Copper Can Shine P8 (JeanxCheerleader!Reader)

Warning: Again, the same potty mouths from the characters in this story! (Especially from a certain Copper haired someone! xD)

-

You stared at the burgundy and white jacket as if it were a snake coiled up waiting to strike. It hung off the bottom post of your bed, and you sat watching it wearily.
The one item kept bringing your mind back to the moment where you'd acquired it in the first place, that heated moment in the boys changing rooms...

Even though you were on your own, you couldn't help but be embarrassed at the rosy hue that invaded your cheeks every time you merely contemplated that moment for more than a minute. But even though you were dreading it, you were determined to give the jacket back to its rightful owner today at the meeting about 'the games', another thing you weren't exactly looking forward to.

Sighing heavily, you stood up from your bed and slung the jacket over your shoulder, the capital K not staring you in the face anymore. Brushing down your, cheer uniform, you headed off to the hall.

-

"Have you done it yet for Christ sake?" Logan huffed, on edge and incredibly testy.

"I'll get it done a lot faster if you quit moaning at me." Bruner snapped back, as equally terse. The pair were stood outside the back door to the hall where the meeting for the games was going to be held, and the first trial given to the partakers. And of course, there was one contestant that Logan was hell bent on making sure didn't score very high, if at all in these challenges, so he had to get in there and find out where they were going to be.

Bruner was attempting to get the doors open, picking at the lock with a manner of all thin objects. They were at risk of being seen if he didn't hurry, and that's the last thing either of them wanted.

"Almost got it..." He grunted, twisting the slim bit of wire desperately, when both boys heard a satisfying 'click'.

"And we're in." Bruner announced proudly.

"Brilliant work, now let's get inside before someone sees." Logan ushered his friend inside, then followed quickly, slipping into the hall unnoticed.

A crooked smile twisted the corners of his lips up, and he rubbed his hands in glee.

-

I'm gonna be late I'm gonna be late, shit it's not even the first trial this can't be good!

Your legs hurried down the corridor, fingers gripping tightly into the white material you carried on your shoulder to stop it slipping. Footsteps echoed down the hallway as you half walked, half ran towards the hall.

Come on come on you can make it come on!

You were focused, you could do this. But unfortunately, you were too focused on your goal and not of your surroundings, as a moment later you ran head first straight into another student. Your feet desperately tried to move you back out of the way but the momentum pulled you to the floor and you landed on your butt.

Ah, that's gonna hurt in the morning... Damn it, I crashed into someone!

The realisation caught up to you, but when you scanned your eyes across to see who you had collided with, all you saw were a pair of legs clad in smart black trousers. The other person hadn't fallen.

Great.

Your cheeks flared a hot red as slowly slowly, you forced your eyes to travel up the length of leg, past the torso and chest, up into the eyes of who you'd hit...

And your skin paled considerably.

There, stood above you and looking down at you with one eyebrow raised, was one of the lead members of the Survey Strikers themselves.

Holy sh... I bumped into Levi!

It was true, said boy was stood above you with his arms tightly folded, one thin black eyebrow raised. His eyes stared down at you, steel gaze making you shiver. The permanent turn down of the corners of his mouth were still intact you could see.

Blimey, of all the blunders... What's he going to do?

You regarded the raven haired man wearily, as if waiting for a stern telling off, when suddenly his stuck his hand out. It took you a few moments but you realised he was offering to help you stand.

"Oh, th-thank you." Hurriedly you took hold of his surprisingly strong hand, avoiding embarrassing eye contact while wondering how someone of his build could be so strong on his feet.

"Listen, Levi I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going and-"

"Forget it." That low voice commanded you to look at him without actually saying so, and you couldn't help as your eyes flickered up to his face rather than the floor.

He's a born leader. You admired.

"Where were you going in such a rush?" Levi's cool voice cut through your quiet admiration, those eyes locking your gaze.

"To the hall, there's a meeting for all of us who intend to enter the games..." Your voice trailed off as those last two words hit you. The games! You were going to be late as it is!

"Uh I've kind of got to-" you started to mumble an apology, but Levi beat you to it.

