Awakened

Chapter 10

Mikasa was incredibly tired.

After everything with Annie she was too wired to fall asleep. She got off her cot and began working out. She did a number of exercises, ranging from push-ups to sit-ups to crunches to martial arts. Mikasa didn't particularly care what she did or for how long, as long as she didn't allow herself to think about a certain blonde haired blue-eyed girl.

After a few hours she still wasn't exhausted, so she decided to go outside and train.

She walked down the quiet halls of the keep, a few minimal noises here and there from late sleepers or the night watch, but nothing out of the ordinary.

She came out into her normal training section, the part that was secluded mostly for her team and there private sessions, and was surprised to see someone there already.

Mavick was there practicing his martial arts on a cotton dummy that was made by Armin. He had replicated a human torso with with cotton and straw and gods-knows what else. It helped the Scouts a lot, and pretty soon Armin replicated the dummy dozens of times so more people could train with it.

Right now, Mavick had ripped cloth against wrapped around his knuckles, and he was hitting the dummy furiously in practiced moves.

Mikasa watched him for a moment, walking slowly with that silent grace she possessed.

It wasn't until she spoke that Mavick noticed her.

"You're doing that wrong."

Mavick jumped, startled at the voice of his Captain coming from no where.

His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of her, but he didn't speak. He merely bowed his head slightly in respected acknowledgment.

Mavicks chest was heaving up and down in heavy breaths, and sweat glistened all over his body. He wore a cut up muscle tank hoodie, and regular cotton pants like Mikasa, but his tank was sticking to his body from his work out.

"What are you doing out here so late?" Mikasa asked and Mavick tensed.

He didn't meet her eyes as he said, "I wanted to train extra to get better at my combat fighting."

Mikasa narrowed her eyes. "I don't like it when you lie to me."

Mavick still didn't meet her eyes, and he didn't respond.

Mikasa regarded him for a second before sliding a foot behind the other and raising her fists. "Fight me."

Mavick finally looked to her. "What?"

"Fight me." Mikasa repeated. "You want to get better at hand-to-hand combat? Then I'll show you."

Mavick gulped, and he got in position to defend himself. Mikasa was completely calm on the outside, but on the inside she was burning. She needed this fight. She needed to let go of the thoughts whirling inside her mind about Annie.

She wanted to stop thinking about how serene Annie was tonight. How Annie still gazed at the moon the same way she used to, with a sense of comfort and awe. Could a monster truly gaze at something so beautifully like that?

No, Mikasa couldn't go there. Not now. Mikasa still loved her, gods knows she does, but Annie betrayed her. Killed hundreds of people. Captured her brother.