set. Hair color is black)

summary: When Yelena and her people arrive at Paradis, Levi finds himself in a tricky situation.

warnings: might contain Spoiler for Season 4!, set during 4 year time skip, ooc Levi?, kinda explicit (mentions of sex and vague descriptions) <- it’s not filthy hardcore but it’s there,…

(if i forgot anything I’m sorry, it’s 4am rn)

notes: Hi! I’m back y’all. First published Levi story, yay. Soo before we start, there are going to be more parts. This is just a little intro and the moments described happened in the past, next parts ain’t going to be flashbacks. English isn’t my first language so if you find any mistakes pls let me know🙏 tips are always appreciated.

Lastly, this is kinda smutty so I’ll put a MDNI here. You have been warned, if you still proceed to read, it’s on your own risk. I cannot stop you from reading anything but at least be aware of what you’re reading! (this is like the first smutty thing I published so bear with me..)

masterlist

part I

Seeing the outside world- the ocean, finding out about the enemy- Marley, the truth about the titans,.. it was hard to process. they needed new plans- new strategies to defeat Marley. Eren was their ultimate weapon. With him on their side they had to win. But how?

When Marley send out one of their ships to Paradis, it was like a gift. The second ship marked the arrival of their new accomplices. Yelena and her people were more than helpful. But Yelena wasn’t the only one. Onyankopon, Niccolo, and her.

Normally, he wouldn’t care. A soldier from Marley is nothing special. But she was so different at the same time. It was strange that all of them wanted to help Paradis. They betrayed their own country for them.

In order to come forward with their research, they accepted Yelena’s help. They started to build outside the walls. The titans were all gone, no need to worry now. Some were forced to help, some wanted to.

Niccolo wasn’t very impressed at first. He was complaining nonstop while cooking the seafood for the scouts. After Sasha took the first bite, he shut up quickly. He was quite flustered actually. She and Yelena were there too. She found it hilarious.

Laughing loudly with a quiet ‘I told you’ at the end.

Just like Yelena and Onyankopon, she never seemed to hate the Eldians of Paradis Island. He hated it. Thinking about her. She wouldn’t leave his thoughts. He tried, he really did- she was the enemy after all. But he couldn’t. He tried to see something he wouldn’t like. And maybe he didn’t like talkative people. Or people who invade personal space. But at the same time, she was a bit shy. She would give space if he needed it.

She was the only one who dared to come closer than the rest. Even if he was supposed to be enemy. This conflict was going on for years now.

Even if he didn’t really show it, he didn’t mind her tired eyes looking into his. Or how she sometimes followed him like a lost puppy. How she always greeted him when he entered the room. The way she says his name…

‘Good morning Levi.’

‘How are you Captain Levi?’

‘Do you need anything Levi?’

‘Levi.’

But is he really that special? It’s not like he’s the only one she’s friendly with. She greets everyone. She talks to everyone the same. She always smiles when someone said something funny.

But not everyone gets a knock on their door at every possible hour of the day.

‘Could we have some tea together Levi? I think I have a few more ideas regarding…’

‘Hanges the commander, You should go to her.’ , is what he should say. But he lets her in. Every time. Conversations are nice, if it’s with the right person. He isn’t talkative, so she does the most of talking. He normally would prefer it quiet, yet he doesn’t mind the conversation. She’s always calm, it’s never about difficult topics, she stays polite,…

He wants to hate it. They notice. Everyone sees that she spends more time with Levi. But that he actually likes his time with her goes unnoticed. And it’s not like she tries anything with him. Hange said to him once that she probably tries to befriend everyone. Showing that she isn’t the enemy.

‘And you know, it’s so hard to read you, she wants to make sure that you two are on the same side!’

Hange didn’t help his problem.

He genuinely thinks that those are her true intentions. There’s this other side though. What if she’s a spy for Marley. What if she’s trying to get more information. What if she wants us to trust her so she can betray us.

But she wouldn’t do that, would she?

No.

He still has to be careful. Actually, he fucked that up too. It’s too late for being careful.

He couldn’t resist when she looked at him with those eyes. These damn eyes. And her smile. How could someone look at him this way? No one ever did. He can’t believe it. But he wants to. He wants to be selfish for once.

One evening, she would come to his door again. With two teacups in her hand.

‘Would you mind if we talk?’

He could never say no to her. So she comes in. She sets the two teacups down and starts to prepare everything. Levi just sat down. He wanted to help her, but every time he tried she refused. He doesn’t like how other people do his tea. This was his room and she, a prisoner from Marley, tells him what to do?

He accepts it. When everything is ready, she sits down with him and they drink their tea. She starts talking, he replies sometimes. It’s nice.

Somehow, their usual routine changed. She did nothing wrong. One small slip up and it was over. He was listening, until she stopped talking. Looking him directly into the eyes. The smile from before slowly fading. Did he do something wrong? Well fuck.

And then the unexpected came. She complimented his eyes. He expected everything, but not that.

‘What.’

‘Your eyes. They’re beautiful. With the grey and the little blue sparks… You don’t see that often.’ Her smile was returning.

‘Why would you say that.’

‘Huh? Because it’s the truth?’

Not a lot people made him compliments. He has gotten love letters before, or weird request. But not compliments. They either found him to scary to say that to his face, or they simply didn’t find anything to compliment. Well maybe expect on the battlefield. On how he did a good job or something like that. But not about his appearance.

They loved to comment on his height rather than his other features.

And that was his moment of weakness. He didn’t know what to say. And he didn’t. He grabbed the base of her neck and brought her forward to his face. He kissed her. He didn’t know why he did it. He didn’t know why she kissed him back, bringing her hand up to his cheek. This was his sign to stop. He pulled back and stared at her. His eyes were wide because what the fuck just happened. Why did he do it. Shit she’s going to slap him now.

She looked at him. Not one word came out. Levi did the only rational thing.

‘Don’t take that personal.’

‘I won’t.’

‘Okay.’

…

‘Will you take it personal if I do it again?’

He should’ve said no, but he couldn’t. He couldn’t say anything, so he shook his head. A tiny smile formed onto her face and she pressed their faces against each other. He didn’t mind, even if he should.

She also didn’t take it personal when they left the kitchen. Or when she sat on the bed, when he followed soon. Or when he undressed her. She didn’t mind him seeing.

He didn’t take it personal when she whispered his name. It was so different compared to the other times. Only for him to hear. It felt good.

He didn’t take it personal how she let him do things he could only dream of.

How it could even get to this point. They shouldn’t have. The only thing he could focus on was the way she looked when he touched her. This beautiful face still looking at him this certain way.

No one could know. This intimate moment together. How she moaned his name. How he held her even closer every second. How good they looked together. How good they felt.

It was so against the rules. They were from two different worlds. Their countries were at war, yet they decide to forget all that for what? The world was cruel. He wanted more of that.

No one really knew what to say afterwards. Both in his bed. He felt filthy. Not because of what they had done, but because of what he had to do now.

‘You should clean up and then go to your room again. It’s getting pretty late.’

He couldn’t even look at her. But he saw the nod in the corner of his eye. She stood up and fuck- he might do it again. It wasn’t only the sex, her in his room, his bed, he wanted that. She looked so beautiful like this.

She started collecting her clothes and just as she was about to put them back on-

‘Clean up here. You can’t go back like this.’

Only a nod again. She looked guilty. A bit sad even. Before she could really disappear in his bathroom she turned around.

‘Levi-‘

‘That wasn’t personal either. No one can find out about this. We would get into trouble, you hear me?’

It was harsh, but he had to set boundaries. This went too far already no need to make it worse.

He could only dream of what was about to come.

———

I almost forgot- Happy Birthday Levi!!

requests are always open (I need ideas please🙏🙏)

Song recommendation - White Dress by Lana Del Rey

[bbunisre]

EPISODE 1

PAIRING ☆ jean kirschtein x fem!oc! ( you can just imagine it as yourself!!! i tried to describe physical features for this purpose x )

WARNINGS ☆ no smut in this one, dirty, slowburn, lots of teasing, a little niccolo x oc, voyeurism (???), vulgar and dirty jokes lol, baddie main character

SUMMARY ☆ In which Mirabelle enters Paradis Island years before the Liberio Attack and finds herself instantly interested in Jean Kirschtein, an innocent man who is soon tied mercilessly to her womanly wiles. Jean attempts to escape her but can only run so far before he starts running back to her.

WORD COUNT ☆ 12k

TAGLIST ☆ @lakeiskewl @greenie-c @alt--er--love @kcch-ns @nobodybutnnoorr @biggityboppingboob @sssmokesignalsss lmk if u want to be added <3

MASTERLIST

MIRABELLE WINDRIDER POV

Living in the storage section of a Marleyan warship for several days comes with having my limbs squished between a box of deactivated bombs and ration packs. It’s one of the several cons of being stuck here, besides the seasickness, having to freeze up when soldiers come in to look for things and multiple hours of being bored, plotting my arrival.

Voices atop tell me there’s a disturbance up ahead the boat. Well, they aren’t telling me. The Marleyan soldiers don’t actually know I’m here at all. It should be kept that way until it’s time is what Yelena strictly instructed.

It’s been forever-and-a-half since we left Marley! We certainly must've arrived on the coast of Paradis by now. I’ve been sharpening the blade all this while like a good girl. Can something happen already?

I stretch my body after eight hours of sitting in a cramped position. The commotion above doesn’t surprise me as I feel the familiar pull in my limbs and torso. An assassin’s flexibility is unmatched, a small breeze in the air, seductive and chilling as we kill our victims.

An explosion and a loud horn cause yells on the warship but a smile on my face.

Thank you, Yelena. 

I flip the dagger into my belt as I make my way up the stairs I snuck down merely a few days ago.

I have to be quick but soft. 

They can’t know I’m here. 

Not yet, at least.

The cool air makes contact with my skin, clearing my lungs and any mustiness that has accumulated instantly. But there wasn’t any time to relish in this moment. I’m here to get the job done—the Beast is counting on me.

The soldiers are stunned at what’s in front of them. I try to get a look at the situation from where I am, right behind, in the corner of the door where no moonlight can reveal me. 

Outside is dark, but lighter than inside the storage bunker where I couldn’t figure out who was coming unless I really tried to listen through the water. The first thing I notice about Paradis Island is that the stars here are explicit, little trinkets hung on the blanket they sit on. That, and the many lights by the tents that illuminate where they must be living. Yelena did tell me when she snuck into Marley in between to pick up a couple of the supplies that the stars here shine way brighter.

It’s beautiful.

I shake my head. I can look at the stars later. I have to assess the situation we’re in first.

Beyond the vessel is rocky land and what looks like many rifles being pointed towards the warfare ship. I attempt to look for Yelena through the hunter green capes but the lanky woman is nowhere to be seen. 

I roll my eyes. 

Looks like I’ll have to get to work.

Cracking my neck, I slide behind the soldier closest to me. 

I slink my arms around him, one coming up to cover his mouth and one around his torso and arms. I whisper in his ear, “Make this easy for me.”

He whimpers against the palm of my hand, making me smile. 

That’s cute. He’s scared of me.

The power thrills me, sending goosebumps through my skin. It’s been a while since I’ve been back in action.

I snake up his chest, up his neck. before he can move or do anything, I twist his neck. He falls onto my lifted foot like I wanted, noiseless and efficient.

