"I C..CAN'T! I LITERALLY CANNOT..! (Y/N), YOU'RE GONNA K..KILL M..ME..!" Marco doubled over on his bed, wheezing so hard that I was certain his lungs would burst. I tried my best to shush him, but my own hideous cackling was taking over. There wouldn't be too many repercussions if I were to be caught in the boys' side of the barracks, right?
"Sh..shhhh! You're gonna g..get me busted..!" I chortled, almost losing my balance.
"One more...t..time..!" The ravonet wiped tears from his eyes and leant forward in anticipation. I couldn't resist. Adjusting myself so I was again kneeling atop Marco's pair of low-cut civilian boots, I curled the calico sheet around my shoulders and forced my expression into deadpan.
"Erwin...you ignorant slut." How I ended up impersonating Levi was a mystery, but my freckled friend was once again clutching at his stomach and honking like a broken goose.
"Ahem." I squeaked out as somebody cleared their throat from the doorway, and toppled over against Marco's legs, barely managing to catch myself on his knees before headbutting him straight in the little Marco polos.
"O..oh...Reiner..." Marco coughed and tried to get his giggling under control. "...s..sorry...did we wake you?" I stood up, using him as leverage, and curled the cape further around myself for dramatic effect.
"Be you friend...or foe..?"
God, I'd be so fun at parties..!
The smallest hints of a smile tugged at Reiner's tight lips, but he still crossed his arms across his broad chest.
"That depends," He started, taking a small step forward. "on whether you got permission to be in here." Gulping, I hid my guilty expression behind the sheet and shuffled my feet.
"Uh...well, Jean wanted to do some extra hand to hand training with Connie...and I was bored...so...I gave myself permission..?"
Absolutely nailed it, (Y/N)!
Uttering a short laugh, the blond relaxed and welcomed himself into the room, shutting the door behind him.
"I'm just messing with you. Just happy to see you kicking back and having a laugh." Releasing a sigh of relief, I tossed the sheet down next to Marco and followed with a soft thud, causing the bed to bounce.
"Ah, good...I won't have to kill you, then..."
"So, what's up, Reiner? It's weird to see you without Bertholdt." Marco pointed out, leaning back against the wall. Taking a seat on Jean's unoccupied bed, the cadet shrugged his shoulders.
"He's asleep. It seriously stresses me out watching him sleep in those weird positions..." He shuddered before turning his attention to me. "Oh, by the way, (Y/N), somebody was looking for you. Elf, or Elm, I think he said his name was..?"
Oh...
I was honestly surprised to hear that Eld had been looking for me. We hadn't seen each other since my trial, and I felt a little disheartened. My feelings for the man confused me to no end. On one hand, I adored him, but on the other, I couldn't help but have my doubts. All of these odd feelings were far too new to me, and I didn't know what to do with them. I couldn't just follow the skip of my heart towards my future. If i did that, then my attention would be torn every which way.
"Oh, he was? Guess I better go see what's up, then..." Sighing, I placed my hand on Marco's shoulder and pulled myself to my feet, turning to give him a smile. "If I don't get called to my death, I'll come back later, yeah?"
"(Y/N)...don't say stuff like that...You've already scared me too much lately..." Marco whined, patting my hand. I winced guiltily before pulling away and lifting a finger to my lips, turning my attention to Reiner.
"Remember, Braun...I was never here..." Proceeding to back out of the room; arms waving out in front of me in a pathetic attempt at being eerie, I laughed before heading out the door.
I wonder why he's looking for me..?
It didn't take long to track the man down. Between asking lurking cadets and having a keen eye, I finally caught up to him near the mess hall.
"Heard you were trying to sniff me out, old man..?" I chuckled as I sauntered up to him, making him jump a little. Puffing out a long breath, he returned my smile and rotated to face me completely.
"Well, I checked your room, but you weren't there, so I asked one of your fellow cadets to keep an eye out." He explained, shuffling to lean against the outer wall of the mess hall. Following his actions, I looked up at him with my most innocent gaze.
"My room? Don't tell me this was a visit brought upon by primal urges, Mr. Jinn..?!" Containing my snickering was more difficult than it had been back in Marco's room as Eld slapped his hand over my mouth, whipping his head back and forth to make sure nobody had been in ear shot.
"Shhhhh! Keep it down, would ya..?" He whined, letting me see the wash of red against his cheeks. "I...don't want you getting a reputation with all these horny men around...plus...that's not why I came..." I didn't quite understand what he meant, but I wriggled my way out from beneath his palm and pouted.
"Then what's up? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little glad to see you..."
"I'm sorry...I've been wanting to come and check up on you, but...you know how it is...duties and all that..." Eld sighed and let his head fall back against the wood. "The Captain requested that you come out on a short expedition with us tomorrow. He wants to see you out in the open, in a...realistic situation..." It was obvious that he wasn't excited about the situation, and even though I had the chance to ride free, I wasn't particularly thrilled about it myself.
