This spawned from my love of blacksmiths and how much I loved the thought of Jean as one. It was going to be pointless smut and then this happened. This idea spawned, grew and spiraled out of control. Now, I have no choice but to keep it going. So here we are, my next chapter fic! Now, unlike, WITD, this fic isn't finished. Hell, This is all I have written so far though I have most of it planned out. Wish me luck in actually finishing it. (I'm quite well known for not finishing stories.)

Warnings: Male/Male. There will be some blood and gore in later chapters. And possible smut too. I don't know yet. Possible OOCness too.

Disclaimer: I don't own em. Ya know that.

I hope you enjoy.

Trost was a rather large town that was known for two things. Their baked goods and their weaponry. Two things any town would be proud to be known for. Especially when those things were sent to the Castle. It was known in the land just how much the King loved the baked goods of Trost and how every knight and guard in the entire Alstairian army carried a sword made in Trost. Every villager was proud to be from Trost and the amount of visitors to the town was profitable.

Like every town or village, Trost had its secrets. Though the people kept to themselves there were moments when that was not possible. Like the flu outbreak that nearly took the lives of half the population. Thankfully, it was taken under control by the local Apothecary in enough time. A lot of people were lost then. But since, the town had repopulated and the near epidemic was forgotten.

There were secrets, however, that no one spoke about. They were whispers on the wind and settled in the fears of the villagers. They were nightmares and just part of those things no one spoke about. But they were there and they were real. No matter how much people avoided the truth, the truth still existed and screamed to be noticed. Eventually that truth would be heard.

Trost was full of monsters. The townspeople just didn't know it yet.

The scent of fresh mint was subtle as I twisted the top onto the jar I had just filled with the lovely little green leaves. I placed the jar on the wooden shelf along with the other herbs before lifting up the open book I had placed on the small table at my side. My sky blue eyes skimmed the messy handwriting for a moment before I picked up the piece of charcoal resting in the bend of the book and added a few notes of my own to the slightly yellowed paper.

Warmth suddenly pressed to my back and i glanced up, tilting my head backwards till I could see the tanned male who was leaning over me to place a jar on the top shelf. My blonde bangs brushed over my forehead and cheeks as our eyes met. Those chocolate eyes were warm as he smiled down at me before he was gone, returning to his own book and work.

I straightened up, reaching behind me to tug at my high ponytail, combing fingers through the thick strands before closing my book to rest back down on the small table. My dark red robe shifted around me as I spun around and moved over toward the other male who was busying himself filling another jar. I leaned my hip against his table, where his leather-bound journal rested, and glanced up at the rather tall male.

"Are you almost done?" I asked softly, shifting to cross my arms over my chest.

Bertholdt gave me a faint smile as he closed the jar, twisting on the cap before reaching up to place it on the top shelf. He was tall enough after all to reach shelves I could not. "Are you that eager to return home, Armin?" He asked, his chocolate eyes glistening with amusement as he returning to his book, reading it over.

"Eren is waiting for me." My eyes shifted over to my own leather bound journal resting not far away. "I fear if I take too long, he may not wait much longer."

Bertholdt just offered me a soft smile as he raised his hand to place atop my head. "I am done. Let's go home."

My lips curled up into the faintest of smiles as I nodded and pulled away from the larger male. I snatched up my book from the table and scurried toward the back room of the shop, passing my mentor on the way. I paused, popping my head into the odd smelling room where Hange was busying herself with what looked to be four different positions.

"Hange." I called, gaining her attention. She was bent over a steaming caldron, her deep red hair a mess atop her head and her glasses fogged from the steam. There was a bright smile on her lips that told me she was doing just fine. "Bert and I are going to head home now."

"Is that late?" She asked, straightening up in slight surprise. Hr eyes scanned the room before landing on the only window in the room. She quickly ran over to it, pushing opened the panels to stick her head out. "Oh my! The sun is setting! How beautiful!" She waved a hand at me though her attention was trained on the world outside her window. "Be safe, Armin! Remember, we go picking tomorrow!"

"Yes, Ma'am. Have a good night." A smile tugged at my lips as I closed the door to her room and continued down the hallway. I entered the back apprentice room where Bertholdt was already moving his robes. We smiled at each other as I moved to gather my street clothing. Until we were both full Apothecaries, we could only wear our robes within the shop and when we were with Hange. But she claimed we were both skilled enough to be Apothecaries already. The rest was just policy and precedent. Neither Bertholdt or I minded. We were happy to be learning and growing from the best apothecary around.

Hange Zoe was well known for her potions and healing abilities. She'd been accused of a lot of things since she became an Apothecary at the young age of Twelve but no one can deny her skill and ability to save many lives. She worked with the royal family for a long time before returning to her home here in Trost to train Bertholdt and I. It was quite the honor to work under her.