The rest of the soldiers are paying attention to the rifles pointed at them and a Paradis person screaming through a megaphone at how excited they are to see Marleyans on their grounds and how they want to invite all of us onto their island.

Is that supposed to be welcoming?

I snatch the pistol off of the soldier I just injured, popping a few bullets into the barrel. The soldier opens his mouth, heaving in to scream but I smash my foot onto his face, glaring right down at him. 

That was a close one. 

They’re all blindly focused on the Paradis soldiers so I make the decision to move.

Now or never, baby.

I cock back the pistol, gaining the attention of the Marleyans.

Their eyes widen.

I clear my throat, “Hi!”

“Who are you?!” the captain of the ship hollers at me.

I kick back the face of the soldier underneath me and walk towards the Captain. The soldiers pull out their guns rapidly, only to cause me to laugh.

“Don’t shoot, men.” he orders them in his husky tone. 

“Doesn’t matter if they only got dummy bullets in them.”

The Captain hesitates, puzzled by my response, “Excuse me—” 

“You’re too slow, Captain.”

I launch the dagger into his neck. Blood splatters out of his throat and mouth as he lands with a thud. He’ll be dead soon. I stabbed the artery after all! 

Slipping my dagger right back out, five men charge towards me, hostility swimming through them.

I kick the first one on the side of the face, sending him towards the side. The next two with simple dagger slices in their necks like their damned Captain. The next one is a dodge—I let that one fall over the boat and into the water. 

The last soldier grabs me by the shoulders while I’m cackling at the soldier who fell overboard. He shoves me against the boat’s railing. My head hits the metal, a weird vibration making the world spin in a way seasickness could never.

Said soldier grabs his pistol and shoves it into my mouth.

I cry aloud. He yanks my hair back so I can properly taste the coarseness of the instrument almost hitting the back of my throat.

I’m going to pass out from suffocation or a dummy bullet. 

It’s going to be the end of me.

“I’m going to choke you out, whore.” he says. 

It’s then that a lightbulb goes off in my head. 

He gets off on the fact that he’s in power right now, that at any moment now he can push me off the boat, shoot a bullet down my throat and touch me however he pleases. The sinisterness in his eyes illustrates his devotion to his job, the real grotesque that comes with it.

I’m dealing with someone much like me—a sadistic fuck. 

With all my strength, I discreetly pull out my own pistol that I stole earlier, tears slipping out of my eyes.

Just one push, just one push— 

I heave my knee into his manhood and shoot him in his abdomen.

He flies back, along with his pistol. 

Coughing, I grab my dagger and kick his chest to send the man flying down onto the wooden board. He yells in pain, a cry that is my favourite sound a human’s ever made. It’s washed out and terrible, sending a chill down my spine.

I swear I hear cheers from the island but it could just be my near passing out from the pistol down my throat. 

I straddle the crying soldier and raise the dagger above my head.

“Please,” he blurts out, “Please spare me, ma’am.”

I throw my head back, laughing, “Oh God…no!”

The dagger sinks into his face. Right in between his eyes, at the beginning of the slope of his nose. 

One stab renders him deceased.

However, one stab doesn’t satisfy the assassin in me. 

Two, three, four, five, six—blood splatters onto my face and clothes, a forced strength coming out of my arms and the target’s face absolutely unrecognisable.

Finally, when I’m about to take the seventh, someone pulls me away from the body forcefully. I launch the dagger backwards but it’s caught for the first time by a hand right above their head.

Instead of trying to pull it out, I yelp in surprise.

“Yelena!” I huff out.

“About to kill me too?” she jokes, nothing in her eyes. As usual.

“Yelena~!” I repeat and wrap my arms around her torso.

“Gross.” she sighs at all the blood of two Marleyans rubbing onto her ironed, white shirt.

Yelena kindly puts a towel around my shoulders.

That’s right. I didn’t even think to check on myself. 

I’m breathing so hard, there’s blood all over my hands and clothes and I’m super excited that I completed my mission to perfection again.

“Oops.” I chuckle, pulling out, “I can’t believe you guys left me!”

“Not my fault someone slept through their alarm on the day we left.”

I punch her playfully, glad I finally see someone I’m familiar with after so long.

“Let’s go.” she says.

“Oh, the sailor! I haven’t killed him yet!” I tell her, pointing at the back of the ship,

Yelena shakes her head, pulling my bloody arm towards the dock, “That’s enough killing for you today. We’ll handle it from here. Let’s go get cleaned up first.”

As I walk down the wooden dock, impressed, blank faces stare back at me. My breathing slows down to a steadier pace as I stare right back, unsure on how to react to this weird attention. What I just did is equivalent to a murderous performance.

I don’t think they’ve seen a massacre happen so quickly in front of them. I don’t blame them. I set a record in Marley. Especially working for the Tybur clan, I was trained to be the assassin I am today. However, I’m not particularly used to doing it in front of people. 

That’s the thing about assassins, we’re supposed to take one’s life in private.

“Get to work!” one of the Paradis soldiers yell, “Stop staring, brats!”

A few soldiers walk down the dock, presumably to get the sailor’s head. One of them stands out—extremely tall, brown hair and a sparkle of innocence as he watches me intently. There’s curiosity within that innocence I discern easily, a little mouse coming out of its hole, respectfully.

A smile forms on my lips.

He blinks at me, blank, yet he knows I’m looking exactly at him.

He walks right past me, avoiding eye contact once he’s close.

JEAN KIRSTEIN POV

The image of gooey blood splattered on her face paired with a bewitching smile from the newcomer has Jean Kirstein confused on one side and intrigued on another. Confused because when the Marleyans said that one of their people was delayed back at Marley, he was expecting another male soldier who’s higher ranked, which is why they wanted him here to help out. Intrigued, because now that he knows it’s a woman, he wonders what kind of situation she was put in to create a flawless combat style.

As the moonlight flashes on her face, reflecting the glossy blood and the glimmer of her teeth. She looks incredibly insane and proud of herself for what she’s done.

Taking down six men in five minutes? Jean has never seen that happen before. The most impressive stunt he’s seen pulled off was Captain Levi taking down five Titans in under a minute—a whole other thing if he was to compare the two. It’s not comparable. By far, Captain Levi is the best he’s seen before.

But, still. 

The woman lingers in Jean’s mind.

As he walked back to the tent him and Conny were sleeping in, he couldn’t help but wonder about her. The way she made eye contact with him as if she could read his thoughts then and there was sufficient to know that she’s seductively dangerous. Almost as if her sole purpose was to lure Jean in—

“Sorry,” he mumbles incoherently as he bumps into someone. 

“Are you okay?” Mikasa asks him.

Jean blinks up at her, escaping his trance. He’s never been the distracted type before.

It’s rare for Mikasa to ask her comrades, it’s often she presses that question towards Eren Yeager. Deep down, Jean wishes Mikasa would be concerned with him the way she was with Eren. He really likes her and wanted to sought out for her ever since he came to know her. Eren took all her time, energy and love, now, Jean remains in the immovable comrade-zone.

He forgets the mesmerising aura Mikasa has that made him fall for her in the first place, “Fine.” 

She walks off without another word. All she needed was that little ‘fine’ to let her keep going about her day. 

After all, she had to go tend to Eren like she was some servant.

Jean sighs as he enters the tent, lamenting about Mikasa and knowing there’s nothing he can do about her or her so-called duty to Eren. He can’t help his attachment. 

He gets ready for bed and the moment him and Conny turn off the lanterns to sleep and darkness fills his sight, the Marleyan soldier comes to mind again. It’s like she cast a spell on him the moment they locked eyes on the dock. 

Her smile, he thinks.

It was beautiful amongst the slaughter on her face.

How can one make the wretched so beautiful?

☆

Conny and Jean are in charge of putting away the deliveries the camp receives from the Walls. The cart is full of food, weaponry and other things that would make living here easier. 

They’d discussed that the Marleyans should be doing the labour here but Hange countered, arguing that it wouldn’t be right for the cause they were fighting for. Jean agreed—they had a point. They were trying to do good for the world. What would be the point of making Marleyans do all the work when they were fighting for equality?

As time goes on, Conny and Jean become exhausted and settle into the carts themselves.

“I need a drink.” Conny groans, leaning his head back on the cart.

Jean hums in response. The sun was burning their backs as they slaved the day away, barely breaking in between to keep this damn camp going. 

“Conny! Jean!”

They lift their heads to see who’s calling their name.

It’s none other than Onyankopon, walking towards them with a great, big smile on him, a wave and a guest in tow. Jean wishes he was as positive as Onyankopon looked right now. He’d be getting through these deliveries in no time.

He looks over at the guest Onyankopon brought along. 

Right then and there, chills run down his spine. 

There’s no way.

He straightens up effective immediately. 

“Wanted to introduce you to someone new!” Onyankopon says as he arrives at their cart, “She arrived last night.”

Jean’s eyes are plastered at the Marleyan soldier, eyes wide, consuming her presence. She’s piercing with caramel tones and charcoal hair, illustrating her humanity. Nonetheless, her eyes tell him something else. There’s a certain depth in them, a void that can suck you in if you look too long.

She steps up.

“Mirabelle.” she states, ample confidence, “Mirabelle Windrider.”

Sultry voice that coats strawberries with chocolate. The woman stares straight into him, taking words right out of his mouth and stomping them on the ground before her. The corners of her lips quirk upwards into a minute smile as if she knows exactly what she just did to him. 

“Conny Springer.” Conny responds, “Weren’t you the chick that killed all those soldiers last night?!”

She laughs, “May have been.”

“You were so cool!” Conny continues and Jean would’ve looked at him but he’s currently too occupied with the newcomer, “The way you knocked them all down. Jean and I were talking about you last night! Everyone was.”

“Were you?” Mirabelle’s eyes easily wander to Jean. “Who’s this?”

He has nothing to say. He can’t say anything.

“Cat got your tongue, Jeanie-boy?” Conny calls. “You know staring at a lady is rude!”

Jean will deal with Conny later. Right now, her slightest provocation forces Jean to give her his name. “Jean Kirstein, ma’am.”

“Jean…” she utters and his eyes widen with fear? Anxiety?...desire?

Onyakopon comes into frame and she leans against his arm which she somehow can despite the man’s height. “Ma’am? She look that old to you, boy?”

“N-No! Of course not, just didn’t wanna disrespect her.” Jean blurts out as Mirabelle laughs. 

There she goes again with that smile like she likes watching him twitch under her glance.

Onyakopon sighs, looking down at Mirabelle, “At it again?”

“What’s wrong with a little fun, Onya~”

Before he could think about what she meant by that, Onyankopon says to them, “We’ve got to attend some meetings. Hope you gentlemen do well.”

“Bye!” Mirabelle waves at them.

“Bye!” Conny replies.

“...bye.”

When they leave, a sigh leaves Jean. A couple seconds of silence passes them until Conny finally speaks up, “Hot stuff, huh?”

“What?”

“Ma’am.” he mocks.

Jean furrow my brows, “Shut up, Conny.”

MIRABELLE WINDRIDER POV

Paradis Island is a blast. 

Besides sleeping inside a tent, I’ve had fun the last couple of days, getting to know the nation’s people and growing the bonds I already have. What Marleyans say about Paradis Island is nowhere near true but honestly, you’d have to have a brain to know that. They’re anything but devils, they’re humans trapped in walls and know nothing of the outside world. 

Hange Zoe, Commander of the Scouts, has created a timetable for me this week so it’d make it easier for me to settle in. 

