Armin's POV
Every day and every night I go to my favorite place. A place where I can live amazing adventures, where I can discover amazing things; I place where my actions don't have any repercussions; I place where I'm free to explore without having to deal with any real danger.
This morning I was heading to this place. I walked down the hall, my footsteps echoing for each step I made until I got there. The door creaked as I slowly opened it. As I walked forward I lightly touched the shelf and my hand would graze the many books that stood there as I passed by until I had found one particular book and then I stopped to take it out. I flipped through pages until I found the last page I had read. I plopped down into the nearest chair and started reading where I had left off.
About 10 pages into the book I was interrupted.
"Found you!" (Name) called out.
I lifted my head from the book and noticed her poking her head out from behind one of the shelves. As soon as she saw that I had seen her she jumped out from her hiding spot and walked towards me with her arms behind her back.
"Hey Armin." She greeted, smiling shyly.
"Hi (Name)." I smiled back.
"Watcha reading?" She inquired and sat down cross-legged on the floor next to me, looking back at me with curious eyes.
"An adventure book." I replied and showed her the cover of the book.
"Hmmm…" She took a good long look at it before looking back at me and asking "Can you read it to me?"
It took me a second to register what she had said. I blinked twice. "You want me to read it to you?" I repeated, dumbfounded.
"Yeah."
"But why?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "If you're reading it, it must be good."
My eyes widened slightly in wonder.She seems to trust me quite a lot, I thought. Then I remembered a conversation I had with Mikasa.
It's all thanks to you.
You're words got to her somehow. And ever since then she's been coming out of her shell.
I smiled at the memory.
"Okay." I said. "Take a seat."
"Thanks, but I'm fine here." She responded and lied down on her back with her hands behind her head.
I looked back at her, a bit surprised. She was staring at the ceiling, patiently waiting for me to start.
"Oh, okay then." I scooted in closer to the back of the chair and started reading the book from the beginning.
After about an hour I stopped because it was time for us to move out and join the others.
I closed the book and looked down at (Name) who had her eyes closed. "Did you like it?" I inquired.
She opened her eyes and sat up, looking back at me. "Yeah, I loved it! I imagined myself with the main characters and experiencing everything with them!"
I smiled at her answer. "Yes. Stories are there for us to take part in them." I said as I got up and put the book back in its place. Then I presented my hand to her. She took my hand and I pulled her up. "Let's go." I said. She nodded and we headed downstairs.
It was time for our chores. I went to join Eren; we would be heading out to the market to go by some food. (Name) stayed behind and helped with the preparations. She was getting along a lot better with everyone, and I think she had made some friends. Right now she was hanging out with Ymir and Krista. They seemed to be having a vivid conversation, but I was too far away to hear what they were talking about.
"Let's go Armin." Eren called, he was already walking away.
"Coming!" I ran to join him.
When we got back, everyone helped out with making lunch.
"What are you doing?!" Sasha exclaimed. "You're taking off half of the potato off! At this rate there won't be any more potato for us to eat! Gimme that." Sasha snatched the potato out from (Name)'s hands and continued peeling it in the right way.
"Wow, you suck at cooking, don't you?" Ymir commented and laughed. "You were completely massacring that potato."
(Name) blushed in embarrassment. "I didn't think cooking would be harder than killing Titans…"
"That's because with Titans it's doesn't matter how you kill them, as long as you kill them – even if it's messy - it's fine. But with cooking you have to be precise." Krista explained.
"Exactly." Ymir added.
"Here, why don't you watch me and try to copy what I do." Krista said, and (Name) nodded.
"When you peel something don't press down hard. There's no need; the skin comes off easily." Krista explained as she did it, and (Name) started copying her movements, paying close attention.
I started cutting the vegetables. Sasha was taking care of the meat. Ymir went to get water to make it boil, and Eren went to get some wood to make the fire so that we could start cooking. I don't know where Mikasa was though…
When Eren came back I asked him where she was.
"She's with Levi."
"Oh okay."
I really love these moments when we're all together and we're doing stuff together other than fighting Titans. It's a rare moment when we can relax and enjoy ourselves, which isn't something that often happens in this cruel world. I keep dreaming of the day humanity finally get's ride of the Titans and we are free to explore the outside world; a world that is apparently filled with extraordinary things! But right now it's just a dream. And it doesn't seem like it's going to become a reality anytime soon.
When we were finished with everything we could finally go and have lunch.
