AN: I'm back! Here is chapter two, everyone. Anyway, if you checked out my profile, you'd see that I said I get inspiration from the songs I listen to, and this fanfic's title is no exception. So if you have read chapter one, please listen to The Cab's "Temporary Bliss" to get a vibe of the story. Anyway, today's chapter is inspired from the song "The Both of Us" by B.O.B feat. Taylor Swift. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Attack on Titan. Isayama made all the awesomeness happen.

Chapter Two

"It's too late!" Mikasa yelled, as she grabbed Armin and Eren by the front of their shirts, dragging them down to the tunnel with her.

She had seen the silver ring on Annie's finger and with quick thinking pulled the other two with her into safety. Annie nicked her thumb through the sharp steel, feeling a sudden prick of pain before transforming. Her body began to grow; her arms became longer, her limbs felt heavier, and her height shot up to fourteen meters tall.The people who had restrained her were all thrown back by the sudden transformation, their shrieks echoing around the empty streets of Stohess.

Annie looked down at the entrance of the tunnel, which had caved in, and some foolish part of her wished that somehow he had gotten out alright. She had seen Mikasa grab him and Eren, but there was no telling whether they hadn't been crushed or not. She hoped for the last one.

Why should you worry? a voice in her mind whispered. What if he was dead? He betrayed you. He deserved it.

I am not worried about him, she fought back, Eren. Yes...he's the one I'm worried about. He is essential to my mission. He can't die.

Annie shook her giant head, clearing her thoughts. What was it Mikasa had said? It's too late, that was it. Annie marveled at how accurate her statement was to their current situation. It was too late for everything: for explanations, for forgiveness, for redemption, for her and Armin...

"You're late, Arlert!" shouted Shadis, as the blond-haired boy rushed to the training grounds, panting and sweating. He bent down, trying to catch his breath, as Shadis added, "No dinner for you tonight, cadet."

Armin opened his mouth to protest, but apparently thought better of it, as he shut his lips instead. He simply nodded, making his way to where Annie was leaning against a tree. Her gaze lifted up to see Armin standing before her, a smile etched across his face. For someone who would be going to bed with no food tonight, he seemed happy.

"Hi, Annie," he greeted. "I'm sorry for being late."

She shrugged, unaffected.

He had the nerve to laugh. "I really am sorry. I wasted time. I know how much you love to train."

"Just get the knife," she replied,

annoyed, but why, she had no idea. It's that stupid smile of his, she decided. I'll definitely wipe that off his face.

As Armin faced her, knife in hand, Annie can't help but notice a few scratches running up and down his arms. They were faint, almost too faint to get noticed, but Annie had always been observant. She vaguely wondered whether the scratches had anything to do with him being late,

but she stopped herself before she could dwell on the matter any further. He can show up with a bloody leg for all she cared.

Her annoyance only mounted when Armin kept on smiling at her every time she shoved his face on the dirty ground.

"That move was great," he said, after she had kicked him swiftly on the knees for like the hundredth time that day. "You really are good."

She ignored him. What does he know about combat, anyway? He was better off inside the classroom where they held their weekly Titan studies, not in the training grounds. They were training with each other for almost two weeks now, and he was showing no signs of improvement.

Annie lunged at him, scowling. He didn't expect her to come attacking him so quickly, so he wasn't able to prepare. As Annie ran to him at full speed, all he could do was raise his arms up for defense. Annie, surprised at his pathetic attempt at fighting, lost her balance and crashed right into him. They both fell to the ground, with her on top of him.

The others had witnessed the whole scene, and they all bursted out laughing.

"Ugh -- Annie, are you alright?" asked Armin.

Annie scrambled off him, glaring at the other cadets. They all quickly went back to practicing, but she cannot help but notice the smirk on Connie's lips. She then turned her eyes on Armin, who was slowly picking himself up.

"What the hell, Arlert?" she said.