How kind of them. I don’t think I’ve ever gotten close to this treatment back in Marley, even as a respected assassin.

The next thing on my schedule is a team building session with none other than Hange Zoe leading it. I’ve done a couple the past few days and it’s my favourite so far—something lighthearted amongst all the tedious soldier work. 

As someone who’s not a soldier, the training style is different from what I’m used to. I mean, it is still combat training but it’s coarse, explosive training rather than the elusive, cunning style I’m used to.

When I pull up to the grassy patch a hundred feet from the camp, Hange is waiting with a group of Marleyans and Eldians, animatedly chatting with the group.

That’s one thing I love about Hange so far. They see no difference in our races unlike other members in the camp.

“There she is!” they exclaim as I join the circle, “Our final member.”

“Hello.” I greet everyone, looking around the circle.

I stop almost immediately. Two people over is none other than the starer.

Jean Kirstein’s eyes widens at seeing me join the circle.

There he goes again. 

“Now that everyone’s present, today we’ll be playing a fun, little game I’ve conjured up when working with Cadets! Heard you Marleyan soldiers had no fun when in military, so this will be a little refresher.” Hange explains, “Now, sit down, sit down.”

We all do as they say, plopping onto the grassy land.

“This game,” they start, “Is called, ‘two truths, one lie’. It’s just as stated. We will go around the circle, telling two truths and one lie. The point of this game is to decipher the lie through the three statements told. It’s going to help us understand tidbit information about each other and hopefully, bring us closer as a team. Sounds easy enough?”

The group agrees. We take some time to think about our statements before Hange goes first, telling us that they are the example round, “Okay, so I’m the Fourteenth Commander of the Survey Corps, Captain Levi Ackerman is my best friend and I hate Titans.”

“I am not your best friend.” Levi responds indifferently, “That’s the lie.”

Hange chuckles, “Yes, you are, silly.”

Aw.

Levi rolls his eyes, “You’re so obsessed.”

They hit his shoulder, “You’re mean and short, so you’re just as bad.”

He glares right back at them.

“You’re the Fourteenth Commander, that’s the lie!” a Marleyan speaks up.

“No,” I interrupt before they can give away the answer, “It’s that they hate Titans.”

All eyes are on me.

Over the last couple of days, I’ve stayed quiet during team building sessions, only participating when absolutely necessary. No matter how lively I am around the Marleyans, being thrown into a completely new circumstance can make anyone nervous. So, staying quiet and observing is the best way to be until I’m comfortable enough.

Now I’m comfortable enough.

“Yes!” Hange answers, “How did you know, Mirabelle? I don’t remember telling you.”

I purse my lips and look down on my lap, a little embarrassed, “Not directly, but I overheard you telling other Marleyans that you had two Titans called Sawney and Bean. You said you adored them like they were your children. Plus, you don’t seem the type to hate Titans.”

Hange’s eyes light up.

“Sawney and Bean!” they gasp, “Bless them. Can we have a moment of silence for Sawney and Bean—”

“Those asswipe Titans? No.” Levi interrupts, raising an eyebrow, “Get on with the stupid game. I don’t know why you insist on these timewasters.”

“Ugh,” they groan, “This is not a waste of time! Having team building sessions helps people get along and build bonds. Like you care about any of that stuff, grumps!”

“Exactly. I don’t.” 

“Okay, so shut your mouth. Don’t listen to this party pooper, guys.” Hange sighs, causing us to laugh, “It’s your turn, Mirabelle. Give us your statements.”

I nod, having my statements ready to go, “I’m left-handed, I’m an assassin back in Marley and—”

“You’re not left-handed.”

It seems as if Jean is confused as to why he spoke so quickly before I finished my statements. I’m confused, too. How did he know that was the lie?

“I’m not?” I ask, trying to throw him off.

He shakes his head, right on the money, “You’re right-handed. I remember the way you held the gun at the Captain on the boat that night. You were in a right-handed stance.”

It takes me a second to digest that. 

It was dark that night, how could he have seen my stance?

“Did I get it?” he asks.

I smile at him, genuinely, “Yeah…you did.”

He must’ve really focussed on me on that boat. My heart races a little. To have someone enraptured by me is a feeling I haven’t had in a while.

“Well done, Jean!” Hange compliments, clapping, “Great attention to detail! See, guys. This is the point of the game. It’s to understand each other better, so we can have trusting bonds when in combat.”

Levi clicks his tongue in annoyance.

“You better get your lies ready, Levi,” Hange warns, “You’re after Jean.”

For some reason, Levi looks scared. He is slipped into a trance, probably trying to think of his three statements to tell everyone.

“Go on, Jean,” Hange prompts

I watch Jean think about his statements, scanning the grass below him until he lifts his head, “Alright.”

He looks right at me.

He blocks the eight others around us, part of the game and shoots his statements at me.

It’s a challenge.

“I was forced to become a part of the Survey Corps, my mom makes the best omelettes and my friends call me ‘Horseface’.”

“The first one.” I tell him before anyone can say anything. I don’t think anyone was going to anyways. It was aimed at me. He wants me to get it right, there’s a desperation screaming at me to do so.

He blinks at me, “What? How?”

“I don’t think you’re the type of guy to be forced into the Survey Corps. You probably joined it because it matched your ideals and were willing to go far enough to obtain a goal. In that sense, I think most Scouts are like that anyways…did I get it?”

Jean nods, ever so slowly.

“Yay!” I reply.

An invisible line threads between the two of us, connecting us in the moment. Jean seems lost in thought as if it was the first time he was acknowledged for his decisions.

I’m glad I was able to give him that.

The Scouts in this island deserve that more than anything. The recognition and the pride that comes with it. It’s not an easy job, after all.

We’re looking at each other until Levi speaks up at last, “Get a room, the two of you.”

☆

“Mirabelle, Mirabelle! Wait up!”

I turn around, a running bald boy coming my way.

“Hi. Conny, was it?”

He slams his hands on his knees, catching his breath, “Y-Yes.”

“How can I help you?”

“Are you busy?’ Conny asks.

“Huh?”

“Are you busy at the moment?” he repeats.

What is this about?

“Not particularly, no. Sorry, what’s this about?”

Conny straightens up and grins at me. I try to return it with a boxy grin of my own but all this seems a little suspicious to me.

“Would you like to eat with us?”

“Sorry?”

“Would you like to have lunch with me and a few other Scouts?” Conny invites.

Oh.

“Oh my God. Yes!. I would love to.” I nod enthusiastically,

“Right this way, ma’am.”

“Stop that.” I chuckle.

“I’ve never seen Kirstein act like that in front of a woman,” he says, as I follow him.

So we’re having this conversation?

“Uh-huh.” I reply, trying to stay uninterested. 

Giving Conny the wrong impression is the last thing I want to do. Yes, it may be true that Jean caused my heart flutter earlier but that was for a mere moment. I’m not interested in anything except keeping things cool and casual. Imagine if he thinks I’m interested romantically.

That would send the wrong message.

“He’s really a good guy,” Conny continues, “Don’t tell him I said that but he’d take good care of his missus, if he had one.”

“I see.”

“What do you think of him, Mirabelle?”

Did Jean set him up to this?

No, it can’t be. Jean seems like he barely knows that he’s interested in me. Conny, on other hand, as someone who’s on the outside of this situation probably read in between the lines and got a grip on the situation.

“He’s nice.” I reply.

“Nice~” Conny sings, “Anyways, we’re here!”

He’s brought me to behind a tent where a bunch of Scouts are sitting on upside down crates and eating from paper plates.

“Hi!” all of them greet me.

There’s four of them, including Jean, who is just as shocked to see me there as I am him. Oh, what did I expect coming with Conny?

I look at Conny, raising an eyebrow. He just shrugs, nonchalantly. Is he playing wingman right now? There’s nothing to play wingman for!

This is ridiculous.

“Hello.” I wave at them.

“The food’s over there, by the way.” a girl with a high ponytail and a stuffed face says, “You can help yourself!”

“Alright, thanks.”

I grab my lunch at the stand and come back. Jean quickly stands from his crate and gestures for me to sit down.

“Oh, you didn’t have to, I—”

“I already finished eating.” he interrupts, clearing his throat.

It’d be rude to decline so I take the crate, muttering a small word of gratitude. 

The crates are assembled in a circle so I can see the new people I’m sitting with. Conny and Jean stand nearby, joining the conversation.

“I’m Mirabelle, by the way—”

“You’re the girl that knocked down those Marleyans a couple days ago, right?” the girl with the ponytails says, “Sasha, nice to meet you.”

“You’re right! It is her.” a blonde boy exclaims.

“I’ll introduce you to everyone.” Sasha answers, “This is Armin and Mikasa. You’ve met Conny and Jean?”

I look up at Jean and smile a little, “I have…it’s nice to meet you all.”

And the questions come instantly.

“How did you kill them all?”

“Are you a soldier? You’re not wearing a uniform.”

“How do you get your hair like that?”

“How come you came in later compared to other Marleyans?”

“Hey.” Jean interrupts the eager Scouts, “Let her eat before you talk her ears off.”

“That’s okay, Jean.” I laugh, “Let’s see,” deep breath “I’ve been trained to kill multiple people simultaneously. I’m not a soldier, I’m an assassin. My hair? Well, it’s this product I got from Marley. Totally cannot live without. I can share it with you if you like. I came late because I accidentally slept in when Onyankopon was leaving so I ended up having to find my own way here.”

They stare at me in awe.

“Any more questions?” I ask.

Shaking their heads, they go back to their food. 

☆

“That’s the thing, Onyankopon. I don’t want to be trained like a soldier!” I whine behind him, “My combat style is already flawless and the way the soldiers train is so rough and not adequate for a nimble girl like me.”

“That’s a conversation for you to have with Hange, not me.” he replies.

It seems that Onyankopon doesn’t grasp my joke like he usually does. His lightheartedness and otherwise bubbly attitude has gone out of trace and is replaced with someone serious and, well, not so Onyankopon.

I slide off the horse we arrived on together as it stops before the Walls.

“Mhm, right and you know I’ll convince them anyway.” I say, attempting to bring my best friend out. 

It’s not about the training anymore, it’s about making Onyankopon smile again. I miss that cheesy grin of his already and it’s been, what? Twenty-hours of this gloominess that has gone by?

“I doubt that but you can try. No one’s stopping you.” he shrugs, “Now that I’ve dropped you here, may I please go attend to my business in Wall Sina?”

“If I say ‘no’—”

“Goodbye.” he says and I think he’s about to go before he make a face and looks back at me, “Also, don’t play too much around the Kirstein boy.”

Ah.

“Whatever do you mean?” I ask him innocently, patting the horse’s mane. She has lovely hair indeed, the embrace of rich earth.

Unfortunately, Onyankopon has turned to ultimately-serious-bossman mode. He sighs, “You know what I mean.”

“There’s nothing wrong with having fun, Onyankopon. You should have some fun these days.”

“It’s not fun to be put in that position, Mirabelle. They actually have a word for that.” he says, whipping the reins on the horse.

It moves forward, forcing me to jump back with a gasp.

I cup my hands over my mouth and yell, “What’s that?!”

“Torture!”

“Who’s got his panties in a twist?” I ask myself, watching Mr Grim Reaper himself head off into the gates of Shiganshina.

My stomach twists with unease. He makes it sound like I’m going to cause pain to Jean when that’s nowhere near what I want to do. It doesn’t hurt anyone to flirt and play around a little without any strings attached. At least that’s what it’s like back in Marley.

