Underground - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

I swiped my blade down across the pale flesh of the titan's neck as I whipped past on my 3DM lines, and a spray of dark blood instantly splashed upward and into the air around me, flecks of the crimson, hot liquid speckling my face.
Landing on a branch and lightly taking a few steps forward to steady myself, I glanced over as Miller landed beside me, reaching up to wipe the sweat from her brow. I shot her a smug smile. "That's seven for me, Miller."
She groaned, and Springer landed beside her on the tree branch, catching my proud statement as he furrowed his brow in annoyance. "No way. I'm only on three." He shot me a grin, his bloodstained skin crinkling with the force of the smile. "But there's still time. I'm going to beat you, Corporal."
"I admire your optimism, Springer." I chuckled slightly as I wiped my bloody sword onto my pants and glanced down at the forest floor below, littered with fallen titans. "However, I've been doing this much longer than you have."
Our conversation was interrupted as Levi landed on the tree branch next to me, raising an eyebrow at all three of us. "Tch. What are you three doing just standing around?"
I sheathed my sword as I glanced over at him, shooting him a grin as I said, "We're just comparing the scores. Want to join the contest, Ackerman?"
He scoffed and rolled his eyes at me as he readied himself to leave the tree we were standing in. "I don't have time for your games, (L/N). Some of us actually have titans to kill."
He shot off into the trees, his blades flashes of steel at his side.
"That doesn't even make sense, Ackerman! I'm at seven already so I AM killing titans!" I called out after him, before turning back to Miller and Springer, who were staring after Levi. I noticed the curious looks on their faces and asked, "What are you two staring at?"
Springer turned his gaze to me, curiosity still lingering on his face, and said, "Corporal Ackerman's in an incredibly good mood today. I mean, compared to his usual mood of death and despair. Normally he would have told us to quit the antics altogether." He shrugged slightly and glanced to Miller, who nodded in agreement. "He just told us he didn't have time for us and left. No lecture, no insults, no 'brats.'" Springer flashed me another grin. "Something's got him in a great mood, and that bodes well for us!"
I hid the smile that was threatening to break out across my lips and unsheathed my blades once again. "Well, that is good news. So I say we finish this mission up while he's still in a good mood, and get the hell back inside the city. What do you two say?"
Springer pushed past me, already halfway into the air on his lines as he pulled out his swords. "Way ahead of you, Corporal." He smirked over his shoulder at me as he flew into the air, headed for a nearby titan crashing through the trees. "I've got a record to beat."
Miller followed close behind him, leaving me alone on the tree branch for just a moment.
I stood there for a few seconds, feeling the cool breeze on my skin, watching the titans fall around me, and I suddenly felt a small glimmer of hope within me, that maybe, just maybe, we could win this after all.
After we had cleared our section of the wall, we headed back to the city for the night.
The shadows were beginning to lengthen as we stabled the horses and met the cadets back out in front of the long, low building.
Stretching my arms above my head and letting out a small groan as I worked through the kinks in my back from swinging swords all day, I glanced at the small group of cadets gathered before me and said, "Alright, idiots. You did well today. Everyone get cleaned up and then we'll meet back here in an hour for a bonfire and some relaxation before lights out." I flashed them all a smile. "And drinks are on me."
Some of them pumped their fists in the air and a small, tired cheer rose into the air before they all headed off to the barracks to get cleaned up from the day of titan killing.
After they had gone, I turned to Levi, who was watching me with disbelief on his face, one eyebrow raised incredulously. "You actually want to spend personal time with them?"
I rolled my eyes at him and then said teasingly, "Come on, Levi. I know you like them all deep down. Even if you'll never actually admit to it." I walked up to him and took his hand in mine, surprising myself with my boldness. I threaded my fingers through his, our hands fit so perfectly, and then pulled him after me, headed toward the treeline on the edge of the camp. "Now come on. I have something I want you to do."
He trailed reluctantly behind me as I entered the trees and hiked up the gradual rise behind the officer's quarters. As we walked, threading our way through the trees, I heard him let out an exasperated sigh and then say from behind me, "Where are we going, (F/N)? I'd really like to just bathe and go to bed at this point."
I glanced over my shoulder at him, noting the irritated look on his face, and then goaded him slightly as I said, "Levi. When did you become such a stick in the mud? You always used to drag me on adventures when we were kids."
"Tch." He scoffed. "Keyword in that phrase is 'kids.'"
"Alright, grumpy-ass." I pulled him over the top of the rise, and as the small, dark lake came into view below us, pushed him out in front of me so he could see the view. "We're here."
He stood still for a moment, his back to me, as I watched him, and then he let out another sigh. "We hiked up here for a muddy puddle of water that the brats sometimes fraternize in after hours?"
"You're ruining this." I came up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, feeling his firm, muscular form beneath my hands, and rested my chin on his shoulder. I leaned in and said quietly in his ear, "Come on. It'll be fun. A swim, just like old times." I reached up and ran a finger down his jawline, wiping away some of the speckled blood that had dried on his skin. "And I know it's driving you crazy to be so filthy." I blew gently on his ear and felt him tense under my hands slightly.
