A/N: So, I took the LJ prompt challenge for "15 Pairings" ages ago, but never actually wrote it. I decided I finally get off my lazy bum, so I'm writing and posting the prompts now. There will be 15 total drabbles, each one with a different prompt and pairing, but all in the DGM fandom. I haven't finished all of them yet, so feel free so suggest a pairing, and I'll most likely get around to it.

Prompt # 1: Running in Place
Summary: "Miranda didn't think she was helping the Order at all, useless creature that she was."
Spoilers: Nope.
Rating: PG

"Miranda, you can stop now,"

Miranda vaguely heard Reevers voice, but she blocked it out as best she could. I have to keep going. If I don't make progress I can help Allen-kun and Lenalee-chan.
Reever's voice came again, louder this time. "Miranda! Stop invoking! It's been over five hours!"

She ignored him again.

"Miranda! Damnit!" She heard his footsteps coming closer, and then she felt him grabbing her and pulling her into a standing posistion. As soon as she stopped invoking her innocence, Miranda felt the exaustion hitting her, and her limbs trembled, reminding her how weak she was.

"If you don't start listening to us, then we're going to have to force you to stop training." Reever told her. "At least rate you'll hurt yourself."

It's no good. I'm useless. I might as well stop trying to be an exorcist, because I'm just running in place here. There's been no improvement. I haven't improved, I'll never improve, I'm so useless. I'm a burden. Miranda opened her mouth to start to voice this thoughts aloud, but stopped herself. If Reever realized how pathetic she was, she'd never be allowed to train again. Instead, she nodded slightly at Reever, and tried to keep herself from yawning.

"When's the last time you slept?" Reever asked, noting the bags under her eyes and the poorly held back yawn.

"I'm not sure. But, it's fine. Back I home I barely ever slept. I was so worried about whatever job I'd just been fired from!" She told him, with a nervous smile.

Reever gave her a look she couldn't quite decipher, and ordered her to go to bed.

Miranda wandered through the halls, wishing she was back in the training area, instead of killing time doing nothing. At least in the training room she could pretend she was making good progress. When she was in the Order, alone, Miranda's mind forced her to realize the utter pointlessness training, when she wasn't strong like Lenalee and Allen, or even smart like Komui. As her though process became more and more self depreciating, Miranda began to sing softly, and automatically.

"Miranda, Miranda, unlucky Miranda,

You're not popular

You're too dark

You're so slow..."

She stopped as the door in front of her swung open, nearly hitting her in the face, and a cross looking Komui poked his head out. "Who's singing?" He demanded. "I'm trying to nap, and your singing interuppted me!"

Miranda blushed, mortified. "I'm so sorry!" She said, trying to fix things with the head of the science department. Stupidstupidstupidstupid. "I know my singing isn't very good, and I didn't mean to wake you up, I didn't realize you were in there! Sorry! So-"

He cut her off. "It's not that. Your singing is fine. I just hate to hear a sweet, pretty, smart girl like you singing a song like...that." He gave her a smile, yawned, and slammed the door again. "Oh, and you're not too dark." Miranda heard his last muffled remark through the wood door.

Miranda was left staring at the door, blushing for an entirely different reason than embarrassment, and feeling maybe not so completely useless after all.