A/N: I only hope I can finish this by Christmas time. I plan to upload a chapter every day till then. Wish me luck.

Edit: So I found some time to re-read this fic and by god, there were so many mistakes (especially regarding Historia and Ymir). I feel really embarrassed. I edited most of the chapters of this fic and the description/summary so hopefully everything is a little more clear now!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of these beautiful characters.

"AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL?" Hange exclaimed excitedly. She laughed maniacally as she presented a wooden 3 meter class Titan.

It was carved out to vaguely resemble the shape of a human body, had a neck with the usual foam cushion on the back and a flat wooden head. It's back was also attached to a tautened string tied around a tree.

"Wow … are they really mechanical?"

"Hange said they were … clockwork?"

"So they actually move?"

Whispers broke out among the Survey Corps who eyed the wooden Titan with a mixture of awe and nervousness. It was especially cold out today seeing as it was December and the soldiers were still exhausted from last week's training. However, seeing a fuller-bodied wooden Titan who were said to be able to move, fueled their curiosity and interest. Training suddenly became a lot more exciting.

"That's right!" Hange said loudly and thumped Armin, who was standing beside her, on the back enthusiastically. Caught unaware, he stumbled forward and almost fell. "Thanks to your brilliant comrade here who came up and drafted the idea, we now have moving clockwork Titans for your training!"

Armin looked away from the stares. Standing here in front of his fellow soldiers was a little uncomfortable, he'd rather they not mention his contribution at all.

"So once I release the string from this tree, the Titan will start moving and your job is to cut out the neck as usual and knock it down so that the Titan stops moving. Now, isn't that brilliant?" Hange continued proudly.

Levi cleared his throat for attention and everyone strained their necks to look at him. "However, we only made 15 of these ranging from 3 to 15 meters of height. So, if you destroy them, meaning, if you aim poorly and hit elsewhere but its neck, you will have to fix it and have your income cut to pay for the damage."

The level of anxiousness among the Survey Corps increased and more worried whisperings broke out. After silencing them, Levi again reminded them of the parameters they were allowed to train in and sent them off.

Armin too, went off after the rest. Although 15 Titans seemed to be a small number, this was the first time they were animate. He had come up with the idea after reading about clockwork in a book in the library and realising that if they were able to make moving Titans by mechanical clockwork, they might be able to simulate a real fight, even if by a little bit. And to his delight, Erwin loved the idea when he had proposed it to him late one evening after drawing out the mechanics, fully labelled with various diagrams.

"Hey Armin!" a hand landed on his shoulder snapping him out of his thoughts. Armin turned to see Eren landing beside him on the tree branch.

"You would know where the Titans are placed right?" His best friend grinned. "You gotta tell me, I want to take them all down before anyone else!"

Armin scratched his head sheepishly. "Well … I actually don't know … I only gave Erwin the idea and helped build the Titans, but no one told me where their locations are in the forest."

"Tch," Eren kicked at the branch, "I hate searching in the cold." And then, he let out a loud sneeze.

Mikasa, spotting her two friends also joined them. "Eren," she started a little concerned, "are you catching a cold?"

Eren shook his head. "Nah, don't worry. It's just a little chilly today."

Armin looked up towards the sky; it did look a little cloudy … one could barely see the sun although it was only 2 in the afternoon.

"Come on, let's go take down some moving Titan butt!" Eren pumped his fist into the air and took off, Mikasa hot on his heels.

Armin too, followed him behind as best as he could. He was getting better with his 3D maneuver gear and was proud that he could now keep his faster-moving friends within his line of sight. Suddenly, Eren cried out as he spotted a clockwork 10-meter class moving awkwardly towards the East. He zoned into the target and flew towards it with lightning speed …

Wham!

The nape of the neck was sliced clean off as the Titan fell forward, its stubby wooden legs still trying to walk. However, it wasn't Eren who sliced it off but Jean who was a second faster. The latter stood triumphantly at the side as the former fumed.

"That was mine!" Eren stabbed a blade into the remaining cushion on the neck.

"Not anymore," smirked Jean.

"Watch it, horseface -"

Armin sighed as he landed on the ground with Mikasa. Another quarrel …

Just then, a new voice cut in. "Eren! Come with me," Levi landed beside Eren on the Titan.

"Huh? Why -"

"Since when do you have permission to question orders?" Levi's eyes flashed dangerously. "Follow me quietly, brat. We want you to try something."

Eren let out a soft groan of impatience as he trailed dejectedly after Levi. Mikasa frowned. "Probably more tests …"

Armin nodded. He was also worried. Both of them are seeing less and less of Eren each day because of these tests … He was also always under heavy surveillance by Levi too. It was becomingly increasingly rare and hard to train or even dine together.

