As I said, this is about chapter 82 so again, just to be sure : SPOILER CHAPTER 82 !

I know several people pointed out that Armin may not be dead yet in the last panel of the chapter for diverse reasons, but as SNK world seems to not be very advanced in medicine, I took the asuption that Eren and the others cannot even think about how he could still be alive and therefore think he's dead (and anyway, even if they considered the option, he would need medical attention quickly and they haven't got any so they would probably know there was nothing they could do for him). Beside, there's still the 50 metres fall onto that rooftop.

English is not my native language and I'm still looking for a beta reader who speaks it. So in the meantime, please be indulgent about my mistakes and feel free to point them out to me, I'll be happy to correct them.
Also, feel free to leave a review ! It doesn't cost much time, but it is always nice to read, even if it's just a few words...


"I was, I am, and remain a soldier! Sworn to dedicate my heart and soul to the restoration of humankind! I have no greater ambition than to give up my life, should it help that cause! "

Armin Arlert,

Chapter 11, "Response"


"You were always… the bravest of us all."

Eren staggered on the rooftop, dragging an unconscious Bertolt behind him. He felt dazed. This could not be. His mind was refusing the truth, spurning the very idea of it. He was just staring blankly at what was in front of him. He couldn't process what it meant. No really.

The boy was exhausted by all his shifting and ended up sinking to his knees, still clutching Bertolt by the back of his collar. The burned body lay in front on him, barely recognisable. But Eren knew who it was. Of course he knew. He had seen it burn in the titan's steam and fall.

Knowing it was one thing. Understanding it and accept what it meant was another.

How did this…happen? Armin…Why?

He definitely knew why. But that did not help him accept the facts. It had been obvious that Armin was going to put his life on the line so that he could attack the Colossal Titan at its weak point. Yet, somehow, Eren had not considered the idea. Because they didn't really have time for it, of course. Because Armin was determined, anyway. But also – and mostly – because the idea that his friend might actually die was beyond anything he could consider. It had simply seemed impossible to him.

Have I ever lied to you, Eren?

Yes, he had. Just once. When he had told him he would get out of the way if the steam became impossible to bear. It was a lie, Eren had known it, deep inside, from the moment Armin had told it. He knew his friend too well to believe it. Yet…

What about…our dream?

One part of him was aware that he should move. Do something. Make sure to kill Bertolt. Check on how the others were faring against Reiner. Get out of here. But he simply couldn't move, frozen up in shock and horror.

Dimly, through this maze of contradicting thoughts and emotions, Eren was aware of someone approaching and landing on the roof behind him.


Jean crashed more than he landed on a rooftop. Clutching the wood splinter that was stuck on his flesh, he started to pull it out. At the same instant, a blurred form swooped past him and down on the Armored Titan. It took him a moment to recognize the person.

"Squad leader Hange!"

How the hell did she come out of it alive?

Mikasa then managed to fire her Thunder Spear right it the titan's mouth, effectively blowing Reiner out of it. The titan started to disintegrate into steam. Mikasa landed nearby and so did the squad leader.

"Is he… dead?" asked Connie in the small moment of silence that followed. He was still carrying Sasha in his arms.

Hange peered at it.

"Too much steam to tell. Well, dead or not, I don't think he's going to move or transform anytime soon, he should be in too bad a state to do it. Mikasa, stay here and as soon as you can see Reiner, make sure he's dead. Let's not make the same mistake twice."

The girl nodded and Hange turned away. She looked battered, sporting several deep cuts that were still bleeding, a closed eye and was missing her glasses. Jean was astonished. How did she manage to come out of this explosion with so little injuries, when it had wiped all the others out and nearly blown them too?

But he had no time to ask, or wonder further. She had just stopped speaking when the Colossal Titan suddenly seemed to fall and started to turn into steam.

"Look, they've done it!"

"At least some success in this awful day. Who went for him?" asked Hange

"Armin and Eren."

