viii. MERCY ON ME

CHAPTER EIGHT

MERCY ON ME

•••

"Cheater!"

"Me?!"

"Yes, you!"

"Just accept it, you lost, Jean!"

"Why you little–"

Freya sighed loudly to herself as she watched the two boys banter back and forth on the open ground in front of her. She was watching one of the many training sessions and spars that she had to witness everyday since the beginning of the month. Not a dull day passed by when she caught Eren and Jean partnered up together by a commanding officer. Head whipping left and right, she enjoyed their mindless banter over who won and who lost.

Usually, the match would leave Eren falling on his back in defeat as Jean's height and strength took advantage. But the latter's overconfident attitude was typically his downfall as he would get distracted by a certain raven haired girl that trained not too far away from where they stood. As Jean had managed to pull a headlock on Eren, someone turned around in distress.

"Eren!"

Immediately, Mikasa rushed over to the two boys as she averted her attention away from Ymir's aggressive hits, the brunette unfazed by the action as she walked away towards a blonde girl who stood by the sidelines along with Freya. Freya was humored when she saw Jean releasing Eren from his headlock the moment Mikasa had stepped into his line of view, his hands flopping by his sides and ignoring the seething glare of irritation from Eren.

She shook her head by their behavior just as Petra had wandered by in front of Freya, stacks of dusty books laying on top of her arms. She tilted her head, gaze never leaving the three teenagers as she spoke for the red-head to hear. "What's her deal?"

"Mikasa?" Petra paused, turning her head to the side as she followed the other woman's trained eye. "Just another recruit. But protective of Eren. I don't need to tell you how simple your job will be with her by your side. Ackerman's just strong."

"I see that." Freya mused as Mikasa held Eren back by pinching the collar of his shirt from charging towards the smug looking Jean. From her previous observation, Mikasa never lost a match. For a young girl, she was fairly strong. Though, Freya had already picked up that fact when she noticed the girl carrying three worth's of heavy crates in her arms the other day. That, and the time she attended Eren's Tribunal. "Parents?"

Petra shrugged with a sympathetic look. "Dead, apparently."

Freya stood from her seat, seconds away from walking as she registered her thoughts. "Did you say Ackerman?" Her eyebrows slightly rose.

"Yeah." Petra nodded. "Why?"

"Nothing."

Dining halls, open courtyards, and empty offices, Freya's chances of running into him in the corridors didn't turn out to be so good as she never heard from Levi since. She even attempted to peak her head in one of the most dusty and cobwebbed covered room in the castle in hopes of finding him to be dusting or wiping surfaces clean. Yet, nothing. Three days in, with a shrug of her shoulders, it was decided to leave things be. Her curiosity of his whereabouts flying out her head, accepting that he just wasn't anywhere near.

A week had passed since her last encounter with Levi. She was starting to see a pattern with him and his appearances. She realized that he would present for an entire day before disappearing to wherever unknown, leaving his squad to aggressively train Freya with odm gear. After their first attempt with Eren's tanked transformation, Hange hadn't announced whether it would be continued, resulting into tiresome training that Freya detested.

Night had already fallen by the time Freya left the dining hall with Eren by her side. In a few minutes, midnight would soon take over. A gut feeling in her stomach told that training would take place. And she didn't exactly feel giddy over it nor uninterested. The two's footsteps echoed in the quiet corridor. Lighted lamps adorned the walls. Stubborn glances were sent here way.

"Can you stop making that face?" Freya sighed as Eren whipped his head straight to his feet.

"Sorry." He mumbled, contrite that he got caught. However, he wasn't entirely being discreet.

"And stop saying sorry." It was all she ever heard from him whenever the two conversed in small talk.

"S–"

"Okay, what is it this time?" She paused on her feet which led him to do the same. Hands on her hips as his green eyes slightly widened. "Eren."

"Freya." He mumbled.

"Tell me something." She started. "Why the hell is everyone looking at me like I'm dead."

"I..." He was taken aback by the sudden question. "I–I don't know."

Freya raised an eyebrow. "You don't know?"

"I... well..."

"You know something. Tell me."

Unbothered but not blind. Freya couldn't miss the the dolorous stares from cadets. She was used to those furious glares and snarls that expressed their distaste. Grumbles of incoherent thoughts and discontent. However, today was unusually different. She would've been surprised if someone had given her a genuine smile. But that wasn't the case. Entering a room made it feel like attending a funeral. Her funeral from what she could tell. Their eyes making her feel like a human walking on their last remaining days.

Eren had a feeling as to what she was trying to refer to. He shuffled on his feet. One foot on the other as he stared at the wall behind her head. Saved by loud chatter. Freya's attention was diverted to the side where rounding from a corner, a group of familiar scouts came into view.