Mikasa sighed. "But there's nothing we can do. Let's just keep moving and do Eren proud." And then, in a flash, she had already disappeared among the trees.

With both of them gone, it suddenly felt a lot colder and Armin can't help but instinctively wrap his cloak around him tighter.

"Some friends you've got."

Armin whipped his head around instantly and glared. "What's that supposed to mean, Jean?"

"Exactly what I meant. These days you're always alone -"

"It's not their fault. I don't blame them for -"

"Being MIA?" Jean raised an eyebrow. "Look, it's the sad truth but Eren's gonna grow more and more distant because he can't always be here for you. And Mikasa? Let's face it, she's always going to be chasing after Eren and -"

"Oh my god." Armin inhaled sharply. "Snow …"

"What?" Jean, irritated at the blond interrupting his train of thought, was confused for a second. Then, in the next second, he finally registered what Armin had said as a cold wetness landed on his hand.

Blinking, Jean realised that it had started to snow in tiny little ice-flakes.

Nearby, he also heard shrieks from various parts of the forest. Some surprised, some excited. Well, he thought, it started snowing a little early this year although it wasn't completely unexpected. The past week had been freezing and it only got colder by day.

He turned his attention back towards Armin who was now looking a little far away. He was staring up at the cloudy sky, his palms faced up and expression both a little distant and strangely … melancholic.

It was a little weird to be seeing someone so level-headed look so high up in the clouds. It was almost uncomfortable. Jean felt like he was infringing on something personal.

"H - hey …" he started hesitantly.

Armin's expression remained unchanged. "Hmm?"

"Are you okay?"

There was a moment of silence before the question finally set in. Jumping a little, as if he were startled, Armin looked at Jean with a nervous smile.

"I'm sorry. I'm perfectly fine … just - well, reminiscing about how my grandpa and I would play in the snow at this time of year when I was younger." Armin looked at the snowflakes he had collected on his palms and continued, "Eren, Mikasa … all the neighbourhood kids would be having snowball fights … it was really fun."

Jean was unsure how to respond. Why was Armin telling him all this? They barely knew each other. Nevertheless, he tried his best to reply. "Well … uhh. Christmas break is coming next week. So … you could go back and have fun -"

"My grandpa and my parents are dead, Jean." Armin gave a painful smile. "There's nothing for me left back there."

"I, I'm sorry …" Jean replied immediately and hating himself for trying to say something. He should have just kept silent and let Armin reminisce. Now he had made things ten times more awkward.

Armin let out a small laugh and shrugged. "It's okay. I didn't expect you to know and if you did, I didn't expect you to remember.

"Though I hope …" Armin continued, "Christmas break here at Headquarters would be just as memorable!"

Jean was grateful for the change in topic. "I don't know, this place is gloomy and I myself can't really feel the Christmas cheer."

Then, they both saw a plume of blue smoke go up in the air. "That's the signal for us to go back," Jean remarked.

Armin was already off but not before he replied Jean. "Perhaps you'll feel the cheer later on!"

As Jean was left standing there, in the very same position he was in after taking down the clockwork Titan (whose legs had now stopped kicking), he shook his head.

He highly doubted that would happen.

When the Survey Corps got back to Headquarters, it was 4. It was also announced that Mikasa had taken down 7 Titans, Connie 2, Sasha 2, Jean 1 and the rest by other soldiers. Needless to say, Mikasa got the highest grade. Everyone was instructed to wash up and rest before dinner since training had ended earlier.

However, just as Armin turned to go, he felt a tap on his shoulder. It was Hange. "Armin!" She said brightly, "could you help us retrieve the Titans and move them back into the warehouses?"

15 minutes later, Armin was searching through the forest, looking for the Titans. At least he knew the location of one.

Upon reaching it, he saw a few Survey Corps surrounding the Titan trying to load it onto a large cart pulled by horses. Armin joined them and helped lift it onto the cart.

"Guys," he panted noticing no one was lifting the Titan's feet. "Don't drag its feet on the ground. Can someone hold it up please?"

"Got it." Jean landed at its feet and proceeded to lift it.

Surprised to see him there, Armin almost let go of the body he and other soldiers were supporting.

"What?" Jean looked defensive, noticing his surprise. "I was told by Hange to do this. So were Connie and Sasha … only Mikasa was let off."

"Probably her reward for scoring the highest," Armin replied happily.

With a last heave, the Titan was successfully placed in the cart. Armin checked to see all its parts were fine and unbroken. He gave the soldiers on the horses a thumbs up to indicate they could bring it back to Headquarters now.

"Tch," Jean dusted his hands. "I could have gotten Mikasa's score if I hadn't stood here talking to you -" Then, he stopped himself, albeit a little too late.