"I'm sorry --"

"Can't you even pretend to at least be trying?"

"I'm really sorry, Annie --"

"And stop apologizing!" she hadn't realized that she had shouted. This time, the others really did look at them.

"Well, what's this? Lover's quarrel?" teased Ymir, earning a jab from Christa. "Ow! What was that for?"

Mikasa stepped forward. "Is there anything wrong, Annie?" she asked. Although her voice was in its usual calm state, Annie can't help but notice the threat. Of course she would think that she was hurting Armin with no reason again.

Well, technically, she was. But Annie was still annoyed. If she hated anything in this world, it was weakness, and Armin was just about in her eyes the very epitome of it. Just her luck to be paired up with someone like him.

Tense whispers surrounded them. The tension was thick. Annie and Mikasa continued to size each other up, despite Eren's constant tugging at the latter's arm.

Annie also felt someone tug on her sleeve. She whirled around and came face-to-face with Armin.

"It's your turn, Annie," he said, as if nothing else was going on around them. He gave her the wooden knife. He smiled at her. Again. "Come on."

Annie looked at the knife in her hand, confused with what he was doing.

Armin turned to Mikasa. "Is there a problem?"

Mikasa shook her head. "Nothing. Go back to training, Armin."

The cadets scattered, returning to their practice. Annie turned to Armin, who stood across from her, his face bruised and bloody. She watched as he readied his stance.

"Annie? It's your turn to attack now." he called out.

She continued to gaze at the knife with confusion. But before she could fully process what had happened, the bell sounded, signaling the end of the day.

Annie didn't see Armin at dinner. He was, after all, not allowed to eat. She thought of what had happened that day on training, at how he had easily defused the situation. Going back to her cabin that night, she saw Eren give a piece of bread to Armin, who smiled and tore it in half. What Eren didn't notice, though -- and she did -- was how Armin hid the other half on his vest's pocket, keeping it.

The next day in combat, Armin came a few minutes late again. It was the same the next day. Thankfully, Shadis had now ignored him, to busy berating the other cadets to notice. Armin would always smile at her sheepishly and apologize, and she would ignore him and instead wonder where the hell he was getting all those scratches.

That night, Annie decided she was going to see what Armin was up to. Her decision was further fueled by the fact that she saw him saving a portion of his dinner again. Stealthily, she followed him out. She saw him wave Eren and the others off, saying he forgot something, but the moment his friends had gone he immediately ran off toward the stables.

Annie trailed after him. What am I doing? she thought, I need to see what it is he's up to. Espcially since it's affecting our training. Besides, he's being suspicious.

Annie felt like her feelings were perfectly justified. She found him behind the stables, crouched down on his knees. He was talking to someone. Annie moved closer, hiding near a horse stall where he can't see her.

"Ssh," said Armin. He rummaged around in his pockets. "Here, I brought you some food."

Annie moved closer. He was meeting with someone, but who? As she neared him, she heard him chuckle.

"Easy now," he said, and she was sure he was smiling widely. "You're so cute."

Annie almost gagged. What the hell? She could see him clearly now. She craned her neck, expecting to see a girl, but instead all she saw was a yellow ball of fur.

A cat. Armin was talking to a freaking cat.

She watched as he picked the animal up, drawing it close to his face. He laughed again, as if nothing else could please him more. Suddenly, he yelped, letting go of his pet, who landed gracefully on the ground.

"You attacked me again!" he protested. So that was where he was getting all those scratches from. Annie left them, feeling foolish for even thinking that Armin would be doing something suspicious. Of course he was taking care of a cat. That is so like him.

But as the days went by, Annie can't help but worry. Soldiers, especially cadets, were not allowed to take in pets, since the military can't afford to lose more precious food, not to mention the diseases one can get from them. Every man was important, so the military tried everything to avoid sickness -- and that included staying away from animals other than horses.

