Here it is, chapter two! Still steamy (because my hormones are running wild), still unbetaed, still originally on tumblr. Beautiful. The cover art is by the wonderful chromatosis-art on tumblr. Go check her out, she ROCKS.

I don't own Attack on Titan. I can barely watch it anymore; it makes me too depressed. Yet I still write fanfics...

Chapter bio: Just as there are a variety of types of courage, there is a number of forms of fear. Armin makes Eren experience all of them. Takes place 2-8 months after chapter one.

Eren really hopes that the few tips on lockpicking he learned from Sasha would actually work and not just be a load of shit. If he was to be found, forget about being locked up. He would be facing the fucking death penalty.

He still isn't completely sure WHY he's doing this, but he knows that Armin is at the center of it.

…

It had been a long battle. He suffered many injuries as a Titan, and even now his shoulders still ached like hell. It was no small miracle Eren managed to convince Levi to leave him unshackled for the night- too much strain on the muscles, he claimed. As he attempted to ignore the pain and drift into slumber, the conversation between a pair of guards caught his attention.

"Yeah, kid's pretty banged up. He's not cut out for the front lines." Eren vaguely wondered who "he" was.

"Amazing he lived," agreed the other watchman.

"Let's hope there's no brain damage," said the first. "He's one of the best tacticians we have." That made Eren's ears prick up. Tactician…?

And his fears were confirmed. "Don't let Jaeger know. Arlet's his best friend."

Eren's world shattered. "Fuck," he whispered.

Armin had been hurt, and badly.

…

The lock gives, and Eren tucks the hairpin he stole from Hanji back into his boot. He tiptoes into the hospital wing. Only one bed is occupied.

Eren's breath hitches. Armin's soft, topaz hair is swaddled in bandages. Cuts pepper his face, especially his cheeks. A fist grasps at the blanket, bloodied knuckles fading to white.

Stunned, Eren collapses into the chair beside Armin. Without thinking, the brunette strokes the matted bangs of his companion. He can only think of two things: why it should be HIM, not Armin, that's in the fucking infirmary, and that night a few months ago when… Eren's lips tingle at the memory.

Eren almost yells when something grabs his wrist. He was so preoccupied he failed to notice Armin waking up.

"Eren." It's not a question.

"Um, hey, Armin," Eren starts. "I heard you were sick. I know it's traditional to bring flowers, but hey, it's war-"

"Cut the bull, Eren." Armin's icy stare silences the other boy. "We already did this months ago, so tell me HOW you found out."

Eren gulps. "What do you mean?"

"I specifically said that you were not to know I was hurt. Because I knew you would do something like THIS," Armin replies.

Eren's stomach drops to the balls of his feet. "Pot calling the kettle bla- wait, you DIDN'T want your BEST FRIEND to know?!"

Armin clamps a hand over Eren's mouth. "Shh! I guess it was pretty stupid. You would've figured it out," he admits with a blush. "But damn it, Eren, why are you so freaked out? This isn't the first time I've been injured."

"Shit, Armin, I should be the one all beat up, not you. You're the brains here, not the combat expert," Eren answers. "We joined the Survey Corps to be TOGETHER, not apart. And yet I'm seeing you less and less." He feels a tear escape against his will.

Armin sighs and lays back down, head resting on the pillow. "I know. I hate this too. But we knew the risks when we joined. Our skill sets are different, Eren. It was going to happen eventually."

"NO!" Eren shouts, forgetting his place, forgetting what situation they are in. "Us being separated defeats the purpose of even being in the army!"

The blonde freezes. "What?" he breaths.

The taller boy looks to his lap, to his balled-up fists. Fuck, why was he having trouble talking. It was just Armin. Armin… his heart fluttered. Oh God, it FLUTTERED.

"Look, Armin… I realized a while ago that I had several motivations for wanting to kill the Titans. Like wanting to avenge my mom. And seeing the outside world with you. And proving that humanity can fight back."

Armin nods. "I knew that already. What's your point?" he asks.

"Basically… I'm not fighting for my mom anymore. I'm fighting so we can see the ocean together."

It's a revelation to them both. Eren pauses because that is it THAT was had been the drive behind everything tonight, the visit, the crying, EVERYTHING.

To Armin, it means something different. His brain is already working overtime. If seeing the ocean was more important than Eren's own mother, then… he recalls an event from his childhood.

…

"Hey Mom!" Eren yelled to the kitchen from the front door. "Me and Armin are gonna go play!"

Carla turned from cutting potatoes for a stew. "OK, Eren. Just be careful and come back for dinner. I love you, dear."

Eren blushed. "Yeah, yeah, love you too," he mumbled.

Within seconds, Carla had her arms wrapped around her son. "Oh Eren, you finally said it! You finally said you loved me, after eight years!"

The boy shoved his mother off, scoffing, "well, you're the only person that I ever will."

"Not even your father?" questioned the woman.

Eren laughed. "The man's never around, he doesn't earn it anyway!" He ran off, calling back "C'mon Armin!" The other boy, who had watched the exchange uneasily, gave chase.

"Eren Jaeger, get back here!" Carla hollered after the children.

…

If Armin's wish ranked higher than his mother- the only person, Eren claimed, to ever be able to love- than that must mean that Armin was at least an equal to Carla. That Eren was in…

Armin sits up and pulls Eren's lips onto his.

"Armin!" Eren gasps, but willingly returns the gesture, applying gentle pressure in response. "You're hurt-"

"Let me have this," Armin interrupts. "Please." And Eren is all too willing to comply, kissing every wound and bruise on his friend's face. When lips return to lips, both boys wrestle for the upper hand. While Eren manages to straddle Armin, it is the blonde who dictates the motions of their tongues.

Much too quickly for either's taste, it dissolves. Without a word, Eren pushes over a vacant bed and slips beneath the covers. He grabs Armin's hand, kisses it, and promptly begins to snore.

Armin giggles, stroking his thumb over Eren's knuckles. "Eren, just so you know… I love you too."

At sunrise, Eren leaves, sneaking back into his cell just before Levi checks on him. The teen fails to notice the slight glint in the corporal's eye. The brats needed this. It may have been the last time.

AGAIN LEVI REALLY

Anyway, Armin saying "I love you too" should not be surprising, as Eren saying Armin's more important than his mother is basically a confession. I just like to think that Eren struggles with words, especially caring stuff like this. Also, with this chapter being in Eren's POV versus Armin's, well, now the amount of swears isn't so bad.