Armin now looked annoyed. "Well, I'm sorry my past was interesting enough to have kept you. Maybe if you had left like Mikasa did, instead of blaming her for my non-existent loneliness, you wouldn't be here now."

Turning sharply, Armin set off to find the locations of the other Titans.

There are a few things in life that amused Jean. Highly inappropriate jokes and Eren falling on his face were among those things. Strangely enough, Jean thought an insulted Armin was amusing too. Well, not outright, but it was very subtly and weirdly beguiling …

Feeling a little unsettled at his own thoughts, Jean cleared them and focused on something else. The snow was still falling, a little more thickly now and he inevitably was reminded of their conversation here again.

Christmas cheer, huh? He thought. Unfortunately, his father had divorced his mother and his two sisters had gotten married and moved away. Soon the entire family had grown distant from each other, save for he, himself and his mother who lived together. Nonetheless, no one saw the point in celebrating Christmas anymore. It was just too much bother.

Jean shivered involuntarily as a wind howled through the trees. The biting cold reminded him of the present and he was returned to reality. Not only was the snow getting thicker, it was getting colder too.

He decided to move on and search for more clockwork Titans. Getting his blood up and running may warm him up a little …

Armin gave the Titan a last push with all his might, successfully heaving it onto the cart. He wiped the perspiration off his brow as did the other soldiers who had helped. Finally, the 15-meter class clockwork Titan was in the cart and on its way after Armin's usual inspection.

He mentally counted the Titans he had found. 4 so far … and he was already exhausted. Armin massaged his arms. They were definitely going to start aching tomorrow.

Since he saw no smoke in the sky, there are still more unfound out there and he started off once more. After all, he made no kills during training so this was the least he could do to help.

Armin wondered if the Corps thought he was a burden as he was definitely one of the weakest physically, if not the weakest. Despite knowing he could aid them mentally as with the invention of the clockwork Titans, Armin couldn't shake off the feeling that he pulled everyone behind with his inability to keep up physically.

I need to start getting stronger. Armin thought. What was it that people do to build stamina and muscle? Work out? The term was strange and foreign to him … but he was determined to do anything that might benefit the Survey Corps, especially if it meant improving himself so that he could be an asset to the team.

Lost in his thoughts, Armin soon found himself in unfamiliar territory. Where was he?

He didn't start panicking until half an hour of trekking later. The trees only seem to be getting taller and the foliage, thicker, as was the snow. Soon, what little sunlight that pierced through the forest had almost gone. Armin could only see a little patch of sky left as he looked directly above him. The rest of it was obscured by the taller trees …

He immediately regretted leaving alone. He should have gone with someone to search for Titans. They had just recently cleared this forest of real ones and Armin knew he was in no real danger but they had all barely explored the new territory today. Armin, who had made less rounds around the perimeters of this forest can hardly say he knew the place in and out. He wasn't even sure which direction he was headed to at this moment …

Armin stopped in the middle of his tracks. No, he wasn't imagining it. It was definitely getting darker and the snow was falling more thickly. He wrapped his cloak around him and huddled by a tree. Should he keep moving? Or should he stay put and wait for others to find him?

All of a sudden, a twig cracked a good few meters behind him.

Armin jumped. Was that a Titan? A real Titan? But … there aren't supposed to be any left …

He was about to go up the branches of a tree next to him when he heard footsteps crunching on the freshly fallen snow. Armin breathed a little easy. Those were human footsteps, definitely not a Titan.

He walked around the large trunk with some trepidation. But who could it be?

A familiar tall figure approached.

"Jean?" Armin peeked from the side the trunk.

The figure neared and sure enough, it was Jean who had approached him. "Jeez, why do you sound so nervous?"

Armin stammered, "I … I was just … You never know if -"

However, Jean waved it off. "It doesn't matter anymore. At least I found you. Everyone's been searching for you."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, we got all the Titans but realised you were missing. A few of us went back to search for you … and I just happened to find your footprints."

Armin lowered his head. "I'm sorry for being such a burden. I got lost …"

With amusement evident in his voice, Jean replied, "I can see that. Why didn't you use your gear?"

"I was afraid I might run out of gas. I forgot to refill …"

Jean struggled to keep himself from sighing. How was it that someone with the brainpower to come up with clockwork Titans and various tactical strategies can also forget to do something so essential?

"Well, I suppose you at least saved it for the trip back. Follow me, I've got a map." Jean gestured for him to come out from behind the tree.

Armin walked out, a little ashamed that he had worried everyone. Once again, he had slowed the whole team down …

Splat!

Shocked, Armin stopped and reached up his right hand to touch his hair. The snow fell onto his shoulders and onto his boots.