I went to join Eren and Mikasa, greeting them as I sat down with my plate, and they greeted me back.
"So why did Levi call you?" Eren asked Mikasa with his mouthful.
"Close your mouth when you eat Eren" Mikasa commented in her usual quite voice. "He wanted to discuss a few fighting techniques with me." She answered.
"What?" Eren interjected, still with his mouthful. "Why were you doing that? You guys are the best."
"Just because we're the best doesn't mean we don't try to improve our techniques. We're always improving. You don't become the best by doing nothing." Mikasa explained.
Just then a commotion started and I turned around to see what was going on. People were gathered around a table, some were cheering and some were yelling.
I turned back to Eren and Mikasa. "What's going on?" I asked.
"Dunno" Eren replied.
All three of us got up to join the circle of people. I had to stand on my tiptoes to see what was happening. At the center there was (Name) and Sasha who were sitting next to each other eating their food at a really fast pace. At an incredibly fast pace!
"An eating contest?" I wondered aloud.
Some people were cheering (Name) on, and some others were cheering Sasha on. It was hard to see who would win; they were both very quick and neither of them were slowing down yet.
"What the heck are they doing?" Eren laughed.
"How immature." Mikasa whispered.
"That actually looks like fun." Eren added. "I'd like to try it!"
"Oh. Well if Eren wants to do it then I'll do it too." Mikasa said.
I noticed that (Name) was starting to slow down now.
"I made it!" (Name) yelled, throwing her arms up in the air.
"Nope. You're not done." Jean said, bringing another plate to the table. "There's this to eat too." He smirked as he placed the dish on the table.
"Whaaaaaaat" (Name) dropped her arms and made a face.
"I'm ready when you are." Sasha grinned and stared at (Name) to see her reaction.
"Oh God…" (Name) brought her hands to her mouth. "I think I'm going to throw up."
"So you're not going to eat?" Sasha questioned.
(Name) shook her head, her hands still on her mouth. "No. I can't. You win Sasha."
"Yay!" Sasha exclaimed.
"I kinda knew she would win." Ymir commented.
"Are you still going to eat that?" Jean asked.
"Yep! Don't mind if I do!" Sasha said as she started eating the dish.
(Name) stared at Sasha with big wide eyes. "Where do you put all that stuff?"
Sasha glanced at (Name) "It's a secret." She winked.
After that everyone helped clean up.
"You're full of surprises, aren't you, Sasha?" (Name) smiled.
"I don't feel too good…" Sasha complained.
"So you're human after all!" (Name) exclaimed.
Sasha glared at her. "What's that supposed to me?"
(Name) laughed. "Oh, nothing…"
I smiled interiorly. It was nice to see (Name) get along with everyone.
After that exciting day we had another exciting adventure the next day, but this day wouldn't be fun. We were called in emergency because Titans had breached the Wall. Titans were pouring in, so one group was dealing with the breach (Eren was with that group), and another group was dealing with the Titans that were already inside.
We were standing on the rooftops, spread out on the terrain in groups of 4 or 5. I was with Jean, (Name), Sasha and Ymir.
"Alright, let's go! Time to kill some Titans!" (Name) called out and was about to run off but I quickly caught her by the arm before she would leave and pulled her back.
"Wait!" I said.
She turned to look at me with curious eyes.
"We need to think of a plan first. You can't just go head first into danger without thinking about what you're going to do." I explained.
"Oh, right." She smiled in embarrassed.
"Honestly." I sighed and gave her a small smile. "You're just like Eren."
Suddenly her cheeks turned red and she immediately looked down, biting her lower lip. For a split second I wondered what made her blush like that, but I quickly pushed the thought away and focused on our mission.
"Ok, so this is what were going to do." I started to explain my plan. "We're going to regroup all the Titans that are around here and gather them at the center of the village. It will be easier to kill them that way. Someone will distract them and be used as bait to attract them to the center spot. Everyone else will be in position, ready to strike once they are regrouped."
I turned towards (Name) "(Name), I'd like you to distract them because you're the fastest out of all of us. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure" She replied. I watched her closely to see how she reacted to that, but she was hiding her emotions again, so I couldn't tell if she was scared or not.
"Right. Everyone get into position." I said. They all leaped away. It was just (Name) and me now. (Name) was about to go too, but I called her back. "(Name)…"
She turned towards me. "Yes?"
"... Be careful." I didn't know what else to say.
She came to stand right in front of me.
"Don't worry, I won't die." She said and placed her hand on my cheek. "Because I have a reason to live now."
