Chapter Text
POV Jean
When we finally leave the woods to join Shadis in the middle of the training field, my muscles are burning and my breathing is still uneven, but despite that, I feel light.
Y/N walks beside me, hair a mess and eyes bright with adrenaline, and I can’t help the crooked smile that tugs at my mouth.
I never would’ve thought we could be that synchronized. Especially when, at the very beginning, we were just two idiots ready to strangle each other mid-flight.
I keep sneaking glances at her, because I want to say something like “good job,” or “we killed it,” or even “I didn’t think you were that good... you really impressed me.”
Except of course, I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself. I need to keep my nonchalant, slightly cocky attitude. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.
We join the rest of the 104th, forming a half-circle around Shadis, who looks down at us like he’s about to remind us we’re all pathetic sacks of Titan fodder, at this point, I know the speech by heart.
— WELL, he bellows. I’m going to give you your results before I share my observations!
He starts reading from a sheet he scribbled on during the exercise.
— The team that comes first, with the highest number of targets taken down, is... Mikasa and Annie!
Of course. No one’s surprised.
Eren clenches his teeth, and I swear I hear a small growl of frustration. The two war machines, on the other hand, stay completely expressionless, like they do this every day. Then the sergeant continues:
— Second place is... Jean and Y/N!
I turn my head toward Y/N at the exact moment she turns hers toward me, and when our eyes meet, we can’t help but smile at each other.
Second.
S-E-C-O-N-D.
We’re ahead of monsters like Reiner and Bertolt, and it was our first exercise together!
Damn...
I need to pull myself together. Fast. Very fast.
I cross my arms, lift my chin slightly, and try to look like a guy who isn’t particularly surprised by this result. Except on the inside, I’m practically jumping up and down.
ME and Y/N... WE’RE AN INSANE DUO!!
I clench my jaw to keep a huge grin from breaking free, but the smirk refuses to disappear completely.
When I glance at Y/N again, I realize that unlike me, she looks like she’s wondering if this is even real.
Around us, the others look even more shocked than she does, and honestly, I get it. For ten days straight, they’ve heard us throwing jabs at each other morning to night.
Shadis keeps listing the ranking, and I’m not listening anymore. I know I should try to remember the few tips he throws between two screams and analyze the criticism he gives the others so I don’t end up taking it to the face later... but it’s beyond me right now.
All I can do is replay the training over and over in my head. Especially the moment we started moving together without even speaking, and that first genuine smile she gave me right before we stole Sasha and Connie’s target.
On top of not making a fool of myself, I finally showed everyone I’ve got potential, that I’m a real contender for the Military Police. Maybe they’ll stop seeing me as just the cocky guy who doubled over from Shadis’ first punch on day one.
I didn’t think this day could turn out this well. And now that I think about it... it’s probably the best one since I got here.
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POV Y/N
Second.
We came in second.
Me and... Jean Kirstein.
I don’t even know exactly what I’m feeling. Half of me wants to jump for joy, the other half wants to slap him just to knock his ego down a few notches, because I can see that way-too-pleased expression on his face.
But what really messes with me is that I know perfectly well that without him... I never would’ve gotten that score.
It’s like, by watching him so closely, ready to hit him the second he gave me an opening, I ended up learning how to anticipate every single one of his movements.
Just thinking about it makes me mad.
I hate him.
Suddenly, an enthusiastic voice pops up on my right.
— Hey, you two! You were incredible!
Marco steps in front of us, eyes shining.
— It looked like you’d known each other for years, he gushes. I’ve never seen synchronization like that on a first exercise. It was seriously impressive.
I stiffen instantly, because he just said exactly what I did not want to hear.
— Oh, you know, all of that is mostly thanks to me, Jean says, puffing out his chest.
I turn to him so fast I feel my neck pull.
— Excuse me?
— You heard me perfectly, he says with that insolent smile that almost never leaves his lips. I did most of the work. But luckily, you managed to keep up.
I glare at him and answer in an icy voice:
— You DARE take all the credit!? Just so you know, if we’d been facing real Titans, you would’ve gotten eaten forty times! I was the only one making safe maneuvers! You just charged in like a brainless brute while I checked the blind spots!
Jean’s mouth falls open, outraged.
— Oh yeah? And you, should we talk about you!? You kept gaining height and diving down without paying attention to what I was doing behind you! If I hadn’t made the effort to match my speed to yours, you would’ve ended up alone in the woods without even noticing! And in a real situation, you would’ve gotten eaten too, Miss Shiganshina.
— You’re forgetting that if I dove down, it was to slice Titan napes you didn’t even have time to notice!
— That’s not a reason to act like you’re solo out there! he snaps back.
— HEY! HEY! CALM DOWN! Marco says, lifting his hands in a calming gesture.
We shut up, still glaring at each other.
— Okay, um... you clearly have a lot of constructive criticism to share, that’s very... healthy, he continues, trying to defuse the tension. But you should acknowledge something important...
He looks at each of us, then tries a conspiratorial smile:
— Unlike the other duos, you managed to adapt to each other. That proves you’re complementary.
— COMPLEMENTARY!? I splutter, eyes wide.
— Uh... no, no, forget it! Marco panics, waving his hands. I didn’t say anything! Nothing at all!
