"Sissy!"

"Queer!"

"Fag!"

Armin had been called all of these things growing up, knowing he was different. No one ever let him live that fact down. He was smart, sometimes smarter than the adults, which usually got him in trouble. He was strong willed and courageous, which usually got him into fights with other kids. He was open-minded and didn't care about who liked who, just as long as they were happy, and this usually got him in trouble with the church. He had so much to offer but people only saw him as a crazy heretic, and the kids thought he was an alien. The boys didn't like him because he was a know it all and his small and wiry stature didn't help. The girls didn't like him because he seemed awkward and would stutter when he was asked a question, but despite everything he had two friends he would do anything for, even die because he loved them. Mikasa was like his sister, who he shared all his secrets with, and Eren... Eren was more than a friend to Armin. More than a brother even, but He knew he wasn't right for Eren. Plus he knew Mikasa already had a crush on Eren, so how could he compete with her? She was tall and lean, muscular and strong, and could do almost anything if it meant protecting Erin. Plus she was a girl, and Amrin, well he didn't know what he was. He was a fag, a sissy, an outcast who wanted to be someone else; someone beautiful. But that was a secret between Mikasa and himself. All he could do is dream and cry himself to sleep at night.

XXX

Armin awoke to see himself in the new barracks. He sits up and sees his new cloak hanging on his wall.

"I made it. I am part of something bigger. something important! I am part of the recon corps." As he stands up he notices he still hasn't changed his clothes yet. he dives back under his covers and gets dressed. he has done this routine since he decided to join the military, knowing that if he were ever caught that he might be thrown out. Especially now that he is part of the most dangerous of the military groups. He has to act strong and keep his air of intelligence, otherwise he'll be see as useless. Again. Armin had promised himself that would never happen again! He gets up now in his uniform and puts his clothes in a secret compartment in his trunk.

"Are you Armin?" The voice is coming from in front of him and he freezes.

"Are you Armin, one of the new cadets?"

with all the courage he can muster he replies, "Yes I am Armin." He slowly looks up to see a tall skinny guy smiling down at him.

"Nice to meet you Armin. Mikasa has told me to try to help you out with your situation."

"Mikasa? She promised not to tell and I am so sorry. I know someone like me shouldn't be here, but I wanted to help my friends and..." Armin can feel the tears dripping down his chin when he feels a hand on his shoulder. He looks up to see the veteran looking into his eyes with compassion.

"I know you've tried to hide it, but it's not something you should be ashamed of okay?"

He nods, "But who are you?"

The tall blonde stands and strikes a mockingly heroic pose, "I am the fierce warrior princess Nanaba, and just so you know Armin, I have the same exact night dress. Well, maybe a little bigger." She miles and starts laughing while Armin just stands there stunned.

There's someone like me here who's a VETERAN! Armin smiles and laughs too.

Nanaba wraps his arm around Armin's shoulders and looks at him. "Just call me big sis, okay?"

He nods and looks up "Can you teach me how to do makeup like yours?"

They start heading out of the barracks, "One step at a time..."