I couldn't help the small smile that flicked across my lips at the action. It was nice to know that he wanted me just as desperately as I always wanted him.
I released my hold on him and strode past him down to the shore of the small lake. Crouching down, the rocks crunching under my boots, I ran my hand through the water as it ebbed back and forth along the shore. It was chilly, but not as cold as I had thought. It'd be just like swimming in the Underground cistern.
I glanced over my shoulder at Levi, who still stood motionless where I had left him, watching me. I flicked the water off my hand in his direction and stood, reaching for the hem of my shirt. "Come on, Levi. It's just like the cistern we used to swim in every year." I pulled my shirt up and over my head in one smooth motion and dropped it on the ground at my feet. I put a hand on my hip and raised an eyebrow at him as I shot him a seductive smirk, standing at the edge of the lake topless. The cool night air caused goosebumps on my bare skin. "It's just like those swims, except I'm fairly certain I look better naked than I did before."
"Tch. Don't be so cocky, (F/N)." He attempted to blow off my attempt of humor, but his eyes never left me, his dark gaze falling down my body, and making me shiver slightly. I knew he knew I was right this time.
"Well, fine." I undid the button on my pants and slipped them quickly off my legs, wrapping my arms around my chest for warmth as I stood for a brief moment on the edge of the lake, in nothing but my undergarments. I shot him a glare. "Be no fun and stay on shore. I'm going for a swim."
Without another word or look in his direction, I turned and dove into the murky waters of the lake.
As soon as I was enveloped under the water, the cold took my breath away. I broke back through the surface of the lake quickly, gasping for air, my wet hair clinging to my skin as I took a couple of hard strokes in the direction of the far shore, trying to keep myself warm through movement.
I reached the other side of the lake in moments, it was about as large as I remember the Underground cistern being, and found a large, thick tree root that had grown out into the water. I wrapped my arms around its dark slimy surface and rested for a moment, catching my breath, kicking my legs idly under the surface of the water to try and keep up the warmth I had achieved through swimming.
Suddenly, something grabbed my leg underneath the water, and I let out a small shriek before I was pulled underneath the murky surface.
I reemerged from the water, coughing and gasping for air. My mouth had been open when I had been dragged under.
Levi surfaced beside me, his dark hair plastered to his forehead, water dripping down his cheeks and onto his jaw, and as I wrapped my arms around the root again for stability, he came over beside me, saying in a slightly irritated tone, "Ready to admit this was a stupid idea yet?"
"Never." I splashed water in his direction and he put up a hand to block the droplets from his face. When he dropped his hand again, he shot me a glare and I grinned at him. "I mean, you came in, didn't you? I'd say this was a success."
"I only came in because I was afraid you'd freeze to death and need my help." Levi shot back, reaching his hand up again to push his soaked hair off of his forehead.
I scoffed. "Yeah, whatever. I'm tough as hell. This water isn't even that cold." As if to discredit my words, my body suddenly decided to shiver, seeming to realize that the water was indeed cold, and I had been in its chilly embrace for a bit too long. My fingers were white from cold where they clenched the bark of the root that emerged from the water.
Levi noticed my shiver as well and swam over to me. He reached me and, throwing one arm over the root to steady himself, wrapped the other around my waist, pulling me back against his body for warmth. The bare skin of his chest was cool against my back, but instantly, I felt warmer just by being close to him, his arm around me, holding me up in the dark water that lapped around our shoulders. I sank lower into the water, realizing that I would stay warmer if as much of my bare skin was out of the breeze as possible, and he rested his chin on the top of my head, his fingers wrapping around the cold skin of my forearm as he said from above me, "Tch. Not cold in the least, eh?"
We sat in silence for a few seconds, nothing but the sound of the water and the forest around us, just enjoying the feeling of having each other close, when Levi finally said, "Oi, (F/N)."
I tilted my head back against his chest so that I could look up at him. "Yes?"
He glanced down at me, his dark eyes unreadable, but full of something similar to an intense emotion, as he seemed to search for the right words for what he wanted to say. Finally, he said quietly, "You know what? Never mind. We should get back for that horrid bonfire you've roped us into." He bent his head down and quickly kissed my lips, his own wet and cool from the water we had been swimming in.
He released me and started to swim back to shore.
I stayed there, frozen for just a moment, shivering beside the root, watching him go. It seemed as if he had wanted to tell me something just then, but had lost the nerve. My mind was going a thousand miles a minute. What had he wanted to say? He had never hesitated to tell me exactly what he thought before. Why was this different?
"Oi, (F/N)! Get out of the water! You're going to freeze."
Levi's voice broke through my thoughts and I pushed away from the root, stroking across the dark water to where he stood on the opposite shore, pulling his shirt over his head, the fabric clinging to his muscled, damp chest.
As I emerged from the lake, the cold water dripping down my bare skin and to the ground at my feet, I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed that Levi had held something back from me.