"What the hell are you kids doing here?" Freya questioned the group of teenagers that halted their steps, ceasing conversation, and going eerily silent.

"We were just... looking around.." Krista first timidly spoke, head hanging low as she hid behind the curtain of her blonde hair.

"For what?" Freya half-expected for them to be passed out considering the day they had filled with hitting each other.

"Food." Sasha blurted out as Connie nudged her side with his elbow.

"You're already holding food." Freya pointed out, amazed at the sight of the assortments of food spilling out of the their arms. Baked bread, half eaten potatoes, tiny strips of bacon, and canned beans. It wasn't an all lovely sight, but it did make the blonde's mouth water for a second.

"We're looking for m–more." Armin sputtered nervously as Mikasa gave a subtle nod of her head in agreement.

Freya narrowed her eyes. "Why are you guys really here?"

"We..." Bertolt trailed off, glancing at his companions who shrugged. Reiner continued to stand still as a statue.

"Well..." Ymir forced herself to look away from anymore dangerous eye contact with the woman.

"Um.." Jean tugged on the collar of his shirt.

"Spit it out." Freya said impatiently.

"They were just looking for me." Eren responded hastily. No one bothered to continue. Though, a part of Freya wasn't that all interested in their story. She had a feeling that knowing wouldn't matter in any way. Eren strode past Freya and joined the group of friends. Her blue eyes landed on each one. Giving them a one last glance, irises that were scrutinizing their skittish behavior while she spoke.

"Just stay out my way."

•••

"Again."

Groaning, Freya forcefully threw the final throwing knife on the wall, distressingly losing its rotating momentum and failing to lodge itself in the straw-made dummy. Numerous steel daggers adorned the faux body. Arms and legs were seconds from falling off if further more damage was taken. She was tempted to just rip them off herself, directing her anger other than the man who observed her from the side. She gritted her teeth together, ignoring the sting of several and thin cuts from her palm.

"I get that my aim is a little off, but this wasn't the kind of training I had in mind." Clenching her hands, she hissed at him, infuriated by his nonchalant composure. She saw the he seemed disinterested, back to leaning against the wall and keeping quiet to himself with the usual orders directed her way.

"We are training." He said, blinking at her.

"You're wasting my time." She narrowed her eyes, hands flopping by her sides.

Levi didn't miss a beat. "You're wasting mine."

She sighed loudly in the quiet room. She held her tongue from declaring that he was Her gaze switched back and forth between the dummy and Levi, clicking her tongue in disdain. "This is pointless. What good do knives have against Titans? I mean, aren't they... giants?"

"Titans aren't the only threats out there."

"Trust me, I know." She laughed under her breath, eyes roaming around and up the ceiling as she silently pointed out where she stood. A building surrounded by those who detested her profession. A wanted huntress resting in the den of soldiers.

"Fine."

"Do you honestly think–What?" The quietness instilled in the room was cold.

"A bounty hunter for hire. You're messy, sloppy, and that's what got you here." He pursed his lips. "I need you to be a soldier."

Freya stifled an eye roll. "Great."

"Beat me, and you'll make it." He pushed himself off the wall, striding past her and towards the center of the large room.

"If I don't, which I know I will, what happens then?" She was surprised by the sudden shift of his decisions.

Levi blinked, unimpressed. "Arrogance doesn't suit you."

"You just lack taste." She retorted.

He shook his head as he kept a distance from her. "Only one can be standing left after this.

She shrugged off her scout's jacket, tossing it to the side as she pushed up the sleeves of her black collared shirt to her elbows. Raising her clenched fists, she widened her stance. "Just don't hold back."

Creating the first move had fear tripping anyone up. An unexpected notion that no one usually saw coming. Either for it to be an advantage or a loss. Freya's unpredictable behavior granted her many wins over the years. Size and strength didn't matter. She was cunning. Fast. Ruthless if she wanted to be. And overall, a trickster that enjoyed a challenge once in a while. For her many swift advances that had her fist and elbows narrowing straight down to Levi's body, she managed to put up a diverting grin that expressed her joy into a rigorous fight against Levi.

Minutes had passed. Sweat forming onto temples. Ragged breaths resonating in the room. The man was brisk on his feet. Side stepping and dodging Freya's forced punches. A few actions of her had him putting his arm up for defense. Though, irritatingly enough, he made no move to retaliate.

"I was expecting more."

Anyone who knew Levi would know that he was easily the best when it came to hand-to-hand combat. Being able to defeat Titans was enough to conclude that he would defeat any human opponent as well. Freya's determination to win intrigued him. Perhaps he was curious. Waning to see how far her perseverance went. How extreme would she push herself just to gain victory. How strong her will was to fight.