"Ah. Good." A silence. "Let's hope Erwin and Levi had more luck on their side. And less losses. "

Hange then turned toward Sasha. The girl still seemed unconscious, and several of the debris Reiner had sent flying at them had struck her, the worse being the one that now stuck out of her chest. As the squad leader and Connie were doing their best to take care of Sasha's injuries, Jean sat down on the roof and looked after his own wounds. He had been lucky, despite having several small pieces of wood in the arms. The only potentially dangerous one was the one stuck between his shoulder and his chest. The others hurt like hell but weren't worrisome. Clenching his jaw, he pulled all of them out, hissing in pain. He then used what he could find – a piece of his cloak – to staunch the blood, which was less than he had expected it to be.

Damn. Looks like I was really lucky.

Mikasa was intently staring at both disintegrating titans, a hand protectively set on the arm that had gotten injured by a shrapnel of Thunder Spear earlier on. She then suddenly switched new blades on her handles and jumped off the roof toward Reiner. She must have spotted him.

When she came back a minute later, there was blood on her weapons. Jean felt sick. Hange lifted her head:

"And?"

"He's dead." She didn't add anything. What could she have said, anyway?

Did we really kill him? Pointless thought. They had been left with no choices but this, and what was done was done. They could not undo it.

Mikasa had gone to the edge of the roof and had her back to him, looking anxious and muttering:

"Where are they?"

Jean knew she wasn't talking about Reiner and Bertolt. He followed her gaze. He couldn't see Armin or Eren, but there was still plenty of steam which could hide them.

"Leave them time to come back." He answered in a voice he hoped sounded reassuring "They're probably waiting to see if they really got Bertolt."

She nodded vaguely, eyes still fixed in the distance. But Jean could see she had not really listened. Her worry was starting to influence him, too. After an instant of silence she clenched her blades more tightly:

"Something… Went wrong."

"What… Wait, Mikasa!"

But it was too late, the girl was already dashing toward the Wall and the Colossal Titan.

Damn, what are you thinking about!?

Hange and Connie had turned when they had heard his cry. Jean got up with a wince and looked at the squad leader, hesitating. She nodded slightly and he quickly jumped off the roof to follow Mikasa.


After firing her Thunder Spear at Reiner, Mikasa had followed squad leader Hange's orders and waited for the place to clear of its steam. If Reiner wasn't dead, she was going to kill him, without hesitation. He would kill them if she left him the occasion. She was not going to allow him to get out of here alive. He was too dangerous, and responsible for too much deaths.

And so she did. He seemed already dead when she got to him, but she made sure of it before going back to the others.

Poor Sasha was still knocked out, and they were all battered. If another disaster stuck them, they would probably not be able to face it. But they were taking care of each other as best as they could. Her own injury was throbbing mercilessly through her arm but she ignored it. Her attention was elsewhere.

Mikasa's relief at seeing that Bertolt had been taken down was fading, replaced by an unexplainable sense of fear. Turning, she tried to concentrate on something else. Have faith. They know what they're doing. They're fine. But she couldn't help it, her sense of dread was rising steadily.

"Something…went wrong."

She finally gave in to her impulse and dashed off the roof. She heard Jean call after her, and knew she should stay at her place, but didn't answer. Her instinct was telling her something was wrong. She had to know.

Eren… Armin… Where are you?

It did not take her long to get to where the Colossal Titan was still transforming into steam. She looked around frantically. Where were they? She quickly spotted Eren. He was kneeling on a nearby rooftop, with his back to her, clutching a heavily injured Bertolt. Relief washed over her.

Eren! But where is Armin?

Mikasa ran to him:

"Eren, are you all right?! Where's…"

She stopped right in her tracks. Something was lying in front of the boy. What…? No. Eren stared up at her. He was crying and looked lost.

"Mikasa, I…"

The faint sent of burned flesh should have warned her. The body was barely recognizable, but she instantly knew who it was. It was not as if there were many options, anyway.

"Armin …?"

