Wait for Me

I don't know how Annie stayed so cool and collected. I was internally freaking out along with the rest of the team.

Continually stealing glances at the Titans didn't help my case. I feel anger flurry through me. We're going to loose another year to them and I won't be able to do anything to stop it!

"Competitors! Man your stations!" Pixis' voice rings through the speakers and I knew we were basically walking into our own failing match.

Despite that, Annie steps forward with her chosen mincing knife from our station. She walks over to one of the counter tops located atop the stage in front, for all to see.

Her competitor, taking the counter space across from hers, glares darkly.

Surprisingly Annie takes it well, keeping up her calm demeanor. She stretches out her arms before shrugging off her chef coat to reveal a workout tank.

Damn. She's more ready than any of us will ever be.

But the Titans were having none of it. Mikasa wasted no time in discarding her own top, revealing a sports bra with the Titans logo stitched across.

The crowd goes wild at the display and I can't help but sigh. Isn't this supposed to be a cooking match? Why did this suddenly take such a sharp turn...?

Pixis chuckles into his mic before clearing his throat. "I will now proceed to explain the rules!"

Everyone's murmurs finally die down before the announcer continues. "Currently being wheeled onto the stage is a variety of fruits and vegetables," and sure enough, assistants entered the stage from either side, wheeling in tables of things ranging from potatoes to strawberries.

"The only item the two challengers are to use are their chosen knives. You two will begin at the same point and move down the line of foods, mincing each one until you reach the end buzzer. Who ever presses it first, obviously wins. Simple right?"

The crowd cheers in anticipation.

"Oh!" Pixis continues, "and make sure to dice every last piece. If anything is left undone, you'll have to go back and fix it."

Annie and Mikasa both nod calmly, while I'm over here wiping my forehead with a sleeve.

"What the hell Jaeger?!" I roll my eyes at Jean, ignoring his shouts. "Use your own sleeve!" Said male walks away from me, leaving me to stress out on my own.

"Maria's! Are you ready?"

Oh no, here it comes.

"Titan's are you ready?"

I've never been this anxious in my life!

"Take your marks!" Annie and Mikasa, both with knives in hand, ready their hands over the first food item.

"BEGIN!"

Everyone's cheers fill the large hall, but I stay frozen, watching the two closely. The two knives moved at lightning speed.

Annie moved swiftly from one food item to the next; but so did Mikasa.

"Come on, Annie!" My cheers blend in with the crowd as I watch her stay caught up with the female across her.

Speaking of said girl, Mikasa glances up momentarily, her slightly cocky demeanor instantly disappearing upon seeing that Annie was keeping up. The two were reaching their halfway point, and the victor was currently unpredictable.

Suddenly, without warning, Mikasa lifts her knife, spinning it between her fingers.

The fuck?! This is no time for showing off! Wait...on second thought, continue showing off so we can take the lead!

Oh, but if only I were right. The second Mikasa's knife touches back down onto her chopping board, her speed is doubled from before.

She catches up to Annie, even passing her.

No, no, no! This shouldn't be humanly possible!

Annie obviously realizes what is happening because she does the impossible, by speeding up as well.

Gah! It's only the first challenge and I'm already stressing way too much.

The two girls now reached the smaller food items like nuts and berries and I knew it was only a matter of seconds before this competition would file down to its end.

Their eyes darted back and forth at astounding speeds as they continued grabbing at new things to slice. 

Suddenly, I feel a gentle nudge on my side and I startle slightly. Peeling my eyes away from the stage, I look over only to see Levi.  

He slide-glances up to me, before speaking. "Did you know about...well,  Annie."

I shake my head, no. She's obviously not a designated mincer or anything like that, but how else could I explain how she's managing to keep up with the Titan's?

"Last I heard, she's the prep cook. Does that even involve any knife work?"

Levi shrugs beside me. He opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted by a buzzer.

No, the buzzer.

Both of our eyes widen and my attention snaps back over to the stage.

Cheers overflow the space once more and people jump up and around like a group of desperate teens at a concert.

Dammit, move out of the freaking way! I can't see shit!

I desperately try to push the people in front of me, but honestly they must have been glad with the results because they were having none of it.

You know what? That's it. "Levi!"

I turn back around to the shorter man who stood on his tip toes with a glare, trying to overlook the crowd. "Levi, come here!" I yell over the extremely loud cheers.

Despite the noice, the shorter man spots me and pushes his way over to me. "Alright." I open up my arms to him and I get a disgusted look in response. I roll my eyes. "Come on, neither of us know the outcome. Just let me pick you up!"

Levi stares at me, expressionless before sighing. He crosses his arms before nodding.

"Thanks!" I waste no time in stepping behind him, and grabbing either side of his waist.

One, two, and~

I hoist him up, a lot faster than intended. Wow, he's a lot lighter than I thought...but hey, that only makes this easier.

"What's the result?!" I shout up to Levi, who I was holding like freaking Simba from the lion king.

"Hold on...."

I chew my bottom lip in anticipation. "Alright, its--"

It's what?!

"Levi?"

"Well, Shit."