It had been a couple of weeks since Historia had been acknowledged as the rightful queen, and things had finally settled, to a degree.

We still had work to do, seeing as the Survey Corps were hellbent on reclaiming Wall Maria, and something to do with Eren Jaeger's basement, but there was actually some time for us to relax, for once.

I found myself floating around from place to place, helping and annoying everyone in any way that I could. Mostly the latter. Be it Erwin's office, or loitering around Hange as Eren trained his hardening abilities, I never stayed put for long. One of my favourite places, however, was the orphanage Historia had built. Not so much due to the kids, but the wide, open spaces.

I definitely wasn't getting clucky.

"(Y/N), faster! We gotta win!" The little girl on top of my shoulders shouted, tugging at my loose hair as I sprinted across the field. Behind us, a hoard of young children nipped at my heels, trying to beat me to the far fence post.

"I'm trying my best here! I have little legs!" I whined loudly, out of breath, seeing as this was my seventh race. Purposely, I slowed down, allowing a couple of the kids to rush past, narrowly beating me to our finishing line.

"Yeah! We beat 'er!" They cheered and roared happily as I gasped for breath, dropping to my knees and letting the little girl climb off.
"Dammit! We were so close!" She complained, patting my cheek with her grubby little hand. "You okay?" Puffing and nodding, I wiped the sweat from my brow, rubbing my shoulder with my free hand.

"Mmhmm...It's just my pride that hurts..." I replied, a cluster of ankle biters gathering around me.
"What's a pride?"
"Iunno."
"I know what a pride is! It's in her ass!"
"Ain't nothing in my ass!" I snapped lightly, jumping to my feet.

The pre-pubescent gaggle dispersed immediately, giggling and screeching in different directions as I began to chase after them, though at not even half of my usual speed. I was beat, but I knew how much they needed to laugh. They had all been rescued from the underground, after all.

It's worth a day or two of aching joints...

Once they all seemed to get distracted by an anthill across the way, I noticed Jean watching me from the fenceline, and I dragged my sweaty self towards him, slumping over the wooden posts nearby.
"Please tell me you have water."

Chuckling, Jean handed me a flask, and I greedily guzzled the majority of its contents, tipping the rest over my head.
"Thought I'd find you out here. Looks like you're having fun." He commented, shifting over so I had room to sit atop the fence.

"Well, I was napping, minding my own business, but then one kinda latched on...then another...and another...then before I knew it I had a litter." I sighed with a bit of a shrug, hair dripping against the wood, causing the colour to darken.

"It kinda suits you." Jean said with a smile, quickly trying to cover it with a cough. "I..I mean, like, you're good with kids...and, uh...it's nice to see you finally relaxing..." Snorting at his fluster, I turned my attention out towards the kids, who had abandoned the ant nest in favour of some kind of tangled wrestling match.

"I don't think they're for me...but it's nice just messing around and avoiding my duties for a while." He edged closer to me, but I didn't look to my side, wanting to keep my head clear for at least a little while longer.
"Not ever..?" He queried, his elbow touching my outer thigh as he leamed against the fence. "I wouldn't mind having one or two one day..."

You're looking so far into the future...

Running a hand through my damp hair, I blew a raspberry into the air, legs kicking back and forth.
"So, what brings you out here? Kristoria is in the capitol today, so it's just me, the pipsqueaks and the nannies." Humming in ackowledgement, Jean nudged my side a little.

"I know. I was actually asked by Moblit to drag you back kicking and screaming so you could go over the formation drafts for the next survey." He explained, and I hopped off the post in a hurry, putting wood and iron nails between us.
"I don't wanna." I huffed, quite literally putting my foot down.

"As I said. Kicking and screaming. Don't make me chase you, (Y/N). I'm wearing my good pants." Lifting a brow, as though it was a warning, he watched me as I began to back away.
"You couldn't catch me if you tried. Only one person has managed that, and that was a fluke."

Or fate...

I could see his arms shift and tense as he braced himself to clear the fence, and I sped up a little.
"Is that a challenge?" The daring tone of his voice lit something inside of my, and my lips stretched into a wide smirk.
"Go ahead and try, pony boy."

I erupted into maniacal laughter as I began to run away, just as I caught him leaping onto my side. It was common knowledge that I was quick on my feet on rural terrain, but I definitely hadn't accounted for the length of his legs compared to my own.

"Get back here, you little shit..!" Jean laughed, already close behind me, and I zigged and zagged to change course, gaining speed as I headed straight for the jumble of children.
"Brat pack! We got a live one! Attack!"

