A/N: Ok, I was just too excited at actually completing a chapter that I just had to write more.
This involves the gloriousness that is Armin Arlert. Words cannot express how much I love that boy.
This chapter mainly exists to let you all know exactly what Aya's story is (and a little more about her feelings).
Also it's pretty long, so sorry about that.
I'm not even going to bother with the disclaimer again, you all know exactly what it is.
Enjoy!
There's always a quiet period after new recruit day, simply because they're set straight to training and - courtesy of Levi's neat freakiness - to cleaning every inch of the castle. So, those of us who would usually be doing such tasks find ourselves bored out of our minds.
It's during this time that I like to read. Well, I read every day without fail, but I always get through many more books in the weeks following the induction of the new kids. You can always find me in the library during the day, so it's here I'm always bombarded with people trying to start conversations and - more often than I'd like to admit - questions about my love life.
Of course, by love life I mean Levi.
When I'm not in the library with my nose in a book, I parade around the castle grounds, trying to get friendly with any of the new kids. I've found out that Sarah's girlfriend is called Sofia and, where Sarah is rather shy and quiet, she's a little bossy and not afraid to speak her mind. I helped Sarah tell her big sister; she wasn't surprised in the slightest and only asked if Sofia was a good cook. When her question was answered with a plate of the best cookies I have ever tasted, Sasha announced that she would marry the young girl herself if it didn't work out.
Levi has taken to avoiding me wherever possible. A small boy with incredibly big eyes called Cameron told me it was because someone asked him when the two of us were getting married. Frankly, it just made me giggle.
My efforts to find him tonight have been in vain. So far.
As I walk towards my bedroom, lost in thought, I don't notice my door is slightly ajar. It's only when I push it open and realise there's someone sitting on my bed that I let out a scream and mentally slap myself at being so stupid.
My screams are cut short by a familiar hand being clamped over my mouth and I relax, letting out a long breath.
The figure sighs and quickly drops its hand, "Dammit. I didn't expect you to get here so quickly, shitty brat."
I click my tongue, walking over and lighting the little lamp beside my bed. "Next time, don't sit in the dark like that. I thought you were a murderer."
With the illumination of my bedroom comes the sight of Levi, looking flustered and slightly embarrassed at being found in my room.
He's about to answer when a frantic knock comes to the door and the shouts of, "Aya?! Are you ok? I heard screaming and I had to come check if you were alright. You are ok, aren't you? Aya?"
My laughter stops the panicking voice from the other side of the door, "I'm fine, Hanji. Just a little startled, that's all. Nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure? I could test you down at the lab just in c-"
"No! Hanji, I'm fine. Really."
There's a pause, until I hear a sigh and her giving in with a quiet "Ok", followed by her footsteps slowly retreating.
"You'd think knowing you for thirteen years would stop her from worrying about you constantly," Levi says, amusement clearly in his voice.
I give him a look, my eyebrows raised, "That doesn't stop her from experimenting on me every week or so."
Before I realise it, he's standing in front of me, eyes full of concern.
"Still?" When I nod, he adds, "I thought she'd stopped that. Does she hurt you?"
I smile at his gentle tone, a voice that is only for me, "Not since that time she took away the feeling in my legs for a week. Since then, it's simply been trying out new medicines and the odd test for rabies."
He lifts an eyebrow, "Rabies?"
"Oh yes. Apparently I spend quite a bit of time with Eren and she wants to make sure I don't catch anything."
He snorts and sits on my bed, "What does she expect you to catch, Titan flu?"
I giggle and his eyes light up for a second before going back to their regular silvery grey. We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes until he suddenly looks up at me.
"Wait. You spend a lot of time with Jaeger?!" He asks, his expression unreadable as he searches my eyes for something.
"Actually, no. Well, not more than anyone else. I talk to him and stuff, but that's all."