I could do it as much as I want, until—

“I-I’m not sure.” a voice comes from behind me.

Jean.

“Oh, hi!” I greet him and point in the direction of the gone man, “Did you hear that conversation by any chance?”

He shakes his head, “Just what you said at the end. Onyankopon seems a little grim.”

“Yeah, I think the meetings are getting to his head.” I answer, admiring Jean from below.

Up close, the guy’s big, tall and broad simultaneously. He has slender eyes paired with long, thin eyebrows which exudes a feminine aura amongst the straight nose and frowned mouth. Additional to that, there are those pretty, long lashes that cave his eyes; every fluttering blink is one alike to a lovely maiden. He’s quite handsome though, a gentlemanly handsome that is difficult to find within this field of work.

“I can imagine.” he says.

It appears he's curious about why I'm staring at him. He doesn’t back down or look away from me, he stares back this time.

So he’s not the nervous wreck I thought he was? 

“I thought Hange was training me…” I say, peering behind his shoulder to see no zealous Hange running around, ready to train me.

“About that.” he sighs, “Commander’s gone to a meeting so she told me to train you instead and she sends her regards. I’m gonna be showing you how to use the ODM Gear, hoping that’s okay.”

“Huh…” I respond inquisitively and before I can stop myself, my hands are touching the cool rectangles on his hips. The technology here is definitely a lot more advanced than what I was expecting. It’s so…wait, “Why wouldn’t it be okay?”

I can see the alarms going off in his head.

“I don’t know.”

Has a woman never touched him before?

“I’m sorry,” he breathes out, “I—”

“Jean.” I utter, holding his shoulders in my hands. He tenses up immediately, answering my question right away, “You’re gonna train me just fine. Don’t be scared. Is this your first time?”

Both of us know the real reason why he’s shaking in his boots; however, neither of us can say the reason aloud.

“My-my first time?”

“First time training someone?” I clarify with a small giggle.

“No, it’s not.”

“Then, let’s go! Where’s the equipment?” 

Jean brings me closer to the Walls. A green crate is loaded with ODM Gear equipment, including the gas cylinders, blades and harnesses. After putting on the various different equipment and being safely strapped up, Jean demonstrates how to use it.

“Your turn.” he prompts me.

“Okay.”

“So, you have to—”

I press the triggers, aiming high enough on the Wall and the gear yanks me up forcefully. I gasp, thinking I’m going to smash my face on the wall but I manage to plant my feet on the Wall, keeping my stance light on the surface.

“Like that?” I ask Jean, looking down at him.

He’s about twenty feet away from me, eyes widened to the brim, “T-That’s perfect! Can you get down?”

I do the same thing backwards and climb down the wall to meet him again.

“How?” Jean asks, his eyes glistening with admiration.

I pull back the strings and they snap into the contraption they come from. I laugh, “I don’t know! But that was really fun! Kinda like rock climbing.”

“Rock climbing…?” he questions, tilting his head to the side.

I forget how underdeveloped it is compared to Marley.

“It’s like a…sport, I think? People climb up rocks or walls using their hands and feet and there are these things that stick out that you use to push yourself up and climb up.” I explain, “I used to have to do rock climbing for training. It’s fun!”

He nods slowly, understanding the concept of it, “That does sounds fun.”

“When we go to Marley together, I can show you!” I tell him.

“Together?”

I want to bite my tongue.

“Not just the two of us! With everyone!” I declare, “Sasha, Conny, Armin, Mikasa, damn, even Captain Levi could climb.”

For the first time in my presence, Jean Kirstein slips out a genuine chuckle. Like he means it. There’s no nervousness exuding from him, rather the enjoyment of my presence.

“For sure, but I can’t get over how quick you grasped that. It’s not easy.” Jean replies, raising an eyebrow, “You’re good.”

I lean in slightly, dropping my voice a little, “I’m good at a lot of things, Jean…”

Just like that, the friendly air vanishes into the ether and is replaced with a drop of suggestion. 

Jean freezes, dissecting my words before his cheeks turn red. 

“Aw, look at you!” I point right in his face, “You’re blushing like crazy!”

“Am not!” he argues, quite defensively, “I don’t even know what you mean by that.”

“You are!” I laugh, finding his coyness amusing.

What’s the point of not admitting it when I watched him come to an understanding on what I just said?

“Whatever,” he huffs and points back at the Wall, “Let’s keep training.”

I can’t stop laughing at him.

“It’s not that funny.”

☆

“Wanna go to the Marleyan restaurant in Wall Rose?” Sasha asks the group.

“Of course you wanna go there.” Conny remarks, suggestion glinting in his eyes.

She hits him on the shoulder, red creeping onto the apple of her cheeks.

I furrow my eyebrows, wondering what’s going on with that comment. I don’t question it too much, fatigued from the combat training we just came from. 

To no avail, Hange highly suggested that I join combat training on the island, despite me being a combat virtuoso. They said, although my combat is adequate, there’s always room for improvement and practising on different targets would do me more good than worse.

I couldn’t argue with them there.

However, I thought I had it in the bag and could convince them otherwise, that’s what put me down, not the training itself. I always thought of myself as a finesser but I guess Hange is just way too smart to finesse. 

“Hey, are you alright?” 

Jean appears beside me, peering down with a cautious look on his face.

I nod, “Just a little tired.”

“I see.” he answers, “Combat training can be tiring around here.”

“Mhm.”

“Stop flirting with Mirabelle and tell us what you wanna do, Jean!” Eren exclaims, playfully punching Jean on the shoulder, “Do you wanna go to Wall Rose?”

Jean shoves him out the way, “Get out of my face, asshole…and as for the restaurant, I don’t think we should go. Everyone’s tired. We gotta go all the way to Wall Rose to eat?”

“Yeah!” Sasha exclaims.

“You just wanna see—”

Sasha slaps her hand to Conny’s mouth instantly, “Shut your ass up. Wanna come, Mimi?”

“For sure. I don’t have anything for the rest of the day either.” I tell her.

“Are you sure?” Jean asks me, “I thought you’re tired.”

“She just said she wants to go!” Conny argues, gesturing both his hands at me flamboyantly

“I’m not asking you.” Jean replies and looks back at me, waiting for an answer.

I break into laughter, “I’m fine with it, really, but a Marleyan restaurant? Didn’t know you guys would have those ‘round here.”

“Best food I’ve ever had.” Mikasa speaks up indifferently.

Everyone hums in agreement at her statement.

The last time I’ve seen people react like that towards food was when—

“Let’s catch the carriage before it leaves for the Walls!” 

We run towards the carriages stationed at the exit of the camp, climbing into whichever ones were accessible to us first. I end up in the last carriages, not wanting to get in between Conny and Eren fighting to see which one would go into the first carriage. Jean follows me into the third and final carriage, presumably for the same reason.

“Have they all gone in the other carriages?” Jean questions, peeking his head out of the carriage.

“Seems like it.” 

After a subtle neigh at the front, the velvety carriage starts moving. It renders me silent for a second as I try to comprehend what’s happening. 

No one else is in the carriage with us. I’m going to be going to the Walls with Jean alone. I’ll have forty-five minutes of him to myself.

“I have to say,” Jean begins, five minutes into the ride, “The way you killed those soldiers when you first came…it was amazing.”

I cross my leg over the other, slinking them back to me as I lean back, “You think so?”

Jean nods vigorously, “I haven’t seen anything like that before.”

“I could tell.”

He cocks an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

I take a trip down memory lane to the night before, re-imagining the look plastered on his face—the innocent intrigue and the shimmer of moonlight that swam in his light eyes. I can’t forget how he couldn’t take his eyes off of me, either. I felt so formidable in the moment.

“You seemed really curious,” I answer mildly. Offering a wry smile, I add, “It was cute.”

“Cute?!”

“Cute.” I repeat.

“Cute is not the word to describe me.” Jean retorts.

“Oh, yeah? Then, what are you?”

He rubs his chin, actually thinking about it. 

I don’t know what starts it. 

It must be the way his damn hair. 

It falls in a way that looks incredible, it looks styled with a vehemence of boyishness. A

A sheen layer of sweat on his face, more visible when he looks to the side and the sun hits his face and rolled up sleeves to the elbow because of how hot it is out there. I've been trying to ignore it during combat but now, it’s making me squirm in my seat. 

I think back to how he flung Eren to the ground as if he was just nothing to him, barely a sack of potatoes.

He’s so strong…I wonder if he can read my thoughts or I wonder if he can see how a pool of heat travels down to my womanhood and settles there like it’s its new home. 

If he knew, would he let me take him right there?

“More like…handsome?”

Jean’s eyes sparkle again as he looks back at me—the same look in his face.

He has no fucking idea what he does to me.

I lean forward, arousal sticking to my clit as I mouth, “I’ll tell you what you are, Jean…”

“What’s that?” he asks, crossing his arms and raising an eyebrow.

He must think I’m joking around.

“I think you’re sexy.”

The tension in his jaw slacks, “W-What? I don’t understand.”

“Let me explain it to you.” I reply and reach out to touch a finger to his knee, drawing erratic patterns on it. He tenses up as expected and it goes quiet for a second. All I can hear is the wheels of the carriage pulling us forward and the slight breeze that enters the carriage, sending a chill down my spine.

“There’s a drive in you that I’m attracted to. Your provider mindset, for one, tells me that you bring what is important to the table and you think about others before yourself. But you do it in a way that’s not showy, it’s just who you are. And, when you like someone, you really dedicate yourself to them. The way you think about those you like is only out of love. And, my favourite,” I ease back onto my cushioned seat, the silence from him being the loudest thing in this carriage, “How you lose all power when you look at me.”

The Big Jean makes himself small in his seat.

“I’m sorry.” he almost whispers.

“Sorry? Shouldn’t you be saying ‘thank you’? I just complimented you!”

“Thank you.” he breathes out as if there’s no oxygen in here. He peers at his lap before he looks up, brow furrowed and uncertain, “I think you’re incredible too, by the way. Ever since I saw you defeat those soldiers, I—”

The carriage comes to a halt.

“Huh?” 

We exchange a confused glance. 

I peer outside the carriage. The carriage in front of us opens their door and out comes Sasha and Connny. They come into our carriage and get settled in here.

“What’s going on?” Jean asks disappointedly.

I nearly chortle at the tone in his voice.

“Sorry, Eren started blabbering about freedom.” Sasha replies, getting comfortable next to me, “I couldn’t stand another second of it.”

“He doesn’t get it. No one wants to listen to the same speech again and again.” Conny sighs, sitting next to Jean. He looks between Jean and me, “Bro, you’re like proper sweating. Maybe we shouldn’t have left you here alone with Mirabelle. What have you done with him?”

I laugh at his accusatory tone, “We were just talking.”

“Talking? Jean’s cooking in his clothes.”

“Shut up!” Jean says, pushing him away from him.

Jean casually throws one leg on top of the other. 

It’s only when I look closer I see something peek up at me. 

He catches me looking and changes the way he sits so it’s less obvious. 

Little did he know, I’ve seen those countless times and it only takes time before one explodes.

☆

“Where’s Jeanie-boy gone?” Conny pipes up when we’re seated in the restaurant. 

There are massive fans all around the dining area, cooling us down.

“I think he’s in the bathroom.” I answer casually as I look at the menu in front of me.

