our bags are fully packed, eren left with mikasa fifteen minutes ago, the rest of the guards are in training-

"Are you ready?" Levi walked up next to me, staring out at the forest that lay in front of us.

"Are you ready?"

"If you are," he nodded, grip tightening around the small dagger Eren had given him.

"You aren't going to do shit with that," I chuckled, "my body doesn't have the muscles to do anything worthwhile."

i was made for being pretty and making witty comments

"As if you're going to do anything with that," Levi scoffed, glancing at the large sword I had been given. "You don't know the first thing about swords."

well i mean-

"I'm good at watching people fight with them," I shrugged, "but yeah you're right- we're totally fucked if something tries to kill us."

"Cold feet?"

"Of course not," I took a tentative step forward. "Apparently I've died in here once before- this forest can't kill me- I won't let it."

worst comes to worst i throw levi in front of me and run away

you wouldn't do that

i wouldn't do that

"We won't die."

"Say it enough times and it'll come true," I sighed loudly. "Ok- let's go- I'd rather test my odds in the forest than wait around for Mikasa to find us and kill us."

if you think about it we're waaaayyy safer in there

"Shall we?" Levi offered his hand, staring ahead into the darkness.

we shall

"Hold on- I'm in your body right now- I lead, you follow." I grinned, extending my hand, "many a young noble lady has dreamed of being escorted by the Levi Ackerman."

"They can keep on dreaming."

"I'm honored to be the only one you've offered to escort then," I took a deep breath, steeling myself as we began to walk forward. "Do it again when we've switched back, it'll have more impact."

"I would've thought that you would be overjoyed that the gorgeous Y/N L/N offered to escort you into the woods?" Levi teased.

OK WELL

"It's a little out of character for me, don't you think? Wasn't I more interesting as a mysterious noble lady? Be honest- my allure has worn off the more you've gotten to know me."

"Fuck no."

"Really?" I chuckled, "I think I'm perfect in every way but I'm sure most of the people in the capital would disagree with you-"

it took effort to turn the girl who's only playmates were knights into a proper lady

im sure my tutors would faint if they could see me now

that's alright

"I've known you for how many fucking years and never seen you really smile?" Levi scoffed, "yeah, I prefer you like this, you're much more tolerable when you're yourself."

"That was almost cute," I cooed. "I think you're also forgetting that up until very recently I hated your guts- that's why you didn't see my smile."

"Whatever."

"-but if we're being vulnerable with each other- I was a lot more honest with you than anyone else- I was just honest in hating you."

"Likewise."

"You get it, don't you Levi? When you're at those parties you can't really be yourself- just the version of yourself other people expect of you."

"I guess," he hummed, thinking.

although

"They expect me to be an image of perfect neutrality and you to be the impenetrable Duke Ackerman."

i hated you but

it was fun hating you

just as much as it was irritating

"Fucking exhausting."

"Hey at least you can curse them out and get away with it-"

"I don't know how you did it, it's shit."

"Glad you're realizing," I rolled my eyes. "Thank you for being my punching bag- I would have died without you."

"A pleasure," he muttered dryly.

<3

"You know, we've been walking for a bit and it just looks like a normal ass forest," I grumbled. "I was expecting it to get dangerous way faster."

it's unusually dark but-

"You aren't cold?" Levi turned to look at me incredulously.

no???

"Am I supposed to be? Oooh- wait- in this situation I'm supposed to give you my jacket-"

"I don't need your fucking jacket- I have my own," Levi gestured to himself. "It's fucking cold."

really??

"Are you serious?" I glanced around, "I mean it's dark but it isn't cold-"

"Forget it- stop joking around."

"No- I'm serious- it isn't cold," I stopped, inspecting Levi. "Is something wrong with my body?"

"I don't know- do you usually get cold this easily?"

"No? I'm perfectly normal-"

"That's pushing it."

"Did I mention that I hate you?"

"Actually I think we were just talking about how much you like me," he rolled his eyes. "I'm fine, if anything you're the one acting out of character."

"Are you sure?"

does it have something to do with the fact that i died here once?

but-

i died by drowning once and levi doesn't have a weird reaction to water

"I'll tell you if it gets worse, are you alright now? Let's keep walking-"

"Promise to tell me if it gets worse?"

"I promise- come on-"

ok-

"Levi Ackerman if anything happens to my body while you're puppeting it I swear to god-"

"I will return it fully intact."

"Good- I don't want to see a single scratch-"

"I'll tell you if it gets worse."

"Immediately," I urged, "you can't get hurt."

"Stop worrying about your body."

"I wasn't-" I blurted out before I could stop and think about what I was saying.

oh my god

"You-"

"Ignore that."

"Fuck no."

"Please?"

"Absolutely not-" Levi's voice was drowned out by the sound of a shrill scream from somewhere just ahead.

"What was that?" I murmured after a brief pause.

"What was what?"

"That scream- stop joking Levi it's annoying."

"I didn't hear anything."

"I told you stop joki-" it happened a second time, cutting me off. "It's closer now."

"I didn't hear anything- fuck it's cold."

"What are you talking about?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Levi?" Another scream, this time about fifteen feet behind us.

"Yes?"

"Let's run."

_________________

finally the woods!!!

- ami