Each one of the new squad had spent time out at the orphanage. Enough so to realise that these little tykes were rough, and packed a punch. Passing them by as they clambered up and over each other, I turned just in time to see Jean skidding to a halt, dirt and grass flying.

"W..wait..! That's cheating..!" Oh, but it was too late. Forever would the image of Jean being crash tackled by a swarm of grubby children be etched into my memories. It took them no time at all to have him pinned, stomach down, crawling all over him, pinching and yanking on whatever parts they could reach. "Call 'em off! They're - ow! They're using teeth..!"

Snickering, I approached, crouching down where his head poked out among the pile.
"You gonna be nice to me and let me take my time heading back?" I asked in a sickly sweet voice, struggling not to cackle when he nodded frantically.
"Yes! Okay! Fine! Just get them off!"

Deciding he wasn't dumb enough to try and trick me in such a position, I stood up, snapping my fingers. The children hopped off immediately. It was kind of cool, having my own little army. One or two still clung to him, but it was enough for him to be able to sit up, clothes now covered with dirt and grass stains.

"Guess I'm just too sneaky for ya, Jean-boy, my dear." I chuckled, making a show of tossing my hair as I turned to saunter away. With the children now interested in their new plaything, I could finally take a nap.

At least, I thought I could.

"Hey, (Y/N)!" Hearing my name being called in a squeaky voice, I glanced over my shoulder, and I very nearly pissed my pants on the spot. The brats were rushing towards me now, and I didn't even get the chance to run.

Instead of knocking me down, they grabbed hold of me, by the limbs, clothes, whatever they could grasp, and dragged me back the way they had came from in a sprint. Screeching in amused terror, I tried to get away, but instead, I was launched forward.

Straight into Jean's waiting arms.

Chest against his upper stomach, my cheeks heated up, and I sure they looked as red as his did when I looked up.
"H..how did you..?" I was a little too flustered to finish my sentence, but he got the gist of it.
"G..guess I'm just too sneaky for ya..."

You copycat motherfu-

"He promised us meat!" Several of our mini spectators announced with glee, starting to dance around us. "Meaty meat! Meaty meat!" I didn't have to say anything when I gave the man a sketchy look, and he shrugged his shoulders.
"I overheard Historia saying she was gonna treat them for dinner. Technically I didn't lie."

I felt a little betrayed by my little buddies, but he was right. That was one sneaky move.
"So, are you two gonna kiss?" The girl I had had on my shoulders earlier tugged on my shirt, and the heat in my face nearly blew my head clean off.
"Yeah! Do the gross face smooshing!" Another sang out.
"You asked us to bring you the beautiful girl! If you think she's beautiful you gotta kiss!"

It was then that I realised I was still being held tight in his arms, and I felt my heart accelerate. Jean seemed to be just as ruffled, cheeks blooming and smile wonky.
"Y..you guys really want me to give meat man a kiss..?" I asked them awkwardly, nearly flinching as the majority screamed their confirmations.

"Co..come on, guys...th..that's peer pressure..." Jean stammered in a chuckle, averting his eyes, yet still holding me in place. Against him, I knew where he stood, and how he felt. He had made that much clear when we had been alone in the woods all those weeks ago. Now, I myself wasn't sure, by any stretch, though that didn't mean I wasn't considering it.

"Gotta give the people what they want, Jean-Boy...Pucker up!" Sucking in a deep breath, mostly to push my nerves down, I stood up on my toes and pressed a closed mouthed kiss to the unsuspecting man. His entire body went rigid, and the quick inhilation he took from his nose had the potential to suck my face clean off.

It was a quick kiss, but a kiss nonetheless, and I quickly cast my gaze to the side when I pulled back, clearing my throat as the kids went wild.

"Ew, she actually did it!"

"That was so cute!"

"Awwwwwww!"

"Does that mean she's gonna have a baby now?!"

Arms kind of quivering, Jean finally released me, but he didn't step too far back, one of his hands finding a home at the back of his neck.
"I...uh...that was...You, um..." He was broken, to say the least, but not in a bad way. It was actually kind of cute. Again clearing my throat, louder this time, I gave his chest a quick pat, scampering around him to head off towards the stable.

"O..on second thought...I may as well go take a look at those formation drafts..."

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***Needed some more Jean fluff.

What are some cute scenes you'd like to see involving him or Levi? Or other characters (in a non-romantic way)?

Again, I'm stretching the timeline, so the time between Historia's crowning and the Shiganshina mission is gonna be more than 2 months.

Next Time: Family Ties***