AN: Armin POV! Finally, we get a fourth Point of View... It's kind of cool dipping into all these character's heads. I've been Levi, Historia, Mikasa, and Armin so far... who will I possess next?
Did you see chapter 128 btw? Armin was quite badass... I just felt so bad for Levi though. The poor thing having to sit on the sidelines with children of all things 😥
...
Armin
I stand erect as the captain passes by, throwing a clenched fist over my heart. "Sir."
I just overheard him talking to Historia, and she was hugging him. She actually put her arms around Captain Levi of the Survey Corps, and my head's spinning from the revelation.
Mikasa and I were right; there definitely is something going on between those two. I've never seen the captain blush before.
The captain stops, regarding me carefully from the corner of his cool, grey eye. Despite the fact that I've grown several inches in the last few years, the cold look from the shorter man still sets my nerves on edge, and I supress a nervous sound.
I'm really not good under pressure. Did I ever tell you about the time I played hide and seek with Eren and Mikasa back at Shiganshina, and I just giggled from the sheer pressure of it all until they found me?
Yeah, I'm no fun at games.
Aw, poop. Now Captain Levi's going to think that I've been eavesdropping on him and Historia. I only came up to have a word with him about Eren, but then I heard their voices, and… well… I've always been a curious creature.
I read in my sleep after all.
"Arlert," he acknowledges, keeping that stony gaze on me.
I keep my clenched fist over my chest as my heart's thumping like a rabbit. I swallow, breaking out in a nervous sweat. "C-Captain… I... I was just out here looking for you..."
We stay that way for a while; the captain scrutinizing me like a hawk as I keep my eyes forward.
I feel as trapped as a mouse.
Finally, he releases a heavy sigh then shows me his front, and now he's less guarded. "Relax, you look like you're about to shit yourself. Give your ass a break..."
I do as he says and the pressure leaves my body like air escaping a balloon. It's easy to forget at times that the captain isn't actually a bad guy. And if his conversation with the sweet Historia is anything to go by, then he does possess a heart.
Well, he has to. Because he chose to save me after all over his commander.
Who knew Captain Levi was so sentimental, but I still doubt his choice that day. Only one person should have gotten that serum, and it wasn't me.
I'm never going to be able to replace Erwin. There are no books in the world that can teach you leadership. That stuff comes naturally.
"So, what did you want to talk to me about? Jaeger gave you any trouble on the way up here? Want me to kick his ass and show him who's boss?"
My eyes widen and quickly I try to stick up for my old childhood friend. The last thing I want to do is get Eren in trouble with the captain — even if his body does heal quickly. "Oh, no. Not at all, Captain. Eren's been great..."
I trail off as the captain peers behind his shoulder, and now we both watch as Historia fumbles around inside a storage box. She finds a tan jacket with the Survey Corps emblem stitched at the back, and her blue eyes light up like a child's. She releases a loud, feminine squeal, jumping up and down on the spot, and gosh if it's not the cutest sound I've heard in a while.
What can I say? I'm a guy and any red-blooded male would agree that Historia is ridiculously cute.
Yet I don't seem to be the only one… The captain gives her a long, prolonged gaze, and if I'm not mistaken… his eyes seem to melt as they watch the cute queen. Soon they become pools of liquid steel, and my brain buzzes a mile a second.
I may have heard a little more than I should have before, and they were standing so close. It was a little too intimate if I don't say so myself, but the captain had the same thawed look in his eyes when he gazed down into Historia's face, and they were both so… quiet.
Unless he was going to choke her again… Now that would be really awkward, but no. There was no malice in the captain's eyes, only remorse and... infatuation.
What happened between them exactly when Mikasa and I left the farm? And why did he bring Erwin the II? It makes no sense; I never would have thought the captain was a cat lover.
Historia had said she didn't want us all to lose respect for the captain, and my heart thuds again.
Uh no… maybe there is something going on between them, and now the captain knows that I know, and he's going to get angry and… and…
"Armin?"
I flinch, meeting the captain's eyes, and that melted steel has cooled once again. I may be the Colossal now, but there's no way I could ever challenge a man like Captain Levi. He's leagues ahead of me.
So, instead, I do the smart thing and button my lips. Despite my love for the ocean, these are waters I don't want to tread.
"S-sorry… I… was just thinking, Captain."
He chuckles and my head jolts up.
Did he just laugh?
"Something you've always been good at, hey, Arlert. Come, let's leave the queen to dress in peace."
The captain leads the way through the pine forest, and I try to keep up with his steady footsteps as I stumble over exposed roots. Another thing I never inherited when I took the Colossal from Bertoldt — strength and stamina. I still can't keep up with my comrades.
Despite this fact, the captain still waits patiently for me, and I can't help but be grateful. It sucks being slower than everyone else, but I'm used to it.
"So, what about Jaeger has you so deeply concerned, Armin?"
I think back to last night. It took us a full day's ride to get here after all from Shiganshina, so we had to make camp, but I couldn't get a wink of sleep.
Eren was crying all night.
"Well… last night… I heard him talking in his sleep."
The captain stops as he turns to look at me, and despite the beautiful, autumn sunshine, a chill spreads through the evergreen forest.
He keeps those grey, calculating eyes on me and I gulp once again.
Did I say too much? I'm not really sure if the captain and Hange have any more plans for Eren these days, but I do hope they don't start doing experiments on him again just because of my stupid concerns.
"Well… did he have anything interesting to say?"
I stumble. "Um… he kept muttering one phrase, "It has to be done. There is no other way…".
