A/N: Wow! I couldn't have planned the one-hundredth chapter better! Enjoy Day 4 everyone!
Cobra woke the next morning groggier than normal. He blamed his poor sleep on Macbeth's snore, but a biting voice in the back of his mind knew it was just the nearest excuse. In fact–and perhaps this was just him overthinking–but he could have sworn it was actually quieter than normal last night. His own thoughts had echoed loudest in his mind. Macbeth's sleepy murmurs as Cobra left the tent put him in a scowl. He didn't have time to think about why last night felt weird, or the brain space. As he cursed the sun for rising, a voice other than his own gave him a start.
"You're up awfully early," Sorano commented. He almost tripped and face-planted. He hadn't heard her at all.
"Can't sleep. You know how it is with Macbeth."
"Actually, I don't, but all the better for it."
He swallowed a snarl. It wouldn't do any good to get antsy with her this early. For all her bite, sleepy eyes and a yawn betrayed tiredness. "Aren't you supposed to be on watch?"
"I got Richard to trade with me. I'll be up longer tonight for him instead." She glanced at him before moving to go into her shared tent with Meredy. "Jellal's in an awfully good mood with you doing what you're doing. If this keeps up, maybe he'll think about staying all week." Watching eyes. "I'm not sure if it's for brownie points or your own satisfaction but, well," she made a face, "thanks I guess."
He didn't say anything. Just nodded. The safest move he could make. As soon as she got back into her tent he all but bolted towards Magnolia.