She could not remember ending up there, her back slammed against the concrete wall, her left shoulder bearing brunt of the force. The cycle happens, though. First there was nothing. Only halcyon seconds enjoying the random, could be a hobby, a routine, and hers was plainly a small conversation with friends.

And then in a very crucial second, comes the shock from whichever source, which later produces ringing in the ears and an overwhelming numbness in the body.

Mikasa found herself suddenly in that horrifying cycle, trapped in the part when the numbness dissipates from her nerves and then that pain comes in. The back of her head had just hit the wall. There was pain cruising in her neck, her shoulders, and when it cleared out, there was this pain which persisted from below her right wrist.

And it was getting worse.

Mikasa's eyes widened amid the lingering shock, stared at the hand which was clutched around her wrist and detaining it hard against the wall… clenching tighter like an iron belt. And before her was a pair of eyes narrowed to a glare. They were blue as they were cold, but they overflowed with wrath.

Just how in hell had she suddenly been inflicted with so much hate?

It had just past noon when the five-member squad took the route back to headquarters through the courtyard. The sun was high, and though it takes a longer walk, some insisted to at least enjoy the shaded hallway. That, and since the 104th Cadet Corps have just finished graduation rites, it was kind of a thing to glance at fresh meat…

"Aaagh. The numbers do grow smaller each year huh," Oluo stretched his arm, exposing his disappointment in a yawn, "Wait 'til I take over as Commander. We'd be flocked so great; graduations would be in two batches!"

Gunther could only roll his eyes. "Right. As they'd all wish to immediately impeach you."

"Oluo, you're imagining yourself in the Captain's place again," Petra scolded, cringing, "I told you to stop imitating him."

"I believe one could walk straight without the need to blabber."

The others fell quiet in shame at the sharp voice of Lance Corporal Levi who had only needed so few words to hush them. The subordinates glared at Oluo, having been considered the oldest yet loudest yapper. They did not see more of the Captain's irritated expression. They've been so used to it somehow.

Whispers began floating from the sides. The cadets have recognized their uniforms, their symbol, their faces, and apparently Oluo was one enjoying the attention.

"And no more of this nonsense with taking over the commandership. Two things: there is a chain of command, and," Levi turned his face to the side to relish glaring at his subordinates, "…it's sickening."

He expected the silence that came from them, and boy did he secretly enjoy these bits of intimidation.

Nearing the exit, they were to pass by a small group of cadets huddled on the other side.

"Those must be the top ten," Eld spoke, "I hear they all came from the southern district. First ranker is a survivor of Shiganshina… and is a female too."

"Neh, that sounds sexist," Petra raised an eyebrow, "You aren't having an issue with a female first ranker are you?"

Eld flushed red, "W-what! I wasn't implying anything!"

Again they got lost in another nonsensical dispute.

"You must be jealous of Captain Hange too! Surely you have miles to walk getting to where she is!"

"Like I said, I wasn't implying—"

"Well I only hope she doesn't end up in the Garrison. Having a commander as Pyxis—"

"Oooi…!"

They quiet down realizing their Captain had just stopped walking for a number of seconds now. Waiting for his infamous killer stare, they reckoned it would come along a side dish of cleaning the HQ in a day. But Levi was just there, frozen in his ground, his gaze stuck on the cadets a which their conversation sprang. A kid had just smacked another in the head.

"Uh, Taichou?" Petra craned her neck and raised her hand.

Surpisingly, Levi's eyes held none of the contemptuous reflection. They saw instead an intense fix of shock which was slowly turning into fear. But then they shivered as it turned into a deep, dark glare…

"You guys would really choose the Scouts, eh? What a joke…" Conny scratched his head, "Many would kill for a spot in the ten as ticket to the Police regimen and you… aaagh damn it!"

Of course Eren was resolute. He must have been born with an idea of the Scouts stuck to his navel.

"Well if it's what Eren wants," Armin was grinning but one could easily read the anxiety in his edge. He turned to Mikasa whose lips were buried behind the dark red scarf loosely wrapped around her neck. She was standing behind Armin who was sitting on the cobblestoned ground. She was silent, and her eyes were quite sad. Under the sun they sparkled dull blue.

"I still hope you'd change your mind…"

Mikasa's voice was slightly thwarted by the scarf, though the incessant worry was loud enough to hear.

"I can't Mikasa, and I won't. I did not train this hard to sit behind rows of walls waiting for another district to…" Eren gritted his teeth to stop the words, more so, to stop the pain that came with the images he had left of Shiganshina.

"Why do you have to raise your voice at her, idiot!" Jean growled with a crisp punch on Eren's temple, "Can't you see she's just worried—"

"Why you—"

"You two, not again!"

Armin frantically stood to pull Eren from the brewing fight but was immediately cut with a wail coming from before them. He saw a man in green uniform charging at their direction, followed by four others who were as frightened as they were becoming. The voices became a mixture of echoes…

TAICHOU!

"What the—"

"Oi—"

"MIKA—!"

Too late. The stranger, in a questionably furious stance, easily grabbed Mikasa by the right wrist and drove her against the whitewashed wall behind her like she was but a spineless doll.

She could not remember ending up there, her back slammed against the concrete wall, her left shoulder bearing brunt of the force. The cycle happened, though. Mikasa's eyes widened amid the lingering shock, staring at the hand which was clutched around her wrist… clenching tighter like an iron belt.

The pair of eyes before her were blue as they were cold behind unruly bangs. They overflowed with wrath but she felt the blaze of agony the way his body tensed.

"You…"

Mikasa heard his voice slowly drip through clenched teeth… she could not recognize her assailant but he spoke to her as if he knew her all too well—

"Why the hell are you here?"

A/N: New to the fandom. Thoughts?