The restaurant is by far the most luxurious thing I’ve seen on this island. That’s saying a lot as someone who takes frequent strolls in Sina to attend meetings here and there. It looks somewhat familiar too, in the sense of the vibes.

“He takin’ a shit or something?” Conny remarks, causing the others to laugh.

Conny doesn’t know why he’s in the bathroom. I do. I just keep it quiet.

“What’s the best thing they do here?” I ask Mikasa who happens to be sitting next to me.

“I heard they do the lobsters best—”

It clicks right there and then.

“Hello, everyone. What are you…Mirabelle?!”

I dread it.

I dread it so bad, a morbid anguish blossoming inside me as I blink up. 

In front of me is none other than Niccolo.

My ex.

JEAN KIRSTEIN POV

Jean doesn’t like how eloquent Mirabelle is. 

Her lips move so languidly yet, manages to say everything it needs to within a short time. The way she talked to him in the carriage somehow undid him and his pants. Being stuck in a restaurant bathroom where the walls are paper thin and trying to release the pent up was more than a mere struggle.

He’s like a putty in her hands, moulded and crafted for her to use.

“You make me feel powerful” she had told him.

He hates how, for once, he cannot control what’s happening in his body. It’s like she’s found his weak spot and is stepping into it. It makes him feel powerless—nothing but prey in her eyes.

After the Marleyan restaurant and the ride home, his friends wondered what was wrong with Jean, why their constant teasing wouldn’t rile him up like it usually would. 

Even when Jean slips under his covers at night, he thinks about how Mirabelle spoke to him. Her voice had an effect, she had an effect on him that he couldn’t recover from. 

But he couldn’t let himself fall for her. 

No way. 

That was a death wish. 

He would put a lock on his cock before he imagined how her hands would feel tugging on his hair. Or, maybe how she would sound when he pushes into her. How about how she’d feel clenched around him, all wet and tight for him?

“Fuck!” Jean shouts, sitting up in his bed.

“What the hell, man?!” Conny yells back, equally as frustrated. He sits up, flicking on his lantern, “What’s wrong with your ass?”

“Nothing,” Jean grumbles, getting out of bed, “I’m going out.”

“Where are you going, baby?” Conny asks, softening his voice, “Come on here now. Don’t leave a damsel like me in bed all alone!”

Conny makes what is a horrible attempt of a woman moaning. However, it didn’t matter if it was horrible. Jean had had it. Anything remotely sexual was going to have a horrible impact on him. He doesn’t know what’s going to happen, he just knows it’s going to be bad.

He has to get out.

Outside the tent is a new world. He switches on his flashlight to guide him through the darkness to a place where he can unwind. Hopefully, a serene place where he can collect himself for a second and review what’s happening right now; somewhere with no commotion, just the sound of the waves crashing on the shore. Like the rocky pools a few hundred metres from here. 

He’d accidentally discovered it on a walk a while back. Whenever Jean needed to run away for a while, he’d go there. It's been his designated spot.

He walks around the tents, strictly divided between the males, females and the leaders of the place. 

Some lanterns still shone despite it being past two am. 

There were soldiers still planning how to defeat the enemy, coming up with constructive plans and discussing them until dawn. Hange, Levi and Yelena are likely to be awake to be a part of these discussions. They’re saving humanity, meanwhile, Jean had his head wrapped around some woman like a little boy.

Speaking of the devil, Yelena walks right up to him.

“Kirstein, is it?” she asks, getting a good look at his face in the dark, “What are you doing awake?”

Yelena’s comrade has shaken up his mind and he had to go on a fucking walk to clear his head. Obviously, Jean couldn’t tell her that.

“Just walking around.” he grumbles.

“Strange,” she notes with a subtle nod that Jean’s not sure the meaning of. Yelena is a woman of little words and sometimes those words don’t make sense, “Anyways, could you do me a favour?”

“Sure.” he accepts before thinking over it. 

Jean would do anything right now to rid his mind off anything from Mirabelle. He could go to the rocky pools after completing the delegated task.

“I have tons of things to do right now and need someone to assist me. Could you fetch Mirabelle from her tent?” she asks, “I doubt she’s asleep at this hour and I could really use a hand…Kirstein?”

He cannot escape her.

She’s everywhere, at all times, consuming his every thought and circumstance and there’s nothing he can do about it.

Jean sighs in defeat.

“Is there a problem?” Yelena probes.

He will die if he’s asked another question.

Shaking his head, he replies, “I’ll go get her. Where’s her tent?”

“It should be the one that’s the top left corner.” she relays, “Tell her to come to the meeting tent.”

“Okay.”

Yelena walks off the other way.

It takes everything in Jean not to explode right there and then. 

He takes as much of his frustration out on a nearby pebble, kicking it away, simultaneously being aware that there are people sleeping in the tents surrounding him. 

What did he do to deserve this? This is torture, absolutely torture and he wouldn’t wish this on his biggest enemy. As if there weren't already enough problems with planning an attack on Marley, Mirabelle had to make his life miserable.

What should he do?

Oh, but she is so pretty.

Where should he run to and scream?

I want to get to know her more.

He can’t have a full mental breakdown even if he wanted to.

He’s not one for mental breakdown but this…this was a different cause.

No.

No, no, no, no, no.

It’s all wrong.

He refuses to back down. 

In fact, he refuses to submit to her womanly wiles.

Jean is a strong guy, scratch that! 

Jean is a strong man with a strong will and numerous strongly built morals. No woman can control him like he’s her personal toy just like that. He is not easily swooned or influenced by anyone. As it happens, he is guarded.

Who is she to him? 

No one.

Exactly.

He will go to Mirabelle right this moment and act as if she had no effect on him!

Yes, there we go.

That’s the Jean he knew. Arrogant, reckless and the daredevil. 

Off he goes, towards the ladies side of the camp. 

As he makes his way, he can’t lie, his heart is clutched in a fist.

It’s the remaining effects of Mirabelle scouring his tainted mind. It’ll take time for her to be removed from his brain but time was all that was needed. 

If not, a lobotomy will do and who better than Hange to perform it? It’s a joke, that’s a joke, right? Jean forces his thoughts to still. He had to do a task first and he needed his full concentration to complete it. He doesn’t have time to waste.

As he inches to the tent Yelena described, he notices that Mirabelle’s lantern is one of the only ones that are turned on this late into the night.

She’s one of the campers that got lucky enough to have a tent to themselves. There could be a specific reason why. He softens a little, wondering what she could be doing up so late. 

Maybe she had trauma-induced insomnia and she couldn’t sleep? What if she needed someone to be by her side right now?

No, stop.

He’s going to march in there, deliver a message, leave and assert the dominance that she took from him.

That is until he sees something strange.

Two pairs of shoes scattered outside the tent, thrown as if they’d been discarded in a hurry. The tent entrance itself is slightly open. Warm light peeks through like a tease. 

It beckons him to get a look at what he can through the tear of the tent…and halts in place.

“F-Fuck, yes~! Right there, right there…” she breathes out, “Nngh~”

Jean’s mouth runs dry.

“You’re doing so good.” a man says, his voice low and muffled. 

Jean is about to pass out.

It could be a mistake.

Maybe he’s seeing something wrong?

Upon closer inspection tells him otherwise.

A man kneels between Mirabelle’s parted legs. He hooks his arms under her thighs and pulls her closer to his mouth, humming against her. Piercing his nails into the fat of her skin, demonstrating for anyone watching (Jean) that she is his.

The soft amber lanterns catch her breasts in the perfect angle, sitting beautifully on her chest. Of course he’s seen the anatomical body of a woman but like this? Never in a million years would Jean think he would see it tonight.

Mirabelle grabs his unruly blonde hair, pursing her lips. Her eyes flutter shut as she tilts her head back, the curve of her body arching, abdomen meeting the man’s forehead as she pushes him in harder. A desperate cry leaves her. It’s so velvety that Jean couldn’t believe it was her making those noises.

He shouldn’t be looking.

This is wrong of him.

Very wrong.

Jean is not a man, he is not moral, not strong-willed, not anything he wanted to be tonight. 

As he’s about to turn away from the scene, seconds after accidentally looking in, Mirabelle’s head comes forward and her eyes lock with his. 

It’s fueled with intensity. The golden flicker of the light takes a dip in her deliberate gaze. Instead of shock, all he sees is dark, wicked amusement plastered on her face like she’s won an award. She lets him watch, lets him bear witness to her, body moving with slow, languid precision, as though the very act of being observed excites her more. She doesn’t flinch or hesitate, she. Gets. Bolder.

She smirks before tipping her head back and putting on the performance of her life, “Yes, Niccolo! I’m close, I’m so fucking close, baby—I’m gonna, ah~!”

Jean runs.

He doesn’t know where he’s going, he just knows that he has to get the fuck out of here. 

Dashing through the dirty paths of the camp, it’s like his lungs want to jump out of his body. He’s in flight mode

“Jean?! Where are you going?!” Yelena shouts at him.

“Don’t go to Mirabelle’s tent!” he warns her

She cackles as he sprints away.

Had she known? If she had, why the hell would she make him go? He should’ve stayed in his room with damsel Conny!

After a couple minutes of running, he arrives at the rocky pools.

Far enough.

Far enough, physically.

Mentally? Never.

He leans against a rock, much taller and sturdier than he is. It’s been a while since he had to break into a full sprint like that. He never imagined catching people fucking would be the cause of it. 

He places his head on the rock, sweat dripping down his face and a situation to handle.

A rock hard cock under his pyjama pants.

Jean’s heart is racing like crazy and he grabs his clamouring chest, gulping nothing but dryness down his throat. On the other hand, his cock throbs with unease. He needs to get off. His morals tell him no. 

Fact of the matter, he doesn’t really have a choice in this.

Mirabelle’s face floats into his mind, her moans, her breasts…

Jean groans, sliding down the rock and hitting the hard ground with a thump.

He is so verily screwed.

He is screwed in a way that he’s never been screwed before and will probably never be screwed the way he is screwed now.

He has to do what he has to do.

Jean brings out his cock from his pants. Why wouldn’t his mind just match with his dick? What is the pain in that? He wonders, is there some part of him…a truly, screwed up, primal side of him that likes the way he’s being treated?

Does he like her having him in control?

Is he a…cuck for watching them like that?!

No, no, I can’t be. Not that.

It’s her.

It’s her long, black hair cascading in waves down her back. She tucks it behind her ear mid-conversation, focused on what the other person says. She nods, smiles and a little physical contact; usually, it’s a pat on the back or a playful hit on the shoulder. 

Her skin is a soft radiance, captured by the core of the sun's embrace and light of the moon’s spirit. 

Her laugh is a high-pitched melody and sounds like she’s being possessed by a banshee half the time. Nevertheless, seeing the corners of her lips perk up at something he said makes Jean swelter.

And, her body.

God, her body. 

A divine sculpture—the ridges of her collarbone, the angle of her rounded shoulders and the curve of her waist; he thumbs the tip of his cock.

He can’t hold back anymore, he can’t stop himself from wanting her.

He wants to kiss her everywhere, appreciate her for existing as she is. She’s like nothing he’s seen before in a woman and there’s nothing more he’d want than to be a part of her world.

A low moan escapes his lips. 

Jean’s hand travels down the shaft of his cock, pumping it slowly. Precum slips through the crack of his palm, lubricating him. 

The throbbing takes a second to ease into his hand. As uneasiness turns into pleasure, the breeze waves into his face, washing over him.

Jean needs more.

