A BIG THANK YOU TO THE LOVE OF MY LIFE; GRAHAM 3 WHO HAS HELPED ME WITH THIS STORY, AND MANY... MANY... MANY OTHERS :3 AND ALSO TO MY BRO KEIRAN 'CAUSE HE'S A BOSS THAT LOVES ARMINxSASHA AND LOTS OF FINAL FANTASY :) I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT I'M STRUGGLING TO THINK OF A WAY TO END THIS... I'M GONNA SORT OUT ANYTHING I HAVE STARTED, AND END OFF ON THE LATEST CHAPTER IN MANGA (OR CLOSE TO WHAT THE LATAEST CHAPTER REVEALS), COULD USE SOME HELP FOR POSSIBLE ENDINGS :) THAT COUNTS ESPECIALLY FOR YOU GRAHAM... HEHEHE
Annie let out a long and stagnant sigh.
She sat in her bed, as it was late in the comfortable district of Stohess. Her fingers laced around the single sheet of paper, wondering whether or not to tear it into a million pieces. Why would she get some sort of letter?
Her curiousity got the better of her this time, again.
She focused her eyes of the neat and steady writing.
Dear Annie, Dear? she thought with a frown. Why dear?
I know you're considering to rip this up, but since you're reading this, you probably won't. I just wanted to write to you, when I saw Jean writing to Marco, I just got the idea to write to you, in case you missed us. I'm considering it, yes, the more you talk. You can be a real idiot, some of the time.
I'm hoping the Military Police was the right choice for you, and that you're feeling well. We've had some troubles so far, I got sick for a little while, but I'm better now, so please don't worry about me :) Worry about you... Why should I worry? You're nothing of special importance to me. A voice itched inside of her, almost foreign. You're still reading though, Annie.
She pushed the paper down onto her covers, away from her view. She was more tempted to rip it up now. Why, Armin? What is this? Why bother with this? She clutched the paper, pulling its sides apart. Annie, you're actually a good person, aren't you? She heard him say, and stopped. He said that to her once before when he told her he was joining the Scouting Legion, and she, to her own surprise, subtly suggested against it. You pretend you don't care, but I can tell you do his voice echoed again.
Armin, I hate you.
There was a party last night, Connie and Sasha got some wine, got drunk and Sasha sort of got into some trouble with one of the top Squad Leaders... No real surprise there. Not in the slightest.
Mikasa and Jean had some to drink, and Jean is apparently French, he ended up saying something in that language to Mikasa and he ended up kissing Mikasa last night when we went to our rooms. How adorable. Her nose wrinkled.
I'm a little worried about them. I feel bad for telling anyone that, but you can keep secrets, right? I know you will, Annie, thank you. :)
She stopped reading again, and scratched her nose. You have no idea, Armin. You're far too innocent. far too caring.
We're heading out on an expedition soon, so I thought I should send you a letter before then. Thanks for reading this, we do miss you, I think you might be missing us, or maybe are worried, if you read this far. I honestly tried to keep this as short as possible, knowing you must be busy.
She found herself letting out a sigh. Acknowledging the fact Armin was getting quite a reaction out of her with something as stupid as a letter. So what if she so happened to care about him, if just a little. I'll tell you what; he's going to die, like everyone else.
Also, Reiner and Bertholdt said hello, I think they are really missing you.
Bastards. She thought, cringing. What are they doing? Idiots, talking to Armin. Reiner, losing his mind, and Bertholdt, looming over everything with that aweful stare. Them, missing me? Far from it, they just want to keep an eye on me, make sure I'm doing my duty. What right do they have to judge me and my place in the mission? What happened to those old times...
Thanks again, Armin.
She rubbed at her nose with her sleeve. Don't be an idiot.
...
The morning leaked through the window, highlighting the many different shades in the room.
Mikasa was first awake that morning after her talk with Jean the night before. She lay on her back, looking up at the ceiling with half open lids. After a few minutes, her eyes glanced down, feeling a weight on her. Armin had his arm tossed over her torso, with his face resting against her rising chest. Her eyes at first widened at the sight, but soon softened when she heard light breathing and felt each and every breath he took while his chest rose and fell slowly in time with hers.
