I could tell Levi was growing more and more agitated as he listened to the Scout explain Erwin's message, but it was definitely directed at me. I was the one had placed a crown of multicoloured poppies atop of his head, and I was trying to reach around from behind him to sit more against his cravat. They were pretty withered because I had forgotten all about them, so I decided the best time to put them to use was when there was an important meeting I had nothing to do with.

"-nd he specifically asked that you and your squad take care of...Um, Sir, would you like me to wait until...uh, the young lady is done, or..?" The unnamed solider gave us both a strange look and Levi heaved a long, frustrated sigh.
"No, carry on...If I tell her to stop she'll just start bitching." He gave me a quick, sharp look from over his shoulder and I narrowed my eyes; snatching the crown from his head and stomping over to Gunther so I could place it on his instead.

Just trying to lighten the mood...sheesh...

The solider went on to explain that there had been a herd of cattle spotted due north from Wall Rose, and that they were headed towards the tall forest. Erwin had requested that Levi and the others lead a small group of Scouts to gather them up, which I guess I could understand. It sounded like a pretty pathetic mission, but livestock was dwindling in numbers these days, so it made sense.

"Couldn't be a worse time...but I suppose we have no choice. The brat's training isn't really that important now, anyway, considering she's a cut above the rest already..." The ravonette sighed as he stood up and turned to his squad; complete with a floral-topped Gunther. "Eld, Oluo and Gunther, get yourselves ready. Petra, you shall remain here with (Y/N) to keep her training going."
"Awww, but I wanted to go too..." Whined the ginger, who deflated immediately. I felt a little guilty, but there wasn't much I could do. Asking that Eld stay behind was out of the que-

"If you want to go, I'll just stay with the kid. Besides, not to brag, but out of the four of us I have the most experience...plus I've trained a few recruits, too...It would make sense that I do it." Eld piped up out of the blue, and I couldn't help the twitch of my lips as he gave me a soft smile. Levi, on the other hand, had a dark expression come across his face.
"Fine. I don't care who stays. Whoever is coming, get the fuck ready. Now." With that, the man strode out of the room, leaving the rest of us a little stunned at his extra harshness.

"Someone's snippy..." Gunther chuckled nervously before giving my head a hurried pat and following after the captain. Oluo did the same, but Petra stopped to give me a quick hug.
"Remember what I taught you..." She whispered in my ear in a girlish giggle; almost skipping after Oluo whilst I choked on oxygen.

It didn't take long for them to make the preparations, and soon Eld and I were standing out the front of the castle to bid them farewell.
"We shall return by at least late tomorrow afternoon...Eld, I trust that you won't slack off. If she can't recall every dummy she's slain by the time I get back, I'm going to kick you in the jaw." Levi stared down at his second in command, and Eld gave him a firm salute; his fist clashing against his puffed chest.
"You have my word, Sir!"

God, you have your head so far up his ass...Is his colon squeaky clean, too?

They left straight after that. I didn't get scolded by the captain, nor did he really spare me a second glance. It was kind of disheartening, but I couldn't pinpoint why. It wasn't like I wanted to impress him or anything. At least, I didn't think that was the case.

"Okay, kiddo...You heard the man...We're gonna go through this course as many times as it takes for you to get this right. I've been kicked by that damn boot before, and I'm not really keen to have it happen again..." Eld laughed nervously; starting to walk towards the entrance. "I'll go grab our gear, then I can set it up. In the meantime...you make me one of those cute flower crowns, 'kay?" His grin struck me right through the ticker, and all I could do was nod and give him some awkward, toothy smile in return.

Fuck...

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It took six and a half runs for me to actually have be able to keep track of every dummy I took down; the half being counted as such because I ended up flying into a bird and connecting with a small tree. We had started at eight in the morning, and it was now growing dark, just as I was growing restless.

"Eldy, can I go for a ride again? I mean, I did what I was supposed to, right? Consider it my reward!" I had already begun to remove my gear, but Eld didn't make any move to.
"Just because you did it once doesn't mean you've got it covered, (Y/N)...Plus I'd hope that me not being assaulted by the Captain would be a good enough reward..." He folded his arms, but he had a slightly playful look on his face.

"Pleeeeaaaassseee?! We can get up super early tomorrow and keep training until they get back! Come on, Eldy! I just wanna ride!" Clasping my hands together, I pleaded with him as though it was the most important thing. It kind of was, to me.

I wanted to take this rare chance of freedom by the horns. I could tell he was about to give in, but when he cast his eyes overhead, his smile dropped a little.
"Sorry, kiddo, but we're gonna do one more run...I already set them up again, and it looks like a storm isn't far off..." I followed his gaze and slumped my shoulders as I saw the dark, looming clouds overhead; already flickering in threat.

"Fine...slavedriver..." I grumbled under my breath as I re-fastened my gear. He just laughed at my childish attitude and went to light the torches inside the entry hall of the castle before we whizzed into the trees again; just in case it grew too dark by the time we circled back around. It was almost natural now as I began the repetitive course. Swing, wait, swing, slash, swing, wait, swing, swing, slash, repeat. It was all so monotonous. That was, until, the storm decided to perform a sneak attack.

In the blink of an eye the rain was bucketing down from above the canopy, and flashes of lightning lit up the darkness that was trying to consume the two of us.

"Fucking...shit! Move it, back to the center!" Eld yelled out to me, but I had only barely heard it over the roaring wind and thunder. We were already drenched to the bone, and, to make matters worse, my gear was seizing up. I made a rather abrupt landing on the ground and began to shake my handpiece violently. Eld backtracked and landed a few feet away. "What's the hold up, kid?!"
"The trigger's stuck! This piece of shit won't shoot the anchor!" We were only yelling because of the sheer elemental volume, but it was still frustrating.