"Sorry, there is somewhere I must be. If you'll excuse me."

You nodded your head and side stepped to the left, taking a step forward to where you intended to go when a cool hand stopped you in your tracks, gripping your arm. Stunned, you half turned to see Levi had been the one to stop you. He looked at you for a few moments, as if deliberating what he should say, and then;

"Be careful [name]." He told you, his ice gaze intense. Before you could gather the words to ask what he meant, he'd let go of your arm and stalked down the corridor.

And just like that he was gone.

-

"Over here [name]! Crikey, cutting it close aren't you?" Sasha waved to you as you came to a stop beside her, breathing a bit heavier than usual from your all out sprint you'd decided to break into after your talk with Levi.

"I know... I didn't mean to." You gasped through breaths, trying to regulate your heart beat again.

"And here I thought you were ditching me." A voice came from behind you and you turned to see the smiling face of Eren Jaeger, your partner in these so called games.

"Oh me? Never." You grinned, oblivious to the slight flush in the tanned boys cheeks and the way his smile grew more pronounced at your words.

People were gathered all around, and you could just see Hitch walking onto the centre stage. Sasha had been right, you had cut it close.

Levi's words suddenly echoed in your mind;

"Be careful [name]."

What on earth had he been talking about, the games? How did he know about those, if he was a Survey Striker...?

"Sasha-" you started to tell your friend about the incident with Levi, when Hitches voice echoed around the hall as she addressed her audience.

"Hello everybody!" She welcomed, so you gave up on getting the brunettes attention.

You'd just have to tell her afterward.

-

"Who the hell is that?" Jean whispered to his freckled friend, pointing towards the door where a late cheerleader had sidled in. Hitch was already talking, and the girl had been rather late but she walked in so quietly the head cheerleader didn't even notice. The only reason Jean noticed her was because he'd been staring at the door wishing he could leave.

"I have no idea." Marco whispered back, confused. Marco knew almost everyone on the football and the cheer teams. He was just that friendly.

Jean didn't recognise her either, she was quite short with large brown eyes and pale carrot hair. She didn't join anyone or any group, but rather, stood near the back of the hall by herself.

Maybe her friends are far away. Huh. Anyway, I should really focus.

As per usual, rather than get straight to the point, Hitch had decided on giving an opening speech on the games which Jean had decided to shut out. (Hence his wistful door gazing) He'd already seen [name] stood with Eren, but turned away quickly to maintain his temper. Not before hissing nasty thoughts in his mind about one hot headed teen and how he should be a limpet.

"And finally, this week’s challenge!" Hitch called, and Jean's honey eyes snapped up to the head cheerleader.

Finally!

You could feel the tension in the room mount at the anticipation of the first daring challenge. Behind Hitch, Boris pressed a button on a remote control and a grey sheet rolled down. The lights went out, and a picture projected onto the grey sheet.

Hitch isn't anything if dramatic. Jean rolled his eyes, feeling safe to do the risky action under the cover of darkness.

The picture projected onto the screen was of a long thin golden cup, seated neatly in a burgundy satin cushion.

"The American Football trophy from 1965." Hitch enlightened everyone, their eyes curiously looking over the trophy photo.

"A prized possession of this school, the first time the team won against another school here on our very own pitch. Guarded by a strong glass cabinet, wrapped in soft satin, the prided trophy of all others."  

Jean suddenly recalled seeing the trophy cabinet, in the middle of the longest hallway in the academy, and stopping to look at it. He also remembered seeing this exact trophy and wondering why it was dead centre of all the rest.

Well thanks for enlightening me Hitchy, but what's this got to do with...

And then a sinking feeling took over Jean's stomach.

"They break a few rules for example..." Hitch had said.

"Oh no." Jean whispered, and Marco glanced at him curiously.

"This little trophy is indeed important." Hitch continued. "Especially in this challenge, as for you to succeed... You're going to have to steal it."

And Jean's fears were confirmed.

"What?" Marco hissed, horrified. "We can't do that, if we get caught we'll be expelled!"

But if we don't do it, others will and then there's no way we'll be placed in the MM top 10.