"I'll see you tomorrow then?" Bertholdt called, catching my attention as I finished up pulling on my street clothing. With the robes gone, Bertholdt appeared less intimidating. The male was rather tall but I knew him to be nothing but a sweet heart. We'd grown up together and surprisingly we were the same age.

"Tomorrow." I nodded to him. "Be well, Bert."

"You as well, Armin." He bowed his head and waved a hand at me before he disappeared out the door.

My body relaxed slightly now that I was alone. My dark red robe was folded nicely on the little desk I was allowed to call my own and for a moment, I paused, running my fingers over the rough but smooth fabric. It was an honor to wear these robes even if I didn't get to wear them all the time. I let out a soft sigh and pulled away from the robes to finish buttoning the white shirt I had tugged on. I smoothed out the fabric, rubbing down my stomach and to the thighs of my black slacks. Satisfied that I looked well enough, I tugged on my well-worn boots and slipped on my leather coat that had been a gift from my best friend. The seasons were shifting from Autumn to Winter but the air was still warm enough to not have to worry about a heavy coat.

I paused in heading out the door when I noticed the book on my desk. I didn't recall placing it there so of course, I had to return to the small desk and retrieve the book. It was bound in dark green leather with a brown leather strap that kept it closed. The book was not too thick but the pages appeared to be worn. So, I tugged on the leather strap and flipped the book open to the first page in my hands.

"Oh." I gasped softly, my eyes widened as I scanned through the book, a soft smile coming to my face. It was a gift from Hange. A book of herbs. I'd always wanted one of my own. There were plenty around the shop but I didn't have one to call my own. Now I did. The book had detailed explanations about all kinds of herbs and potions that seemed to come from all over Alstair. There was even a section about herbs from other countries.

The darkening of the room caught my attention and I snapped the book shut. Glancing out the window, I noticed the sun had finally set and I released a soft curse. I tucked the book into my satchel that I then threw over my shoulder before hurrying out the door. I promised Eren to be home by sunset and now I was late. My best friend tended to worry a bit, not that I blamed him.

The Apothecary Shop was a bit off from the rest of the town, settled in the woods with a small path that led toward the rest of town. The walk wasn't far but in the dark, it was rather ominous and unappealing. Especially since there had been wolf sightings recently. But, home wasn't too far and Eren was waiting for me.

I closed the shop door behind me, making sure it was locked before turning toward the woods. Torches lit the front of the shop but I took the time to put them out. Hange was busy enough as it was. I was the last to leave so it was my job to do so. I let out a soft sigh when the job was done and left the comfort of the shop to head down the stone path toward town.

But I paused. My boots ground into the stones beneath them, my hands shoved into my pockets and my head tilted back to glance up at the sky. The black sky was littered with stars that made me smile softly. But what had really caught my attention was the beautiful and large full moon. The light lit up most of the path, making it less ominous to walk down. Though the trees that folded over the path were still a little creepy, the light of the full moon lifted my spirits.

I pulled my coat a little tighter around my body before moving on down the stone path. The light of the moon was comforting as I moved into the covering trees, shifting to wrap my arms around my torso, hugging myself rather tightly. The moon light faded under the thick branches and I had to squint to see properly in front of me. It was dark but I could see light at the end of the path where the quiet town was waiting for me.

I was about halfway down the path when I heard something snap. I paused, glancing over my shoulder to see only darkness. A chill ran over my skin and I urged my legs to keep walking at a slightly faster pace. I brushed off the feeling that I was being watched and pressed onward. I didn't have much farther to go but the sound of heavy footfalls was causing ym heart to pound. They didn't sound human and it was only logical to assume it was some animal in the woods. But that didn't make it safe.

I did my best to calm my breathing and focus on the light at the end of the path. My skin started to crawl and I glanced around frantically, fearing I might just be spooking myself. But the yelp that escaped my lips and the way my feet skid to a halt was not from scaring myself. My eyes widened, my mouth snapped shut and my body grew stiff at the creature that launched out of the trees. It came to a halt for only a few second before me, giving me th chance to see green before it was gone and disappeared into the woods once again.

The beat of my racing heart was loud in my ears as my blood ran could. My knees buckles slightly and I nearly made contact with the ground before I caught myself. I glanced around the woods frantically before I started moving once again. My feet begged to run but I couldn't. I wasn't sure what I had just seen but it was wolf like. It was gone too quickly for me to be sure of what it was. But it was a large animal and the last thing I needed to do was take off running. That would just kick in the animals instinct to chase me.