He imagines her here. 

He imagines her warmth.

He imagines her asking him how he got into this mess and asking him if he’d like her to take care of him. She looks up at him, sinister eyes and a grin he cannot fully comprehend. It’s in the middle of adorably charming and shit-eating. He tells her ‘yes’ with a shaky breath. 

She takes his cock in her hand.

She spits on his tip, expertly bringing it down. Because Jean knows she knows how to treat his cock.

Her lips meet his in an embrace, traces of the strawberry jam she always buys from the market, a saccharine overload in his mouth. That woman has a knack for sweet things, it’s a bad habit at this point.

So is this.

“Shit—” Jean moans, biting his bottom lip. 

He closes his eyes, a black screen providing a blank canvas for painting the horrid things he desires. No one’s going to be roaming here at this time. He’s free to do whatever he wants.

Then, Mirabelle climbs on top of him, her hands holding onto the blades of his shoulder like they did when he was teaching her how to use the ODM Gear. That slight squeeze and stability that she gave him was enough to send shivers down his spine.

She sinks down onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck. She grabs his hair, tugs it back just enough for Jean to let out another moan. He puts his face into her chest, hugging his arms around her whole body. There would be no sign of letting go anytime soon. He’d keep her to his body. He would want to stay inside her as long as possible, to keep that connection as long as possible. Because if it ended, Jean would have a missing heart and a half.

Mirabelle would ride him. She bucks her hips and mewl in his ear, making it tingle. She tantalises him, softens him and bullies him. She knows how bad he wants her.

Jean would feel so fucking full inside of her and she’d be so tight around him. Her walls surround his cock so tightly, he’s lucky he doesn’t have to breathe from down there.

He pumps his cock harder, his hips coming up to meet his fist’s demand and finally, he releases.

Strings of white fly out as Jean lets go of himself, falling back on the trusty rock that was able to support him through all this. 

His sight blurs as he peers at the cloudless sky. A billion stars just watched him pathetically imagine a girl and masturbate to it.

It’s okay if he was pathetic.

He can be fucking pathetic for her.

What mattered more was that he wishes she was actually here doing all that to him.

☆

Jean hasn’t recovered.

When he’s seated at the Marleyan restaurant the next afternoon alone, there’s an air of gloom. He has no idea what to do now.

He hasn’t had much to do today, but his friends were piled with heaps to do. There wasn’t room for distraction.

According to Hange, they like to give soldiers rest days so they could reset and have an actual break. They said that it’s better for them to be different from his friends. The reason being that people need breaks from people too.

Levi full disagreed with the whole concept but Hange said it was especially for Levi since his tolerance for people was at a negative. He couldn’t argue with that.

It just so happens that today is Jean’s break day and he was stuck in the Marleyan restaurant before opening (soldier benefits), eating a meal alone.

Was it bad to come to the place where Niccolo works? Maybe. But he’s sure Mirabelle won’t turn up here. She has a hundred MP meetings to attend to.

She simply has no business here.

He had successfully avoided her the whole day. He will continue to do so as a means to escape thinking about whatever the fuck happened last night. 

The Devil herself had slithered into his dreams last night. This was after he caught Mirabelle and went to fist his cock by the pools. He woke up rock hard—no pun intended. 

You can imagine how scrambled his mind, heart and dick are right now.

Jean was extremely lucky that Conny sleeps like a log or else he knew he wouldn’t hear the end of that. What if it got to Mirabelle?

Double kill.

Anyways, he had avoided her the whole day and treating himself during the restaurant’s close before dinner openings was the best way to go about his day. If he stayed in his tent the whole day, he would’ve gone crazy.

He may have done something he wasn’t supposed to.

Although there aren’t any chefs running around (they gotta take breaks too!), he’s able to control himself in a public space. There was that to applaud amongst this mess.

“Well, well, well,” someone says from behind him, lightly stroking his back, “If it isn’t Peeping Tom.”

Jean freezes against the touch. Time itself stops.

She swivels around to meet his face, fingers still on his back. 

He isn’t imagining her here, this isn’t a dream, she’s really here.

Jean chokes on his lobster. So hard that he doubles over his plate.

“Oh no, you poor thing.” she utters.

Mirabelle grabs the jug of water, pours it into Jean’s empty glass. He reaches out to take it from her. She doesn’t meet him halfway. Instead, she drinks the water.

Jean gulps down the cough and stares at her.

She laughs, “Here. Drink it.”

Mirabelle presses the glass against his lips. 

Jean’s on autopilot, he tilts his head back and lets her feed him the drink. 

Then, she sets the drink down and stares at him a second too long. 

He doesn’t know what to do, what to say, how to process this and he can feel himself slowly getting hard again.

She’s done nothing, absolutely nothing and he’s wordlessly done for.

She reaches out and cups one side of his face, wiping a stray water drop from his face. 

She punctures into his gaze and every wall he tries to set up for himself. It turns into paper and finds his real self, putting it up for display.

“Such a pretty face.” she mumbles.

And then, before you know it, she drops his face and leaves the restaurant.

MIRABELLE WINDRIDER POV

“That’s absolutely outrageous!” Onyankopon cries, shooting up from his seat. He slams his hands on the table for effect. 

I roll my eyes for what must be the hundredth time and yank him from the back of his blazer. He falls flatly on his armchair. The stress lines on his forehead aged him by twenty years.

The meeting room is silent but the faces of the MPs are tumultuous with worry. It’s not every day the Onyankopon breaks out in a frenzy. He’s easygoing for the most part.

I wish I could tell you why he burst out. Unfortunately, I’ve lost track of what the meeting was about. It’s some minute detail in the overarching plan.

When I agreed to go to all these boring meetings, what I’d been doing was dragging his ass back down and mediating the arguments that were happening. I’m only here for his comfort and support of these meetings.

I’m a perfect middleman.

I have to say, Paradis Island makes compelling insights. Yelena and Onyankopon do too. However, being the middleman, I have to take in consideration what is the best and causes the least harm and sometimes, both sides don’t seem to consider this as an option.

I appreciate my comrades for their work ethics. They’re more than comrades, they’re friends and if this makes their lives easier here in the meeting rooms, I’ll do it.

“Let’s take a break and resume later.” Pyxis instructs at last, “We need it.”

There’s no arguing there.

Everyone scours from the room, leaving Onyankopon and I alone.

“Can I bring you some water?” I ask gently.

The man is looking at his lap blankly.

Finally, he sighs, “No thank you. I would like to be left alone though. If that’s okay.”

“Sure.” I reply, standing up, “Collect your thoughts and we can talk again before the meeting. I’ll go take a breather too.”

“Okay.” he responds dryly.

I start heading towards the door.

“Mirabelle.” Onyankopon calls.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you, ” he tells me, “I appreciate that.”

I smile, “Love you.”

“...love you too.”

Leaving the room, I head down many flights of stairs of the Mitras’ parliament building. I bid my respects to Queen Historia, who is visiting for a council meeting of her own and step out into the chilly night air. 

There’s something about today’s air that makes it so special. The wind flirts with my hair, winding its way through the seams of my clothing.

To think this meeting was going to take my whole day? I was not expecting that. 

I do hope Onyankopon is alright though. This is a lot of stress for one person to take. I want to help my friends. The only way I can do that is take on more, study more and morph into a soldier. There’s only so much the Marleyans can do here with our restrictions and such.

At least Paradis has a whole army, we’re on our own out here. I don’t know what’s going on half the time. I’m here because I hate Marley and this was a chance to go against them. 

I’ve seen enough to prove that it is not an adequate place to live in. Especially as someone who worked close to politicians. Greed, hatred and sin, committed again and again with no remorse entailing their actions.

That’s not what I want to be a part of.

Assassination used to be a way to make money as someone coming from a low-income family and had to survive. I had to kill to survive—isn’t that ironic?

It’s time for me to put that behind me and turn a new leaf.

There is real happiness rooted in this island.

Coming here, I’ve realised the difference.

I’ve met it through my new friends, new life and…Jean.

“Mirabelle.”

I swivel around.

It is no one but him. 

He’s standing under a streetlight like a full force manifestation of my thoughts. Slightly perplexed, a little untidy from the day’s labour but all in all, Jean.

“I was just thinking about you.”

The way we meet these days is starting to not come off as surprises anymore. It’s almost as if there’s this small part of myself that expects him there.

“What?” he asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Yeah. What are you doing here?”

“I…” he begins and drops his head, deeming the stoned ground more interesting than me, “I was just finishing up here, I was about to head back, actually.”

“Hm, must be fate,” I say, linking my arm around his. He flinches, “Is this okay?”

“Yes.” he answers, a little more confidently than I know he’s feeling right now. 

A simple touch must break his insides indefinitely. So I innocently smile, squeezing his arm closer to my face. His arm is tough and plush at the same time, telling me that there’s a good amount of muscle but soft enough for a lady to lay her cheek on.

“Shall we?” I ask, nodding towards the empty street, “I don’t have much time.”

“Okay.” 

We walk down the moonlit street in Wall Sina. 

I can feel tension in Jean’s strides. Every step that hits the ground is rough and not fully taken before he takes the other one. He’s not walking fast but there’s an impatience to the way he does this time around. 

He doesn’t walk like this—he usually takes confident, full steps. It’s enough to tell me he’s still awkward from that.

It’s been a few days since Jean walked in on me and Niccolo. 

Jean’s presence was nothing out of the ordinary. It was right for him to be there, to watch me and wish it was him that was between my legs like that. 

I, for one, do wish that. 

Since he zeroed in on me like that, I’ve never wanted anything more. 

I’d take it so slow, nice and slow, fuck into him until he eases into my body and can take over. There’s nothing hotter than a man who lets me take the lead in the bedroom.

Niccolo doesn’t do that. 

He’s controlling, demanding and can barely make me cum.

I have to clear this up with Jean first. 

I don’t want this to get in between us.

It could start something new though…

“About that night.” I say as we stop under a streetlight, “Niccolo and I aren’t together. Like, at all. He’s an ex.”

It flickers, a constant struggle to seize the light, only for it to evade at every attempt.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to walk into you and him. Yelena wanted me to get you—”

“No.” I interrupt firmly, “I know you like me and you liked what you saw.”

He unwinds his arm from mine, looking anywhere but at my face.

“I—”

He slowly backs up.

“You’ve felt that way from the start.” I continue, walking towards him, “It’s written all over your face. On the first night, in the carriage, when you walked in on me and, look, even now. Why can’t you just admit it?”

He hits the pillar of some desolate luxury motel, broad shoulders taking up the entire distance of it. Despite that, there’s this deniance furrowing in his eyebrows that I’m slowly starting to dislike. It was cute at the start but I need him to own up to it, own up to it like a man.

“...Mirabelle.” 

What bullshit.

“Jean.” I state, looking up at him, “I want to fuck you so bad that it hurts.”

Like magic, the streetlight turns on. A gentle buzz maintains as I search his face. Red blossoms on his cheekbones but no words draw from his mouth.

“There you are, Mirabelle!” someone calls me.

Pyxis is in the distance, waving at me, “We oughta get going. The meeting is resuming soon.”

Talk about horrible timing.

“Right behind ya, baldie.” I reciprocate his wave.

Pyxis walks back towards the building and I turn back at Jean one last time. 

One last chance…and…nothing.

I give up.

“Coming, Mirabelle:?” Pyxis calls.

“Yes!”

I walk away from what could have been.