She smiled warmly. Armin... It didn't feel that weird, she had moved him closer to her during the night, she just wanted him close to her, where he was safe and warm and peaceful. "Armin" she whisped down at him, while her fingers laced through his blonde hair like they had done the night before.
Armin stirred, hearing his name being called softly and feeling a gentle rumble beneath him. His eyes opened slowly in a daze it's so warm... "Hi..." he answered in a low yawn, closing his eyes again.
Her cheeks fluttered. "Armin..."
His eyes opened again, and he turned his head to find the source of the more than pretty voice. "AH!" He screamed, jumping away from her faster than his conscious mind could calculate.
She flinched with surprise "Armin!" She called to him, moving closer to where he pressed himself against the wall. She stopped in front of him, leaning on her knees. "What's wrong?"
His lips parted and both of his brows elevated "n-nothing." Did you not see where I was?! My face was on your- ... His face flushed instantly, and he turned himself away from her instantly "Sorry" he forced out of his teeth.
She tilted her head to side, pulling a face. "Sorry?" She dug through her memories, trying to work out what he was apologizing for.
"I was... I must have just moved in my sleep... Nevermind it, I don't know what I was-"
"I moved you, Armin, while you were sleeping" she quickly understood. "Did I make you uncomfortable?"
He looked back at her, his body visibly relaxing. No, you- Yes, I-... "Why did you move me? Were you cold again?"
She looked down at her hands "no, I don't know why." She turned from him, getting out of the covers and up from the bed. Was it bad? "I won't do it again, sorry" she hid her faint, but still there, blush. Have I just been pushing boundaries again?... She stood there for a while, thoughtful.
It's okay, Mikasa... Armin nudged closer, until his legs hung off the edge of the messy bed.
Mikasa looked down at him, meeting his eyes.
He offered a smile. Please don't be gloomy.
She returned it. Thanks, Armin, I'm glad you're here.
...
"I HATE YOU!"
Mikasa could help but hear behind the door to the Special Operations Squads' meeting room. She had been walking along the hallway, rather calmly and almost peacefully when the screech infiltrated her ears. What was that? She paused, waiting outside to listen further. A crash was heard, a loud and obnoxious smash of what sounded like pottery.
Her eyes widened, she was both confused and shocked. She opened the door, peering inside cautiously.
Petra was trying to hit Auruo, at the other side of the room from where everyone else was sitting. She walked over quietly, raising a brow at Petra and Auruo's squabble.
"Every. Little. Thing. I've put up with it for I don't know how long, years, years! How much of this do I have to take, huh?!" Petra yelled, kicking him in the leg.
Auruo cringed, the kick must have hurt. "What? Can't you even take a joke every once in a while? Is your brain as small as your height that you don't-"
"This is what I'm talking about, Auruo! Don't get me started on the other stuff, that I will most certainly not mention here!"
"You're such a brat sometimes..."
"Yeah?! Well you can be a real asshole!"
Mikasa stared, noticing the rest of her squad doing nothing about the fight. I don't think I've seen them fight like this... She looked back to Levi, who she expected to do be the one t act, but he looked like he wasn't getting up anytime soon.
"What's going on?" She asked them quietly.
Gunther turned to her "can't you see?"
Erd glanced between them, before speaking "Auruo must have done something, and set her off. No idea, we were just sitting, he said something I couldn't quite hear and she just started shouting at him."
She nodded once, looking back towards the happy couple.
"This isn't the first time this has happened, so don't worry."
Auruo held her head back, while she attempted to punch at him.
Screw this she thought, getting up. I can't just sit here and watch this. She walked over to the two and picked up Petra, throwing her over her shoulder. "Corporal, I'll be back a little later." She addressed Levi, heading for the door.
Levi watched them leave, giving a slightly nod. I can think again. He didn't like interfering with others relationships, that was something they had to sort out themselves.
The rest of the squad watched with surprise as Mikasa carried Petra out of the room.
...
"Mikasa, you can put me down..." Petra sighed, her head falling down Mikasa's back.