My breathing was hard as I pressed forward, fear creeping up my spine but I kept at a steady pace till I finally broke through the woods and into town. The main road still had a few torches lit though there was not a single person out. I took a deep breath and took off running as soon as I reached town. Buildings were a blur as I sped past, nearly falling as I rounded a corner, and I reached my cottage in record time. I forced the door open and slammed it behind me rather loudly, my back pressing against it as I stared into the dark home.

I could hear my own hard breaths come from my parted lips and my heart threatened to beat out of ym chest. I pressed my palm to my chest, feeling my own heartbeat as I tried to catch my breath. The logical side of my brain had finally lost to fear as I dropped to the floor, my knees bent on either side as I crumbled over, using one hand on the wooden floor to hold myself up. I didn't know what that was but whatever it was, it was large with sharp teeth and terrifying. The wolf sightings made sense now.

"Armin?" I nearly jumped out of my skin at the soft feminine voice that spoke through the darkness. I snapped my head up to see a familiar raven haired woman standing in the hallway, her arms wrapped around herself as she stared at me with worried eyes. "Are you alright?" She took a few steps forward. "You look... Terrified." Her dark eyes widened and she quickly closed the distance between us, dropping down in front of me to grasp my face between her hands. "Are you hurt? What happened?"

I could only stare into those warm eyes for a moment before I finally found my voice. "I..." I swallowed hard and shook my head in her hands. "I just, I saw the wolf. At least, I believe I had."

Mikasa's eyes narrowed slightly and the concern was replaced with something I couldn't read. "You saw it?"

"Just for a moment. If that. It ran off." I released a relieved sigh, realizing I was alive and well.

Her hands shifted down my face to grasp my shoulder's gently. "You are alright then?"

"Yes." I gave her a soft smile as I shifted to my feet with her help. "Did I wake you?"

"No, I was reading in my room when I heard the door slam. I thought you were Eren." She spoke softly as she brushed off my shoulders, her eyes scanning over my body as if to make sure I was unharmed.

I perked a brow at her words, letting her inspect me. "He's not home?"

Mikasa paused for a split second before meeting my eyes with a soft smile. "He's asleep in his room last I checked. But you know how he is."

I nodded in understanding. My best friend and her brother, Eren, tended to do odd things at odd hours of the night. Like slam doors. "So he didn't wait up for me." I stated.

"He worries a lot about you Armin, but he also tends to pass out without realizing it." Mikasa smiled softly, giving my shoulder a pat before leaving my personal space.

"Yes, I know." I let out a soft sigh and shifted to remove my coat. I dropped my satchel on the floor before hanging my coat up on the small rack beside the door. "Well, I'm home safe and sound."

"Thankfully. You shouldn't come home so late." Mikasa pointed out. "You were lucky that wolf didn't hurt you. You know what happened last full moon."

I glanced over my shoulder at her, biting lip as I bend over to remove my boots. "I am highly aware."

Mikasa was referring to the rather tragic death of one of the young ladies of town. She was ripped to pieces and her heart was gone. I didn't have the displeasure of seeing it myself but Hange did so of course she thought it best to tell me all about it in case such a thing were to happen again. With the frequent wolf sightings recently, we feared it was going to happen again. Luckily, I was not a victim.

"I'm glad you're safe." She spoke with a soft smile. "Have a good night, Armin." She bowed her head slightly, smiling at my own goodnight to her before she disappeared down the hallway to her room.

I lined my boots up by the door next to Eren's before I grabbed my satchel and moved upstairs were our rooms were. I paused outside his door, biting my lip as I stared at the dark wood. I let out a soft breath and gently pushed the door open, peeking inside. Moon light lit the room along with the lump in the bed on the far end of the room. I smiled faintly, knowing my best friend was fine and closed the door quietly. I continued on to my own room and shut the door behind me.

Moonlight lit the small room rather nicely, filling me with a sense of calm. My heart still pounded a little faster than normal but I knew it would calm soon. I placed my satchel on my bed before I turned to light the small lamp beside the bed. The soft yellow glow spread over the room as I moved toward the small closet in the corner. I tugged it open and grabbed a pair of faded white sleep pants before tossing those onto my bed. Then, I undressed, folding up my clothes to stuff back into the closet before closing it. The wooden floor was cool beneath my bare feet so I hurried back across the room to slip on my soft pants over my bare body.

I grabbed the herbal book from my satchel before dropping the leather bag to the ground. I pulled back the thick blankets of my bed before slipping inside under them. I propped up a pillow against the headboard and then allowed my bare back to rest against it. I tucked my knees up toward my stomach and pried open the book, letting it rest against my knees. There was no chance I was going to sleep anytime soon, so I thought it best to get some reading done and learn something.