Levi's gaze falls back to his lap as the silence fills the room again. We stay like that until he excuses himself, which is when I notice just how late it really is. As I lie in bed, I can't help but wonder why he sounded so angry when he was asking about Eren. My sleepy mind comes up with a solution as I begin to lost consciousness.
He was jealous.
"Jealousy? What the hell was I thinking?" I mutter to myself as I dress the next morning. "God, I really am stupid."
A light tapping on my door interrupts my thoughts and I yell a "Come in", glad of the distraction a visitor will bring.
I see the familiar blond head of Armin Arlert entering my room, a smile on his face and a book in his hands.
"Good morning! I brought the book you wanted." He says, beaming as he hands it over to me.
I can't help the squeal that falls from my lips as I read the front cover: 'The Truth about Titans'. It's a book I've been looking around for since Armin first told me about it. "Was it hard for you to get?" I ask, already flicking through the first few pages.
I glance over in time for his blue eyes to meet mine. "Not if you know where to look." He admits with a giggle.
I smile inwardly. God, this kid is adorable. Out of everyone in the Survey Corps - except for Levi and Hanji - Armin is my closest friend. Our love of books and our fascination of the outside world was what brought us together back when he first joined us.
A thought comes into my head and, glancing out my window to notice how beautiful the day is, I decide what to do.
"Armin, I want to show you something," He looks up at me, his eyes wide in expectation, "Go grab a book or two, and meet me back here in ten minutes."
He nods excitedly and practically runs out of the room. While I wait for him, I start looking through my new book, already completely obsessed with its pictures and detailed descriptions of the beasts we hunt.
Armin comes back holding three thick books, panting heavily. "Did you run all the way back?" I ask.
His face flushes, "N-no! I just-" He hangs his head, "Yes."
I laugh, ruffling his hair. "Come on then."
I lead him out of the castle and towards the forest that surrounds our headquarters. He stops, fear evident on his face.
"We're going in there? B-but we're not allowed!"
I put a reassuring hand on his shoulder, "Relax. No-one will find us, I promise. Besides, I'll just say I brought you here. Erwin won't punish me."
He relaxes a little, so I grab his hand and pull him through the trees. I take him down a path that's partially covered with leaves and branches but completely visible, to my eyes at least. We go past hundreds of trees, spotting squirrels scurrying around, frightened by our loud steps. Finally we emerge into a small clearing, the trees circling it creating a canopy above us with their leaves. Wildflowers grow here and there and, with the sunlight beaming down through the 'roof', it looks truly amazing.
"This is where I like to read when the weather's nice."
I look over at Armin, to see that he's completely stunned. He's probably never been into the forest before, I think.
After a minute, he snaps out of his daydream to sit down with his back to the tree opposite the one I'm sitting against. We read for what feels like hours, until his voice breaks the silence.
"Aya? Can I ask you something?" He asks, looking a little worried.
"Hmm?"
"How old were you when you fell in love with Levi Heichou?"
His sudden question makes me drop the book I'm poring over. I look over, expecting him to burst into fits of laughter, but I'm met with a pair of calm and serious eyes. This kid doesn't miss a trick.
"Sixteen." I answer automatically. It's only afterwards that I realise what I've just done. Don't get me wrong, I trust Armin completely, but I'm not entirely comfortable letting him know my every secret.
He just nods, "Three years then."
"Well," I start. I'm about to stop there when I see him looking at me with wide eyes, clearly surprised I've decided to tell him anything at all. "I was sixteen when I realised. I don't exactly know how old I was when I actually... you know."
He smiles softly, happy with gaining this new knowledge.
"Armin," I say softly, my questioning tone making him set the book down, ready to talk. "Do you want to know my story?"
He gasps. Believe it or not, my story is something everyone wants to know. Even Levi and Hanji are constantly asked about it, but they'll never tell unless I allow them to.
He nods frantically, before sheepishly adding, "I-if you don't mind, that is."