"Wow...that's short notice..." I muttered, scrunching up my nose. "...I wanted to stay over with Marco tonight..What time are we leaving?" I felt Eld stiffen, even though we weren't touching, and he sniffed loudly.
"Who's Marco..?" Man, I felt his words more than his movement, but I had no idea why his tone changed so suddenly.
"Uh, my friend? That's where I was before Reiner told me you were looking for me." I explained.
"So...you two are close, then..?" It clicked when Eld spat those words out, and I felt my chest squeeze. He was painfully jealous.
"Well, of course. Marco reminds me of my big brother...His freckles, mostly, but also how kind and selfless he is..." I smiled to myself, because I truly adored the soft cadet, and also due to the fact that Eld actually cared enough to show his true feelings, albeit indirectly.
"O..oh...So...nothing to worry about, then..." The blond murmured, embarrassed by his assumptions. Glancing all around him, he moved towards me quickly, causing me to squeak out loudly as his lips sealed mine. It wasn't a very long kiss, thanks to being so exposed in the middle of the barracks, but it was still incredibly passionate. He stole my breath away in that instance, and I almost fell into his chest trying to follow him when he ripped himself away.
That wasn't enough...
"Tease..." I muttered under my breath, and Eld placed his familiar hand on my head, gently ruffling my already messy (H/C) hair.
"We gotta be careful, kiddo. As I said before...I don't want you to get a reputation..." His voice was mildly concerned, as was his expression, and I puffed my lips out in response.
"I don't even know what that means..." I whined, continuing on when he pulled that hand away.
"Just...It's like...not everyone is a good person, and...You know what? Don't worry about it...Let me walk you back to your room." He motioned his head for me to follow, and I hurried to match his long stride.
"Righto then...Oh, and I'm going back to Marco's room, not mine. It's boring in mine...and I've spent enough time alone..." I waited for him to tell me off for sneaking about and disobeying the rules, but it never came.
"Well, if he's like a brother...then I guess I can overlook it this once..." Eld sighed, a fond smile making him even more handsome, which I didn't think was even possible.
I am very much in like with this man..!
"Besides, graduation is coming up soon. If your Marco friend chooses the interior police or the garrison, then you won't be able to spend much time together. It wouldn't be fair to make you behave." He continued, putting a slight damper on my mood.
"Don't go and say something like that, you ass! I don't wanna think about it..."
I knew he was just telling me how it was, but it still chewed away at the back of my mind. Marco was somewhat filling the void that Dimitri had left behind, and even if he didn't remind me of my late brother, I would have still cherished his friendship all the same. Losing that now would hurt.
"Hey, I'm just being realistic, (Y/N). Would you really want someone you care about being in the scouts? It's just a pending death sentence..." Eld's words hit me right where it hurt, and without a warning, I latched onto his arm.
"But...not you...You and Marco and Reiner, and maybe even Jean a little bit...Levi and Petra and Oluo and Gunther...Erwin...You're all indispensable..."
Now...I don't feel too good...
"Oi..." Eld stopped me in my tracks, barely a few feet from the male cadet's housing building, and pulled me off to the side, into the shadows. My body was wrapped in his warmth before I had the chance to comprehend what was going on, and I felt his cheek press against the side of my neck. "...you have my word, I'm always going to be here for you..." I could feel it. He wasn't sure of his own promise.
Returning his embrace, standing on the very tips of my toes, I squeezed him back.
"You better make true of that, Eldy...or I'll have to gut whatever titan eats you and kick your ass for lying..." I sounded weak, I knew that, but I didn't care.
"I'll hold you to that, little miss...Now, I have to get back to Levi before he tears me a new one...He's already suspicious enough as it is..." He tried to pull back, but I yanked him straight back down, not quite ready to leave the hug.
"I don't give a shit...that ignorant slut can just deal with it..." I complained, and Eld snorted into the crook of my neck.
"I...Do you even know what that..? God, you're an adorable idiot..." He snickered, finally caving and curling his arms back around me, rocking me back and forth. "Normally...I wouldn't be so secretive about it...especially not with the captain...but..." He trailed off, lifting me a little to stand on top of his boots.
"But what..?" I pried, pulling back just enough so I could meet his earthy eyes. "It isn't really any of his dwarfy business anyway."
"I guess it's because he's taken a shine to you...I've never really seen him so interested in a soldier before...let alone a cadet..." There was that hint of jealousy again, trying to hide within the cracks and spaces of his words.
Pffft, Levi? That's rich!