I was halfway through the book when there was a soft knock on my door. I glanced up, eyebrow perked as I glanced around the room. The moon had shifted since I last looked up and the oil in my lamp had depleted quite a lot. "Yes?" I called, tucking the ribbon attached to the book in the bind before closing it, saving my place.

The door creaked open and I wasn't surprised at the head of raven hair and green eyes that poked out from behind the door. There was a sheepish smile on Eren's face that didn't reach his eyes as he gazed at me. "Hey."

"Hello." I tilted my head at him, noticing how he slipped inside and shut the door behind him. He wore only his sleep pants as well, his chest bare with his arms folded over it.

"I, um, I'm sorry." He stated, his shoulders shrugging slightly as he smiled softly at me.

I searched his emerald eyes for a moment, noting how dark they were underneath before giving him a shrug in return. "It's alright, Eren." I placed my book on the table with the lamp before slipping out from under the warm covers. "I was later than expected so it was my fault."

I was barely on my feet before warm arms encircled my waist and I was pulled against his warm toned body. I blinked in slight surprise but allowed him to hug me against him, his face nuzzling into my neck. "I should have gone to get you."

I let out a soft laugh, lifting my arms to encircle him, rubbing over his warm back. "I am completely capable of taking care of myself, Eren."

A faint growl came from his throat as he pulled me closer against him. "Mikasa told me you saw the wolf."

I bit my lower lip, glancing over to the wall at his words. "Yes, I saw it."

"Damnit, Armin." He pulled back, his hands tight on my waist as he met my eyes. Those beautiful eyes were swirling with concern and worry that made my heart sink slightly. "It's a full moon. You know it's not safe to be outside after dark."

"I wasn't going to spend the night at the shop. I'm fine, Eren, nothing happened."

"But something could have happened." He pointed out, his eyes narrowing as they scanned my face. "You can't be so reckless, Armin." The venom in his voice vanished as his face twisted with anguish before he pulled me close again, his face burying in my hair. "I can't lose you."

I let out a soft sigh, bringing my arms up to rub his biceps. "You worry too much." I let one hand slip up the back of his neck and bury in soft thick locks of black. "I'm sorry. I am. I'll be more careful. I admit... It was rather... terrifying." I spoke softly, shivering slightly at the memory.

His warm, tanned arms tightened around my waist. Eren was a few inches taller than I but with the way he crouched over to hug me, I could rest my chin on his shoulder easily enough. My body bent slightly to accommodate the way he hugged me against him. "I'm so glad you're safe." He whispered against my hair, nuzzling it slightly.

I bit my lower lip, glancing at him from the corner of my eye. "Do you want to stay the night with me?"

"Please?"

I nodded, rubbing over his arms before he finally pulled away from me. The worry was gone from his features to be replaced with a broad smile that warmed my heart. Eren meant everything to me. Both he and Mikasa were my family. They took me in after my grandfather's death and I could never repay them enough. I was alive and well because of my childhood friends and we meant everything to each other.

"Come on." I slipped my hand into his, giving it a squeeze before tugging him toward bed. Eren slipped under the blankets as I took a moment to snuff out the lamp. He curled under the covers, smiling at me as I waited for the lamp to snuff out. I reached behind me, tugging out the ribbon holding my hair back and allowed the shoulder length strands of gold to fall around my face, neck and shoulders. The light glow faded to be replaced with moonlight and when I turned toward the bed, Eren's almost glowing green eyes made me pause. He pulled back the covers for me, snapping me out of my daze. I swallowed hard, past the odd fear I suddenly felt, before climbing in beside him. I pressed my back to his front, pulling the blankets up over my shoulders as a warm arm rested over my hip and his face pressed into the back of my neck. I could tell he felt better having me near him and honestly, I felt a little safer with Eren around.

"Goodnight, Armin." He whispered softly against my skin as he tugged me a little closer.

I let my hand rest over his while the other tucked up under my pillow. I felt calm, a soft smile coming to my lip as I let my eyes slip shut. "Goodnight, Armin."

Bah. I don't know why but this chapter leaves a sour taste in my mouth. I feel like I could have written it better. Oh well, it is just the beginning. The plan was to write something like WITD but darker. A lot darker. We'll see how that goes as I keep writing.

Please let me know what you thought. I'd really like to know if this is worth continuing or not.

Yes, this is Jearmin. Jean comes in the next chapter, I promise.

Thanks for taking the time to read it! Please let me know if it's worth continuing. I'll update when I can. I take my time with writing, I don't force it, but I will try to update every week. It won't be as long as WITD I believe but I'm not sure yet. We'll see.

Thanks again.

~Addy~