Time is fleeting. Time is precious. Time waits for no one. You may delay, but time will not. When someone’s time has come, what may happen next is inevitable. And certainly, lost time can never be found again.
Those were among the thoughts that plagued her mind as she reflected on another day of training she and the others had undergone – preparations for the 57th expedition outside the walls. Those thoughts reeled in her mind like a silent mantra; a constant reminder to herself that, despite the feel of ambiguity behind their mission, she can’t afford to be swayed by the foreboding feeling gnawing at the back of her mind. She won’t allow herself to lose sight of what’s set out for her in this plan. Because she knew all too well, that on the battlefield, a man with a heart that wavers is no doubt a dead man.
Self-control was all she needed to push back her doubts; and having a finesse for self-control was what she took pride in. Yet–…
From around the castle-like HQ’s grounds, Mikasa had stopped as she approached the stables, dark eyes calmly lifting their gaze up to the darkened, hazy sky overhead. The obscurity of the nighttime sky blanketed the earth in darkness while heavy clouds blocked the moonlight, looming over as if threatening to let rain fall from the heavens above – yet despite the storm clouds rolling in from the west, she was not the least bit worried about the weather, nor was she concerned with the chilly breeze sweeping up her cloak. Far bigger concerns were on her mind; ones that she had to sort out herself.
The sound of muffled footfalls drew her attention, and a slight frown tugged at the corners of her lips as she wondered who else could still be up this late – amongst the newer recruits, that is. A slight turn of her head to glance behind, and she had to bite back the urge to click her tongue as she caught sight of a face she had least expected to see – let alone a face she'd want to see.
“…” Wordlessly, she turned back to face ahead of her, masking her irritation behind a blank expression. This was just perfect timing, she mused rather cynically. Running into the short-stack of a man they call their captain… She wondered if luck just wasn’t on her side tonight. Should she leave? … Perhaps that option wasn’t a wise one, despite her inclination towards it. After all, as much as she found the man infuriating – she still refused to let go of the court’s events, even if it was deemed necessary – this man was still her superior, like the title of Humanity’s Strongest wasn’t obvious enough.
With that in mind, she very nearly gave him a polite “What is it” for the sake of formalities, but decided against it. She just didn’t have it in her to dismiss his prior actions in favor of trying to ease the current situation; if anything, it would probably turn out worse.
She could only hope he wouldn’t talk or question her as to why she’s still awake.