[ixclp2]

! Read please !

(つω`*) Hello! I'm Maur and welcome to my safe place !! ❣

⊹ requests are open ! (Rules)

⊰ (PLEASE GIVE ME TIPS I NEED THEM.)

—————————ッ ——————————

🪐 Characters that I am thinking of writing:

-- Aot --

❀ 𝐄𝐫𝐞𝐧

❀ 𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐚𝐬𝐚 (𝐰𝐥𝐰)

❀ 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧

❀ 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞

❀ 𝐉𝐞𝐚𝐧

❀ 𝐘𝐦𝐢𝐫 (𝐰𝐥𝐰)

❀ 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫

❀ 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐞 (𝐰𝐥𝐰)

❀ 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐨𝐱 (𝐁����𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐭)

❀ 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐨

❀ 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢

❀ 𝐄𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐧

❀ 𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 (𝐰𝐥𝐰)

❀ 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞

❀ 𝐍𝐢𝐥𝐞

❀ 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐨

❀ 𝐘𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐚 (𝐰𝐥𝐰)

❀ 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐨

❀ 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐤 (𝐰𝐥𝐰)

-- kny --

❀ 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐣𝐢𝐫𝐨

❀ 𝐙𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐬𝐮

❀ 𝐈𝐧𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐤𝐞

❀ 𝐆𝐢𝐲𝐮

❀ 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐧

❀ 𝐑𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐨𝐤𝐮

❀ 𝐎𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐢

❀ 𝐆𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐢

❀ 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐲𝐚

❀ 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢

❀ 𝐊𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐲𝐚

❀ 𝐆𝐲𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐨

❀ 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐨

❀ 𝐘𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐢

❀ 𝐊𝐨𝐤𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐨

❀ 𝐇𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐮

❀ 𝐌𝐮𝐳𝐚𝐧

❀ 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐦𝐚

❀ 𝐀𝐤𝐚𝐳𝐚

❀ 𝐒𝐞𝐤𝐢𝐝𝐨 (𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫)

❀ 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐤𝐮 (𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐱𝐞𝐝)

❀ 𝐔𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐢 (𝐣𝐨𝐲)

❀ 𝐀𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐮 (𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐰)

—————————ッ ——————————

𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐝𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠. ᕦ( ͡͡~͜ʖ ͡° )ᕤ

[levi501ackerman]

Steel Heart Chapter 8:

The Creature in the River

Hange x Reader Chapter Index Masterlist AO3

Megan's Note: A suppressed memory of my ex forced feeding me crickets against my will surfaced the other day. I stayed with him for like 2 years after that, but he did show me AOT LMAO??? Posted: 7/22/24

Word Count: 4.2k

Stones of the Karanese Headquarters plummeted to the wet cobblestone adding dust to the swirl of the thick smoke. The rain was relentlessly pouring. Blood from the dead bodies was spreading and diluted by the puddles. On the other side of the yard were the remaining cult members fighting for their last moments of living. The guards and the new surge of knights on horses were defeating the last of the Marleyan Cultists. 

Who was that woman? 

Their gaze.

Their sword.

They had a crested handle like the Royal King’s Guard swords. That knight swiped the necks of the cultists and saved you from them capturing you. You wanted to thank them and show them gratitude. An influx of knights and guards approached you, bombarding you with overlapping questions.

“Princess, are you okay?” “Are you hurt?” “Did they touch you?” “You need to escape!” “Princess, let's get you out of the rain!” “You’re safe now!” “Princess, we’re leaving!” “Take my hand!”

The group of the knights’ voices were overwhelming in your ear. You recognized some of their faces from Levi’s camp. Your breath staggered, and with multiple people pulling you up, you got on your feet. You breathlessly thanked them, thankful for their help and protection. 

A few knights with gleaming armor rode past on their horses while staring at you and the group of knights around you. Their gaze was heavy and yet there was almost a tinge of curiosity behind their eyes. It created a strange vulnerable feeling that you tried to ignore, focusing on the presence of knights around you reassuring your safety. 

“Thank you.” You hiccupped and whimpered. “Thank you!” Then sobbed again. Since waking up, your emotions were heightened and on the edge constantly. The Knights patted you and held your shoulders walking. The carnage of the remaining battle in the yard was blocked by the knights surrounding you. You could hear the hooves of horses, the clashing of steel, and the cries of death. 

Amongst the crowd of knights exiting the Karanese Headquarters was Connie's familiar face. He looked alert, frantic, yet healthy contrasting to how he looked earlier lying in the debris. 

“CONNIE!” You let out a joyful shriek, your heart was pounding at the sight of him alive. He survived. “CONNIE!” You waved your arms at him, and when he saw you, you swore he was just as delighted to see you. Connie urgently ran over to you and the knights.

“We’re leaving! Get a horse and go to the church!” He told Levi’s knights, breathing hard. You jumped on him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

“I was so scared you were going to die!” You held him tight. “What happened?! How’s Jean?! How’s Levi?!” 

“Princess they are ok! We need to go to the stables!” Connie looked over to the stable in the distance, he started bolting fast and it caught you off guard. You and the knights hastily made their way to the stables following after Connie. Puddles were splashing, and the clang of the armor beat the slick cobblestone with each step of the quick pace. Your legs were aching from all the running through the night and yet you pushed onward.

As you reached the wooden doors of the stables, the restless horses were loud, whinnying in distress. The smell of hay reached your nose right as a knight pulled the oak doors open. Some horses were stomping their feet in their pen, and some tossed their heads, their eyes wide and filled with fear from hearing the turmoil outside. The knights scanned the pens for their horse and you looked for Levi’s black horse. In the back, you saw a black horse blaring mercilessly, Levi’s horse reared on its hindlegs like she wanted you to spot her.

“BEAUTY!” You yelled running toward her. Levi’s horse lowered herself as if knowing you saw her. She calmed down and was hanging her head over the gate. She lowered her neck as much as she could, making her muzzle align with your face. You unlatched the gate to her pen and hugged her neck. She seemed calmer and you looked into her eyes and Beauty looked into yours. The gentle gaze was almost like a sign of affection. Suddenly, she started walking out of the pen and you moved out of her way. You rubbed her shoulder, “Okay I’m going to get on you.” Beauty stared at you. You lifted your boot—with little pieces of hay stuck to the bottom—onto the foot straps of the saddle. Usually, you had Levi or Jean help you get up. You looked around and saw Connie busy taking care of his own horse. You huffed frustratedly, not sure what to do. With your foot hooked onto the foot straps, you pushed up with all your might and grabbed whatever part of the saddle you could reach, hoisting yourself onto Beauty. 

Being on a horse by yourself felt almost . . . powerful. The knights got on their horses, Connie was on his horse and had an extra horse with him. You held on to the reins and then stroked Beauty’s mane.

“Are you ready?” Connie called out.

“Yea!”

“Let’s go!” Connie’s horse took off out of the stable and into the rain. The knights followed after him. Your knowledge of riding horses was limited to what Levi told you. Tapping your heel to start the horse, pulling on the reins to slow down, and how to make the horse go right or left. You hoped not to run into any trouble. 

You tapped Beauty with your heel and she took off, making you use your core to keep balance. Once again the pouring rain was beating down hard when you were out from under the roof of the stables. Levi’s horse followed after the knights they were riding toward the iron gate when suddenly you noticed in front of the entrance doors Levi with Jean.

“LEVI!” You screamed and pulled Beauty to the left. As if Beauty saw Levi was at the front, she bolted toward him. Levi heard you scream his name and watched you coming toward him. You pulled back on the reins once getting closer and Beauty obediently halted. You hopped off, nearly falling, and then ran to Levi hugging him. “I was so scared you were going to die!”

“I’m fine.” He patted your back. You then looked at Jean and he had bandages around his head, looking a bit disoriented.

“Jean . . .” You said softly and gingerly hugged him, placing your head against his chest. “I’m so glad you are alive . . .” Jean blinked rapidly, exhausted. He kept his eyes on the ground.  

“We’re leaving Karanese and heading to the first meeting point! Connie keep an eye on Jean, I think he may have a concussion, but we can’t do anything about it until we’re safe.” Levi said. He pulled himself up onto his horse. You followed after him, not needing any help getting on anymore.

As you held onto Levi’s waist, you watched the last bit of the fighting between the guards, knights, and the Marleyan Cultists. A weight was lifted off your shoulders, knowing you were with Levi and leaving Karanese Headquarters. You still wondered who started the fire and how the cult knew you were in Karanese. You spaced out, feeling a twist in your stomach at the memories of the cultists pinning you down, carrying you, and touching you. It was still the middle of the night and you wished none of the destruction, danger, and deaths happened. You just wanted to sleep. 

You glanced at the burning headquarters behind you, watching knights throw buckets of water onto the fire. You tried to keep your eyes off the ground to avoid looking at the amount of bodies lying in the puddles. Behind you, Jean’s eyes were heavy, half-lidded and he looked drowsy as he rode his horse. He kept raising his eyebrows, pulling up his eyelids and you empathized with him, feeling exhausted.

With one final glance at the remaining fight, you noticed the knight that saved you from the cult members watching you leave. Who was that woman? A deep root of gratitude mixed with a sense of curiosity was born from their courage.

It took around forty minutes to ride past the inner gate, another half an hour to reach the area near the church, and then another half hour to set up tents and bedrolls. Levi wanted the camp to be a bit further than the church and closer to the river. You were exhausted and missed the few hours of sleeping in a real bed at the Karanese Headquarters. The small group of knights and Levi longed to rest. You had so many thoughts and questions, but your mind was too exhausted to care or emotionally process anything. You curled up in your bedroll, naked as your clothes were drenched and hanging outside of the tent. 

━━ ⊱ ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆ ♡ ⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ ⊰ ━━

It was morning. Maybe. The daylight was bright outside the tent and your stomach was empty. You turned over and gasped as you didn’t expect Jean to be lying near you. His breaths were even and deep. Blood soaked through a part of the bandages around his head. The gash must have been deep. Jean looked so peaceful yet fragile while sleeping.

You felt stuck. You were naked and your clothes were hanging outside. You grabbed the cloak and felt the cool damp fabric. It was all you had. You wrapped it around you, tensing at the wet fabric clinging to your back. The clammy fabric had an odd friction against your skin. You hoped Levi had more clothes. 

At the end of your bedroll was a familiar folded piece of clothing. When you picked the fabric up, it unfolded, and a small smile grew on your face. It was your nightgown. One of the few things you had left of home. Levi must have saved it for you in his bag. You checked if Jean was still asleep before changing into it. The soft cotton fabric was dry and nostalgic. It wasn’t even your favorite nightgown, just the one you were wearing the night you escaped Shiganshina. You blinked back tears and took a deep breath not wanting to cry. 

You slowly pulled back the fabric of the entrance of the tent, it was day and the sun was more toward the east. It was not too late in the morning. You gasped and furrowed your eyebrows. There was suddenly almost double the amount of tents there were before sleeping. There were some faces of knights that were unfamiliar. They were strangers. In the distance was a fire with some knights chatting and eating around it. Connie was talking with a knight with brown hair tied in a little bun. All these people and where are the horses? 

A few tents over was a large tent, unlike any tent you had seen before. It wasn’t Levi’s tent since you slept in it, though you don’t recall if Levi slept with you and Jean. It was wider and taller than the tents the knights slept in. You heard Levi’s lowered voice come from the tent. You couldn’t put together what he said, but it almost sounded like it was in a harsh tone. 

