All Regret (Isabel Magnolia x Reader)

Squad Bonding

The view of the training grounds was rather poor the following day. Gray clouds and heavy air filled the atmosphere as rain battered the soil, making it into mud. Every exhale was followed by an immediate show of smoke. Weather like this didn't cancel training, in fact it was almost preferred; training in adverse weather conditions provided the trainee with more "on-the-spot" reaction to both malfunctions and mishaps with the gear and mind.

You ran loops around the dummies, desperate to get out of the downfall and into a dry spot to wait out the storm. You watched the others train too, although it didn't seem to bother them as much as it did you. Doing anything in the rain wasn't all that bad, but when you were forced to be outside in it, it made it seem like a bigger nuisance than it was.

A red blur wipes across the tall trees. Moments later, a slab of artificial titan meat falls to the ground. The thick piece of meat indicates a deep and accurate cut. If this were just a month earlier, there might have been some kind of resentment towards this, now however, your brows knitted with admiration to the underground-cadets. Especially when it was Isabel. Your new personal favorite trainee.

A splash and stomp happens beside you, as well as the signature sound of the wires returning to the coils of the ODM. You check your left and see one of your friends approaching, drenched in rain. He shakes himself like a dog and then leans into his legs, gasping and coughing. "I hate all this rain!"

You look down at the leather skin of your boots. They've deflected most of the moisture, but you can still get all the droplets. You shrug and then sigh. "I wouldn't mind it all that much if we weren't training in it."

Your friend nods and then continues to complain. Up until he follows your gaze up at the trees where you can both clearly see Isabel looping around the branching, searching for more targets. A small laugh leaves his mouth as he looks back at you.

  "How'd your date go?"

  "It was great." You deadpan.

A few moments of silence pass before he chases you with another question. "You're not at all interested in her?"

  "I'm not at all interested in anyone." A flash of memories. "Too much...losses have prevented most interests."

More silence. An unvoiced agreement washes both of you as the recent events of your last "adventure" came to mind. A knot as thick as your fist forms in the pit of your stomach, threatening your breakfast to boil out of your throat.

Flagon's squad didn't see a ton of action, but you always somehow managed to get into a separated situation where you had to witness one of your non-squad members get wasted in the open. Deaths are rarely done with dignity beyond the walls. You weren't exactly numb to death, but were well-attuned to it. You dreaded it. Hated it. Despised it.

Some more small talk manages to come out during your 5 minute break before you disperse back into the woods. You were playing with fire, doing nothing while your squad did their routine exercises could spell chores and more mundane tasks. As much fun as it was taking care of the horses and their stables, you didn't want to get trapped doing more cadet work during your leave.

All the moving in the rain soaks you thoroughly, prompting you get out of your wet clothes as soon as you are allowed to leave. You rush back to the barracks, hoping to get some well-desired rest. Flagon comes in though, drenched and panting. Questions usually got you sent somewhere you didn't want to go, so you just silently hoped he was going to pick someone else to run the obvious errand that he knew was uncompleted.

However, your silent hope is shattered as soon as your eyes meet. "[Y/N]," he begins.

God...Damnit...