"It's cute when you're all jealous, you know? I don't half mind it sometimes..." I giggled softly, pecking a kiss to the corner of his mouth. Flushing a little, Eld tapped his nose to mine and set me down, moving in to capture my lips in a longer, more meaningful show of affection.
"Well...I can't help but be just a little selfish when it comes to you..." He replied once he stepped away, creating a space between us that seemed cold and empty.
"I guess I'll see you in the morning, then..?" I coughed, trying to will away the heat that was trying to scamper up the back of my neck.
"Bright and early. Stay safe, kiddo. I...Yeah, stay safe..." With one last; kind of rough, pat to my head, he was striding off into the night, and I waited a few extra moments to compose myself before starting my stealth mission for the second time that night.
"Marcoooo..?" I rapped softly on the door as I cracked it open at the same time, peeping in to make sure he was still awake. The first thing I spotted was a shirtless Jean, who flailed about to cover his manly bosom with his sheets.
"What in the actual high fuck are you doing here?!" He hissed, trying to hide his tinted cheeks as I slipped inside and closed the door.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you that (Y/N) was coming over? My bad..." Marco chuckled apologetically, shifting in his bed to smile at me in greeting. "Did you find that scout guy who was looking for you?" Nodding, I made myself at home and sat on the edge of his bed, leaning back into the leg he had propped up.
"Yeah, turns out I've got my first expedition in the morning..." I grumbled, noticing the way both of their faces fell.
"S..seriously..? So soon..?! I don't like this...You're under enough stress as it is..." Marco continued to ramble, his protective nature rearing its head.
"Oh, well, it was nice knowing you. I've heard that Levi guy doesn't have the best track record when it comes to bringing back the living..."
"Jean!"
"What?! It's true!"
Narrowing my eyes at Jean, I couldn't keep up my usual rough persona with him for very long before I softened, letting my face fall.
"Well, yeah, I know that...but...I've lived out there...so I think I have a shot at scraping by..." Murmuring, I began tapping my finger against my kneecap, replaying Eld's words over and over.
"It's just a pending death sentence."
"You look really tired, (Y/N)...Why don't you stay here tonight? You can take my bed, and I can sleep-"
"There's no fucking way I'm waking up to you spooning me, Marco!" Jean cut him off, and Marco snorted before continuing.
"I was going to say I'd sleep on the floor. Besides, you're the one who did that last time, not me."
I'm curious, but I'll let sleeping Jean's lie...
As the copperette started grumbling and defending himself to some imaginary audience, I brought my bottom lip between my teeth and glanced down at my freckled friend.
"Would it...be inappropriate if I...slept next to you? I mean...I'm not really sure what oversteps normality..." I wasn't sure why it felt so awkward to ask that, but that feeling increased when Marco's cheeks lit up, almost seeming to dull the flickering lantern.
"U..uh...well...I, um...I don't see why not, if that's what you're comfortable with..?" He stammered, clumsily scooting over to give me the open side of the bunk.
"You're really out here making me feel like a third wheel. Rude..." Jean muttered bitterly, and Marco threw his pillow over the gap between their beds, hitting him in the chest.
"It..it's not like that! Just because you're cru-"
The pillow came flying back at an even greater speed, making a loud pomf noise as it smacked Marco right in the face.
"Just shut up and go to sleep! And don't wake me up in the morning when you head out!" Jean growled, almost violently rolling over and switching off his lantern.
Confused, but still appreciative that neither of them seemed to mind too much, I kicked off my boots and wriggled under the covers, shifting so I had my head resting on Marco's surprisingly loud chest.
"Can...you promise me something..?" I whispered, and I felt him not stiffly.
"S..sure...go for it..." He replied in an equally quiet voice.
"Promise me...that you'll always survive...Even if you decide to be a scout...just...survive, okay..?" I was sure I must have sounded awfully depressing, but I needed to hear it. The boy was quiet for a while, but he finally spoke after pressing the very corner of his lips to my forehead.
"You have my word, as long as you do the same..."
"Can you two shut the fuck up? I'll throw up on my nice, dusty sheets if you get any sappier..." Jean whisper-shouted, and I uttered a tired chuckle.
"That goes for you, too, asswipe...Promise..?" I waited a lot longer than I did for Marco's answer, but at least it came.
"Tch...yeah, of course. I'm gonna be in the interior police anyway, so that's a given..." He groused before softening his tone. "...Now get some damn sleep...If you wanna live, you've gotta be sharp, right..?"
Smiling, and glad to have gotten the responses I wanted, I nestled down into Marco's side, unbothered by the jungle drums that sounded off from his chest.
"Yeah, I hear ya...Night, guys..."
"G..goodnight..."
"Tch, finally...G'night..."
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***I love?? Jean and Marco's?? friendship dynamic?? I love them so much that it hurts???
Also, is it obvious I couldn't think of a title? 😅***