[DISCONTINUED] Entangled in the Strings of Fate ~ Attack on Titan (Levi x OC)

18. Time

Aile was staring down at the sheets of paper in her hands, not moving for the last five minutes. Her caramel eyes were fixated on the smooth inscriptions on the paper, giving impression she was reading it, however it was clear her mind had wandered somewhere else. The proof was her lifeless stare that almost looked like a dead fish's eyes.

Even when Moblit had called her name several times, she remained still.

She finally snapped out of her thoughts when Moblit tapped her shoulder. "Aile, were you listening?"

"Oh, yeah," she nodded rigidly, "You said we're here to write the expedition report, so I need to stop slacking off and begin checking your writings, right?"

"Actually I was telling you to take a break," Moblit replied. Aile's stiff shoulder immediately slumped down as he continued, "See, you're not focused, Aile."

"I know, I spaced out. Sorry," Aile frowned, "But that won't happen again. Here, I've finished checking this. Your spellings are perfect."

Moblit took the document from Aile's hand and scanned it thoroughly as she continued, "Now let's continue, Moblit. Bring the next."

Moblit glanced over the sheet and sighed at her stubbornness. "I told you to rest, didn't I? And besides, you're not even on duty. You need not to push yourself, Aile."

"I'm not pushing myself."

"You denying it only proves that you are pushing yourself."

"I'm not, you hear?" Aile stated peevishly, "Besides, this is our routine each time every expedition. You and I, as Hanji's assistants would always write expedition report for her."

"That's right, but you didn't go," Moblit stood right in front of her, frowning, "Only I did. And Squad Leader only asked me to write the report."

"Your point is?" Aile put on straight face.

Moblit abruptly put his hands on Aile's shoulder, making her wince, "My point is, please stop it, Aile. Just rest and leave it to me," he said, "I'm telling you this as a friend. I'm really concerned about you."

Aile found herself unable to respond. Her mind seemed frozen as she stared back into Moblit's pleading eyes. Then she realized something. "Moblit, you're being too close."

"I know that!" He snapped, drawing himself from Aile and turning away, "But you're being too distant and I can't stand it."

"I can't help it, can I?" Aile shrugged indifferently, "You know what you get from being too open and too attached to something... or yet..."

"Someone." Aile's eyes narrowed as she slowly clenched her fists.

Moblit let out a thin sigh, "See Aile, I just--"

"Oh, there you two are," Hanji came into the room, all the while offering her assistants a smile. Her smile was quickly replaced with serious face as she continued, "We're holding a meeting and I want you two to attend it with me."

"Understood." Aile immediately did military salute.

Hanji nodded satisfyingly, then noticed that Moblit wasn't responding. "Moblit? Is there something wrong?" Hanji asked him.

Moblit was silent for a moment before finally making up his mind. "I have a proposal, Ma'am!" He answered while saluting.

Aile and Hanji gave him a questioning look. "At this time? What is it?"

"I request for Aile to remain here, Ma'am." He said firmly, making Aile's eyes widen and mouth slightly open.

Hanji blinked twice. "Oh-ho, now that's rather unusual... what's the reason behind your proposal, if you care to tell me?" She asked as a small curious smirk formed on her lips.

"The reason is, Ma'am," Moblit took a glance at Aile, who was still widening her eyes, "Aile clearly is not in her best condition right now. Her failure in differentiating the progress report and our last month expenses list proves it."

"What?!" Aile looked at him in disbelief while Hanji raised one of her eyebrows at her. "Is that true, Aile?"

"No, I was checking his spellings, not the expenses list! I swear!"

"Then what is this that you gave me?" Moblit outstretched the paper in his hands. Aile snatched it from him and began scanning it, "What does it say there, Aile?"

Aile didn't reply, but her quivering hands spoke for her.

Moblit and Hanji exchanged looks. Moblit nodded to her and she in return nodded back, her eyes narrowed in understand.

"It looks like you're indeed in not your best condition," Hanji put her hand on her hips as she looked at Aile again, "Then Aile, as your superior, I order you to stay in this facility and do nothing until the end of the day. Do you comply?"

"...yes, Ma'am." Aile drooped dispiritedly. When it comes to Hanji's order, she couldn't refuse. Especially when she's in her 'Superior Mode'.

Aile cast her side away and caught a sight of Moblit smiling apologetically at her. She replied by glaring at him.

A paper on the desk beside him caught her attention. Her eyes widened when she identified what's written on that paper. "Moblit, isn't that-?!"

"What's wrong, Aile?"

"That paper! Moblit swapped them!" Aile rushed to the desk and grabbed the paper, "See, I'm right! The expenses list should be here, but this is the report! He's framing-!"

"Aile," Hanji stopped her from finishing. Her eyes glared sharply at the shorter woman as she declared firmly, "Whatever you say, I'm not retracting my order."

So Aile just stood there in silence as Hanji and Moblit exited the room.

'Sorry Aile, but trust me, this is for your sake.' Moblit thought. "...thank you, Squad Leader."

"Don't thank me," Hanji nonchalantly swayed her hand, "That Aile won't listen to anyone but me, Levi or Erwin, after all."

Moblit nodded slowly. "I don't like seeing her like that... she's like an entirely different person."

Hanji abruptly stopped on her track, making Moblit stopped as well in wonder. "Hey Moblit, how long have you known her?"

"Quite long, but not as long as you have," Moblit answered after a while, "If I'm not wrong, you are from the same year, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Now me and her are the only scouts left in our generation," Hanji said with longing eyes, "Both of us joined the Corps even though we're in the top ten. The other trainees held grudge towards us because of that, but of course, we ignored them!"

"You two are really close, aren't you." Moblit smiled at her.

"Haha, you can say that again. The two of us had gone through a lot together... but it's a shame," Hanji cast her gaze away, "Aile hasn't completely trusted me yet."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Moblit furrowed his eyebrows.

Hanji shrugged. "Anyway, let's not make everyone wait. The meeting's about to begin anytime soon, and when it does, I want you to record everything."

"Uh, understood!" Moblit nodded rigidly, "Squad Leader, please wait for me!"

As he went after her, he couldn't help but thinking that there was something that she hid from him. Whatever it was, Moblit was determined to find out about it later.

Meanwhile with Aile, she was staring at the door while slowly tightening her grip on the paper in her hand. Her other hand raised and banged the door, before she collapsed and leaned against the door.

She took out her all too familiar silver watch and dully stared at its moving hand.

"...just when will my time come?"