"I'm not one to disappoint." Freya huffed in annoyance as she didn't seem to like that comment as her attacks became more aggressive. Detrimental cracks from knuckles and kicks satisfyingly filled Freya's ears. This was a dance between the two. An excruciating beat of feet sliding on the floors, squeezed fists swinging in the air in painful jabs, and body moving in a burning step of escape. Fray's of dirty blonde strands fell in front of her eyes. Cheeks flushed. But lips stretched wide.

Time dragged on. And Freya's impatient side was now starting to wear her thin. As her leg got caught in a failed attempt for a kick aimed towards his head, she tried to pull back her limb from his arm. She could already sense it. His intention to twist up her ankle and have her tumble on the ground in a spin. However, before she could fully let it happen, she licked her bottom lip, blue eyes dangerously growing a shade darker.

Reaching for the opening of her knee high boots, she quickly slid out her dagger. Immediately, Levi released her leg, grabbing her left wrist that was unoccupied from a weapon. She swung the blade that was meant to create a slash for his shoulder. A malignant attempt to damage him. But Freya was shameless. A wicked smile on her face but she gritted her teeth together after throwing a few unsuccessful swings to produce a cut on his body.

He tugged her forward as he still held her left wrist, twisting her arm to which she stifled a groan, her back facing him before snatching the dagger that fell from her grasp at the pain she felt shooting up her elbow and shoulder. Realizing this, she ignored the ache in her limb as she wrestled from his grasp and faced him once more to throw a punch. Unintentionally, his hand came up to block her hit, the steel blade facing out and a small speck of crimson seeped out from skin.

"You cut me." Tentatively, she reached up and touched the small cut on the side of her jaw. It was the size of her pinky. Long, but thin. Unnoticeable. However, she did adore her face, the sting was barely there and she wasn't going to let it slide so easily.

"I didn't think we were playing fair." He said, flipping the knife over and over in his hand. Levi wouldn't go through such measure when facing an opponent. He relied on strength and skill alone that he never had much use for a knife except when pushed. Freya's decision to suddenly use her own dagger had caught him off guard, but he was never going to admit that.

Despite being the one who broke the rules, she smirked. "For someone who's all for being clean, that was pretty dirty."

She went in forward, swinging her fists but his quick back steps irritated her. She settled for a kick to his hand and fortunately the dagger in his grasp slipped from his hold. It shot through the air. A second. Another. Just as it was about to come down, Freya made a small leap on her toes and reached her arm out for it. Her fingertips touched the end of the handle, but a strong arm came wrapping around her neck. She chocked on a cough. Her back was pressed up against Levi's chest and the odds were in his favor as he extended his other hand. The dagger landed back in his palm and he pointed the sharp tip close to her neck. She felt the cold steel poke her skin.

"We've got ourselves a crowd." He murmured quietly in her ear. She shivered. The act alone somehow had her loathing herself for the reaction. "Don't make a fool out of yourself."

Her eyes now scanned the room. Anticipation and entertainment. Faces whom she learned to recognize watched. She could feel their riled enjoyment. Mouths turned up into giddy smiles and grins as they kept silent. The silence was loud. From the corner of her eye, she caught Eren and his friends of young cadets, jaw chewing as their mouths devoured snacks. She huffed a small breath in disbelief as her thoughts clicked, their implausible lie suddenly making sense to her.

Those little brats knew.

Freya's midnight conversation with Levi may have attracted the attention of a starving brunette who roamed the halls looking for a snack, but stumbled on the two and couldn't help but overhear their exchange out of pure curiosity. Sasha just hoped that she wouldn't get caught for slipping up the small information of their formal train during breakfast to Eren and the group. And just the wildfire, news of Freya gaining the chance of hitting their superior officer went spreading to each scout in the castle.

"You should know by now I'm not one to follow the rules." She grunted out, hands clawing his arm to release her.

"I noticed." He tightened his hold. He leaned in close to her ear. "What now? Got any more tricks up your sleeve?"

Hot. Warm. His body emitted heat that she could feel through the layers of their clothes. She laid her head on his shoulder, starting to feel the effect of tiredness seeping into her, but her racing heart was pushing her to go on further. She rested her head on his tensed body, snug against the crook of his neck. With her back facing him and eyes set forward, she missed Levi's faint crimson features. A flustered look that the dim lighting concealed within the shadows. His thoughts fogged up with the unpredictable action.

She was definitely something.

Freya grinned. "Maybe."

Jabbing his stomach hard with her elbows, she snaked her way out of his grip in a graceful spin, shoving him away.