I was taken aback by her gesture and by the way she looked at me; with an affectionate smile. I was too confused to say anything.
She retreated a few steps back and bounded away, towards the Titans.
I stood there a moment, trying to get my composure back. Then I went and got into position too.
"Come here big baby! Follow me! Come to mommy!" (Name) called out and waved her arms to the Titan that was in front of her. Her hands gripping the blades just in case she needed to use them. Once the Titan was focused on her it slowly started walking towards her. She immediately flew across the streets using her 3DMG.
"That's it! Good job! Keep following me!" The Titan started walking faster and faster until it was finally running. And just as it was running (Name) sped up, using more gas.
A sudden though struck me and my blood ran cold. What if she uses up all her gas before we manage to regroup all the Titans?! I didn't come up with a plan B because I didn't think we needed too. But now I realized the mistake I had made. And it might cost her life!
I sprang forward and flew across the deserted landscape. "Sasha!" I called out and landed next to her. She looked back at me questioningly.
"If (Name) runs out of gas I want you to take over; you're the second fastest in the group."
She gave me a curt nod as an answer.
(Name) had almost regrouped all the Titans like we planed. It was almost time for us to take action.
But then, as expected, (Name) ran out of gas and fell to the ground. Immediately Sasha took over. And then it was our turn to move. We all simultaneously sprang forward, each taking on a Titan. I slashed the 13-meter Titan that was in front of me and safely landed on the rooftop. I ran across the roofs and stopped when I had found (Name). She was climbing onto a trashcan and then grabbed the nooks of the walls of the house, trying to climb up. I bent down and gave her my hand. "Grab on!"
She grabbed my hand and I pulled her up with some difficulty. Instantly, she fell on top of me. Our faces were so close that our nose touched. This proximity made my heart beat faster, and I could feel my cheeks heating up. I could see that her cheeks also turned pink. But then she quickly got off and apologized in a fluster, looking away, and I replied that it was fine.
We got up and went to rejoin with the others.
"We did it!" Sasha exclaimed, jumping in the air.
"Yeah." I commented. "But now we need to head towards the Wall and meet with the others."
"Right!" Everyone took off one by one towards the Wall. It was just (Name) and me again.
"(Name). Take these." I started to unhook my gas-tanks. But (Name) instantly stopped me and grabbed hold of my hand.
"Armin! What do you think you're doing?" She retorted in a panicked voice.
But I snatched my hand out of her grip. "You're out of gas, I'm giving you mine."
"Are you crazy?!" She took hold of my shoulders, and half glared at me, half looked scared. "What about you?"
"You need them more than I. You're better at killing Titans."
She let go of me as an idea seemed to have clicked in her mind. All of a sudden she looked very determined and then grabbed hold of my shoulders again. "Don't worry, I'll protect you!" She said. I could see a fierce passion in her eyes.
I smiled back at her and handed her my gas-tanks. We swapped and suddenly she crouched down.
"(Name), what are you doing?"
"Grab on. I'll carry you on my back."
I hesitated before accepting. Then she took off in the direction of the Wall.
By the time we got there they had managed to seal the gape and get rid of the remaining Titans.
By the time we had finished dealing with the Titans it was nighttime. After this exciting day we were allowed to go back to our dorms. And I, as usual, headed to my favorite place: the Library.
I went to get the book I had started to read and sat down.
A few minutes later (Name) arrived.
"Hey…" (Name) murmured. She seemed tense and hesitant, as if she was unsure if she should be here or not.
"Hey." I replied.
"Am I – am I bothering you?" She asked.
"No, no, it's fine." I reassured.
She relaxed and walked over towards me.
"I was wondering… if you could read me the rest of the book?" She looked down at the ground as she asked that.
"Oh, uh, sure."
She looked back at me. "Great!" She said and plopped down to the ground, sitting cross-legged.
"But… wouldn't you prefer reading your own book?" I inquired.
She shook her head and then looked down. "No. I… I actually never read a book." She said in a quiet voice. "But when I was a kid my parents used to read me stories. And I loved listening to their stories."
"I see." I acknowledged.
I opened the book. "I'll start from where we left off then." And just as I said that I started reading. And (Name) lied down on the ground like she had done before, with her hands behind her head and closed her eyes.
A/N: I originally hadn't planed on continuing the story... yet, here is the second part! XD I'll make it into a complete story with three parts. This is part 2. Next chapter will be the final one.