So that night he decided to sneak out and go underground. He knew all his friends were asleep, especially Hitch. When walking outside he saw Mikasa sitting up in her bed, with a forlorn look on her face. For a brief moment their eyes met, both had a bit of blush but neither questioned why. They agreed in silence and continued on their way.
Visiting Annie's crystal during the middle of the night, where he could confess his deepest thoughts without any 'Hitch' looming over his shoulders. The thought did puzzle him, why he found comfort in talking with her? Talking, more of unloading everything in silence. At first, he convinced himself that this would help in unlocking Bertolt's memories, but now it became more of a thing he enjoyed.
He entered the underground room holding the crystal, he was carrying a single iceburst stone lantern.
Suddenly, a wet cold hand grasped his mouth closed. The lantern fell to his side. His arms were folded back and his body pulled down. He couldn't move, he tried to move his legs but a strong shoe kept them in place. He was trapped.
"Don't move or I'll fucking kill you," the female voice said. The voice felt familiar, then the ring on her finger unlocked into a sharp object pinning into his neck. A single nudge and his skin would tear. He couldn't transform, so many would die in the possible rubble. This voice, this was a trained Warrior.
His eyes widened. He tried to shout but the hand around his mouth kept him shut. He didn't want to resort to it, but the situation demanded the action. He bit her hand, in the politest way possible. She did yelp in the slight pain, yet determined didn't undo her trap.
Before she could rip his skin, he shouted in the opening. "Annie, it's me. ARMIN."
Then everything stopped.
Annie withdrew back, in the dim light she recognized that it truly was Armin. A grownup Armin, with his blond hair cut short and a few inches, grew over her. He slowly turned back with a bright smile, while he raised his arms in surrender.
"Welcome back, Annie," he whispered, his blue eyes shining bright.
She struggled to formulate her next words. He was the one who kept visiting her in this alone darkness. She could hear every word he said, she could imagine every bit of the world he told her. She tugged a strand of hair behind and looked away.
Armin's face scrunched up remembering the bite. "Sorry, I didn't know what else to do," he explained, taking a step back from her.
She observed her hand and the visible bite mark. It didn't sting anymore, but she couldn't hold him much accountable. "I would have killed you, it's fine."
They stood in silence. Armin's eyes scanned the room and found remains of her broken crystal. While Annie looked soaked and tired, as she stood there looking to her side and clutching her own arm.
"Um," he began, trying to understand why it broke now. He pointed to the broken pieces.
Annie acknowledged his questions but didn't speak. Her mind tried to confirm if it was safe to say, yet why did it even matter? From the bits, Armin had told her, the world outside had changed.
"I'm nearing the curse of Ymir, I don't have the strength to hold it up anymore," she revealed, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Oh," he pressed his lips together. "What are you going to do now?"
"I don't know, but I will see my father," Annie expressed in her withering voice. There was resolve, but everything was broken down inside.
"You are in the middle of Capital, you can't sneak out just like that." He folded his arms. "They'll likely kill you because you know―" he didn't want to continue.
Annie withdrew further in herself. "Okay, I'll keep that in mind." She finally faced Armin's intense eyes, a sad smile played on her lips. "Thank you for warning."
Armin felt sorry for her. He felt so sorry. But, there wasn't much he could do, she had a mission and she couldn't be trusted. There was only so much his words could do, in the end, she did pick this for herself.
He picked up the lantern and handed it to her, who looked confused. "You would need this, it's night." Then he moved back on the stairs, hoping and praying that she could meet her father. Possibly, not die in the process. Worst case scenario, they would make him fight the female titan and someone would inert her powers.
A single glance at Annie, he saw pain. She had crouched next to the rock wall and her face covered by her hands. There weren't tears, just a blooming dread. Was he really going to leave her? Annie was Warrior, but she hadn't moved in four years. She would be lost in this world. All alone.
He retraced her steps and stood over her, his face illuminated by the lantern. He extended his hand, keeping a firm smile. A confused Annie looked up.
"I'll help you, but on one condition," he stumbled with his words, but they had caught her attention. "I have so many questions, I would like to know answers to."
Annie pondered the proposition. It wasn't like he actually needed her to answer, he could so easily access everything now. He had told of their journey into Marley and how the island was developing, there isn't anything left that she could contribute to. Perhaps he simply said the condition to make her feel better.
She took his hand and stood up, shaking it. "Deal."
Armin's cheek grew a faint red. Truth be told this was the first time in his life where they made physical contact. Annie before being captured was antisocial, she rarely interacted with anyone. Annie in the crystal was out of reach, but this Annie wasn't. He ended up holding onto her hand for far too long, awkwardly letting it go on realization.
He looked to his side and then back at her, observing the damp state of her clothes. "You might want to change and eat?"
Annie felt her stomach and looked down at her clothes. Admittedly, she did. She nodded and handed the lantern back to Armin. Through the hood over her hair, concealing her face. Even though only a handful knew what she looked like.
Armin led them up and he kept a watch before singling her to follow. Truthfully, he didn't know where to take her. But he did know how he didn't have to share a room with anyone, bringing her there for a night wouldn't hurt. In the morning he could devise a better plan.