It was early evening when it happened.
The two of them were situated in the tiny room. Armin was seated at the table, brow furrowed slightly in a state of total concentration, jotting down notes in a tiny, year-worn book; Mikasa was pacing back and forth like a caged animal, feeling just as restless.
"Armin, is it?"
They looked up. A man stood there, clad in the traditional Regiment uniform. Armin nodded.
"Commander Erwin wanted to see you."
Armin froze, casting a troubled half-glance back at Mikasa.
"Er...now?"
"Yes. Care to accompany me?"
Armin had already sat up from the chair, hastily straightening out his shirt. "O-of course, sir!"
The two departed, and Mikasa was left alone with her thoughts. She tried counting seconds for a little while, but this lost its appeal quickly, and so she began to pace again, every once in a while chancing a restless glance at the setting sun outside the window, wondering when Armin would be back. Time seemed to slow to a crawl at the prospect of awaiting his return.
As Mikasa continued to reflect, another, disturbing thought occurred to her; why had Commander Erwin not called her in alongside Armin?
She recalled the 57th Expedition: the forest, the smell of pine and blood, the sight of Eren's form abducted by the Female Titan and the sense of utter helplessness that had overtaken her wits, then quickly given way to burning hatred. She scowled.
Perhaps my failure has forced them to reconsider?
Yes, that was more than possible. In her blind anger and resurging thirst for vengeance, she had ignored direct orders and caused Captain Levi to suffer ample injuries; Armin, meanwhile, had done nothing but continue to prove himself.
The thought brought forth a small surge of additional guilt and resentment, and with it, a fresh wave of shame in the wake of such childish emotion. Armin had committed no such wrong as she had. The presence of her emotional weakness vexed her.
The sound of footfalls interrupted her thoughts. Mikasa looked up to see Armin standing on the threshold, an expression of distinct unease upon his face. She regarded him furtively, hoping he could not read the leftover bitterness in her expression.
"Commander Erwin wanted a word." He clarified. She held his gaze for a moment, trying to discern what else he might be thinking, but upon gleaning little but his increased anxiety, she turned away.
"Is something the matter?" He asked, stepping into the room and taking a seat across from her.
"I think there's something wrong with Eren." If Armin had appeared uneasy before, he was all the more so upon hearing this statement.
"What do you mean?" He asked slowly, though he would not quite meet her eyes.
"He's been acting strange ever since yesterday."
"Maybe he's just worried about the mission tomorrow." He chuckled. "I know I am." Mikasa frowned.
"Maybe."
_____________________________________________________________________________
But as the day of the mission came, it was clear that something was wrong with Eren. He had left at the break of dawn the morning before, returned several hours later with a strange air of exultation and without so much as a word to where he had been; even Jean's goading remarks failed to bring about an anticipated retort. Today he was pale, his eyes were dull with lack of sleep, and he was not prone to have words with anyone.
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When the Hunter Met the Lionheart
FanfictionA boy and a girl met, fell in love, broke apart, and found love again at the very worst of times. The chaos that ensued in the wake of their newfound connection would change the world as they knew it. Alliances were forged and abandoned, battles wag...