Quiet murmurs lifted in volume all around Jean, mixed feelings given. Some were as apprehensive as he and Marco were, others way on the other end of the spectrum. Jean felt like walking out now, but his want to place in that top ten stopped him.

Just how in the hell are we going to do this?

Scanning the crowd, Jean's honey eyes locked onto wide [e/c] ones, the same feeling of worry yet determination lighting them.

What will you do, [name]?

-

Well that hadn't gone well.

You walked back to your dorms with a dejected feeling, throwing yourself down on your bed when you got in.

The first challenge, the very first one, and already it was exceedingly difficult. Which meant your outlook on the rest of the challenges wasn't that great, and now you were worried about how you were ever going to place on that list.

And to add insult to injury, you were still walking around with that stupid jacket, as you hadn't even thought about it when leaving the hall, thoughts consumed with worry. You were really starting to hate the number 53.

"Well I'm not that excited for midnight anymore." Ymir sighed and sat down on her bed, her partner Christa perched next to her.

Midnight. The time when the challenge started, and the first pair to steal the trophy from that time would win.

"A-are you sure we won't get told off for being in here?" Armin mumbled, a rosy hue filling his cheeks with his blue eyes cast down, too embarrassed to look around. He didn't think that he, Eren and Connie should be in the girls dorms.

"Sure Armin, we won't tell. Besides, we need to talk to our partners right? It'll be fine." Sasha smiled, patting her bed as an invite for Connie to sit down, which the shaven headed boy did gratefully.

Eren came to a stop in front of your bed, aqua eyes searching yours for an indication that he was okay to do the same. You smiled and nodded, and the tan boy sat down next to you.

"So partner, we got a plan?" Eren started.

"In simple terms, no. Just go to the hall for midnight, then try and find our way as best as possible." You grimaced at your lack of plan, but really, what else could you do?

"Sounds, um, sound." Eren beamed, accepting that this really was the only thing you could do. But suddenly his smile faulted, and his eyes rested on the white fabric bunched up next to you.

"What's that...?" He asked, and your stomach sank.

"It's Jean's jacket. Damn I need to give it back."

Maybe you should do it now before you forgot, before it was midnight and while you knew the boys (including the copper haired one you needed) were in their dorm.

"It-it's what?" Eren stammered, suddenly looking crestfallen.

"I'll be right back Eren, I'm just gonna hand this back."

"Wh- wait, but why-"

"Honestly, I'll answer you in a minute, I promise. Be right back!" You gabbled, standing up and hurrying out of the door.

You wouldn't be able to focus properly until you gave it back.

Lets get this over with.

-

Apprehensively, your knuckles rapped on the door to the boys dorm room, that stupid bit of white fabric gripped between your fingers.

This is stupid, it’s only Jean for crying out loud, why do I feel so unsettled? You wondered to yourself, your heart beating furiously against your rib cage. All those times you’d seen him before, and now all of a sudden you dreaded it?

But deep down you knew why you weren’t looking forward to this confrontation. It’d be the first time you talked properly after the…the kiss, and you weren’t sure how it would play out. And even stranger, you were worried about if it played out

negatively, and what you would do if it did?

Tch, what do I mean what would I do? Go on as normal obviously. That copper haired boy was a jerk to start off with, and I handled him just fine before this… this stupid kiss.

Suddenly inbetween your inner monologue, the door was pulled back open and you were greeted with the friendly freckled face of Marco Bodt. Even though you hadn’t spoken to him much (you were way too busy ripping his copper counterpart to shreds) you did like Marco. His positive outlook and overall friendly demeanour made it very easy to like him, and you hadn’t forgotten how friendly he had been to everyone on that very first day.

Such a peace keeper, even then.

“Oh hey [name], what’s up?”

“Hi Marco, is uh, is Jean there? I’d like to talk to him?” You gestured to the jacket slung over one of your arms, and for a second you saw Marco’s eyes widen just a fraction.

But then he smiled such a knowing smile and nodded.

“Sure, I’ll just go get him for you.”