Annie continued to follow Armin every night. She did not know why. There was something strange about how she was easily drawn into their little reunions. On her fourth night watching them, however, Armin caught her.

"Annie," he said. He did not seem surprised though, which perplexed her. He simply smiled as he lead her to where the cat was. "Want to pet her?"

Annie studied the small creature. Its fur was the color of butter, and its eyes -- its eyes were like small, round sapphires, steady and unblinking. For some reason, it was lying down, and as Annie stroked its paw, it gave a weak purr.

"She's sick," said Armin, his voice laced with worry. "I'm going to bring hwr back to the dorms. She needs a better place to recover."

"Armin," she said, looking at the cat. "You can't do that. They'll punish you if they find out."

"I know," he said nervously. "But I have no choice."

Annie could see a choice though -- just leave the cat there. But looking at him, she knew he was not one to abandon a helpless creature, and she admired him for that. She watched him as he gently combed its golden fur with his fingers, a small smile playing on his lips.

Armin continued hiding the cat. How the other boys did not notice an illegal pet hiding in their cabin, Annie had no idea. Armin gave her daily updates on the cat's health, who they had named Anne, due to Armin's insistence ("She looks just like you!" he said). She even helped him by stealing some milk from the kitchen, much to his horror and gratitude. They sometimes even took care of it together on day offs, when everyone was too busy enjoying their freedom, leaving the boys dorm to them. They did not talk much whenever they were together, but Annie liked it that way, and Armin seemed to understand.

One night, Annie surprised everyone by suddenly sitting across from Armin, who had a table to himself and was reading. Mikasa and Eren sat on the next table (they allowed Armin some time alone to read after meals). Armin merely nodded to her before turning back to his book.

Annie ignores the glances from the other cadets, particularly Eren and Mikasa. She carefully slid a small package to Armin. He picked it up, feeling it. His eyes widened.

"How did you get this?" he asked quietly.

"I stole it, of course," she replied quickly. "That's good fish, by the way. For her."

Armin still looked troubled, but he nodded and kept the package. The cafeteria door opened to reveal Keith Shadis, holding something that looked awfully familiar in his arms. Annie saw Armin's eyes go wide. Everyone looked at the drill sergeant, waiting.

"Good evening, cadets," he said loudly. "Just so you know, we did a surprise inspection of the cabins --"

The whole room gasped.

"Don't worry, we left your drawers and personal belongings alone. We did, however, inspect your rooms thoroughly, and found this." he announces, showing them the thing that was in his hands. It was a cat. Armin's cat.

"Arlert!"

Armin stood up. Annie could see his hands shaking. "Yes, sir?"

"We found this under your bunk bed," sais Shadis. "Lying in a makeshift bed. Seriously, Arlert, what the hell do you think you're doing? Do you know what sort of trouble you are in right now?"

"I, um--"

"She's mine!"

Annie had spoken. She did not even know why she did it. Armin looked at her, gaping. Shadis turned his gaze on her.

"The cat's mine. Armin was only keeping her for me." she said. All around her were stunned faces.

Shadis studied them. "Soldier," he called. A man came up to him. He handed him the cat. "Take this away."

"No!" yelled Armin. "Anne is sick! Please, you're not gonna kill her, are you?"

Everyone knew the answer.

"Anne?" asked Shadis. "Well say goodbye to Anne, Arlert."

The soldier carried Anne away, and all Annie could do was look on helplessly.

"Arlert, Leonhardt -- six hours of running for a whole week. Also, kitchen duties for a whole month." he said, and with that, he left.

Armin looked devastated. Annie felt guilty. I knew we should have disposed of it, she thought, seeing Armin's heartbroken look.

Well, they tried, but it was too late.

Annie laughed, but with her Titan form it came out more like a roar. She could not even save a small cat. Annie was a fool for even dreaming about saving the both of them from this cruel world. She watched as the Scouts swung around her, their blades glinting in the harsh sunlight. They were going to share Anne's fate.