The morning air was chilly and the sun on your face was warming you a bit. As quietly as possible, you crept over to the entrance of the large tent. You could hear a woman’s voice. You split the fabric for the entrance apart and saw the knight in shining armor from last night. The knight that slashed the cultists’ throats, freeing you from them. They weren’t wearing armor, but you recognized their short brown hair and their one eye. Last night, you didn’t recall seeing them wear glasses or have an eyepatch. They were wearing a white collared long sleeve and tan slacks. The woman was sitting in a chair at a table and Levi was across the table standing with his arms intertwined. His eyes were sharp and his jaw was clenched. On the table were plates with crumbs and used silverware laid on top. They both had mugs of beverages.

“I didn’t get a single messenger from you, Levi!” The woman said frustratedly.

“Where were you?! I want—”

“IN TROST! Where we planned on meeting!” They crossed their arms and the two glared at each other. 

“Did you receive a messenger from Commander Erwin?” Levi asked slowly.

“No.” 

“You really don’t know what’s been going on, don’t you?” Levi asked but it was more like a statement. Levi breathed deeply, shut his eyes, and tilted his head up. “I received a messenger from Commander Erwin saying he would meet us in Trost—”

“What?! Why?! Why would Commander Erwin need to leave the castle?! Who would even be in charge of the Royal King’s Guard?!” 

“Apparently, Armin Arlert,” Levi said, and then he sat down in the chair. “Hange . . .” There was a slight hesitation in his voice. So this was the person Levi was talking about when he mentioned Dame Hange Zoe in the past. “We came across Flagon’s camp . . . his sword was taken and there were no survivors . . .” Their eyes went wide.

“No,” their voice wavered. Levi’s elbows were on the table, his hands clasped to each other, and he rested his mouth on his hands. Almost as if his hands could block the words he didn’t want to come out of his mouth. “I-I sent Moblit to deliver a message to Flagon . . .” Levi did not want to deliver the bad news. He blinked a couple times, staring at the table, and avoided Hange's prying gaze. Their chest was heaving with anticipation.

“ . . . He was there . . . when it happened . . .” Hange lifted their glasses and rubbed their eye. They stifled a sob and suddenly they banged their fist on the table. Your heart jumped, at the sudden rattle of the plates and from the pounding on the table. They abruptly stood up and slammed their plate on the ground, it shattered. Despite you feeling uneasy at Hange’s actions, Levi didn’t flinch.

“Easy,” He clipped. “Clean that up!”

“I’ll do that later!” Hange huffed and marched toward the entrance of the tent. You moved off to the side.

“Go nap, I hate when you’re cranky!”

“Don’t tell me what to do!” Hange sassed. “I’m going to bathe in the river!”.

“Good! You smell like shit!” Levi shot back as Hange moved the tent’s entrance fabric.

When Hange walked out of the tent they didn’t notice you at first, then they saw you out of the corner of their eye. They whipped their head to your trembling form, you looked up at them. Hange froze, their one brown eye wide, eyebrows nearly to their hairline, their cheeks pink-tinted from embarrassment, and they tried to regain their composure. You weren’t sure what to say and they didn’t either.

“Levi!” You ran into the tent, tending to his side. You knelt next to his chair, he looked tired, more than usual. “Are you okay?” Levi’s shoulders were tense and he didn’t take his eyes off the table. Then he exhaled and abruptly stood up. 

“It’s rude to eavesdrop.” Levi went around the table and began picking up the pieces of the broken plate, setting the pieces in a neat pile on the table. A twinge of guilt in your chest twisted. A memory flashed of Fairy Godmother Christa disciplining you for eavesdropping on her and Fairy Godmother Ymir’s conversation when you were a child. 

“You’re right. I’m sorry, Levi. I woke up a-and I didn’t know where you were . . .” You trailed after him when he started walking out of the tent, but before Levi could leave the tent you grabbed his wrist. “Who are all those people?!” Levi’s eyes softened and he swallowed his impatience. He knows everyone had a rough night, including you. When the knights from his camp told him the cultists captured you, he figured you would become even more fearful. 

“These knights are a part of Dame Hange’s squad, we were supposed to join them a while ago.” Levi led you out of the tent and the cool air hit you once again. “They have more food and more supplies . . . I want you to have a big breakfast.” 

Levi guided you through the campsite toward the campfire where knights were finishing their breakfast. The knights were talking amongst themselves while the clatter of their plates and utensils clinked together. The wafting of eggs, rice, and sausages filled your nose. As you approached, the knights’ conversations died down, giving their attention to your presence. One of the knights in charge of meal preparations noticed you and Levi approaching and he started to cook more sausages. 

“Good morning, your Highness.” A knight said. You looked around the clones of steel trying to figure out which knight greeted you. Their eyes were all fixed on you, staring at you in awe with a tinge of curiosity. Some with smiles on their faces and some murmuring to each other.  

“G-Good morning.”

“Did you sleep well, your highness?” A knight in front of you asked.

“Kind of,” you said and didn’t expect to get a few chuckles. 

“Did you sleep well?” You asked the knight. 

“I’ll sleep better tonight.” He smiled at you and you returned a friendly one. You felt their eyes on you, feeling insecure as they were analyzing every detail of your appearance. You glanced at them and saw their eyes again.

“Excuse me, Princess, how would you like your eggs?” The knight cooking asked gently.

“Not scrambled, please. Uh—s-sunny side up . . . please.” 

“Give her three,” Levi said and you furrowed your eyebrows.

“Levi?”

“Now that there’s enough food I want you to start eating larger meals. You will eat all of it.” Levi said firmly. You were taken back by Levi’s insistence.

“Is there enough breakfast to save some for Jean? He’s still asleep,” You asked the knight who was cracking the three eggs for you.          

“More than enough.”

When you got your plate of breakfast, you started eating the eggs and sausage. The buttery taste of the eggs was satisfying on your tastebuds. Levi started walking toward Connie and his friend. You trailed after him, seeking comfort being next to him. 

“Princess, take my seat.” A knight that stood up offered. 

“No, I’m good. Thank you.” You said following after Levi. Connie’s friend was eyeing you as you came closer with Levi and you switched to Levi’s other side to be next to Connie and Levi. 

“Hi Connie,” you said quietly and then glanced at his friend. His piercing green eyes were staring at you taking in your form. 

“Hey Y/N,” Connie said, and then he patted his friend's shoulder. He was tall, muscular, and had an expression of pure determination. “This is my friend from the cadet corp and a knight of the Royal King’s Guard, Eren Yeager.” You quietly gasp, recognizing his last name. He and Zeke had the same last name. Eren was younger-looking than Zeke. Then your heart sank at the realization that when the cultists were taking you away you didn’t see what happened to Zeke. Or Oluo. Not that you wanted to see their deaths, but you didn’t know what happened to them. 

“I—you’re Zeke’s brother?” You asked unsurely.

“Yes, we’re half brothers. We’re not close,” Eren said, his voice slow and almost solemn.

“Zeke saved me from the Marleyan mutts killing me! He along with other knights helped me escape the burning building last night . . . I don’t know what happened to him after I was captured . . .” You peered into Eren’s eyes and his expression didn’t change. “I’m sorry.” It was quiet between the four of you. You felt awkward and started eating the rice on your plate. Almost like a deflection Levi spoke. 

“Eat your food, then after you’re going to the river to bathe,” Levi said and a flush rose to your cheeks. You avoided Connie and Eren’s gaze. 

“You’re coming with, right? I don’t want you to leave me alone.” Levi blinked a couple of times, almost stunned to even reply.      

“No,” He said dryly. “That’s inappropriate—”

“I just want your protection . . .” Your heart rate quickened slightly, thinking of being by the river and then a ward of Marley Cult members capturing you when no one was watching.

“Hange is at the river. They will be there to protect you. The river isn’t far from here, just over the hill. If you scream everyone will hear you.” You weren’t sure how you felt about Hange. They smashed a plate when they were angry. It took a moment for you to empathize with Hange’s actions. They were just upset about the death of their friend.

“Will you stay nearby, please? Just in case something happens!” You lowered your pleading voice. “Why don’t you bathe down the river where you can’t see, but will be nearby?”

“The men bathe in the evening. You and Hange will bathe in the morning.”

“I’m not going to bathe at all if you’re not nearby!” Connie and Eren snickered at your sass, no one ever went up against Captain Levi. It reminded them of someone they knew . . .

“Listen you brat! You’re going to go bathe and Hange will be there to protect you!” Levi whispered harshly, he was an inch from your face so that the whole camp wouldn’t hear your arguing. 

“Why can’t you just be over the hill, Levi?! Please, I just want your protection,” You whined and stomped your foot on the grass. Levi stared at you and then audibly sighed. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hands.

“Fine!” He clenched his jaw. A wave of guilt and embarrassment came over you.

“Thank you, Levi . . . I’m sorry. I just . . . I don’t know.” You looked at your plate as you took another bite of the sausage. Levi had his arms crossed, glaring at Levi and Connie snickering. Connie couldn’t hold in his laughter and it infectiously spread to Eren.

After you ate your entire plate of breakfast, you and Levi walked away from the camp. Levi was holding a new cup of steaming hot tea. You looked down at the grass, listening to the whispered crunching under your boots. The trickling water of the river started to become audible the closer you got to the top of the hill. The silence between you and Levi highlighted the brushing of the grass when the wind blew through it. Levi stopped almost at the top. 

“Levi, I’m sorry about earlier. I was being a brat. I hope you can forgive me . . .” You faced the direction toward the river and Levi turned to face the camp. He was silent for a moment, but he glanced at you first. You listened to him while staring ahead at the top of the hill.

“Princess, I know you didn’t ask for any of this. It’s unfair to grow up away from the castle, living life one way and later you’ll be told to live life differently . . .” You furrowed your eyebrows, hearing Levi’s words. “When you live in the castle you’ll have a very comfortable and safe life. But I think you’re going to be your truest and freest self here.” Levi sat down on the grass with his tea. You were confused. You glanced at the top of his black-haired head and knowing Levi won’t break your trust, you trudged to the top of the hill. 

The top of the hill had a larger view of everything around you. Across the other side of the river was another hill that you couldn’t see much over and on the shoreline were light rocks. There they were. 

The sight of Hange sitting near the shoreline of the river, naked. Their knees were drawn up and hugged to their chest. Their head was resting on their knees and their damp short brown hair laid on their neck, barely touching their shoulders. The water submerged their feet and their butt. You looked at Levi behind you who had his back to you. Then, you started going down the hill, approaching Hange slowly like they were a peaceful animal in nature that you wanted a closer look at. You’ve never seen another naked woman before and you gazed at the toned muscles on their back. The definition was evident even when they were relaxed. You came behind them from their right side and you saw the glimmering water on their skin. The curious and admirable thoughts of their body flooded your mind. You didn’t blink for a while, it was like you did not want to take your eyes off a calm vulnerable animal. When you stepped on the light rocks, your breath hitched and Hange’s head snapped to you. The white of their brown eye was red and their face was blotchy. You both stared at each other for a moment, you froze, heart beating in your chest. It was like the peaceful animal noticed your presence and was too startled to move. But really who caught who?

“ . . . Hi Hange . . .” You breathed out. They turned to their left and picked up something. You realized they were putting their eyepatch back on when you saw the band wrap around their head. They placed their oval wired glasses on their nose, turned to you and gave you a friendly yet weak smile.

“Hey . . .”

next chapter Chapter 9: Versions of Them

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