"Alright" Mikasa agreed in a low tone, they had made it outside, close to the stables. It was a good place to cool down, so she dropped Petra in front of her with an audible plop.
"You didn't have to be so forceful, Mikasa..." Petra stood, rubbing the dirt off of her uniform.
"Are you okay?" Mikasa asked, raising a brow, hinting to what happened with Auruo.
Petra pulled some ruffled ginger locks behind her ear, looking over to Mikasa shyly. "He's just been driving me crazy."
Mikasa stood still, waiting for a reply Petra didn't want to give. "He's always drove you crazy though."
"Well I've been having a bad week, that's all. I just... got a bit overemotional... You know?"
"Oh..." She understood, but kept herself stern. "But I've never seen you and him like that before, even the Corporal looked surprised."
Her head lowered, and she gave a nerving sigh "Auruo just likes to tease me, he goes too far sometimes... It's all those little things he does, just to annoy me. And the worst part about it is it actually works! He knows just how to get under my skin."
Mikasa slowly nodded. "I think you threw your cup at him..."
"Don't worry about that, he probably enjoyed it..." She growled. "Dammit... I told Levi I'd clean that up!" She whined.
"Do you want me to beat him up for you?"
Petra honestly couldn't tell if she was joking or not "um... That won't be necessary... I'll just deal with him tonight."
"You sleep in the same room?" She asked in a quieter, more curious tone.
"Yeah, you sleep in the same room as Armin, don't you? Swap?" She smiled.
Mikasa shook her head silently.
"Only kidding" she sighed, looking away "to be honest, I don't think I could stay mad at him, even if I really want to, and believe me, I do. He makes me so mad sometimes..."
"What did he do to set you off?"
Petra closed her eyes, scratching her head. "Promise not to tell anyone? Not even Armin, and I mean it..."
She nodded.
"He said..." She shuddered at the memory. "It doesn't matter the details... He's just a bit of a perv sometimes... But not in front of others, in front of others he just winds me up... Normally."
"Hm."
Petra shook her head "he's probably just frustrated, or something, he's actually not too bad a guy, you know? I mean, why else would I share a room with him?"
"I would never share a room with him."
She giggled "If I met him now, neither would I. But he wasn't always so much of a..."
"Asshole?"
"Yeah... It's not until I joined the Corporal's squad that he changed."
"Sounds like he might just be trying to impress you... or I don't know, get your attention at least?"
"Well, he's got it."
Mikasa smiled, confused.
"I should probably call a truce, he's an idiot, but I know he means well, in the end."
"Reminds me of Eren" she smiled, "except he was the one to rush into danger to save someone, forgetting about his own safety. He was a bit of an idiot that way... My precious idiot. He meant well, in the end." I guess that means we're all idiots.
Petra waited, seeing the memories flash before Mikasa's eyes. "We should head back, before the Corporal has both our hides." I'm glad you're being so open... It's nice to know you trust me enough to talk about such things...
"Yeah, let's go."
...
"Hey, Armin... Anything happen last night?" Jean asked, sitting before his breakfast.
Armin coughed on a bit, before wiping his mouth "What do you mean?"
Jean shook his head slowly, looking back down at his food "nothing, just thought you might have heard something from Mikasa, considering you two are so close."
Armin shrugged.
"I'm actually beginning to wonder... Either your lovers or you're a girl, or maybe just a guy that's not into girls?"
He coughed again, more violently. "What are you saying?!"
"Hey, Armin, Jean."
Both looked up, seeing Reiner and Bertholdt sitting down opposite them.
"Hey" Jean replied, caught a little off guard by their appearance.
"You feeling alright today, Armin?" Reiner asked.
Armin watched them both, before answering steadily "I might be a little tired still."
"Sorry to hear, busy day ahead" Reiner answered, letting his arms roll onto the table, taking up some space. "I might be a bit tired too, mind you."
Armin nodded, looking down at his remaining food. Might as well talk, I need to know still. "Hey, I was wondering, and I don't mean to bring up any bad thoughts or memories, but could you tell me about your hometown? Before the fall of Maria I mean..." He looked up, tracing between Reiner and Bertholdt's eyes.