"I don't have time to look at it, so hang on!" Eld grabbed me by the wrist; pulling me into his side before curling one arm around my waist. I held onto him tightly as he started off again, and I was pretty close to screaming out. It was such a different feeling, not being in control when using ODM gear, and I wasn't sure I liked it at all. His grip on me was unwavering, which made me feel a little better, but by the time we had reached the clearing by the castle I was feeling rather dizzy.

The two of us sprinted like madmen into the building; panting and wringing wet as Eld leant against the wall and I just opted to plop myself down on the floor.
"Next time, we aren't doing just one more..." I muttered as I gave my head a shake, trying to rid it of the freezing water. Eld just hummed in agreement before making a move to go further in. "Where are you going..?"
"To heat up water. You need to have a hot bath and get changed out of those clothes, otherwise you'll get sick..." He didn't stop to turn around, and I was left on my own for a while.

I'm freezing...but, it's not like I'm not used to dealing with this kind of thing...I was lucky I only ended up getting extremely sick that one time...when they found me...

Once Eld got back; shirtless, might I add, he pulled me off the floor by my hand and led me towards a room with a large, stone bath. It really was a castle; so many things that houses in the inner districts didn't have. The steam rising from the freshly heated water was rising, and several buckets sat close by.
"Warm up, kid. I'll chuck a towel in when I find one." Eld ruffled my soggy (H/C) hair before turning to leave again, but this time I cleared my throat.
"Wh..what about you..? You...could get sick too..."

Dear god, (Y/N), what are you implying?!

He paused and turned to give me a questioning look before shrugging his shoulders.
"Your health is more important." Biting my lip, I knew I couldn't accept that. The rain had been like literal ice, and I could see his bare skin dappled with goosebumps.
"N..no...Our health is equal in importance...H..how about...we just leave our underwear on..? I mean...i..it'll still be kinda weird...but...at least we could both warm up...and neither of us would get sick..." I was feeling warmer already, but that was because I could feel my blood rushing to my face, and the same was happening to the man standing in the doorway.

"I...guess....you make a good argument..." He admitted whilst taking slow, short steps away. "I don't really fancy getting sick either, so...Alright, fine...but back to back, because I don't wanna make you uncomfortable...I'm a nice guy, but I'm still just a man..." He gave me a kind of awkward, stiff smile as he edged out of the room, and I immediately began to panic.

What the hell am I thinking?! I mean, I don't want him to get sick, but...sharing a bath?! AHHHHH!

I hurried to strip off to my underwear; a brassier and briefs, and I quite literally stumbled into the bath so he wouldn't just catch me standing there, red in the face. The heat of the water was a blessing to my shivering skin, and I let myself relax for the few minutes I had before Eld returned with two towels and his eyes stuck to the ceiling.

I looked away as he removed his pants, and scooted towards the far end of the tub with my knees to my chest, until my toes touched the wall of stone. I couldn't even manage to take a breath as I felt him climbing in; the water rising an inch or two from his added weight, and it all came out in a shaky gust as his back pressed against mine.

"S..so..." Eld moved his arm up to rest against the edge of the bath; his fingers tapping against the inner wall as he tried to keep himself composed. "...how's the weather..?" I chuckled quietly at his lame attempt at easing the tension, and found myself leaning into his strong back. He was comforting, in his closeness, though he felt pretty rigid. It was understandable, given the circumstances.

"I...uh...I was kind of pissed at that Scout...when he found us this morning..." I confessed as I stared at my knees. Eld shifted against me, and his tapping became faster.
"I was too...but...I guess I was also kind of relieved..." He admitted, and I slightly turned my head so I could see the side of his face. He wasn't smiling, which made me nervous. "Self control is something that I'm commended for...but...it almost didn't exist when we were out there earlier...P..probably best that it didn't escalate..."

But...I kind of wanted it to...

"I see..." That was all I could muster up as a response, and he turned his head like I had mine, but his eyes were focused up and away as he pursed his lips.
"It's...not like I wouldn't want it to...you know...escalate...I just...as second in command...having relations with another squad member just isn't really smiled upon, I guess..." He looked so different with his hair loose and drenched; flattened out and framing his serious face. I was, yet again, burning up.

"But...I'm not a member..." I pointed out, as if I was trying to sway his decision. I was, but I didn't exactly mean to make it so obvious.
"You will be, though. That's almost a given considering your skill..." He explained before we fell into a silence. The storm thundered on outside, and I felt him lean back into me as we let the water slosh around our cold skin and heat us up. It wasn't working as well as our mutual embarrassment.

"E..even so...why...does it matter..?" I looked back towards him again, but all I could see was his damp mop of blond. "Life is for living, not following orders and expectations...It all comes down to what you want for yourself..." I knew I was pushing it. I couldn't help it, because I knew what I wanted in that moment. After listening to Petra rave on about romance, I kind of wanted to try that kind of closeness for myself. Eld was just the kind of person I could see that happening with.

"What I want..." He sighed as he leant his head back against mine and turned to glance at me with glazed oak eyes. "...probably wouldn't end the way we both want it to, (Y/N)...Even if I've never wanted anything more..."

Holy shit holy shit holy shit holy shi-

"Endings...aren't what people should focus on..." I sighed as I gripped my knees a little tighter; my wet (H/C) hair splaying across over his shoulder. "...it's the beginnings that really matter..."

(One day I'll actually finish sketching this but today is not that day)
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***Boi, I love multiple x readers, they're fun to write and I get to live out my creepy weeb fantasies with all my favourites xD Also, ya dude got an undercut today and I feel like the secret lovechild of Jean and Shinso from BNHA cuz I have purple hair yeet***