The name had come out in an incredulous whisper. She was having troubles believing what her eyes told her. No. Not him. Not Armin, with his smart mind, sometimes frightening plans and eyes full of dreams. Not the only other person left of her childhood. He couldn't be lying in front of her, his skin burned away horribly. Not dead. That wasn't…

"Eren and I will defeat the Colossal Titan. The two of us will be able to do it."

Is that what you had in mind all along, Armin?

Mikasa kneeled beside Eren and extended a hand toward Armin. Maybe he was still…? Then, she quickly took it away. There was no way he could still be alive. How could anyone survive that?

Armin… I'm sorry. I couldn't protect you.

She felt a wave of grief wash over her, then swiftly supressed it with anger. Anger was easier. It hurt so much less than grief.

Bertolt, you…


Jean followed Mikasa easily. He could see her standing, but wondered why she didn't move. Maybe Eren was injured? Let's hope not, they already had enough wounded. His own injuries were aching. He had tightly tied a piece of cloth around them to keep them from bleeding, but that didn't stop the pain.

He thudded on the roof behind Eren and Mikasa and stepped forward.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Then, he saw more clearly what they were looking at, eyes wide open in disbelief.

Who…?

The next second, he knew. Why else would Eren cry like that and Mikasa look so shocked?

Armin. Oh no. Please.

While he was still frozen, Mikasa sat down and extended a slightly trembling hand in the direction of the burned body.

Not again. He wasn't standing in front of a friend's corpse. Again.

What the hell had happened? It looked as if Armin had been caught in the Colossal Titan's steam, but he wouldn't be so stupid as to stay in it. Unless…

No. Don't tell me you…

Had he spoken out loud? He couldn't tell, but Eren was speaking as if he answered him, with a low, shaking voice.

"He…He attracted Bertolt's attention. To buy me time." He looked as if he couldn't quite believe it. "…Told me he would get out of the steam in time." He was sobbing a bit less, now.

And you believed him? No, even Eren wouldn't be such an idiot as to believe that. He must have known. That was so like Armin. Sacrifice himself to give them a chance to win.

How dared you, you stupid!?

Why are you always so willing to put yourself at risk?! For once, couldn't you just…

Was there any chance that he was still…? No. Impossible. There was nothing they could do for him.

What the hell are we supposed to do, now?

Jean was concentrated on his anger, even if he knew it was unfounded, and had no idea at whom it was aimed. But if he was furious, he wouldn't have to consider the implications of what lay in front of his eyes. It was easier. Completely pointless, but easier.

Armin…

He noticed Mikasa had gotten up again, eyes full of fury. Swords in hands, she strode to Bertolt:

"You…"

She mercilessly stuck both her blades in his body, and pushed on them hard.

At the same moment, Hange joined them, landing heavily beside Jean. She must have wondered what they were doing:

"Mikasa, no! We might need…"

"Why? We're not going to spare this b..."

They were both interrupted by Eren. He was speaking to no one in particular.

"There must be a way… to save him. Someone…"

Are you crazy?! It hurt to admit it, but there was no way. It was Hange who answered, in a sad voice were exhaustion was also audible.

"Eren, you can't…"

"There must be!" A trace of anger had appeared in the boy's voice.

Mikasa was looking at him, her blades still stuck in Bertolt's body. Hange slowly shook her head.

"There is no way, Eren." She went on, less loudly, as if thinking to herself. "The only way would be… No, Levi has it, and he's too far away. And we're not sure it would work. It's…"

Her voice trailed off. Eren was clenching his fists and sadness had been replaced by anger on his features. He has stopped crying and the streaks of tears were still visible on his face. A dangerous glow appeared in his eyes.

"Armin, you. Can't."

"Eren."Mikasa's tone, usually neutral, was now almost pleading. "He's …"

"I refuse this, do you hear me?! You're not going anywhere, Armin! I won't let you do this!" His voice had risen until it was a scream of pure anger and denial shouted to the sky.

"I forbid you to die!"