"Not at all." I reassure him, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I was six when I moved here. My parents were two of the strongest soldiers in the Survey Corps. They were the best at what they did, and because of this, they were targeted.
The Military Police wanted them, and they would stop at nothing to get them. Including trying to kidnap me. That's why I came here. Erwin and my mother had been childhood sweethearts and, although she loved my father, Erwin still had feelings for her. So he allowed me to live here. He'd do anything for my mother. And I wasn't the only kid living here; Hanji was already here.
Hanji's mother was an amazing scientist, and Hanji was following in her footsteps. She was given clearance because she helped her mother in her experiments. I also think Erwin was a little scared of her. Then again, everyone was. You may not believe it, but Hanji's mother was actually worse than her daughter.
Despite being only six, and Hanji only being nine, we trained together. The world kind of expected me to be as good as my parents were and, the first time I ever used Gears, Erwin told me their expectations were correct. I couldn't have been happier.
Two years later, my parents died on a mission outside the walls. I couldn't believe the news, so I suspected foul play. I tried to tell Erwin what I thought, but he told me not to say anything more about it, and that was that.
He changed after that, though. He allowed me to train, but he told me I wasn't allowed on any missions. My mother wanted him to protect me, and I guess he took it a little too literally.
About a month or so after the news of my parents, Erwin showed up with a new kid. A twelve-year-old boy called Levi who had previously been a criminal inside Wall Sina. Instead of going through the regular training like most new cadets, Erwin allowed him to join him straightaway. The first time I saw him training with Gears, it was like I was watching a god. I couldn't believe it. He noticed me watching, and started showing off. We've been friends ever since."
I stop talking and look over to see his sapphire eyes watching me intently, a grin plastered over his delicate features.
"Wait," I say, startling him out of his reverie, "How did you realise? You're not one to listen to rumours, and I thought I did a pretty good job of covering things up."
He pales and rubs the back of his neck, "Your heartbeat gets faster when we talk about him." He admits. I tilt my head, urging him to continue, "I wouldn't normally notice, it's just... so loud."
My heartbeat is loud? "Huh," I say, causing him to look over with a slight frown, "I didn't realise I was so readable."
"Y-you're not!" He says quickly, eyes as wide as saucers, "I'm just perceptive, I guess."
I laugh, "Don't worry, I know."
We go back to our reading, and its only when I hear a twig snapping not far from us that my eyes leave the book in front of me. Armin has heard it too, because he's quickly on his feet, edging his way over to me.
"What was that?" He whispers timidly.
"I don't know," I answer, because I honestly don't have a clue.
"Has someone found us?"
"Impossible," I reassure him. "The only other person who knows about this place is Levi, and he hasn't been here for years." I feel my heartbeat getting faster as I say his name, and it's only now I realise just how often that actually happens. I can also feel a light blush across my cheeks, which makes me glad that Armin knows.
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. If he had been here lately, he would've cleaned up a little. He hates wildflowers, they make him itch."
I hear a quiet "Oh" and then silence.
"It was probably just a squirrel," I whisper, before looking up and noticing how dark the sky has gotten. "Shit!" I curse, probably much too loud, "We'd better go, someone might be looking for us."
We gather our books and set off through the trees, dodging the giant trunks and trying to keep out balance on the uneven terrain. As we escape, the sky decides to open, soaking our clothes and freezing us to the bone.
We ignore the looks as we enter the mess hall, shivering in our seats as we dig into hot stew. It's tasteless, but the heat it brings is welcome.
"Let's just hope we don't get sick," I mutter to the boy beside me as I feel my nose start to tingle.
We eat in silence, listening to the conversations around us as we quickly empty our bowls. A loud sneeze echoes through the hall, and Armin and I glance at each other worriedly. When we hear the sound again, coupled with a coughing and spluttering, we have our culprit.
And it's with a jolt and a shiver travelling through my spine that I realise just what this means.
Because Levi has a cold.