Luckily, at that exact moment, Sasha and Connie storm over.
— Y/N! JEAN! YOU’RE DEAD!!! Connie screams.
— YOU FILTHY THIEVES!!! Sasha adds, pointing an accusing finger at us. We hate you!
— YEAH! Connie piles on. Because of you, we’re SEVENTH!
— Seventh... that’s such a crappy number, Sasha whines. I need to eat to cope...
She presses a hand to her stomach and grimaces.
— And honestly, I’m starving... can’t wait until lunch.
Connie snaps his fingers like he just had the greatest idea ever.
— Oh speaking of eating! he says, suddenly thrilled. Y/N, you should join us! Even if we hate you for the last target, now that you and Jean proved you’re made for each other, it’d be normal for you to eat with us!
I nearly choke on my own saliva.
— Are you out of your mind!? Don’t you EVER say that kind of horror again, got it!?
— Hey! Jean protests. “Horror,” seriously? Aren’t you being a little dramatic?
I completely ignore him and keep staring at Connie.
— No way I’m eating with you. I’m staying at my usual table with Christa and the others.
— Y/N don’t do this! Connie begs. You can’t deny the chemistry between you and Jean!
— CHEMISTRY!? I say, outraged.
— Pleeeeease, Sasha adds, nudging me with her elbow. Come eat with us for once! We’re nice! And if you didn’t want to be stuck with Jean, you shouldn’t have gotten along with him so well!
— DO WE REALLY LOOK LIKE WE GET ALONG THAT WELL!?
Sasha rolls her eyes, exasperated.
— Stop being stubborn and just say yes! Just today!
— No!
— Come on!
— NO!
— Y/N...
— I SAID NO!!!
Meanwhile, Jean says nothing. He even looks... embarrassed.
What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?
As I throw out my eighth “NO!”, Marco steps in.
— You know, Y/N...
He gives me a shy smile and adds:
— ...it would actually be really nice if you came. They’re not saying it just to mess with you.
I stare at him without saying anything, so he continues:
— We’ve been wanting to invite you to join us for days, but with the tension between you and Jean, we didn’t dare.
Heat climbs into my face, and into Jean’s too. Clearly, he had no idea.
And then, faced with Marco’s sincere smile and his hopeful eyes, I don’t have the strength to resist. So I give in.
— ...Okay.
Marco lets out a relieved breath, and Sasha and Connie start bouncing in place.
— YEEEEEES!!
— BUT JUST TODAY! I add to temper their excitement.
— You say that now, but once you see how awesome we are, you’ll never want to leave us again!!! Connie says.
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POV Jean
It was already a great day, but now... it breaks every record.
Y/N is going to eat with me.
Well, with me and the others, but who cares about them.
I’ll never say this out loud, but I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to a meal this much. Except maybe the ones where my mom promised my favorite dish — her omelet that only she knows how to make. Nothing like the bland stew they serve us here.
But anyway. I don’t even feel like complaining about the food today. I’m way too impatient.
— We’ll sit there! Connie yells, charging toward a table in the middle of the mess hall.
Sasha trots after him, sniffing her tray with a blissed-out smile. And like always, Marco and I follow.
We set our trays down, and I sit beside Marco, facing Connie and Sasha, who are already attacking their plates before she even arrives.
Marco scans the room, craning his neck a bit.
— Do you think she changed her mind? he asks, worried.
Sasha answers with her mouth full:
— Mhgnah no I don’t think so.
Connie adds, already shoveling down his third bite:
— She would’ve told us.
And me, I shrug, putting on my most nonchalant voice:
— I don’t care. Whether she comes or not, it doesn’t change anything for me.
Marco turns to me with a serious look.
— Jean... please don’t throw too many jabs at her during the meal.
— Huh!? Why not?
— Because we want to have a good time with her. And if you pick on her every thirty seconds, she’ll run off and never want to eat with us again.
Sasha lifts her head, cheeks puffed with stew.
— He’s right, she agrees, still chewing. You pick on her too much. Be nice for once.
— Yeah, Connie adds. Y/N is really funny, man! It’d be awesome if she became our friend.
— And she actually seems really kind, Marco adds. I’d like to get to know her better.
I stare at him, suspicious.
“Get to know her better?”
What exactly does he mean by that...?
Does this skinny guy have a crush on her or something? He thinks he can charm her with puppy eyes and a perfect-boy attitude? Dream on.
— Fine, I snap.
Because I’m not stupid: if I pick on her too much, she’ll go sit as far away from me as possible, and I’ll basically push her straight into Marco’s arms, where he’ll give her his best understanding, empathetic look.
And that? Absolutely not happening.
— Thanks, Jean, Marco says with a sincere smile.
I narrow my eyes, still staring at him. He really thinks I haven’t noticed his little game!?
— Hi... a voice says behind us.
We all turn our heads at once to see Y/N approaching, tray in hand, looking a little shy.
Before anyone can move, Marco springs up from his seat.
— Hi, Y/N! Here, take my spot!
I stare at him, outraged.
Traitor.
— Oh, uh... thanks, Marco, she says, giving him a small, timid smile.
And then I realize she’s sitting down next to me.
Marco, I take back everything I just thought about you. You’re my new best friend.