"Lighten up!" Jean rolled his eyes and then brushed off the remaining snow from his hand. "You look like you are about to attend a funeral."

"Jean … you -" Armin blinked. A smile started to curl at the corners of his lips. "You threw a snowball at me."

Jean crossed his arms. "Yeah, what about it?"

The smile grew bigger. "I guess I also forgot to mention I was the number one snowball-fighting champ back then."

Without missing a beat, a snowball landed right on Jean's face. Taken aback, he stumbled, tripped over a root on the ground and fell backwards, landing in a sitting position.

What just happened? Jean was utterly perplexed. He didn't even see Armin move!

Speaking of which, the blond was now giggling like a 5-year old. Jean didn't even stop to think; reacting instinctively as he threw whatever snow he could grab on the ground at Armin.

The other boy gave a small squeak of surprise and jumped out of the way in the nick of time. Armin immediately ran behind the trunk, crouched, took aim and released another snowball, all in one fluid motion.

Once again, unprepared, the snowball landed in the middle of Jean's chest.

"What? How -" He was cut off as Armin started to continuously assault him with snowballs. Jean got up and ran for his life, trying to dodge the flying snow.

"H - hey! Stop!" Jean attempted to hurl more snow in Armin's way but running from the other boy's rapid fire of snow made it ten times more difficult. Weirdly enough, he was confused, annoyed and having fun.

Finally, Jean took cover behind a thick tree trunk. He heaved a sigh of relief. Who knew Armin was so good at snowball fights? Of all things too! Jean peered around the tree trunk nervously and saw Armin walking around with a grin on his face, no doubt looking for him. He started to prepare himself …

"Je - ean," he sang. "You started this, you know?"

Taking a leaf from Armin's book, Jean reacted like lightning. Swiftly, he jumped out from behind the tree trunk and ran to Armin with all the snow he had gathered from around the trunk.

"And I'm ending this!" Jean exclaimed triumphantly as he dumped the snow onto the smaller boy.

Armin screamed and moved away quickly to avoid the bulk of the snow falling on him. Stumbling, as he ran, his legs finally gave way and he fell onto the snow.

"Armin?" Jean quickly approached him with concern.

However, Armin flipped over so that he was lying on his back. Hands on his stomach and face-flushed, he began to laugh openly, unrestrained and unabashed. Jean stared down at him with a mixture of emotions. Finally, he began to chuckle too, thinking about how much time they had wasted.

"Come on, let's go back," said Jean finally, still beaming.

Armin's hands released his stomach, but made no attempt to get up as they flopped onto the snow beside his body. Now lying spread-eagled, the far-away look that Jean had saw, crossed his face again.

"I haven't had this much fun since … since we were all much younger and -" Armin paused for a while. Lowering his voice, he continued in an even more delicate tone, "- since … Grandpa was around."

He turned to his side so that he faced away from Jean. Armin wiped his cheeks quickly.

Jean took a few steps forward and knelt down. "Armin …" He stretched out his hand.

Armin hurriedly brought himself to a sitting position and took his hand with a bright smile. "I know," he said as the two of them got to their feet.

After brushing off the snow on his body, Armin said almost breathlessly, "Thanks, Jean. Let's head back now."

Jean watched as he started forward into the trees. He wanted to follow but something rooted him to the ground, just as before. The emotion in Armin's voice when describing his childhood and the candour on his face as he expressed his thanks … They stirred inexplicable emotions within Jean, himself.

"Umm …" Armin paused in mid-step and turned around to look at him sheepishly. "Where's Headquarters again?"

Jean stared back for a second before looking away quickly as he furiously pat his clothes. Finally, he pulled out a folded map.

"I'll lead the way," he said, fumbling with the paper.

Eventually, the two made their way back. However, by the time they had reached Headquarters, it was almost 8 and dinner was already over. Mikasa greeted Armin in front of the dinner hall, pulling out a piece of bread from her jacket.

"I was so worried," she said with genuine concern as she picked out the leaves from Armin's hair.

Jean wondered why he was still standing there and turned back. He should head to the showers.

"Jean," Mikasa's voice stopped him.

"Yeah?" He didn't turn around.

"Thanks for bringing Armin back."

Jean shrugged. "You're welcome." Then, he strode away rapidly.

That night, as he lay in bed, Jean couldn't figure out why but he felt good about himself. Perhaps it was because I had helped the Golden Trio, he thought. Opportunities like that only appear once in a lifetime.

Satisfied with that sarcastic thought, he finally drifted off to sleep.

A/N: Anyone already feeling the Christmas cheer? HAHA, just a heads up that I will be posting the next chapter tomorrow but it will be a relatively short one.