The forest turns cold and silent. A bird chirps in the high branches, and just by its song I know it's a thrush. I also hear a robin and a wren. I've been able to identify the call of every songbird since I was three.
My parents loved nature after all.
The captain breathes steadily through his nose as his stony gaze never leaves me. "Thank you, Armin, for letting me know."
My shoulders sag. I really am the worst friend in the world.
Have I just thrown Eren to the wolves?
The captain chortles once again, and I glance up. Was it something I said?
"Seriously, kid. You need to relax. You and Ackerman. You can't be his damn babysitters all the time, you know."
He takes off through the forest again and his cool, laidback gait alone is enough to put any man to shame.
I return his chuckle. "I guess old habits are just hard to break, Captain. It's always been that way since we were kids."
"Yeah, well, I'm ordering you both to relax. I know that protecting the queen is paramount…" At that remark, he turns back in the direction of where we left Historia, and I see that small flicker of dread pass through his eyes.
We've left her alone...
But I'm sure she'll be all right. We need to give her some privacy. Besides, she was tenth in our class and way ahead of me. I'm sure she can handle herself.
He continues. "But that doesn't mean we can't find the time to unwind every once in a while. Life's too short after all. You don't know when it could be slipped away from under your feet..."
I blink at the captain. He's almost like a different man. He's always so sombre and serious; I don't think I've ever known him to take a day off. The only time I recall was when he injured his leg. Hence why he couldn't join us on our recovery mission to save Eren from Reiner and Bertoldt two and a half years ago…
Two and a half years... Has it really been that long? I'm already eighteen. In fact, today is my eighteenth. Other than telling Eren and Mikasa, I've decided to keep it quiet and not inform anyone else.
I guess I'm a fully-fledged man now. My parents always promised me they would take me to see the world after I turned eighteen...
"You thinking once again with that big, old noggin of yours, Armin? Walls, that head has saved us from many a tight patch."
I recoil as he steps forward and knocks me on the head, and the captain really is acting strange lately. To outsiders, he looks more like my friendly older brother rather than my stoic captain. I mean, this is the same man who once told me after I shot a woman: "The person you once was is gone now…"
"But don't keep it to yourself, kid. Come on. Tell me what's on your mind."
He leans back against a tree and I stare perplexed. Seriously… who is this imposter?
If anything, this is all Historia's work. She's definitely softened the captain's tough exterior. I can see it in his calm eyes, and he also appears to be smiling too.
I laugh nervously, rubbing my sore head, and I'm pretty sure he's left a dent. "Well…. I didn't want to bother anyone. As you said, protecting Historia is our main priority… but… today… also happens to be my birthday. I'm… eighteen."
His eyes protrude as my words drift through the forest. I give another nervous titter, massaging my head still. "But it's nothing. Just forget about me, Captain, and focus on Historia."
Captain Levi blinks. "You're eighteen?"
Not that it's such great news. I do only have ten years left to live now because of the Curse of Ymir, yet still.
It's no biggie.
The captain closes his eyes, tapping his forehead. "Did Sasha and Connie happen to sneak any ale in any of the supply wagons?"
"Yes. Three barrels worth, Captain."
He rolls his eyes, muttering their last names under his breath. "Figures… Hey, so long as there's plenty of black tea to go around, I'm pretty lenient. They did bring black tea, didn't they?"
My heart goes again when the captain leans away from the tree, fixing me with those angry, serious eyes.
I stutter. "Y-yes, Captain. Two bags full."
The captain's hardened face relaxes, and now he regards me with that brotherly gaze once again. "All right. When you get back to camp, inform the others that we're celebrating tonight."
"C-celebrating what?"
He sighs then steps up close, placing a hand on my shoulder. "For such a smart kid, you're pretty gullible at times you know. We're celebrating you turning eighteen. It's a special day. I mean, I did spend my eighteenth fighting off a bunch of street thugs, yet still. It's a time to celebrate."
I ogle the captain. "O-okay… I'll… l-let everyone know..."
Quietly, I move away from the captain and head back to camp, but not before turning back to give him one more curious glance. He inclines his head in acknowledgment then heads back in the direction of Historia, and I'm sure he smiled for a moment.
My eyes bug as I gawp at the Wings of Freedom on the back of his uniform.
Something's definitely amiss...
AN: Whoohoo! Party! I'll get the strobe lights. We're having a rave in the woods tonight!
Seriously, though, I loved writing Armin. He's so innocent. That's why I have him saying poop and gosh. He sounds like a baby animal from Bambi 😁
In one of the OVAs, Armin mentions that he could never play Hide and Seek because he would giggle from the pressure. It's the one where Jean and Sasha have a cook-off for Commander Pixis.
I guess this chapter takes place on November the 3rd, which is Armin's birthday. He is a Scorpio.
Armin mentions his parents very briefly in the anime. You hear a bit more about them in the manga. I always like to think the couple you see escaping in the hot air balloon were his parents, but they could be anyone. If I recall, it was his parents who died during the recovery mission (cough "population culling") in the manga and not his Grandpa, but I will have to go back and read it again.
Eren crying in his sleep again. What else is new...
I will post again Friday. Just curious, who else's POV would you like to see? I'm leaning towards Jean or Hange. I'd do an Eren POV, but I have no idea what's going on with him right now. He's hard to read at the moment, but I could try. I think I would rather wait until the Manga reveals his true intentions, which hopefully shouldn't be too long...
I really hope he doesn't intend to kill everyone in the end. I'd be disappointed if it went that route to be honest. He'd also kill countless species of animals too in the process and destroy ecosystems. Not cool, Eren, man.
CartoonPrincessSigningOff.