Choosing to ignore the weird reaction, you thanked the freckled teen and rested your back against the wall of the corridor. A few seconds later, the copper headed boy in question walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him. He stood to your left, in front of the dorm door with his arms loosely folded, something gripped tight in one of his hands. His copper hair glowed almost a deep auburn colour as the light hit it, the gold flecks in those honey eyes standing out to you once more. His lips – you could recall their softness just by looking at them – were turned up into a shy grin.

“What’s up?” He asked, trying to appear nonchalant but the slight pink tint to his cheeks gave away that he was as nervous about this as you were. That gave you confidence.

“I uh, well I thought that I should return this seen as though it is not mine. And also to thank you for letting me borrow it.” You extended your arm which held the jacket, and Jean took the item of clothing off of you, slinging it over his shoulder in one fluid motion.

“It’s alright. You did look really cold in that uniform.”

“No kidding, they really are unexplainably short.” You mumbled, pulling at the hem of your skirt as if to emphasise the point.

Jean really hoped his face didn’t look as red as it felt.

“Uh, yeah so uh…” He cleared his throat, hand rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly as he train his eyes anywhere but at your skirt.

“A-anyway, I think you should have these back too.” Jean held out his other hand, in his closed fist he held your clothes which he took from your locker and…

“My phone!” Eagerly you took back your items, happy you didn’t have to awkwardly ask for them back. This meeting was going better than you expected.

“Thanks Copper.” You smiled, surprised to find it was a genuine smile.

“It’s no problem [name].”

Jean stared down at her, noticing the way her smile was so vibrant it reached her eyes, or the way she scooped her hair back behind her ear so delicately to check her phone. The way she stood so casually against the wall but still managed to retain his complete attention. If anyone else walked down the corridor right that moment he was pretty sure he wouldn’t have a clue.

Why is it I can always spot you in a crowd full of people? Every time we’ve ever had group meetings, my eyes always seem to find you. Jean realised this truth with a sudden start. How is it that no matter where she stood, his eyes seemed drawn to her like some kind of magnetic force?

Ah…damn it Kirschtein, get your head out of the gutter.

“So…” the teen began, eager to get his mind somewhere, anywhere else. And then a thought had his heart sinking down to his stomach.

“The 1965 football cup eh?” He mentioned glumly, and saw that familiar downtrodden look reflected in her features.

“Seems like it.”

“[Name], are you…” Jean took a step closer to you, lifting his free hand that wasn’t holding his jacket to rest it on your shoulder, but thought better of it and let it flop back down to his side instead.

The slight movement didn’t escape your notice however.

“Are you going to go for it tonight?” He asked, his voice low and sounding…concerned?

You eyebrows pulled down into a slight frown at his words.

“Why, do you think I can’t handle it?”

“Heck no, I think you have a good chance if I’m completely honest. Which I always am.”
You nodded at his last statement, trying to ignore the warm feeling he’d given you when he told you he believed in your abilities.

“But…what are we supposed to do with it after? Put it back? More to the point how are we even supposed to get into the glass case without breaking it? I don’t know, there’s just a few things bothering me. Not to mention some of the others sounded… really competitive. Like they would stop at nothing to win.”

Jean’s honey eyes held yours in an intense gaze as he tried to convey what he meant. He hadn’t even discussed this with Marco yet, the dangers of how far the other players were willing to go to win.

Why am I warning her? It would be beneficial to me if I didn’t warn her of the others but… I can’t not. She can’t get hurt, it’s not like that hot head could protect her if she needed it. Not that she would most likely.

Heat was seeping into his cheeks again, and he hoped beyond hope it wasn’t too noticeable.

“Do you think… that they’d, y’know… actually hurt us?” You whispered, your eyes widening at the thought.

“By the way some of them were talking, yes I do. Getting into this list means everything to some people, those who aren’t too academic or simply has too much stress on their plates, can you imagine what the easy life of promised As would mean to them?”

You could. A secure future and a ton less stress most likely. It sounded great to you too, but you weren’t about to hurt someone for it.

“Just…you know, be careful [name]”

Levi’s words suddenly echoed in your brain, the exact same ones that Jean had uttered just now.

”Be careful [name].”