There was slither of opportunity opening up to her. A jarred window that she fitted through. Knuckles red and sore. She ducked underneath his arm and kicked down hard behind his knees. He staggered forward, toppling as she grabbed a hold of his shoulder. She spun him and pinned him down on the ground, grinning widely as she straddled his hips, locking his arms by his sides, adrenaline running in her bones and a triumphant puff heaving past her lips.

He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. There was devilish look on his face as peered up at her. Voice gruff and low. "You... Brat."

For a moment, the two stayed in that position. Intimidatingly close that no one moved. Blue met Grey. A serene sight to witness in her bright irises. Confidence radiating from her that battled his calm coolness. Why did his chest suddenly felt tight? The longer his eyes stayed on hers, the more afflictive it became. There was a sense of familiarity sitting on the tip of his tongue. The answer just flew past by him, drifting around but he couldn't grasp it. It drew farther and farther away, that as he reached it, he ultimately lost it. His mind turned in anguish. The hard and cold look that Levi portrayed was suddenly washed out. He had to look away. He averted his gaze, suddenly feeling hot. And just like that, he could breathe.

Unaware of his turning thoughts, Freya was pushed back with strength that surprised her. Before she could land on her behind, she was able to regain her balance. Levi had flipped backwards, body graceful as the tips of his fingers supported him before standing in an upright position again. She cocked her head to the side, eyeing the odd angle of his feet as they landed before he stood straight in a stance.

"You're gonna break your leg one day the more you force your land like that." She informed.

"Concerned?" He wasn't entirely looking at her. Head hung low, dark hair covering his eyes as he raised an eyebrow.

"Just waiting for the day to tell you I told you so." She smirked.

"If you make it."

Her face went cold at his statement. She would lying if she said she didn't feel nerved by the comment. It felt uneasy enough to wonder whether she was cut out to be in the Survey Corps, but him adding much unneeded pressure was bothersome. She approached him by raising her right leg for a kick. Immediately, his hands shot out and caught her ankles. Before she could comprehend what was happening, Levi spun her leg, her body twisting as pain shot up her foot as her back came in contact flat on the ground. She groaned.

His left foot stepped down on her extended right arm, the sole of his boots trapping her wrist from moving as his right knee was wedged between her thighs. His right hand held down tightly on her left wrist. He was kneeling down as he looked at her shocked face, filled with growing anger as she registered his swift move. A glare formed on her face, eyebrows turning down, and lips frowning as she sneered at him. "Why you..." She struggled to find the right words. But it was clear enough to know that she was beyond frustrated at the unforeseen hold he had on her.

"This is where you give up." He declared boldly. There was no hint of arrogance lingering in his words, but that didn't reduce Freya's anger than coursed in her veins.

"I'm not–" She attempted to sit up and push him back. But he had completely strapped her down, without a chance to create a move. No opening. No chance of winning. Her eyes narrowed into slits as she rested her head back down on the ground, turning to face the side as she ignored the many stares and murmurs from the crowd. Her cheeks threatened to redden. "I..."

"What was that?" His hot breath tickled her ear as she squirmed under him. She desperately tried to pull her grip back, to gain the upper hand and win. But just by where he stood, he towered over her and nothing but his face filled her field vision. She grimaced at the view. Grey eyes. Even with a brooding and nonchalant face, she could tell his smug demeanor hidden underneath that facade. He was satisfied of himself while she very much wanted this to be over, she couldn't help but feel helpless. It was an unpleasant chord hitting her nerve. The more he leaned in, she could smell his tranquil scent. Torn pages of books. Tea. Her mouth parted, moved. The distance between them diminished as he surprised her with how much further he leaned in. He wouldn't look at her. She could feel the ends of his hair tickling her cheek. "Louder."

She closed her eyes in utter defeat as he breathed down her neck.

"Mercy."

•••

Freya.

I heard the stories of a guy in the city.

I'm thinking of recruiting him. You should've seen it. I wish you did. I was impressed. You know me, I don't get impressed that easily. He finished every last guy I had. Stubborn, unfortunately. Things might get easier with him by my side. The better we do, the more money we earn. You already know what that means. The sooner I see you.

Maybe. He isn't exactly a team player. Short tempered really. Ironically short, too.

•••

— AUTHOR NOTE —

i struggled a bit with the fight scene cus idk how those things work. literally had to watch action movies just to get an idea. i'm not that all happy with the beginning but i'm just glad that i was able to update. i forgot for a moment that historia's name was krista in season 1 lmaooo so i apologise if the previous chapters had the name historia typed in. and ... pain. all i feel is pain after reading THE chapter. n e ways hope u like it