"I... Don't really remember much about it, sorry" Reiner answered easily, after thinking for a moment.
Bertholdt looked to his friend, distressed, but Reiner questioned his stare. He's lost again... He's forgot... "It was... I remember, our houses were close to this huge forest, we used to dare each other to climb to the top... I never reach it, except one time, when Berik helped me... They were really tall. There was a lake nearby too, we swam there during the summer, when we used to slack off, and the mountains... Felt like we were really small back then."
Armin took note that Bertholdt hadn't took his eyes off of Reiner once while he spoke. He's speaking to Reiner, trying to remind him, while ignoring me... Does Reiner really not remember where they came from? The way Bertholdt describes it... "Sounds beautiful."
"It was" he finally looked back to Armin, before looking down.
"Perhaps one day we can make anew, find someplace beautiful where we can all laugh about this as old, retired soldiers" Jean smirked, planting his chin into his palm.
Reiner nodded "yeah."
Bertholdt looked away, with a blank expression.
Armin watched, surprised. It's almost like their strangers. Bertholdt looks so lost. What's wrong with them? Is something wrong? Bertholdt wants Reiner to remember... Has he lost his memories? His past?... Who he once was? Bloodshed does that to people... "The salt filled ocean" he smiled sadly. We'll see it one day.
They all watched him, questioningly.
"Me and Eren swore we'd see it, he didn't believe me that it existed, but I told him it does, because of this book my grandfather hid in his basement. That stupid old book is what brought us here, looking for a way out, searching for something that might not even exist" he chuckled, but with little humour.
"Armin... Are you alright, what's brought all this on?" Jean asked, holding his shoulder.
"I'm just tired still, I guess" he looked up to Reiner and Bertholdt. "I could be dreaming."
...
"Hanji, are you here?" Armin called into her office, peeping from behind the half open door.
"Come in, Armin, don't be so shy" she called him in happily, sitting at her desk with a bundle of books and documents piled before her.
He walked in, closing the door behind him like he'd found it. "Where's Moblit?"
"He's a busy man, and there's no need for him to be stuck in here with me and my books. Care to read any of them? They're all written by me, about my opinions and philosophies about the Titans."
"Maybe" he nodded, walking over to an empty chair by her desk.
"Something bothering you, my little scamp?"
"I think I've discovered the spies identities..."
"Oh" her mood changed visibly, more serious. "Please continue."
"I believe Reiner Braun and Bertholdt Fubar of the 104th Training squad, who joined the Scouting Legion, are spies, Titan shifters."
"The Armored and Colossal?"
"I'm almost certain."
"Any ideas about the Female Titan?"
"..." He frowned. "Annie Leonhardt, also of the 104th, who joined the Military Police."
She nodded. "It must be hard to admit it, I can tell you were close to them."
He looked away from her "we weren't that close, but, they never really seemed like killers, why would killers help those they intend to kill?"
"It's impossible to understand it at this stage, Armin."
"If they did do it... Five years ago, when they arrived, killed a fifth of humanity in the matter of two years... They must have just been children, like us, back then... What drives a child to do something like that? Genocide? It doesn't feel right."
"We can question later, Armin, now, we must act upon the knowledge we've gained, plan ahead." Could be linked to the Titans lack of mercy or empathy, or at least the wider majority or Titans.
"Plan, yeah... But what plan?" He looked her in the eye through her thick glasses.
"We've been hoping to gain a name or two, that's why we've held back some information from the expedition plans" she stood, grasping her hands behind her back before pacing around the room. "We should bring this to Erwin's attention, and draw up the final stages of the plan."
"The expedition? What will happen to them? What about capturing an Abnormal?"
"Plans often change, expect the unexpected, Armin. That will ensure your survival, and I've really grown to like you, so you'd better."
He nodded, hoping for her to answer his questions.
"We'll be snaking out the wolves in sheep's skin. Now, you need to tell me how you've come to this conclusion, Armin, before we bring this to Erwin's attention."
"Y-yes, Hanji. Well..."