Yeah it sounds dangerous but…I can’t give up at the first hurdle. That’s not right, I have to at least try it.

“You know what? I think it’s you that should be careful Jean Kirschtein, because I’m going to steal that trophy from right under your nose.” You grinned, eager to put all these worries behind you. ‘Be careful’ indeed. You were going to show everyone you didn’t have to be, that you were good enough for this challenge. And hey, beating Copper in the process was always a plus.

Jean stared at you in something that looked like bewilderment mixed with awe. Then he shook his head and grinned his trademark shit eating grin straight back.

“Oh really, you think that’s how it’s going to go down do you?”

“I do indeed Copper.”

“I’ll see you tonight then. Midnight. As I’m running away with the trophy in my hands.”

“We’ll see Kirschtein.” And with one last confident grin, you straightened up from the wall and began to walk back to your dorm room to conspire with your partner.

When you turned the corner, you realised that both of you had avoided talking about the kiss… but it hadn’t been as inherently awkward as you first imagined. Also, the usual banter that had took place right before you left had been… different to any kind of ‘I’m the better one’ game you had played before. In fact, it had left you with a warm fuzzy glow in your stomach instead of the usual seething annoyance you felt.

This time, it had been almost as if you were egging each other on, lifting each other’s spirits up.

Coming to a stop outside the door to the girls’ dorms, you struggled to wipe the stupid grin off your face as you walked in. The girls and their partners were still talking about tonight, but when your eyes rested on your bed, you frowned.

“Hey, where’s Eren gone?” You asked aloud.

“He said he had somewhere to be.” Mikasa frowned, obviously unhappy she had no idea where he was either. Her partner, Armin, assured her he’d be fine. Puzzled, you walked over to sit on your bed and wait to see if the brunette would return.

-

Jean watched her leave around the corner with a stupid smile plastered on his face. That little end conversation was different to any kind they’d had before, and he knew she had felt that too with the little skip in her step as she turned the corner.

His stomach fluttered, and shaking his head, Jean turned to go back through the door to the dorm.

“Hey!”

Jean stopped and turned to face the sound of the voice, watching as Eren stepped out from one of the long curtains that framed the main big window of the academy building.

“Jaeger! What the – were you spying?”

“No!” Eren yelled, obviously uncomfortable at the situation and the copper boy’s choice of words. He had been spying, but he hated that term. It made what he did seem wrong, when he’d only done it to try and protect [name] from Jean’s schemes. Much like Jean, Eren hadn’t forgotten about their agreement either – seeing who [name] picks for herself.

“You clearly were, what’s your deal huh?”

“I came to see what lies you’d feed her. Pretty smart thing to do, giving her your jacket Romeo.”

“I’d like to say it was.” Jean smirked, achieving the desired reaction as Eren’s aqua eyes narrowed.

“Do you really think that’s gonna make her like you?”

“What, and following her around like a lost puppy is?” Jean snapped back, his own temper flaring. The ironic thing was, Jean hadn’t given her the jacket to make her like him. He’d given it, knowing she was cold. But of course, there’s no way the hot headed teen could know that.

“I…I do not!”

“Tch, sure you don’t.”

“Believe it or not Kirschtein, I hang out with her because she is my friend, and I actually enjoy her company.”

“So do I, in fact you saw that just then right? More than just a little truce don’t you think?” Jean remembered this jab Eren had used in their last argument, and now he had thrown it back right in his face. He watched as Eren’s eyes narrowed to slits and his eye brows pulled down into a deep and angry frown – but then suddenly he relaxed.

“You’re right. Anyway, I better get going.”

“Hah?” Jean couldn’t help but wonder out loud. But the reason for Eren’s sudden calmness became apparent with his next sentence.

“I’ve got some time to spend thinking up action plans with my partner. See you tonight Kirschtein.”

All Jean could do was gasp angrily and watch as Eren made his way back to the girls dorm rooms. The hot headed brat had upped him, yet again. The copper haired teens fists curled, and he turned back to the door to go into the boys dorms before he got any angrier, or worse, followed Eren down the corridor himself.

“Marco! We have some planning to do.” He called.

<<<Part 7